He focused on the Tier 3 class he had tried to create four months ago, and the information unfolded before him like a carved inscription etched into his mind:
[ Class: Wizard Apprentice (Tier 3) ]
[ Prerequisites:
- Max level Class: Occult Scholar (satisfied)
- Max Level Class: Mental Adept (satisfied)
- Understanding of Runes (pending)
- INT ≥ 13.0 (satisfied)
- Magic ≥ 2.5 (satisfied) ]
[ Level 1 (000 / 10,000) ]
[ Trait : Spirituality
(+10% perception of ambient or hidden magical phenomena)
(+10% interaction with supernatural forces)
(+5% regeneration rate of Spirituality when resting or meditating) ]
[ Trait : Spellcraft
(+10% creation of mental spell models from runes)
(+10% stability of custom spell models during casting)
(−5% Spirituality and Magic cost when activating refined spell models) ]
[ Trait : Magic Control
(+10% control over magical power flow)
(+10% effectiveness in shaping or bending magic )
(+10% resistance to uncontrolled magical interference) ]
It was a powerful class, far beyond anything he had possessed until now. Everything about it screamed strength and power.
A path not just to wield magic but to understand and mold it.
The structure of the class laid out the path forward with unusual clarity. It even resolved the doubts he'd harbored about spells, revealing the system that governed them.
Spells were to be built as mental models formed from runes, powered jointly by Spirituality and Magic, and stored within the mind.
But there it was, the missing piece. Runes.
He had completely overlooked them when trying to create the class. Now it was clear. Without an understanding of runes, the class could not be created.
He had no concerns about his [INT] or [Magic] attributes.
Thanks to the [Occult Scholar] class, his [INT] had been steadily climbing with each analysis of the supernatural.
Months of consistent spellwork and arcane experimentation had finally pushed it past the 13-unit threshold.
Likewise, his [Magic] attribute had gradually increased through repeated spellcasting, recently reaching the required 2.5 units.
[
CON 7.3
STR 7.1
AGI 7.5
DEX 7.6
INT 13.2
Magic 2.5
]
His true focus now had to be on runes.
He had searched the records in Dragonstone's vaults for anything on runes, focusing on old Valyrian texts, lost tongues, and ancient glyphs.
His search led him to scattered notes and translated fragments. Some older maesters had attempted to decode them.
According to what he found, runes were used by the First Men as a form of writing, long before the Andals brought the Common Tongue.
The runes were inscribed on stones, weapons, and artifacts.
Some scholars speculated they had magical significance, but these were always dismissed as superstition.
There was no consensus. Most believed they were purely symbolic.
So Aegon began searching for rune-engraved items. Stones from ancient barrows, old family items, broken weapons recovered from deep within castle storage.
He even brought his findings to the maesters, asking about their origins, purposes, anything.
But every time, he heard the same thing.
"There is nothing magical about them."
"They're just old markings."
"Relics of a forgotten age."
He checked them with his perception, invoking the senses granted by [Occult Scholar] and [Mental Adept]. But there was nothing. No glow, no pulse, no aura.
He wasted nearly a month chasing these dead ends.
His obsession didn't go unnoticed.
One afternoon, as the golden light of the sun filtered through the high windows of the Queen's solar, Queen Alysanne sat at the table with her grandson Aegon, sharing a quiet midday meal.
The servants had just cleared the first course, poached trout in lemon and herbs, when she set down her goblet of watered wine and turned to him with a thoughtful look in her eyes.
She dabbed her lips with a silk cloth, then said, "Aegon, may I ask you something, my dear?"
Aegon looked up from his plate, surprised by the tone. "Of course, Grandmother."
"I heard you've been searching through the old records, asking about runes and… things related to magic," she said, her tone gentle but probing.
He nodded carefully. "Yes."
She studied him for a moment. "You know, magic… if it ever truly existed, it hasn't been seen in the world for many years. Most of what people believe about it comes from songs and stories. Myths and old wives' tales."
He looked up at her, expression unreadable. "Then it doesn't exist?"
The Queen gave a small sigh. "I don't say that with certainty. There are… strange things in this world. When your grandfather and I flew to the Wall many years ago, Vermithor and Silverwing both refused to cross it. No matter how hard we tried to push them forward, they turned back. We didn't understand it then. We still don't."
She paused, watching him. "So, maybe… magic or gods or whatever it was, they do exist. Maybe not in the form the old tales describe. But if such forces are real, they should be respected. Cautioned against. Not toyed with."
Aegon nodded slightly, then asked quietly, "What about pyromancers?"
Alysanne raised a brow. "There are records of them. Alchemists who claimed to control fire with their minds. But those are ancient stories. None have been seen since the Doom of Valyria."
"Why?" she asked after a moment. "Why are you so interested in all this?"
He took a breath and gave the excuse he had prepared from the beginning, the one he knew he'd need.
"I've had dreams," he said. "About magic. About… people using fire. Blood. Shadows. It's unclear."
Her face darkened slightly. "And do these dreams come often?"
"No," Aegon lied. "Very rarely."
The Queen was quiet for a long moment, then finally spoke. "I think you should stay away from those books… and from things related to witchcraft or magic. They can be dangerous, even if you don't understand why."
Aegon gave a small shrug, trying to appear casual, even playful. "I'm just curious, grandmother. It's not serious or anything. The dreams were strange, and the stories sound... interesting. Like puzzles. That's all."
He offered a faint smile, the kind a boy might give after being caught sneaking an extra lemon cake. "It's probably nothing. I just like reading about odd things. I get bored sometimes."
Alysanne studied him for a few moments, her sharp eyes searching his face. Still, he didn't seem frightened or disturbed. Just… inquisitive.
She sighed. "Books can feed the imagination, and dreams can play tricks. As long as you remember that."
"I do," he said quickly. "I'm just having a bit of fun."
She shook her head, half amused, half concerned. "Alright then. But if you come across anything strange, truly strange, you come to me first. Understood?"
Aegon nodded with perfect obedience. "Of course."
She ruffled his silver hair gently. "You're a clever boy. Just don't go chasing shadows and ghosts."
"I won't," he said, his smile unchanged.
Since his efforts had yielded little of value about Runes so far, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
The Class Tree had hinted at their existence, which meant they had to be real, he simply hadn't uncovered them yet.
So, he forged a new path.
A new Tier 2 class was created, focused solely on runic knowledge and discovery.
He had already pushed it to Level 6 just the month before, investing a total of 22,500 EXP to do so.
That left him with [EXP: 97,632] remaining.
[ Class: Rune Initiate (Tier 2) ]
[ Prerequisites:
- Max level Class: Occult Scholar (satisfied)
- Max Level Class: Mental Adept (satisfied)
- INT ≥ 11.0 (satisfied) ]
[ Level 6 (000 / 9000) ]
[ Trait : Rune Sense
(+35% speed of recognizing hidden or partial rune structures)
(+35% efficiency in creating simplified rune constructs from raw magical observations) ]
[ Trait : Rune Engraving
(+35% speed and accuracy when drafting or engraving structured rune sequences)
(+35% stability when layering runic patterns to form complex glyph constructs) ]
This class had sharpened Aegon's senses to a supernatural degree, awakening a new layer of perception, one he had never accessed before. He could now feel the flow of magical energy itself.
Within his mental perception, magical energy appeared as tiny pinpricks of black light, swirling and flickering in distinct rhythmic frequencies.
They weren't static, they flowed, pulsing with intent and structure.
Aegon retrieved his notes, flipping to a page etched with a complex, three-dimensional diagram, the [Fire Rune].
Over the past month, he had carefully studied and deconstructed the magical structure behind his flamecraft spells.
The three spells—[Fireball], [Ring Burst], and [Fire Torrent], had each been carefully deconstructed and analyzed through the lens of his new perception.
By comparing the underlying magic flow, he had finally identified a shared pattern, the essence of fire itself.
That essence became the foundation of the [Fire Rune].
Now it was time to test it.
Aegon extended his hand, palm up, and closed his eyes.
He began tracing the fire rune mentally, visualizing its intricate structure while focusing just above his outstretched palm.
His mental perception scanned the space carefully, watching for even the slightest reaction.
At first, nothing happened.
But he persisted, again and again, refining his focus, repeating the rune in his mind with unwavering determination.
Then, a flicker.
He felt it: a subtle pull within his consciousness. The black pinpricks of magical light inside his body stirred, then began drifting toward the space above his palm, as if drawn by an invisible current.
Suddenly, with a gentle whoosh, a flickering flame sprang to life in the air above his hand.
The fire wavered, unstable, held together solely by the continuous tracing of the rune in his mind. He knew that the moment he lost focus, the flame would vanish.
Even so, he felt a surge of elation.
Mental fatigue set in quickly. He stopped tracing the rune and withdrew his perception.
The fire collapsed instantly, like a torch snuffed by wind. Yet he remained smiling, sweat on his brow and satisfaction in his heart.
Then, a pulse from deep within his mind, the Class Tree.
[Prerequisite Fulfilled.]
[Class: Wizard Apprentice – Creation Successful.]
Aegon felt something shift within his consciousness. His mental energy twisted, folded upon itself, and condensed, gaining both weight and clarity.
It grew dense and alive, and for a moment, pain stabbed through his mind as if space itself resisted the transformation. Then, with a sudden pop, something within him gave way.
Relief washed over him.
A cool sensation spread through his skull as his newly forged mental power, spirituality, vanished into an unseen void, drawn toward something greater.
The Class Tree followed, sinking into that same hidden space without resistance.
Yet Aegon wasn't alarmed. Instinct told him: This was his Mental Space.
The moment the class [Wizard Apprentice] awakened, it had imprinted knowledge of this space into his mind.
He turned inward to explore it.
There it was, a vast, black expanse, filled with drifting bluish mist: Spirituality, alive and flowing like ethereal vapor. At the center floated the Class Tree, serene and suspended in the void.
Returning to the physical world, Aegon opened his eyes and activated his new power.
His spirituality unfolded around him in a ten-meter sphere, enveloping the world like a second skin.
Instantly, everything within range lit up in his mind: objects, textures, materials, colors, details layered with clarity no human eye could ever perceive.
Spirituality wasn't just energy or mental power. It was a limb, an extension of himself.
A supernatural power born of mind.
He checked his attributes:
[
CON 7.3
STR 7.1
AGI 7.5
DEX 7.6
INT 13.2
Magic 2.5
Spirituality 1.0
]
As expected, a new derivative stat had been added, Spirituality.
He was confident there would be no clash between derivative stats, because he had never gotten around to adding that particular restriction to the Class Tree before he died in his past life.
He had planned to implement a rule in the Class Tree, a player could develop only one derivative stat.
If a player created classes that generated multiple derivative stats, such as both Magic and Qi, they would suffer a strong, permanent debuff, like a reduction in primary stats (CON, STR, DEX, AGI, INT).
This restriction would have prevented players from taking both classes like: Magician and Martial Artist without serious penalties.
Fortunately, he had not added that rule before his death.
That oversight had now become a gift. A rare, incredibly valuable gift.
But I still need to be cautious. This is reality, not a game. I can't guarantee that having multiple derivative stats active at once won't lead to unintended consequences.
That uncertainty was one of the key reasons he created the [Wizard Apprentice] class in the first place.
Unlike Magic, Spirituality was a power that originated entirely from his own mind and consciousness, and was under his complete control.
The [Wizard Apprentice] class was designed to grant him a powerful supernatural research capability, enabling him to develop new classes in the future through a more systematic and structured approach.
But I cannot upgrade it now…
Though the [Wizard Apprentice] class had been successfully created, it could not be upgraded yet.
According to the rules of the Class Tree, only one class can be upgraded at a time.
Evening – Dragonstone, Dragon Caves
A gust of wind swept through the wide mouth of the cave as Dreamfyre, her shimmering blue scales glinting in the fading light, swooped in with a low, resonant roar.
Her wings kicked up ash and dust, causing the dragon keepers already stationed at the entrance to raise their cloaks over their faces.
"My prince…" they greeted as Aegon dismounted smoothly, one hand gripping a worn leather satchel filled with notes.
He gave a small nod in response, already sending a mental nudge to the dragon.
Rest. You've done well.
Dreamfyre growled in reply, the deep rumble echoing through the stone. She moved past the keepers without hesitation, her talons clicking against the rock, disappearing into the deeper chambers of the cave.
One of the younger keepers flinched at her passing.
Aegon didn't stay to chat. He turned sharply and headed toward the castle.
They must be in the dining hall by now, he thought, quickening his pace.
Best not keep grandmother waiting longer.
He detoured briefly to his chamber, throwing off his flight leathers and tucking his notes under the wooden chest at the foot of his bed.
A splash of cold water across his face, a change into fresh tunic and doublet, and he was gone again.
Queen Alysanne sat at the head of the long table, her posture relaxed but regal, cup of mulled wine in hand.
Beside her sat her daughters Maegelle and Gael, and Lady Jocelyn, quietly sharing court stories. The meal had already begun, roasted duck, baked apples, and thick black bread with honeyed butter.
"Where is Aegon?" Gael asked, her voice soft but clear, eyes flicking to the door for the third time in as many minutes.
Queen Alysanne sighed, "Late again…" Then her tone turned teasing. "Why, Gael, do you miss him already?"
Gael's cheeks flared pink, and she looked down at her plate, flustered.
Maegelle covered a laugh with her cup.
Lady Jocelyn smirked and raised an eyebrow toward the queen. There was no malice, just knowing looks, they all had seen it for weeks now.
The doors opened, wood groaning slightly on the iron hinges.
Aegon entered, composed and freshly washed, hair damp.
"My apologies," he said with a slight bow of the head. "I came a little late."
Queen Alysanne gave him a pointed look, though the warmth in her eyes betrayed her fondness. "You always come back late from flying, Aegon. One day you'll make us believe you've flown off across the sea."
"I wouldn't go that far without telling you," he said with a smile, settling into the empty seat beside Gael.
She greeted him with a quiet, "Welcome back," not quite meeting his eyes.
He noticed her blush but said nothing.
Maegelle passed him a plate. "You missed the part about Lady Staunton's scandal."
"Did I?" Aegon replied dryly. "A tragedy, truly."
Queen Alysanne chuckled softly. "Eat, and then tell me what you saw in the sky today. I expect at least one good story for the evening."
Taking a deep breath, Aegon set his fork down, his expression shifting subtly but unmistakably. The glint of humor vanished from his eyes, replaced by a calm, steady seriousness.
"Umm… actually, about that," he began, his gaze briefly sweeping across the table before settling on Queen Alysanne. "I need to have a conversation with you… alone."
The words, spoken softly yet with quiet weight, caused a ripple of surprise across the table.
Gael blinked, her hand pausing halfway to her cup.
Maegelle and Lady Jocelyn exchanged a glance, curiosity flickering behind their composed faces, though none of them dared voice it aloud.
Queen Alysanne studied her grandson carefully for a moment, her wine cup halfway to her lips.
She could see it, whatever Aegon wanted to speak of, it wasn't trivial.
That rare, composed tension in his voice always came before something important, perhaps something troubling.
"All right," she said at last, setting the cup down with deliberate gentleness. "Then come to my chambers after dinner."
Aegon gave a respectful nod. "Thank you."
The table went quiet for a few heartbeats, the clinking of cutlery and soft rustling of cloth resumed.
Gael looked down again, twisting a piece of bread in her fingers.
Maegelle resumed talking lightly about the rumor involving Lord Mooton's daughter and a Braavosi musician, trying to dispel the shift in mood.
Queen Alysanne, while smiling, responded to her daughters' conversation.
***
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