Kaleem sat cross-legged on the wooden chair in the experimentation area of the training room inside his new residence. The walls were lined with exposed wooden beams and adorned with embedded bulbs that cast a bright, almost artistic glow across the room. The place blended the look of a laboratory and a gym, a space made for both contemplation and physical trial. His fingers rested lightly on the smooth obsidian surface of his desk, eyes scanning line after line on the glowing interface of the Mystic Web.
He had started simply enough, working through the basics: the birth of mana and its uses, the foundational Three State Theory, the intricacies of the Ancient Language and History, and an overview of known Strange Arts for Wary Novices. But it was the section on Characteristics that held his attention more than anything else.
> "When a Mystic evolves—shedding their mortal status—they gain Characteristics. These are spiritual or physical traits shaped by their Personal Mysteries. Such traits arise naturally through evolution, often subconsciously or symbolically through dreams, reflecting both inner truth and external potential."
Kaleem leaned back, his brow furrowed thoughtfully. These were not spells, nor simple techniques. Strange Arts, as he had come to understand, was the original term. Characteristics were living principles, intrinsic laws etched into a Mystic's very being. They formed when one officially evolved and manifested in one of the three body states: the body, mind, or soul.
His own recent evolution had granted him one such characteristic. How did he know? Because suddenly his mind contained knowledge that had not been there before—like a memory planted deep inside.
> Heart Characteristic: Blood Cell Proliferation
Curious, he tapped the phrase into the search bar.
> "Proliferation Traits enhance regeneration, vitality, or even control over one's biology, as they affect the continuous duplication of specific cells."
> "Users with Heart-linked traits often report a spiritual alignment with 'vital force'—linked to life, disease, healing, or corruption."_
> "Warning: Amplified proliferation can go wrong. The Flesh is not always obedient."
Kaleem closed his eyes and focused inward, directing his attention toward his heart. At first, nothing stirred. Then—a subtle hum, a deep, rhythmic pulse that felt warmer than a normal heartbeat, something more profound, almost alive in a new way.
He dashed to the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and impulsively slashed his arm.
"Hiss… Oww, oww, oww…"
Pain rushed through his veins, but then something remarkable happened. Though only moments had passed, the wound rapidly closed itself, sealing over with a bloody scab as if time had sped up in that brief instant.
"Interesting," he whispered. "It seems this characteristic affects all blood cells. I can do more than just heal."
Driven by curiosity, Kaleem made a small incision on his finger, focusing all his will on directing the flow of blood beneath his skin. Crimson threads squirmed and twisted beneath the surface, sealing the wound from the inside out.
Responsive control. Not just healing—direction.
"This could be… dangerous," he muttered, bandaging his arm carefully. But beneath the cautious tone was a thrill of excitement.
---
Turning back to the Mystic Web, Kaleem delved deeper into mana and mystery theory.
Mana, he learned, was born or generated within the human body as a direct consequence of attuning to mystery. Mystery required a medium, a conduit of energy. In other words, mana was created because of Mystery.
Some ancient mystics, quoted extensively on the Web, described it simply as:
> "Mana is the shadow cast by a mystery standing behind your very soul."
He read further about the applications of Strange Arts (also called Mystic Arts, Strange Techniques, or Mystery Expressions), which were methods by which humans could wield mysteries safely and purposefully.
His mind flicked through some familiar mysteries: Mystery of Withering, Decaying and Living Flesh, Creeping Shadows, Stars...
He tried channeling them—trying to give them form, then letting them fall—but the results were weak, foggy, unformed.
"Damn it," he growled in frustration. There had to be a better way.
Then his thoughts turned to the Kingless Crown, his Anchor artifact.
But the memory of touching it resurfaced: a vast, cold awareness, as if something ancient had seen him.
"No," he whispered. "Not yet."
He needed something safer, something grounded to start with.
So he kept studying, researching, experimenting.
---
One week later
Kaleem had unlocked a critical realization: his failure to use his mysteries effectively was due to not understanding their essential applications or the methods by which mystics transform their mysteries into Strange Arts.
Apart from his personal mysteries of 'Decaying and Living Flesh', most others remained conceptual to him. He lacked the practical know-how to apply them safely and effectively.
Over the week, Kaleem worked tirelessly—practicing, analyzing, experimenting—until finally, he succeeded in creating a Strange Art.
During this intense period, besides the necessities of eating, sleeping, and resting, he absorbed everything he could get his hands on, even seemingly useless data from the Mystic Web: mission logs, reports, analytic dossiers. Then he found something chilling—_The Death Rates_.
> Over 2,400 Mystery-related deaths per month.
These deaths were caused by uncontrolled Characteristics, Mystics losing control, entities spawned by Mystics gone wild, or newly born mysterious entities.
Some reports didn't even bother describing the entities.
>"Entity: Undesignated—Class 5, Grade A—Removed via Greater Ritual: Descent of the Heavenly Mountain."_
The cold, stark reality hit him: this was the cost of entering the mysterious side—death, madness, or being hunted by your own.
A buzz from his device snapped him back.
>[SILVER CRESH MISSION ALERT] — "Initiate Kaleem, you have received your first assignment."
He opened the message.
##MISSION: FIELD SURVEY — "Marked Residue"
Location: Closed off, Peripheral Zone Delta-9, near Blackwater Lake
Threat Level: Class E to D (Low)
Objective: Investigate abnormal mana residue. Determine if it's related to mystics or mysteries.
Support: None. Solo.
Deadline: 72 Hours
Though exhausted, Kaleem's lips curled into a faint, eerie smile. His eyes glowed faintly, a deep crimson light that would send chills down any onlooker's spine.
"Finally," he said softly, setting down the phone as he stretched. "I can finally put all that training to the test."
As Kaleem prepared for his mission, he knew his encounter could most likely be with a Class 2 or Class 3 entity.