I could feel a strange tinge on the back of my neck like the slow tinges of a bug or cold, “Huh…felt like someone walked on my grave haha…weird” Looking around nothing seemed out of sorts and so without much to do i lazily laid back down onto the field and puffed a cloud into the sky as one hand patted Frog on my chest.

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Drek rubbed the back of his neck as he looked down at the stick in his hand. Everyone else raised their sticks, revealing golden script painted across the surface of each one.

Ito: Choice of Power.
Kito: A Choice of Boon.
Tao: Choice of Skill.
Jax: An Increase in Ability.
Bjor: A Weapon of Choice.
Drek: A Weapon of Choice.

Ito scanned the writing on each stick and exhaled through his nose, a sigh laced with subtle frustration. “So only one of us got the power pick... I was hoping for more. If we could’ve made him a demigod or something, maybe we’d finally catch a break.”

The shopkeeper smiled, folding his arms behind his back. “Trust me—it’s not always wise to hand out powers like party favors. The chance to draw one is quite low. The sticks weren’t labeled until you picked them up. There’s no fixed outcome in my hands, only fate’s. It decides what you grasp.”

Tao muttered under his breath, “That was so poetic...” A single, dramatic tear slipped down his cheek. Ito knew better—Tao had a thing for poetry and dramatic prose. The shopkeeper, likely aware of this, seemed to deliberately lean into the performance every time Tao was within earshot. Still, Ito could tell his brother was barely holding back a laugh.

He sighed, “Can we smoke in here?”

The shopkeeper shrugged, nonchalant. “Hell, why not? What’s your flavor?” he slapped his hands off his knees and stood up. Reminded Ito of an old grandpa ready to break into the cookie jar.

“Something with clover… no—vanilla, actually.”

The man raised a brow but gave a whimsical wave of his hand. From the air, cigarettes spun into existence like whispers of smoke taking shape, hovering politely until plucked from the air.

“Who’s first?” the man asked, his voice taking on a deeper resonance. “Take your time. Time here doesn’t move unless you will it.”

Ito looked at the others and then back to the shopkeeper. “Before we make our choices, let me explain what I know—what Jaeger’s already gained.”

Everyone nodded and leaned in. After a few minutes of explanation, eyes widened across the room.

“What the hell kind of mix is all that?” Jax muttered. “He uses a gun too?”

Ito nodded. “Teleportation. Artificial elemental transmutation. Elemental self-buffing as a bi-product of the Artificial elemental transmutation. A summoned companion with an interdimensional stomach. A chain blade that takes on his buffs and skills now. He’s not just…sorta combat-capable, Tao or I could kill him if we went all out but to most?—he’s built for survival.”

Tao folded his arms, eyes narrowing in thought. “What I pick for him will also reflect on his weapon... and if it synergizes right, it multiplies his efficiency.”

Ito nodded again. “Exactly. That’s why I’ll choose a supportive power. Drek, Bjor—choose supportive weapons. He doesn’t need a new blade; he’s already mastered his. Fake mastery in my opinion but I think the point of that boon of mastery is to expedite years of training the weapon so its close enough.”

The two looked at each other and raised their hands before anyone could object.

“We want an ounce of the greatest Kush!” they said in perfect, stoner-synchronicity.

Tao choked on the water he’d just sipped from a flask, spitting it out in a half-laugh, half-shock. Kito and Ito stared at them, deadpan.

Drek scratched his head. “Hey, we’ve all got our vices, right? We don’t drink. Mage School was rough. We passed. Let us live.”

Kito shrugged. “Better than alcohol.”

The shopkeeper tilted his head, thoughtful. “Fascinating... a plant so mundane here, yet it’s known across several worlds as a poison of sorts.” He waved a hand, and with a gentle shimmer, fresh, vibrant plants materialized and dropped to the floor. They withered into crystalline, perfectly dried buds.

“Thank you, almighty one!” they exclaimed. Each pulled out a piece of a pipe, connected the halves with the ritualistic reverence of a sacred handshake, and promptly ran off.

Ito exhaled slowly and turned back to the shopkeeper. “Alright… let’s go through the choices. Start with the categories.”

The man nodded. “Of course. Genre first—Offense, Defense, Support.”

“Then type—Self, Other, Group, Weapon-Based, External Enhancement, Internal Mutation...the list is long.”

Ito glanced at Tao, who whispered something into his ear. He nodded. “Whole-body application.”

The shopkeeper tilted his head. “Whole-body powers can include elemental embodiment, flight, telepathy, movement types, shifting, strength, speed… the list is extensive. And each one breaks into sub-variants. Flight, for example, could mean levitation, propulsion, gravity manipulation…”

Ito and Tao spent a long while breaking down different variants and pathways before settling on one idea.

Ito winced. “God, this might sting. Okay… I choose: Secondary limbs. Cloth wings, seven feet long each, that emerge from his back. The power is the wings themselves—they adapt and absorb elemental buffs he currently carries.”

The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow, repeating the phrase silently to himself. “A metamorphic mutation… not unheard of. Intriguing. Are these wings fully controllable?”

“Yes,” Ito replied. “He’ll be able to manipulate them freely. And they’re made of cloth, not muscle or bone. Actual wings would be a liability. Cloth is weightless, rune-friendly, and has no pain receptors. If we use the right material... he could use them without backlash.” Though he didn’t say it, much as Jaeger had ideas as a kid for what it was he wanted to receive and achieve one day. Ito had always imagined flying with a cape through the sky. It was childish even to him, but the applications were numerous. A metal shield that could be split on Jaegers back to fend off multiple directions. A mix of metal and the speed of lightning to act as secondary weapons.

It made sense. The other options would only lead Jaeger down other paths, not the one Ito felt he had in mind. Maybe this would too, but it covered many options at once.

The shopkeeper smirked. “You’re making this sound more like an item than a power.”

Ito laughed wryly. “It’s a power. A cloth-like growth from his back, formed of living material under his control. A living cloak that shifts, adapts, and folds. But yeah… I’m being specific. It's not just for show.”

“What kind of material?” the shopkeeper asked, eyes gleaming.

“Something conductive. High resistance to elements and flame. Lightweight. Black.”

The shopkeeper turned away, thoughtful. “There’s a material like that… from another plane. Rare. But I like you all. And it is a special year.” He snapped his fingers.

A ripple of reality shimmered outward from his gesture, like water disturbed beneath silk. And with that… the power was chosen.

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I knew it—something was trying to kill me while the others were gone.

One moment I was reaching out to pluck a flower, and the next—a searing pain tore through my shoulder blades.

“What… what the fuck—AHHH!” A hoarse roar burst from my throat. The pain wasn’t as bad as what Enigma had put me through, but the surprise? That was murder on my nerves.

Something was sprouting from my back.

I twisted, yanked my shirt off, and caught a glimpse of it—cloak-like material pushing out from beneath my skin. It split at the upper shoulders, snaking downward and then folding inward to meet directly at the base of my spine. That’s where the pain was worst—where it felt like it was merging with my bones.

The cloth didn’t stop growing. Each side extended outward in symmetrical folds, thick and dark, and when I moved even slightly, it reacted—flexing like muscle, twitching like wings.

No—not like wings.

They were wings.

I staggered upright, shoulders rolling instinctively, and to my astonishment the cloak flared outward into two massive wing-like shapes—six, maybe seven feet in length each. Dark, rippling, ethereal. Formed of cloth, but alive in the way a limb is alive. It was like watching a cloak breathe.

“Did… they give me this?” I looked toward the closed door behind me as the pain started to fade. The same symbols etched on the back of my palm had manifested here too. I had two lightning runes active, and as I focused on the wings, I saw matching bolts glowing faintly along the inner edges. Electricity crackled gently along the seams, but it didn’t pull anything from me—no drain, no fatigue. Just raw potential.

The wings slowly folded in, settling down over my shoulders and draping like a mantle across my sides. If I hadn’t seen what they were, I would’ve thought it was just a cloak. A really well-made one at that.

“What the fuck, guys…” I muttered under my breath.

The material was impossibly light but absurdly tough. I yanked on it, stretched it, twisted it—and it didn’t give an inch. No tear. No wear. But when I raised my hand and let it fall across the fabric, it was softer than anything I’d ever worn. Like air. Like shadow.

‘Or worse, I am becoming the very monster they’ll have to defeat. What a sick universe.’

Whatever they gave me... it was alive.

And it was mine.

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“It is done… next.” The shopkeeper turned his gaze back to the group, eyes flicking across each of them with patient anticipation.

Tao stepped forward without hesitation.

Unlike his brother, he already knew exactly what he intended to give Jaeger.

“Empower Self.”

The words carried weight—not just in meaning but in the clarity of his intent. Tao had sifted through countless options, debated dozens of intricate spells, and entertained the idea of complex utility skills. But in the end, he returned to one—simple, precise, and devastatingly effective.

Empower Self: a skill that, when activated, raised all of the user’s attributes by 30 points across the board—for five full minutes.

Five minutes that could change the tide of a fight.

Five minutes that could turn a desperate escape into a flawless strike.

Five minutes that could be the difference between death and victory.

Tao knew exactly what kind of person Jaeger was. He didn’t need flashy techniques or convoluted spells. He needed a tool that would amplify what he already had—a catalyst, not a crutch.

The shopkeeper gave a solemn nod. “Good choice,” he murmured, his voice tinged with approval. “Not just strong… but wise.”

Tao gave a short, respectful nod in return, then stepped back, expression calm.

He’d done his part.

Now it was someone else’s turn.

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“Huh?... Agh, motherfuckers!”

I bit my tongue as a racking pain tore through my body, ending abruptly with a familiar ding from the watch on my wrist.

Groaning, I lifted my arm and opened the display.

A new skill flickered into view under my list:

Empower Self

“Nearly a third? My gods…” I muttered, eyes scanning the description. “That would put me just under a third the power of Ito when he’s boosted if I combined it with the right elements…”

I glanced around, wary of more surprises, before slowly easing myself back down to the ground. The flowers around me swayed gently, unaware of the chaos I’d just endured.

“Is this going to happen for each of them?” I asked aloud, half-hoping Frog might croak in agreement somewhere nearby.

It would make sense—four more to go, four more choices. But that wasn’t the issue.

The issue was why I was receiving anything at all. I was supposed to get nothing. That was the whole point. Nothing to one, right?

Something was definitely off.

I leaned back against a patch of soft grass, flicking my lighter with my off-hand, mind drifting. “I wonder if this ties into that poem the watch sent us… or maybe something else entirely.”

A thin line of smoke curled into the sky. I watched it rise and disappear into the fog.

Something wasn’t right.

And the worst part?

There was no one here to give me answers.

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“Boons come in many forms, young miss… Luck, protection, boons of magic—like halving the mana cost of evocation spells, and so on.” The shopkeeper’s voice was calm, almost indulgent. With a casual wave of his hand, a sheet of parchment shimmered into existence, hanging in the air before slowly fluttering down into Kito’s open palm. “The list isn’t long,” he added with a knowing smile. “But don’t let that fool you. Sometimes, fewer choices are the hardest to make.”

Tao and Ito instinctively leaned over her shoulder, their eyes narrowing as they scanned the golden script. And then—almost at the same time—they locked onto a specific section.

“Draconic Ranger, Warlock, Mage, Sorcerer,” Tao muttered, his tone thoughtful.

Four paths. One choice.

Ito immediately shook his head, brushing a hand down his face. “Not Mage. That might interfere with his powers. He doesn’t channel spells like that. Sorcerer’s a maybe—but he doesn’t emit magic. He draws it in. He reacts. He converts. And Warlock?” He scoffed, his tone darkening. “I’m not giving him a pact with a god. Especially not a dragon god. That’s a leash. And Jaeger? He’s not a leashed man. I’d rather see him dead than shackled.”

That left only one.

“The Ranger,” he said with conviction, tapping the page. “And the more I think about it, the more it fits him.”

Kito nodded in agreement, pushing aside the other options. “Luck? Charm? They’re nice ideas, but not for someone like him. He needs application, not hope.”

These four boons—Ranger, Mage, Sorcerer, Warlock—stood apart from the more conventional paths tied to magical schools, martial disciplines, or hybrid classes. They were niche—rare, and often misunderstood. Perfect, in a way.

Most of the traditional boons had rigid requirements. Mage required structured training in magical formalism. Warrior demanded a Qi-bound spirit weapon and a blessed lineage. Jaeger had power, yes, but not in the form those boons respected. He had no sanctified rite, no ancestral blessings. His strength was his own—raw, honed, self-taught.

Even Tao could admit it—he didn’t fully understand what Jaeger was as a fighter. Ito had glimpsed more, but translating that into anything traditional was like trying to teach fire to behave like stone. He smiled, that was poetic.

Jaeger wasn’t a master of one thing. He was something else entirely. A budding master-of-sorta’s or something close there of.

Vanilla—foundational. Flexible. The flavor that could enhance anything, blend with everything, and never overpower.

Teleportation for him wasn’t a miracle—it was utility. His speed came from risk and pain. His weapon, cloak, even Frog—they weren’t ends, but extensions. Tools of expression. Echoes of a strange and evolving self. Frog had started as a mimic. Now he was dimensional storage. That was Jaeger.

That’s why Tao had picked something universal. Empower Self was the most direct way to raise every aspect of Jaeger’s already strange nature. Maybe it was indecisiveness but Tao suspected that wasn’t the case mostly.

Ito’s wings choice? They weren’t for flying. They were conduits—lightweight cloth that absorbed his essence, just like his blade.

Now it was Kito’s turn.

Tao tapped the parchment. “‘Draconic Ranger.’ A long-lost class of fighter, scout, and hybrid spell user. Powers granted through a boon, forged in the image of a dragon and bestowed upon mortals of worthy soul.”

Kito tilted her head. “Can we choose the dragon?”

“And do we get to see what each one grants?” she added before the brothers could speak.

Tao and Ito both gave approving nods. Kito didn’t waste words. If she spoke, it mattered.

The shopkeeper’s smile deepened. “Yes. You may choose. Each dragon offers a unique gift. The Fire Dragon grants complete immunity to flame for a time. Earth grants resistance to shock, impact, tremors—makes you a living mountain.”

Kito leaned forward, intent. “What about the others?”

“Plenty. Star Dragon. Shadow Dragon. Dragon of Light. Of Space and Time. The Golden Dragon, master of the elements. Deep Dragons. Abyssals. Wyverns—wingless dragons of the upper sky. And then…” He paused, letting the words hang.

“The Dragon of the Grey.”

“What’s that one?” Kito asked, her tone sharp with curiosity.

He blinked slowly, savoring the question. “It’s… rare. Enigmatic. A chameleon among dragons. Nomadic. It doesn’t rule—it wanders. Some call it the Plane-Walker. Others call it the Dragon of All. It belongs nowhere and yet walks everywhere.”

He noticed the three of them exchanging looks. Whispering. Smiling.

Ito laughed softly. “Sorry. Just sounds like him.”

The shopkeeper nodded. “As it should. The Dragon of the Grey grants general resistance to all forms of damage. Not invulnerability—just enough. A touch of everything. It also amplifies the power of those who combine with natural elements. Lightning. Metal. That sort.”

Kito’s eyes narrowed. “And?”

He smiled slyly. “He’ll find out.”

She scowled. “You’re really playing the part of ‘mysterious vendor,’ aren’t you?”

Tao crossed his arms. “Is this really the right pick? Resistance to all types is nice, but it’s not transformative. And Jaeger gave up control over the four base elements. He might not qualify for any bonus effects.”

The shopkeeper raised his hands. “And yet, here you are, still asking. I’ve bent more than a few rules already by letting you all talk it through. This choice? It’s yours.”

There was a beat of silence.

Then Kito spoke again. Slowly. Carefully.

“Would it be wrong to ask for your personal recommendation? With my full consent. As instruction. Not influence.”

Tao raised an eyebrow. Clever.

The shopkeeper lit up. “Ahh. Finally, someone speaks like a student of the old ways.”

He raised the parchment again, finger hovering above the surface.

“Jaeger is balance incarnate. Mid-range. Elemental, but not in the classic sense. A collector. A transformer. He isn’t offensive or defensive. He’s situational. Reactive. So I’d suggest… this.”

His finger traced the edge of the page—and at the very bottom, new words shimmered into view.

The Boon of Mystery.

Kito groaned and smacked her forehead. “Seriously? Are you telling me the page itself is hiding secrets?”

“Yes,” the shopkeeper replied smugly. “Isn’t it fun?”

Kito curled her fist.

Ito grabbed her wrist gently. “For educational purposes,” he said through gritted teeth. “Tell us what the fuck it does.”

“Fine, fine.” The shopkeeper relented with a chuckle. “It’s simple, really. The Boon of Mystery gives Jaeger a random item, skill, or gift at key moments. Sometimes it helps. Sometimes it confuses. Sometimes it gives nothing. Sometimes—everything.”

Tao raised an eyebrow. “How many times?”

“He’ll receive a Page. Each page will offer a Quest. If he completes the Quest, he gets a reward. That reward? Could be anything. Could be trash. Could be the key to surviving the next apocalypse.”

They all stared in silence.

Tao finally spoke. “The card says ‘boons,’ plural. Even randomly… that’s more than the others give.”

“And it suits him,” Kito said. “He’s chaos. Let’s give him a bit more.”

She placed her hand over the glowing name.

“I choose the Boon of Mystery.”

The parchment shimmered once—then vanished in a trail of golden sparks.

The shopkeeper bowed, eyes twinkling. “Wonderful choice. Completely uninfluenced by me, of course.”

With a snap of his fingers, the air stilled.

“Let’s see what the universe does with that."

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*ding*

I looked down at the watch to discover a boon, “It matches each of the 6 choices they could receive…that cements it. Something isn’t right…”

“Kinda straight forward…okay” I turned back to the door, “2 more than…”