11.0

Traveling through the desert was a lesson in boredom since Eve avoided the oasis in her path. A few creatures attempted to bar the Hut’s way, but Felix demonstrated a rather protective streak. Mashed monster corpses littered the sands behind her moving home. They attracted scavengers, but she didn’t mind. The scavengers provided interesting targets for testing her new Skills and Spells.

Runic Cryptography was chosen so that when Eve also gained the runes of Ink, Paper, Space, and Dust she could use them as keys. Ritual Rune Ciphering made it possible to use the standardized language once she deciphered it. Runic Skeleton Key was multi-functional allowing her to bypass mana-structured locks, decipher techniques, and even unravel spells of runic nature or those based on runes. Ritual Rune V (Flesh) was a unique method of ensuring that no matter what happened, she always had access to Runes. Talisman of Dust II ensured that any runes carved into her flesh by her Skill couldn’t be altered by others, only herself.

Siren’s Voice and Dryad’s Scent were used constantly during the transit as Eve rebuilt each of the Eternal Memory disguise pages. Now they were truly unique methods of deception that wouldn’t fall prey to the easiest unraveling. Every time a new disguise was mastered, Eve rewarded herself with chocolate from Summon Food or wine from Summon Drink. Her laziness was amplified as Continuous Prestidigitation removed the need to clean up after herself. Showers, baths, and other self-cleaning methods were strictly needed for therapeutical purposes only now.

The desert travel was interrupted momentarily when they discovered a massive ant-lion monster-type Nest. Murdering the entire Nest and using their mana to carve Talisman of Dust II runes pushed Eve into Tier Six without fanfare. She immediately accepted the option to Tier up. As expected a few System messages arrived immediately. Eve took a look at the familiar words rapidly parsing their meanings.

The System confirms, the User known as Eve Smith desires to Enhance their Class.

“Absolutely,” Eve said before a new series of words appeared before her.

The Fourth and Sixth Class Evolution thresholds are a chance to enhance the Path that has been taken in a User’s life.

It is at these two Thresholds that the choices one has made before become Vessels.

These foci are what allows the User’s future travel on their Path to accelerate forward!

Eve Smith, known as The Traveling Witch of the Dust Library, the following options are available for you:

Rank One:

Locked out by previous Tier Choice.

Rank Two:

Locked out by previous Tier Choice.

Rank Three:

Locked out by previous Tier Choice.

Rank Four:

Locked out by previous Tier Choice.

Titled Rank:

Empress of Paper Traveling Dust Witches

Queen of Ink Traveling Dust Witches

Princess of Space Traveling Dust Witches

Lady of Sparkling Space

Prime

Empress of Paper Traveling Dust Witches

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Empress of Paper Traveling Dust Witches. Titled. No current Skills, Spells, or Stats will be lost, be aware that other Class Evolutions may become impossible.

One who is a Witch.

One who has a Paper, Ink, Space, and Dust Affinity.

One who has used the power of Paper.

One who has used the power of Ink.

One who has used the power of Space.

One who has used the power of Dust.

One who has reached the Sixth Threshold.

The reach of Paper is without end!

Queen of Ink Traveling Dust Witches

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Queen of Ink Traveling Dust Witches. Titled. No current Skills, Spells, or Stats will be lost, be aware that other Class Evolutions may become impossible.

One who is a Witch.

One who has an Ink, Space, and Dust Affinity.

One who has used the power of Ink.

One who has used the power of Space.

One who has used the power of Dust.

One who has reached the Sixth Threshold.

The ambitions of Ink are without end!

Princess of Space Traveling Dust Witches

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Princess of Space Traveling Dust Witches. Titled. No current Skills, Spells, or Stats will be lost, be aware that other Class Evolutions may become impossible.

One who is a Witch.

One who has a Space, and Dust Affinity.

One who has used the power of Space.

One who has used the power of Dust.

One who has reached the Sixth Threshold.

Royal decrees reach the farthest worlds!

Lady of Sparkling Space

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Lady of Sparkling Space. Titled. No current Skills, Spells, or Stats will be lost, be aware that other Class Evolutions may become impossible.

One who is a Witch.

One who has a Space Affinity.

One who has used the power of Space.

One who has reached the Sixth Threshold.

Bow before one who controls Space. See the wonders possible when space transmutes reality!

Prime

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Prime. Titled. No current Skills, Spells, or Stats will be lost, be aware that other Class Evolutions may become impossible.

One who is a Witch.

One who is first of their Color Linage.

One who has reached the Sixth Threshold.

Transcend the mundane magic and reach for the endless!

“Prime,” Eve spoke into the silence. Suddenly, like her very recent upgrade to Tier Four, reality paused to take a deep breath.

You have chosen: Prime (Y/N)

“Yes.” Eve decided before her eyes rolled back in her head as pleasure from having her body reshaped by ambient mana took hold. It was a thousand sparkling fireworks in her mind, each one a moment of absolute ecstasy.

Almost a full day of desert traveling later, Eve woke to a string of new notifications.

You have gained the Class Enhancement: Spatial Steps.

Your steps are unhindered by distance.

Those of your Linage will be sought for Travel and Rituals.

You will now gain +40 to all Stats per Level as Prime.

Your Zone is enhanced with Spatial Steps.

Your Item is enhanced with Spatial Steps.

You are known as The Prime Traveling Witch of the Dust Library.

Your alias as the Silver Witch has shifted the Title’s Name.

Your title is: The Silver Prime Traveling Witch of the Dust Library.

Eve took a more in-depth look at her Zone and Item.

Library of Dust III (Unique):

Soulbound.

A mystical Zone created by a Librarian exposed to the Primordial Dust. Library, Factory, Sanctuary, and Sword is the Zone.

Two may exist, one bound to the Witch, one to her Hut.

The Zone attracts ambient mana doubling regeneration rates.

The Zone allows for Space Folding limited only by Sight.

The Zone is unaffected by anything lower than a Higher Power.

Grants Multiply.

Grants Manipulate.

Grants Consume.

Grants Craft.

Grants Sight.

Here be a monster, mortals.

Talisman of Dust III (Unique):

Soulbound.

A mystical Talisman created by a combination of Skills, Spells, and Traits that were exposed to the Primordial Dust. Mystical runes scroll across the surface, their power beyond mortal minds.

Two may exist, one bound to the Witch, one to her Hut.

The effect of new Runes increases by double the previous amount.

There is no limit to the amount of space to inlay Runes.

The Item is unaffected by anything lower than a Higher Power.

Grants Immunity to Mind, Body, or Soul alteration.

Grants Damage Reduction.

Grants Balance of Power.

Grants Immortality.

Grants Devour.

I am forever, I eat eternity.

Eve’s eyes narrowed. It was clear that being a Prime pushed any Witch above her contemporaries. It was something that curbed her interest in joining the Color Covens even further. Politics could wait until after Tier Seven. A quick glance at her Status made her sigh, she had cleaned the entire Nest, and yet her information proved true. Nothing gave experience outside the Deeps after Tier Six.

Level: 7,500

Race: Silver Prime Traveling Dust Witch

Class: The Silver Prime Traveling Witch of the Dust Library

Profession: Silver Prime Traveling Dust-Talisman Librarian

Affinities (4): Paper, Ink, Space, Dust

Mana: 1,010,900/1,010,900 (1,010,900 MPs regen)

Stats: Str 91,900(101,090); Dex; 91,900(101,090);

Con 91,900(101,090); 91,900(101,090);

Int 91,900(101,090); Charm 91,900(101,090)

Slots: 4B, 64M

Skills:

Traveling Dust Witch’s Core of Space-Papered Ink-Dust

Runic Cryptography I

Ritual Rune Ciphering I

Runic Skeleton Key I

Ritual Rune V (Flesh)

Rune of Ink

Rune of Paper

Rune of Space

Rune of Dust

Spells:

Siren's Voice

Dryad's Scent

Continuous Prestidigitation

Summon Food

Summon Drink

Thousand Ghostly Hands

Items:

Talisman of Dust III

Tome of Dust (Ritual)

Witch's Ink Athame (Ritual)

Witch's Paper Candle (Ritual)

Zones:

Library of Dust III

Perks:

Ritual Paper V

Ritual Ink V

Paper Intent V

Ink Intent V

Big Tool Sack V

Paper Stack V

Ink Sheets V

There’s nothing for it, I guess I’ll spend a millennium traveling then hit the Deeps.Eve thought. There’s no point in immortality if I don’t live a little. Tier Six is a great place to take a breather. Other people might need to rush to the Deeps to keep from aging barring a few outliers, but I do not.

With the sale of her previous base, Eve had thought long and hard. The Color Coven Bank wouldn’t be useful if she didn’t join, and the Dragon Bank was definitely off the table. She didn’t trust Demons with her money, and Light Elves were inscrutable purists. So there was only one place to dump her ill-gotten dragon gold, one place where it wouldn’t look out of place in all its mana-infused glory.

The Adventurer’s Bank!

Signing up as an Adventurer would also let her take some tests to prove her Tier. At least, according to the books she read on the subject. While the Adventurer’s Guild wasn’t perfect, they did provide key services at all branches. The main bonus point to Eve was the Adventurer Guild Plates acted as passports, driver’s licenses, and crystal bank cards all in one. It was a benefit that would allow anonymity, yet a convenience that allowed travel, too.

As the Hut commenced traveling through the desert once more there were barely imperceptible shifts at regular intervals. Eve focused her Sight and realized the Hut was already using Spatial Steps. The slight shifts were when the traveling home leaped into the air for the most effective spatial movement. Eve was willing to bet all her coin Felix had provided advice on the method of speeding travel up.

Eve was thrilled as it made the year-long airship travel compress into merely two weeks. After two weeks, the glorious City of Gold spread out filling the entire horizon line. One of her first questions upon hearing the size of the enormous place was how did the food get around to everyone inside. Don’t underestimate food transportation, there is no faster way to cause riots than prevent people from filling their stomachs. The answer had two parts, as expected of a magical society. For the middle class to poor, massive underground train systems fed by enormous teleportation hubs controlled by the Merchant Royalty sold food at carefully allocated locations. For the wealthy, a personal teleportation circle was enough.

The true titans of wealth had their own gardens, of course.

Eve exited her Hut and made a grasping motion. The Hut shifted into a miniature that Eve casually placed into Storage. A flex of will shifted her shape, clothing, and color instantly. Where once stood a blonde beauty with sultry curves and silver eyes a young female teenager stood. Brown hair, brown eyes, tanned skin, and the barest hint of curves replaced her natural form. To anyone looking she would appear as a Zun one of the desert-dwelling tribes of the deepest part of the known world. Hundreds of Zun entered the City of Gold each day for the benefit of the myriad of countless smaller tribes. Magical ability was common among the desert tribes, and Witch’s Dust could mimic sand easily by a simple alteration of color. Kudzu folded into her hair turning into a brilliant green open rose flower that pumped small bits of pollen out.

Where silver sparkling dust once fell from Eve, now light yellow motes of sparkling sand floated down. The Zone outputted such high mana that reading her Status would be almost impossible. Even attempting to do so would require the offender to look past the Ritual of Obscurity. Stepping forward she teleported directly to the enormous gate set into the city wall. There was a moment as she looked at the people in line and guards checking if anyone noticed her before Eve grinned. Another step and she was past the gate directly inside the city. There was a faint feeling of something breaking as she passed but it wasn’t strong enough to register. The sensation was akin to passing through a spider’s web by accident.

The massive bustling crowd of assorted people was annoying, so Eve stepped up to stand on one of the six-floor adobe buildings near the street. From above, she was able to take the crowds in without being overwhelmed. Below it appeared mercenaries and merchants mixed in equal measure. Adventuring teams moved in groups, while street stalls lined the sides for miles. Alleys cut through like the circular gears of a mechanic’s mad machine. The press of people was enormous, so Eve simply moved along the roofs as she sped deeper into the city.

It took a few minutes to follow a group of Adventurers to a local Guild branch. Moments after identifying the structure to ensure it wasn’t a disguised inn like the last few, she stepped to the street before entering the building. Eve glanced around unsurprised at the layout of the bottom floor. There were counters lining the wall attended by decent-looking men and women of various races. A bar took up the entire left wall from the entrance, and a smattering of tables was in front of it. With casual grace from her physical Stats, she moved directly to the line that said NEW APPLICANTS in Common Trade Tongue. It was a short wait before Eve reached the counter to be met by a young man in decent clothing. A practiced smile adorned the Guild employee’s face as he recited lines that had probably been burned into his long-term memory.

“Greetings and welcome to the Adventurer’s Guild, City of Gold, Southern Branch. Are you applying for membership today?”

“Yes,” Eve replied making sure her response mimicked a real tribeswoman in accent.

“Excellent! Here is the paperwork to apply. Please complete the forms, and return everything to the Test counter’s lines after you finish.”

“Understood,” Eve said taking the clipboard and mana-infused ink pen. Since she wasn’t in a hurry, the scent of food enticed her to move to the bar before finishing out her paperwork. It was a short wait once again to place a meal order for one of everything including drinks. The barman appeared to think she was joking until she placed a piece of dragon’s gold on the counter.

“Please make sure the change is accurate,” Eve said causing the undisguised light of greed to vanish from the barman’s eyes.

Taking one of the few available empty tables she processed the paperwork quickly. Ink affinity allowed her to pull ink from the pen to the paperwork with minimal effort giving her the speed of a laser print machine. The queries delved into Class, Title, Level, Skills, Spells, and all the basic things although all information requested was optional. The caveat to optional was that everything would be verified under sanctified Truth Stones or similar methods depending on the branch. To that end, Eve was flexible when replying. She stopped when the food arrived taking a bite of everything before throwing the remains into Storage. She stacked empty plates and mugs to the side then returned to finish the paperwork.

Two hours after arrival, Eve finally entered the Testing Exam line. It was a third and final short wait before she reached the counter handing over the required paperwork. She waited in her casual silver robes with a large pointy hat before the woman at the counter finally shrugged.

“Not my problem if she wants to lie.” the counter lady said with a mutter before pointing to a large blue orb and continuing in a louder voice, “Please place your hand on the Truth Orb.”

Eve placed her hand on the orb with a feeling of schadenfreude welling up.

“Name.”

“Eve.”

“Level.”

“Over five thousand.”

There was a short pause as the woman at the counter realized the orb wasn’t changing color as she expected. Eve heard a nervous gulp before the woman continued in a far more respectful tone.

“Class, please.”

“Witch.”

“T-Title?”

“The Silver Witch.”

There was another pause as the Guild employee started to visibly sweat.

“Skills?”

“Ritual Rune V (Flesh)”

“S-Spells?”

Eve took particular relish in saying, “Summon Food and Summon Drink.”

“Will you be accepting Copper Rank or testing higher?”

“Testing.”

“O-Of course. Please follow the green line to the arena area.” the guild employee straightened further as she continued to say, “Do not stray from the line as an attempt to enter a restricted area, even by accident can be fatal. Thank you for choosing the Adventurer’s Guild, City of Gold, Southern Branch!”

Eve looked at the woman who handed her paperwork back for a moment before she replied, “Understood.” Petty revenge was pointless so she let the situation pass.

Following the green line only took a few short minutes before Eve found herself in a gymnasium area. A few arenas were placed in front of a group of bleachers. Moments later a middle-aged man approached from her left to take the paperwork she was holding. There was a brief widening of his eyes that Eve noted before he said, “Greetings. My name is Victor Franze, S-Rank. What metal would you care to be tested for?”

“I would like to go as high as possible Mr. Victor,” Eve said with a smile.

“Number Three, take the young lady to the central arena for a test to start,” Victor said to a group of young men and women lounging around on the left side where he had arrived from.

Eve followed her tester into the sandy arena while not reacting to the chatter she heard.

“Another fearless copper.”

“One gold she hits silver.”

“I bet three gold she can’t pass Iron.”

“Accepted.”

“Agreed.”

Standing in the small sandy arena she watched Number Three as he held a wooden training sword loosely before saying, “Please do your best. Victory is by ring out, unconsciousness, or causing my armor to turn red from damage.” Eve nodded in agreement and watched the trainer charge forward to attack.

Number Three struck an overhand chop filled with power.

Eve didn’t move.

The result was as expected. The moment his training sword entered within the shielding of Witch’s Dust failure was inevitable. Surprised, the trainer, Number Three continued attacking until he was slightly winded. Once he was done, Eve gestured for theatrics and threw her hand to the side.

Number Three was thrown out of the ring like garbage being disposed of on trash day.

There was a short silence from the trainers stacked against the wall before a young man from the bleachers said, “Show them how real winners fight, girl!” Like a dam being breached several other people joined in with their own words.

“Copper Tier is pointless!”

“Number three, three from the bottom right?”

“He couldn’t even get a strike in, what an idiot!”

“Bet she hits gold?”

“Nah, silver though, that’s likely.”

Victor merely raised his eyebrow before saying, “Number Five.”

Eve waited patiently as the new trainer arrived in front of her. This time the sword was made of actual metal, signifying that she was considered at least Iron, now. Iron Plates would be expected to understand a situation and bow out if it was too much. By staying within the ring, Eve was silently declaring that Iron wasn’t her limit.

Number Five struck a vertical slice filled with speed.

Eve didn’t move.

The result was as expected. The moment his metal sword entered within the shielding of Witch’s Dust failure was inevitable. The trainer, Number Five continued attacking until he was slightly winded with blade light flashing on each blow. Once he paused for longer than a second, Eve gestured for theatrics and threw her hand to the side.

The result was a complete duplication of her previous ultimate move.

Silence reigned from both the bleachers and the grouped trainers. Victor had started up a pipe to watch the fight but it now hung listlessly in shock. Recovering quickly, he said, “Number Twenty. Magic allowed.”

A woman strode out from the group of trainers looking at Victor with an incredulous look before he muttered, “She’ll be fine, probably.”

The woman shrugged and moved to stand across from Eve in the sandy arena before crouching down and placing one hand on her blade’s hilt. Eve sighed and closed her eyes.

The moment she was no longer watching, the trainer, Number Twenty, flashed forward in a blur. Her blade whipped out from its scabbard like a hawk stooping on prey. A fine red light covered the exposed edge giving it a hellish glow. Several skills flashed as they activated in tandem, and Eve yawned as attacks struck her Witch’s Dust shielding like rain.

Once she paused for longer than a second, Eve gestured for theatrics and threw her right hand to the side.

The result didn’t change from the last two times.

Eve listened to the voices now murmuring respectfully.

“Holy shit she’s gold!”

“My god a new gold plate?!”

“Has anyone seen her before?”

“Do you think she’s married?”

“Do you think she needs a party?”

“Fucking hell, a new gold!”

Eve looked directly at Victor who was puffing on his pipe before she smirked.

“Number Fifty. No limits.” Victor said his eyes troubled.

A strong young man dressed in expensive equipment stepped out from the very back of the trainers where he had been sitting lazily. His eyes glinted with interest as he stepped into the small sandy arena.

“Please take care, I am not as weak as the previous trainers.” Number Fifty said.

Eve shrugged and enjoyed the slight flash of rage in his eyes even though her own remained closed.

Without fanfare, the trainer, Number Fifty, activated magic. Seven fireballs condensed in the air flying towards Eve. At the same moment, Number Fifty leaped forward pulling his sword out in a diagonal strike that would cut open. Faint electrical flickers on the blade could be briefly pulsing. Eve yawned as attacks struck her Witch’s Dust once more. The mana was devoured, and fed into shielding, while the physical attacks were robbed of kinetic energy. Number Fifty flailed for almost a full minute before Eve saw him begin to repeat a previous attack.

Her hand stretched out and moved up instead of to the side.

“Number Fifty.” Eve said mimicking a well-known evil overlord, “I find thy lack of strength disturbing.” She held the trainer in the air until his sword dropped from unconscious fingers, upon which she tossed him to the side out of bounds again.

There was complete and dead total silence now.

“Well shit, I guess it wasn’t a mistake,” Victor said removing his pipe and putting it away. There was a shimmer and his form was suddenly coated in enchanted items. Rings glimmered, a necklace sparkled, and two earrings glinted. Swirling platinum etched runes marked the grey full plate armor he now wore. Unhanding a heavy two-handed axe from his back Victor stepped into the sandy arena.

“I will attack with full force. Please don’t die.” Victor said.

Eve opened her eyes as the sand in the arena rose to float around her. During the previous several engagements she had used Witch’s Dust to convert it all into more dust.

Eve flashed a grin before she said, “Killing me is hard, Mr. Victor."