Dawn broke over Riverview in shades of amber and gold, casting long shadows across the tiered settlement. Aarav had risen before first light, drawn from sleep by restless dreams of conquest and protection intertwined. He stood on a small balcony outside their guest chambers, the staff Elder Sothel had given him balanced across his palms, its wood warm despite the morning chill.
His interface revealed more about the item with each passing hour—not through explicit instruction, but through subtle hints and possibilities that unfurled like opening flowers in his mind. This was not merely a walking stick or symbol of office; it was a conduit for something his interface labeled simply as "personal energy manipulation."
The concept reminded him of the magic systems he had designed for his failed game—systems where power could be channeled through focus objects to achieve specific effects. But here, in this world, such things were apparently real, not mere digital constructs.
"Testing your new acquisition?" Leya's voice came from behind him.
Aarav turned to find her watching him with that same careful assessment he'd noted before. "Trying to understand it," he replied honestly. "Elder Sothel said it belonged to a previous Seeker."
"May I?" she asked, extending her hand.
Aarav hesitated only briefly before passing her the staff. Unlike the Wayfinder, which muted his interface's capabilities when separated from him, the staff maintained its connection even in Leya's grasp.
She examined it with expert eyes, fingers tracing the inscribed runes. "These markings speak of channeling and focus," she said. "Similar to what our healers use, but... different. More martial in nature." Her gaze lifted to meet his. "Have you attempted to channel through it yet?"
"I'm not sure I know how," Aarav admitted.
"The Blessed Ones teach that all living beings contain inner energy," she explained, returning the staff to him. "Some, like myself, learn to direct it outward for healing. Others, like Tordak, instinctively use it to enhance physical abilities. The most gifted can shape it to affect the world around them."
She gestured to the staff. "This tool was designed to help focus and amplify such energy. If you truly are a Seeker, it should respond to your intent."
Aarav considered her words, remembering how the ancient dagger had hummed with energy when he faced the river stalkers. That had felt instinctive, a natural extension of his will rather than a conscious technique.
"How would I begin?" he asked.
"Clear your mind," Leya instructed. "Feel the flow of energy within yourself—the same force that powers your heartbeat and breath. Then imagine directing that force through your arm, into the staff."
Aarav closed his eyes, attempting to follow her guidance. At first, he felt nothing beyond the usual sensations of his body. But gradually, as he focused inward, he became aware of something else—a subtle current flowing through him, like an electrical charge but warmer, more organic.
His interface detected the change immediately, highlighting pathways throughout his body that resembled the circuit patterns in the Hall of Remembrance. As he concentrated on directing this energy toward his hand and into the staff, the crystal at its tip began to glow faintly.
"Good," Leya murmured. "Now, open your eyes and direct it outward. Toward that empty planter, perhaps."
Aarav opened his eyes, focusing on the clay pot she had indicated. Through his interface, he could see potential trajectories mapping the space between the staff and the target. Acting on instinct, he pushed the energy along one of these paths.
The crystal flared briefly, and a nearly invisible wave rippled through the air, striking the planter with enough force to crack it cleanly down the middle.
"By the Ancients," came Tordak's voice from the doorway. He and Vex stood watching, the latter's hand already halfway to his blade. "That's quite a morning greeting."
Aarav lowered the staff, surprised by both the effect and the ease with which he had achieved it. "I didn't expect it to be so... immediate."
"Few can channel so effectively on their first attempt," Leya observed, her expression a mixture of admiration and caution. "You have a natural affinity for this."
"Or an unnatural one," Vex muttered, though loudly enough to be heard.
Aarav chose to ignore the comment, focusing instead on what had just occurred. His interface had tracked the energy flow in exact detail—how it had gathered in his core, traveled through meridian-like pathways in his body, concentrated in his hand, transmitted through the staff, and projected outward in a focused wave.
The process reminded him of coding algorithms—a clear sequence of operations producing a predictable result. If that was the case, then with proper understanding, he could likely modify and improve the sequence.
"We should prepare to depart," Tordak said, breaking the tension. "Elder Sothel's acolytes have brought supplies and the promised records about the disturbances."
As they gathered their belongings and made final preparations, Aarav found himself drawn to experimenting further with his new abilities. When alone, he tested channeling smaller amounts of energy through the staff, discovering that he could control the output with surprising precision. His interface mapped each attempt, creating what amounted to a power curve calibration that he could reference for future use.
By the time they assembled in Riverview's central plaza to depart, Aarav had developed a basic understanding of this energy manipulation—what the locals might call magic, but which his interface categorized as "biokinetic energy projection."
Elder Sothel met them for a formal farewell, accompanied by several acolytes bearing additional supplies and a sealed scroll case.
"These contain our observations of affected areas," she explained, handing the case to Aarav. "May they serve you well in Clearwater."
"Thank you for your hospitality and knowledge," Aarav replied, the formal words coming naturally.
The Elder stepped closer, speaking softly for his ears alone. "Remember what I said about power and its purpose, Seeker. This world has seen too many who sought dominion for its own sake."
Aarav nodded, understanding the warning beneath her words. As they departed through Riverview's northern gate, he found himself contemplating the path ahead—not just the physical journey to Clearwater, but the broader question of what he would become in this world.
----
The river gorge route proved as challenging as Elder Sothel had warned. The path narrowed frequently, sometimes forcing them to edge along cliff faces with the rushing water far below. In places, makeshift bridges of rope and wood spanned tributary chasms, swaying alarmingly under their weight.
Tordak led the way, his hunter's experience evident in every sure-footed step. Vex took the rear position, constantly scanning for threats from behind. Leya and Aarav maintained the center, with Aarav frequently activating his interface to analyze their surroundings and identify potential dangers before they manifested.
"The gorge widens ahead," Tordak called back during their second hour of travel. "There's a sheltered area where we can rest briefly."
The location proved to be a small grotto carved into the cliff face, partially concealed by hanging vines. Previous travelers had left a crude fire pit and several stacked stones that served as crude seating.
As they caught their breath, Aarav unrolled the map they had marked in Riverview, comparing it with his mental record of the energy disturbances. According to his calculations, they were now traveling parallel to one of the advancing ripples, which would intersect with their path near Clearwater in approximately two days.
"Something troubles you," Leya observed, offering him a waterskin.
"The disturbance is moving faster than I initially estimated," Aarav admitted. "We may have less time in Clearwater than we thought."
Vex approached, having completed a perimeter check of their resting spot. "Then perhaps we should consider warning them now. Giving them time to evacuate if necessary."
"And go where?" Tordak countered. "These disturbances are spreading across the entire region. If Elder Sothel's reports are accurate, nowhere will be safe given enough time."
"Which is why we need to understand the phenomenon better before causing panic," Aarav agreed. "If we can develop countermeasures—"
He stopped abruptly as his interface flashed a warning: "Multiple Biological Signatures Detected. Classification: River Stalkers. Quantity: 12. Status: Coordinated Approach."
"We have company," he announced, rising smoothly to his feet and reaching for both his staff and dagger. "River stalkers, approaching from upstream. More than we faced before."
The others reacted instantly, weapons drawn and positions taken without need for discussion. Their previous encounter had taught them the creatures' weaknesses—the vulnerable neck juncture, their reliance on sensory pits rather than eyes, their coordinated hunting patterns.
"They'll come from multiple directions," Tordak warned, nocking an arrow. "Watch the upper ledges."
Aarav activated his interface's combat assessment protocols, mapping likely attack vectors and identifying optimal response patterns. The data flowed through his mind with crystalline clarity, transforming into tactical options his body seemed to intuitively understand.
The first stalker burst from the underbrush with startling speed, its blade-limbs gleaming in the dappled sunlight. Tordak's arrow caught it mid-leap, driving deep into its elongated skull, but two more immediately followed, flanking the fallen creature with practiced precision.
Vex engaged one with his blade, while Leya used her short staff to deflect the other's attacks, striking at its sensory pits with pinpoint accuracy. Aarav found himself facing three approaching from the river's edge, their gray-green forms nearly invisible against the wet stones.
Drawing on his morning's practice, Aarav channeled energy through his staff, directing a focused wave at the nearest stalker. The creature flew backward as though struck by an invisible hammer, its body crumpling unnaturally before beginning to dissolve into that strange ash-like substance.
The remaining two hesitated briefly—a reaction Aarav's interface immediately flagged as unusual. These creatures operated on instinct, not tactical assessment. Their pause suggested something else was directing them.
Taking advantage of their momentary stillness, Aarav struck again, sweeping the staff in an arc that sent a wider wave of energy cascading into both creatures. The effect was less dramatic than his focused attack, but sufficient to stagger them, creating an opening for him to close the distance and dispatch one with his dagger.
Across the grotto, his companions were holding their own, but the coordinated nature of the attack was taking its toll. Tordak had abandoned his bow for close combat, using a short blade to fend off a stalker that had managed to flank him. Vex had already downed two creatures but was bleeding from a shallow cut across his forearm. Leya moved with surprising grace between opponents, her staff a blur of precise strikes.
As Aarav prepared to aid Tordak, his interface suddenly highlighted movement on the cliff above—three more stalkers descending on nearly invisible threads of crystalline material, poised to drop directly onto their group.
Without conscious thought, Aarav channeled a massive surge of energy through his staff, directing it upward in a cone. The cliff face shuddered with the impact, sending rock fragments cascading down along with the surprised stalkers, which landed in awkward heaps rather than their planned precise drops.