Chapter 79: Curb Your Enthusiasm

Once Darius and Haku stepped out of the Vault, the introduction to Marcus and Percy proceeded smoothly. Much to Darius's relief, both Kinnemans, with their keen interest in Mana-Beasts, were instantly captivated by the unique Ember-Fox.

The group gathered in the mansion's expansive reception hall. Upon their initial return, Darius, under his guise as Xue Feng, had quickly sought information from the first staff member he encountered as Haku darted around sniffing everything in his Ghost-form. He learned that Marcus and Percy had returned the previous night, and the household had been abuzz ever since.

Darius remained evasive to the Kinnemans about Haku's origins, merely stating that the beast was a product of what he has called; Arcane Cultivation. As Haku shifted back into his more familiar animal form, having finished his demonstration, Marcus's eyes widened in amazement. "You did this?... How?!"

Haku walked over to Darius and sat beside him, beaming. "Big brother's a genius, that's how."

Percy, charged with energy, looked eagerly at Haku, then turned to Darius as if clutching at a lifeline. "Boss, can I transform like that?"

Darius shot him an irritated look and sighed. "You are not a beast. And let's be clear, I promise nothing. The only reason I'm willing to put in the time is because you've only reached the second tier. If you keep looking at me like I can grant wishes, you're only setting yourself up for disappointment."

Percy suppressed a smile, straightening up. "Yes, boss, I understand. Even if you can't do anything, I'm ready to give it my all and put my trust in you." He bowed deeply, his voice loud, "Thank you!"

Rolling his eyes from the awkward display, Darius swiftly changed the subject. "So, Marcus, any thoughts on what species of Mana-Beast Neko is?"

Darius had intended to introduce them, but found Neko asleep in the Codex, forcing him to rely on descriptions alone.

Shaking his head, the older knight sighed, "I've encountered numerous species and read about many more. Yet, a lightning weasel? Never came across one. But the world's vast, and there are surely thousands of beasts we've yet to document."

Percy, watching Haku's blue flames flicker, chimed in, "If you really want to pin down his species, head to Trokane. The tower there specializes in beast research. Much of our knowledge from the past four centuries originated there."

"That's sound advice, though I wouldn't expose Neko to those mages. If they learn he's a new species, those zealots would go to great lengths to acquire him."

Darius raised an eyebrow at Marcus's harsh tone. "You don't hold those mages in high regard, do you?"

Shaking his head, Marcus gave a resigned smirk. "They're a necessary evil. Without their research, we'd know far less about Mana-beasts and lose alot more lives." His expression darkened, his eyes narrowing. "But their methods, their disregard for the well-being of their subjects... I can't condone that."

Glancing at Haku, he chuckled dryly, "Can you imagine their faces if they saw him? They'd lose their minds."

Haku growled, his fur standing on end, "I don't wanna go anywhere near those humans."

"Seeing an Ember-Fox talk is really messing with my head," Percy rubbed his forehead, still in disbelief. "I'll never get used to your surprises, boss."

Marcus chuckled, stroking his mustache. "Speaking of surprises, there was one waiting for us when we got back. It involves you, Mr. Feng."

Darius's brow furrowed, "Clarke?"

"No," Marcus shook his head, a hint of mischief in his tone. "You've been invited to the Brundy wedding. Seems the rumors about your esteemed background got their attention."

Feeling the onset of a headache, Darius responded flatly, "Just ignore it. There's too much risk."

Marcus nodded understandingly. "I expected as much. I’ll bring an apology gift on your behalf to maintain decorum. There’s one other thing, if you have a moment?"

Darius raised an eyebrow, "I'm at your disposal."

"Excellent! Could you please make a stop at the stables and make amends with Borg? Your sudden departure seemed to have bruised his pride. He's been reluctant to listen since."

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Darius flushed slightly, "Of course. I was planning to check on Kahoon anyway." He paused, the image of Borg charging through the spider-ape flashing in his mind, "Does he have a favorite treat?"

Their conversation drifted on for a while before Haku, now in his ghost-form, Percy, and Darius made their way to the stables. Marcus excused himself to handle some urgent matters concerning the newly discovered mythril vein, promising to meet with them later in the evening.

As they walked toward the stables, the oppressive summer heat was overshadowed by Percy’s relentless gaze. Stopping, Darius breathed out slowly, his patience thinning, "You won't give this a rest until we start, will you?"

Feeling an unusual tension, Haku's jealousy sparked, his thoughts tinged with concern as he communicated mentally, 'Why does he look at you that way? Is he confused? He does know you're a male, right?'

Darius’s expression fluctuated violently for a moment, catching Percy off guard. "I'm sorry, boss, I just can't keep still," hurrying to explain, oblivious to the undercurrents. "The idea of pushing past my limits... it feels unreal."

With a frown, Darius stared at Percy with annoyance, 'In Penglai, we constantly battled against our fates; here, they accept limitations as if they're inescapable.'

He shot Haku a stern look, signaling him to hold his comments, then addressed the young knight with a serious tone, "Tell me everything about your path in the Manaforged Knight System—what precise steps have you taken to advance? I need all the details if we’re to proceed."

Perking up under Darius’s inquiry, Percy straightened, his voice clear and eager, "I was taken to the Stronghold in Tarpesh right after my assessments. Just like mages, knights undergo foundational steps, including time in the mana saturation chambers to develop our auras." His excitement dimmed slightly, the memories clearly mixed, "It took me fourteen months to complete that phase."

From his ghostly form, Haku tilted his head, sending a private thought to Darius, 'Why are you wasting your time with this weakling?'

Ignoring Haku's dismissive question, "Tell me about the Aura-Tempering process. I know Mages advance to the second tier through Mana-Weaving, but I’ve never heard how Knights undergo Aura-Tempering from someone who’s actually experienced it."

Percy's enthusiasm waned as he delved into a less fond memory, "Aura-Tempering was tough. My mentor constantly scolded me; I struggled with it every day." He paused, summoning a gentle gust of green mana that materialized his Manaforged Gauntlets. "It involves visualizing your aura as it forms the first piece of your armor," he explained, demonstrating by bringing the gauntlets into existence. "The key is to meld your consciousness with your aura, to shape and control it into specific forms. Mastering this, making it as instinctive as breathing, marks mastery of the second tier."

Percy, his gaze fixed on his gauntlets with a mix of frustration and resignation, elaborated, "Unlike mages, who manipulate their auras into an expanded, artificial state, knights fold their aura, much like tempering steel. To form a new piece of armor, the gauntlets must reach their limit. When that happens, the aura is tempered to such a degree that it strengthens and inevitably expands, allowing the formation of the next piece."

His mind racing with analysis and comparisons, Darius responded with keen interest, "So, with your aura capped at the second tier, further expansion isn't possible. Any additional tempering would be futile."

Dismissing his gauntlets with a shake of his head, Percy added, "And since I've only reached the second tier, my lifespan's only extended by fifty years. Both of my parents are just in their early hundreds, and they're expected to live for at least three hundred more years."

"Your mother is an insta-caster, your father a steel knight. That's a tough burden, watching your child age while you don't."

"That's why my mother spends so much time visiting my aunt. I think it's hard for her to be around me too much."

Darius sighed, his agitation towards the man in front of him lessening 'no parent should have to outlive their child.'

Stepping forward to stand directly in front of Percy, his tone resolute, "Summon your gauntlets again."

Noting the gravity in his expression, Percy eagerly began to manifest his gauntlets once more.

"Slowly, if you can," Darius interjected, watching carefully.

Percy's aura, a pale green mist, began to shimmer around him. Initially faint and thin, it slowly converged towards his hands, tendrils of wind mana gathering. Even under the guise of the elder Xue Feng, Darius watched with undisguised enthusiasm, his fascination apparent as he observed the formation of the gauntlets.

The aura condensed, the green becoming more vibrant as it neared Percy's wrists. Bit by bit, the outline of gauntlets started to take shape, the mana solidifying into a tangible form. First, the cuffs formed, wrapping snugly around Percy's wrists. Then, the backhand plates materialized, followed by the articulated fingers, each segment clicking into place with a soft hum of mana.

As the gauntlets fully manifested, they hovered slightly above Percy's skin, a perfect replica of steel armor but made entirely of condensed wind mana. This manaforged armor, while spectral, was as intricate and detailed as any physical counterpart, only transparent, each etching and rune glowing with a gentle light. The completed piece projected a faint aura, a visible reminder of the knightly strength it represented.

Darius grasped Percy's hands, examining the gauntlets closely. "How does it feel when you manifest them? Do they require constant mana input? Is it a one-time cost?"

"It feels natural now, but during the tempering process, it was like tearing my own skin. They don't continuously drain my mana, only when they make contact in combat is there a minor draw."

"So, when you strike, the gauntlets must pull from your aura to maintain their integrity," Darius mused, tracing the runes etched into the mana armor. "This rune is for condensing, and this one sets the structural boundaries... The runic language is elegantly simple, optimized for effectiveness and ease of use." Releasing Percy's hands, Darius stepped back, pacing as he mulled over the implications.

Percy's gauntlets faded away, and he watched Darius pace thoughtfully, biting his lip in anticipation of speaking. Just as he opened his mouth, "Bos—ow!" His expression twisted in sudden pain.

He glanced down to see Haku fading, and knelt to rub his sore ankle. Surprise flickered across his face as Haku's voice echoed in his mind, 'Don't interrupt big brother while he's thinking. This is for your benefit, idiot.'

Percy's frown deepened as he continued to massage his ankle, muttering to himself, "didn't have to bite me..."

Darius’s thoughts churned with possibilities when he observed the runic matrix of Percy’s gauntlets through his Arcane Gaze, sparking an idea, 'If this were Penglai, I'd just destroy his cultivation, starting over would be simple. Here, I need to chart a new path forward for him, not a restart.'

His pacing continued as he pondered, 'His potential has peaked, so I must first devise a method to extend his limits before strengthening his aura further.'

Switching to lightning mana to enhance his thinking, time seemed to dilate around him. After what seemed like minutes to Darius, but only seconds to Percy and Haku, clarity struck, "replace your runes!"

Startled by Darius's sudden announcement, Percy's eyes widened, uncertainty mixing with concern. "Replace them? Is that even possible?"

Darius's smile flashed, his voice brimming with confidence. "No idea! But it’s the only shot at shattering your limits and fostering your growth."

Haku’s snicker slipped, accompanied by a blank stare from Percy. "Well, you did tell me to manage my expectations."

A quick smack on the forehead from Darius made Percy wince. "Don’t doubt me, boy. As long as I find a way, you’ll see your strength surge." With a broad smile and hands clasped behind his back, Darius started again towards the stables. "I’ll need time to work this out. For now, shelve those expectations and save the sad puppy eyes."

Still rubbing the spot where Darius had smacked him, Percy's frown shifted, doing his best to hide his excitement. "You don't have to hit so hard, boss. And just because you look older doesn't mean you should act like it. Remember, I'm a decade older than you."

Darius burst into laughter, glancing at Haku walking in his Ghost-form beside him. "Age is just a state of mind, Percy. You've got a long way to go to catch up."

Haku mirrored Darius's amusement, then sneered at Percy, projecting, 'Just like big brother says, you're like a frog in a bowl.' Rolling his eyes at Haku's comment, Darius chose not to correct him, continuing to chuckle.

As they approached the stables, Percy caught up to them, the trio entering together. After a few brief moments, Haku, momentarily forgetting his need for discretion, startled the stable boy when he suddenly yelled, "Holy shit! That's an Inferno Weaver!"