Richard

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Richard Williams
Original Name	李察
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Greenwood School; Classical Society recommendation list; Theogony Salon (as Hermes); Briston Branch Office winter intern
Occupation/Role	Student; Latin tutor; Scholar-path practitioner; Curio appraiser and aspiring intermediary
Status	Alive
First Appearance	1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
[Breathing] Lv.1	1	Activated with an available point after the bronze pendant drained his life force; gains experience passively through breathing.
[Scholarship] Lv.1	5	Activated with his first point invested in Intellect; rapidly improves his mastery, memory, and understanding of basic knowledge.
[Breathing] Lv.2	16	Improves breathing efficiency, sleep quality, energy, and the efficiency of his other skill training.
[Scholarship] Lv.2	21	Reached through deciphering steganographic text; makes complex root-word analysis and cipher work substantially faster.
Aether Micro-circulation / Novice	31	Establishes a complete Aether Micro-circulation after a month of Breathing Technique practice, officially reaching the Novice threshold.
[Eating] Lv.1 and [Sleeping] Lv.1	54	Activates the remaining Physique skills needed to improve his physical foundation and eventually unlock Spirit.
[Walking] Lv.1 / [Spirit] unlocked	98	Activates Walking with Aether drawn from the Sphinx Oil Lamp, opening the Spirit category and its initial 10-unit Spirit Capacity.
Stone Armor	107	Learns formal defensive Spellcraft from the Gargoyle's inscriptions, initially using it for localized reinforcement.
[Sleeping] Lv.2	118	Greatly improves the organization and consolidation of information during sleep, strengthening retention and recall.
[Perception] Lv.1	123	Activated using Aether drawn from an eagle badge and a silver ring; heightens his senses, intuition, Spirit Sight, and divination.
Moon Nail	134	Acquires a Lunae Venatricis-derived throwing Spellcraft using seasoned silver needles as its medium.
Shadow Armor	130	Unlocks Stone Armor's reversible form after reaching the required proficiency, allowing him to burden a target through its shadow.
Practitioner / Sphinx Oil Lamp Signature	163 178	Completes his Signature and gains the Sphinx Oil Lamp as his Signature Curio, formally advancing beyond the Novice stage.
[Perception] Lv.2	163	Develops deeper internal perception, allowing him to discern the Light Tree of his Seat of the Sun and Aetheric blockages.
[Scholarship] Lv.3 / Erudition and [Reasoning] Lv.1	191 192	Erudition provides the intellectual raw materials for higher study, while Reasoning enables Richard to perform secondary processing of knowledge, reconstruct Spellcraft, and produce formal research models.

Background / History

Richard is a man from Earth who awakens in the body of the sickly Richard Williams in Briston, a parallel world. Before his rebirth, he frequented folklore forums, wrote amateur research papers, and studied accounts of occult traditions from a safe distance; in Briston, The Veil and Aether are real. 1 13

The original Richard received a thumb-sized bronze pendant from his cousin Vincent during a maternal-family gathering in the Imperial Capital. Wearing it steadily weakened him and nearly killed him after a fever, but it also provided the point that awakened Richard's status panel. 1

He initially prioritizes recovering his frail body and easing the Williams family's financial strain. His rapid academic improvement—especially in Latin—earns him tutoring opportunities, support from teachers, and a place on Greenwood's Cicero Cup team. 5 6 8

Mr. Hutton directs Richard to hidden material in Greenwood's library, where he decodes Appendix C and learns of The Veil, Aether, and the Golden, Blood-Burning, and Abyssal breathing paths. Richard judges the stable Golden Path to be his only viable option given his weak physique. 8 12 13

Richard discovers the occult rank hierarchy—Novice, Practitioner, Adeptus Minor, Adeptus Major, Virtuoso, Magister, and Archon—and later establishes his own Aether Micro-circulation, entering the Novice rank. He identifies most closely with the Scholar path. 29 30 31

At the Ashford estate, his grandfather Gerald tests his Aether and reveals that the Ashford family has served as Gatekeepers for more than three centuries. Richard also learns that his mother Margaret once abandoned the world of Curios and that his aunt Isabella is a Scholar-path practitioner. 41 43 46

After placing second in the Imperial Cicero Cup, Richard gains a Classical Society recommendation, access to parts of the Imperial University library, and the opportunity to seek high-paying tutoring work. 60 62 82

Richard learns that advancement from Novice to Practitioner requires a Subscriptio, a chosen professional path, and a relevant Probatio. He also learns that a completed Signature permits practitioners to intercept ambient Aether temporarily, use true Spellcraft, accept commissions, and enter most occult-side venues. 69

He is anonymously recruited into the Theogony Salon under the divine name Hermes. Though he recognizes the Salon as a valuable source of intelligence and trade, he remains wary of Hecate and carefully divides what he can safely reveal from his true secrets. 86 89 93

After extracting a Seed from the Sphinx Oil Lamp, Richard unlocks his Spirit attribute by activating all four Physique skills. The Seed bears the feature tags Riddle, Gate, and Judgment, but cannot be planted without Spirit. 98

Richard begins paid tutoring for Tom Dawn and continues firearms, Spirit Sight, divination, physical, and Spellcraft training. He also joins Greenwood Fighting Club to strengthen the physical foundation needed to support his Aether-enhanced abilities. 104 114 129

During his winter internship, Richard participates in a mission concerning a deteriorating seal and uses his linguistic and occult knowledge to decipher a boundary stone as part of his Probatio. He subsequently completes his Signature, making the Sphinx Oil Lamp his Signature Curio and advancing to Practitioner. 144 160 163 178

Margaret later reveals that she damaged her Aether circuits in a failed attempt to enter Adeptus Minor mastery. Richard seeks treatments and learns a daily nurturing method in hopes of slowing or repairing her condition. 112 135

Appearance

Richard begins as a visibly undernourished, sickly boy, but his improving Physique gradually reveals an attractive and composed appearance. 1 19

• Brown hair and gray eyes. 1
• Prominent cheekbones and collarbones; initially wears shirts that hang loosely from his thin frame. 1
• Good underlying bone structure, including a defined nose bridge, brow bone, and tapered jaw. 19
• Becomes sturdier and healthier through improved diet, Breathing practice, Eating, Sleeping, and strength training. 8 16 54 129
• His growing confidence and composure make him noticeably more handsome to others. 19

Personality

Richard is analytical, cautious, and highly pragmatic. He habitually organizes information, assesses risks, and avoids drawing conclusions without evidence—whether he is investigating a Curio, interpreting social behavior, or confronting the reality of The Veil. 1 13 22 52

He is ambitious but patient. Rather than chasing immediate gains, he plans around sustainable sources of points, knowledge, and access to Curios; his proposed appraiser or middleman role reflects this long-term thinking. 5 52 53

Despite his secrecy around the occult, Richard becomes increasingly responsible toward his family. He takes over household chores, buys Evelyn clothing and shoes, offers to spend his Cicero Cup prize money on her, and responds thoughtfully to Margaret's illness. 31 46 63 80

Richard places a high value on information control. At the Theogony Salon, he categorizes intelligence by how safely it can be shared and avoids confirming deductions that could expose himself or other members. 93 118

He is disciplined in training and increasingly empathetic toward the hardships of ordinary people, particularly workers suffering under Briston's social conditions. 129 175

Abilities & Skills

Status Panel

Richard possesses a panel divided into Physique, Intellect, and Spirit categories. It tracks skill experience and allows him to activate skills using available points gained from Aether-bearing objects. 1

• Physique: Breathing, Sleeping, Walking, and Eating. 1
• Intellect: Scholarship, Reasoning, and Perception. 1
• Spirit: Initially locked until all four Physique attributes are activated; it is unlocked after Richard activates Walking. 1 98
• Spirit Capacity: Stores Aether with an initial capacity of 10 units; increasing its limit requires points at progressively greater costs. 98
• Reasoning prerequisite: Requires Scholarship Lv.3. 5
• Reasoning: Activated after Scholarship reaches Lv.3, enabling higher-order analysis, model construction, and the secondary processing of learned knowledge. 191 192

Aether Absorption

Richard can absorb Aether from Curios and convert it into available points, though draining an object completely risks exposing his ability. 1 28 52

• The bronze pendant supplied his initial point but severely depleted his life force. 1
• He absorbs Aether from a silver coin and gains 0.4 available points plus a defensive spell. 28
• He absorbs Aether from the Gargoyle, copper coin, and incense burner, raising his points to 2.23. 52
• He intentionally leaves residual Aether in Curios to reduce suspicion. 52
• He drains an eagle badge and a silver ring before using the resulting Aether to activate Perception. 123
• He later absorbs Aether from a ritual dagger and bronze plate recovered during his internship, raising his available points to 1.75. 172

Breathing Technique

Richard practices a Golden Path breathing method, developing a complete Aether Micro-circulation and reaching the Novice rank. 13 31

• Quadruple Breathing helps him break free from a traumatic Ghoul-attack vision. 26
• Aether can be diverted to reinforce specific body parts. 31
• Improved breathing enhances sleep, energy, learning efficiency, stamina, and physical performance. 16 35
• [Breathing: Healing] uses Aether as a repairing medium. Richard applies it to physical recovery and discovers that it can stabilize an Aetheric shadow more efficiently than flesh. 160 172
• His steady, deliberately controlled breathing rhythm supports his physical training and reveals his Golden Path foundation to trained observers such as Coleman. 129 142

Scholarship

Scholarship accelerates Richard's acquisition, retention, and application of knowledge. 5

• Rapidly improves his Latin, enabling fluent Cicero recitations and sophisticated rhetorical analysis. 6 15 58
• Supports complex decoding using Latin grammar, etymology, cryptography, and religious texts. 13 29
• Assists his Curio evaluations by connecting historical context, material details, and Aether contamination. 50 52
• At Lv.3, Erudition supplies the extensive retained knowledge needed for advanced study and reconstruction work. 191 192
• Uses his growing command of Latin, Ancient Greek, Gaelic, and institutional cipher styles to work on boundary-stone rubbings and double-overwritten texts. 160 172 186

Perception

Richard develops Aether sensing through his Micro-circulation and later formalizes and strengthens it by activating Perception. 47 123

• Detects the dense Aether environment of Flower Moon Street. 49
• Identifies fraudulent occult shops and assesses Curio contamination. 47 50
• Senses numerous Aether nodes at Imperial University. 64
• Activating Perception Lv.1 improves his ordinary senses, intuition, Spirit Sight, and divinatory sensitivity. 123
• Perception Lv.2 allows him to observe deeper Aetheric structures, including the Light Tree rooted in his chest and a blockage caused by reverse-channel strain. 163
• He recognizes that improving this ability is necessary to avoid visibly touching every suspect Curio. 80

Spirit Sight and Divination

Richard learns Spirit Sight and basic divination through Old Biggs's occult branch training. 105 106

• Fixed Sight allows him to hold his perception steadily upon an Aetheric detail rather than merely sensing it passively. 126
• He achieves an 80% score in an Inspiration test requiring him to distinguish Aether-bearing objects from ordinary ones. 114
• He develops a personal symbolic language through wax-based Candle Talk divination. 126
• He uses rune stones and stone reading to judge likely outcomes, including Isabella's visit and other potential decisions. 133
• Coleman teaches him to conceal the obvious buildup of force that otherwise reveals an impending Spirit Sight-guided Moon Nail attack. 187

Mist Wall Spell

A defensive spell activated through crushed Grey-Stamen Grass and controlled breath. 75

• Produces no visible light or smoke. 75
• Incapacitates or disorients attackers and bystanders through a mist barrier. 76
• Its public use draws the attention of the Briston Municipal Health Inspectorate. 76
• It is not formal Spellcraft, as its effect primarily comes from the Aether inherently carried by Grey-Stamen Grass rather than Richard's own Aether. 101

Stone Armor

Stone Armor is Richard's first formal Spellcraft, derived from the Gargoyle's inscriptions. 107 130

• Forms a hard defensive layer capable of resisting bladed thrusts and blunt strikes, though Richard doubts its protection against firearms. 107
• Richard can concentrate its Aether over a fist for substantially greater thickness, hardness, and duration. 107
• Through practice, he can armor an entire arm for more than forty-five seconds. 129
• Isabella can use Scholar-path analysis to read the Spellcraft's underlying logic and dismantle its formation. 178

Shadow Armor

Shadow Armor (Lorica Umbrae) is Stone Armor's reversible form, generated once Richard reaches proficiency in the original Spellcraft. 130

• Uses a target's shadow as a medium to impose additional bodily weight and hinder movement. 130
• Its duration and intensity scale with Stone Armor proficiency and Aether consumption. 130
• It requires a light source and cannot be cast on a target without a shadow. 130
• Richard cannot use Stone Armor while Shadow Armor is active. 130
• He successfully tests it on a stray cat, but recognizes that Evil Beings with Aether cycles may resist or weaken its effects. 131
• He later begins reconstructing its theory through Reasoning, recognizing that it fundamentally applies weight to areas without light rather than literally placing stones on shadows. 191

Moon Nail

Moon Nail is a Lunae Venatricis-derived throwing Spellcraft cast through seasoned silver needles. 134 149

• Richard can form a Moon Nail in approximately two seconds at a range of about five meters. 149
• Intensive field use improves its formation time to roughly one and a half seconds and allows him to form it with two fingers pressed together. 154
• Coleman helps Richard refine his aim and conceal the preparatory rhythm that can reveal an imminent attack. 187

Marksmanship

Richard begins firearms training under Old Biggs. 84

• Fires 24 rounds during his first lesson with varying accuracy. 84
• Learns of Enchanted Bullets, which deal both physical and Aetheric damage to Evil Beings. 84
• His Breathing Technique foundation impresses Old Biggs. 84
• His shooting improves through continued practice at the range. 104
• He purchases a Webley Police Third Model revolver and six single-ring Enchanted Bullets for his winter internship. 139 140

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Bronze pendant — Vincent's gift; drained Richard's life force while providing the point that awakened his panel. 1
• Sphinx Oil Lamp — A sealed, Aether-bearing lamp purchased from Clement Antiques. Richard extracts its Seed, unlocks Spirit through the Aether it contains, and later makes it his Signature Curio. 10 11 21 68 98 178
• Sphinx Seed — Structured Aether residue extracted from the Oil Lamp, with the feature tags Riddle, Gate, and Judgment; it requires an unlocked Spirit attribute to be planted. 98
• Gargoyle — A Curio bearing inscriptions that Richard studies and later uses as a source of Aether; its inscriptions provide the basis for Stone Armor. 46 52 107
• Copper coin and incense burner — Aether-contaminated Curios bought from Donald for ten pounds. 50 52
• Eagle badge and silver ring — Curios whose Aether Richard absorbs before activating Perception Lv.1. 123
• Grey-Stamen Grass — Consumable material used to cast the Mist Wall Spell. 75
• Rune stones and copper divination dish — Tools supplied through Old Biggs's training and used for divination and stone reading. 126 133
• Silver needles — Seasoned old needles used as the casting medium for Moon Nail. 149
• Webley Police Third Model revolver — Richard's sidearm for his winter internship. 139
• Enchanted Bullets — Six single-ring rounds purchased from Old Biggs; they can damage targets on both the physical and Aetheric levels. 139 140
• Theogony Salon ceramic token — Membership token bearing the Rod of Asclepius emblem. 86
• Classical Society recommendation letter — Earned through the Cicero Cup; grants access to tutoring opportunities, lectures, and portions of Imperial University’s library collection. 60 62

Relationships

• Rogers Williams — Father; a hardworking engineer who prioritizes Richard's studies, though the family’s financial hardship motivates Richard to seek work. 1 2
• Margaret Williams — Mother; caring but chronically ill. She formerly participated in the world of Curios and left it behind after marriage; she later reveals that a failed Adeptus Minor breakthrough damaged her Aether circuits. 1 46 112
• Evelyn Williams — Younger sister; protective of Richard and unsettled by his sudden changes, but their bond deepens as he becomes more dependable. 1 31 63 80
• Vincent Ashford — Cousin; gave Richard the dangerous bronze pendant and later accompanies him in the Imperial Capital. 1 47 50
• Gerald Ashford — Maternal grandfather and Ashford Gatekeeper; tests Richard's Aether and begins treating him as valuable reserve talent. 41 43 44
• Isabella Ashford — Aunt, Imperial University associate professor, and Scholar-path practitioner; provides guidance on Margaret's condition, Richard's academic prospects, occult advancement, and Signature Curios. 46 62 63 137 178
• Mr. Hutton — Teacher, Ductor, and occult mentor; directs Richard toward hidden library materials and provides access to supernatural knowledge, while withholding dangerous information. 8 26 34 93
• Mr. Holland — Latin teacher and mentor; recognizes Richard's rapid progress, trains him for the Cicero Cup, and supports his academic development. 6 14 16
• Hugh Fenton — Classmate and one of Richard's earliest friends; admires Richard's transformation but feels left behind by his new attention. 3 21 36
• Warren Crowley — Wealthy classmate whom Richard tutors in Latin in exchange for meals; becomes an enthusiastic supporter and friend. 3 8 68
• Gray — Quiet, wealthy classmate with an interest in the supernatural; joins Richard's tutoring sessions, provides breakfast, and shares scones with him. 8 19 36
• Lillian Hayward — Academically gifted classmate with access to restricted third-floor books; she and Richard share a quiet mutual awareness of occult matters. 14 36
• Albert Clement — Independent antiquities appraiser and owner of Clement Antiques; becomes a potential channel for Richard to acquire Curios. 80
• Old Biggs — Marksmanship instructor and occult-branch mentor who teaches Richard about firearms, Enchanted Bullets, Spirit Sight, and divination. 84 105 114
• Hecate — Powerful and secretive leader of the Theogony Salon who recruits Richard as Hermes and facilitates the Salon's information exchanges. 86 89 135
• Mrs. McNeil — Old Biggs's senior sister, a Minor Master practitioner, and leader of Richard's seal-reinforcement team. 126 144
• Charlotte Dawn — Tom Dawn's older sister and Richard's employer; hires him as a Latin tutor after he successfully reaches Tom. 102 104
• Tom Dawn — Richard's initially rebellious Latin student, whose academic performance improves under Richard's tailored teaching methods. 102 125
• Fraser — Leader of Greenwood Fighting Club; initially skeptical of Richard's training but recognizes his breathing control and potential. 129
• Coleman — Military-academy student and Hunter reserve who spars with Richard, recognizes his Golden Path training, and helps refine his Moon Nail technique. 141 142 187
• Maggie — A fellow practitioner with a Scholar-path aspiration and a diluted inherited bloodline Spellcraft. She discusses occult ambition and lineage with Richard. 167
• Sophia Hardy — Isabella's graduate student, who informs Richard that Isabella uses his Cicero Cup speech as a classroom case study. 137
• Nemesis — A fellow Theogony Salon member whom Richard strongly suspects is Catherine Blackwood; he deliberately avoids verifying the deduction to preserve their mutual anonymity. 118

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rebirth and the Panel

Richard awakens in Briston as Richard Williams, discovers his panel, and begins improving his body through [Breathing]. He investigates the source of his points and concludes that only objects with extraordinary remnants can supply them. 1 5

Academic Rise and the Cicero Cup

By activating [Scholarship], Richard transforms from a failing Latin student into Greenwood's strongest Cicero Cup competitor. He earns second place in the empire-wide competition, a £30 prize, and a Classical Society recommendation. 5 6 60 68

Entering the World Behind The Veil

Hutton's hidden library materials reveal The Veil, transcendent paths, and Aether. Richard decodes occult texts, learns the rank hierarchy, and establishes an Aether Micro-circulation as a Novice. 12 29 31

Ashford Gatekeeper Connection

Richard's visit to the Ashford estate exposes his maternal family's Gatekeeper identity. Gerald tests his Aether, while Margaret and Isabella reveal more of the family's ties to Curios and the Scholar path. 41 43 46

Curio Acquisition and Appraiser Plans

Richard uses his Perception and Scholarship to identify, negotiate for, and absorb Aether from Curios. Recognizing that outright purchases are unsustainable, he plans to become an appraiser or middleman who can siphon small amounts of Aether during legitimate transactions. 49 50 52

Public Spellcasting and New Opportunities

Richard uses the Mist Wall Spell against street scammers, attracting official attention. He subsequently strengthens his connection with Clement, seeks tutoring employment, starts firearms training, and receives an invitation from the Theogony Salon. 75 76 80 82 84 86

Theogony Salon and Information Trading

As Hermes, Richard enters the anonymous Theogony Salon and begins trading intelligence, Curio-related methods, and Spellcraft models. He maintains strict limits on what he reveals while using the Salon to seek knowledge, resources, and treatment for Margaret's damaged circuits. 89 93 133 135

Signature and Winter Internship

Richard prepares for a seal-reinforcement internship by studying inscriptions, acquiring a firearm, and improving Stone Armor and Moon Nail. During the mission, he helps decipher a boundary stone for his Probatio, completes his Signature, and gains the Sphinx Oil Lamp as his Signature Curio. 139 144 160 163 178

Scholar Spellcraft Development

Richard develops Stone Armor into the offensive Shadow Armor through reversal, then uses his growing Scholarship and Reasoning to reconstruct its underlying theory. He increasingly treats Spellcraft as a subject for formal analysis, testing, and academic-style documentation. 130 191 192

Trivia

• Richard's former self was known in amateur folklore-research circles and had written several papers before arriving in Briston. 1
• He considers the Golden Path his only realistic cultivation route because of his initially weak constitution. 13
• He estimates Gerald Ashford to be at least an Adeptus Minor, and possibly an Adeptus Major. 42
• His stated explanation for his sudden academic transformation is that a fever made him “figure a lot of things out.” 61
• He scores 8 out of 10 in Old Biggs's Inspiration test. 114
• He is approximately sixty to seventy percent certain that Nemesis is Catherine Blackwood, but intentionally leaves the conclusion unverified. 118
• Shadow Armor cannot be used at the same time as Stone Armor, as both are opposing applications of the same Spellcraft. 130