“What kind of problem?” Leon asked, suspicion written across his face as he narrowed his eyes at Rees.
“Umm… you see,” Rees began, rubbing the side of his skull. “The teleportation spell I intend to use… it consumes a massive amount of mana. On both ends.”
“Both ends?” Leon repeated with a confused look. “What do you mean?”
“Aha… well, that’s another part of the issue,” Rees said with a nervous chuckle. “This spell works using two magic circles—one drawn where we are now, and one drawn at the destination where we want to teleport.”
Leon crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “Something tells me the problems aren’t over yet.”
“T-There might be… one last, very, very small issue,” Rees said sheepishly.
Leon’s voice sharpened. “What is it?”
“If mana isn’t supplied to both circles at the exact same time… the spell fails. There’s only a one-second window to ignite both circles and if-”
“…And if it’s not done simultaneously, it won’t work,” Leon finished the sentence with a sigh.
’These aren’t just problems—they’re conditions we have to fulfill in order to use the motherfucking spell,’ he thought, now wearing a serious expression.
“I can draw the circle here,” Rees continued, “but I can’t feed mana into it. If all of these elves supply mana at once, it should be enough to activate this side.”
“And the other side?” Leon asked, gaze unblinking.
“That’s the problem, Someone has to supply mana to the second circle as well. Simultaneously.” Rees said as he looked at Leon.
“Does the spell require a continuous mana stream or a burst mana supply ?” Leon asked.
“A burst mana supply,” Rees answered immediately. “Once both circles are hit with a mana burst, a spatial connection is formed, and everything standing inside the circle is transported to the other location. Poof~”
Leon nodded, thinking. “Looks like most of your problems are solved then.”
’I am sure Elis can easily fullfill the mana needed in this and since I am also Level ten now… I can recover her mana much faster now.’ Leon thought with a neutral expression.
“Can they supply mana from this side ?” He asked Fruela, pointing towards the Elfs.
“Yes, Master, but their mana has been sealed by those magic restraint bands around their ankles,” Fruela replied, pointing at Guren’s leg.
A thick yellow band clamped tightly around her ankle, faintly glowing with runes.
“The more we struggle in removing it, the tighter it gets,” Guren said, her voice calm but tinged with frustration.
“Umm… could you show me your leg for a moment ?” Rees asked as he raised his bony index finger.
“I-I don’t think—” Guren hesitated, shrinking back.
Fruela placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and gave her a small nod.
Reluctantly, Guren stepped forward and showed the band to Rees.
He crouched down and began tapping it with his finger in specific patterns.
*Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap*
*Click*
*Thud*
In just a few seconds, the band loosened and dropped to the floor with a dull thud.
“How did you—!?” Guren stared at the band in disbelief.
“Every magical device has flaws. And this one? I designed it so I knew it’s working,” Rees said, standing once again.
“What do you mean, you designed it ?” Leon asked, his expression hardening.
“When my necroheart was stolen, some of my schematics for magic equipment were taken too. This restraint was one of them. The kid who captured me forced me to wear it, but I removed it the same day.” Rees replied with a neutral expression.
Leon’s eyes narrowed. “You keep calling him ’kid.’ How long have you been locked up down here?”
Rees tapped his chin. “Fourt—no, fifty years, three months, and… I think today is day twenty-nine. Turns out no one wants a useless skeleton as their slave.”
’This bastard is so intelligent and he is just lying in this stupid place for so long ? There is no way he couldn’t get a single chance to escape from this place.’ Leon thought with a shocked expression.
“Alright,” Rees said as he turned toward the others. “Please come up one by one. I’ll remove the bands from your legs as well.”
Though the elves were visibly terrified, Fruela and Guren did their best to calm them. Slowly but surely, they began approaching Rees, each receiving the same quick taps and hearing the satisfying click of their restraints falling away.
Leon turned back to Rees. “What kind of circle do I need to draw on the other side ?”
“Ah yes. I’ll need a page and a quill,” Rees replied.
Leon didn’t even respond—he simply looked towards Jennifer.
“I-I’ll have to go upstairs to get them…” she said hesitantly.
“Fruela, accompany her,” Leon instructed calmly.
“As you command, Master,” Fruela responded, immediately walking over to Jennifer.
“Let’s go,” she said, her tone flat.
“Y-Yes,” Jennifer nodded and led the way up the stairs.
…
A few minutes later, they returned. Jennifer handed over ten sheets of paper, a pot of ink, and a quill to Rees before stepping aside.
Rees sat down and began drawing the teleportation circle. His skeletal hand moved with sharp precision, ink flowing as he created complex glyphs, runes, and sigils. It took ten minutes, but finally, he was done.
“Here.” He handed the page to Leon. “Just replicate this on the ground where you want the teleportation to go. As big as possible.”
Leon took the page, folded it carefully, and slipped it into his pocket. “Understood.”
“Umm… how will we know when to activate the circle?” Guren asked, looking puzzled.
Leon held out his hand. “Jennifer, give me the keys.”
“Y-Yes…” she obeyed immediately.
Leon activated his skill.
“Threads.”
The keys floated in midair, wrapped in invisible mana threads.
“When these keys fall to the ground, you flood the circle with mana. No hesitation. Understood ?” Leon asked with a serious expression.
Guren nodded. “Got it.”
“Is the destination nearby?” Rees asked curiously.
“It’s in the Vinceral Forest,” Leon replied.
“What ?! That’s far. Your magic won’t hold beyond ten or twelve meters. The spell will fail if your magic fades.”
“You don’t have to worry about it,” Leon said, turning away. “The keys will stay up. Just focus on drawing the circle here.”
He paused, then pointed at Jennifer. “Fruela… take her with you. Don’t leave her behind and until he makes the circle, why don’t you guys go up and get your clothes and ornaments back that Richard took from you ?
I don’t want to see you guys roaming in those stupid bags inside my dungeon.” Leon instructed.
“As you command, Master,” Fruela replied, walking over to Jennifer again.
“You’re coming with me. Move. Come on guys.”
Jennifer nodded quickly and followed.
“Okay… now then,” Rees said as he looked at the floor. “It’s been a while since I drew magic circles.”