《Hierophant of the Abyss [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.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    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.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    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?A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    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.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    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.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    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.

 Chapter 6 - The Strand Mage

    The shriek was Hector''s cue to leave.


    Hector broke into a sprint and tried to find an intact house. He doubted a small fire could hurt something with the wingspan of a house. Using a strand requires absolute focus.


    He glanced to the side, simultaneously scanning for a sturdy structure and noting the one third of a sphere floating at his side. A few more minutes until the strand was completed.


    The beating of wings urged him to press forward; his lungs burned as he leapt forward. Fragments of stone rained against his back as the Strix impacted the ground behind him. It let loose a loud screech that made him nauseous.


    Hector quickly stood up and dashed forward.


    A claw impacted the spot he stood on and left a large gnash against the stone.


    He required shelter, a wall in between the Strix and his head. His thoughts were interrupted when light drove the darkness back. A small white star burned in the sky and momentarily blinded him.


    The light also stunned the Strix, and Hector used that opportunity to examine it. It had four fleshy wings that oozed with a black liquid and tendrils instead of a beak flailing about. It was, as far as he was concerned, a bird with skin instead of feathers. The four clawed limbs it had on the underside were the most threatening part of it.


    The Strix stumbled back; Hector used the borrowed time to back away into a decaying structure. It had a wide hall with several desks. A few Faceless lingered in the hall, stumbling about in their unaware state.


    Light beamed through the glazed windows and Hector dove behind the furthest desk from the entrance, tucking the lantern and grimoire under it. He didn''t need them for now.


    He watched from his hiding spot as the Strix caused the entrance to collapse on its entry. The long tendrils impaled a Faceless and caused it to shrivel into a husk as it approached his spot.


    The Faceless were a momentary distraction. Time was not on his side, there was no escape for him; it stood in between him and the entrance.


    Hector turned to the sphere. It was almost complete, only the top quarter of the sphere was unfinished. He needed that strand.


    The strand functioned as an extension of his mind. Therefore, he had influence over it.


    Hector focused hard on it and envisioned the sphere being finished. He directed the entirety of his being on this task, temporarily ignoring the Strix inching closer. The remaining bit of the orb was built at a visible pace, inch by inch it was woven together again.


    The strand could assume new shapes, which dictated its function. Hector required a new one; the current one would not do.


    He forced his mind, his will, into the translucent sphere. It was all or nothing; the options were life or death. Adrenaline laced through his veins as he molded the orb into a sharp pyramid.


    There wasn''t enough time or material to make a proper shape. He''d have to make do with what he had, a weapon that would be enough to damage, if not kill, the Strix.


    The bottom half was not complete. It would leak the essence¡ªthe fuel of the rune, and it was very unstable, but it would be enough for now.


    He pulled the ring off his finger, held it up to the strand, and guided it to absorb the runic essence. The pyramid turned from an orange to a red.


    That was not enough.


    Hector forced the shape to drain more of the essence. Cracks grew across the red surface as it changed from a red to a darker red. The rune above the ring flashed, then shattered along with the ring.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    He stood up from his hiding spot, mentally holding the strand in front of him, then directed it to spin. The Strix turned its attention to him and clawed its way towards him.


    Blood rushed to his head. His face burned as he forced the pyramid to spin faster. More of the strand fractured as the essence bled from the bottom, unfurling like the petals of a rose.


    Now!


    Hector ignited the shape and launched it forward.


    The pyramid flew forward as it manifested into reality. The essence burned. Heat seared Hector''s face as a comet of orange flame with a tail of red pierced the air and threw itself at the Strix.


    The comet impacted the Strix, then exploded and engulfed the Strix with its fiery embrace.


    Orange flames overtook the white light as flames stuck to the Strix like napalm. Its shrill cries shook the walls as it flailed its four wings. Air rushed through the gaps of the structure as it fed the inferno.


    Hector fell onto his knees, his breath coming out in quick pants as he watched the flames consume the Strix, eating away at it until nothing was left but the charred remains.


    The light from the windows regained control of the hall.


    Hector pushed himself off his knees and walked over to the remains. The stench of burnt flesh invaded his nostrils as he looked down at the corpse.


    A glint caught his gaze. He reached down and gathered the six shards from the carcass. He noted a darkened fabric with blue and yellow dots, bowed his head for a moment, had a moment of silence, then looked down at his own clothes.


    The ring had been shattered, he might''ve overdrew from its reserves. He''d have to find a new source for his strand.


    Hector retrieved his belongings, then walked outside. It was bright. A light shone from the direction away from the plaza.


    He tilted his head up.


    The light was emitting from the top of a tower, surrounded by a citadel of stone. It was the largest castle¡ªor fortress¡ªhe had ever seen.


    Past the stone walls, he could see the interior courtyard. It had spires and arches supporting the ornate structure with stained glass windows disrupting the gray monotone color. Within its confines was the tower, far higher than any structure he had seen in the city.


    Two more Strix''s circled the tower. Someone was on top of the tower. It was difficult to see the specific details; the individual wore a white suit of plate armor and wielded a weapon against a third Strix.


    The armored figure leapt onto the creature''s back, pierced the weapon into its skin, and fell towards the castle complex with the creature. The other two dove after them.


    So there was someone else here? Someone who still had their face? He''d have to visit that when he was properly prepared.


    That was enough for today. The fatigue was catching up to him. At least someone had the decency to turn the lights back on; he wouldn''t need the lantern for a while.


    He made his way down the same street he ran down, heading back towards the plaza. He could use another satiate and a meld. Especially the melds, those were addicting.


    The Pillar was, to no one''s surprise, still there; it stood proudly at the center of the plaza, reflecting the small star from the tower. Has anyone ever tried to break one of those?


    There was a lack of water on the cobblestone. For the first time, it was dry and did not soak Hector''s shoes. It appeared peaceful without those creatures.


    He deposited the shards into the Pillar.


    Grade 1 (13%)


    Shards: (6)(+6)


    Trial Status:


    Aspirants: (215/1000)


    Proficiencies:


    Strands: Grade 1 (13%) (+12%)


    1: Shape: -


    Artifacts:


    The Unwritten Grimoire: Grade 1 (1%)


    Unused Pages: (5/5)


    Paper Poppets: Grade 1 (20%) (+2%)


    Poppets: (3/3)


    Permissions


    His strand was gone; it was too incomplete, too strained to retain the shape. He''d have to recreate it from scratch. It would not be an issue if he meditated for a bit.


    He was tempted to consume his poppets, to improve their grade with the Faceless since each one added a poppet to his pool, but he wasn''t sure if he could afford the extra shards to manifest them.


    He had been lucky finding the shards thus far, and it would be difficult to bring a Strix down again.


    He picked satiate and meld, keeping one shard just in case he couldn''t find another when he was hungry again.


    Shards: (1)(-5)


    Meld selected.


    Grade 1: (60%)(+47%)


    Each shard was worth around eleven percent, if he took the average. He''d make it ten percent, just to be safe. That meant he required four more shards to increase his grade. How exciting.


    Satiate selected.


    The familiar sensation washed over him, and was ready to take on another Strix. He wouldn''t¡ªnot yet, not without a source and shape. He''d have to experiment with his grimoire, prepare it for his next encounter.


    He should try looting some of the empty homes. They should have some shards and clothes for him, right?


    His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a cough behind him.

 Chapter 7 - The Gold Tooth

    Hector turned around and stood face to face with another man. How did he sneak up on him?


    The white suit the stranger wore contrasted with his bald head. There was a notable gold shine in his smile. The tie was of a red color, and he held a butterfly knife in his hand.


    The two stared at each other, their eyes met as the man twirled the knife in his hand. He folded the knife with a metallic click and tucked it behind him.


    "I was not expecting to meet someone else''s face," the man said and held out his hand. "The name''s Sebastian. A pleasure to meet you..."


    "Hector," Hector replied and shook his hand. It was rough, calloused, and cold. He pulled his hand back and flicked his gaze to the hand behind Sebastian''s back.


    "It''s... nice to meet someone who hasn''t lost their mind," he added after a pause, guiding his eyes to meet Sebastian''s again.


    Hector slid his hand into the pocket of his charcoal suit and gripped the compass. It wasn''t a weapon, but Sebastian didn''t have to know that. In a pinch, he could drop the grimoire and swing the lantern, though that was a last resort.


    Sebastian pulled his hand away from his back and kept a thumb in his pocket. "I''m curious, Hector. Why haven''t you turned into one of those things?"


    "I could ask you the same question. I have my means, and I assume the same can be applied to you."


    The gold glinted in the light as the man''s smile widened. "You guessed right. We both have our secrets, don''t we?"


    "I have a proposal for you, Hector." Sebastian said and pulled out four shards, each held in between a finger, from his pocket. Did he have a source of shards? He didn''t look the type to kill a Strix, and he didn''t wear the armor the one from the tower had.


    Sebastian smiled. "I think we both know what these are. Why don''t you tell me what I want to hear, and these shards can become yours?"


    Hector understood the art of negotiation, the push and pull of leverage from one hand to another. It was important to conceal the extent of your desires, and he knew what Sebastian wanted. There was an opportunity here, one he could exploit.


    He was certain the poppet could apply to Sebastian from the wording. The words mentioned the wielder, not Hector''s name, in the description.


    Hector wanted to test if a used poppet someone else was carrying would increase the percentage for him.


    He held a clean poppet in his hand and showed it to Sebastian. "This what you''re looking for. It can be yours for three shards."


    "Three shards?" Sebastian asked with another gold smile. "What makes that worth three shards? Why not make it four?"


    "It will degrade with use," Hector said, then flashed him the figurine with a black dot. "I could make more, but it would cost me a bit. We can both benefit from this arrangement."


    Hector also believed it would benefit him more to have a connection with this man. For one, he had survived the Faceless, which made him notable in Hector''s eyes. The second reason was for cooperation. He was not arrogant enough to believe he could do everything on his own.


    At one point, he would need help, and it would be better to build a basis for cooperation here. Sebastian appeared like a competent man, someone he could work with. Hector could see the ambition in the man''s eyes, and he was very familiar with that.


    More importantly, he required information. Without information¡ªwithout data¡ªhe was blind. A regular meeting would mean a flow of information or news in general. He wasn''t the only one here, and he''d rather be aware of his potential friends or enemies before they became aware of him.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Sebastian stared at Hector for a long moment, then rubbed his chin with unfocused eyes.


    "You''re a clever man, Hector," Sebastian said and held the three shards out. Hector took the shards, then placed the poppet on his palm. "I enjoy working with smart people. I believe this could be the start of a bright arrangement for the both of us. Where would I find you if I used this one?"


    "I''ll be standing right here. I''ll know when you use it." The poppet would break, and Hector would know that from his frequent visits to the Pillar.


    Hector watched as Sebastian approached the Pillar and used it; his smile widening as he looked at the black stone. The gold words were blurry to Hector; it was a privacy measure. He wouldn''t be able to spy on him.


    Sebastian gave him one last smile, with that gold tooth drawing his attention, then walked down a neighboring street and rounded a corner. Did the Pillar give the man details about his poppet?


    Hector wouldn''t lower his guard in front of him. He knew better than that.


    Hopefully, Sebastian realized the benefits in cooperating. It would be inconvenient to burn the bridge if he didn''t have as much common sense.


    He let out a sigh and felt a bit tired from the interaction. There should be more of them around since the number of Aspirants was increasing, and he would do well to make himself scarce.


    Humans tended to become unpredictable without accountability.


    Hector turned his attention to his new shards. Speaking of shards, he had enough to increase his grade, didn''t he?


    He deposited the shards into the Pillar and selected meld.


    Shards: (4)(+3)


    Meld selected.


    Grade: 2 (3%)(+43%)


    The weighty sensation washed over Hector again. It was exhilarating, like he was being improved, like he was better than a moment ago, then it was gone just as fast.


    Grade 2 (3%)


    Shards: (-)


    Pending Improvements: 1


    Trial Status:


    Aspirants: (218/1000)


    Proficiencies:


    Strands: Grade 1 (13%)


    1: Shape: -


    Artifacts:


    The Unwritten Grimoire: Grade 1 (1%)


    Unused Pages: (5/5)


    Paper Poppets: Grade 1 (20%)


    Poppets: (2/2) (1)


    Permissions


    Hector had a general idea what he wanted to spend the improvement on. The largest weakness he had with the Strix was the time it took to repair the strand. Yes, it would regenerate on its own, but that took far too long in situations where a minute meant determined an outcome.


    Improvement selected.


    Activating Improvement protocols...


    If he could reconstruct a strand in seconds; if he could modify the shape of a strand in a minute, that would give him an edge over his future encounters. He chose that concept as his next improvement.


    Proficiency Realized: Strand Manipulation


    Strand Manipulation: Grade 1 (1%)


    (1) The mind will begin to build the necessary pathways to manipulate strands. This proficiency represents the ability to manipulate, repair, and shape strands. The familiarity and ease of this will increase with the grade.


    That brought his attention to his artifacts. The pool of poppets had a number next to them. One? Most likely the one poppet that Sebastian had. Convenient.


    The grimoire needed work, too. He had neglected that and his strand for a bit. Where would he find a source? All of that would be pointless without a source. He could use his lantern, but he didn''t see any other light sources. He doubted that star would last forever, judging by the way it appeared dimmer than earlier.


    Hector tore his attention away from the Pillar and towards the rows of buildings surrounding the plaza. They should be promising; who knew what they had in them?


    One of them caught his attention. It was a gray single level home. He caught his attention because he felt a slight tug towards it, a tug from his compass. He fished it out of his pocket.


    The red arrow encased in the black compass pointed directly to the building. Odd. The gray one still pointed to the Pillar, so it should be functional.


    The pull was stronger when he was focused on the house. He made his way towards the gray house.


    Hector found the peace strange. It was normal, almost too normal. No Faceless stumbling after him, no Hounds devouring the Faceless, or Strix''s stalking the skies. Was it because of the light?


    The door to the gray house was locked. Unfortunate. He circled the building, entering an alleyway and approached the rear. To his luck, there was a backdoor. There was an issue; The bottom of the door had a black substance seeping through the thin cracks.


    Hector had always been a cautious man, he wasn''t in a rush to open the door.


    He sat down in front of the door and worked on his strand. This time, he manually fashioned the translucent material into a flat needle. It was a more effective weapon than a sphere if he spun it, and far more stable than the incomplete pyramid. Plus, it was easier to repair.


    He didn''t have the luxury of having the natural, regenerative properties of a pre-configured strand; his mind wouldn''t acknowledge the needle until it was finished. It took a bit longer than he expected.


    If encountered anything, he would break the lantern and use the rune inside of it.


    With the new strand in hand, Hector opened the door.

 Chapter 8 - The Nether

    Darkness shrouded the interior of the house.


    A thick pool of water¡ªthe same water that had covered the streets¡ªcovered the floor, accompanied by a nauseating stench. The light of the lantern barely reached the other end of the hall from his spot; even the beams of light refused to enter the house.


    That was promising and did not scream danger to him, not at all.


    Hector stepped through the threshold and entered the room. The liquid clung to his feet, akin to the first time he stepped on the water.


    He lifted the lantern above his head and surveyed the room.


    A shriveled corpse laid at the corner of the room. It was hardly the most exciting thing he found. The award for the most exciting object went to the book the corpse had clutched at his chest.


    The book had the black liquid dripping from the pages. Was it the source of all of this? Would it be safe to touch? It should be, since the water hadn''t murdered him yet. He crouched down and examined it.


    This book was something the dead man deemed necessary to clutch even in death. Why was it so important? Hector removed the book from the embrace. The dead wouldn''t miss their missing possessions.


    He opened the book.


    The book had ten pages, but only three of them had anything written on them. Two of them were black and leaked the ink, and the other one had a three-dimensional diagram of a spear. It did not seem all that important to him. What was the function of this?


    Hector inspected the diagram. The way it was drawn reminded him of something familiar, familiar like a strand. His needle was small compared to the diagram. Was this a grimoire? Grimoires could contain spells and rituals, that meant there should be a method to activate it.


    He knew better than to touch unknown diagrams, so he used his Strand. Did it make sense? No, not at all; nothing made sense ever since he woke up here, but he did it anyway since he suspected it was a grimoire.


    It turned his strand into the spear.


    The needle had swapped places with the diagram. A drawing of a needle was on the page, and he had a large spear strand; it was far larger than anything he could have constructed with his strand.


    It was a crutch. The grimoire was a substitute for his natural abilities.


    The ability to swap between shapes¡ªspells¡ªwas useful, especially in combat, but he already had Strand Manipulation, and he wasn''t wasting the improvement he spent. He could call it buyer''s remorse, but as far as he was aware, there wasn''t a limit to a proficiency.


    He had already chosen his path.


    That left the last two pages. Would they interact with the strand? He swapped the spear to the needle, a shape he could recreate, then pressed it against the page.


    The inky substance reacted to the needle. The liquid spewed forth from the page and onto the ground; the strand turned from the gray gloss to the same color as the substance: pitch black. Unlike the essence from the ring, this one had the characteristics of the water, except the liquid did not obey gravity.


    The midnight needle had assumed the form of a liquid. The droplets drifted around the needle, gathering like black fog.


    He ignited the strand. The liquid became a tinge darker, otherwise it stayed consistent with the black droplets wrapped around the needle. With a wave of his hand, Hector spun and shot the needle at the wall.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    The strand burrowed into the wall.


    Residue liquid evaporated towards the ceiling, but otherwise had no other effect. Was that it? Hector took a step closer and examined the wall.


    Upon closer examination, he noticed a thin hole embedded in the wood. He designed the needle to penetrate skin and other hard surfaces, so that was intentional. It was underwhelming. Why did the dead man keep two pages worth of that? Not to mention it was all over the floor.


    There was one last thing he wanted to try. He sped up the regeneration of the needle, recreating it after a few dozen seconds, then used the water on the ground as a source. It was similar to the pages. He suspected it might be the same thing.


    The needle had the same reaction. It soaked the essence up and turned into black. Hector released the strand.


    That confirmed it then. The source was everywhere. Well, it used to be everywhere. Most of it was gone, with that star illuminating everything. It won''t last long. The star was fading at a faster rate than he predicted; the shadows in the alleyway were more pronounced, and he could see small pools of water again.


    Maybe the grimoire would have a use while the star was still active.


    Hector opened his grimoire and thumbed through the five blank pages. How would he turn them into the black pages? The other grimoire had them, so it should be possible. Did he soak the pages? Wouldn''t that damage the other pages?


    He shrugged and dipped the pages of his grimoire into the water. His grimoire didn''t have any diagrams for the water to damage.


    The Star was interesting. For one, he knew that someone else had caused it. Second, it cleared the streets of the creatures. Was it beneficial? Yes. Could the person do it again? He wouldn''t know. He''d have to prepare for the inevitable sunset.


    Hector picked the grimoire up from the floor. The pages had soaked the water and oozed with the same liquid.


    He made his way to the front of the house and removed the wooden bar barricading the door. That way, he had direct access to the plaza from here.


    There wasn''t anything notable, other than the painting of a white column towering over a black one, with water in between them. The black one was a reflection of the white one if he took the water into account. He had gone over the depiction three times, but didn''t notice anything different.


    Hector found three shards, which made the adventure worth it: that was another three meals secured, or another three sets of poppets. He found it odd there weren''t any sources of food, despite the utensils and dining tables.


    He walked out of the house and back into the plaza.


    Grade 2 (2%)


    Shards: (3)(+3)


    Trial Status:


    Aspirants: (252/1000)


    Proficiencies:


    Strands: Grade 1 (16%)(+3%)


    1: Shape: Needle


    Strand Manipulation: Grade 1 (13%)(+12%)


    Artifacts:


    The Unwritten Grimoire: Grade 1 (11%)(+10%)


    Unused Pages: (0/5)


    5: Nether Well (Corrupted)


    Paper Poppets: Grade 1 (20%)(+5%)


    Poppets: (2/3)


    Permissions


    Strands and Strand Manipulation had increased. The poppet Sebastian had been used, and he obtained the benefit from that. He was sure he was going to see him again. The grimoire was what concerned him. Corrupted? The Nether Well? Was that what it called the murky water? At least he knew it increased with usage.


    It was useful if anything; it guaranteed him an easy source. The Pillar was spouting nonsense.


    He tore the remaining poppets in half and used manifestation to refresh his stock with new ones. He had a specific plan in mind next.


    Shards: (2)(-1)


    Manifestation selected.


    Paper Poppets: Grade 1 (25%)


    Poppets: (3/3)


    The Star was not as bright. He could see the outline of the floating ball if he squinted. Sunset would arrive soon; he''d give it a few hours at this rate. He''d have to prepare, which meant improving those proficiencies, which also translated into his self-defense capabilities.


    Sebastian would come back soon for more poppets. He saw it fit to spend the practicing.


    Hector sat down in front of the pillar, placed the grimoire on his lap, then guided the strand onto it. With the grimoire opened on one lap, he practiced molding the shape.


    From a cube, to a pyramid, to a sphere, then back to a cube. Each iteration was filled with the Nether essence, then drained before shifting to the next shape. It was the most optimal training plan he could''ve thought of.


    Strands: Grade 1 (19%)(+3%)


    Strand Manipulation: Grade 1 (13%)(+2%)


    The Unwritten Grimoire: Grade 1 (15%)(+4%)


    The training plan he devised was designed to improve each aspect of himself. Using the grimoire as a source would increase it, even though he was draining the nether from the pages. Shaping the strands and manipulating the source increased the proficiencies. It was efficient.


    Gold words on the Pillar updated themselves. So long as he was close to it, he had a visual indicator of his progress.

 Chapter 9 - The Second Meeting

    Satiate selected.


    The Star had dimmed, and darkness encroached upon the plaza again.


    Grade 2 (2%)


    Shards: (1)(-1)


    Trial Status:


    Aspirants: (275/1000)


    Proficiencies:


    Strands: Grade 1 (58%)(+42%)


    1: Shape: Cube


    Strand Manipulation: Grade 1 (61%)(+48%)


    Artifacts:


    The Unwritten Grimoire: Grade 1 (35%)(+24%)


    Unused Pages: (0/5)


    3: Nether Well (Corrupted)


    2: (Corrupted)


    Paper Poppets: Grade 1 (25%)


    Poppets: (3/3)


    Permissions


    Hector had made a few notes.


    One: draining a single nether well from his grimoire increased the percentage by a dozen. The drained pages weren''t damp, but still kept their black color. Hector hoped it wasn''t a permanent thing. The Pillar had been vague about its description. Another issue was that the pages were constantly leaking the nether; he''d have to refill them frequently.


    Two: The darkness did not reach the fortress. There were flames along the walls, and he could see figures on top of them. The number of Aspirants had increased, they were most likely the other Aspirants. The Star had most likely drawn them in; It was quite visible in the dark.


    Hector had seen the number of Aspirants drop a few times during his routine. It kept track of the deaths as well. At least, that''s what he assumed. Theoretically, a thousand individuals had to be alive for the indicator to become full. That also made him curious¡ªwhy didn''t he see anyone other than Sebastian?


    Hopefully, he would return with more shards, otherwise he''d have to find another safe house. The Faceless and Strix would populate the streets, and he didn''t want to be here for that. The water¡ªthe nether level had already increased notably, and it coated the stone bricks.


    He was a bit carried away with his shaping, and had used satiate. That meant he had one shard left. Even here he was bound to currency.


    The initial safe house, the one with metal grilles and door, would work. It was secured and close enough to the plaza for ease of access. He''d have to deal with the paper serpent. Hector hadn''t forgotten about the scabbed bite mark he had.


    Footsteps interrupted his thoughts. Hector stood up and shaped the strand back into a needle. As much as he wanted to continue, he couldn''t shape a strand and communicate at the same time.


    "Tell me, Hector. Why are you still here?" The outfit Sebastian wore had not changed; he still wore that white suit and red tie. His appearance change. He was more bruised than before, and his suit had a tinge of dirt on it.


    Hector closed his grimoire and tucked it under his arm. "I could ask you the same question, Sebastian. Why aren''t you over there with the rest of the Aspirants?"


    Sebastian''s eyes darted to the grimoire, then gave him a smile with a gold glint under the lantern light. "Let''s say I had a disagreement with the occupants over there," he said, then held up three shards. "The poppet?"


    "Here," Hector said, then exchanged a clean poppet for two shards and left one in Sebastian''s hand. "Tell me something I don''t know. What''s going on at the tower?"


    Sebastian narrowed his eyes, then pocketed the remaining shard and poppet. "They''re getting ready for the night, but you already know that, don''t you?"


    Hector took a glance at the dimmed Star. "Anyone with eyes would notice a sunset."Stolen story; please report.


    Sebastian paused and rubbed his chin. "Fair enough. Let me tell you something else then," he said. "Someone had already reached the highest grade."


    The highest grade? Was there a limit? "Elaborate."


    "Like I said, someone had reached the highest grade possible." He paused again and wet his lips. "You know how to use the Pillars, don''t you?"


    Sebastian tilted his head towards the Obsidian Pillar. "The Pillar in the castle wouldn''t let anyone go past grade five, not until we''ve begun the trials. It''s all rumors. I wouldn''t rely on it."


    So we had to keep a thousand alive, and there were more Pillars. "Who? Who has reached grade five?"


    Sebastian smiled and rubbed two fingers together. Hector rolled his eyes and threw another shard at him. That left him with one shard.


    "The one in the white armor. Hard to miss," Sebastian said after some thought.


    "That''s all?"


    "What could I say? They never took off the armor. Another rumor has it they''re the first to be here, and they caused the light."


    The first Aspirant? Sebastian wouldn''t give him anything else, not without more shards, and Hector wouldn''t operate at a net loss. "Our business is done. Will you be back?"


    "These dolls are useful. Very useful," Sebastian replied with an amused tone. "I''ll be back. Will we meet here?"


    Hector snapped the grimoire closed, then shook his head. "No, let''s meet at the gray house over there," he said and pointed at the building he previously visited. It would not be safe to meet in the plaza, not after the star was gone.


    Sebastian gave him one last smile, then turned around and walked into the darkness. The Star had been extinguished. Hector''s gaze lingered on his back.


    Sebastian did not keep a light source, and he wouldn''t go back to the tower. Interesting.


    It would have been convenient to meet at the house with the metal door, but it was a safe house for a reason. Hector didn''t invite strangers into his space.


    He exchanged the shard for another fresh set of poppets, then set off to the safe house.


    On the path to the house with a metal door, he encountered the Faceless. They lifted themselves onto their feet from the pool of nether, as though they''ve been lying face down in it. The thin layer shouldn''t have covered the prone bodies, yet they emerged from it.


    One of his poppets became damaged with... whatever the Faceless did to him, and the other from manipulating the nether essence.


    Are the Faceless still human? Would it be unethical to harm them?


    The Faceless breathed and, had the anatomy of a human without the face, but they posed a danger to him. They followed him and threatened him with their presence. They consumed his valuable resources by their existence.


    Therefore, they should not be allowed to exist.


    Hector willed his strand to gather nether essence from the pool of water at his feet. It turned midnight with strings of liquids floating around its thin body.


    He wouldn''t restrain himself against the Faceless, not when they stood in between him, survival, and progress. Human appearances wouldn''t matter when they were a threat¡ªa liability.


    They would crowd around him if he didn''t cull their numbers, and that would increase their lethality exponentially.


    Hector ignited the strand and launched it at the Faceless.


    One benefit of the needle strand was that it''s half the size of the sphere. That meant he could create more in rapid succession if he focused solely on it. Combined with the abundant nether at his feet, he had no issue igniting several in quick succession.


    When the first needle lodged itself into the thigh of the Faceless, several more followed up, turning that body part into a pincushion. The needles melted skyward, and blood filled the deep puncture wounds.


    The ruptured artery ensured a quick death for the Faceless.


    He performed the same action for the other three Faceless. The poppet had half of the head left. To his disappointment, the Faceless didn''t have any shards on them.


    Hector heard a shriek and decided he''d hurry to the safe house. The journey back had been uneventful, and he barricaded the metal door behind him.


    The house had not changed.


    The book and torn papers were scattered on the ground, and the serpent was hiding somewhere in the house, which he''d have to deal with.


    Logically, the serpent hid in one of the books, since that was where he first found it.


    Hector made his way to the bookshelves and opened the book one by one while keeping the needle ready. He didn''t know how useful a needle would be against the serpent, but it was better than nothing.


    The serpent had been hiding in a book titled: The Fundamental of Rituals. It assumed the form of the same circle of words. Hector didn''t fire the strand, not yet; he had an odd idea.


    Would he be able to use the serpent instead?


    The poppet would shield his mind from the information attack, and he would digest the information rather than... reading the book. It would be more efficient.


    He pressed a finger against the circle of letters, then poked and prodded at it. Hector didn''t know what triggered the serpent. Hopefully, this would do the trick.


    As he predicted, the serpent sprung out of the pages, ruining another book, and bit into his arm. A poppet ripped, and the information had been injected into his mind.


    This time, he was ready and gripped the serpent before it could slither away.


    Hector focused on stilled his aching mind and the loud ringing echoing inside of his skull. Like before, Hector slowly sorted the information, separating the useless bits from the useful ones.


    Then Hector understood what a ritual was.


    If spells were temporary tools and instruments, then rituals were the machines to enact permanent change.

 Chapter 10 - The Rituals and Threads

    Rituals were spells with a physical component. It was an umbrella term, there were different subcategories of rituals.


    For example, the writhing serpent Hector gripped by the neck was considered a Familiar; a spell given a permanent physical form and bound to the creator.


    A spell became a ritual when a component was substituted for a physical one; this could be the conduit, shape, or the myriad of other functions he didn''t discover yet. Different materials would have their own effect.


    Sources and by extension essences, were already a pseudo-physical component in themselves.


    It also meant at least one strand had to be dedicated to the ritual, though more are required for anything of value; a balance between the capability to weave strands and the permanent influence the mage had on his surroundings.


    Spells were simple compared to rituals. It was like comparing a bicycle to a car. One was easy to use; the other required knowledge and experience.


    The serpent had wrapped its body around Hector''s arm and tightened around it. He''d have to do something about it, keep it somewhere, and study it. Even better if he could dissect it and recreate something similar.


    Familiars were useful to have, even if he only used it to carry his grimoire and lantern; they were too fragile to be placed in direct danger and rarely posed a danger to someone prepared, but they had utilities in their own ways.


    For example, Familiars could provide an extra pair of eyes, function as a magical battery, or assist in spells and rituals. If he specialized one, they might even function as limited assassins or spotters for spells.


    He wouldn''t become attached to one. They were expendable spells given form, not pets, and were limited in the sense that it was impossible for them to have their own strands; they''re still a portion of their creator''s mind and granted limited autonomy.


    That brought him to the next point: Strands.


    He only had one: the needle, but it was possible to increase that. Strands were like muscles. They grew stronger and tougher with use. Unlike muscles, they could split apart and assume different shapes.


    Hector would have to raise his strand proficiency to grade 2 before he could do that. There wasn''t enough material to split into two separate strands. The needle had already taken a majority of the mental substance to fashion.


    That left him with one issue. Should he hunt for shards and gain an improvement? That would be more beneficial in the long run, but it also meant going outside.


    While he had a strand, it was extremely limited if he could not see his targets in the darkness. It was not safe to stand so close to danger. He required focus to repair, then ignite the needle, and having his target next to him... well, it was impossible for him to use the strand when he had to focus on survival.


    Hector''s thought was interrupted when the serpent had sunk its fangs into his arm, again. It didn''t have any words¡ªvenom on its body, but it still stung.


    Right. The serpent. He had to keep it somewhere. It liked books, so he''d store it in a book he was interested in. He traced the aged spines with a finger and scanned the titles.


    The library didn''t have many books relevant to his interests. Most of them had to do with literature, history, or other irrelevant subjects; Those didn''t help him at the moment. He wanted strands, spells, or rituals. Those were very interesting subjects.


    Three books caught his attention after he catalogued the library.


    Bone Charms: Sympathetic Rituals, Applications, and History [Sanitized Version]


    Mnemonics, Memory Spaces, and Mind PalacesThis book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    The Third, Fourth, and Fifth Eye


    Charms. That was a word the Fundamental of Rituals touched upon. Simply put, they were esoteric properties bound to an object, and in this case, a bone judging from the title. The index showed various rituals to create the charms. He didn''t know the specifics, but the topic sounded intriguing.


    The second book¡ªwhich had to do with memory¡ªmight be useful for storing strand blueprints. He could use his grimoire for that and swap out strands in an instant, but he was already using it to store nether. It might be useful to go with this option instead; it was compatible with his Strand Manipulation proficiency.


    The third book would be more useful. If the title and index told him anything, it had something to do with sight and extrasensory perception, which may be more useful than it initially sounded. Hector could¡ªprobably¡ªuse it to dissect the Familiar and a myriad of other uses, if the name was anything to go by. He couldn''t go wrong with alternative means of perception.


    He chose The Third, Fourth, and Fifth Eye, opened the book, and aggressively smeared the serpent''s head against it. The serpent swam into the book, and the words distorted into a circle. Hector closed the book before anything else could occur.


    If he planned his improvements, the next one would go to the book. That would leave him with two unused improvements at grade five. He''d decide that later.


    He wasn''t sure what the Trials were, if it would take place here or somewhere else, or if he could keep any of the books after it had begun. In this scenario, it was better to go with the foundational skills.


    None of that would be possible without shards.


    Hector wanted a strand that would help him survive in close quarters. More specifically, a strand that could immobilize and eliminate his targets.


    He instructed the needle to draw nether from his grimoire.


    Hector had always consumed the strands when he ignited them. It was a fire and forget solution, like a missile or bullet, but what if he could have a strand persist after ignition?


    He directed the needle at the desk and ignited it.


    The liquid whistled through the air and impaled the desk, only this time it did not splatter like before.


    Hector kept his hold on the strand. Maintaining a strand after igniting it was difficult, far more difficult than simply releasing it. He had to focus and contend with the active essence.


    The needle shook and threatened to break apart. Hector tightened his focus on it and stabilized the strand.


    But it was possible, and that was all that mattered for his next strand.


    He released his hold. The strand burst into a pool of nether drifting along the ceiling.


    Hector gripped the needle with his mind and molded it. This one would be thin, far thinner than any of the strands before, but would use all the material he had.


    He required a weapon that controlled territory¡ªa strand that would take and hold on to space on a battlefield.


    The strand elongated into thin strips, then it multiplied until there were several strips drifting in front of his hand.


    Hector designed this strand with a single concept in mind: control through immobilization.


    Invisible filaments drifted around his body, swaying along an imaginary current. He''d call the new strand, the second strand he had ever designed, Threads. His mind responded and recorded the new name.


    Hector instructed the strand to soak up the nether.


    As the name entailed, the strand was woven from thin threads. A single filament couldn''t pierce skin like a needle, nor could it hold as much essence as a sphere. Its primary advantage was in the area it covered.


    He waved his hand in the air, and the threads distributed themselves across the room like a web. One filament remained attached to his grimoire.


    A single thread was weak. It could be broken with little effort. That wasn''t the point of this strand; it was designed to cover territory and respond to intrusions.


    Hector ignited the strand. Black lines manifested in the air around him and stilled like taut wires.


    His eyes were locked on a single point in front of him. He stood still. A bead of sweat ran down his neck. The strand required attention. All of his attention.


    Under normal circumstances, the threads would react to touch or a disturbance, and Hector would know when they were disturbed by his connection with them. He instructed the threads to respond to an imagined threat.


    The threads responded by collapsing into a single area. The black wires wrapped around the invisible enemy, then tightened. They constricted further into a ball.


    Individually, each thread could be broken with ease. That was because their power was distributed in a wide area. When activated, all of that power collapsed into a single area.


    That was the primary use case of this strand: Area Denial.


    Hector released his hold on the ignited strand. The thin wires ruptured into liquid nether. He took a deep breath and filled his lungs with fresh air.


    It would become easier once he increased his proficiencies. The threads would grow stronger, and he wouldn''t need to devote as much attention to them.


    This strand would permit him to remain in close quarters with an enemy. He wouldn''t if he had a choice. This type of strand was a last resort.


    He could focus the direction and distance for the strand to extend in. The threads were long enough to extend past the light of the lantern; It had some information gathering capability.


    With it, he was prepared to venture outside.

 Chapter 11 - The Obsidian Amulet

    A pack of eyeless hounds ran down the street when Hector stepped out of the safe house.


    They chased something he couldn''t see in the dark, and he didn''t want to know where they were going. He wasn''t arrogant enough to think he could take on more than two of them at once. At most, he could stall them to retreat.


    His surroundings hadn''t changed, other than the water level growing deeper; it had grown back to the previous height before the small star evaporated the nether.


    Hector had covered the sides and the back of the lantern with a cloth, dampening the light. He didn''t need the extra exposure, especially when he knew there were other creatures and humans around. Only the front of the lantern remained exposed to the darkness.


    The skies were clear; at least that''s what he thought. There weren''t any wingbeats or shrieks. That meant his plans could proceed.


    Hector looked down at the compass. It was relatively useful. The red arrow spun rapidly again, making it useless. Unlike the red one, the gray arrow would be useful to navigate the city with since it always pointed to the Pillar in the plaza.


    His first stop: the plaza.


    Water drenched his shoes as he walked down the cobblestone street; the metal street lamps gleamed under his lantern as he passed them. His footsteps were accompanied by the slosh of water in the sewers beneath him.


    It wasn''t completely dark; the fires in the distance and the ones moving further away from the castle¡ªreminded him that there were others. The fortress had become populated.


    The strand above his palm shifted into a cube, into a pyramid, then a sphere. He wouldn''t neglect his primary method of survival. It was becoming easier to manipulate the strands, especially with the rote routine he developed.


    Needle strands were easy to mold if something or someone decided to interrupt him, and he was careful enough to walk in the center of the street.


    Hector''s first objective was to find a home that caught his eyes and check if it had anything valuable in it. It wasn''t robbery if it didn''t have any owners, and he hadn''t seen anyone other than Sebastian.


    For example, a protected house like the safe house, or something opulent like the house off to the side with the gilded wooden frames and stone bricks.


    He stopped, then took a few steps back and turned his head to the side.


    The house was a fit for his criteria. Stained windows, golden wood frames, bricks cut with precision. Perfect. There had to be some shards in there.


    It didn''t have any apparent damage; no one had tried to break in yet. Its contents should be in fine condition. Hector approached the door and attempted to open it. Locked. Of course. That only made it more tempting.


    Hector spent a few minutes weaving together the thread strand, in case something was waiting for him inside. Then he used the stone compass to break the windows. The compass was durable, especially the stone, to his surprise.


    Strands were invisible, so were the mental constructs, but they are still constrained by physics. The mind was too grounded in reality to change that, and the ignited essence required room to flow. Hector guided the ball of threads through the crack and into the dark room, with one connecting to his grimoire.


    He stood still, focused, and expanded the ball. The threads untangled themselves and spread through the room. With a mental click, Hector ignited the strand. The threads hardened and became wires covering every inch of the room.


    Hector closed his eyes and held his breath. He focused on the wires, waiting for any disturbances. An unseen object tripped a wire. The strands responded to the disturbance, wrapping around the entity and tightening.


    He made sure the threads were condensed enough to form the ball again, slicing through the resistance, then drained the nether essence from it, returning the strand back into its invisible state. That way, he didn''t have to recreate it every time he used it.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    With the compass rock in hand, he cleared the remaining glass shards from the window, used the lantern cloth to cover the bottom, and climbed inside.


    There was a corpse with thin cuts on the ground. Hector kicked it over. A Faceless.


    He swept the room with the lantern. There was a second floor, a basement, a counter, and the display cases lining the room.


    The glass cases didn''t have anything in them, they had been emptied by the previous occupants or stolen by an unknown method.


    If the door was locked, and there was a Faceless in the room, then it was probably the owner or an employee of the building. Hector kneeled down and searched the body. He found a luxurious key with a ruby engraved on it.


    Other than a book recording the transactions of the business¡ªjewelries and the likes¡ªhe didn''t find anything else on the first floor. That left the floor above him and the basement.


    The second floor didn''t have anything notable, other than the empty crates. They were scattered about, some of them were toppled over while others remained stacked. It was a mess, to say the least. He made sure they were empty before leaving.


    Hector made his way to the basement, down the steps, then stopped at a metal door.


    Lines, inscriptions like the ones on his shattered ring, were carved into the door. They were faded, dusty, and didn''t serve any purpose other than keeping him out. He fished the key out of his pocket and inserted it into the keyhole, which unlocked after a bit of effort and a heavy click.


    Air blew against his face, and the vault was illuminated by the lantern. There was a large hole in the wall. It had wood planks on the floor and he heard the sound of water echoing from it.


    The other thing he noticed was the box next to the hole, with an obsidian amulet and a note next to it. The top half of the paper had a white coating on it, with the ink being black; the bottom of the paper was black, with white ink. Hector picked up the note and read it.


    Initiate,


    We have breached the ruins.


    Your instructions are to guard this entrance to the ruins. Eliminate anyone who becomes aware of this opening or the nature of our operations.


    We have provided you with an amulet. Use it in emergencies, or to replenish your supplies. Do not alert the other amulet holders to your location.


    If you require assistance or have been discovered, inform us and collapse the entrance.


    Signed,


    The Marble Order


    Was that Faceless a guard? He didn''t have anything resembling a weapon. Hector picked up the amulet. The moment he did, his vision was bombarded by gold words.


    Unidentified personnel detected...


    Linking to the Obsidian...


    Aspirant Identified.


    The words were similar to the ones on the Obsidian pillars.


    Unbound Artifact Detected: Obsidian Amulet


    Obsidian Amulet: (Unbound)


    It is very difficult to break the Obsidian. When they are broken, these fragments are the result.


    (1) Possession of this amulet permits access an Obsidian network, based on the nearest Obsidian construct. Each network will only support a number of amulets, and removal of an amulet will undo the link.


    (2) The amulet will permit the usage of permissions at the cost of a charge. Charges can be restored at an Obsidian construct.


    (3) This amulet will grant the ability to locate other amulet holders. This will also reveal the owner''s location.


    Linked Amulets: (4/10)


    Charges: (2/3)


    This was useful... but also risky. Very risky. There was a limit to the amount of amulets active, which made it a limited resource. From a cursory glance of the text, he could tell it was valuable too; valuable enough to attract unwanted attention.


    Wars were fought for resources like these.


    He''d save time on his trips to the Pillar, but in turn, his location would be broadcasted to the other holders. Time was a more valuable commodity, and this artifact saved him a lot of time.


    The benefits outweigh the risks.


    Hector wore the amulet around his neck. Using it was intuitive, and he used it to view the gold words.


    Realizing Strand Manipulation: Grade 1 (+101%)(+40%)...


    Strand Manipulation: Grade 2 (1%) Realized.


    Grade 2 (2%)


    Shards: (2)


    Trial Status:


    Aspirants: (328/1000)


    Proficiencies:


    Strands: Grade 1 (88%)(+30%)


    1: Shape: Threads


    Strand Manipulation: Grade 2 (1%)


    Artifacts:


    The Unwritten Grimoire: Grade 1 (47%)(+12%)


    Unused Pages: (0/5)


    2: Nether Well (Corrupted)


    3: (Corrupted)


    Paper Poppets: Grade 1 (33%)(+8%)


    Poppets: (1/2) (1)


    Obsidian Amulet: (Unbound)


    Linked Amulets: (4/10)


    Charges: (2/3)


    Permissions


    Hector felt different after realizing the proficiency. The strand floating beside him was more familiar, as though he could feel the texture of every thread wrapped around one another. It was a subtle difference, but he could build on that sensation and become more familiar with it.


    Even if he did not find any shards, this amulet made this trip worth the trouble, but that wasn''t all it had for him. The giant hole in the wall was still there and where it led sparked his curiosity.