Three glass spheres wrapped in metal bands sat atop the wooden table. Erin stared at them, as Sigrid tapped the table thoughtfully.

“So, what do you think?”

“Well, hold the augment until you’ve chosen the other two powers.” Sigrid said, and Erin ran a hand over her face and grimaced as a twinge of pain shot through her.

The group of Monster Hunters had arrived home more than a day ago, and Erin had recovered quickly despite loaning out the vial of healing potion to treat those more injured by the Sluasqa. What had originally felt like fire and broken glass beneath her skin had progressed into mild spikes of pain, and a series of large yellow bruises that were already fading.

Erin touched her finger to a spell sphere.

[Slausqa Spell Rune: Would you like to absorb it?]

She glanced up at Sigrid, who shrugged.

“No reason to put it off.” Erin nodded, closed her eyes, and exhaled slowly.

Yes

The glass shell flaked away, splintering into tiny shards that turned to tiny ribbons of smoke. The twisting runes within snaked their way up along her finger and onto her arm. Coiling around the limbs as a blue display window took over her vision. A scrolling list of potential spells that the sphere could impart.

Fire -

Uranked Spell: Devour Flame

Slot: Soul

Description: You gain the ability to consume a limited amount of energy from heat sources, empowering you with a lesser healing buff.

Note: You cannot consume flames produced by your own magic.

How is that related to the Slausqa?

When Erin had used the Mirage Wyrms spell rune, all the spells it had offered were dragon themed, and she’d been expecting something similar with the Slausqa’s, but the creature had displayed no capacity to consume flames, or else her attacks would've been significantly less effective.

[Who said it needed to be? The options are contextual. The System can offer spells based on a wide range of criteria, including how you fight, perceived build compliments, the monsters you fight most frequently, the monster you received the spell rune from, or a host of other possibilities. I can not discern why a particular spell is available, but there are usually reasons.]

Erin contemplated the ability. Being able to gain a type of self-heal could be handy, but the spell itself seemed limited.

[This is the first rank of the spell. As you progress them, they will gain additional effects.]

So it could be more than a small healing buff later?

[Certainly. Though what those effects will be depends on you.]

Me?

[The spell will grow to suit how you use it. How you use all of them. Power sets naturally seek to work in synergy.]

So why would it give me a spell to eat flames?

[If I had to guess, you get hurt rather often, and the System figures you could use the help.]

Erin’s recently fractured bones twinged in agreement, forestalling any protest. She scrolled to the next spell on the list.

Ice -

Uranked Spell: Northern Fortitude

Slot: Unassigned

Description: When cast, for a brief period of time your body becomes resistant to freezing temperatures, able to maintain normal functions in otherwise fatal exposure.

Erin frowned. It wasn’t a terrible spell exactly. She’d had enough cause to fear freezing to death in the last week that it couldn’t be dismissed out of hand, but she couldn’t justify giving over a fourth of her spell selection to a problem that a heavy coat could solve.

Arcane -

Unranked Spell: Blink

Slot: Soul

Description: When this ability is triggered, the caster teleports up to 4 meters in the direction they are looking.

Note: This spell requires a clear view of the destination.

Erin whistled softly as she read the description over several times, just to be sure wasn’t missing something critical.

“What is it?” Sigrid’s voice almost made her jump. Erin had become so focused on the display she had forgotten the other woman was sitting across from her at the table.

Erin relayed the Blink spell in its entirety, restraining herself from selecting it immediately. That was the magic she’d been looking forward to. Not that Fireballs and Wings weren’t great, but teleporting?

“Do you think that’s a good option? You have quite a bit of mobility in your wing spell already. Once you learn to use them properly.” Erin grimaced at that and shrugged.

“I don’t know. Gliding around is one thing, and teleporting is something else entirely, besides. I’m sure they can be used together.”

“Your call.” Sigrid said, and Erin shrugged and scrolled to the next spell.

Earth -

Unranked Spell: Earth Shield

Slot: Unassigned

Description: This spell summons a sphere of minerals from a nearby source (if one is available) that will attempt to intercept any attack made against the caster.

[it seems The System feels your kit lacks survivability]

Erin shook her head and kept scrolling.

Gravity -

Unranked Spell: Binding Point

Slot: Soul

Description: The caster chooses a location, and all perceived enemies within a 5 meter radius of that point are pulled toward the center. Duration depends on mana spent.

Well, that could be interesting. If gravity was a school of magic, what about space? What about time? She pushed the questions away for now and moved down to the last option for her soul slot on the list.

Dark -

Unranked Spell: Apparition

Slot: Soul

Description: The caster fades partially into another realm, making them harder to detect with regular senses and reducing the effectiveness of magical or physical attacks against them.

Note: The casters ability to perceive, interact, and cast spells on the physical plane are all limited while in this state.

What do you think?

[About what?]

Which one would be best?

[I’m certain that whatever selection you make, you will find it useful.]

Erin scrolled through the list again, chewing on her lip as she read through each spell a second, and then a third time. There were a lot of good options, and it was a tough call.