Seth and Devus stood in line with a few dozen other students on a wide cobblestone street, most of them being nobles in immaculate and shining tunics. They were all waiting to get their uniform and room keys from the two men stationed behind a long wooden desk by the academy gate. All the nobles adorned with fine jewelry received scarlet uniforms made of rich, vibrant fabric, while the poorly dressed commoners were handed dull gray ones, starkly highlighting their lower status.
D...
2025-06-18 11:00:11 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seth exited the Adventurers Guild’s outpost, a broad smile on his face at the pleasant clinking of coins in his pouch. The twenty Stone-Scaled Sloths he and Nightmare had hunted before getting trapped in the cave had earned him six copper coins—a much-needed boost to his modest savings.
His gaze drifted down to the small emblem in his palm, now displaying four stars beneath the 'A' set between the copper wings. Warsis had almost died from shock upon seeing the strongest beast...
2025-06-17 11:00:08 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seth rose to his feet, tossing the fish bones in his hands aside, and glanced at Nightmare, who lay beside him. He didn’t need their bond to know the direwolf was still mad at him—fish was clearly not the meal the wolf had dreamt of after starving in the cave for several days. Nevertheless, the choice had been simple, since the only two options were wandering around searching for prey, or sending a Shocking Strike into the river and picking up dead fish.
'Ready to go?
2025-06-16 11:00:11 +0000 UTC
View Post
'Can you Identify me?' Nightmare asked as Seth slung his bow over his back and picked up his dagger.
'Really?' Seth tilted his head, a teasing glint in his eye. 'No 'Hey, where'd you run off to? Did you have a good time without me? Did you eat well? Did you get hurt at all?' Just straight to business, huh?'
'You’re alive, I’m alive. We’re both alive,' Nightmare huffed. 'Now hurry up and Identify me.'
'Umm, l...
2025-06-14 12:54:46 +0000 UTC
View Post
Undead Boreal Wolf
Potential: Copper Tier Rank: 15 (High-Copper)
Affinity: Undead
Strength: 32 ...
2025-06-14 12:53:03 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seth let out a deep sigh of relief before frowning as he focused on his Well.
Somehow, it was filling up at twice its usual rate and had already reached the sixty percent mark. Ever since his Well Capacity had caught up with his Regeneration, it normally took over an hour in the Wicked Forest—where the regeneration was higher—and two hours outside of it to be full. Now, it would barely take thirty minutes.
Why is the aether density so high here? Set...
2025-06-14 12:43:32 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seth took several deep breaths, forcing himself to focus. Nightmare might have been injured by that gut-twisting force—or worse, driven outside and back toward the Inferno Bear. I need to find a way out, and fast.
The runes etched on the cave’s walls around Seth pulsed with a soft, rhythmic light, brightening and dimming as if the cave itself were alive and breathing. He reached out, only for his fingers to meet an invisible barrier of aether that kept him from touch...
2025-06-14 12:40:08 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seth's heart pounded in his chest as he weaved between trees and stones, a Stone-Scaled Sloth hot on his heels. The beast’s massive claws tore through the ground with each thunderous step, and Seth could almost feel its hot breath on his neck—its hungry growls were closing in.
"Low mobility, my ass!" Seth shouted before focusing on his bond. 'Nightmare, where are you? I could use some help!'
'Right behind it.'
Nightmare appeared from thin air beh...
2025-06-14 12:38:59 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seated among the spectators in the dozen audience stands, Seth kept his hood up as he watched the two young men battling in the middle of the training field. Professor Reat's aether barrier covered both of them, but the blue layer was thicker over the Guardian holding a spear and a shield than around the Warrior with the two-handed ax.
The two participants were fighting fiercely, their weapons clanging with every blow. Seth could almost feel the impact of each strike reverberatin...
2025-06-04 15:49:20 +0000 UTC
View Post
Clad in his leather armor, Seth ran down the dirt road with Nightmare by his side. His dark green cloak swayed slightly behind him, partially concealing the large bag packed with beaststones on his back. The morning rays cast a warm glow upon them as the forest around them buzzed with life, birds chirping and leaves rustling with each breeze.
'Was this where you got attacked by the bandits?' Nightmare asked, breaking the silence between them.
'Yeah,'...
2025-06-04 15:28:06 +0000 UTC
View Post
Four weeks later…
Hidden in the shadow of an oak tree, Seth watched two Red Foxes circling each other, growling and spitting out sparks whenever one dared to move closer to the glowing berry between them. The yellow and orange fruit shone brightly even in the afternoon light while its vibrant crimson petals sparkled like a fire in the sun. A Redsun Berry.
The two orange-furred beasts had been locked in that little dance for quite some time, and Nightmare, crouched a few b...
2025-06-04 15:17:23 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seth hammered the large door in front of him, holding Renwal tightly to keep him from falling. "Vandric! Wake up!"
Silence. Before Seth could pound the door again, a faint groan escaped Renwal’s lips. His eyelids fluttered, and his face contorted in pain. "Seth…" he murmured, his voice barely audible, trembling like the rest of his battered body.
"It’s okay, Renwal. I’ve got you," Seth muttered, adjusting his grip to keep the blacksmith steady before slamming ...
2025-06-04 15:11:56 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seth yanked out his bow, yet before he could nock an arrow, a large, blurry figure grabbed both his wrists and slammed him face-down to the ground. A knee then pinned him down, crushed his sternum against the cobblestone, and forced all the air out of his lungs. He tried to wrench his hands free from his assailant’s grasp, but without success. The man was just too damn strong.
"Did you really think you could leave without facing consequences?" Lucius asked with a sneer, strolli...
2025-06-04 15:07:34 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seth stood alone in front of the Adventure Guild’s outpost's door, its wooden sign swaying gently in the breeze. He and Renwal had parted ways, planning to meet up later that night. Unable to wait, the blacksmith had decided to buy his awakening stone for the year today.
As Seth limped into the large building, a strong, musty smell and the soft tinkle of the doorbell greeted him. He adjusted his stance, easing the weight off his injured leg, and glanced around. Lines of odd, sp...
2025-06-04 14:58:28 +0000 UTC
View Post
There's no way I can beat any of them, Seth thought despondently as he watched Selena claim victory in the twelfth fight with a perfect arrow, striking her opponent, a Rank-10 Warrior, right between the eyes.
By now, all twenty-four participants had competed at least once. At first, Seth believed there were two he might have a chance against, but as the matches went on, he realized he’d misjudged. Anyway, the odds of facing those two specifically in each of his next ro...
2025-06-04 14:51:34 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seth came to a standstill near the center of the ring, about thirty yards away from his opponent. The brown-haired young man wore a green cloak that covered half of the sleeveless leather armor underneath. Aside from the scar on his left cheek, nothing about his physique stood out—average height and below-average size. But Selena was the living proof that appearance meant nothing for Wielders. Ranks and attributes were all that mattered.
He...
2025-06-04 14:24:29 +0000 UTC
View Post
"Good evening, sirs," Renwal said, stopping the wagon a few yards away from the giant reinforced gate and the two watchmen.
Both guards were heavily geared in full plate armor, each with a massive tower shield strapped to their back and a sword sheathed at their belt. The only noticeable difference in their outfits was the helmet: one wore a shining winged helmet, while the other had a basic one with a straight nasal guard. In the middle of both of their chests stood a black lion...
2025-06-04 13:48:26 +0000 UTC
View Post
Without hesitation, Seth dashed forward.
"No, wait!" Renwal yelled behind.
Seth ignored him and kept running as Identify's grooves took life in the back of his eye. His focus landed on the closest man behind the girl. The black-bearded bandit, who seemed in his thirties, wore a half-thigh-long chainmail, two oversized gauntlets, and brown leather pants. Anyone could tell the pieces of gear came from three different sets—or three different people.
...
2025-06-04 10:52:44 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seth stood up and gently woke the pup, then checked once more to be sure his new partner would stay out of the Wicked Forest while he was gone. Afterwards, he grabbed his old leather bag, which contained everything he needed for his trip: clothes, his father's encyclopedia, his hunting knife, bow, quiver, and some arrows.
Since he would be away for at least three days, Seth covered his small shelter with branches and leaves, hiding it the best could. With a sigh, he slung h...
2025-06-04 10:18:17 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seth and Nightmare slowly moved through the dense underbrush of the Wicked Forest, searching for easy prey. The sun had just risen above the treetops, illuminating the leaves with its soft light. Every now and then, a beam of light pierced through the thick foliage, casting bright spots onto the dark forest floor beneath.
Despite the possibility of being attacked, Seth couldn't feel even an ounce of fear in Nightmare—the pup belonged here. Being surrounded by arcane beasts and ...
2025-06-04 10:01:30 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seth’s golden eyes widened as he stared at Nightmare. The pup had talked to him… through his mind.
'I… I can hear you,' Seth thought, delving into the strange connection that stirred and pulsed between them. He could feel Nightmare's excitement and gratitude flooding through the bond they now shared.
'I too!' the direwolf replied, his thoughts a chaotic jumble of emotions surging into Seth’s mind.
The pup’s voice sounded like a toddle...
2025-06-04 02:45:58 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seth jolted awake in panic.
"Oh shit," he muttered, his gaze frantically scanning the sky to gauge how long he’d slept. The sun was still high, its light filtering through the fluttering leaves. Max two or three hours.
Luckily nothing attacked me during—Seth froze, realizing that something was on his thighs. It was heavy, warm and… breathing.
Slowly, he looked down.
Two long, gray-clawed paws and a large, wedged head ...
2025-06-01 18:58:00 +0000 UTC
View Post
As Seth made his way toward the Wicked Forest, he ran a hand over his potion pouch, the fletching of his arrows, and his hunting knife—double-checking that everything was where it should be. He’d read enough from his father’s encyclopedia to know that the outskirts weren’t too dangerous, and as long as he didn’t wander too deep, he shouldn’t encounter wolves or any of the stronger arcane beasts. Even so, his heart raced a little. No one from Sunatown, himself included, had ...
2025-06-01 18:55:00 +0000 UTC
View Post
Early the next morning, Seth returned to Sunatown and bought another stickleback trap along with a few dozen arrows from a traveling merchant at the market. Normally, he would have bought them for a better price from Renwal, the town's blacksmith, but chances were the man would try talking about the tax collector burning down his house—plus, there was the risk of running into Mael there. And Seth wasn’t in the mood for that.
As he wrapped up his purchases, his mind drifted ba...
2025-06-01 12:37:00 +0000 UTC
View Post
As the two fishes he had caught with the stickleback trap slowly cooked above his hand-made fire pit, Seth repeatedly cast Identify on things around him. Herbs, flowers, trees, rocks—it didn’t matter. Whenever the words in the corner of his vision faded out, new ones appeared. The only thing he cared about was keeping his Well at ten percent to maximize his aether regeneration and improve his control.
By the time he finished filling the grooves, his eyes moved to a small scar...
2025-06-01 12:35:00 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seth dropped his leather bag by the edge of the small, burbling river that ran through the forest and closed his eyes for a moment. After watching his house burn, he had run to the town's market to purchase new clothes and tools to live in the forest. That tax collector could certainly direct his wrath at anyone who dared to shelter him, so it was best to stay away for the moment. He couldn't put Mael or Marcus at risk.
Once he opened his eyes, Seth surveyed the clearing by...
2025-06-01 12:33:00 +0000 UTC
View Post
Seth woke up to a symphony of birds chirping outside and the sun, already high in the sky, gleaming through the window. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he swung his legs over the edge of his straw-stuffed mattress. The previous night had been so emotionally draining that he had apparently overslept. At least the clenching frustration in his stomach had faded away a little.
His class couldn't be changed even with all the money in the world, so he could only make the best out of i...
2025-06-01 12:31:00 +0000 UTC
View Post
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Marcus said, placing his teacup in the sink. "Most people need seven to ten stones to ignite their Well."
Seth already knew that, but he didn’t care. He would think about a plan B if, and only if, it didn't work. Tonight, he could be a Wielder!
The crystal ball twirled leisurely between his fingers, shining under the nearest candle's light. His father had clearly held a different opinion from Seth’s mother who had always told him to not wa...
2025-06-01 12:28:00 +0000 UTC
View Post
Nine years later…
Crouched in a bush, Seth carefully pushed a branch aside, an arrow gleaming at the end of his bow. His golden eyes scanned the ground, and with every step, he made sure to avoid dry twigs, wary of making any noise. He couldn’t afford to come back empty-handed. Not today. Not two hunts in a row.
As he inched forward, a soft burbling reached his ears. The sound was barely audible, buried under the rustling of the leaves and the crickets’ chirping. ...
2025-06-01 12:18:00 +0000 UTC
View Post
"Where the hell did the king find that bastard?"
Leonard flinched as Marshal Vancaws’ voice reverberated through the room. The man's wrinkled face twisted in rage as he grabbed one piece of parchment after another in front him, his eyes skimming through them under the dim light of the flickering lamp above the large, round table. Around it sat ten figures—officers, high nobles, and influential leaders—each cloaked in shadows that seemed to grow darker with ev...
2025-06-01 09:48:00 +0000 UTC
View Post
