9.2

The System confirms that the User, Eve Smith, desires to Enhance her 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.

At these two Thresholds, the choices one has made before this moment turn into foci of the User.

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

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

Rank One:

Paper

Ink

Space

Dust

Rank Two:

Witch’s Paper

Witch’s Ink

Witch’s Space

Witch’s Dust

Rank Three:

Silver Paper

Silver Ink

Silver Space

Silver Dust

Rank Four:

Silver Witch’s Paper

Silver Witch’s Ink

Silver Witch’s Space

Silver Witch’s Dust

Titled Rank:

The Paper Empress of Talismans

The Queen of Ink

The Space Princess

The Silver Spore Matriarch

Eve checked each of the several options, although her eyes lingered on the final ranks with a questioning expression. The best was usually last, but she didn’t have that feeling now at all.

Paper

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

One who has Paper Affinity.

One who has used the power of Paper.

One who has reached the Fourth Threshold.

The basis of civilization, record keeping, currency, and more!

Ink

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

One who has Ink Affinity.

One who has used the power of Ink.

One who has reached the Fourth Threshold.

The basis of civilization, record keeping, currency, and more!

Space

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

One who has Space Affinity.

One who has used the power of Space.

One who has reached the Fourth Threshold.

The final frontier, or is it?

Dust

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

One who has Dust Affinity.

One who has used the power of Dust.

One who has reached the Fourth Threshold.

Before civilization, there was Dust. After civilization, there will be Dust.

Wow, that last Tier One isn’t ominous at all. Eve thought. Tier Four seems to enhance my Affinity. In essence, a Space mage would become even better at spatial manipulation, like the Drake was. Then does raising Affinity cause Leveling to be smoother?

Eve narrowed her eyes. There were only two chances to improve Affinity according to the System. Her instincts told her that these choices mattered more than even gaining her Titled Class.

Witch’s Paper

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Witch’s Paper. 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 Paper Affinity.

One who has used the power of Paper.

One who has reached the Fourth Threshold.

The basis of many magical civilizations, record keeping, and currency!

Witch’s Ink

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Witch’s Ink. 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 Ink Affinity.

One who has used the power of Ink.

One who has reached the Fourth Threshold.

The basis of many magical civilizations, record keeping, and currency!

Witch’s Space

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Witch’s Space. 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 Space Affinity.

One who has used the power of Space.

One who has reached the Fourth Threshold.

Sanctuary. Weapon. Shield. Sword. The Hut can be many things.

Witch’s Dust

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Witch’s Dust. 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 Dust Affinity.

One who has used the power of Dust.

One who has reached the Fourth Threshold.

A tool bound to you alone. Sparkling possibilities.

Silver Paper

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Silver Paper. 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 and Dust Affinity.

One who has used the power of Paper.

One who has used the power of Dust.

One who has reached the Fourth Threshold.

The basis of eldritch civilizations, record keeping, currency, and more!

Silver Ink

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Silver Ink. 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 and Dust Affinity.

One who has used the power of Ink.

One who has used the power of Dust.

One who has reached the Fourth Threshold.

The basis of eldritch civilizations, record keeping, currency, and more!

Silver Space

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Silver Space. 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 Fourth Threshold.

Eldritch. Eternal. Empowered. The Hut is many things.

Silver Dust

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Silver Dust. 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 Fourth Threshold.

Eldritch. Eternal. Empowered. Are you more? Are you alive?

Silver Witch’s Paper

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Silver Witch’s Paper. 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 claims Silver.

One who has a Paper and Dust Affinity.

One who has used the power of Paper.

One who has used the power of Dust.

One who has reached the Fourth Threshold.

The basis of silver eldritch civilizations, record keeping, currency, and more!

Silver Witch’s Ink

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Silver Witch’s Ink. 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 claims Silver.

One who has an Ink and Dust Affinity.

One who has used the power of Ink.

One who has used the power of Dust.

One who has reached the Fourth Threshold.

The basis of silver eldritch civilizations, record keeping, currency, and more!

Silver Witch’s Space

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Silver Witch’s Space. 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 claims Silver.

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 Fourth Threshold.

Eldritch. Eternal. Empowered. The Silver Hut is many things.

Silver Witch’s Dust

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: Silver Witch’s Dust. 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 Fourth Threshold.

Eldritch. Eternal. Empowered. Are you Silver? Are you aware?

The Paper Empress of Talismans

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: The Paper Empress of Talismans. 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 Fourth Threshold.

Bow before one who commands Paper. See the horrors possible when paper, ink, space, and dust transmute reality!

The Queen of Ink

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: The Queen of Ink. 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 Fourth Threshold.

Bow before one who commands Ink. See the horrors possible when ink, space, and dust transmute reality!

The Princess of Space

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: The Princess of 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 and Dust Affinity.

One who has used the power of Space.

One who has used the power of Dust.

One who has reached the Fourth Threshold.

Bow before one who commands Space. See the horrors possible when space is folded to transmute reality!

The Silver Spore Matriarch

Qualification reached for Class Evolution: The Silver Spore Matriarch. 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 Dust Affinity.

One who has used the power of Dust.

One who has reached the Fourth Threshold.

Bow before one who controls Dust. See the horrors possible when dust transmutes reality!

There was a long moment as Eve read the absolutely atrociously vague final choices offered.

This is like Russian Roulette. Eve thought as her eyes played over all the options. Titles should be stronger, but I’m feeling bad about those four!

She needed power more than ever before. Reaching this threshold had shown her that those who had come before were nothing like the mortal men and women she knew. On the other side, eldritch had really bad connotations back on Earth. Did she want to be a Plane devouring monstrosity in the future? Absolutely not.

“Witch’s Dust!” Eve shouted, betting everything on the words buried between all the other choices.

Suddenly, like so many years ago, reality paused to take a deep breath as when she first arrived at Tal Mor.

You have chosen: Witch’s Dust (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 later, Eve woke to a string of new notifications.

You have gained the Class Enhancement: Witch’s Dust.

Your Dust is separate from Primordial Dust.

You will now gain +5 to all Stats per Level.

Your Zone is enhanced with Witch’s Dust.

Your Item is enhanced with Witch’s Dust.

Eve looked at her Status to see the new changes that occurred.

Level: 2,500

Race: Dust Witch

Class: Witch of the Dust Library

Profession: Dust-Talisman Librarian

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

Health: 127,000/127,000 (12,700 HPs regen)

Mana: 127,000/127,000 (254,000 MPs regen)

Stats: Str 12,700; Dex; 12,700; Con 12,700; Wis 12,700; Int 12,700; Charm 12,700

Free Stats: 41,800

Item:

Talisman of Dust II

Zone:

Library of Dust II

Eve immediately took a look at the upgraded Item and Zone descriptions.

Talisman of Dust (Unique):

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 cost of new Runes increases by double the previous amount.

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.

Library of Dust (Unique):

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 is unaffected by anything lower than a Higher Power.

Grants Multiply.

Grants Manipulate.

Grants Consume.

Grants Craft.

Grants Sight.

Here be monsters, mortals.

Excellent. I don’t know why, but quite a few choices felt like traps. Eve thought.

Suddenly her nose informed Eve that the Class Evolution once again covered her body with a horrific amount of black goop, combined with the mud she was currently lying in, completely reminded her why you shouldn’t accept Class Evolutions in the wild. She couldn’t wait to get home to the Hut; she had to pick a choice in the middle of a swamp. Kudzu had thankfully formed a protective thicket around her, so her stupidity wasn’t life endangering at least.

Standing up, silverspore immediately coated her in a wave of cleaning power. Eve suffered under her personal techno-magic sanitization spores. As her body was cleaned completely, she sighed in relief; it would do until she got back to the Hut for a shower.

She could feel the fundamental changes to her silverspore, or Witch’s Dust, now. If before it was like using a scalpel, now it was akin to manipulating her own body. There was no difference between Witch’s Dust and her own will. Even further, the nagging connection that had existed in her subconscious between Dust and her was gone. Surprisingly enough, there was a massive feeling of relief accompanying the severance.

Interesting. Eve thought. I’m reasonably sure the Primordial is just as relieved as me for some reason I can’t quite name.

Shrugging, she teleported back to her Hut. There were drugs, Curses, Rituals, and research to begin working on!