-- Aster --

The thinning power changed the way we traveled. Gone was the smooth ride, gliding with a gentle descent over the ground. Now it was a crazy roller coaster as we seemed to rapidly increase in speed, heading directly to the hard earth, only for a portal to open up and bring us back to the top, the momentum continuing, speeding up. Now I was one-hundred percent sure Mullein was opening the portal later and later, one even right next to the ground itself. I yelled at him for that, also I nearly pissed myself. When I mentioned that he put the portal higher, not wanting that to occur.

Then all of a sudden the power thickened, into a nearly solid wall, that was like hitting a big airbag in the air. I was nearly thrown off Mullein's shoulder, from the abrupt slowdown. The energy was dense enough that when the Tricksters were slowed down they could almost stand on solid air, though they were still barely descending down.

Once I was able to, recover from the sudden stop, "Keepers what the fuck was that?"

"That Aster," Mullein answered gesturing to the air around him, "is as close as we can get?"

I looked around noticing the dense power all around, to me it looked like a solid glass wall, that we had burst into. If this was like this here, "How far out are we?" I asked.

"Still a couple miles from the crack itself." Mullein answered.

How could the power be this thick, and we were still so far away, "Why can't we get closer."

Mullein shook his head, "The power is too strong. It makes those who get too close sick burning with heat, and most people don't survive the trip back."

Was the power so thick it literally pushed itself into people? Would I be able to survive absorbing so much? "Wow." That was all I could say.

Mullein pulled me off his shoulder and stood me on his board, "This is where we part ways."

I had known ahead of time that they were going to have to leave me a good distance away, but I had still hoped they would be there when I did what I was planning. Again, I would be on my own, with not a single witness. I smiled at Mullein, "I understand. And I guess it's my turn to live up to my end of the bargain."

That made Mullein and the rest of the Tricksters confused, as Mullein spoke up, "But you already have, we're on your footage. There is no way they won't use it."

Yes, he would be correct, with all the awesome things we did on the way, and not to mention when they went into detail to teach me how to ride on the currents of power. Anyone would show that footage. There was only one problem with that, "I don't carry anything that records me. We left before I could grab the item that records questers, and another thing I never signed the contract to be on the show." Looking around I could see all the Tricksters confused looks and even a little anger beginning to surface, but before it could boil over I spoke, "But, I can still get you what you want.

Mullein looked at me disbelieving, and a little hurt. I couldn't blame him, he did think that I would get them on the show and the keepers would have to approve of their class. But Mullein seemed to latch onto my last statement. I think he thought this was some type of ploy, or scene for the show, as he asked, "How?"

I held out my hand, "Hand me your stamp."

Mullein looked annoyed. "Why?"

I stared directly into Mullein's eyes, "Do you want your class recognized or not?" I asked not certain whether or not this would work, but I held his gaze, not giving anything away.

After a few moments of uncertainty, he caved, "Just give it back."

"Ok."He handed me a class stamp and on it was a crudely carved feather. Interesting symbol.

As soon as I touched it a screen appeared in front of me.

Prototype Class Stamp Tricksters

Power Type: Hybrid

Description:

Class that specializes in fast casting portals, stealth, and creating objects from their power. This includes illusions, solid mana constructs, and minor spells.

Will be trained in multiple weapons, stealth, lock-picking, quick casting, and portal specialization.

All information for pathways has been downloaded and passed trials required for a new class.

Multiple individuals have confirmed the viability of path...

Stamp Symbol recognized, configured for Eagle. ...

Keeper authorization is required to finalize....

Finalize

Yes no

I clicked yes and the stamp glowed, as the minor imperfections from the feather carving smoothed out into a perfect relief of an eagle feather. When the glow subsided I took a look at the stamp's new description

Class Stamp Tricksters

Power Type: Hybrid

Description:

Class that specializes in fast casting portals, stealth, and creating objects from their power. This includes illusions, solid mana constructs, and minor spells.

Will be trained in multiple weapons, stealth, lock-picking, quick casting, and portal specialization.

Requirements: No existing pathways.

Estimated time for integration: 48 hours

Class is registered, and can now be duplicated or applied for at the adventurer guild

Seeing this I smiled. But the Tricksters just looked on confused, "What did you just do?" Mullein asked.

"I kept my side of the bargain." I tossed the stamp back as Mullein looked it over in disbelief, as I conjured another wheelchair with a thin board underneath and let myself fall through the gelatin-like power, zipping away as I only coated the small board with power, the wheelchair, despite being made of mana wasn't slowed the least. By the time Mullein realized what this meant I was already gone, as the last thing I heard was his shout, "You were a keeper!?"

It wasn't long after zooming away, that I realized I had made a mistake. I had learned how to glide through the air from the Tricksters, but I had learned using a physical object, not a construct. I was moving fast through the air, and only gaining speed, and unlike the Tricksters, I didn't have a clue how to open a portal. I had to get creative, creating a parachute behind me, but it barely slowed me down, being a lot more porous than I thought it would. That was probably what saved me, as I hit the ground the wheelchair exploded and I hit and rolled hard, breaking a bone or two.

"Ow." I just laid there and focused on healing, for all of two seconds thanks to how saturated with power I was. I began to conjure another wheelchair and started to wheel myself forward.

It didn't take long before I was cursing my choice of locomotion, "Fuck. why did I conjure a chair with stupidly thin wheels." I had barely made any progress cause the wheels quickly dug into the dirt making it extremely difficult to move. "I'd be better off walking, at this point."

I was constantly bleeding off as much power as I could creating a trail of random constructs in my wake. I created everything from wheelchairs to a car each one bleeding off the energy and keeping me from going into the fog from having my brain fried. Then I realized something, I could create a path I could use as a road. I felt like a complete idiot as I implemented this and my journey became a lot smoother.

Despite all this, I was forced to find a delicate balance, being surrounded by the overwhelming power and expelling it I was still beyond over-saturated with power and my body was constantly absorbing it, and it did not like that. I wasn't even sure how long before my legs might break from my own weight if I had tried to walk. Even now my arms felt like they would splinter if I pushed the wheels too hard.

I thought maybe I could do what I planned to do from here but... I didn't think I would have enough power for it.

I let out a snort at the thought of still not having enough power.

"Come in aster one foot after another." I giggled madly, before correcting myself, "One wheel after another." I wheeled myself, constantly leaving power in my wake. Until I was staring up at a solid barrier, made of pure energy. That's when something unexpected happened.

"Aster? How did you get here?" A familiar feminine voice asked, confused. I turned towards the last person I expected to be here.

"Violet? What the fuck?"