Way of the Arcane Ascendant

Monks are not typically in tune with the mentality that is required for arcane practice, as the amount of self-reflection that these warriors undergo leaves little time for the extensive study required for the magical arts. The Way of the Arcane Fist is a sort of compromise in this ideology, enabling monks to undergo personal reflection while enabling them to contemplate arcane formulas on a less intensive basis, leading to a monk capable of utilitarian ritual spellcasting who can also integrate the usage of some cantrips into their martial arts combat. They may not project fireballs or lightning bolts of their own accord, but they can certainly mystically enhance their other capabilities in many impressive ways.

In Avalestra, this way was considered lost and rumored as a capability of the ancients, until Doujo Han, Grandmaster of the Way of the Four Elements, journeyed to Antargen Ares and placed the Spiritstones into the Altar of Soul. This completed the steps necessary to create a true city of the goodly dead in the underground city created there, and from those departed souls sharing their knowledge, Han learned the two missing monk ways of Antargen Ares from before its annihilation. One of these was the Way of the Arcane Ascendant, and the other was the Way of the Divine Pillar. He chose two disciples to carry on these teachings in a living form, and Churigo Hestan became the only current master of this way. He has chosen a few devotees to purvey this path of discipline, and a rare few can be spotted in libraries throughout the continent, gleaning new secrets as they meditate over eldritch tomes.

Arcane Palm Technique

At 3rd level when you learn this way, you are capable of learning magical cantrips to assist your martial arts techniques. You are also capable of attacking with Shocking Grasp in addition to your unarmed attacks. You learn the Shocking Grasp cantrip and your choice of one other cantrip from the wizard spell list. You learn an additional cantrip of your choice from this list at monk levels 4, 10, and 18. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these cantrips. In addition, whenever you deal damage with Shocking Grasp, you may change the damage type to your choice of fire or cold damage. You may also use the Shocking Grasp cantrip and still use your Flurry of Blows on your turn.

Insightful Ritualist

At 6th level, your study of the arcane and your knowledge of ascetic mysticism have combined to allow you to ritually cast spells, but due to the more divine nature of your ki meditations, you also learn some insightful rituals that other ritual arcanists do not possess. You now have a great knowledge of ritual spellcasting, and you are able to cast some spells as rituals that other spellcasters normally could not. You gain the Ritual Caster feat for the wizard spell list and you may choose any three rituals you could cast if you were a wizard of your monk level. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for all ritual spells cast this way. You additionally add the Ceremony and Augury spells to your ritual book, and you may learn Divination at monk level 7, and Commune at monk level 9.

Additionally, your rote knowledge of the fundamentals of magic allows you to defend yourself against magic more readily. You may spend 3 ki and a reaction to cast Counterspell without expending a spell slot. If you spend additional ki points when you use this feature, you may cast Counterspell in this way as if it were a spell level higher for each additional ki point you spend.

Arcane Apostle

At 11th level in this class, you gain an extraordinary degree of insight into the very nature of magic, and you learn a unique ritual which grants a remarkable perception into the ways in which magic ebbs and flows around you, and allows you to channel magic to add arcane damage to your monk attacks. You perform a 10 minute ritual in which you meditate silently while making the somatic components of certain spells, and you gain the benefits of the True Seeing spell for 1 hour. Additionally, for 1 hour after you have performed this ritual, if you deal damage with your Shocking Grasp cantrip, you gain an instance of Arcane Insight. You may only have one instance of Arcane Insight at a time. When you hit a creature with a monk weapon or unarmed strike, you may expend Arcane Insight to add your martial arts die in damage to that attack. This damage is your choice of cold, fire, or lightning.

Magical Disruption

At 17th level, you've become so knowledgeable in the patterns and forms of arcane magic that you can break spells cast against you easily, and shatter standing spells with a well-placed strike. When you use your Patient Defense, you gain advantage on all saving throws against magic and resistance to magic damage until the start of your next turn. 

Additionally, you are capable of dispelling magic with your unarmed strikes. When you hit an enemy or an object with an unarmed attack, you may spend 3 or more ki points to immediately cast Dispel Magic without expending a spell slot on the target of your attack, and if you spend additional ki points, you may improve this casting of Dispel Magic as if it were one spell level higher for each additional ki point spent. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for this spell.