Encounter

Astras inner domain was quite unique

he knew this but never revealed it to anyone.

Naturally he never trusted anyone as he used to lived in the outskirts which were riddled with scum who would sell you out for a piece of bread.

Astra stood at the threshold of his inner domain, where reality folded upon itself and time had no meaning. The celestial expanse above him began to stir, as though it too acknowledged his presence.

Stars shimmered and rippled, their brilliance bending like living things—twisting and undulating as if responding to an unseen force. The heavens trembled in his wake. Galaxies unfurled in slow, deliberate spirals, their vast arms reaching toward the edges of the abyss, their light bleeding into the void like ink poured into water, a dark stain of forgotten power.

In the distance, nebulae bloomed, delicate, ethereal clouds of violet, gold, and deep crimson. They wove through the endless expanse in a hypnotic dance, swirling in slow motion as if bound by some ancient rhythm, their colors bleeding into each other like the final remnants of dying stars.

The universe itself seemed to hold its breath in reverence, as if awaiting his next command. Every shimmer, every flicker of light in this boundless cosmos was an invitation to wield the dark, to embrace the unknown.

Below him, the ocean of infinity stretched out into the abyss, its surface untouched by time or wind, smooth as polished obsidian. A vast, impenetrable blackness, it stretched onward, its depths unfathomable.

The ripples on its surface were subtle, like the tremors of some great, unseen leviathan stirring far below. The ocean did not move by force—it moved with intent, with purpose, as though it were aware of his presence.

There were no shores, no end, just an infinite sea that called to him, its weight pressing against the edges of his mind, pulling him deeper into the abyss with a promise of power, of truths long buried beneath the surface.

Above it all, his core pulsed—a single, radiant star that burned brighter and larger than the galaxies around it. It was not just a source of light, but a presence unto itself—alive, vibrant with the energy of a thousand lifetimes. Its light pierced through the darkness, cutting across the ocean's glassy surface, casting long, dark shadows that flickered and twisted like unseen things in the corners of his vision.

The glow was otherworldly, a pure, blinding white-blue, so intense that it seemed to fracture the very fabric of reality around it, sending ripples through the cosmos. The star hummed with a power that resonated through his very bones, a heartbeat that mirrored his own—a rhythm he had no choice but to follow.

And there, nestled within the expanse of stars and the infinite ocean, hovered the sun, the manifestation of his mana core. It was not a sun of warmth or life, but one of stillness, of eternal calm. It bathed the expanse in a dim glow, casting an eerie, unnatural light across the endless void, its rays seeming to freeze the passage of time itself.

It held the stillness of the grave, of eternity, anchoring Astra in this vast, cosmic space. It was the heart of his power, and yet it felt distant, untouchable, as if even this connection was a mere whisper in the infinite dark.

The shadows, those elusive whispers of his thoughts, flickered at the edges of his consciousness—tendrils of forgotten memories, of lost fears, of paths never taken. They wove between light and darkness, like ghosts slipping between worlds.

Unseen, yet always present, they beckoned to him, promising secrets held just beyond reach, as if the very shadows knew the answers to the questions buried in the depths of his soul.

The air thickened with a palpable weight, as if the universe itself held its breath, waiting. His inner domain was a reflection of him, vast and beautiful in its grandeur, yet endlessly lonely, haunted by the whispers of things never spoken.

It was a place of both creation and destruction, a hollow cradle for his potential, ever-changing, ever-expanding, yet always reaching toward the unknown.

And then, as Astra grasped the mage coin, it pulsed—a deep, resonating hum, like the sound of a door opening to realms unseen. The universe seemed to hold its breath in that instant, as though everything awaited his next movement.

His fingers brushed against the coin's cool surface, and he spoke softly, his voice steady.

"Show me the path ahead."

The stars flickered once more, the shadows whispered louder, and the ocean trembled beneath him. There was a promise, a knowing that this was but the beginning, and the path forward was his to shape, to carve into the fabric of this infinite expanse.

[The Pawn] shimmered into existence, casting different information and paths to Astra what was strange however is that the mana reacts in weird ways and communicates in weird ways, it's a language that's weird and unique to everyone, someone can see mana as numbers, while someone else can see mana as shapes.

It depends on how one reacts to the world, and how they exist within the world. mana knows this, the coins harness magic in a standardized way and control the flow of calamity, now the entropy becomes harnessed, and mana becomes standardized, however if one truly wishes to advance through the ranks and form strong tiered mana cores, they need to understand mana at its raw nature.

Astras excitement arose, as usual, he can never contain himself when faced with the endless potential infront of him, the mana around hum pulsed

The shadows danced wildly happy as they embraced him, the stars in his domains sky shimmered ever so brighter and twinkled, the silent ocean produced ripples that intensified, in the center of his domain the singular bright white star shone ever so brighter, it got ever so hotter, yet astra felt colder, the star now was the brightest object in his domain

This was Astras inner domains full strength. The strength of the stars, the strength of the shadows, the strength of the ocean, his talents and aptitudes fully revealed to him now due to [The Pawn]

Astra stood, gazing into the endless abyss of his inner domain, feeling the weight of his own potential, yet unable to grasp its full extent. The shadows around him seemed to whisper in excitement, almost as though they were alive, reacting to his very presence.

They swirled and pulsed, embracing him, drawing closer as if recognizing something deep within him—his natural S-Rank affinity to shadow magic. He could feel them calling to him, welcoming him, as if they had always known he belonged to them.

The water was no different. He could almost hear the deep, gentle hum of the ocean's waves in the distance, their rhythmic motion echoing the pulse of his own power. He had an A-Rank affinity to water magic as well, something that manifested in his domain's vast ocean, its surface as still and unyielding as the core of his soul.

Astra could feel it, the coolness and fluidity, the depth of connection he shared with it. The water responded to his thoughts, swirling in patterns that made sense only to him. The waves rose and fell in perfect harmony with his intentions, as if they were his own breath.

But the star—the radiant, blinding core of his existence—remained a mystery. It had always been there, but it never responded to his presence, not like the shadows or the water did. He could sense its vast power, its immense light that pierced through the darkness of his inner domain, but it seemed to exist in a realm untouched by his influence.

The star did nothing to him, and that puzzled Astra. It was as though the very essence of this S-Rank star affinity remained dormant within him, as if it were locked away, just out of reach.

His other affinities were less developed, but they were no less significant. C-Rank fire affinity pulsed faintly within him, like a flicker of flame beneath the surface, waiting to be kindled. He could feel the potential for fire magic, but it was not as familiar, not as intuitive as the other elements.

Light, on the other hand, felt almost natural to him—his A-Rank affinity to light magic seemed to complement his shadow affinity, a strange duality of opposites. He could manipulate the light around him, bending it, shaping it, and yet, much like his relationship with the stars, it didn't respond as strongly as the shadows and water did.

Despite his powerful affinities, Astra knew he was far from a genius. In a world where talents were as common as stars, he felt insignificant. He was no one special—just another face in a sea of mages with greater training and battle experience.

His mana core was strong, yes, but lacking in the finesse and skill that could make him a true threat. In a world full of geniuses and prodigies, Astra was just another novice, someone who could be easily crushed in a real fight.

The letter ranking system was a way to categorize innate talent and control over magic, but Astra understood that the true measure of strength went beyond those ranks.

A-Rank talent didn't guarantee victory; effort, training, and experience were what determined the true power of any mage.

People with lower-ranked affinities could still surpass those with higher-ranked aptitudes if they trained diligently, developed their skills, and honed their mana core.

Astra lacked that training. He had never had access to prominent instructors or combat experts. He had relied on books, theories, and the magic network, learning from scattered knowledge and piecing together what he could.

His combat experience was minimal, and in battle, he would be at a severe disadvantage against anyone who had truly mastered their craft.

He knew his weaknesses all too well. His battle style was rudimentary at best, and without experience, the spells he wielded felt unrefined, like tools in the hands of a novice who didn't yet understand their full potential.

Yet, despite all of this, Astra couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to him. Something that couldn't be measured by ranks or training.

His potential, his connection to the very fabric of the world, was something beyond just his affinities. He knew, deep down, that if he could only unlock the hidden depths of his magic, especially the star affinity that eluded him, then he might stand a chance to rise above the rest.

The whispering shadows, the endless ocean, and the mystery of the star all seemed to call to him. They were his to command—if only he could unleash the true depth of his power.

Astra clenched his fists, the mage coin still pulsing gently in his palm. "There has to be a way," he muttered to himself. "A way to make the stars answer."

As for Astra's combat skills, he didn't have many.

His swordsmanship was novice at best, he was at a level where he can cross swords with most warriors, but to beat and even survive was in question. his coin loved to remind him just how unapt he is with a sword...

for hand to hand combat however was above average as he did grow up in the outskirts of Duskfall, he has had many fights with various peoples of many skills, he was pretty decent in many forms of hand to hand combat as he has also picked up techniques from many travelers, be it by conversing with them at a tavern, or fighting them drunk and getting his ass beat.

what stumped astra the most however was the star magic in his inner domain.

Astra recalled all his knowledge on Star magic as it was weird, there was no one in the world who had it to his current knowledge anyways and his coin , the only times he had seen it even mentioned was in the legends of battles of old over 300 years ago with exiled figures who's names weren't even mentioned, and the spells were not listed, but what they did was

The history books were every vague, from teleportation to bombardments of extreme destruction, the affects of such spells was also heavily shrouded and vague, as if the books were censoring the contents, it was....strange.

What was described however was also not in the least helpful as star magic reacted to every user differently and he got that out of his coin, the coin didn't even give him much regarding to star magic,

for quest objectives, it simply stated [Know the Night]

He had absolutely no idea what that meant. Star Magic was truly mysterious, just like the infinite night sky

It drove him insane, no matter how hard he tried to use or communicate with the star magic which was this rare and legendary magic that only shows up in legends has never once even been used by him.

he sighed as he looked around his domain one last time, prepping himself mentally for his little...side quest of procuring funds.

As he exited his inner domain Astras eyes regained their intelligence

He gazed around and saw the guards finally move, as he called upon the shadows around him, this was basic boosting, a rank one way to use the shadows called [shadows embrace] it made him decently faster and more hidden when he was in the shadows,

The twilight aurora made by the Tower of Dusk shimmered in the sky, the shadows danced from corner to corner, bright fireworks larger than the ones before continued to light up the sky and music hummed in the air, this made the bazaar which was littered with deep shadows his perfect hunting grounds,

Astra gazed upon the inner part of the bazaar

At the heart of the bazaar, towering banners of gold and crimson catch the fading light, their embroidered sigils shifting ever so slightly as though alive. The air is thick with the scent of exotic spices, enchanted incense, and mana. Sounds of soft laughter and lively conversation mingle with the chime of bells and the low hum of mana that pulses through the ground like a heartbeat.

Noblemen and women, draped in flowing robes of silk and velvet, stroll leisurely through the maze, their jewels glinting like stars, dressed in their festive Noble attires, as they haggle with powerful sorcerers, enchanted beasts, and magical artisans. Their faces, though regal, are a mix of curiosity and wealth-fueled indulgence. They spoke clearly and tones that demanded respect, exchanging secrets of hidden relics and untold riches, their words barely louder than the rustle of cloth and the gentle clink of coins.

Stalls overflow with a treasure trove of items beyond imagination. One merchant, a gnarled elf with eyes like liquid silver, offers crystalline vials that shimmer with strange, swirling mists, each containing a whisper of forgotten knowledge or a memory trapped in time. Another vendor, a hulking half-orc clad in armor etched with runes, displays swords that hum with an ancient power—blades that seem to absorb the ambient light, their edges impossibly sharp. The swords pulse with a quiet menace, their hilts adorned with the bones of long-dead creatures and glinting with gemstones that glow faintly in the twilight. these items gave off the strong aura of rank two, some even coming very close to rank three. this showed just how powerful dusk full truly is, to have its bazaar littered with rank two artifacts.

Nearby, a curious vendor sells enchanted beasts—miniature rank two lower wyverns that coil around their owners' wrists like living bracelets, rank two and one feathered peacocks that stretch their wings as if remembering an ancient sky, and a rare rank three panther-like creatures with shifting fur that blends into their surroundings like shadows. The creatures seem both tame and wild, and their eyes flicker with an intelligence that unsettles some and delights others. contained by specialist rank two beast tamers and trapped in powerful mana cages.

A pair of wizened, hooded figures sit beneath a golden canopy, their hands moving in intricate gestures as they weave illusions from nothing, crafting living scenes out of light and shadow—fey gardens, swirling storms, landscapes of distant lands. Their wares are not objects but experiences, memories, and dreams spun into tangible forms. many gathered to converse and share experiences, these figures gave off faint rank two auras, however their quality was that of the pinnacle of rank two, famed adventurers. 

Above the din, the faint sound of a haunting melody drifts through the air—a lone bard perched atop a stone balcony, playing a harp woven from ancient wood. The music lures passersby, offering them an escape from the market's endless bustle, wrapping them in a moment of quiet magic. Hoping to get some coin.

But not all is as it seems. Hidden in the deeper corners of the bazaar, shadowed by towering stalls, one can find darker things—enchanted items that carry a price greater than mere gold, ancient tomes of forbidden knowledge, and cursed relics that whisper promises of untold power. Beneath the layers of opulence, there is a sense of danger, a knowledge that in such a place, even the nobility might not be what they seem. or so the rumors say, Astra however felt the subtle aura of malice and dark humor in the air, there was without a doubt darkness here.

The sky above deepens as the twilight becomes even more powerful for some reason, this early happened Astra even felt a subtle premonition...., the bazaar takes on an even more ethereal glow, the magic in the air intensifying. It is truly a place of wonder, wealth, and power, where bargains are struck, dreams are made real, and the very fabric of reality seems to bend and shimmer.

Astras, still glued to the shadows was without a doubt one of the weakest beings here, in rank

Astra ran from shadow-to-shadow hiding looking through chests as he wasn't dumb enough to try pickpocketing literal rank twos, he eventually laid his eyes on this drunken novel and snagged about bag of coins, from the unsuspecting Nobel who was drunk out of his mind. the Nobel gave off rank two aura, but he could not even function properly, if astra really wanted to...he could easily kill him and no one would even know....

shaking his head astra smiled as he let these thoughts go through him

The Noble seemed to have one guard, and that said guard was busy flirting with an elvish servant, the servant was extremely pretty even for elf, this made Astra sigh as the girl looked uncomfortable,

Astra knew how it felt to be pressured by those in power, as a certain Noble woman came up to mind...he shuddered.

The Noble by his wealth and aura seemed to be a lower member of house palm tree. A medium sized house located far away from here, he sighed as this was an ideal target,

he quickly retreated and hid in the shadows behind a building, he was elated at the fifty gold coins! The most he's had was five at once! And that was a result of him swindling an old Noble lady who wanted to use his body! He shivered at the thought. "I really don't wanna remember why do I keep remembering ugh..."

Astra knew that nothing good came from greed, he planned on taking his bounty and getting the hell out of here

As he made up his mind to leave the upper bazaar Astra suddenly felt a thick and heavy gaze lock onto him, this made the hairs on the back of his nick stand as his body started to shake, he felt like a deer that was being stalked by an apex predator! "what the?" Astra felt as if he had a second before he was done for....

Astra listened to his instincts and immediately used a combination of magic

he called upon the mana and instantly cast a small water barrier

A rank one spell! [Water Dome] but he wasn't done yet as at the same time he also used

[light of the sun] creating this small blinding affect like orb of light and. he combined, he wasn't done yet however, he used the light of the sun and shot it through the water dome as it collapsed, the shadows retreated and many people stared into the now bright alleyway confused at who dared cast such a distracting spell in the upper bazaar, the duskguards hurried over and even dusk knights casted their gazes over the area, the tension rose, and astra booked it as he retreated the gazed upon him flickering and faltering

Astras use of magic was truly innovative, the gaze seemed to waver and as Astra booked it into the through the dark alleyway into the entrance of the lower city. 

He went through a stairwell that descended all the way to the lower city where the shadows were even deeper. Astra called upon the shadows as they embraced him once more...

...….

Upper Bazaar

"What the fuck ugh, that hurt!" a blonde elven women yelled out as she rubbed her eyes, a frown on her face

"My Princess please watch your tongue" replied the man next to her,

The pair was sporting two regal dark green cloaks with the sigil of an ancient archaic bow on them,

In the crowded bazaar, the elven princess moved like a ghost, her dark green robe shimmering faintly with silver threads. Her curious eyes, one a Saphire blue with Flecks of Gold, the other a Midnight Purple with specks of red inside glanced through the chaos, distant and commanding, her hair skin pale, and her hair a beautiful blonde, her beauty drawing fleeting glances but her presence demanding respect.

Behind her, her mentor towered like a shadow. His green dark robe blended with the crowd, yet his stature and silent subtle power made people step aside, He was middle aged, tall, he had deep green eyes and long blonde hair. when people did look all they had to do was see the sigil of their house which said all that needed to be said. His watchful gaze never wavered, a calm protector amidst the noise. Together, they stood out—regal, quiet, and unyielding in the midst of the bustling market where Nobles, and magical items of all fashions were present.

"What an interesting kid" mumbled the tall elf and his hair covered in the cloak, his eyes seemed to be looking through the very ground still tracking something, 

"ugh he's a creative thief! what was that a rank one [flashbang] spell? Those don't even work that well on these eyes of mine!" the princess yelled seemingly pissed

"No, it was a combination of light and water magic used ingeniously for two purpose's, the first was to defend as he seemed to have felt your eyes upon him which is why he erected a water barrier and one that's quite effective as well, looking at the density and how the water rotated he definitely has [A rank aptitude], the second reason was for it to refract on the light and become almost a magnifying glass," the man kept mumbling,

"[A-rank] Water magic? And A rank Light aptitude? As well as a high affinity to the shadows! On a thief like him! What a joke... whatever let him go, he also has A rank shadow magic and when I first spotted him something deep inside of me told me to fully scan him, when I did, he freaked out! most people can't even feel my gaze... he's not normal…what kind of secrets is he hiding to seemingly find such a response fitting I wonder...."

"what an interesting pawn" mumbled the tall elven man

"ugh I was just bored and ended up almost blinded, what a joke, Gadriel, go tell that stupid palm Noble that he got robbed"

"As you wish my princess"

"Also stop calling me that!"

"Yes princess"

…..