I sighed and exited my soulspace. The familiar ambient sound of a raging storm greeted my ears, and I stretched till a few bones popped.

After plopping back onto the beanbag, I raised my eyes to the sky, where lightning occasionally flared. A week of nonstop meditation was fantastic for progress. The sheer amount of rift energy provided superseded the previous rift by a mile.

If only I had all of my skills. I could have been tier one already. That'd have been a fun surprise for the gang.

I sank deeper into the beanbag and willed my status sheet to appear. I already knew what to expect, but it was nice to have a visual confirmation of the changes made.

STATUS

Name: Cyrus

Race: Reborn (Felkin)

Age: ??

Tier: 0

Active Skills:

* (T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Verdant Healer: (Áine )

* (T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Resplendent Inferno: (Zharia)

* (T:0 R:9) Racial Skill: Dimensional Storage: (Chomperz)

* (T:0 R:9) Spirit Lord's Invocation

* (T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: The Dead Will Provide (Erebus)

* (T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Reflective Coat of the Mirror Beast (Magnus)

* (T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Storm King's Tempest (Stormrorex)

Passive Skills:

* (T:0 R:9) Etherious Blood

* (T:0 R:9) Sovereign-Threaded Soul

* (T:0 R:9) Chaotic Resonance

Perks:

Legacy of the Obsidian Crown

Scion of Calstrax

Demonic Blood

Child of Mana

Dread Guardian's Apology

Crystal Synthesis

Devourer of the Deep

I whistled softly. The change was pretty extreme. I'm sure anyone else would have a brain aneurysm, knowing I maxed out two new skills within a week while ranking up all my other skills.

Still, there was a glaring problem with my status--my inability to evolve hurt, but I wouldn't complain too much.

Standing up, I approached Ysanna's throne. Crouching down, I inspected the hidden details I managed to find throughout my week-long vacation in the realm.

While the porous coral's carving didn't show it, hidden crevices housed runes along the material's surface. They were hard to look at and hurt my eyes if I stared too long, but I managed to find a workaround.

I unhooked and donned my mask I had placed along my beltline. One of the changes I discovered was the ability to dampen the migraine-inducing effects of looking at the runes.

It still stung, but the pain never exceeded a light headache, and it would take longer for the discomfort to ramp up to that level.

With the mask on, I scanned the runes closely, pulled out my sketchbook, and started drawing the different lines I could make out. However, even if I could see the runes, sometimes it took hours to get every line correct. Each rune hid another rune carved into it like a shadow. The whole thing was extremely intricate.

When I finished drawing, I placed the pencil in my pocket and snapped the journal shut.

There, one more out of... thousands. Yay for progress.

I sighed and turned to nap on my beanbag when I felt a finger tap my shoulder. When I turned around, I found Cal staring at me with his arms crossed. "Oh, hey, Cal. You're back?"

"I am, for now. Ysanna will finish soon, and I want to discuss something important before the rift boots you." He looked at my journal and then back to my face with a rueful grin. "You know, one's seat of power is very personal. To study the runes without asking would normally be seen as a massive violation. Any other god would smite you where you stood, so be careful about that."

"Yeah, that'd be bad. Thanks for the heads-up." I narrowed my eyes and grinned. "Does that mean I can examine yours? You wouldn't have a reason to smite me, would you?"

He chuckled and led me to the spot where the beanbag used to be. In its place was the familiar couch he always used. "Sure. Become a demigod first, though, then we'll talk."

"Tier four?"

"Correct. You get your first taste of power beyond the mortal realm. If you can achieve that, you have my permission to study my throne."

"I'll hold you to it. Just give me a few years."

This time, Cal laughed, loud and boisterous. "Ah, youth. From anyone, claiming to achieve demigod status within a few years would be madness. Though from your status sheet, I wouldn't be too surprised. But, uh, maybe lower your expectations some. What's the expression? It's a marathon, not a sprint? Don't get yourself killed achieving something you were always going to do."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

I smiled and joined him on the couch. "Alright, I gotcha. So, is this about that weird thing the mega-cultist produced?"

"Indeed."

Memories of Chomperz's spasming body tried to surge through my thoughts like an angry bull, but I crushed it and cleared my mind. It took me a few seconds of deep breathing to get my anger under control, but when I did, I opened them to Cal, offering me a platter of sandwiches.

I smiled gratefully and selected a few that looked appetizing. I bit into one made of blue and pink bread with a purple filling. The flavour exploded in my mouth. I tasted blueberry and something cold, followed by strawberry and something warm. And the filling tasted like chocolate.

I swallowed the strange chunk of food and quirked an eyebrow. "That was not what I was expecting. What is this?"

Cal took a bite of his sandwich, which turned to fire inside his mouth, and he blew out some flames. "I'm not sure if I'm being honest. I threw together some random ingredients. Was it good?"

Was it good? Eh, strange and unusual, but sure, it was good.

"Yes."

We finished the sandwiches, and Cal raised his hand. A 3D replica of the object spun slowly above his palm. "This right here is something you should have never encountered. Your skill shouldn't have been powerful enough to create something like this."

I wiped my mouth of crumbs and downed a glass of water floating in the air with the platter of sandwiches. "Be honest with me. Is it what I think it is?"

"And what do you think it is?"

"Something to do with Melzathuum? I'm pretty sure I heard his voice speak to me before something happened, and he decided to scream my thoughts away."

Cal lowered his hand, erasing the illusion, and he placed his arms on his lap. "More than a simple something, Cyrus. You stole a piece of divinity. You stole divine essence and bottled it in a jar."

"If that's true, why am I not dead? I'm not even a tier-one ascendant. That feels like something that should kill me."

Cal reached over and tapped the center of my chest. "You should be, even if the riftborn version of the god is a dull copy of the real thing, your soul should have exploded from coming into contact with it so directly."

"So it's a miracle? There's no explanation?"

"I didn't say that. You shouldn't be alive, that's true. However, I know one reason why you're alive, and the others are pure speculation."

I blinked a few times and decided to nibble on another sandwich. "Okay then, hit me."

"Cyrus, there's...hiccups in your memory. I won't push it, but your passive skill, Sovereign-Threaded Soul, has been protecting you from crippling yourself for a while now. More than it should, if I'm being honest. You're very danger-prone, it seems."

I swallowed another bite of the strange red-coloured sandwich that tasted like a Thanksgiving turkey and mash. "I'm not trying to hurt myself. It just happens." I sat the sandwich down and leaned back. "I don't know what hiccups you're talking about. My memory seems fine to me. I believe you, though, so don't worry."

He smiled and continued. "The skill has been activating every time something threatens your soul's integrity. Another reason I can think as to why you're still alive is because of your Reborn status."

"My special constitution again?"

"Yes."

"Okay, so what does this all mean? I already checked, but the item is gone. I can't find it when I search the dimensional storage."

"I'm not entirely sure what it means. In all my years of existence, I've never encountered what happens when a tier-zero mortal assimilates divine essence. Your case is too unique to guess. But for now, I say keep it."

Really? After all the lectures about not destroying my soul?

"Are you sure? Shouldn't I give it to you or something? Can't you use it to help your recovery?"

Cal's face broke into a wide grin, his fangs on full display. "While I'm glad you would be willing to do that, I must decline." He raised a hand and silenced me. "I'll recover, I always do. You, however, have a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Let's see how this power affects your evolution. And if anything happens that puts you in danger, I'll help keep you safe."

"Thanks, Cal."

We continued eating in silence, enjoying the strange sandwiches and cool water. It was nice to relax this way and spend time with somebody outside my soulspace.

When we finished the sandwiches, a strange pressure filled the air, and a loud crack echoed from above the throne.

Cal stood up and snapped his fingers, making the couch and plates disappear. We were left standing above the platform of raging water as the sky began to darken till it turned nearly black.

"Stand behind me, please," Cal ordered softly.

I complied and moved to just behind him. My mask was still on, so I looked directly at the crystalline shell that had grown inside the center of the storm. The lightning appeared in frequent enough intervals to reveal Ysanna and Zolnja's forms at all times.

The pressure began to rise and then disappeared when Cal raised a hand. Suddenly, the maelstrom beneath the crystal grew into a tsunami-like wave, and Cal flicked his tail.

Orange flames lit up the fur around his tail, and he launched a small orb of fire at the wave. When the wave reached its apex and began to crash down, a transparent, orange barrier appeared and blocked the water from slamming down on our heads.

Such a casual display of power was eye-opening, and I was suddenly very thankful for Cal's presence. If he hadn't come back, I'd be a drowned corpse.

The storm continued to rage, and the ocean below grew angry. More waves appeared, but none so large as the first.

Suddenly, a loud cracking sound rang out, and the entire storm rushed inward, sucking in the storm clouds as if the world had taken a deep breath.

More cracks appeared, and Cal conjured another barrier as the crystal shell exploded outwards and sent flying shrapnel in all directions.

The barrier flared with bright light but managed to stop the shrapnel from penetrating. When Cal lowered his tail, the flames faded, and the barrier disappeared.

Standing before us, looking almost radiant, was the pair of divinities gently bobbing amongst the waves. Her eyes looked brighter, and her skin glowed with a soft blue light.

"You didn't have to include the memories." Ysanna's voice rang loud and clear over the fading storm. "Nonetheless, thank you."

Cal gave a polite bow. "Think nothing of it. I need an ally, and I would make a poor one on my end if I left you unprepared for what's to come."

"Indeed. I cannot wait to meet my descendant," Zonlja added.

I thought back to Aimon and his companion. I can't say I saw the resemblance, but then again, I lacked many features Cal had.

"Are you prepared?"

Ysanna sighed and dismissed her throne. Her fist slammed on the coral's back, and it turned into water that fell into the calming ocean below. "No. Yet, I must be."

Cal turned and pushed me before him, presenting me to the goddess. Ysanna sighed again; this time, a bit of a groan leaking through.

"Must I? Right now?"

"Yes." Cal nudged me forward a tiny bit more. "It was part of the contract."

Ysanna glared but rubbed her temples and walked over. She placed a hand on my chest, and a spiral of water flowed towards my sternum.

The energy was freezing cold, and I was about to shiver when the cold turned into a volcano. The heat felt like a blowtorch to my skin, but as quickly as it appeared, the sensation stopped, and she removed her hand.

She nearly stumbled, but Zolnja caught her and supported the woozy goddess. "Thank you, Zol."

"Always. Now, are we satisfied? Can she have a moment of rest before we proceed?" Zolnja asked.

"No, no. Ugh, let's get this done with," Ysanna interrupted. She used Zolnja as support as she held out her hand. "I'm ready. Are you?"

Cal held up a hand in response, and a shimmery orb of mana appeared. He tossed it into the air, and Ysanna caught it. The realm stuttered when her fingers closed down before resuming after half a second.

"This body will take a while to get used to."

She closed her eyes, and I felt an extreme amount of mana begin to swirl around us.

Cal turned me around and embraced me in a hug. "I promise to talk to you soon. Enjoy your time in the capital."

I had enough time to quickly hug him back before he let go and pushed me away. Surprised, I launched into the air, and he waved goodbye before I sank below the waves. My consciousness was starting to fade, so I at least had time to look at my new system notification.

Perk: Whisper of the Tempest

* The Storm Princess has granted you her subtle favor.

* The winds now serve as your eyes and ears, alerting you to danger and shielding you from harm.

* Minor enhancement to perception. Gain an innate sense to detect threats in your immediate surroundings, as if the wind itself whispers warnings to you.