“Wow,” Ori said, eyes wide at the sight and aromas.
Poppy smiled at his reaction. “Mistress was unable to contribute much to this meal beyond this dish. She recommended trying it last, or not at all, depending on your appetite—”
Ignoring the recommendation, Ori reached for the bowl she’d gestured to, chunks of meat coated in a thick curry, and before Poppy could finish her sentence, he scooped up a generous portion with a piece of flatbread. The rich, spicy aroma intensified as he brought it closer, and with an eager bite, he savoured the explosion of flavours with an involuntary groan. The meat was tender and perfectly spiced, while the curry’s complexity came from an intense blend of sweetness, savoury heat, citrus, and herbs.
Poppy couldn’t help but laugh. “I shall inform the Mistress of your approval.”
“Absolutely, this is amazing,” Ori said, his mouth only momentarily free before the next mouthful.
“Like always, I’ll be just down the corridor if you need anything.” She turned to leave.
Ori remembered Harriet’s concern over the apparent effect he had on Poppy and, unwilling to let her go without some sort of understanding, he pushed aside the wonderful food and called, “One second. Poppy, are we okay?”
She paused just before the door and turned. Her genial smile was softer, if not more genuine, than before. She moved towards him as if in a waltz or ballet, her natural grace combining with something practised and more individual. She paused, then sat on the rug a yard or so away, folding in her dress as she made herself comfortable.
“I’m still deciding,” she finally said.
Ori, nonplussed, left his chair to join her on the floor. “Deciding? What do you mean?”
“I’m deciding if we are okay. I am deciding…” She paused as if in thought, her soft brown eyes breaking contact with his. “I’m deciding a lot of things. Mistress and I share everything, so I’m aware of what she told you, my split heritage, and it’s a large part of it. The other part is that, like her, I see things in you, about you, but it’s more intense. Unlike Mistress, I don’t need class abilities or spells to feel it, and it’s all confusing.
“But not to worry, this is nothing bad, and I have Mistress’s support in whichever path I choose to follow.”
Ori was even more confused than before. On the surface, her words sounded ominous, as if he were a toxic spill she was deciding how to deal with, but her manner was warm and positive. His gut twisted as he considered various improbable impossibilities, replaying her words, breaking them apart and reassembling them in his mind. In the end, he didn’t have enough data to come to any conclusions, and nowhere near enough time to worry about it if she was unconcerned.
“Alright. I don’t get what’s going on, but just know I’m here to help, even if it’s just to listen.”
“That’s more than I can ask. Thank you.” She stood, seemingly taking his words as a dismissal, though Ori would have been happy to have had her company during his meal.
After eating, Ori finished Gorren’s Introduction to Enchanting. It covered the fundamentals of the craft in detail, expanding his mind and reinforcing the view that enchanting wasn’t just imbuing an item with magical properties, but a holistic process that started from the moment material for the artefact was harvested, whether rock from a mine, wood from a tree, or bone from a creature.
He learned more about each step, mundane techniques for Shaping, and spells for Infusion and Enchanting, which he was desperate to try. Meanwhile, other aspects, such as skill and item ranks forged parallels with the pre-existing knowledge he already had on the Awakened and the Library of Fates. The book also touched on more esoteric and advanced concepts and, most importantly for his current purposes, repairing and reshaping damaged enchantments and artefacts, both before and after they had been Bonded.
For a long stretch after Ori put the book down, the words Shaping, Infusion, Inscribing, Refinement, Quickening, Naming, and Bonding rattled in his mind, forming a strange resonance, the purpose of each stage burning itself into his soul like an enchantment of the mind. Feeling the swirl of Peritia, he suddenly understood the profundity of what he’d just experienced. Without speaking oaths or promises, that unassuming textbook had inducted him into the profession of enchanting as an Apprentice under the Library of Fates.
The feeling snapped into place, his sense of it more sensitive now than it had been when Sera inducted him into the Order of the Chromatics. That he could receive a class just by reading a book was both amazing and terrifying, and it forced him to sit and examine his feelings on the matter and the consequences.
He didn’t believe he’d made a mistake. On the contrary, he bubbled with an elation and a sense of purpose greater than the one he’d felt when he’d become a White Mage. He’d always wanted to make things, to change things, to advance or evolve things. There was no downside beyond the feeling that some rarer, cooler version of enchanting existed, but from what he understood, those specialisms could be decided upon at any stage of his career.
Ori exhaled. Perhaps the book had seen something within him, a compatibility, or perhaps his silent declaration had been consent. Maybe the book had no discernment whatsoever and would forcefully provide the enchanting class to anyone with class slots available. It didn’t matter. Based on Freya’s knowledge of human Awakened, he still had one class slot remaining. Let’s keep that one open until I Awaken, Ori decided, as he moved over to the second, more esoteric book on crafting, far more detailed in its descriptions of the formal stages and containing manuals on recommended techniques.
Like that, hours passed, slower and certainly less productive than before. It was getting to the point where he needed to do something other than reading. However, before he could do any enchanting, there was a list of things he needed to do to himself to prepare.
From several dozen recommended transmutation techniques, Ori discarded any that required a Mana Nexus, had rare or crazy requirements, or were too niche, and found he was left with three:
Ability Name: Split Mind
Type: Passive, Mentalism, Transmutation
Characteristic Requirements: Dexterity: ≥20, Perception: ≥40, Intelligence: ≥20, Will: ≥100
Other Requirements:
Effects: Enables concentration on multiple tasks, with an intelligence multiplier based on the number of Split Minds
Description: The Split Mind spell is a passive ability that fundamentally alters the cognitive functioning of its user. It allows the caster to divide their mental focus a specific number of times, a change that is permanent and irreversible. This division increases the intelligence characteristic by a multiple of the number of times the user splits their mind. Furthermore, this enables the user to concentrate on several tasks simultaneously, a capability that proves invaluable in situations demanding multitasking or rapid attention shifts.
Notes: Once activated, the user’s mind undergoes a permanent transformation, with their consciousness being split a set number of times.
While somewhat uncertain, Ori believed he had more than enough to meet the characteristic requirements of this spell. And while the idea of a permanent change to his brain terrified him, the ability to truly parallel process was far too invaluable to pass on, and was likely to accelerate his progress towards restoring Sera’s soul and fixing his soul-bound artefact.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Ability Name: Quicken Perception
Type: Passive, Perception, Transmutation
Characteristic Requirements: Perception: ≥100, Will: ≥120
Other Requirements: Must possess pre-existing paracausal sight abilities, high comprehension of paracausal energies
Effects: Permanently upgrades and merges existing vision and perception abilities with the user’s perception of paracausal energies based on their comprehension of these energies
Description: Quicken Perception is a passive, transmutation spell that permanently enhances the user’s vision, merging it with their perception of paracausal energies such as mana, grace, Peritia, breath, aether, or Quintessence. This spell fundamentally alters the user’s sensory capabilities, allowing for an integrated and nuanced perception of both the physical and ethereal realms. The degree of enhancement and the specific nature of the sensory integration depend on the user’s understanding and affinity with the respective paracausal energies.
Notes: Quicken Perception irrevocably recalibrates the user’s visual and sensory faculties upon activation. This change allows for a profound perception of magical auras, ethereal residues, and the flow of various paracausal energies in intricate detail. The enhancement is tailored to the individual’s comprehension of paracausal energies, resulting in a unique sensory experience for each user.
Quicken Perception is designed for seasoned practitioners who are prepared to handle the complexities and challenges of an expanded and permanently altered sensory perception. While offering significant advantages in terms of magical perception and understanding, the permanent nature of this enhancement requires the user to adapt to a new way of perceiving the world, which can be both mentally demanding and irreversible.
Upon realising he was prepared to risk it all, this change to his perception seemed less daunting than it might have. What drove Ori to want to learn this skill was the irritating sense that he could feel, but not quite see, the changes that happened to him whenever Peritia swirled around him, or his soul was externally altered. He needed clarity, and as with Mana Sight, perhaps with that clarity, manipulation of those energies would come easier. As this spell seemed to merge perception abilities, and to his knowledge, he possessed only one, Ori decided to seek another to add to his repertoire.
Ability Name: Perceive ManaScript
Type: Passive, Perception, Transmutation
Characteristic Requirements: Perception: ≥50, Intelligence: ≥40
Effects: Enables remote reading of mana-sensitive texts, with range based on perception; ideal for enchanters.
Description: Perceive ManaScript is a passive transmutation that allows users to remotely interpret texts, runes, and glyphs written with mana-sensitive ink or reagents. The range of this ability increases with the user’s perception level, making it particularly valuable for enchanters who need to understand complex magical scripts or researchers who need to be able to read multiple texts from a distance.
Notes: The ability can be toggled on or off as needed. It requires a moderate level of perception and intelligence, as it involves not only recognition of mana-infused scripts but also comprehension of their deeper meanings and magical constructs. Perceive ManaScript is particularly effective when used in conjunction with the Split Mind ability, allowing the user to process and interpret multiple streams of magical information simultaneously.
Looking outside to see the sun low on the horizon with gritty eyes, Ori decided to sleep on his decision to make permanently life-altering and potentially hazardous transmutations. He finished Advanced Lectures, Enchanting Techniques and Cyclics by Ghista, and read and re-read Hercher’s Split Mind Technique while visualising the spellforms and the intent behind the mana required through their various states.
As this was a freeform casting without the aid of an artefact or the Library of Fate, it would require intense concentration, but no more than many of the trials he’d already undertaken.
Beyond that, he wondered about specialisms within the enchanting class.
For example, contrary to expectations, instead of expertise focused on one stage that could be applied to a variety of artefact types, enchanters were often Orbweaver-based on the type of artefact they made. This form of vertical specialisation wasn’t absolute; a wandsmith, for instance, could make enchantments for other artefact types at reduced efficiency, but as this was a commercial craft, price competitiveness was a huge factor. Production lines, resource networks, and the pressures of capitalism were major guiding hands in the craft’s evolution into various specialities over time.
Poppy returned with another tray of delicious food, and before she could leave with her genial smile and gliding stride, Ori asked, “Would it be possible to get some fresh air?”
“Of course, Ori. Actually, it should have occurred to me that you’d desire as much. Could you wait till sunset?”
“Yeah, of course,” Ori agreed, feeling as if it was only an hour until then, part of which he needed to eat and freshen up.
“Brilliant. We have this beautiful night garden I could give you a tour through, and with the night’s reduced activity around the residence, it’d be easier to conceal your presence.”
“Sure, that works,” Ori said, mild curiosity stirring.
“Very well, Ori. I’ll be back then,” Poppy said, before she left.
“If you would hold my hand, Ori,” Poppy said, returning after about an hour.
Ori hesitated at her outstretched hand. She chuckled. “Come on, it won’t bite.”
Her hand was smooth, light, and surprisingly cool. The sensation of skin contact with another person after so long was overwhelming, especially when paired with the attractive elf it was attached to. Despite his racing heart, Ori had to muster his considerable willpower to appear composed, which barely held firm at her smile.
“Nice hands,” she smirked. “Big, warm hands, rough but not too rough.” She nodded. “Well then, please let me take us on a shortcut. Walk with me.”
They moved, and with the first step, shadows throughout the room lengthened, as if dusk turned into deepest night, or the geometry of the shadows shifted to suggest the departure of all sources of light. Then he felt it, just a hint of that wild, howling blackness. It lasted only a blink as he fell into step with her. On the second step, there was just emptiness; even the floor seemed to vanish. If he had stopped to take it all in, he might have sworn he was feeling the very essence of the void itself.
Poppy’s grip on his hand was the only anchor to something concrete, a reassuring reminder that he wasn’t alone. On the third step, darkness and shadows peeled apart, revealing a new world Ori wasn’t even sure was in the same realm as just three paces ago.
They were in a garden surrounded by moderately tall hedges, except these hedges contained light and colour, glowing neon and pastel from flora and fauna. Their light grew in intensity as Ori’s vision readjusted in the absence of any other magical light.
This, along with the continued sensation of Poppy’s hand still in his grasp, would have been overwhelming enough, but as Ori took in the entirety of his surroundings, the large pond colonised by fireflies, the twisting luminescent vines, and the ringed gas giant filling a gigantic proportion of the night sky, he gasped.
“Where are we?”
“We’re still on Lunaesidhe. A while ago, it occurred to me you’ve most likely never seen our night sky,” she said, an impish cast to her easy smile. He felt her second hand cover his. “Come, I know a place to sit and rest that overactive mind of yours.”
Ori nodded absently, gaze transfixed on the planet. It reminded him of science fiction, those classic scenes of life on the moons of Saturn, except in this instance, the planet was a deep navy blue, its light sliced by the shadow of its rings. Details such as the other moons became apparent as he stared. He figured if Forest or Silvan elves preferred to live close to nature, then perhaps it was obvious Moon Elves would live on a moon. But did that mean the Sun Elves lived on suns?
He shook his head as he found himself sitting on a bench beside the lake. He looked at his right hand, clasped within hers, several conclusions clicking into place.
“Are you still deciding?” he asked.
“No,” she confirmed.
“I don’t understand.”
“And that’s okay.”
Ori chuckled at her forthrightness. “So, don’t I get a say in this?” he asked, gently squeezing her hand in his for emphasis.
“Yes, but I’ve already made up my mind.”
Ori exhaled, his mind racing at the implications as he returned his attention to the night sky, the vivid stars, and the world beyond.
They sat like that for several hours. While he wanted clarity on what this meant, whether they were already in a relationship, and whether he had any say in the matter, he also felt the ambiguity gave them cover, a level of deniability if, come morning, it all turned out to be a cultural misunderstanding. So, unwilling to break the spell as he felt the weight of her resting on his shoulder, Ori let his mind wander.
As racing thoughts exhausted an already tired mind, he chose to enjoy the peace of the now, leaving the troubles of tomorrow for another day.