I drifted through the black. It could have been hours; it could have been days. I was constantly fading in and out of consciousness, and in this dream-space, I had no watch or sun to help me keep track of the hours. The pain had long faded, and I was left with nothing but my thoughts stuck in an endless sea of murk. I closed my eyes again, frustrated and panicked tears starting to build, falling from my face and drifting off into space.

Light. When I opened my eyes, I hovered before a great black sun radiating an intense flame that ate all light around it. Beneath me was a disk; on it two nodes of power with great streaming tethers running out of sight. Beneath the disk was yet another star, this one bright white, and the source of light that I was seeing. With nothing better to do with my time and curiosity steadily building to replace the fear, I approached the strange collection of celestial bodies. Experimentally, I reached out and touched one of the nodes.

Water. An endless ocean. A torrential rain. A gentle stream. Unrelenting, steady, powerful, changeable, adapting.

I was starting to get an idea of what I was looking at. I accessed the second node on the disk.

Air. Invisible, all-encompassing. A gentle breeze. A whirling tornado. An endless sandstorm. Ever-present, life-giving, flowing, uncatchable.

These were the elemental nodes I was attuned with, both water and air. If that was the case, this plane must represent the elements. Based on the location of the nodes on the disk, there were spaces for two more, namely fire and earth, reinforcing my hypothesis. Now that I had realized what each of the nodes was, I started to see ropes of energy connecting each of the founts of power. The connection between the black sun which was the source of chaos and the two elemental nodes was thick and powerful, meeting at a point in space creating an additional node. This must represent lightning. On the opposite side, the ropes connecting the nodes to the order sun were far smaller, only as wide as thread, but sure enough, a small artificial node sat opposite of where I hovered.

I floated through space to the node of ice, reaching out and touching it.

Ice. A frozen tundra. A raging blizzard. A freezing sleet storm. Cold, creeping, inevitable, still.

It seems, through the pain, I somehow managed to connect to the stream of order. Looking around, though, there were some things I was missing. Why couldn’t the plain of water connect directly with chaos and order? Why did it require air mixed in as well? Also, why weren’t ice and water connected to each other directly?

If this space was a manifestation of my magic ability, I should be able to manipulate it. It was finally time for my Aether Channeling to help. I reached out to the sun of order, using the skill to convert a hint of the source to mana, then I flew back to the disk and did the same with air. Using both of my hands, I connected the two mana streams.

Space. All that is.

Holy crap! That sounded strong as hell. What would I get if I connected water to the order sun? Or water to air? There were so many possibilities! As I watched it take place, though, the newly formed cord broke, dissipating into the inky surroundings. I was missing something to facilitate the connection.

Of course! My skill converted aether to mana. I needed to connect the streams, which meant I would need to manipulate the aether itself without the mana intermediary. I would need an upgraded skill to do that. Perhaps it was time to work on my Aether Channeling. It was my best lead to finding an Aether Manipulation or Aether Command skill.

While I could not bind any new connections, I could still test to see what the connections I could form were. I mentally tabulated the results, determined to add them to my notes when I awoke.

Water and Air: Mist Air and Order: Space Water and Order: Force Air and Chaos: Void Water and Chaos: Destruction

Each of those sounded awesomely powerful, particularly the combinations with order and chaos. The next few tests I ran were even more interesting though. First, I tried to combine both order and chaos.

Order and Chaos: Yin-Yang

As to what that element would do, I had no idea. I was sure it was immensely powerful, though. The final test I tried was to combine nodes with the central plane. The elemental nodes did nothing when linked with the disk a second time, but order and chaos produced unexpected results.

Order and central plain: Light Chaos and central plain: Darkness

This went far further than I expected. It seems likely that all magic elements were derived from fire, water, earth, air, order, and chaos. When I returned to the guild, I would need to consult Cindy, Taylor, and Steph, the three most powerful elementally based people I knew, and hopefully we could fill in the chart by working together. Having a better understanding of the magic system would give us a leg up this early after the change and might help people unlock more complementary elements.

Now that I had experimented enough, the next order of business was finding out how I was going to get the hell out of here. I had been in this strange location for a while, and there was no sign that I would be leaving any time soon unless I did something. Experimentally, I closed my eyes and willed myself to leave. It did the trick, as I felt the space around me shift, and my feet touch down on the ground, grass creeping between my toes.

I opened my eyes just in time to feel someone careen into me, tackling me to the ground. Lying on my back a bit dazed, I opened my eyes to see what was happening.

On top of me was a girl, rather young, with porcelain white skin and long hair. She was wearing a plain white T-shirt and shorts and was looking at me with a smiling expression. She probably could have passed for a normal human, albeit a supernaturally pale one, except for her unsettling eyes.

Each one was a tear in reality, a void sinking into a vantablack background. Within was a galaxy of stars, supernovas exploding. Worlds within worlds.

Bending over to pull me into a hug, she shouted, “Vic! I’m so glad you’re okay!”

Gently pushing her off as I sat up, I looked around where I had landed. I was back in Norr’s garden on top of her mountain. Norr was sitting at her table, elegantly drinking tea from a cup, watching as events unfolded with a sly grin.

I turned to the porcelain girl.

“Um, so, who are you? Have we met before?”

She smiled.

“It’s me, Vic! Luna. It’s hard for me to form a physical presence in the real world, but in a dream space like this I can do as I please.”

Calling out, Norr shouted across the garden.

“Mother, please get off her, and join me at the table. You as well, Vic. I’m sure you’re curious about what has just taken place, and the chairs are far more comfortable than the ground.”

I stood, following Luna up the short path. I chuckled a bit, turning to her as we walked.

“Mother, huh?”

Luna looked a bit sheepish.

“Well, yeah. I did technically create her after all. I also raised her since she was young, so it’s a fairly accurate way to describe our relationship.”

I laughed at her response. She was starting to get embarrassed and was looking away so I couldn’t see her blush.

“I can buy that. Why do you look so young though? You don’t look any older than twelve. Didn’t you say you were like a thousand years old or something?”

“I am the same age as H.G. was when we first met. I can change my form at will, but I’ve taken a liking to this one and see no reason to use anything different.”

We sat down at the table, Norr making a small gesture to summon a few cups of tea from the air. Reaching out and taking the teacup, I took a sip. Delicious.

They seemed to be waiting for me, so I decided to get the conversation started.

“So, what exactly happened to me? That wasn’t anything like the previous aether stream connections I made.”

Norr nodded.

“Yes, it certainly wasn’t. As a storm paraelemental you should be incapable of connecting with the stream of order. You must understand, this is a biological imperative, not something as simple as a choice. I’m sure you felt your instincts erupting when the connection began to form. It was simple luck that you weren’t a pure elemental. If you were, you would surely have died.”

I recalled the disgust and panic when the stream tried to connect with me. So it really was a biological response.

“Why would that be the case? I know you can connect to both streams and form elements from them. Why was it so difficult for me?”

Luna interjected.

“Vic, it has to do with your nature as an elemental. The root of the problem is your racial background. Most beings are formed from a living creature that gains magical affinity. This includes all superhumans, fae, beastkin, and most monsters. They would have no issues connecting with additional streams if they ever had the option. Elementals are formed the opposite way; they start as pure aether which then develops a consciousness. By taking in materials from the outside world they can eventually form a physical body, similar to yourself. They would be completely incapable of taking in new streams without killing themselves because their streams make up the majority of their metaphysical form.

“You should have been unable to learn cryokinesis, but there is a part of you that is still human, even through the rank up. That sliver of humanity is what allowed you to learn cryokinesis past the elemental restriction. It is also the only reason you were able to survive the process. When you wake up, you will find that your form has gone through some drastic changes to accommodate the new aether stream, a consequence of your physical form being tied so closely to your aetheric affinities.”

“Does that mean every time I try and connect to another stream I’ll risk dying?”

Norr made a very serious expression.

“Indeed, it does. Luna noticed the issue when you started to form the connection and visited me in my realm. After speaking with mother, we believe we have found a workaround to the issue caused by your strange race. Simply put, when you reach rank three, we will assist you by collecting the necessary materials. By choosing materials that are more accommodating of different elements, we can ensure that you are at no risk.

“The root of the problem you are facing was caused in part by me; the champion candidacy allowing you to tap into the elements I embody. You should have been able to become my champion without any additional elements, but I unknowingly plunged you into danger. Helping you is the least I can do in exchange.”

“Thank you, Norr. You too Luna. It makes me happy to have such powerful friends on my side.”

Luna smiled and nodded, while Norr looked lost in thought.

“Friends, you say… I have never had a friend before. Would you truly be willing to form a friendship with an artificial construct like myself?”

Norr made a bitter face. She seemed so playful and authoritative when we met the first time. I hadn’t expected this type of insecurity. What could have brought it on?

It took me a second to form my response, and I could tell that Norr was waiting, expecting the worst. I wanted to make sure that what I said was from the heart.

“You may have been made by Luna, but you have taken on a life of your own. You are also making strides to help me, though it is something that you could easily have considered beneath you. I would love to be your friend if you would have me.”

Norr smiled again, the expression lighting up the whole space around her. She was still as supernaturally beautiful and captivating as the first time I saw her and beholding an expression of such genuine happiness made my heart soar.

I spent the rest of my time in the mountain terrace engaging in idle chatter, the laughter of supernatural beings filling the air. I could talk with Luna whenever I wanted, but it was a different experience talking face to face. I liked getting to observe my companion’s expressions instead of just sensing the emotional inflections through a bond. After about an hour, Luna and Norr started talking about some vague developments in the northern planar connections to the (TV STATIC) and I stopped paying attention, instead choosing to enjoy the nature and the endless delicious tea.

Through the conversations, I was able to glean some important information that I was trying to digest. The biggest one was that due to my champion candidacy, I had potential connections to quite literally every element. Nature magic was formed by connecting all four natural elements and then merging that connection node with chaos and order, forming life and death magic respectively. Norr managed parts of all three, nature, life, and death forming the lifecycles of the world. This made her a jack of all trades among the members of the pantheon, not specializing in any one magic affinity, but instead using all of them.

According to her, there was both a god of life magic and death magic, and gods and goddesses embodying all of the natural aspects, but none of them except her could use abilities from every single magic domain. That being said, it was important to note that while she had the widest range of attacks, the others far outstripped her in raw power output. She would allow me to officially become her champion when I had unlocked the nodes of nature, life, and death, which would let me receive my inheritance. Whatever that meant.

Both Luna and Norr were mum on how I could form additional nodes, both insisting that it was important I found the answer myself. I understood their reasoning, so I was reluctantly willing to let it slide, and work to figure out a solution by myself. For now, though, connecting to the streams of fire and earth was my long-term goal. My aether manipulation would grow with time and practice, and with it my access to the streams, but gaining two new elements would require finding something to stimulate that connection.

I was fortunate to have already found a manual, gifted by the guardian of constitution, which should give me some earth affinity. Fire, on the other hand, would be tricky. My best bet was to find a monster cultivation manual that would allow me to connect to the stream, but I would need to find a place I could grind for it. That meant I needed to go somewhere with lots of fire type monsters, and I had no idea where to even start looking. This was a long-term project, so I wasn’t impatient. It felt good to have a far-reaching goal.

Eventually, my sight started to fade to black and I passed out, returning to normal peaceful sleep, the memory of good company fading back into pleasant dreams.