Chapter 74

NICK CROWLEY

LEVEL

MANA

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Occultist/Human

Attributes were such fundamental aspects of this world that even Nick sometimes forgot how strange they were. Conceptually, it made sense. The System’s computing capacity was virtually infinite, based on what little he’d observed, so its ability to accurately enumerate everyone’s abilities wasn’t that unusual.

But the System wasn’t just a hyper-advanced assessment machine. It actively empowered individuals based on their accumulated experience.

Now, Nick had considered the possibility that attributes were an underlying principle of the world’s metaphysics and that the System was merely a later addition to it. He knew of several Asian philosophies that wouldn’t require much alteration to fit into such a framework.

But he’d eventually discarded that option. The System was too involved. Classes could be changed through rituals that applied specific templates to people, and while he initially thought that was similar to what he’d done by giving himself the Wind Affinity, it was that very experience that convinced him it wasn’t the same.

If people could change their path by simply gathering a few valuable ingredients and using them in any old ritual, there would be many more martial classes, and the temples would no longer have a monopoly on the practice.

No, there was something specific about interacting with the System that was required. Something that he had briefly touched upon by creating his new spell.

was a new type of magic for him. Whereas before, Nick had straddled the line between Earth’s traditions and the local practices he was learning from his growing book collection, this last spell was a joint effort.

It was created by sacrificing a spiritual being in a Thalamic ritual. That was undeniably Earth magic. Yet, he used his new wand and air sense to guide and shape the spell. Its matrix was largely based on Ingrid’s work, with only a few changes imparted by the momentary enlightenment he achieved.

The spell’s description also made it clear that it was something special.

Wind God’s Third Eye

Unique

Cost dependent on Affinity

By tapping into the innate connection that all things share with the Air, the natural movement of the world becomes evident.

It was a unique spell, a fact that was possibly more connected to its reliance on his wind affinity than to any special qualities it possessed—it was something he hoped to test again soon.

Nick shook his head, deciding to wait until he had a better understanding of the spell. He’d been the one to craft it, sure, but if there was one thing he had learned, it was that he should never underestimate how much he could push seemingly simple pieces of magic.

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had somewhat faded into the background recently, but that didn’t mean he had forgotten about it. It remained his most versatile spell, and he continued to believe it would be his gateway to more diverse magic.

With his initial assessment complete, Nick finally began walking back toward the temple. There was supposed to be a lesson, and although he’d already had a very eventful morning, he had an encounter scheduled with Marthas afterward.

Nick slipped onto the temple grounds just as the first wave of students arrived for their morning lesson. He kept his head down, blending into the chattering crowd, careful not to draw attention to himself. The aches from his ordeal still lingered, but Ogden’s potion had worked well enough that he could move without any issues.

That was another possibility. Gaining three levels at once wasn’t unheard of, but it was usually reserved for the early grind. Kids who had just acquired their class and came from families that could support them often managed to gain levels at a rapid pace for the first couple of months, but reaching level ten typically marked the end of the sprint.

Elia’s absence was quickly noticed. She was rarely late, and even though she often bristled at authority, she still attended lessons diligently and made enough of a racket that the other kids gave him strange looks upon seeing him alone. He made a mental note to test the limits of his new spell once he finished with Marthas, wondering if he could check on her from the road now. If nothing else, it would serve as a valuable experiment.

An unusual commotion stirred the crowd as they approached the main building. Unfortunately, Nick was too short to see over the heads of the older students, so he slipped his wand from his sleeve and cast the Wind God’s Third Eye. A rush of sensory input flooded his mind—the air weaving between bodies, the faint tremor of feet shifting on stone, and even the puff of breath from someone suppressing irritation. His awareness expanded, granting him a perspective that sight alone could not provide.

Vicar Alexander stood locked in a heated argument with the hunched old priest Marthas had brought along. The latter was a gaunt figure whose face was lined with age, and ears were slightly pointed—a clear sign of non-human blood in his lineage. His bony fingers curled like talons as he gestured dismissively at Alexander, who stood rigid with his arms crossed in frustration.

Given the younger man’s patience with kids and his low likelihood of seeking conflict with the delegation, this situation must have been serious.

The old priest’s voice carried a hint of amusement, yet Nick sensed the underlying malice. “You’ve allowed your flock to grow complacent, Vicar. Doctrine is not merely a guideline—it is the foundation of discipline. I observed your acolytes being careless, and as all servants of the flame, I did my best to correct their behavior. If you had been present, you could have debated the issue, but in your absence, it was my responsibility to do so.”

Alexander’s jaw tightened. Understanding that he truly disliked the old man didn’t require any magical powers of observation. Whether that was due to his abrasive nature or for other reasons, Nick couldn’t say, but it showed the tension between the two religious groups. “And yet, I remain the Vicar of this temple, and no orders from above have been issued to change our practices. I set the standard, and your criticism of my acolytes is a criticism of me.”

The old priest grinned, unfazed by the reprimand. “A true servant of the Flame does not wait for orders to root out weakness. If doctrine is not upheld, it festers into heresy.”

Nick heard Alexander’s heartbeat and realized the man was on the brink of snapping. Considering how much he had stressed to the kids that they should be on their best behavior, this was genuinely surprising. It also suggested that something had been going on for a while, or he wouldn’t have confronted the old priest so openly.

Yet, before it could escalate further, a new presence swept across the temple grounds—one so heavy it nearly disrupted Nick’s focus. It was his first time sensing him with the new spell, but it was impossible to mistake him for anyone else.

Prelate Marthas had arrived.

Nick exhaled sharply, blinking away the excess stimuli as he withdrew his spell. Even without it, he could feel the shift in the crowd—the way the kids instinctively hushed and the step backward taken by even the most confident of acolytes. The Prelate was a force unto himself, and his very presence commanded deference.

Alexander, to his credit, did not back down. He turned to Marthas, carefully arranging his face into an expression of forced patience. “Prelate.”

Marthas’ eyes flicked between them, then settled on the old priest. “I assume you have a reason for disrupting the temple’s peace in front of the children.”

The old priest slightly bowed his head, yet his smile persisted. “I’m just ensuring that discipline doesn’t wane in your absence, holiness. Some of these acolytes struggle with even the most basic recitations. It’s a concerning sign.”

Marthas studied him for a moment before shifting his attention to Alexander. “Vicar?”

Alexander met his gaze squarely. “The temple is functioning as it should. There is no need for outside interference.”

The silence that followed was intense. Nick wasn’t sure if Marthas would scold Alexander or if he would simply let the moment hang as a warning. Having an argument or punishing the man in front of the children could have serious consequences for the town’s stability, especially while the forest’s forces were testing them.

Finally, Marthas inclined his head. “Good. Then there is no issue.”

The old priest’s expression flickered just slightly before he forced his smirk back into place. “Of course.”

Marthas turned, his gaze sweeping over the assembled students. For a heartbeat, Nick saw the Prelate’s eyes linger on him, and the man gave him a knowing look—but it was gone in an instant.

“Lessons will proceed as usual,” Marthas announced. “Get to class, children.”

And just like that, the moment passed. The old priest slunk away, masking his irritation under his ever-present amusement. Alexander gave a stiff nod and motioned for the students to enter the temple.

Nick exhaled slowly. He’d been so worried about the inspection, his spells, and then the attacks that he hadn’t paid any attention to what went on within the temple. If Alexander was so angry to confront the old priest publicly…Things must have been quite ugly. No wonder he was willing to cover for him.

As the students filed inside, he resisted the urge to glance over his shoulder. Instead, he followed the others into the temple, already running through excuses in his mind. Because as much as he wanted to focus on his lesson, he knew one thing for certain—Marthas hadn’t just casually glanced at him.

He knew something.

Given how aggressive Marthas had been in eliminating any potential demonic presence, it seemed strange that he would know Nick was conducting ritual sacrifices and yet still refrained from taking any action.

No, he probably suspected Nick was involved in the light show and was trying to figure him out.