Willem began experimenting on the tough hide of the hellboars, first by draining the bodies of blood and then stripping the flesh from the hide. The tusks were removed from the flayed skulls and the meat was given to the White Tiger Cub. Kinsey regulated how much she was given to eat so that she did not make the mistake of choking on her food or overeating. Once that was done, in order to ensure there was no mistake with the quality, he put away the hide and bones of the hellboars and instead took out a set of weapons he had recently purchased.
First Willem splayed fifty different weapons of different quality materials out on his study desk, and began to carve runic symbols into the lowest quality dagger he had. When he went to the blacksmith shop, he specifically asked for a low quality weapon to be made. The smithy he chose was recommended by Kinsey as it was the one most often used by the Golden Dragon Family. Even though he obliterated the Golden Dragon Family, he had no intention of killing everyone who associated with them. If he had, half the Bastion of Hope would be dead, that is how prominent a figure the family was.
He studied the book intensely as he sculpted out the first of the complex runic symbols. The general shape took form, and he began to define the symbols with more intricate carving. After thirty minutes of time, the runic symbol had been completed. During the process, Willem stoked the runes with fire magic so that when magic was poured into it, the dagger would catch aflame. Once he finished the carving, Willem focused his magical sense and the dagger had a silverish-red aura around it. Though it was to be expected, even a few tiny faults in the runic pattern caused the result to be of the lowest quality. He forced his magic through his hand and into the dagger, and it caught aflame with ease. The flame that coated the weapon was not especially hot, and was taking a lot more magic than it should for the ability. The consumption of magic was also a large factor when dealing with high quality magical weapons, especially to those who could manipulate magic the way mages did.
Willem retracted his magic and began experimenting on the next weapon, focusing on every minute detail he could. This time he fed water magic into the runes while they were being created, and once the process was finished thirty minutes later he had successfully carved another magical weapon. The magical sense he emanated told him it was of a bluish-white quality, which was better than the previous dagger by a substantial amount. The magic consumption was still high just like the fire dagger, but the key difference was that the water magic coalesced and shot out of the sword like a waterbolt. The force was equivalent to a beginner rank waterbolt spell, but the materials in the sword adapted well with the magical runes and eased the consumption of magic. Willem took a mental note that the materials may in fact have something to do with the consumption of magic, and began his third runic carving while saturating the runes with wind magic.
A full twenty-four hours passed before Willem came out from his study room.
The night that Willem began experimenting, Kinsey had slept alone in the bed for the first time in a while. The White Tiger Cub was nice enough to keep her warm and company, and had flopped it's fluffy butt up against her body. Soft purring could be heard in the noiseless night and Kinsey had a hard time falling asleep which was not usual for her. When she awoke, she began her new daily routine of first feeding the White Tiger Cub, then preparing food for her and her Master if he was hungry. The door still did not budge, so instead she continued her experiments while she waited for her Master to come out.
Archus had returned from his mission and went to check on Willem but found that the study room in Willem's Private Sanctum was in use. As such, he did not intend to interrupt and left abruptly after greeting Kinsey. He gave her a letter and a nice emerald necklace he found in the ruins he was sent to investigate. Kinsey thanked him and set the letter on Willem's desk for when he removed himself from his studies. When he finally did come out, his eyes looked slightly unfocused but still had a hint of triumph, as if he had found a breakthrough in his studies. It was again nearing night when he left his study room, and he felt incredibly tired after the string of runic bindings. He ate the food that Kinsey prepared for him quickly, and had her draw him a bath. Kinsey drew the bath and brought him a letter with the wax seal of a Grand Mage. Willem confirmed it was written by Archus and began to read.
The letter detailed certain findings of demonic possession in the humans who had been living in the ruins before the small town was destroyed. Archus had found many runes and symbols he did not understand, and would petition for Willem to join him in exploring the ruins as a sort of translator. There were few who would even dare compete with Willem when it came to scriptures, considering how often he poured through old books like it was easy reading material. In closing, Archus asked him to come visit the Private Sanctum after he was done with his classes. Willem sunk into the bath and began to think about what he would tell Archus.
Willem's experiments had produced favorable results in the end. The higher grade of the material used in the creation of the weapon, the less stress will be put on the user who is sending magic into it. As if the materials streamline the process, the magic loss is significantly reduced and the runic symbols merge much more smoothly with the magic. The final result was an orichalcum dagger crafted with darkness magic, and an adamantine dagger with earth magic. The third and least powerful of the three was a dagger made of mithril that had fire magic fused with it. The other forty-seven weapons will be sold to the Magic Academy or exchanged for more materials to continue his research. As Willem thought about all the information he had just obtained, Kinsey cleaned off his body slowly and methodically. She delicately scrubbed his arms and legs while making sure he was not in any pain. When last Willem was bathed this way, he made a point to remind her that when she absent-mindedly washed him, she would often scrub so hard his skin turned red.
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After a while, Willem refocused and left the bath, desiring Kinsey's body. It had been a while since he had taken her, and his hobby still needed some more information in order to further his knowledge.
"Kinsey, remove your clothes." Willem was straight and to the point when he spoke, as if he did not have time to debate anything with her.
"Yes, Master..." Kinsey slowly disrobed, being careful to not accidentally step on the White Tiger Cub who she would often find by her feet.
When she made her way on top of Willem, the cub jumped on the bed thinking it was time to sleep. Willem pushed the cub to the side of the bed and glared at it until it understood to stay over there until it was called. Kinsey began to fellate Willem once she got in bed, and he softly voiced his pleasure.
Once he deemed himself sufficiently excited, he grabbed Kinsey's arms and forced her to lay face down on the bed. From behind, he began to thrust inside her while she moaned in pleasure. She laid completely still, her legs spread slightly apart but fully extended. Her breasts hugged the soft silk sheets of the bed, and her hair overflowed off the pillow. Willem thrusted faster and harder until beads of sweat fell from his forehead, dripping down his face and onto Kinsey's lower back. The sensation was too much for both of them to handle, and they climaxed together under the declaration of their own heavy irregular breathing.
Willem collapsed beside the red-faced Kinsey, who was in a moral conundrum. She dared not do anything against her Master's wishes, but he clearly did all the work during this particular endeavor and she even had the gall to climax with him. Her breath was ragged but synchronized with his, and when he fell down beside her she could not help but shyly look down. Willem moved her hair from her face and hugged her close to his chest, and Kinsey called the cub to come cuddle with them. The cub sauntered over while warily looking at Willem who had previously pushed it away.
Willem closed his eyes as he embraced Kinsey and drifted inward.
Within his mind he found himself again swimming, heading toward the tomb with the bound demoness. He unsealed the tomb and walked toward the burial casket. He lifted the cover and saw that the demoness was still within him, attempted to squirm free of the black magic that bound her.
Willem removed the small strip of black line that covered her mouth, and from within he could see an evil grin. As she opened her mouth, Willem prepared a chantless earth shield just in case.
"You are different from the other humans. Can you even be considered human anymore? Such strength does not befit the human race." When the demoness finally spoke, it was as if the air in the room turned cold from her voice.
"I am not here to discuss about myself, I am here to make a deal with you. First though, I need to know what you want, and what you have to offer." Willem removed the binding magic from her face so they could look at each other.
The demoness eyed her prey warily. He clearly had more power than her, but did not immediately purify his body of her, so she must have something he wants.
"I have lived for a hundred thousand years in the plains of the eternally damned. If it is knowledge that you seek, I can give it to you for a price." Her eyes showed hints of avarice.
"What is this price you speak of, quickly tell me or I will leave this place and you eternally bound to it." Willem did not intend to play mind games with a demoness.
"Let me become one with your soul, from that anything I know will be yours and we will be able to share your body. This is quite a profitable trade for you as I will no longer tax your body with my presence." She spoke matter-of-factly but could not hide her greed.
Willem knew that at the moment he held all the cards, he thought about her proposition and accidentally let out a sinister grin. From this action the demoness knew a deal could not be struck, and began to spit insults at the young boy. He wrapped her head in black magic again before sealing the casket and tomb once more.
He remained in his mind blending the information about the runic symbols with the life binding technique he read about in the red book. If what the red book said was true, this could be his answer to what he could do with the demoness in his body.
Morning quickly arrived and Willem did not intend to miss another day of Magic Academy classes. Kinsey was already up, had fed the White Tiger cub and prepared tea with breakfast. They both quietly ate and prepared for the journey to the Academy. The cub sat at the teleportation array longingly as she watched Willem and Kinsey disappear. Unsure of what to do with herself, she found a spool of yarn nearby and pawed at it excitedly.
Kinsey headed toward the mountains, having run out of herbs, and Willem headed toward the Academy. There was a large group of students standing outside the entrance, and he had to deftly move through the crowd in an attempt to see what the commotion was. When he finally reached the cause of the trouble, he saw a young boy and girl being beaten by two older students. While the young children employed beginner magic, they were no match for the older teenagers, even if the latter did not employ magical spells.
Finally the young boy shouted out. "Who are you to say we owe you a tax just for arriving here today! This is not right!"
He was promptly kicked in the face and landed ten feet away, nose bleeding profusely.
"You dare doubt the words of a Grand Mage! I may have just gotten promoted recently, but around here I am the law!" He laughed deeply as if he was in control of everything around him, and the woman whom he had been fighting beside gave him a deep kiss.
Willem knew the teenager was not a Grand Mage. From the oscillation of his magical force, and from the fact that if there was another Grand Mage test he would have been invited to give his opinion.
From that it was clear the boy was attempting to impersonate him.