I feel it the moment the words leave my mouth. Something cold. Lilly physically recoils away from me as I raise my voice. I wasn’t even meaning to. Why should I get so worked up? I’ve been dealing with this same problem for weeks. There’s no logical reason to.

  I step away from her as I feel something from her side of our connection. I don’t really understand it, or how it’s supposed to work, and she doesn’t either. I wonder as I step away, if there’s some way I might break it down? Maybe if I can use the arm to learn about it, I can free her from this fate of being tied to me in this way? Being around me will hurt Lilly. So I have to fix it.

  I reach my crystal arm up and work it with my left. Feeling the “skin” as I do. I have sensation in the arm, but it’s distinctly different than the rest of my body. Anything I feel comes to me in sensory information. Information in the most literal sense. The air in this room has an exact measure of Ignia and Hydrus in it that’s controlling its temperature. I can feel the exact speed of the Aero essence being moved along on the air currents. Ordo suffusing the structure alongside Terra and Arbor to render it sturdy and stable.

  As I work my hand, I can also feel me. I try to never touch my hands together for that reason. When I do, information that comes to my mind is fragmentary and broken. It feels wrong. I know somewhere deep inside me that information shouldn’t be able to be damaged or destroyed. I know this, but I don’t know why I know it or why it’s true.

  When I feel my hand, I see myself. So many words I have no meanings for. So many questions I don’t know how to ask. But every one I learn….

  [Allanius “Olly” Parchess]

  [Species: Partially Artificial, Magically Reconstructed Anomaly]

  [Unknown Place of Origin]

  [Geas]

  [Soul Vessel — Severed]

  [Aetheric Essence Connection — Severed]

  [Basal Essence Affinity — Severed]

  [Akasha Essence Affinity — Extreme, Infernus Essence Affinity — Extreme]

  [Essence Core Formation — Incomplete, 9%, Declining]

  [Bane: Sanctic Essence]

  Geas is new since the last time I did this. I make a note to look into that later, but first I focus on the last words. Ayre told me about Banes after the fight against the crystal lizard. One answer. Not a good one.

  [Bane: Sanctic Essence]

  [Bane - Definition]

  [The fundamental difference between mortals and monsters. In exchange for far greater capabilities in processing essence using their Cores, monsters are always susceptible to one or more essence types. A Bane will invariably critically wound and/or disable a monster on exposure. Mortal races have learned to leverage these banes to succeed in the face of creatures of terrifying power]

  It settles in my mind. A fact I’ve avoided thinking about. Something Ayre said in no uncertain terms.

  [The fundamental difference between mortals and monsters.]

  [The fundamental difference between mortals and monsters.]

  [The fundamental difference between mortals and monsters.]

  I keep spinning it around in my mind. Thinking about it. It’s implications, and what it means about me.

  [The fundamental difference between mortals and monsters.]

  [The fundamental difference between mortals and monsters.]

  [The fundamental difference between mortals and monsters.]

  [The fundamental difference between mortals and monsters.]

  [The fundamental difference between mortals and monsters.]

  [The fundamental difference between mortals and monsters.]

  The information I glean from this arm has always been objectively correct. Factual. Never presenting anything that is a matter of opinion or preference unless that information is also objectively correct from that viewpoint.

  “I’ll… I’ll be back, Olly. Hopefully with some good news.” I hear Lilly distantly but can’t really wrench myself around to look at her. Instead I focus on the cold feeling in my heart. It’s fear, I realize. It’s Lilly, and it’s fear that she feels. I feel her presence leave, though. Whatever essence she’s made of out leaving with her, seemingly retreating rather than simply being pulled along with her like normal. Before too long, I feel the fear slowly warp into frustration, some emotion I’m not really sure how to identify, and then pain. Raw, red, and angry pain. Caused by me.

  [The fundamental difference between mortals and monsters.]

  I don’t know how long I stand here, but eventually I decide to leave. Not going anywhere specific. I think I just need some air. The thoughts are detached, as are the decisions. I retain the presence of mind to bring the sleeve, though, as I pull it on before my cloak. It’s important to Lilly, and she made it for me. Not wearing it would hurt her. So I wear it.

  The door won’t open, though. I stare at it for a while and remember Ayre’s words.

  The door keys off the unique essence signatures of whoever is present when they’re locked

  With me not having a soul vessel, I must not have an essence signature. That’s alright, though. I remember how Ayre’s felt and I call it to the forefront of my mind and conjure the right concentration of essences to my right arm and then wave it near the enchanted panel. I feel the cost be tolled out of me, but making such a small amount of essence isn’t too bad compared to the impact of actual spellcasting.

  When did I learn to do that? Replicate essence signatures?

  As I try to dig into my memory, I remember learning it from a scholar at a university resting on the sunbaked shores of a tropical island. I nod, satisfied.

  The door chimes and unlocks, allowing me to exit without any further complication. I make my way down the stairs, passing a couple freelancer types who nod cordially at me, I return the gesture, only realizing afterwards that it was the felid and elven women from last night. That’s fine, though, I don’t think they tried to start up a conversation or anything.

  I make my way down, and out into the main entryway room, seeing a couple dozen people, all who have drastically different essence compositions that are leaking into the air in the space. Making it feel and taste complex in a way that’s hard to describe. There’s multiple compound essentia in the air I’m unfamiliar with and it fills me with that passive need to know. If I make an effort and strain my eyes, I can see the barest threads of the essence in the air around me, and trace them back to their sources.

  Every single one is a person. I sigh, knowing I won’t be able to sate the curiosity for now. Entering the town has been difficult. More than anything else so far. I decided I wouldn’t use the arms ability at all if I could help it. I’d eat like a normal person, in order to limit the risk of losing control. But I do wonder if that decision isn’t making it worse.

  But similarly, I wonder if thinking that that decision is making it worse isn’t actually me… I shake my head and walk out. There’s too much essence and knowledge in this room. Experienced adventurers, magical equipment. Too much.

  Outside, everything is more diffuse. I look around and see normal people. Not essence-rich sources of experienced vessels. People are working. Hawkers are selling and drawing attention with gusto and bravado. Children run to and fro, between the legs of people, throwing minor cantrips of simple magic at one another as they go. Interesting beasts of burden pull loads around the square and down the main road in either direction.

  The area is alive in a way that nothing I’ve seen since waking up has been. It’s vibrant. The colors of magic abound in every direction in a way that is honestly mesmerizing and I wonder if anyone else can see it like I can right now. Spikes and points of light at everyone's cores. All different colors based on their own personal essence composition. Some people near one another swap essence back and forth, though I doubt if they’re aware of it.

  Unbidden, I remember some of those earliest memories I had before I woke up in Ayre’s house. They were all in towns just like this one. My perspective was always looking at a scene just like this. Potent little sources of essence trapped inside of vessels that wouldn’t be able to protect themselves as those memories progressed and I took what I was owed. In the memories. Those memories that weren’t…mine. Right?

  [The fundamental difference between mortals and monsters.]

  My breath catches sharply as I try to dispel the feeling building in the back of my mind. Looking around, I try to spot somewhere less densely populated so I can get away from everything for a little bit. “Maybe if I get far enough away, it’ll free Lilly from this connection?”

  I approach a canid man with a weary, familiar feeling face, grey fur and tall ears. “Excuse me, sorry to bother. I’ve only just made it into town and was wondering if you know if there’s any good places to get away from the noise of the streets?” The words flow easily, despite my current mental state, and it surprises me.

  He looks me up and down, “You meanin’ like a chapel, or are you one of those Terra wielders who need to hug a tree to feel right as rain?” He gives me a toothy smile, clearly intending no malice.

  “The latter, I think. Never found much peace in chapels. The trees usually don’t preach, so I find their company preferable.” I give him a soft smile that he seems to respond to positively. The smile itself feels unfamiliar, my muscles settling in notably alien feeling orientations compared to normal. But if it works, it works.

  “In that case, there’s a small park worked by a Grovetender on the south side of town. Far as I know they let folks sit in there when they need.” As I shift my position, I notice he gets a look at my sleeve, shining golden underneath my cloak. “Sorry to ask, but what’ve ya got there? It caught my eye.” He gestures to my right side.

  “Oh, it’s a sleeve to deal with an essence imbalance. Made some bad decisions when I was younger working with infusions. The other one still works well enough though.” I keep my tone flat, not openly brooking a continuation to the conversation.

  Infusions? Are those different from Imbuements?

  Infusion

  The process of deliberately unbalancing one’s own essence levels to induce extreme poisoning to encourage the growth of secondary essence benefits relating to the essence over shorter periods of time than normal growth. Widely regarded as dangerous and not done without good reason.

  “Ah, right, sorry. Didn’t mean to pry, that was rude of me.” He gives a bow of the head, eyes softening. “I’ll let you get on your way.” I nod back and turn to go, leaving the interaction behind me as I head in the direction of the mentioned park.

  Over the next hour or two I keep watching people as I wander and notice someone or something with a vaguely familiar feeling essence signature that has been pacing me off and on since I left the inn. Every time I look, there’s nobody there, but the background feeling of a distinct essence is unmistakable.

  The more I focus on it, the more it resolves into feeling like thoughts. Not me reading a mind, but rather the essence of thinking. The stuff that Ayre mentioned is used for instructions on magic items and portions. I suppose that it's probably some piece of very common enchanted equipment or something, but I resolve to keep my eyes open anyways.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  But, as I travel along several back alleys I start to feel a distinctly different essence from anything else I’ve felt since setting out today. It’s…peaceful. It “tastes” of something serene that puts my mind at ease just for having felt it. I decide to pursue this one in specific. Nothing else has been quite so remarkable as this as I don’t recognize it.

  I angle towards the new sensation and after a few more turns I find myself standing near the outermost wall of the city. The area is wide open, with a clear line of sight to the sky where the sun is cresting past its noontime peak. It sits lower in the sky because of the time of year, but there’s still plenty of daylight to keep things pleasant enough.

  Across the area, I see multicolored grasses, trees bearing fruits that should be well outside of season, lush mosses on carefully placed stones, and a fine pearly white sand that appears to have been raked into pleasantly smooth loops and curves.

  As I trace the curves with my eyes, appreciating what I recognize as nearly geometrically perfect lines, they lead me to a sole individual. The raker, if the rake they’re carrying is any indicator.

  They have skin with a greenish hue, a vaguely feminine figure, long locks of elaborately braided nearly translucent gray hair, soft green eyes, and a serenely calm face.

  As I stare at them, I notice the unfamiliar essence pouring off of them and steadily moving its way around this park, or grove, I suppose. Each individual stream of essence picks its way over plants, imbuing a little of itself into anything that appears to be flagging in health or energy, causing them to perk back up instantly.

  It takes a couple seconds before I realize that they’re looking back at me with a bemused smile that lights up their eyes — eyes I’m just now recognizing don’t have any irises.

  “Can I help you?” They lean on the rake, resting both hands atop it and leaning down to place their chin atop their hands, popping their hip out at a playfully sassy angle.

  “I…uh…sorry. I didn’t mean to stare. I was just stunned by seeing this place here and the wealth of essence flowing around.” I explain awkwardly, still struggling to pull my eyes and mind away from the essence. “I was told that there was a park where one might be able to find some peace and quiet away from the bustle of the town?”

  They step forward slowly, carefully picking their steps to not disrupt anything in the grove. “I believe you’ve stumbled into the right place, my oh-so-focused visitor.” They step off the grass and onto the flagstone pavers that I’m on and come to a stop, cocking their head side to side, taking me in from different angles. “What troubles you so that you seek a reprieve in nature? You don’t seem the type — having not one single mote of Terra in your person as far as I can tell.”

  They lean back away from me, closing their eyes for a second before exhaling out a cloud of viridian green essence. When they reopen them, their eyes are still green, but have returned to looking otherwise normal besides the specific shade. The cloud drifts over me, filling my mind with images of blooming flowers, sprouting seedlings, and lush grasses.

  [Florii]

  [The essence of growth, propagation, and seeds.]

  I draw in a deep breath, savoring the first thing that’s “tasted” good since I woke up weeks ago.

  “It’s just been a rough day, and I needed somewhere to be that wasn’t around my companions for a little while. I was told of this place, but wound up finding it because of the essence signature that it, and you, are giving off.” I explain with a growing smile.

  “Uh huh.” They give me a skeptical look. “So, who put you up to this? I thought it was pretty common knowledge that I didn’t like to be bothered in the grove.” Their face remains placid.

  I hasten an explanation. “Nobody put me up to it. I was legitimately just seeking somewhere to relax. We only arrived in town last night after a trial of a journey and tensions have been high. That’s all.” I try to wear the most sincere smile I can.

  “So…you’re not here to “pluck my fruit” like all the others who insist on bothering me?” They give me a heavily lidded stare.

  “I…would be lying if I said I knew what you meant by that. Like I said, I’m not from around here. If it’s a bother, I am more than happy to wander off somewhere else. It’s really no hassle.”

  They laugh lightly, “Ya know, most people who would say they don’t understand that innuendo, I’d call them bold-faced liars. But you give me the impression of actually being that kind of clueless.” They extend their right hand for a shake, which makes me lock up for a moment.

  “Ah. I…can’t use that arm, sorry.” I withdraw my arm in the sleeve and hold it up. “I’ve got an exotic essence reaction that has plagued me for most of my life. Not personal, and am happy to shake with the left if you’re not bothered.”

  “You really are an odd one, huh?” They extend their left hand and clasp mine, '“Arran. Nice to meet you. Sorry for giving you the third degree. I don’t think anyone else in this whole town has set foot in here without intentions to wed or bed me the whole time I’ve been tending this grove.”

  I nod noncommittally, “Yeah, people can be hard to deal with, I’m sympathetic there, though not for the same reasons. Olly.” I break the shake and step a little away from them. The essence they’re giving off is distracting in a very…all encompassing way.

  “Well, if you are looking to relax, you’ll find my grove to be a pleasant place. The plants don’t enjoy being bothered any more than I do, so the essence in the air that I’ve instilled into the area tends to dampen sounds from the city. Feels almost like being in a forest when you’re in the middle.” They gesture towards a rock in the center of the grove that looks almost like a chair you could recline into. “You’re free to stay as long as you like, but I have to be getting to some errands before the day is out.”

  “I appreciate it. I’ll try to not make a mess of things.” I give them a smile, and they turn and walk over to a locked rack. They unlock it quickly, stowing their tools, and then relock it before heading off down the alley that I arrived

  As they leave, I spend a little time looking around the meticulously overgrown garden. It looks very natural in the chaotic way that nature grows when it’s untended. There’s order in the processes, patterns in the growth, but only if you focus and try to find them. Trying to puzzle out which parts do what within the little ecosystem here as I pick my way through to the rock.

  The closer I get, I realize Arran wasn’t exaggerating. Each step silences the midday town a bit more until all I can hear are the creaking of branches, the subtle rubbing of grasses, and a gentle spray from a fountain at the edge of the clearing.

  It’s peaceful, and when I sit on the rock, it feels near total. Like I’ve stepped into another world for a little while. The urges, desires, and needs that have been plaguing me feel impossibly distant in this moment in time.

  Calm. Maybe this is what I need? The essence here is bountiful and I feel fully sated without needing to destroy anything to do it.

  I need a place I can go. Far away from the world where I can’t endanger strangers or hurt my friends.

  The thoughts lull me into a half doze. A dreamy state with my eyes closed as I imagine the plants around me, the constructions of their various essences, what they might grant me if I were to break them down and absorb them.

  In the haze, I hear footsteps on stone, but I ignore them, assuming it’s Arran coming back, returning to the dreamlike periphery of sleep.

  After another few moments, they go away entirely, leaving me in the silence of nature again. I do recognize that cloying taste of thought on the air again though, even within the grove, adding to my belief that it must be nearly universal.

  “You think he’s the right one?" I hear an unfamiliar voice say from in front of me, relatively. It’s answered with a grunt. Another, deeper voice.

  “Prob'ly. Not hard to find out.”

  Alert, I sit up abruptly, opening my eyes to see probably the largest person I’ve ever seen. Their bulk is enormous. Like Ayre with her wings half spread. He’s wearing a breastplate and leathers on the rest of his body. Adventurer garb. But on his pale skin I see a tattoo depicting some monster or another I’m not familiar with in blood red ink.

  “Why, G’mornin.” The huge man says with a surprisingly soft and genial tone, “Sorry t’a wake ya. You see, my friend ‘n I have been looking for someone and we heard you might be able t’a help?” Essence is building inside the man, and I feel a similar pressure directly behind me. This isn’t good.

  “Well, I’m not really from around here, but I can do my best.” I try to give a convincing smile, making a point of turning around to see the other person. A pretty meek looking lapine beastkyn with floppy ears and tawny spotted fur across most of their visible skin. They give me an almost apologetic looking smile that stands out as odd to me. “Only been in town for less than a full day.” I turn back to face the larger of the two.

  “Y’see, Couple of my friends got hurt today. I was told that they got in a tussle with someone with red hair, scales all over, wings about yea big,” He stretches his arms wide.

  I hazard a lie, panic building in my mind as I race through potentially useful abilities in this situation. “Can’t say I know anyone like that.”

  “Lie.” The smaller voice from behind me with utter surety, causing the large one to sigh dramatically as though they've just experienced the greatest inconvenience imaginable.

  “Arright, lis’n to me little’un. I’ll be up front with ya since ya don’t wanna play ball.” He takes a step forward, dragging his feet through a set of flowers and ferns. “Two ‘a my buddy’s got killed by your little dragon friend. And I need to…talk to ‘em about it.”

  Very bad. “I haven’t seen her all day. Went our separate ways in the morning.” I shrug nonchalantly, trying to put on an air of confidence. I move to slide off the rock to the side, keeping the larger man on my right. “Don’t think I can help you.” I tense as I move, ready to dodge or fight.

  “I think ‘ya misunderstand what I mean, little’un” He wraps a meaty hand around my shoulder as I touch the ground. “I ain’t askin’. You need ‘ta take me to your scaly friend or ‘ya ain’t walkin-” I focus on the first ability I’m going to use — The shardstorm from the crystal lizard — and reach into the arm to pull out the power I need. It comes readily since the power was drawn from something directly, and I have something to feed it.

  The smaller voice cuts him off with an urgent, strident, shout. “He’s calling!” I feel a tickle in the back of my head that I hadn’t consciously noticed initially that draws my attention.

  [Sign of Intent]

  [Barrier | Forced Infusion | Cognitio]

  I turn to look at the speaker for a moment as they back up a few hops away. It's a critical mistake. When I turn back and start to duck I catch a fist that’s about the size of my head in the side of my head. There’s a flash of essence discharge, and I’m knocked sideways over the rock I’d been sitting on, landing about ten feet away and flat on my back.

  [Air Hammer]

  [Touch | Aero]

  I touch the side of my head feeling a trickle of blood that is already slowing. Realizing I need to take this seriously and fast, I scramble to my feet and raise my hands. The monster's attack is building in my body. I start to feel prickly all over, like my hair is standing on end and hardening.

  The man jumps over the stone and starts to walk at me confidently, positively swaggering. I need to buy a little time. “Alright, you can throw a punch at someone a third of your size. Feel proud? Didn’t even knock me out, no wonder Ayre dropped your friends if they’re anything like you.”

  He just smirks, not at all rising to the bait. “Little words from the little man. Right to insults.” He cracks his knuckles, which seem to have channels of aero essence collecting in runs on his skin. “I didn’t want this, bein’ honest. But she took somethin’ a’ mine, so I guess I’ll take somethin’ a’ hers.”

  “Come try it then.” A raw confidence falls over me. The last time I fought I was terrified. But now I feel strong. Ready to fight for my family.

  I shake my head, distracted by the juxtaposition of thought. Family?

  He takes my moment of disorientation as a clear opening and steps forward and hammers a punch into my unguarded stomach. Having not even tensed up before the hit, the pain is excruciating, and I think I hear and feel something crack.

  I double over, losing focus on the ability and feeling it slip away from my mind alongside the accompanying memories. The wash of confusion is just adding one more worst-case scenario to every other worst-case scenario.

  Before I’m able to recover, I reopen my eyes to see a kick leveled at my ribs, I meekly try to block it, but fail utterly. The pain is making my head swim and when it connects, I get knocked away and down, face-first into the sand. I feel things in my body knitting themselves back together, but a part of me in the corner of my mind wishes they wouldn’t.

  I turn my head to look in the direction of my attacker as he strides over to tower over me. Not smiling. Not victorious. Just dull, cold, and lifeless eyes.

  An urge to survive washes over me. Not wanting to stop until I don’t have any other choice. Something deep inside me. The thing that wants power. The me that wants power. This man is strong. I just need to get this restricting sleeve off. If I do, I can punish him for what he’s done to me.

  I try to push myself up onto an elbow to tug at the sleeve, but the moment I rise I receive another kick in the ribs. No “think” about it this time. Something breaks. Multiple somethings.

  The small voice, the lapin wanders into my line of sight. They look…worried? It’s hard to say, my vision is spinning, and each new blow puts me one step closer to passing out. “I think he’s had enough, Turin. Let me knock him out, and I’m sure his friend will come looking for him.”

  “They’re not going to go anywhere while he’s still missing. I can take my time here, toss him over the wall for the monsters, and then you can do your little “people watching” thing until you find the other one.” His words are forceful, not giving the lapin the time of day. “It can’t be that hard to find something with a gate in its chest, can it? Isn’t that your entire thing?”

  He hauls back to give another kick, but the lapin steps in front of me. “They’ve evaded me so far. I’ve been all over town. I’d bet they have some way to hide it so if we drag him back, they’ll come to us. Then, if it suits you, you can kill them both and make them watch or whatever it is that gets you off.” The lapin turns, ignoring a response, and squats down in front of me. “Hey, tough guy.” A tawny hand reaches into my field of vision and waves in front of my eyes, beckoning me to look up. I try, though the attempt is pitiful. Looking down at me, I see them grimace. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll just let this through, yeah? It’ll stop the pain.”

  “Oh, how kind of you Vari, maybe ‘ya should rub ‘is feet while you're at it?”

  “Right, idiot. I don’t feel like trying to force my way past whatever defenses he might have. If he cooperates it’ll be easier on me, and saving that effort means more to me than your opinions. Now shove it, and go find something to carry him in.” The lapin looks back down at me, I see the giant man wander off in the background. Vari, I think the name is, cocks their head, ears flopping to one side of their head. “Right. So. Don’t resist, yeah? I’ll see what I can do for you. I just hope your friend is a better fighter than you are. Should probably try blocking next time, maybe.” Vari’s voice flutters between genial and mocking, leaving me unsure about what they really mean or want, but I nod as best I can.

  I feel a hand on the back of my head and get a glimpse of the feeling of the spell before I pass out as essence floods my senses.

  [Gentle Repose]

  [Imbuement | Cognitio]