Chapter 17: Astra
At Raimund’s suggestion, Mercedes attempted to read a little more of [Pathways to Power I] while she waited her turn. Fortunately, the next lesson was reasonably short.
[Lesson 6: The Charisma Attribute.]
Charisma is a crucial quality that can be used to influence, persuade, manipulate, and control others without the use of force. The Charisma Attribute measures a Mystic's personal magnetism, allure, and ability to persuade through intellectual reasoning, emotional manipulation, or seduction. It can be used to build meaningful relationships with other Mystics and mystical beings or gain favor with powerful entities like the Titans and Primordials.
Mystics can improve their charisma and effectiveness by training to persuade others to act in a way that aligns with their goals. This can be achieved through various actions and conversations, such as the following:
* Quests and Mission Challenges:
* Mystics can seek out quests or mission challenges that require them to utilize their Charisma to negotiate, persuade, and even lead others to obtain a specific outcome.
* Illusions and Psychic based spells:
* Mystics can use their illusions, enchantments, and psychic-based spells to enhance their charisma and appear more charming, trustworthy, and persuasive while training their Charisma attribute.
The Sparrow pulled away from the [Quest Insight] screen when Hestia returned, looking a bit shaken, though she proudly showed off her new tattoo, an orb of black, gold, and red that, at least to Mercedes, resembled a planet exploding.
“A Contradictio Asterum Astra,” Lorcon proclaimed with audible eagerness as he reached for the female Mystic’s hand.
“You’re up, Initiate,” Raimund declared as he pulled the brunette boy from his seat and gave him a playful push toward the stairwell. “You can all compare stats later after class.”
Lorcon nodded sheepishly, adjusting his Training Uniform as he hurried towards the stairs where Disciple Sasha waited.
Mercedes sighed, feeling a mix of anticipation and dread before she forced herself to continue reading.
* Social Interactions:
* Negotiating skills can improve Charisma, ranging from simple price haggling to more complex tasks like negotiating peace on the battlefield. However, experienced Traders and Ambassadors should be approached with caution due to their naturally higher Charisma. Successful completion of these tasks during quests and missions can provide rewards and experience to increase a Mystic’s Charisma level.
* A Mystic's Charisma level can increase their ability to deceive and create compelling illusions to undermine and destroy their enemies, twisting their perception of reality until their victims are willing to act against their own self-interest. Such dangerous and duplicitous manipulators are often referred to as Puppet Masters.
‘Interesting,’ Mercedes conceded. ‘I wonder if there’s a way to tell how high someone’s Charisma level is.’
* Titans and Primordials:
* With high Charisma, a Mystic can gain favor with the Titans and Primordials of the Mystic Realms. This can lead to rare and challenging missions that unlock the secret treasures in the Mystic Emporium.
* In certain situations where a Mystic's values conflict with a task given by a Titan or Primordial, declining the mission can lead to negative consequences. However, a Mystic with a Charisma level of 6 or a max of 8 can use their persuasive skills to suggest alternative approaches that may lessen this penalty.
Experience awarded for completing a quest or mission that employs the Charisma Attribute may vary depending on the complexity and duration of the task and the direct impact it may have had on the Mystic Realms.
[End of Lesson Six. Would you like to continue with the Final Lesson?]
‘Only one lesson left?’ The Sparrow exhaled in relief at the thought of finishing one of the four primers before her.
“Welcome back,” Raimund’s voice interjected, pulling the albino’s gaze from the [Quest Insight] screen as she took in Hestia and Dimitri, eagerly awaiting the brunette boy who seemed to walk steadily down the stairwell, holding out his left hand gingerly.
“Aequilibrium Luminis suits you,” Hestia commented in a tone that suggested she was trying to comfort her fellow Elemental Mystic.
“I know.” Lorcan laughed as he flexed his left hand, testing the tender red skin around the tattoo. “It’s perfect for an Artisan.”
“Your turn, Initiate Mercedes,” the ginger Disciple called out as he herded the three Initiates back to their desks.
“Oh,” Mercedes muttered as she closed the primer, canceling the [Quest Insight] screen, then pushed her chair back and headed towards the waiting stairwell. She caught a glimpse of Lorcon’s tattoo, a rather harmonious mix of sea blue and green shaped like a compass, as she passed the younger boy’s desk.
“Quickly, Initiate,” Sasha snapped, already halfway up the stairwell. “Master Danica is waiting.”
The Sparrow quickened her steps until she caught up to the female Disciple, who guided her to the corner in the reading loft above where the Celestial Mystic sat reposed, teacup in hand, while her Disciple poured what looked like sparkling gold sand into a small, ornamental perfume bottle.
“Ahh,” Danica murmured as her dark, lapis blue eyes focused on the albino. “Don’t be shy. Come sit, Initiate.”
Mercedes followed the woman’s graceful instructions and sat in the empty chair facing the Celestial Mystic.
“Master Nicodemus certainly likes to exceed our expectations,” Danica continued, talking over the Sparrow to where Sasha waited. “To think he would attempt to train a dhampir despite their weak magic affinity.”
“I’m sure the Professor has his reasons,” Sasha replied, sitting in the corner with a resigned expression.
“You mean you’ve been with him long enough to no longer bother with pointless questions.” The Celestial Mystic chuckled as she passed her teacup to the male Disciple. “Well then, shall I guess what your Astra will be, young dhampir?”
Mercedes arched a brow as the silver-haired woman held out her hands expectantly. “Are you going to read my palm?”
Master Danica laughed humorously in response, her hypnotic blue eyes glimmering with curiosity as she reached out to grasp the albino’s left hand. “While my abilities allow me to glimpse fragments of your future to discern your personality and inner desires, I’m afraid it will divine nothing as far as topics relating to love, fortune, or death. Such matters belong to the ebb and flow of fate, which changes daily based on the choices we make and even those we don’t. Now, try to relax.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
The Sparrow frowned but drew in a breath, attempting to ease the tension in her shoulders and neck. The Celestial Mystic picked up the perfume bottle and sprayed its glittering contents on the front and back of the albino’s hand.
“A bit of Astral Lavender and Star Dust,” Danica said with a bemused smile as she massaged the fragrant mixture into Mercedes’s skin. “Now, Initiate, I want you to breathe normally. Try to envision your mind emptying out as you exhale and your body light and floating as you inhale. No matter how strange or frightening this experience may feel, you must not pull away or leave your seat until the process is complete. Is that understood?”
The Sparrow swallowed and nodded. The moment the Celestial Mystic closed her eyes, an unnerving, tingling sensation enveloped the albino’s hand and spread up her left arm, covering her skin in goosebumps as the loft around them brightened and darkened with each of Danica’s slow, deliberate breaths.
The familiar, dark, cutting instinct of fear sent a shiver down Mercedes’s spine as the loft around them was plunged into darkness, so dense and oppressive that it froze the Sparrow in her seat.
“Something’s wrong,” Danica’s voice echoed from a distance despite the Celestial Mystic’s tight grip on the albino’s hand. “Someone is interfering. Something has veiled the gaze of the stars—Show yourself!”
The diviner’s composed face and figure suddenly brightened into focus. The cool blue light of her stary crown illuminated her entire being as her luminous gaze searched through the darkness around them.
“Don’t,” Mercedes whispered weakly as the seal upon her soul trembled in recognition.
Behind the Celestial Mystic, a seething black orb of chains, malice, and the soulless emptiness of the void twitched and shook itself awake. Dark tendrils slithered free from the Primordial’s prison and floated toward the seated silver-haired diviner.
“I can feel you, Shadow,” Danica called out, her confidence wavering as the starlight from her crown began to fade. “Reveal yourself to me now!”
Who. Dares. Command. Me!
The Sparrow's body went rigid with fear as the dark tendrils of the abyss enveloped them. She heard the beginning of Danica’s shrill scream before it was snuffed out, sucked into the vacuum of Nyxus’s domain. Wisps of the diviner’s light filtered through the storm of slithering shadows as the void spun them toward its Master.
“Don’t—look,” Mercedes hissed in warning through clenched teeth as the chair the diviner sat on slowly rotated to allow the Celestial Mystic to see the Sparrow’s dark Master. She caught a glimpse of Danica’s pale face, aged, withered, and far from beautiful, before the albino’s attention was pulled to the searing pain that now burned through her left hand.
They crashed back onto the Academy classroom balcony, both of their chairs toppling over. The Celestial Mystic gasped as she ripped her hands away from the Sparrow, her youth restored, but her dark, lapis blue eyes filled with terror as she scrambled to her feet. The diviner’s Disciple rushed forward to support her. “I saw Him. I saw Him!” Danica whimpered as she dragged her fingernails down her pale face. “That horrid, heartless creature. His eyes—they looked back at me.”
“Master Danica?” Sasha said in confusion as she assisted the male Disciple in helping the diviner back into her seat. “What happened?”
“This is an omen. A revelation of darkness. He—” Danica pulled her hands away to stare frantically at Mercedes. “He mustn’t break free. You must not allow Him to unleash destruction upon us!”
“What is she talking about?”
“I don’t know, but something has shaken her,” the male Disciple replied worriedly as he attempted to restrain the diviner’s hands as she swayed and rocked erratically in her chair.
“We are doomed if He escapes!” Danica wailed. “He will devour the realms and all life as we know it.”
“I’ll fetch Master Nicodemus,” Sasha said worriedly, already turning to leave.
“I am already here, Disciple,” a firm, stern voice responded that seemed to pull the silver-haired diviner from her daze.
“Nicodemus,” Danica sobbed, pushing aside her Disciple’s restraining grip as she lunged forward to clutch the Professor’s robes. “You must not allow His strength to grow. She is His shadow—”
“You delved too deep and overstimulated yourself again, Master Danica,” Nicodemus interjected, his tone reproachful as he pulled the quivering Mystic into a gentle embrace. His amber-gold eyes captivated Danica’s frantic gaze as they flashed with arcane magic.
For a moment, time appeared frozen as the pain in Mercedes’s left hand lessened. The Sparrow blinked, momentarily disoriented, and jolted when the silver-haired woman laughed.
“Oh, no, Nicodemus, have I done it again? I’m so embarrassed. What a fuss I’ve made. Oh, I do hope I didn’t frighten your students,” Danica gushed as the Professor released her.
“That’s alright,” Nicodemus said with a surprisingly gentle smile as he steadied the still-shaken diviner. “These things happen. What’s important now is that you find somewhere to rest and ground yourself.”
“Is she—alright?” Sasha murmured as she glanced between the still-trembling Celestial Mystic and the Professor.
“Perfectly,” Danica responded, her voice oddly shrill. The diviner shook her head and patted her flushed cheeks, wincing as she noticed the scratches against her skin. “Please forget whatever you just heard or saw. Sometimes my powers allow me to look too far into the future and—well—let’s just say that the permanence of life isn’t something to be taken for granted.”
“Argh!” Mercedes groaned as the pain returned like a hot brand pressed upon her skin, drawing her gaze from the bewildering scene before her to the Astra that appeared on her left hand. A four-pointed black star with a crimson center that resembled both an eye and a clock looked back at her. The tendrils of darkness that rippled behind the ticking translucent surface filled the Sparrow with a familiar dread.
[Caution! A Primordial has altered the manifestation of your Astra.]
[Achievement unlocked! New Astra discovered!]
[You have obtained the Astra Malignant Tenebris]
This constellation embodies the malevolent traits of violence, resentment, and destruction, symbolizing the Mystic’s power from beyond the veil of the Abyss, which governs the space between the Mystic Realms.
[New Astra has been recorded in the Primordial Record of Mystic Creation.]
[Alert! Primordial Arcantheon has acknowledged your achievement. He grants you the title ‘Bearer of Malevolent Manifestations,’ which awards +3 to all Stats and grants a unique psychic-based skill [Malevolent Manifestations].]
[Notice! Titan Astralindar congratulates you on receiving your first title.]
[Notice! Titan Astralindar extends an invitation to communicate with her at the Academy’s Temple of Knowledge.]
[Quest Received: Answer the Call of the Keeper of Mystical Knowledge.]
You have been invited to a Titan’s temporal shrine to converse one-on-one with a superior being of this realm. Titan Astralindar looks forward to discussing the paradoxical complexities of your future as a Mystic of the Realms.
Requirements:
Obtain support from Professor Nicodemus to enter the Arcanum’s Sanctum of Primal Convergence 0/1.
Enter the Temple of Knowledge and listen to the wisdom offered by Astralindar 0/1.
Reward:
+10 Favor with all Titans of the Arcane Realm.
+25 Favor with Titan Astralindar.
+1 Favor with Primordial Arcantheon.
Mystic Earring of Arcane Alignment.
Deadline: 3 days.
Time remaining. 2 Days, 23 hours, 59 minutes.
‘Shit, that’s a lot of screens.’ Mercedes hurriedly closed them all out and then covered the burning Astra with her right hand as she rose from her seat.
Around her, the other Mystics still appeared preoccupied with Danica's sudden shift from hysterical to amused calmness. The Celestial Mystic’s Disciple remained unbothered by this erratic behavior as he packed up the Star Dust perfume and his Master’s tea.
‘Maybe he’s used to this?’
“Why don’t you assist Master Danica to the reception’s guest room,” Nicodemus said, addressing Sasha, who hesitantly stepped forward to support the silver-haired woman, whose complexion retained its sickly pallor. “They can rest there until she’s recovered enough to return to the Celestial Realm.”
The Sparrow moved to one side as the diviner’s Disciple stepped forward to help support Danica while Sasha chanted a quick teleportation spell. A moment later, all three Mystics vanished from the balcony. The albino’s envy at the convenience of such magic only sharpened as the Professor turned his full attention on her.
“Your Astra,” Nicodemus said with grim determination. “Show it to me.”
As reluctant as Mercedes was to comply with this order, she had no choice. The Sparrow removed her right hand hesitantly to reveal the malevolent tattoo and flinched as the Professor stepped forward to grab her wrist and examine the mark. An information screen appeared between them.
[Astra System – Would you like to evaluate your current stats?]
[Notice! Master Nicodemus is examining your stats.]