Aetherios System: Whirlwind

Chapter 49:

For Alex, lazing about in recovery was perhaps the worst punishment imaginable for his achievement. Being restricted in his training, when he had so much to do before the Inheritance Dungeon opened, was like grounding a teenage girl the night before the big boy-band concert.

And he had done it to himself.

He understood that, all things considered, he was rather lucky. With his high vitality, constitution, meridian imprints, and the progress in his aether attunement, he was leaps and bounds above any other Adept in terms of handling the backlash of his new [Technique].

“Pretty much anyone else would have died from it,” Obby confirmed.

I’m aware, I get it. Still it’s just… frustrating.

Over the last two weeks he had recovered enough that he was released back to the villa and could mostly walk around the compound freely. Limp and lurch around the compound, in all honesty, given the extent of the damage he still suffered, but it was better than nothing.

He couldn’t manage to continue practicing his martial style, his spells, or anything of that nature. And he’d certainly tried, sneaking away when no one was looking to get a bit of practice in. But his body was still in rebellion mode. His aether channels were still horribly over used.

I’m a damn invalid. He thought angrily as he sat at the desk in his bedroom, Sylvaris’ scroll unraveled in font of him. He had been reading through it for the last seven days, almost non-stop. A few aether slates lay next to it, containing his own notes, and the recorded thoughts and teachings of other Mages.

Studying was the only thing he was able to do.

He couldn’t even use his gathering technique. Again, his aether channels couldn’t handle any aether flow, but also, there was the restrictions of the Inheritance itself.

Only Adepts were able to enter the Dungeon.

Anyone who pushed through to Magus Tier, even if they had a token, would be locked out of the Dungeon.