Nate stared out of the window of the second floor of his workshop as rain pattered against it. The alchemical concoction he had imbibed roiled in his belly. The feeling of the life mana flooding his body stood in sharp contrast to the city beyond the glass panes. Back on Earth, he had played witness to more than one storm, but never on this scale. Certainly they had existed, but where he lived had never been struck by a hurricane. Not while he had been alive anyway. So seeing the gale-force winds whip over the sandstone buildings of the Capital was a new experience. It had a beauty to it, but it was tinged with violence and destruction. It was a melancholic beauty, he decided. Nature's might and fury unleashed. Captivating to watch but perilous to those unprepared or unprotected.

  His workshop was fortunately neither of those things. In addition, the entire Merchant’s District was protected to some extent by the same enchantments that prevented mana from escaping the area. He could sense, through his Farsight Sphere of Awareness, how the ambient mana beyond the District’s barriers had taken on a number of affinities, the strongest being that of the Storm. It made the storm somewhat gentler within the confines of the District. The same could not be said of the Slums. Forget his sphere of awareness, he had seen more than one piece of cloth or wooden stall blown into the sky with his eyes. He supposed he should just be thankful that the sandstone the buildings were made from meant that the roofs were far sturdier than any timber, thatch or thin metal that might have been used on Earth.

  Turning away from the window, he sighed, forcibly putting the thoughts out of his mind. There was nothing he could do for the denizens of the Slums. Not yet. But maybe one day. To get to that day he needed to get through this one, and the one after that, slowly growing his power and wealth. To his mind there was no point in gaining the kind of wealth Kiri seemed to have in mind if they weren’t also going to use it to make life better for others. Even if the impact that he could have was small in the grand scheme of things, that still seemed worthwhile to him: creating a better world. Of course, he knew that there was an element of naivety to his desires, and that many would say he should prioritise his own growth to the exclusion of all else. But surely, there had to be some inflection point where the small gains in power he would experience paled against the impact he could have on the lives of others.

  Turning to Jacque, he watched the ex-Professor reviewing the latest rune designs for mass production. He had made a second set of Runecrafted Twin Boxes of Spatial Transfer and, for the last two weeks, had been using them to supply the man with mostly Uncommon materials and a few Rare metals. The initial returns had needed to be reinvested though – Kiri’s words and advice, of course. The problem was that Jacque had lacked any useful material shaping skills. Enchanters didn’t really need any beyond the skills they gained around gems and gem dust. So the first profits they had earned went towards buying a Skill Orb of Metal Shaping for the man. This meant that Nate would need to do less work to prepare the materials, as the runes needed to be inscribed into metal, be they weapons and armour, or rings and amulets.

  “Do the designs make sense?” he asked Jacque, intentionally interrupting the man's review. He didn’t have all day and had some of his own work to get to.

  “They do. I am seeing a few inefficiencies though. They could be redesigned to improve the mana efficiency,” answered his pupil. The thought still made him laugh internally. Him, almost twenty years old and teaching this man at least a decade and a half his senior.

  “They’re intentional. Kiri’s orders. She is concerned if we produce things too powerful that we will draw unwanted attention and we don’t want that this early in the company's development. So, we’re making things slightly better than the competition, but not so much better that they start asking questions about why and how. Your presence is enough for them to suspect that your Skills are the reason. Feel free to improve on the designs in your own time, but nothing we’re selling should incorporate them. Okay?”

  “Understood…and…I just wanted to say thank you again. That Skill you bought for me alone has already helped me to progress. Who knows where I might be in a year or two. I just…wanted to say thank you.”

  Nate nodded with a smile, heading for the door. His own workroom was downstairs in the basement, with additional layers of security on it in the form of illusion and obfuscation wards. It was also reinforced against spatial entry.

  “How’s it going?” he sent mentally to Frick.

  “It’s done, Boss. Just doing some last minute checks and then I will return,” responded Frick immediately.

  As planned, they had moved the location of his mana gathering facility. Destroying and filling in the previous location on the Universities mana pipeline, they had instead relocated the hidden pocket to one of the mana pipelines that entered the city before it was split up and divided between the various districts. He had intentions to move it to another of those pipelines in two to three months. His hope was that if anyone tracked the volume of mana being pumped into the capital, that his theft would be small enough to go unnoticed. Alternatively, if it was noticed, by moving the pipeline affected, that it would be chalked up as some sort of mana anomaly beyond the city's outskirts.

  He might have felt bad about his continued theft of mana, but one thought about the people he was stealing from was enough to squash that emotional response. The Nobility were already stealing mana from most of their own populace, and while two wrongs might not necessarily make a right, they certainly made him not give a shit about inconveniencing the aristocracy.

  Entering his own workshop, he pulled up his Skill gains for the past two weeks.

  Empowered Amplified Magic 33 > 35

  Conceptual Runic Creation 43 > 44

  True Teleportation 34 > 35

  Conceptual Insight 44 > 45

  Farsight of the Runic Artist 46 > 47

  Conceptual Automation 19 > 20

  Conceptual Material 38 > 39

  Material Shaping 11 > 15

  Spatial Empowerment 7 > 10

  Conceptual Intent 44 > 45

  Conceptual Runic Artistry 41 > 42

  All his Skills had continued to progress. The process was slower as the Skills achieved higher levels and the ambient mana of the Royal University could only help advance the Skills by so much. That said, he was still growing at a more than decent rate, he felt. It was Conceptual Automation that he focused on, though. He could tell the Skill was almost ready to evolve and he had already invested one of his Skill Enhancement Orbs towards the Skill. He just needed to give it one last push. Then it would be time to focus on Conceptual Material. His construct creating skill came first though. Taking a lump of hardened paint out of his spatial storage, he placed the rainbow swirl onto the workbench. He still wasn’t sure about how to apply his Conceptual Material to liquids, but the hardened paint had qualified as a solid and had taken to the process with a gusto. Now, his hardened lump of paint, filled with an affinity for Illusion, would become his last construct before he evolved his Skill. He wasn’t certain if using paint would matter for his Embodiment, but he supposed that at this moment, he didn’t care.

  Flowing mana into his Skill he activated Conceptual Automation, adding Conceptual Intent as he tried to force the resulting construct to not only embody the Concept of Illusion, but to use that Concept to start converting the ambient mana surrounding it. The notification dinged in the corner of his vision but he ignored it for a moment, reviewing the results of his latest experiment. The hardened paint blew away on motes of rainbow light. At least, that is what his eyes told him. His sphere of awareness, however, sensed the paint become an amorphous blob, hidden from his eyes as it refused to reflect light. Instead, it created the Illusion of lights, recreating some of his own paintings hanging in the air. He supposed that made sense. He had used his own Intent, which likely meant a piece of his soul energy had been involved. When it came to painting, what other memories would it contain than those of creating his own works.

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  The illusionary canvas flickered and shifted, showing first the painting of food on clouds from the Slums. Then it shifted to Aisling, standing alone on a hill with a storm in the background. Another flicker and he was looking at Britt, lying naked on his bed with her bright smile directed at him. So far, the paintings had elicited nothing but a feeling of joy and content. The next one left him with a sense of wonder, just like the first time he had seen it – the place between universes, the rainbow of energies dancing on such a grand scale that his mind still struggled to process it. Then the painting shifted again. A chess board, the kings and queens back in their box. The face of his mother and father in that same box.

  He let the tears flow freely as they trickled down his face. It had been a while since he last thought of them. But even now, a decade later, he still missed them. He let the feelings linger for a moment, even as his construct dissipated, the mana and the paint’s affinity spent. Wiping away the tears, he smiled a little. They would be proud of him. He knew that, in his heart of hearts. But they were gone, and from everything he had learned, even with the power of magic, there was nothing that could bring them back. He would just have to keep living a life that would make them proud.

  He was thankful that when Frick appeared the goblin studiously ignored him after a single glance. If his Familiar had launched into some witty or annoying banter he wasn’t sure he would’ve reacted well. Instead, the little Blue Goblin set about using Conceptual Material.

  Turning his attention away from those memories, the good and the bad, he focused back on his Skill Evolution.

  Conceptual Automation 20 > 21

  Conceptual Automation (L) is ready to evolve.

  Evolutions Available! Please Select 1.

  Skill Evolution Options:

  Conceptual Automated Existence (M)

  Your control over the Concepts that govern reality has reached a point where the existences you create exert their own power on reality. These ‘living’ embodiments of Concepts will convert their environs to suit their needs, resisting reality’s drive towards balance. Using objects that resonate with a Concept, you are able to create living representations of these multiversal Concepts. Living representations will convert ambient mana towards their own affinity, increasing their duration and power. Mana Cost decreases by 1% per Skill Level. Percentage increase in Power equal to 30% of Intellect & Magic Power. Additionally increased by the volume of mana used. Duration and Power based on Tier of materials used. Duration increases by 30% of Creativity plus 1% per Skill Level.

  Conceptual Automated Guardian (M)

  To some, Concepts are the pathway to power. For you, they are protectors – the guardians that watch over you so that you may progress on your path. Silent watchers, now made permanent. Using objects that resonate with a Concept, you are able to create living representations of these multiversal Concepts. Creations can now be activated and deactivated, allowing them to exist in a quiescent state. Mana Cost decreases by 1% per Skill Level. Percentage increase in Power equal to 20% of Intellect & Magic Power. Additionally increased by the volume of mana used. Duration and Power based on Tier of materials used. Duration increases by 40% of Creativity plus 1% per Skill Level.

  Walk your Path. Reach your Goal. Become One with Mana.

  Turning to Frick, he showed the options.

  “Thoughts?”

  “Defensive or offensive, Boss. That’s the question. Being able to turn them off before they completely decay could be useful. But is it useful enough to miss out on the extra offensive power you get from the first option,” responded Frick after taking a moment to read the options.

  Nate touched his forearm and the bracer beneath. He had three defensive runecrafted items already. The decision to wear his Runecrafted trinkets of Spatial Release and Mana Release, rather than keep them in his spatial storage, had been driven by the concern that he might not be able to access his spatial storage in battle. With a new level of confidence in his defences, he had been lamenting his lack of offensive tools, especially since the destruction of his Legendary acid wand. One last time he questioned if he was satisfied with his defences? Because if not, this would allow him to more freely use the Skill. If every activation didn’t result in an Epic or better material returning all the way down to Common it would make him less frugal. With a smile, he selected Conceptual Automated Existence. He didn’t need to be more frugal. He needed his offensive abilities to be powerful enough that his enemies were overwhelmed, saving him from being forced to use his defensive items.

  Satisfied with his decision, he sat down to work on his latest project. The dagger was, in his opinion, a work of art. Soon it would be as deadly as it was beautiful.

  *************

  Kiri sat cross-legged, staring at the Skill Synergy notification and the culmination of months of work.

  Skill Synergy discovered between your Twin Souls (Mythic) Skill, Soul Empowerment (Mythic) Skill and your Soul Storage (Epic) Skill. Combine these Skills to gain Empowered Soul Sanctuary (Mythic) Skill.

  Proceed?

  She had only just finished evolving her Soul Imbuement Skill from Legendary to Mythic, assisted by one of the Skill Enhancement Orbs that Nate had shared with her. On the other hand, her other evolution, The Size of a Soul, which had also progressed from Legendary to Mythic, she had done all on her own. That sense of pride and accomplishment had propelled her forward. Between the expanding business enterprise, her battle to help save Nate, and now these evolutions, she was finally starting to feel like she could keep up with her best friend. No, that was the wrong word now. They had both admitted that they were family. Her brother. She smiled. It felt good, just thinking about it.

  Returning her attention to the notification, she considered her options. While she was perfectly willing to admit that she hadn’t worked hard in all her University subjects, there were four of the eight that she had given special attention to. Combat had been out of her love of fighting, while Economics had been a path to pulling her own weight. The last two were the ones she considered the most important to her own development. Concepts and Embodiments, along with Mana and Affinities. She had finally come to terms with the nature of her abilities, and was confident that the soul energy she was absorbing wasn’t directly altering her or her personality. She would just have to keep an eye out to make sure it wasn’t indirectly affecting her.

  That acceptance had allowed her to return to her plans for her Embodiment. What did it mean to be ‘Reborn’? She realised now, that in the eyes of the System, and perhaps the Multiverse, that she had died that day in the forest. It may have been temporary, but for a moment she had straddled two realms – the Physical and the Spiritual. Reborn, to her, meant to be able to die and return, to continue to straddle those twin realms. So that's what she had focused on. A few pointed questions that Frick had been willing to answer had led her to focus on developing her Skills in the direction she hoped would achieve her goals. She wasn’t certain, but she thought this Synergy might be the first step on that path.

  With a smile, she let the Skill Synergy proceed, looking at her newest Skill.

  Empowered Soul Sanctuary (M) 41 > 41

  Empowered Soul Sanctuary (M)

  Soul energy is the accumulation of experiences, and with an application of will, these experiences can become reality. You have stretched your physical container to the limits of what it can contain, for too much of anything, even soul energy, is ultimately destructive. This Skill creates a zone within the Spiritual Realm under your control and bound by your will. This space expands with this skill, allowing you to fill it with soul energy or physical objects that you may draw on. Further, a portion of this soul energy is capable of retaining the full breadth of your experiences, including both emotions and memories. Twins to your own soul, to be called upon when needed. Size of the Soul Sanctuary is equal to Skill Level x 0.5 cubic metres. Soul energy stored within your Soul Sanctuary may be expended to increase Agility, Endurance and Constitution by Willpower / 50 x Skill Level. Total Soul Energy that can be stored is equal to that of a standard humanoid, increased by 10% per Skill Level. Soul energy regeneration rate is equal to Skill Level x 0.25% per hour. The user may store a number of Soul Twins in their Soul Sanctuary equal to Willpower / 200. Soul Twins take 5000 / Willpower days to create.

  As the Skill settled within her, she sensed that separate space bloom inside her but also not exactly. Two realms, bound together with her as the bridge. She hoped it was the right decision. Her path forward, one of eternal rebirth. Well, perhaps not eternal yet, but with her current Willpower she could at least die once and be reborn. Standing, she went looking for her brother, already knowing where he was from the Soul Tether placed on him. Maybe she would even get to test out her new Skill in the Dungeon run they had planned in a few weeks. Either way, it was time for another celebration. Good food and better company. On second thought, she better grab her girlfriend first. Spinning on her heel, she went looking for the petite ice princess. She wanted everyone she cared about present, which meant she might have to do a little wrangling. But according to her Economics professor, that was what most of business was and she was learning that she was very good at wrangling people!

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