When it rains, it pours.

Lukas had heard the phrase mostly in relation to bad luck or the affection of the opposite gender. He personally didn’t believe in luck and had mostly observed it in the latter instance. Whenever he was in a relationship or committed himself to someone, it was when he received the most romantic attention.

Now, it was true again, but in relation to essences. Not long after the clone from the academy returned, the inn’s landlady knocked on his door.

“A scary-looking lady dropped this off,” she said, pushing a package into Lukas’s hands. She treated the package like it was going to come to life and bite her. “It was the same scarred woman who visited you for breakfast a few weeks ago. I’d appreciate it if you arranged these drop-offs or whatever that is elsewhere. I don’t know need the likes of the Grey Rats sniffing around.”

“I apologize, ma’am,” Lukas had said. “I’ll be out of your hair soon enough.”

The woman walked off grumbling, “Bringing blighted slavers to my door. You’d be on the street if not for the sorcerer.” The number of grey hairs on her head had doubled ever since he moved into her inn. Lukas hoped he alone wasn’t responsible for them. Bass frequently enlarged and shrunk himself in the dining room below, giving the woman, her staff, and other patrons a fright.

Essence of Arcane Acuity

Now, he had an extra candidate for the ritual alongside Essence of Arcane Regeneration, Essence of Arcane Compression, and Essence of Magic Manipulation. Lukas needed to decide which of them to use for the shard upgrade ritual. He didn’t know what level of impact each of them would have on the shard, and he didn’t want to make any mistakes.

Essence of Magic Manipulation occupied the first slot. Since the shard ability involved playing with the threads of spells and enchantments, Lukas believed the essence would significantly improve his control. He had mentally marked it for the ritual as soon as he received it.

Essence of Arcane Acuity took the next slot. Lukas didn’t quite understand what acuity meant in this context but assumed it had to do with senses. Logically, his ability to manipulate arcane threads was directly dependent on his ability to detect and identify them.

It was the last slot that left Lukas torn.

Compression or Regeneration?

“Think of the body as a magic storage vessel.” Esther’s magic theory lessons had become more infrequent in the past few weeks, but she continued to educate Lukas and the clones whenever possible. “No matter what you do, you can’t make the vessel bigger. Some parts of it might’ve been clogged or filled with residue that you can clean out for more space, but even then, you’re unlocking your maximum volume, not increasing it.

“As people grow more adept at feeling, manipulating, and shaping magic, they also learn to compress it,” she had explained. “It is vital to growth and progress and also a signifier of one’s prowess as a magic user. In fact, several academies use it as a graduation test to determine how potent a mage is.” Esther held her cupped hand out, and it filled with translucent fluid with a faint light-blue glow. “This is as far as I can get it. At your stage, this exercise would most likely produce crimson and orange gas.”

“I get it,” Lukas had said. “Arcane compression involves changing the state of magic and making it denser. Gas to liquid and liquid to solid. Density also dictates the color of light refracted through it.”

“Correct. Novices and apprentices are expected to compress magic to gaseous states. The best of them might achieve a yellow hue, occasionally tinged with green. Journeymen, adepts, and experts like myself can manage the liquid state. You’re looking at different shades of greens and blues. The most potent living magic users, at least the ones I know, can make their magic viscous like honey, if not gelatinous. They tend to be mostly deep blue, occasionally with a tinge of indigo.”

“So, I can’t make the vessel bigger, but by compressing magic to the point of it changing states, I can cram more into the container.”

An essence that specialized in compression felt perfect for the Mind Pillar—the Pillar directly related to magic. Meanwhile, regeneration relied on far too many external factors. Unlike dragons and a handful of other powerful magical creatures, humans couldn’t just produce magic out of nothing. They absorbed it from the environment, refined and stored it. Many excelled at directly using ambient magic to fuel their spells.

Lukas had also observed a curious phenomenon long before ascending his soul pillar. If he dispelled a clone actively absorbing and storing magic, he didn’t just gain the energy forming their shell, but also all else they contained. So, in the end, he decided to save Essence of Arcane Regeneration for a future tier upgrade.

The instructions were simple. Lukas carefully placed each essence sphere in points marked on the triangle, and the shard found home at the spell circle’s center. Next, he cut his index finger, infused the forming drop of blood with magic, and let it drip on the shard. Crimson splattered on the piece of crystal. Nothing happened at first. It and the ritual circle lay inert. Then, the blood rolled off the shard and onto the leather. A droplet landed on one of the ritual circle’s lines. Then, more crimson flowed to join it.

Five drops was all it took. They all moved away from the shard and merged with the lines, runes, and syntax. Then everything lit up with gold and dark blue—Minarv’s colors. Lukas shuddered as he felt her magic again. It was like she was right there in front of him. He sat cross-legged in her presence, embracing the feeling and believing it was the last time he’d feel her.

Much like last time, the essence spheres melted, and blinding blue beams connected their contents to the center. The shard floated off the ground and rose to hover at the center of the formation. It pulsed, growing, and the contents also gained luminosity. The contents looked like a spindle of luminous thread, unraveling the streams of energy and slowly drawing everything in.

Before long, the spindle grew too big for the shard. The glass that contained the essences flowed to encase it. The crystal’s size doubled and then tripled. With mass came luminosity and power. The threads thickened and multiplied as the spindle thickened. The process lasted a few minutes, but to Lukas, it felt like hours. He watched, heart pounding and breath caught in his throat. The shard radiated power, almost as much as the Shard of Duplication.

It was no surprise that the product of Silverspine’s magic and machinations was more powerful. She had always been the superior Greater Being. Minarv’s power came from her knowledge, court, and mastery over the domains of knowledge and memories. Meanwhile, the Great Silver Dragon was a being of raw power and magic who attracted greedy challengers and then gained more strength by adding their life force and wealth to her horde.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Lukas expected the leather to burn and disintegrate from the energy of the ritual. Much to his delight, it didn’t. The roll and ritual circle remained intact.

Can I use it again?

If the ritual circle was still functional, Lukas could potentially upgrade whatever lightning shard Mister Grey found him to. In fact, Essence of Cumulus was probably a perfect reagent for upgrading something of the sort. For the time being, Lukas told himself not to count his chickens yet and focus on what he had in hand.

Shard of Superior Arcane Weaving

Lukas expected a grander name and not just the addition of ‘superior.’ He didn’t give it much mind and moved on to ability descriptions.

Eternum Core(Heart): Your heart will gain the ability to attract and store ambient magic, naturally compressing it into a more containable and easily manipulatable state. You will become an inherently magical being and feel significantly less physical and mental strain from channeling it. However, overusing magic and draining yourself can have dire consequences worse than death.

Spellweaver(Mind): Develop a keen sense for threads of magic, easily detecting their presence and purpose. Take control of them and modify spells, enchantments, and wards or unravel them altogether. The mental strain of spell casting, modification, and intent casting will be significantly reduced. Beware of unintended consequences. Modifying existing magic without understanding it might come with disastrous consequences.

Lukas wanted Eternum Core. The essences had turned the much simpler Arcane Core into something truly astounding and frightening. It would turn Lukas into a magical being and significantly more than human, probably allowing him to overcome human limitations. It was possible that a tier upgrade with Essence of Arcane Regeneration would allow him to generate magic like dragons and other eternal entities. But he needed Spellweaver.

It ticked all the boxes. The ability promised to sharpen his arcane senses and understanding of existing magic. Modifying them and bending them to his will came next. Finally, the benefits to intent casting were the cherry on top. Spellweaver was incredible and considerably more fine-tuned Arcane Threads. Lukas had his doubts before, but now he was sure that the ability wouldn’t just help him become powerful but eventually free himself of Silverspine’s machinations.

A full night of sleep was all Lukas needed for the Mind Pillar’s awakening. It wasn’t as uncomfortable as he had expected. His arcane senses flared. The sword and belt buckle became more powerful presences in his mind’s eye. Then, the layers of arcane defenses and signatures in Penelope’s room were overwhelmed with sensory overload. It was starting to feel like an overdose or the aftermath of getting stung by a creature carrying psychotropic venoms. Fortunately, consciousness left him soon after.

He had kept the clones busy during the ritual and process afterward. Magic Elvis worked at the arcane smithy while Elvis visited Kat for their final goodbye. A mage clone watched over him while practicing shadow shaping and manipulation—fundamental techniques were even more vital now. Finally, a stalker watched the streets and the academy, keeping an eye out for Bass and anyone who might’ve figured out the theft and was hunting for the perpetrators.

The new ranks in two of his abilities came as a surprise.

Shadow Clone has progressed to Rank 2!

Magic efficiency is improved.

Altered Mass has progressed to Rank 6!

The slider’s range has increased.

Lukas’s next major goal was to get his Body Pillar ability to the next tier. He already had the essence for it and was eager for the conjunction ability. He hoped to embark on more training sessions soon. It was vital he be as ready as possible for the auction. Given everything he had learned about the Grey Rats, their activities, and ties to illegal trades, he was sure things were going to get ugly.

If not for Kat and her father, he would’ve liked to work actively against the gang. Lukas had always hated slavers. Unfortunately, they were too large and connected for him to do much about them in his current state. He hoped to do something someday, but first, he needed significantly more power, influence, and wealth.

For the time being, he looked inwards, studying the changes that had come with the awakening. His body now stored significantly more magic. It was more than what had come with the Soul Pillar and Body Pillar awakenings combined. He imagined his stores like a bottle gourd. Thus far, only the top half was full, and a blockage had kept the rest inaccessible. Now, he had access to more of the vessel’s volume.

Lukas put Spellweaver to the test straight away. First, he called forth a Shade’s Mantle and pulled it over his face. Manipulating the conjuration now came significantly more easily to him. Next, he used Light Eyes but replaced ‘Skina’ with ‘Skugga.’ Shine with Shadow. It was now a more fluid process. The spell did as he intended without fighting him. A dull ache didn’t pulse from the bridge of his nose, and holding the spell didn’t come with intense drain and a headache like before. The passive effects alone—improved senses and sturdier mind—would significantly improve all of his clones’ arcane prowess.

Holy shit, this is potent.

He used Shadow Clone straight away, attempting again what he had failed to do for several days now.

You have unlocked a new specialized clone. The Nightcrawler has natural Shadow Sight and excels at tracking its targets through the dark.

Shadow Clone has progressed to rank 3!

The maximum range has increased.

“Holy, fucking shit!” He laughed, clapping his hands.

Spellweaver wasn’t just going to make magic more accessible. It was also going to hasten the growth of his core ability. Lukas ran another test. He held open his palm and straightened his arm, ensuring his forearm, wrist, and the outside of his hand were all in a straight line.

“Bryna,” he said, tugging on the threads that formed and wrapping them around the limb. He grabbed a piece of parchment off his desk and chopped at it. His hand didn’t cleanly slice through it as he had hoped and only folded it in half. “Was worth a try.” He sighed, flicking the parchment. Much to his surprise, his fingernail penetrated the surface with surprising smoothness, leaving a clean hole. “Do you need something that can technically be sharpened? Is that the limitation?”

Lukas tried the spell with his belt next and whooped when it went rigid. He swung it like a sword a handful of times and shredded a set of hanging academy service uniforms. The spell didn’t make it to twelve seconds but the potency excited Lukas.

Spellweaver has progressed to rank 2!

The mental strain of intent casting is further reduced.

* Spellweaver: Tier 1 | Rank 2

* Shadow Clone: Tier 2 | Rank 3

* Shade’s Mantle

* Altered Mass: Tier 1 | Rank 6

Lukas gathered all of his remaining essences: repulsion, arcane regeneration, cumulus, and dusk, and wrapped them tightly in the ritual leather. It didn’t go back into its hiding space. Instead, Lukas washed, dressed, and tucked it into his coat’s inner pocket. The runic shortsword went on his belt, and all of his valued belongings and money in a satchel that he slung over his shoulder. Finally, he knocked on Penelope’s door.

It didn’t take her long to answer. The sorcerer appeared sleep-deprived.

“Elvis heard Bass return during the night,” Lukas said. “Did he find anything work our time?”

“He did,” Penelope answered. “Come in. We’re putting together a plan of action. You might as well be a part of this.”

“Thank you.” Lukas closed the room’s door behind himself.

“I’m sorry I’ve been so distracted.” Penelope pressed a package into Lukas’s hand. “I don’t know if you still need it, but I found an essence you’re likely to appreciate. If you’re happy with it, I’ll deduct its value from your pay.” She shot him a tired smile and took his hand. “Congratulations, by the way. I sensed your Mind Pillar awaken during the night. I hope you got whatever you were after.”

“I did,” Lukas answered, smiling. “I finally have metamagic.”

“Excellent. Maybe sorcery is in your future, after all.”