Ob stepped into the soul home he had created for Eclipse. He walked over to the vacant, empty room for the next soul-link. Ob held the two other keystone items in his hands.
Item: Mystic Drop
Rare
Keystone Item
Use this item to unlock a mystic skill. This keystone item unlocks specifically a skill related to healing. You are in your soul home. Using the item here will have an unexpected effect. Would you like to use? Caution: using this item will unlock a skill of an unlocked power, thus unlocking the power to be randomized. Would you still like to proceed? Yes/No?
Ob took a deep breath and said Yes.
Item: Mystic Drop
Has been consumed. Consumption has produced the skill Celestial Vigor
Power: Unknown
Skill: Celestial Vigor
Being a celestine has provided you with a perfect harmony of soul, aura, mind, body, and magic. This harmony has shown you the celestial way to heal yourself. Vitality, Integrity, and Manna have significantly increased. Your damage resistance has increased. You are now immune to all diseases and poisons. Your internal clock has reached its peak and stopped there. You can no longer die of natural causes.
Bruh, Ob breathed out slowly after hearing that description. Looking at the other item, he did it again.
Item: Mystic Vile
Rare
Keystone Item
Use this item to unlock a mystic skill. This keystone item unlocks a skill specifically related to items and potion crafting. You are in your soul home. Using the item here will have an unexpected effect. Would you like to use? Caution: using this item will unlock a skill of an unlocked power, thus unlocking the power to be randomized. Would you still like to proceed? Yes/No?
Yes.
Item: Mystic Vile
Has been consumed. Consumption has unlocked the skill: Celestial Chef
Power: Unknown
Skill: Celestial Chef
This skill allows you to be adept at cooking, brewing, or growing anything related to food and potions. You can now use magic to create magically infused meals and drinks to help you or your allies recover. This will consume manna and integrity.
Status: Hidden Power Unlocked
You have met the requirements to unlock an additional powerset. This powerset can replace the federation powerset, or you can have it as an additional. Hidden power has zero effect on the total level. What do you choose? Replace or Add?
Ob thought about this long and hard; he still wasn''t sure about being a Maverick, but he could be a guardian or an explorer. Both of those could have skills that would be helpful. Or he could just keep it at three, although he doesn''t know why he would do that. That seemed wild to him. Add, he gave the command.
Status: Hidden Power Unlocked
Power: Celestial
You have unlocked the power of the celestial. To unlock this power, you must be a Celestine. You must unlock two skills that have to do with Celestine''s skills; in order to do this, you must use two keystone items on two empty skills within the same empty powerset. Your aura and soul strength have doubled. Your aura and soul levels will now grow at the same rate as your other levels due to the harmony a Celestine possesses. You have achieved perfect harmony.
Level Up: Skill - Dragon''s Breath
Dragon''s Breath is now level 24
Level Up: Skill - Dragon''s Hide
Dragon''s Hide is now level 15
Level Up: Power - Draconian Ally
Draconian Ally is now level 19
Level Up: Skill - Stalker
Stalker is now level 13
Level Up: Skill - Light Bolt
Light Bolt is now level 19
Level Up: Power - Slayer
Slayer is now level 16
Unlocked: Hidden Power - Celestial
Celestial is now level 1
Unlocked: Skill - Celestial Chef
Celestial Chef is level 1
Unlocked: Skill - Celestial VigorIf you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Celestial Vigor is level 1
Status: Ob Jones
Ob Jones is now level 11
Status: Ob Jones.
Race: Celestine
Level: Bronze Tier - Lvl 11
Progress to Silver Level - 42%
Natural Power - Draconian Ally lvl. 19
Skill: Dragon''s Breath lvl. 24
Skill: Dragon''s Hide lvl. 15
Nurtured Power - Slayer lvl. 16
Skill: Stalker lvl. 13
Skill: Light Bolt lvl. 19
Federation Power - Undecided lvl. 0
Skill: Empty
Skill: Empty
Hidden Power - Celestial lvl. 1
Skill: Celestial Vigor lvl. 1
Skill: Celestial Chef lvl. 1
Aura manipulation lvl. 5
Soul manipulation lvl. 6
You have 25 attribute coins. Would you like to distribute now?
Vitality: 400
Speed: 148
Strength: 167 (+5 Bonus)
Manna: 550/800 (+5 Bonus)
Integrity: 267/400
Yes, all to speed.
Vitality: 400
Speed: 173
Strength: 167 (+5 Bonus)
Manna: 550/800 (+5 Bonus)
Integrity: 267/400
Ob was awestruck by the powers he had just received, he left his soul space and returned to his friends.
"So, what did you do?" Abigail was the first one to ask.
"I used the mystic keystone items and well," He told the group to identify him so they could see what he had unlocked.
"How do you even unlock that hidden power?" she asked.
"The conditions were ridiculous. I had to use the right keystones, on two empty skill slots, within an empty powerset. And be a celestine." he responded.
"What are you going to do with that stone?" Maeva asked the question that was likely plaguing everyone''s mind.
"I am going to join the Explorer''s federation; my attack style with Slayer could benefit from gaining some agility skills."
"YES!" Vincent exclaimed, "Three explorers in one party will be great."
"Easier there, big guy. I''m an asterisk on that. Just focusing on completing my powersets more than anything."
"Doesn''t matter, still a win, WOO!" He said, punching his fist in the air.
"That is a wise decision, Ob," Abigail said, staring at Ob, her eyes twinkling as if she was proud of her friend. "Especially with that stone, unsure if it is a trap or not. Might be safest to get you to join another federation and then we can see what skills you could get. We will need more keystone items, though. We should seek out a trades hall."
"Now hold on," Maeva said, "this was given to Ob for a reason. We must be cautious about where you join." Maeva said, looking at Ob sincerely, "You''re not from this world, yeah?"
"Right." Ob nodded, listening intently.
"So you don''t know the politics of this world, yeah? Thought so. If someone gave you this and you DIDN''T pass the test, then it had to have been someone pretty high up there. Someone with a lot of connections? By ignoring this stone and heading to another federation in the same town, you could cause a lotta trouble for yourself, love."
"I see your point," Ob said, eyebrows furrowed in deep thought. Should I have just made this my third powerset and not gone for four? Was that greedy?
"What are you thinking, love?" Maeva asked.
"I was given the option to make this my third powerset instead of it being my fourth. I am thinking if I made a mistake and should have just taken the three."
"I am not sure that would have solved your problems, Ob." Abigail spoke up. "Maeva is right, the politics of this world are likely different from where you''re from. Something is up and at a higher space, whoever gave you that keystone item must know your powersets. They had to have, from the first part of the assessment. You did not have your third powerset. If you would have rejected the offering to have a bonus power set and could not use this keystone that would have also caused bells to go off."
"So basically, I was given a double-edged sword. No matter what I do, I am going to have to watch out." Ob sighed in resignation.
"Hate to break it to you pal, you were gonna have to do that anyways," Vincent said laughing, "you''re a Draconian with a rare dragon as your soul-link. You have two gifts from two separate gods that you''re not a part of their following. You are far from being a quiet guy."
Ob chuckled. He couldn''t help but agree with what Vincent said; he was right. Ob was far from being just a face in the crowd. It was time he accepted that, as much as he wanted to be hidden; that was not going to happen. He was already too powerful. The question that came next was which side of the sword he was going to grab. Will he take the keystone and run the risk of something awful happening? Or will he ignore it and go somewhere else that will run the risk of social scrutiny?
Ob sighed. This was a big decision and not one he wanted to make. He took a long, deep, calming breath; what are the facts? Breathe, focus on the facts; he told himself, Fact #1: I''m already going to be noticed. Fact #2: I will have powerful people after me. Fact #3: I don''t know enough about the social layout to do anything about it. Fact #4: I hate politics. Fact #5, I need to get my full powerset here soon. After taking another long and deep breath, he nodded and said okay.
He told the group that he had decided what he wanted to do. He wanted to first get some food because he was hungry, and it had been several hours since he had eaten. He left the room to go to Helvuna. As he approached the front desk, there was a well-dressed man standing talking to the halfling. "I''m sorry, sir, I can''t tell you who and where my guests are staying."
The man was skinny but in a well-tailored suit. The suit was all black and had a red tie. He wore dark aviator sunglasses. His skin was leathery and red; he had two horns poking out of his head, and he had a long leathery tail that ended in a point. "Come on Helvuna," he hissed in a smooth sweet talking voice, "I''m only assssking for one man, ssssssurely you can look passssst your rule jussst thissss once?"
"I cannot, I will not. Good day sir." Helvuna said, voice getting more stern. "Have a good day Nom''ed."
"Fine, have it your way, half-ling," he said angrily, "What are you looking at, human. Mind your bussssinessss," he said, staring at Ob before turning away and walking out the door.
Helvuna put her head in her hands and rubbed her temples. She was muttering something inaudible as Ob walked up to her with a warm smile. "Tough customers huh?" He asked.
"Not even customers," She said, cheering up and watching her crush walk up to her. "Why didn''t you correct him?" She said, changing the subject.
"He doesn''t need to know," Ob said, now standing in front of the pretty half-ling, understanding what she meant.
"That is fair, "she conceded, "What can I do for you?"
"Can we get the family dinner meal, sent up to our room? We are all getting quite hungry and I don''t want to go anywhere else." she blushed at that remark.
"I can for sure do that. Do you care about the price, as in, should I tell you?"
Ob chuckled, "you can tell me whatever you like. As long as you know, that I will be paying you, abundantly."
She shook her head; there was no point in trying to argue with this Celestine. He was going to grossly overpay her and her staff. He never did it for thanks; he never did it to seem better than others. Ob did it because he genuinely wanted to help those who served him. This is one of the reasons why her cousin told her to seek him when he gets to town. With his generosity and his looks, she was well aware her older cousin had many motives behind why she did this. She wasn''t mad at it either. She loved it, and she was right; he was extremely good-looking and very kind but much stronger than he likely even knew. All very attractive qualities.
"Helvuna?" Ob said with a chuckle, "you looked like you blacked out for a second there."
Once again, her face turned red, "sorry, yes, I can get that food for you right away." She said, trying to rush past him. Before she could do so, she felt him grab her arm gently.
"Hey, why don''t you join us tonight too. It would be fun to have you eat and dine with us. Not as our host but as an invited guest." This time, his smile was large and genuine. Helvuna smiled back, her face now completely and totally burning; she adjusted her hair and said, "I''d really like that." Ob held her arm for a little bit longer, gazing into her eyes; he then let go and let her prepare their food.