Since she finally achieved her year-long objective and got a new specialization card for her trouble, Ember decided it was time to capitalize on that sudden momentum before hitting yet another wall in her progression.
Ember knew it wasn't rational and that rushing to learn more now would not help her skip or alleviate the pain she would have to go through later, but she could not help it. She loved to race, and she hated walls. And so it was without a second thought that she dived into the fascinating idea of combining cantrips to create new ones.
Akashic Sight
You can now perceive the mind activity of those around you as a 360-degree overlay supplementing your vision at an effective range of 5 meters per tier.
Akashic Whisper
You can now perceive errand thoughts, allowing you to detect mind Manipulation on yourself and those around you (5 meters per tier).
Critical Thinking
Allow you to trigger a state of mind overdrive for up to 3.6 seconds at a time, increasing your natural ability for critical thinking. Be careful to let your mind recover between use, or you might incur brain damage.
Retroactive Override
Sometimes, you need to move fast without regard to safety. This cantrip allows you to deactivate retroactive correction to move faster. While it might save your life, there is a significant risk of self-inflicted injuries.
Disarming Tail Wagging
You are so cute, wagging your tail that friends or foes alike in line of sight cannot think straight! Increase your threat reduction and improve your odds of making advantageous negotiations.
Mind Tracking
You can now smell magic and track magical signatures left by powerful spells. The higher tier a spell, the longer its signature would linger, allowing you to track it back to its caster.
Food for Thoughts
You can now absorb and repurpose foreign Akasha while eating, giving you insight into understanding the psychology of befallen foes better.
Mind Fortress
Your mind is only as strong as its primary defense. And this cantrip allows you to build it from the ground up, one bit at a time. While it might sound tempting to build an impenetrable fortress, keep in mind that what prevents other from invading your mind also prevent you from counterattacking effectively.
Debilitating Bite
While your Akashic offensive power is still limited to a range of touch, you still found a creative way to weaponize it! While using your primary natural weapon, you can now inflict your enemy with debilitating fear.
ERROR: incompatible innate talent detected!
Balanced Mind
Even the most extraordinary mind has to account for one's body. You can choose to trade physical damage for mind damage and expend akashic power to help your body go the extra mile. This cantrip also allows you to grasp better how your body influences your mental performance and recovery.
Akashic sight and whisper seem too valuable to risk them. As they were Enhancing her sense, those were her primary line of defense. Critical Thinking could be dangerous if she ever tried to use it several times in a row. And the benefits were least evident. So she might consider combining it with something else. Retroactive Override sound like fair game to be combined with something, as it was a very situational cantrip with highly undesirable side effects. Disarming Tail Wagging and Mind Tracking were good utility cantrips she would rather keep as it was. Food for thought was even more nebulous than Critical Thinking and sounded quite disturbing, so she was considering exchanging it for something else. Mind Fortress was something undesirable for her. She hated walls and would rather die than start building some in her mind. Debilitating Bite was her utmost priority since she could not use it. And Balanced Mind was the best cantrip, and she would not risk it either.
So, all in all, Ember had four cantrips that she would not have any regret trading, one more that might be a maybe, and five she wanted to keep no matter what. And the first she was going to repurpose was definitely going to be Debilitating Bite. The question was: which cantrip was best to combine with that one?
Food for Thought and Debilitating Bite appeared to be anatomically compatible but mechanically could not be more different. And Ember did not want to receive information on her enemy each time she would Bite them or have to relive her diner's most frightening memories.
Mind Fortress and Debilitating Bite were the two cantrips she wanted to get rid of the most, but too much of a bad thing together, and their clashing mechanics regarding defense and offense did not feel like a good idea. Again, Ember did not want to assault her target mind each time she would Bite them or somehow turn her only real weapon into a defense mechanism.
So it left her with Retroactive Override and Debilitating Bite, which by the description of it, she could picture evolving into a massively powerful bite attack that might also hurt her, a Retroactive Bite ramped up to eleven with an equally massive drawback. This last combination felt like something that might work for her. Correction: She could feel in her gut that something good should come from combining those two. But it would probably be a high-stake gamble last resort wild card she would rather not use at all. Which already described Retroactive Override perfectly and was the reason it was on her to-trade list.
She wondered for a few seconds if she would feel any better combining Retroactive Override with any of the other two but quickly dismissed the idea. She would rather not turn her overall satisfying meals into a potential hazard or chance her mental health on this one.
'Okay, I'm going to combine Retroactive Override and Debilitating Bite.'
Interesting Choice. Though I can't fault your reasoning.
Do you want to confirm?
'Yeah, I'm sure.'
Here goes nothing!
Activating Akashic Trickster specialization card effect...
Retroactive Override
Debilitating Bite
High Synergy detected!
Synthesis...
Congratulations! You have created the new compound cantrip, "Nerve Snap"!
Nerve Snap
You can nip at your target weak points, inflicting mild local numbness and confusion for 3.6 seconds, causing minor physical and mental damage. Perfect for pack hunting, multiple applications of this cantrip may stack up to 36 seconds and might additionally cause your target to trip or lose the sense of direction, forcing them to change their course.
Compound cantrips cost slightly more magic to cast than normal cantrips. Prolonged or extensive use may cause casting fatigue, recoverable after a short rest.
Retroactive Override and Debilitating Bite had been consumed to create Nerve Snap. You can relearn those cantrips at any time to add them back to your cantrip list.
'Wow,' Ember exclaimed, missing for words.
I never heard of that one before.
Although some Aura and Chi cantrips have somewhat similar effects, this one is WILD.
It basically turned Retroactive Override into an offensive touch-based cantrip, applying its effect on the target instead of you. Oh my... that's clever! It does less damage than Debilitating Bite, but let your target do all the work for you! That's golden.
Ember knew she had to keep pushing while luck was on her side! It was absolute proof that her gut feeling had been right all along.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
'What about Mind Fortress and Food for Thoughts' She wondered.
That I can tell you about! Though I will have to gloss over details again (rolling eyes)
It's actually quite popular in some circles, which value protecting one specific part of their mind over everything else.
'So, it's actually worse than Mind Fortress?'
Mind Fortress is actually considered an invaluable foundational cantrip to all sapient species, you know?
'Humans are sapients, right?'
That's indeed correct. But I'm not following you on this on...
'That's what I thought. If sapients are anything like humans, then they must be crazy too,' Ember concluded, really proud of her indisputable logic.
Really clever...
Did I mention that you are halfway from being a sapient yourself?
'What?' Ember exclaimed, outraged.
Border Collies are already a rather quick-witted breed. But your System Awakening had unexpected side effects and increased it even more, making you eligible for sapience as far as intelligence is concerned. You are just missing out on other criteria.
Ember just let go of the breath she did not realize she had been holding before barking:
'Don't you dare frightening me like that anymore!'
I won't mention it ever again.
'Good,' She concluded, satisfied.
Before her curiosity and work ethic got the best of her:
'So, what's next?'
★☆★
So far, Ember has been using Akashic Sight constantly. Which also means she never bothered to try anything else since she could only use one cantrip at a time. But her system assistant had advised her to finish her slot allocation and get used to all of them, even if she had no practical way to train any of them yet.
Ember decided that she would keep Akashic Sight as her free magical ability as it was her go-to default option whenever she would not be using anything else. She already had Akashic Whisper in her first slot, though she could not hear any errand thoughts at the moment, as no mind magic practitioner was trying to manipulate anyone else nearby. Just in case, Ember kept activating it for a split second each time she met a new person. But so far, it had been to no avail.
Which left her with three empty slots. And some of her cantrips were very situational. Sure, Ember could swap them if needed, but only once a day, so in the meantime, she needed to decide what should be her default options. She wanted Disarming Tail Wagging, Mind Tracking, Balanced Mind, and Nerve Snap. But those were already four cantrips, and she could only pick three.
Tracking Mind was a must-have cause her assistant had already promised Ember would be doing the tracking in exchange for their freedom. And Ember did not know how she was supposed to hurt an AIR elemental, but she guessed she needed one attack anyway, so Nerve Snap was top of her list.
Then, it was all about Disarming Tail Wagging versus Balanced Mind. One was essential for living around humans, while the other was a must-have once diplomacy failed. Both felt essential to her, but she could only have one.
In comparison, Akashic Whisper felt useless to her right now. But that was only until it proved helpful. One day somebody was bound to try to manipulate someone she cared about. While Tracking Mind was the one she needed the less. But she could have a need for it any day from now because of her companion.
But well, she needed Tracking Mind because it was already a given she would do the job. Then she required Nerve Snap and Balanced Mind cause they would factually seek trouble. And she could not discount the threat of brainwashing just because it had yet to happen.
So Ember had made her choice, and she opened her menu, adding her chosen cantrips one by one.
CLASSIFICATION
Order : Animal Ancestry : Common Dog Breed : Border Collie ID : H3C-4T0-K1R EVOLUTION CARDS
INTELLIGENT CARNIVORE (T3)
A generalist carnivore using complex hunting tactics to outsmart its preys.
HERDING DOG (T4)
A pack hunting animal specializing in herding and protecting its preys from competitors. This is an extended pack hunting behavior fitted for interspecies cooperation
EXTENDED EMPATHY (T3)
A co-op empathy specialist with high intelligence, capable of deciphering other species' emotions.
DOUBLE COAT (T2)
A warm blood animal with a double coat fur for better thermal insulation from the cold. Increase the resistance from cold water make it particularly suited for a coastal animal.
SPECIALISATION CARDS
MEDITATION (T0)
Through introspection, you have dived deeper than most and found tools to help you dive even deeper. Meditation is one such tool and will help you be reach a state of mindfulness while solidly anchor in the here and now. But you barely scratch the surface of what Meditation as to offer. And with MAGUS assistance, you can now go on with your daily life, practice a martial art or learn magic while maintaining this state of mindfulness. But be careful not to go complacent as there is more tools and secrets only waiting to be discovered on your way to know yourself.
AKASHIC TALENT (T0)
You had the patience to persevere on the path less travelled. You builded up the courage faced down your demons. You learned the humility to surrender control. And you showed wisdom in face of your own limits. Therefore, you have proven yourself worthy to wield magic over the mind. And yet, far too many did unspeakable things with the power entrusted to them. Never forget this invaluable lesson and not only will Akasha answers your call, but also help you in time of needs.
In addition to your already unlocked mind magic, MAGUS will granted you the ability to cast one additional cantrip of your choice as a magic ability and guide your mind on the path forward making it easier to replenish and expand your Akasha magic.
AKASHIC TRICKSTER (T0)
You learned twice as many akashic cantrips or spells with high synergy with one another that you have slots to use them. For this feat, you gain a knack for combining any known cantrips or spells to create new ones. The mixing of akashic cantrips and spells produces fascinating, albeit dangerous and unpredictable results. Be cautious cause you are discovering and experimenting with unique Akashic effects at your own risk.
N/A INNATE TALENT (T1)
SOOTHING PRESENCE
A passive innate magical talent creating an area of effect (AOE) from 5 to 10 meters around the user, generating the following effect:
-Dampening any emotion causing unrest of any valid target within the AOE, effectively calming them. Efficiency might vary depending on the effective radius around the user (100% at 5m radius, 12.5% at 10m) and relative distance between the user and the target within said radius.
-Disabling any rage, taunt, fear, or similar magic effect from triggering within the AOE. This effect is locked at 5 meters radius, never fails and cannot be bypassed, acting as an anti-magic field against any magical effect causing unrest.
-Enhancing the natural recovery of any valid target resting within the AOE by one tier. This effect overcomes resting penalty instead of providing bonuses. Therefore, it becomes inactive if the target rests under optimal conditions. This effect have 50% chance of failure past 5 meters.
-As per its calming effect, target hostility within AOE might decrease. However, perfectly rational hostility will remain unaffected.
WARNING: A predator or enemy target with a clear mind is often more dangerous. Bear in mind that this particular innate talent might not be suitable for combat.
MAGIC ABILITIES
AKASHIC SIGHT (T0)
You can now perceive the mind activity of those around you as a 360-degree overlay supplementing your vision at an effective range of 5 meters per tier.
CANTRIPS (T0)
AKASHIC WHISPER
You can now perceive Errand Thoughts, allowing you to detect Mind Manipulation on yourself and those around you (5 meters per tier).
MIND TRACKING
You can now smell magic and track magical signatures left by powerful spells. The higher tier a spell, the longer its signature would linger, allowing you to track it back to its caster.
BALANCED MIND
Even the most extraordinary mind has to account for one's body. You can choose to trade physical damage for mind damage and expend akashic power to help your body go the extra mile. This cantrip also allows you to grasp better how your body influences your mental performance and recovery.
NERVE SNAP
You can nip at your target weak points, inflicting mild local numbness and confusion for 3.6 seconds, causing minor physical and mental damage.
See teamwork and compound for additional cantrip properties.
The moment Ember had slotted Nerve Snap, the window started shaking like her system assistant sometimes did. Only it lasted more than a few seconds and kept vibrating some more until the window closed on her own, replaced by another one.
Spontaneous Evolution had been temporarily put on hold by the system.
The Herding Dog (T4) Evolution Card is the target and will cause you to evolve from Common Dog (Canis Lupus Familiaris) to Lesser Common Arcanine (Canis Arcanis Familiaris) if not removed.
Burning the card will not result in loss of defining attributes but would prevent any further planned or unplanned evolution for yourself and your descendants until the missing card is replaced by one of your choice. Evolution card currently available: 0
You have five minutes to decide before Spontaneous Evolution.