Chapter Fifty-Three: Goat Rank / Character Sheet

  “Jace, I’m about ready to call it,” Alice admitted, her voice heavy with fatigue. “I’m beat.”

  Jace nodded. “Okay, let’s just try this last batch,” Jace added the final extract to their potion, the liquid hissing and sputtering as it swirled from a murky brown into a brilliant, shimmering emerald. Alice held her breath, watching as Jace gave the potion one last, deliberate stir.

  His eyes fell on a baguette they’d gotten from the kitchen earlier, and he tore it in half before handing a piece to Alice. He poured a tiny drop onto each half of the baguette, spreading it around carefully. They exchanged glances, their earlier exhaustion forgotten.

  Alice watched as Jace brought the bread to his nose, her curiosity sparking despite the weariness.

  “Smells… good. Sweet,” he said.

  “That could be a good thing, or very bad,” she said, looking at it skeptically.

  “Moment of truth,” Jace declared.

  They bit into their baguettes simultaneously, their eyes meeting in shared anticipation that hung in the air like static before a storm. As the flavors hit their tongues, they froze—then burst into a chorus of moans and laughter, the sound rich and giddy, echoing off the lab’s stone walls like music.

  Jace chewed slowly, ready to spit it out at the first sign of trouble, when suddenly—flavor exploded on his tongue, so vivid and unexpected that it felt like all their efforts had materialized in that single, transformative moment. He blinked, surprise flickering across his face before it gave way to a slow, dawning smile.

  Alice nodded, a proud smile curving her lips. It was good. It was really good.

  She laughed, a sudden burst of sound that caught even her by surprise, followed by an undignified snort. Her eyes widened in embarrassment as she clapped her hands over her mouth, trying—and failing—to stifle the rest of her laughter.

  The taste was that of raw honey. Jace couldn’t help but laugh as well. He hadn’t realized how much he missed the taste of food, and the joy from it came in bursts of pure, unfiltered happiness. Such a simple thing, in such an uncertain moment.

  It was the kind of laughter that only comes after hours of hard work and a little bit of madness. They exchanged a glance, smiles spreading wider. Neither had realized just how much they needed that small, simple victory.

  ***

  New Discovery: Flavorful Infusion

  You’ve uncovered a method to enhance the taste of food using alchemy.

  ***

  Alchemy Rank Up!

  You have gained a deeper understanding of alchemical processes. Your skill has increased, and you’ve unlocked a unique ability.

  ***

  Achievement Unlocked - Tinker

  +1% chance to create an unexpected effect in your potions if brewed while cultivating aether. This potion contains a drop of your aether cultivation, aligning with your aether pathways.

  ***

  Achievement Unlocked - Unique - Willing to Try Anything

  When life gives you lemons, you make lemon pizza. You’re the sort of person who sees mayonnaise and brownies and thinks, “Why not?” Maybe it’s a little weird, but you’re on a first-name basis with weird, and it’s never let you down before.

  Enjoy a 20% boost in success and effectiveness when brewing potions with bizarre or unique ingredients. Lean into the madness and let your inner alchemist thrive!

  ***

  Achievement Unlocked - Iron Stomach - Goat Rank

  You’ve eaten things that would make a billy goat gag. Whether it’s questionable street food or mystery meat that defies the laws of biology, you’ve downed it all without batting an eye. Your digestive system is practically a myth.

  Gain a 25% resistance to all poisons, toxins, and food-related mishaps. With an Iron Stomach, you’re ready for whatever culinary horrors—or delights—the world throws your way!

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  ***

  Item created - Secret Sauce

  You’ve concocted a sauce that would make even the gods pause for a taste. Congratulations, you’ve invented the gastronomical equivalent of a game-changer.

  This elixir boosts food flavor concentration by 500%.

  ***

  The air hummed with a residual magic that clung to the edges of the night, like the last tendrils of a dream slipping through the fingers of dawn. Jace and Alice, bathed in the warm, amber glow of their small victory, stood amidst the remnants of their laughter. The potion in the cauldron no longer bubbled with mere potential—it was a living testament to the audacity of hope and the quiet, resolute power of belief. Outside, the night still pressed in, but its darkness had softened, retreating from the borders of their triumph.

  And then, the extraordinary wove itself into the ordinary.

  Jace felt it first, a quiet stir deep within, as though the very marrow of his bones had begun to sing. The sensation spread, warm and insistent, until it bloomed outward, his skin radiating a soft, otherworldly glow. It wasn’t the harsh light of revelation but something gentler, more ancient, as if the stars themselves had found a home beneath his flesh. The air thickened with a palpable energy, and he felt his feet lift, the ground becoming a distant memory as he hovered just above it, suspended by the currents of raw power that surged through him.

  ***

  Ding!

  ***

  The sound cut through the air, not a mere notification but a resonant chime that echoed in the marrow of his soul.

  ***

  Rank Up

  Congratulations, you have successfully focused your accumulated EXP, enhancing the magical pathways for your aether to flow and deepening your understanding of the world and your Word of Power: Soul. Soul has reached Bronze Two, officially qualifying you for the title of Apprentice Perceptor.

  ***

  The world around him snapped into focus, reality tightening until every detail stood out with an almost unnatural clarity. The alchemy lab wasn’t just a collection of beakers and dusty tomes anymore; it buzzed with a new energy, every flicker of the flames beneath the cauldron purposeful. The mingling scents of herbs and elixirs became a rich, intoxicating blend that filled the air.

  And Alice… she stood nearby, her quiet smile steadying him as the magic coursed through his veins. She didn’t need to say anything; her presence alone was enough to keep him grounded as the power settled.

  The light around him dimmed, the glow fading as he floated back to solid ground. The room seemed to hold its breath, the echoes of his ascent lingering in the silence. When his feet finally touched the stone floor, a deep stillness took over, the air thrumming with the residue of his transformation.

  His powers were no longer just hidden tools, waiting for a moment of need. They hummed with life, each ability now clear and distinct, a new awareness settling in his mind. This was why they called it a Perceptor—his senses sharpened, his aether humming with a newfound clarity.

  Exhausted but riding the high of their victory, they finally let themselves relax. The night had drained them, but the satisfaction in the air was undeniable. Even the clutter and chaos of the lab seemed to have a certain artistry to it now, the remnants of their efforts transformed into a testament to their triumph.

  The last thing he remembered before sleep claimed him was looking at his Character Sheet, a mix of excitement and exhaustion pulling at him. As he reviewed the stats and abilities, he could feel the energy within him shifting, more alive and tangible than ever before.

  Character Sheet

  Name: Jace

  Rank: Bronze Two - Apprentice Perceptor

  Class Title: Cleric

  EXP Capacity Bar: 0/3000

  Attributes:

  ? Strength: 18

  ? Dexterity: 22

  ? Intelligence: 28

  ? Wisdom: 30

  ? Constitution: 15

  ? Charisma: 12

  ? Karmic Balance: 2

  Skills:

  ? Dark Vision (Apprentice): Enhanced ability to see in darkness with greater clarity.

  ? Knowledge Absorption (Apprentice): Improved retention and comprehension of absorbed knowledge.

  ? Universal Lore (Apprentice): Increased understanding of game mechanics and world lore.

  ? Resistance to Death (Apprentice): Reduces damage from necrotic, evil, and shadow-based attacks by 7%.

  Words of Power / Affinities:

  Soul - Silver Two, Apprentice Perceptor

  Your Affinity has increased, allowing you more direct control over your abilities.

  Soul Affinity Abilities:

  ? Soul Survivor (Internal Passive):

  15% increased resistance to soul damage.

  Faster recovery from soul-based injuries.

  Aether Cost: None

  ? Soul Mend (Distance: Sight):

  Heal severe wounds efficiently, allowing for multiple quick heals.

  Passive Aspect: A small portion of aether is dedicated to personal healing, providing constant restoration and reducing self-mending costs by 50%.

  Aether Cost: Moderate

  ? Soul Tether (Distance - Sight):

  Transfer significant effects between entities over greater distances.

  Enhanced connection perception, allowing you to see and feel from the perspective of the connected entity, potentially gleaning valuable insights and memories.

  Aether Cost: High

  ? Soul Sense (Distance - Sight):

  Sharpened perception of auras, discerning emotions, intentions, and hidden motives.

  Detect spiritual disturbances and perceive wandering spirits more effectively.

  Aether Cost: Low

  ? Soul Severance:

  Detect and remove foreign incursions from a host body.

  Sever the connection between an invading entity and its host.

  Aether Cost: Severe