Lone: The Wanderer

Lone sat on his and Sofia's bed - the only remaining piece of furniture in their home of the past two months - with Soph on his lap and Kyuubi wrapped around the both of them. "Fingers crossed it doesn't overwhelm you like it being taken away did, huh?"

They were currently waiting for her magic to be returned to her which was scheduled to occur in about a minute or two. It had been a busy two months. It was a very peaceful period, no doubt large in part due to Sofia's incredible Luck stat.

Still, neither of them had wasted that time. It was the most focused period of training either of them had committed to and the gains for both of them were substantial. The closest thing that Lone had experienced was his first time in Krieg Moor's prison where he had kept a journal of his training efforts and thoughts.

"When are you gonna make your wish, by the way?" Lone asked as he pressed his chin into Soph's soft head of bright-blonde hair.

"You let me win. It isn't fair," she replied, pressing her back into his chest.

"That's not true. It's just more restrictive in this little underground house than it would be anywhere else. It not my fault I got my 20th beginner skill to intermediate rank the day after you earned your new subskill Limb Adjustment," Lone said. "Resistances are easy for me to power level, but more involved skills that require, well, skill, you know it take me time. I'm due you a wish, whether you like it or not. Unless you want to tell me what your magical affinites are...?"

"Nope! I need to work on making my barriers smaller now and learning Internal Strengthening Arts, you know that," Soph said with a short giggle, much of her prior tension having disappeared entirely. "No time for distractions right now."

"You're right," Lone laughed. "Oh, that's really something. I can feel it despite not being able to sense mana."

A flood of power was coursing through Soph at this very moment as her Minor Time Control released its hold on her mana organs.

She gasped faintly as her body went limp in Lone's arms and began spasming as waves of energy poured out of her mana brain and heart, filling every crevice of her body.

Lone felt sick. He'd never been exposed to so much raw mana before. It was like Soph was using her ability to inject mana into active spells but into the entire room instead, him included. Still, he didn't move and just held her as was his role. He did glance at Kyuubi to see if he needed to unsummon her, but oddly enough, she seemed entirely unperturbed.

A lot of Soph's power was radiating outwards, shaking the very walls of this underground and fully-enclosed home, so vast was her unrestricted pool of MP. Regardless of his brewing nausea, Lone remained still and simply continued hugging her gently.

Lone glanced down at Kyuubi again. It was so odd and quite frankly suspicious that she was entirely unaffected as she peacefully slept, still being curled around both him and Soph. 'Sneaky fox with your secrets. I'll figure them one day, you can be certain of it.'

Three full minutes passed as the ocean that was Soph's MP kept growing and growing. Just as a few new notifications appeared in Lone's vision did the suffocating mana in the air halt in place and then, as if in reverse, it all surged back into Soph's small frame.

The host has developed the passive skill: Mana Scorched.

Passive Skill: Mana Scorched

An incredibly rare skill that less than 10 individuals possess. It is often found in those who have bathed in a raw source of magic for an extended period of time and lived to tell the tale.

The host has been burned by a source of magic, marked by it. The host can use this mark to detect other sources of magic. Limits: 1-metre for regular sources of magic. 10 metres for irregular sources of magic. 100 metres for other things or beings that have been marked by magic.

The source of magic which marked the host will always be detectable by the host, regardless of what may stand between the host and the source, be it distance, time, space, or even planes of existence.

The source of the mark is Sofia Vladimirovich.

Cost:N/A Mastery:Beginner Level 1

"You marked me?" Lone asked aloud. "Kinda hot, but also, I need to return the favour somehow..."

"W-Wha..." Soph was covered in sweat and looked delirious.

Lone kissed the top of her head and said, "Nothing. We can talk when you're feeling better. Just be a cute little bean and remember what it feels like to not be incomplete, yeah? Kyuubi and I are here for you."

"Kyuu..." the sleepy fox chimed in.

Soph relaxed in his arms and nodded faintly before closing her eyes to focus.

The host has developed the passive skill: Mana Poisoning Resistance.

Passive Skill: Mana Poisoning Resistance

A skill that allows the host to resist all forms of mana poisoning.

The host's threshold before getting poisoned by mana is increased by 5%.

All mana poisoning the host suffers will be weakened by 5%.

Cost:N/A Mastery:Beginner Level 1

'Damn, Soph poisoned me? That sounds really nasty. Injuries to the ol' mana organs are typically permanent, so this resistance would be a too little too late kind of situation for most, right? Need to look up what mana poisoning is, what it does, and what is a common cause of it. Could always ask at the next Conclave of Seekers. That's not too far off,' Lone thought.

He stretched out his arm and placed it on Kyuubi's head. "Full Body Diagnostics."

A moment later, he frowned. "Right as rain. How come you didn't get poisoned, huh?"

A soft 'kyuu' was all he got in response.

With a sigh, he refocused his attention on Soph, resting his chin atop her head, Lone puckered his lips. "What to do while I wait for you to stop being so adorable... We definitely need to find a safe environment for you to train that skill since you're like a cat high off catnip right now, what with you squirming with no real effort in my arms. Very cute, indeed."

Soph seemed to smile at the compliment but she didn't comment.

"Well, nothing to do but check my entire skill sheet. It's really the only option. Makes sense to categorise all of the gains from the last two-months, if nothing else," Lone reasoned to himself.

He pulled up his entire skill sheet and made it show him the level and rank gains from the last two months on the right column, and on the left column he made it show him what he hadn't yet registered to the guild's credit slate.

He needed to go look up some information of skills to combat demonkin, so having an idea of how many credits he needed to bank on top of his already existing 42,797 credits seemed wise.

Weapon Mastery Skills [26 skills] [Unregistered: 3 levels] Fortress Shield MasteryMaster Level 5 [Unregistered: 5 levels and 1 rank up] Buckler MasteryMaster Level 1 [Unregistered: 2 levels] Swordspear MasteryExpert Level 8 Colossal Shield Mastery Expert Level 7 Unarmed Combat MasteryAdvanced Level 10 Shield MasteryAdvanced Level 4 Polearm MasteryAdvanced Level 3 Hand Axe MasteryIntermediate Level 8 Hatchet MasteryIntermediate Level 8 [Unregistered: 4 levels] Dual-wielding MasteryIntermediate Level 7 [+4 Levels] [Unregistered: 10 levels and 1 rank up] Bearded Axe MasteryIntermediate Level 1 [+10 Levels] [Rank up!] [Unregistered: 10 levels and 1 rank up] Estoc MasteryIntermediate Level 1 [+10 Levels] [Rank up!] [Unregistered: 3 levels and 1 rank up] Greataxe MasteryIntermediate Level 1 [Unregistered: 3 levels and 1 rank up] Greatsword MasteryIntermediate Level 1 [+3 Levels] [Rank up!] [Unregistered: 10 levels and 1 rank up] Heavy Bow MasteryIntermediate Level 1 [+10 Levels] [Rank up!] [Never registered] Longbow MasteryIntermediate Level 1 [+10 Levels] [Rank up!] [Unregistered: 10 levels and 1 rank up] Quarterstaff MasteryIntermediate Level 1 [+10 Levels] [Rank up!] [Unregistered: 10 levels and 1 rank up] Shortbow MasteryIntermediate Level 1 [+10 Levels] [Rank up!] [Unregistered: 10 levels and 1 rank up] Shortspear MasteryIntermediate Level 1 [+10 Levels] [Rank up!] [Unregistered: 10 levels and 1 rank up] Shortsword MasteryIntermediate Level 1 [+10 Levels] [Rank up!] Tower Shield MasteryIntermediate Level 1 [Unregistered: 10 levels and 1 rank up] Warhammer MasteryIntermediate Level 1 [Unregistered: 2 levels] Spear MasteryBeginner Level 8 [+1 Level] Axe MasteryBeginner Level 6 [Unregistered: 4 levels] Sword MasteryBeginner Level 6 [+3 Levels] Hammer MasteryBeginner Level 1 Movement Skills [2 skills] [Unregistered: 1 level] Evasion MasteryExpert Level 7 [+1 Level] [Unregistered: 2 levels] Light-footedAdvanced Level 5 [+2 Levels] Social Skills [2 skills] ActingAdvanced Level 5 [Unregistered: 1 level] PersuasionAdvanced Level 5 Crafting/Building Skills [13 skills] BlacksmithingAdvanced Level 10 Tool MasteryAdvanced Level 10 WoodworkingAdvanced Level 6 MasonryAdvanced Level 1 [Unregistered: 1 level] Drawing MasteryIntermediate Level 10 SteamforgingIntermediate Level 8 WeaponsmithingIntermediate Level 8 LoggingIntermediate Level 5 [Unregistered: 7 levels] ArchitectureMasteryIntermediate Level 2 [+4 Levels] [Rank up!] [Unregistered: 1 level] Art MasteryBeginner Level 7 ArmoursmithingBeginner Level 1 [Never registered] Painting MasteryBeginner Level 1 ShipbuildingBeginner Level 1 Misc Skills [23 skills] [Unregistered: 1 level] Enhanced VisionExpert Level 3 Reading MasteryExpert Level 3 [Unregistered: 3 levels and 1 rank up] Teaching MasteryExpert Level 2 [+1 Level] [Unregistered: 3 levels] Cooking MasteryAdvanced Level 6 [+3 Levels] [Unregistered: 1 level] CartographyAdvanced Level 5 [Unregistered: 5 levels and 1 rank up] Sex MasteryAdvanced Level 4 [+4 Levels] [Rank up!] [Unregistered: 3 levels] Blood ThickeningAdvanced Level 3 [+2 Levels] [Unregistered: 2 levels] Pet MasteryAdvanced Level 3 [+4 Levels] [Rank up!] Puzzle Locked MindAdvanced Level 3 [Unregistered: 3 levels and 1 rank up] Massage MasteryAdvanced Level 2 [+3 Levels] [Rank up!] [Unregistered: 1 level and 1 rank up] Mining MasteryAdvanced Level 1 [Unregistered: 2 levels] Throwing MasteryIntermediate Level 10 [Unregistered: 2 levels] Basic Massage TechniqueIntermediate Level 6 [+2 Levels] [Unregistered: 5 levels] Chess MasteryIntermediate Level 6 [+5 Levels] Swimming MasteryIntermediate Level 3 [Unregistered: 7 levels and 1 rank up] Lockpicking MasteryIntermediate Level 1 Laundry MasteryBeginner Level 8 Historical and Cultural AppreciationBeginner Level 6 Fishing MasteryBeginner Level 4 Illusion DetectionBeginner Level 2 Sailing MasteryBeginner Level 2 [Never registered] Haggling MasteryBeginner Level 1 [Never registered] Mana ScorchedBeginner Level 1 Resistance Skills [44 skills] Darkness Corruption ResistanceMaster Level 4 Mental Pain ResistanceMaster Level 1 [Never Registered] Unique Magic: Barrier Magic ResistanceExpert Level 10 [+2 Levels] Physical Pain ResistanceExpert Level 9 [Unregistered: 1 level] Aura Pressure ResistanceExpert Level 6 Enchantment Magic ResistanceExpert Level 1 [Unregistered: 3 levels and 1 rank up] Fear ResistanceExpert Level 1 [1 Level] [Rank up!] [Never registered] Fire ResistanceExpert Level 1 [+30 Levels] [3 Rank ups!] [Never registered] Heat ResistanceExpert Level 1 [+30 Levels] [3 Rank ups!] [Never registered] Killing Intent ResistanceExpert Level 1 [Never registered] Lava ResistanceExpert Level 1 [+30 Levels] [3 Rank ups!] [Never registered] Soul Pain ResistanceAdvanced Level 10 Infernal Flame ResistanceAdvanced Level 9 Force Magic ResistanceAdvanced Level 4 Panic ResistanceIntermediate Level 10 Eldritch ResistanceAdvanced Level 8 Scripture Magic ResistanceAdvanced Level 8 [Never registered] Demonic Influence ResistanceAdvanced Level 1 [+20 Levels] [2 Rank ups!] [Unregistered: 1 level] Nausea ResistanceIntermediate Level 10 [Unregistered: 7 levels] Water Magic ResistanceIntermediate Level 9 [+3 Levels] [Unregistered: 16 levels] Intoxication ResistanceIntermediate Level 8 [Unregistered: 4 levels] Blood Magic ResistanceIntermediate Level 5 [+1 Level] Sound Magic ResistanceIntermediate Level 5 Fire Magic ResistanceIntermediate Level 5 Lightning Magic ResistanceIntermediate Level 3 Curse ResistanceIntermediate Level 2 Air Magic ResistanceIntermediate Level 2 [Unregistered: 11 levels and 1 rank up] Drowning ResistanceIntermediate Level 2 [+4 Levels] [Rank up!] Earth Magic ResistanceIntermediate Level 2 [Unregistered: 3 levels and 1 rank up] Acid ResistanceIntermediate Level 1 [Unregistered: 3 levels and 1 rank up] Corrosion ResistanceIntermediate Level 1 [Unregistered: 10 levels and 1 rank up] Poison Magic ResistanceIntermediate Level 1 [+10 Levels] [Rank up!] [Unregistered: 10 levels and 1 rank up] Nature Magic ResistanceIntermediate Level 1 [+10 Levels] [Rank up!] [Unregistered: 7 levels] Explosion Magic ResistanceIntermediate Level 1 [5 Levels] [Rank up!] Illusion Magic ResistanceBeginner Level 7 [Unregistered: 5 levels] Identity Disassociation ResistanceBeginner Level 6 [+5 Levels] Cold ResistanceBeginner Level 2 Intoxication ResistanceBeginner Level 2 Sleep Deprivation ResistanceBeginner Level 2 [Never registered] Compulsion Magic ResistanceBeginner Level 1 Contract Magic ResistanceBeginner Level 1 [Never registered] Mana Poisoning ResistanceBeginner Level 1 Piercing ResistanceBeginner Level 1 Sight Magic ResistanceBeginner Level 1 Active Skills [13 skills]

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[Unregistered: 4 levels] Blood CloneMaster Level 7 [+1 Level] [Unregistered: 5 levels and 1 rank up] Oaken FleshMaster Level 4 [+1 Level] Weapon BlockAdvanced Level 9 [Unregistered: 2 levels] MeditationAdvanced Level 8 [+2 Levels] [Unregistered: 26 levels and 2 rank up] Item ExaminationAdvanced Level 7 [+6 Levels] [Unregistered: 2 levels] Survivor's SpeedIntermediate Level 9 Wide TauntIntermediate Level 9 Sundering MightIntermediate Level 6 [Never registered] Internal Strengthening ArtsIntermediate Level 4 [+13 Levels] [Rank up!] [Unregistered: 7 levels] Ramming StrikeBeginner Level 8 Stone SlapBeginner Level 6 Stumbling SweepBeginner Level 4 Drunken FistBeginner Level 1 Magic Skills [23 skills]

[Unregistered: 15 levels and 1 rank up] FireballAdvanced Level 6 [Unregistered: 24 levels and 2 rank ups] Water GaolAdvanced Level 5 [+4 Levels] [Unregistered: 19 levels and 1 rank up] Blood ExplosionIntermediate Level 10 [+7 Levels] Root of LifeIntermediate Level 8 Lightning BoltIntermediate Level 6 Illusionary DomeIntermediate Level 3 [Unregistered: 7 levels and 1 rank up] Amplified CurrentIntermediate Level 1 [+7 Levels] [Rank up!] [Never Registered] Drowning ChamberIntermediate Level 1 [+10 Levels] [Rank up!] [Unregistered: 10 levels and 1 rank up] Thorny ItchIntermediate Level 1 [+6 Levels] [Rank up!] [Unregistered: 10 levels and 1 rank up] Venomous StreamIntermediate Level 1 [+10 Levels] [Rank up!] WaterballBeginner Level 8 [Unregistered: 1 level] Oppressive GazeBeginner Level 5 [Never registered] Weakened Stream of EzekialBeginner Level 3 Wind BladeBeginner Level 2 BoulderBeginner Level 1 Crimson EruptionBeginner Level 1 Earth SpearBeginner Level 1 Enforcement ScriptureBeginner Level 1 Force FlightBeginner Level 1 Gentle GlowBeginner Level 1 [Never registered] Inferno ArmamentsBeginner Level 1 Oxygen IgnitionBeginner Level 1 [Never Registered] Trade AgreementBeginner Level 1 Racial Skills [1 skill] [Unregistered: 3 levels] Tail Spears

Expert Level 9 World Skills [1 skill]

[Unregistered: 2 levels] Full Body DiagnosticsIntermediate Level 5 Primal Skills [4 skills] [Never Registered] UngroundedAdvanced Level 10 [Never Registered] YouBeginner Level 5 [Never Registered] Lifespan RevelationBeginner Level 2 [+1 Level] [Never Registered] Nothing VortexBeginner Level 1 Unique Skills [8 skills]

[Never Registered] Basic RegenerationMaster Level 7 [Never Registered] Bone ArmourMaster Level 6 [Never Registered] Dimensional StorageN/A [Never Registered] Creation MagicN/A [Never Registered] Growth AcceleratorN/A [Never Registered] Mental DestructionN/A [Never Registered] The Summoning RoomN/A [Never Registered] True Contract MagicN/A Fuck That Cuntbag Sir Ardus Skills [5 skills] Poison ResistanceExpert Level 9 [Unregistered: 1 level] Torture ResistanceAdvanced Level 5 [+1 Level] Thirst ResistanceIntermediate Level 7 Hunger ResistanceIntermediate Level 1 [Unregistered: 2 levels and 1 rank up] Insanity ResistanceIntermediate Level 1 [+2 Levels] [Rank up!]

Lone ran the numbers in his head. 'So 314 skill levels ups, 35 skill ranks ups, and 377 skill level ups I need to report to the credit slate along with 32 rank ups and 17 unregistered skills that aren't unique or Primal.'

He wanted to go over every skill that had ranked up during their training hideaway holiday just to refamiliarise himself with their effects, both new and enhanced. His perfect memory courtesy of Puzzle Locked Mind helped his recall any piece of information with ease, but it wasn't the same as having that information readily available in a millisecond.

He'd been training so hard that while he had read every notification as they had appeared, the information hadn't sunk in yet. Thus, a dedicated hour or two to refresh himself on his new capabilities were certainly needed, but not right now.

He'd distracted himself for long enough as it seemed Soph was coherent and stable again.

"Feelin' up for a teleport or twenty, or do you need to recharge?" Lone asked.

Soph lazily rested her head on one of the arms he had wrapped around her as she replied, "I can teleport, sure. To Breena and the kids?"

"Yup. I'm pretty sure they're still alive. Well, maybe not Breena," Lone replied.

"Huh? Not Breena?" There was an unexpected pain in Soph's voice as if she hadn't expected Lone to say something like that so randomly. She jolted up and turned to face him, worry in her expression.

"Well, I don't have her in a contract. I'm pretty sure the details of a contract I have would disappear from True Contract Magic's description if a or all signing members died. The kids' one is fine, no changes, and I still have the boost from Scott's skill. I don't have Breena in a contract, thus, I'm unsure. Master Mezro'nan is fine, though his contract expires tomorrow," Lone explained.

Soph sighed in relief before putting on a scowl. "Don't scare me like that. Unsummon Kyuubi and then let's go. You have me worried about Breena now."

"Ah, I guess that's fair. My bad. Seeya soon, you big ball of fluff, 'kay?" Lone said as he reached over and stroked Kyuubi's head lovingly.

The fox woke up, uncurled herself from him and Soph revealing her almost 2-metre long body before she nodded faintly and nuzzled her head into his face before briefly licking Soph's.

"Hey! That tickles!" Soph squirmed with a big old goofy smile on her lips.

There was a certain life to her that had been absent these past two months which warmed Lone's heart more than words could describe. 'She really wasn't herself without her mana, and I get what everyone meant now when they called her a Mana Sun. She's always been bright, but this is blinding. I don't want to put energy into turning off Mana Scorched since it seems so useful. Whelp, time to learn how to partially suppress a passive skill, I suppose.'

He got up off the bed with Soph and Kyuubi quickly following him. The next moment, he stored the bed and then said, "Unsummon Kyuubi Immortus."

The massive fox disappeared and likely immediately went to have a snack and a snooze in his unique skill The Summoning Room. "Now, whenever you're ready, Love, to Golden Pass City."

"Oh, it's rare you call me by a pet name! That was cute! Do it again!" Soph demanded excitedly.

Lone smiled. "It really is nice to have you back in whole."

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