Jon and Eis left the Vanishing Palace moments after concluding their conversation with Delila and Nestor. The human and ice devil spirit joined back up with Avahni and the others, still led by Aerilayna and Mael. The former tapping her foot impatiently, staring at him with crossed arms and a somewhat pointed expression.

The presence of the White Devil Of The Ninth Circle caused a few heads to turn, seeing this humanoid figure with horns sprouting from their head, but stopped the moment their observation-type abilities revealed her status as a summoned companion. Mael too seemed surprised that Jon possessed a humanoid summoned companion, eyes lingering on Schwarz Eis' hoodie-clothed figure.

"You're late!" She exclaimed, tilting her head backwards while narrowing her eyes.

All the fear that she once had for Jon and Eis had vanished, now knowing his personality. And with the addition of both Mael and Avahni at her side, Aerilayna felt as though she was a tiger than had sprouted wings.

"I met with Delila and Nestor." His words snapping Mael out of his trance, "I asked if she could give us the go ahead to manifest Wilheim's Fragment Of Manor within Springtown."

Aerilayna's lofty demeanour shattering beneath the mention of one of the three leaders of Springtown. Although she did not know the exact effects of the Vanishing Palace Bridge, she did not think that Jon would be able to hide his status as a Knight from someone as perceptible as Nestor.

"Y-you met with Delila? And Nestor?" She could not help but ask.

Jon half-glanced towards her, smirking as he nodded.

"We're both humans so we had a bit to talk about. Most of it was about our experiences in the System Introduction thus far, but some of it was about our eventual return to Earth. There was… one other topic we discussed, although, that was between Delila and I." Jon gave the blonde-haired lutin a wink, watching as her prideful disposition crumbled in the face of his half-truths.

His attention turning away from Aerilayna and back towards his four companions.

"I got permission for us to manifest Harcourt within the boundaries of Springtown. Nestor mentioned that the size of the summoned construct might be too large to be placed near any other landmark so gave us a portion of land in the western sections of Springtown."

"We can manifest it right now if you have the spiritual energy?" Jon said, shrugging his shoulders gesturing in the direction where Delila had shown him.

He watched as the very mention of the Wonderous Forest Dwelling brought a smile to Wilheim's face. Aerilayna being comforted by Avahni behind him, still reeling from the fact that Jon was on a first name basis with Delila after just one meeting with her.

Wilheim on the other hand, turned towards Sariel, gesturing for her to manifest the [Gluttonous Bird Of Cobalt Sanctuary]. He had stored a spare Fragment Of Manor within her Fragment Of Gula knowing that Sariel would not integrate such a fragment given the build that she was trying to form.

"Thanks Jon!" He said, excitement overflowing from his Mental Sylvascape.

Gesturing towards the western sections of the Safe Zone, Jon led their group, Aerilayna and Mael included, in the direction where Delila agreed for them to manifest Wilheim's Fragment Of Manor. The group of eight, with Eis taking up the rear, strolled past Trade Street the location where all denizens of Springtown could come to trade and barter their goods and services.

Although most requests were placed within the halls of the Vanishing Palace Bridge, most of the actual trading within Springtown was done on this street.

"Fragment Of Insight! Come and get your Fragments Of Insight! I've got Fragments Of Observation, Fragments Of Sight, Fragments Of Inspection, Fragments Of Analysis and a whole bunch more!"

"Certified creationist looking for work! I excel in the creation of storage-type spiritual items! Prices are negotiable but universal fragments are preferred!"

"Looking to buy fire-type fragments! Fragments Of Blaze and Fragments Of Inferno! Looking to purchase Fragments Of Incineration and Fragments Of Cinders!"

"Come one and come all! An assortment of fragments from the Vine-Ocean Jungle are all we have available today! I've got Fragments Of Tree, Fragments Of Vines, Fragments Of Humid, Fragments Of Growth and a whole bunch more just waiting to be bought!

"Anyone in need of a creationist! Specializing in the creation of jewellery-type spiritual items! Fragments Of Ruby, Fragments Of Emerald and Fragments Of Topaz are what I ask for in exchange!"

Jon walked past more than a dozen humans, lutins, and appaloscians discuss potential trade agreements, negotiating details about their exchange of services. Several summoned companions that took the form of birds, floating eyeballs, canines and imps sat atop stalls and carts eyeing the goods of their summoners. Considering that Thief Mana Cores existed, alongside Fragments Of Plunder and Fragments Of Theft, Jon could see why people would use their summoned companions in such a manner.

His gaze glancing towards Eis for a moment before noticing the ice devil spirit glare at him, causing him to laugh before continuing past Trade Street. Sariel and Shamael observing the magical market, expressions of awe and wonder displayed across their faces.

Neither of them had been to such a loud and vibrant marketplace before.

Although their parents had told them of such places in larger cities outside of the archipelago, neither one of them had seen such a thing before with their own two eyes. The two of them even saw a handful of other satanas chatting with a group of vermitons, some with skin colours unfamiliar to them.

Shamael found himself starring at said satanas, before feeling Wilheim pull at the hem of his sleeve, gesturing towards Jon more than dozen metres in front of them.

"C'mon! You're going to get lost if you don't keep up!" He said, urging Shamael to follow behind him.

It took about fifteen minutes to walk from Takamagahara to the empty western sections of the Safe Zone. Although there were no houses or buildings for a hundred metres in any given direction, there was a few potholes carved into the dirt, evidence of someone testing out one of the manifested abilities.

Looking around, Jon turned towards Wilheim, shrugging his shoulders.

"Will this do Wilheim?" He asked.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

The man did not respond verbally, merely smiling and extending his open palm forward, Fragment Of Manor placed in its centre. With a not-so-subtle burst of castle natured spiritual energy, Jon retreated backwards several steps, feeling the spiritual energy from Wilheim's Castle Mana Core saturate the earth beneath his feet.

Wilheim began reciting the chant to manifest Harcourt; Wonderous Forest Dwelling.

It was one of the few effect descriptions that he was willing to share with Avahni and the others, although not one that he had mentioned in quite some time. Jon scratching the top of his head, trying to remember the exact details of his effect description.

[Fragment Of Manor] [Harcourt; Wondrous Forest Dwelling] (Castle, Manor, Summon, Ability, Spell, Buff)

Effect (Mortal): Perform a ritual to summon Harcourt; Wondrous Forest Dwelling. Harcourt is a pseudo-spiritual construct formed from the coalescence of a Fragment Of Manor and a Castle Mana Core. Harcourt contains within it the graceful elegance of forest and nature, alongside the defensive might of a stone-wood castle.

Harcourt manifests in the form of a three-story forest manor alongside a battlement which surrounds half of the Wonderous Forest Dwelling. Harcourt is constructed from wood-tempered stone and additionally possesses a single watchtower which can be accessed through the battlement.

The internal structure of Harcourt is subject to change, however, requires additional spiritual energy input in order to manifest specific or dramatic changes. Those that rest within the boundaries of Harcourt are granted an instance of [Wonderous Gift] for a duration equal to one tenth the amount of time rested.

[Wonderous Gift]: Increases mana regeneration.

It made Jon want his own version of the Wonderous Forest Dwelling. Although it would require him to obtain additional copies of a ritual catalyst, the buffs that building-type spiritual constructs could grant those that dwelled within were worth it in his eyes.

The integration of additional concepts at Knighthood and Lordship would transform the Wonderous Forest Dwelling even further in the future. Fragments Of Armour could improve its defensive structure, while Fragments Of Wall could expand the battlement which stretched around two sides of Harcourt.

Fragments Of Shield could allow it to manifest a spiritual shield, while Fragments Of Labyrinth or Fragments Of Maze could twist and expand its internal structure, confusing those who attempted to enter it.

The possibilities were almost endless!

The moment that Wilheim finished chanting his ritual of summoning, a vast golden-coloured glow seemed to fill the earth beneath his feet. The light of castle natured spiritual energy filled the air, illuminating the western sections of Springtown.

Those with Fragments Of Perception or Fragments Of Sense felt this ripple of spiritual energy, lifting their heads and turning their focus in the direction where Wilheim and the others gathered. Vermitons, humans, drus and floresiensis alike all gazed in the direction where this golden-glow blossomed, feeling the presence of an unfamiliar type of spiritual energy.

Delila too, from within the boundaries of Takamagahara, felt the manifestation of Harcourt even from several hundred metres away. Her Civilization Mana Core and Information Mana Core thrumming in response to its presence.

Jon narrowed his Minerva-Sagacity Eyes, while Avahni, Aerilayna and the others all covered them, not daring to look into this pure golden light. His breath hitched, seeing threads and blocks of castle natured spiritual energy gain physical form, coalescing into the shape of a traditional French manor.

Albeit one with a battlement extending from the third-floor. Something that stretched more than three dozen metres in a single direction before bending at a ninety-degree angle, extending another three dozen metres, parallel to another side of the Wonderous Forest Dwelling.

The tower-fortification serving as "joint" between each battlement, extending even higher than the rest of Harcourt.

Vines and leaves started growing alongside the external walls, but without overwhelming the appearance of the Fragment Of Manor. Windows adorned with frosted glass prevented Jon from perceiving into Harcourt, emanating the presence of castle natured spiritual energy.

Jon could not deny how beautiful the Fragment Of Manor was. The renaissance-era mansion both harmonized with the surrounding flora but did not give him the impression that it was weak or indefensible. The golden-wood panelling around the windows was unlike anything he had ever seen before, and the structure of the battlements and entrances did not seem out of place, despite its design.

Before Jon even had a chance to say anything, Wilheim rushed towards the enormous wooden door that served at its main entrance, gesturing for them to follow him.

"Last one inside owes me a Fragment Of Manor!" He shouted, grinning as he disappeared inside. Before Jon even had a chance to blink, three figures rushed out from behind him, swiftly following Wilheim inside the Wonderous Forest Dwelling. Avahni, Shamael and Sariel sprinting past him and entering through the enormous wooden door that served as the entrance.

Before he even realized it he too was running behind them, entering the French-styled manor with a smile on his face and happiness bubbling up within his Sea Of Knowledge. His mind in awe of the detailed internal structure of the Fragment Of Manor, rushing past the kitchen and several bedrooms, taking note of a luxurious-looking sitting room, albeit devoid of furniture of any kind.

Aerilayna, Mael and Eis continuing to stand out the front of Harcourt. The ice devil spirit letting out a small sigh, shaking her head at Jon's youthfulness. Although she knew she was partly to blame, informing him that summoned companions could not enter building-type summoned constructs without the permission of the summoner.

'Oh well, at least he's having fun,' Eis thought to herself.

The area that just the manor took up was close to a hundred-thousand square metres when one included the battlement and tower. Quite impressive for a Mortal Ranked ability. Eis herself was interested in the fragments that Wilheim intended to integrate into his specific ability, knowing that it could become something astounding depending on whether he decides to transform [Harcourt; Wonderous Forest Dwelling] into a fragment pathway.

The White Devil Of The Winter Castle felt that things were about to change for Jon. The formation of his "Merchant Guild" within Springtown would depend on his actions in the coming days. With Avahni at his side, he would be able to explore the rest of the small realm at a much swifter pace, Wilheim and Sariel fulfilling supportive effects from the rear.

Shamael's abilities were a strange mixture of Avahni's, Jon's and Sariel's.

He had wanted to assume the role of a "guardian" within the group, someone capable of absorbing incredible amounts of damage and debilitating effects. His Title; Legionnaire Of Virtuous Pestilence assisted in that, although his primary method of doing so was through his new Hydra Mana Core and Summon Mana Core.

With the integration of a Fragment Of Transformation into said Hydra Mana Core, Shamael was beginning to walk his own Path, one that partially mirrored those around him. He was still accumulating more fragments in order to manifest his other summoned companions but was swiftly pushing himself closer and closer towards Knighthood with each passing day.

They all were.

Schwarz Eis let out a small sigh, before allowing herself to dissipate into motes of ice natured spiritual energy. She was relieved that this Delila character was not as overbearing as the image that Aerilayna had portrayed of her.

She assumed that since Jon was a Knight, Delila would be more motivated to accommodate Jon within Springtown. Knowing that she had encountered Theodore urged her to align with another Knight in order to protect themselves from another potential threat.

The best way to deal with a Knight after all, was with another Knight.

'I hope Jon will integrate more fragments soon. Although I share in his trust with Avahni, the Incarnation Of The Hunt and Virtuous Flame, Grand Destruction are two individuals whose hands I would not dare to place Jon's life in.'

'Even with Song Lian Yu to deal with Ler Setanta, the presence of five other Memento Source wielding summoned companions is beyond annoying to deal with. How such a thing is possible is beyond-.'

Eis' eyes widening in the realization of what concepts were contained within Avahni's Source.

'Wait… why didn't I think of that before? If that is true then… She might be the most valuable resource throughout the entire 37th universe!'

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