Jin watched as Hadia received her bracelet next and did the ritual to unlock her first Aspect. Unlike Max, she started glowing with a weird gray light.
Thankfully, Karam expined without her needing to ask. “One of her Talents is cultivating. It happens a lot with people when they absorb an Aspect. Some Natural Talents are even specifically for that, like mine and Alim’s. It should change into something reted more to the triggering Aspect itself.”
Keeper Nell tapped a rune carved into the bracelet then and triggered the little holographic dispy to show the information as they said, “Congratutions, Hadia. You’ve bonded to your Strength Attribute and unlocked a Passive ability to conjure a mace and a Special Attack as well. It also looks like your Unknown Potential Talent cultivated to punish your enemies with every blow given or taken.”
Passive Ability: Mace of Might
Type: Utility (construct)
Current Caste: Crystal 1
Crystal Effect: Construct a mace weapon that inflicts additional physical damage against shields and armor.
Ability: Bone Breaker
Type: Special Attack
Cost: Moderate stamina.
Cooldown: None.
Current Caste: Crystal 1 (0%)
Crystal Effect: Deliver a powerful melee blow that has an increased chance to break a target’s supporting structure.
Natural Talent: Blunt Force Trauma
Cultivated from [Unknown Potential] due to unlocking the Mace Aspect.
When dealing or receiving physical bludgeoning damage, the triggering enemy also gains an instance of [Bruised Ego].Bruised Ego (bane, magical, death, stacking): Decreased resistance to physical damage, and stamina regeneration is slower.
Hadia flexed her fist for a moment then a heavy-looking steel mace with six fnges on its head and bck leather wrapped around the handle appeared in her grip. She gave a grin that looked all the more wicked with the scar stretched across her face. “Time to bash some Speaker mouths so they never talk shit again.”
Jin raised a brow at the malevolent feeling coming from the woman, and despite the mild worry for her own safety, she was feeling better about their odds against the monsters. Hadia was obviously ready to beat them to death.
Basima went next and looked extremely nervous as she stood as still as possible in the middle of the ritual circle. Unfortunately, she didn’t cultivate a Talent like Hadia had.
Keeper Nell spoke again as Jin focused on reading the dispyed information again once it was completed.
Passive Ability: Target Seeker
Type: Perception
Current Caste: Crystal 1
Crystal Effect: You have greatly improved eyesight and can quickly locate your target.
Ability: Arcane Arrow
Type: Spell (magical, arcane)
Cost: Moderate mana.
Cooldown: None.
Current Caste: Crystal 1 (0%)
Crystal Effect: Cast a projectile arrow at a target inflicting a moderate amount of Arcane damage.
“Congratutions, Basima. Your Aspect bonded to your Strength Attribute as well and unlocked a Passive Perception ability and a Spell,” the Keeper said before gesturing for Alim to step forward and get his bracelet.
Basima surprised Jin by running up and hugging her tightly. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she squealed. “I was so worried I was going to get something terrible because I’m no good at anything, but these are great, and I can see so much better now!”
Jin chuckled. “It’s not like I’m the one who picked your powers. I’m just happy that you’re happy with them. Hopefully, that Spell has a homing feature so you don’t even need to aim.”
The other girl gave a small nervous ugh. “Not really, I still have to aim it but my passive seems to really help with that. It’s like I can hyper-focus on something and easily track its movements.”
“That’s useful,” she thoughtfully replied. “Should make for a good scout if we need it.”
Basima nodded in agreement and they both turned to watch Alim’s Aspect in the shape of a miniature crystal wand seem to shatter before the pieces dug into the exposed flesh of his hands to sink into him.
Passive Ability: Wand Wielder
Type: Utility (construct)
Current Caste: Crystal 1
Crystal Effect: Construct a wand that can be used as a medium for Spell abilities, slightly increasing their effects.
Ability: Mana Barrier
Type: Spell (magical, arcane)
Cost: Moderate mana.
Cooldown: 30 seconds.
Current Caste: Crystal 1 (0%)
Crystal Effect: Conjure a barrier around a target that absorbs a moderate amount of damage before dissipating.
Natural Talent: Mind of the Magister
Cultivated from [Unknown Potential] due to unlocking the Wand Aspect.
Greatly increased Mind Attribute.You can use material components for spells, rituals, or enchantments directly from an equipped storage container.You can draw magic diagrams with conjured light, including ones that float in the air.
Jin actually grimaced as she thought about what Hadia had said about the unlocked abilities responding to a soul’s past experiences and how that exact Spell would have been great to protect Alim from his past abuser. She was still happy about one of them getting some kind of defensive ability, though.
All of these abilities would be helpful overall, she believed, but she gnced towards Karam as he struggled to find a uniform in his size. She was only slightly worried about what his weird Perfume Aspect might give, but she’d decided to trust him. Hopefully, the abilities so far would be enough to cover if he got a dud.
“Congratutions, Alim,” Keeper Nell said. “Your Aspect bonded to your Mind Attribute and unlocked a Passive ability for a wand and a defensive Spell. Your Talent also cultivated to allow for ritual support.”
It was then that it finally clicked for Jin that they were already being watched by the crowds outside the Tower. That was the only reason she could think of for the Keeper to recite aloud everything that Alim could already read for himself and couldn’t hear her say.
Jin hoped there was some sort of filter for when they were undressing but knowing what kind of perverts ruled this city, she doubted it. She sighed and pushed that unpleasant thought from her head; it wasn’t like she could do anything about it anyway.
“Congratutions, Daren,” the Keeper announced. “Your Aspect bonded to your Agility Attribute and unlocked a Passive ability for a cloak and a movement Spell.”
“Yeah!” Dare happily replied, rushing over to his sister as a billowing white cape appeared behind him, continuously moving in a non-existent breeze. “Cici! See me?!” he called out, ughing as he ran in a circle around her.
Celia ughed but Jin saw the tears in her eyes as she replied with false cheer, “Yes, you look just like a hero, Dare.”
Passive Ability: Hero’s Cape
Type: Utility (construct, magical, covenant)
Current Caste: Crystal 1
Crystal Effect: Construct a cloak that increases the effects of Movement abilities. Once per day the cloak can be transformed into a solid shield for a short duration.
Ability: Rush to the Moment
Type: Utility (magical, covenant)
Cost: Moderate stamina.
Cooldown: 1 minute.
Current Caste: Crystal 1 (0%)
Crystal Effect: Greatly increase your speed to rush to a target ally’s side, and both of you gain an instance of [Dare to Believe].
Dare to Believe (boon, magical, covenant): Greatly increase all Attributes for a short duration.
She stepped into her own ritual circle then, clutching the small Ax Aspect in her hands that seemed to shake with nerves. It was only a few minutes ter when Keeper Nell spoke aloud again. “Congratutions, Celia. Your Aspect bonded to your Agility Attribute and unlocked a Passive ability for a dual axes and an offensive Special Attack.”
Passive Ability: Axes to Grind
Type: Utility (construct, magical, blood)
Current Caste: Crystal 1
Crystal Effect: Construct a pair of one-handed ax weapons that inflict additional physical damage against flesh and have a chance to inflict [Bleeding].
Bleeding (bane, magical, blood): Inflicts ongoing Blood damage for a short duration.
Ability: Twin Strike
Type: Special Attack (magical, blood)
Cost: Moderate stamina.
Cooldown: 30 seconds.
Current Caste: Crystal 1 (0%)
Crystal Effect: Deliver a quick melee strike with both weapons that deals additional Blood damage and inflicts an instance of [Diminished Life].
Diminished Life (bane, magical, blood, stacking): Maximum health is reduced by a small amount for a moderate duration.
The sister looked slightly relieved as she said, “Good. I was afraid it might give me something to polish axes better…”
Hadia snorted a ugh. “Given how much cleaning they make us do instead of training to climb the tower, I’m surprised any of us actually got weapons.”
Since Karam was still busy getting changed, it seemed like it was her turn next and she walked up with her chosen Aspect and held out her left wrist for the bracelet. It snapped around it with a soft click and the brushed steel almost seemed to melt at the csp to become a solid metal band.
Then she waited for Keeper Nell to finish drawing the ritual diagram before stepping into the center like she had seen the others do and waiting to feel magical. The Aspect seemed to melt in her hand and seep into her skin and she could already sense the new abilities unlocking within her, like suddenly remembering something she had forgotten long ago.
The Keeper frowned, however, when they tried to activate the dispy on the bracelet and muttered, “Well, that’s odd.” Then they gnced up at her and asked, “Do you have a Talent that prevents analyzing your abilities?”
Jin shrugged but nodded. “Petal seemed to think so when that stone tablet thing of his wouldn’t work on me. We don’t know for sure since we couldn’t read the Talent doing it.”
Keeper Nell nodded and said, “Well, can you tell me what you sense as your abilities?”
She barely thought about that before saying, “I think I might just keep that a surprise for now. Build up some more anticipation, you know? That’s what all the people watching want after all, right?”
The Caster frowned for a moment then seemed to pster on a fake smile as they replied, “How exciting. Hopefully, you don’t keep them waiting too long. Some viewers have little patience and want to know every little thing they can as soon as possible.”
Jin nodded but didn’t make any promises as she moved to sit over by the others as they waited in some seats by the currently sealed gate they had entered from. As she sat, she sighed in annoyance and looked closer at the bracelet that she had wished actually would have worked and read the dispy for the item itself now that she wasn’t distracted by the ritual.
Item: Bracelet of External Insight
A magical band designed for monitoring the wearer.
Caste: Emerald, Blessed.
Avaibility: Rare.
Type: Jewelry, bracelet.
Effects:
Reys information to the connected Fox’s Illusion Network for external viewing.Monitors health, mana, and stamina resource levels.Highly resistant to damage.Cannot be removed until the wearer no longer lives or has exited the Tower of Pority.Pressing the Dispy Rune and focusing on the desired information will dispy an Illusion detailing the request.Pressing the Money Rune will dispy an Illusion detailing your current amount of points and the Reward Shop.Pressing the Ladder Rune will dispy an Illusion detailing your current point ranking, the highest floor currently unlocked, and the time remaining to clear that floor.
Jin had more questions now but found herself idly touching the Dispy Rune and wishing it would work to at least show her what her new abilities did to be certain her intuition on them was correct. She was pleasantly surprised when it actually worked.
Passive Ability: Silent Spear
Type: Utility (construct)
Current Caste: Crystal 1
Crystal Effect: Construct a spear that greatly increases your Strength Attribute and produces no sound.
Ability: Piercing Thrust
Type: Special Attack (magical, blood)
Cost: Moderate stamina.
Cooldown: None.
Current Caste: Crystal 1 (0%)
Crystal Effect: Deliver a powerful piercing attack that inflicts an instance of [Bleeding].
Bleeding (bane, magical, blood): Inflicts ongoing Blood damage for a short duration.
Jin grinned at the information, Finally some answers.
She gnced over at Basima who gave her a curious look before whispering, “Sorry your bracelet doesn’t work, but you can still feel the ability like I can feel mine, right?”
“Yeah, I know exactly what it does and both are pretty simir to Hadia’s,” Jin replied in an equally quiet whisper.
While the Keeper was preparing the next ritual and waiting for Karam to be ready, Jin decided to see if her new bracelet hack could work to show her the Talents she couldn’t feel like the Aspect abilities.
She was relieved to see it work and expin the particur Talent that kept hiding things.
Natural Talent: Poker Face
Your abilities, Talents, and emotions cannot be analyzed through external magical, aural, or divine means.You can view information about yourself and magical items touched by your aura.You have increased control over your body nguage.
Next she thought about the Talent that had been mentioned earlier and focused on showing the information as she pressed the Dispy rune.
Natural Talent: Aetheric Transmigrator
Increased resistance to negative Dimension effects. Dimension abilities have an increased effect.You are a Natural Transtor, allowing the understanding of nguages you are exposed to.You can directly use Aspects and Spirit Gems without the need for an Absorption Ritual.
Well, too bad I don’t have Dimension abilities but that transtion bit has probably saved my life, she thought before getting distracted once again as Karam finally entered his Absorption Ritual. She really hoped he got something useful for surviving the rest of the day at least.
Jin smiled as Karam also began to glow with that gray light of Talent Cultivation and stood to go get a better look at the dispys for his new abilities.
Passive Ability: Aromatic
Type: Perception
Current Caste: Crystal 1
Crystal Effect: You have a pleasing scent and can easily detect and identify the source of other scents.
Ability: Refreshing Mist
Type: Spell (magical, life)
Cost: Moderate mana.
Cooldown: 1 minute.
Current Caste: Crystal 1 (0%)
Crystal Effect: Conjure a pleasant mist in a wide area centered on you that increases the regeneration of health and stamina.
Natural Talent: Scent Infusion
Cultivated from [Unknown Potential] due to unlocking the Perfume Aspect.
You can imbue items or creatures with a temporary fragrance of your choosing for a low mana cost.If the target is a willing ally, the scent can be made permanent for a severe mana cost.
“Congratutions, Karam,” Keeper Nell said. “Your Aspect also bonded to your Mind Attribute and unlocked a Passive Perception ability based on smell. You also unlocked an area healing Spell and your talent cultivated to manipute aromas.”
Karam was grinning broadly at her as he came over to sit beside her and Jin returned his smile. It looked like she had her well banced adventuring party after all.
