I was sitting at the stern of a large cargo ship, Luin curled up next to me with her head on my lap. I was looking behind the vessel, watching the port grow smaller in the distance. Lastaf and I had spent the better part of a week traveling to the port to find not a single ship docked at the port. We had to stay at the inn for three nights before this cargo ship came into port, dropping off its cargo and picking up cargo to bring back to the mainland. What was in the large wooden crates was anyone's guess. As the port vanished over the horizon, I began to think back on a conversation as we traveled.

***

“Lastaf, why would the system use the same basic patterns for constructs for Tiers 1, 2, and 3. Then make it completely up to the user to create the construct for Tier 4 and above?”

“Well, that’s not entirely true. You can create a new Tier 3 construct and achieve the same results. Scholars all over have many theories on this very subject. I’m in the group that believes the system wants you to learn the basic spells early on to defend yourself.

“Then, with the knowledge you’ve gained, you try and recreate the Tier 3 spells in a new way that makes sense to you. This allows you to use your intent and knowledge of how that school of magic works and create your first Tier 4 spell. It’s only then when you cast your first created spell when you can call yourself an adept of that particular school of magic.”

“Can you still use constructs recorded for Tier 4 and above that have been proven to work?”

“If you were taught to view that school of magic the same as the one who created the construct. Mostly noble and wealthy families pass down grimoires filled with construct diagrams from generation to generation. It works well for them, as they teach them to understand the magic the same as the previous generation.

“Sometimes people find diagrams or spellbooks in ruins or dungeons. These can help them understand that school of magic enough to copy and modify their own construct to work. This doesn’t always pan out, but it could give you an insight into the users' thoughts who wrote out their constructs.

“In general, understanding how that school of magic works and the grasp of their own intent allows them to push their spells into higher tiers. Even if a family could nurture a fledgling caster to construct a Tier 6 spell with a minimum of ninety-six nodes, they will never be able to release it due to the amount of mana required.

“Tier 4 and 5 are usually the highest any caster can reach unless they have a class that gives them a boost to Intelligence or their Mana pool directly.”

“Why does a Tier 6 spell require a minimum of ninety-six nodes?”

“Each tier of magic requires double the amount of mana from the one before it. You should have noticed that your Tier 1 spells all required three nodes. To cast a Tier 2 spell, you need six. Three needs twelve. Four, twenty-four. Five, forty-eight. Then the sixth is ninety-six. You can keep doubling the amount you need to reach one-thousand-five-hundred and thirty-six for the legendary Divine Tier 10.”

“What kind of spells can you cast at that point? Do you know anyone who can cast Tier 10 spells?”

“I would assume they would be world-altering. There hasn’t been anyone who’s reached Tier 10 in recorded history. Those who reach the Divine Tier always seem to vanish. I would assume Heros such as yourself or the oldest of the Classless would be closest to being able to cast such spell.”

“What do you mean they seem to vanish?”

“Most guess those who manage to reach the Divine Tier at Level 100, move on from this world, or become gods. No one knows for sure. The Emperor of Khenada is the only one known to be in the Onyx Tier, and he’s been there for over a century.”

We walked in silence for a while after our conversation. The Axoli let me contemplate what he had said. He had told me back at the hive that having a 1000 Mana was unheard of for anyone at my level. I was curious what my Mana would be once I reached Rank 3 in my Nervous System. Would it double or give me another 500 Mana? I would find out once I leveled the rest of my systems to Rank 2.

Whenever we would come across any type of threat, Lastaf would allow me to fight it. This would go on until he felt I couldn’t handle the threat and stepped in. Such a time was now when he pointed to a small roving band of Goblins in the distance. I had fought them twice now, and the little bastards were vicious, even tossing out insults in common. They weren’t the brightest of the races for an intelligent creature.

I let out a sigh, dropped my large backpack onto the ground next to Lastaf, and hefted my hammer before beginning to jog towards the threat. I boosted my speed by fifty percent with my Aura magic then created a helmet of ice to protect my neck and face. The Goblins loved to go for those two locations almost as an instinct. Under Lastaf’s guidance, he had shown me how to create the helmet of hardened ice. I was thrilled when it wasn't even cold, just like my lances.

Rushing up to the group, I spotted a larger Goblin with a shield and large Waraxe. He found himself some ten meters in the air when the stone pillar I raised from below him caught him unaware and shot him into the air. The bastard began calling me names. Good thing I didn’t know who my parents were. He may have hurt my feelings.

I swung the hammer underhand and caught the first short Goblin in the armpit. His crude spear and body went flying as the hammer gave off a flash of light. Seeing as two Goblins changed their paths to converge on the main threat, I spun around, forming a Tier 2 Ice Lance, and whipping it in a large arc to catch the shoulder of the first Goblin, cutting the leather pad and the shoulder underneath, sending out a spurt of blood before he fell to the grass howling in pain.

The second Goblin wasn’t as lucky, and the spear caught him in the side of the head, shattering the Ice Lance and his skull, dropping him. Letting go of the broken Ice Lance, I zeroed in on the next greyish-meter tall threat and was about to bring my hammer down on his head when a blow to the back of my ice helm caught me off guard.

I jumped to the side and turned to see a much smaller Golbin pulling back on his bow, aiming at me. His next arrow went wide as I began rushing him. He let out a yelp before turning around and running towards the stone pillar. I pumped my legs and swung the hammer underhand again to hit the back of the archer’s head.

The hammer flashed as the little guy’s head caved in. I stopped right before the stone pillar and could hear the larger Goblin throwing more insults my way before he threw his shield down at me. I quickly sidestepped the chunk of metal. I hit the pillar with my hammer, the third strike obliterating the stone collum. The Goblin above let out a cry as he fell the ten meters to the ground.

The poor sod landed on a piece of the broken column, breaking its back. Unable to move and in what I assumed was an immense amount of pain, I left him there to deal with the last two goblins. When I was finished fighting, I was surprised when my arm began to burn. I looked down at the new white triangle with a rune at its center. I mentally willed my Physical Stigmata window to display.

[ Physical Stigmata ]

Rage: Rank 4

Hammer: Rank 1

So The System finally gave me the rune for my hammer. I closed the window and began to pick up the six green gems before cleaning and popping them into my mouth.

[ System Notification ]

Five Rank D Jade Cores has given 40 Energy

Rank S Jade Core has given 28 Energy

- no Trait gained

5% Bonus: 3 Energy

36 Energy converted to 360 Mana

Epidermis System: 117/200

“You shouldn’t consume S Rank Cores. You’re better off selling them for a very nice profit. They only have a two percent chance of giving you a Trait the previous owner had. That being said, you are getting better at fighting with your weapon and magic simultaneously. When we get to Mythtide, you should spend some time training at The Guild with both your hammer and a blade of some kind.”

“How did you know one of the cores was S Rank? They all look the same to me and only know what they are when I consume them.”

“Another common Trait you’ll need to buy at Mythtide. Core Identification is a bit pricey, but it’s essential to anyone who is to become an adventurer. The Guild will have a book you can pay to use to get the Trait.”

I retrieved my backpack, and we began to travel south again. It wasn’t long before we came across another group of the Plains Goblins.

“What’s so interesting out in the Ocean?” came a voice.

***

“What’s so interesting out in the Ocean?” came again, knocking me out of my daydreaming.

I shook my head, clearing it from my memories. I looked over to see Lastaf giving me that look again. “Sorry, I was just daydreaming. What’s going on?”

“Nothing, we’ve been assigned to the third cabin below deck. The captain tells me barring no issues; we should be at Mythtide in eight days. That will give me plenty of time to begin teaching you how to create more ice armor and sword fighting,” the Axoli said with almost a predatory grin.

“Why the ice armor? The helmet alone is pretty heavy. Won’t the rest of it weigh me down?”

“You are correct, but it’s the first step in teaching you, Mana Armor. If you can unlock that skill for your Physical Stigmata, you’ll be able to create armor like mine. It doesn’t weigh a thing either, but you need to build up the steps first.”

“Oh, you could have led with that, you know.”

Lastaf shrugged. “Got to give this old man some fun. Now let's begin on the chest piece.”

We both walked to the central portion of the ship and sat down facing one another.

“Now, for the chest piece. Since we have the time, we will work on the hardest piece to cast. Again with the helmet, you need to think about the construct in space you can move around in. Just remember, every node you use to make the armor more detailed will add to the cost of the overall set.”

“3D space is the term for that.”

“Yes, visualize this 3D space in your head. You need to create your ice nodes and make the basic outline of both the front and back. The armor's size, shape, and style will depend on your intent and how many nodes you use. I would try and void putting blades on the chest this time. I understand the odd shape of your helmet, and the blade on its top is from your people’s armor, but blades on the chest would be bad.”

I chuckled at him. My helmet was a simple Elefvian design. I closed my eyes and began to picture the matching chest piece in my mind. I loved the old style our race used before we began using armored spacesuits.

The chest piece was both stylish and easy to move in. It had chest guards at the top of the shoulders and a brigandine skirt that hung down to the sides. There will be no blades on the chest piece making the older man happy.

With the chest piece firmly in my mind, I created nodes of ice and placed them along the leading edges and corners of the armor using ten nodes. When the construct clicked, I stood up and willed the chest to materialize. As soon as it rested on my body, I strained to stay standing. Of course, the amount of ice that created the chest piece was heavy.

“Good! Very stylish, I like it. Now create your helmet and begin running laps around the ship. We need to get your body used to the additional weight before we begin adding on more pieces.”

With the helmet on, I wanted to puke. The chest and helmet together felt like thirty kilos. I begin running my laps to the amusement of the sailors going about their duties. Luin mostly layout in the sun or found it enjoyable to run after me while I ran every so often.

When I was about to collapse from exhaustion, I felt a tingling, and then all my strength and stamina returned to me. Confused, I looked around and found Lastaf with that same evil grin from before.

“Keep going. I used Vigor on you. I can keep casting it on you all day. Now get moving!”

By the time the sun began to pass the horizon, I had added my ice gauntlets to the set. Lastaf had cast that damn Vigor skill on me a hundred times throughout the day. He warned me about the possible side-effects of using such a skill so many times that It could possibly take a toll on my body in the morning.

I was still awake an hour after we went inside our cabin. Looking out the window, I watched the massive ring move across the night sky. The Axoli was snoring softly in his bed across the cabin, and Luin was curled up at the foot of mine. I was glad that the after-effects he mentioned were minor. Muscles and joints seemed to have gone stiff and a bit sore, but that was it. I turned myself around in my bed and closed my eyes, ready to sleep. Tomorrow Lastaf would begin training me on the sword.