Chapter 4: Choosing a Path
Every arcanist followed something known as a Path.
A Path was the foundation of an arcanist's growth. It represented the direction of their cultivation, the focus of their power, and the abilities they specialized in. For example, if an arcanist primarily cultivated fire spells and techniques, they would be known as a Fire Path Arcanist. If they specialized in illusions, they would be called an Illusion Path Arcanist.
Paths determined what kind of strength an arcanist could wield. Some were common, such as elemental paths—fire, water, wind, and earth. Others were rarer, stranger, or more complicated, often requiring special bloodlines, techniques, or talent.
From the Heart Engraving Artifact, Aldric learned the fundamentals of what it meant to follow a Path. But the artifact had not only given him general knowledge—it had also provided him with detailed teachings of two very specific Paths that he could choose from.
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The first was the Creation Path.
This path was unusual. Unlike elemental paths, it did not directly involve casting offensive spells like fireballs or lightning strikes. Instead, it focused on the ability to reshape and transform non-living matter.
A practitioner of the Creation Path could alter the form and function of objects. For example, if Aldric held an iron ingot in his hand, he could use his power to reshape it into a sword. With enough skill, he could turn ordinary stones into tools, wood into weapons, or metal into armor.
However, the Creation Path came with strict requirements. It was not enough to simply desire a result. Knowledge was essential.
If Aldric wanted to create a sword, he could not simply force the ingot into a sword-shape and expect it to be effective. He would need to understand every detail of what made a sword functional: the ideal weight, the length suitable for balance, the center of gravity, the structure of the blade, the way force traveled through the weapon during impact, and so on. Without such understanding, the result would be a crude, unstable creation.
The Heart Engraving Artifact had not left him unprepared. Along with general cultivation knowledge, it had engraved into his heart detailed information about countless objects. From weapons to tools, from architecture to mechanical designs, the knowledge of their forms and functions was now part of him. It was as if he had studied them for years.
With this foundation, the Creation Path was not only possible for him—it was a natural choice.
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The second option the artifact presented was the Spellcraft Path.
This was a rare and difficult path. Unlike the Creation Path, which reshaped objects, the Spellcraft Path focused on imbuing crafted items with special effects.
An arcanist following this path could take an ordinary object and infuse it with energy, granting it unique properties. A blade might be enhanced to cut through stone. A piece of armor might become resistant to fire. A simple trinket could hold a protective spell or carry a stored burst of energy for later use.
Spellcraft was a path of enchantment and permanence. Rather than temporary manipulation, its power lasted, embedded into the object itself.
But because of this, it was also incredibly difficult.
Spellcraft required not only knowledge of items but also a deep understanding of spells, runes, and the flow of mana. An arcanist needed precision, patience, and an almost endless amount of resources to test and refine their work.
That was why very few arcanists ever followed the Spellcraft Path. Not because it was unknown—on the contrary, there were records of it—but because the difficulty was so high that only a handful throughout history had managed to succeed.
Most arcanists chose more straightforward paths, ones that promised faster growth and more immediate power. Spellcraft, with its high requirements and slow progress, was seen as impractical except for geniuses with great backing.
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Aldric sat silently by the river, weighing the two options.
On one side was the Creation Path, which the artifact had already prepared him for with extensive knowledge. A path that emphasized transformation and adaptability.
On the other side was the Spellcraft Path, rare and prestigious, but also uncertain and resource-heavy.
He thought back to his life. To the orphanage that had sold him. To the chains of slavery. To the beatings he had endured from the young arcanists who considered him worthless.
He had nothing—no family, no sect, no teacher, no resources. Even though the chest had given him spirit stones, it was not enough to sustain the enormous demands of Spellcraft. Choosing that path would be reckless.
Meanwhile, the Creation Path required only knowledge and energy—both of which he now had. The engraved information in his heart gave him the foundation to succeed, and the spirit stones provided him the means to grow steadily.
The choice was clear.
"I'll follow the Creation Path," Aldric said quietly to himself.
His voice was calm, but his eyes carried determination.
He did not need to chase after the most rare or prestigious option. What he needed was a path that could help him survive and grow stronger, step by step.
The Creation Path would give him weapons when he had none. It would give him tools when he was in need. It would give him options when he faced enemies stronger than him.
For someone who had been powerless his entire life, a path built on adaptability was the most fitting.
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Aldric closed the chest and placed it carefully by his side.
He looked down at his hands again, feeling the faint hum of power running beneath his skin. His journey as an arcanist had just begun, and though he was still weak compared to others, he had taken his first true step.
His old life was gone. His new path had been chosen.
And for the first time, Aldric felt that he had control over where his future would go.
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