The Cryomancer's Path

A young man was standing inside of a small dilapidated wooden cabin. The interior décor of which consisted of a single ram shackled bed, a singular table that had a bunch of herbs alongside a small mirror on it, and a shelf full of jars which held multiple different types of herbs.

"This is the last bunch." Theo muttered as he grabbed the last pieces of Amplifying Grass from one of the carefully labelled jars.

He spread the herbs on the table, next to a tattered scroll that had inscriptions all over it alongside an envelope. It was a scroll sold by one of the many proxy stories of the Cobalt Academy. Something that almost every single Arcanist or Warrior had once followed.

It had details on how to construct the rudimentary aetherial pathways and how to utilize them. It was a test. Anyone who managed to accomplish the last step detailed within it had the potential to become an Arcanist. Those who failed only had the potential to become Warriors.

The first step within it detailed the approach to sensing the soul, the pre-requisite to utilizing aether.

The second step was directions on how to construct the simplest aetherial pathway. One that led from the Aetherial sea located within the soul's inner core to the fingertip of the right index finger.

The third step detailed how to utilize the constructed pathway to guide the aether to manifest in the world outside of your soul.

Theo had spent the past few years running and trying to establish that pathway. He had sensed his soul at the tender age of twelve, something that made people consider him as extremely dedicated and hardworking.

Traits which he did possess but played absolutely no part in sensing his soul. Theo was, in fact, amongst the lucky few who managed to sense their souls without years of intense and dedicated meditation.

Catching a glimpse of the envelope filled his head with bittersweet memories. It was the last thing he had to remember his parents, and it was also the thing that had helped him survive since they died.

Theo shook his head. It wasn't the time to be recalling such things. He wasn't that scared little boy anymore.

The reflection in the mirror only reaffirmed such thoughts.

Gone was the child-like innocence from his hazy brown eyes. He had dyed his hair into a dirty white during his years of running. He would have had a hard time remembering what he actually looked like when he was younger if he didn't see a picture of himself in every single fucking city he visited.

Gone was the scrawny kid who had been searching garbage for food, desperate to survive another day. The scared brat who had been terrified of anyone and everyone. The little runt who had survived three years alone in the lowest places through sheer luck alone.

He wasn't wearing the same rags anymore, either. In fact, it looked like he was a fairly wealthy commoner just from the look of his clothes.

He looked back towards the herbs in front of him. He was lacking one ingredient. Theo glanced back towards the shelf. The jar was empty.

Just as he was thinking about what to do, a knock echoed inside the cabin.

"Psykon." A voice said from the other side.

Theo hurriedly took hold of the letter and scroll and pocketed them before moving towards the door.

"Metor." Theo replied as he moved to open the door.

On the other side of the door was a lanky man with greasy hair, flanked by two intimidating looking men.

"You got the stuff?" He asked bluntly.

Theo nodded and moved to a specific floorboard. He kicked it once, revealing a large pouch that was packed full of the thing that was the only source of his income.

"This is this week's batch, but I need supplies to create more, Shane." Theo handed the pouch to Shane.

"Yeah, yeah." Shane waved his hand dismissively. "I'll send someone to bring you the herbs tomorrow."

"And?"

"Tsk, so impatient."

Shane dug around his pockets before fishing out a pouch that clinked with the telltale sound of coins. He tossed it at Theo who caught it.

Theo opened it immediately. The pouch contained two copper, eight silver and a single gold piece.

There were no more words exchanged between the two of them before the trio took their leave. Theo closed the door as he emptied the contents of the pouch to his own personal one before tossing it to the hidden stash beneath the floorboards.

He carefully placed everything into place before he went back to the table.

Looking at the herbs in front of him reminded that he was short of one type. Luckily it was something that he could find and buy even in this dingy little town.

He took one last look around the shelves to make sure he wasn't going on an useless errand before leaving the house.