The study chamber smelled of cold stone and ink.
A new scroll lay on Klaen's desk, sealed simply with a wax emblem of the academy .Only a thin mark pressed into the surface, a record of authority.
He broke the seal.
The scroll was a simple codex.
Caladan Pathway Codex — Current Edition
Aurelian Pathway
Primary Logic: Command sequences.
Function: Direct, imperative manipulation of physical matter.
Limitations: Requires strict ordering; rapid branching increases Ars.
Visual: Gold lines forming interlocking planes; rigid geometry.
Notes: Stability favors linear structures.
Sylvan Pathway
Primary Logic: Recursive growth.
Function: Adaptive, evolving constructs.
Limitations: Overextension creates slow collapse.
Visual: Green fractals, flowing outward naturally.
Notes: Works best with patience and observation; instant reaction reduces coherence.
Obsidian Pathway
Primary Logic: Conditional .
Function: Defensive, reactive, or counteractive magic.
Limitations: Requires constant monitoring of conditions; misalignment can invert effect.
Visual: Jagged black shards, sharp edges.
Notes: Efficient for traps and containment, ineffective under multi-branch uncertainty.
Lunal Pathway
Primary Logic: Object-oriented manipulation.
Function: Alters properties of objects; attaches traits and effects.
Limitations: Multiple layers increase Ars proportionally; traits may conflict if not isolated.
Visual: Silver orbs, pulsing softly.
Notes: Preferred for weapon enchantments and permanent augmentation.
Echoic Pathway
Primary Logic: Step-by-step procedures.
Function: Ritualized spells; sequence-sensitive.useful in ritualistic magic
Limitations: Sequence disruption collapses structure entirely.
Visual: Blue layered grids, transparent and layered.
Notes: Often combined with Sylvan or Lunal for complex constructs.
Voidic Pathway
Primary Logic: unknown
Function: Manipulation of reality at a fundamental level.
Limitations: Unknown. Attempts without guidance produce Ars beyond safety thresholds.
Visual: Faint violet static symbols; details incomplete.
Notes: Consult instructors; experimentation discouraged.
Notes:All pathways generate Ars .Failure to vent through proper grounding or sequence termination will result in mental fragmentation or physical combustion.
Klaen scanned the codex carefully, reading with the precision demanded by the academy.
The Aurelian and Sylvan descriptions confirmed what he had observed in the morning trials. Obsidian and Lunal were less familiar but matched the partial constructs he had noticed in the archived chambers. Echoic was procedural; he already suspected Halvren favored that pathway for layered instruction.
Voidic remained a mystery. Even the codex offered almost nothing. Only the faintest suggestion of static symbols, like half-formed thoughts, and a note: "Consult instructors; experimentation discouraged."
Klaen allowed himself a brief pause. Ars awareness ticked lightly at the edge of his mind. A reminder of the boundaries he had already experienced.
He set the codex aside and considered the schedule for the next day.
Halvren had not mentioned another text explicitly. The scroll itself seemed to suggest further documentation. Perhaps tomorrow would provide new instructions. Perhaps it would not.
Either way, the pathways existed, codified, predictable—except for one.
Klaen traced the blank lines for Voidic with his fingertip. He had an instinct that knowledge withheld was deliberate. Something about the pathway's absence of definition implied both danger and potential.
He returned the scroll to its alcove. Its seal reasserted itself automatically, the wax cooling to touch.
Outside, snow fell harder, blanketing the academy. The corridors were empty. Even the wardens had retreated to their observation posts.
Klaen leaned back in his chair.
Tomorrow would demand observation.
And the day after, perhaps risk.