John glanced down at his plate and felt his appetite vanish instantly. The dish before him resembled a concoction of unknown meat and unidentifiable vegetables, all engulfed in a thick, murky sauce. The colors did nothing to entice him—a drab, sickly brown intermixed with uninviting patches of gray and green. The meat itself possessed a gelatinous texture, trembling ever so slightly with the slightest movement of the table, dotted with unsightly bits of gristle and fat that shimmered in the dim light. As for the vegetables, they appeared to have been reduced to a state of complete disintegration, forming a mushy, unrecognizable mess that melded seamlessly with the unappealing sauce.
The overall presentation of the dish left much to be desired, and John found himself struggling to summon the will to take a bite. He took his knife, made a small incision, and speared the piece with his fork. Bringing it up to his nose, he was given yet another reason not to want to eat this food.
The smell was equally off-putting, a pungent blend of sour and overly earthy aromas that made his nose wrinkle in distaste. It was as if someone had combined the scent of rotting leaves with a hint of spoiled vinegar. There were undertones of something musty and stale, reminiscent of damp cellars and moldy bread. John had to fight the urge to throw up as he pushed the plate away. The odor from the dish filled his nostrils and assaulted his senses.
John's stomach churned as he reluctantly took a small bite. The taste was even worse than the smell, a combination of bitter and sour flavors that made his tongue recoil in disgust. He quickly swallowed, trying to hide his grimace, but it was clear to anyone watching that he was not enjoying the meal.
As he poked at the food with his fork, hoping to find something more appealing underneath, a thick, viscous liquid oozed from the meat, pooling around the vegetables and mingling with the sauce. The fork prongs left trails in the gooey mixture, which clung stubbornly to the utensil when he tried to lift it. The entire dish seemed to mock his attempt to find something edible.
Lily leaned in eagerly, her eyes shining with delight. "Gromnash stew! You're really lucky, you know. It's actually my favorite dish," she exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face as she observed the unappetizing concoction. The thick, viscous liquid seemed to hold an unavoidable allure for her. John personally didn't get it.
"If it's your favorite, why didn't you order it?" he asked, hoping the conversation would go on long enough that he could ignore eating this.
"Oh, I didn't realize that's what it was," Lily replied, looking genuinely regretful, whereas John just saw hope. On her plate was a piece of meat that looked like a Christmas ham. A pinkish meat that had a crosscut top, and a yellowish looking glaze. And unlike his dish, it smelled wonderful.
John hesitated, then looked back at her plate of honey-glazed roast. "Lily, would you like to trade plates?" he offered, trying to keep the relief out of his voice. He tried his best to make it look like this was doing her a great favor, but honestly he felt like he might throw up if he had to eat this.
From the look on her face, and her eyes growing wide, John realized she was taking the bait. "I mean, I'd hate to take your food and honestly, all I have is this Herb roast," she said, looking dejected as if her explanation might be off-putting enough that he would turn it down on the spot.
John shook his head magnanimously, trying to reassure her. "Really, it's fine. If I had known this was your favorite when I saw the menu, I would have pointed it out to you originally. I feel bad I didn't, so please. It would be my pleasure."
John nodded, maintaining his composure as she replied. "Are you sure you don't mind?" she asked, still looking a bit guilty as she held up her plate. "I don't mind sticking with this."
"Absolutely," he said with a smile. "I insist." John quickly grabbed her plate, not giving her the chance to change her mind.
Lily's face lit up with excitement as she eagerly swapped their plates. "Thanks, Elena! I'm so glad we're friends!" she said, already digging into the stew with gusto. ‘More power to you’ he thought. As he accepted the honey-glazed roast in return, the sweet and savory aroma immediately made his mouth water. The roast was beautifully presented, with a glossy, caramelized surface that promised a delicious meal. He took his first bite, and the tender meat practically melted in his mouth, the blend of flavors perfect.
Lily, meanwhile, was happily enjoying her gromnash stew. "See? Told you it was good," she said between bites, clearly savoring every morsel. John smiled and nodded.
Lele leaned towards him. "That was nice of you."
John shook his head. "Just trying to get some brownie points."
Lele looked more than a bit confused. "Faeries have points in your world?"
"Absolutely," John responded, completely deadpan.
He glanced back over at Lily and watched her for a moment, still amazed at how she could find such pleasure in...that foul dish. "Well, I guess it's true what they say about not judging a book by its cover," he said under his breath, taking another bite of his roast. Aloud, he asked, "Is it good, Lily?"
She smiled warmly. "Oh my gosh, it's so good!"
About 20 minutes and lots of vapid conversation later, John looked over at Lele. "So, can I ask some questions that I still don't understand?"
Lele looked up from her food. "Go ahead. Can't promise I'll be able to answer, but I'll try."
"What are tiers?" John inquired, feeling like he was navigating a complex game system without a manual.
Lele looked at him a bit confused. "Well, tiers are a way to quickly tell one's power compared to others."
John shook his head and corrected his original question, realizing he needed to be more specific. "Sorry, I meant like how does your level compare to your tier? And is your percentage of skill with a power significant in any way?"
Lele looked at him with that confused look he could tell meant she had no clue what he was saying. She looked over at Lily and then back at John. "I have no clue what you're talking about. Lilly, do you know?"
Lily looked at John, and then down to her book. "I'm not sure either."
Lele continued, her tone becoming more serious. "There are 7 main tiers that arcanists are classified into, each representing a different level of skill and power."
“Arcanist?” John asked.
“That’s the term we use for anyone who is past the novice stage and has power from spheres” Lele answered.
"At the bottom, we have the Novices," she explained. "These are individuals who have no powers. Agatha here is an example of someone that’s called a novice. Sometimes they’re called civilians. Either way, she’s the weak one you have to spend your life babysitting." She looked over at Agatha who smiled at her but squinted her eyes playfully.
Agatha looked up. “Yes, we’re terribly weak. So weak in fact, I don’t know how I’ll ever have the strength to lift the awfully heavy glass of wine or plates of food the next time Lele visits. On a side note Elena, I‘ve got good news. Next time I make Savory Mushroom and Herb Pie, I might have an extra helping. Someone has volunteered to give up her portion.”
Lele paled a bit and quickly amended her previous statement. “Do keep in mind that Agatha is an obvious exception to the rule. Without her beauty, charm and amazing ability to cook for her best friends we'd all be lost, powers or not. In fact, I'd trade my abilities for her common sense any day."
Agatha nodded triumphantly, accepting the apology.
"The next tier is Initiates," Lele continued. "This is where you are currently. Initiates are those who just got their powers and have just started on their journey. They have recently discovered their abilities and are beginning to understand how to use them. They're still in the early stages of their training but have shown enough potential to start learning and growing. Technically there are also neophytes, which are people who are almost at the next tier, but aren’t there. If you had fewer than 5 spheres, we’d probably call you a neophyte initiate."
"Above Initiates are the Apprentices," she said, nodding towards herself and Lily. "Apprentices have a solid grasp of their abilities and can use them effectively in a variety of situations. They are often seen working with more experienced adventurers, honing their skills and learning how to handle more dangerous and complex challenges."
"Then we have the Adepts," Lele's voice took on a tone of respect. "Adepts are highly skilled and have a deep understanding of their powers. They can perform feats that would be impossible for those in the lower tiers and are often specialists in their fields They are also frequently called on to be leaders of groups of adventurers if multiple groups are around. Adepts are respected and relied upon in difficult missions. This is where most adventurers tend to end up."
"Next, we have the Experts," she continued. "Experts are masters of their abilities. They possess not only skill but also wisdom and strategic insight. They can manipulate their powers in ways that seem almost impossible to others and are often called upon to solve the most challenging problems or lead significant endeavors."
"And at the top, we have the Masters," Lele's eyes widened slightly. "Masters are rare and incredibly powerful. They have complete control over their abilities and can use them with precision and creativity that defies imagination. A single Master can change the course of a battle or solve crises that would overwhelm entire teams of lower-tier adventurers."
"But beyond Masters, there are even higher tiers," Lele added. "Supposedly beyond a master, there is a choice. Grandmasters are individuals who have perfected their craft to an astonishing level. Sages are those whose wisdom and power are legendary. Whereas the Archmages are those who can shape the very fabric of reality with their abilities."
"And at the pinnacle, we have the Exalted," she concluded, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Exalted are legends. They possess powers that go beyond what most can even comprehend. They can shape the world around them, influence vast regions, and their actions often become the stuff of myths and legends. Meeting an Exalted is a rare and awe-inspiring experience."
John listened intently, trying to absorb the information. "So, have you ever met an Archmage or an Exalted?" he asked, intrigued by the idea of such powerful individuals.
Lele shook her head. "Not specifically a sage or Archmage, but once I met a grandmaster.” A hint of awe could be found in her voice. “He was on another level for how powerful he was. Even his aura was enough to make me feel overwhelmed. They're rare and usually busy with important matters. But I've heard stories."
Lily chimed in excitedly, "Oh, I've read about them! Supposedly there was this one Exalted who could control the weather across an entire kingdom. He would supposedly punch and reality itself would move. Can you imagine that kind of power?"
John’s eyes widened. "That's... scary. I can't even imagine being that strong."
"It's not just about raw power," Lele explained, her tone serious. "It's about control, wisdom, and responsibility. Unfortunately we don’t really know why some people can get to be a master, and some fizzle out as adepts. There have been studies on the topic, but last I heard the ones studying it haven’t made any real progress.”
Agatha looked over at John. “Of course if you don’t want to fight, you can always drain the magic from some shards.”
John nodded thoughtfully. "I see. So I could just find some crystalized magic and scarf it down?”
Lele gave Agatha a sharp look before explaining. “Elena, some people choose to increase their power through these things that look like crystalized shards of magic. But that’s expensive and usually doesn’t work very well in the long run. It is quick though."
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Lele gave some context. “In the long run, using crystalized magic tends to make your powers weaker and plateau you faster. If you and a twin had powers, and you chose to go the easy path you’d get more power quicker, but your twin would be stronger with their powers even if you had the same powers. Plus you’d have consumed a small nation’s worth of wealth in raw magic to get to that point.”
"Exactly," Lele agreed. "That's why we start with the basics. Speaking of which, we should probably get back to discussing training, Elena."
“Wait, something you said just made me think of another question.” John said, his face deep in thought. “So I’ve got these powers and they made me an initiate. But I appeared with them, born with them. Whatever. But you said Initiates are folks who just got their powers. So how do others get powers like I do?”
Lele exchanged glances with Lily before responding. Lily let Lele take the lead. “It depends on the person, the place, and quite a few other things.” She waited a second and cracked a smile looking teasingly at John. “It’s not as simple as being born with them, like how some people manage to go through life.”
John gave her a flat look and took a slow breath. He rolled his eyes and retorted. “Yep. Truly if only everyone could be as blessed as I am…”
Lele chuckled. “But seriously bright eyes. There are lots of methods. Aetherite shards are one. Get a few shards of a certain variety and they’ll help unlock the power. Or get ones that aren’t aligned to an affinity and those will also work, but the results will be more random. Some adventurers will also have magical artifacts and relics and those might unlock spheres related to the item in question.”
Lily happily chimed in. “Don’t forget about rituals! It’s possible for people to gain power through carefully orchestrated magical ceremonies.”
Lele nodded but her face became more serious. “And sometimes, powers are gained through sacrifice or coercion.” Her face soured as if the very thought was something to be spat out in disgust. “It’s not always a pleasant process.”
John’s face grew pale. “You mean someone could just remove my powers?”
Lily looked a bit sad when she responded. “Not unless you willingly give them up. People can’t just remove them from you, you have to be willing to do it. And while some people do it willingly after a long life, others will sometimes try to force it by giving the person no other option.”
Lele quickly added. “While I’ve seen people use this to transfer powers over from a great grandparent to a child, the majority of the time is a powerful person forcing someone to give specific powers they want to their child. Oh you were lucky enough to get Astral and it’s something the child needs? I’ve heard stories of parents coercing unlucky bastards with money and threats to their family. It’s painful, and usually deadly to the person losing the powers. When it’s coerced, it also taints the person getting the powers.”
John gulped. “That sounds…intense. Is there a preferred method?”
John absently rubbed his arms, feeling a slight chill. He made a mental note to ask Lehara where she got her cute cardigan - it looked so cozy, and he could use something similar to throw on when the tavern got drafty like this.
“Lele shrugged, her unpleasant response completely gone. “It varies. The wealthy often buy specific magic crystals to enhance the chance that their kids get specific power sets. The very wealthy will tailor their children with magical relics to ensure that they have specific powers. The rest of the common folk that can’t afford thousands of crowns worth of relics usually go for unattuned Aetherite shards and get what they will. But keep in mind, even unattuned shards will go for a gleam or two. If you can find some, you might do well to sell them.”
Agatha piped up for the first time in the conversation. “I know that some nobles will wear relics like a badge of honor. I remember the Mayor made a big deal of his children going to the Academy, and they had powers gotten from the Heart of the Dawnward Obelisk.”
“Does having powers come from a relic or shard mean there’s a better or worse outcome?” John asked pensively.
“No. Just the direction it goes.” Lele explained. “A commoner who has unattuned shards will have a chance to get any power. Some of them are great, some of them suck. But even if they’re all great, the combination of the 4 might not be.”
She took a moment to collect her thoughts. “For example, while the commoner might get lava, they may also get rain, time, crystal and food. A collection of five good powers individually, but not exactly a combination that teams will be beating down the door to get access to. The mayor’s kids, if I remember correctly, have light. But he ensured they also got the illusion, Holy, Celestial and Radiance spheres, which is a powerful combination that’s sought after by many.”
“Sphere? I’m assuming that’s what you call magic power sets?” John asked inquisitively.
Lele nodded. “You can also double up if you really want to lean in on a specific sphere. It makes you more limited, but each one lends more power to the other. Now it’s not uncommon for adventurers to have 2 of the same sphere. Three is fairly uncommon though. Hardly anyone goes for four. So you having five is a bit of an oddball choice. Just hope your later powers develop in other avenues.”
“Limited in what way? Should I be worried?” he asked.
“It means that you might not be able to see in the dark naturally. But you might have an aura sight eventually that works with blood? Regardless, you can always buy items that let you see in the dark. They are relatively cheap. When I said limited I meant that a person who has the ability to call forth lightning may also have the ability to summon elementals made of water. And while the initiate may have blood for you to drain, the elemental doesn’t. Whereas a person who has lava, time and earth may be able to ground the lightning, burn away the elemental, and get in fast before the other person has a chance to react.”
"Ok, how about levels then. Do they-?" John began to ask, but was interrupted as the waiter came by with a tray of drinks and removed their plates.
"Did you ladies enjoy your meal?" the waiter asked. After a round of murmurs, he presented them with cakes to choose from. They all chose desserts, and the waiter left.
John felt a twinge of discomfort at being addressed as a lady. Sometimes he just wished folks would call him a dude. He understood he chose the name Elena, and calling him by that name was fine. But the fact that everyone treated him like a lady too kind of upset him. He knew it was a stupid thought, but it still bugged him.
He pushed the feeling aside and continued his line of questioning. "Sorry. So levels. Do most people get to a certain level before becoming the next tier? So what do you do with your free points? How do you allocate them?"
Lele raised an eyebrow, looking even more perplexed. "What free points?"
"You know, free points…?" John looked confused. So did they. He changed his question, realizing he was delving into concepts that seemed to be unique to his understanding of this world. "Alright, never-mind about that. What happens when your percentage gets to be 100%?"
Once again, he was met with confusion. Lily started looking at him intently and wrote things down, seemingly fascinated by these strange concepts. Agatha was way over her head at this point, being a novice herself.
Lele piped up, her frustration evident. "I still have no clue what you're talking about."
John decided to share what he could see. "For instance, according to this I'm level 4. My class is Blood Mage, and I'm an initiate," he said, telling everyone what he was reading.
Lily's eyes widened with intense fascination, her fingers twitching as if longing to write everything down. She leaned forward, her gaze fixed on John with an almost uncomfortable intensity. "Fascinating! A quantifiable measurement of magical prowess. And Blood Mage... that's an exceptionally rare classification. If I remember from my reading last night the blood sphere is rare, accounting for only about 5% of all Arcanists. But those that are a true blood mage? The statistical probability of encountering one is less than 0.03% in most regions."
The mention of Blood Mage caused a visible shift in the atmosphere. Lele's expression grew serious, while Agatha's eyes widened in surprise. John, noticing their reactions, felt a sudden unease. "Is... is that bad?" he asked hesitantly.
Lily, seemingly oblivious to the tension, continued excitedly. "Oh, it's not inherently bad, but it's certainly complex! All magic can be dangerous if misused, but Blood magic has a particularly dark reputation." Her voice took on a more serious tone, reciting facts as if from a textbook. "It's seen as a violation of the natural order, manipulating the very essence of life itself in a more raw and invasive way than healing or death magics. A surprisingly large percentage of blood mages have the ability to move a person's body with just the blood. The ethical implications are quite profound, especially when you consider the potential for both beneficial and harmful applications."
Seeing the look of alarm on John's face, Lele quickly added, "But that doesn't mean you're evil or that you can't use your powers for good. It just means you'll have to be extra careful and responsible with how you use them."
Lily nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! The key is in the application and intent. For instance, the ability to control blood flow could be used to stop internal bleeding, but it could also be used to cause strokes or heart attacks. It's a perfect example of the dual nature of power."
John felt a chill run down his spine as he realized the true potential of his abilities. "I remember you said it was forbidden magic yesterday. Is having this power going to cause me problems?"
Lele shook her head slightly. "Sort of? It means they're going to keep a close eye on you and scrutinize what you do far more than anyone else. Even among forbidden arts, it's one of the more... accepted ones? It's dangerous enough that people will be wary of you on sight. But honestly, no more than any farmer would be of your demonic features out in the world."
"What kind of reasons?" John asked, not sure if he wanted to know the answer.
Lele motioned to Lily. “Some simply want to study you and your abilities."
John shrugged. “I mean, I get how that can be dangerous.”
Lele continued and raised a finger at each sentence. “There are those who might believe that controlling or possessing your abilities could give them immense power. Others may want to exploit you to further their own dark agendas or to gain an edge in their own magical pursuits. You could also attract the attention of collectors who view you as a rare and valuable asset who needs to be locked away in their museum of curios. Cultists who might see you as a chosen one for their twisted rituals. Kings may want you to use your magic to force other leaders to give them their kingdom. Additionally, some might believe your magic could enhance their physical virility and solve personal problems they'd rather not discuss openly."
John swallowed hard. "I guess I have a lot to learn about controlling this power and navigating the politics that come with it. I really don’t want to be a magical Viagra."
"That's why you're with us," Lele said, her tone softening slightly. "We'll help you understand and master your abilities safely. But never forget the responsibility that comes with this kind of power."
John thought about what Lele just told him and continued summarizing his sheet to the girls. "Anyways, I've got 0 free points, and I get 2 free points every time I level. I also get a few points in some stuff every class level I get. Oh and I get some racial stuff too. I have 5 powers, 3 of which are in Combat Magic, and 2 are in enhancement. I've got a few perks like Polyglot, and quick study. Just some basic stuff to help me live."
Lele sat across from John and listened. As he went on, her expression went from one of interest and curiosity to looking at him with jealousy and disbelief. "Wait, you're saying you have access to a detailed list of your abilities and their effects? And you can simply check it whenever you want? That's unreal and completely unfair!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with incredulity.
John shrugged, trying to downplay the advantage that seemed to have fallen into his lap. "I guess so. But how do you use your own abilities? How do you track their progress?"
Lele's frustration was palpable as she set her napkin down. "I don't! Wait, why are you asking me all these questions about tiers and powers? You have all the answers right in front of you!"
John raised his hands in an I-don’t-know gesture. “Lele, I think you’re vastly overstating what I know. For instance I know that I’m an Initiate. But I don’t know what the hell that means. I know I’m Warded against Nature which means that animals hate me and want me dead. But I don’t know how bad that is.”
Lele gave a bit of a worried look. “That’s actually a really bad one depending on where you are. Maybe not too bad in a city, but in nature?”
Agatha looked as if realization just smacked her on the face. “So that’s why! I was just saying to Gareth the other day that I noticed less flies and rats around the inn”
Lily tapped John on the shoulder, her eyes wide with wonder. "Elena, you're my best friend, right? Can I study you? It won't take long, maybe just five to ten years," she asked eagerly, hoping to unlock the secrets behind his unique insight.
John looked at her and slowly blinked, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Lily, while I'd love nothing more than that... no." He hoped his sarcasm was evident.
Lily looked crestfallen. "Well, can you at least tell me about me?"
John shook his head no. "Unfortunately, I can only see my stuff. I can identify things like that fork, but identification of people doesn't work."
As Lele threw her hands up in frustration, she turned to John with a mix of curiosity and envy. "So, what else can you do?"
John could only shrug, "I wish I knew. That's why I wanted to join you all in the first place," he admitted, feeling the burden of his newfound power and the responsibility that came with it.
Lele took a deep breath, trying to calm down but still looking incredibly jealous. John could sense her internal struggle as she attempted to process the information he had shared.
"Okay, look," she began, her voice carrying a mix of frustration and determination. "I don't know if this is going to work any differently for you or not. But you need to train your abilities. You need to learn what you can do, what you can't do, what you can learn, what you can't learn. What to do and what not to do. How to move. And above everything else, you need to make this your own."
John listened intently, and Lele continued, her tone becoming more serious.
"If you want to become an adventurer and help people, you need to learn to not die yourself. I asked the boys to get the things ready for you to be a proper adventurer. That involves gear, items, equipment. We'll have to get you fitted, and that means we're going to have to make a few more stops. It won’t be the best stuff, but it will be good enough for a starting adventurer. Nobody is spending more than a few shards on you, so don’t worry about paying us back."
John listened intently, and Lele continued, her tone becoming more serious.
"If you want to become an adventurer and help people, you need to learn to not die yourself. I asked the boys to get the things ready for you to be a proper adventurer. That involves gear, items, equipment. We'll have to get you fitted, and that means we're going to have to make a few more stops. It won’t be the best stuff, but it will be good enough for a starting adventurer. Nobody is spending more than a few shards on you, so don’t worry about paying us back."
As Lele spoke, Lily tapped John on the shoulder again, her curiosity seemingly insatiable. "Elena, can you tell me about me?" she asked eagerly.
John shook his head, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the constant questions and the complexities of his situation. "Unfortunately, I don't think so. Other than a quest log, character sheet, health, stamina, and mana bars, and my inventory, I can't do much."
At the mention of a quest log, Lele's eyes narrowed. She shot a look at John that could have melted steel which was only slightly belied by the smile on her lips. "What in the eight hells is a quest log?".