14 Visiting the rest of the family

"Hi! I'm back." Viel greeted his grandma as he entered their house. It was already dark outside, he and Rainer spent a lot of time immersed in the armor.

""" Hi Viel/big brother""" Everyone responded.

"Viel, dear, what takes you so much time to do in Rainer's smithy?"

Vera was curious about her grandson's business with one of her fellow guardians.

"I wanted him to craft an armor for me. Recently, in one of my walks outside the Stronghold, I found a group of beasts that appeared to be uneasy and nervous. I stealthy approached them and found out that they were surrounding a piece of purple metal that was protruding out of the land."

When Vera heard that it was a purple metal, she couldn't help but get excited about it. There weren't a lot of purple metals out there that could excite a pack of beats.

"When I approached them, some of them sensed me and attacked me. After killing all of them I got near the metal and remove it from the ground, only to find out that it was emitting a magical aura more potent than grandma's."

"Viel, I don't know if you're aware of it, but what you found wasn't your typical metal, what you found was arcanium. And if it was more potent than me, it should be a high-rank arcanium. Also, did you get any beast cores?"

"Unfortunately they were only low-tier beats, so they didn't drop any beast core. I was able to recognize it because I read about it in one book, so I saved it and took it to Uncle Rainer."

"Viel, I know very well how Rainer is. He's not going to work for free for anyone else that is not his disciple. How much has he charged you for the armor? If you need more money I can help you, don't be shy to ask for it?"

Viel's heart ached. He loved Vera as no one else does, she was after all his doting and caring grandmother. So lying to her was very difficult for Viel, even when he knows that is needed at the moment.

"Don't worry grandma. Uncle Rainer said that he was going to make it for free as a payment for all my years of labor helping the Stronghold citizens these past years."

"Really? Viel, I have known that old geezer for most of my life and I know he doesn't do things for free. You aren't lying to me, are you?"

Vera doubted very much what her grandson was saying. Rainer was many things and a philanthropist was not one of them.

"It's true grandma. He even helped me design the armor."

In the end, Vera yielded.

"Ok, I believe you. But if I found out that he is taking advantage of you, he won't have a place to hide."

Viel's eyes shined as he went to give his grandma a hug.

"You are lucky Viel, an armor made from a high-rank arcanium by a peak grandmaster-blacksmith is going to be a very good asset for you. But, why do you want an armor? You know that if you need one, you could always ask me."

"It's true, I didn't tell you!"

"What are you talking about?"

Viel sat near the table as he signaled his grandma to do the same.

"You know that Lux has learned necromancy, right?"

"Yes." Vera answered while she waited patiently for Viel to explain himself.

"Well, I have also learned something. I have learned animancy."

"Animancy?" Vera didn't know what animancy is, she had never heard of something like that in all her life.

"Sorry to interrupt you, but I would gladly explain it to you."

Vera looked at Eriol and nodded, indicating for him to continue.

"Animancy is a lost art. It is even more ancient than necromancy. In fact, some say that animancy was the origin of necromancy. The art of necromancy revolves around souls and the ability to control and give life."

Vera was surprised. Souls were something very special and profound.

"The first animancer had two disciples. Erevan, the first necromancer, and Alatar, the first priest. To Erevan, he imparted his knowledge of souls and it relationship with death. To Alatar, he imparted his knowledge about life and how to boost it. After years, both of them left their master as they created their own school. Erevan created the necromancy. He studied corpses, curses, and death. Alatar created the practice of the holy arts. He studied living beings, holy energy, and life. In the end, they both killed him in fear of his power, with his name forever lost in the profound sea of time."

Both Viel and Vera were shocked. Even though Viel has heard something from Eriol before, now he knows the full story. Vera on the other hand was thinking about the future dangers that his grandson may face.

"Grandma, even if I can create souls from beast cores, I can't create a soul that is of a rank above mine."

Vera was going to tell Viel that even with that restriction, his new abilities were very powerful. But then she saw how he smirked.

"But, there is an exception. I can use a beast core of any rank to create my first named creature. Although it will have its progress sealed and I will need to use more beast cores to unlock it."

Vera was left aghast. If he could use a beast core of any rank, the future potential of the named creature would be enormous.

"I will use the armor created by Uncle Rainer as a vessel for my named soul. That will be my first creation."

Viel was very proud of his abilities.

"And how do you plan to get a beast core? You know that Gerald has forbidden any elder from giving beast cores to the youngsters. I could make an exception, but I don't have cores from powerful monsters right now."

"It's not a problem grandma. I was planning to make a trip to meet with father and Iris. I could ask for it to father."

Viel and Lux's stepfather was Alexander, a Saint, one of the highest ranks. Above the SSS ranker and below the Supreme rank, the highest rank. Iris was Alexander's daughter as well as their step-sister.

They lived in Barbatos Academy because Alexander was the headmaster and Iris was a student at it.

Barbatos Academy was right at the center of the six kingdoms. Most children of the nobility, as well as the members of the Royal Family, all went there to study and expand their horizons.

Just like the Wildgarde Stronghold, the Barbatos Academy had its own faction in Elysium and was based in the Regulus Empire.

The Wildgarde Stronghold's faction was stationed in the Azrael Kingdom, which was a neighbor of the Regulus Empire. Both of them were allies and enjoyed trade, as well as other lucrative businesses between their two nations.

"Do you think that working maniac I have for a son will help you?" Vera knew how his son was and that he wouldn't help someone if there was no reason for it.

"I have my ways to achieve it."

"Ok. You will need to go there alone as I need to test Lux's strength, I believe that you are more than capable of getting there without any problem."

"Yes grandma, don't worry about me. Just focus on Lux trial."

Viel assured his grandmother. They both knew that Viel was more than capable to do it.

—

The next day Viel bid farewell to all of them.

Lux got near Viel and said to him.

"Big brother, give my regards to Iris and step-father. And tell Iris that I will also go to see her soon."

"Relax, I will do it."

Viel got on a horse he has rented from the Stronghold and went to the teleportation gate of the Wildgarde Stronghold.