At first, the pressure from the font diminished until all that was left was an unsettling emptiness. I continued prodding until I felt a slight disturbance, like a light spark that tickled my senses.
I grasped at the spark and it intensified. A familiar feeling of raw power rushing through me had my heart racing—but instead of the intoxicating sense Capricorn's magick was usually accompanied with, this power felt comforting.
Initially the sensation was warm, as if I'd been napping near the hearth in a cold winter. But it soon swelled into something more; the perfectly balanced temperature of a freshly drawn saltwater bath, the first warm breeze of spring, the loving embrace of a parent.
For the briefest of moments I saw the smiling face of my own mother and my eyes exploded open.
Instead of the drab meeting room, all I could see were the shimmer of brilliant gems floating amongst an endless sea of stars.
"Ahh! It's beautiful…" I croaked dryly.
My voice scratched at my throat, hinting that I'd been grasping at this connection for quite awhile now.
"I knew you'd get it quickly, sister."
The stars faded and my vision slowly returned, revealing that the once barren table was now set with a number of large plates that contained various servings of fruits, meats, and desserts.
Ikuye poured me a glass of water from a gilded pitcher and slid it towards me.
I eyed the heaps of food and drink suspiciously, "How long was I out of it?"
"Uhm, I'm not too sure how you all track time on this plane… But I'd reckon it's been almost a day cycle."
If Luke or Hanna had returned to Command, they would've be informed I was holed up in here. Neither of those two would let us go without catering dinner no matter what I was up to.
A smile spread across my face at the thought of having such good companions, before my attention was taken away by a pulsing golden glow along my wrist.
» YOU HAVE GAINED IN KNOWLEDGE, NEW AFFINITIES HAVE BEEN UNLOCKED: ITERIA
» YOUR ITERIA LEVEL HAS INCREASED TO 8
I gulped down three full glasses of water to quench my thirst and refocused on the now fully manifested pathway to my Iteria.
"I'll be taking a closer look now. If anyone comes by let them know I'll be available soon, probably."
Within the blackness, the sea of stars and gems sprung to life once more. The gemstone-like points had three varying sizes and as I focused on them, a familiar interface display gave their details, much like inspecting a spell effect or item property.
They seemed to be described by the interface in three categories; KEYSTONES, NODES, and NODULES. Large, medium, and small, respectively.
Looking at the orientation of the gemstones as if it were a clock, I began inspecting the keystone at the three-o'clock position as it drew my attention since it immediately connected to one of the broken pathways Ikuye had mentioned before.
Moreover, I was curious to dig deeper within this path which implied I didn't know or understand something about myself.
- - - - - - - - - - - - {ITERIA KEYSTONE} - - - - - - - - - - - -
[RAVENOUS]
All statistics under the STRENGTH affinity are increased by 50% if you have killed and devoured a humanoid target recently.
Negative alignment.
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Nope. Nope. Nope.
No way in the Aether am I taking something so obviously evil.
Moving on with a hurry, I inspected all eight of the medium-sized nodes that made up the inner circle. Some were a sort of attribute increases for the main affinity-bound attributes, like STRENGTH, AGILITY, VITALITY, et cetera.
I dismissed those for the time being and pressed forward, looking into the deeper nodes in a clock-wise direction from the RAVENOUS keystone.
The inspection windows revealed their names as; NECROTIC, DESECRATION, and BLIGHTED.
I glanced over the descriptions for these nodes and swiped away the windows almost instantly as I saw the negative alignment tag.
I wanted nothing to do with any evil, or evil-adjacent, powers.
Chaos magick makes me seem monstrous enough, thank you very much.
Next!
Along the six-o'clock pathway was the first big power, a major keystone with an absurd effect in the description field.
- - - - - - - - - - - - {ITERIA KEYSTONE} - - - - - - - - - - - -
[VERSATILITY]
Increases your damage done and reduces damage taken by a percentage of your main attribute affinities: STRENGTH, VITALITY, AGILITY, DEXTERITY, and AETHER.
Neutral alignment.
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The four medium-sized nodes that were available showed as PATHFINDING, STEADY AIM, MARKSMANSHIP, and HAWK-EYED. The smaller nodules along the way had all assortments of bonuses to ranged damage or stealth-based skills.
This path seems to be oriented towards ranged weapon wielding and scouting specializations despite the initial keystone being more rounded. I wonder if this tree is as deep as it is since my DEXTERITY stat values are fairly developed?
A big keystone node to the bottom-right solidified that thought of mine, being entirely focused on hit-chance—a concern more for ranged specializations.
- - - - - - - - - - - - {ITERIA KEYSTONE} - - - - - - - - - - - -
[UNRELENTING]
When one of your attacks misses, is parried, or dodged; your next attack will have a significantly higher chance to hit.
Neutral alignment.
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Near the seven- or eight-o'clock position was an elemental-type spell caster keystone called ELEMENTAL ATTUNEMENT that empowered different spell schools so long as the environment you were around matched that school.
I quickly dismissed the window and moved up to the next set of gemstones.
- - - - - - - - - - - - {ITERIA NODE} - - - - - - - - - - - -
[HALLOWED]
Permanent increases to your attributes now also affect your authority as a Ruler. Any faction members under your domain of influence gain 10% of your main affinity attributes while you remain in your domain.
Positive alignment.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - {ITERIA NODE} - - - - - - - - - - - -
[SOVEREIGN]
Your position as a Ruler is solidified. You can now gain followers, and will gain a portion of power based on how many devout followers you garner behind your banner.
Positive alignment.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - {ITERIA KEYSTONE} - - - - - - - - - - - -
EMPYREAN HEART
Your connection to the Divine deepens.
Neutral alignment.
Divine.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Rather nondescript, but Ikuye made it seem like furthering my ties to the Divine would improve my attunement with Capricorn's magicks.
So far the three in this path; EMPYREAN HEART, HALLOWED, and SOVEREIGN drew me in as the most interesting—but there were a few more powers I hadn't inspected yet so I held off on committing to anything and looked at the top-left powers.
The inspection window listed them as ENLIGHTENMENT, INNER FOCUS, and CONCENTRATION. Giving magicka percentage increase, cost reduction, and regeneration increase respectively.
Though powerful caster-oriented powers, I wasn't too interested and hurriedly inspected the keystone at the twelve-o'clock spot.
- - - - - - - - - - - - {ITERIA KEYSTONE} - - - - - - - - - - - -
[VINDICATION]
All damage against targets who view you as an enemy is doubled. The extra damage is dealt as a combination of Holy and Fire which bypasses all physical reductions.
Positive alignment.
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This single keystone could double my potential power and limit the increase only against enemies, preventing me from accidentally injuring my allies in combat.
The added magickal damage could also be used to smoke out traitors in my ranks. A small prick of someone's finger wouldn't be that much of a bother, but if the wound burns with righteous fire—then that would prove they view me as an enemy.
My feelings on this power grew conflicted, as it could start a witch hunt within the people living in Tolin. I set those emotions aside and got back to reviewing, as there was a single node left to investigate.
The final powers in the top-right were a neutral aligned node called PRESENCE, and various physical ability based nodules. This node made one more likely to be targeted in combat and seen outside of combat.
Maybe something great for Julius or the boys, but not for me. I'd like to avoid being the target in a fight.
Pass.
I spent a little time looking back on all the powers available and weighing their benefits over each other.
After a hard-fought battle against my own will, I made a final decision for the eight powers I would take first.
While VERSATILITY would make a solid choice in terms of both defense and offense, I wanted the safety buffer and utility that VINDICATION provided on the offensive side of things—plus, the two linked nodes I would have to take to get it were more in-tune with my preferred style compared to the DEXTERITY focused ones in the bottom paths of my Iteria.
- - - - - - - - - - - - {ITERIA NODE } - - - - - - - - - - - -
[DIVINE STRENGTH]
When under the effects of a positive aura, all statistics under the STRENGTH affinity are increased by 20%.
Positive alignment.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - {ITERIA NODE } - - - - - - - - - - - -
[BLESSED RECOVERY]
You gain scaling health regeneration based on your ENDURANCE. Recovery rate is increased by 5% every 10 DIVINITY points.
Positive alignment.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Even without the defensive increase VERSATILITY could provide, the regenerative effects of BLESSED RECOVERY would offset any dangerous wounds I received.
I planned to spend the five remaining points after empowering the top section on the pathways needed to open up EMPYREAN HEART. Which, along with its two nodes, had drew my attention more than any other.
In order to get to those three, I'd need to grab the inner circle nodes as well.
- - - - - - - - - - - - {ITERIA NODE } - - - - - - - - - - - -
[GALLANT SPIRIT]
Grants complete immunity to Fear effects, and reduces the duration of Charm or Daze effects by half.
Positive alignment.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - {ITERIA NODE } - - - - - - - - - - - -
[AETHERIAL STABILITY]
Your mana circuits now harmonize with the Aether around you. You will no longer experience magicka feedback if interrupted while casting OPERATION class spells or below.
Positive alignment.
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I confirmed all the powers I wanted, and on an instinctive level began to imbue power into those I'd selected.
» YOU HAVE GAINED NEW AFFINITIES:
» DIVINE STRENGTH
» BLESSED RECOVERY
» GALLANT SPIRIT
» AETHERIAL STABILITY
» HALLOWED
» SOVEREIGN
» YOU HAVE UNLOCKED NEW ITERIA KEYSTONES:
» VINDICATION
» EMPYREAN HEART
The nodes and keystones I'd confirmed as my selections began to brighten and an eerie pressure trickled over my body. A shudder ran down my spine all the way to my toes—in a way that made my body react instinctively, as if Aethermist was gathering nearby.
I leapt to my feet, grasping at the hilt of my weapon, to the eruptive laughter of Ikuye.
"Haha, that never gets old!"
"A warning would've been nice."
"Awh, and ruin the sight of my dear sister panicking over her own power manifesting? No way!"
I relaxed my grip and brought my other hand down on Ikuye's forehead.
"Waah!?"
Ikuye squirmed, rubbing her head over-dramatically.
I swiped my wrist-bound rune and brought up my status to check for the new affinities.
Sure enough, there they are.
Listed in line with the rest of the affinities that had appeared after improving my OVERSIGHT ability, were eight new over-powered effects.
What Hailey said may have some merit. If I heard of another person with traits like these I'd think they'd be a demon too…
"Now now, my little Harbinger, did you forget that you aren't burdened by the restraints of basic humans?"
A melodic voice echoed through the room, and the space around Ikuye and I was flooded with a light fog—or rather, smoke-like mist—and fluttering of wings nearby caught my attention. My head jerked upwards at the noise, and I found the source of both noise and smoke.
A pure snow-white raven descended upon us, landing gracefully on the meeting room's large table. Jewel-like eyes of amethyst locked on to mine, and I felt a coldness set in around me.
Something about coming face-to-face with the Goddess who created me felt starkly different than interacting with Capricorn.
"Long time no see, auntie!"
"…"
And just like that, the tension was cleared away by the strangely upbeat angelic girl next to me.
"Ah, my sister's number one problem child. Normally I would be adamant you leave my precious Altaerians alone. But it seems it's thanks to you this one here has learned something incredibly important to her purpose."
"Eh-hehe," Ikuye smirked and raised a hand to her chin, "I wasn't sure if she could do it, but with mama's magick running through her anything could've been possible."
"Yes, I'm sure you're very happy with yourself. Truly, it worked out well this time. But I warn you, proceed with caution in any further experimentation of my Harbinger. Know that if her course deviates, I'll not hesitate to banish you to the depths of Tartarus."
Ikuye jumped up with a salute, "ᚪᛋ ᛁᚩᚢ ᚳᚩᛘᚪᚾᛞ!" shouting something I couldn't understand once again, then turned to me, speaking in a hushed tone, "I'll catch you later. I'm sure auntie has some important stuff to chat about."
Before I could respond Ikuye had already ran out the room.
Okay, bye?