Kade watched as the bracer reworked the various displays, and was impressed by the increased clarity, and new details that hadn’t appeared previously. He considered the numerous changes his body had undergone since he’d first donned the bracer, marveling for a moment at how natural it had all felt. The increased strength was still taking some getting used to, but it was the Mana and Magic Bonds that made the true difference, and he recalled that one of the first messages the bracer had ever given was an error reporting no mana channels found.

Whether it was a result of his officially stepping onto the Ancestral Path, or simply the mana channels he’d developed, the bracer was now able to give him far more information. After a few moments it stopped its reconfiguration, and Kade began to absorb what he was seeing, finding a great deal made more sense thanks to the limited education he’d been given since finding the Keepers.

Name: Kadeus (House unknown)

Race: Child of Korthos (Variant)

Soul Core: Chains of Fate

Rank: Ascended Awakened

Lifeforce: 100%

Mana: 27/27

Anomalous Energy: 0/82 (Blocked!)

Strength: 01

Speed: 01

Endurance: 01

Magic: 02

Unknown: 04

Ancestral Totem 1: (Name and House Unknown)

Class: Unknown

Ability 1: Anomalous Energy Blast (Rank 2, 13%)

Ability 2: Sealed

Ability 3: Sealed

Augmentations: None

Ancestral Totem 2: None

Ancestral Totem 3: None

Kade raised an eyebrow as he took in several new, troubling pieces of information. The first was his race, which had changed from human to Child of Korthos, but kept its variable tag. Edwin had told him that the physical transformation was about adopting the ancestral physiology of the people of this world, so he supposed he shouldn’t be entirely surprised. Even still, he felt the same queasy sensation he’d first experienced when seeing just the variant tag.

The stats were interesting, as was the continued presence of the mysterious energy, now officially marked as blocked–whatever that meant. He was more curious to see the entries for Ancestral Totems, which he inferred must be what Edwin had been speaking of when he discussed inheriting abilities and combat styles. It was interesting that the anomalous energy was apparently tied to a Class of its own, and even claimed to be from some unknown ancestor.

Could that have been what his captor was doing? Alara had said the man was experimenting, but couldn’t determine the exact nature of those experiments. Could Kade be the result of some mad fusion between a human and some mysterious Elder? Perhaps that was why he was still considered a variant, even when everything else about him had changed. He felt himself spiraling again, and far too soon after resolving to embrace this new life he’d chosen.

He resolved to accept the myriad things he couldn’t control, and tried to focus on what he could. He went back to exploring the bracer, finding that he could dive deeper into any ability, but he only had the single–one he’d been unable to use since leaving the labyrinth, and it didn’t have any new secrets to reveal. The fact that the majority of the bracer’s interface was now dedicated to the Ancestral Path only served to reinforce the importance of taking the Trials Edwin had described. He knew that if power truly was his goal, then this was the clear next step.

Finally he steeled himself, then swapped to the objective menu, and let out a sharp laugh. Evidently Dalton’s Fabulous Bracer of Hope was on the same page.

Attention: [Path to Power] update!

Objective: Embrace an Ancestral Totem!

Path: (1) Reach an Elder of a compatible path! (Searching…)

Kade shook his head, grateful that the objective aligned with his own chosen path, but also more than a little relieved that the path didn’t lead to some kind of horrific act. Still, he’d only been given short-term objectives in the past, and he realized he was a little disappointed not to have an excuse to spring into some sort of action. He’d grown used to rushing headlong into terrifying situations, and with Karthas several days away, this was the closest thing to downtime he’d experienced since arriving on Iros.

He decided to get some rest, knowing that he had many long days of travel ahead of him, and he still had to learn how to wield his spear. Thankfully a spear couldn’t be that hard to use.

***

“Everything you’re doing is wrong,” Edwin said, his voice and manner still understandably cold, and still thick with grief. Thankfully he and Kade were agreed that learning the basics of spearcraft would be essential; while Kade’s chains had become far more dangerous since the Magic Bond, he nevertheless needed a firmer grasp on combat in general, and mastering his artifact was a perfect focus for that training.

Edwin had spent the first two nights on the journey to Karthas instilling the fundamentals of battle on Iros, at least as Edwin saw it. This mostly involved learning various stances, and how to find those stances regardless of what was occurring in combat. For training, this meant Edwin knocking Kade down repeatedly, and from different angles. Kade had to fall correctly, use momentum to find his feet, then be in the right stance for the next attack.

Because Keepers fought monsters and Elders of vastly different shapes and sizes, combat skills on Iros largely revolved around a philosophy of being adaptable, and effectively trying to prepare for everything. There were specializations and advanced forms of course–the people of Iros had nothing if not time to learn, given their immense lifespans–but they all evolved from the same, sound principles, which Edwin was still beating into Kade.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

On the third night, and with only two days of travel remaining before reaching Karthas, Edwin finally allowed Kade to bring out his spear. Feeling the weight of the gleaming artifact in his hands, he was compelled to spin it slowly around himself, before dramatically grabbing it close to the blunt end. This was what had elicited the disparaging comment from Edwin, and taken some of the wind out of Kade’s sails. Edwin clarified, while demonstrating with a wooden staff he had hewn from a tree.

He took a solid stance with knees bent, and one foot forward, bringing the staff to bear with one hand midway, and the backhand a quarter-length back. The result left a fair amount of the spear still extending in front of him, but he was clearly a lot more in control of the weapon that Kade had been of his own. He quickly adjusted to match Edwin, and found it much more natural as he gave a few experimental thrusts. Edwin nodded, “That’s better, but the important thing to remember is that you’re not a spearman, and you’re likely never going to be–unless you’re given some incredibly specific abilities that ignore your Soul Manifestation entirely.”

“Is that likely?” Kade asked, realizing he knew very little about what to expect from granted abilities. Could he be shaping what he’d receive without realizing it?

Edwin was already shaking his head, “It’s possible. You could have an ancestor somewhere that had an unusual fascination with spears, but it’s unlikely. Even then, you don’t have anything resembling a strong enough connection to spears to increase the likelihood of receiving those abilities,” Kade nodded, somewhat relieved. He was excited to have his own weapon in this dangerous world, but he wasn’t ready to commit to it as his primary method of fighting. Somehow it still felt wrong in his hands.

As Edwin slowly demonstrated the motions of a reliable thrust and withdrawal, he continued his lesson, “As I was saying, you’re not a spearman, so we won’t try for anything advanced. Frankly, even calling that thing a spear might be misleading; it’s an artifact, and the odds that it was used to just poke things are virtually nonexistent.” He switched stances, demonstrating the use of a spear for larger, or airborne targets, speaking as he did so, “It’s also metallurgic in nature, so it could have been a focus for that power–like a Sorcerer’s staff–or possibly just some readily available metal to manipulate. Though it’s probably something flashier than those purposes–the simplicity of the design is suspicious.”

Kade finished replicating the maneuver then, then paused to consider the spear, “I noticed that too. I’ve seen a lot of things since waking up in this world, and there aren’t many I’d describe as simple or plain.”

Edwin nodded, “I can see how that would be your perspective, and out here it’s certainly true. That spear will probably do some incredible things when your metallurgist abilities manifest, but I should warn you against expecting everything to be extraordinary,” he rested his own staff against his shoulder then paused, considering. “Your experiences on this world have been backward, to say the least. Usually you’d have spent decades or possibly centuries as an ordinary man, just living a simple life. Possibly farming, construction, or commerce.

“That’s what normal life is like, for nearly everyone. Sure, you’d have manifested your Soul Core at some point, but even if it was the same chains you have now, you likely would have used them for hauling freight, or something else equally banal,” he smiled slightly, appearing lost in memories. “Keepers would be mysterious warriors of impossible power and intrigue, only glimpsed when you came to the Capital, and then with wonder and maybe even fear. If you became bonded at all, it would only be under very specific circumstances. Either coming from an ancient and wealthy family, or manifesting extraordinary Soul Powers, too rare and valuable not to belong to the Keepers.”

Kade considered the solidly-built ax-wielder, his interesting but simple Soul Powers, and the name he’d given when Kade had barely been conscious: Houseless. “It doesn’t seem like either of those circumstances would have applied to you, unless your past is more complicated than endlessly chopping trees, as you suggested.” Edwin’s face fell back into the grim expression he’d worn for days.

“Every rule has an exception. Pray you never experience mine,” Kade took the hint and didn’t pursue the line of inquiry. After several minutes of watching Kade repeating spear forms, Edwin resumed speaking, “My point was that you’ve seen things that most Keepers don’t experience until they’ve been on the Path for years–if at all. And honestly you haven’t even been given a fair glimpse of the Keepers themselves. You’re quick enough that you must have recognized some of the oddities of our group.”

Kade considered, then acknowledged the point, “My frame of reference isn’t exactly broad, but Graves is definitely not what I expected a healer to look like.” He punctuated the point with a spear-thrust he was growing proud of, even earning a nod of approval from Edwin.

“There isn’t much of Graves’ story that I can share, save for what has become common knowledge. You are correct, though, as Graves embodies the spirit of this team perfectly. His Soul manifested Oblivion, likely tied to the role he was born into, but his was always something of a dual-nature. No matter what he was expected to use his powers for, healing was as much a part of him as harm ever was.”

Kade recognized that the man was talking around a lifetime of information, and understood it wasn’t worth pressing for more. Instead he asked, “You said his story is somehow connected to the nature of this team?”

“Simply an excellent example. I formed this team long ago for Keepers who couldn’t find their place, either because they were ill-used by other teams–like those who tried to force Graves into using his abilities for destruction–or others who were just unable to find a fit elsewhere…like Nicky.” His expression went distant for a moment, but he mastered himself. “Alara was in a similar position when she joined, though more as a victim of ignorance than anything else.

“Alara manifested Star, and despite her undeniable capacity for destruction, people couldn’t understand her abilities, so they didn’t trust them. Everyone heard Star and looked for Korthos reborn, expecting rays of burning light to descend from the heavens. Instead when she reaches out her hands, everything burns from the inside out, her touch is [pain-melting-inside fire-deadly stones-fear].”

Once again Kade’s bracer failed to find a translation, and he had to pause to consider what he’d seen of Alara’s powers, weighed against the false-words he’d heard from Edwin. “Radiation? Or maybe microwaves?” Edwin didn’t bother to check his own bracer, shrugging even as Kade spoke.

“If you have the words, we do not. My people pride themselves on understanding energy, but Alara’s is beyond us. I only know what I’ve seen, and scraps of stories she’s found that mention creatures or people who have experienced the same phenomena. I think she took the Elementalist path in part so she could give everyone the fire and explosions they expect.” He paused to correct Kade’s form slightly.

“Meeting Eleonora’s band of misfits will also have skewed your perspective. You’ll no doubt meet more Keepers who have achieved Secundus when we reach the city, and some do choose to embrace the forms of their Ancestral Totems in one way or another. But like me, she built her team with a theme in mind–though her choice was less about helping the marginalized, and more about surrounding herself with like-minded souls.” Kade caught a word that had him looking to his bracer for answers, but didn’t find the clarity he hoped for.

“What does Secundus mean? My bracer just says Rank 2 on the Dalton Scale.” Edwin made a face at the reference to the untrusted bracer.

“You’ll hear that phrasing occasionally, though we tend to use it to classify monsters and Elders more than people,” he smirked slightly. “Walking the Ancestral Path is meant to be a meaningful experience, and there’s more than a little poetry involved in some of the ways you’ll hear it described. Secundus refers to someone who has taken the second step on the Ancestral path. For simplicity’s sake, they’re Awakened who have taken a second trial with their Ancestral Totem, which requires accumulating great power and mastery. When we reach Karthas, you’ll be trying to attain Primus, the first step after reaching the path.”

Kade searched for context, having a difficult time differentiating levels of power when he felt like he was surrounded by demi-gods. “What step are you on? I noticed Eleonora’s whole team made way for you, and you were taking hits from that Elder without flinching.” Edwin barked a laugh, but nodded slightly.

“Trust me that taking those hits was very much not part of the plan. But I’m unusual as well, so again it’s a bad example. I’ve been Primus for a very long time, but I have a quirk that’s allowed me to reach past those limitations,” again, Kade could tell that the line of questioning would get him nowhere, so he waited patiently for Edwin to continue. “For now, all you need to know is that each step on the Path raises your potential to staggering new heights, and if you ever achieve Finalis, the last step, you’ll be on your way to becoming a Legend yourself.”