The Adept Archives: Volumes 1-3

by Darren Hultberg Jr

  Roy looked upon the man with eyes anew and gasped. No longer did he see just a compressed aura surrounding the man’s body, but rather he saw a well of seemingly infinite energy circulating through his form. It was as if Roy could now gaze upon the man’s very spirit itself. He could now see the stranger’s dark violet aura in vivid detail, its power flowing like a river through each facet of the man’s body. It pooled at places like his palms, ready to launch from his fingertips at a moment’s notice. Those creatures that Roy had faced were nothing compared to this man. No, now he truly understood… he stood in the presence of true power.

  To Roy’s pleasant surprise, his interface had changed as well. Somehow, the sentry implant had evolved with him, compiling information from the man’s spirit and adapting it to this strange, new world. He marveled as a window of information appeared in his vision.

  //////////

  Data intake initiated…

  Compiling data…

  Compiling….

  Analysis complete…

  New configuration unlocked: The Realm of Eon

  Sentry Scan disabled…. Spirit Scan now active!

  Rather than scan a person’s physical strength, the spirit scan has the ability to one’s spiritual strength and make an assessment of their abilities.

  //////////

  He didn’t quite understand all of that, but ok, it was a start. As he dismissed the screen, a second appeared hovering near the stranger.

  //////////

  Zekefreid the Sky Shadow

  Void Adept

  Rank: 15th

  Primary Specialization: Mystic

  Divine Power: Bahamut’s Awakening

  //////////

  “You know, it’s quite rude to stare,” the man known as Zekefreid said, shaking his head as he ran his pale fingers through inky black hair.

  Roy grimaced. “Well, I’m a little lost.”

  The man smirked. “Clearly. Now, where do I begin? Let’s see… for starters, you died.”

  “I… I what?” Roy stammered.

  “Yes,” Zeke continued. “You died on that dreadful earth realm some time ago. Your soul departed its body and normally that would’ve been the end of it…”

  “But?”

  “But it wasn’t. You see, my boss, the venerable dragon-god Bahamut has been quite busy gathering souls from different realms across the cosmos and bringing them here to Eon. And you are one of his lucky chosen!”

  Roy gave Zeke a look of skepticism. “I was shot. I fell out of a window and felt every bone in my body break. Then I woke up and was nearly torn apart by a pack of living nightmares. Please, tell me how I’m so goddamn lucky!”

  Zekefreid let out a chuckle before snapping his fingers and forcing Roy back to the ground with a wave of spiritual pressure. “That anger of yours is something special... You know, my boss could’ve left you to die. He could’ve left your soul to fade into obscurity.... but no, he gave you a second chance, so I suggest you take it seriously.”

  Slowly, Roy rose to his feet as the pressure on his body let up. He gave Zekefreid a quick glare, but the man hardly seemed bothered by the gesture. “So, I’m here to serve this god-dragon of yours?”

  “It’s not so much servitude, but rather insurance. You see, Catastrophe makes its way to Eon, moving through the cosmos like a slow-moving storm. The enemies of Bahamut are conspiring, and someday the catastrophe they bring will arrive at our doorstep. My boss would prefer to greet it with a group of powerful disciples rather than a bunch of helpless fools.”

  “This is crazy,” Roy muttered, trying to take it all in. Was he just supposed to come to terms with all this? With a world of nightmare beasts and dragon gods? He immediately thought back to his place on earth. “You mean I can never go home? I’ll never see my daughter again? My wife?”

  Zekefreid gave Roy a solemn nod. “I’m afraid not. You’ve been gone for quite some time, Roy Skyworth. Time has passed, your daughter has grown and the world you left has changed. If you were to return to earth, you wouldn’t recognize her or that place you once called home.”

  “And… Jen?” Roy asked with reluctance.

  “She’s moved on,” Zeke replied, his tone solem.

  Roy’s shoulders slumped as the gravity of the situation took hold. His child, his wife, his old life... all gone? He could feel a sadness creeping up inside, but he forced the feelings away, at least for now.

  Feeling overwhelmed, Roy steeled himself before asking, “So, what in the hell am I supposed to do?”

  Zeke’s expression brightened. “For now, I just need you to get stronger, to carve your own path through the realm until you have the strength to ascend to the heavens! Oh, and don’t associate yourself with anyone that considers themselves an ally of the dark gods. Dark gods usually mean bad news around here.” Zekefreid chuckled, then gave Roy a sidelong glance as if he wasn’t sure if the officer had been listening.

  Roy thought back to those creatures that had nearly torn him apart. His eyes drifted to his empty holster where his gun once sat. “Can I at least get my weapon back?”

  Zekefreid grinned. “Why would you need that old thing? You are a weapon.”

  Roy’s eyes widened as he peered down at his hands, each digit illuminated in a soft black-violet glow. He could feel the power coursing through him, enveloping him, dancing on the tips of his fingers. His eyes turned back to Zekefreid. “How?”

  “Now, Now,” Zeke interrupted. “I’m not here to give you a tutorial. If I gave you all the answers, then I might just stunt your growth. If you have questions, then access that Spirit Scan of yours. I filled it with all sorts of valuable information, along with a few tricks to help with your advancement… it really is a remarkable little device,” Zekefreid’s full smile returned. “Now then, enough conjecture. The veil is falling, the worldstar is rising and I really do need to be going,”

  Before Roy could respond, Zekefried grabbed him by the collar and leaped into the air. The pair soared through the cloud of thick fog, gliding with the speed of a hawk in flight as the first rays of dawn began to pierce the ever-thinning cloud. Instinctively, Roy shut his eyes and grabbed onto his stomach. Heights had never really been a problem for him before, but he found the sudden change in altitude to be more than a bit jarring.

  After a moment the pair descended, Zekefreid landing with grace and Roy skidding through the dirt. The fog began to part as the officer forced himself to a knee, his body aching from the not so smooth landing. Zekefreid, however, seemed perfectly fine as he straightened his oversized sash.

  “Now, do try to survive,” he said, winking at Roy with a crimson eye. “Eon can be an awfully dangerous place, and I can’t have you ascending to the heavens without your head.”

  “Wait,” Roy stammered, feeling as though he was trapped in a state of constant catch up with this man. Unfortunately, he was paid no heed. With a level of grace, Zeke bent his knees and placed a hand in the dirt. Pressure began to build and the air swirled like a vortex as the man gave Roy a final grin. Then he launched himself into the air, ascending towards the light of dawn before disappearing from view.

  Roy slumped, alone again and with more questions than he had before. What the hell was this place? Eon? That’s what it was called? And what was this strange black -violet aura coursing through his body? And how the hell did he get home?

  Suddenly, his interface came to life, reacting to his thoughts and conjuring a series of translucent screens within his vision. Each displayed a different piece of data accordingly.

  ///////////

  The realm of Eon

  Eon is a realm of the greater cosmos of Ashadar, commonly referred to as the realm of day and night. During nightfall, the world is shrouded in an obscuring mist known as the veil. Creatures known as darkbeasts spawn from the veil, harvesting the souls of lesser beings and making travel during the hours of darkness highly dangerous. However, during daylight hours these creatures seek refuge in underground lairs oft refe
rred to as dungeons.

  Because of the dangers caused by the veil, the cities of Eon are highly fortified. Furthermore, each city falls under the protection of a group of powerful organizations known as guilds (sometimes referred to as sects in certain parts of the realm).

  //////////

  Well, that explained what the hell had attacked him earlier and where they’d came from. Left in awe, Roy dismissed the window and moved on to the next screen of information.

  //////////

  Spirit Auras

  Spirit auras are the manifestation of one’s spiritual power in the physical realm. Through training, one’s spirit aura can be manipulated in a number of different ways, offering the wielder a unique set of skills both in and out of combat. Spirit auras often appear as thin cloaks of energy over a person’s body, though they can be channeled into different bodily areas or molded to create abilities based on the user’s needs.

  The color of one’s spirit aura indicates the type of spirit that the wielder possesses. For instance, a violet aura indicates a spirit born of Void energy. A blue aura may indicate a spirit that favors water or ice energy.

  Those who undergo extensive training in the use of their spirit auras are known as adepts (sometimes referred to as cultivators). When an opponent is slain, an adept can absorb the remaining soul essence of its foe, strengthening their own spirit in the process. By strengthening one’s spirit aura enough, an adept can increase their rank and reach ascendance.

  //////////

  Roy dismissed the second window, pondering its contents. He had absorbed the soul essence of those creatures he encountered.... perhaps that made him an adept.

  Uncertain, Roy glanced at the third and final window, the answer to the last of his questions.

  //////////

  Earth realm

  The distance to earth realm is beyond mortal comprehension. To travel between realms, one must obtain true ascendance.

  //////////

  Beyond mortal comprehension…. The words stung at him worse than the claws of those damned creatures. It just didn’t make any sense! He thought back to his last moments on earth. He was certain he had died, but apparently that had been udone. He had just vanished from his old life, never to be seen-

  Roy stiffened as the thoughts of his wife and daughter flooded into his mind’s eye. As an officer, he’d trained his body and mind to react to dangerous situations, to force thoughts out of his mind that might leave him vulnerable. But now, alone and in the wild, he could force them out no longer.

  The officer, feeling like a lost soul more than ever, bit down on his lip as emotions began to swell inside his chest. Dammit, this was not a time to feel vulnerable.

  His eyes darted about, searching frantically for a distraction. He needed something, anything that would take his mind off home. Carefully, Roy studied his surroundings. Now that the veil had lifted, he could see rows of dense trees spanning for miles in the distance.

  At a loss, Roy turned his gaze upwards. There, as he peered towards the heavens, the young man noticed something in the sky. It was much clearer now without that damned obscuring mist, a burning orb standing tall against the fading darkness ... it was the beacon of light!

  His eyes went wide as he examined its source. No, this wasn’t just some beacon but the peak of a massive, ornate tower. An ethereal flame burned from a brazier at the structure’s highest point, like a guiding light for those lost in the dark. And at the tower’s base was an even greater sight.

  Surrounding the massive structure were the thick stone walls of a sprawling city.

  //////////

  Location discovered: Atherune, City of Jade

  //////////

  Chapter 5

  Butchers of the Blackdog Guild

  Dawn, The outskirts of Atherune City

  Roy Skyworth stood on a grassy bank as Solaris the worldstar made its way into the sky. The giant, glowing orb functioned as a sun for this unfamiliar realm, its rays extinguishing what remained of the veil as it brought the light of a new dawn to the world.

  Just beyond his location lied the massive city of Atherune, the first sign of civilization since Roy had arrived on this strange, new realm. The stone wall encircling the city was incredibly high as if it had been built to ward off giants (or perhaps something larger). Still, what Roy found most fascinating was at the city’s gates. On either side of the iron gate stood a pair of statues crafted from bronze and steel. Ornate suits of armor stood guard over the city’s entrance, each gripping a spear that seemed to reach towards the heavens. They loomed over the entrance like a pair of stalwart guardians, and Roy half-wondered if they’d come to life at the sight of danger. It would only be fitting after what he’d witnessed of this world already...

  Roy gave himself a quick look over. His uniform was torn, he was covered in spatters of blood, and he was pretty certain that he smelled of death... not the elements of a good first impression. Still, it would have to do. He needed to get the rest of his wounds patched up, and dammit he needed food.

  Here goes nothing.

  The officer... no, former officer made his way down the embankment and began his walk towards the gates. A soft breeze blew at his back and the sound of birds could be heard in the distance, a change from the dead silence of twilight and the creatures that lurked within the veil.

  As he approached, a pair of guards seemed to catch sight of him and straightened their posture. They each wore matching jade tunics with stiff, obsidian-colored pieces of armor interwoven into their garb. In their hands, they held, long metal spears with jade tips that gleamed in the rising light of the worldstar.

  “Rough night?” one of them shouted to Roy, drawing a grin from the guard opposite him.

  Roy peered down to his torn, bloody uniform then gave the guard a hard stare. “You should see the other guy.”

  The jade armored man shuddered while the other let out a laugh before signaling through with his spear. “Gates open at daybreak traveler. If you show up any earlier next time, we might not be able to let you through.”

  Roy shrugged and gave the man a nod. The guard was playing up his role of power, something he himself had done in his past life. “Thanks for looking out,” Roy hollered back as he entered the city, feigning a smile as they disappeared from his view.

  Heh, assholes.

  ****

  Roy wasn’t sure to expect as he entered the city, but the wait had left him a bit curious. He had no idea what kind of technology existed in this world, or even what kind of people lived there. Hell, for all he knew he could be walking into a dystopian hellhole.

  Then he passed through the gates and he was quickly proven wrong.

  Rows of masterfully built buildings lined the sides of smooth cobblestone roads, their roofs covered in expertly crafted shingles of clay. Some of the structures were painted with different hues of red and blue while others sported a design of jade and gold. Still, what impressed Roy most was the wondrous murals displayed on many of the building’s outer walls, depictions of dragons and sacred beasts, of serene waterfalls and beautiful lotus flowers.

  After a moment of admiring the city’s architecture Roy’s gaze shifted to the streets where despite the early hour, a good many people began to roam. Groups of men and women dressed in long, flowing robes made their way towards a distant tower while others dragged carts of strange-looking vegetation into the road for an early sale. Roy gasped as a pair of young women passed by him, their white robes concealing pairs of feathery wings beneath the fine silken cloth.

  Roy breathed in deeply and took the sight in. Through his interface, he could see the spirit energy of each and every person... colorful auras of light that traveled through their bodies like the flow of blood. Curious, Roy looked down at his own violet aura and compared it to some of the others.

  The officer’s spirit aura surrounded him, flowing around his body cloak of translucent energy. He could see its ebb and flow as it traveled through him in waves, f
lowing through his limbs, resting at his palms, before eventually swirling around his core. His certainly wasn’t the weakest amongst the mass of city-goers, though some had spirits that burned bright like a bonfire. He pondered what it would take to gain power like that, to burn brighter than the others... but first, he had more important matters to address.

  Trying to remain as casual as possible, Roy began his walk down the long, cobbled road. His first task was getting those wounds of his fully addressed. Absorbing the essence from those creatures earlier had done quite a bit to heal him up and bring him back to fighting form, but he still wanted to make sure the remaining cuts weren’t going to cause any problems for him later on After all, who the hell knew what kind of infectious diseases awaited if he let them fester.

  Suddenly, a window appeared in Roy’s vision as his interface came to life.

  //////////

  Healing

  A light adept can learn and perform techniques to heal wounds of the physical realm.

  Alchemists can create potions that lessen or even heal wounds.

  Medics can perform practical healing techniques, while surgeons can take on more complicated injuries with the proper tools.

  Available (public) healing locations in Atherune City:

  -Old Mag’s potions, brews, and beers

  -Sanctum of Light

  //////////

  Roy couldn’t help but grin as a welcomed bit of nostalgia filled his heart. Using the sentry scan reminded him of its previous applications... using it to run plates, check I.D.s, aliases. It reminded him of police work.

  Dismissing the screen of information, Roy pulled up a simple map to the sanctum of light and set out. It seemed the only feasible option... after all, he really didn’t want to receive treatment from an establishment that doubled as a tavern.