As soon as we exited, Lorie put me down. Taking my first breath, my lungs started to burn, as I sucked in boiling hot air. I began coughing uncontrollably. It was as if the air was made of tiny razor blades. If it wasn’t for my lower spirit body my lungs would have collapsed on the spot.

Lorie waved her hand casting a spell on herself. Her body was wrapped in an icy greenish blue breeze. Both protecting her from the harsh heat and giving her breathable air.

The ground was black and molten. There were cracks running along the floor, their faint orange glow hinting towards magma underneath. It looked like the world was covered in ash and flames. All I could do was cough as my vision darkened. I breathed in more fumes in an attempt to get some air and was left wondering when Lorie would help me.

That’s when Lorie waved her hand casting a spell over my whole body. All of a sudden I was breathing normal air. My head was still hurting. Not just from the pain of running around with Qi sight, but the heavy dosage of carbon and tar now coating my lungs.

Lorie then proceeded to heal and cleanse me, making me feel better in the process. “Why did you wait so long! You could have at least warned me before we walked through. You’re so mean!” I cried.

“I’m really sorry sweetie. I’ll bake you cookies to make up for it, but you needed to feel it to understand.” Said Lorie.

I looked around the area. The sky was dark. Everything was either on fire or covered by obsidian. The only light was the lava nearby. “What is this place?” I asked.

“This place is called Earth.” Said Lorie.

I felt my blood run cold. “Wha… no. That’s not right. What happened? It was perfectly fine when I left! There’s no way this much time passed!” I cried.

“Don’t worry, it’s not your Earth. Believe it or not, Earth is a popular seed. Many gods go for it as a safe bet. Nobody wants to gamble tons of Quintessence just for the mine to dry up before they can get their return.” She explained.

“That’s crazy.” I said.

“Look who’s talking.” She sassed.

“Ha, ha.” I said sarcastically. “so… this isn’t my Earth? Then what the hell happened?” I asked.

She sighed. “Dimensional migration happened. This was supposed to be a mortal world, but a higher rank resident of another world managed to flee to this Earth. They were a mage. Not a very powerful mage, but they were very knowledgeable. Anyway that mage managed to recruit some of the residents of this Earth. By using her abilities to inspire and create a cult.” She said.

“So the cult destroyed the world? Was it like a nuke to stop the mages?” I asked.

“No, it was a spell, and it was done by only one man.” She said.

“One dude did all this! But how!? He must have been gathering aspects for months!” I said.

Lorie giggled. “That's where you’re wrong child. It only took ten minutes before the world was ended.” She said.

That seemed so… impossible. Even with the conversion of fuel to heat. Something like this would take forever. How could one mage do all this? There just wasn't enough heat aspects to do it. I couldn't even get enough for my mega fireball.

I turned to Lorie. “How?” I asked.

“For that you need to understand the difference between a strong mage and a weak one.”

“And what would that be? Protein? A gym membership? The power of friendship? The willingness to eat disgusting carrots?” I joked.

“Not exactly. Do you remember that healing aura you pulled off yesterday?” She asked.

What could my aura have to do with magic? Lorie did say mage auras could boost spells, but could something like that really make this much of a difference?

“I remember making a really big aura.” I confirmed.

“Good. Out of curiosity, what did you name it?” She asked.

“Chicken soup aura.” I said.

She laughed. “You come up with the strangest names.”

“What does this have to do with magic?” I asked.

“The mage that migrated here was a lot like you. She had a logical approach to everything. However, logic while reasonable, creates rules and restrictions on what you can do. Real power comes from the imagination. From experience. From emotions. It comes from the understanding of complex ideas and philosophy.” She explained.

Mr. Brutus said something about imagination too. It did play a big part in casting spells. The same thing went for cultivation. That was how I was able to make chicken soup aura. It was also where 0 tier aspects came from. Intent was deeply rooted into the very core of both power systems. Maybe even all power systems.

“The mage that burned the world was mad. You and I both know a single world wouldn't have enough heat aspects to do something like this. However, much like your complex understanding of apathy generates an abundant amount of aspects. That mage’s anger produced enough heat to cast the biggest fire spell anyone’s ever seen. It covered half of Asia and was enough to ignite the atmosphere. Those hateful fire aspects still run rampant on this world to this day.” She said.

Now that she mentioned it. The fire aspects felt odd here. It was like they were angry. Hungry almost . Like a vengeful spirit. As if the world wanted us dead.

I couldn’t believe a single person did all this. Lorie turned to me and asked, “Do you understand now?”

“Yeah. That's insane.” I answered.

“Some mages specialize in certain types of magic. Like a shadowmancer or a white mage. This is because they have a greater understanding of that subject. They can generate their own aspects. All because their muses are so large that the void filters through their thoughts. Thus creating their own special brand of aspects. Though, for the pyromancer. He wanted to see the world burn. Thus creating a fire aspect so gluttonous and malicious that he burned up with his own spell.” She explained.

That sounded super dangerous. Especially with a mind like mine. I gulped imagining all the ways my brain could kill me. The only thing I could think of was my apathy creating a black hole, swallowing up whatever world I was on.

“Before there was cultivators and mages. There were sorcerer’s. Sorcery was the true original power system. Well, if you could call it that. It wasn’t something invented by a god. It was always there to begin with.” She said.

“isn’t sorcery just magic?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Not exactly. Sorcery is the manipulation of reality through imagination. Even now cultivators and mages both use it to empower their systems. God’s are the only ones known to abuse it to the max. That's how they create their quintessence farms.” Said Lorie.

“So are you telling me to become a sorcerer?” I asked.

“You already are. Using both magic and cultivation are the signs of a sorcerer. In truth anyone can become a sorcerer. All you need is a muse. Without a muse I am a skilled and wise mage. With it I am a druid.” With that Lorie waved her hand casting what looked like a healing spell. It carried with it not only healing aspects, but cleansing, life, water, earth, and heat.

The power released like a wave scattering yellow and green particles across the obsidian ground. The black rock crumbled into wet soft dirt. Then grass began to grow out of it followed by a tree.

The tree quickly grew into adulthood and began to grow pink flowers. They quickly bloomed. As soon as they did I felt a sudden breeze passed me as the carbon and ash began to convert into fresh air. I couldn't believe it. She created life in such a horrible place. Where had the aspects even come from?

“My muse is nature itself. I am the generator for nature aspects. My thoughts, my experiences, and my desires gave birth to these plants. The spell I used is a modified healing spell. I call it terraform. It is the same as your chicken soup aura.” She explained.

“That's amazing Lorie!” I cheered excitedly.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“This patch of life will continue to grow and in 100 years this continent will be full of life. My plants will feed off of the negative energy in the area.” Lorie reached up.

I watched as one of the branches reached down. The flower petals began to fall off the branch as something new began to grow.

Green balls? They loaded themselves up onto Lorie’s palm. She held them out to me. “You like cherries right?” she said as the green fruits began to ripen in her hand. They looked so fat and juicy.

“Wow, thanks!” I took some and tried one. “It’s so sweet!” I cheered.

She smiled. “So… do you have any clue what your muse might be?” She asked.

Could the chicken soup aspects be considered a muse? While the memories were important to me. I wouldn’t call it a muse. I had no idea what it would be. Maybe apathy? But…. Even that was undone by Zubu’s concern for me. What rule was constant in my life. What ideal and philosophy did I have that was unshakable?

I couldn't think of anything, so I decided to ask Lorie what she thought. “Do you have a recommendation? I have a strong connection to apathy, but I don’t know how solid that would be.” I said truthfully.

“You should think about it. Ask yourself. Where does the apathy stem from. It cant simply be that you just cant feel.” She said.

I knew exactly where it came from, but to say it aloud would be giving it to much power. Instead I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders.

“Oh really? You have nothing? So you’re actually just dead inside. You can't fool me child. Who do you think will hear you? We're on a dead world.” She said.

She had a point. Did it really even matter anymore. Holding stuff in was what broke me in the first place. I sighed.

“Alright… the world spins. The universe expands, and everyone walks past me. My apathy was born from the need to make reality stop. I couldn't handle it all at once, so I decided a long time ago to detach myself. I can feel things I just cant reach them. They are buried and it’s hard to dig them out. That’s why I sometimes come off as extra childish. Because Aku’s emotions are way easier to feel than my own. If it was just me. Then it would be way different.” I said.

In truth if I were to use this side of the coin for my apathy aura. Not even Zubu could dispel it.

“Yeah, I figured it was something like that. Because of what you did you’re insides are now hollow. That's why you can feel the emotions of other people. Especially Aku’s since she is so… attached. Maybe when you were a kid your sympathy was simply just your hyper focus on others body language, but now its different. You are empty. Especially now that the demon took all the pain with him. Too bad your still stuck with the memories of your trauma.” She said.

“I don’t mind the memories. They are mine. Without them I wouldn’t be me “ I said.

“I suppose that is what we all are. Good or bad we are all a collection of memories.” She said.

She knew so much. Was that also in my file. If she already knew then why did she even ask? I hate therapists. They're so full of shit.

“So what. Should I really rely on dark emotions like that? Apathy was how I ended up with a demon. What if I have another episode and swallow the entire world?” I said. I was getting pissed. Did this lady want me to turn out like the pyromancer?

“First off, apathy is not a negative emotion. It is the lack of emotions. And second off, you’re following the wrong branch.” She metaphored.

“I don’t understand. Could you stop talking like a fortune cookie and say what you mean!” I yelled.

“You certainly sound like yourself. I take it your angry? That’s really the only emotion you are in tuned with.” She poked.

I did not respond. She took the hint and moved on. “I do not recommend going the apathy route. While that may be a big part of your core, it is not who you truly are. You should think of who you are as a person. Your core self. Make that your muse.” She said.

My core self? There was nothing in there. Isaac the coward? Isaac the murderer? Isaac the pervert? No. What the fuck was she talking about? There was nothing special about me. I was boring. There was certainly nothing there that could make an interesting ability or power.

“I still don't understand. There's nothing inside me. I'm nothing. Is nothing the answer?” I speculated.

“Your supposed to be smart. Figure it out. It'll hold way more weight if you figure it out yourself. Just think about it. The way you learn things. The way you approach conversations. The way you eat, sleep, train, and plan out your day. The way you make everyone feel better. It’s there in everything you do. You can't be that blind child.” She preached.

In everything I do? What, logic? No that’s not right. What then? Caution? That didn't seem right either. She said it was also how I made people feel better. “My cuteness? I’ll have you know this is something too recent to be apart of my core self.” I said.

She smiled. “No. I think that one belongs to Aku. Though, you were quite the adorable little boy when you were little. Don't worry you'll get it when the time is right.” She said before ruffling my hair.

“I hope your right.” I said.

After that we headed back home and ate breakfast. That was when Zubu got super duper mad at me for sneaking out the way I did.

It wasn't hard to get her to smile again. I just needed to give her a hug and tell her how happy I was that she was worried about me. She softened right up after that and I got to tell her about what happened when I went off world.

After breakfast we went back to training. This time it was just simple hand to hand combat. Surprisingly we were evenly matched despite my small stature.

Zubu tried punching me, but I avoided it with a good old bob. Then hit her in the gut. Her body leaned forward and I could have jumped and gone for the good old knee in the face but didn't.

Instead I stepped back and gave her some room to recover. “How are you that good?” She angrily asked.

“I’ve been in a lot of fights against people who were way bigger and stronger than me.” I said.

“Yeah… that checks out.” She said.

“Hey Zubu do you know what my muse might be?” I asked.

“Your what? Oh, you mean that thing Lore keeper told you about…. Yeah, I don't really know. If it's not that black hole inside you then I don't know.” She said.

I put a hand on my chest and looked inside. The hole was still so vast and empty. I hadn't really filled it with anything since before the ascension. It was void. Well, there was that echo. Even now I could hear it reverberating off the emptiness of the hole.

I didn't see how my core wasn't a representation of a black hole. There was literally nothing here. No Squirmy, no Centa. Not even that black ooze I hate so much.

I focused back on Zubu. Who looked to be picking her nose. “ew!” I backed away from her.

“Oh, shut up. Its not like you’ve never picked your nose.” She retorted.

She flicked it away then wiped her hand on her kimono. Despite how gross it was to watch her do that, I couldn’t really say I hadn’t done the same. He that is without sin among you, let him be the first to cast a stone at her.

“How’s that cultivation technique coming along?” I asked.

She smiled. “It’s settling well within my stomach.” She said confidently.

“No kidding! You already made it work?” I said in shock.

“Yup, once you helped me hammer out the details. The rest was easy. The construct is already producing Qi and quintessence in my soul space.” She said.

“What’s a soul space?” I asked dumbly.

“You don’t know what a soul space is!” She yelled in shock.

I shook my head. Was I supposed to know that word?

“Isaac don’t you think it’s strange how no doctors or scientists have found where your core is. Hell, they’ve never even come across a person’s meridians.” She said.

“Now that you mention it…. Wait, isn’t there a bunch of info on Chakras and crap?” I said remembering all those cultivation novels that existed in our world. Let’s not forget all that talk about crystals and auras. Goddess forbid essential oils. That last one made my skin crawl.

“That’s all lost knowledge. My best guess is things like cultivation were once a thing, and over time were forgotten.” She said.

That sounded dumb. How do you forget about something as op as cultivation or magic. Though that would explain how we have a vague understanding of the concept.

Actually, wasn’t things like knowledge horded by nobles? I remember things like purple dye and medicinal recipes being secret knowledge. That's how nobles stayed nobles.

It wasn't hard to see something like cultivation and magic be horded by the rich and powerful. And for the poor, its not too farfetched to say they labeled the magical phenomenon a miracle.

It's also more beneficial to hide the truth. Since labels with strong beliefs can make people more powerful. Now the real question is how did people forget in the first place?

It didn't make much sense. There must have been an extinction event… or what if they couldn't make new ascenders? Every one on my Earth is in the mortal rank. How did someone break into the lower spirit rank without help?

“Oh! I forgot about Cosmo’s bottle cap!” I yelled in realization.

“What the heck is wrong with you! You go all AFK and suddenly burst out yelling!” Yelled Yukio in annoyance.

“Zubu, it’s the bottle cap! That’s why they died out!” I said.

The bottle cap was how Cosmo gathered quintessence. This meant the original ascenders wouldn’t be able to ascend anymore. Not their children either.

“Okay, but why send ascenders into a new world. Why not just make a few mortals and let them figure it out?” She argued.

“It was probably to ensure mortals would actually have a chance to spread and not die out right away.” I explained.

“Yeah, I could see that… you distracted me! What was I saying again?” She closed her eyes tilting her head while crossing her arms.

“Wasn’t it something about doctors and scientists not being able to find our meridians and souls?” I said.

“Right. That’s it. You see that stuff doesn’t exist in this dimension. Lore keeper said it’s like layers. Our souls and meridians exist on a higher plane of existence. We can only see the tiny bit that touches this world. Or something like that.” She said a bit confused.

“I get it. Its like how you can draw a person on a piece of paper and put a cube on top of it. To the guy on the paper it looks like a line. In his reality it’s a square. He’s unable to see the whole cube because it’s impossible to see the third dimension.” I said.

“Uh… yeah that sounds right. That’s what soul spaces are.” She said.

She looked a bit upset that I had taken the roll of the teacher from her so to cheer her up I acted all excited about the knowledge “Soul space! That’s so cool!”

“Yeah, it is.” She smiled.

“So what do you do now? Do you just push helium into your cultivation technique and hope for the best?” I asked.

“Kind of. I don’t have a technique for refinement, but I can always just cycle the aspects through my body and refine them that way. So far I’ve been refining wind essence in my meridians. Then using that to build my construct. This way by the time it generates plasma Qi I can already absorb it. It’s not very fast since it takes time to refine the wind aspects. Then convert that to helium Qi.” She explained.

It didn’t take that long to make helium… unless. “Is it harder to convert wind Qi into helium?” I asked.

“Yeah it is. Qi is a bit harder to control.” She said.

“If you already have the construct. Then why not make helium first. Then refine it into Qi?” I suggested.

“Oh. That’s smart. I still need wind essence for the lighting aspects, but that should cut down on time.” She said.

This was good for when it became my time to make my own cultivation technique. “You should try adding earth aspects into the lighting aspects.” I suggested.

“What, why?” She questioned.

“Just test it out and see if it generates more electricity.” I said. It was better to have her test it than implement it without knowing if it would work.

“That’s a way better way to generate lightning aspects and it even brings the tier up making it more powerful.” Said Mr. Brutus approaching us from the direction of the entrance.

Was it time already? I didn’t feel ready yet. It was too soon.