“Alright.” Sam sat up, eyes fixed on the old Warden. “What is it?”

  Arther took a deep breath before replying. “I lied to you. The first day you were here, when you purchased your skills. You said it felt like you were dying. You were right. There was more risk than I led you to believe. I'm sorry.”

  Sam frowned as he observed the smith. Arther’s shoulders were bowed, face a mask of discomfort. “How much risk are we talking, here? Why did you do it, and why didn't you tell me?”

  Arther looked surprised at Sam’s matter-of-fact tone. He opened his mouth and closed it a few times before responding.

  “In terms of risk, I’m not entirely sure, but not zero. We’ve never been able to prove it explicitly, but over the years, Wardens have discovered that you can create greater likelihoods for [Rare] skills and skill morphs to appear if a Warrior purchases multiple [Enhancement] skills at once.

  “The way we figure it, the skills break down the body at the molecular level, then rebuild it when they construct the future pathways for a [Mana Network]. The more you do at once, the greater that change, making you more able to withstand great influxes of power.”

  “I guess that makes sense. It certainly felt like I was being ripped apart. And you said people have died from doing this?”

  “Not many, but it's not entirely unheard of. Humans tend to be more resilient than the other races. It's one of the few things we have going for us.”

  Sam scratched his chin, weighing his words. “And how many skills do people normally purchase when they do this?”

  Arther winced. “Two or three is the standard. Usually, constitution and regeneration.”

  Sam began to see the problem. “And what is the most anyone has purchased at once?”

  The air went out of Arther like a balloon. “Four,” he whispered, the word barely audible over the sound of the fire.

  Sam’s eyes went wide. “Arther, I bought six! What the fuck, man? I really could have died!”

  “Yes, you could have, I'm sorry. With your…handicap, I didn't really see any alternative. It's completely unheard of for a Warrior to have that much spira after the first night. I saw a chance to give you an edge, to help you survive. And, well, if you didn't, then nothing was lost. You wouldn't have made it out there anyway.”

  Sam sat back against the worn leather, taking a moment to process the Warden’s words. He couldn't deny the cold logic of it. This was a battle of life and death; could he really fault the man for doing everything possible to give him an edge?

  And it had worked. He had achieved a skill morph and had multiple [Rare] skills. [Arcane Eyes] alone had saved him on more than one occasion. The plan had been a success, but it still felt like a betrayal.

  Sam’s words were slow, deliberate. “I'm not mad that you did it. I'm mad that you didn't tell me. I had a right to know the risks.”

  Arther nodded, eyes downcast. “You did, and I'm sorry. I was worried you'd say no.”

  Sam let out a humourless laugh. “Better to ask forgiveness than permission, eh?”

  “Something like that.”

  Sam chewed his lip, wincing as he felt his knee finally pop back into place. He was mad and would continue to be, but the Warden seemed genuinely guilty over what he’d done. He’d taken a risk, and it had paid off. It was hard to fault him when Sam was already reaping the rewards.

  “Thank you for telling me. I'm not thrilled about it, but what’s done is done. New rule: you tell me this shit. No more secrets, no more holding onto things until you think I should know. I have questions, I want answers. Don't treat me like a child.”

  Arther flinched as though he’d been slapped, but he nodded emphatically. “Of course. Again, I'm sorry. I should have told you.”

  “Yeah, you should have. So let's keep talking. You mentioned the [Mana Network]. Tell me more about it. I think I have the gist at this point, but tell me how it works.”

  Arther gestured at the gem on the mantle and projected a diagram onto the screen. It showed an outline of a human body, overlaid with the usual collection of veins and arteries. He blinked, and the image shifted, showcasing swirling vortices over the forehead, heart, and the base of the spine. The glowing whirlpools were connected by a set of silvery veins that spanned the entire body.

  “Are you familiar with the concept of chakras?”

  Sam blew out a long breath, “Familiar in that I've heard the word before, yes. Otherwise, not really.”

  Arther nodded, “To give the short version, think of them as concentrated points of energy in your body. They're responsible for circulating that energy where it's needed. Now, what might differ from what you've heard is how they're used by the gods. Here, they're your connection to Divine power.

  “Each one of these chakras represents one of your skill paths. [Enhancement Skills] utilize your Root chakra. Think of it as the Spire’s influence over your body. [Martial Skills] manifest in your Third Eye chakra, acting as your link to past Champions. Finally, [Divine Skills] flow through your Heart chakra. It's your connection to your patron, and where you draw upon mana to fuel your skills.”

  Sam cocked his head, realizing he’d already been subconsciously feeling these pockets of energy as he’d utilized his skills. “I guess that makes sense, but how does that work for me, given I don't have a patron?”

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  “That's a good question, and speaking honestly, I'm not entirely sure. I wasn't even convinced you'd form a [Mana Network], though Eeno seemed confident it would happen.”

  “Did he, now?” Sam said with a grin. “Here I thought he didn't like me.”

  “He doesn't, but he still cares about the outcome. He seems to think the Arbiter themselves is feeding you from an untuned pool of mana, but it's just a theory. Like I said, you're not the first person to be marked an Apostate, but it's been a long, long time.”

  “Okay, so, I have a Network, and it cycles mana. How does that help me?”

  “Great question. Your skills can only ever be as strong as your [Mana Network]. I'm sure you've experienced this in combat, where you go to use a skill and find you can't. Muscle spasms, headaches, nausea?”

  “Yep.” Sam thought back to his fight with the Ghūl, trying and failing to get [Arcane Eyes] under control.

  “That happens because you're essentially frying your Network. Think of them as wires conducting electricity, or pipes channelling water. They can only handle so much before they burst. Learning how to control the flow of mana is essential. Repairing an injury of the flesh is one thing, but repairing a damaged [Mana Network] takes time, if it happens at all.”

  “So you're saying I can permanently destroy my Network if I'm not careful.”

  “Indeed. I've seen it happen more than once. A Warrior pushes themselves too far in the heat of battle, only to find that even if they win, they're never the same. There are some potions said to be able to repair them, or high-tier skills for specialized healing classes. But they're rare, extremely rare. I wouldn't count on finding one.”

  “Understood. So how do I improve my [Mana Network]? Are there skills I can purchase?”

  Arther shook his head, “This is where things get a little less structured. You can purchase skills that increase the potency of your actual mana, but the Network is something you'll need to cultivate independently.”

  “And how do I do that?”

  “Practice, meditation, and putting it through the right kind of strain. Think of it like a muscle. You tear it just a bit, so when it regrows, it does so stronger than before. There are techniques I can teach you, but the rest is up to you.”

  “Great, who doesn't love homework?” Sam cautiously stood, testing out his injured leg. It held, though only just. He summoned his spear and leaned on it as he began doing laps around the room.

  Arther’s eyes lit up at the sight of the weapon. “Now, where did you get that?”

  “Off the Draug Lord in the Crypts. It says it's a [Relic] weapon, what does that mean exactly?”

  Arther looked as though he was about to lose his seat. “By Vulcon’s hammer! What is your luck? [Relic] weapons are the most sought after on the Spire. They're nearly indestructible and are capable of growing with the wielder. By infusing them with [Divine Cores], you can unlock specific abilities, while raising them to the next Tier.”

  “So I can upgrade this to Bronze when I rank up?”

  Arther gave a wide smile, “Exactly. Every other item is locked to its Tier. [Relic] weapons are also the only way to use magic not bound to your patron.”

  Sam shook his head, trying and failing not to feel overwhelmed by the flood of information. “And how does that work? Do you think I'd be able to use magic that way?”

  Arther scratched his chin. “It's certainly possible, but [Divine Cores] are even more rare than [Relic] items. There's a reason I didn't mention them before. The components are nearly impossible to get. They're made from the crystallized energy of a god, and require a Master Craftsman to create.”

  “You mean like this?” Sam asked, sitting back down on the couch and summoning the Draug Soulstone directly onto the coffee table.

  This time, Arther did fall off his chair. The Warden looked dumbstruck as he crawled over and gently prodded the gem. He let out a low hiss and drew his hand back.

  “Dark energy, that,” he muttered softly, as a layer of bright metal flowed over his bare hand. The silvery material covered it like a glove, and he casually picked up the gem, holding it up to the light to inspect it. “Let me guess, Dungeon?”

  “Yeah, among a few other things. The quest called it a Soulstone. It was what was giving the Draug their magic.”

  Arther nodded, looking impressed. He tapped the stone with a finger, and the description appeared on the screen.

  [Hel’s Heart - Iron - Epic]

  The encapsulation of the will of Hel. Feel the frigid frost of death and despair.

  “Hel,” Sam muttered, “Norse goddess of the underworld?”

  “Something like that,” Arther said, turning the gem over in his hand. “She has a bad reputation for abandoning her disciples when she thinks they're going to lose. A fickle patron if there ever was one.”

  “So not ideal is what you're saying.”

  “Not necessarily. Having her power imbued in a weapon would limit her involvement. I've never heard of a deity withdrawing their power from a Soulstone. And, of course, she’s powerful.”

  “And evil,” Sam replied, trying to remember what little he could remember from Norse myth.

  Arther shrugged, “Evil is subjective. She's a death goddess, one of many on the Spire. Your goal in this War is to kill things. There are worse allies to have.”

  “Fair enough. But you're saying you can make a [Divine Core] with this?”

  Arther nodded slowly before setting the gem back down on the table. “Theoretically, yes. It's been a long, long time since I've made one. Soulstones are more common on the higher Rings, so I rarely get a chance to interact with them these days.”

  “Did you have any when you were a Champion?”

  “A few, though not as many as some. I prioritized empowering my armour. Nothing more frustrating for an opponent than a tank with a few tricks up their sleeve.”

  “I can believe that. So what else would you need to craft it?”

  Arther stood and began rummaging through a nearby bookshelf, scanning the spines of dusty tomes. “[Divine Cores] are made from three components: a Divine focus, like a Soulstone, as well as a channelling medium, and a vessel. All three components need to resonate with one another. In this case, death or cold. Monster components are the most common pieces: blood, scales, and bone. Generally, they need to come from a high-tier creature. Bosses are ideal.”

  Sam had to resist the urge to pout, lamenting the loss of Arngrym’s corpse. His bones would likely have been a suitable candidate, bringing him one step closer to creating the Core.

  “So I'll need to keep an eye out for items that could resonate?”

  “Absolutely. Again, it's not normally something you'd need to think about, but a Bronze tier [Relic] weapon at this stage would make you one of the most dangerous Warriors on the Ring.”

  “Oh, I believe it. I've seen firsthand the power of what Bronze tier can do.”

  Arther pulled a book from the shelf and blew dust off the spine. “Take this and read through it. It will give you a list of items found on Elysium, so you can look for potential components.”

  Sam took it and thanked him, storing it for later perusal. “On that note, I think it's time we talk about gear. If you hadn't noticed, mine is a little worse for wear.”

  The Warden laughed, “Oh, I noticed. Don't you worry, I've been busy this past week.”

  “Oh?” Sam replied expectantly.

  “Oh yes,” Arther laughed. “It's time to go shopping.”