[You have reached Level 18. You have risen far, Brave Adventurer, to heights most would have never dreamed. But there’s always a bigger mountain beyond the crest.]

  Justin stirred fully awake at the Voice's incursion He blinked, letting the sleep fade from his mind as he put on on his top hat.

  [You have two attribute points to distribute.]

  Without hesitation, he locked both in Charisma.

  [Your Charisma is now: 50]

  Justin did some mental math. He had started with 10 points. Then, he'd gotten 18 points from each level-up, 18 additional points from the Sapphire Star, and 3 points from his Draconic Luster Boon. And finally, 1 point from his one-time boost from the Cane of Valoria.

  "Half a hundred," he said quietly. "Not bad at all."

  Justin knew that fifty points in any attribute was rare enough to be legendary among any classed individual, and that wasn’t even counting his gear buffs. He was likely breaking new ground, doing something no one on Eyrth had ever dared to attempt.

  There had been King Alaric with the Perception Attribute, which had won him fame and fortune, along with enemies.

  Yes, Justin had made enemies, too. But he hadn’t had much opportunity to unleash his power on others.

  Would that time be coming soon? He wondered.

  The Voice returned.

  [As a Level 18 Gentleman, two of your boons have ascended to their final, mastered forms: Add Injury to Insult and Insightful Gaze.]

  Justin reviewed the upgrades. His eyes widened as the information unfurled before him.

  Add Injury to Insult (Mastered Boon): Nothing cuts deeper than a sharp tongue followed by an even sharper blade. Any target of your Poison Barb now receives a "Salt in the Wound" debuff for ten seconds. All attacks during this time deal triple damage.

  Insightful Gaze (Mastered Boon): Your ability to read others has evolved beyond facial expressions. You now detect lies with an accuracy based on your Charisma and perceive opponents' likely next actions. This perception works on all sapient beings, with effectiveness scaling with your Charisma attribute.

  Justin sat bolt upright, a cold sweat breaking across his forehead. Triple damage. That became six times the damage with a Proper Sendoff.

  With the Sapphire Star and the right timing, he could probably take down just about anything.

  Perhaps even Valdrik.

  But that wasn’t even the half of it. Insightful Gaze had also reached mastery. He could now detect lies. Not just suspect them, but know them. He could anticipate attacks and conversational tactics before they even happened.

  And since his Charisma was 50, the scale of the boon would be far beyond what any character had a right to.

  He really had to think about this. If he was right, this might be the most impactful level-up he had received so far. Based on that description, he had the tools to manipulate almost anyone he wanted. Certainly, any individual who lacked a class, and quite possibly most people who did have one.

  He could become a complete monster if he wasn’t careful. The ability to read intentions meant he could play people like pieces on a chessboard.

  What terrified him most was how tempting it felt. He might use this power without even realizing he was doing it. Or convince himself it was for good while he was still capable of making foolish mistakes.

  Knowledge was power, and he now had access to an ability few could even comprehend.

  Was there a way to turn it off? He thought of Eldrin and Lila, both of whom he trusted implicitly at this point. What if he detected that Lila was lying to him? Did he just pretend not to notice?

  Or Eldrin, for that matter. Could he resist the temptation to peek behind the curtain of his mind if he thought he was hiding something?

  He clenched his fists. He couldn’t allow himself to use this power on anyone he considered an ally. Except, perhaps, in an emergency, but even then, he’d have to be careful. Excuses could easily become a slippery slope.

  But even as he made the internal promise, he wondered if he could keep it. Whether he wanted to or not, he would see things he wasn’t meant to see.

  Was he ready for that?

  Justin took a deep breath, steadying himself. This was the path of the Socialite. And more than that, the path he had chosen for himself. He couldn’t have predicted it would lead here, but he had to find a way to control his powers.

  At some point, he would need to develop a code of ethics to govern this new boon.

  "With great Charisma comes great responsibility," he said, trying to lighten his own mood.

  But the joke fell flat even to his own ears.

  "What was that, Justin?"

  Lila was watching him from nearby. Lila, who was now Level 17 and had unlocked a new skill of her own.

  "Nothing," he said automatically. "Just talking to myself like a madman."

  Then, almost without conscious thought, he looked into her eyes to see if anything had changed.

  What hit him nearly took his breath away. He saw her looking back at him with true concern, but now he perceived layers beneath the surface. He saw her care, her worry, and felt it with an empathy ten times stronger than what he was used to.

  Deeper still, he glimpsed her uncertainty about their future together—whether they would survive this new world, and not only that, but whether the possibility of something more between them could withstand the weight of the storm they were caught in.

  There was love beneath her tough exterior, but a love that was shadowed by the unspoken fear that they were growing apart, becoming different people, even as they shared jokes and pretended that everything was still the same.

  Her face was like a map, a map he could read perfectly...if he dared to stare at it long enough.

  Justin gasped softly and took a step back; the intensity of the revelations too overwhelming.

  He dialed his scrutiny back, mentally adjusting as if turning down the volume on the radio. The flood of emotions and insights receded to where it was more manageable, leaving just enough to maintain the connection without drowning in it.

  It seemed his gaze was like a microscope; he could fine-tune how deeply he wanted to perceive things.

  That was a comfort. He wasn't doomed to have information overload or to violate everyone's privacy without consent. Rather, he could control just how much of the information came in.

  "Are you all right?" Lila asked, stepping closer. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

  "I'm fine," he said, offering what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "Just...adjusting to new abilities. We should talk about it around breakfast."

  She nodded, returning his smile with a tentative one of her own. Justin knew he could unravel entire intentions with that smile, but he refrained.

  As Eldrin prepared the morning fire and meal, they sat down to share their unlocks while Atlas remained near the entrance, still in low power mode. Or "asleep," as Justin had come to think of it. The automaton's crystalline core pulsed with a slow, steady rhythm.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  "I'll go first, I suppose," Eldrin said, as he stirred a pot of oats mixed with aromatic herbs. Justin was grateful for anything that wasn't fish at this point. "I reached Level 18. The boon I took at Level 6, Nature's Bounty, has upgraded to its mastered form. It gives me decades of experience in using the ingredients I've already gathered. Basically, I can make a higher number of brews from fewer ingredients."

  "That sounds useful," Justin said. "So, you can make your ingredients go a lot farther."

  "I can," Eldrin confirmed. "But not only that; I can do so in increasingly rudimentary conditions, even lacking the proper tools in some cases."

  "Meaning?" Justin asked.

  Eldrin smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "There are many potions I've been dying to make, but I've simply lacked the proper equipment. So they've been taking up space in my pack. Well, with this boon, I can actually make a lot of the more basic potions. Modest attribute boosts, healing potions, poisons. Before, it was impossible."

  "So you can make potions now?" Lila asked. "Even in a camp like this?"

  "I can," Eldrin confirmed. "I'd be somewhat limited, but I picked up a few components during our travels. I've always have a portable mortar and pestle handle, but I've picked up a lot of glass vials, and even a collapsible distillation coil and measuring spoons. With this boon, that's all I need now to craft some basic but useful things. I definitely have enough to make some silver-tier healing potions, or potions to boost attributes or various antidotes to common poisons, if we are unfortunate enough to come across that." He shrugged. "Of course, a proper alchemy table and equipment would result in better potions, but this is perfect for a Ranger on the go."

  "So you can keep the potions coming now," Lila said, leaning forward with interest. "Score!"

  "My Botanical Insight boon has also upgraded," Eldrin went on. "That's the one I picked up at Level 9. The description says that my analysis of alchemical ingredients in the environment is almost equal to that of a Master Alchemist. An Alchemist would have more extensive knowledge, but a Ranger focuses on the remedies that people use most often. And more than that, learns to do them well."

  "Sounds like your potions are going to become even more powerful," Lila said, accepting a steaming bowl of oatmeal.

  Justin remained quiet, stirring his own bowl absently as he considered his situation. With a subtle shift of focus, he could see that Lila was watching him with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

  Lila shifted where she sat. "I got to Level 17," she said, breaking the momentary silence. "I picked up a new skill called Sonic Repulsion."

  "And what does that do?" Justin asked, grateful for the distraction.

  "I can basically shape my voice to push back foes who get too close," she said. "It creates a concussive wave that can stagger multiple enemies. I can use it once every thirty seconds."

  "Sounds handy to create some space," Justin said.

  All eyes were now on him. He could sense their anticipation—Eldrin's patient curiosity and Lila's slightly anxious expectation. Judging by their expressions, Justin could tell that they were wondering why he was hesitating so long.

  How much should he reveal? He felt guilty for even considering holding anything back.

  "I reached Level 18," he finally said, setting his bowl aside. "And...two of my boons have reached their mastered forms."

  Eldrin raised an eyebrow. "Which ones?"

  "Add Injury to Insult has evolved," Justin explained. "Now when I use Poison Barb on someone, they get a debuff called 'Salt in the Wound.' For ten seconds, all attacks against them deal triple damage."

  Lila whistled. "That's...incredibly powerful. It really lasts ten seconds?"

  Justin nodded. "Yeah. I mean, you can imagine the implications, especially when combined with A Proper Sendoff and the Sapphire Star."

  "No kidding," Eldrin said. "What about the other boon?"

  Justin hesitated only briefly. "Insightful Gaze upgraded, too." He took a deep breath before continuing. "Before, it helped me read people a bit better. But this upgrade...it's far beyond what I expected."

  "How so?" Lila asked.

  "I can detect lies. Perceive likely actions before they happen, both in a fight and in social situations. Its effectiveness scales with my Charisma, which is now at 50 unenhanced."

  A moment of stunned silence followed his words.

  "Fifty?" Eldrin finally said, his voice hushed with disbelief. "I actually haven't looked at your attributes lately. I knew your Charisma was high, but that really puts things into perspective."

  "Yeah," Justin said. "The Sapphire Star changed everything."

  "And the Amulet of Equilibrium," Lila said. "At this point, you might actually break things a bit. Especially with that Insightful Gaze boon."

  "Yeah," Justin said. "I'm...not really sure what to think of it. It's powerful, obviously. But maybe it's a bit too strong."

  "Maybe," Eldrin said. "But it's all in how you use it, right?"

  "I suppose," Justin said.

  Lila leaned forward. "So you can...read people now? Like their thoughts?"

  "Not thoughts exactly," Justin clarified. "More like intentions and emotional states. And I can control how deeply I look." He met her gaze directly, wanting to reassure her. "I promise I won't use it on either of you. It's for threats and potential threats only."

  Justin decided to hold back that he'd already used it on Lila. But that didn't count, since he'd just been testing the boon out.

  He hadn't known he'd detect all of...that.

  "This changes things for sure," Eldrin said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "In negotiations, in combat, in dealing with others...you'll know who's trustworthy. That's a good thing, but in the wrong hands, it could do a lot of damage."

  "It's a lot to process," Justin admitted. "I'm still figuring out the ethical boundaries."

  Lila watching him thoughtfully. "We'll help you figure it out. I trust you, Justin. We've been through a lot, and I have no reason to doubt your word."

  Justin smiled. "Well, you have a lot more faith than I do."

  "You just have to try your best," Eldrin said. "It's all anyone can do. Your best is good enough."

  Justin supposed he'd have to be content with that. "So, what's the plan for today? I wonder if Emberlyn and the rest have passed through."

  "Possibly," Eldrin said. "But if it were me, I'd wait a while longer, at least until the weather turns cooler." He nodded toward the cave entrance. "It's already nice and bright. Either we slept far longer than we intended, or the days are shorter here."

  Justin supposed that was a strong possibility. All sorts of things would be different on Solanis. Even the slightly lower gravity was taking some getting used to.

  "Sounds good to me," Lila said. "A rest day is just what we need. And that gives us the chance to get one last level-up, right?"

  Justin couldn't agree more. "Will she be able to find us here?"

  "She may," Eldrin admitted. "I'm certain my Pathfinder's Stride has covered our tracks well enough. But if she knows about this canyon, she could easily find her way here."

  "I'm sure she's still working on moving her village back," Justin said. "Stuff like that doesn't happen in just a few hours."

  "Let's take a rest day, then," Eldrin said. "I know I'm eager to brew up some potions."

  "And I wouldn't mind sleeping some more," Justin said.

  "Same," Lila said. "In between playing my lute and my harp."

  At that moment, Atlas whirred as he came awake, his red eye pieces turning and focusing on the group. The construct's joints clicked and hissed as he rose to his full height He made a series of chirping sounds and then a low, grinding noise that echoed through the cave.

  "What's wrong with him?" Lila asked.

  Atlas's mandibles opened and closed rapidly, and his central core—normally a steady blue—flickered with an orange tint. He took a halting step toward them.

  Justin cocked his head, watching the automaton's movements. He noticed subtle patterns in Atlas's behavior—the way he tilted his head, how his eye pieces kept focusing on Eldrin's pack.

  "I think he's hungry," Justin said. "He's looking at your pack, Eldrin. He must sense the ether crystals you're keeping in there."

  Atlas chirped louder, the sound almost eager, as if confirming Justin's assessment.

  Eldrin chuckled. "Smart construct." He reached into his pack and extracted a palm-sized crystal that glowed with an inner blue light. "Will this work for you, Atlas?"

  The automaton's movements became more fluid at the sight of the crystal, and the orange tint in his core dimmed slightly.

  "Here you go, then," Eldrin said, holding out the crystal.

  Atlas approached with surprising delicacy for his size. His mandibles extended, carefully taking the crystal from Eldrin's hand. Instead of crushing or swallowing it, the automaton held the crystal before his central core. The mandibles rotated the crystal slowly as thin tendrils of energy stretched from the crystal to Atlas's core.

  The group watched in fascination as the crystal's glow gradually dimmed. The blue light seemed to flow like liquid into Atlas's body, causing his core to pulse brighter with each passing second. The orange warning tint disappeared completely.

  After about a minute, Atlas lowered the now-dull crystal, which had turned from vibrant blue to completely dull. He dropped it gently at Eldrin's feet and made a satisfied whirring sound.

  "Fascinating," Eldrin said, picking up the depleted crystal and examining it. "He's not consuming the physical crystal, just the ether energy stored within it. Which is good. I can repurpose these to make high-quality glassware, though I'll need access to a proper kiln. These spent crystals have excellent thermal properties when melted down."

  "That's good," Lila said. "Those things aren't exactly common."

  Justin nodded. "We'll need to make sure we have enough crystals for him going forward. I wonder how many he needs?"

  Atlas chirped again, this time in a higher pitch, and moved to the cave entrance, seemingly refreshed and ready for whatever the day might bring. Clearly, the machine was eager to do some more exploring.

  "Not yet, Atlas," Justin said. "The humans need a bit of a break."

  The construct made what sounded almost like a disappointed trill, followed by a series of impatient clicks.

  "Justin, go walk your pet," Lila said, already getting out her hand harp. Her fingers brushed the strings, producing a gentle chord that echoed softly in the cave.

  Justin sighed. "In this dangerous world? What if we run into—"

  "You don't have to go far," she said, adjusting her tuning pegs. "Stay close to the cave. Just enough to burn off some of that energy."

  Atlas whirred loudly, his front appendages shifting back and forth, all but restraining himself from dragging Justin out by the sleeve.

  "All right, fine. I suppose it's best to be a responsible pet owner." Justin adjusted his top hat. "Though I'm not sure who the pet is in this relationship."

  "Don't stray too far," Eldrin said, already measuring ingredients into his mortar. "Maybe you'll learn something. If you run into any trouble, use Elea's Whisper."

  Justin supposed the Ranger had a point. He didn't like splitting up, but Atlas had proven himself to be a capable ally in combat.

  And, truth be told, he needed to learn to be comfortable operating solo. It had been a while since he had been truly alone. It was great to have allies, but he needed to remind himself he was fully capable on his own.

  "We'll be back before you know it," Justin said, heading toward the entrance with Atlas practically skipping beside him. "Come on, Atlas. Let's go."

  Justin headed out into the canyon, activating his Vorthak's Flame, with Atlas practically clicking at his heels.

  Time to see what this part of Solanis had to offer.