[SOLVED] Cannot create local repository .db file with repo-add

Hello! I've got a new Arch install that I'm in the process of setting up, however I wanted to do things differently this time around for the goal of getting this system as stable as possible without sacrificing features. So, the AUR...

I've used yay extensively and paru briefly before, but this time to achieve that goal I wanted to try aurutils with a local repository. I'm in the process of setting that up and using the command: repo-add aur-local.db.tar which gives the output: ==> No changes made to package database.

In all the guides I've gotten open in all these tabs, the output I should be getting starts with this: ==> Creating updated database file...

When I run the command, for a microsecond I get a file appear in Thunar but then disappears. Running pacman -Syy fails as the repo's database file obviously doesn't exist. No matter what I search I can't find anyone else with this problem nor a solution.

My system is a manual Arch installation, no archinstall, using the XFCE desktop. My shell is fish and, I can't see this having any influence whatsoever but my DM is ly.

My pacman.conf: Gitea

My pacman.d/aur-local.conf: Gitea