Chapter Forty-Seven: Master of Shards

  Jace spotted his friends Dex, Ell, Alice, and Thistle gathered near the massive golden archway leading to Zeus’ Hall. The archway, adorned with intricate carvings, stood as a beacon of ancient grandeur and power. It opened into a small clearing nestled against the towering cliff of the mountain, the bright afternoon sun high in the sky, casting a warm, golden light that bathed the world in a soft glow.

  Dex, tall and perpetually unkempt, leaned against the stone, his bag bulging with alchemical supplies. Ell’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she examined a peculiar flower growing nearby. Alice stood, seemingly lost in thought, while Thistle perched on a low boulder, his gaze sharp and attentive.

  The small clearing was encircled by jagged rocks, making Jace question how the entire class could possibly fit there. There was nowhere to sit, only a series of thick ropes stretching from a metal fastening in the ground and disappearing into the clouds above.

  “Make any progress at the library?” Jace asked as he approached.

  “Best if we show you,” Ell said with a cryptic look.

  “After Shards Class,” Dex added, adjusting his bag with a shrug.

  “After potions,” Alice interjected, not looking up from the old tome she was studying. “We have back-to-backs.

  From the ropes, a large wooden shuttle with short walls and brass bindings appeared in the sky above. The cable cart was a marvel of engineering, with gears and pulleys intricately woven into its design. Ornate brass fittings gleamed in the sunlight, and thick, sturdy ropes crisscrossed its structure. The cart descended with an ancient creak, a wooden relic groaning its complaint before landing with a heavy thump. Inside, Professor Tanner Frost, Master of Shards, threw open the door with theatrical impatience.

  “Well, come on. We don’t have all day,” she barked, her eyes flickering with the kind of urgency that made students scurry.

  The students exchanged nervous glances as they filed in. Above, the thick rope coiled into the heavens, swallowed by a whirl of clouds. The cart shuddered and groaned as it began its ascent, pulling them higher and higher into the sky.

  Dex turned a shade of green, his knuckles white as he clung to the side. Jace tried to focus on anything but the dizzying height, his stomach churning with every lurch. Ell, on the other hand, was glued to the edge, her eyes sparkling with awe as the world unfolded below. Alice, determined to appear unflustered, stared straight ahead, her fingers occasionally tightening on the railing. Thistle, a fearless gnome with boundless curiosity, perched on Dex’s shoulders, peering over the edge with gleeful abandon, much to Dex’s distress.

  Lucky for Dex, the world soon disappeared into mist as they passed through a cloud. The fog was so dense they had to squint to see each other’s faces, huddling closer together.

  “Oh, Jace,” Alice said, diving into her satchel and emerging with something that glowed faintly purple. “I picked this up for you. It’s finished.”

  It took a moment for Jace to recognize it: the Ward Stone she had been helping him craft.

  The wooden cart creaked and swayed as it ascended the steep mountain path, suspended by a thick rope that hummed with tension, the cold wind whipping around them, carrying the scent of pine and earth.

  Jace held up the Ward Stone, its surface shimmering faintly in the diffused light. “So, this Ward Stone should let me venture into Zone Three without running into too many Bronze Threes and Fours, right?” he asked, his voice steady despite the tremor in the cart.

  The creature ranks, as he recalled, mirrored the Speaker ranks: Bronze One through Bronze Six, then repeating at Silver, Gold, and into the Mythic tiers of Etherium, Celestial, and Divinium. The four Protective Zones around the University acted as a cosmic sieve, filtering out the more formidable creatures. Zone One was an impenetrable sanctuary, allowing nothing more dangerous than a friendly nymph. Zone Two was home to modestly threatening creatures, where Bronze Ones and Twos roamed. Zone Three allowed for slightly more perilous encounters with creatures up to Bronze Four and, on rare occasions, a Bronze Five. Zone Four, however, was where the real danger began, occasionally letting in a Bronze Six and, on unlucky days, even a Silver One. Most of the outskirting villages were in Zone Four, while faculty housing, smaller homesteads, and farms were often found in Zone Three.

  Jace felt somewhat confident he could handle a Bronze Two, maybe even a Three, without meeting an untimely end. Still, best not to tempt fate.

  Alice’s hair whipped in the wind as her eyes locked on Jace. “Zone Three’s safer with the crystal, but you might still run into a Bronze Five if you’re not careful. They’re rare, but it happens.”

  Ell leaned against the wooden railing, her gaze sweeping the rugged landscape below. “Bronze Fives are more common in Zone Four. That’s where it gets tricky. You might even see a Bronze Six or, if you’re really unlucky, a Silver One. Why do you need a Zone Three Ward Stone?”

  “A quest from Hades in Zone Three,” Jace muttered, thinking for a moment. “Man, it is really overdue.”

  They all winced. Dex spoke up, “Yikes, not good to leave deity quests hanging. Heard a second year did that once… never got another quest again.”

  “Total exaggeration,” Alice said. “I’m sure it’s fine. Did it have a time sensitivity on it?”

  Jace looked around awkwardly.

  Alice scrunched her face. “Yeah, probably best to get that one done sooner rather than later.”

  “Well, now that I have this little guy,” Jace said, moving the stone around in his palm, “should be simple enough.”

  “The Ward Stone helps,” Alice said, her voice steady but cautious. “But it’s not perfect. It wards off most lower-tier creatures in Zone Three, but an aggressive Bronze Five might slip through, especially if the ward weakens. Recharge it once a month.”

  The cart jolted over a rough patch, the mountain peak looming closer. Alice’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Consider it your ticket to not dying instantly in the first five minutes.”

  Jace turned the crystal over in his hand, his voice barely audible over the groaning of the cart and the whispering winds. “Thanks, Alice.” The mist swirled around them, thick as a shroud, but for a moment, the world felt a little less foreboding.

  He thought back to the day they started making it the Ward Stone. It was only days ago, but it felt much longer. Mythica had a way of worming into your mind, altering your perception.

  There had to be some side effects to the one-to-forty-two-time dilation. Maybe that was part of the problem. Or maybe it had nothing to do with that. The more time he spent logged in, even without dying, the less reality felt real. The more this felt like home. This was his home for now. The thought brought his mind back to the Ward Stone. “Uh, how much do I owe the shop for this? The ingredients, and space, and all that?”

  Alice smiled faintly, a hint of awkwardness in her eyes. “Don’t worry about this one. It’s on me.”

  “No, really, I can pay.” Jace opened his inventory quickly, glancing at his painfully low gold stores. The interface displayed all his university notes and any gold he’d earned from minor quests. The result: a dwindling spiral of money. Turns out he was just as bad at making money in Terra Mythica as he was on Earth.

  “Jace, it’s okay. I needed to practice and rank up my skills anyway. Really, it’s on me. This time.” She smiled, trying to reassure him.

  “Just take the gift, you big dummy,” Ell said, rolling her eyes.

  Jace stood there awkwardly for a moment.

  Living a life with nothing, Jace didn’t like handouts. They were reminders of his struggles, making it harder to ask for or accept help. It wasn’t until he met friends like Ell, Dex, Alice, and Thistle that he began to see not all help came from pity or with strings attached. Sometimes, kindness flowed like a river, without expectations or condescension. It was an easy kindness, strange and unsettling, yet comforting in a way he had never known, save with his brother.

  “Thank you,” Jace said, pulling Alice into a hug. The thought of Alex sent a pang through his heart, and he held onto her a moment longer than necessary.

  Their moment was shattered by Dex’s exclamation. “Oh… my… gods.”

  “What is it?” Alice asked, turning away, a slight pink creeping into her cheeks.

  But she didn’t need to ask. They all looked up, seeing the grandeur they were ascending towards. A vast, majestic mountaintop rose above the clouds, crowned with golden pillars that reached toward the heavens. The architecture was a marvel of divine craftsmanship—tall, ornate columns supporting a gleaming platform that radiated an otherworldly light. The mountain itself was a natural wonder, its flat peak stretching out like a table carved by the gods, an expanse of awe-inspiring beauty and power. They arrived at the mountaintop, breathless not just from the thinner air, but from the sheer magnificence of the sight before them.

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  Zeus’ Hall was more of a breezeway than a hall, a colossal structure piercing the skyline with its golden columns and shimmering presence. The thin, biting air teased their hair and clothes, carrying the scent of ancient stone and distant tempests.

  The mechanism jerked to a halt, and they stepped onto a large elevated outdoor platform. It was a long wooden stage with a central lectern, flanked by fifteen seats designated for judges, announcers, and duel moderators. Professor Frost stood poised at the lectern. Her sharp features and piercing gaze swept the students with an authority that was both commanding and slightly unsettling.

  Clouds drifted lazily through the open air, occasionally shrouding the scene in a soft, ethereal mist before revealing the grandeur once more. The class took place on a long wooden platform, elevated twenty feet above the ground, with seats arranged in tiers rising higher still. The space, capable of seating at least two hundred, easily accommodated the fifty students.

  The platform was designed for public duels, the arena-like setup a testament to the epic confrontations that had undoubtedly taken place there. The wooden platform stretched out, flanked by rows of seats that curved gracefully, ensuring every spectator had an unobstructed view of the action. Golden sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting a warm glow over the polished wood and stone as the students settled in, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and trepidation.

  “Welcome, students,” Professor Tanner Frost began. Her intense eyes gleamed with an unsettling mix of wisdom and challenge, a look that could pierce through steel. With a stern face etched with the experiences of countless battles, she embodied both a gentle breeze and a brewing storm. She commanded the platform with an authority that demanded attention and respect.

  “We do not normally delve into the raw combat application of Shards until the twilight weeks of your second year. However, due to recent unsettling events and the paramount need for your safety, several of my esteemed colleagues, and I have been granted approval to accelerate your training. In my class, there shall be no frivolity or dallying. We shall be plunging directly into advanced concepts, and it is imperative that you heed my every word.

  Duels shall exclude direct Affinity usage. You shall commence at my command and cease at my command. Your strikes are to be confined to the arms, legs, and chest—under no circumstances shall you aim for the head. Is that understood?”

  The class exchanged uncertain glances before nodding in unison.

  “Excellent. Before we embark on this journey, you must first become intimately acquainted with your Shard. Normally, we would dedicate the entirety of your first year to this endeavor. Hence, I extend my apologies if some of you find yourselves adrift; Miss Eidolon, my assistant, will conduct supplementary Shard classes for those who struggle.”

  For the first time, Jace noticed the young woman standing beside the Professor.

  Her hair, a wild mane of hazelnut curls, framed her face like a halo of untamed thoughts. Her wide, curious eyes seemed to hold entire worlds within their depths, as if the cosmos had taken residence behind her gaze. She moved with unassuming grace, the soft rustle of her presence barely noticeable, while her pen danced across the pages of her notebook as Professor Frost spoke.

  “Introduce yourself, Molly,” Frost prompted.

  When she spoke, her words floated on the air, slightly out of sync with her lips, as if they were echoes from a place just out of reach. “Thank you. I will be available after class for any students needing additional assistance.” She bowed subtly and returned to her book.

  The last time Jace had seen Molly, she had been assisting Professor Brutus Ironclad, the formidable Master of Artifacts and Alchemy. He wondered if she had changed roles or was simply the overall assistant to the High Council. Molly’s gaze met his briefly, a flash of recognition passing between them. For a fleeting moment, Jace thought he glimpsed a knowing look in her eyes, something hidden behind the labyrinthine halls of her mind. Then the curtain fell again, and she was once more the enigmatic assistant, her true self concealed behind a mask of scholarly duty.

  “A Shard is only as powerful as the Speaker who wields it,” Professor Frost said. “By now, you should have each received one from your Society. Raise your hand if you haven’t.”

  Silence met her query; not a hand stirred.

  “Good. Now, summon it.”

  Jace closed his eyes, feeling the innate pull, the connection deep within him. He called it forth, and his Moonstone Shard materialized in his palm, its surface shimmering like liquid silver under moonlight, catching and fracturing the ambient light into a myriad of spectral hues.

  “To attune to a Shard is no light matter,” she continued. “To wield a Shard is to take up arms against the Eternal End. There’s a poem on Earth that captures this sentiment, I think.” She paused, her voice weaving the words into the air like an incantation, “‘Do not go gentle into that good night; Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.’”

  She paused, eyes gleaming with triumph, expecting a response. The students, however, sat frozen, their faces set in varied degrees of confusion, punctuated only by the occasional cough.

  “Really? Nothing?” She raised an eyebrow, a hint of irritation creeping into her tone. “The history of Shards is kind of a big deal, people.”

  In a sudden, fluid motion, she manifested an amber gem in her hand. With a flick of her wrist, a bolt of golden energy spiraled into the air, twisting and turning in a cyclone of light that split into a thousand tiny, radiant stars, scattering across the platform in a dazzling display.

  Finally, she got a reaction. The students’ eyes widened, and they shared a collective gasp. Professor Frost’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.

  “To cultivate our aether and let it flow through us as naturally as breath, to attune to and understand a Shard of the Great Prismata, is the essence of being a Speaker. Yes, there is great power in Words. The relentless pursuit of knowledge is the path of Affinity.”

  She approached the panel at the base of the platform, her fingers dancing over the oversized buttons before pulling the lever with an air of practiced nonchalance. The platform responded with a low, mechanical groan, and five wooden dummies ascended from shadowy apertures, as if conjured from the depths of a forgotten dream. The floor whispered shut behind them, erasing all trace of their mysterious emergence.

  “To glimpse a Word of Power is to gain an Affinity. Many do not even realize that they possess one. A mother tending to her children may wield a magic that calms them or shields them from danger. A soldier in battle might instinctively avoid the path of a lethal arrow. A scholar may discern truth from falsehood in texts. A politician may craft a lie so flawlessly that it becomes accepted as truth. These are Affinities.”

  She climbed the platform and stood across from three wooden dummies, with two behind her, each swaying slightly. Frost paused, letting her words settle.

  “However, we would not call these individuals true Speakers, for they have not learned a true name despite having glimpsed its essence through familiarity. Though, in turn, knowing a name alone does not confer all power. Deepening one’s understanding through practice and familiarity does. To know something intimately and thus to love it—this is the essence of Affinities.”

  “Words hold fragments of the universe’s essence. When spoken with understanding, they can alter reality itself. But it is your Breath that must carry them forth, into the fabric of the universe. Breath, however, can do more than just speak. It can infuse inscriptions, animate potions, forge artifacts, or channel directly into your Shards.”

  She lifted the Amber Shard, its surface shimmering with an inner light. She bowed to the dummies, and they each bowed to her before pulling wooden swords from their sheaths and moving towards her.

  With a flick of her wrist, a beam of golden energy lanced toward the wooden dummy, shattering it into a cascade of splinters that rained down onto the scorched floor. Swords flashed in her direction, but she sidestepped with fluid grace, almost a dance, her movements low and sweeping. Her legs wove intricate patterns just inches away from the deadly blades, until she unleashed another burst of energy, obliterating the next dummy.

  In a matter of moments, each target was reduced to charred, splintered wreckage. Gasps of awe rippled through the hall, an undercurrent of whispers following in their wake.

  “My Affinity may be for healing, but that does not mean my aether cannot be used for destruction,” she said, her voice calm yet commanding. “What you just saw involved no Affinity, but only properly channeled aether and a strong attunement to my Shard.”

  Jace’s eyes widened with newfound appreciation and respect.

  “Remind me not to get on her bad side,” Dex muttered.

  “Your turn,” she declared, her voice a symphony of authority and challenge. The students stiffened, eyes widening in startled apprehension. “Come on, I don’t have all day,” she added with a wry smile. They scrambled to obey, hastily shuffling into place. With Molly’s deft assistance, they were nudged onto the platform, their Shards vibrating, sending shivers through the air.

  Professor Frost glided to the control panel, her fingers a blur of elegant precision as they danced over the keys. With a series of swift commands, the platform whirred to life. Dozens of round wooden targets sprang up, each one hovering before a student.

  “Feel the energy within you,” she intoned, her voice wrapping around them like an incantation. “Understand its essence, and channel your aether with conviction.”

  The air hummed with energy and the sharp crackle of power. Sparks flew, and occasional bursts of raw magic sizzled into the sky. Amidst this chaotic ballet of aether, Jace stood, his mind a storm of doubt and desperation. He struggled to draw from his Shard, the connection elusive, slipping through his mental grasp like smoke. His heart pounded in sync with his rising panic, each failed attempt a hammer blow to his confidence.

  As he watched his peers wield their Shards with apparent ease, the bitter taste of inadequacy settled in his throat. Professor Frost’s words echoed louder with each failure, not as a guiding mantra but as a relentless taunt, his doubt festering like an open wound.

  What would Alex do? he thought desperately, his hands trembling. He closed his eyes, seeking solace in silence. A familiar voice surfaced in his mind: Breathe. Take a moment. It’s okay.

  He drew a deep breath, calming his racing heart. Slowly, a flicker of connection sparked within him. Mana surged, resonating with each controlled breath. The world around him blurred as he focused solely on the bond with his Moonstone Shard.

  Surrendering to the flow of mana, he guided it through his veins and into the cool, weighty Shard in his palm. A beam of twilight energy erupted, narrowly missing its mark. Adjusting his stance, he tried again. This time, the beam struck true, causing the target to burst into harmless sparks.

  Encased within the Shard, a storm of mist and clouds swirled, its essence cool against his skin. Jace inhaled deeply, attuning to the resonating Word within him. The platform faded into obscurity, leaving only the present moment and his intent. With deliberate focus, he channeled his energy into the Shard. A beam of moonlight shot forth, striking the distant target, which glowed briefly before crumbling to dust, its remnants swirling in the air. A smile touched his lips as a notification appeared before him.

  Skill Unlocked

  Aether Pulse - Rank One

  You’ve taken the first step in channeling your aether through your Moonstone Shard directly. This fundamental skill is an essential tool in every Speaker’s arsenal.