The Wandsmith [LitRPG, Isekai, Harem]

The entire clearing had become an eerie land of death. As the enemy had been underground, there was little sign of the expected bloodshed or scorched remains. Instead, the terrain was desolate riven with pockmarks, heaped earth, and tunnels that led into unknown depths. Not that Starfield would have left much behind had the battle taken place on the surface.

Ori relived fractured moments as seen through the signature spell's memory, of how even a single star, out of millions, was enough to trigger a chain reaction capable of vaporising creatures who teetered on the verge of immortality and measured the size of yachts. It might have earned him another rare accolade had the legends of his High Redeemer and Duælist titles not already been rewritten.

Instead, Ori reflected on how his present self felt no remorse for the destruction of life and suffering caused by his spellcraft. He knew this wasn't the same as his earlier dissociation, instead, it was a growing understanding and acceptance of his nature as an Entity of Power.

Ori walked the now quiet, still ground of the former worm nest, Seraphine's Beacon in one hand, Ruenne'del's fingers laced through his own, in the other.

"So," he said, trying to sound casual, "what did you think?" His chest pulled in two directions, one part pride, the other a quiet apprehension over what Freya and the others truly thought.

Freya, perched on his shoulder, her wings fluttering in the intermittent breeze, tilted her head. "High Magic by any standard. Approaching Arch Magic, in fact, in how it layered and enforced laws. Without experiencing it directly, I can't confirm for certain, but the outcome speaks loudly enough. An endless wave of stars... It'll take me some time to process it fully, but I suspect few Sovereigns, if any, could withstand that spell."

"It was beautiful," Ruenne'del said simply, her voice bright. She beamed at him, and he felt her joy shimmer through their bond. He'd shaped that spell with her in mind, held onto that image from Ghigrerchiax, frozen in time, where he'd just reduced a hall of demons to ash, and she'd walked through the ruin to catch a fading mote of dust like it was a snowflake. The way she found beauty even in the aftermath of horror reminded him that spellcraft wasn't just about force and ruthless efficiency, that the intrinsic desires and experiences of the caster were fundamental to a spell compatibility and power.

"I liked it," Lysara added from behind, after long days of scouting, it was a novelty to have her here in person. "Teach me how to make one."

Ori paused mid-step. That was easier said than done. In truth, he had little idea how elementals functioned. He knew Lysara could cast spells and had her own page in the Library of Fates, but how she learned or advanced was still a complete mystery. A flaw he needed to fix, and soon.

"We'd need to teach you High Magic first. Then Arch Magic. Then expose you to an Aether Rift that could kill you."

"Yes, it could," Lysara replied, unbothered. Through their familiar bond, he felt the silent 'so what'. He chuckled, shaking his head. "Fine. Long-term project it is. But I'll need help. Freya?"

"Of course," she said.

"I've got too much knowledge stuffed in my head I can't actually figure out. Once I unify Intelligence, it might be easier, but even after, I'll need someone to help me make sense of it."

Freya didn't respond at once. When she did, her voice was soft. "I'm considering the same path."

"Unifying Intelligence?"

"Yes. With Will and Wisdom. A trifold unification."

He blinked. "You've found a method?"

"Not yet," she admitted. "But I'll be taking notes from your efforts."

Ori nodded slowly, understanding the unspoken request for his aid behind her words. Then he turned to the last Aether Rift in the area, its light pulsing like a heartbeat beneath the granite sky. This one was his next step. His goal: to unify Intelligence with Wisdom. The plan wasn't subtle. It relied on raw exposure to the Rift's chaotic power, a brute-force leap through danger.

A part of him whispered that it was the wrong approach. The same part that had already begun mapping out the path from High Human to Arch Human, calculating how his Mana Nexus, the bridge between mind and mana, could be shaped, refined, and evolved.

If not for the threat of the Name Eater, he might have waited. His Intelligence was already orders of magnitude higher than it had once been on Earth. But the gains on offer were too vast to ignore: greater spell strength, quicker learning, expanded domain control, deeper law comprehension, and access to true Arch Magic.

If he succeeded in unifying Intelligence, there would be very few left across fate he might need to fear. Not Titania, the Arch-Faerie Queen of Summer. Not Lucifer, the Archdevil. Not even the lesser gods that still lingered on the periphery of fate.

Power like that wasn't indulgent, it was survival. And if he chose now to stand still, he'd die.

Freya's voice cut through the still air as they neared the Rift's edge. "Having second thoughts?"

Ori didn't even try to hide his concern. "Yes. Second, third, fourth, and fifth ones too."

"Good," she said, perfectly unfazed. "Means your brain's still functioning—for now."

He cast her a sideways look. "Planning to take notes if I fry myself?"

"Obviously. I've already got the paper titled "Brain Frying Using Aether Rifts: A Case Study."

"Sounds more like a cooking recipe." Ori grunted, half-laughing. "You could at least pretend to be worried?"

"No need for me to pretend. You know I am. But I'm also professionally curious."

They stopped at the edge. The sapphire-blue Rift shimmered, pulsing with a slow rhythm that somehow seemed to resonate within his chest.

"And if it doesn't work? What's Plan B?" Freya asked eventually.

Ori didn't answer right away. The hum of the Rift was low and insistent, tugging at the edge of his thoughts.

"I've been thinking about that," he said finally. "My Bondweaver class… it's always been focused on the class traits, with only Whisper, Mirror Protection and Lesser Recall as the class spells."

Freya raised an eyebrow. "So?"

"So I want to change that. Remember what we talked about? Empowering mortals? Raising our own irregulars?"

"Your battle harem?"

"Yes," Ori said, deciding to own it. He met her gaze. "If the unification fails, I'm going to try creating a new spell from scratch. Not a signature spell, but something strong. Something that fits the class."

Freya's brow furrowed. "How strong?"

"Strong enough to take a mortal beyond Awakened. Past Nascent. Maybe even past Greater Rankers."

She stared at him. "You're serious."

"If I'm going to raise up mortals, put them in dangerous situations and block them from awakening, I'm not going to skimp out on them, I'll give them every advantage," he said. "I know enough about High Magic, Soulcraft, and Enchanting. If I can bind what I've learned to the nature of my bonds, then maybe I can create a spell that properly empowers others. Temporary, one-time bonds that grant immense power."

"What you're talking about, this empowerment of mortals beyond their limits, it's a form of doping."

"Yep."

"What if it doesn't work?"

"Then I'll try again," he said. "Or I catch fire. Ruenne'del can look after my ashes. Oof—"

Ruenne'del's spike of emotion was followed by a sharp, surprisingly hard elbow to the ribs.

"Don't die. Don't even joke," the Leanan Sídhe reminded him. "You promised."

"You're right. I shouldn't take anything for granted." Ori sighed, then stepped forward into the wide crater within which floated the tear in reality. "Well. Wish me luck."

Connected to the Rift, Ori channelled the power within himself, his Aetheric heart strengthening, the volume of his soul expanding. From just over seven hundred, his capacity for new bonds had grown to over fifteen thousand, theoretically enabling him to birth more than thirty-six new Warlocks, if the size of his connection to Raven within his soul space was anything to go by.

"Fucksake."

However, Ori's primary objective for this Rift encountered a roadblock.

The problem was Split Mind.

Like Vision of the Progenitor, as a permanent transmutation, it made further augmentation to related characteristics exceptionally difficult, and in the case of Ori's Perception, impossible.

Ori saw a path forward using raw Aether alone, but it would require a Rift significantly larger than the one left behind in Nameless's tomb, which itself appeared to be five times larger than average.

Essentially, Ori would have to unify a third of his mind at a time, and upon completing each segment, he would effectively lose a third of his mental capacity until all segments were completed. Which, to Ori, was not an option, unless all three segments of his Split Mind could be unified with his characteristics concurrently.

Complicating matters further were two additional factors. First, the unification would have to be threefold, just like Freya's intended unification, involving his already sky-high Will being folded into yet another aspect of development. On the surface, this was promising, but would only complicate the process once Ori found a Rift large enough to carry it out.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The second factor was more troublesome.

On some level, Ori just didn't want to do it.

As Aether responded foremost to the subconscious, primordial self, the self beneath logic and reason, this wasn't something he could simply decide to change.

Instead, bathed in Aether, Ori meditated on this truth. He reflected on his desires and acknowledged his promise, not merely to survive, but to make himself strong and complete.

As a result, he accepted that the way forward was to focus on Mana, enchantments, and his bonds. With this shift in focus confirmed, Ori turned his attention towards creating his new class spell.

For this spell, Ori held several objectives in mind:

To forge temporary soulbonds with mortals without the need for sexual intimacy.

Bonds that would last for at least several days, offering benefits regardless of proximity.

To empower the recipient with at least one hundredfold the characteristics of an average mortal, elevating them into the later Nascent Ranks.

To prevent Awakening until the bond ended.

To provide limited, active protection against the equivalent of Sovereign-rank attacks.

And to grant limited, active enhancements to key abilities up to Sovereign level, when certain conditions were met.

As with every bond, Ori would permanently share a part of his soul in exchange for only a temporary connection. As with much of Soulcraft, everything came at a steep cost. Whether in Peritia or Soul Capacity, they were costs that most Awakened simply couldn't afford. But with his expanded soul capacity, the estimated cost falling somewhere between single and double digits, and a growing preference for quality over quantity, he was content to pay it if it enhanced the potency of the resultant spell.

In a way, this spell was Ori's own miniature crucible, designed to recreate the conditions of his ascension. Perhaps directly enhancing his existing spells might have been the wiser path. But, as Ori had come to understand about his new life, what he wanted to do often mattered more than what he should do, or what others expected of him.

Ori marvelled at his completed spell:

Spell name: Trial of Radiance

Type: Empowerment, Soulcraft, Enchantment, Evolving

Characteristic Requirements: Intelligence ≥ 180, Will ≥ 220

Other Requirements: Bondweaver Class; Soul Capacity ≥ 10,000

Effects: Forms a temporary soul bond with a willing mortal, greatly enhancing their attributes and abilities. Grants conditional activation of the user's Prismatic Shield. Prevents Awakening of the target for the duration of the bond.

Description: Trial of Radiance creates a high-strength, short-term soulbond between the user and a non-Awakened mortal. The bond lasts several days, increasing the bonded target's characteristics by at least one hundredfold, enabling combat performance comparable to late-stage Nascent rankers.

During critical threats, the user's Prismatic Shield activates autonomously upon the target, capable of intercepting multiple attacks up to Sovereign rank. The spell prevents Awakening while active and functions regardless of proximity.

In certain conditions, this spell may also grant temporary or even permanent enhancement of the target's abilities.

Trial of Radiance is designed for field empowerment, enabling mortals to survive extreme conditions before Awakening. It evolves with use and scales with the user's Soulcraft proficiency and the target's base characteristics.

Notes: Each casting permanently consumes 7 of the user's soul capacity. Enhancement scales with the user's Soulcraft comprehension, Will, and Intelligence. The number of active bonds is limited by total soul capacity. This spell may only be used once per target.

Ori sat on a bench outside the longhouse in Ike, using his spell Spirit Lathe to carefully whittle a piece of ivory. Freya had recommended it as a suitable channelling medium, and he trusted her judgement.

Only one task remained before he headed north, leaving behind the southernmost edge of Twilight and beginning the long journey towards the realm's capital. It would span tens of thousands of miles, a serious trek even for Nascent Rankers. Without spatial gates, vehicles, or mounts, it would take months on foot.

After returning to the sleepy hamlet of Ike, Ori had asked what supplies, clothing, information, or currency the village could spare, offering to complete odd jobs in exchange. Most only required manual labour, or in Ori's case, the telekinetic strength of Reach of the Progenitor which with his recent improvements with the growth of his Aetheric Heart, had a grip strength high enough to crush coal into diamond.

He had also checked on the headman's daughter, reminding her of the decision she would need to make and the operation scheduled for the following day.

"Who are you… really?"

Horace, the elven hunter, had undergone a complete change in attitude since their last visit. Where once he'd viewed Ori and Rue with deep suspicion, he now carried a near-respectful tone. Clearly, he'd made more than a few visits to inspect the results of their efforts.

Now he stood beside Ori, voice low. He didn't expect an answer, he simply wanted Ori to know that he knew and that he appreciated what they had done.

"Ori Suba," Ori replied, offering a quick smile before returning to his crafting. "Just your friendly neighbourhood Wandsmith, at your service."

Wandsmiths were relatively rare evolutions of the Enchanter class, but Ori saw value in releasing that much information, lest a total void lead a curious mind towards dangerous answers or improbable leaps of logic.

"Is that so," the hunter said, then repeated it in a quieter, more thoughtful tone. "Well. I've drawn that map you asked for. No charge, of course. Just a... well, a request."

"Oh yeah?" Ori looked up again, giving the man his full attention.

"I reckon you've a celestial affinity. To kill with it, well... that only comes after some serious campaigning under certain restrictions. I guess what I'm trying to say is, you don't strike me as the sort to pal around with flesh traders. Mayhaps you're more the kind to hunt them?"

Ori gave a slow nod.

"Good. Well, I've got some information for you. Their numbers, their rankers, hideouts. If you're interested, that is."

"I'm interested," Ori said simply.

"Ketta, have you made your decision?" Ori asked, lowering to one knee so his eyes were level with the headman's daughter.

"You said it's a choice between being a normal girl, or being special. But... could I be normal on the outside, and special on the inside?"

Ori laughed, appreciating her moxie. "Yep. Good choice."

In truth, the Aether warping hadn't yet caused any visible physical changes, only bouts of chronic pain, but in the three weeks since their last visit, signs of the affliction's rapid advance were more than evident.

Ori retrieved his most recent creation: a Sovereign Channelling Wand of White Magic. Though superior in both enchantments and effect, it lacked the unique spirit that had developed within the wand once loaned to him by Archangel Uriel, a wand now in Raven's possession back on Earth after it had helped cure his father's cancer.

But Ori was no longer the novice he'd been back then. After surviving the hemorrhagic curse, after Heartglass had been mutated and warped by Aether into something truly deadly, he had come to understand the nature of Aether Warping with far more clarity, and with that, how to repair it.

As with all things related to Aether, which always sought out and responded to an individual's deepest desires, Ori's task was relatively straightforward. He needed only to repair some of the damage, prune away the more dangerous mutations, and allow the patient's will to guide the evolution, draining the excess Aether once it reached stability.

Asking Ketta to reflect on what she wanted wasn't just about giving him instructions. It was about helping her form a clear image of the person she wished to become, so the Aether would have something coherent to respond to.

"Alright," Ori said gently. "I'm going to start. I'll put you under, and before you know it, we'll be done."

It took several hours, but Ori was satisfied with the result. The evolution, he suspected, would make her faster, quieter, and more perceptive. She likely wanted to become a hunter or simply feel more at home in the woods.

"How do you feel?" Ori asked, moving her legs slightly, her knees and shins had been the primary centres of discomfort.

"It's fine. I can't feel any pain anymore," she said, beaming.

The headman and his wife were close by, while Ruenne'del watched quietly from just behind them as Ori did his best impression of a paediatric physician.

"Well, from what I can tell, everything should be back to normal—at least on the outside. The Aether warping is contained and stable."

"Is there a chance it could come back?"

"There's always a chance. But honestly, it's more likely that someone else in the village might suffer the same affliction than for her condition to progress again. I'll be here until first light tomorrow before heading north. If there's any pain, even a tickle, let me know, alright?"

"Yes, sir. Your words give me plenty of peace of mind. Ketta, what do you say to the kind young gentleman?" The headman asked.

"Thank you, sir."

"Ori is fine."

Ori bathed in the stream just behind the longhouse. After checking in on Ketta, he had taken the opportunity to wash in the ice-cold mountain water. Purifying Light was excellent for removing dead biomatter and sanitising skin, clothing, and objects, but it did nothing for the build-up of dust, grit, and lint that over time, clung to the body and made everything feel unpleasant.

Given the long journey ahead and the distance to the next settlement, Ori took this final, much-needed chance to properly clean himself.

Lost in thought and standing naked in the shallow stream, he turned to find Ruenne'del watching him from the bank.

He was suddenly aware of himself, of the water's numbing chill and the potential consequences on certain parts of his anatomy, but he held her gaze, letting her feel the quiet appreciation that passed between them through the bond.

He understood that elves and fae saw beauty differently. Harriet, for instance, likely didn't find him physically attractive in the way he did her. And though Ruenne'del's understanding of attraction was alien to him, it still surprised him that she desired him in all the ways a woman could, and not just in the ways he caused ripples in fate.

"Are you coming in?" Ori asked, placing his hands on his hips.

Ruenne'del didn't reply with words. She stepped out of her boots and peeled off her trousers, her burgundy jumper following shortly after. Sensing Ori's rising arousal through the bond, she slowed as she removed the pale undergarments beneath.

She stood without shame, bare in the pale light of morning, diaphanous wings twitching in the breeze. Her skin was pale, smooth, and flushed at the chest. Small, gorgeous round breasts dotted by pale pink nipples rose and fell with her breath, but her gaze held steady, unflinching, with her unique piercing intensity. His eyes continued, tracing the soft slope of her hips, the thatch of soft pink hairs between her legs, her figure a strange contradiction: petite, yes, but undeniably womanly, with curves that caught the light, and a tension in her stance that made her seem moments from dancing or vanishing into the wind.

She moved with dainty steps, stepping into the stream, sending ripples across the surface with each quiet splash.

Ori didn't speak, he took her in with a hunger made sharper by the cold and the silence. When she reached him, he pulled her in by the waist, her skin smooth and warm against his palms. She leaned up, arms slipping around his neck, and kissed him, slow, warm, and just as needy as he was. Their shared arousal, the feedback loop of need and desire reinforced by acceptance and appreciation quickly ratcheted the once-gentle kiss in the stream into a raging fire.

His cock, stiff and insistent, nestled between the curve of her hips and the softness of her belly. She tilted her pelvis in response, her breath hitching into the kiss as their bodies pressed closer. His hands explored the unfamiliar texture of her wings and where they joined beneath her shoulder blades, then moved in slow circles over her breasts, her ass, and the small of her back, luxuriating in the physical sensation and the feedback shared through their bond, even as she did the same.

Her hand slid down between them, slow and deliberate, her fingers curling lightly around him. Her touch was exploratory, teasing, as though mapping something she had imagined many times but was only now able to hold.

A cockerel crowed, shattering the morning stillness. It was enough to break the spell. She pulled back from the kiss just long enough to give him a subtle, knowing smirk.

Ori chuckled, catching the swirl of her emotions, her desire to continue, her thrill at the idea of being caught, that daring look that challenged him to be the first to walk away.

"We should go." Ori said.

Ruenne'del smiled, nodded, then, with Presence Inversion, vanished, leaving him alone and very much hanging in the breeze. Suddenly, Ori was extremely grateful for the stream's ice-cold water.