My interest couldn’t have been more piqued, but I also didn’t want to get bogged down in a history lesson at the moment. The mention of a Remnant of Eternity in particular made me think. I contemplated pulling out the treasure that was hidden inside of my Lilly Choker, but I wasn’t sure if that would be my smartest option. I didn’t want to keep secrets, but for this one, at least, I felt I had to.

  Fortunately, Tad didn’t seem to notice my internal debate and continued his explanation. “As near as Geminus and I have been able to work out, it’s that authority which may create a problem for Clay. To be awakened is to enter into a contract with one of the few beings who are able to awaken others.”

  He paused and locked eyes with Clay. “If we were to do this, you would be forever beholden to me. There are limits, but essentially you’d be accepting me as your prince.”

  Geminus interjected. “It isn’t that onerous. On most worlds, there are hundreds, or on a few, thousands of awakened. Most live their lives like ordinary citizens, working as craftsmen, guards, adventurers, or such. Most never interact with the one who awakened them again, but their obligation remains even if it is never called upon. That would be different here, where there are virtually no awakened, and none with the power to awaken.”

  “And just who can awaken?”

  The gnome nodded. “There’s the question, and the answer was fairly established. The Fey Queens have the greatest potential to awaken, followed by the princes and princesses of each Court. Then there are a few fey who have passed level 500 and become ascendants. They are able to awaken, but their ability to do so is subject to their oaths to one of the royals.”

  “What about this Lawgiver I’ve heard about? I thought he was the enemy of the fey or something like that.”

  “Oh, he is. I’m afraid that none of my memories explain how he gained divinity, but somehow he did. I’m sure there is an answer, but we don’t have it,” Geminus explained.

  Clay finally spoke up. “So I’d have to swear some sort of oath of obedience to you in order to be awakened?”

  Tad shrugged. “From what I’ve been able to sort out, there isn’t an oath, as such. I offer you the power, in this case, provided by the Ways. I am far from level 500, which is typically the level that a fey royal can begin to awaken others. You would be notified by the system of the offer, and if you were to accept it, you’d be bound to me. The binding is absolute so far as we know, and you would be compelled to obey me and unable to willfully act against what you perceive to be my interests, either by action or inaction.”

  “Please understand that this is what we’ve cobbled together over the last month, since we had to flee Coopertown,” Geminus added. “Some of it comes from my memories and some of it from what Arbormaris and Spot have told us.”

  Clay nodded. “I take it by the name that Arbormaris is the ship?”

  By way of an answer, Tad gestured toward the far end of the table. It liquefied, for want of a better word, then reformed into the upper body of a woman. She was still made of wood, and reminded me of the figurehead of an ancient wooden boat. “I am Arbormaris. You currently are resting within my form. I can confirm that everything said today on both sides appears to be truth. I can’t read anyone’s minds, but all of you are acting in good faith. Although, in full disclosure, my loyalty is with Prince Tad, as I carry his blessing.”

  Clay stood and bowed to Arbormaris when she finished manifesting. My senses had already made me aware of just how alive this ship was. It was also more powerful than anything else I’d encountered on Aerth. “And if I make an oath like that, then what are your intentions towards me? I can’t make such an oath if it removes me from my duties to the guild.”

  “I’d never ask you to go against the guild,” Tad said, “but we are also about to be a world at war. The Inquisitors, Dreadnoughts, and perhaps worse will come to Aerth, and we will have to fight them. So, I’m sorry, but I can’t promise you that you won’t be called upon to fight. I can promise you that if you find other worthy individuals, I’ll continue to work toward finding a way to awaken them as well.”

  “Human,” Arbormaris said, “you also need to understand that this would be the first time in recorded history that a fey prince has awakened a human. Normally such an honor is reserved for elves, dryads, gnomes, and even dwarves. But never a human.”

  Clay scratched his chin. “Will that be a problem for you?”

  Tad shrugged. “It’s not like the Courts have done anything for me. I’m going to decide based on what is best for those I want to protect. If it helps, I’m not the kind of man to stand behind others. One of my traits, in fact, is To Stand In Front. It marks me as one who leads, whether I want it or not, and specifically as the type of leader who does not hide behind those faithful to him.”

  There was something at work in the room, and I had trouble putting my finger on exactly what it was. Then it hit me. Tad had some type of Charisma-based ability. I shook my head. I’d notice if he was trying to manipulate Clay, so this was more of a natural aura type thing, which I understood in a way few others could. Perhaps it was part of being a fey royal. Interestingly, while I could sense it and witness the impact it had on Geminus, Clay, and even Arbormaris, it didn’t touch me. I assumed that was because I was from outside his system.

  “One last question, if you don’t mind, Prince Tad.”

  “Of course, Clay.”

  “I get the need to survive and the impending war, but what about beyond that? If I get awakened, I’ll potentially live a very long time. What is your purpose in life?”

  The question seemed to hang in the air until Tad’s expression became a grin. “I want a quiet life creating magical items—and yes I can do that. Oliver’s seen some of my work, if that helps you.”

  I smiled. “I’ve had the luxury of experiencing one of your showers. It was bliss on a level I have rarely experienced.”

  He took the compliment graciously. “I want to spread items like those across Aerth to improve the lives of all people, not just adventurers, although better gear is always a welcome commodity. More than that, as I’ve sought my purpose and come to grips with my Divine Imbuement, I’ve come to realize that I simply want to help people and worlds grow.”

  I couldn’t help myself. “What’s a Divine Imbuement?”

  “It’s something that everyone gets when they gain their first class,” Clay answered. “Most are pretty simple and speak to their purpose in life. They are not often talked about except with family or perhaps a close party member. But to make a point, my Divine Imbuement is called Silent Blade, and my purpose is to be the blade in the shadows who silences any threats to harm the innocent.”

  Tad seemed to struggle internally with something before coming to a conclusion. “Perhaps sharing the details of my Divine Imbuement would help you to know if this is something you want.”

  Then without further warning, he pushed out a projection.

  Divine Imbuement: Void Creator (Ascendant)

  You stand between two great traditions. The light of hope shines in you, as does the quiet of emptiness. You shape the chaos of creation into a natural order rather than imposing your own artificial forms. You are as close to pulling something from nothing as any being can be, other than Eternity. Live and Learn.

  As Clay read the words, I could see the moment he reached his decision. “I want you to awaken me, Prince Tad.”

  He smiled. “It’s just Tad. So, let’s see if we can figure this out.”

  Chapter Eighteen: Awakening

  Tad stepped around the table without any ceremony and placed one hand on Clay’s shoulder. The contact looked simple, almost casual, but the air around them tightened as if the ship had drawn a breath—which I supposed, given its nature, it might have.

  I felt a surge of power welling up. I presumed this was the Endless Dungeon granting power to Tad. It was a deep surge, like a tide answering the moon. That power flowed into Tad first, vast and unshaped. I could sense spatial currents within it, but the mana was unrefined and raw. I also sensed life, electricity, and even time in the flows, though that probably had more to do with my affinities being more sensitive to those aspects than anything else.

  Then the power bent as it passed through him, filtered and refined by his authority as a prince of two Courts. I barely understood what any of it meant, but my eyes could trace the flow of both mana and spiritual energy. There was still something intangible about it, something I couldn’t quite observe, but I took that to be an element of the system.

  Light erupted around them in a blinding flash that drove me to shield my eyes. There was no heat or force, but a constant pressure, a sensation of reality being rewritten in deliberate strokes. The light carried both warmth and emptiness, summer’s promise braided with the quiet certainty of the Void. I could feel Tad holding the balance, not imposing his will so much as guiding what already wanted to happen.

  Clay cried out once, then fell silent as the transformation took hold. His body lifted slightly off the chair, muscles tightening as power flooded into him and then sank deeper, past flesh and bone. I could sense it happening at levels most would never perceive, cells breaking down and reforming into cleaner patterns, systems streamlined, waste stripped away. He was being rebuilt for endurance, efficiency, and growth rather than brute excess. It occurred to me that this was very similar to what happened when I underwent a racial evolution.

  The light collapsed inward as suddenly as it had flared, leaving Clay standing where he’d been moments before. At a glance, he looked the same—same build, same scars, same wary expression. He took a steadying breath. The true difference was subtle yet profound. There was a density to him that hadn’t been there before, like a blade honed past what the eye could see. When he met my gaze, I knew with certainty that whatever he’d been before, that man was gone, replaced by something awakened and ready.

  This new density matched better with the saturation of mana here, and with each breath, more of it was being pulled into his body.

  Identify told me part of the story.

  Clay Turner

  Tier: Grandmaster

  Level: 158

  Class: Blade of the Prince

  Race: Twice-Awakened Human (Summer and Void)

  His reaction told me more.

  “This is… I accepted the offer, but didn’t know that it would give me a new class,” he said briskly. “And the class is incredible! I was getting 20 stat points per level since I reached grandmaster tier, but now I’m getting thirty-five. Plus I gained new spells, and something called ‘traits’.”

  Geminus cut in. “That isn’t because you were awakened. Being awakened makes you stronger and boosts your base. It allows you to gain more levels, but doesn’t inherently change the amount of stats you get per level. I get thirty-five per level as well, which I believe is because we were awakened by a being who is bound to two of the three Courts.”

  Clay nodded. “But there’s also a twenty-five percent bonus to my levels, stats, and pretty much everything else. I never dreamed when I woke up this morning that I would be this powerful by dinnertime.”

  Tad spoke up. “I didn’t want to tell you about that last bonus beforehand, so as not to sway your decision, but that is a result of one of my traits. It causes all who have a deep enough connection to me to gain that bonus. As for the new class, I didn’t know what you’d get at all. This is the first time I’ve ever awakened anyone.” He shifted his gaze to Geminus. “But why did he only gain eight levels, when the elf that my aunt awakened was almost level 500? Am I simply that much weaker?”

  “Uh, no, My Prince. I mean yes, you are almost certainly weaker than she is, but the power for his awakening came entirely from the Endless Dungeon. You only used your authority. That much I’m certain of, if only because of your reaction.”

  Tad’s eyebrow went up, so Geminus continued. “Whenever an ascendant being awakens a mortal, it places a huge strain on them, and often causes them to need to sleep. But even if they don’t need to sleep, they are still very tired and drained for at least a few hours. As for the level gain, that isn’t a normal part of the process, and I don’t know why Clay gained eight levels. But I do know why your aunt’s minion, Sajecus, was so much stronger.”

  “Why’s that?” Tad asked, and I listened curiously, trying to learn as much as I could about this new system and world.

  “She used a ritual that bypassed that cost to herself and instead created an unstable awakening. Unless her mother had stepped in to fix it, Sajecus was going to die. He wouldn’t have been able to survive that type of boost for more than a few months at the most. The technique is highly frowned upon in my memories, but is a way for one fey to make a small army practically overnight.”

  “I can explain the eight levels,” Clay said. “It’s the XP I’d accrued since I reached level 150. The last floor that they cleared for me had a bunch of monsters, and the rewards were pretty good.”

  Tad looked at me. “We have a great deal to talk about, and I’d like to speak in private. But would you and your people consider power-leveling the rest of my team? The elves, Fara, and even Lexa are all valuable assets, but they aren’t strong enough to deal with awakened foes, at least not without serious risk. I’m not sure I can lose another of them now. Until I finally get around to making golems, I need them to be as strong as possible.”

  When I didn’t respond right away, he added, “I know this is a great deal to ask of you. While I can probably do it to some extent, I’m more of a crafter than a combatant.”

  “Interesting that you should say that. I’m a bit of a crafter, too, although it sounds like I might be a novice compared to you. I also have a class that is related to the creation of golems, so there’s that. As far as power-leveling, I don’t know how long we can stay here, but we can certainly make a few runs. We actually have a key to go much deeper into the dungeon, and I’d like to try that out, but probably not with anyone below level 200.”

  A grin split his face. “I guess that means that my one year starts now.” Before I could ask him to explain what he meant, he turned to Clay. “I’m sure you have some responsibilities at the guild, but if we do more power-leveling, I’d like to have you along as well.”

  Clay bowed to Tad, but seemed more confused by the gesture than anyone else. Then Tad had Geminus escort Clay out, with a request to make sure he was introduced to the rest of the team.

  Tad leaned back in his chair. “Apparently, Selena and Fara are getting along, because they haven’t returned yet. You said fiancée, so I assume that means that you’re going to marry her.”

  I nodded. “And what about Fara? She seemed very protective of you, but not like Lexa.”

  He laughed. “No, nothing like that. She’s my best friend. Really the first friend I ever had. I couldn’t imagine where I’d be without her.”

  I gestured placatingly. “You don’t have to explain yourself to us. I get the feeling that you’ve had a lot of the same challenges I have. It’s difficult to be pushed into leadership, isn’t it?”

  He nodded emphatically. “First, I want to share something with you, then I want to tell you about the vision I had of you.” He pushed the notification toward me.

  New Quest received: Forge and Enchant an Infinity Key. This item will allow the Ways to grow and the Fey System to fulfill its purpose. In order to accomplish this, you will need an ally from another system with a status at least as powerful as your Hound of the System. Adding extra individuals from various systems will expand the power of what you can create.

  The one-year timeline for this quest will commence the moment you meet a non-hostile entity from a different system.

  There was something familiar about that. I wondered if it had something to do with the Remnant of Eternity, but there was nothing that explicitly stated so. “Are you a blacksmith too?” I asked him.

  “Not really. I can work with some of the materials I have on hand, or I can have Spot make them for me if I give him specifications.”

  “And Spot is your dungeon core.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe you have the ability to take a dungeon for a walk, placing it wherever you want. I once won a dungeon seed, but once I placed it, the resource was set there permanently. Sadly, much of that world was destroyed, so I’m not sure if it’s actually still there.”

  “Anyway, making this key will almost certainly be more complicated than I can imagine, but one of the benefits of not knowing what I’m supposed to do is that I also don’t know when I’m not supposed to be able to do something. That alone has shocked plenty of people.”

  I grinned. “That’s been my experience, too. But if we are supposed to work on this project together, I should tell you that I’m probably a better blacksmith than I am an enchanter, and I’m better at creating blueprints for objects than anything else.”

  That led to an explanation of how I could create blueprints for buildings and for common gear. I told him how, with a bit of work and reverse-engineering, I could probably create a blueprint for mana rifles for him, or maybe even a more mundane one—though I first had to explain what rifles were.

  “Let’s call blueprints project number three,” Tad said.

  “Oh, you’ve already got a plan for two other projects?”

  “Well, yes and no. More than that, really, but I’ve been putting off building a golem for a while now. Having you here seems like the perfect opportunity. Project one should really be power-leveling, but as much as we need to, I want to do some crafting. Though maybe I’m imposing on you too much. I wanted to finish telling you about the vision.”

  He did just that, describing how he’d watched me fighting all alone on a barren, ash-covered field. For most of the vision, he couldn’t see me well, and it was difficult to make out what I was fighting. He finally saw my adversary—twisted creatures of metal and flesh wielding weapons that caused explosions of light. He also told me about how he had connected visions about dragons and various other worlds.