My body shook itself awake from its state of torpor a few hours later. And after a drink of water from the small fountain next to the ice box, I was in my Wraith Form, floating outside of the windshield. Telling Jaimess to stop the vehicle.
With the passing of a short bathroom break, the six of them were lounged about on the benches and floors of the carriage while I was up front, accompanied by my doppelganger in the blissful silence of the night.
In that silence, I was able to think about a great many things that were burning in my mind while my umbral clone steered.
The matter of these wells and forced expansion was, by far, the primary theory that my compulsive intellect was attached to at the moment. A question that would regrettably have to wait until I could speak with my mother about the elven secrets my grandfather loved to mention.
On top of that, were the many things my Grandfather mentioned in passing, but never explained. Evolved wells. Living liches. Necromancy. Wyverns and dragons. The things that he either didn't want me to know or the things that he wanted me to learn on my own at the academy.
Being capable of nothing more than conjecture at this point in time, I compartmentalized the many data points in my mind and instead, pulled out a large stack of paper to continue transcribing knowledge for my tinkerers.
Like Toril and the others, I had ideas on how they could make the most of their magical affinities. For all of them, I thought of experiments for them to try or ideas for spells that they could further develop on.
Ed's focus was on the relationship between smoke and ash. In a traditional sense, smoke from a natural fire primarily contained carbon, in the form of soot; as well as, tar, oil, and ash particles. Thus it would stand to reason that with magic, he could condense his smoke into a solid or semi-solid form to make a variety of tools, or even a type of doppelganger.
For Letta, her focus was on material science, topped off with equations for calculating tensile strength. I was certain that her magic could outperform steel or any other metal in terms of strength. What I was uncertain of, was if the strength of her change was dependent on her knowledge of material strength, or on her innate magical abilities.
Lastly, Giorno's focus was on both atomic and molecular structure, as well as an introduction to chemical composition. Like Letta, I was unsure of the variables that his severing magic operated under. As such, I wanted to instill in all three of them, an experimental mindset.
For their professions, however, I transcribed for Edward, a massive pile of books containing principles, designs, and schematics of technology that more than likely had no place in this magical world. Concepts like electricity, electromagnetic radiation, the laws of thermodynamics, or orbital mechanics. I gave him blueprints for things like batteries, hand radios, combustion engines, prosthetics, land, sea, and aircraft, and other modern technology. As well as knowledge of more practical things, like the principles of agriculture, hydroponics, and aquaponics, as well as other techniques for construction, R&D, and engineering.
Conversely, I wrote down instructions to teach Letta how to imbue more functions into smaller and smaller watches. Most importantly, I transcribed intricate, step-by-step lessons in how to create the highly-wanted-by-me, digital watch. Additionally, I expanded her palate by giving her introductory lapidary and jewelry books to study.
Lastly, Giorno was given books on tanning and agriculture so that he could learn how to grow and make his own leathers and fabrics. On top of that, he was given details and schematics of things he'd probably be unable to make with the proper magic. Things like kevlar, dilatant liquids, and even fabric made from carbon nanotubes.
I was hardly even through by the time the sun began peeking over the Mortal Plane. At which time, Karu began squawking madly, demanding to go back to the Shadowfell.
Without much fuss, I pulled the carriage into a small valley and released him from the reigns. Immediately, he sprinted off to the nearest shadow to disappear without much of a trace.
Amiably turning, I waddled around to the rear of the carriage to begin preparing breakfast. And just over a half-hour later, I pulled down the inner wall of the kitchen before sealing the trunk and entering through the hatch.
Quite hilariously, the others were stirring awake from the pungent smell of meat, eggs, and fresh bread hanging in the air.
Quick as always, Toril was up on his feet while the others were groggily sitting up from the floors and benches. Murmuring as Toril reached over and under them to snap the supportive legs of the table into place and set the table. Once done, he handed me a plate before sitting to my right, next to Letta and Giorno, and across from Jaimess and the other two.
"Good morning everyone." I nodded to them all after thanking Toril. Then, proceeded with a bit of small talk until we worked through the majority of our meals. Then, I got down to business. "Our objective for today is for you three to continue amassing a stockpile of materials. This time, we'll be camping here to spend the day and night hunting and foraging. After we eat, we'll set up camp and go out on our own after. If any of you have never been, the others will teach you." I motioned to Toril and received a quick nod in response. "The goal is to get as much as you can. But, I require that you all capture a type of deer or something bigger so that we can teach you how to preserve it later tonight."
They quickly nodded their affirmations before working through the rest of their meals. Then, we assembled outside and got to work.
After Jonet cleared away the snow, we all used earth manipulation to build ourselves some spruced-up foxholes for later tonight.
Well, Toril taught the newest additions while I mostly supervised, and the rest made their own.
He first dug a cubic hole about a meter deep, two meters long and two wide. Then, I voided a staircase in the entrance before Jonet returned to make a roof of compacted ice. With a few weaved branches and moss attached to a stick frame to cover the entrance, the skeleton of the shelter was complete. On the inside, he raised the wall on the right to make a bed platform, padded with moss or pine needles below a leather pad. Then, he pushed in the earth above where the head would sit to make a deep storage shelf for tinder and firewood. Lastly, he moved to the other side and explained his actions in making a rocket stove to heat the place. Then, sent the others off to make their own before offering the complete structure to me.
I promptly thanked him before eagerly assuming my Wraith Form and stepping off on my own to hunt.
In my years fighting across the Empire, I'd seen little to none of the feral or magical beasts found through the land. Though with death mana leaking from everywhere during the time, I couldn't exactly be surprised.
Now that I had the freedom and time, however, I could finally hunt for more creatures to add to my collection.
Hunting had long since been a trivial matter for me. With my innate magic and the enchantments in my clothes, even the most sensitive creatures had not a chance in detecting me as I crept through the hilly woods.
After a bit of searching, I came across a large moose and quickly killed it with a Death Bullet. With naught a scream or huff of air, the buck fell lifelessly to the ground, where it was seamlessly pulled into my Shadow Pocket.
A nice addition to my provisions for sure. But I wanted something a little more… maneuverable, to add to my collection. So, I quickly got back on the trail. And not long after, I heard the faintest of steps behind me. Over a half-dozen of them. Four-legged. Traveling around to my flanks.
Which could only mean one thing.
"It's always wolves." I groaned, turning to face a pack of white-furred dire wolves. Nine of them. Creeping forth from the brush, about twelve meters away.
In all honesty, I wasn't particularly interested in fighting wolves; nor did I admire the taste. That said, I loved dogs. So, I quickly broke off a small chunk of my well and siphoned the shadow mana into my fingers.
Taking a step backward as the closest wolves lunged, I flicked off my Shadow Bullet towards the alpha and another ambiguous wolf in my Pocket. While the others charged, they leaned back in a defense posture and started sniffing around for the others.
Without missing a beat, I spawned a few Shade Tendrils beneath both wolves and verified the umbral tentacles grasping hold of my targets before withdrawing my daggers.
Turning on my heels, I was met with a wide, gaping maw arcing directly towards me. Without moving, I pulled mana from my well and through all of my core, stretching the willow tree branches across my skin until I was encased in my Void Skin. The wolf's jaw and through disappeared the moment it made contact. Killing it instantly and forcing it to continue falling over me from its momentum. Voiding the vast majority of its torso until two sets of legs were strewn out to my sides, held together by a thin strip of fur and ribs.
Canceling my Void Skin, I lunged towards the wolf coming in from behind the newly departed and swept my blade through its neck, nearly severing it clean off. As it fell, I pulled my spear from my umbral pocket and immediately connected with the enchantment.
As if I now had a third arm, I swept and thrashed the blade at the wolves attempting to attack from my rear while I made short work of another who'd bounded to my front.
With two of them captured and five of them dispatched, the remaining two attempted to turn tail and run. Not willing to let their pelts escape me, I quickly filled my fingers with Death Bullets and flicked them at the escapees.
With my quarry pulled into the depths, I stepped back on the trail and moved rather quickly to escape the stench of death that'd permeated the place. A stench that surely drove off any and all creatures from the area. As it took me several hours of walking until I saw any other sign of life.
It was two hours after I'd reached the end of the woods we were in. From there, I turned to the west and skirted the forest. Searching for a sign of anything in both the plains to my left and in the dense brush to my right. Due to its camouflage, I almost didn't see it. A winter fox, tilting its head this way and that as it listened in to something under the snow.
Scrying through the shadows, I saw a little field rat burrowing through the snow.
Not even a moment later, the fox leaped upwards and dove, nose first, into the snow. Where it thrashed its head about for a bit before elegantly surfacing like a swimsuit model flinging their hair backward. Albeit a furry, large-eared model, holding a rat in their mouth.
Together, they both ate a Shadow Bullet and were subsequently pulled into my Pocket.
With a nice grouping of animals stored away and the sun beginning to drop under the Mortal Plane, I took on my Wraith form and returned to camp. Juggling a few names for the spell in my mind.
Minutes later, I was assuming my physical form next to the wagon's trunk to fix a bowl of stew before I joined the others around the campfire.
After taking a seat, I told Jaimess of the elk I killed before joining in on the amiable small talk.
From the days of flying, working, and resting in a cramped carriage, it was no surprise to me that my newest additions were weary. I could only hope that they'd get some better rest in our foxholes tonight; nevertheless, I was happy that they were at least in good moods.
Though, with them riding the combined highs of graduating, traveling on their own, and being chosen as my vassals, I'd be concerned if they weren't.
Still, they'd managed to both hunt and forage a considerable amount of material in the twelve or so hours that we've been here. Leaving not much for them to do but rest and bond with their new peers for the rest of the night.
Though fun and jovial, our conversations passed with nothing particularly happening or being said. Up until the moment that I spotted an owl perched up in a tree and flicked a Shadow Bullet at it.
Hooting loudly, it quickly took to the skies in an attempt to escape.
Somewhat anticipating it, I sent out a Shade Tendril to grab hold of it and drag it in my Pocket.
Prompting six, mortified, wide-eyed stares to slowly turn back to me.
"What was that?" Toril asked. Seemingly for everyone.
"A spell that I'm expanding on," I said, summoning Roger.
"Bunny!" Letta immediately exclaimed. Then rushed forth to take Roger from my hands.
As soon as he settled in her arms, his flesh morphed and a duplicate jumped onto the floor and rushed to Giorno. Causing a surprised squeak from Letta before Giorno began rudely shooing away the rabbits gathering around his feet.
"Are these… undead?" Ed cautiously asked.
"No." I somewhat deflatedly sighed. "Roger was a normal rabbit that I trapped in my Shadow Pocket. My theory is that he was, sort of, infected with shadow mana once he began to die of thirst or starvation. Either that or my mana slowly leaked into him from the start and he was changed over time. Now, he depends on my mana to survive and is able to; well, spawn like rabbits."
"Impressive." Jaimess gasped, ignoring me chuckling at my own joke. "And I assume you've captured more on your hunting trip? I'm eager to hear more."
"I did." I grinned. "Two wolves, a fox, a rat, and that owl. Though, they have yet to turn or be named. Together, they make up my Tenebrous Menagerie."
"Such an elegant name." Giorno chimed in from several meters away, far from the cluster of magical rabbits.
I've been curious," I said after acknowledging Giorno's compliment and returning Roger to my shadow. "What are your dreams and goals?
"I want to be rich." Letta promptly said in her usual cheeky tone.
"You're my vassal, Letta. You're already rich." I snorted.
"Well then." She tapped at her cheek before spreading her arms out to her sides, beaming wide. "I want to spread my brand across all of Maru, and beyond!"
"Admirable." I grinned. "I'll see to it that it happens. And you." I gestured to Giorno.
"I wish to see the world." He craned his neck to see the sky and let out an airily sigh. "My dream is to explore different cultures, meet new people, and try new things. The possibilities in this world are endless. And I wish to witness them all. And." He shrugged. "I want to make clothes, of course."
"I… I don't know, really. But… if I may, my Lord." Edward stammered. "Why is it that you are so focused on training? Why exactly do you intend to take back Ulai? I've been dying to know."
I ignored the warnings my veteran vassals were giving Ed from his peripherals and decided to answer his question with a question. "Is Maru the type of realm you'd be happy spending the rest of your life in? Any of you?" I turned to the others after a long period of silence. "A quarter of our world is a dense wilderness that sits atop a war-torn continent. Another quarter of our world is infested with imprisoned monsters. And has been for over two and a half centuries.
"Allow me to ask you this." I continued after another pause. "What do you believe those imprisoned monsters have been doing inside the barrier? The orcs and goblins of Betrarth, the demons and vampires of Vagua, and the many creatures from Nonus have probably constructed empires that are far superior to our own in terms of might. And yet, we live complacently within our kingdoms under the guise that the barrier indefinitely will hold. We blatantly ignore the latent threat that exists just across the ocean." I threw my arm to the west. To the faint green glow sitting permanently in the sky. "My guild will erase that threat. And then, we'll create an empire unlike any Maru has ever seen. And together, we'll explore the Mortal Plane in its entirety.
"And along the way." I heavily sighed. "I'll learn of my family history."
"Your family history?" Giorno shook his head. "I don't understand."
"The history of the Cole family isn't written in books," I explained. "Our history is a secret one. Safeguarded by the dead. I just have to find where my ancestors are resting."
As before, there was a long period of silence following my words.
It didn't take a genius to see that everyone wanted to ask something; possibly the same thing. So, I went ahead and broke the silence with what I thought was the answer to their burning question.
"Once the guild is formed and everyone is up to my fighting standard," I said. "Our first destination is my great-grandfather's birthplace. Phaegrath."