After helping Vesha change her bandages, she collapsed onto the bedding and slipped into sleep almost instantly. Clearly, the process had drained more of her mental energy than physical.
Adyr let her rest. He had questions for her, but none were urgent, and he had other things to take care of first.
He stepped outside, rekindled the fire, and used what little he had to prepare something that might ease her digestion. Then, he took a quick survey of the area, scanning the forest's edge.
The surroundings were quiet, remote, and rarely traveled, by the look of it. Still, he wanted to be sure it was safe. Only after he was satisfied did he return to the carriage.
He picked up the Dawn Raven, gave Vesha one last glance to confirm she was still sleeping, and headed for the cave. There were still plenty of skeletons inside, and each one held a purple crystal—not something he was willing to leave behind.
As he made his way deeper into the cave, he decided to test his stats. He still had five unused stat points, and he would spend them for this experiment.
[Name]: Adyr
[Race]: Human
[Path]: Primora
[Evolution Step]: 0
[Physique]: 10
[Will]: 3
[Resilience]: 3
[Sense]: 2
[Energy]: 0.3 / 18
[Registered Talents]: 3/5
[Sparks]: Complete your first evolution to unlock.
[Sanctuary]: Complete your first evolution to unlock.
[Free Stat Points]: 5
He first assigned one stat point to [Resilience] and waited, trying to feel its effects. But unlike the times he had increased [Physique], there wasn't much to notice—just a faint tingling across his body.
He then recalled something he'd read on the forums: every player was granted only one stat tied to the path they chose. According to those players, [Resilience] was linked to the Nether path, a path said to embody both destruction and rebirth.
Also, from the name alone, he assumed it was a defense-oriented stat, but without more firsthand experience, it was still too early to draw any definitive conclusions.
Next, he moved on to [Will] and assigned a point to it. Unlike before, the effect was immediate.
His body warmed up in an instant, and it felt as if something was coursing through him at incredible speed. It was like his entire system had been asleep until now—and had just woken up, ready to move.
But the change wasn't limited to his body. His mind, too, felt sharper, more focused. As he continued walking, he began to notice subtle movements—minor shifts in his posture and balance that he would've normally overlooked.
With each step, it felt like his body was learning, adjusting, refining itself. Almost as if he were rewriting his own programming in real time.
[Will] was tied to the Ignis path, which he recalled was said to represent all forms of movement.
Now, that made perfect sense. The stat increase hadn't just activated his body—it had also sharpened his perception of motion itself.
Adyr thought for a moment, and if this were a traditional game, he figured [Will] would likely cover what most systems split into agility and dexterity stats.
Next—and last—he increased his [Sense] stat, the one tied to the Aether path, said to represent all things spiritual.
As the point settled, Adyr came to an abrupt halt inside the cave.
He heard.
It was as if the world around him had erupted into noise.
He could hear the faint rustling of air flowing through narrow cracks in the stone, the soft drip of water echoing from deep within, and the low, steady beat of his own heart… even the silence itself.
Suddenly, the silence wasn't so silent anymore.
But that was only the beginning.
He saw.
It dawned on him—until now, he had only been looking. Now, he was truly seeing.
A man who had always prided himself on observing the smallest details, drawing meaning from the subtlest signs, now felt as if those very details were stepping forward, offering up their stories without being asked.
His eyes dropped to the damp black soil beneath his feet. He studied the footprints pressed into the mud until they shifted.
In his mind's eye, they morphed into skeletal figures, marching across the cave floor.
Dozens, then hundreds.
It struck him—he was no longer the one extracting stories from the traces. The traces were telling the stories themselves.
It was intoxicating. Overwhelming.
But not as overwhelming as what came next.
And then, he felt.
Something cold brushed against his spine—not wind, but instinct. He turned sharply, staring into the dark behind him.
Nothing there.
Still, his muscles tightened. That suffocating sense of being watched wrapped around him like a second skin.
If he had ever known what fear felt like, his body might have started to tremble right then. So much input—so many signals—more than any sane mind should be able to handle.
He took a few steady breaths, letting his body adjust to the new sensations before continuing forward.
Realizing that each stat brought its own unique, almost miraculous transformation had only fueled his curiosity—and sharpened his focus.
He was ready now. Ready to crush the skulls of those skeletal husks and claim the precious energy crystals hidden within.
***
Author note: If anyone wants to go back to Chapter 5 to reread the path descriptions, no need. I'm pasting them here.
[Astra]
- One of the four main Paths, created by the God Astrael.
- He shaped the first solid form from the chaos, giving structure to the formless.
- It represents everything physical.
[Aether]
- One of the four main Paths, created by the Goddess Aetheris.
- She gave inner depth to all that exists, shaping the unseen essence within the seen.
- It represents everything spiritual.
[Ignis]
- One of the four main Paths, created by the God Ignivar.
- He sparked the first motion within creation, awakening both flesh and soul.
- It represents every movement.
[Nether]
- One of the four main Paths, created by the Goddess Nethera.
- As the counterforce to creation, she began the cycle of decay — undoing form so that renewal may begin.
- It represents every destruction and rebirth.
[Primora]
-The One.
-They longed to exist, and I let them be.
***
And since you're here, thanks a lot for sticking around this far. Really means a lot to me. Any kind of support helps more than you think. You know the deal.