Time waved a hand. “Like most things involving mana, you need to visualize it. Open your menu and focus on the undetermined spell. Picture it forming into exactly what you want–be specific.”

I did as instructed, opening the menu with a thought and locating the spells. My gaze locked on the question marks, and I focused, forming a clear image in my mind of the spell I wanted.

At first, nothing happened, and frustration prickled beneath my skin. Just as I was about to give up, the marks flashed. They flickered like candle flames in a breeze, twisting and shifting until finally they settled into place.

I read the new spell:

Karma’s Bite, Level Five Spell

Those afflicted by the mark of Karma will begin to transform into a cockroach. The speed of transformation depends solely on the target’s deeds and willingness to change. Remorse and positive development will gradually reverse the effects.

Mana Cost: 50

I let out a low whistle. “That’s one hell of a mana cost. I only have thirty points, and it costs fifty.”

Time nodded, unfazed. “Your mana increases with each level you gain. Currently, it is thirty, but once you reach level three, it will increase by twenty points. Each subsequent level will bring the same increase.”

I bit my lip, mulling it over. “So, to use it even once a day without completely draining myself, I’ll need to reach level two. And even then, I’ll have to keep leveling up if I want to use it more frequently.”

“Correct. However, I doubt you will need to cast it often,” Time replied.

I snorted, shaking my head. “Spoken like someone who hasn’t dealt with humanity.” Or worked in customer service.

Time raised an eyebrow and I went on. “We’re in the middle of a war-torn, nearly apocalyptic world. I think you’re underestimating how horrible people can be.”

Dominicus grimaced but nodded in agreement. “Before the king captured me, I encountered plenty of unpleasant individuals. We should prioritize raising your level to at least five.”

I flopped back onto the grass with a groan. “Sure as hell not something we’re doing tonight. I still have to finish sorting through the tomes.”

Dominicus nodded, “That’s fine. On our way to Dawnmoor, we’ll find ample opportunities to fight and gain experience. Even during daylight, creatures like Rock Snakes spawn.”

Curiosity piqued, I turned to Time. “What causes monsters to spawn? Do they just… appear out of thin air or something?”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

He shook his head. “That is…a difficult question to answer. Even the spirits are not fully aware of the cause. Darkness is typically the catalyst for monster spawning, but exceptions like Rock Snakes exist. No one has uncovered the reason.”

“I didn’t think there’d be stuff that even the spirits wouldn’t know. That’s… not super comfy if I’m being honest.” I muttered and Time shrugged.

“They are not gods.”

I snorted, “No, they’re just the children of them.”

Time shot me a warning look and I glared back. He’d said the old gods created him and his siblings, so that was the closest approximation I had. Dominicus wouldn’t read too much into it unless Time made a fuss.

After all, who else but the old gods could create beings as powerful as the spirits?

Dominicus nodded, oblivious to our glare-off. “True, but it’s good to remember they’re not gods themselves.” He grimaced. “Some spirits are… unpleasant, and the thought of them having that kind of power is unsettling.”

Time raised an eyebrow. “Which spirits are you referring to?”

I sucked in a breath to cut in before Dominicus could dig himself a grave, only for the man to scoff. “As if I would blatantly name them where anyone could hear. Names have power and I won't be summoning the wrath of any tremulous or petty spirits on my head.”

Damn, it sounded like he had personal beef with that spirit.

Shaking that aside, I changed the topic. “Let’s not dwell on that. The thought of spirits spying on me makes my skin crawl.”

Time grunted and flipped through another book. “Agreed. Let us focus on the task at hand. We can ponder Nexus’s mysteries–and its spirits–later.”

I sighed. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll get back to it in a minute.” I’d been looking through them for hours now and there was nothing wrong with taking a break… as long as I didn’t fall asleep. Forcing the thought aside, and the distant grogginess that all but dragged on my mind, I looked up at the half-hidden stars.

Their dazzling light pierced the dark canopy, brighter and more vibrant than I remembered from Earth. Their patterns, though, were unfamiliar.

Then one of them moved, and I froze.

“Am I losing it, or did that star just move?”

Time looked up and smiled, amusement clear. “The stars on Nexus are not truly stars at all. They are Astral Fae. Their home is in the sky and they only become visible at night.

My jaw dropped as two of them twirled together in a mesmerizing dance, like a meteor shower come to life. “Are they dancing?”

Time nodded. “The Astral Fae are known for their dances and art. Every night, they form new constellations. They also serve as harbingers of change for Nexus.”

His expression darkened. “The Astral Fae are one of the few, aside from myself, capable of seeing the–”

Remembering Dominicus, I lunged over the books to slap a hand over Time’s mouth. Fucking hell, he wasn’t used to being exhausted and it showed. I’d need to ensure he didn’t spill anything vital in the future.

Time’s eyes narrowed with irritation, only for understanding to dawn when Dominicus raised an eyebrow. “I beg your pardon–did you mean to say ‘see the future’? Because that is not within Karma’s domain.”

Tension crackled in the air as Dominicus’s suspicion returned. Great. I’d hoped to leave that behind when we set out.

I bit back the urge to curl up and just… sleep. Dominicus wouldn’t be brushed off that easily and I had to come up with something to tell him.

Tonight just kept getting better and better, didn’t it?