It cannot be used on the caster.
Skill: fox thought.
Form a mental connection with a cherished person.
Magic effects are amplified.
Improves the caster’s mind consumption efficiency.
Once one receives a falna and becomes an adventurer, five basic abilities are granted, strength, endurance, dexterity, agility, and magic.
These stats are divided into ten ranks from high to low: S, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I.
The higher the rank, the greater the enhancement to an adventurer’s physical and magical abilities.
For instance, 0 to 99 corresponds to rank I, 100 to 199 is rank H, and so forth, capping out at 999 for rank S.
The closer a stat gets to the maximum value of 999, the slower its growth becomes.
When receiving a falna for the first time, only a select few awaken magic or skills alongside their basic abilities.
Once at least one basic ability reaches rank D, at 500 points or above, and after achieving a notable feat, an adventurer can choose to level up.
Raising one’s level can also trigger the awakening of new skills or magic.
Throughout an adventurer’s journey, meaningful experiences and life milestones can also lead to the acquisition of new skills and magic.
As for development abilities, they materialize through specific experiences and accumulated expertise.
A common example is abnormal resistance, which many adventurers in Orario develop simply by entering the dungeon, suffering from poison, and getting cured repeatedly until their bodies adapt.
Just then, Astraea called out from inside the room.
“Mizuki, come in. It is your turn.”
Mizuki handed the parchment in his hand to Alise, who was still examining it intently, then turned and walked into the room.
The door shut softly behind him, sealing off the noise from the outside corridor.
“Please remove your shirt and lie down on the bed,” Astraea said gently, gesturing toward her soft mattress.
Without hesitation, Mizuki pulled off his shirt, revealing a well-built, sculpted back, and lay down on the bed.
The sheets were plush and carried a faint, comforting scent, like clothes dried in the warm sun.
He felt the mattress dip slightly as Astraea sat by his side.
Her body pressed lightly against his waist, her presence distinct and close.
Before he could dwell on it, a cool finger lightly brushed against his back.
The touch carried a divine chill, causing Mizuki’s muscles to tense slightly.
“Mizuki,” Astraea whispered softly near his ear, “what does justice mean to you?”
Mizuki paused for a second, then turned his head slightly.
“Goddess, is this a test?”
“No, it is not a test.”
Astraea kept her gentle fingertips resting on Mizuki’s back.
“I am merely curious. Each of my children has shared her own view of justice with me. Some say justice is an absolute principle that must never be broken. Some say justice is beauty. Some say justice is the companions standing by your side. Just a moment ago, Haruhime told me that her justice is you.”
Was he a cold person?
Not really.
In his previous life, whenever he saw an elderly person collapse on the street, his immediate instinct was to help.
Yet, constrained by the harsh realities of life and lacking wealth, he simply could not shoulder the catastrophic financial risks that might follow a misunderstood good deed.
He used to watch inspiring videos through a screen.
He felt his blood stir whenever he saw people band together to rescue someone in danger.
Selfless sacrifice always moved him.
The brave souls guarding the frontiers could easily bring tears to his eyes.
Deep down, he carried that same burning warmth.
Still, back then, he was just an ordinary person, struggling through his studies and daily life.
Now, things were different.
Mizuki had crossed over into this world and gained power.
He had no desire to remain a bystander who watched from afar out of fear of the consequences.
At the very least, within the scope of his abilities, he would no longer turn a blind eye.
He spoke at an even, steady pace, his tone calm and resolute.
“My idea of justice can be summed up simply.”
“In poverty, strive to create personal virtue. In prosperity, work to bring good to the whole world.”
“The greatest chivalry lies in serving the people and protecting the world.”
Astraea’s fingers twitched slightly.
“I see…”
Her voice was barely above a whisper, as though she were turning the heavy weight of those words over in her mind.
“The greatest chivalry lies in serving the people and protecting the world…”
She repeated the phrase, finding a profound clarity within it.
It was an interpretation of justice she had never encountered before.
It differed from Ryu, who viewed justice as an unbending rule of law.
It differed from Alise, who saw justice as the burning passion to protect her friends.
This was a grand, expansive belief.
When weak, preserve one’s integrity.
When strong, extend a hand to all who need it.
What an extraordinary breadth of heart.
Astraea’s expression softened into one of relief, warmth, and deep approval.
“Mizuki, your justice shines brilliantly.”
She spoke softly.
“As their deity, I have never tried to dictate the color of their flames, nor how brightly they burn.”
“My only wish is for all of you to protect that warmth and light within yourselves, so it never fades away.”
With those words, Astraea raised her left hand.
A silver needle glowing with soft white light appeared between her fingers.
She pricked the tip of her right index finger with the needle, drawing a bead of crimson blood.
It was no ordinary mortal blood.
It bore no metallic scent, radiating a soft, sacred light instead.
It was divine blood.
The droplet fell directly onto the center of Mizuki’s back.
The moment the divine blood made contact with his skin, a soothing warmth spread through his limbs and bones.
A sacred power began to stir around that single drop of blood, forming the insignia of the Astraea Familia.
The falna did not cause Mizuki the slightest discomfort.
It felt warm and natural.
Lying on the bed, Mizuki could not see the remarkable transformation occurring across his back.
Centered on the droplet of ichor, intricate and mysterious hieroglyphs spread outward like living vines.
Astraea could feel that Mizuki’s status was etching into place far more smoothly than that of any child she had ever accepted.
There was a harmonious, natural resonance to the process.
When the sacred script settled, Astraea leaned down to read the status recorded on his back, and her eyes widened in surprise.
Strength: i0
Endurance: i0
Dexterity: i0
Agility: i0
Magic: i0
The basic stats of anyone receiving a falna for the first time were always zero.
He had not awakened any magic.
However, two skills had already formed.
Skill: act of justice.
When acting in accordance with righteousness, strength, endurance, and agility receive a boost.
Skill: born to wealth.
Consumes mind.
Abundance, flow, protection.
Manifests wealth and bestows it upon a chosen target, granting an all-around boost to abilities, increasing recovery rate, and raising resistance to negative status effects.