Turning the page of the heavy book, Artorius found a heading written in the Human Apostle's language.
'Chimeric Affinity'
This was the second type of affinity.
Having been a fantasy enjoyer in his past life, it did not take Artorius more than a second to understand that this second type of Affinity was based around granting features and abilities similar to the numerous creatures inhabiting this world.
Chimeric Affinities were a type of affinity that granted the individual abilities based around the nature of a certain beast.
Hmm.. I think these types could be really handy as well. Although, I don't think they'd fare well outside of combat zones.
He was right. A sentence written suggested that most people who were granted the powers of beasts were mostly either drafted as soldiers or would go on to become adventurers or explorers of the Realms.
Then again, there could be some abilities that would be useful outside of combat too. None came to his mind currently, though.
Well, this is pretty good too.. but I'd much rather end up with the former Affinity.
Chimeric Affinities were useful, and some were very sought after too. Since some had the powers of very powerful beasts while some had powers of literal divine creatures that had only been told about in stories– until of course, someone gained such powers.
I've heard dragons do exist in this world.
They're apparently more common than I thought they would be. So, Dragonic powers are not out of the question.
Artorius then paused his reading and looked up, wondering:
Do Kitsunes exist here too?
Nah.. probably not.
He then picked up a small crystal ball from his table – a gift from Violet a few months back – and then tossed it up and catched it, repeating this for many minutes.
"Huh… magic here is really simple.. I was expecting a mathematical or scientific magic system with rigid laws behind it.. this is child's play level." Artorius muttered to himself.
"Well, I've only read about this. I can't say I'm experienced in terms of Affinities."
Hell, I haven't even seen any affinity in action, except that one time when Grey's tutor almost burnt Mother's favourite blue rose field.
Chuckling to himself, Artorius read further.
Reading further, Artorius completed reading about the second type.
There were many patches of text in-between the common knowledge about the two Affinities, explaining some powerful Affinity bearers and some primeval history behind the powers, but Artorius insisted on just focusing on the mainstream information.
Despite that, he couldn't hold the inner explorer in him and still read it. It's not as if anyone dies and gets reborn with his memories in a parallel world that fits all your dreams and fantasies everyday, right?
Moving on, the third type of Affinity.
The third affinity was very simple and to some extent, it was predictable by Artorius.
Augmenting Affinity.
This type of affinity is one that gives an individual the ability to support either himself, others or both. Such abilities are sought after by armies of royal kingdoms, expedition parties (groups of adventurers) and many groups who roam the world or engage in war affairs.
These abilities can have both positive and negative effects. Some rare augmenting abilities, even provide multiple enhancements or numerous debuffs. Depending on the ability, they affect the mediums– body, mind or soul.
Some augments can have an effect on two of the former or even all three of them. Most only affect one type of medium.
Elemental Affinities are common, but truthfully, Augmenting Affinities are more common yet only few augmentors are sought after, since the chance of getting a very good enhancing or a dangerous threatening effect as an ability is very rare.
For instance, if we take it that a 1000 people got an Affinity, and 500/1000 got an Augmenting Affinity, only around 75/500 would have a very good Augmenting Affinity.
Hence, Augmentors with very good Affinities live a very lavish and luxurious life.
Artorius' late grandfather himself was a very sought after Augmentor. He had an affinity akin to regrowing a person's and self's limbs and vital parts of the body. He could also increase a person's mental strength for prolonged periods of time with each heal.
No wonder we live in such a big manor.. the guy must've been one happy man. I wonder how he died. I don't want to ask Mother though.
—
With that, Artorius completed reading about all three types of Affinities. Or so he thought.
Hm? Wait what?
As soon as he completed reading about the last type of Affinity, he involuntarily opened the next page. He didn't even realise he did that until he saw unfamiliar patches of knowledge about another fourth Affinity.
Artorius felt a little excited. He had thought only three types of Affinities existed. But now, with one more heading, his chances of gaining some extraordinary power increased.
The fourth and the last type, Aberrant Affinity.
Artorius started reading.
Aberrant Affinities were a kind of outcast among the four types. Aberrant abilities are very unusual and unique. They are a category which fills up all those abilities which can't be classified under the former three Affinities.
Aberrant abilities can either be very powerful, or extremely ordinary. Which makes it a hit or miss for the people who might obtain such power. Most of the people with such abilities usually live mundane lives.
Hm… Not what I expected, but I wonder.. What if I got one of these? Hmm…. I'd rather not.
I pondered to myself.
"Not that I can choose.. something is better than nothing." I muttered.
Not much was known about Aberrant Affinities. Well, to be precise, there wasn't much to know about this Affinity.
A person's Affinity also influences their Core's initial colour. Normally a person has a white glow emanating from their Solar Plexus whenever they cultivate Mana, but after they gain their first Affinity, the Core colour changes and the glow hue will depend on it.
In rare cases, the primary nature of their soul may change too, but that happens very very rarely.
Such Affinity that changes the primary nature of a person's soul is referred to as a 'Divine Affinity'. All individuals with a Divine Affinity automatically become very sought after persons.
That's how important they are.
With that, I covered up all the Affinities. Reading about their historical significance, and some more information about them, I continued further.
The Celeste Board of Arcani, a council of very renowned and important Affinity Bearers and top-tier Reformers (Core Reformers), cover and manage everything related to Affinities and Magic essence. They are also responsible for creating records over new variants of Affinities.
They are very significant to the development of the world and so all the global powers keep
positive relations with the Celeste Board.
They are also known to reward individuals who provide them with very important or new-found information very well.
"...Interesting."