Grand Game 134: Atiras’ Gifts (Patreon)

I landed on my feet, without fuss and without experiencing the transition at all.

One moment, I had been in the cave. The next, I was elsewhere. Behind me, the portal receded and then vanished entirely.

Before turning my attention outwards, I considered myself. I remained a being of pure spirit and without body. Still, my ghostly limbs responded to my commands in the same manner as my real ones did, and for now, that sufficed. Pivoting about in a slow circle, I took in my surroundings.

I was in a crudely fashioned log cabin.

A closed wooden door was directly opposite, and behind me was a simple table and chair. A few objects lay on the table, but I ignored them as I took in the rest of the room. To my left and right lay two wide-open windows through which sunlight streamed in.

I puzzled over that for a bit. It had been dark when I’d left the pack. Did that mean an entire night had passed during my transition to here—wherever this was.

I sincerely hoped not.

Multiple Game messages awaited my attention, and turning my focus inwards, I scrolled through them.

Congratulations, Michael! You have discovered a secret location in the Forever Kingdom. Few have entered this closed sector, and even fewer have left.

You have entered the first trial of Wolf!

Wolf is one of the most mysterious of the ancients. Where others revel in their power, Wolf keeps his own strengths concealed. Where others move openly, Wolf lurks in the hidden corners of the world, stalking his prey.

Wolf is not the strongest foe nor the most powerful, but he is renowned for his stealth, cunning, and hunting prowess.

The Wolf Trials encompasses each of the many aspects that make up Wolf. This, the first trial, focuses on the Mind, the key to Wolf’s much-vaunted cunning. Finish it, and you will leave with the tools crucial to your continued survival in the Game as you venture further down the path of Wolf.

On behalf of Wolf, the Adjudicator has allocated you a new task: Pass the First Trial. Your objective is to complete all four Tests of Mind. Once you have done so, the Trial will be completed, and your Wolf bloodline will be awakened. This is a task only for those Marked by Wolf.

Warning: this task represents a major milestone in your player evolution. Completing it will have a significant and irreversible impact on your other spirit signatures.

Alrighty, I thought.

The messages were somewhat ominous, especially the part about ‘few’ leaving. But at least I know I am in the right place. I still had no idea what the tests were, though, or how I was expected to complete them.

Time to explore a bit further.

I swung around to face the table and advanced towards it. The motion felt less natural than I had become used to since entering the Game, and I frowned, trying to pinpoint the exact difference as I walked.

It came to me suddenly. My movements felt... cumbersome and absent of the lithe, deft motions I had grown used to since boosting my Dexterity.

It was almost as if I was normal again.

Sulan had warned me, but I hadn’t really grasped the significance of her words. I realized now that without a body, none of the attributes boosts relating to my physical form would apply here.

Argh. My mouth twisting sourly. I realized, too, that I would not be able to sneak either or, for that matter, use any of the skills and abilities that relied on my body.

I would manage, though. Somehow.

And I still have my mental abilities, I reminded myself, no matter that they were the least advanced of my skills.

I reached the table and looked down. On it were three books, each shimmering with a magical haze. Resting above the centermost book was a handwritten note. Focusing my gaze on it, I began to read.

Welcome, scion of House Wolf,

You have entered the first of my trials. I’m certain you know this already, but in case you don’t, all my tests are fatal. Pass them, and you may move on. Fail, and well, your death will surely be no great loss to House Wolf.

Others amongst my kindred may favor a less drastic approach, but I do not hold with such. The path of Wolf is a difficult one. A single misstep could be your last, and if you mean to be my successor, it is best you prepare for your new life now.

Wolf cannot be weak.

Now, to more immediate matters. This is the Trial of the Mind. During it, you will undergo four different challenges, each testing a different mental aspect. You may use any abilities and skills you have at your disposal to pass each test, although I am sure you have already realized that your non-Mind skills and abilities are useless to you here.

Do not think either that, without a body, you are immune to physical damage. I’ve carefully chosen the constructs inhabiting this trial to be ones that cannot only see your spirit form but that can harm it too.

However, this trial is not only a test of your worthiness, but it is also a means of preparing you for your eventual crowning as Wolf Prime—assuming you live that long, of course. To that end, at the start of each test, you will be afforded the opportunity to acquire one additional ability.

I caution you to make your choice wisely.

You will find that the abilities I offer you here are not widely available elsewhere in the Forever Kingdom. So without further ado, look to the three ability tomes on this table before leaving the cabin. Only the knowledge from one of them can be absorbed.

Good luck, scion. May darkness always shelter you.

Atiras.

I read the message twice over to make certain I’d not misunderstood its contents. If I was not mistaken, it had been written by a former Wolf Prime, and I could almost imagine him penning it. Turning my attention to the books, I analyzed the one on the left.

Or tried to.

Nothing happened.

Bleh. It seemed analyze wouldn’t work here either. Left without a choice, I read the titles on the books instead. They were: ‘Astral Blade,’ ‘Puppet Master,’ and ‘Terrifying Howl.’ All were subtitled: ‘A basic telepathy ability tome.’

I pursed my lips as I considered the abilities. All three were suitable for my current skill rank. Was that a coincidence? I wasn’t sure, but I suspected it wasn’t.

The tomes’ descriptions were not much to go on, but I thought it was a fair bet that astral blade was a direct damaging spell, puppet master was a mind-control spell similar to charm, and terrifying howl was a crowd control spell of some sort.

Even not knowing what the upcoming tests entailed, I was fairly certain which ability I needed. It had not escaped my notice that without my body skills, I had no means of inflicting damage on any enemies I would come across, and the Wolf Prime’s note had been pretty explicit in that regard: I was certain to encounter hostiles.

Without hesitating further, I rested my hand on the ability tome titled, ‘Astral Blade.’

Nothing happened.

I grimaced. Just great. If I can’t even interact with the tome, how do I absorb its knowledge?

At the thought, a Game message dropped into my mind.

You have acquired the basic ability: simple astral blade. This is a mind spell that manifests a psi dagger in one of the caster’s hands. It can be wielded by hand as a melee weapon or thrown like a projectile.

The astral blade is no ordinary weapon, though, and it cannot be used to repel physical attacks. Its use is governed by the telepathy skill, and the damage it inflicts is psionic in nature.

The dagger will remain manifested for a maximum of 10 seconds or until it strikes a target. The effects of this ability may be overcome by mental resistance. This ability consumes psi and can be upgraded. Its activation time is fast.

You have 21 of 26 Mind ability slots remaining.

The other two tomes disappeared. I barely noticed, whistling appreciatively at my new spell’s properties. It seemed especially potent for a tier one ability—which was all to the good. Drawing on my psi, I cast astral blade.

It took only a moment for the dagger to manifest in my hand. I studied the slim shape of vibrant violet energy resting in my ghostly palm. It looked as lethal as any short sword I’d wielded.

Perfect, I thought, grinning in pleasure.

I turned back to the door. It was time to exit the cabin and find out what the first test was about.