"A Time Distortion?"
Cael observed Lenn, he couldn't see anything wrong with her physique despite the two-year stay as she claimed. In fact, her physical body is exactly like what he remembered. The only indication is her eyes and facial expressions that are expressing despair.
'Does it mean, her body is frozen in time but only the surroundings changed? It is possible considering the naturals laws are distorted here'
Dragons are creatures that generate Prana merely by breathing, their lungs acting as spiritual worlds. Hence, even the corpse of it is an entirely different world acting upon its own rules. So, the unique Time distortion is not surprising.
"Have you encountered any Phantasmal species?"
"....Yes, I...I can't do this anymore" Lenn's tears streamed down as she sobbed uncontrollably and trembled.
Cael sat beside her to comfort her but she trembled and distanced herself from him.
He can sense utter fear especially when he tried to touch her.
'Don't tell me she's violated by some phantasmal species'
Cael didn't like speculating matters like this and asked directly "Are you raped by something?"
Something stuck in Lenn, she moved her legs closer and nodded as tears smeared her face.
It's more than enough of a confirmation.
"Every day.... a phantom appeared ...and .....Ah!!!" She screamed and shouted while hitting Cael with her fists on his chest violently
"Why didn't you come!!"
"Why didn't you save me!!"
Her Sobb filled the dark cavern as she vented her despair on him. Her screams of agony are bone-chilling to hear.
Cael let her be and finally, she cried out and hugged him tightly like a lost child that found her parents.
He could only comfort her as he understood what she has gone through.
"It's okay, I'm here now"
"I will save you"
Finally, after some time, She calmed down, it's more like a devoid of emotions.
Cael sensed something approaching them. The ground trembled, and at the same time, emotions In Lenn rampaged as fear and despair overtook her.
Her body fell like a corpse yet she's very much alive, she just lost consciousness.
'So, her body created this defense system allowing her to survive. Considering the repulsive thing that is approaching, it makes sense' Cael thought as he looked at the horror approaching them.
It's a horror with a Lump of Muscles that is shaped like a mouth with a tongue, it has multiple dicks sticking out of it as tentacles and green liquid is oozing out of all of its orifices and is being stored on the bottom of it.
Its miasma is extremely terrifying to the point he can't move out of sheer fear. Even though it's moving extremely slowly, no one can escape it.
Cael hypnotized himself to lack emotions and then, he summoned his Visionary of Moon deciding to go all out.
He released a mana burst through the Staff but the demon fazed through it.
"So, Its really a phantom"
He just used it to test and confirmed it.
"I can go all out then"
With the staff, he conjured an arrow that can destroy anything non-physical or spiritual in nature.
Then he conjured a bow that can shoot the arrow perfectly by just placing the arrow in it and multiply the arrow into an infinite number of arrows.
Placing the staff back into his Reality marble.
He released the arrow from the bow. The arrow turned into an infinite number of them and pierced through the Grotesque being butchering it into multiple pieces.
The moment it died, cracks appeared in the sky and everything broke apart.
"Bounded field? No, it's something of a similar mechanism. It's this entire plane"
He used Visionary of the Moon once again and opened a portal to the plane with red grass. He erected an Anti-clairvoyant barrier around the field.
He took carried Lenn with him and took her there.
As for the spies that have been observing him. They didn't make it as they have been absorbed by something and he didn't care.
He placed Lenn in the same place and used healing magecraft on her soul healing her trauma. She still remembers everything but it will be like a nightmare she has overcome.
"Finally, some rest. Now, let's get the task done"
He used his Staff to create a compass that can find anything he imagines and gives clues to.
Once it manifested, he took the image of the Mystic code and blood from Lenn's mind and body.
Using it as a catalyst, the compass needle spun rapidly and showed a location. Cael opened a portal to that place and took a book out of it.
"A grimoire?"
He tried to open it but the mystic code, under the influence of mystery, it became sentient enough to close itself to him.
He morphed his body to the appearance of Lennart in every physical detail and created magical circuits of Lenn with Visionary of Moon.
When he opened now, the Grimoire got tricked and opened itself.
"Hmm, Ritual Magecraft?"
Ritual Magecraft, is a declining craft due to the development of science. It is still being used but not as effective as it once was.
The Holy Grail war is an example, it's a small-scale ritual in the eyes of the Magi.
He flipped through the pages and saw the unique Emotion Magecraft of the Valualeta bloodline.
"So, the sympathy magecraft is just a part of Emotion magecraft. Not bad, it is more ambiguous though"
He flipped to the final page and saw that, it is over.
"Am I missing something? Isn't it suppose to mutate into some kind of ultimate weapon? But this is just pure knowledge"
When he closed the book, new instructions appeared on it with a voice entering his mind.
[ My descendent, I hope our bloodline has reached the root. If not, I hope this mystic code helps you. The fact that you are hearing this recording means, you have successfully read through the Grimoire. This Grimoire can initially complete rituals within itself, I don't know what it has become but I believe it still carries the function. Just pass your magical energy through it and the rest will be taken care of ]
"Not a bad mystic code. Probably a treasure for most modern magi"
He closed the Grimoire, he already memorized everything that is in it. So, he doesn't need to worry about the knowledge.
As for the mystic code itself, he felt it is extremely inferior to his staff.
He shapeshifted back to his original form and then waited for Lenn to wake up.
Meanwhile, he thought about the entire adventure and the fruits of the labor he gained.
[Checklist
1)Create Stands
2)Create barrier
3)Check the Ichor
4)Study the Firestone and Flames
5)Create mystic eyes with Gazer
6)Create something new with the Corpse of an invisible being.
7)Study Emotion Magecraft and Ritual Magecraft]
"That's a lot of work to do"
Cael morphed his body into a real human body and then created inferior Magic circuits like he was supposed to have.
They are still checks that need to be done once they exit.
Then, he placed the staff inside his reality marble and summoned his Gun mystic code that can shoot the head of anything with extreme power and speed.
Lennart woke up feeling better than ever. Looking at the red grass and her tattered clothes, there is a melancholic expression in her eyes. Her eyes looked past Cael as this peace is not something she experienced in the last two years of her life.
Lenn didn't question anything, she just lay there in peace.
Seeing a beautifully embroidered book in her lap and the feeling of connection. She asked after a long time "So, you found it?"
"Yes, it's a long story but I'm sure you just want some peace now"
"....Thank you"
She lay there in peace, not caring about anything anymore.
"You are in no condition to walk from what I have seen. Can I carry you to the exit?"
Cael asked, her psyche is alright now but he just want to make sure.
"It's okay, I will walk somehow. Just, can we move slowly?"
"Alright" He agreed.
They exited the plane by thinking of the destination.
A cave with many flowers and vines appeared as they went past them slowly,
There is only comfortable silence, as they have gone through the exit of the Tomb.
Finally, reaching the world.
Cael felt his Magecraft heavily suppressed compared to inside the Tomb
'The counter force acting on the world is extremely strong. I didn't realize when I'm using Magecraft till now. Inside the tomb, it was easier but the resistance is quite strong here '
A Magus left his post watching them arrive. Lennart and Cael are inspected for any diseases, curses, or anything threatening they are carrying.
The Magus said that it's been a year since they entered the Tomb.
After the inspection, they entered the ground level of the Clock tower.
Few Magi in robes along with Inorai stood at the entrance.
"Both of you, follow me"
Inorai said and turned around. Cael and Lennart followed her and the three of them met in her office.
"I don't care what happened, Are you able to accomplish the mission?"
She got straight to the mission.
"Yes, Miss Lennart is not feeling well. If you don't mind, Can I present the Mystic code to you"
Inaroi however didn't care about her health condition "No, Lenn is fine by the way she is. Since you accomplished the mission. You may leave"
Cael nodded and left the office. He waited outside till the mother and daughter pair had a chat.
With his senses, he could hear what they are talking about.
Inaroi is displeased that Lennart didn't get pregnant with Cael. Lennart however shared her trauma about the 2-year incident to which, Inaroi got excited and asked if she got pregnant with the Phantasmal beast to which she replied no. Again, she is dissatisfied and sent her out.
'I understand why she has a reputation of being the Ideal Magus. She didn't even care that her daughter has been raped. At least, she didn't punish Lennart unnecessarily'
Lennart came out of the room with a hollow expression.
"This is my present for you"
Cael handed Lennart a bracelet made of Buddhist beads with Runes inscribed on it.
"This mystic code heals you slowly over time. It's a spiritual healing process. Try to live a peaceful life for a while, you will be healthy again"
"Why do you care?" Lenn asked in her hollow tone.
"I'm just paying you back for being honest with me about the actual plan"