* * * * *
'There! There it was again!' Sanvewikel felt his brother mental scream of anguish for just a moment before it disappeared. From an entire realm away, he felt the essence of his brother being shredded again as though in a battle against a planar lord. 'Could my brother still be with us?' As much as he hated him, if anyone was going to destroy his own brother of shadows, it would be him. He would allow no interloper to come between his revenge for the eons spent between the worlds.
"I shall discover my brother's torturer and destroy them!" No planar lord could enter the realms and the scream of terror came from the realm of the living portals all around him.
He plotted as he continued to torture those who had forgotten of him. All here would either join him or he would send their essences back to the void himself. This was the fell realm. Here, those with the most power sat at the top of the food chain and expected to be obeyed. Despite being gone for thousands of years, there were only a dozen or so who could stand up to him.
His army numbered several hundred now, but soon, soon, it would number in the tens of thousands as he drew closer to the living rift between the fell and living realms. Perhaps, during his journey, he would run across some lesser demon lords whom he could subjugate raising the strength of his army even more swiftly. It was not inconceivable for him to be able to tear open the rift with a force of over a million demons at his command.
He continued his flagellations of those who opposed him knowing it was only a matter of time and he was eternal. He had plenty of time.
* * * * *
Von leapt in his excitement. He'd done it! It didn't matter his knees were shaking and he was covered in sweat. He had won! He beat the demon again and attuned to the helmet! He could feel the lavender energies floating through him. blending with his aura.
Oren standing before the boy felt the final stages of the attunement. The boy's aura surged forth encompassing the entire workroom. Even as the energies calmed, he could feel the power radiating from the boy. Attuning to this focus caused some change to occur within the young man causing an abundance of the energy to extend well beyond the confines of his body.
Unbeknownst to both of them, the energies stretched far beyond the confines of the workshop. People throughout all of Sungrove felt the strange energies given off by Von's aura. Those within the Ouranios Haven, more often called the academy also felt the intense force unfurling from within the town. Their hearts races for a moment, but after several seconds it receded, and they no longer were affected. Various creatures in the bog beyond the walls of the town also felt the presence and fled in terror many running far from the town to the edge of the bog and beyond.
"Thank you, Oren. This feels amazing." Despite being fatigued, Von could feel every mind within a large radius around him, including animals and individuals asleep. Feeling the terror coming off one of these minds, he attempted to reached out with a thread of mental energy to sooth the mind. Instead, a great tentacle lashed forth disturbing those within the healer's tower attempting to provide aid to Mistress Trapper.
Feeling their fear, Von focused tightly on this tentacle turning it into a thick rope and finally a true thread. With concentrated effort, he searched for the method of healing from within her mind before removing all vestiges of torment and fear from the now destroyed Veknezimal then forced her into a relaxing sleep. He knew it was improper to intrude on her mind, but he felt this particular use would be acceptable. Returning her to her former state was vastly more moral than letting the vestiges of the demon lord continue to tear at her mind.
He then remembered to return himself to the same time as the world around him. "Thank you Oren. This is incredible. I can feel everything. I can tell the birds are waiting for the bakers to throw their scraps, I can sense everyone nearby with no effort. If you don't mind, could you explain how I can keep everyone out of my mind?"
Oren laughed. "I guess we should have had you learn that before you put the helm to your head. I hadn't considered the ramifications of your increase in abilities before giving it to you. I also appreciate you not overpowering me and stealing the knowledge. I know you are currently powerful enough to do so. I can feel your mental energies from across the room."
Von was stunned by this revelation. Now he knew he needed to learn to control the additional power and swiftly. Although.... If he let slip some of this power at the challenges, would anyone dare challenge him? Something about this thought seemed foreign to him. He never wanted to be so showy before. Had some of the helmet's essence been added to his thoughts? He would attempt to keep a tighter rein on his thoughts from now on.
"Okay, Von. I have created a space from which you can gather the method for forming the shield within yourself to harness these errant energies and keep them within you and since you are missing your first lesson today, I added a little about the various ores and metals as well as what carbon does to iron. I have included the knowledge to recognize the various metals and ores around my shop and the others I know. This should give you a great start in your metalomancy and smithing skills."
Von touched the old elf extending his mind through a corridor into a forge with an open chest full of swirling energies and sheets of papyrus. Seeing these gave him a small start. 'How old is Master Oren that he still writes on papyrus?'
His thought was followed by an image of said master smith saying, "remember, Von, you are in my mind. If you think it, I will hear it.'
A dread feeling of embarrassment enveloped Von as he thought, 'my apologies. I was unaware of that, and the possibility of people still using papyrus instead of wax tablets or real paper.'
'Then I guess it would surprise you to learn when I grew up, we still used tree bark to write upon.'
Oddly this piqued his curiosity as Oren was definitely older than Von originally imagined. He was thinking the elf was only a thousand or so, but this could mean he was older yet. He best not pry. Instead, he swiftly picked up the sheets of papyrus in his mind and pulled it into his mind. gaining the knowledge. He then returned down the hallway and back into his own mind.
Taking the knowledge he just received, he pulled the mental energies back to within his body, only to learn his arithmantic energies also exceeded his body. Several moments later, Oren finally nodded. "I think you have it. This is good. I should be heading back to the nexus. I trust you enough to leave you alone here if you want to explore the metals for a moment before you return."
"Thank you again." Von quickly scanned and took note of everything present within the workshop. While he didn't understand exactly how it was used, he did know what it was and a little about it.
Knowing absorbing the helmet would allow him to hide it was a positive benefit, but if he did so, could he still use it as a helmet if he ever became a knight? System, what happens to items I absorb? Will I still be able to use the helm as a helmet if I want to wear it as armor?
What do I need to do to make them re-manifest?
Doing this, Von found it easy. He was able manifest every focus he absorbed exactly where and how he wanted it to appear. It was easier than using his storage ring. Knowing this, his choice was simple. He would absorb the focus. System, please absorb the focus.
The magical helmet, once perched upon his brow, began to dissolve into a cascade of luminous purple particles. These particles danced like spectral fireflies, spiraling around Von in a mesmerizing dance. As the particles interwove with his aura, a radiant glow emanated from his being, casting a captivating luminosity that painted the chamber in ethereal hues.
Von felt the surge of power coursing through every fiber of his being. The purple energies seeped into his skin, blending with his essence and enhancing his connection to the mystical forces. The very air hummed with the resonance of his newfound power, a harmonious symphony of arcane might.
The swirling energies intensified, creating a captivating vortex around Von. Ribbons of purple light encircled him, creating a protective cocoon of magical prowess. With each passing moment, the boundaries between the magical aura, Von's physical form, and the remnants of the enchanted helmet blurred, as if the three had become intricately entwined in a cosmic dance.
As the absorption reached its zenith, Von's eyes gleamed with an otherworldly radiance, reflecting the depth of his mastery over the enchanted artifact. His senses expanded, attuned to the subtle vibrations of the magical realm, and his mind brimmed with ancient knowledge and untapped potential.
In the wake of this magical apotheosis, Von stood transformed. His presence radiated an aura of undeniable power, and the swirling purple energies that once encapsulated the helmet now became an extension of his very existence. Once again, the feeling of mental power flowed through not only the town of Sungrove and the Ouranios Haven, but well out into the bog again and beyond before he drew the effect inward using the techniques acquired from Master Oren.
"Wow," he said in surprise. This was even stronger than when he attuned to the helm. He was now ready to ask the system about the other thing it said. What is the specialization you referred to?
What specializations can I choose from?
I don't know what any of those are, can you please tell me?
Smacking himself on the head, he then asked a better question. System, please explain what each of those specializations do. One at a time, please.