Meanwhile, around the time at which Aella revoked her mana from Seraphina, she left her hand on the young girl to make sure she remained stable while the chance to enter her Inner World revealed itself. Taking the chance, she sent a thread of Mana straight into Seraphina’s core, linking their consciousness together.
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For how long this would last, Aella didn’t know, and she couldn’t guess so accurately either. She didn’t even know how dangerous this was, but considering she punctured the soul of a 9-year-old girl, she imagined it’d be pretty dangerous for them both if she wasn’t quick.
“E-eh? Where am I?” Seraphina questioned, looking around in a frenzy, her eyes eventually landing on the small orb with fox ears and two tails. “Aella? Is that you?”
'The Negative Zone? What the fuck is that?'
Ignoring the ominous system message for the time being and Turning her orby head, Aella nodded… Doing a roll of sorts while looking at Seraphina. Her soul’s general appearance wasn’t any different from what Aella thought it’d be. Her glowing red halo and Fallen Angel Wings were tacked onto the orb like it was a customizable avatar. Her soul was considerably smaller than Aella’s, but that wasn’t to count out her soul for being weak.
Aella’s soul was nearly 40 inches in diameter, while Seraphina’s was only about 20. The soul of a normal mortal could go upwards of 15 inches if you’re being generous, so Seraphina’s soul was… Abnormal, just like everything else about her.
“It’s me, your favorite lil’ fox,” Aella confirmed in a cheerful tone, “It seems we’ve made it into your Inner World.”
Naturally confused, Seraphina questioned, “Inner World? What’s that?”
“It’s a space made up in your imagination that can be visually manifested. In simpler terms, it’s your very own resort spot, and when you get stronger, you can manipulate it however you want.” Aella explained, knowing full well that the specifics of a [Soul World] would be far too complicated for Seraphina to understand right now.
Her words made Seraphina gasp in surprise and excitement. “That’s so cool! Is this what having an Abberstream does?”
“Aetherstream,” Aella nodded with a chuckle. “And yes, it’s part of it.”
As they finished talking, the white void, a blank expanse much like her own Inner world from years ago, began to transform. It was as if the void sensed their presence and responded to the unspoken whispers of the two souls. The first change was subtle, a gentle sprinkling of green that dusted the ground. Then, more rapidly, the white nothingness gave way to an explosion of life and color.
The landscape unfurled like a tapestry, a whirlwind of creation that was both chaotic and whimsical. Lush grasslands sprouted, rolling hills emerged, and majestic trees grew from the void, their branches reaching skyward as if in celebration of their sudden existence.
In one corner, a dense for materialized, its canopy so thick that it cast the ground below into perpetual twilight. The trees seem ancient and towering, their roots intertwining in a complex network. Within moments, a vibrant jungle appeared, the air heavy with the scent of exotic flowers and the sound of unseen creatures.
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Right next to those in a very abrupt divide, a desert formed, its sands golden and shifting. Dunes rose and fell like waves on a sea, the landscape ever-changing. In another stark contrast, there was also a frigid tundra, its icy expanses gleaming under a simulated sun. Glaciers formed in the blink of an eye with their smooth and reflective surfaces only to break and reform moments later.
Amidst these clashing biomes, many uncanny and outright climatically impossible things continued to occur sporadically, but the weirdest of them all was a mountain range grander than any she had ever seen before thrust upwards through the ground, its peaks jagged and imposing with massive chains made of platinum binding the distant mountains together. At the summit of the tallest mountain, a volcano simmered, black flames rising and falling from within, a reminder of the power that this imaginary world seemed to hold.
“How grand,” Aella mused, deeply amazed by the complexity and size of the place. The latter of which wasn’t really surprising considering how large Seraphina’s soul was and it’d only grow as she raised into the higher ranks of Mana cultivation. “Platinum Chains though… That’s a new one.”
What truly amazed Aella was the complexity. It had nothing to do with the amount of mana one had or how many times over could they break a human being with a single flick. The initial generation, before one had time to change and make the world to their liking, reflected who they are as a person and how they might develop in the future.
“It’s so beautiful! Aella, Aella! Does your Inner World look like this as well?” Seraphina questioned with wonder and whimsy filling her voice.
“It's larger… Yet it feels considerably less grand than yours.” Aella shrugged in response, not paying full attention to her friend’s words.
Despite her uncertainty, Aella couldn’t help but be amused by the spectacle. She had never seen the Inner World of another until now, and this was beyond her wildest dreams. The spontaneity and vibrancy of the landscape were a testament to the boundless potential hidden within the little Fallen Angel.
While still not fully grasping the intricacies of the soul, especially the chaotic mess that this was, Aella could still appreciate the wonder of its expression as a vague idea of how to make a peak grade Aetherstream appeared in her mind.
Still, more research would be needed. While gambling for results was something Aella did, if she screwed this up, it wouldn’t end with just her and Seraphina dying.
Lost in contemplation, Aella, alongside Seraphina, decided to explore the inner world further, seeking to learn more about it. Who knows, perhaps such an endeavor would grant not only the insight she needed but also some bonus information on Seraphina herself.
Despite the little girl basically clinging to her, Aella didn’t know all that much about Seraphina. Mostly because she couldn’t care less and wasn’t going to go out of her way to ask, but if such wisdom decided to present itself before her naturally, she wouldn’t be opposed to it.
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Look at her new skill curiously as she walked. A small smile made itself known across her face. ‘Finally, a skill I know I’ll get value out of upgrading!’ She thought to herself.
It was expensive, so she’d still hold off, but since she was planning to create a fighting force to combat the cult, this would be very useful later down the line. After all, it’s considerably harder to hack into someone’s mind than a private radio or phone line. At least, as far as Aella is aware.