[Beta] Ashborn - 1. Fires of Rebirth (Patreon)

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Fires of Rebirth

Flames last forever in the Plane of Fire. All-encompassing, they need no fuel to smoulder and burn into eternity. Where they touch, the border between realities is torn, and gateways form into other worlds. These were the primordial flames which helped shape the universe—which were so arrogant and prideful none under the heavens may invoke their name without a fiery wrath descending on their world.

Today, not one flame dared crackle.

Today, a figure whose story was so old it remained solely in the whispered myths of the Time Warped Realms, was departing.

As their consciousness left their vessel, the Plane of Fire cried. Howls echoed from deep within the Chaos Layers, where no mortal had ever set foot, and rippled through the fabric of space. All in the myriad universes felt their sorrow.

My beloved, a feminine voice said, speaking from a place beyond time.

I’ll find you again.

…

Soul Mismatch. Searching for new vessel.

…

Soul Mismatch. Searching for new vessel.

…

ERROR. No valid candidates within proximity. Broadening search.

…

Match found: Host vessel [Ashe Sunstrider] – Compatibility: 42.7%

Merge requires abandonment of:

[Crown of the Flame Sovereign Soul Cultivation] and all titles, achievements, and legacy skills.

[Phoenix God Empress Body Cultivation].

Class: [Empress of Eternal Flame] and all current stats, levels, and Court Bonds.

Accept transmigration?

[Yes] / [No]

…

Clarification request: Will all memories be lost?

Due to limits of the target vessel, memories will be lost or locked until target vessel grows in power. Estimate: 99.9% of memories.

Accept transmigration?

[Yes] / [No]

…

Migration accepted.

…

Soul Fragment installed.

Innate class overwritten with [Fire Keeper - Early Novice].

Soul Skill recognised: [Court of Flame (Tier I) - Early] — Six noble families rule the Plane of Fire. The Keeper can call upon them to serve her in battle. Upon death, creatures return to the Plane of Fire until they recover. Starts with Two Tier I summoning slots and a member of the Ashenbloods. Summon strength scales with arcane and respective stat.

Core Skill unlocked: [Empress’s Court (Tier I) - Early] — The Empress walks amongst her Court, and flame itself obeys. When at least one summon from a family is active, gain a Family Trait and Family Skill linked to that line. Traits and skills scale with family bond, tier, arcane and respective stat.

Congratulations on acquiring your new class. Would you like to view the Class Guide?

…

ERROR. No class guide available in current location: Everwinter - Mystic Realm.

Ashe Sunstrider - Human

Level: 1

Class: Fire Keeper 

Soul Stage: Early Novice

Titles: [Reincarnation]

Soul Skill: [Court of Flame (Tier I) - Early]

Core Skills: [Empress’s Court (Tier I) - Early]

Summon Slot - Tier I: 0/2

SP: 0

Vitality: 5

Strength: 4

Dexterity: 5

Fortitude: 8

Perception: 7

Arcane: 11

Free Points: 0

I stared at the wavering flame, and the wavering flame stared back at me. Strange. Not even a minute ago I had been some place else…my forehead scrunched up.

‘Where had I been?’

Straining my muscles made me aware of the headache splitting my skull, and a reflexive reaction made me inhale and exhale deeply.

…when was the last time I had to breathe?

‘I don’t know.’

I pinched my head in an effort to chase away the headache.

‘When was the last time you suffered any bodily pains that weren’t battle wounds?’

No answer to that either.

I sighed. My eyes roved around my environment, which was lit by the grace of the campfire. I was in a small cave. A frigid draft wafted from the entrance, drawing my sight outside. Snow fell beyond the stone walls that caged me in.

I rose to my feet and strode forwards. A plane of white extended past the horizon. Mountains loomed in the distance, hidden in the shadows of the the blizzard ravaging the land. Darkness consumed me for a moment. Overhead, deep in the clouds that I could barely see, flew a great avian.

“Where am I?” I mouthed.

A transparent panel popped up in front of me.

Location: Everwinter - Mystic Realm

Time left until end of the first test: 63 16:44:32

Realm Points: 43

Everwinter Ranking: 8486

I blinked. “Mystic realm…”

That term was familiar to me. It meant I was in a pocket dimension of a larger world. However, this pocket dimension appeared as big as a world itself, so perhaps I was in the pocket dimension of a universe.

But how had I gotten here?

I leaned backwards right as the thought finished.

The tip of the arrow bore into wall instead of my neck.

“Ah, she finally shows herself!” a man’s voice called.

There was a slope down the entrance to my cave that led into a treeline of tall, lanky larches. A group of three stood at the edge of the forest. The one who’d spoken was at the head, carrying a spear. Short-cropped, black hair, and a red scarf around his neck. To his side was a blonde woman holding a staff. Behind them, the person that loosed the arrow—a tall boy whose bow was already trained with another missile. All three wore thick, fur-lined roves and hats against the cold.

My hand went to my hip on instinct. I had a sword on me and a pouch which I knew didn’t hold anything to use in combat.

I lazily wrenched the arrow out of the wall and inspected the point.

‘Shoddy job.’ If the shaft had been cleaner and the tip sharper, it would’ve flown true.

So the marksman was sorry. Good for me.

Though I knew not where I was and what had happened to me, a deep-rooted instinct within my guy refused the idea of anyone attacking me without experiencing the consequences.

I stepped outside, an action the trio didn’t expect. They remained in place as I descended the slope, my hands behind my back, staring straight at them. I stopped after getting close enough that I wouldn’t need to scream to be heard.

“You, what’s your name?” I regarded the leader of the cubs.

His brow raised and his lips pulled upwards. “Did you fall and hit your head in your flight to that cave?”

I didn’t respond and only held his gaze.

He gazed back at his companions, then shrugged. “Alex of the Stone Immortal clan.” He looked at his girl companion, who rolled her eyes.

“Is this really necessary? She’s level 1. Just shoot her already, Jake.”

But Alex held up his hand. “I’ve got a good feeling. I believe she will tell us where she’s keeping the codex.”

The girl solemnly shook her head. “Judith of the Thunderheart Sect. Before you ask, we’re cousins of the Heaven’s Veil.”

I wasn’t about to ask anything. My gaze went to the archer. Only one of his eyes was visible from behind his bow.

“Jake,” was all he said.

Identify, I thought.

[Judith. Mage - lvl 2.]

[Jake. Archer - lvl. 2]

[Alex. Spearman lvl. 3]

“Thank you,” I said. “Now, I will give you three an opportunity.”

“An opportunity?” Alex tilted his head.

“To explain why you attacked me,” I clarified. “Failure to answer will be met with death.”

A cold breeze rustled between us.

Alex burst into right laughter, bending over and holding his stomach.

“She really did hit her head,” Judith mumbled, her hair shaking side-to-side.

Even Jake cracked a smile before forcing his lips into a tight formation.

Alex recovered. “The village head did mention you had gone crazy, but I didn’t think it was true.” He wiped away a tear. “Well, if I had to name a reason, it’s because you waltzed through Frostblight without covering yourself up. Mind if I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead.”

The spear-wielding boy stepped around me in a circle. His upper body moved with grace. Not bad footwork. For a novice.

He pointed his spear at me. “Where are you hiding the Codex? Give it to us, and I’ll let you escape with your life. Promised.”

“I’m uncertain what ‘Codex’ you are speaking of.”

“Told you it wouldn’t work,” Judith sighed, who’d remained beside Jake. Thunder essence brewed around her staff.

‘A lightning cultivator. That may be trouble.’

I wasn’t sure why I was such a low level—I vaguely remembered not being so—but at this stage, natural affinities played a big role. Thunder was the quickest element, so my chances of dodging it were slim.

Alex rested a hand on his side. “I know it’s an important remembrance of your family, Ashe. But think about this.” He raised his palm. “The book won’t do you any good if you’re dead. And if you die, who’s going to continue your bloodline? You’re the last Sunstrider, Ashe. Don’t be dumb.”

And I had to give the boy credit—his expression was spot on. Had I not woken up in the situation I did, I would’ve believed that he actually cared.

My chin lowered. “You are right.” My breath exited as a plume of white smoke.

I reached into the thick robe I was wearing, as if I was removing something hidden.

Alex smiled. “See? I knew I had a good feeling.”

Letting instincts guide me, I called a dredge of essence to my finger, and drew a circle over. There was resistance. Like my finger scratched over a sheet of paper and tore into the fabric of the world.

A flaming portal opened behind the mage.

“Judith—” Jake yelled, already firing into the gate.

But the blur bursting out was faster than the eye. The mage never saw it coming. Sharp fangs pierced through her flesh, breaking her neck bones with a snap.

The echo faded, leaving the field in absolute stillness.

[Mage - lvl. 2] killed. Extra experience gained for killing a higher level enemy.