Chương 60: 060

Time waved a hand.

"Like most things involving mana, you need to visualize it. Open your menu and focus on the undetermined spell. Picture it forming exactly as you intend. Be specific." I did as instructed, summoning the menu with a thought and navigating to my spell list. My gaze locked on the row of question marks. I focused, building a clear, deliberate image of the spell in my mind, every detail, every condition. At first, nothing happened. Frustration prickled beneath my skin. Just as I was about to give up, the marks flashed.

They flickered like candle flames caught in a breeze, twisting and reshaping themselves until, at last, they settled. I read the new entry. Karma's Bite, Level Five Spell Those afflicted by the mark of Karma will begin to transform into a cockroach. The speed of transformation depends solely on the target's deeds and willingness to change. Remorse and positive development will gradually reverse the effects. Mana Cost: 40 I let out a low whistle.

"That's one hell of a mana cost." Time nodded, unfazed.

"Your mana increases by twenty with each level. Leveling will help you be able to cast it more often. Though I doubt you will need to use it often." I snorted.

"Spoken like someone who's never dealt with humanity." Or worked in customer service. Time raised an eyebrow as I continued.

"We're in a war-torn, borderline apocalyptic world. You're underestimating just how awful people can be." Dura nodded grimly, propping her elbow on her knee.

"He's right. That bastard Silas ordered dozens of raids on Beastfolk tribes over the past few years. I saw how fast his soldiers took to it. They were already itching to kill wandering tribes, the king just gave them permission." Well. That explained her anger the first time we met over my supposed siding with Silas. And now that I thought about it…

"Why were you at the castle anyway?" Dura snorted, her lips curling into a sneer.

"I heard rumors the resistance was mobilizing. Figured they could use extra muscle against that asshole." She shook her head, gaze dropping to the dirt.

"I didn't think it through and got caught outside Highgate. Some help I turned out to be." I reached over and gave her shoulder a gentle pat.

"You still showed up. Leaving the safety of home to stand against a corrupt king isn't something most people are willing to do." Not when staying safe and uninvolved is an option. She squeezed my hand, offering a small but genuine smile.

"Yeah. Still glad you were there." Her impish grin returned.

"Watching you tear into those guards was worth the chafing from the chains." The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Before I could respond, Dominicus cleared his throat.

"Prior to my capture, I encountered no shortage of unpleasant individuals. We should prioritize raising your level by at least five." Dura shot him a glare, and I flopped back onto the grass with a groan.

"Sure as hell not tonight. I still need to finish sorting the tomes." Dominicus nodded, unfazed by the orc's glare boring into the side of his head.

"That's acceptable. On our way to Dawnmoor, we'll find ample opportunities for combat and experience. Even during daylight hours, creatures like Rock Snakes spawn." That caught my attention. I turned to Time.

"What actually causes monsters to spawn? Do they just… appear out of nowhere?" He shook his head slowly.

"That is a difficult question. Even the spirits lack a complete answer. Darkness is typically the catalyst, though exceptions, such as Rock Snakes, exist. No one has uncovered the underlying cause."

"I didn't think there'd be things even spirits don't know," I muttered.

"That's… not comforting." Time shrugged.

"They are not gods." I snorted.

"No, just the children of them." He shot me a warning look and I glared right back. He'd said it himself, the old gods created him and his siblings. That was the closest label I had. As long as Time didn't make a fuss, Dominicus wouldn't read into it. After all, what else could create beings as powerful as the spirits? Dominicus nodded, oblivious to our silent stare-off.

"True. And it's worth remembering they're not gods themselves." His mouth twisted.

"Some spirits are… unpleasant. The idea of them wielding that level of power is unsettling." Time arched a brow.

"Which spirits do you mean?" I sucked in a breath to cut him off, but Dominicus scoffed.

"As if I would name them aloud. Names carry power, and I have no desire to draw the attention of petty or vindictive spirits." Damn, it sounded like he had personal beef with that spirit. Shoving that thought aside, I changed the subject.

"Let's not dwell on it. The idea of spirits watching me makes my skin crawl." Time grunted and flipped open another book.

"Agreed. Let us focus on our task. We can contemplate Nexus's mysteries—and its spirits—another time."

"Yeah, yeah." I sighed.

"In a minute." I'd been sorting through these things for hours. There was nothing wrong with taking a short break—as long as I didn't fall asleep. Forcing the grogginess aside, I tilted my head back and stared at the sky. The stars pierced the dark canopy in brilliant clusters, brighter and sharper than anything I remembered from Earth. Their patterns were unfamiliar. Then one of them moved. I froze.

"Am I losing it, or did that star just move?" Time looked up and smiled, amusement clear.

"The stars of Nexus are not stars at all. They are Astral Fae. Their home is the sky, and they only become visible at night." My jaw dropped as two of them spiraled together, their light trailing like ribbons—a meteor shower given purpose.

"Are they… dancing?" Time nodded.

"The Astral Fae are known for their dances and artistry. Each night, they form new constellations. They are also harbingers of change." His expression darkened.

"They are among the few, aside from myself, capable of seeing the-." I lunged across the books and clamped a hand over his mouth. Fucking hell, he wasn't used to being exhausted and it showed. Time's eyes narrowed in irritation, then flickered with understanding as Dominicus raised a brow.

"I beg your pardon," Dominicus said mildly.

"Did you mean to say seeing the future? Because that does not fall under Karma's domain." Suspicion sharpened his gaze, tension coiling around him again. I groaned inwardly. Fantastic. I'd hoped to leave that conversation behind when we set out. Sleep tugged at me, heavy and insistent, but I forced myself upright. Dominicus wouldn't let this go, and Dura was watching too, curiosity bright in her eyes, even if it lacked his edge. Tonight just kept getting better and better.