“Breathe, Jack!” Olric shouted again, gesturing for Jack to breathe in and out slowly.
Around them, his room was burning. It started with the quilt but quickly spread to the bedposts.
“Shit!” Jack shouted, finally jolting into full alertness. He jumped off the bed, but that just made everything worse.
His entire world was the warm embrace of fire, and he had no idea how to stop it.
“BREATHE,” Olric bellowed, this time infusing his voice with a pulse of power.
It cut through the rising panic in Jack’s mind, and he took in a single, shuddering breath. The flames went down fractionally.
“Again! Close your eyes and focus on your breath!” Olric commanded, sounding every bit the military leader.
Jack complied. He closed his eyes and breathed in. Then out. Then in again.
With each repetition, he felt the warmth recede inside of him. It wasn’t disappearing, but rather returning to a place inside of him where it had always belonged. It was strange. As best he could explain it, it was as if there was a new muscle inside of him. If he focused on it, he could flex it and then gain a whole new awareness of fire.
It wasn’t like he was suddenly a firebender, or anything like that, but simply an awareness tied to a reservoir he hadn’t known he possessed.
But it was there.
He let out another breath, and the fire finished retreating inside his veins. He opened his eyes just in time to see the bedposts, quilt, and now curtains all relinquish their flames as he absorbed them.
Jack felt supernaturally good, which only heightened his embarrassment and guilt at seeing the destruction his new class had already caused.
Olric stood across from him, looking ready to strangle Jack.
“Uh… Hi, Olric!” Jack tried to sound amiable, but it just came off squeaky.
“Dammit, Jack. I told you to wait. Did you think I did that purely out of the kindness of my heart?!” Olric fumed.
“Yeah, actually,” Jack admitted, but instantly regretted it.
“Oho! Is that so? We seem to be at a misunderstanding, then. I’m not your mother. I’m not your caretaker. Void soil and swallow me, I’m barely your guide in this messed-up world.” Olric stood to his full height and tucked a stray lock of gray hair behind his ear. “So, when I tell ya to do somethin’, it ain’t out of some ill-conceived notion to coddle ya. It’s because I’m tryin’ to help you not die every damned day.”
Olric spat on the ruined floorboards. “Which, it seems, is exactly your goal since arriving on Aethros. Is that it? Do you really want to die, Jack?”
Jack was taken aback at the anger and desperation carefully hidden behind Olric’s words. Slowly, he shook his head.
Olric threw his hands up in defeat. “Well, glory be, Jack. Glad to hear ya ain’t trying to kill yourself every time you do something. It’s just a happy accident, now ain’t it?” Olric sighed and clenched his eyes shut. “Just… Just trust me next time I tell ya to do somethin’. There’s always a damn reason behind it. I promise. And if you’re curious about what it might be, just ask, for Ardent’s sake!”
“Got it. I will. Next time. I promise,” Jack replied, grateful his voice didn’t falter this time.
They stared at each other, each assessing the other’s true intentions. When Olric seemed satisfied with his, he gave Jack a nod, and the tension broke.
“I’ll help fix this,” Jack said quickly, pointing to the destroyed room.
“Like hell you will,” Olric retorted. “You need to get ahold of those flames of yours. Because if you’d bothered to ask why I suggested you sleep last night, it’s because I had a good deal more to tell you about class selection this morning. Like, oh, I don’t know, that if ya happened to choose a class with magic attached, that your body would undergo an arcane growth spurt as your body and soul reassimilated with one another!”
Olric shook his head. “No, you’re going to go train until you’ve got a lid on those new powers of yours. I’m going into town to get your paperwork ironed out, and now to get some damn lumber too.” He leveled a withering glare on Jack that would’ve made Steward green with envy. “And if I come back and you’re dead, dying, or otherwise close to your demise, I will kill you right then and there, Ardent, hear my prayer. That understood, kid?”
“Crystal,” Jack wheezed, doing his best to keep his ground under that pitiless stare.
“Good. I’ll be back around sundown. Breakfast is on the counter. Try to rest, and focus on your breathing until you can guarantee me you won’t spontaneously combust. Again.” Olric turned and left the room, but hesitated in the hall.
Mostly obscured from view, he asked, “Out of sheer curiosity, what’s the name of that class you got?”
“Cinder Sovereign,” Jack replied before he thought better of it. “It’s a legendary class,” he added with a touch of pride.
Olric let out a long whistle. “Damn, kid.” He turned back, and his warm brown eyes had a dangerous glint in them. “That’s not bad. Not bad at all. Let’s talk more about it when I’m back. Rest.”
The level 42 farmer left the house, and Jack was once again alone.
Jack let out a long sigh and assessed the damage he’d caused. A good six or seven floorboards would need to be replaced. The quilt, mattress, both bedposts, and curtains would need to go too. It was a lot, and Jack would gladly put in the work to pay off his debt for the damages, but at the same time, he couldn’t really linger in the guilt.
He’d caused this damage because he’d been on fire! Fire that he had, in the last few moments, controlled! The thought sent a wave of restless energy coursing through his nerves.
“I’m sorry, Olric, but I’m not much of a rest-until-you’re-better kind of guy,” Jack apologized.
Still, he could make sure that he didn’t ruin any more rooms in the farmer’s house. Exiting his bedroom, he moved through the hallway, grabbed a slice of buttered bread and honeymallow from the kitchen counter, then headed outside.
The storm had passed, yet large puddles had formed in its wake throughout Olric’s yard and various paths. In the retreating colors of dawn, Jack noticed a large weeping willow tree off to one side. It was between the barn and the house, with a small garden of flowers planted around it. The willow’s branches danced in the wind.
Jack walked over to where a large boulder was entrenched near the tip of one end of the farm’s front lawn. He moved easily across the dryer portions of the grass, jumping onto the broad side of the stone. It was warm from the sun’s kiss, and he quickly sat down, enjoying the contrast of the rock’s heat and the wind’s biting chill.
Strangely, his body only intellectually registered the cold. It was as if it said, ‘Hey, just wanted to let you know that this climate is technically cold. But who cares, right?’
Strange, Jack thought. Maybe it’s a passive effect from a new skill I got or something?
Jack grinned. “Time to find out.”
He pulled up his character sheet and mentally selected the skill tree. Surprisingly, there was a new section to it.
SKILLS:
- Sword Mastery: Level 1
- Rank: Novice
- Pugilism: Level 10
- Rank: Novice
- Blunt Weapon Mastery: Level 3
- Rank: Novice
- Relentless Spirit: Level 3
- Rank: Novice
- Cleansing Light: Level 0
- Rank: Novice
- Inspect: Level 4
- Rank: Novice
- Soul Fusion: Level 0
- Rank: Novice
CLASS SKILLS:
- Smoldering Fists: Level 0
- Rank: Novice
- Cinder Step: Level 0
- Rank: Novice
- Phoenix Blood: Level 0
- Rank: Novice
- Furnace Heart: Level 0
- Rank: Novice
- Flameborn’s Edict: Level 0
- Rank: Novice
Jack’s smile was so wide it hurt.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Finally.
Finally, he was taking his first true strides toward getting stronger. His increasing stats had been satisfying, yes. And leveling up his Pugilism skill had been awesome. But this…
This was true power.
“Now, what do each of you do?” Jack inquired of his new class skills. He pulled up their full descriptions.
// ═════════════════════════════════════════════════
// Smoldering Fists: Level 0
// ═════════════════════════════════════════════════
? Rank: Novice
? Description:
Wrap your hands in fire that burns through normal defenses. Not the roaring inferno you’ll command later—just concentrated heat that sears on contact. Each consecutive hit on the same target builds heat, making your punches progressively more devastating. Three hits in a row and leather starts to char. Four and metal glows red.
? Effect:
→ Coat fists in fire that bypasses 25% of physical armor.
→ Each consecutive hit on same target increases damage by 15% (stacks 3 times).
→ Fourth consecutive hit ignites flammable materials on target.
→ User takes 3% of damage dealt as feedback burn.
? Attribute Cost: 5 Constitution per second sustained
? Cooldown: None
// ═════════════════════════════════════════════════
// Cinder Step: Level 0
// ═════════════════════════════════════════════════
? Rank: Novice
? Description:
Explosive movement that leaves scorched earth behind. Dash twenty feet in a burst of speed and heat—enemies caught in your path suffer burns, and your arrival point erupts in a brief flash of flame. Perfect for closing distance or escaping, but the heat signature and scorch marks make stealth impossible. Everyone knows where you’ve been.
? Effect:
→ Dash 20 feet in chosen direction, leaving burning trail.
→ Enemies within 2 feet of path take minor fire damage.
→ Create 3-foot radius flash of flame at arrival point.
→ Can chain into melee attacks immediately after dash.
? Attribute Cost: 15 Dexterity + 8 Strength
? Cooldown: 12 seconds
// ═════════════════════════════════════════════════
// Phoenix Blood: Level 0
// ═════════════════════════════════════════════════
? Rank: Novice
? Description:
Your blood runs hotter than magma. Poison burns away before it can spread. Infections die in the heat. Wounds cauterize quickly—you won’t bleed out, but fatal wounds will scar if survived through this method. Pain tolerance increases because what’s another burn when you’re already on fire inside? Responds positively to heightened emotional states. The heat is always there, simmering just below the surface.
? Effect:
→ Immune to poison and disease.
→ Increase natural healing rate by 30%.
→ Wounds automatically cauterize.
→ +25% pain resistance.
? Attribute Cost: N/A
? Cooldown: N/A
// ═════════════════════════════════════════════════
// Furnace Heart: Level 0
// ═════════════════════════════════════════════════
? Rank: Novice
? Description:
Let the fire inside surge to the surface. Your core temperature spikes, creating a damaging aura that burns nearby enemies. You hit harder, move faster, and wooden weapons blacken in your grip. The heat is intense—stamina depletes rapidly and you’ll be exhausted when it ends—but for twenty seconds, you are a walking inferno. Enemies learn to keep their distance or burn.
? Effect:
→ Activate 8-foot damage aura (continuous fire damage to enemies).
→ Increase Strength and Dexterity by 20%.
→ Burn away 40% of incoming projectiles mid-flight.
→ Stamina depletes 2.5× faster while active.
→ Maximum duration: 20 seconds.
? Attribute Cost: 25 Constitution + 8 Dexterity per second
? Cooldown: 4 minutes
// ═════════════════════════════════════════════════
// Flameborn’s Edict: Level 0
// ═════════════════════════════════════════════════
? Rank: Novice
? Description:
When your enemy falters, the ember inside roars into an inferno. Mark a critically wounded foe (10% health or below) and ignite the space between you—a blazing rush that closes distance in a corona of flame. Your fist (or weapon) becomes wreathed in fire as you deliver a devastating execution strike. The closer they are to death, the more magnificent your killing blow.
This is the Cinder Sovereign’s decree: those who fall before you burn.
? Effect:
→ Target must be at 10% health or below to activate.
→ Instantly dash to target (up to 15 feet) in a streak of flame, leaving burning footprints.
→ Execute a single empowered strike with fist (or weapon) wreathed in fire:
- At 10% enemy health: +200% damage
- At 5% enemy health: +350% damage
- At 2% or less enemy health: +500% damage, guaranteed critical hit
→ On kill: Restore 15% of YOUR maximum health and gain temporary flame aura (10 seconds) that burns nearby enemies for minor fire damage.
→ On failure to kill: Deal massive damage but suffer harsh recoil—15% of YOUR current health as backlash, momentary stagger.
? Attribute Cost: 30 Strength, 20 Resilience
? Cooldown: 45 seconds
“Hell yeah!” Jack shouted from atop his rock, and he pumped both fists into the air. “This is amazing! I wonder if it’s my new Phoenix Blood skill that allowed me to recall that fire inside of me? And was it the Furnace Heart skill that wreathed me in those flames? Wait, that can’t be right. I don’t have enough AP to cast that yet. Were those flames just some autonomic trigger, like Olric was saying?”
Jack got into a low crouch on the boulder, unable to hold in his excitement.
“Oooh, I should invest my remaining AP!”
He studied all of his skills and saw that the common denominator was Constitution and Dexterity. That made a lot of sense to him, as Cinder Sovereign was basically a solo tank class. He’d need a lot of health for his survivability, and a ton of speed to keep up with his pugilism-focused attacks. Still, he wouldn’t forget Myrtle’s wisdom. And with his new class, he’d be guaranteed at least 2 points of Resilience in perpetuity.
And who knew? Once he got his class evolution, those stats might increase per level!
He was just about to dump all his points into Constitution and Dexterity when he hesitated.
Jack cursed, remembering his divine skill. He teetered there, weighing his options. On one end, he could invest immediately into his class skills, working his way up to being able to cast them as quickly as possible. On the other hand, he really wanted to know what Soul Fusion did in practice. Even more importantly, if his divine skill is what sets him apart as a Banisher, it might prove the key to surviving in this place.
“Dammit,” Jack sighed, making his decision.
He had 10 AP to work with. Comparing his stats to Soul Fusion’s requirements, he needed only 2 Resilience to reach the 25 AP prerequisite for that attribute. Then, he only needed 3 more Constitution to meet that prerequisite. That left 5 unspent AP.
Without a word, Jack put it all into his Strength stat, bringing it just 5 additional points away from meeting the final requirement to cast Soul Fusion.
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ ║
║ ▂▃▄▅▆▇█▓?? CHARACTER SHEET ??▓█▇▆▅▄▃▂ ║
║ ║
║ ╭───────────────────────────────────────────────╮ ║
║ │ Name: Jack Thatcher │ ║
║ │ Race: Human │ ║
║ │ Class: Cinder Sovereign │ ║
║ │ Level: 10 [██████????????] (2100/10,000) │ ║
║ ╰──────────────────────────────────────────────╯ ║
║ ║
║ ═══════════════ ATTRIBUTE POINTS ════════════════ ║
║ AP Available: (0) ║
║ ? Strength: 20 ████████████████??? ║
║ ? Dexterity: 8 ███████????? ║
║ ? Constitution: 20 █████████████???? ║
║ ?? Perception: 9 █████████??? ║
║ ?? Resilience: 25 ███████████████████????? ║
║ ?? Charisma: 3 ███????????? ║
║ ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
With that settled, he glanced around, suddenly frantic for a spot where he could try out any of his skills. His eyes came to rest on a large clearing in front of the barn. There were a few puddles, but that was fine. Who knew? He might clear those out with his new fire powers!
With a boyish whoop, he jumped off the boulder and sprinted to the unobscured space.
It was time to set his fists on fire.