Seated at the familiar desk where he had picked all of his spells, Kaius reached for the tomes that littered the lacquered wood and summoned the descriptions of the offerings available.
Tears of Hunlo:
Runic Hymn - Tier II (Evocation)
Affinity: Magma, Fire
Glyph: Drakthar
1200 Mana
Selection Available!
This Hymn summons a trio of large magma orbs that burn with a spirit's despair. Floating above the caster, they can be fired towards targets at will.
…
Starfall:
Runic Hymn - Tier II (Evocation)
Affinity: Celestial, Earth
Glyph: Drakthar
2000 Mana
Selection Available!
This Hymn creates a large celestial field above a chosen point, where small meteors rain upon the ground below in a continuous stream.
…
Kul’Toor’s Executor:
Runic Hymn - Tier II (Evocation)
Affinity: Metal, Severance
Glyph: Drakthar
1000 Mana
Selection Available!
This Hymn summons an immense steel blade that cuts and crushes all in its path, and possesses armour penetrating properties.
…
Titan’s Grasp:
Runic Hymn - Tier II (Evocation)
Affinity: Stone
Glyph: Drakthar
1350 Mana
Selection Available!
This Hymn causes a hand of stone to erupt beneath a target, crushing them in its grip.
Leaning back in his chair, Kaius couldn't help but smile. What was on offer was exactly what he had hoped for out of second-tier spells. They were expensive, sure, but each sounded incredibly potent compared to what he already had. Still, with how lean spell descriptions were, it was hard to conceptualize how much stronger they really were.
“Are they really, what, ten times stronger than my current offerings?”
His guide nodded.
“Thereabouts or more. Second-tier spells generally tend to be a bit more efficient in their energy usage. You won't find them lacking in potency — regardless of what you pick, I doubt you’ll be disappointed by their simple power.”
Kaius nodded, his eyes glazing over as he returned to his spells.
Thankfully, his pick was easy — Kul’Toor’s Executor; Titan’s Grasp; Tears of Hunlo; they were all potent — but he had only eyes for Starfall.
He had been in need of an area of effect spell for some time.
Even against potent single targets like Guardians, he could see it being effective. It was hard to dodge an attack that blanketed the entire arena with a continuous rain of projectiles.
Though, he did admit Titan’s Grasp was tempting. It seemed like it would be difficult to evade, and even if it didn’t kill immediately, it could hamper movement or render a foe immobile.
Regardless, Stormlash already fit that function — and even if a second-tier spell would be stronger, it wasn’t enough to beat out Starfall. He’d had need of a spell like that for too long.
If only it wasn’t so expensive. Thankfully, that would only be an issue for the first levels of the tier. He remembered when he’d first gotten his class — he’d only been able to inscribe a bare few casts of Stormlash.
Even if the spell cost a whopping two-thousand mana, there would come a time where that cost was inconsequential.
Reaching across the desk, he pulled the tome with its white leather binding speckled in black towards him.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“You’re certain? That was a fast pick,” his guide asked.
Kaius nodded decisively, “I’ve needed an area spell for a while — It’s a big reason Varkos was a tempting alternative to Drakthar.”
His guide only gave him a knowing smile as they nodded their head.,“In that case… let us start our lesson.”
His class guide waved a hand, and a hovering image of a three-dimensional spell hymn appeared before them — one that was a whole order of magnitude more complex than any he had seen before.
Kaius sucked in a breath. This might take a bit longer than normal.
…
Groaning as he rubbed his head, Kaius slumped against the desk.
He’d always assumed that learning a second-tier spell would be difficult. He hadn’t quite expected it to be that bad though. Hours of torturously etching out lines in his mana, restarting as he made mistake after mistake — the fineness of the strokes demanding dexterity he barely possessed.
Even with his new boost to manipulation skills thanks to Harmonic Control, it was vastly more complex than what he was used to. Thank the gods he wasn’t bound by the limitations of his normal mana pool here in the class selection space.
His guide laughed, reaching across to pat him on the back. “There, there. You did well! Plus, with that, your second selection is done.”
“Just like that,” Kaius muttered.
“Just like that. Quite a feat, on your world.”
Kaius still struggled to reconcile that. Sure, he’d pushed himself hard, but it had only been a year. Most people never reached the second tier — though, perhaps the integration would change that.
His guide gave him a knowing smile, leaning against the lacquered wood of the desk.
“Before you leave here — do you have any more questions? Niggling things about the second tier?”
There was one thing. A thought that had lingered.
“My skills—the ones that didn’t evolve. Can they level as normal now?”
His guide hopped up to sit on the desk’s edge and nodded. “They can — the General ones, at least — but the wall between the first and second tier is large. Without the boost of energy from evolution, it takes time. You have to find the right push to cross the bottle neck. Expect that first level to come sporadically, stretched out as you drive those skills to the utmost.”
“And my class Skills?” Kaius pressed. He knew they wouldn’t evolve until two hundred class levels after he’d first received them, but his memory of their discussion a year ago was hazy.
“They’ll stay at two hundred until they’re ready. Class Skills, for all their potency, are tied to the supporting structure of your soul. They’re less self-directed than general skills.”
Something in his guide’s tone made Kaius narrow his eyes. He flashed back to the team’s discussion, when Ianmus had theorized that maybe the way skills progressed would change — tied less to repetitive use, and more to personal mastery and insight.
The guide just shook his head. “I told you last time, Kaius. Matters of future stages of integration are not something I can discuss — you’ll have to find out for yourself.”
His Guide’s voice was frustratingly even, their face a perfectly controlled half-smile. It was the barest of hints — only that something would change, but not if he was on the right track, or even if it was to do with skills.
Sighing, Kaius rubbed his eyes. Perhaps it was best to put it aside until he could learn firsthand. “That was my only question.”
“In that case… I’ll see you next time. You’ve done well. Keep it up, and I have no doubt you’ll make it to the end. Few are capable, and fewer still surround themselves with friends as committed as yours. Feel proud of what you’ve achieved.”
Before Kaius could reply, the guide waved his hand. He blinked, and class selection was over.
…
Groaning, Kaius felt the damp air of the swamp biome sitting heavy against his skin and the half-sodden blankets beneath him seeping through his armour.
“Kaius, you’re back!” Porkchop said, ramming his head into Kaius’s chest.
Giving his brother a half-conscious hug, Kaius pushed himself up, blinking. “Good to see you too, buddy. How long was I out?”
“Half an hour at most. No sign of beasts or dangers,” Kenva said from across their camp, still pecking at the remnants of food he’d cooked earlier.
The sight was disorienting: it felt like days had passed. Still — just as the system had promised — its mastery of temporal manipulation exceeded Xenanra’s. There was none of the disassociating brain fog her time compression had caused.
“More importantly… how was it? What did you get? What changed? Tell us everything!” Ianmus leaned forward, eyes intense.
“Don’t leave anything out,” Porkchop agreed, shuffling closer to sit at Kaius’s side. “I know you can’t tell us specifics, but at least share your new class and skills.”
Summoning a waterskin, Kaius drank deep, cleared his throat, and nodded.,“I narrowed my class choices to five. Two were poorly suited to me, but interesting — conceptual magic, the kind that might broadly influence reality.”
“Fascinating!” Ianmus said with a gleam in his eyes. “It’s hard to believe something as powerful as your Vos is just the barest corner of a greater branch waiting to be discovered.”
Kaius nodded, a familiar thrum of excitement stirring. It was true. Broadening Vos would be a focus of this tier — if he was lucky, an evolution down the line might even grant further insight. Even if it didn’t, he could find it for himself; explore the reaches of what he had already seized.
“And the three good options?” Kenva asked.
“All evolutions of Runeblade Initiate. One focused on exploration; another on leadership — glyphic magic to bolster allies and the like. Both looked strong, but I chose the Runeblade Hellion in the end. It’s everything I’m already good at. Explosive assaults, and uncompromising, relentless violence after careful preparation.”
“A good pick,” Ianmus agreed. “You’re already flexible — and one of our main sources of offense.”
Kaius nodded and shared the rest — how four of his general Skills had evolved, Explorer’s Toolkit among them. He explained his new spell too, Starfall, and the wide area devastation he now had available.
Throughout his tale, Ianmus fidgeted restlessly, his love of magic making him eager, perhaps hoping for insights into his own sigils. Celestial affinity was a cousin of solar, after all — distant, but linked.
“And that’s about that.” Kaius looked around the team. “What now? Who’s next?”
The others shared looks before Porkchop perked up. “Me. We thought it best that I finish quickly. If we need to move suddenly before everyone’s done, you and I will be best positioned to defend with second-tier classes — and if we’re attacked while I’m out, it will easier for you to protect me compared to Kenva or Ianmus. I’m less fragile.”
“Fair enough,” Kaius said, pushing to his feet. “Let’s get that under-armor off you.”
Porkchop grunted, starting to undo the buckles with his ghost hand. They moved quickly, yanking off heavy layers of quilted leather.
“What’s all this?” Kenva asked. “Why bother?”
“Well… Porkchop’s bloodline progression is a little more intense than class evolutions. No guarantee the enchantments will last.”
Kaius tugged at the slate-grey padded leather, pulling it free. It was different from the old set that they’d picked up in Threefields. A second tier Unusual, it had potent Well Fitted and Resizing enchantments, but Kaius had no idea if it could adapt as fast as his brother’s body would mutate.
“It can’t be that aggressive, can it?” Ianmus asked, giving Porkchop an appraising look. “I know you said it was uncomfortable to watch, but how bad?”
“Don’t look at me,” Porkchop said, shrugging. “I just went to sleep, and woke up different. He’s the one who saw it.”
He nodded at Kaius.
“I don’t think words will do it justice,” Kaius shuddered at the memory — the writhing convulsions, and the sounds of bones snapping as joints tore apart. “Just wait.”
Freeing the last strap, he tucked the under-armor into his ring. “You ready?”
“I am.” Porkchop’s claws quivered with anticipation, digging faint furrows into the blanket.
“Then have fun.” Kaius grinned, slapping him on the back of the head.
Porkchop rolled his eyes and settled down. A moment later his eyes rolled back, and Kaius gave his brother one last look before shifting to give him room.
“You might want to shuffle back,” he told Ianmus and Kenva.
The two exchanged concerned glances, before they quickly obeyed.
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