Patient, Vertebrae: Sleeping. Action taken: Medication. Results: Sleep persists.

Patient, Mother: Meditating. Action taken: Amputation. Results: Regeneration.

Patient, Curse: Reading. Action taken: Fed. Results: Violence, forced to subdue.

Patient, Y. E.: Sketching. Action taken: None. Results: Diagrams have improved.

Patient, Full: Dissolving. Action taken: None. Results: Effects linearly stable.

Patient, Nao Nao: Dead. Action taken: Cremated. Results: Experiment failure.

Patient, 4: Cultivating. Action taken: Sparred. Results: No mental changes.

Patient, Baseline: Crying. Action taken: Informed of Nao Nao. Results: Despondency.

Patient, Half: Eating. Action taken: None. Results: Complex, see extended results.

Patient, Re-Xi-Wong: Missing. Action taken: Delegated. Results: Pending.

Patient, Tanfang: Smiling. Action taken: Questioned. Results: Lucid, but inaccurate.

***

Keir Lao stepped towards the silver pagoda. Radiating from it was sobbing and screaming, and the pleasant, pungent scent of sterile decay.

His robes were of off-white plain cloth, stained lightly around the collar and cuffs by some unknown substance. He carried himself with an exacting purpose, as though every step closer was the result of a confident calculation. A scalpel rested in his palm.

The patients were locked to the pillars, as always. They raved and pleaded to him as he walked dispassionately through the open interior. If he listened to just one, they might share with him their madness. Besides, it was best to let the others assist them, as Keir Lao’s personal patients could not be delayed.

He walked-ran-jumped-climbed-flew further up, all and none at once.

***

Recomposing himself, he lightly cursed his inefficiencies, and mentally noted the need to re-examine his internal structure for stability. The incidents were accelerating in frequency, but were merely one in a score of problems facing him.

Keir Lao moved through his experiments, up through Tanfang’s.

Overall, Keir Lao was annoyed by the results, as they were slower than he desired. Further, over half his patients expressed some form of disapproval or defiance, a condition which he thought he’d extinguished. He theorized it was due to his recent prolonged absence, resulting in an inability to continue conditioning.

Only the twelfth remained: Patient, Primeval. For that, he had high hopes.

Primeval, white-haired and green-eyed, rested awake in his cot. He rolled out of bed when he noticed Keir Lao, and picked himself off the floor with his twelve arms. Expression haggard, he begged, “Water?” His bark-like flesh flaked as he spoke.

“Water,” Keir Lao said. He produced a waterskin and passed it over.

Primeval stole it to his lips. He drank ceaselessly, sucking even the air from the container to acquire the last mists of liquid. When he finished, he tore the waterskin with claws, ate it, and begged again, “Water?”

Keir Lao then produced a copper flask. “No. Something else. Better.” As Primeval drank that too, he watched closely. The old man coughed and choked between greedy sips, but did not complain, though crushed the flask more tightly each time. Some of the shining burgundy liquid rolled down his chin, and dripped to the metal floor. He contorted himself to wipe it up, and onto his tongue.

“Please, please, water,” he said when done. “Water, water, please!” As he repeated his request, his flesh began to slough. His muscles spasmed. His joints vibrated. From his back, two growths pulsed. “Water, please! Water, please!” He dropped to his knees, hugging himself with all his arms. At once, the growths elongated, and Primeval howled. They shook, sub-growths sprouting and dying, like the entire life of trees. Popping resonated.

Sweat flooded out from him, and back in. The trees finished their cycle, and settled to limbs. The now fourteen armed man whispered, “Water.”

Keir Lao was delighted. He produced another waterskin as a reward.

Sixteen, eighteen, twenty, thirty, fourty, sixty.

Keir Lao backed to the wall. Arms multiplied from arms, and Primeval’s wailing echoed in several voices. As the mass of grasping hands grew, the floor bent. It grabbed everything near, pulling it to its center. Light shined back out.

It seized Keir Lao, its fingers chewing into his flesh. He was passed from palm to palm without a chance to resist, drawing closer to the light. He laughed.

He craned his neck up, and bit into the next arm reaching for him, his teeth sinking into the syrupy pulp. It tried to pull back, yet Keir Lao had firm hold as he engorged himself further. The arms, desperate, switched to pushing him away, but it was futile. By force and hunger, Keir Lao devoured his way deeper into the mass, desperate for the source of the light, for the truth, for the Dao, for his first success on the long path he’d chosen.

For his first satisfying meal, of presumably many.

***

Brushing a palm leaf away, Gabriela bit into a magical fruit, experiencing the pulp and sweetness. She savored it, a rare and expensive delicacy, offered to her for free within the high-end clinic. The sickroom was like a jungle with its exotic medicinal plants, and she was allowed to use as much she liked, as the one looking over the patient, Keir Lao.

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He was passed out within the decadent bed. He’d fallen unconscious after taking in the memory, and Iah had her carry Keir Lao to the most prestigious clinic in the city, on the outermost ring. Gabriela had no money, but was granted the Six-Eyed seal, which was in many ways superior within Panopticon. Iah’s only other orders were to build trust with Keir Lao, and assist him in making his decision.

A water clock ticked over and chimed, indicating it was midday, when the sun would blaze with its greatest disdain.

Keir Lao shook within his bed, not yet awake. He thrashed at the sheets. His hands pulled out, and Gabriela noticed they were ungloved, covered in layer over layer — like a mass grave — of scars. She had to reach over to stop him when he began to chew into them.

After a brief struggle she easily won, he calmed, and awoke. He then struggled slightly again, and whispered, “Please let go.”

She did, and gave him an odd look. He was pale and sweating, and kept flexing his fingers. He stared at them, and then dug under the sheets. When his hands re-emerged, they were again covered in his stained leather gloves. He took a deep breath and turned to her.

“Can memories be,” Keir Lao grasped at the air, “not literal? Can you experience things that didn’t happen, but take the place of an idea?”

Gabriela thought momentarily, and said, “There are only two ways that could occur. The first would be if your memory mixed with others and you saw events that were a blend of multiple, but that wouldn’t be possible with a glimpse, which would overpower all else. The second would be if the memory was experienced like that, as though you were on perception altering medicinal pills.”

Keir Lao mouthed something to himself. After, he asked, “Then, what happened in my memory, really happened?”

“No. Remember what Six-Eyed Iah said? It is a lie. The bigger the conclusion you try to draw from a poison memory, the more likely it is to be foolish. The truth, to the extent it still exists, is in the specific details, and in your case, the missing ones.” She paused, then grabbed a fruit to offer to him. He put his arms up, and shook his head severely. She set it aside and continued, “The more salient something was, in either its presence or absence, the more likely it contains an element of truth. As a whole, it’s attempting to lead you astray. Was the glimpse partially out of order, or have any pieces where it ‘split’?”

He nodded.

“Pay attention in those places. Anything else in the memory is more likely to be false than true, something to make you doubt your path and lead you from the Dao.” She picked up the fruit, and took a bite. She hoped she’d explained things properly, as she was reiterating information given to her by Iah.

Keir Lao let out a long breath, almost six seconds. Relief spread over his face, and he gave her a large smile. “Thank you, Gabs. That really helps.”

For the first time since meeting him, Gabriela felt Keir Lao wasn’t all that bad. Then she processed the nickname. “Only refer to me as Gabriela, Three-Eyed Gabriela, or assistant to Six-Eyed Iah,” she said.

“Aren’t you supposed to be my assistant?” he asked.

“Only if you engage the contract,” she said. “In reference to said contract, I have it with me when you’re ready to read it. I can answer any questions on details that confuse you.”

He said, “I need to get to the docks. The Dao Finder I work on is leaving soon, and I want to talk to Just Xin.”

“Just Xin?”

“Big guy, can’t talk, he’s my friend. I trust his opinion.”

“You want an opinion from someone who can’t talk?”

“Yes. Are the docks far from here?”

They were not far, but the medical master of the clinic had recommended Keir Lao rest the entire day. Before Gabriela could answer, Keir Lao sprang from the bed, as quick as she’d seen a mortal move. She grabbed him by the arm and flipped him back onto the bed, quicker. “No, but you need rest,” she said.

Keir Lao resumed breathing. “I’m not signing the contract unless I get to talk to him,” he threatened.

I can’t let that happen, Gabriela thought. Is he bluffing? It doesn’t matter, even if he is, this is a chance to build trust. She cleared her throat. “I understand. If you tell me more of his appearance, I could fetch him for you?”

“I want to explain myself.”

Gabriela felt weary. I suppose he seems healthy enough now, for a mortal. I hope this doesn’t get us in trouble. “Fine,” she snapped, then realized. “Ah, I meant, that’s fine. Let me help you up.” She offered out her hand.

He ignored it, and got up again.

The third and outermost ring of the city was also the highest and wealthiest. The most important cultivators and clans lived there, as it was closest to the wealth, opportunity, and danger of the forest. Further, Panopticon offered high bounty and prestige to those that contributed defense in magical beast attacks. Everyone else was taxed to even leave the city, except by the safety of Dao Finder.

Only one section of the ring was broken, the direct line from the center bowl of the city to the docks at the border. From any of the rings, the only way down besides a long and convoluted series of stairs, was to jump.

When they reached that break, she scooped up Keir Lao.

Directly downward was one thousand meters. They passed the many windows in the side, the underring apartments that housed branch clans. Gabriela cycled her qi to her feet for landing, and arms to cushion Keir Lao’s impact. Normally, she’d be unable to fall that far unharmed, but the area was designed for such jumping with a porous, somewhat flexible stone, fit for all but the weakest or mortals. Cultivators strong enough to break through it were also skilled enough to land graciously.

Thinking of the details had helped Gabriela somewhat ignore Keir Lao’s hollering. She couldn’t tell if he’d been frightened or having fun.

She pried him from around her neck, and he stumbled around a bit before walking properly. She reminded him, “Weren’t you worried of your friend leaving?”

Keir Lao huffed. “Right, the docks are right over there, so he should be—”

Following his gaze, Gabriela looked beyond the busy pathway where they lingered, towards the docks. Dao Finder vessels, silent and still, were crammed into vast cavernous stalls. Traders and captains bustled through, trying to get the best prices from each other. Her eyes rested on a large purple beetle departing from the docks, and out into the thick, magical beast filled forest that seperated Panopticon from all other cities.

“They left,” said Keir Lao, slouching.

Gabriela then noticed a cultivator hammering towards them from afar. He was near the tallest she’d ever seen, and definitely the overall largest. Did we do something to offend him?! She dropped into her combat stance, and withdrew a needle. Wrapped around his legs were ribbons of visible green qi, trailing behind him to nothingness; a Dancer, and a Palm-Foot demon. She prepared for multiple angles of attack while readying her own, qi cold like steel.

“Calm down Just Xin!” Keir Lao shouted.

Just Xin flipped back, stopping. He looked down to Keir Lao with a grin of embarrassment, and gave her the same. He put his hands together and bowed deeply. She hesitated, then half-heartedly returned the gesture. At once, she was swept up in a one-armed hug, then dropped.

“And thanks for staying,” said Keir Lao. Just Xin hugged him, too.

Before Gabriela could speak, a great force slammed onto the docks, a seven-headed duck the size of a palace crashing in, oozing blood and spewing mist. As the mist spilled over the fleeing bystanders, their screams went silent, and when it passed from them, statues stood in their place. A massive obsidian spike slid out of the duck’s body. Its heads collapsed into a pile, and one slammed against a gigantic black spider, sending more blood, mixed with venom, shooting out. Three cultivators, robes torn but with triumphant looks, emerged over the duck’s back.

Gabriela considered helping out, but decided to prioritize her mission with Keir Lao. The destruction was not an abnormal occurrence, and the dock workers could handle it.

Though far away from the disaster, Gabriela, Keir Lao, and Just Xin were pushed apart by fleeing crowds. Due to the commotion, Gabriela barely witnessed a young girl, an orphan, steal past Just Xin. She called out to him, and pointed out the orphan.

One of Just Xin’s qi ribbons shot out and caught the girl by the ankle. She struggled and pleaded as another one of his ribbons took his pouch from her.

He then reached in, handed her two taels of silver, and let go.

She looked at him, confused. Those choosing to watch the scene were equally confused. Even Gabriela barely understood. She’s doesn’t have a clan or sect, and is guaranteed to die pointlessly. What a waste of resources.

Yet, the girl adjusted quickly enough, and snapped the silver from Just Xin’s hand. She then ran away, seemingly before Just Xin could find his sense. Gabriela noticed she was fast; a young orphan with a surprising amount of cultivation.

She strode up to Keir Lao and Just Xin, and said, “We should leave while that gets cleaned up.”

“Where?” Keir Lao asked.

“Six-Eyed Iah was gracious enough to—” she reached for the Six-Eyed seal, and found it gone. “—allow you stay within my clan’s home.”

Gabriela was sure her clan would welcome guests, keeping Keir Lao happy while she retrieved the seal from wherever the orphan had gone. Even so, she did not look forward to seeing her mother, her grandmother, her great grandmother, and so on to the clan matriarch. Least of all, her brother.