Good. Move through the steps one more time. Xeph’s voice was a rumbling purr in Callan’s ear. Up, then down. Repeat. Feel my power inside you.
“Dangit, Xeph, phrasing!” Steadying his breath, Callan slid Mountainform up his arms, until it came to rest on his shoulder blades.
Alert: 1.25% Apotheosis used.
Total Apotheosis is now 7.5%
Breathing out, he let the armor slide back into place. His shoulders tingled slightly from where the stone had encrusted them, but otherwise he felt fine.
Still, only after thoroughly checking over everything did Callan give a fist pump of victory.
“Alright, shoulder achievement unlocked!”
It’s hardly a matter of ‘unlocking’. These are techniques, not memories.
“Hey, can you at least be a little happy for me? I’ve been working on that all morning.” He affected a pout that Xeph totally couldn’t see but made him feel better anyway. Then, just to verify it wasn’t a fluke, he repeated the process.
Alert: 1.25% Apotheosis used.
Total Apotheosis is now 8.5%
Yes, it does appear you have pushed your range to a new limit. Now you should be prepared in case someone drops an axe on your shoulder.
Callan dismissed Mountainform, flexing his fingers and enjoying the stone-free feeling of them after several hours of practice. “I don’t really see that happening around here, barring a freak wood chopping incident. Veritas strikes me as more of a sword user than an axe.”
Fine, sword to the shoulder, then. Either way, I will rest easier knowing that your reach with Mountainform is all the closer to being able to cover the more important bits of you.
“I’d personally feel better just getting the dang manifestation upgraded so it covers everything in the first place.” He shrugged. “Guess I’ll take what I can get.”
They were currently out in their favorite practice field, one still well within view of the village. After all of the fallout with Alyssa yesterday, Xeph had made him practice with Wurmchain until he was ready to collapse, to little gain. Manipulating the length had continued to elude Callan, and with every hour that passed, and no progress made, his frustration had mounted.
Hence why he was practicing his other skills today. Already Callan was feeling satisfaction over that decision.
He might never master Wurmchain, but at least his other skills would all be well developed.
“What’s next, Rock Fling?” he asked.
I think not today. With your apotheosis still penalized by our debt, you would exhaust your training too quickly to be of much use. We are already suffering the effects of waiting longer for you to recover.
“Soooooooooo... Shape Stone, then?”
Indeed.
Callan blinked. He honestly hadn’t been expecting that. Every time he’d asked about training Shape Stone, Xeph had put him off.
But only a bit of provisional training, the god amended. Much like with initially learning Wurmchain’s advanced techniques, what I will teach you next will be of little practical use but will form the base toward more potent applications.
“Okay, I can get on board with that.” Activating his orison, Callan began manipulating the familiar glow of his power towards a nearby rock.
When you utilize Shape Stone’s power, it causes... modulations in the inherent properties of the stone’s physical structure. Its viscosity. You are familiar with that word?
“Yeah. It refers to the thickness of a liquid, I think.” Or a stone, in this case. Which made sense, in a weird woo-woo way. After all, when he used his orison, he couldn’t exactly cause the stone to reshape itself while it was still in a solid state. Logically it had to become a liquid on some level.
He totally got the basic principle, at least in theory. He just didn’t get what it had to do with today’s lesson.
That is not the definition I would choose, but it works well enough for our purposes. Today you will be activating Shape Stone and focus on maintaining that... less viscous form.
It took Callan a moment to realize what the god was implying. “We’re going to liquify stone.”
An inelegant description, but yes.
“That’s... why would you think that wouldn’t have practical applications? I can come up with at least a dozen uses for that on the fly. Probably more if you give me a bit of time to think.”
Xeph huffed, which was akin to lightning striking a mountainside. I do not think you will find it as versatile as you are imagining, but I have been proven wrong in that regard before. We shall see. Now, concentrate on that rock over there.
Directing the glow where Xeph had indicated, Callan metaphorically seized the stone, feeling the usual sudden resistance under his fingers.
Alert: 6.25% Apotheosis used.
Total Apotheosis is now 13.75%
Good. Now, rather than trying to physically reshape the stone, impose your will upon it.
“Right.” Callan held the stone, thinking. Finally, he said, “...And I do that how?”
Xeph sighed. Must I do everything, mortal?
“When it comes to explaining extremely esoteric instructions? You’re damn right you do.”
Very well. I will do my best, though like with many aspects of our relationship, it is a complicated matter to which much nuance is lost in translation. To start, when you reach inside yourself to access your transcendental nature...
Callan waited for the god to run out of steam. Eventually, he got around to the actual application.
“So basically, I just try to interact with the stone the same way I access my powers?”
That is a gross oversimplification! But... yes.
“While also not releasing my hold on said powers. Metaphysically speaking.”
Yes.
Callan nodded. “I actually think I’ve got this.”
Closing his eyes, he reached out mentally and prodded at the stone. It was a strange sensation. He could sense the stone some eight feet or so away, but it was also between his fingers at the same time.
And then, like it had been summoned by his intentions, he saw a thin string snap into place between the two of them. It had the same gauzy quality as the mist that made up Wurmchain in his mind, but unlike his other orison, this one didn’t present in a confused jumble. Instead it was just the one string, albeit one made of metaphysical smoke and mirrors.
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So in the most woo-woo way possible, he tugged on the proverbial string.
There was immediate resistance. The stone wasn’t a part of him, but it wasn’t separate in the way one of his Rock Fling-created stones would be, either. It was almost like he was tugging on the stone physically as much as he was mentally. He half-expected to see it wobble.
Good. However, you need to exert your will against it, not drag its own will towards you.
“How the heck can a rock have a will?” Callan muttered through gritted teeth. He released the string, and it immediately sprang back into place between the two points. “And don’t give me any bullshit about ‘everything having a soul’ or something. I’m about at my limit for this nonsense as it is.”
So judgmental, mortal. I’m merely trying to impart my immense well of knowledge upon you, undeserving human that you are. Though I suppose it is true that ‘will’ is not the best choice of words. It is difficult to locate an adequate term in your language. Crux? Anima? Elan Vital?
“Just so long as we don’t get into a long philosophical debate about whether the rock is alive, I'm good. Also, I recognize those words, but they mean nothing to me.” Callan grinned even as he strained forward, trying to impose his will. It basically involved grabbing the mist string connecting the rock to its metaphysical self and... pushing.
Pushing a string.
It was a difficult concept to wrap his mind around.
Hmmph. I simply work within the limits of what language your mind offers me. Perhaps if you had studied a bit more before departing your world, my available repertoire would be a little more... robust.
“Oh, my apologies. If I’d known being well-read was a pre-requisite to getting kidnapped, hurled across the galaxy, and then possessed, I’d have read more philosophy and watched less Chainsaw Man.”
That comment brought to mind memories of his own family, and of Lyle. Was anyone still missing him back home? Had they all given up on ever seeing him again? Somehow, he doubted either his parents or Lyle would ever entirely lose hope, but they had to be feeling pretty desperate about now.
It would be nice if he could at least send them a message, if only to let them know he was doing okay, but he doubted the temple’s commune function was designed to reach that far.
Callan realized he’d let his attention slip and returned to trying to impose his will. He sent his mental force down string, and amazingly, the rock he was gripping responded.
Alert: 3.1% Apotheosis used.
Total Apotheosis is now 16.85%
At first it manifested as a series of cracks. Callan was so surprised he almost eased back the pressure, but at a reprimand from Xeph he redoubled his efforts. Sweat was starting to drip down the sides of his face, but he pressed onward.
Then, all at once the rock simply fell apart.
“Did... did it work?” Callan asked, releasing his grip—which was no longer sensing resistance anyway. He walked forward.
Where the rock had sat a moment before, now there was nothing except what looked like a small pile of sand. Reaching down, he rubbed a bit between his fingers. It sure felt like sand.
“Yo, Xeph, what gives? I thought you said this would liquify the stone.” Callan wiped a hand on his shirt. “Gritify, is more like it.”
You still need practice with the technique, but this is progress. Being able to fundamentally weaken the stone’s inherent structure is but the first step. It will be a simple matter of practice to reach the desired result of true liquefaction.
“I thought you said the liquefaction itself was the first step.”
I said that it was the base for a more advanced technique. There can be multiple steps to a base!
“Okay, okay, I get it.” He raised his hands in surrender, then continued, “So what exactly is the end result?”
You should be able to parse that particular detail out for yourself, human. There was a smug note to the god’s voice.
“Hmm.” He scratched at his chin a moment before an idea slid into place. “If we’re working to weaken the stone’s inherent structure as a base technique, does that mean the advanced version...”
Yes?
Callan hesitated, then pushed on. If he was wrong, he was wrong, and there was no harm in a wild guess. “Are we working to make the stone stronger?”
Correct. That is the ultimate technique for any avatar of a stone god.
“Okay, that does sound cool, I’ll admit,” Callan said. Being able to strengthen the walls and structures he created would not only make for better fortifications, it would theoretically mean he could do more with less material. But what did that mean, exactly, to strengthen the stone? Did it change its inherent structure, or was the power more supernatural than that?
Another thought occurred to him. “You know, you’ve mentioned other stone gods on multiple occasions now. How many of you are there, anyway?”
Oh, who can say? Even at the last convocation I attended, there were at least several hundred other deities of stone and mountains in attendance, but that can hardly have been all of us. While we are not as numerous as gods of water or order, we are easily one of the most powerful forms. After all, are mountains not mighty as well as magnificent? Why, to wield the power of the very earth itself is to truly—
“How many other types of gods are there?” Callan tried to remember if they’d ever spoken about it before, but couldn’t recall. It felt like the sort of thing he should have checked before now, but then again, other gods were a far away problem compared to everything else they were dealing with.
Dozens. Gods typically latch on to a broad concept and reform their lattices to accommodate its aspects within themselves. Fire. Chaos. Stone. Some chose to specialize to certain degree—flowers instead of all plants is a popular example—but that always struck me as foolish. Specialization limits the choice of powers a god may offer, with little offset in additional strength.
“So, the broader the better, then.”
Indeed.
That was interesting. Callan had sort of just assumed the gods of the Overworld covered everything he could conceptualize, but it didn’t sound like that was the case. Of course, his preconceptions were probably being influenced by his own life experiences. Whenever he’d visited the province where his mother’s family lived, it seemed like just about every river and mountain had its own personal god. Though applying Earth logic to anything in Xeph’s world usually felt like a fool’s errand.
Before he could ask anything further, he noticed Paeral making his way across the field.
“Hey, what’s up?” he said as the older lud stopped a short distance away. Paeral bowed deeply before answering. He’d been like that ever since that last fight with his brother. Kivi must have given him quite the talking-to.
As if in response to Callan’s thoughts, Paeral asked, “By any chance have you seen Sworv today, Avatar?”
“Sworv?” After thinking about it for a moment, Callan shook his head. “Not that I remember. Why, is something wrong?”
Frankly, at this point he’d feel better if the brothers weren’t seeking each other out. Keeping them as far apart from each other seemed the wisest course in the short term.
“Oh, likely it is nothing. Only that his bed was empty this morning when I awoke. At first, I assumed he was assisting either you or the high priestess, but if neither of you have seen him today...” Paeral shook his head. “As I said, it is likely nothing.”
A worried feeling was starting to build inside Callan. “This is too small a village for Sworv going missing to be ‘nothing’. Come on, follow me.”
He set off across the field towards town. Paeral hustled after him, falling into step a stride or two behind. “Avatar? Where are we bound?”
“The temple. I think it might help us get to the bottom of this matter.”
Callan really hoped his suspicion was wrong, but until he knew one way or another, he dared not even give voice to it.
Descending the steps to the basement temple, they found Kivi already there, standing before the altar. She turned at Callan’s approach. “Avatar. I was just attempting to reach Shamain, but neither she nor Argas are responding. It seems the main chamber is unoccupied at the moment.”
“Talk about terrible timing.” He gave Kivi a critical look. “Trying to find out about Sworv?”
Kivi blinked. “How did you know?”
“A lucky guess. Also lucky that the main temple isn’t the only one with a Scry function.”
Stepping past the lud priestess, he placed his hands on the altar. Immediately a screen bloomed in his vision.
Temple Designation: Aosan Temple
Temple Class: Basic Temple
-STATISTICS-
Nave: 2
Aumbrey: 0
Narthex: 0
Scarsella: 0
-CONSECRATIONS-
Teleport
Scry
Commune
Tintinnabulation
-DOGMA-
Annexes: 1/3
Domain: 50 yards
Conviction: 8/10
Conviction cost: 1/week
Immediately, he noticed the change in the temple stats. He glanced back at Kivi. “Did you apply another point to Nave?”
Kivi nodded. “I saw it was available, and was hoping that it might aid in reaching Shamain. I also took the liberty of assigning a name to this location. Did I... not choose correctly?”
“Nah, it’s probably fine.”
Better than fine, Xeph added. If you intend to use the Scry function with any amount of expediency, we can use all of the Nave we can get.
Nodding, Callan selected the ability.
Consecration: Scry
Display of maps and other information related to temple functions. May also utilize conviction to perform external surveys. Cost and time required to gather information is dependent on distance and interference from opposing domains.
Would you like to Scry for follower locations? Cost = 5 Conviction
It was funny. Not too long ago five conviction had seemed like a ridiculous cost. Now, between his higher regeneration rate and the bag of stones from Belinda, he didn’t even pause before accepting. Immediately, a map of the temple appeared in front of him.
All two rooms of it.
“Well, that’s not going to help. Obviously Sworv isn’t here.” Callan swiped it away to reveal the same map of the continent he’d seen back at the main temple. Reaching out, he zoomed in on the Aosan plateau. So far, the little scry circle had not spread beyond the first few houses.
He sighed and stepped back. “This is going to take a while.”
“Avatar, perhaps you and Paeral should perform a manual search of the surrounding area. I can remain here to watch, or be on hand should Sworv return on his own.”
Callan nodded. “Okay, High Priestess, we’ll do that. Follow me, Paeral, and we’ll see if we can’t turn up that prodigal brother of yours.”
“My... what, Avatar?”
Human. Xeph’s voice was a grinding mutter. Why do you continue to use obscure words that force me to hurriedly search through your memories for the proper definition? I can tell there is some sort of historical significance attached to that phrase, but I have not the time to determine what it might be.
“Really? Weren’t you just complaining that my vocabulary wasn’t robust enough as it was?” Callan shook his head. “What word did you use, then?”
The best I came up with was a lud term that translates closer to ‘flatulent’, but I—
Pinching his nose between his fingers, he gave Paeral a chagrined look. “Never mind. Let’s just get going, shall we?”