First Among Equals [A Soul Magic & Power Copying Progression Fantasy]

CURRENTLY UNDERGOING A REWRITE. VOLUME ONE IS COMPLETED AND PUBLISHED. Magic has many paths. Mages can only choose one. He chooses them all. Magical affinities grant permanent power to everyone... except Caen. Born weak, defective, and with only the faintest spark of potential, Caen was written off long ago. But obsession cuts deeper than talent. He trains harder than anyone else for a meager fraction of what others started out with.  The moment he learns to interact with souls, the rules of magic start to bend. Many will try to control him—or erase him. Growth in silence isn’t an option. Power demands sacrifice.  And Caen intends to prove himself worthy of it. What to expect: - Weak-but-competent to very strong MC - MC is a budding generalist mage that can interrupt, analyze and copy the magical abilities of others - The initial segment of the story does a lot of set-up for the series as a whole - The burn is slow at first, but picks up once the MC gains some proficiency in his ability - Lateral and longitudinal power progression - A methodical and sensible protagonist that uses classical and unconventional magic as well as mundane tools - MC starts out far behind others, and playing catch-up requires lots of training and experimentation - Friends and loved ones that care about each other - Trouble will always find the MC, thus the need to grow stronger - Planar dimensions, monsters, soul magic, replication of magical abilities, contracted bonds, magic academies, eccentric powerhouses, mysteries and lore, expansive worldbuilding, wars, competing factions, spells, magical bloodlines, cults, and esoterica - This story is going to be long and epic. Failing death, I will complete it. Read Chapter 1