When Hector regained consciousness, he hadn't expected much to change. He should have been at his desk, where he had fallen asleep. The last thing he remembered was an earthquake, and the black pillar that grew from the street.
He found himself encased in a stone coffin. He did not anticipate this, not in his wildest and most foreign dreams. The analyst wished he was still in bed, where things were normal. Sure, he would have to deal with his work, but that was predictable. He closed his eyes and hoped he was still dreaming.
His fingers scraped against the cold, glassy stone; it did not fade into nothingness. Hector sighed. He opened his eyes again and stared at the gold words in front of him, carved into the stone like hieroglyphs. They've been there for a while.
The words were persistent and the only source of light in this coffin. The black walls made them more pronounced compared to everything else, not that there was anything else to draw his attention.
Aspirants: (51/1000)
It changed. The number increased from fifty to fifty-one. Hector assumed he was an aspirant; why else would he see the number? Were there another fifty individuals who woke up in a similar stone prison? Now that he had given it some thought, how was he able to breathe?
Choose one and only one:
Three Proficiencies: Three abilities, talents, or skills will be chosen and evolve without limit.
Two Artifacts: Two objects or instruments will improve as you do.
One Innate: This will change you at a fundamental level.
Hector's a logical man, or at least that's what he told himself. Choices were difficult, especially choices where he lacked the information to make an optimal decision. He preferred conclusions made from data. Data, given the right criteria, can only be misinterpreted. Unlike some individuals, it doesn't lie.
He tried to ask—to question—the words in front of him. There was a notable lack of air in his stone confines. He opened his lips and flexed his tongue, but words did not come out. He did not suffocate, either. Disturbing.
He waited. He waited for more data, more information. He counted numbers in his head and observed the digits in front of him.
Aspirants: (98/1000)
The number of aspirants increased by forty-seven. It had been five hours. It wasn't a linear increase; the digits either increased slowly by the single digits or jumped by tens. With enough time, he might've derived a pattern, but there were limits to what he could do. He didn't see a use for this information. There wasn't enough data.
Hector wasn't a machine, even though he wished he was one.
He was subjected to impulses, and the impulse he felt right now was impatience. Impatience from the disruption of his usual routine. Impatience from being confined in a stone prison. More importantly, impatience from the lack of information. That left him with one option.
He made a choice and pressed a finger against the stone.
Two Artifacts: Two objects or instruments will improve as you do.
The term 'instruments' appealed to Hector. Instruments—tools—could be calibrated. They can be refined or altered given a new environment or information. They served as an artificial, yet natural, extension of his abilities. From his understanding of the wording, this choice will give him two of these instruments.
He could've chosen the first option: three proficiencies. Hector didn't think of himself as someone with any particular talents. He didn't see any reason he could not achieve the same effect with a bit of effort.
He could've chosen the third option: one innate. There wasn't enough information to make an informed choice. What does a change entail? An advantage? Was it a permanent mutation? It hadn't mentioned it was a positive trait. No, that won't do, not when he could pick something he was more familiar with and less permanent.
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Hector preferred working with the material instead of the abstract.
Six Artifacts based on affinities have been selected...
Choose two and only two of the six:
An Unattuned Astrolabe: Direct observation of a Law warrants caution. The Laws do not permit interlopers into their domains. This instrument permits the indirect study of a Law.
The Unwritten Grimoire: An incomplete Grimoire. Spells and Rituals written in this Grimoire will influence its future development.
Flute of Ashes: Playing this flute will influence the Ash. Ashes multiply through the consumption of the living. They are fickle beings, and the flute does not permit absolute control.
Key to the Corridors: The corridors connect doors. A key is required to access them, and this is one such key. A door opens both ways, and the possession of this key may invite unwanted guests.
A Source Pen: This pen can be attuned to a Law, and the relevant runes are attracted to this instrument. The pen will always house a rune.
Paper Poppets: Paper Poppets will transfer esoteric attacks and afflictions from its wielder to themselves. The amount that can exist at a given moment will always be three times its current grade.
This was illogical. That was the first thought Hector had after he gave the lines a cursory glance. Ashes? What were those? The corridors? None of this abided by his understanding of reality. He expected something more scientific. Useful. Grounded in reality. Not this esoteric nonsense.
He took a deep breath or would've if there was anything to breathe.
Hector was an adaptable man; he prided himself on that. He knew—understood—that sometimes reality did not conform to his ideals. Sometimes, the facts corrected his preconceived notions of reality. Sometimes, he was wrong about... stuff, as much as he hated to admit it.
Maybe he was still dreaming. Maybe he accidentally ate something with his dinner and was hallucinating, or maybe this was some sort of experiment—which he did not consent to. Regardless, he did what he always did: Make decisions based on the data, which was not much in this scenario.
The words stated the artifacts were selected based on his affinities. That implied it was suited for him. Therefore, any of the listed items should be suited to his aptitudes.
He chose the artifacts that were the safest based on their wording.
Selected: The Unwritten Grimoire
Selected: Paper Poppets
Hector had chosen artifacts that had the option to use them and weren't associated with unknown variables. The Key and Flute were out of the question. He didn't want to touch them or the subjects in their descriptions.
The Astrolabe and Pen tempted him, but those were associated with Laws and Runes. The pen stated it would attract Runes. He didn't know what those were, but he preferred a controlled environment.
That left the Grimoire and Poppets. He could choose to use the grimoire, and the doll seemed more beneficial than harmful. The dangers, if they had any, could be mitigated with preparation.
The concept of spells and rituals also intrigued him, if they were possible.
Granting Permissions:
Permissions are only applicable within the influence of an Obsidian Pillar.
Improvement: Consumes an improvement to realize a new proficiency, bind a possession, or catalyze an innate matching the grade of the soul. Each grade of the soul will grant another improvement. Familiarity with the fundamentals of the subject is a requirement.
Languages: Languages spoken within the vicinity of a Pillar will be recorded and distributed.
Manifestation: Manifests lost or destroyed artifacts with shards. The cost is equivalent to the artifact's grade.
Meld: Graft a shard onto the soul. This will slowly increase the grade of your soul.
Satiate: Basic needs and fatigue will regenerate at the cost of shards.
Selecting initial location based on aptitude...
Location found.
Grade 1 (1%)
Shards: (-)
Pending Improvements: 1
Trial Status:
Aspirants: (101/1000)
Artifacts:
The Unwritten Grimoire: Grade 1 (1%)
(1) The Spells and Rituals written in this Grimoire will influence its future development. The amount of pages it contains will be five times of its current grade.
Pages: (5/5)
Paper Poppets: Grade 1 (1%)
(1) A Paper Poppet can take the place of its wielder in a ritual. Esoteric afflictions and attacks will be redirected to a poppet. Each poppet will only shield one type of affliction or attack. Only a certain number of poppets may exist at a given moment, each grade adds an additional poppet.
Poppets: (0/3)
Permissions:
Improvement
Languages
Manifestation
Meld
Satiate
Additional permissions will be unlocked after the Trials have begun.
Manifesting Artifacts...
Two protrusions grew on the stone wall behind the words. They formed shapes, one square and the other was round. The shapes opened and formed fissures in the stone wall. The newly formed crevices had a tome and three paper figurines lodged within them.
Hector reached out and plucked the artifacts from the wall. The walls around him shifted in response. He did not have time to contemplate his new situation when the black stone beneath his feet opened, and he fell through the hole.