Chapter 13: Time To Level Up!
The morning sun filtered through the tall trees of Sylvara, casting dappled shadows on the cobblestone streets of the industrial sector. Jamie could feel the warmth on his back as he stood outside the Ironworks, his breath fogging in the crisp air. It had been a few weeks since he’d started working under Garrick Potoz, the stern yet surprisingly nurturing engineer who had taken Jamie under his wing.
Today, though, was different. Today, Jamie was given licence to work on his first independent project. The thought was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. He rubbed his hands together, more out of habit than necessity, as he approached the workshop door.
“Ah, Jamie! Early as always,” came the gruff voice of Garrick from within, followed by the metallic clank of tools. The old man, with his ever-present grimace, looked up from his workbench. “Ready for your first solo mission?”
Jamie was already starting to accrue a decent amount of residual aether within his experience well with every task completed and was certain this would increase even more as his own deeds became more profound.
Jamie nodded quickly, a hint of nervousness betraying his usual confident demeanour. “Yep, I’ve been going over the schematics you gave me. It’s all clear, I think.”
Garrick grunted in approval, wiping his hands on a rag. “Good. This isn’t just about following the blueprint, lad. It’s about making it yours. Use the tools, but let your instincts guide you. Aether can be as much about feel as it is about precision.”
Jamie appreciated these words. Garrick was not one for flattery, but when he offered advice, it was always rooted in deep experience. Jamie had come to admire the old engineer’s no-nonsense approach, which balanced perfectly with the undercurrent of care he showed his apprentices.
As he settled at his own station, Jamie allowed his mind to wander briefly to his family. Izabelle had been making strides with her tailoring business, finally securing a space downstairs in the inn. The thought made him smile—she had always had a knack for sewing and crochet, turning mere cloth or yarn into something remarkable. It seemed they both found solace and even success with their respective crafting.
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Meanwhile, across town, the Moonlit Tankard was already bustling with the morning’s activity. The smell of fresh bread and opal brew wafted through the inn, mingling with the sound of chatter from patrons. Izabelle had just finished hanging a new sign outside her newly claimed workspace: Izabelle’s Inn Stitches.
The small room was warm and welcoming, with bolts of fabric neatly stacked on one side and a worktable taking up most of the space. Felix’s little corner had been set up with his toys and a soft blanket, allowing Izabelle to work while keeping an eye on him.
Diana, meanwhile, had been eager for her first day at the pre-school group that the Sylvaran locals had introduced her to. Izabelle couldn’t help but feel a pang of anxiety as she watched her daughter’s bright eyes dart around the room, soaking in every detail. She knew Diana was ready, but letting go, even for a few hours, was never easy. Daniel too had taken an hour or so to escort them to the assemblage.
“Mummy, Dad, I’m gonna make so much of friends!” Diana’s excited voice broke through Izabelle’s thoughts.
“I’m sure you will, sweetie,” Izabelle replied, kneeling to adjust Diana’s cloak. “Just remember to be kind, please listen to your teacher, and please, for the love of god, do not say any of the naughty words daddy uses, okay?”
Daniel shuffled timidly before stepping forward to embrace his daughter. "That's right, Di Di, and remember, you need to take down the biggest kid in the class early to proclaim dominance."
Izzy smacked Daniel's arm as she scowled. "Okay, baby girl, never listen to a word your father says ever again in your life, okay, Hun?"
Diana nodded solemnly, her seriousness almost comical, given her small stature. “Okay, Mum! And I’ll tell you all about it when I get back. Bye, Daddy!”
Izabelle kissed her daughter’s forehead and waved as Diana joined the group of children heading towards the large tree where their lessons took place.
With Diana settled, Daniel off to the Spearman's Consortium and Felix content in his corner, Izabelle turned to her first task of the day—a complex commission from Merium Seda, the inn’s proprietor. It was a detailed piece, requiring both skill and creativity, and Izabelle relished the challenge.
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The day passed quickly for both Jamie and Izabelle. Jamie had his head down, focused intently on his project. It was an intricate piece—a small device meant to enhance the flow of aether through mechanical constructs. He lost himself in the work, every gear and wire finding its place almost as if by instinct. He could sometimes sense his body pulling his hands in certain directions or manipulating his fingers, it was the oddest sensation. He asked Garrick if this was how it felt when crafting with aether, but was assured he had never heard anything of the sort, nor felt it himself.
At the same time, Izabelle was engrossed in her tailoring, the rhythmic motion of her hands moving the needle in and out of fabric becoming almost meditative. Felix babbled happily beside her, occasionally handing her a stray thread or button.
As the afternoon sun dipped lower, the family reconvened at the inn. Daniel was already there, having returned from his own work at the Consortium. He had been training hard, his body adapting quickly to the new physical demands placed on it. But it wasn’t just about the physical—Daniel was really beginning to carry himself with the stature of authority, clearly being instilled with a newfound confidence.
“Look at you two,” Daniel said as Jamie and Izabelle entered the room, his voice filled with pride. “Busy as bees. Or whatever godforsaken, mutant, winged creatures are like bees here.”
Jamie chuckled, shaking off the remnants of his day’s concentration. “Yeah, but it’s good. I’m finally starting to feel like I’m contributing something real here. You should see some of the stuff I'm making, it's mental.”
Izabelle smiled as she laid Felix down on the rug to play with his sister. “I know what you mean. It feels like we’re really starting to find our place. I do miss my family, though. I wonder if we'll ever get back home.”
Daniel nodded. The brothers didn't have much family left after losing their mum and aunt so close together, so he sometimes forgot what it must be like for Izzy, with this experience taking her away from her family. There was, however, a glint in his eye. “I'm sure we will find a way. Anyway, don’t get too comfortable just yet. We’ve got some levelling up to do, don't we?”
Izabelle’s brow furrowed in thought. “I’m so close, but I think I need a little more aether before I’m ready. I think tomorrow will be the day.”
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The very next evening, as the moon began to rise over Sylvara, the group gathered outside the city walls, where the aether flowed more freely. Moras Kespar, the alchemist with a deep understanding of Aether, had agreed to oversee their levelling process. His presence was reassuring—Moras was a man of few words, but his knowledge was vast and invaluable.
“Condensing aether is no simple task to the inexperienced,” Moras explained, his voice even and calm. “It requires focus, balance, and a strong will. The Experience Well within you must be filled and then carefully condensed into a form that can be allocated to your attribute nodes.”
Daniel rolled his shoulders, trying to shake off the nervous energy that had settled there. “Don't you worry, my old chap, we're as ready as we’ll ever be.”
Jamie and Izabelle exchanged glances, both feeling the weight of what they were about to do. Moras gave a nod of approval before continuing.
“Remember, this isn’t just about strength or speed. The aether will amplify what is already within you. It is as much about understanding yourself as it is about gaining power.”
With that, Moras began to guide them through the process. The night air was thick with the hum of aether, almost tangible in its intensity. Daniel closed his eyes, focusing inward as he had been taught. He could feel the aether swirling within his system, his Experience Well full to the brim, a torrent of energy waiting to be directed.
Jamie and Izabelle did the same, each sensing within their own systems. It was a strange sensation—both familiar and foreign, like tapping into a well of potential they had always known was there but had never fully accessed.
Slowly, the aether within their Experience Wells began to condense, the swirling energy coalescing into something more solid, more controllable. It was as if they were drawing the essence of their experiences, their struggles, and their triumphs into a single point of focus.
Moras watched with keen eyes, his expression one of quiet satisfaction. “Yes. Good. You’re doing well. Let it flow, but don’t force it. The aether will guide you if you let it. You understand your systems well enough by now.”
The process was intense, almost overwhelming, but none of them faltered. They had been through too much to turn back now, plus they were extremely devout in their nightly rituals. As the aether condensed within their Experience Wells, they could feel a shift—a subtle but undeniable change in their very beings. They felt... More.
When the process was complete, Moras stepped forward, his voice reverberating with quiet authority. “You have done well. The aether is now ready to be allocated, but remember, the choices you make now will shape your path ahead.”
The group nodded, each of them feeling the weight of the moment. They had reached a new milestone, not just in their abilities, but in their understanding of themselves and the world they had come to inhabit.
As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, the family stood together, ready to take the next step in their journey. They were stronger now, more attuned to the world, to Caeloria and to each other. Each step they took was a testament to their growth, their resilience, and their unbreakable bond.
Now though, a decision must be made, which attribute nodes to pick?