Erik’s fingers hovered over the latch of the chest, the faint glow of blue light seeping through its cracks illuminating the otherwise dim vault. The hum of energy that pulsed from within resonated in his chest, a soundless rhythm that felt both alien and familiar. He hesitated for a brief moment, then exhaled and gripped the latch.

The instant his hand touched the metal, a sharp pulse of energy shot up his arm, coursing through his core like lightning. His breath hitched, and his vision swam as the energy rippled outward, intertwining with the prismatic aura within him. This wasn’t demonic; it lacked the chaotic hunger of his cursed power. Instead, it was precise, deliberate; a force that felt undeniably Aetherian.

It’s testing me, Erik realized, his jaw tightening as the energy probed deeper into his core. It’s trying to see what I am.

For a moment, he wondered if it would reject him, if his mixed essence of prismatic and demonic energy would be enough to shatter whatever ancient barrier protected the chest. But the energy stilled, a faint hum of acknowledgment vibrating through his core. The latch clicked, and the chest creaked open.

The blue light inside dimmed slightly, revealing its contents: a simple ring resting on a velvet cushion, its surface carved with intricate patterns that seemed to shift subtly under Erik’s gaze. The material wasn’t gold, silver, or any metal Erik recognized; it was dull, unassuming, yet it radiated power that made the very air around it hum.

“What is it?” Vesper’s voice broke the silence. Erik turned to see her and Berndhardt standing in the doorway of the vault. Vesper’s emerald eyes were sharp, wary, while Berndhardt’s hulking frame radiated unease.

Erik reached into the chest, his fingers brushing the cool surface of the ring. The carvings glowed faintly as he lifted it, the energy within thrumming in response to his touch.

“A ring,” Erik said, his tone flat but his mind racing. “Simple. But it’s Aetherian. No doubt about that.”

“Don’t put it on,” Vesper said quickly, stepping closer. Her voice was tight, almost panicked. “We don’t know what it does.”

“She’s right,” Berndhardt rumbled, his expression grim. “Anything Aetherian is bound to come with a suprise; or worse.”

Erik turned the ring over in his hand, studying its surface. The patterns carved into it didn’t belong to any language he recognized, but they seemed alive, shifting subtly as if responding to his presence. A faint tug in his chest, almost like instinct, urged him to put it on.

“I’m not leaving it here,” Erik said, slipping the ring onto his finger before either of them could protest further.

The moment the ring slid into place, the world shifted. The vault disappeared in a flash of blinding blue light, and Erik’s vision was consumed by a swirling expanse of energy. Shapes and forms flitted through the void; stars, planets, and impossible landscapes. His breath caught as he realized he was standing at the edge of something infinite.

What is this? Erik’s voice echoed, though he hadn’t spoken aloud.

A voice, smooth and calm yet resonating with unyielding authority, filled Erik’s mind.

“Aetherian Integration Available. Would you like to connect with the local area?”

Erik froze. He glanced at the glowing map, then at the ring. “Integration? What does that even mean?” he muttered under his breath.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Behind him, Vesper leaned into the vault doorway. “Erik? You’ve been staring at that thing for a solid minute. What’s going on?”

He ignored her, his attention locked on the prompt that hovered before him, visible only to him. “Sure,” he said tentatively, his tone hesitant. “I’ll... integrate.”

The system’s voice responded immediately. “Please confirm. Are you sure?”

The words hung in his mind like a warning. Erik blinked, then narrowed his eyes. “Wait, what happens if I’m not sure? Is this going to blow something up?”

“Confirmation required,” the voice replied, calm and infuriatingly neutral.

Erik rubbed his temple. “Great. Just great. First time I get something cool, and it’s already asking for commitments. I’m not even sure what ‘integration’ means. Does it come with a manual?”

Vesper stepped closer, her arms crossed. “Who are you talking to?”

Berndhardt appeared behind her, his massive frame crowding the doorway. “He’s muttering to himself. That’s never good.”

“Quiet,” Erik snapped, waving a hand dismissively. “I’m trying to figure this out.”

He turned back to the map, his jaw tightening. “Alright,” he muttered, steeling himself. “What’s the worst that can happen?”

“Confirmation received,” the system intoned.

Erik frowned. “Wait, I didn’t—”

The ring pulsed again, and the map flared brilliantly. The vault shook violently, a low rumble building beneath their feet. Dust cascaded from the ceiling as the shaking intensified.

“Erik, what did you do?” Vesper yelled, bracing herself against the wall.

“I said yes! Kind of! Maybe! I don’t know!” Erik shouted back.

The rumble grew louder, and a deep, resonant hum filled the air. Erik staggered back as the map dissolved, its energy spiraling upward and out of the vault, leaving the room in eerie silence. Then the shaking stopped.

From outside the mansion, a deep, otherworldly groan echoed across the grounds. The celestial hum swelled, growing louder until it resonated through the entire town. People scrambled into the streets, staring upward in disbelief as the Governor’s Mansion itself seemed to shimmer, its stone and mortar rippling with strange, glowing patterns.

Then, with a sound like thunder tearing through water, a massive ship began to rise from the ground.

The vessel was unlike anything anyone had seen. It resembled a grand sailing ship from the old tales, complete with towering masts and intricate carvings, yet it emitted a celestial glow. The wood gleamed as though made of polished starlight, and faint runes pulsed along its hull. Its sails shimmered with an ethereal light, as if woven from the fabric of the cosmos itself.

The ship hovered above the mansion, radiating a soft blue light that bathed the town in its glow. Faint trails of Aetherian magic spiraled around it, creating patterns in the air that defied natural geometry.

Erik, Vesper, and Berndhardt stumbled out of the vault into the courtyard, where the Governor and several others had gathered. All eyes were fixed on the massive vessel, its presence both majestic and terrifying. The High Magus stood among the onlookers, his face lit with awe.

“What in the gods’ name is that?” Vesper whispered, her voice tinged with equal parts wonder and fear.

Erik didn’t answer. His focus was on the ring, which had begun to pulse rhythmically, syncing with the energy emanating from the ship. His prismatic core hummed in response, the energies intertwining as though the ring and the vessel were part of the same creation.

The High Magus stepped forward, his voice a hushed reverence. “An Aetherian vessel... here? Impossible. These ships haven’t flown in... centuries.”

Erik’s gaze shifted to the Magus. “It’s responding to me,” he said quietly.

The Magus turned to him, his eyes narrowing. “You activated this? Do you even know what you’ve done?”

“Not really,” Erik admitted, his tone laced with dry humor. “But it’s impressive, isn’t it?”

Before the Magus could respond, the ring’s glow intensified, and Erik felt a pull; a command, almost to step forward. The ship descended slowly, its massive form lowering until it hovered just above the courtyard. The air around it shimmered, charged with energy.

Erik felt the ring tug at him again, and this time, he didn’t resist. He stepped forward, his hand lifting as if guided by an unseen force. The celestial energy swirled around him, enveloping him in its glow.

“What are you doing?” Vesper called, her voice sharp with alarm.

“Trust me,” Erik said, though he didn’t entirely trust himself.

The ship groaned, its glowing hull shifting as a ramp extended downward, landing softly before Erik. The ring’s hum grew louder, syncing perfectly with the rhythm of his core.

“Looks like it wants me to come aboard,” Erik said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Berndhardt grunted, hefting his axe. “Great. Just great. This better not end with us flying into a sun.”

Erik chuckled, the sound dry and faintly nervous. “Only one way to find out.”

With that, he stepped onto the ramp, the light intensifying