Magic, the power to bend the laws of reality. All because of a mystical substance known as mana.
Mages follow the Paths to achieve power, for there is no more addictive chase. Each Path winds and twists, forcing mages through the flames of adversity and challenge. Though the operative word is "path", the reality is far less straightforward. Instead of a road, Paths are like the branches of world trees, erupting into the heavens, intertwining, and ending in a sharp snap. Only the strongest reach the sky. There are several Paths, and many Ways to walk them—variations of the same Path, and like the stars, they are endless.
Magic is the sacred flame that scours the fat, rendering the truest self. Superfluous flesh melting away to show the skeleton of one's being. A chance for ascension. Apotheosis. Though not every mage works to godhood if they survive long enough... It is inescapable.
Witness the lives of those that tread the knife's edge of self-destruction. Each one intertwined in their search for answers, revenge, and, most of all.
Power.
An orphan loses everything once more. The lone-survivor of a band of mercenaries, looking for adventure, has his friend taken from his clutches. The heir to a powerful bloodline uncovers the secrets to redeem his family. And many more. These individuals have all lost something. In search of filling the void left behind, they have taken up the mantle of a mage.
Per aspera ad astra.
[Through adversity to the stars.]
What to Expect:
This story is progression fantasy, so expect a healthy dose of training arcs. It's also heavy on slice of life, and it isn't entirely plot-driven. This is also heavy on prose. Expect characters to live their lives, and not always be on some quest to save the world.
There aren't any litrpg elements like leveling systems (there are various other progression systems tho), but there's going to be a lot of magic.
I'll be going through it to redo and even add chapters in between. It may be slow in between actual chapters, but I'll be consistently posting stuff like bonus chapters that detail some parts of the world and lore.
There's a lot of magic theory and discussion about it in the story. So, if you don't like impromptu lessons on sorcerous theory by traveling monster slayers, this might not be for you. But if you do like it, rejoice! For there is a lot of it.
There will be combat scenes that are brutal and horrifying. Not to be gratuitous, but quite the opposite. War and fights leave people disfigured. This is no different. Even with magic, some scars never truly fade.
And that's it, hope you enjoy.
View | Series | Vol | Chap | Extra | Group/Host |
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The Paths of Magic | 36 | Chapter 36 - The Arcana of War: Salt, Quicksilver & Sulfur | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 35 | Chapter 35 - A Study of Black & White: Necromancy & Animancy | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 34 | Chapter 34 - The Blood Of The All-Father | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 34 | Chapter 34 - Blood Of The All-Father | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 33 | Chapter 33 - The Reborn Vessel | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 33 | Chapter 33 - The Reborn Vessel & The Beast Within Made Manifest | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 32 | Chapter 32 - Maleficarum: Fell Sorcery & The Dark Arts | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 31 | Chapter 31 - The Pyromancer's Cuirass & The Leechmaw Ripper | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 30 | Chapter 30 - The Watcher's Vigil & Dreaded Gaze | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 30 | Chapter 30 - The Watcher's Vigil & Dread Gaze | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 29 | Chapter 29 - In Vengeful Wake & Toothless Maw, The Executioner's Wrath Comes | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 28 | Chapter 28 - Erebus & Moonsblood, the Blacken Blade of the Eternal Night | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 27 | Chapter 27 - The Lodestone Body & Sympathetic Elementalism | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 26 | Chapter 26 - The Whitemoon Visage & The Bindings Of The Spirit | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 25 | Chapter 25 - The Vital Breath & The Etheric Tide | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 24 | Chapter 24 - The Arcaneum Censorium | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 23 | Chapter 23 - Greedy Like The Wolf Come Wringin' His Wrists | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 22 | Chapter 22 - The Spear of the Heavens & The Bifröstian-blaze | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 21 | Chapter 21 - The Acid of the Soul | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 21 | Lore 21 - The Path of the Artificer II: Magic Circuitry | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 20 | Chapter 20 - The Chain-Bound Prayer: 7, 12 | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 20 | Lore 20 - The Sorcerous Index: The Child of the Stars | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 20 | Bonus 20 - The Path of the Wizard | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 20 | Bonus 20 - The Sorcerous Index: The Shadow-Claw | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 19 | Chapter 19 - The Axe That Cuts Down World Trees | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 19 | Bonus 19 - The Path of the Wizard | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 19 | Lore 19 - The Path of the Wizard | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 19 | Bonus 19 - The Way of the Phrenic | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 18 | Bonus 18 - The Way of the Phrenic | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 18 | Chapter 18 - He Who Fights with Monsters | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 18 | Lore 18 - The Way of the Phrenic | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 18 | Bonus 18 - The Sorcerous Index: The Shadow-Claw | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 17 | Chapter 17 - And When Practice Makes Perfect, Mastery Is Impossible | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 17 | Bonus 17 - The Path of the Arcanist | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 17 | Lore 17 - The Path of the Arcanist | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 16 | Bonus 16 - Spirit Coins | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 16 | Chapter 16 - When Time Is Meaningless, Practice Does Indeed Make Perfect | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 16 | Lore 16 - The Path of the Artificer I: Spirit Coins | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 15 | Bonus 15 - Planar Confluence (The Wheel) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 15 | Chapter 15 - Of Blood and Shadow, There Is No Escape | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 15 | Lore 15 - Planar Confluence: The Wheel | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 14-4 | Bonus 14 - Transcendence, The Surpassing of the Bodies (The Path of the Spiritualist - Part 4) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 14 | Chapter 14 - The Red Sparrow's Remembrance | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 14 | Lore 14 - The Path of the Spiritualist IV: Transcendence | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 13-3 | Bonus 13 - Emergence, The Awakening of the Soul (The Path of the Spiritualist - Part 3) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 13 | Chapter 13 - Vibrant Red & Fumes of Death | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 13 | Lore 13 - The Path of the Spiritualist III: Emergence | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 12-2 | Bonus 12 - Convergence, The Linking of the Spirit (The Path of the Spiritualist - Part 2) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 12 | Chapter 12 - Bloodborne, Cursed from a Blessing | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 12 | Lore 12 - The Path of the Spiritualist II: Convergence | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 11-1 | Bonus 11 - The Path of the Spiritualist (Part 1) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 11 | Chapter 11 - Blood under the Moonlight | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 11 | Lore 11 - The Path of the Spiritualist I | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 10 | Chapter 10 - The Core of the Soul is Black | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 10 | Bonus 10 - Techniques and Spells | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 9 | Bonus 9 - The Hollowborne | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 9 | Chapter 9 - The Beast within & The Mirror that Caught the Stars | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 9 | Lore 9 - Mageborne III: The Hollowborne | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 8 | Chapter 8 - A Mage's Greatest Weakness: The Mind | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 8 | Bonus 8 - The Beastborne | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 8 | Lore 8 - Mageborne II: The Beastborne | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 7 | Bonus 7 - Character Illustrations | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 7 | Chapter 7 - The Mother of Learning | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 7 | Chapter 7 - The Mother of Learning | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 7 | Bonus 7 - Mageborne (Introduction) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 7 | Lore 7 - Mageborne I | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 6-4 | Bonus 6 - Arcanums of the Soul (The Path of the Soulcerer - Part 4) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 6-3 | Bonus 6 - The Path of the Soulcerer (Part 3) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 6-3 | Bonus 6 - Magical Awakenings (The Path of the Soulcerer - Part 3) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 6 | Chapter 6 - Dreams Show the Home of the Soul | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 6 | Chapter 6 - Dreams Show the Home of the Soul | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 6 | Lore 6 - The Path of the Soulcerer IV: Arcanums | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 5-3 | Bonus 5 - Magical Awakenings (The Path of the Soulcerer - Part 3) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 5 | Chapter 5 - The Priest and the Mercenary | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 5 | Chapter 5 - The Priest & the Mercenary | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 5 | Chapter 5 - The Priest & the Mercenary | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 5 | Bonus 5 - Mageborne (Introduction) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 5 | Lore 5 - The Path of the Soulcerer III: Magical Awakenings | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 4-2 | Bonus 4 - The Path of the Soulcerer (Part 2) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 4-2 | Bonus 4 - The Path of the Soulcerer (Part 2) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 4-2 | Bonus 4 - The Aura (The Path of the Soulcerer - Part 2) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 4 | Chapter 4 - Awakened, Blessed from a Curse | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 4 | Chapter 4 - Awakened, Blessed from a Curse | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 4 | Lore 4 - The Path of the Soulcerer II: The Aura | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 3 | Chapter 3 - Unripe Fruit and Innocent Monsters | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 3 | Bonus 3 - The Origins of Soulcery | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 3 | Bonus 3 - The Origins of Soulcery | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 3 | Chapter 3 - Unripe Fruit and Innocent Monsters | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 3 | Chapter 3 - Unripe Fruit & Innocent Monsters | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 3 | Lore 3 - The Origins of Soulcery | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 2 | Chapter 2 - So Much Fun | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 2 | Bonus 2 - Magical Energy, Its Aliases and History | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 2 | Bonus 2 - Magical Energy, Its Aliases and History | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 2 | Chapter 2 - So Much Fun | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 2 | Lore 2 - Magical Energy, Its Aliases and History | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 2 | Chapter 2 - Darkness Made Manifest & The Man Clad in Black | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 2 | Chapter 2 - The Man Clad in Black & Darkness Made Manifest | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 2 | Chapter 2 - The Blind Needles & The Man Clad in Black | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 1-1 | Bonus 1 - The Path of the Soulcerer (Part 1) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 1-1 | Bonus 1 - The Path of the Soulcerer (Part 1) | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 1 | Chapter 1 - The Exorcist & the Thief | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 1 | Prologue 1 - The Order of Mages | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 1 | Chapter 1 - The Exorcist & the Thief | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | 1 | Lore 1 - The Path of the Soulcerer I | RoyalRoadL | |
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Path of the Sympathist | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Path of the Wizard I | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - Path of the Wizard II: Welfontian Wizardry | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Path of the Soulcerer I | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Path of the Soulcerer III: Magical Awakenings | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Path of the Artificer I: Spirit Coins | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - Mageborne I | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Path of the Soulcerer IV: Arcanums | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Way of the Phrenic | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Path of the Spiritualist II: Convergence | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Path of the Soulcerer II: The Aura | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - Mageborne II: The Beastborne | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Origins of Soulcery | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - Magical Energy, Its Aliases and History | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - Mageborne III: The Hollowborne | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Sorcerous Index: The Child of the Stars | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Path of the Wizard | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Path of the Arcanist | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Path of the Spiritualist IV: Transcendence | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - Planar Confluence: The Wheel | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Path of the Spiritualist I | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Path of the Spiritualist III: Emergence | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Path of the Artificer II: Magic Circuitry | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | The Arcana of War: Salt, Quicksilver & Sulfur | RoyalRoadL | ||
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The Paths of Magic | Lore - The Path of the Wizard II: Welfontian Wizardry | RoyalRoadL |