Chapter 6

The dense canopy of The Ash Forest loomed overhead, blocking out much of the sunlight and casting the path ahead in an eerie, shifting glow. The forest had an unsettling stillness, as though it were holding its breath. Eli couldn’t help but feel uneasy, his steps faltering slightly as he glanced at the towering trees around him. His HUD, now integrated with the Traveler’s Stone, pulsed faintly in the corner of his vision, displaying their destination: the HeartSpring. The glowing map guided him like a surreal gaming interface, the lines shifting with each turn of the path.

"This is insane, I have a map in my head showing me where to go like I am in Elden Rings." Eli whispered to himself in amazement. Alira, a few steps ahead, glanced over her shoulder, "I will venture that this Elden Ring you speak of is one of those TV games you speak about..." Eli smirked, "Find a new reference for things, noted." He said sarcastically.

His sarcastic bravado slipped when the trees creaked ominously in the wind. “You know, for an enchanted forest, this place has a serious horror vibe.”

Alira’s expression softened as she glanced back at him, her tone steady and reassuring. “You’re safe, Eli. Focus on what’s ahead, not what frightens you. The HeartSpring is close, but there’s much you need to learn before we get there.”

Eli fell into step behind her, the path growing narrower and more twisted. After a while, Alira slowed her pace and gestured to a clearing with moss-covered rocks and a small brook winding through. “Let’s rest here for a moment. I’ll explain what you need to understand about mana.”

Eli plopped onto a log, his usual smirk returning. “Alright, Professor Alira. Blow my mind.”

Alira smiled warmly, kneeling to draw symbols in the soft earth. “Mana is the essence of Caelum, its lifeblood. It flows through every living thing, every blade of grass, every creature. But not all can wield it. Those who can are gifted with what we call affinities.”

She began sketching interconnected lines and symbols, her movements deliberate. “There are five core affinities: Elemental, Energy, Life, Spiritual, and Physical. Each one governs a set of subtypes. Elemental ties to fire, water, earth, and wind—the forces of nature. Energy is volatile, controlling electricity and even the fabric of space-time. Life focuses on healing, growth, and balance. Spiritual deals with the intangible—light, shadow, and the mind itself. And Physical enhances the body, fortifying it or shaping the material world.”

Eli leaned forward, his bravado slipping as curiosity took over. “And people just… get one of these affinities?”

“Everyone is born with an affinity,” Alira explained. “But not everyone has theirs manifest. When it does, the journey to mastery begins. Most stay with a single affinity their whole lives. Emerald-tier users might unlock a secondary affinity, but that is extremely rare and dangerous. Balancing two affinities takes extraordinary discipline, and failure to do so can break the user.”

She paused, her expression thoughtful. “I’ve only ever heard of two instances of someone with three affinities: The Preserver and the Reformer. The Preserver wields Life, Elemental, and Spiritual. The Reformer commands Physical, Energy, and Life. No one has ever wielded four affinities, let alone all five.”

Eli frowned, his HUD pulsing faintly as though reacting to her words. “And me? Where do I fit in?”

Alira studied him carefully, her green eyes soft but filled with curiosity. “I don’t know yet, Eli. Your mana doesn’t settle like most people’s. It resonates with all five affinities, cycling through them as if unsure of what it wants to be. I’ve never seen or heard of anything like it.” She sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “It might mean that when we reach the HeartSpring, you’ll unlock a single affinity and can begin to focus. Or…” she hesitated, “…it might mean something else entirely.”

Eli exhaled sharply, trying to process her words. “So, I’m a broken mystery even to the expert? Fantastic.”

Alira’s smile returned, warm and reassuring. “What you have within you is unlike anything I’ve witnessed or read about in all my years. That makes you unique, not broken.”

She then began to trace a series of tiered lines in the dirt, adding new symbols to her diagram. “There’s something else you need to understand—mana tiers. Every user progresses through these levels of mastery. Copper is where it all begins. At this tier, people first tap into their mana—a flicker of flame, minor healing, a brief surge of strength. It’s raw and instinctive.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Like baby steps?” Eli asked, his cocky tone faltering.

“Yes, exactly,” Alira said with a kind smile. “Then comes Silver. At this stage, users gain control, shaping their mana into sustained effects: streams of water, protective barriers, or healing that does more than just patch surface wounds. Gold follows, where true mastery begins. Users specialize, often combining subtypes. A Gold-tier healer could mend broken bones effortlessly, while an Elemental user could call storms or sculpt walls of stone.”

Eli nodded slowly, his focus narrowing. “What’s next?”

“Emerald,” Alira continued, her tone reverent. “At this level, a user can harmonize with mana outside their primary affinity. It’s no longer just about mastery—it’s about synergy. Unlocking a secondary affinity at Emerald is rare, and doing so safely requires immense discipline.”

“And Ruby?” Eli asked, his voice quieter.

“Ruby is legend,” Alira said. “A Ruby-tier user can reshape entire landscapes, summon storms, quell earthquakes, or even create life where none existed. Their power is immense, but so are the stakes. Few ever reach this level.”

She paused before finishing. “And then there’s Diamond. It’s said that at this level, mana itself becomes an extension of the user’s will. They can bend reality, but such power often comes at a cost. Many believe Diamond-tier users are called to the Celestials, their purpose fulfilled. But again, Diamond Tier Users are more myth than anything. I have met two, aside from the Preserver and Reformer, both seemed like mythical entities, which I guess makes sense that the myth is they are called to the Celestials.”

Before Eli could respond, a guttural growl broke the forest’s stillness. His HUD flashed red as several Kash-Tar emerged from the shadows, their glowing eyes locked on the pair.

Eli’s hand tightened on the branch he carried, his heart pounding. “These damn things again.”

Alira rose, calm and composed, her eyes narrowing slightly as she assessed the threat. “Stay behind me,” she said, her voice as steady as ever.

The Kash-Tar lunged. Alira’s movements were a blur, almost too fast for Eli to follow. Her hands glowed faintly with a green-blue hue as she stepped forward. With a single fluid motion, she drew a slender blade from her side and slashed through the air. The first Kash-Tar lunged at Alira, Eli stumbled backwards falling back onto the log he was just sitting on, the creature crumpled mid-lunge, its lifeless body hitting the ground with a heavy thud at the feet of Eli.

She pivoted smoothly, sidestepping another that tried to flank her. Her blade sliced cleanly, the creature falling without a sound. The final Kash-Tar hesitated for only a moment, but it was a moment too long. Alira extended her hand, and thick vines erupted from the ground, wrapping tightly around the creature’s body. With a flick of her wrist, the vines constricted, and the Kash-Tar collapsed, lifeless.

It had all happened in seconds. Eli sitting there, frozen, his grip on the branch loosening as he stared at the three motionless creatures. The forest was silent again, save for the faint rustle of leaves in the wind.

Alira turned back to him, her expression calm and collected. “Do you see now?” she asked softly.

Eyes narrowing at seeing Eli sitting on the log again, Eli swallowed hard, his voice quieter than usual. “Yeah. I see.”

The fear he’d felt wasn’t just about the Kash-Tar. It was the realization of how far he had to go, how much he had to learn. His usual quips died on his lips, replaced by quiet resolve. She reached for his hand to help him up and he grabbed it. As soon as he did, his HUD flashed:

Name: Alira Sylvanra

Species: Human

Gender: Female

Affinities: Elemental / Life

Tier: Ruby

Eli blinked, staring at the text that lingered briefly in his vision. "Wait a second," he said, his voice laced with surprise. "Ruby tier? You're basically the stuff of legends, aren't you?"

"Did your HUD thing tell you this when we touched?" "What other info does it give you?"

"Umm, yeah, it said your name: Alira Sylvanra, that you are a human, which honestly might freak me out more than anything that we have to have a species distinction...umm, also that you are female and your affinities are Elemental and Life, which is super rare according to my super wise teacher, and Ruby tier mana user or otherwise known as almost a god." Eli shrugged as Alira was staring at him. "This HUD of yours is quite remarkable, Eli, again, don’t let anyone know you can do this." She said shaking her head in disbelief.

Eli, still shaken but trying to mask it with his usual bravado. "So, you're telling me you can reshape landscapes, summon storms, and all that crazy stuff you talked about earlier?"

Alira tilted her head thoughtfully. "I can, but I don't unless it's absolutely necessary. Power is a tool, Eli, not a spectacle. What matters is how you choose to use it." Her gaze softened as she added, "And knowing when not to."

Eli scratched the back of his head, his grin faltering. "I don’t think I’m anywhere close to that level. Seeing what you just did makes me feel like I’m playing on beginner difficulty."

She smiled, warm and patient. "Even the greatest masters start as beginners. What matters is your willingness to learn, to adapt, and to grow. The HeartSpring will give you a chance to take your first steps. After that, it's up to you."

Eli nodded, the weight of her words settling on him. "No pressure, right?" he muttered, half-joking.

Alira chuckled again, turning back to the path. "None at all."

“You have potential,” Alira said, her tone gentle but firm as she began walking away from Eli. “But potential without discipline is dangerous. That’s why you must learn.”

Eli nodded, humbled as he began to catch back up to her. “Thanks. For, you know, saving my ass. Again.”

Her lips quirked into a faint smile. “I believe you will have a chance to repay the favor someday.”

As they resumed their journey, the map in Eli’s HUD pulsed, guiding them forward. This time, he followed with a deeper sense of purpose, the weight of what he’d seen and learned settling heavily in his mind.