Chapter 27: Catalyst

Subject: Caim Location: Riventread

After the cartemi twins left, Caim was feeling refreshed. He decided to try using the card in his pocket one more time. Before retrieving it, he briefly looked around to confirm that his surroundings were still clear of blightbeasts. He thought that, just maybe, it would actually work this time.

It did. Like in Shimmerden, an inky black constellation stretched out before him. Caim expected the well-lit environment to affect visibility, but he could see the whole constellation just fine.

Instead of shining on the constellation, the light was swallowed up by it. In the dark cave of Shimmerden, the false stars had been just as visible.

I was almost starting to think I hallucinated this thing.

This difficult-to-describe thing was something like a visual manifestation of magical data. With the sheer immensity of it… the iceberg analogy came to mind. An intimidating load of information lay just beneath the surface. Only after learning where to look, through repeated exposure, could Caim see this much.

Now, two spheres in the constellation were accessible. The second represented the spell Caim had felt awaken before, only to find himself unable to learn even enough to summon it.

But wait. Is this constellation the magic Vera gave me, or just information about that magic?

Why was it that he couldn’t use most of the spells? Were they “sealed” away? Was the magic not ready, or was he not prepared for it? Was this an artificial rate of development, a course Vera put him on?

Caim knew he wouldn’t be getting answers to most if not all of these questions any time soon. He might never find out, and that irritated the imposter mage. After all, it was Vera who forced him to take the magic. Caim never asked for anything.

And yet... Caim’s heart throbbed with excitement at the thought of adding another tool to his arsenal.

This was what I felt before!

There was an intoxicating delight in enhancement. Only an arena like this could relieve Caim of his fears, even when new ones replaced them.

An arena like Shroud. A place so far away, where I’m free of past attachments. I do remember that sadist saying something about my growth process, but I can’t access the-

A splitting headache and a wave of nausea overwhelmed him. The constellation flickered.

Subject: Caim Location: Riventread

“Catalyst,” Caim whispered. “That’s your name.”

Through the constellation, Caim could read Catalyst’s specifications. By holding out the black card, he could make the constellation manifest.

Like that isn’t confusing at all!

“Category: Utility.”

Scion was labeled an “offensive” spell.

“Catalyst changes the target(s), depending on the power variant selected. Only a limited number of Catalyst units can remain active simultaneously. Each will remain active until destroyed or dismissed. Each Catalyst variant has different operating specifications and requirements.”

That was, word-for-word, what entered Caim’s mind when he tried to request information on Catalyst. The process of accessing information was disorienting and exceedingly vague. How much of what he could see was only in his head, and how much was revealed to others?

But it wasn’t like he could let someone see this.

I think only one variant is “unlocked” by default, he mused.

Caim focused on a smaller constellation of six dots nested in Catalyst’s place within the larger constellation of spells. Scion didn’t seem to have this depth.

“Flourish Catalyst,” a label read, after requesting more information on the available variant.

The symbol was a small green seed with a faint yellow outline.

“Greatly accelerates natural healing and invigorates target(s).”

It sounded harmless enough.

Enough waiting!

Caim reached out and called on Flourish Catalyst. As with the first time he summoned Scion, he fell into a trance.

Cupping his palms, a silvery metal seed appeared inside them. The color was unlike the symbol.

Acting on instinct awakened by this magic, Caim pressed the seed to his chest. A gust of energy swathed his body in its invigorating warmth.

His heart rate hastened, but he knew this feeling wasn’t dangerous. Caim was excited to see just what would follow.

Like two distinct strands of thread twisted together, weaves of green and yellow light burst forth from the seed and wrapped around his body.

The broken seed vanished. The light faded, and the feeling diminished, leaving Caim feeling confused.

Is that all?

Subject: Caim Location: Riventread

The journey out of Riventread wasn’t as tiring as it had been on the way in.

Seru, the friendly cartemi Lifemage, had healed Caim, yes, but he had not entirely restored Caim’s body. There were lingering wounds and various effects of overexertion.

That “beaten down and used up” feeling wasn’t getting any worse. Caim should have been feeling the strain of the hike back to Maliscade, but he just… wasn’t feeling very drained. His breathing had even grown less ragged.

Before, Caim had been disappointed. He had felt like, after Scion, Flourish Catalyst couldn’t match up to expectations.

Maybe the spell really was working, but more gradually than expected? As if in response to this thought, the faint glow of the thin strands of yellow and green light still wrapped around his person shone brighter. It was a brief confirmation that the spell was doing its job.

If Flourish Catalyst was performing as advertised, then maybe he could get some use out of it. The spell still fell short of expectations set by Scion, but a passive augment in combat was nothing to disregard.

And Scion became more effective the more I used it. The same should happen with Catalyst. I wonder what the other variants are!

Just like that, Caim was feeling triumphant again.

“This is progress. I did what you said I couldn’t, Vera!”

Caim took a moment to note that the transition in and out of the festerfont wasn’t easy to notice. Without the seekerstones, those tall pillars, it just looked like more wilderness.

In the case of Shimmerden, the festerfont was an entire cave system. It was easily separated from the wilderness around it.

But there was a subtle, invisible distinction that Caim had only just been able to pick up on. He couldn’t yet put it into words.

Caim kept walking.

The excitement of receiving a new power heightened his senses. He thought he detected something behind him, but when he turned around, there was nothing there.

The seekerstones marking the edge of the festerfont were still in sight.

No, I definitely felt something… alive. Like… a voice?

A silent voice? That didn’t make sense. The land wasn’t shaking or anything, but there was no one around to ask for confirmation.

An uncomfortable prickling sensation ran down Caim’s spine when he turned his back on the festerfont. He turned around again to make sure nothing was back there. Then, feeling a little foolish, he kept walking.

Subject: Caim Location: Sorus Valley

At the point where the faint trail leading to Riventread joined up with the main road, Caim saw a group of people standing around.

There were three carrying large satchels filled to the point of almost bursting open. The bags must have been enchanted because even these hardy seekers would be affected by such a burden. Yet they smiled like they loved the work.

Harvesters.

Caim now knew that seekers could become harvesters if they wanted, and alternate between duties. These weren’t exclusive professions, supported by the small blades strapped to the thighs of these strangers.

As he passed the group of maybe fifteen, Caim casually listened in.

“This is a good haul, Drilldraves! It feels like Riventread has gotten safer, even considering that malevolent sighting in Shimmerden,” the party leader loudly proclaimed, planting his hands victoriously on his hips.

“I’m sorry for overlooking that forslone vein, Aver,” one of the harvesters apologized.

“No problem, Hamen,” the leader replied. “We’re effective as a team. I make mistakes all the time, but I try to improve, and I know that one of you fools will yell at me when I slip up to keep me in line.”

The party leader let out a hearty chuckle. Caim smiled to himself, happy to hear a group like this in such lively spirits.

“Agreed!” a seeker cheered. “We aren’t the best party out there, but we work hard and get by.”

“We’ll catch a break one of these days,” another harvester jumped in.

“Hey, Initiate,” the leader called out. “Want to make some easy husc?”

Caim didn’t expect any of these strangers to address him, so it took a moment to collect himself.

“I’m sorry?”

“All you need to do is find a shop in the Gate District and pass along this note. It’s right by the Guild, so you’ll find it easy.”

“Ok.”

Caim accepted the coins and the note. He just stared at them in his hand.

“Coins as payment. You can run off with them, but I’d really prefer you just take a moment to find this girl for me. Novette is her name, and she runs a sort of plant decorations shop.”

Caim was still slightly confused.

“The address is on the front. There isn’t anything private in the note. It is only advance notice of a materials dropoff. We are hoping Novette will prepare payment and set aside storage space in advance. I have no clue what she plans to do with it… none of it is the sort of stuff you use to create decorative plant arrangements, but it isn’t really my business.”

Caim looked for the address and found it clearly labeled. He looked back up at the man. Caim nodded and turned around back in the direction of the city.

“Wait!” the party leader called out.

“What’s your name?”

“Caim. And you are Aver?”

“Aver of the Drilldraves, pleased to meet you. I hope we’ll run into each other again sometime.”

“Same here.”