Kan'na and Tilia were brought to a secluded room. The very same room where they were debriefed on the matters regarding the East. Once again it was simply Kayne and Hala. This time most of the party of Six Lights wasn't present, but now the pressure was reversed.
In the face of a Goddess, and a powerful Third Stage fighter, Kayne and Hala didn't feel an ounce of authority. Yet Kayne kept his dignity as a King and spoke first, "I thank you for your efforts regarding not only finding me, but all the victims affected by this terrible event."
Tilia spread out her hands, "It was not purely out of our kindness your Majesty."
"Please just call me Kayne. Only my soldiers and Guards call me Majesty.", Kayne closed his eyes for a second while contemplating before continuing, "Now, what exactly occurred?"
Tilia gestured towards Kan'na, "She has more information regarding the specifics."
Without waiting to be addressed Kan'na explained, "Some mysterious organization recreated a powerful tool known as Truth. I call them Artificial Truths because they pale in comparison to the real thing, but still hold their might."
"Hala informed me you had a theory regarding a device being responsible, I take it these 'Artificial Truths' is these device or devices?"
"This is correct. The Artificial Truths are Select, Sorrow, Insanity, Axis, Reality, Act, Moment, Reset, and Humanity. Select is responsible for the chosen victims, it indeed picked at random until the other Artificial Truths were in danger. At that point it started to pick the closest victims. Once you're selected you are put through a process to prepare for your humanity to be siphoned."
"Humanity being siphoned. . . what about the side effects?"
"It's already been treated, except for Wyrell. You won't have to worry about this happening again, nor there being any lingering side effects. Just in case I am researching this topic, but that's all the information I have at the moment."
"Is it possible there's other devices meant to do the same thing?"
"I can't deny this. Whoever designed the Artificial Truths most likely have experience in this matter, but the area we found you all in was dated at least several decades. I can't say for certain that no other Artificial Truths exist, but the combination shouldn't at the very least. Again, I'll be researching into this."
Kayne rubbed his temples, "Alright, as much as I don't want to ask I fear I'll have to do so for the safety of my Kingdom. In the scenario where these Artificial Truths are activated again how could I contact you?"
"I'll need a sizeable mana crystal of decent quality.", Kan'na didn't directly answer but made a request.
Looking towards Hala Kayne nodded, and she swiftly left. It took her only a few moments before returning with a mana crystal that needed to be held with two hands. Kan'na rose an eyebrow before having it float towards her.
Splitting it into two she morphed the crystal into two spheres. Rapidly inscribing a complex set of runes within one she inspected her work before having it float to Kayne. Gently grabbing the sphere he asked, "This is?"
"I call them Pseudo 3D Magic Spheres. You can just call them magic spheres though. In the case of an emergency, you can infuse your mana into the sphere and I'll be informed as soon as possible. Additionally I tied it to your mana signature itself Kayne, so only you can use it."
With a gentle flick of his wrist Kayne had the sphere vanish, a light flashing on one of his rings. Visibly relieved the thanked Kan'na, "You've done me a great service. Both of you have. Now, such deeds are undoubtedly not without reward. I plan on having the established bounty for saving me be directly given to you. However you've also saved thousands of others, I feel my reward falls short."
Kayne leaned forward, "So I ask of you, what is it you desire?"
"The right to purchase Rubar.", Tilia was direct, "If possible I'd like to exchange some of the reward to directly purchase it instead."
Kayne and Hala didn't blink and instead looked towards Kan'na. With a shrug she said, "Allow My name to be spread through your Kingdom. I have no need for anything else."
"We won't be able to convert those who already have faith in other Gods."
"I intend not to encroach on their authority. Simply spread word that the Goddess of Mana was behind the return of those who were lost. If they choose to have faith in Me, then that is their decision."
"This is. . . all you two wish for?"
Tilia and Kan'na glanced towards each other. The way the question was phrased was in disbelief. For a moment the two couldn't quite understand why Kayne said it like that. So Tilia confirmed it, "That is what we need."
Kayne leaned back into his chair and looked at Hala. A wry smile formed on her lips as she said, "We had prepared to pay an extreme price. You not only saved his Majesty, but thousands of others. Instead you ask for something small such as the right to purchase Rubar, and us to spread word of your deeds? This is. . . simply not acceptable!"
Tilia frowned, "Is Rubar that valuable? I didn't expect this."
"You misunderstand Hala.", Kayne couldn't help but chuckle, "The reward you're asking for is simply too low! I should have expected this, Six Lights asked for a lower price for their help in the East. To think you'd still not take advantage of someone's generosity."
Clapping his hands together he spoke, "I doubt you will ask for anything else, so I shall take matters into my own hands. You wish for Rubar? I will present you a whole mine! We shall simply take a portion of the Rubar to pay for operational costs. As for you Kan'na, we'll have a Church built in your name."
Tilia turned it down, "I have no need for a whole mine of Rubar. I simply wished for enough to make a new set of equipment."
"If you have no need for the Rubar we will purchase it from you at the market price. Although Rubar is valuable, it is only because of its high demand. We have plenty of mines to satisfy the constant needs of the Fourth Stages."
"I see. . .", Tilia began to understand that Kayne was going to be adamant about this, "Then I shall humbly accept."
"Very good. Now Kan'na. . . is it fine for me to continue using this name? I can refer to You as the Goddess of Mana."
Kan'na waved it away, "I do not concern myself with that. Use whichever you're more comfortable using."
"Very well Kan'na, You've done us a great favor. Your Church will have an incredible land, but it will require Your blessing and Your guidance."
Rubbing her chin Kan'na smiled, "I am very pleased with this. I can do this much, I hold much interest in this matter right now."
"I am glad. I'll have everything arranged, Tilia your mana signature is needed for the transfer of rights."
"I'll remain in the Kingdom for a little while longer."
"This is good, I'll send for you when the time is ready. The same for you Kan'na. Now if you'll excuse me I have many matters to tend to. There's a backlog of several weeks that needs to be handled."
"We won't take any more of your time.", Tilia stood up and motioned for Kan'na.
With a faint snap the two disappeared from the room. Kayne waited a few seconds before sighing, "Six Lights. . . what did we do to deserve such people?"
"To think they are so willing to lend a hand.", Hala lowered her head as she thought about the other forces connected with Six Lights, "Let us be glad they're not our enemies."
Kayne chuckled, "I can only agree."
. . .
Teleporting back home Kan'na dramatically fell onto the couch, "What a trip you brought me on!"
"I hadn't expected it to be like this.", Tilia apologized.
"No matter, the concept of Artificial Truths are interesting. I'll be looking into it during my spare time. In the mean time. . .", Kan'na reached into the subspace and pulled out an orb.
She tossed it and Tilia caught it. Inspecting the orb she found several tiny runes inscribed both on the surface and deep within the orb. With a frown she asked, "Isn't this what you gave to the King?"
"Sorta, in this case this one is for something else.", Kan'na made an effort to sit up properly on the couch, "That will teleport you back to the central continent."
Tilia rose an eyebrow, "What? Why are you giving this to me?"
"I saw the way you looked at me when I mentioned I sent Akiol to the west. I had a feeling you'd want to go back to the east to meet those dwarves again. So I made the return key ahead of time."
"You know me so well. . .", Tilia lifted it up higher to allow light to shine through the orb, "Does this mean I can bother you when I'm ready for the trip east?"
"Of course, it's relatively simple. Granted I still can't make a guaranteed endpoint. Whatever lurks in the ocean interferes with my coordinates, so it's a bit of a random box."
"Unreliable, but it's still a method.", Tilia spoke to herself.
"My specialty.", Kan'na made a self deprecating comment.
Storing it within her bag Tilia smiled, "Guess I have to find the other material since I've secured Rubar."
"Didn't you already figure that out?"
"I did, there was a given idea of abusing my inability to be knocked back. Entirely relying on damage reduction and a material that slightly healed any damage I could take."
Kan'na choked on some spit as she thought about it, "The immortal build!"
"Yes, but I decided that might not be my best choice now. After I drank the final drop of the Droplets of Life, I gained the [Life Renascence] Skill. With it my Unique Skill has been realized."
Unique Skill! These were within the vast amount of notifications when ascending to Third Stage! However ascending to Third Stage wasn't enough to finish it! One would have to continue their path down a Third Stage before finally finishing it!
Of course there was some exclusions, for instance Kan'na and her Key to All was counted as the Unique Skill when she ascended.
"Oh? What's it called?", Kan'na was interested.
"[Pain Fueled].", Tilia made a complicated expression.