Nil joined his friends for breakfast after his morning cultivation and technique practice session. He had also added memory games and mental exercises to the mix, having taken the Mind Pill after his last match. It had sat unused for quite some time, and Nil wanted to prepare himself for the next time he faced the terrifying school of magic. Watcher also theorized that additional Mind would also help with his focus, making juggling multiple Qi techniques easier.
It came as no surprise when Shawn reverted to his awkward, cold version around the new addition to his social circle. Yet wasn’t as bad as he was with Nil. It wasn’t clear whether it was because the Symbiotech mess had passed or Susan had softened Shawn up beforehand. The meal was pleasant nonetheless.
Afterward, everyone split up for training while Nil went with Andrew to explore the Forge’s workshop. Normal Summoned didn’t have access to the space without an invite, and the ludus currently had no artisans besides Andrew.
Despite the medieval stone decor, the space housed a variety of modern equipment. Some looked like upgraded versions of Arthurtech equipment. Nil imagined the 3D printer would prove especially useful for creating molds and small, precise parts. There was also an anvil and force and several pieces that Andrew claimed were of Samara’s design. Apparently, she had put them together using the Control World’s magitech.
The ludus limited what Andrew could sell on Earth and for arena use. However, there was no limitation on things made for sale in the Nexus Market. The Forge would simply not let him take certain creations out of the training building. They’d get teleported back to the workshop’s storage if anyone tried to carry controlled items through any exits or windows. It was understandable. Several tools, power sources, and other materials didn’t exist on Earth, and the Control Worlds believed Nil’s people weren’t ready for them.
The Nexus worried about destabilizing the economy or starting an arm’s race, which caused the downfall of Seed World and opened holes for the Scourge to plant their hooks. Apparently, the Control Worlds also believed that it was up to the world’s citizens to invent, discover, or bring in technology with their own ingenuity and creativity. They called it natural progress and didn’t believe in giving out handouts or accelerating their progress unless the world housed valuable resources or a Well of Power.
On rare occasions, when they found talents—which Andrew took a lot of pride in being one such talent—the Control Worlds invested in them. The Nexus’s unusual direct presence on Earth through the Forge helped them train and raise him appropriately without negatively affecting the planet.
When Nil asked about Andrew’s growth, he got a Schema interface in reply. It showed Andrew’s attributes and abilities but not Feats. Nil didn’t ask to see them. Even though they were close and he shared all with Andrew, he believed everyone had a right to privacy.
* Might: Iron 0
* Finesse: Iron 7
* Mind: Bronze 0
* Spark: Iron 4
Soul Tinker: Iron 3
* Aether Manipulation: Iron 2
* Arcane Tinkering: Iron 4
* Attach Enchantment: Mortal 7
“Attach Enchantment felt like a mistake at first,” Andrew said, gesturing Nil to lay down on a rune-covered table. It was similar to the one from Samara’s workshop. “My other ascension options were upgrades to Aether Manipulation and Arcane Tinkering, but Samara advised me to pick this instead. It does what the name says: I can permanently attach spells and enchantments to my creations. I need the appropriate materials to learn the necessary spell, of course, but it's proven pretty excellent. It’ll help me craft better soul weapon chassis and also create better upgrades.”
Nil did as instructed and lay down on the table. “When upgrading the Source Gauntlets, could you attach a ranged attack or control spell to it?”
Andrew shook his head. “It doesn’t work like that. I can’t change a weapon’s nature. The Source Gauntlets are a tool made for close combat and wielding the source. Any upgrade I do will need to improve on the soul weapon’s current abilities, branch off them, or somehow build off Brutal Battery.
“I could expand Galvanize’s protection. Maybe tweak Wield The Source to draw strength from other sources. I’ll have to take the call based on my collection of spells and whatever materials we can procure.”
“What about an arm cannon?” Nil held up his right arm, supported it with his left, and mimed firing a projectile from the fist. “Like a Source Cannon. Would that be possible?”
“I don’t see why not, but it probably won’t be possible until we’re both significantly stronger. The energy demands, material costs, and labor requirements are well beyond either of us. We’ll start simple at Bronze and then expand later. In my opinion, your offensive power is already insane. Defense, control effects, or something along the same vein might be better. You need to master what you have here before thinking of more. You still have a long way to go, Sunny-boi.”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“What do you mean?” Nil asked.
“These gems.” Andrew poked the crimson crystals as he spoke. He pulled Nil’s right arm down, laying it flat on the table. He poked and prodded the rare grooves in the smooth weapon with an alien tool. “They’re more than storage devices. You should practice channeling your Expend explosion and Source Weapon’s energy through the gem. It’s an amplifier. If you were a mage, Samara would name it an arcane focus.”
“That bit of knowledge would’ve proved useful during my last match,” Nil commented.”I don’t know how the hell I’m going to deal with Pietro’s ice. This might make all the difference.”
“You need to figure out the bastard’s ability first,” Andrew said. “I watched clips of his last few matches last night. It's not what it seems. I can’t tell for sure without seeing or sensing it up close, but it's far more than Burning Sands’s ability. You’ve got a week with few distractions. Practice cultivation and related techniques, and study the Source. I’m not intimately familiar with it, but general talk suggests that it's far more than raw energy and tool for destruction.”
“Can I use the equipment here to study the Source?” Nil asked. “It's not like there is much literature around here for it, and I highly doubt the Nexus Market will have books on it.”
“No, it doesn’t, and no, you can’t. I’m afraid this is a self-study project, Sunny-Boi. The Source is the energy that separates and contains universes, but it's more. You’re dealing with something that’s living and the energy behind all creation. Intent matters. You’re not studying what the Source is but what it means to you. No book or equipment will tell you what the Source means to you or how you hope to use it. This is all shit that you need to figure out for yourself.”
“Sounds like a whole of philosophical bullshit.” Nil sighed
“At the end of the day, that’s what it is.” Andrew shrugged. “There is no limit to the possibilities except you. Figure out what you want and need.”
“I just want to make the world a better place for—”
“Don’t give me that bullshit. You’re a good guy. I know that. Selia knows that. Your family knows it. But the truth is that you’re selfish.”
“That’s not true,” Nil protested, sitting up. “I genuinely want—”
“It's okay to be selfish, Sunny-Boi,” Andrew said, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Occasionally, we need to act in our self-interests and that of the people around us. You just happen to do more for your friends and family than others. Protecting them and sticking to your morals take priority for you, and little else matters. You follow through, and often to your detriment. That’s fine because it's who you are.” He looked into Nil’s eyes, filled with a determination and conviction that Nil had never seen in his friend before. “But I’ve also seen you in the arena. You love this new life. You love the thrill of combat.
“Victory seems like a second thought to you. You’re cold, ruthless, and brutal to your enemies. There are many paths to achieving the security and prosperity of the people around you. I get it because this is how I do it, and instead of fighting, I want to selfishly leave that to you. I’d rather protect and help the people I care about by arming and armoring them because that’s what I enjoy. Samara claims I would’ve made an excellent mage, and the Schema offered me the path too, but I turned them away.”
“I’m not sure you’re using selfish right.” Nil sighed, hopping off the table and dispelling the Source Gauntlets.
“I’m a soulsmith, not a fucking wordsmith. You get what I’m saying, and all that is matters. You picked Brutal Battery because you enjoy its brutality. You like the duality of it. Protect and take the brunt of everything. Then, throw it all back two-fold. Right now, the Source is nothing but a weapon and tool of destruction to you. It’s currently only feeding the battle junkie side of you.”
Nil hopped off the table, finally understanding the crux of what he was being told. He had focused all of his cultivation and technique sessions on improving his offensive capability and devising new tools for putting down his opponents. It wasn’t enough.
Fatima and Jaqueline the Shredder both had tools to overcome Absorb. Nil was sure it wouldn’t be the first time he’d face more opponents with tools similar to theirs. There were also elemental effects, poison and a lot more that he had no defense against. Nil also needed to accept that offense was not the only method of protecting his friends and family. He needed something more.
“Duality,” Nil repeated the word. “When the hell did you get so smart?”
“Did you forget?” Andrew grinned. “I’ve been away for much longer than you’ve been back. I’m older than you Sunny-boi. Older, wiser, and have seen more of the multiverse. But don’t worry. I’ll take you under my wing and show you the way. There is a lot to learn, and after I’ve figured it all out, I’ll teach you too.”
Keeper of Knowledge.
Unlike with Yggdrasill or Maka Dee, Nil had no doubts about which of his friends the Keeper of Knowledge wanted. Andrew had always been hungry to learn, discover, and tinker. Who he was as a person seemed to perfectly align with a cosmic entity with such an ominous name. Andrew craved knowledge. Nil could only hope Keeper of Knowledge was an entity of good and wouldn’t take his friend away or lead him down a dark path.
Nil had to admit. He was somehow surrounded by amazing people of incredible talent and potentially world-changing—if not multiverse-altering—futures. He struggled to see how he had done anything special by bringing them together. It was mostly chance and coincidence, and Nil believed that luck was of no merit. However, he also believed that it was stupid to look a gift horse in the mouth. By surrounding himself with such individuals, he had opened several new paths and opportunities for himself and the people he cared about. Nil had no plans on missing out on any of it.