“That’s… a lot,” Fawkes said, staring at the notebook. The list Hunter had scribbled down covered almost a whole page. “Let’s go through them one more time - this time, slower.”

  She wasn’t wrong, of course. Hunter took another look at the list himself:

  Abilities Available:

  Adaptive Defense

  Asymmetric Tactics

  Eldritch Power

  Essence Purge

  Make Contact

  Mystic Confluence

  Mystic Reflection

  Mystical Phenomena

  Opportunist

  Pathfinder

  Reinforced Channels

  Resonant Flow

  Rite of the Hunt

  Wildcrafting

  Inspiration: 8

  For the first time, Hunter had more Inspiration than he knew what to do with. He could spend it all right now and double his repertoire. To put it simply, he already had eight Abilities under his belt – and with a single burst of spending, he could learn another eight on the spot.

  The question was, which ones?

  “Let’s take things one step at a time,” said Fawkes. “This System thing of yours… How does it decide what Abilities you can learn? These aren’t random – there’s a pattern here. What’s behind it?”

  Hunter took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes.

  “Right. If I’m not mistaken, there have been four different types of occasions I got new Abilities. Some of them, I got by acquiring Insight – witnessing bizarre or eldritch things. Those tend to lean mystical, tied to Herne or the Hunt. Others came simply from ranking up closely related Skills to 20. Most of the ones I’ve gotten were through one of these two methods.”

  “I see. What of the other two methods, then?”

  “I unlocked a couple of Abilities by practicing specific tasks consistently, over and over, until I naturally improved. I got Conditioning from pushing myself to run laps. And Toughness… well, that came from gritting my teeth and powering through some pretty painful injuries.”

  Fawkes pressed her lips together and shook her head, but said nothing.

  “And as for the last method,” Hunter went on, “I got Low-Light Vision simply by willing myself to be able to see in the dark. The System flagged it as an improvised Ability, though, and warned me that it might not be as effective as a proper one.”

  “And how’s it been working out for you?”

  “Well enough, I guess. Though it’s not like it’s proper darkvision. I just see the outlines of things.”

  “I see.”

  Fawkes closed her eyes and massaged her temples with her fingertips. Hunter didn’t blame her; he could barely make sense of it all himself, and he’d spent the last twenty years neck-deep in video games.

  “It’s a bit of a mess, this System of yours,” she said at last.

  “Don’t I know it?”

  “In any case,” Fawkes continued, glancing back at the notebook. “The first thing you should do is plan ahead. You might have plenty of” – she tapped the page – “Inspiration points to spend right now, but that won’t always be the case.”

  “I was thinking of holding onto a couple of them, just in case something better comes along, yes.”

  “Good idea,” she nodded. “Then there’s that other thing, that meditation thing.”

  “Mystic Reflection?”

  “That’s the one. Read it to me again.”

  Hunter pulled up the description for Mystic Reflection.

   Through deep meditation, you enter a state of profound introspection. By immersing yourself in fragments of lore and Insight, you can unlock deeper understanding, piecing together ancient knowledge and hidden truths. This Ability allows you to gradually master unlearned Abilities without expending an Inspiration point as well, though the process demands time, patience, and an unshakable will. Higher ranks increase efficiency and chance of success.

  He read it aloud to Fawkes, and she nodded along.

  “This should be your first choice, I believe,” she said. “Not only does it sound an important Ability to have for a Mystic like yourself, it also says it helps you learn other Abilities without having to spend Inspiration.”

  Hunter agreed. In fact, he’d already reached that conclusion himself.

   Your Mystic Reflection has increased to 1. Your Inspiration quality is now 7.

  He felt something click in his brain – an unsettling sensation, like new neurons forming all at once. It lasted only a few seconds, but it left him disoriented, his head spinning.

  “Hunter?” Faekes asked, frowning. “Everything alright, lad?”

  “Yes. Just feeling a bit dizzy.”

  He picked up the pencil, marked a check next to Mystic Reflection, and noted that he now had one less Inspiration point remaining.

  “There, done. I learned Mystic Reflection.”

  She raised an eyebrow.

  “That was it? Alright then, moving to the next one, I guess.” She pointed at one specific item on the list with a gloved finger. “This one. Reinforced Channels. Read it to me.”

  Hunter pulled up the description.

   Reinforced Channels fortify your Essence pathways, making them resistant to disruptions, damage, or overloads. This reduces the likelihood of Essence recoil, flow collapse, or blockages during high-stress situations such as combat or advanced weaves. It also improves your ability to recover from injuries or external tampering that would otherwise destabilize your flow. Over time, this creates a more resilient and efficient cycle, allowing you to push your limits with less risk.

  “That’s a lot of System-talk,” Fawkes said. “Grimnir’s beard, it’s worse than listening to an Usdeneau bureaucrat-advocate. Still. Whatever you do, you can’t go wrong with strengthening your channels.”

  “You’re the boss,” Hunter said, then focused his will.”

  “Wait–”

   Your Reinforced Channels has increased to 1. Your Inspiration quality is now 6.

  Hunter’s body jolted with an involuntary shudder. A wave of spasms rippled through him, starting at his head and spreading all the way to his toes. His fingers twitched uncontrollably, and his legs gave a brief, unsteady shake as if his whole body was recalibrating. The sensation was unnerving, like static crackling along his Essence pathways, but it only lasted a few moments. Then, warmth flooded in, steady and grounding, as if his inner flow had been reshaped into something stronger, unyielding, and undeniably more resilient.

  “I’m fine,” he held up a hand. “It feels good, actually.”

  “Damn it, lad,” Fawkes shook her head. “You don’t have to do everything I say just because I say so, you know. It’s your own body and mind we’re talking about here. The final word’s always yours.”

  “I know. Don’t worry – I wouldn’t learn it if I didn’t agree with you.”

  He marked another check on the notebook’s page, this time next to Reinforced Channels.

  “What’s next, then?”

  “We’ve covered the essentials, I’d say. Now let’s go the other way – start crossing off a few options from the list.”

  Hunter stared at the list and gave it some thought. He pulled up the descriptions of some of the earliest Abilities he’d unlocked.

   Wildcrafting – an ability akin to Herbalism – is the practice of harvesting plants, herbs, mushrooms, and other natural resources, and using them to create a variety of items, including crafting materials, remedies, and more.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

   Pathfinder offers an in-depth, innate understanding of the land and those who travel it, allowing you to discover and navigate fast and safe routes through almost any kind of terrain and natural environment.

  He explained to Fawkes what they did.

  “I’ve been passing over these two for a while now. They’re solid options, but I just don’t think they’d be all that useful at the moment.”

  “Agreed.”

  Hunter crossed Wildcrafting and Pathfinder off the list, then went through the list again, scratching his head with the back of the pencil.

  “I think I should probably leave Make Contact and Rite of the Hunt for later, too.”

  “Read them out to me.”

  He did.

   Make Contact allows you to tap into your Insight quality and commune with a spiritual being or place of power. Higher ranks increase the chance of success and reduce risks.

   Rite of the Hunt allows you to put a mark on your prey and declare a Hunt, gaining potential advantages in tracking and hunting down that prey and creating special hunting trophies. Higher ranks increase the variety and intensity of these advantages.

  “Yes,” Fawkes nodded. “The second one, Rite of the Hunt, you should definitely hold off on. Wait until you’ve sorted out your accord with the Raequir. As for the first one… that’s your call. I’ve never been much for spirit-speaking myself, so I can’t really say.”

  “Maybe I’ll try to learn it through Mystic Reflection, get a feel for how that actually works. What about Resonant Flow? I don’t think I should make that a priority either.”

   Resonant Flow enables you to align your Essence with nearby allies, creating a subtle but powerful synergy. When active, your presence passively bolsters their abilities, improving their stamina, focus, or efficiency in Essence-based tasks. The effect is subtle but grows stronger the longer you remain in proximity, fostering a shared rhythm in battle or meditation. This ability can also help stabilize allies who are struggling with disrupted flows, offering a steadying influence in chaotic moments.

  Fawkes listened to him read the description out loud, then shrugged.

  “Again, can’t really say. It sounds like something you’d want to train – though not right now, perhaps.”

  Hunter crossed it off the list, along with the other two.

  “Then there’s Essence Purge,” he said, tapping the page, circling the words.

   Essence Purge allows you to flush harmful substances, curses, or disruptive energies from your system through a controlled cycling burst. By concentrating your Essence flow, you can isolate and expel poisons, debuffs, or lingering negative effects that would otherwise hinder you. The process is intense and requires precision, as forcing too much Essence too quickly risks destabilizing your flow or causing internal strain. However, when used effectively, it can turn debilitating situations into manageable ones in seconds.

  He explained what it did, and Fawkes raised an eyebrow.

  “That’s a powerful one, Hunter.”

  “I know. But unless Yuma’s about to start laying curses on me, it’s more of a nice-to-have than a must-have right now.” He paused, tapping the pencil against the notebook. “And to gain ranks in it, I’d actually have to use it. It’s no good to me if it’s just sitting there at level 1, gathering dust. Unless…”

  A spark of realization flickered in Hunter’s eyes, and a slightly mad grin spread across his face. Fawkes, on the other hand, furrowed her brow. It was the kind of grin that made her question whether his idea was brilliant or sheer lunacy.

  “Wait,” he said, the grin widening. “I think I’ve got something.”

  “I don’t like that look on your face, lad.”

  “No, no, don’t worry, it’s something good,” he said and focused his will on the Ability. “You’ll see!”

   Your Essence Purge has increased to 1. Your Inspiration quality is now 5.

  A faint tremble ran through his body – not as intense or unsettling as the one he’d experienced with Reinforced Channels, but still noticeable. It felt strange, like discovering a new muscle he’d never known he had, one that he could now flex at will. The sensation lingered for a moment before fading, leaving him with a subtle awareness of this newfound ability.

  “I hope I know what you’re doing,” said Fawkes.

  “Well, there’s only one way to find out.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I’ll keep you posted. Shall we move on?”

  Hunter crossed off Essence Purge, then read through the list of the remaining Abilities again. There were six of them, and he only had five points of Inspiration – one or two of which he’d like to save for later.

  “Alright, so,” he said. “We arrive at the crux of the matter. Out of the six remaining Abilities, three are combat-oriented. Two are on the mystical side, which I’ve been so far avoiding. The last one is for merging other Skills and Abilities together, creating new ones. That one, I think I should leave for later.”

  “Agreed. Tell me about the combat ones.”

  Hunter read the three descriptions out loud.

   Adaptive Defense allows you to gain an intuitive understanding of an opponent’s combat style, allowing you to adjust your defenses on the fly. Successfully blocking or dodging an attack may grant a temporary boost to defense against similar attacks from the same opponent. Higher ranks increase the chance of success.

   Asymmetric Tactics allows you to be more effective in combat against enemies that are more powerful, more numerous, or otherwise superior to you. It involves using unconventional strategies to offset your deficiencies and disadvantages. Higher ranks increase the chance of success.

   Opportunist allows you to exploit an opponent’s mistakes with increased efficiency. Attacks capitalizing on weakness, mistakes, or openings have an increased critical hit chance and may inflict additional status effects. Higher ranks increase the chance of success.

  Fawkes listened intently as he spoke, then reached over, took the notebook from his hands, and studied his character sheet herself.

  “The way it sounds to me, these three work well together. Between them and your other Skills and Abilities, I believe you can improve your glaivefighting in leaps and bounds, should you choose them. If that’s still what you want to do.”

  Hunter started to say something, but she raised a gloved hand, cutting him off.

  “Wait – don’t rush to learn them just yet!”

  “Alright, alright, I’m listening!”

  “The more I look at this, she said, gesturing at the notebook, “the more I’m convinced you’re better suited to be a warlock than a warrior.”

  She looked away, her gaze drifting to the ground as her brow furrowed, carving a shadow across her face.

  “Reiner really had a knack for… well, certain kinds of magic, you know. A gift, really. But instead of nurturing it, he threw himself into swordsmanship. He’d never admit it, but I’ve always suspected he did it to please me. I don’t want you making the same mistake on my account.”

  Hunter pursed his lips, unsure of what to say.

  “You don’t have to worry about me,” he made a feeble attempt at humor. “I make my own choices. I’m a big boy.”

  “So was he,” Fawkes said. For a moment, she looked lost in thought. “Anyway. Read out the other two Abilities to me. The mystical ones.”

  Hunter obliged.

   Eldritch Power allows you to tap into your Insight quality and attack your foes with eldritch magic. Higher ranks grant access to additional forms of magical attacks.

   Mystical Phenomena allows you to utilize your Insight quality to subtly manipulate the laws of the cosmos, ever so slightly affecting the outcome of events as you see fit. Higher ranks allow you more substantial manipulations, and reduce the risk these manipulations have to draw unwanted attention.

  Fawkes stared at him, her expression shifting from curiosity to outright disbelief as he finished. She pinched the bridge of her nose, letting out a long sigh before fixing him with a sharp look.

  “Tell me, lad... are you daft?”

  “What?”

  She let out a deep sigh.

  “Did your mama drop you on your head a lot when you were a toddler?”

  Hunter stiffened, his grip tightening on the notebook.

  “Look,” he said, irritation creeping in his voice “I didn’t exactly have a handbook on how to navigate all this, alright? I’ve been figuring it out as I go – so I’d rather do without the sass.”

  “I get it. But still.” Fawkes shook her head with disbelief. “All this time, you’ve been tangling with low-dwellers and worse, armed with a bladed stick you barely know how to use… and you could’ve just blasted them away with magic? Hunter, you died. Twice.”

  “Three times. But who’s counting.”

  “Three times. You had enough of that Inspiration to spare to learn how to make those damned spirit trinkets, but not enough to learn to throw magic around?”

  “Those trinkets saved all of our skins last time I checked.”

  “What’s done is done,” she said, her tone softening as she tried to steer the conversation back to neutral ground. “No point dwelling on it now.”

  She glanced at the notebook in his hands.

  “How much Inspiration have you got left?”

  “Five points.”

  “You get more every time one of your Skills or Abilities reaches 25, correct?”

  Hunter nodded, still sullen.

  “Look, that Survival Skill of yours is nearly there. What is it about?”

  “Tracking animals, lighting fires, finding shelter, navigating in the wild – that kind of stuff,”

  “I’m sure you can get that up to 25 in no time. That’ll give you one point to spare. Bank it in case something better comes along, just as we discussed.”

  Hunter looked at the list, at the five Abilities still not crossed off.

  “So I should learn these five right now, is that what you’re saying?”

  “It’s just a suggestion,” Fawkes said. “If you don’t–”

  He never caught what she said next. His focus had already shifted, his mind locking onto all five skills at once. With a deep breath, he willed himself to learn them.

   Your Adaptive Defense has increased to 1. Your Inspiration quality is now 4.

   Your Asymmetric Tactics has increased to 1. Your Inspiration quality is now 3.

   Your Eldritch Power has increased to 1. Your Inspiration quality is now 2.

   Your Mystical Phenomena has increased to 1. Your Inspiration quality is now 1.

   Your Opportunist has increased to 1. Your Inspiration quality is now 0.

  The shock hit him like a bolt of lightning. It was as if a torrent of knowledge was downloaded directly into his brain, flooding every corner of his mind in an instant. He felt his cerebrum thrum with pressure, like it was physically expanding to accommodate the sudden influx of information. His vision blurred, his breath hitched, and his body trembled under the weight of it all.

  For a long moment, it was overwhelming – a sensation of his mind straining, stretching. Then it all finally settled, leaving him gasping and dazed.

  Fawkes was saying something, her voice muffled and distant, as if it were coming through water. She shook him by the shoulder, but he couldn’t hear her – couldn’t make the words out. She might as well have been a million miles away.

  “What?” he said, still shellshocked.

  “I said, are you alright?” She pulled out a handkerchief from her left sleeve, wiped his nose with it. It came back blood-red. “Damn it, Hunter. You’re bleeding again. What did you do?”

  “I’m fine, I’m good,” he said. “I just… I learned it all at once. The feedback packed a punch, that’s all. I’m alright.”

  Fawkes’s hand shot out, smacking his shoulder hard enough to jolt him. It wasn’t out of anger; her worry was written all over her face, her brows knit tight and her lips pressed into a thin line.

  “Damn fool,” she spat, her voice caught somewhere between frustration and concern. “You’re going to break yourself one of these days.”

  “I said I’m fine.”

  He wiped away the last of the blood with the back of his hand. Despite the headache pounding in his skull and the lingering tremor in his fingers, he couldn’t suppress a big, stupid grin spread across his face.The rush of power, the sheer potential now at his fingertips, was intoxicating. He looked at Fawkes, her worried scowl doing nothing to dim his excitement.

  “Worth it,” he said. “Totally worth it.”

  All Fawkes could do was roll her eyes and sigh.

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