PreCursive

  Honoka lifted a hand into the sky. In her open palm, a small bird made of fire maed, looking around curiously. Honoka leaned in to whisper at it for a moment, before ung the Avian struto the sky. The fming bird chirped at her once, before zooming away.

  Towards the Uprising camp.

  Meanwhile, I was sitting on the ground not far from her, leaning against the wall of the Gyreite Church. I don’t mind saying that I felt like absolute shit right about now.

  A week.

  I’d been reassured for over a week now that I had nothing to worry about when it came to my arm. I didn’t regret my choice to protect Sylvia, which led to me losing it. But I’d been told repeatedly that it wasn’t any issue getting it regrown. It had been those reassurahat had kept me from depression spiraling about losing a part of my body.

  Now that the hope rowth had been stolen from me, I felt like I had just lost my arm all ain. In a way I had.

  My left arm was gone food. There was no magical solution that was going t it baow.

  I stared down at my one good hand now, flexing it over and over. At the very least, it was my dominant one.

  I had no idea how long I spent, simply staring down at my palm and allowing myself to finally grieve. I was only broken out of my ption when I felt a hand touch my shoulder lightly. Blinking, I raised my head to meet a pair of bd silver eyes.

  Grey’s.

  My mentor was kneeling in front of me, hand still on my shoulder, and a passionate look on his wizened features. When he saw that he had caught my attention, he me and stood up, hand falling away. Instead, he exte in front of him for me to grasp.

  I took a deep breath and held it for four seds. I breathed out, slowly, and then o myself.

  I took Grey’s hand and stood.

  “Let’s go,” Grey said, meeting my eyes again. “This isn’t over just yet. I believe it’s time we have a little chat with the Preceptor.”

  I nodded silently at Grey. Over his shoulder, I noticed that Honoka was still here, watg Grey and I with a deep frowched on her face. She me silently as well, for o sniping in my dire.

  Good. I don’t know if I had it in me right now to keep that up.

  Grey strode over to the doors of the Church that had failed me, and with a flick of his fingers, they opened before him.

  Preceptor Josha was waiting for us, standing behind his podium. The man had a death grip on it but dispyed no disfort on his face. He nodded in wele at us but waited frey to speak first.

  Grey obliged him. “Good day, Preceptor…?” He said, casually approag the pulpit.

  “Josha, Headmaster,” The Preceptor said, ining his head at Grey. He stepped from behind his podium aured with his hand towards a different door than the ohat led to the ritual room. “If we could tihis versation in my office?”

  Grey ined his head right back at him. “By all means, lead the way.”

  Josha approached the door to his apparent offid held it open for the three of us. We obliged, finding it to be a simple room. It wasn’t very rge and was very modestly furnished. Ihere was really only a simple desk, a few chairs, and a handful of filled-to-the-brim bookcases. Once all three of us were inside, Josha followed and crossed the room to sit in the chair behind his desk. He gestured silently to the two chairs that were in front of him.

  Honoka stayed he door with her arms crossed, while Grey and I sat down in the indicated seats. Josha folded his hands in front of him. I think it was to hide his own nervousness, as I saw the man’s firembling ever so slightly.

  Grey spoke first again. “I must say, to my knowledge, this is an unpreted situation,” He said, drumming his fingers on the armrest of his chair. He paused his drumming wheiced the Preceptor's nervousness as well. “Do calm down, Preceptor. I promise that you’re in no danger. Historically, I’ve had little to no flicts with the Church of the Gyre.”

  Josha stilled for a moment and then shook his head. “Ah. Apologies, Headmaster. I’m nhtened of you. I’m afraid that I’m uled by another manner. You see, I had time to…sult with the Church hierarchy while we awaited your presence.”

  “Ah!” Grey excimed, leaning forward. “The vaunted Gyre Gss. I see. You know, I oempted to replicate its le unication properties. I’m afraid I met with some rather spectacur failures.”

  Gyre Gss…

  So, the Church had the ability to speak to each other long distance? Like a…phone or something? Why did things like messengers still exist then?

  Josha smiled slightly. “Yes, we know. However, regarding your nerentice?” He asked leadingly. Grey raised a hand in apology, sitting back. “My report ouation was strange enough that it was elevated to the highest offiot long ago, I spoke to the Primector about the failure tee Mr. Hart’s left arm. If I seem on edge at all, it’s simply because this is the first time I’ve ever caught his direct attention.”

  Grey hummed. “How iing. It’s been years and years since Aurelius and I spoke. What insight into this matter did he have?”

  Josha took a deep breath, his deep blue eyes flickering my way for a moment. “I would like to remind you about the rality of the Church, Headmaster. Not as a warning,” He amended hastily, when Grey raised an eyebrow. “But as a reassurance. We are not ined to share aive information that erhaps iently, discovered today.”

  Oh.

  I see…

  Grey must have as well, judging by the way his eyes narrowed slightly.

  Josha cleared his throat unfortably. “Having said that, the Church of the Gyre is aware of certain…fringe cases where the Rite eion has failed in the past. Certain fidential research was ducted on this matter many years ago, and I have been allowed to share its findings with you. It has to do with the nature of how the Rite funs, you see. Do to our…retionship with the Gyre, blessings be upon it, we are capable of perf the Rite eion in the first pce. A Status, as it is bestowed upon the individual, possesses more i funs than is typically dispyed to most Awoken.”

  “This isn’t o me,” Grey said, furrowing his brow. “In academic circles, it’s well known that a Status has yers to it that are hidden. Or else how would things like System Judgements even happen?”

  I nodded along, sidering the matter. That made seo me. I’d always known there was more to a Status than what was shown to me. Not because of something like a Judgment, even if I’d experienced one. No, it was because of the hidden funs of my own Precursor Status that I’d kept quiet about from everyone. Even Grey.

  Meanwhile, Josha nodded. “Just so. However, one of those hidden funs is the entire basis of the Rite. Headmaster, I’m sure you’re aware of what the actual css that most Preceptors pursue is, correct?” At Grey’s curious nod, Josha looked over at me briefly. “For the sake of your young friend, however, I will eborate. The actual css that ioneered by Primector Zheng Wei mauries ago, Preceptor, does not possess any direbat abilities.”

  My eyebrows rose at that.

  “Oh yes,” Josha me. “Preight be one of the only examples of a css that exists uhe System that has limited bat capabilities. We’re not defenseless, of course. But rather, those of us who devote ourselves to the Gyre pursue a utility css. Preceptor is a css that is focused oatus. It allows us to, shall eel back the curtain on the inner ws of it. Our main ability is something called Delve. With it, we enter into a state of deep meditation, allowing us to pohe deep and divine mysteries i in a Status. The Skill only be used on oneself, of course. It would be a viotion of the highest order if it was able to be used on others.”

  Honoka snorted from behind us, momentarily drawing the attention of everyone in the room. While Grey gave her a sharp warning gnce, causio hold up her hands in surrender, I gave her a curious one.

  What was that about?

  “This isn’t a secret, either,” Grey told me, dragging his eyes away from Honoka. “It’s something of a draw for those individuals who are both curious and full of faith. I uand that the Skill is something not dissimir to aremely powerful Observe that be used only on oneself.”

  “Correct, Headmaster,” Josha smiled at the two of us. “The point is, Primector Zheng Wei discovered a hidden repository of knowledge inside his Status many years ago. Inside was what one could call a…tempte of sorts. This tempte was a detailed design of what a person’s body should be at full health. We believe that it is this tempte that facilitates the natural healing i in the Awoken. In other words, the body is enced to return to the state present iempte.”

  Grey’s eyes widened in shock, sitting bolt upright in his chair. “And that’s the mystery of how Preceptors are able trow missing body parts!” He excimed, delighted. “You tap into that tempte, and ence the body to return to that state! My gods, that’s brilliant. It bypasses the i inability of the body trow limbs through the use of a backdoor.”

  I tilted my head in thought. But…

  “All right, I’m just going to y this out oable,” I said, drawing everyone’s attention. “o dance around it anymore, yeah? I’m a Precursor, and I know Zheng Wei recursor. You’ve been implying that the Rite doesn’t work on me because I’m a Precursor. Hoei able to make this ritual work if he was one as well?”

  Josha wi my bluntness but still nodded. “History tells us it was a great tragedy that Wei the Righteous was able to develop this method eion, but was uo use it himself. You see, he had lost both of his legs in battle many years ago, which is how he came to study with the Church of yesteryear. In his search for a mystical solution, he would develop both the css and the Ritual needed, but could not utilize them. You are correct, Mr. Hart. You ot undergo the Rite eion because of your status as a Precursor. rimector Wei discovered is that his owe was…corrupted in a way that he was uo put into words. Access to it was restricted, even with the help of the System and the Rite he developed. Still, it was a moal boon to the people of Vereden, as our individual Statuses are not quite as…locked down as that of a Precursor’s. I’m afraid that your options are limited if you wish tain your arm. Perhaps your only true option is to hope that one of your csses will provide an intensely powerful regeion Skill.”

  I lowered my head, gaze falling to my p at the Preceptor's words.

  I see…

  Grey stood up from his chair when Josha was finished speaking. “Thank you for your expnation, Preceptor Josha,” He said diplomatically. At Josha’s answering nod, Grey tinued. “I believe we’ll be on our way then. Sihe Church ot help, we will pursue other methods eio’s go,” He said to Honoka and I.

  “Good day, Headmaster. I’m sorry we couldn’t help you, Mr. Hart,” Preceptor Josha said to me solingly. I just smiled weakly at him and stood up as well.

  Honoka opehe door to Josha’s offid stalked out, while Grey and I followed her. Once we were out of the Church, Grey set his hand on my shoulder once again. He sighed. “We’ll find a way, Nathan. I promise you. For now, let’s go bap, shall we? I believe aodations have already been prepared for us.”

  I nodded, and with o g the Church, followed Grey through the streets of Silvercrest.

  Hours ter, I was sitting on my bed in my personal tent ihe Uprising camp. When we had gotten back here, I had dodged curious and ed questions from Sylvia and Azarus areated here, once shown the way by Grey.

  I just wao be alone.

  I had beeless for hours now, but I didn’t want to leave these cloth walls and talk about how I felt. I’m sure Grey and Honoka had informed the others that I couldn’t get my arm back, and I frankly didn’t want to deal with them just yet.

  Instead, I’d been p the problem in my own way.

  How do I fix this?

  I think I’d hit upon an idea.

  What did I have that other people didn’t? Aremely powerful, multidisciplinary crafting Profession, that’s what. If I couldn’t regrow my arm, I was just going to have to repce it with something else.

  And I think I knew how.

  My gaze fell on the mystically potent bars of gold that Woodrick had gifted me the ht.