Eventually I am able to push those thoughts aside and enter my meditation. Once in my room I first go over my list of things I need to do in Illium and add a few things. Then I channel all of my sacred power into my own core, and set it to automatic.

On the way to Illium I spent all my power on Lizzy's core, but now I plan to work on my own. After all, I shouldn't need much power while I am here in the city. Besides, the dragon told me I could still make progress with my core, which I am guessing was a hint.

That does make me wonder what would be next if I were to max out my core and evolve. Probably the only one who could tell me that would be the dragon, but the scroll is gone. I could go back to the mine to visit him but I don't think he would appreciate me disturbing him.

Since the dragon isn't an option I guess I will just have to wait and see. Once I have everything set to go to my core automatically I start experimenting with my divine power. I am sure I can do more with it than just fuel my spells, like enchant items.

While I may only be able to enchant holy weapons, those would still be useful. Not that I have anything to enchant right now, I more want to play with it and see if it obeys me. After all, it isn't really my power, it comes from the goddesses.

As I play with it I am happy to find out that it obeys my will completely. As long as I don't do something stupid like try and use it against the goddesses I should be fine. The thought does cross my mind of using it on my core, but I am not sure what would happen.

If it worked it may steer me towards becoming a holy creature instead of whatever is normally next. Between becoming a god or a dragon, I will choose dragon every single time. For instance gods have to follow rules and worry about their followers, dragons don't.

While I admit that the thought of having the goddesses as wives is very tempting, it isn't enough. Being a god means not being able to roam around freely, the perks just aren't worth losing my freedom. I would much rather be reborn and have an entire new life to experience.

In fact, if I get to keep my memories I would even be okay being reborn as a beast. After seeing Kechara and Asuna grow up, I think it would be fun to be a mana beast. I may even ask Seronia to do that if it is possible, I think it would be a fun experience.

Thinking about it makes me somewhat curious, so I open a door into the soulscape. Setting the time to pass normally is easy now and once I enter I turn the soulscape into a huge jungle full of all sorts of beasts. Then focusing on myself I change my body into that of a lion like mana beast.

My first try doesn't go so well, I made the back legs too long and the front legs too short. It isn't as easy as I thought it would be, but I keep trying until I get it right. Then I start learning how to move the new body, which involves a lot of falling on my face.

Luckily, in the soulscape pain is reduced and I can't actually hurt myself. Once I start getting the hang of how to move the body I start having a lot of fun. I am sure if anyone was actually watching me they would have laughed themselves to death by the time I figure it out.

Before I can try hunting in this form I sense that dawn is breaking outside. While I am tempted to play for just a little longer, I have far too much to get done today. So, I reluctantly end the soulscape and return to my mental room.

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*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Soulscape has progressed to level 7!

Soulscape

Level: 7

Wis +35

You can create a detailed soulscape.

'Finally! Only three levels left to go!'

Breaking my meditation I stand up and stretch, it doesn't sound like the girls are awake yet. No surprise there, but I am betting Sarah is already up and working. So I head downstairs to the common room and sure enough the inn is already busy.

There are no customers yet but there are dozens of people moving around cleaning up. They are probably getting everything ready before the inn opens, but I don't see Sarah. No one tries to stop me when I head further into the inn towards the kitchen.

While this area is for employees only, since I technically own the inn no one wants to tell me no. When I step into the kitchen it feels like entering a whole new world. The smells of cooking have already filled the room and are really distracting, especially the baking bread.

Sarah says "Ash, did you need something?"

"Ah, good morning. Yes, a couple of things actually. First, can I finally meet the cook?"

Sarah says "Oh, sure! This is our cook, Arron."

Arron turns out to be a big hefty guy who in my opinion isn't very attractive. The way Sarah looks at him tells me she sees him differently than I do. As I am shaking the man's hand I remember at the last second not to squeeze.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you! Your cooking is absolutely amazing!"

Arron says "Thank you!"

"Um, is there an empty table we could use? Somewhere out of everyone's way?"

Sarah says "Sure, over here."

As I follow the two of them I pull the manacles out of my pouch and put them on. It has been so long since I needed to touch people that I almost forgot how easily I can hurt them. Turns out it is a good thing the girls are mad at me and didn't try to hug me, I might have killed someone by accident.

When we reach the table Sarah gives me a suspicious look but I ignore her. Instead I start pulling out recipes, ingredients, and herbs and spices, and laying them on the table. As I put things on the table I tell Arron the origin of it and anything else I know about it.

Seeing all these new things to play with his eyes light up, it seems he truly loves cooking. He immediately starts picking things up and sniffing them, Sarah and I just watch. It quickly becomes obvious that he has forgotten we are even there.

Sarah says "Thank you, Ash. He will thank you once he remembers his manners."

"No worries! He is very passionate about his work, which is obvious from the food he cooks!"

Sarah says "Be prepared for new dishes, he will spend the next couple of weeks experimenting!"

"I look forward to it!"

Sarah says "So, what else do you need?"

"I was wondering, how hard would it be to cater a dinner at Vacker's school?"

Sarah says "Not hard at all! When would you like to do it?"

"Would tonight be too soon?"

Sarah says "Nope! No problem! How many people?"

"The guildmasters and the normal group probably."

Sarah says "Okay! I will get everything arranged!"

"Thank you!"

Sarah says "Anything else?"

"No, that's it for now."

Sarah turns and heads back to the kitchen, probably to tell Arron he has a dinner to plan. While I turn and head out of the inn and walk over to Vacker's school, he should be up already. When I walk in I am pleasantly surprised, not only is he awake but he is teaching a small class.

The class is made up of about a dozen kids, ranging from twelve to sixteen from the looks of them. When they spot me everyone stops to turn and bow to me, which catches me off guard. Vacker tells them to resume and has the oldest boy take over for him.

Vacker says "Morning, Ash. What's up?"

"Remember when we promised the guildmasters they could watch us spar?"

Vacker says "Um, vaguely."

"Well, it will be tonight. Sarah is going to arrange for us all to have dinner here. We will spar before dinner."

Vacker says "Okay. That shouldn't be a problem. I trust you have been keeping up with your practice."

"Um, well, I've kind of been busy."