《Hierophant [Litrpg]》 Chapter 1 - The Obsidian Coffin When Hector regained consciousness, he hadn''t expected much to change. He should have been at his desk, where he had fallen asleep. The last thing he remembered was an earthquake, and the black pillar that grew from the street. He found himself encased in a stone coffin. He did not anticipate this, not in his wildest and most foreign dreams. The analyst wished he was still in bed, where things were normal. Sure, he would have to deal with his work, but that was predictable. He closed his eyes and hoped he was still dreaming. His fingers scraped against the cold, glassy stone; it did not fade into nothingness. Hector sighed. He opened his eyes again and stared at the gold words in front of him, carved into the stone like hieroglyphs. They''ve been there for a while. The words were persistent and the only source of light in this coffin. The black walls made them more pronounced compared to everything else, not that there was anything else to draw his attention. Aspirants: (51/1000) It changed. The number increased from fifty to fifty-one. Hector assumed he was an aspirant; why else would he see the number? Were there another fifty individuals who woke up in a similar stone prison? Now that he had given it some thought, how was he able to breathe? Choose one and only one: Three Proficiencies: Three abilities, talents, or skills will be chosen and evolve without limit. Two Artifacts: Two objects or instruments will improve as you do. One Innate: This will change you at a fundamental level. Hector''s a logical man, or at least that''s what he told himself. Choices were difficult, especially choices where he lacked the information to make an optimal decision. He preferred conclusions made from data. Data, given the right criteria, can only be misinterpreted. Unlike some individuals, it doesn''t lie. He tried to ask¡ªto question¡ªthe words in front of him. There was a notable lack of air in his stone confines. He opened his lips and flexed his tongue, but words did not come out. He did not suffocate, either. Disturbing. He waited. He waited for more data, more information. He counted numbers in his head and observed the digits in front of him. Aspirants: (98/1000) The number of aspirants increased by forty-seven. It had been five hours. It wasn''t a linear increase; the digits either increased slowly by the single digits or jumped by tens. With enough time, he might''ve derived a pattern, but there were limits to what he could do. He didn''t see a use for this information. There wasn''t enough data. Hector wasn''t a machine, even though he wished he was one. He was subjected to impulses, and the impulse he felt right now was impatience. Impatience from the disruption of his usual routine. Impatience from being confined in a stone prison. More importantly, impatience from the lack of information. That left him with one option. He made a choice and pressed a finger against the stone. Two Artifacts: Two objects or instruments will improve as you do. The term ''instruments'' appealed to Hector. Instruments¡ªtools¡ªcould be calibrated. They can be refined or altered given a new environment or information. They served as an artificial, yet natural, extension of his abilities. From his understanding of the wording, this choice will give him two of these instruments. He could''ve chosen the first option: three proficiencies. Hector didn''t think of himself as someone with any particular talents. He didn''t see any reason he could not achieve the same effect with a bit of effort. He could''ve chosen the third option: one innate. There wasn''t enough information to make an informed choice. What does a change entail? An advantage? Was it a permanent mutation? It hadn''t mentioned it was a positive trait. No, that won''t do, not when he could pick something he was more familiar with and less permanent.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Hector preferred working with the material instead of the abstract. Six Artifacts based on affinities have been selected... Choose two and only two of the six: An Unattuned Astrolabe: Direct observation of a Law warrants caution. The Laws do not permit interlopers into their domains. This instrument permits the indirect study of a Law. The Unwritten Grimoire: An incomplete Grimoire. Spells and Rituals written in this Grimoire will influence its future development. Flute of Ashes: Playing this flute will influence the Ash. Ashes multiply through the consumption of the living. They are fickle beings, and the flute does not permit absolute control. Key to the Corridors: The corridors connect doors. A key is required to access them, and this is one such key. A door opens both ways, and the possession of this key may invite unwanted guests. A Source Pen: This pen can be attuned to a Law, and the relevant runes are attracted to this instrument. The pen will always house a rune. Paper Poppets: Paper Poppets will transfer esoteric attacks and afflictions from its wielder to themselves. The amount that can exist at a given moment will always be three times its current grade. This was illogical. That was the first thought Hector had after he gave the lines a cursory glance. Ashes? What were those? The corridors? None of this abided by his understanding of reality. He expected something more scientific. Useful. Grounded in reality. Not this esoteric nonsense. He took a deep breath or would''ve if there was anything to breathe. Hector was an adaptable man; he prided himself on that. He knew¡ªunderstood¡ªthat sometimes reality did not conform to his ideals. Sometimes, the facts corrected his preconceived notions of reality. Sometimes, he was wrong about... stuff, as much as he hated to admit it. Maybe he was still dreaming. Maybe he accidentally ate something with his dinner and was hallucinating, or maybe this was some sort of experiment¡ªwhich he did not consent to. Regardless, he did what he always did: Make decisions based on the data, which was not much in this scenario. The words stated the artifacts were selected based on his affinities. That implied it was suited for him. Therefore, any of the listed items should be suited to his aptitudes. He chose the artifacts that were the safest based on their wording. Selected: The Unwritten Grimoire Selected: Paper Poppets Hector had chosen artifacts that had the option to use them and weren''t associated with unknown variables. The Key and Flute were out of the question. He didn''t want to touch them or the subjects in their descriptions. The Astrolabe and Pen tempted him, but those were associated with Laws and Runes. The pen stated it would attract Runes. He didn''t know what those were, but he preferred a controlled environment. That left the Grimoire and Poppets. He could choose to use the grimoire, and the doll seemed more beneficial than harmful. The dangers, if they had any, could be mitigated with preparation. The concept of spells and rituals also intrigued him, if they were possible. Granting Permissions: Permissions are only applicable within the influence of an Obsidian Pillar. Improvement: Consumes an improvement to realize a new proficiency, bind a unowned artifact, or imbue an innate matching the grade of the soul. Each grade of the soul will grant another improvement. Familiarity with the fundamentals of the subject is a requirement. Languages: Languages spoken within the vicinity of a Pillar will be recorded and distributed. Manifestation: Manifests lost or destroyed artifacts with shards. The cost is equivalent to the artifact''s grade. Meld: Graft a shard onto the soul. This will slowly increase the grade of your soul. Satiate: Basic needs and fatigue will regenerate at the cost of shards. Selecting initial location based on aptitude... Location found. Grade 1 (1%) Shards: (-) Pending Improvements: 1 Trial Status: Aspirants: (101/1000) Artifacts: The Unwritten Grimoire: Grade 1 (1%) (1) The Spells and Rituals written in this Grimoire will influence its future development. The amount of pages it contains will be five times of its current grade. Pages: (5/5) Paper Poppets: Grade 1 (1%) (1) A Paper Poppet can take the place of its wielder in a ritual. Esoteric afflictions and attacks will be redirected to a poppet. Each poppet will only shield one type of affliction or attack. Only a certain number of poppets may exist at a given moment, each grade adds an additional poppet. Poppets: (0/3) Permissions: Improvement Languages Manifestation Meld Satiate Additional permissions will be unlocked after the Trials have begun. Manifesting Artifacts... Two protrusions grew on the stone wall behind the words. They formed shapes, one square and the other was round. The shapes opened and formed fissures in the stone wall. The newly formed crevices had a tome and three paper figurines lodged within them. Hector reached out and plucked the artifacts from the wall. The walls around him shifted in response. He did not have time to contemplate his new situation when the black stone beneath his feet opened, and he fell through the hole. Chapter 2 - The Faceless The fall was surprisingly short. It was less of a fall and more like a drop into a pool of water, and it soaked the suit Hector wore. He filed it as another issue on a list of growing problems. It was dark; there were no sources of observable light. The warm liquid pooled beneath him. It reached his ankles. Hector stood and reoriented himself. There was a weight¡ªa feeling¡ªin the air. It was difficult for him to pinpoint the sensation. It evoked a sensation of nausea and discomfort. He was being watched. He held the artifacts against his chest and surveyed his surroundings, attempting to find anything in the darkness to orient himself. There was something. A small glowing point in the dark. Hector raised his leg and trudged forward through the water. The liquid clung to his feet with every step; it gripped his shoes and threatened to drag him down to his knees. He started to have doubts it was water; water was not this viscous. The point grew larger. Something was glowing in the dark, and it was his only source of answer and point of interest in the dark. Hector could make out a figure facing away from him. Someone stood in the water. They were draped in a tattered brown robe; a lantern was tied to a cloth sash around the waist. The bald head reflected the light of the lantern. Hector opened his mouth, then thought better of it. Intuition told him it would be a horrible idea to shout in the dark. The individual ahead of him indicated he wasn''t alone in the shallow water, and he preferred to stay hidden until he understood where he was. He crouched and circled the lantern. He remained outside of the light and a distance from the individual; it gave him space to move if the robed individual decided to react to his presence. The caution was warranted. The light of the lantern illuminated the front of the robed man. The man, if it could be called that, was missing his face. It had a black cavity in place of its face. The edge¡ªthe skin of the face concave inward into a pit that seemed to extend inward. It was difficult to tell if it was an illusion, or if the depth of the hole seemed impossible since the head was still relatively intact. Hector didn''t want to be here or to stare at that face any more than he had to, but the lantern kept his will rooted in place. He took a step forward. The black water reflected the light from the lantern. The man was breathing, his chest expanded and shrunk with a steady pattern. It was impossible for the man to be alive, not with a hole in his head, and yet he still breathed. Hector took another step. The man did not react to his presence. Hector waved a hand past the face. No reaction. He stepped closer until the sash was within reach. He reached out, then carefully undid the sash holding the lantern. The sash came undone, and the few objects it held dropped into the water. A compass, a ring, and more importantly: the lantern. He reached out and scooped the loot into his arm, then slowly backed away from the man. The man did not react. Hector''s body reacted before he could, and he found himself running in the opposite direction; the lantern of metal and glass rattled with each step. Sweat trailed down his neck when his thoughts caught up with his actions.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. He collapsed onto his knees, causing a ripple in the water as he caught his breath. He really did not want to be here. After he caught his breath and ensured his surroundings were relatively normal, he took inventory of his belongings. First: The lantern. It would''ve been a normal lantern, with a metal frame and glass windows if it had fire for a source of light. Instead, it had words. Shifting words occupied the interior of the lantern, causing it to glow a white light. A rune, made from an educated guess from the Source Pen. Second: The ring. It had the same qualities as the lantern. It was made of a metal and had inscriptions chiseled onto the surface of the flat head. Unlike the lantern, it did not glow. For all intents and purposes, it was a normal ring. That was what Hector would like to believe¡ªthat something could be normal for once. His belief was shattered when he slipped it onto a finger. The inscription flashed an orange red, then it floated. The inscription flowed like serpents of fire above the head of the ring. Against his better judgement, he pushed a palm through the floating words. It dissipated, then formed into the runes again. The letters, or letter, appeared to have one consistent symbol. He would need to experiment with the ring when he had the opportunity. He turned his attention to the compass. A black stone formed the shell of the compass, and it had two arrows housed under the glass. The larger, gray arrow pointed in a consistent direction. The smaller, red arrow pointed in one direction, then shifted to another, and then shifted to another direction. It was spinning rapidly, yet stopping at regular intervals. He moved on to his artifacts, then inspected them under the lantern light. The paper poppets were made of paper and cut into the shape of a human. Much to Hector''s curiosity, they remained dry, even after being soaked in water. Two of them were blank, one was not. He held the poppet in his hand and examined it. A black circle appeared on the head of the paper figure. The circle was darker at the center and lighter at the edges. Interesting, that would require further observation. He tucked the remaining two poppets into his pocket and kept the damaged one within reach. The grimoire had a red cover made from an unknown leather. The thin book had metal clasps of a golden bronze at the front and back, and it was bound shut with straps of leather. He undid the straps, then opened the grimoire for the first time. The first page of the book was blank. The pages were composed of a durable and thick vellum. Hector rubbed the page in between his fingers. It possessed the coarseness of processed skin. He skimmed through the five pages. They were all blank. Of course they would be, he hadn''t expect anything else. He closed the grimoire, then sealed it with leather straps. Hector took a deep breath and cleared his mind. He had a lantern, a magical ring, a compass, and his artifacts. Now he needs a direction, a goal, and that goal was the Obsidian Pillar. Those gold words only appeared in the stone coffin. As much as he hated being confined in that prison, the glowing script provided the information he wanted, and appeared to be a means of survival. The issue was that he could not navigate in the dark. The lantern cleared some of the darkness, but the darkness swallow the light after it traveled a short distance. That left one option: the compass. He held the compass up. The gray arrow pointed forward to the front. The red arrow spun erratically, and that made it unreliable. Thus, he followed the gray arrow. There was the issue of food and water. Hector didn''t believe there would be any of that in this environment; and he was uncertain if the water at his feet was safe to drink. That was another reason to find an Obsidian Pillar. He stepped on a stone brick. The water hid it, but it was different from the texture of the ground. Hector took another step forward. Another brick. This ground was easier to walk on. The compass pointed in the same direction as the submerged road. The words stated he would need a shard. He had not seen any shards since he arrived in the this dark world. He would have to figure that out as well. Where would he find a shard? Hector stopped. A stone arch obstructed his path. It was one thing for there to be a road. It could''ve been natural; he had doubts if it was really a road at all underneath the water. But a stone arch was created with intention. It indicated a civilization. How would a civilization survive in this environment? Food would''ve been hard to grow without sunlight, though it would not surprise him at this point if there was an alternative method. He shook his head, crossed the threshold, then stopped again. He had spotted something in the dark. Hector lifted the lantern over his head, illuminating the path forward. Another man stood on the road. This time, he was wearing something modern: a suit. He was also missing his face, like the previous one. There was an issue this time; Hector knew this one. Chapter 3 - The Strix Joshua. Joshua was the man''s name. Hector knew Joshua; they had worked together on multiple projects, after all. Well, that was before his coworker became... that. He knew it was Joshua since he always wore that polka-dot tie, though he never quite understood Joshua''s humor. Like the other man, Joshua had his face replaced with a hole. A depthless black hole. It was one thing to encounter it once; Hector would have chalked it up to an anomaly¡ªan eccentricity of this world he found himself in. It was another matter to have encountered it twice and with someone he was familiar with. Something had happened to Joshua. Hector did not want to know how his acquaintance ended up like that. Like the other man, Joshua was in an unresponsive state. He did not react when Hector shone the lantern against his missing face. Yet, he still breathed. Alive, but not completely aware. Would it be unethical to leave him behind? Hector undid the odd tie, then used it to tie Joshua''s wrists together. It would''ve been improper to leave him behind, assuming he could be saved. Hector would make sure he studied the phenomenon. With a tug at the tie, Joshua stumbled forward. The motor functions were still intact. If Hector recalled properly, every Aspirant¡ªhe assumed they were aspirants¡ªhad three options in that coffin. He patted Joshua down. Nothing. No artifacts. Either he lost it or he must have picked the proficiencies or an innate. With the grimoire, compass, and lantern in one hand, and the leash and flowing rune in another, Hector continued to follow the gray arrow. He could not shake the feeling he was being watched. If he could see, if the darkness did not engulf his surroundings, he was almost certain he would be on some sort of ancient road judging by the flat surface and distance he had traveled for. Like all roads, it led to a hub of civilization. Hector used that term loosely, since the portcullis blocking his path was in a state of disrepair. Cracks lined the stone gate of the portcullis. Darkness obscured the walls extending on either side of the gate. Hector could tell it had seen better days. The compass pointed past the gate and into what he assumed to be a city of sorts; It was difficult when he could only rely on the lantern. The thought of finding something suitable to wear, ideally boots for the ankle deep water and clothes other than the suit, accompanied by shelter and food, was enough encouragement for him to enter the gate. Hector''s hope for food was extinguished when he had a view of the city proper. The city was shrouded in darkness. The lantern illuminated buildings made from stone bricks and dark wooden frames. Each one stood two stories tall, with a taller one here and there. Care was placed into the construction of each structure; each one had a distinct design or flaw. Hector noted the presence of chimneys and the occasional metal sign. The streets were formed from cobblestone; they had ditches lining the sides. Metal lamps dotted the edges of the street, which were apparently dysfunctional. Curiously, the lamps had symbols carved in the interior metal in place of a visible lighting mechanism. Water from the gate drained into the sewer grates and created a soothing melody. The water level was shallow compared to before, but it was still present. The lack of inhabitants concerned him. The compass pointed inward and down the street. Hector followed the gray arrow with Joshua in tow. The compass led him to a plaza, which was large. Large enough that the light did not reach the other side. Judging from the structure and the way the street led into it; Hector assumed it would have been a hub. The tall pillar of glassy black stone standing at the center begged to differ. An Obsidian Pillar. The compass pointed to the Pillar. Hector made his way to it, then instinctively pressed a palm against the icy surface. Words bloomed on the black surface. Foreign language recorded in the Pillar. Update lexicon?Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! The obsidian divided itself into two portions, separated by a line of gold. The left side was unnaturally smooth with a hint of gold, and the right side had a rough edge to it. The options were intuitive. He pressed his hand against the left option. Hector felt like his head would split open after he had done that, like someone tried to shove a nail into his skull. After a moment, the headache stopped, and he felt like he understood something, but he didn''t know what. The words erased themselves, then formed new lines. Grade 1 (1%) Shards: (-) Pending Improvements: 1 Trial Status: Aspirants: (138/1000) Artifacts: The Unwritten Grimoire: Grade 1 (1%) Pages: (5/5) Paper Poppets: Grade 1 (9%) (+8%) Poppets: (2/3) Permissions The words were condensed compared to the earlier one. The number of aspirants had increased by thirty-seven, and the paper poppets increased by eight percent. Did the percentages increase with use? What he was curious about were the number of paper poppets in his possession. It should have been three, not two. He examined the poppets in his possession. Two in his pocket, and the third one was... damaged. The head of the poppet was black; the circle had grown to engulf it at some point. The shading of the circle reminded him of the two men he encountered so far. Hector was fairly confident at this point the paper figurine prevented the same fate from occurring. He disposed of the poppet, then inspected the other two. True to his suspicion, one of them had a miniscule black dot on the head. Concerning. It would be in his best interest to keep a stock of the paper figurines. Hector tapped on the obsidian. Permissions: Improvement Languages Manifestation Meld Satiate He tapped two of the permissions in quick succession. Manifestation: Manifests lost or destroyed artifacts with shards. The cost is equivalent to the artifact''s grade. Satiate: Basic needs and fatigue will regenerate at the cost of shards. Shards had their priority elevated to a necessity in his mind. It would solve his immediate issues. It was essential for his survival. He did not want to end up like Joshua. The thought reminded him of his coworker. Hector turned around and immediately regretted that decision. He knew where the inhabitants of the town had gone. Joshua had not moved, it was what stood behind him that unnerved him. At the edge of the lantern light, he could see more individuals without faces. The Faceless, if he had given them a name. There were a dozen Faceless staring at him, along with the man in the brown robe. The holes they wore swallowed his attention. They called to him. The circle on the second poppet grew and darkened at a visible rate. What caused it to grow? Was it because they could see him if they had eyes? The solution was simple then: break the line of sight. The lantern rattled as Hector sprinted across the plaza and along a connecting street. The black circle had stopped growing. That confirmed his theory: the faceless were following him and the cause of the black circle. He would have to find somewhere to hide. He scanned the buildings, searching for one that would be secured. His attention landed on a taller one with metal grilles barring the windows. Perfect. He opened the metal door with some effort, made his way inside, then closed the door behind him. He surveyed the room and focused on a closet. That would have to do. Hector dragged and barricaded the door with the heavy furniture. Would it hold? Hector wouldn''t bet on it, but it was better than nothing. The Faceless were passive from his previous interactions, and he hoped they stayed that way. A horrible shriek sounded above him, accompanied by the flap of wings. Hector looked through the window and cautioned a glance outside. The lantern illuminated the streets. He spotted Joshua standing in the middle of the road, alongside of the other faceless. He heard something pierce the air above him. Something¡ªa creature with far too many wings for a bird¡ªswooped down. Joshua was gone. The Faceless scattered; they limped away into the adjacent buildings. The large midnight wings blended seamlessly with the night; they reached to the roofs of the stone buildings. They did not have feathers, and were more of a liquid, inky substance. It was gone as quickly as it had arrived. Hector would not go outside anytime soon¡ªhe didn''t want to end up like Joshua. He covered the windows with the curtains. What had occurred to Joshua was regrettable, but what could he have done about it? Joshua was already a Faceless when Hector found his coworker, and quite frankly, he prioritized his own survival over his acquaintance. There was far too much on his plate for empathy right now, and he was powerless in this scenario. He had to help himself before he could help others, so to speak. Hector released a sigh of relief, turned around, then examined the room he found himself in. Unlike the world outside, there was a distinct lack of water or damage on the aged wooden floor. It had the scent of a library, and dust swirled against the lantern when he moved across the room. Curtains, woven from a purple fabric with gold trimmings, covered the windows. Shelves of books lined the room. A desk at the center of the room caught Hector''s attention, with a single book resting on top of it. Hector approached the desk, placed his belongings on the desk, traced a finger over the faded and illegible cover of the book, then opened it. The first page stood the test of time. The words were not written in ink; instead, they were burned onto the pages. Hector read the title written in a language he did not know the name of. Introduction to Strands and Spells Chapter 4 - The Serpent Hector turned to the second page of the book. The second page didn''t have words like the first one. It had a moving circle. The circle consisted of tiny symbols, far too small to discern the characteristics of each hieroglyph, but cohesive enough to create the appearance of a line. It rotated clockwise on the page. The third page had the same shape, and the fourth, and the fifth... Hector skimmed through the book and confirmed that it was filled with circles. The difference between them was the pace and direction they rotated in. Some moved slowly, others faster; some rotated counterclockwise, others expanded and shrunk like a heart. He found a piece of paper stuck in between the pages. The letters were written in the same print and burned onto the note. They''re locking the city down. Someone smuggled an afflicted in, and that has the guilds running around like a nest of shriekers. The shards are in the basement. Use it when the prices go up and on nothing else. Don''t screw this up. We''ll be filthy rich when this blows over. A lockdown? Shards? He would check the basement later. For now, the book held his interest hostage. The title had piqued his interest. Hector flipped the pages back to the second page. He stared at the original circle and followed the ring with his index finger. How was he supposed to read this? Did he miss something? He examined the note again. He hadn''t missed anything on the front, but the back had handwriting on it. This time it was written in ink. paper familiar. spy? find counter ritual. don''t touch Don''t touch? Hector didn''t have time to react when the pages of the book sprung to life. The pages wrapped around each other until they became a serpent. Then it bit into Hector''s wrist. Words coating the serpent like scales flowed up its body and into the paper fangs piercing his wrist. The moment the letters made contact with Hector''s wrist, he had another headache, accompanied by the sound of torn paper in his pocket. The serpent slithered off the table and onto the ground before he could do anything, then darted down the hall. It left the cover of the book and a few torn pages in its aftermath. Hector examined the two puncture wounds on his wrist and the trickle of red bleeding from it. It stung like a paper cut. He reached into his pocket and pulled a torn poppet out. The figurine was ripped to shreds; it shielded him from the blunt of the bite. That left him with one poppet to deal with the Faceless. The bite had shoved new information into his mind. His head ached as he focused on sorting the new information. Most of it was a mixture of random phrases, incoherent sentences, and snippets of dialogue. If the poppet had not protected him, he was sure the damage would''ve been more severe. The recent events had been illogical. He did not expect a paper serpent to pop out and bite him, or a creature with the wingspan of a house to take his coworker away. He did, however, obtain a benefit from the bite by carefully sorting through the information. He understood what a Strand was, how to create a Spell, the general layout of the house, and where the shards were. Hector held the lantern with his functional hand, retrieved the rest of his belongings, then made his way down the connecting hall. He was careful to avoid any signs of the serpent.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. A Strand was an extension of the mind. It was akin to having an extra disembodied limb. It could grow, adapt a shape, and improve with usage. Strands were necessary to perform¡ªfor the lack of a better term¡ªmagic. The information he had mentioned spells, but lacked a clearer detail for it; That portion had been taken by the poppet. Hector stood at a doorway to a set of stairs leading to the basement, then made his way down the steps. The most basic spells had three components. A source, usually a rune, to fuel the spell. A shape¡ªthe flame to ignite and give form to the fuel, and a conduit to transfer the fuel in between the two. All of the components can be strengthened with additional Strands. This was known as a circuit. It was a delicate process. Without fuel, the circuit would have a limited effect, and the amount of Strands used wouldn''t matter. Without a proper channel, the fuel will not flow properly, and without a sturdy shape, the excess fuel would be wasted. Of course, a single Strand can function as all of those components. It was considered standard practice to use at least three for the circuit since the shape of a Strand has a role in the circuit. If he had to make a comparison, casting a spell was metaphysical multitasking. The components were more of a theory rather than a concrete mechanism; Strands were very adaptable. With time, he was sure he could theorize the rest of them. The basement had several crates. Most of the crates were pried open and empty, but there was one that had three shards left. The shards were made of the same material as the Obsidian Pillar, only they were smaller and fractured into crystals. He reached out and touched the shards. They were cold against his palm, but didn''t react to his touch. He scooped them into his pockets. Hector would have to pay a visit to the Pillar, he could feel the pangs of hunger and a dryness in his throat. The Pillar would fix that, allow him to spend the improvement, and use meld for the first time. The issue was the winged creature; he''d creatively call it a Strix, and the Faceless. He could take the time to develop a Strand¡ªto create a weapon¡ªbut that would take months under normal circumstances. The Pillar would accelerate the process now that he knew how to create one. If he traveled along the alleys, kept out of sight, then maybe he''d have a chance. No. That won''t do. When had he become so impatient? Was it because he was hungry? Hector took a deep breath and cleared his mind. Analyze the options, take it step by step. He hadn''t explored the house. There might be something useful, something that would provide an alternative path. He made his way back into the hall from the basement. There weren''t any signs of the serpent yet. There might be more of them hiding, so books were out of the question. That left the second and third floors. Hector made his way to the stairs leading to the second floor, then climbed it. The note from earlier made the inhabitants seem like the opportunistic kind. Would it be a leap in logic to assume they had anything to get them out of a bind if something went wrong? Maybe something had already gone wrong, judging by the state of the city. The second floor of the house had tinted windows and contained the bedrooms. Hector made a brief round through them and concluded there wasn''t anything worth examining. He made his way to the third floor. The attic was less spacious than the floors below it, but it did have a window. Other than that, it did not have any notable objects either. He didn''t have a choice; he''d have to brave the darkness. He approached the window and took a glance at his reflection. Black hair, brown eyes, and a black suit. Some things stayed normal. Then, he looked outside. The city was pitch black. That was expected. What he didn''t expect was another source of light a distance away. If he had to estimate, it was ten or twelve blocks out, towards the direction of the plaza, and high above him. Almost like a tower. Was it another individual? Or maybe another light source? He could use a backup if the lantern ever broke. Hector held the lantern up against the window, then covered the front with a hand, removed it, then covered it again. He repeated the motion several times. He didn''t know any codes or languages to make the most of it. The distant light flickered in response, then vanished. Was it a human or something else entirely? There wasn''t much he could''ve done right now, so he left and returned to the first floor. No signs of the serpent. Good. No weapons either. That was not good. He had done everything possible to prepare. The other opportunities, if there were any, remained outside in the darkness. Hector grabbed the door handle, readied his poppet, then pulled the metal door open and stepped outside. A Faceless stared at him from across the street, and the dot on the figurine grew. Hector didn''t have time. He took a quick glance for anything, anything at all that could help him. Nothing. Nothing that could''ve helped him. The Pillar was not far, but the Strix concerned him more than the Faceless. He closed the door and began his journey. Chapter 5 - The Hounds Hector walked along the edge of the road, using the roofs above him to hide the lantern light. He doubted it would work, since the light was quite apparent in the dark. Would the Strix rely on eyesight to navigate in the dark? He had doubts about that, too. The journey so far was uneventful. Granted, he only walked a few dozen steps, but nothing had tried to separate claw his head off or otherwise harm him. There were a few Faceless along the way, and he could feel them trailing behind him, but he did not want to be out of breath when he had to run. He glanced at the paper figurine. The radius of the circle increased, though not as fast as before. Hector suspected it had something to do with the number of Faceless; he would do his best to avoid crowds. The few trailing behind him were manageable. He''d make it to the Pillar intact at this rate. His hope for a easy journey was interrupted when he encountered something new. He lifted the lantern up and illuminated a Faceless on the ground. Above the corpse were two creatures. They were on the smaller side, about the size of a dog. They had four spine-like limbs, no visible eyes, and a thick rectangular beak larger and longer than the head. Their thick skin¡ªor hide¡ªhad no fur and was colored black, which helped them blend into the darkness. Hounds. That word popped into his mind when he saw them. Hector wouldn''t have noticed the Hounds if it wasn''t for the Faceless, which they tore into with their teethless maws of chitin. He took a step back. The Hounds didn''t notice him yet. They had no eyes. He surveyed for an alternative route. There was an alleyway off to the side, which he decided to take. He wouldn''t take any chances with the Hounds. The moment he did, two more Hounds bounded down the street and joined the other two. The compass guided him as he took the detour and pushed more of the Faceless aside when he encountered them. Was it his imagination or were there more of them around? The poppet had a third of blank space left. He increased the pace. Light reflected off the surface of the Obsidian Pillar as he entered the plaza from the alley. The surroundings were silent, not much different from everything else. After waiting for a moment, Hector made a step towards the Pillar. Nothing had tried to ambush him, so he walked across the plaza and approached the Pillar. He pressed a palm against the obsidian and words were formed on the stone. Grade 1 (1%) Shards: (-) Pending Improvements: 1 Trial Status: Aspirants: (201/1000) Artifacts: The Unwritten Grimoire: Grade 1 (1%) Unused Pages: (5/5) Paper Poppets: Grade 1 (18%)(+9%) Poppets: (1/3) Permissions The grade for the Poppets increased by another nine percent. He consumed one and partially used the other. On his previous visit, it increased by eight percent with one being used up and the other partially damaged. Would a used paper figurine increase the grade by at least five percent? So many questions. Why were the shards still an empty value? He reached into his pockets and held the three shards. Did he have to give it to the Pillar? Hand it in like it was a bank? He pressed the shards against the glossy surface, and they melted into the pillar. Shards: (3)(+3) With a tap against the surface, the Pillar displayed the permissions he wanted. Improvement: Consumes an improvement to realize a new proficiency, bind a unowned artifact, or imbue an innate matching the grade of the soul. Each grade of the soul will grant another improvement. Familiarity with the fundamentals of the subject is a requirement.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Manifestation: Manifests lost or destroyed artifacts with shards. The cost is equivalent to the artifact''s grade. Meld: Graft a shard onto the soul. This will slowly increase the grade of your soul. Satiate: Basic needs and fatigue will regenerate at the cost of shards. Improvement selected. Activating Improvement protocols... Hector closed his eyes and focused on his knowledge of the strands. How they were formed with inhumane focus, how they caused the hallucination of abstract shapes, and how they became an extension of the mind. He felt a weight. Something¡ªa feeling attached to his body. It was akin to realizing the answer to an issue he thought about for days. Hector opened his eyes. A small translucent sphere the size of his fist was floating in front of his face. Proficiency Realized: Strands Strands: Grade 1 (1%) (1) A strand represents the visual manifestation of the mind through the medium of a shape. The material and strength of the strand depends on the grade. The capabilities of a strand depend on practice and usage. 1: Shape: Orb Finally. A tool he could use to defend himself. Manifestation selected. Shards: (2)(-1) Manifesting: Paper Poppets (2x) A square hole opened at the side of the words. Hector reached in and retrieved the two poppets. Two? He looked into his pocket and noticed the damaged one was still intact. Inefficient. He''d have to use the paper poppets before creating more. Meld selected. Shards: (1)(-1) Grade 1: (13%)(+12%) A cold sensation washed over his body, like he was being cleaned. He felt light and heavy at the same time. It was difficult for him to describe the feeling, but it felt good. Satiate selected. The empty pit in his stomach vanished, the dryness in his throat faded, and he felt more refreshed than a moment ago. How convenient. Grade 1 (13%) Shards: (-) Trial Status: Aspirants: (201/1000) Proficiencies: Strands: Grade 1 (1%) 1: Shape: Orb Artifacts: The Unwritten Grimoire: Grade 1 (1%) Unused Pages: (5/5) Paper Poppets: Grade 1 (18%) Poppets: (3/3) Permissions Hector was at square one again: zero shards. That meant he had to find more shards for his next meal. He looked around. No Strix, Faceless, or Hounds, yet. He should leave while he still can. Which way should he go? His previous safe house was not an option. It had the paper serpent and someone¡ªor something¡ªknew the location. The increased abundance of Faceless might be a problem. He would rather be cautious than take the risks, so that meant a new spot. He took a step forward and made his way towards the opposite direction of the alley . The orb drifted in the air alongside of him. Strands were an extension of his mind and with it he had a method of self defense, or attack depending how he viewed it. He raised the ring he had on his finger; the words of orange and red hovered above the inscriptions inscribed on the metal. Under normal circumstances, the strands would be invisible to anyone other than him. They were a fragment of his imagination, after all. He guided the sphere to envelop the letters above the ring with a mental grip. That changed when they became a circuit¡ªa spell. The orange words dimmed, and the orb turned from a transparent gloss to an orange red. The first step to a circuit had been completed: the strand had functioned both as a source and a conduit. At this point of the circuit, it would''ve been visible to any bystanders. If they focused hard enough, they would see a hint of red in the air. It took all of Hector''s focus to maintain the spell, and even more the further away it was from the source. The orb would lose its color if he didn''t. It was about time he learned what kind of rune the ring held. Hector guided the sphere away from the faded letters and allowed it to drift in front of him. The shape of the strand determined the mode of manifestation, a flame to the fuel if he used his previous analogy. All he had to do was activate it. He did that with a mental snap. The strand completed the last step to the spell. The shape was the final spark and gave the color a physical form. A light other than his lantern illuminated the darkness. The water on the ground hissed as the flame licked its surface. The thin layer of liquid coating the ground reflected a small ball of orange flame. The spell hovered above it, surrounded by a layer of steam. A rune of fire, and an extension from a Law. Hector understood that runes were the fragments of a Law, like the dead skin of a beast. He didn''t understand what a Law was, or where they came from. The color of the sphere, now surrounded by fire, was fading fast. The spell required fuel, and it was draining the reserves at a rapid pace. Hector pointed at the ground¡ªa somatic gesture that made it easier to direct his will¡ªand the burning ball flew as if he threw it. More steam erupted from the water as the spell impacted the ground, leaving a burnt imprint on the cobblestone. The black liquid reclaimed the lost ground, covering the mark after a moment. The strand had shattered. It would return with time, after his mind reconstructed the sphere. With that, he completed his first spell. He had regained a degree of control over his situation. The faded runes above the ring will recharge with time, as all runes drew power from their parent Law. He would have to test the amount it could hold when he had the time. Hector left the plaza and entered onto an adjacent street. He heard a familiar shriek pierce the skies above him.