Author's notes: Still not feeling great, but I probably won't get sick *fingers crossed*. I should be back to 100% by Monday :)
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Right as Kai was losing hope, a new notification popped up.
*Ding*
New Feat: All Orange – For learning fourteen orange or higher tier skills before the opening of the Second Seal, you are awarded: +1 Favor!
Initiation to the Mysteries of the Guide - A Deeper Look ...
2023-10-13 18:35:05 +0000 UTC View PostAuthors’s notes: Sorry for the delay. Someone in my family got Covid, they are fine, but today I also felt like shit. Finger crossed it's nothing.
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Kai blinked twice. Yes, it was finally time. Acting—the second skill he ever learned—was evolving after more than ten years. The last splash of red in his status.
Not giving the mental command immediately was harrowing. If he saw the options, he would end up sitting down in the middle of the stre...
2023-10-12 18:57:02 +0000 UTC View PostKai browsed through the pages of his notebook. The golden pearl rested on the bed beside him, shimmering with its charming hue. Dealing with Reishi required preparation if he wanted to come out on top. The mana treasure was the main attraction, but they had more to discuss.
He would be staying in Sylspring for the foreseeable future, so his plans with the merman had to be revised.
~If he doesn’t try to sell me on some new partnership in the first thirty seconds, I’ll be su...
2023-10-10 18:15:19 +0000 UTC View PostAuthor's notes: As many of you must have noticed, Patreon had done an update, among its many useful features, italics don't work anymore when you use Patreon from a pc or laptop (at least with Firefox and Chrome, not sure about the others).
You can still see the italics for Kai's thoughts if you use a phone/tablet or the Patreon app. The PDF works too.
Waiting for them to fix this issue, I put a ~ before Kai's th...
2023-10-09 18:25:39 +0000 UTC View PostThe whole family sat for dinner. With a sour look, Kea focused on her plate and ignored everybody else. The only thing Kai could see were his mother’s glances from across the table. From her smiles and upbeat tone, she knew something was up.
Ele and Moui's casual conversation gave the dinner a thin coating of normalcy. Using Acting, Kai maintained the pretense. The food lost any taste, but he slowly chewed each bite as an excuse not to talk.
His heartbeat punched in his chest. T...
2023-10-06 17:27:35 +0000 UTC View PostKai picked three thin bluish stalks from a dusty drawer. The last red-tier plant that would fit his budget. He had more coins in the ring, but spending silver would raise questions.
“Are you sure this is what you want? These won’t be much use without an expert herbalist,” Bebo eyed the selection of mana herbs on the counter. “I got a really nice bow just last week, should be the perfect size for you.”
I’d rather use a rock than an accursed bow.
“I like...
2023-10-05 18:20:32 +0000 UTC View PostI think I found something.” Kai took a few tentative steps, trying to pinpoint the exact direction from Hallowed Intuition.
“Are you sure?” Moui looked confused, his eyes scanned through the wall of greenery. “I can’t sense— get behind me. Something is coming this way.”
The hunter readied the ax in his hand as Kea drew her bow.
The whispers became clearer, Kai remained in his position. Mana Sense was stretched in a wide net in front of him when something touche...
2023-10-03 18:15:12 +0000 UTC View PostKai ended up soundproofing Kea’s room for free. It didn’t feel fair to profit from that. And he didn’t need money, at least not the sums his sister could afford.
Kea did look slightly impressed when his scribbles worked as advertised. Blocking noise was one of the few enchantments that could be sustained in the low mana density. A basic absorption script could siphon enough essence to keep the runes going indefinitely, if they weren’t damaged.
The more pressing is...
2023-10-02 18:15:44 +0000 UTC View PostSitting cross-legged on his bed, Kai fiddled with Virya’s puzzle box. Chains of interlocking runes shifted beneath the dark wooden surface as his fingers and mana tinkered with its patterns.
The sliding pieces of the cube changed the configurations of runes, and in turn changed how the enchantment responded to his mana threads.
The room was filled with clinks and taps. Hours later, Kai was no closer to finding a solution.
The ingenious design was diabolically complicated, ...
2023-09-29 18:17:47 +0000 UTC View PostThe words hung in the air before him. Kai reread the skill description for the tenth time.
New skill available in the Archive! Hallowed Intuition (lv1) – Favored by the realm, grasp the whispers of the ineffable to warn you of a possible future. Increased effectiveness when your well-being is threatened.
The first line confirmed he got it offered because of his high Favor. Virya had told him certain skills had minimum stat requirements to learn or evolve, but th...
2023-09-28 18:12:41 +0000 UTC View PostAuthor's notes: If someone you're curious, here is how shelled mollusks move. And yes, they look as ridiculous as that sounds:
https://youtu.be/NBH3UvlZo90?si=FudpjjNGeL3FcBTU
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The tunnel flew past him. Kai fed his remaining mana to Blessed Swimmer and Empower. Mama Clam’s essence pulsed furiously as she gave chase and propelled herself in short bursts of surpris...
2023-09-26 17:58:10 +0000 UTC View PostKai swam past Mr. Clam through the crevasse. A cold current caressed his fingers against the stillness of the pond. Squeezing between the rocks, the path shrank and descended into darkness.
Mana Sense told him it grew wider further up, but the choke was too narrow. He would risk getting stuck.
It had already been more than ten minutes since he resurfaced; wrestling with Mr. Clam also took some effort. Kai pushed on the seafloor with his feet and began his ascent, stopping midway t...
2023-09-25 17:56:39 +0000 UTC View PostKai took back his twenty-seven pearls. “So, how many did you get?” he kept his voice even to not sound too eager.
Still looking bewildered, Ele offered him a small punch from her satchel. Opening the laces revealed a cascade of shining beads that quickly dampened his enthusiasm.
“They are thirty-three,” his sister said with just a hint of cheekiness.
“Oh,” Kai struggled not to sound disappointed. “How did you manage that?”
I really thought I got thi...
2023-09-22 17:56:15 +0000 UTC View PostFour moons dominated the sky. Tonight, the streets of Sylspring were truly deserted.
Kai stifled a yawn. Dawn was a couple hours away. Unfortunately, the low tide didn’t care about his convenience.
“We can do another time if you want,” Ele walked beside him with a bundle of waxed canvas containing her diving equipment over her shoulder.
“No, I’m fine. Just need a moment.” A burst of Empower flashed through his body, shocking him awake. “Ready to go.”
He...
2023-09-21 18:33:02 +0000 UTC View Post“A very long time,” Kai evaded his mother's question with a grin. “Can we talk about it downstairs?” They were standing in the middle of the hallway.
“Oh, silly me. Let’s go have breakfast, you must be hungry after the journey.”
Kai let his mother drag him downstairs. Kea and Moui were already in the kitchen, while Ele had gone out early to take advantage of the low tide.
“Don’t wait for me,” Kai said, seeing they weren’t eating.
His sist...
2023-09-19 18:16:36 +0000 UTC View Post“You’ll have to send me to the ancestors if ‘ou want my turnips!” Old Ven threateningly wielded his hoe in one hand and an oil lamp in the other.
“It’s just me.” Clouds hid the moons tonight, leaving only some fickle light through. Kai stepped within the range of the lamp. He didn’t expect the grumpy farmer to still be in his field at this hour.
Old Ven squinted at him, recognition flashing in his eyes. “I didn’t think I’d see ‘ou before a month, lad. Whatc...
2023-09-18 17:51:24 +0000 UTC View PostShining rays filtered inside his room. Kai looked around, his thoughts sluggish. A moment later, recognition flashed through his eyes.
Right, that happened.
He slipped out of the covers, there was more light than he was used to. The sun shone brightly in his living room.
I must have overslept. I can’t remember the last time that happened.
Something was weird. After years of habit, he always woke up at the break of dawn, whether he wanted it or not. ...
2023-09-15 17:56:50 +0000 UTC View PostKai took a seat across from Virya. A small table with a tray of crunchy biscuits between them. Knowing better than to try to guess what was on her mind, he waited for her to start the conversation.
The lady of the estate looked even more otherworldly under the moonlight. It was hard to relax with her gaze on him, but he was used to it. Acting casually, he helped himself to one of the biscuits.
Dora was welcoming from the start. She was easy to like, and they had only gotten closer...
2023-09-14 17:59:58 +0000 UTC View PostKai stretched his limbs under the white sheets. His body ached and complained. Ironically his legs were the least sore, probably because he concentrated most of Empower on them.
Not too bad.
This kind of pain had become like an old friend over the years. Not acute enough to really bother him, Kai found he almost enjoyed it. It was proof he had overcome his limits and grown stronger.
Spirits’ mercy, have I become a masochist?
Inspecting himself in th...
2023-09-12 17:27:23 +0000 UTC View PostBy the end of his stay in Sylspring, the atmosphere in the house had lost most of its awkwardness and tension. Alana’s meals were back to normal proportions—for her standards at least—and her laughs didn’t last three seconds too long.
Despite the front he put forth, Kai was still conflicted. It would take some time to get used to Moui’s new role in his life. Thankfully his mother stopped treating him with the same care of a ticking time bomb.
Fake it till you make it...
2023-09-11 18:01:33 +0000 UTC View PostReaching the Sage Tree, Kai took a corner table and secured his bag in the seat beside him. Despite his paranoia, Danger Sense didn’t detect anything out of the ordinary.
“Relax,” Flynn sat across from him. “No one is going to jump out of the shadows to rob you. And even if they did, I’d take care of them.”
You haven’t met Elijah.
Kai watched Flynn flex his arm with skepticism, “Oh my! I suddenly feel safe now.”
“Are you doubting m...
2023-09-08 17:24:03 +0000 UTC View PostThe price on the bulk of his potions was quickly settled. Their common effects gave them a clear market value in the archipelago.
Contrary to most other merchants, Reishi wore no enchantments to mask his mana veins. His profession proudly showed as red, while his race had climbed up to Orange ★★★. No doubt another ploy to draw people into a false sense of complacency. The merman made most higher tier merchant look like clumsy children when negotiating a deal.
“Forty-six si...
2023-09-07 17:48:26 +0000 UTC View Post“I’m going out,” Kai announced heading for the door.
“Okay, stay safe. Don’t come back too late.” Alana gave him a worried glance.
Not only did he have to deal with the lumbering figure of the hunter first thing in the morning, his mom also looked at him like he was about to break. Kai almost preferred Kea’s taunting about his lacking magical talent.
And this was supposed to be a relaxing vacation.
The brisk morning air welcomed him outside. Thei...
2023-09-05 17:24:23 +0000 UTC View PostKea followed him, stealing glances at the box in his hands. The fight between curiosity and pride apparent on her face. “What’s in there?”
“Nothing much. Just a rare object I got from the estate.” Kai said nonchalantly, hiding his smile.
“What is it?”
Kai squeezed past her in the hallway, “I’ll show you later.”
Her lips pressed in a thin line, no doubt she could see he was baiting her. Not that it ever mattered. “It’s glowing with mana.”
The unfamiliar wooden ceiling stared back at him.
Yep, that really happened.
Slipping out of his blankets, an anonymous and empty room welcomed him. The place of a stranger.
At least the bed is comfortable. Moui sure didn’t skimp with his money.
Sitting upright on the soft mattress, the world faded away as glowing multicolored particles began to swirl around him. His left hand darted out, almost making him fall off. His thoughts and will crashed dow...
2023-09-01 17:24:34 +0000 UTC View PostPeering out of the jungle’s reach, Kai smiled jovially at the town in the distance. The smell of freshly dug earth greeted him on the cultivated land that stretched before him. With winter over, a swarm of men and women reversed onto the fields like busy ants.
“How’re you doing, Old Ven? Any news?”
“I ain’t dead yet! Been two years since that charlatan said I’d be joining the ancestors. And I’m still waiting,” he scowled at him resting his hands on his hoe. “Wh...
2023-08-31 17:35:53 +0000 UTC View PostThe fletching of the arrow tickled her cheek. No wind to worry about in the undergrowth of Veeryd, the vast tree canopies shielded them from any gust of sea breeze. Making the last adjustments to her posture, her fingers released the bowstring.
The arrow whistled through the air, piercing the rodent hidden in the thick bushes. A pained squeal was followed by the animal bolting away, leaving a crimson trail of blood on the vegetation.
“Nice shot.” Moui complimented her.
...
2023-08-29 17:21:09 +0000 UTC View PostKai paused, the attention of his teachers on him. Acting took over, making his nervousness and hesitation melt away—on the outside.
Virya sat at the head of the table, Elijah on her right. With only one more place set for dinner, Kai took a seat on her left.
A flowery scent filled the air. A subtle smell, sweet and dry, unlike any plant he tended in the garden. He didn’t take long to identify the culprit: the candles.
Is Virya one of those scented candle fanatics? 2023-08-28 17:26:50 +0000 UTC View Post
His sword drew a crescent arc in the air, followed by a lunge. Kai didn’t hold anything back, testing the new limits of his body.
Elijah sidestepped his attack, redirecting his blade with a light jab. Despite his improved attributes and Empower pushing him to new heights, the man easily parried or evaded his flurry of attacks, taunting him.
Kai hadn’t expected to win, but the butler could have at least given him the illusion he was taking him more seriously. Instead, Elijah in...
2023-08-25 17:41:58 +0000 UTC View PostAuthor's notes: If you want colors remember there is the pdf ;)
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Pushing aside a leafy branch, the familiar buildings and lush gardens extended with their warm colors. A crystal sea reflected the waning sunlight in the distance. His sore muscles were momentarily forgotten. Kai smiled, it was good to be back. The thought made him pause.
Is this my home now? I’ve spent more time here than in Greenside…
If home was a place, this was pr...
2023-08-24 16:53:43 +0000 UTC View Post