Chapter 72

The first thing I do is take the trainees to the place where they will be sleeping for a while, and then head home, where I am greeted by Johanna.

“I’m assuming it went well? Well, except for that” Johanna

I touch the stump of my missing arm, now significantly closer to being fully healed.

“Yeah, I didn’t take a fight serious enough and some kid got a lucky shot.” Jack

“Well, I was going to challenge you to a dual, but with that arm it would hardly feel fair” Johanna

“I’ll get someone to patch it up, by the way how is aunty?” jack

“She is actually just about to go into labor; Mary kicked everyone out of the room so she could work.” Johanna

“In what room?” jack

“Aunties bedroom, but I doubt she’ll let you in, it’s not like you’ve ever delivered a baby before.” Johanna

Ignoring the second part I run upstairs to aunties room, while it is true that I have know nothing of delivering babies I do know something else, soul magic. I was planning on helping both auntie and the baby keep calm and reduce pain.

I get to the room just in time; she went into labor just a moment before. I don’t go inside; instead I sit beside the door, right next to uncle, who is too busy gnawing on his fingers to notice me, while expanding my influence to cover both the mother and the child, who has a surprisingly powerful soul, much more powerful than it did before. Luckily the father is an incubus, which is known for their quick pregnancies, which includes labor.

I use my influence to keep them calm and get rid of as much pain as possible, all in all just trying to make it a smother process for everyone. With my current abilities it would be impossible to reduce the pain too significantly without damaging something, so the amount I can do in that aspect is limited. This usually isn’t a problem.

It only takes an hour, a very stressful hour for me yes, but it was still only an hour. During that time something I found surprising happened, the child reached his soul out and touched mine, it felt like they were trying to comfort and assist me; unfortunately I didn’t have the focus to attempt to communicate.

After it is over I just sit there, recovering, I have never attempted such systemic changes while making absolutely sure that there would be no negative side effects, while I am not expending any soul energy to do so, and the mana I expend is neglible, it is mentally straining. After a couple minutes Mary comes out with blood on her apron and a smile on her face, she barley even registers my presence.

“You can come in now” Mary

I enter the room after uncle, who also barley even registers my presence. I see aunty nursing a baby boy, my baby cousin. Unsurprisingly I can feel his soul brush against mine, portraying a sense of gratitude. Uncle looks at the two of them and laughs a laugh of pure joy before embracing his wife and new son.

After a moment I notice the child touch his parents’ souls, after a moment they both look at him, and then too me.

“So, you somehow helped out, I don’t know how, but thanks.” Uncle

“Soul magic, it can be used to suppress pain more efficiently than arcane magic, although I can’t take all the credit, this little one did help me out” Jack

After a brief discussion they both turn to me, this time it is aunty that talks.

“We want you to be little Nathan’s god father.” Aunty

“of course, why would I decline? I should probably leave you two alone for now, I need to prepare Mary’s birthday gift for tomorrow.” Jack

As I step out the door I see Johanna and the old man coming down the hall, with mary close behind, They pass me by without even a nod of recognition. I head towards the dungeon with hunter in tow, I had forgotten he was even here.

In the dungeon I am greeted by Alfred, who has changed a little, he has started to grow small horns, something goblins don’t do, and his skin has gotten darker. He has obviously evolved.

“Ah jack, I am excited to share my discoveries with you, although the local goblins have started to notice that something is wrong.” Alfred

Before I can speak he hands me a notebook, the first thing I notice about it is that it is not the same notebook I gave him before, the second thing I notice is that it is almost completely full.

“I managed to completely fill up the previous notebook you gave me, I have it in the other room if you will give me a moment.” Alfred

As he runs into the other room hunter asks me who the diseased creature is, that elicits a chuckle from me. I explain that he isn’t diseased, only that he doesn’t have a soul, and that he is my servant. At this point Alfred comes back into the room carrying another notebook, which he hands too me.

“So, you evolved huh, I was curious about whether it was possible for you to evolve.” Jack

“Actually no, I haven’t evolved, these changes are more similar to the changes natural constructs undergo as they get stronger, only without replacing any parts. I have recorded all my observations in the notebooks as you have instructed.” Alfred

“I will look over your notes later, for now I need to prepare Mary’s birthday gift. Go grab me some chains.” Jack

“Gladly” Alfred

I open up an unused cell and bring Elandrel out of my inventory, putting him on a raised platform. Alfred comes in and hands me the chains, which were enchanted through arcane magic too be significantly more durable, expensive, but worth it when you have to keep people who could easily break normal chains restrained.

I chain him to the platform so he can’t move and put a collar on him. The collar was also enchanted, this one to drain his mana and prevent him from taking in any more. After I have him fully restrained I take out the antidote to the poison that was keeping him unconscious and make him breathe in the fumes. Within five minutes he is wide awake, and screaming. I cut off his ability to speak with soul magic, effectively silencing him.

“I wonder, how long will you last?” jack

He responds with little more than a look of terror.

End chapter 72