Chapter 6:

  Harvester

  Would you like to walk this path? Yes / No

  The moment my hand touched "Yes," the glassy surface dissolved, and the once blocked path now stood open, beckoning me forward. Taking a deep breath, I stepped through the arch.

  With each step, power surged through my body, the energy of the Path weaving itself into the very core of my being. A profound shift took place within me, subtle at first, then undeniable. I could feel my understanding of the soul expand as knowledge was engraved directly into the furrows of my mind. As the Path continued to do its work, I couldn’t help but smile.

  I was no longer Sam Garner, the farmer’s son.

  I was Sam Garner, The Harvester.

  Further down the path, another glassy surface materialized before me, it’s smooth expanse shimmering with an otherworldly light. As I stepped closer, golden script began to etch itself across the surface, words forming and shifting as new details about my class unraveled before my eyes.

  Path Description: Harvester

  Harvesters are stewards of the eternal cycle, gifted with the ability to reap and sow the lingering potential of both beast and man; their path is one of balance, wielding harvested potential in order to fulfill their sacred duty. They do not merely take; they reclaim, restore, and empower, ensuring the cycle endures.

  (Using the abilities of your class will grant experience toward your next level.)

  Notice:

  Domain type selected: Divine.

  You have received +3 to Spirit, +3 to fortitude and +1 to all other stats

  You have been granted three abilities related to your domain and path.

  Name: Samuel Jacob Garner

  Race: Human

  Affinities: Life and Death

  Domains: Divine 1

  Path: Path of the Harvester

  Level: 1

  Attributes: (New stats have been applied)

  Strength: 6

  Agility: 6

  Fortitude: 8

  Perception: 6

  Spirit: 7

  Intelligence: 5

  Legacies:

  Mint Tea (Legendary) - Grants access to the path without the support of an ability, Simply brew a cup of mint tea.

  Domain Ability: [Spirit Well] (Domain: Divine) (Common)

  A tool of potential, Spirit Well allows practitioners to draw in and store Spiritual Potential within an internal reservoir. Stored SP may be manifested through the use of skills and abilities. Maximum SP is determined by one's Spirit attribute.

  Path Ability: [Reap] (Domain: Divine) (Legendary)

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Reap allows the user to harvest unused potential from recently deceased beings. Only those who have fully expired may be harvested, ensuring no soul or life essence is taken prematurely. The harvested potential fills the user’s Spirit Well.

  Item required: Scythe or Sickle

  Skills: (Unlocked through use of ability)

  Path Ability: [Sow] (Domain: Divine) (Legendary)

  A tool of potential, Sow allows the user to amplify various forms of potential.

  Skills: (Unlocked through use of ability)

  I stared at the ethereal glass before me, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. My name and race were straightforward enough, after all, I already knew I was human. Still, it was oddly reassuring to have it confirmed.

  My affinities, however, did come as a shock. In my uncles letter, he had speculated about the affinities that were passed down within our family line and it appears he may have been correct. According to the screen in front of me I possessed both the Life and Death affinity.

  I quickly found that there were several words and concepts I was unfamiliar with, and as I let my finger hover over one of the unfamiliar terms an explanation appeared written in neat golden script.

  [Levels] – Represent the soul’s progression along The Path. As the soul grows stronger, so too does the body. Levels are gained by overcoming challenges and mastering one's abilities.

  Well, that… was interesting. I’d known very little about how the Path worked, and this new information only added another layer of complexity. The soul seemed to be a contributing force to the strength of ones body and abilities, which was interesting.

  As my eyes continued to scan the rest of the information, I took advantage of the explanations that appeared beneath each unfamiliar term. Gradually, the fog of uncertainty began to lift, and though I still had much to learn, I felt like I was slowly piecing everything together.

  I quickly ran through the terms in my mind, mentally cataloging each one:

  [Domains] - Represents the four categories that provide access to abilities, paths, and power. The four domains are Martial, Arcane, Divine, and Cultivation. Each domain channels various forms of potential in unique ways.

  [Paths] – Represent the distinct choices offered upon awakening. They are shaped by one's experiences, affinities, and other prerequisite factors. Each Path grants unique skills and abilities.

  [Affinities] – Represent the multitude of magical properties found throughout the universe. Your inherent affinities help shape your path, and influence your skills and abilities.

  [Strength] – Represents your raw physical power and your capacity to generate and withstand kinetic force. Strength reflects how much kinetic potential your body can safely exert through muscles, bones, and joints without structural failure.

  [Agility] – Represents how rapidly kinetic potential can be cycled through the body, placing continuous strain on muscles, tendons, and joints.

  [Fortitude] – Represents your physical durability, toughness, and structural resilience. Fortitude determines how well your body resists damage, pressure, and internal strain, reinforcing bones, tissues, and organs against overload and backlash.

  [Perception] –Represents your ability to notice, detect, and interpret subtle details within yourself and your surroundings. Perception enhances sensory clarity, awareness, and responsiveness

  [Spirit] –Represents your capacity to store and circulate spiritual potential. Spirit governs the strength and refinement of aura based abilities and your resistance to external aura pressure.

  [Intelligence] – Represents your capacity to store and regulate magical potential. Intelligence governs spell complexity, efficiency, and mental resilience when manipulating arcane forces.

  [Abilities] – Represents the powers granted by one’s Domain and Path, abilities manifest in various forms of rarity.

  [Skills] – Skills are an application of your abilities and can be further improved over time. Skills level independently of one another and may provide unique paths at later levels.

  [Legacies] – Represent enduring boons born from great deeds, sacred bonds, and the strength of one’s will. A Legacy may grant bonus stats, affinities, or abilities, each shaped by the moment and meaning of its creation. Some legacies are powerful enough to be passed down to future generations, carrying their strength and influence far beyond a single lifetime.

  It took awhile but I managed to inspect everything that I could concerning the information in front me. I wasn’t sure how everything worked exactly but as long as I understood the gist of it, that felt like a good enough starting point for me.

  I couldn’t help but feel excited by the prospect of using my new abilities, Reap and Sow. I had woken up this morning expecting some power related to farming but now I had two legendary abilities. I wasn’t sure what made them legendary but I figured I could ask one of those Priests of the Path upon leaving this place. If anyone would have information concerning these things it would be them, they had spent their lives studying The Path after all.

  As I dismissed the screen in front of me, I felt a calmness wash over me as I became aware of the spiritual potential that now coursed within my body. I closed my eyes, and reveled in the feeling of power that now coursed throughout my being.

  When I opened my eyes again, everything changed. The calm serenity of the spiritual realm was gone, replaced by the concerned faces of the hundreds of people gathered for the ceremony.

  The abrupt shift from one realm to the next sent a wave of fatigue crashing through my body. My knees buckled, and I barely managed to catch myself on the wooden altar in front of me. The crystal that rested on top of the pedestal was now filled with golden smoke that shined around the edges of the sphere.

  “Domain: Divine. Path of the Harvester”

  As the High Priest proclaimed my choice to the gathered assembly, I immediately heard murmurs and exclamations from those standing nearby.

  The world felt distant and muffled as I did my best to gain my bearings. Sounds reached me as if I were hearing voices underwater and shapes blurred at the edges of my vision; it was as if reality itself hadn’t fully settled into place.

  I turned, searching for my family, hoping for a glance, a gesture, anything to ground me in this strange new reality. But all I managed to see was my brother’s back as he hurried to catch up with our parents as they walked away from the assembly, their blurred figures fading into the golden light of the afternoon sun.