Chapter 28: A Girl
We have been informed that surprisingly, the daughter of Ahana Kan and Asrealt Kan, is not to be monitored. The target has changed to the son of Keala Hukku-Kan and Vasu Kan. It has been shown that the boy has surprising talent when it comes to walking the Path of the Mind and Body. This status has been updated because of Princess Moriah’s birthday. The new target has shown incredible training and resilience. The target suffered from third and fourth-degree burns and completely lost the use of one limb. When fully recovered with a 10th tier spell scroll the target was deemed completely fine physically and mentally. For a child that young even if they’re from the renowned Kan bloodline to not suffer any mental debilitations is incredible. Further study has been deemed necessary on the new target. This has proven to be rather uneventful as the Kan household keeps their heir tightly behind their castle gates. Infiltration is under processing.
* A report by an unknown Watcher.
She took a long, deep breath then exhaled. Then she repeated the process twice more before the courage she knew she had come forth provided her heat and the will she needed. Then she entered the room, sitting peacefully enjoying a beverage was Aegis. Was he a friend? A lover? Or were they now strangers. It’s been years since the two of them traveled deep into the Catacombs watching each other’s back while their lives were on the line. Her icy blue eyes met his. There was a pause and for a moment that seemed locked in time, their gazes held one another.
Aegis studied her while she did the same. He was mature. That was the first thing she noticed. The careless air that surrounded him seemed to be all but gone and now in front of her was a young magi human on a mission to change this world. Her thoughts drifted to when that young man saved her very soul and the power she wielded because of those actions.
Ryna was the first to look away and her eyes began to explore the rest of the room. Aegis office space was covered in the symbol of his house while small trophies were decorated around the room. Items he collected over the years from his kills.
“It’s been a while.”
Ryna smiled at the words before she responded.
“It’s been quite some time.
Her eyes were still roaming the room and only returned to Aegis once he stood. He was massive standing heads taller than she and Ryna watched as he gestured for them to take a seat on the couches.
“I only sit behind the desk for people I’m not acquainted with. Murnia, can you bring some refreshments,” Aegis called out the last part.
The maid wasn’t present in the room, but Ryna did not doubt that something would be brought shortly.
She took a moment to collect her thoughts. The High Priestess had several expectations for her and now that Aegis had released his magic into the world. The High Priestess wanted to do everything within her power to contact their goddess and in the meantime, Ryna was to secure Aegis. By love, sex, or whatever means Ryna could use to complete her objective.
“Do you remember what you said when you first offered to save my life?”
Ryna watched as he looked up to the ceiling as his mind seemed to recall the information before he looked back at her.
“Yes,” Aegis softly said.
“I made you swear an oath using magic. To never tell a soul or your patron about my power yet,” he paused, and his head slowly returned while his eyes locked with hers before she looked away.
“Yet here we are.”
“Yet here we are,” Ryna responded.
“I don’t regret my actions at the time. I did what I thought was necessary to protect myself.”
“It’s ok I understand your reasoning. Did you know Dax visits me weekly? All he talks about is you and how lucky he feels to be your apprentice. Yet, I’ve never once seen you on the fields training with him. You’ve changed Aegis Kan.”
Ryna didn’t know where the courage to say what she said came but the moment it began she unleashed it like a flood. This was no longer the young man she fell for. Their eyes locked once again but this time Ryna held his gaze. A knock from the door broke their staring contest and Murnia entered the door bringing in fresh fruit and iced juice. She set the items on a table near them before leaving closing the door gently behind her.
Ryna’s thoughts were in turmoil. This was no longer the young man she fell for. It was clear in his gaze. His eyes had changed from the white dots in an inky blackness to blues and golds.
For a few moments they enjoyed the snacks in silence then Aegis spoke.
“I have changed. I’ve improved and day by day I near the power to change the Empire change the world. I have traveled to Redcoomshi, improved my bloodline, I have gathered over five thousand common men and turned them into soldiers the Empire will sing about. I have changed. Have you?”
“What did you come here for Ryna? What is it that you want?”
Ryna stayed silent not out of fear or because she didn’t know how to respond. She stayed quiet because of the pressure exuded by Aegis as he spoke. His force and aura broke out and almost suffocated her as she sat.
“Gen…genesis,” she gasped out intending to activate her perk but the sudden force that was present dispersed.
“I’m sorry, I’m still getting used to this new level of strength. I think we’re done here, however.”
Ryna just stared. Who was this man in front of her?
“Murnia, if you’ll escort my guest out.”
Ryna snapped out of her shock and quickly spoke.
“The Church of Arva plans to come along once you set out as well as the Church of Rirrypha. I was sent as a representative to inform you. Good day.”
Ryna quickly left, almost running to the door in her haste to leave. An unresolved pain left her chest. From today onwards they were strangers Ryna vowed deep in her heart.
*
I watched as Ryna left and let out a breath, I didn’t know I was holding. What I said was harsh, yet I wanted the hand-controlling Ryna in the back to know that there was no longer anything between us. The feelings in my heart that once existed for her had faded over time. In truth, I knew the subject of my love would most likely be decided by my mother. It was the fate of someone in my position and as I grew comfortable being the Young Lord matters the common man would stress overgrew irrelevant to me. I had bigger things to worry about. The Nox were coming. Yesterday a soldier I dispatched with Karla returned informing us that an allied race of the Last Kingdom fell to the Nox hordes and the war that had been skirmishes for a few years fully blossomed anew.
Even with this report, I left the decision of how fast we should mobilize and respond to Amaya. The plan was to allow our soldiers to become accustomed to one another for two weeks before we marched, and Amaya decided to follow through. It would not do for us to somehow take a major blow from our troops not being prepared for one another. Now that I was done with Ryna, I would be meeting my cousin to test my new level of strength.
Just as I was leaving to return to my room and change a notification appeared in front of me.
Congratulations!
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You have successfully inducted over 6500 users into the System.
Hidden Mission Details:
Convert a small towns worth of people into aspect users.
Reward:
1 Perk Upgrade Token.
With the notification came the recall of a perk upgrade token. This would be my second and my thoughts blazed as I pulled up my aspects to decide which perk, I would be upgrading.
I had a few options before me I could cash it all-in on one perk or I could raise the two new perks I received. For a few moments, I sat in silence contemplating what would be the best decision. I didn’t hesitate for long hesitation led to in-action. I would use both Perk Upgrade Tokens on the very first perk I received.
“Put both tokens into Ashes Fall [Beyond].”
For a moment nothing occurred. Then reality slowed and I felt the power of my aspect react. If you’ve ever gotten a randomly tingly feeling while sitting or just living your life. That is what it felt like, and with that feeling, I could feel my cultivation solidify.
Congratulations! You have successfully maxed the first of your perks for the Aspect: Starlit Harbinger. In doing so you have unlocked your second passive Prelude of Ash.
Aspect: Starlit Harbinger
(40) %
Effect: Increase in all stats which include but are not limited to endurance, vitality, speed, magic, and strength. When under starlight gain a 20% greater increase. Gain the skill Perfect Recall, allowing you to recall special moments with perfect clarity. Increase combat damage output by 15%. When calling upon your bloodline all powers and effects are concentrated and strengthened within a range of 20ft.
Perks:
Ashes Fall [Beyond] (Max): Summon ashes from [Beyond] which will drain vitality/mana and sap mental endurance (Major). Only affects living objects. Those who fail to extricate themselves from this ability in time will begin to build stacks upon themselves. Once an enemy reaches five stacks’ users may harvest these stacks returning health/mana and mental endurance to themselves. Enemies that have been harvested once are inflicted with [Transcendent Dawn]. Harvested target’s soul shall take the damage instead of the body. Damage is doubled for each new stack upon the target.
Starlit Eyes (Tier 2): See in the dark without light interference. Can see through illusions (Minor).
[Beyond] Gaze (Tier 1): This is a permanently activated ability. Allows users to see into the Beyond glimpsing events that will happen shortly.
Dragon’s Health (Passive) (Tier 2): Passively regenerates vitality and mana (Average). Increase mental endurance (Average).
Prelude of Ash (Passive) (Tier 1): When in combat surrounded by ashes a Dean of Ash shall be summoned as a physical construct.
I’d yet to even test out the second part of Ashes Fall [Beyond] and now I’ve maxed the perk. I didn’t want to use the third part of the perk in training against Amaya and the second passive was interesting. What was a Dean of Ash and how could it assist me in battle?
I stood up from my seat and only now did I notice the setting sun. It was mid-evening when I said my final goodbye to Ryna. How did the upgrade of my perk take so much time? I left my office and headed towards the military district. Amaya would be there as usual hopefully she wouldn’t be too upset.
*
I glanced at my cousin across the field who was still glaring at me. I smiled ruefully knowing she would be bashing me with spells. She was a good fifty feet away but in truth, I could arrive before her in the blink of an eye. This was the distance she set as Amaya wanted the close combat training. She was still upset about how Count Caccula had evaded all detection to arrive in front of her and she wanted to test some spells that worked well against an enemy closing in on a mage.
I made her promise to start all spell casting or general use of abilities with her aspects. My cousin had powerful aspects and the perks that came with them would give her an advantage even with the tier difference. The Quick Caster perk she held allowed her to cast indirectly without the absurd mana cost. While True Spell Caster would allow her to hold three spells in reserve. Spells I was certain would be ready the moment we began.
Far from where they could be affected were several of the new commanders of the Crimson Army. The sons and daughters of the nobles I’d been so opposed to.
I locked eyes with Amaya and nodded. I was ready.
“Let’s begin.”
Immediately I shot forward while I opened my mouth to speak.
“I call to you fireflies who’ve lost their spark come from [Beyond].”
As I arrived before Amaya, I reached out intending to grab her only for my hand to pass through. An illusion but I was already reacting activating another of my perks as I felt danger coming from my left side my shield was now in hand but I would be too late so I activated another option.
“I am the Fortress, and the Fortress shall move, gritting itself through all damage it may take.”
A blast of earth sent me shooting off hundreds of feet but my grip on my training ax never faltered. We weren’t wearing our armor but with my body’s natural hardiness and the perk Adventurer’s Grit activated the damage I took was minimal. Calmly I let Ashes Fall [Beyond] deactivate. I realized it would be little use as Amaya would not be in melee range long enough for the stacks to take effect. The range of the ability was currently around 30ft, but I felt like I could extend it when it was activated. My aura billowed out and I moved to dodge another earth bullet. I turned towards the source only to see dozens of Amaya’s every casting. As I watched a dozen fireballs appeared in the air. I was certain most would be illusionary but as I prepare to move in, and attack Amaya’s voice rang across the training field.
“My eyes can see through it all, you have crossed the boundary, and such shall be Judged, A Field of Law in threes shall be established.”
I moved it was clear Amaya was planning on ending this quickly and I could not allow her to activate any laws.
Indirectly casting I shifted the earth underneath the Amaya’s. The effect of my indirect casting was like seismic collapse but on a much weaker scale. That cost me roughly a fifth of my mana and whatever law Amaya was thinking of was paused and I flashed forward. Appearing by the first of the illusions and chopping it in half.
The fireballs all flew towards me and the ground underneath my feet turned liquid then resolidified trapping me for a moment. The moment was enough for Amaya however and the first of her laws were stated.
“Law One: No opponent shall purposely target one beneath their tier.”
I could feel the essence turn chaotic from our casting and battle pause. It seemed like the magic debated on whether it would listen to Amaya’s words or not before it agreed.
“Law Two: Opponents must announce their intentions before attacking.”
My bloodline erupted from me, and the illusions of my cousin burnt away before the real one was revealed slightly off in the distance and out of range. I made to take a step towards her but the essence in the air pushed against me.
“I will be firing a fireball and pulling moisture from the air.”
Amaya once again spoke and now I would have to truly concentrate to see how I could break the hold she had on the magic in the air.
If you’ve ever been in a small, enclosed space that’s how it felt in trying to go against the essence that agreed with Amaya’s Laws. Yet I was determined to figure out how to break it. I swiftly dodge and a fireball exploded in my previous position. Since I had no intentions of attacking, I could move freely. My excitement grew as the battle progressed and once again, I tried to move towards Amaya to attack her.
Once again, I was repelled. How did the Nox woman manage to break this ability? I forced myself to move and the essence fought against me. However, I took another step feeling like I activated my bloodline for the first time moving slowly against the Red Claws and Spidoths. My bloodline was deactivated to conserve energy, but Adventurer’s Grit is still ongoing. With sudden inspiration, I activated another of my perks from Aspect: Adventurer.
“I can see all weakness before me, and all shall provide to my insight.”
My vision became colorful and with it, I could see how a network seemed to be formed connecting the natural essence in the air to Amaya allowing her to impose her will. Suddenly it became obvious how the Nox woman broke Amaya’s perk down completely. Her will must be incredible, and I moved once again finding how the essence had a hold on me. I cut the connection by expelling my mana in a brilliant burst around me. The effect of the second law was gone while the first still had strands attached to me.
The moment I broke the law’s hold on me, but not the field completely, the magic from the perk reacted. Three physical constructs began to form and soon next to Amaya stood three faceless humanoid beings close to twelve feet in height.
“You have broken a law, and such shall be punished. The punishment is a physical beating.”
The constructs which remain at Amaya’s side only began to move after the punishment was stated.
These things were strong radiating the strength of tier six and I let out another burst of mana cutting the final strands of Amaya’s first law. Three more constructs appeared. Like the golems. My two active perks from Aspect: Adventurer was still active and with it, I could see how the golem’s joints were their weakness. They moved more like robots than humans and I could take advantage of that. My grip tightened around my ax as I prepare for the oncoming battle. The newly summoned constructs joined their brethren and began to make their way towards me.
I had roughly a bit under half of my mana pool remaining but with these seem to be physical fighters I would get the chance to test my newly maxed perk.
“I call to you fireflies who’ve lost their spark come from [Beyond].”