Runeblade-Chapter 195B2 : Revelations, Finale

Kaius stared at the description of The Veteran’s Blade—his Mentis Aspect—in shock.

It was huge—and far more involved than any skill or honour description he had seen. Suddenly, he was extremely glad that he still had an informational package to read, because he had very little context of what any of it meant.

He could, at least, assume that his new second stream of thought was due to the Glass Mind that had come with the aspect. It was the only place that made any mention of multi-tasking.

As for his Seed, the Campaigner’s Reasoning, he still had yet to notice any direct implications of the change. From the wording, it was combat focused, and sounded like it would be an extreme help.

Half of what won a battle was knowledge that was so deeply ingrained that you could act upon it instinctively—the best way to defeat a guard, where to stand, weaknesses, and more. If this change really helped him process that better, if it really gave him a better mind for battle, he was pleased with his change indeed.

Though, he decided to reserve his full judgement of the change until he had seen it in use. Hopefully he would be able to puzzle it out during their upcoming training with Rieker. Whatever it was, and however it had changed him, it was far more subtle than the lesser mind that his aspect had spawned.

Less noticeable than even his rapidly increasing Intelligence, he sincerely hoped that it was an indication of how integrated the change was, rather than its scope. For something that was supposed to be a continuation of Legacy skills, he hoped that it would be just as impactful.

Beyond the description, Kaius found his eyes repeatedly returning to the Aspects epigraph. It spoke to him on a deep level—resonated with his understanding of himself and his goals, though in a way he found hard to describe.

At a first glance, he had thought that it was referring to a sword—the Veteran’s Edge, that is. What else would hunger for blood, keep a man safe, and be reforged? But on a second read, he wasn’t so sure.

The more Kaius thought about it, the more certain he became that it was the Veteran’s mind. His mentality, focus, and drive. Drinking in all varied experiences, and plotting its way forward. Lighting the way, and securing a path that would see the veteran home—hale and hearty—when the battle was done. Regardless if it was won or lost.

It was a way he wanted to live. At the end of the day, his goal wasn’t to win any given fight. It was grander, and far further off than that. If he wanted to gain the power he needed to secure him and his from the machinations of those that would do them harm, he needed to accept that defeat would happen.

He needed to keep his eyes on the peak, and use every barrier and stumble as a learning experience, to better surpass them when they were next faced.

Kaius smiled, pleased that he had received something that fit him so well—the Campaigner’s Reasoning was perfectly suited to help him grow from his experiences after all—and dismissed the notification.

He found his team waiting, leaning close towards him as they sat with straight backs and sharp eyes.

Covering his mouth at their intense focus, Kaius shared what he had learned—including the mysteries that he hoped his waiting notification would solve.

Ianmus leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg as he stared into the fire—pondering Kaius’s explanation of the Veteran’s Edge with a slow rhythmic drum of fingertips on the carved wooden hand rest.

“I agree that the information package will likely clear up any misconceptions that we have.” the half-elf started. “At least, we can hope. With how jealousy the system guards its secrets, I would not be surprised if it withholds the full story. Honour reward, or no.”

“Surely this strange parallel mind is generalisable though? It mentions that it is from Mentis itself.” Porkchop replied, turning to face Ianmus.

“It’s likely.” Ianmus said, shifting in his seat. “But we cannot know for sure. The way I see it, there are three options. Either all Mentis Aspects come with this ‘Glass Mind’, or there is a pool of possible changes it chooses between—similar to the Seed but less personalised. It’s even possible that the parallel thoughts are entirely unique, like the Seed, and the only non-specialised boost is a general improvement in cognition. After all, these Aspects seem highly personalised compared to anything else we have seen so far.”

Kaius wasn’t sure about that last one. Sure, it was true that The Veteran’s Edge seemed almost tailor made for him, but he thought it was just as likely that the system simply had a pool of them to draw from that was too large to fathom.

People didn’t differ that much, and he could easily imagine there being others that were just as suited to this aspect as he was.

Plus, if the Glass Mind wasn’t a more generic benefit, he would have expected it to be more…tonally consistent with The Veteran’s Edge. As it was, he suspected that Ianmus’s first two guesses would be far closer to the truth than anything else.

“Well then, should I check the information package? It might illuminate a few things.” Kaius replied, itching to dive into it. After all, most of what society knew of the system's functions was due to generations of research.

The system itself informing people of its capabilities had to be a first. Or, perhaps it was a second.

His face flushed with bitter outrage as he remembered the fact that someone might have received something similar for Legacy skills, and decided to keep the information to themselves.

“Please do!” Ianmus said, knocking him out of his contemplation. The mage’s hands were scrunched tight, whitening with the force of his suppressed excitement. “This sort of discovery is what scholars dream of—it seems that my hope that following you would lead to interesting discoveries is already paying off.”

Kaius snorted at his teammate’s antics, but dutifully pulled up his waiting notification all the same.

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**Ding! Informational Package Available! Access?**

Informational Package - Aspects:

For being the first in your cohort to develop an aspect, you receive information on their function, purpose, and development. Share this insight, or monopolise it, as you please.

The founding of the Aspect’s Triumvirate is the second step of the Path, following that of the Legacy. Where the Legacy emphasises the power of community and knowledge, the Aspect Triumvirate enshrines the potency of personal understanding and experience.

Each Aspect empowers and changes the focus of their domain—Mind, Body, and Soul—on a level far deeper than simple skills. The process of founding and refining them is an intense personal metamorphosis, one that prepares and strengthens the self for the coming rigours of the Path. All aspects carry a baseline level of refinement to their domain, but every Truth is singular and will confer a Seed that provides unique benefits.

As you further walk the Path, these Seeds will be nurtured.

Founded on personal Truths, Aspects are inherently revelatory. These self-discoveries are often first revealed in moments of intense crisis, clarity, or stress. Like many things under the system, intense battle with beings of notable level or strength disparity is particularly conducive to producing these revelations.

Once touched upon, introspection, meditation, and externally induced trance-like states can be utilised to delve into them more deeply. As personal understanding grows, so does the ease of future discoveries.

For Mentis, this Truth is the waystone of mentality, drive, conviction, and motivation. Understand the core thread that links these facets of the mind, and the Aspect is revealed.

Ignite Pillar Corporus and Pillar Animus to reveal the nature of their Truths.

Ignite all three Pillars to reveal a hint of the third Step of the Path—Aspect Refinement.

Be warned, it is possible to force an Aspect Ignition with a poorly fitting truth—doing so has potentially disastrous consequences for the Path unless steps are taken to correct this issue during refinement.

While he was reading, Kaius saw Ianmus rush out of his seat. The mage hurried to his bag, retrieving a notebook and quill, ready and waiting to transcribe their discoveries.

Kaius turned his attention back to his notification. Glee welled within him, growing more dense and forceful with every line he read, until a wide smile split his face.

It was tainted with a bitterness that came with his realisation that he was likely right—that if someone had earned something similar for Legacy skills, they had never shared. The information here…it was too complete. Too fleshed out, with little insights, and more.

It even gave hints on how to discover and find Aspects, even if Corporus and Animus were more vague. Whatever it had been, it must have come with some level of direction on how to find valid skill merges.

That, he knew for sure, had never been shared. If it had, it had been locked away in some family vault and guarded jealousy, and eventually been lost to time. For if any living dynasty had that knowledge, they would have already seized control of Vaastivar—formed a second Empire.

Still, even those distasteful thoughts quickly fell to the back of his mind as both of his mental processes focused on the implications of the knowledge.

Finishing his first pass, he turned his focus to Ianmus. “Ready to transcribe?”

Ianmus snapped his head up and down, so forceful that Kaius was almost certain it would have fallen off if he nodded any harder. Even Porkchop, normally disdainful of academic specificities, was sitting rooted to the spot—focused on him with his full attention.

Clearing his throat, Kaius brought the notification into view once more, and read it out loud—slow and clear, but also soft enough that it wouldn’t be overheard.

Ianmus’s handwriting was neat and blindingly fast, easily keeping pace. As soon as Kaius was done reading, he placed the leaf down on the floor where it could dry without running.

Leaning back, Ianmus ran his fingers through his hair—silver locks shimmering in the light of the fire.

“Hells.” the mage whispered, his eyes glassy and unfocused.

“There’s so much…and it definitely reads like it’s a continuation of a previous package.” Porkchop said, matching Ianmus’s disconcertion. “Why would it keep it so limited? Give it only to a single person.”

While he’d been reading, Kaius had been turning that very thought over in his mind. There was only one explanation that made sense to him.

“It’s a test,” he said, voice heavy. His words caught his teammates' attention, two pairs of eyes focusing on his own.

Ianmus seemed to understand his point immediately, forehead scrunching as he let out a low groan. Porkchop, however, only tilted his head—prompting Kaius to explain further.

“Think about it. Everything in this integration process seems to be driving towards developing powerful individuals. It said it itself—the Legacy is a test of community and knowledge. One, it seems, that only your people have passed as was intended—as far as we know, at least.”

Ianmus nodded in agreement. “It makes a strange kind of sense—if we assume that the purpose of the assessment period is to reward the growth of those most capable, having knowledge of Legacy skills spread widely would be a far better foundation to discover powerhouses. After all, even if anyone could get access to a complete legacy, it would only be the most driven and dedicated that would ever complete one.”

Humming low in his throat, Porkchop pondered their words.

“I suppose that’s true. Most meles don’t finish their legacies—I was a bit strange for how much I focused on my skills. I suppose it's different for peoples who have the weight of expectation and scarcity on their shoulders—but when everyone has it, it's like expecting to see those without legacies working until they only have Unusual and Unique skills.” Porkchop replied.

“But if the system is trying to cultivate powerhouses, or even just find people capable of walking this ‘Path’, why wouldn’t it share this knowledge as widely as possible?” he continued, questioning the system’s reasoning.

Kaius sighed, rubbing his head. “I think the system might be aiming for that, but I think the integration is testing something else. How well suited a society is for producing the strong. This…feels exactly in line with that. When someone is given an advantage, do they share it? Make it easier for others to follow in their footsteps? After all, from Ekum’s words it sounds like the integration is as much capable of being completed by successive generations and by a single powerhouse.”

“I agree—for all we know, the system would find societies where third tiers are as common as grass more valuable than one that produced someone of the hypothesised seventh tier.” Ianmus said, nodding along with Kaius’s words.

Kaius sighed, slumping back into his chair. The revelations and changes brought by the Aspects were intense, but thankfully he had been one to secure these findings.

It would give Ianmus and Porkchop the edge they needed to secure their own Aspects and version of the Honour. The knowledge that entrancement could be used to hasten their discovery alone was invaluable.

After that though…he would spread this. He had to. Even if he hadn’t agreed to help the guild, it was far too valuable to society as a whole—and if they did it right it would be difficult to trace back to them.

Three Fields would be first. Jekkar was still in the first tier, and Holt might still be too—with them now being well defined allies, the town’s security would be far more assured if they gained the Honour. It would be a race against time though.

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No doubt there were other geniuses out there, either with the guild or other dynasties and institutions, that were coming close to their own discoveries. The information would definitely enable them to garner their own aspects, but whether that would win the race was up to luck and their own abilities.

Especially because he couldn’t justify giving them too much of a lead. If it got out that Three Fields had that kind of knowledge, and no one else did, they would have powerhouses descending on them in an instant.

He was only glad he had found companions that would agree with his plan—both saw knowledge as a treasure to be shared.

Like he’d told them earlier—what good was being a trailblazer if no one could follow the path you created?