Chapter 41:
Upgrade
Notice: Skill: Mend Wounds: is now Rank 2: level 1.
— This skill has advanced to Rank 2. This skills control and potency have slightly increased. An upgrade and merge, will become available upon reaching Rank 3 and progressing to Tier two.
I froze as the message settled into the back of my mind. Even through the fog of exhaustion dragging at my thoughts, a small spark of excitement pushed its way through my body.
A rank increase? Interesting… though I had no idea what any of those future benefits would actually mean once I reached Rank 3. I would need to ask about that, or maybe the notification can provide more answers.
Following that line of thinking, I mentally probed at the notification, in order to seek clarification. To my dissapointment, no interactive screen appeared, and I simply received the same update once again.
Notice: Skill: Mend Wounds: is now Rank 2: level 1.
— This skill has advanced to Rank 2. This skills control and potency have slightly increased. An upgrade and merge, will become available upon reaching Rank 3 and progressing to Tier two.
Well, I had to level up later anyway. Maybe I would learn something then.
With that thought, I wrapped up my investigation and made my way around the hill, heading toward the stable doors. As usual, the familiar sound of tiny, furious threats drifted out to meet me. Murder Mittens was puffed up to twice her usual size, ready to defend her lair from anyone foolish enough to disturb her domain.
The moment she saw that it was me intruding on her space the tension immediately melted out of her little body. Her fur settled, her tail lowered, and she let out a soft, questioning chirp instead of a warding hiss. Then, she did something I would have never expected from the terrible foe I had battled just the day before.
She purred as she affectionately rubbed her head against my leg.
It was such a small gesture, but after all the violence I had witnessed today, the softness of it struck deeper than I expected. I wiped a quick tear from my eye before it had the chance to fall.
“It’s good to see you too,” I said gratefully, as I reached down to stroke the top of her head.
She leaned into my touch, purring with clear satisfaction, but after that brief moment of companionship, her demeanor shifted in an instant. It was as if the wild part of her finally caught up with what was happening and, much like Blue, she chose violence as her preferred method of expressing complicated emotions.
She twisted against my hand, nipped sharply at my fingers, and then darted away toward the safety of the hayloft.
Blue greeted me as well, and to his credit, he didn’t push me away when I wrapped my arms around his thick neck in a tired, grateful hug. He tilted his head, as he studied me with those deep, stubborn eyes of his. Then, he stamped a hoof against the stone floor, reminding me of the most important thing in his world.
“Alright, alright,” I sighed, “I’ll get your carrot. After that, I’m off to bed. It’s been a long day.”
After fetching the carrot and bidding goodnight to my two oddly compatible pets, I made my way downstairs with the intention of taking a much needed bath. As I began to peel off my clothes, I couldn’t help but stare at how filthy I had become over the course fo the day; blood, dirt, smoke, and sweat all layered together in ways I hadn’t thought possibly
Well… now is as good a time as any to test the laundry system my uncle built.
It took a few minutes to figure everything out, but after selecting the proper runes, adding soap, and stuffing the clothes inside, the array of scrubbers and rollers whirred to life. Water poured into the basin, and the runework began to glow faintly as the mechanisms began their rhythmic work. I watched with fascination, as gears shifted and brushes swept in perfect harmony.
A short while later, the water drained with a satisfying clatter, leaving the clothes inside clean and steaming. Following the next step in the process, I hung them beneath the heated plates of the drying station and found myself marveling at this luxury all over again.
I truly love practical magic, mom would kill for something like this.
As the clothes dried, I bathed for far longer than I had originally intended. The grime clinging to my skin was far more stubborn than expected, and my hair had to be soaped twice before the smell of smoke finally lifted from my senses. The act of cleaning myself became a kind of ritual. There were too many emotions to process from the day, but with each pass of the cloth, each swirl of warm water, I felt the weight inside me become just a little bit lighter.
To my surprise, by the time I had finished bathing my clothes were already dry. However, when I lifted the shirt, a few thin tears along the seams caught my eye. They were small but noticeable, the kind that would only get worse if I ignored them. I would definitely need to get them stitched if I wanted to keep these garments a little longer.
Maybe I should ask Granny Claybrook for help with this?
She might think it silly of me to ask, but I had always been terrible with a needle. Mother used to patch my clothes when I was young, claiming it was one of her many ways of showing us love. Whether Granny Claybrook felt the same about such tasks, I did not know, but a part of me hoped so. I had bottled everything up for as long as I could, from Wheat Hollow till now, and much like my clothes, I was fraying at the seams.
My father had taught me to handle stress in a very simple, clear cut way, the same lesson his father had given him, and the one before that.
“Just keep yourself busy. Bottle it up and keep moving. Men don’t let others see them cry.”
For years I treated that saying as truth, just one more piece of inherited wisdom from my father, but after seeing how frayed I was becoming at the edges, I finally recognized how hollow that wisdom truly was. It wasn’t guidance. It was a short term patch stitched over a much deeper problem.
If I didn’t confront these things soon, they were going to take shape in ways I wouldn’t like. Hell, they already had. I had punched a guard just the other day, and I was lucky… very lucky, that it worked out the way it did.
I could feel the storm inside gathering. Anger at my father for sending me away without so much as an explanation. Frustration with my mother for not fighting for me when I needed her most. Fear of dying out here and failing to live up to the legacy that had been entrusted to me. Grief for my uncle, who had no family beside him when he needed us more than ever.
All these thoughts, and several more, simmered just beneath the surface, contained, hidden, unseen. Much like the cores I had pushed to critical levels earlier in the day, I was slowly packing dangerous emotional potential into myself.
I took a slow breath, pulled on my clean clothes, and climbed the stairs. I wasn’t sure what to do with everything twisting inside me, but I knew I needed something, anything, to help me through this feeling. As I considered my options, my mind once again became aware of the sweet scent of mint that lingered in the air.
Well… at the very least, I can manage brewing a cup of tea.
I made my way upstairs to the bedroom and took a few small sprigs of mint from the plant sitting on my bedside table. Moving almost mechanically, I headed back downstairs to the kitchen, and set the tea kettle on the counter’s heating runes.
While the water warmed, I prepared the mint by lightly crushing the stems and leaves between my fingers, letting the oils seep into the cup. Once the kettle began to hum and the water reached the right temperature, I poured it over the crushed sprigs and let the tea steep.
Having successfully made a cup of tea, I carried it upstairs and took a seat in one of the chairs outside on the balcony. The sun dipped past the horizon as I settled in, and the first stars of the night began to appear above the valley. Light faded, shadows stretched, and the world around eased into the quiet of the surrounding dark.
I took a slow drink of the tea and let out a satisfied sigh as warmth spread through my chest. The moment that warmth settled, the world around began to shift.
Once again, my consciousness stepped from one realm to the next. The world of wood and stone, of moonlight and distant stars, fell away in a single quiet breath. In its place, the white expanse of the spiritual plane unfurled before me.
I once again found myself sitting at the white table, just as I had every time before. Its smooth surface was empty, save for the tea pot and the two cups already set in their usual places. The chair across from me was empty, but I did not mind the lack of company. Honestly, I didn’t have a desire to talk right now anyway.
For several… minutes? It was hard to tell in this place. I sat quietly, drinking the same tea I had prepared back in the physical world. The simplicity of the moment steadied my thoughts as I braced myself for what would come next.
The Path always brought ghostly images to walk beside me, and I knew without a doubt that I would have to relive Tabatha’s death from earlier today. I hadn’t even known the woman, not truly, but watching an ally die in front of you was a harsh experience. It struck even harder knowing how close we had been to stopping that large gnoll from ever reaching the surface.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
With a heavy sigh, I stretched my legs and began making my way down the path beside me. As my steps carried me forward, the pale fog drifted in once again, slowly curling across the path just as it had every time before.
This time, however, I saw very few memories as I walked. That was not too surprising, since it had only been a day since my last level up. I suspected it was partly because I had used more skills today than I had since first stepping onto the Path, but also because of the heavy combat I had been thrust into during the patrol.
My memories finally began their display around the moment Halius had rushed off into the forest without thought or fear. I watched how he applied his potential, using his strength to hurl himself forward in long, powerful strides. I had always used Kinetic Boost to trigger brief periods of amplified movement, but Halius, on the other hand, seemed to channel his potential in a more sustained way, letting it fuel him for longer stretches of motion.
I wondered if there was a way for me to do something similar. It might have been a technique only Martial classes could achieve, but a part of me hoped that the flexible nature of my abilities would allow me to replicate it, even if only in a limited fashion. Rather than a massive burst of power, I wanted to find a way to create a low, sustained boost. If I could manage that, it would have a lot of applications even outside of combat.
Next came a series of memories showing aura on the battlefield. Halius appeared first, using his aura to provoke the enemy into striking at him. Then the gnoll pack leader surfaced, his aura curling around the others and locking them in fear. I even saw myself, recalling how Amplify Aura had let me break through that overwhelming pressure. The visions kept shifting, each one rising from the fog and sinking back into it before I could fully grasp it.
Then I saw it… the moment I had dreaded most. I watched again as a gnoll fled with Tabatha’s golden hair clenched between its laughing jaws. My stomach twisted, and I forced myself to pull away from the memory before it swallowed me whole.
I shifted my focus and turned toward Halius, using him as a deliberate anchor. From this new perspective, I watched how he had reacted as I stood before him. Tears of anger streamed down his face while he fought to push his aura against the gnoll’s crushing presence. I had never considered it before, but a question rose unbidden in my mind.
Why had the gnoll been able to hold Halius in place, even though he was clearly pushing back with everything he had?
As I considered Halius’s struggle, another realization surfaced. Everyone on the field had been shaken by the fear aura, except for Jarus, who had fought on without missing a beat. He hadn’t projected an aura the way Halius had, so maybe his resistance was something inward, something that applied only to himself.
Was it the rank disparity?
It seemed possible. The guild had recognized him as someone who had reached the First Branch, and that clearly held weight for those of us who walk The Path. It was one more question added to the growing list of things I still didn’t understand.
What I did know was this: Jarus had led them into a fight they were not prepared for. The problem had never been the number of gnolls, which they had accounted for to some degree, but the presence of that single variant pack leader. One creature had shifted the entire balance of the battle.
As I pondered these questions, I once again found myself standing before the glassy screen that blocked the way forward on The Path. Written in its familiar lettering, new information presented itself to me as I carefully ready over the screen.
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Update:
You have leveled up! Resources have been restored.
Skill: Mend Wounds has increased to rank 2.
Stats increased: Spirit +3, Fortitude +3, All other attributes +1
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Path: Harvester
Harvesters are stewards of the eternal cycle, gifted with the ability to reap and sow the lingering energies of both beast and man; their path is one of balance, wielding harvested potential to fulfill their sacred duty. They do not merely take; they reclaim, restore, and empower, ensuring the cycle endures.
(Following your path and increasing the skills of your class will grant experience towards your next level.)
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Name: Samuel Jacob Garner
Race: Human
Affinities: Life / Death
Domains: Divine 1
(New domains available every 20 levels)
Path: Path of the Harvester
Level: 4
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Attributes: Notice: new stats and legacy bonuses applied
Strength: 14
Agility: 9
Fortitude: 22
Perception: 9
Spirit: 16
Intelligence: 8
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Legacies:
Mint Tea (Legendary) - Grants access to the path without the support of an ability, Simply brew a cup of mint tea.
Yahm’s Blessing (Rare) - You have shared a cup with the Great Turtle, Yahm, whose colossal shell once shielded the valley he loved from countless threats. Those who bear this blessing receive a permanent increase to their stats, along with additional bonuses while within the borders of the valley.
Permanent: +5 Fortitude, +5 Strength
Conditional: Your domain’s resources will slowly regenerate while you are within Yahm’s valley. This effect is applied to all domain types.
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Domain Ability: [Spirit Well] (Divine) (Common)
A tool of potential, Spirit Well allows those within the Divine Domain 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.
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Path Ability: [Reap] (Divine) (Legendary)
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)
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Path Ability: [Sow] (Divine) (Legendary)
A tool of potential, Sow allows the user to amplify various forms of potential.
Skills: (Unlocked through use of ability)
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Skills:
Green Thumb: (Rank 1: level 1)- Amplify the vital potential within plants causing them to mature at a faster rate. This skill scales with the users Spirit attribute.
Mend Wounds: (Rank 2: Level 1)- Amplify the vital potential within a target in order to rapidly heal physical injuries. This skill scales with the users Spirit attribute.
Spirit Harvest: (Rank 1: level 3)- Harvest spiritual potential from an recently deceased source. Potential harvested in this way will automatically be placed in the users internal reservoir. Excess potential will be lost. This skill scales with the users spirit attribute.
Cleansing Touch: (Rank 1: level 2)- Amplify the vital potential within a target in order to purge toxins, poisons, diseases, and other corrupting effects of a physical nature. This skill scales with the users Spirit Attribute.
Power Boost: (Rank 1: level 3)- Amplifies the muscular output of a target, increasing the force and effectiveness of their physical movements. Their actions become stronger and more forceful, allowing them to strike harder, lift more, and perform physical labor with greater intensity for a short duration. When the effect ends, accumulated strain may leave the target fatigued. This skill scales with the target’s Strengthattribute.
Amplify Aura: (Rank 1 : Level 2)- Amplifies the Spirit attribute of a target, temporarily increasing the potency of their aura. This skill scales with targets level and spirit attribute.
Note: You currently lack the ability to project and actively manipulate your aura.
Amplify Core: (Rank 1 : Level 2)- Amplifies the existing potential inside of a core, increasing its affinity based output. The effect is temporary and ceases when amplification ends. Excessive amplification may destabilize core. This skill scales with the users Spirit attribute.
Augment Senses: (Rank 1 : Level 2)- Channel potential into any chosen sensory organ, enhancing clarity, range, and sensitivity for as long as potential is actively applied. Effects vary by sense. Excessive channeling may overwhelm the senses or cause temporary disorientation. This skill scales with the targets Perception attribute.
Fortify Flora: (Rank 1 : Level 1)- Bolsters the fortitude within plants, strengthening their ability to endure and adapt to various conditions. This skill scales with the targets Fortitude attribute.
Empowered Mind: (Rank 1 : Level 2)- Amplifies the Intelligence a target as long as the skill is in effect. This skill enhances clarity, reasoning, and overall cognitive function. This skill scales with the targets Intelligence attribute.
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As I looked over the glowing screen in front of me, I took note of my increasing stats and the steady progress I had made.
It was strange to realize that only fifteen days had passed since I first stepped onto the Path. Yet here I was, slowly gathering a small arsenal of skills. Halius had said that meant my potential to become truly strong was higher than most, and if I wanted to keep that momentum, I would have to keep pushing myself.
The notification suggested that reaching the third rank in any skill marked a true milestone in its progression. It went on to explain that both potency and control had increased, which were subtle improvements that would be applied to each application of the skill. Even that small refinement mattered. The less waste there was in channeling my power, the farther I could stretch the strength I had.
Before choosing any upgrades or deciding on merges, I planned to dedicate what time remained tonight to pushing my other skills as high as I could. That had always been the goal, but knowing what awaited at rank three gave me a new sense of motivation. It felt like a lantern being lit just a little farther down the path, urging me onward.
After digesting this bit of knowledge, I sighed contentedly as I read the bottom of the screen. The familiar golden script once again appeared written in its slightly flourished letters.
Would you like to return to the physical world?
Yes / No
