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.

There aren't going to be any explicit sex scenes. And that's it, hope you enjoy.