The Art of Four - Dungeons and Dragoons Book 1

Kaiden blinked. Aterra? The word still didn’t register fully, but the weight of it—and the man claiming to have shaped this entire place—was undeniable. Oros watched him carefully, his deep-set eyes gleaming with ancient wisdom and amusement.

Kaiden shifted uncomfortably, still sitting on the soft carpet. He felt exposed, vulnerable—and still in his underwear, no less. He swallowed, trying to shake off the absurdity of the situation. This couldn’t be real, right? He had no idea where he was, no idea what was happening. And now, of all times, he was meeting the god of a strange world... in his boxers. Great.

Was Oros really a god? Kaiden’s mind whirled.

Oros, seemingly able to follow Kaiden’s internal struggle, chuckled—a deep, resonant sound that made Kaiden jump slightly. "Yes," Oros said, his voice low but laced with amusement. "I am this world’s deity and creator."

Kaiden’s jaw dropped in disbelief. He blinked up at Oros, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks. This was insane. He had specifically bought that expensive suit, on the off chance—the highly unlikely chance—that he’d ever come face to face with God, or a god. And here he was, sitting half-naked in the presence of an actual deity, stripped of not just his clothes, but his composure.

Goddamn it.

No, wait. He meant gosh darned it.

Oros chuckled again, as though reading Kaiden’s thoughts. "Relax, human," Oros said, waving a massive hand dismissively. "We have a few things to discuss, and it’ll go a lot easier if you ease up."

Kaiden’s eyes widened. Oros could read minds. Of course, he could—he was a god, after all. This was going to be impossible.

Oros raised an eyebrow and leaned back, his deep auburn beard shifting as he stroked it thoughtfully. "Just know," he continued, "I brought you here. There are things I can tell you and things I cannot." He tilted his head slightly to the side, as though listening to something far off. "Let’s just say... there are rules in place."

Kaiden gave a slow, tentative nod, trying to calm himself down. He breathed in deeply, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease—just a little. Oros didn’t seem hostile, and despite the overwhelming situation, the god seemed welcoming in his own strange way. Even if he could read Kaiden’s mind.

"Ahem."

Kaiden blinked up at Oros, who was watching him with an amused, knowing glint in his eyes. "Why don’t I go first?" Oros said with a slight grin. "Let’s get the basics out of the way."

Kaiden stumbled over his words, unsure of the proper etiquette for speaking to a god. "Yes... Yes... sir? Lord? My lord? My liege? Uh, how exactly do I address you? Your... eminence?" His internal voice screamed in panic, Oh god, just stop talking!

Oros chuckled heartily, the sound rich and warm. "I like you," he said, though he didn’t directly answer the question, perhaps finding Kaiden’s flustered state amusing. His laughter faded as he began explaining the situation at hand.

Kaiden gulped, feeling anticipation settle deep in his chest.

"I modeled this world after Earth," Oros began, his voice steady and commanding. "I started with a few humans I brought from Earth almost a thousand years ago, according to this planet’s time. On Earth’s time, it wasn’t too long ago. I’m sure you’re aware that time flows differently, so we’ll leave it at that."

Kaiden nodded slowly, his mind buzzing. He knew about relativity—time flowing differently in other places. He recalled a certain physicist’s explanation of time slices, where each point in space experiences its own version of now, meaning time wasn’t a fixed, linear thing; it was as much about perspective as anything else. It was truly mind-boggling stuff to think about.

Oros continued, his deep voice filling the room with authority. "There are aspects humans have created or imagined that I've brought into this world as well. You'll discover many of those details as you learn more about Aterra. But the biggest thing..." Oros paused, his grin widening. "Is magic."

Kaiden’s eyes went wide. Holy shit, magic? His heart pounded, excitement mixing with disbelief. His mind was spinning. Magic—actual magic—was real here?

Oros chuckled, clearly enjoying Kaiden’s reaction. "I thought you’d like that."

Kaiden swallowed hard, trying to contain his growing excitement. He had about a million questions bouncing around in his head, but before he could ask, Oros continued.

"Now," Oros said, leaning back in his chair, "there haven’t been any new transports to this world in a while. So, it’s only fair that I give you a quick crash course—aligned with the rules, of course."

Kaiden nodded vigorously, though his mind was already flooded with questions. What kind of magic? How did it work? Could he use it? But he kept quiet for now, not wanting to interrupt. His giddy expression probably gave away his anticipation.

"Magic," Oros began, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "can be used in two main ways: internally or by objects externally. Internal magic can be innate, a power someone is born with, or learned. External magic, on the other hand, comes from objects, artifacts, or tools imbued with magical properties."

Kaiden’s mind raced with possibilities. What kind of magic was out there? Could he use magical items? His excitement kept building, but Oros’s next words tempered it.

"In recent times, there has been a decline in magic," Oros said, his tone dropping slightly. "For reasons you’ll learn on your own. Many types of magic are becoming rarer. People are less capable than they were in the past. Innate magic still exists and has become the main source of magic in the world."

Kaiden nodded slowly, trying to digest everything. He understood—at least in theory. Magic, it seemed, was not the limitless force he’d imagined, but something that was fading, slipping away. The thought of this world losing such a thing sent a ripple of unease through him. But despite that, the idea of magic was still thrilling. He had to learn more.

Oros continued, his tone taking on a measured seriousness. "Everyone in Aterra can have up to three innate magical abilities. Most people only awaken one, and having three is the rarest of all. At the age of twenty, everyone will awaken at least one of their abilities. For those with two or three, they’ll awaken those earlier, but the last one always manifests on their twentieth birthday."

Kaiden listened intently, nodding along, absorbing every detail.

"These abilities," Oros continued firmly, "and how many a person can awaken are completely random. Genes, bloodlines—none of that plays a role, no matter what people in Aterra might believe."

Kaiden could feel the weight behind those words. It was clear Oros wanted to make sure he understood this truth, despite whatever misconceptions might exist in this world.

"Now," Oros said, his tone softening slightly, "before we talk about your abilities, there’s something else you need to know. I don’t interfere with world events directly. It’s against the rules, and this will probably be our only interaction."

Kaiden gulped. The idea of being alone in this strange world, with only this one conversation to guide him, made his heart race. "I understand," he managed to say, his voice small in comparison to Oros's overwhelming presence.

"Good," Oros replied with a nod. "Now, let’s talk about your abilities. You might have already noticed that your body is working much better than it did on Earth—and that it’s quite sturdy, right?"

Kaiden nodded furiously, a grin stretching across his face. "Absolutely!" he said, excitement spilling over. "This was your doing, then, right?"

Oros nodded. "Yes. I apologize for acting without your consent, but in order to bring you here, I needed to repair your body. So, I had to give you the Regeneration ability."

Kaiden quickly raised his hands in a placating motion, shaking his head. "No, no, don’t apologize! I’m so thankful for what you’ve done. I can’t even imagine why you’d say sorry."

Oros smiled faintly, though his eyes remained thoughtful. "Normally, when I bring humans into Aterra, I allow them to choose their abilities. This time, I’ve robbed you of that choice. Your first ability—Regeneration—was chosen for you."

Kaiden shook his head again, this time more vigorously. "I still thank you for that." His voice was sincere. In his mind, it was a no-brainer. He needed this ability. It explained why the pain from that alley encounter had disappeared so quickly, why his body felt so strong. It was a gift, and he was grateful beyond words.

"However," Oros said, "unlike the rest of Aterra’s people, you now have the chance to choose your last ability. Any one ability of your choice."

Kaiden’s heart leaped in his chest. Any ability? He felt a surge of excitement, his mind already spinning with possibilities. But at the same time, a small pang of disappointment crept in. This meant that he’d only have two abilities instead of the maximum three. It wasn’t a huge loss, but there was something about the idea of having all three that felt tantalizing.

Oh well, Kaiden thought, the excitement quickly overpowering the letdown. A small price to pay.

Oros snapped his fingers, and instantly, hundreds if not thousands of different colored tomes flew across the grand room, swirling in the air before floating toward Kaiden. Each tome had glowing letters inscribed on the cover, the names of abilities written in English. He reached out, his fingers brushing the surface of the nearest one. As soon as he touched it, information surged into his mind, vivid and direct, as if he were reading a digital screen like in an RPG.

Startled, Kaiden blinked, trying to shake the sensation away. But it was persistent, a wall of text and details forming in his vision. It hovered there, clear as day. His first instinct was to panic, but something about it felt oddly... intuitive.

Oros’s laughter boomed through the room, shaking Kaiden from his daze. "That’s just your HUD," Oros explained with a broad grin. "Your heads-up display. You’ll get used to it. You can manage its appearance with a thought."

Kaiden experimented, mentally willing the wall of text to shrink, grow, change transparency, and even disappear. It responded instantly, bending to his will like he’d been doing it all his life. He made the screen fade slightly, more like a ghostly image at the corner of his vision. "Amazing..." he whispered.

With a grin, Kaiden dismissed the text from the first tome and eagerly moved on to the next. He touched tome after tome, each filling his mind with information, their glowing names floating before him in rapid succession. There were so many choices!

He skimmed through a few:

Telekinesis – The ability to manipulate objects and people with the power of your mind. Limited by the user's focus and strength of will.

Lightning Strike – Summon a bolt of lightning from the sky or generate it from your hands. The user can control the intensity, from a minor shock to a devastating blast of electrical force. Useful for quick, explosive attacks.

Earth Manipulation – Control the terrain around you, shaping and moving the earth, rocks, and even metal with your will. This ability allows you to create barriers, weapons, or traps from the surrounding landscape.

Illusion – Create vivid, believable illusions that can fool the senses of others. Mastery of this ability allows you to cast larger, more complex illusions and even manipulate sound and smell.

Invisibility – Become unseen for brief periods, making you undetectable by normal means. The effect wears off with physical contact or sustained movement.

Then, Kaiden’s hand landed on a tome that immediately brought a smile to his face.

The moment he touched it, the details flooded in.

Fireball – Summon a blazing orb of fire from the palm of your hand. The size and intensity of the fire can be controlled with practice. Perfect for long-range attacks, the fireball explodes upon impact, causing wide-area damage. The user is immune to burns from their own magic.

Kaiden’s grin widened. "Oh, this is perfect," he muttered, envisioning the flaming orb materializing in his hands. The destructive power, the simplicity of it—he had to admit, it was exactly the kind of magic he’d dreamed of wielding as a kid.

Oros’s words cut through Kaiden’s thoughts. “Is that your choice?” The question made Kaiden pause, his excitement about the Fireball ability dimming slightly. He looked at Oros, then back at the glowing tomes swirling around him.

"I’m... not sure yet," Kaiden admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "There are just so many to choose from. I don’t know how I’ll ever decide."

Oros grinned, his auburn beard shifting slightly as he leaned back in his seat. "Instead of looking at each of them one by one, you can filter them with a thought," he said.

Kaiden blinked, then nodded slowly, realizing the simplicity of the solution. Filter them? He began to think of how he might categorize the abilities when Oros interrupted with a teasing tone.

"Just so you know," Oros said, his grin turning a bit mischievous, "the people of Aterra have assigned rankings to all known magical abilities. S-tier is the strongest, D-tier the weakest. It’s a flawed system, in my opinion. The rankings were made through the human lens of military might, not taking into account personal growth or versatility. But," he shrugged, "you could sort them that way if you wish. You are human, after all." The way Oros said it had the bite of a taunt.

Kaiden smirked slightly. "Right. Thanks for that." The sarcasm was subtle, but Oros’s grin only widened in response.

"And just so you’re aware," Oros added, his tone more neutral now, "all magic abilities can level up to 5. Starting with a D-tier ability at level 1 could become a powerhouse at level 5.

Kaiden nodded, understanding the point. Oros had clearly given him an important hint. He wanted him to think of potential, not just immediate strength. "Thanks for the information, but I’ll choose what feels right for me. Not by ranks." His voice was firm, deciding not to be swayed by the arbitrary power levels created by Aterra’s people.

Oros gave a nod of approval, his eyes gleaming. "Very well."

Without another word, Oros leaned back, letting Kaiden return to his search.

Kaiden focused on the tomes swirling around him, experimenting with the filters Oros had mentioned. He closed his eyes for a moment and thought about sorting them. Instantly, the books split into groups—first by offensive abilities, defensive ones drifting off to the side. Then he tried another filter: rarity. The tomes broke off into new clusters, their colors shifting in hue and intensity as they categorized themselves by scarcity.

Unsatisfied, he adjusted again, splitting the tomes into categories of flexibility, versatility, and utility. The books re-formed, swirling once more before separating into new groups. The process was oddly mesmerizing as he continued narrowing the choices.

Finally, after experimenting with multiple options, five tomes hovered before him—each one seemingly suited to him in some unique way. He studied the remaining five tomes for a long while, their contents flashing in his mind as he considered them. His thoughts lingered on each ability, weighing its potential.

Eventually, Kaiden's resolve settled on one.

Something about it felt right, but a flicker of hesitation held him back. He cleared his throat and turned toward Oros. "Why... am I here?" he asked, his voice dry and uncertain.

Oros tilted his head, his dark eyes assessing Kaiden with a calm, knowing gaze. "That’s not something I can reveal," the god said, a faint smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "But you’re allowed to do as you please. However, I can’t save you from anything so try to stay out of trouble.”

Kaiden’s mind raced. “I know you brought me here for a reason, but it seems like the rules won’t let you say what it is. And If I can do what you intend for me to do, I’d gladly do it. But... what if I fail?”

A flicker of pride lit up in Oros’s eyes. "Ah, you’re quick as I expected. But yes, rules and all that. Let’s just say I brought you here because I believe you have the potential to accomplish something important. However, if you fail or die, it only means I misjudged. Nothing more."

“I see.”

Oros leaned back, his expression thoughtful, yet firm. "Aterra is a world of endless possibilities. However, I’m serious when I say I cannot help you or interfere in any way. You are completely on your own. Whatever path you choose, success or failure—it will be your choice."

Kaiden hesitated for only a moment before speaking. "In that case, I truly think this tome is my best option," he said, his voice steady as he held up the glowing book in his hands.

Oros cocked an eyebrow, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "Are you sure?" The god’s voice held a note of playful skepticism. "This ability is only ranked C and has no offensive capability."

Kaiden, unfazed, shook his head. "Not directly, no. But I’m sure. It has the most potential."

Oros’s smile widened, a hint of satisfaction in his expression. "Great," he said, clearly pleased with Kaiden’s confidence. "And now, it’s time for you to get back."

Kaiden’s heart lurched. "Wait, no! I’ve got so many more questions," he said, his words rushing out in a panic. There was still so much he didn’t understand, so much he needed to know.

Oros chuckled softly. "Oh, I know you do," he said, his deep voice filled with amusement. "And you’ll learn those answers out in time."

Before Kaiden could respond, Oros snapped his fingers and suddenly, all the other tomes floating in the room vanished, disappearing in an instant. He stood up and stepped around from behind his massive desk, his figure towering over Kaiden. "Here’s my last gift to you before you go," he said

"Is it money or clothes?" Kaiden asked desperately, realizing he was still in his underwear.

Oros burst into laughter, the sound booming through the room. "Nope," he said, still chuckling, but the playful look in his eyes was replaced with something more serious. He placed his gigantic palm on Kaiden’s forehead, and the warmth of Oros’s touch was the last thing Kaiden felt before darkness enveloped him. “Your last innate ability.”

In the depths of that darkness, a line of glowing text appeared, imprinted into his mind.

You have learned: Arcane Vision