Chapter 14: Advancements

The fire crackled softly, its orange glow casting flickering shadows against the stone walls of the chamber. Moras stood near the hearth, his dark robes swaying gently with the movement of the flames. His eyes, glowing a faint amethyst, turned to the trio seated before him—Daniel, Jamie, and Izabelle.

"Tonight, we begin allocating your attributes," Moras said, his voice low and resonant, filled with the weight of millennia of old knowledge. "Each of you has begun your path into the realms of power, and now it is time to guide that power, to shape it according to your strengths."

Daniel leaned forward, his muscles tight with anticipation. He’d felt the shift in his body ever since they’d crossed the threshold of the first level-up—the sensation of energy coursing through him, like the world itself was pumping life into his veins. The thought of finally being able to control that energy was both exciting and intimidating. "So, how does it work? Do we just… think about it?"

Moras chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. "It is both simpler and more complex than that." He stepped forward, his long fingers tracing the air in front of Daniel. Slowly, a translucent window of swirling blue energy materialised before him. "This is a visage of your system. Think of it as a conduit between your physical body and the aetheric energies you now command. The attributes you allocate will determine how that energy shapes and affects you."

The room filled with a collective breath of anticipation. Jamie, always the curious one, shifted in his seat. His eyes sparkled in the firelight upon witnessing the creative use of aether as a display. "Wow, that's incredible Moras. So what do each of these stats actually do? I mean, we’ve heard about things like 'Strength' and 'Agility' in old stories and games, but that’s just… Well, fiction. You touched on them but could you go into a bit more detail? I need to understand them better to make an informed choice."

Moras raised an eyebrow at his comment, his expression simultaneously patient and amused. "Let me explain each attribute, for you will be making choices that will define your paths in this world."

He extended his hand again, and a second window appeared in front of the group, seeming to highlight each node and its location within the body. They stared at it in awe, and even though Izabelle tried to maintain her usual calm demeanour, her lips parted slightly, betraying her wonder.

"As you’ve guessed, Strength refers to your raw, physical power," Moras began. "It governs your ability to strike hard, lift heavy objects, and wield weapons with greater force. Stamina is equally important—it represents your body's endurance, how long you can fight, run, or sustain a taxing effort before exhaustion claims you."

Daniel nodded, understanding why these two stats would matter to him. He’d already begun to feel the strain of extended battles against the spearmen trainees. "And Vitality?" he asked, his voice steady, though a hint of eagerness crept in.

"Vitality," Moras continued, "is your resilience—how much damage you can take before your body succumbs to injury. It strengthens your physical form and increases your general health pool, making you harder to kill."

"That sounds useful," Daniel muttered, glancing briefly at the scar running along his arm, a souvenir from an earlier skirmish with Faelar.

Moras inclined his head. "Indeed. But let's not overlook Agility. It governs how quickly you move, how nimble you are in battle, and how fast you can react to sudden threats. Many underestimate its importance until they find themselves unable to dodge a deadly blow. It's even useful for more artisanal endeavours, helping one weave their fingers accurately and adapt to changes effectively."

Daniel smirked at that, feeling a tinge of pride. He’d always relied on his quick reflexes, especially in his footballing days. "Okay, I think I’m starting to get it. Strength, Stamina, Vitality, and Agility—it sounds like I’ll be focusing on those bad boys."

"As you should," Moras agreed. "Your melee combat style demands it. But be warned—not all battles are won with brute force. Your enemies will vary, and so will the challenges you face. Adaptability is key."

Turning to focus more on Jamie and Izabelle, Moras offered a more contemplative look. "As for you two, your path is different. While physical attributes are not without merit, your focus will lean more heavily into the intellectual and perceptive fields."

Jamie raised an eyebrow, curious. "Like… what exactly?"

"The first is Cognition," Moras explained. "It represents your ability to process information, solve complex problems, and to cast advanced magic with greater precision. It’s a stat that measures not only your intelligence, but also how quickly you can think on your feet when faced with arcane or logical puzzles."

"Now that's what I'm talking about," Jamie said with a grin. "I'm all about quick thinking."

Moras smiled slightly. "I expected as much. Next is Mind. This represents your mental resilience—your ability to focus under pressure, to resist magical or psychological attacks, and to keep your concentration sharp even in the midst of chaos."

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Izabelle nodded thoughtfully, clearly drawn to the stat. "So it’s like mental fortitude, then?"

"Precisely. It’s vital for remaining composed and continuing to cast spells during battle. Also for working long hours and keeping focus, especially whilst maintaining minute details." Moras’s gaze shifted to the last attribute on his aether 'whiteboard'. "Perception is just as critical. It governs how well you perceive your environment—your ability to notice hidden details, react to subtle movements, or even detect shifts in aetheric energy. It heightens your awareness beyond that of an ordinary human. This is especially effective for judging risks, as you can more accurately detect the level of other individuals, provided the power differential isn't too vast."

Izabelle tilted her head, the smallest of smiles gracing her lips. "Sounds like something that’d come in handy for avoiding surprises."

Moras nodded. "Indeed. Now, while you are free to allocate your points as you see fit, I recommend that you play to your strengths. Daniel, your power will grow with a focus on Strength, Stamina, and Vitality, but don’t neglect Agility—it will keep you alive. Jamie and Izabelle, your power seems to lie in the mind and the unseen. Cognition, Mind, and Perception will serve you well. Agility can also help with your work, so that is another consideration."

He paused, his gaze deepening. "But remember this: no matter how you allocate your points, all nodes will receive an automatic minor allocation of condensed aether, and a small portion of the condensed aether you absorb will always go to your Lifeforce Well as it expands and requires more upkeep."

"The Lifeforce Well?" Daniel asked, his brow furrowed. "I remember hearing it mentioned, but we didn't delve too deep into what that is, exactly. Or I'm stupid and forgot it all, perhaps."

Moras gestured to their cores. "It is the reservoir of energy that sustains your very life and power. As you level up, your Well expands, becoming deeper and more potent. Five percent of the condensed aether you gather will always go towards enlarging your Lifeforce Well. This ensures your life force grows proportionately. This keeps you from burning out as your power increases. Without this Lifeforce Well, your body would draw aether from your Experience Well. If that depletes, your body would begin to consume itself, unable to sustain its own energy needs."

Daniel winced at that. "I much prefer a non-devoured body so, yeah, no thanks."

"An untrained mage or warrior can quickly burn through their reserves and perish from overuse of their powers," Moras said, his tone grim. "But you won’t have to worry about that—so long as you balance your growth. However, the Lifeforce Well doesn’t drain naturally here, as aether is passively absorbed to keep it full."

With that, he stepped back, giving them space. "You may now begin. Visualise the attributes you wish to empower and direct the condensed aether towards them from your Experience Well. Let me add, the changes will feel extremely dramatic for the first level as you are effectively doubling your abilities."

Daniel breathed deeply, staring at the aether display in front of him. Slowly, he raised his hand toward his chest, feeling the pulse of aether as if it were the rhythm of his own heartbeat. "Alright… Strength and Vitality first," he murmured to himself. He could feel it—like threads of energy weaving themselves into the fibres of his muscles, making him stronger, more resilient. With each breath, the weight in his chest lessened as Vitality flowed into his veins.

Then, he poured some aether into Stamina, feeling a surge of energy, like his limbs could now go on forever without tiring. Finally, he directed a portion into Agility, the sensation of quickness suddenly sharpening in his body, his movements more fluid and instinctive.

Across the room, Jamie closed his eyes, focusing intensely on his Cognition and Perception. The world around him seemed to shift—sounds became clearer, details more pronounced. He could feel his mind expanding, thoughts becoming faster, sharper, like a blade honing itself. It was as though every problem he'd ever faced now had a clear solution, each puzzle a simple game to him.

Izabelle, quieter and more focused, directed her aether towards Mind and Perception. She felt the strength of her thoughts solidify—her focus becoming ever more unwavering, like an iron shield protecting her from distraction. Her senses extended beyond the physical world, feeling the hum of aether in the air. She could sense the movements of her companions, the subtle changes in energy around her, like invisible threads weaving through the world.

The process took only minutes. When they opened their eyes, the change was undeniable—shocking even.

Daniel flexed his arms, feeling the power beneath his skin. He grinned, a wild energy coursing through him. "I literally feel… unstoppable. This is definitely going to change me as a person, for the worse, I expect."

Jamie laughed, a little breathless. "I'm not sure that's possible, Daniel. I do feel like I could outthink every puzzle in the world though."

Izabelle remained quiet, but there was a new confidence in her eyes. She simply nodded, the corners of her lips curling into the smallest smile.

Moras watched them with a satisfied expression. "Good. You've taken your first steps into a larger world. But remember, this is only the beginning. And try not to get too cocky. The changes from the first level-up will make you feel like gods, but in reality, you are still in the very early stages."

Daniel nodded, taking the advice on board for once, before a question formed in his mind. "Speaking of children, when do kids normally get their first level? I will rage if Felix turns five and can push over a house because I won't give him treats."

Moras smiled warmly, then shook his head. "Children often aren't able to level until they are around sixteen, and even then, it's fairly rare. There are prodigies who may reach level two by fifteen, though this is considered a generational talent and exceptionally rare."

As the fire crackled and their newfound strength settled within them, the air in the chamber grew heavy with possibility. They were no longer simply wanderers in the shattered realms—they were something more now. Something approaching powerful.

And the realms would soon know it.