“ As I have said earlier the power of different essences comes from their place amongst the cosmic order. In most cases this hierarchy matters not in the rankings of power between different people or even factions. The ordering may have certain powers be higher than others but the difference on the scale of us mortal beings is usually negligible. For those cases they do matter, it is usually not in terms of power but in property…”
T.U.I’s voice played counterpoint to the grunts of Kelford as he ran across the track. He nodded
absentmindedly more focused on keeping his steady gate and cramming all of the information into his mind. Moments later a soft ringing caused him to stumble to a stop and for T.U.I’s lecture to come to an end.
“ Congratulations Kelford, you have completed another circuit. I must commend you on your dedication to saving your species!” T.U.I floated next to him as the congratulations were spoken to the sweaty mess now sitting on the ground.
“ Thanks, “ Kelford said, “ Though I swear I haven’t been making too much progress.”
“ Oh nonsense, when we first started you could barely keep going for barely an hour. Now look at you. Doubling the time is a good measure for your ability to improve!” T.U.I beamed, literally, and Kelford allowed himself a small smile.
“ Whatever, could you reexplain to me the last part of the lecture? I didn’t fully understand the first time.That and I was just hanging on during then end there.” Kelford pulled himself to his feet as T.U.I went over the information again. The idea to do the lectures while he was running had been his idea. Normally it was surprisingly effective, the movement making it easy for him to focus on the constant barrage of information. He’d always found it easier to be moving while studying, the stillness of sitting at a desk leaving his mind to wander. Now he couldn’t focus because of the excitement of the evening. He was so close to finishing this quest and with it done he’d leave this portion of the Tower. Then there would only be 5 more floors until he was able to get out of here and he’d be able to get to the next safe room. It didn’t feel as…all encompassing as it once had.
He nodded at T.U.I’s explanations with a few questions to show that he was listening. He showered before pulling on the comfortable brown cloth he’d taken to wearing between training and climbing. He smiled as he made his way to the Shop interface, considering what he’d want to do for today’s meal. There were thousands of options but instead Kelford had purchased a service to separate the corpses he’d collected into haunches of meat, with the pelts magically whisked away. T.U.I had explained that this was a bit of a waste but as he wasn’t exactly a butcher or tanner, it would be fine. For only a few karma, Kelford could only agree. He paid the price and pulled out a small table from his camping set, with all the supplies he needed before getting to work. A pot set to boiling,Ram meat cut into cubes, with a dash of alien spices and herbs, Kelford was able to make his soup within half an hour. He scooped some into a bowl before sitting in his favorite seat.
It struck him how strange it all was. Not the situation, he still could not fully piece together what was going on despite T.U.I’s lessons, but how normal it had begun to seem. Mere weeks ago he had been terrified. Everything had been strange,the struggles had seemed insurmountable. He had been swept up in the moment then tossed to the rocks before crawling his way forward. Merely hoping to fight his way out of this death trap, the beginning floor and class altars all represent his continued failure to leave this place. When had that lost its edge. Would he…miss this place if he escaped? He looked at the room… his room. Held the food he didn’t really need to eat, while he sat in a chair that he deemed his favorite. If everything went to plan, he would be leaving this place behind. He took a spoonful of soup and began to ate mechanically. T.U.I manifested shortly afterwards for their nightly talks and Kelford smiled. For some reason, he would miss this place.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
“ Anything I need to know about the Acolyte again?” Kelford stood in front of the class altars now dressed in his tougher tower clothing. The melancholy of yesterday still lingered but the excitement of almost completing his goal took far more of his attention. In front of him, a glowing orb sat on rich silks with the class details burning above it.
Acolyte
Align Yourself With The Powers Beyond Your Comprehension
Skills:
Enhanced Willpower
Randomized Essence Attunement
Staff, Ritual Orb, Essence Focus Proficiency
Random Basic Spell
“ When you take the class you will be granted a randomized essence and spell. Though the spell will always change, the Essence Attunement will stay the same once you choose one.” T.U.I’s said, “ The Attunement will be with an aspect of essence that the world vault has in great quantities.”
Kelford nodded as he stared into the orb, “ You’re giving me a lot more information then you did last time.”
“ This is part of the reason that Essence Foundations and Class Guide Volume 1 was important to purchase. This information would not be accessible to you without the restrictions being lifted.The attunement will be important Kelford. You do not have access to see what influences the decision but if you choose to stay with the Acolyte class then whatever essence that you attune to will have an impact on your spells. “
“ Well no pressure,” Kelford chuckled as he reached forward and grasped the orb. When Kelford had picked the other classes there was always the feeling of change that swept over his body. For the Heavy Warrior he had felt a rush of strength that was euphoric, for the Light Warrior his body had seemed to finally be under his full control. For the Apprentice it was as if his thoughts had been ordered, each idea flowing smoothly into the next but the biggest change had been his essence pool. It was as if he had grown a new limb, a pool of power that gathered in his chest. Learning how to pull on it had been hard, but to fight had been beyond difficult to get the grasp of. Magic had seemed cool but after the grueling experience of the Apprentice he had most decidedly cooled on the idea of being a wizard. The moment Kelford’s fingers wrapped around the orb it was as if reality expanded.
Tiny lights began to dance in and out of sight, one moment red. Then an icy blue followed radiant green. Some were like drops of sunlight and he couldn’t help but gasp at the beauty of it all. The orb shone mimicking the rainbow that Kelford had been blind to all along as information on how to use the orb imprinted itself into his mind. He stood in wonder until the prompt he’d been waiting for burnt itself into reality.
Essence Attunement Selected
Essences in World Vault Dowor Selected
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Talents Identified
Randomizing
Choosing
Lights began to disappear one after the other, the orb’s radiance losing radiance as well as each color faded from view. The beauty had disappeared but Kelford’s hand remained fixed upon the orb. It continued until only 4 colors remained. Icy blue, vibrant green, radiant orange, and a dull purple. The orb switched between them, the colors surrounding Kelford changing with it. They sped up faster and faster, losing colors before finally only one remained. The world seemed darker with the ever burning braziers seemingly burning low.Only Purple light illuminated Kelford’s surroundings as he felt some of the orbs energy flow into him.
Essence Selected:
Shadow
Where light is absent darkness may dwell,
Revel in the hidden and your new found power,
Beware,
For as you grow in power so to will you realize
This is only an imitation
Of something more
Spell Learned
Shadow Bolt
The words disappeared and the world seemed to be filled with light and warmth again. Kelford pulled his hand away from the orb though he felt a connection to it still. He took a breath as he began to pull himself together. T.U.I floated near him in silence as Kelford pulled up his interface.
Interface
User: Kelford Booker
Class: Acolyte
Class Slots: 0
Skills:
Enhanced Willpower
Essence Attunement: Shadow
Staff, Ritual Orb, Essence Focus Proficiency
Spells: Shadow Bolt
Relics: none
Karma: 435
Inventory: 4/10
“ What was that all about?” Kelford’s voice shook slightly as he tried to piece together all that he saw, “ Those lights were essences ? Are they always around? Why can't I see them and what did the Tower mean by something more?”
“Essence is always flowing around us, now with Essence Attunement you can sense the essence you are most closely aligned with . Shadow is a lesser version of another affinity, though shadow essence is partially responsible for the creation of the universe. It can be powerful, though it has its own costs.”
“It’s partially responsible for the creation of the universe and it’s a lesser version of something else?” Kelford couldn’t quite wrap his head around it.
“There is more to the universe than you can possibly imagine.” T.U.I said, “ but I believe it is time to practice with your new abilities .”
They made their way to the training room as Kelford lightly pulled on the new skills he had gained. With every slight pull he could see the purple lights dancing all around him. They congregated in the dark recesses of the room , between the bright lights and behind things that casted shadows. It was fascinating, on instinct alone he could feel his presence caused the essence to move. Like a planet pulling on smaller celestial bodies. They made it to the training room and Kelford was already pulling on the essence around him. Purple lights began to dance around him and he could already feel that he was on the precipice of how the skill worked. He pulled harder and the lights turned to purple streaks, each absorbed into his skin upon contact. Pinprick of energy that sent cool energy flowing through blood.
“ Oh… I see you have already passed the first two lessons” T.U.I’s voice brought Kelford back from his focus and the lights began to fade.
“Sorry T.U.I the lights were already there and I was just playing around…”
“ No no no, that is perfectly alright.” T.U.I rushed to the side , “ now you have been able to see the shadow essence all around you and pull into yourself. Unlike the Essence Pool you can only hold the essence around you for a few minutes without using it. Now use the essence you have absorbed and cast Shadow Bolt .”
Kelford faced one of the training dummies on the far side of the training room before reaching for his spell. He expected formulas, strange symbols and diagrams much like with Apprentice . Instead he felt power welling up in his chest. He held out his hand feeling the energy welling up from all corners of his body and finally flowed into his palm where a purple orb wreathed in smoke appeared. Kelford’s face broke into a grin as he reveled in the feeling. It happened so quickly and easily. So smoothly it almost beggared belief. Power continued to flow and the orb took it all within itself. The light grew brighter and brighter with the smoke barely containing its radiance. It was breathtaking.
“Kelford, you should be careful! The spells for the Acolyte are different from that of the Apprentice . If you don’t release it now you will lose control of it! “ T.U.I’s voice cut through the heady power Kelford channeled. What was he doing? The orb had taken more from him then the surroundings and it still wanted more. The spell squirmed in his mental grip, so consumed with the power he was channeling Kelford hadn’t noticed that he was slowly losing his grip upon it.
“ How do I control it!” There were no calculations or formulas to consider! No breaks built into spell forms to prevent the overcharge that Kelford was experiencing. Just instinct and a now empowered spell he was swiftly losing control over!
Lights dimmed as some threshold was reached! The smoke no longer bound by the purple glow spilled from his hand. The purple radiance doubled in size, spilling dull purple across the now darkened space. Fear and doubt cut through Kelfords mind like a blade, scattering what defense he had left. The orb doubled in size again and Kelford’s vision was naught but shadow. T.U.I’s voice echoed but Kelford couldn’t hear her so lost in the confusing impressions of the doubt.
What was he to do? Who was he to utilize such power? He had failed at so much before this . what would make him think he could control essence of such caliber. The fear closed in after the doubt. Images of him never escaping, of being left behind. He would give in. Because he always gave in. Kelford almost fell for it. He hadn’t been prepared for this but fortunately he had just enough will to do what was needed.
Shadow Bolt
With what control he had left he shoved the bolt away. Its connection to him broke and the chaotic ball of purple and smoke flew through the air. Kelford breathed a sigh of relief, a few moments longer and he would have had it explode right on top of him. Not a moment did that thought finish before the bolt exploded only a few feet from him. Purple light and smoke exploded sending Kelford flying!. Blood and sand filled his vision until Kelford smashed into the wall. He fell into the sand, a coughing mess as sand filled the air. Long minutes passed as Kelford tried to pull himself together only for his body to ignore his commands. He felt hollow, like a giant spoon scooped out of his insides leaving nothing but scraps in its wake.
“Kelford…Kelford!” A voice rang in his mind, “ Kelford… you’re dangerously low on essence, you have to refill your reserves!”
“Fill…my reserves?” Kelford slurred the words as voice jogged his memory. The lights…he needed the lights to make himself better. He forced his confused mind to focus, trying to see the lights again. He failed again and again until he started to see flickers of purple floating in the dim light. He pulled, feeling them jerk and resist his weakened will. Kelford growled in frustration as pulled again and finally felt a small jolt of energy leaving him just slightly more aware. Again and he pulled at the lights, first one then two at a time. Finally he pulled himself to his knees, feeling as if the world hung on his tired body. That was when he saw the damage his spell had caused.
A hole now dominated the chamber with long grooves radiating out from the epicenter. The sand was black where the bolt had exploded, and to Kelford’s surprise was breaking down into smoke. He was left a quivering mess after losing control of it, but the power behind his spell was undeniable.The light was dim due to a haze that now hung in the room. Kelford pulsed his attunement and saw that shadow essence was dominating the mana around it.
“ Are you alright Kelford?” T.U.I appeared voice filled with concern.
“Yea..just” Kelford hadn’t the words for devastation he had unleashed, “ What happened? What did I do?”
“ You lost control of Shadow Bolt and in doing so almost killed yourself.” Kelford winced at the words, thinking of what would be left if he hadn’t been able to release the spell when he did.
T.U.I paused, almost as if she was thinking, “ To pull that amount of power on your first time is both very idiotic and speaks well of your potential Kelford. Idiotic cause you were very much able to prevent this from happening if you hadn’t panicked. With that inattention you lost control causing the devastation you have just witnessed, “ She floated to his crestfallen face before continuing with more excitement, “ Yet to control this much power, even for a moment speaks volumes of your talent with Shadow essence! Kelford, you are more than just talented. This might be the foundation to take you through the entire tower! “
Kelford stared at the devastation in a new light. Then he saw small flecks of purple leave his skin and felt the world shake before his newfound energy left his legs. He slumped to the ground with a groan as T.U.I flashed white.
“ Let’s give you a while to rest first. You’ve used a lot of your energy.”