Lisa loosened the 4 strips around the Murai's body, letting the backpack down. Like the duck that he was, Murai jumped into the water, flipping his legs to move forward and detecting fishes in the lake.
Hmm? That's rather a deep lake. My Mana Detections don't even reach the bottom. Such areas of water need a steady water source, or am I in the mountains, or underneath something large? Morhgalis volcano? Tabula lake? Murai wondered before diving into the water without the use of his Diving Sphere.
There wasn't a need for that at the moment, as he was running out of mana and stamina.
Lisa waited, sitting on top of the backpack of impeccable value. It was small, indistinct to think of it as a Grand Gift sort of treasure. She even considered this backpack to be quite small for her taste. It appeared more like a large pouch, considering the human-sized hand, but about 50% larger than an ordinary spatial pouch, or pouches of materials that she stored in this thing.
Each reward that Murai got was one for mages to wield and desire. All of them were large enough to be too big for Murai to handle. Although, that fact didn't seem to bother him since the treasure was a treasure. It was his, and using them could be possible, albeit bothersome and unreasonable right now. He was yet to do much in this life, after all.
Watching the peaceful lake, Lisa didn't wait that long until Murai appeared back at the surface. He caught 3 large fish in his beak, piercing them, or forcing them to the surface. He didn't take long to hunt ordinary things, that had levels in the range of 10s.
There was a lot of fish in the water so Murai had no intentions of being petty about it. Grilling them in a matter of minutes, before stuffing his stomach, he was glad to have a full belly until he had enough.
This was his first meal since the start of the 2nd trial, which was hours and hours ago. Eater Status revealed nothing since they were ordinary fish and nothing seemed intricate to them.
“Now... Lisa. What are the current plans and what to do?” he asked in satisfaction, laying on his back, and facing the ceiling of the cave with his eyes.
“Plans? Isn't it obvious?“ Lisa sneered not so far from the place where he grilled his fish. “You need to figure out the method to get stronger, or you will regret pissing off the Battleworld. God's Trial! Remember it.” she nonchalantly added, also enjoying the view in her own manner.
Murai couldn't say anything to that, since she was right.
Getting back to his feet, he solved his hunger so it was time for the event he was curious about.
“Get up,” he ordered Lisa, walking toward her, but not to her, per se.
“What? You want something?” she lazily said, sitting on the ground as she rested her back on the backpack.
“Get me Rudolf's Tome from the bag. It's time to see what he figured in this world, or what sort of thing he even left out there.” Murai ordered, expecting something great out of it.
Lisa agreed as well, so in a bit, she picked up the tome by flickering her hand into the opening of the backpack. Through the focused mana coming off of the opening, she picked the tome with some unfamiliar struggle. The space in this place was large, and she had trouble recognizing things by the touch alone. Although, it wasn't that hard since no other tome, or book was inside.
Figuring out the motion of the space magic was quite a challenge for her current her. It shouldn't be that difficult since she had wielded such things before. However, back then she was alive, but she never possessed her current physicality, which was limiting her strength and the things she may touch or wield.
In a sense, she had no physical senses as a Soul Form. Murai would struggle much more with this sort of thing, considering his lack of touch, and his clumsiness of being a duck.
Pacing in front of the tome on the ground, Murai was looking at the cover with the name - Mana Inferno - Shaping and Conjuration of Rudolf the Great.
Now. How to open you up, hm? Murai wondered, looking at the main thing on top that had all kinds of runes. It was a clear lock, indicating some kind of method that was for closing this tome against anyone interested in its secrets. It was a precaution put forth by Rudolf, which was something Murai had to figure out. Stuff about runes was complicated, but he would solve it in order to open it up.
So, Murai moved his head closer, observing the runes on the surface of these intersected ropes and cover in itself. Ropes seemed to be the sturdiest defense and the key locking mechanism of locking this tome up.
They appeared like small, almost unnoticeable symbols and engraving systematic lines, circles, or swipes of engraving knives. He had a small knowledge of such runes which had special and intricate designs. He also knew that he was never an expert on them, or paid full attention to them in any of his lives as a mage.
In general, runes were a method of wielding and storing mana. It was to create all kinds of effects under the premise of intent and those symbols or words alone. It was one of the cores of structural magic that moved through the River of Manaflow.
Humans created it a long time ago. It was one of the eldest and most complicated Paths one could follow. Lisa was of the same opinion and awareness of them, so she watched in silence what kind of tome or deal was with Rudolf the Great.
“Well, the Tome has his imprint of mana and it's old like the tome itself. I doubt he is alive anymore, but whatever. It seems I will have to figure out some history of this world too, Lisa. For the sake of my curiosity and your knowledge of the current time, I want to know his history while you want to seek the world. It seems our common interest just crossed their paths, so what do you think about it?” Murai said, turning his head to curious Lisa who observed him from behind.
“For once, I agree with your words.” Lisa nodded, continuing to observe.
Murai kind of struggled with his knowledge of the runes, and cracking, or using his beak against the rope would never work. It was the case of reinforced rope with runes, which were impossible to crack by ordinary means. Hard and tough they were.
With the first cases of physical failure, Murai figured the physicality was useless, which made sense. Rudolf was a magic maniac, who disregarded the physical-based power in its fundamental form.
Why would he not think that? The mana was the tool. A case of utmost mystery and countless possibilities, making any kind of hand-to-hand combat or weapons absolutely useless. That was at least his untouchable and caring opinion, and Murai uncovered that truth as well, albeit with more lives. Murai knew Rudolf's philosophies and knowledge in this matter like the palm of his hand. Symbolically speaking, that is.
So, the only choice he had was to solve it as a mage would - form an escape path with Mana Shaping to open this lock up. That meant forcing his intent, or move the runes, or destroying them completely. It could be either hard, or easy, but Murai didn't know which was it, so he was kind of nervous.
Hopefully, Rudolf didn't do something crazy for the sake of his tome.
That sort of thought was already a strange thing to consider and Murai couldn't help but shake his head involuntarily. Of course, Rudolf would do some crazy shit.
Knowing him, he was always a crafty fella, clever bastard, and maniac in terms of new things. The runes within these ropes weren't that complicated but they required precision and control over the Shaping. It had to be gradual and slow. If not, the runes wouldn't move, making the lock a powerful, unmovable obscurity.
Murai was kind of surprised to see this kind of tome, considering it came from the Acaman family. This was looking like an ancient manual in his opinion, so why was this in the hands of the Acaman family? Was he part of them? He wasn't sure but he wanted to know more.
Shaping mana to the ropes, It took him some effort before he succeeded in covering the first rope whole with his mana. Then, in the following minutes, Murai pushed it against the rest of them. Upon feeling that nothing was going wrong, he twisted each rope to the left, then to the right, and left again.
A single rope cracked, along with the runes that moved within them. The rest soon followed like a chain reaction. The knitted ropes loosened up on themselves, revealing the bare leather without any obscurities. The runes on top of it also changed its purpose, albeit Lisa didn't catch that brief moment.
Murai did.
“You know the stuff of runes rather well, don't you?” Lisa asked, not understanding what he even did. She was feeling the surrounding mana, and even Murai's use of his own. He put a particular Shaping towards the runes and mana within it, but as for what kind? She didn't know.
“I don't, really. It's a structural kind of magic or so I heard is the right term. I didn't practice it all that well but I can do a few things around them. Making them work in complicated patterns or doing some crazy stuff like the Rune Masters do, isn't up to my interest. It's a bothersome and time-consuming process which isn't fitting to my style.” Murai excused himself and picked the cover with his beak, hiding his painful efforts that Lisa didn't catch.
He almost went out of mana once again, overdrawing on his massive restraining abilities in this complicated process of destabilizing this thing. In fact, Murai was now aware of it. His control over his own mana wasn't good, but not terrible, simply speaking. He was always using too much mana and control in his Shaping, making it costly for simple use.
Some learning was due since the Anatidae was the cause. But first things first. He wanted to get back to the surface, and no longer waste the time underground.
Alas, this tome was his current priority and it wouldn't take that long to take a look at it. Turning the cover to the first page, the seeping intent of the mana went off the tome, revealing the intent put forth by Rudolf. It was a mysterious intent that dispersed and reacted when he opened it up. Without any disturbance, shock, or pain, the intent revealed a calm action of whispering noises, words, messages, and emotional feelings.
Murai felt a penetrative force of this intent going to this Beast Core, but more toward his soul. It wasn't something that he expected, but he felt it once. It was forming a connection. A state of understanding beyond the mana, and it wanted to know him.
It was seeking him, as he sought the state of comfort with this tome. It was as if the tome itself wanted to merge with his mind, which wasn't something Murai heard before.
It wasn't like the usual things with the tomes where the content of the tome should be absorbed slowly. This thing literary wanted to go inside of him. The successful connection to the tome was the first thing a mage needed, but this was like a connection was trying to connect itself to him instead.
There were too many things within this intent, making it rather complicated to hear and understand what it even wanted.
Murai scowled, and Lisa jolted up upon discovering something was wrong. Comprehending the tome may be a complicated, or easy thing depending on the Grade, and the kind of tome in hand.
Murai knew this one wouldn't be a simple one, but he knew the writer and his habits, so what could go wrong? Coincidently, a lot of things, it seemed. As for this intent, he felt no danger from it. In fact, he felt excited, even though one of his rules was breached by this forceful intent that penetrated his soul, seeking something within.
Glancing down to the first page, Murai noticed it had a portrait of a man, who glanced at him as if he was alive. The intent wasn't trying to be harmful, but it wasn't trying to be comfortable, and pleasing either. It was the page that spoke for itself instead.
It was a stern-eyed man, with a brown mustache, but a mischievous face. His face was unlike his eyes, which were serious, and lacked no sort of ambitions. Brown-colored mullet went around his scalp, ending up behind his back. He had a short beard around a distinct mustache as if it was trying to make him somewhat younger, but he was clearly aged around the eyes and his forehead.
Below the portrait was an introduction and a welcoming message about the successful entrance of the tome. It was the usual stuff that any kind of mage wrote for the beginning of their own Tome.
[A dear asshole who dared to open this book and wasn't eaten by my preying intent, nor the complicated notion of this book]
[You have at least some resolve, or other mysteries within yourself, which I welcome. If you want to practice the teaching of the Great Rudolf, that is. I will give you a high mental mark while opening this thing, which proves your talent necessary to get anything from me, for your sake or my sake]
[This Tome of mine is a series of my life! A good one, in fact. It's one of the 10 Tomes I was able to make in Silence. I was hoping to make something for this Battleworld's people, who eyed and took forces of Gods for millennia or longer. Still, it makes it my home, albeit one filled with meaningful Chaos like any other. It's worthwhile, so why not come up with something that can shake the world in the far future? This Tome is that. I have been told that at least... by someone, I hide in this Tome]
[Any of the 10 may lead to a certain interesting future or a future will seek one of the 10?]
[Anyway]
[This Tome is yours now. Learn, and hopefully, make due improvements within the many truths and things I figured about the Manaflow of this world and many other things. The usefulness of the tome may act similarly to the Battleworld. And yes, the World shall be also included, but be careful about some things. Gods may be watching everything I do, or did, or will do. The case of the 11th sun is PRIMAL and ALIGNING]
[May the blessing of the mana be with us all, and you won't be lazy or stupid when it comes to this opportunity. By the degree of the Great myself, you will be a novice of my Will. However, it depends on your Will too. If you feel inclined to think of me as a teacher, or... You may even hate me instead - for all I care about. I don't if you read this anyway]
[Rudolf the Great - Path of a Rude Mage]
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Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Heh. That's so like him. I like it. I knew it, but still... Murai turned grim. He turned out to be a fucking human! Why wasn't I something like this too? Freaking reincarnations! What kind of prank is this!? For the sake of the universe, I will make you suffer! Whoever did this! Murai scowled inside but calmed down and turned the page to the next one, which was an introduction to the chapters and what this tome was about.
Huh? Mana Inferno. Rudolf practiced the Flame in this life too, unsurprisingly, or intentionally? Maybe I will give it a shot too since it's one of the 3 forms of mana I perfected in my following reincarnations after getting to know him on that one. Murai assumed, and read the Table of Contents.
The tome wasn't made into many sections, nor it was the case of a small tome with the usual fundamental structure for a spell like a spell tome would have. This one included a complicated procession of basic elemental magic with the Flame in its core.
It was incredibly complicated, and unfit for a Grade A since it seemed to include many lesser, medium, and highly advanced spells. However, unlike a spell tome, they shouldn't be obvious to learn thanks to the intentions of this tome's maker.
Any kind of intentions and purpose of the tome depended on the maker of what the tome should include for the reader. Rudolf wasn't the one to gift anything freely, so some efforts had to be put forth in order to get the most benefits. It was something up to Murai's taste, and this tome can strengthen the core of his understanding of magic even with his life as an Anatidae Panacea.
The tome was one of the 10 Rudolf made which Murai didn't know what it meant. They may be a special tactic he came up with because of something, or someone. Were all of them special like this one? It would make every wielder and person who would be able to open the ropes stronger and understand certain things better.
It was at this point that this semi-weird tone of intent spoke within the structural magic runes around the corners of the pages. It was a whispering tone, yet inaudible and weak, told in a weak machine-like manner that lasted a few seconds.
Species - observing - monster - battleworld - levels - brief - memories - the source - origin - mana - core - Anatidae - demonic family - brief - points of interest - noted
Proceed to page 54 to view the basics of the demonic mana and cases of Rudolf's deep experiments and knowledge of the mana of the wild nature of demonic species. No Anatiade information was detected.
Ho? Hmmm. Rudolf did something strange in this world. Pairing the fundamental intent to form a message that would involve the soul through the structural magic of runes around the tome? This is a rather complex magic that he didn't have when I was with him.
Did he improve over his life here? They would make this easier to understand for me, which is great but still... What a nice fella to brave the others. His schtick to others remained the same, I suppose. He ignores and hates the weak, but respects the power and abilities of those who are worth the Power. Murai concluded from the message that was whispering to his soul, so no one else heard it apart from Lisa.
The rough intent of this structural magic had some strange mysterious manner that no one should figure out. Not even gods, unless their Wills was directly present, or they - themselves - were before him.
It was like a mind on its own, indicating that this structural magic was different from the way mana ruled. It was left behind with the tome, digging to the successful opener, and reaching their deep consciousness under the premise of the maker, before coming back to the tome. It figured out small changes and hints for the sake of the one who opened it up. That, in itself, was strange.
Mana wasn't supposed to have such intentions along with the Intent that Rudolf left behind. Even when one put forth their own Intent to the tome it shouldn't be possible to be like that, since it worked with the mana and not the other way around.
In this case, this strange thing made the rundown of Murai's circumstances. That included the body, bloodline, and basic structure of the mana, which was quite in line with this tome's purpose, but Murai found it suspiciously surprising, as he never heard of this before. Structural magic that can create a speaking, and thinking - albeit limited - mind?
Sounds ridiculous, but interesting. Murai thought and smirked.
This was way out of the league for this world, thanks to Lisa's brief rundown that she explained to him.