The Runesmith

Chapter 400: Phantom Mana.

The room fell into silence as the night gave way to the dawning day, and the first rays of sunlight streamed in through the window. A bandaged figure gazed at another person's missing arm, severed at the elbow, with nothing left but a pitiful stump. However, in his vision, there was something more there, a blue phantom of the missing limb.

‘Is the mana storing what was once his hand?’

As Roland contemplated, his eyes flashed with a blue hue. He employed the same skill he used to predict his enemies' movements, but this time, to his astonishment, it provided him with unique insights into this world. It was the first instance of him using this ability on a person with a missing limb, and it unveiled something intriguing. Although Bernir's arm was missing, the mana that reflected his body portrayed the limb as a complete, bluish phantom.

‘Does mana also store a person’s information like some sort of storage device? Is this perhaps how divine healing spells can work?’

He wasn't entirely certain about this theory, but it seemed to make sense in his mind. There were divine spells capable of restoring limbs, but their mechanisms remained a mystery. Initially, he had assumed they used a person's DNA to reconstruct the limb to its original form, but perhaps there was an entirely different method at play. If the mana within a person stored all of their information, it would provide an alternative explanation.

Two main types of healing spells and potions existed. The first type amplified a person's regenerative abilities to aid in wound recovery. Some monsters could restore limbs and even brain matter, representing one variation of this type. The second type consisted of divine spells that could magically revert an injured person to a previous state. As he examined the mana phantom, he contemplated the possibility that this state might be stored within mana itself.

This idea was a novel concept to him, as he had previously thought of mana as more of an energy source that circulated throughout the world. It was a resource that appeared on almost all living beings' status screens and was consumed when casting spells. The notion that mana might possess storage capabilities could open up new avenues for his research, particularly in the field of prosthetics.

Magical prosthetics were not a novel concept in this world; however, they were typically only accessible to magic casters. These prosthetics relied on a person's ability to manipulate mana and could only be operated by individuals who could use magic. Such individuals were not really using their lost limb, but rather replacing it with something akin to a mage hand. Over time, they became accustomed to moving the prosthetic as though it were a natural extension of themselves. For regular individuals, replicating this feat was impossible.

This new discovery offered a glimmer of hope in Bernir's situation and opened up the possibility of developing prosthetics for individuals who couldn't manipulate mana. If the information for the lost hand was stored within the mana itself, it might be feasible to connect that data to a replacement arm. While this endeavor would require extensive research and development, it held the potential to create a device that could replicate the functions of the lost hand and even restore the sensation of touch.

This revelation ignited a spark of inspiration within Roland and gave him some hope. However, there were some glaring problems with all of the theories that were rushing inside of his brain. He realized that the theory he had stumbled upon might not be a new discovery and that other mages could have attempted it before, possibly without success. Bernir was not the only non-mage that required a replacement limb, it seemed like a lucrative endeavor which meant that this feat would not be an easy one.

“Uhhh… Is that you boss?”

“Ah? Are you awake?”

“Aye…”

Roland snapped out of his thoughts upon noticing that Bernir had finally regained consciousness. His wife, Dyana, was outside the room, taking a break from watching over him. Roland's first instinct was to call her back in, as she was likely anxiously waiting for her husband to wake up.

“I should probably call Dyana over, she just went outside. I'm sure she'd want to know that her husband has woken up.”

“W-wait…”

However, before he could turn to leave the room, Bernir made an attempt to sit up. There was a problem, though - due to his missing right arm, the attempt was awkward. He tried to push himself up as if his missing limb was still there but ended up falling back onto the bed. As he looked at the missing part, he began to recall that day's events.

“Aye... that's right, me right arm... that monster took it…”

“Yeah… I’m sorry, It’s because of me if you didn’t go back…”

Bernir saved Roland’s life by bringing out the experimental rail cannon but also suffered for it dearly. If he had just retreated back through the escape tunnel, his arm would be still intact but on the other hand, Roland’s might have not been here.

“Nah, I made a decision, now I have to live with it and I’d do the same thing if I … uhg…”

As Roland replied, he let out a weak chuckle, but soon his laughter turned into labored panting. The divine energy had healed his injuries and restored his bones and organs, but the debuffing effects still lingered, making his body weak and in pain. He knew that recovery would take some time, and Bernir needed to be patient until his health was restored.

“It’s going to take some time before that cursed energy leaves your body, just rest.”

“Aye, that might be a good idea…”

Soon he was drifting back off to sleep with his breathing becoming more regulated. Without being able to do much he decided to just visit the other patients instead. Both Armand and Lobelia were here as well, with only the guild master missing. Considering that he had the highest level it wasn’t strange that he had woken up the fastest and gone on his way.

‘I wonder what he did with my axe…’

Roland made his way over to Armand's bedside and observed the arrangement of the patients. It was clear that all the people he knew were placed together, and there didn't seem to be any outsiders among them. It was evident that the church was giving them preferential treatment or keeping them under close surveillance. Given their involvement in the encounter with the cultists, it made sense that they were being closely watched and treated by the church. There was also one empty bed that had the residual mana signature of his favorite baldy to confirm his theory.

‘How did that baldy leave though? Did he talk himself out of it?’

The absence of the guild master indicated that he had been allowed to leave, possibly after being interrogated and determined not to be a significant threat. Since some time had passed since the incident, this seemed like the most likely scenario. It also brought a problem to the forefront, he had not really been interrogated yet and he was not sure how it would turn out.

It was concerning that his pendant, which he had worn since Edelgard, was missing. It had been destroyed along with his armor, which also had a similar masking enchantment on it. Although he could potentially create new runes on metallic objects that were here, it was not necessary anymore. During his treatment, the church personnel likely had enough time to inspect his status screen, possibly discovering his real name and true class, Runesmith Overlord.

‘It might be unwise to lie to the church, I have no idea what they might do and also…’

The absence of Agni from the room was noticeable, but the fact that Elodia wasn't in distress likely meant that their canine companion was safe. Roland would have to inquire about Agni's whereabouts later when he had a chance to speak with his wife or other individuals in the room.

‘I still have some things that I can bargain with, so not everything is lost…’

While pacing around this clinic room he continued to think about the future. There were several problems that wouldn’t allow him to continue with his life as before. First off, the cultists had launched an attack on his home and were clearly aware of his existence. There was a possibility that they knew about his secrets and how he was able to disable their relic.

On the other hand, the fact that a week had passed without any direct retaliation from the cultists suggested that they might not be fully aware of his capabilities. Previously they launched a full assault to destroy the captured monolith just to safeguard their secrets. History usually repeated itself, if they knew about what transpired here they should have acted sooner.

‘Could they be afraid of the golden order? Could there be another attack?’

He continued to pose those questions while going back to the bed he previously occupied. As he glanced through the windows, he could see numerous knights and soldiers patrolling the area. This location was within the city, making it a challenging target for any hostile takeover. Unlike the situation in the other city, the cultists here lacked abominations and thralls to obstruct the city guard.

Nonetheless, he had to be ready for any situation, including the chance that they might discover his abilities in the future. Even if they weren't aware of his true potential at the moment, it was evident that their cult members had been deployed in this region once more. They would undoubtedly attempt to unravel the mystery and would eventually dispatch someone to investigate. This location had already become a hazardous area for anyone connected to this incident.

‘My best bet would be to push everything onto the Golden Order but will that be enough?’

Engaging with the Church of Solaria could indeed be a strategic move in safeguarding his home and loved ones. Their opposition to the cultists made them a potential ally in the fight against this common threat. Roland needed to find a way to establish communication and build trust with the church, all while being cautious about revealing too much about his own abilities and knowledge. It would be a delicate balancing act, but it might be the key to securing his future and protecting those he cared about.

Even if the church had chosen to protect him, it wasn't sufficient. He had erroneously assumed that reaching tier 3 would guarantee his safety. However, after his encounter with the Eldritch Horror, it became evident that there were forces beyond his comprehension. It was not a challenge that he could simply overcome by leveling up and isolating himself in an endless dungeon grind. He required additional assistance and access to advanced runic technology.

There were various paths to explore, but first, he needed to initiate a discussion with the Golden Order. Everything depended on these potential allies and the value he could offer them. His primary bargaining tool would be his ability to disable the cultists' illusory devices, an ability that he had mostly mastered now. Before sharing this knowledge, he had to negotiate some sort of agreement that would, at least temporarily, keep them bound to Albrook.

“We’re back.”

His contemplations were interrupted by Elodia and Dyana that finally returned from their small break. The dedication of Elodia and Dyana to their husbands' well-being was evident, due to their bags under the eyes. It was a reminder that Roland was not alone in facing the challenges ahead and also gave him the fuel to push on with his current plan. He would find a way to get himself free of these cultists by being more proactive.

“Welcome back, oh Bernir woke up for a moment, I think he is getting better.”

“He did?”

He quickly gave Dyana that good news and watched her take off. Elodia, who was the one holding the child, smiled. Soon the two heard her sobbing slightly and Bernir trying to sooth her instead. Both Armand and Lobelia also soon awoke to share their own tale of being flung into several trees and having their bones broken. The only person who escaped from the entire predicament mostly unscathed was Elodia, who took it upon herself to tend to everyone's needs.

As everyone started to recover, Roland inquired about the events that occurred after he had blacked out. The only person who witnessed everything unfold was Elodia, and she painted a detailed picture of the events without leaving anything out. She started out at the exact end of the encounter where a group of Solarian knights rushed in to discover Agni.

The form of the Sunlight variant was quite distracting, and Elodia was surprised by how quickly the Solarian knights started to back away. It seemed as if they were afraid to touch the growling wolf who was protecting the passed-out Bernir and Roland. It was only after the soldiers from the city, along with Arthur, appeared a few minutes later that the tension cleared up.

With their arrival and Elodia's ability to calm Agni down, the two could receive immediate aid from the clerics gathered there. Sister Kassia was present as she had taken part in the monster subjugation. Once their lives were no longer in danger, everyone was rushed into the city, and the entirety of Roland’s home had been seized by the Church. As per usual protocol, they needed to search for any cultist survivors and potential future danger.

Arthur, who was the lord of this land, would typically have all the rights to lock down the place without the church's involvement. Unfortunately, when evil cultists were involved, not even a noble could do anything about it. By royal decree, they were allowed to take charge whenever evil forces were involved. This was one of the reasons that the Inquisition was feared, as not even nobles could fully oppose them.

It was clear that the Church of Solaria had taken swift and thorough action to secure the area and ensure that no remnants of the cultists remained. While he didn’t like the fact that a foreign force was patrolling his home this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. With a higher concentration of their focus there, it was less likely for a new wave of attacks to occur.

“So, where is Agni?”

“He actually remained back, I told him to protect our home until we return. Don’t worry about him, these paladins have a strange reverence for him. I think they see him as some sort of holy beast.”

“They do? Hm…”

The story soon came to an end and he was left with more questions. The reason for Agni not being here was that he was left back at the compound to protect it. He was not sure to what extent they worshiped his canine companion but this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. At least they didn’t seem fixated at forcing him anywhere which potentially gave him a new bargaining chip.

With all the information now gathered he needed to prepare. He couldn't afford to reveal too much too soon. He needed to play his cards carefully, especially when it came to dealing with an organization as powerful and enigmatic as the Church of Solaria. They held most of the power here and could potentially attempt to force everything out of him. Luckily this new revelation about Agni could provide him with a buffer as he was linked to the holy beast that the church worshiped.

“Are you sure that you are fine? You’ve been spacing out for a while now… Maybe you should get some sleep?”

“Oh? No, I’m fine, I’m just thinking about some things…”

“If I can help with anything then…”

“I know…”

Roland smiled, and for a moment, he just focused on his new wife. For a moment, he was scared that he would never see her again. Many people would not be able to endure such a traumatic event, but there she was, offering her support to him without even asking for anything in return. It just confirmed the fact that he made the right decision by asking for her hand.

“I appreciate your concern. I'll be alright, it's just a lot to process but I’ll get through this like I always did.”

“I know but… what do you mean by you? Didn’t you mean we?”

Elodia’s eyebrows furrowed and she seemed to be pouting slightly.

“Ah sorry, I guess… I’m still not used to this.”

With a gentle smile, she leaned in and gave him a warm kiss. It was a moment of solace amidst the chaos that had unfolded in their lives. The two of them had faced adversity, but their bond had only grown stronger. Now they just needed to do the same and face the next hurdle together.