Rise of the Omnimage

- Euryale -

Euryale and Reeger heard the screaming intensify beyond anything that had been done before and they bolted in. They reached the door of the show to find it sealed shut.

The screaming was so loud and it was coming from two voices then stopped. They banged on the door and shouted for it to be opened.

Euryale realizing nothing was being done used her Advanced Fire manipulation skill and melted through the latch on the door and forced it open as Sorin slumped back into his chair.

"What happened?!" She commanded looking at both Sorin and the assassin who was unconscious.

Reeger stepped forward looking at the body of the assassin checking for injuries and there were none.

"My lady, there are no injuries to the man whatsoever. Whatever was happening looks like it may have been aether based." Reeger said.

Sorin looked up and her

"Ma'am I heard you were having a hard time getting answers from the man since he could regenerate. I wanted to fix the problem so I tried something I read in a fantasy book from my homework. I think it might have worked."

"What did you do?" She said with guarded curiosity.

"I used my aether to destroy his core." Sorin said wearily.

Euryale and Reeger looked at eachother with shock and horror written on their face.

"You did what?" Euryale said not really believing what she had heard.

"I destroyed his core Ma'am." He should be able to use his skills anymore to resist questioning or hurting anyone ever again." Sorin said and further expanded on.

"You remain here. Reeger, my office." She said and they walked out.

- Sorin -

The look of shock and horror on their face suprised Sorin as he didn't think what he did was uncommon since the assassin had a name for it.

With them gone for a moment Sorin pulled up the multiple notifications

Congratulations

You have learned the skill

Aether conversion(p) - all is Aether. Through your understanding of this foundational principle you may now convert all forms of Aether into the form that best suits you.

Congratulations

You have learned the skill

(L) Aether Reaver(a) - Forcefully rip Aether from another being and add it to your own. Caution: someone of a much higher tier may be able use this to destroy your own channels and core.

Congratulations

Your skill Greater Fire Sense has become Greater Storm Sense - by absorbing and integrating water type Aether you may now sense it now as you would Fire aether.

Your skill Fire manipulation has become Storm manipulation - by absorbing and integrating water type Aether you may now manipulate it as you would fire aether

Notice: You now walk the path of the Stormbringer.

Storm bringer - Epic: A aether weilder of opposing fire and water aether aspects. This warrior calls down the fury of storms and decimates all in their path.

Congratulations

You have achieved Spirit tier 4

100/200

AP: 3500/3500

Sorin was stunned and ecstatic by all that he had gained. He had moved into the fourth tier in mere minutes. He was shaken because if the assassin had been anything but startled he could have used that Reaver skill against him and destroyed him and his chances of going home.

He was now on a new path and could now manipulate fire and water which means more skills and new things to learn. There were so many possibilities now open to Sorin that he had to figure out.

If his imagination was accurately reflecting reality, he could very well be on a path of unstoppable power.

It was at this moment Euryale walked back in.

"Come with me, we need to talk."

- Minutes earlier in Euryale's office

"Reeger, you heard what I did right?" Euryale asked.

"Yes my lady. He said that he destroyed the assassin's core. Which shouldn't be possible for a tier 2 even at peak. My lady, there is no possible way that man is tier 2." Reeger said.

Euryale nodded her head. "He doesn't even understand how advanced that skill is. My eldest brother heir to my father's dukedom only learned that technique a decade ago. Being able to sunder someone's core is a terrifying weapon and valuable asset."

Reeger stood with his hands behind his back as Euryale paced back and forth thinking. "If this cowardly attack is indeed as we suspect coming from Aeon Pallas then we need to let father know, but NOBODY can know about Sorin being a core sunderer. My family would take him in an instant and I would be left with the dregs having only you for competent soldiers in my company."

"My lady, I must play devils advocate. What if he gets it into his head to use it on you and escape?" Reeger asked.

"Sorin has been talking to me a lot about interpersonal relationships as he calls it and philosophy of different leadership which after doing my own research into different texts about the topics are correct." She began.

"The thing is, we know what the man wants. He wants to go home. Rift walking is extremely dangerous and one would need the help of a dragon to actually do it which is next to impossible. If we can get Sorin to truly buy into our house and we can secure his loyalty, I think not only do we protect ourselves from exam failure and betrayal, but I gain a potentially unmatched member of my retinue." Euryale said as she paused her pacing to look up at him.

"It is a gamble for someone we have only known a year my lady."

"It is, but I think it is worth the gamble." She responded quickly.

"Very well. As always, you have my support my lady." Reeger said.

- Presently Euryale's office -

Sorin sat almost knee to knee with Euryale as she looked at him with her raven red eyes.

"We have to come to an understanding Sorin." She said.

Sorin was taken aback by her casual use of his name. "Ma'am? I'm a little lost." Sorin said.

"What you claimed to do is beyond rare and powerful. People would kill you if they found out or worse, abduct you from where you are. I am here to offer you some roads forward." She said.

Sorin paused a moment keeping up, but nothing thinking multiple moves ahead as he usually was. So much had happened he felt like he was back before Lexric trying to make sense of it all. However, he was just told he is a true asset beyond the passing of the exam and that was leverage. How much leverage was it though?

"Can we be two people for a few minutes Ma'am and speak freely?" Sorin asked.

She nodded. "Within reason of course."

"I know I'm asset especially now that you have told me about this ability. There is more that I can do and more I believe I can do. We are here because you want to keep my arsenal to yourself and for your family am I right? Sorin asked.

Euryale nodded, but said nothing.

"So far, you have not been the uppity brat that I anticipated that I would have to manipulate into getting what I need to accomplish my goals."

At this Euryale, Euryale flinched back almost like struck. "You're edging close to that "within reason" point."

Sorin nodded and continued. "I told you earlier about buy in. Leadership is about getting others to do your will of their own free will and to embrace your vision. I have but one objective and many steps to get there and that is to get home."

Euryale was about to speak, but Sorin spoke quickly.

"I will be of assistance to you to the best of my ability as long as you promise to me that you will help me get back home and act within good faith and in the spirit of that goal." Sorin said.

Euryale got up from her desk and looked out the window behind it. Thinking.

"Very well Sorin, however there are a few things that still must be done for us to help one another. First you must continue to act as a lowly conscript in spite of the fact I will no longer view you as such and will sign you to my personal retinue regardless of what happens. Second, nobody....and I mean nobody but Reeger and myself are to know you can sunder cores. Do you understand?" She asked very seriously.

"Yes ma'am, that works well enough with me. Knowledge is power and the less people know about me the better my chances of survival." Sorin answered.

"Third, I will help you get stronger and get home so long as I can, but I cannot be seen showing you favor outside of what is obviously earned. You will need to help me in the meantime by being loyal to me and my family. Fighting for me and my family. If I'm to help give you your old life back, I will need a form of equivalent exchange."

Sorin nodded. "That is a fair assessment. You did not put here. You are like I am. A small part of a bigger plan trying to make the best of what we are given."

Euryale looked at Sorin with a host of feelings running through her.

"Then we have an agreement? Your loyalty to me primary and my family second in exchange for my best efforts getting you home." She asked.

Sorin stood and held out his hand. "You have an agreement."

Euryale looked at Sorin then at his hand.

"Good, but what are you doing with your hand extended like that?"