Grey Vivium 1

Out of options, I did the only thing I could do. Keeping my distance, I began coalescing aether into the center of my palm.

As a thin layer of purple began spreading from the center of my hand, I hoped that my limited pool of aether would somehow dwindle the recoil of the aether blast.

But as I prepared to unleash the destructive blast of aether, I couldn’t help but question its capability. It was the wrong moment and time to be introspecting but I couldn’t help but wonder how this raw blast of energy stemmed from aether.

Like mana, did aether have a pure, affinity-less form, or was this power—like the strengthening of my body—a branch of vivum? But Lady Myre had explained vivum as the influence over all living components.

That’s when it hit me.

I had been on the right track with both the Gauntlet Form and the aetheric blast but they were merely a part of the bigger picture.

I channeled aether into my hand once more. But it was different this time. The very action of cladding my hand in aether felt more fluid… more natural and controlled.

Suddenly, an unbearable pain enveloped my hand, causing me to stop in my tracks. I looked down at my hands to see what looked like runes forming on the backs of my hands. They lingered for less than a second before the runes disappeared from view. However, I could feel the runes travelling up my arm like a white hot ball of iron before trailing down my back and legs before coming back up and pressing on the base of my spine.

Despite my growing tolerance for pain, the pain caused by whatever had happened nearly caused me to faint. However, for some reason, I felt reassured by what had just happened.

“—thur!”

I snapped out of my reverie at the sound of Regis’ voice right beside me, and I realized that I had been in the middle of a fight against a towering shadow-like golem.

I dipped my head and prepared for an impact that never came.

“Arthur, look,” Regis stated.

Raising my head, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

The black sentinel, whose figure towered over thirty feet high, was slowly backing away from me.

He’s scared.

I could see Regis looking at the sight in disbelief as well.

“What did you do?” he asked.

“I-I’m not sure.” I looked down at my hands to see nothing there. However, when I coalesced aether into my hand, a warm sensation spread from my lower back along with a flood of knowledge.

I staggered forward, nearly losing balance at the jarring sensation. It only lasted a split second, but I knew the newfound knowledge now ingrained into my brain would last forever.

“…uction, ” I muttered, looking at my empty hands.

“What?” Regis asked, floating down and staring at me. “Are you okay, Arthur?”

I could feel my lips curve up into a grin. “I’m better than okay. I understand now.”

“Understand what?” Regis rebutted. “You’re freaking me out, Arthur.”

Lifting my cloak and shirt up, I showed Regis my lower back. “This.”

My companion’s eyes widened as he saw the silvery-white rune glowing on my spine, just above my hip. “Do you know what this rune says?”

Regis shook his head as I let go of my cloak and shirt, covering my back.

“I do,” I said with a grin plastered on my face. “And so does that thing.”

I approached the giant shadowy knight, my gait calm and deliberate. The closer I got to the towering golem, the more I could see its form hunch, as if it was trying to make itself smaller in my presence.

It knew.

I was no longer the one trapped in here with this beast—the beast was now trapped in here with me.

Slowly raising my arm, I channeled aether into my right hand. The warm touch of the rune carved onto my back reassured me and the aether manifested into a small flame that glistened like pure amethyst.

The amethyst flame clung to my palm like a newborn. There was no wild ferocity or heat that emanated from this flame. It was cold, tranquil, and silent like the breath of something transcendent.

At the sight of this ethereal flame, the shadowy golem body began to tremble but not a shred of compassion could be mustered for this beast.

Like a cornered rat, the giant golem lashed out, slamming down its massive arms to try and flatten me.

I raised my arm, meeting his giant fists with my right hand. The amethyst flames silently consumed its entire two fists, leaving not even a trace of its shadowy hands.

The shadowy beast bellowed in rage, desperately flailing its arms at me.

Using its arm as a ramp, I rushed up and drove my flame-clad hand into its head.

“Farewell,” I said softly as I watched its head deteriorate from the violet flames and its body sink back down into the black platform.