I focus on [Aspect of Mist] since that’s the one with the highest affinity. I gently circulate the mana in my body as well as that outside, eventually grasping onto every bit of the Aspect I can feel.

I then spread my mana outwards, now infused with the Aspect. I sense that mist forms around me, and open my eyes when gasps from the onlookers tell me I’ve succeeded.

“You turned into mist!”

I look around while using my abilities to sense. It seems I’ve covered a sizeable area with my mist. My mist. It feels like it’s a part of me, a strange and somewhat disconcerting feeling.

I stand up, or try to, rather. Instead I hover upwards, even higher than if I were standing, in fact. “Can you see me at all?”

“Yeah! But your legs are gone!” one of them say.

Partial transformation? I wonder if I can do this with [Aspect of the Wolf]. I will myself over the children, and lo and behold: “Wow, I can fly.”

‘Oo's and ‘aah’s arise as I go higher. I soon find that I can’t go very high. The flight ceiling is about five meters. I move sideways instead, and find that I can move quite fast, but still not beyond the thickest mist. I can (very) slowly move the mist itself, though.

I zip around a little, and with the reasonable assumption that the kids won’t understand all I say, shout in english:

“Mwahahah! Tremble below me, mortals, for I am the mist!”

I notice someone use a bunch of mana at one of the edges of the mist. I feel like I have full control of everything within the mist, so let’s try misdirection, making them walk in circles unable to find anyone.

As far as I can tell, it works. I move over to them, trying to make myself invisible to them. It’s an adult couple, one of which is using mana. My mana! I have the mist absorb all the mana it can, and soon the woman stops using mana.

“Welcome to Lars’ Mysterious Mist of Misdirection! How can I help you today?” I say, showing the couple a vaguely human shape in the distance. The man sets off towards it with great speed and does a magnificent punch… which sends out a clump of energy. So violent…

Not sure what the energy is, but it’s not mana. The ball goes through the illusion, breaking it, before the mist strips it of its remaining energy. I reform the illusion, making sure to place it so that stray ranged attacks won’t hit the kids.

“That’s kinda rude, isn’t it? I’m not gonna hurt you, nor the kids, if you’re looking for them.” I lighten the mist, showing the couple the way to the children in question. “I’m just testing out my new ability.”

The couple starts walking towards the kids, with their guard up. “This better not be more trickery…” one of them mumbles.

I land next to the kids and turn myself back to my normal form, then start absorbing the mist.

“Mom, mom, that man can fly and turn into fog and he makes planks magic!” Yells a boy, presumably the kid of one or both the adults.

I silently watch them talk while meditating. This time it’s to rest, and hopefully gain the [Meditation] ability, which supposedly improves regeneration and ‘clears the mind’ which is speculated to mean mental bad statuses.

Of course, the man promptly disrupts me. “What kinda ability was that? It was like those mist labyrinths you see in movies!”

I nod “Good, that was the point! It’s called [Aspectian], specifically a sub-ability -Aspect- called [Aspect of Mist]. I’m experimenting with my abilities, you see.”

“Huh, cool.” He says, then the woman speaks up “Think you can teach me how?”

I furrow my brow “I don’t properly understand it myself, not how I got it, anyway. I can try, though, if you tell me about that… chi ball?” The last part aimed at the man.

They look at each other before the man speaks up. “Like you, I can’t say for sure, but I’ll try.”

We exchange contact info and I briefly tell them about my plans to go monster hunting after trying to pick up a couple more abilities. The kids heard that and at least one wanted to join, but the parents shot that down faster than a lone german plane over London.

After a little discussion they conclude they can’t join me today but say they want to hear my results, which I happily agree to. When they leave with their respective kids, the rest of the group disperses, and I resume my meditation.

Some time later I’ve unlocked [Meditation] from said activity, [Body Enhancement] from jogging around while applying mana to my muscles. I was unable to get [Elemental Magic], but got [Force Magic] from continuously flipping a plank with magic.

Plank of lesser Mist This plank has been poorly enchanted with the [Aspect of Mist].

It is slightly harder to perceive and seems somewhat blurry to those not attuned to the [Aspect of Mist].

I also got [Enchantment], but let’s not talk about how. I did finish a prototype wand, though, And I am pleased with the result.

Simple Oaken Wand of Mist Conductibility: Medium

Capacity: Very low

Durability: Medium A simple oaken wand. It is completely straight. It has a somewhat crude spiraling pattern, with the spirals meeting at each end. It has been enchanted with [Aspect of Mist], increasing affinity for the aspect while held and improving the user’s agility somewhat.

Tadaa! A proper magic item. No, the plank and charm doesn’t count. I also got a class:

Class unlocked: Artificer An artificer is a person who makes artifice - magical items like foci and charms.

Where an apprentice Artificer would use mundane tools to create items of little power, they would soon craft the tools required to further improve their craft.

Continually improving their skill and tools, these crafters are known as Magical Engineers.

Requirements: Successfully craft an artifice item and infuse it with power. Core class abilities:

(magic infusion)[Enchantment] [Rune Carver] [Imbuement]

(carving ability)[Wood Carver] Class stats:

DEX, WIS, INT

I can now fill out all my ability and class slots. The question is what I want to use. Experimentation also showed that I can remove enchantments from items, though if I fail the magic will be released violently… causing a harmless puff of mist in this case.

I return to my apartment for lunch, then pack for a monster-hunting trip. Aside from a simple meal and a couple flasks of water, I bring my refilled and improved First Aid kit (now with 300% more bandages!). The pickaxe is strapped to the side of the backpack.

I briefly check the forums for news. There is a couple of notes, so I bookmark them for later. I also update my Monster Hunter profile on hunt.ing, and am pleasantly surprised to see someone has contacted me regarding potentially grouping up.

They won’t be able to for the next few days, though. I send a quick reply, then put on my (provisional) hunting gear: Hiking boots and a thick hoodie to put over my t-shirt. Or rather, the hoodie goes into my backpack, I’d rather not die of heatstroke.

I put on my toolbelt and backpack. After one last check I head out the door. I assume people on the bus will give me weird looks, but that’s my most efficient option for getting to the forest.