Chapter 15 – Aric
The courtyard was quiet, the echoes of the pebble's flight still lingering in the morning air. Aric wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling both exhilarated and drained. The small victory of levitating the stone had awakened a new determination in him, but also a creeping unease. The world he lived in was not forgiving, and the lessons of mortality had been etched into the minds of every creature that had survived here for centuries.
"Aric," Daren's voice called from the edge of the courtyard, calm but heavy with gravitas. "Come. There is something you must understand about the limits of life… and the potential beyond it."
Aric followed, curiosity piqued. They walked through the winding paths of the hidden refuge, the walls lined with ancient texts and artifacts that hummed faintly with mana. His father paused at a stone table, spreading open a tattered scroll. The parchment depicted a hierarchy of beings, from mortals to divines, to transcendent and godly entities.
"You see these?" Daren asked, his finger tracing a line that stretched from mortal humans to the first generation of divines. "This is the path that many have sought, and very few have walked successfully. Mortals like us are constrained not just by life, but by the System, by the natural limits of growth."
Aric leaned closer, absorbing every word. The scroll depicted powerful warriors, sorcerers, and beings whose names were etched in legend, many of whom had perished trying to ascend beyond their limits.
"But… what is divine power?" Aric asked, voice tinged with awe. "Are these beings immortal?"
Daren shook his head. "Not truly immortal. Mortals, no matter their strength, are fragile in comparison to the ancient forces that shaped this world. Divine beings are more durable, yes, their lifespans extended and their magic immense, but they are not invincible. Their mortality is… delayed, controlled. Even the gods you will hear of later once walked as mortals, and many perished before reaching what we now call the divine."
Aric's mind raced. The pebble, the flows of mana, the System's invisible chains—all of it suddenly felt like only the first layer of a vast, incomprehensible reality.
"The path to power is fraught with death," Daren continued. "Every choice, every action, every attempt to grow carries risk. The System restricts mortals for a reason—unchecked growth leads to instability, to catastrophe. And yet, some have broken those chains. Taboo breakers, divines… transcendent beings. They surpass the natural limits and achieve a power that could change the world—or destroy it."
Aric clenched his fists. "So… if I want to protect people, to survive, I have to surpass all this? Even mortality itself?"
"Exactly," Daren said, placing a hand on Aric's shoulder. "But understand this: it is not raw strength alone that allows survival. Strategy, patience, cunning, and knowledge are what separate those who flourish from those who die trying. You must learn to master not only magic, but yourself."
Aric nodded, the weight of his destiny pressing against him. The notion of divine potential was intoxicating—an almost mythical goal. But with it came the stark realization: the stronger he became, the more dangerous the world itself would be.
"And," Daren added quietly, "never forget the System. It monitors, restricts, and reacts. Even those who seek freedom must do so with caution. The System will respond to unchecked ambition."
Aric's gaze lifted toward the sky, where the morning sun burned through the mist, illuminating the distant peaks of the mountains. That light, filtered through the haze, seemed to call to him, a silent promise of power and responsibility.
"I understand, Father," he said firmly. "I will learn, I will grow, and I will protect… no matter what it takes. If the divine exists, then I will find my place among them."
Daren's eyes softened, a rare smile touching his lips. "Good. That resolve will serve you well. But remember, Aric… power is nothing without purpose. You must decide now what you fight for, because one day, the world will demand a choice, and it will not forgive weakness."
Aric clenched his fists once more, determination blazing. Mortal though he was, he could already feel the first stirrings of something greater within him—a potential that, if nurtured, might someday rival the legends themselves.
And so, as the first rays of sunlight danced on the stones of the hidden refuge, Aric took his first step toward a destiny few mortals had ever glimpsed. A destiny that would demand sacrifice, cunning, and the courage to face the impossible.