Zion's senses were overwhelmed as he found himself standing in a brightly lit corridor, the neon blue glow of magelight illuminating ancient stonewalls that bore the scars of time's passage. The crumbling stone hinted at the corridor's age, while the thick layer of dust covering the floor spoke of its disuse.
Before him stretched a long hallway, descending via a spiraling staircase into the unknown depths below. Zion hesitated, uncertain of what lay ahead, but the silence of the corridor urged him to take the first step.
As he moved forward, a sudden wave of pain washed over him, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground. Clutching his head, he felt as though his mind was being torn apart by the flood of information rushing through it.
Desperately, he recalled his father's words, seeking solace in their guidance. "Status," he whispered to himself, repeating the word like a mantra in an attempt to regain control. Slowly, the chaotic barrage of thoughts began to subside, replaced by a singular focus.
And then, in the depths of his mind, he found it: a single sheet of information, clear and concise.
Status:
Name: Zion
Race: Human
Class: None
Level: 0
Tier: String
Faction: None
Health:?
Mana:?
Power:?
Speed:?
Fortitude:?
Vitality:?
Affinity:?
Acuity:?
Resolve:?
Spirit:?
Skills: 0/5
Spell: 0/5
Zion's confusion deepened as he stared at the question marks that filled his status screen. Joining the Weave should have granted him access to his stats, graded from one to ten during the opening ceremony. This unexpected turn defied everything he had been taught, leaving him at a loss for what to do next.
"Move forward, Zion," the ethereal voice echoed through the chamber, breaking the eerie silence. Startled by the sudden sound, he searched for its source but found nothing. "Do not fret, for all is well."
With no other options presenting themselves, Zion reluctantly pressed on, his footsteps disturbing the ancient dust that coated the corridor. The winding staircase seemed to stretch on endlessly, each step a testament to his growing unease. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he reached the bottom and stepped into a vast, open-domed chamber.
Above him, a canopy of stars adorned the night sky, casting a soft glow over the scene below. A single path, surrounded by shimmering cerulean water, led to a simple stone table with two chairs. One chair sat empty, while a breathtaking woman occupied the other.
"Please, sit with me, Zion," Ki's voice beckoned from across the chamber. The Goddess of Mana herself was inviting him to join her. Her appearance matched the descriptions he had read in countless texts: azure hair, glowing eyes, and skin the deepest blue he had ever seen. "I promise I don't bite," she added with a playful smile, her lips parting to reveal perfect teeth.
Uncertain but unable to refuse, Zion approached the table, each step hesitant. Was it truly okay to sit with a deity? Would this act lead to consequences he could not foresee? Despite his reservations, he took his seat beside her, two cups of tea materializing before them. He eyed the steaming beverage cautiously, unsure of what to make of the magically conjured drink.
"Go ahead; there is nothing wrong with it. It’s simple herb tea, one of my favorite things from the mortal realm," Ki reassured him, taking a sip from her own cup. Easing his hesitation, Zion tentatively lifted the teacup to his lips and took a sip. The minty flavor danced across his palate, soothing his nerves with its perfect balance.
With a smack of her lips, Ki set down the teacup and met Zion’s gaze as she spoke with solemnity. "Zion, I have called you here for important matters. Things that could affect the very balance of Nifell. Before I make the details known, I must ask one question. Do you know of the Chosen and Heralds?"
Respecting the gravity of the moment, Zion mirrored her actions and set down his drink before responding, "I know only what was taught within school grounds, Goddess. There are sometimes special individuals who the Deities of Creation choose to fight in a particular name. These Chosen embody that God or Goddess and are given special rewards by the one they follow. Once a Chosen has been named, they no longer talk with their deity. A Herald is very much the same, except they continue conversing with the one who chose them for the rest of their lives. I’ve heard that each deity can only have three Chosen and one Herald every thousand years."
Ki nodded, her expression serene. "All very true, Zion. Textbook even. Please speak to me like you would any other. I have inserted myself within your life. Expecting formalities would be disingenuous."
Realizing her preference, Zion adjusted his tone accordingly. "Yes… Ki. I will try my best to be less formal."
"Good, that is all I ask," she replied, rising from her seat to pace around the table, her four arms extending gracefully. "I have summoned you here because I am in need of a Herald, one to see my will done and protect those I cannot. Out of all those I have seen, I have picked you." With a gentle touch, she placed one of her hands on his head, and a surge of pure mana flowed through him, nearly overwhelming his senses.
Dazed by the sensation, Zion struggled to regain his composure. Ki withdrew her hand with an apologetic gesture as he gathered his thoughts. "You want me to be your Herald? Me, the guy who, up until this morning, would rather have died than take a magical path? You can't tell me there aren't millions of others who would be better suited for this."
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Ki's laughter rang out melodically, filling the chamber with its enchanting sound. "You are not totally wrong, little one. There may be those who follow my way more firmly than you. However, none of them possess what I need." She paused before him, her arms outstretched in a gesture of openness. "I need someone who is willing to walk a path no other has. I want to turn you into the first purely magical adventurer Nifell has ever seen."
“Hold up, you want to do what now?” Zion asked, his hands gripping the chair tightly, his voice filled with disbelief.
“Zion, I have prepared a special class. A one-of-a-kind creation that would blend your physical aspects with your magical ones. You would no longer have to walk just the path of the warrior. You could be a warrior of both spell and steel!” Her response was full of elation as if the offer wasn’t absolutely bonkers.
“Goddess... I mean Ki. That sounds absolutely insane. You know that, right?” She didn’t cut him off, so Zion kept going. “Something like that would be borderline broken. Who could stop someone who only had to focus solely on one set of stats? How would that even work? A body needs to develop physically to withstand the trials of adventuring. That's common knowledge.”
“You overestimate how powerful this would be. For every advantage, there is always a disadvantage. This class is no different; it is a true double-edged sword.” She explained before sitting. “By combining these two halves into one, you would become reliant on mana for everything. It would replace your very life force, or what you know as health. That means for each spell cast, your health would dwindle in battle. Conversely, it also means a greater pool of mana to cast from."
The picture started to paint itself more clearly in his mind, but Ki wasn’t finished yet. “This process would have other negative side effects as well. You would no longer be truly human, Zion. You would become a new race, one who must have mana. In essence, you would be the opposite of the Void.” That little bit of information hit him hard. He’d no longer be human? Sure, it wasn’t like humans were the only race on Nifell, but she was saying he’d be the only one of his kind.
“I know that seems like more downsides than upsides, but you would be wrong. This class would give you the ability to make an impact now. Your strength would match those within their second tier. I would also be here to help guide you through its development. A boon many have died trying to gain.”
“Okay, I won't say I'm not intrigued. I would obviously be lying if I said I wasn't,” he told her with a sigh before dropping his head to the table in irritation. “I do, however, know that no offer this good comes without a catch. My mother always told me you plan many steps ahead.”
Ki grimaced at that, some sorrow lurking behind her perfection. “Your mother was a smart woman and deserved more than she got.” He could hear the conviction in those words, which opened him to the next ones that left her mouth. “I offer this because I need someone to save Nifell. Things have changed; the Deities of Devastation have broken the balance. A new war of Chaos is among us.”
“A new-what-now?” Zion couldn't help but blurt out. Had she just told him that the end of the world was coming, and she wanted him as a pawn? “That sounds way above my level.”
“It most certainly is, Zion. I would go into greater detail if I had enough time, but I am already stretching our meeting further than allowed.” Her words were echoed by the disappearance of the table in front of them. “It has already started to unravel. To be blunt, the other side has learned how to make their own champions, ones within the mortal races. If that wasn’t bad enough, these Champions can enter the Void freely, without harm.”
“There’s no way; they would have to be a chaos fiend for that to be true!” Zion again interrupted her, the words seeming outlandish. Only entities born from the original chaos could withstand the Void. That's why those who got lost there often perished.
“That is correct, Zion. These mortal races have been fused with a chaos fiend. They are sick abominations who may easily undo all the good upon Nifell. Myself and the others are taking steps to help avoid this.” The chairs poofed in response to the words, Zion landing on his ass. She helped him up, her hands smooth as stone. “Time is running short, Zion. Will you accept the role of my Herald? The time to decide has arrived.”
Indecision battled within his mind. Was this the right choice? He was still practically a kid. Setting down this path would have him stand out forever. Not only would he be a Herald, a title he had only ever heard of, but he would also start a new race. Not to mention, he’d be one of the key figures battling against Devastation. Zion started chewing his nails, a habit he had tried but failed to outgrow.
If he didn’t do this, he felt Ki wouldn’t be upset with him. He wasn’t sure why, but he felt true understanding from his connection to her. But how many would die if he did walk away? Would he be able to look at himself if whole Spheres collapsed because of his own fear? What would his mother think?
His mother. Making his mother's name known had been his goal since she died. He had strayed away from magic because of that. What if he made that name known through ONLY magic? He could prove to everyone that when the time came, magic would withstand just as well as steel.
“Goddess Ki, the one who guides the flow of mana within all of Creation, will you allow me to be your Herald?” Zion kneeled before her, projecting his voice with all the confidence he could muster. He would do this. He would follow the path made for him like his mother had wanted.
Ki began to pulse, a vibrant blue emitting from all around her. Her face was alight with joy as she gazed down at him. “Zion, son of Mara and Galen, I choose you to travel my path.” Her first hand let a trickle of pure mana glide down to him. “I choose you to expand the horizon of my ways.” Another hand let forth more mana to join the first, his body starting to shine blue. “I choose you as my Herald. To make my voice heard across the land. To enforce my will upon those committing injustice. To rid Nifell of chaos within its veins. Join me on this journey, Zion, Herald of Ki!”
Her final hands came together with a slap, a massive wave of energy flying forward. The wave hit him and mixed with all the rest gathered around him. It entered his body, lighting up his cells, muscles, bones, and every fiber of what made him Zion. He had expected it to hurt, but it was a moment full of delight. He could feel his body meld with the magic all around him. He felt like he was becoming one with a world he once looked outwards upon. Then, as fast as it had started, it was over.
Yet, as the overwhelming sensation subsided, exhaustion washed over Zion like a tidal wave. He collapsed to the ground, his body spent from the transformation. With grace, Ki caught him as he fell, her touch gentle yet reassuring. She laid him down upon the solid stone, his eyelids growing heavy with sleep.
"Rest now, Zion," Ki's voice, soothing and melodic, echoed in his mind as darkness claimed him. "You have taken the first step on a long journey. Soon, you will hear my voice guiding you forward. But for now, sleep and rejoice in the promise of your future." And with those words, Zion surrendered to the embrace of slumber. His last conscious thought was a fleeting glimpse of an updated status screen.
Status:
Name: Zion
Title: Herald of Ki
Race: Manakin
Class: Magus
Level: 0
Tier: String
Faction: None
Health:0
Mana: 675/675
Power:0
Speed:0
Fortitude:0
Vitality:0
Affinity:17
Acuity:23
Resolve:16
Spirit:20
Skills: 2/5
Shortblades (Journeyman) - Proficiency in the use of shortblades, such as daggers and shortswords, allowing for increased effectiveness of offense and defense. Effects: Minorly improved accuracy and damage when wielding short blades.
Shields (Apprentice) - Proficiency in using shields for defense, providing improved blocking and mitigating damage. Effects: Minor improvement to defense and the ability to block attacks with a shield.
Abilities: 3/10
Arcane Harmony (Racial): Passive skill that manifests the seamless integration of physical and magical prowess. Effects: All physical stats transferred to magical. Physical capabilities rely on mana reserves. Allows the individual to enhance their physical strength, agility, and endurance using mana, creating a harmonious blend of magical and physical abilities.
Mana bolt (Channel) - Unleashes a concentrated burst of raw mana energy, forming a swift and potent projectile that can be directed at targets with precision. Effects: Deal pure magic damage based on mana channeled. Mana per second ratio 10:1
Arcane Shield (Channel) - Conjures a protective barrier woven from pure mana, forming a sturdy defense against incoming attacks. Effects: Absorbs damage based on the amount of channeled mana. Requires a continuous flow of mana to maintain.