When I first returned from the royal capital I still had only a single intention. Find a way to remove the mana clouding the bay of mountains. Now I desired it more than ever.
If the king wanted me to make my land desireable then I first would need to make it liveable. And non-time warped.
This would work great, while Susan and the builders worked on the canal I would work on repairing the land. When Claire and I checked in on Godrick Susan had proudly announced that she had moved her team of craftsmen team and renamed themselves the 'Blood Craftsmen of the Mountain Bay'.
The name was metal, but it was a little too metal.
I told them to hold off on announcing themselves for awhile until I thought of another, less intimidating name.
My farewell to Claire wasn't nearly as exhilarating as it had been a few months prior but nothing could be done about it. We shared a simple kiss outside the mage tower in Colgate and then parted ways. We received a few hoots from the townsfolk but we ignored it.
Claire pleaded to go with me but I outright refused. When I explained the state of 'time' in the area she seemed to understand the damage it could cause to her and the baby within, she retreated back into the void after promising she would be safe.
To be honest even I wasn't sure what would happen if she came with me, but I can't imagine her body would react well to the mana or the rapid passage of time.
As I ventured deeper into the mountain bay the only thing on my mind was the desire to return before the birth of my child. I wasn't sure how long it would take me to execute my plan, but in the time dilated inner ring of the barrier, it would only stretch longer.
Vigi's presence suddenly appeared inside my range of attention. He was still around a quarter mile away so I waited a few second before waving. I still hadn't spotted him visually through the thick snow but his mana was clearly influencing the rest of the mana nearby.
He apparently hadn't made it entirely back to the church yet when my aunt told him I had returned to Colgate. The time dilation here really messed with my mind.
'Oh, right. Why didn't you warn me?'
"Are you 'thinking' to me?" My great aunt's voice returned.
Who else would I think towards?
"Well maybe the other mind."
I suppose I could do that, but he's quiet I don't think he'd want to be disturbed.
"I don't mind. Just don't make a habit of it."
"See." My aunt again replied completely lacking the surprise I held.
Could he really reply whenever he wanted? Would this be helpful somehow? I already possessed his mind, what would verbal communication help with?
"Exactly." He again voiced.
Hmm, but there really could be questions I want answered.
I thought about questions for him, during most of the flight to the church. Vigi seemed satisfied with his increase in speed but I continually pumped more and more mana into him as an experiment.
I felt bad using the creature as a test dummy for future projects but as a powerful beast he's the perfect tool for mana based testing. And he didn't particularly seemed to care.
"Don't feel bad I use him as a test bed too." My aunt said with a smile visible in her voice.
Those words didn't particularly help my mind.
Did you know about the king?
"Nope, but I now know, based on your spilt intent."
Ugh. Yeah, yeah, I have to learn to control my intent I get it. You are like broken record.
Do you think I'm crazy?
"For thinking you can remove the mana in the Bay before your child's birth?"
Yeah.
"No. Well, maybe. If my calculations are true you have less than a week here."
A week. Huh, well that's something. I would need to shrink the aura of the barrier as if it were my own aura. It would require immense concentration I assume.
"Indeed, we will discuss ways when you arrive. From the looks of it Vigi can take another spurt of Mana. Go for it" She prodded hidding a giggle.
I followed her advice and gave Vigi a large burst of mana and he began to rocket even faster towards the church, I noticed we were nearing a magic number so I pulsed a bit more, in hopes I could show Vigi a new world.
It happened, a large 'BOOM!' could be heard and he increased speed once again. He had just broken the sound barrier. Vigi grinned with his chicken beak and fluffed his feathers happily as we circled the church at over seven hundred mph.
After a few circles for fun he slowed his speed and dived towards the Church. We had likely used up a few days outside the barrier with this fun but it was worth it.
"It starts with expanding your mind." The woman within the altar said after I sat down in the church. "You need to envision the area as your body."
"The church or the…"
"The whole bay. Envision the entire area of the barrier, and even the area outside it. Find the clear line between the two and then compress it."
This training reminded me of Joye's. First I needed to detect the Aura outside me, and then find a way to view and control it. Now I needed to do the same at a much larger scale, I need to sense the edges of the barrier from all angles.
"Expand your sense of self, become more than just you, become the trees and the animals within the Bay of Mountains. Become a true 'God' of this place. Only then will you posses the control needed."
Expand my sense of self. That's heady, it reminds me of buddhist teachings, becoming 'one' with your surroundings or something like that.
This seemed to be a few steps passed the exalted 'nirvana' state though. This was entire control over an area.
Was this only possible here with the barrier or could this be accomplished elsewhere? It would be a dangerous weapon, or a life saving tool if the whole world could be controlled in such a manner.
But I had little time to think of the whole world. Outside this church it had likely been weeks and here i was in a daze about mass power. I had to concentrate on expanding myself.
On becoming less, while more.
Forget myself and become everything, was such a thing even possible for a human?
"You aren't human."
Right, I suppose so.
I can do it. I can concentrate the mana into a single point. No one other than me can do it, therefore I must.
I had to at least learn to detect it the way my aunt had described, that would be the first step to see if this was possible.
It felt too difficult to forget myself when I had so much on my mind though.
The thought of Claire slowly showing a bump appeared in my mind. Such a thing was unnoticeable while at the capital but in the weeks I'd now been gone it's likely grown more prominent. I bet she was upset her new dress no longer fits. I wished I could comfort her.
"You can not concentrate for a minute can you?" The woman again resounded. "Wanna try something that might help?"
"What's that?" I asked out loud, hoping the change in scenery from opening my eyes would help.
"I will turn the intent of the entire forest into what you call an 'Intent message'. Addressing the areas intent to you will overwhelm your system forcing you out of yourself theoretically."
"DDoS my mind?"
"Something like that." The voice said after analyzing the memory that the Earth mind showed us. "But it will be a beneficial attack, you will be overwhelmed by positive data, data you need to intake anyways. It will simply require reorganizing a bit."
I see, it could work. And since the mind used a helpful memory to explain the concept to me it seemed he was okay with the idea as well. I suppose I have no choice but to try, it can't hurt.
Or well, it can I guess, but I hope it doesn't.
"Let's start with the trees in the winter locked zones. They should be a small shock in order to see if the concept is even viable, if you can comprehend and intake the intent then we will continue from there."
'Right, sounds like a plan. Lets try it then.'
With those thoughts a strong sensation overwhelmed my body and mind. I felt the urge to expand, the desire for strength and a deep tiredness.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
These were the feelings of the trees around this place. I understood their desire and feelings and they incorporated within me. I began to share the desires of the trees and passed them my own in turn.
It was working, I need more.
With that another pulse struck me, this one broke a few dozen stones within my gut. The pulse was intense, I had never felt a mana stone break before. I wasn't even aware it was possible at the time, but I was glad I had so many. They likely kept me alive.
After addressing the cracked stones I returned my thoughts to the disorganized intent I had just received from the pulse, I realized however there was none.
I had already understood it and it had become 'me'. I was becoming the forest. I realized my body now was lost amongst the land. It was terrifying, I was simply a soul amongst thousands fighting for my mana. I knew I had nothing truly to fear but the sensation of being a mind lost from its body was terrifying.
Was this what Earth-me is going through constantly?
"More or less." The man's voice echoed in the darkness.
I see.
Well I can't just stop now, more.
With those thoughts again I felt a pulse in my far off body. The pain was less intense now, perhaps because it was now shared amongst so many thousands of souls.
I began to grow a deep understanding of things as the forest and I traded consciousness. I knew I was nearing the limits of this method's ability. So I began to expand myself on my own. I quickly noticed missing pieces amongst my many branches throughout the bay. I linked them often by simply following the river.
I crept as an incorporeal mind across many familiar terrains. I had reached Colgate now, its thick forest was healthy and I happily accepted it into myself. It possessed great amounts of mana which emanated the desire to protect these people who protect the forest. I too felt the desire without even needing their intent so they accepted my offer without a trace of resistance.
Most of the trees and beast did the same. The wolves bowed graciously when my mind passed over them. It seemed they held my aura in great regard. The lone wolf survivor had told tales of my terror to its brethren, and as such the incorporation of their strong mana was quick.
I possessed no exact control over the beasts now, but we did share a linked mind. With this I could understand their feelings as well as them understanding mine. It was an unnecessary but useful tool if ever needed.
I continued down the river and noticed a branch that brought back the same memories. I followed it despite the fact that most of the area was already under my control. There were a few strong mana carrier in the area that I wanted to consume personally.
I was somewhat surprised when I noticed Joye had already joined into my mana conglomeration. I felt it was bizarre for a human to be considered a part of the forest, but I realized it was likely due to the fact that she already possessed a connection to the forest prior to my consumption. I just needed to find the pesky fairies.
The trees indicated they were nearby, but their mana levels were faint and distant. I had nearly given up on them and moved on when Joye roused from her sleep and peered at the place my mind was viewing the area from.
She scrambled over to a table and ignited sparks into a pile of half burnt ashes. Once they ignited she turned her cloudy eyes back towards the tree i was using as an eye. She smiled a little and then cocked her head as she stepped closer. She spoke but the words were just jibberish to the earless tree. She then touched the tree lightly.
I felt her press a surge of mana into the tree it was a vague intent message. I replied my reasoning for coming and she quickly speared her finger with a knife. The bright dots appeared instantly and rested on her finger. I commenced the consumption of them and they accepted it more willingly than I expected.
No being had been unwilling so far. The only large masses left were the lake in Godrick and the Cockatrice sleeping in the church.
"You need to acquire Vigi as well." The woman's voice again rang in my mind. "You also still haven't given up your sense of self, you can only get so far this way."
Give up my sense of self? I don't exactly understand what that means. I have already become lost from my body. What more is there? Do i really have to give up control entirely? Well for now I will just focus on the two large masses, I'll bother with that after.
The lake was interesting. I had marveled at it's endless fish before, but now it seemed even more a mystery. Deep inside was a large creature that had vastly more mana than the fish. It wasn't threatening, it's aura felt friendly enough. It seemed to only desire the lake to stay filled with water. It was a simple enough intent for a marine animal. I saw nothing wrong with the intent so we happily bonded.
Last but not least was my friend Vigi. His intent was vast, it was vast enough to take up half the barrier. I already knew its meaning, he desired to leave.
He desired to fly and be free. He desired to sleep happily for years in a field that experienced all seasons. It was almost ironic that this great desire was the same thing that locked him in a state of eternal frigidness.
No actually I believe that's the exact definition of irony.
His intent was simple to comprehend, and easy to accept.
But wouldn't the real way to solve this problem be freeing him from this task? I spoke to him, using his mass as a beacon to find my own body again for the first time in awhile.
"Vigi, under my assumed authority as a representative of the 'Demon God'. I hereby free you from your duty and permit you to leave the bay assuming you complete one final task."
"And that is?" The beast asked, opening his eyes.
"Incorporate your mana with mine, once I have completed the compression of the mana barrier you can leave."
"Fair enough."
Then with that it was done, I had been branching out my sense of self for awhile now. My conception of time was entirely gone. It could easily have already been a week in the church. I hope I didn't miss it.
"It has only been two days, a few months outside the barrier." My aunt said from within the altar. "You still have time, but you must forget yourself to become all. This next step isn't a particularly short one you must hurry."
Right, So I must forget myself? How, when I have all this weighing on me how can I forget it? It's impossible.
How can I know that I will regain myself when I already feel lost amongst the various intent's I've consumed. I'm now just an echo in the vastness of my mind.
How can I know I will contain the same desire when I lose myself, how do I know the desire to remove the barrier will still stand when I am not myself.
"Trust."
Trust, in who? Me? The forest? You?
"In the 'intent of betterment'."
Does such a thing exist?
"Of course, it's a desire of all living creatures. It's what moves us forward. It's something very strong within you, and you shared it with every creature in the forest. It will serve as a tether to this world, your tether to this body. Just relax and forget your own desire."
Forget my desire?
Forget myself, and become nothingness. In doing so I would become all.
Forget myself, become nothing. Become all.
Forget and, become all.
Forget.
Be all.
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Concentrate.
Concentrate.
Concentrate.
Press.
Withstand.
Concentrate once more.
Repeat until state change detected.
?
?
Coalesce.
Precipitate.
Nucleate.
Fuse.
Compress.
Grow.
Force deposition.
Counter natural sublimation.
Expand nucleus.
Crystallize.
Collect.
Crystallize.
Link and continue crystallization.
Withstand.
Expand.
Contract.
Retract.
Breathe.
Repeat process from start.
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If [Repeat] impossible end task.
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