Altura

I sighed at my situation. Why was it going like this? Why did they have all of those defenses? How did the attack break through the staff? I had felt my [Royalty] trait crack after the staff had broken, and I had no idea what my element was up to.

The greatest oddity among the lot was that I wasn’t dead yet. I should be, I was losing a lot of blood, and the attackers were sure to be in my heels. I would die soon, and I couldn’t do anything about it. Why? What had I done to deserve this?

“Do you still think that others are responsible for your condition, Altura Selrin?” a voice suddenly said from beside me. I turned my head to find a somewhat humanoid collection of vines staring at me.

Was this some new kind of monster? I would fight, but I didn’t exactly have a lot of power right now.

“I have not received an answer, Miss Selrin. Or do you think you are too much better than me to bother?” the vines said.

“What do you want me to say? I did not cause my condition, we both know that. I merely tried to do my duty, the enemies were too powerful.” I replied.

The vines laughed in response. “The enemies were too powerful? Do you know how powerful the enemies were? I assure you, they were not as powerful as you think. In fact, you have dealt with multiple enemies of the same level before, it was you that was not as powerful.The fault, miss Selrin, lies with you.”

“What do you mean? How is it my fault that I couldn’t kill them? I tried my best to become more powerful. What was I supposed to do? Just massacre people until I reach Spirit Tree stage?” I quipped back. The vines were irritating me.

The vines once again laughed at my response. “Oh, you sweet winter fool. How is it that you refuse to see the plainest of facts? The staff, Altura. The staff was weakening, and so was your power. Do you not remember? The staff was only as strong as you were royal, and you were far from royal these past few days. The last couple of years did a number on you didn’t they?”

“But come, we have better things to do. Watching you die wallowing in self-pity is currently at the top of my list.” the vines said, sitting right next to me. What did they mean, not royal? I had acted like I had always done, like the Royal Archduchess I was.

“What do you mean? I acted no differently than I have before.” I replied.

“Are you sure about that? And your answer presumes that you acted without arrogance before. But we both know that is not true.” the vines answered.

“I am far more humble than any other ruler I have encountered. Do you actually have a point, or are you going to just speak in riddles?” I asked, now irritated.

“A point, she asks. I think you, Miss Selrin, need to have a lesson in humility. Come, let us go back and watch your actions. And I shall watch you attempt to defend them.” The vines said, lifting me up and turning me around.

On the other side, the vines cleared, revealing a crystal clear lake.

“The lake of self-reflection. The lake water has the property of showing the memories of the person looking into it, come let us partake in its prized property.” the vines said, moving me towards the lake. I looked down into the crystal clear water, watching it morph into a scene.

“Just a few hours after your awakening, one of the first things you did was recruit Kerrin into your command. But did you truly care for him? Take care that he developed mentally and emotionally? No. What you did was let him turn into your little puppet.” the vines said as the water showed me the image of me meeting Kerrin.

“And look, just as you meet a group of abused orphans. What you do is turn them into your little soldiers, and once you no longer need them? Well, they don’t exist anymore, do they? Just not a part of your Altura centric universe.” the Vines said.

“I did not forget! I established the Department of Minors! And the children were never going to be soldiers, just capable in their own way. Do you fault me for making them cultivators and giving them a choice? I cannot be involved in everything that goes on in the Arch duchy, it just isn’t possible. I instead assigned them capable people and paid those people well.” I answered.

“Oh? And did you go there even once to check how they were doing? No, because you forgot, Altura. Arguing with me is not going to change the fact that you forgot about the kids. Just accept it. Moving on, here are you making decisions for Kerrin.

“Oh, I know you are a ruler and do have to assign people yourself. But did it occur to you that Kerrin might have not wanted to go through the journey? No, you presumed, you did not ask, you demanded. The act of demanding, Altura, demands that you consider yourself in a position to demand.” I moved to protest, Kerrin's situation was- What was Kerrin's situation? What was I about to say?

“A position that makes you feel that you are better than them, good enough that you make life-changing decisions that you think would be helpful. Was Kerrin ever more than a pawn to you? A little homework.” the vines countered.

“I am an Archduchess. I know you have problems with what I do and how I do it, but these are things I must do to ensure that the Archuchy runs.” I answered.

“The battle, during it, you deferred to General Aswelth in matters of defense. A wise decision, he ended up proving himself more than capable. But then we have your conduct with the King. The time when you complained and blew your temper over having to follow laws. What makes you think that laws that apply to everyone else do not apply to you?”

“I don’t see anything in you that allows you to hold such ideals, but it would seem you see it. What makes you so much better, Altura?” the vine asked. I knew what was going on, the vine was trying to manipulate me into thinking that I was arrogant and should not be Archduchess.

“The king was asking me to ignore a flagrant attack on the duchy. I could not do that, he was asking for too much.” I replied. I was going to debate this vine, and I was going to win.

“Oh, my poor Altura, she was told to follow laws. And for your kind information, the King was asking nothing of that sort. What he was asking was that you confirm that the attack was indeed from the Duchy of Merden.” Oh come on! Vines, you know that is not- what? What is...why was I forgetting again?

“A very reasonable ask in my opinion, and something you should have done anyway. But whatever, I am just a vine on the moon, you’re the Archduchess.” the vine said, mockingly.

“Yes, he did mention that the accords would have been broken if the Duchy had attacked me. The situation lacked clarity and that led to presumptions.” I answered her accusations.

“And who was the one making the presumption based on lacking context? I have you there, Altura?” the vine said.

“I admit, I was the one who did it. In my defense, I was exhausted and not in the right state of mind.? I answered, holding my head up high. I could apologize.

“Yes, Altura, you were the one who presumed. The one who did not bother to seek context and presumed instead. Not a very Arch Ducal manner, is it, making presumptions?” the vine said.

“I will do better, now do you have anything else? Because I don’t see how this makes your case on arrogance.” I replied.

“Oh, I have a lot of content. The situation just got worse, little by little. After the outburst, you had your thing with your mother. Now, I will admit that your mother is too much for anyone, I don't see how Norvane can bear her. But that is beside the point.”

“Adreia had a point, but you refused to listen to her. Just because she was arrogant, did not give you the right to be even more arrogant. Because Adreia used a huge amount of resources on you, your seed stood the test of your arrogance.”

“Though it hasn’t survived your latest fall, the fact that it kept you around for so long is a thing unto itself.” the vines continued.

Wait what, my seed was breaking. I tried to enter my spirit space, but found myself unable to, it was as if the space did not exist.

“Oh, you are only recognizing it now? The space is locked for now. I kept it in that state, so it doesn’t degrade anymore. A thank you would suffice.” the vines replied.

“Thank you.” I said, I had no idea what had it degrading, perhaps it was the attack, but I wasn’t above thanking someone either.

“Now moving on to after your mother left. The search for industry, as I call it. At first things were good, better than before in fact. The promises you made after your slip into violence had you becoming humbler.”

“The new you asked Xerte to take part in the convoy, took advice from commoners well and were rewarded for it. But then things changed. Do you know when?” the vines asked.

I had no idea when things ‘changed’ but I could guess.

“The time when I sent Kerrin to the Gorge? I started making decisions again. But I did not force anyone to do anything. And I was always polite. As I am usually. I still don’t see the arrogance you speak off.” I replied.

“Yes, but not quite. After the Gorge started trading, that was when your arrogance truly presented itself. Before, your morals, your challenges stopped you from becoming truly arrogant. The arrogance was silent, a malicious push that presented itself in moments. But not a factor in your day-to-day lives.”

“But when you turned into a ruler in a palace of officials that say only yes, you started to change. Oh, you kept to your morals quite well, your promises helped I suppose. A hard line that you would not cross. And your Arch duchy prospered for it. But you started to care less. Do you remember how you made up with Duke Reinar?” the vines asked. What change? I did not change- Wait what. What was I talking about?

I did remember, the conversation had not gone well. Actually, no, it had gone well, just not in the way I had wanted it to, thought it would go.

Duke Reinar had been his usual self, starting the conversation with a classic, “Altura. What has you contacting me today?”

The blandness of his replies had always thrown me off, the man showed little to no emotion. I did preserve, though.

“I want to talk. I realize that a rather large number of issues have propped up between us, and I would like to see them resolved.” I had countered.

“I would like that too.” he had said, sounding actually hopeful.

And after that, we had talked. Just talked about Adreia and the kingdom’s situation. I would love to say that it was a long, meaningful talk, but it lasted all of five minutes and was a few sentences.

“I met your mother, Adreia-” he’d started, only for me to cut him off.

“I already talked to her, she told me. And I would like to never speak to her or about her again. I dislike her greatly. How goes the Kingdom? I hear that the King has been trying to make some changes.” I asked.

“Yes, he has started moving posts away from the Dukes, but they are resisting, and seeding the candidates for replacement with people loyal to them.” he answered.

“Oh, that is good isn’t it, he is at least doing something.” I answered.

“Yes, and perhaps we could deepen relations between the Selrin Duchy and the Alvere.” he finally said.

“I would like that. Anyway, I need to get going, I will have Hagril contact you to set things up.” I had answered and cut the call off. The conversation had ‘resolved’ all the issues, but left us no closer. But I did not see what relevance it had on the current situation.

“Yes, I remember the conversation clearly, but I do not understand what relation that has to things now.” I answered.

“Do you think you could have put your pride aside for a minute and talked about your mother? Or just any topic that wouldn’t die? How Aswelth was, perhaps? But no, when dealing with Altura the Archduchess, the responsibility to continue the conversation must be on the other person. After all, your time is too precious to be spent on your last remaining blood relative you talk with.” the vine said.

I had to accept, I did regret that.

“The two years as uncontested ruler spoiled you, Altura. A palace, the large army, the reluctance to make a proper constitution. What are these but the acts of a monarch that had gotten drunk on power, on always being right.

But your royalty, Altura, was different. Altura Selrin was a royal of the people. And that is where you fell. The reason you are here. Come, let us take a look at the events of the Tourney.

The Tourney brought out the worst out of you. Or rather, the worst in you had the opportunity to kill you. As soon as you started complaining about the lack of Qi, you began your fall. And then you left your charges in a cave while you went to gather more.

Had you not done that, perhaps you would have won. But you did not, your arrogance had you thinking you would get away with it. “

“Tell me what did you do?” the vines asked.

“I left them there.” I answered, feeling guilty. “I knew it was a risk, but I needed the Qi that I would get from it. A wrong decision. I make them once in a while.” I replied.

“No, Altura. The decision was not your only bad decision. The arrogance started with your complaints, but it continued. A wise decision would have been to observe the first group of people to see if they were actually hunting you.”

“But you presumed that they had to be hunting you. The portrait, just so you know, was distributed to everyone. And these weren’t hunting you. The leader thought himself intelligent and was hunting your companions. I would still suggest killing them, but just because things turned out alright does not make it right.”

“And there was the group at the cave. A wise leader would have rescued her people first, or helped them level up so that they could help you. But you were overconfident, how could such a measly group beat you? Well, guess what, they did. Do you remember the staff’s condition?”

“The power of the staff depends on the royalty of its wielder, and your royalty, Altura, was decreasing. The groups didn’t have better defenses, you had weaker attacks. But you never thought that you were the problem. The self reflection ended, Altura, and that caused the issue.” the vines said.

I…had to accept that. I could have, should have done that. But I didn’t, and that was my fault.

“The staff, Altura, broke because of what you did. The hunt succeeded because of what you did. The reason your cultivation is breaking is you, Altura, nobody else. The flaw of arrogance in you had you thinking you were better than everyone else, that you had some form of a mandate to save everyone, but we all know that's not true, is it?”

“The hero complex, as I call it, is a poisonous one indeed. In a way, you are lucky that you fell now, in such an opportune location, so you have a chance to get back up. Now, what do you have to say for yourself?”

“I did get arrogant. I shouldn’t have charged in without knowing if those people were guilty. The process of justice was broken. I am a bad leader. I failed my people, and I will fail them more now. The most powerful people in the Arch duchy are here, if we fall then the Arch duchy might fall too.”

“I took them here because I did not think that we would fall. Because I was arrogant, I risked the entire Arch duchy over my presumption that I could get by the Tourney just fine. I am bad.” I replied.

“Do not be too hard on yourself, Altura, you are hardly the only person in the world with a flaw. Now go, your spirit space awaits you.” the vines said as I felt the spirit space open up to me.

And what followed was pain. Just pain. The Grand Tree…was breaking, no, it had broken. The seed had stopped shining. The entire space was collapsing on itself. Had I done something that bad? The seed just collapsed? No, the tree…it was cut in the exact same way that the staff was.

The staff had been some kind of symbol of royalty…had its breaking been the cause of this? A hidden cost? But either way, I had a cultivation to fix. But how do you fix a cultivation that was broken? Well I could always switch to the Energy seed.

I sent the Qi into it, glad that I still had control over it, but it didn’t work. Why did it not work?

“The seed replacement is only viable before Treeling, afterwards the Qi is too aspected for a different seed to accept it, unless of course you use an unaspected seed like this one.” The vines said, coming inside my spirit space to drop a seed in. How had I not even sensed it coming in?

But I had the seed, now all that was left was using it. And that I did. I sent all the Qi I could into it, and watched it grow back up. But more than half of my Qi was already gone. I knew that I would drop a rank, down to Grand Tree, something that would further reduce my chances of getting out. And worse, I could not sense my [Royalty] trait, or any of the skills associated with it. I had lost it, in fact my class should have degraded too.

I might have to accept that I might not be returning from this trip. The price of my arrogance, to be paid in blood.

“Oh, don’t you look so glum. Or did you forget that I was basically a part of the System?” the vines said, popping back into my spirit space.

Wait what. I don’t think we quite covered that vines.

Altura

“Oh, did you not gather? I was a vine on the System tree for a very long time, and inherited some of its powers. How do you think I was able to see into your past so clearly? The lake? Ha!”

“The First Warrior isn’t the only one that can steal some Qi from the System. I have my own stash too. But be warned, the cost will be great, you will never ever recover the [Royalty] trait if you do this, and you shall be forced to watch your actions again.” the vines said.

“But it will give me a chance to survive and save the others.” I stated questioningly.

“I doubt your survival will be in question, you could always hide here and not go out.” the vines said.

“I shall take my chances.” I said, as the vines nodded and sent Qi into the spirit space.

The space transformed, turning into some kind of mirror, and there I watched. I watched as I ignored Kerrin, and did all those things the System pointed out. The things kept on playing.

But…they did not feel very important. Or rather, while they did show that I had a tendency towards being selfish and arrogant, they did not tell me how I was not royal. A royal had to rule. I had made a good bunch of mistakes.

The lack of a constitution, the risking of my most capable lieutenants, and leaving those two there. But getting Qi was the logical answer, even if I went about it the wrong way. I was arrogant, but that arrogance had not reached a level where the seed would break.

And did seeds even break on things like this? I knew that if they did not match your identity, they would reject you, but I still considered myself royal. And helping the people. Perhaps I would eventually turn into a tyrant at the rate I was going, but even I doubted that.

The seed breaking…made no sense at all. I suddenly felt a fog clear from my mind. And my instincts started screaming danger at me.

I moved towards the broken tree, observing it. The cut was there, a bit too straight, but there. The seed was dead. And everything seemed to be just as the vines said it was. And the staff, why did the staff break? The thing made no sense! Ugh.

I wish the staff were here, maybe I could test it or…wait. I could summon the staff. And so I did, the staff did come. I picked up the two halves, trying to join them together. But as expected, the staff was too broken to be joined again. Switching on my spirit eye, the thing looked like a broken circuit.

The Qi inside was moving, but could not interact with the other side, except for one single thread that attached the two halves. The third seal, it was still around. Why was it still around, wasn’t the staff broken? What was going on?

Just like many things, it made no sense. But here, at least, I could just try to open the third seal and see what happened. And so I did, I sent my senses into the seal trying to pry it open. And…it worked?

The seal came apart like it was barely stuck. Had the staff breaking made it lose? I suppose that made sense, seals on things did not stick around when things broke. And there was only a single Qi thread maintaining it.

As soon as the seal was removed, a white smoke came out of the staff and transformed into a ghost of a tree. Or at least what looked like one. The ghost sniffed at me and then started walking to the cut of my Grand Tree.

“So, what’d you do to get it so bad, lassie? Disobey your King or something? I know it's been a while, but you know my policy. I ain’t interfering in Kingly matters. Not even for the person who rescued me.” he said. What Kingly matters? And who was this guy that seemed to think I knew him?

“I am sorry, I do not know you. As for the Grand Tree, it broke because I was too arrogant. Apparently that was too unroyal of me.” I answered.

“What? Are you some kind of bumpkin? How do you not my famous self? But no, you're sitting here with a Royal seed, you're clearly a princess or something. And since when was arrogance unroyal?”

“I ain’t met a single King that wasn’t arrogant. But that does explain why that bloody staff broke. The idiot programmed it to only respond to a humble ruler willing to sacrifice themselves for their people. Did you do something not in that bastard’s perception of Royalty?” the ghost asked.

Ok, what? I needed context. The ‘idiot’? And the staff was the one programmed?

“Could you perhaps tell me what is going on? I fear I have little context to base this on. Perhaps we can introduce ourselves first?” I suggested.

“Oh sure lassie. I get wanting to know someone as handsome as me. I am Vorrilius Mesturfer, Grand Master of Artifacy, Father of Artifacy, Founder of Artifacy, Grand Master of Blacksmithing, Father of Blacksmithing, Founder of Blacksmithing, Grand Master of Magica Crafting, Father of Magica Crafting, Founder of Magica Crafting, The Founder of the Crafting association, The Founder of the Blacksmithing Association…”

The ghost just went on and on for what was a very long list that just said ‘very good crafter and supposedly the first one.’ I had just met what real self-obsession looked like. How much could I bet that the guy had given all of these grand titles to himself? And did he think I liked a tree? A different species.

But I did have a little time to think things through. The staff was apparently programmed for a humble ruler. I could see that there had been signs. The staff had immediately bonded with me. And it got weak when I left the two Trees.

But really, what I did reeked of overconfidence more than arrogance. Oh, I might have considered myself better than everyone else in the Arch duchy, but that was kinda a requirement to be royal. What royal did not think themselves better.

As for Kerrin, well, fine, I made a mistake. I could have, should have, maybe cared for him a bit more. I was selfish. And a bit arrogant. I did use him, but that did not mean I did not give him appropriate compensation.

After all, what nation did not use its people. The farmers were used for food, the soldiers for war. A nation ran on the people on the top using everyone. The morally right thing was to provide ample compensation to them and make sure that they were happy. I did try to do that.

And Kerrin seemed happy. So did Xerte. I was overconfident and maybe a tiny bit arrogant, not a bad ruler. The tree breaking made even less sense. The [Royalty] trait, I suppose, could have cracked because I lost the [Royal lightning] element. Actually, where was the other part of the Grand Tree? The bottom part remained, but the top did not.

“Oi! I know my titles are dazzling, lassie, but there’s no need to be rude.” the ghost said, interjecting my monologue.

“Oh yes, I am Archduchess Altura of the Arch duchy of Alvere. Now, could you tell me how you came to be in the staff?” I asked. I was having a little problem focusing on this guy now. But he could have answers. At least he knew things about the staff.

“Oh, that's a tale of great betrayal. A great many years ago, about fifty years after the bloody System came along, I rose to my great self. I was the best crafter in all of Norten-”

“I am sorry, Norten? I fear that I am unfamiliar with this name.” I interrupted.

“Norten, that's the world we live in. What bloody back lands did you come from lassie that you don’t even know the name of the world? Did you hit your head or something?”

“Anyways, you asked for the story. Well, I, being how good I was, provoked a lot of jealousy in my peers. So the fools conspired against me! And they were led by my own apprentice! The foolish lad challenged me in my very own great hall.”

“And cheated! I can’t prove it, but I know it! The lad could never have won without cheating. I was too good. The others though, wouldn’t have it. The old sods demanded that I give away my titles and ‘make way for the new generation’ and when I refused they killed me and stuck my spirit in this bloody staff so that my spirit could power it.”

“To empower a true ruler, they said. What ruler can really rule with humility, tell me? To make laws means that you consider yourself so much wiser than others that you can tell them what to do and what not to.”

“What bloody seed did you have? The humble royal? Cause I don’t see a different one falling to arrogance of all things. Not unless the fools managed to manipulate the System somehow.” he said.

I had to agree with mister ghost here. The entire thing seemed contrived somehow. But why? Why would the System manipulate me? And the Qi it gave, there was a heck lot of it, but not enough to get to Spirit Tree. Just short of it, in fact. Was there something that stopped the System at the Spirit Tree level?

Hmm, thinking back, the vines mentioned how the First Warrior wasn’t the only one that could take Qi. So the First Warrior could steal QI from the System, the System wouldn’t like that. And a Warrior Tree therefore could fight and win against the System. But that could also work for a Spirit Tree to a limited area. The System controlled things around Qi, but Spirit Qi wasn’t really Qi, was it?

In fact, I could see how the System influenced things. Just like a massive planetary version of a seed. The power granted from spirit sight. Now, say the System couldn’t interfere with a Spirit Tree. I did not have any proof, or even evidence. Just a hunch.

A Spirit Tree had a heck lot of importance in the world, so if there was any stage that could do it, it was that. And logic dictated that there be some kind of middle stage between manipulable and powerful enough to oppose the System. The Spirit Tree stage fit the criteria.

And I was well on my way there. Now if the System wanted to get rid of the defying First Warrior, it needed to either act itself, which might have not be possible, or get someone else to do it. But it had to ensure that the one that replaced the First Warrior was manipulable. And I would be that person.

Now, the vines, a part of the System, ghost lighted me into thinking I was arrogant and needed guidance. The subsequent nerfing, loss of Royalty seed and the staff would leave me convinced. And accepting whatever the vines told me next. A little more manipulation, and I would become the System’s puppet.

But then there was the fact that whatever the System was doing did not seem to be working here. Was there something else I was missing?

“Oi lassie! Come back, you got lost in your own head again! What is up with you? The System get into your head or something?” he asked.

“What do you mean the System got into my head?” I asked.

“Well, there were all kinds of rumors when the System came that the System could manipulate your thoughts and the only way to stop it was to get more powerful. Oh, and is there any reason you’re growing a [Receptive ruler] seed? I dunno, it seems like a bad idea to me.” the ghost said. “I always think the common people are stupid and shouldn’t be listened to.”

Well, wasn’t that coincidental. And how was this ghost looking at things I had no idea how to? I suppose a part of it was that the guy seemed very experienced, and his titles did say he was some kind of artificer. A magical artificer. I had yet to actually find a way to make magical items, but this guy had figured it out.

“How do you see things like that? I can’t even see where the rest of my Grand Tree is.” I asked, trying to get the guy to open up. Ok, fine, I was back to manipulating people. But what the heck, I could ask for some info from the conveniently placed grandpa in my staff.

“Oh, you are a wise ruler to seek my counsel! The trick is layers. The spirit sight only shows a top layer. The spirit sight often only grants the top layer, say how you see water. But water itself has layers too. So does the spirit. I know it might take a while to imagine it-” the ghost continued, but I already knew what he was talking about. A fluid had flow lines and flow tubes. I knew that. And since the spirit was a fluid…it had them too.

The spirit eye changed, accounting for all the tiny flow tubes and flow lines. And I could see a whole lot more, and work with more precision.

“I have it. So, can you tell me how I can change what the seed is growing into? Can I change that?” I asked.

“Oh, sure. The things were quite common among the circles around the System tree back in the day. Though I suppose you wouldn’t have heard of them in your little back lands.” the ghost replied.

Ugh, I know the Land of Six Jewels isn’t exactly prime real estate, but I have some good information sources, you know? I wouldn’t miss something as important as that. But there was the chance that such things were being taken by the First Warrior. After all, a seed like this that could grow into anything would be really helpful in making armies.

“So, how do I do it?” I asked.

“Well, there are two ways. The first is to use the seed to replicate another. But not one you’ve had already, so the Royalty seed won’t work. Or let it grow into something suitable according to your personality. “ The ghost replied. Ok, I had the Energy seed I could duplicate. But did I want Energy? No, especially not when the second option was open.

“How do I make it grow according to my personality?” I asked.

“Just do something that is significant to you. Do a thing you like doing.The seed will change based on what you are thinking and feeling at the time. And the things you do” he said. Well, I wanted to make some administrative decisions, but that was rather hard to do from in here. But if all that was needed, I had a crafter, spare materials from the staff and quite a bit of spirit.

“Tell me, sir, what would it take for you to make me a scepter. The kind suited for an Archduchess?” I asked, smiling.

“Going right back to the royal thing, are we? Well, I used to charge a mountain of gold, but say you let me go from this spirit space afterwards eh?” he asked.

Oh, he couldn’t leave? Well, I had no problem letting him go.

“I agree.” I answered.

The ghost got up and walked towards a corner of the spirit space. I observed what he was doing with my new and improved spirit sight. The flow lines were a bit too near there…hmm, wait. The flow lines left a blank space…no! The ghost pulled it apart to reveal the rest of the Grand Tree. And the very straight cut it had.

“Are you sure that it cracked, lassie? Cause that's not a cracked tree, I should know. I am one. A cut one? Now that is more probable.” the ghost said.

“Yes, that is more probable.” I said, with venom in my voice.

The ghost simply walked to the pieces of the staff and floated them up. And then pushed them down. Up. Down. Up Down. And the things changed. As if a whirlpool had formed where the ghost was, a massive amount of spirit began coming into the spirit space.

A tenth of it went to the staff, but the rest went right into the ghost. The gas-like form slowly solidified as the staff pieces merged with the Grand Tree piece. The guy had used me to get himself powerful again. Now, letting the ghost continue was a risk, but it was one I would take.

Because I had come to realize something. I had looked down on the ghost as an old grandpa that knew nothing of the present, and he had looked down on me as a country bumpkin. The ghost wouldn’t trouble me, I was beneath him.

And so it happened. A scepter was slowly born before my eyes. A straight rod of wood, topped by a purple jewel that had a rather peculiar emblem on it. The thing reminded me of the UN emblem, except the world was a snowflake and the olive branches were breaths of fire.

The rod itself had two dragons entwined on it, their mouths emerging inside the jewel, as if they were spewing hate fire. I was reminded of my elements, Dragon fire and Snowflake Ice. A reminder? But I had better things to do. System, show notifications.

The legendary grade item: [The Archduchess’ Scepter] has been forged.

The Scepter was forged from the broken staff of royalty, a royalty Grand Tree and an unreasonable amount of spirit stolen from the system. The Scepter may be wielded only by Archduchess Altura Selrin whose Grand Tree it was made from.

The Scepter grants the following bonuses: [Archducal lightning], A colossal class Qi boost.

The forger of the Scepter has used forbidden methods to forge a weapon that stands in defiance of the ways of the System. The consequences of such an action are still unknown.

Error! The forger is no longer within detection parameters.

As a witness and benefactor of the process, Archduchess Altura Selrin gains 10 million Qi.

Seed gained! [Archduchess]

Class is unchanged.

Trait gained: [ Archducal]

Requirements:

Archducal Seed

Archducal Element

Landed Nobility

Royalty trait skills have been transformed to Archducal skills.

Qi gained!

Total Qi

Mid-Grand Tree [161, 357,896/39,321,600]

Begin Trial?

Oh, sweet sweet System. I am sorry for blaming you, the vines must be lying, how could they be a part of you. After all, didn’t you just give me about 3 million Qi more than was needed to reach the Spirit Tree stage?

Wait for me, double breakthrough, I am coming. And also, thank you for that seed. I will take that title drop, because I get the feeling it means absolutely nothing. Tell me, are there two minds in you or something?

SCENE CHANGE

System sub-sub routine vines, under System subroutine Bug removal, an autonomous routine.

[The Subject, classification Altura, remains outside of observation parameters. Requesting permission from Subroutine Bug removal to halt breakthrough process.The Sub-subroutine vines has observed the roll through to have unfavorable results.]

[The request is denied. The Main routine has complete control over breakthrough processes.]

[The Sub-subroutine vines request permission to withdraw Qi from the Subject. The sub-sub routine considers such an action possible.]

[The request has been automatically denied by the Main routine. The Main routine shall not allow any interference during breakthrough process.]

[The sub-sub routine considers the anomalous nature of the breakthrough highly dangerous with possibility of Subject breaking confinement. The Subject has shown extraordinary intelligence and reluctance in accepting instructions.]

[The Subroutine Bug removal approves Sub-subroutine vines assessment. The Main routine has denied all access to breakthrough processes. The denial has been denoted bug #0007 classification priority high. The Subroutine cannot interfere with Qi allocation, alternate avenues of interference are non-existent. Bug #0007 deemed unresolved]

[The Sub-subroutine wishes to conduct an extended scan and manipulation on the Subject to ensure obedience.]

[The Sub-subroutine vines is granted permission to conduct a Grade 3 manipulation on the Subject. The Subject’s obedience to System commands is vital to the resolution of bugs #0001, #0003 and #0006 and reaffirmation of System control.

The Sub-subroutine is also ordered to insert commands against Surprise, classification Grand Elder Artica. Surprise has shown rejection of all System overtures and attempts at manipulation. The Subroutine bug removal deems the success of an- Error-anomalous breakthrough detected. Sub-subroutine vines, report condition of subject]

[The Subject shows signs of anomalous breakthrough to Spirit Tree stage. The Subject shows unusual concentration of spirit. Error! Subject has broken through to Spirit Tree stage! Error! The Subject has gained anomalous immunity to manipulation and observation. Requesting aid from Subroutine Bug removal! Requesting immediate aid!]