“Well, I think I have an idea about why the Energy density is so badly affecting Lathani,” I announce to my audience. Kalanthia and Lathani are the most interested, for obvious reasons, but Bastet is curious too, as is, surprisingly, Fenrir. Or maybe it shouldn’t be so surprising – he had the same issue as Lathani, though not for the same reason. It’s been quite useful having him here as I’ve been able to see what the Energy density does to him as well as to me. It’s been informative.
The rest of my Bound are either taking advantage of the Energy density to make some progress to their next Tier or have gone hunting. With Kalanthia here now, there’s no fear that any carcasses will go to waste.
Catch and Pride are the exceptions – I asked them to go back to the village and invite the Evolved to join me here. I told him that he should suggest they split themselves into two parties and take it in turns to come: all the Evolved samurans leaving at the same time was probably not the best of ideas.
While we wait, I’ve been working on Lathani’s issue, hoping to find a solution. While I haven’t found that, I’ve at least got more clues about where to start.
“We know that Pure Energy has a negative effect if absorbed by creatures too low level for it, right?” I ask rhetorically. I have personal experience of how it tries to consume everything. Although it only consumed my Energy channels and soul when I touched it before, I have a feeling that that’s only because it didn’t have enough time to do more.
Certainly, experiments since have shown that it’s happy to consume even stone. A more recent test has proven that it can also consume flesh, but there I found something interesting. I tested with a chunk of meat from my Inventory compared to a chunk from a recently killed creature. The chunk from my Inventory started being dissolved immediately; the chunk from the recently killed creature took a bit of time to show any signs of damage.
Combining that with my own experience, I’ve come to the conclusion that Pure Energy first feeds on Energy and Energy channels, and then on physical matter. Why, is still not conclusively established, but just knowing that bit of information is potentially useful.
“It seems that this isn’t only an effect of Pure Energy,” I continue, “and I theorise that it’s the nature of all Energy – to consume or be consumed; to use or be used. Up here, we are all using and consuming the Energy in the air around; the closer to the Pure Energy we go, the more the balance tips towards the other direction.”
How does this help us, Markus Wolfe? Kalanthia rumbles, more impatience than curiosity in her voice. It is the nature of the world to be predator or prey; conqueror or conquered.
“It is, but at the moment, Lathani is, according to your analogy, the prey in this equation. And we’d like to change that. Which requires us having a bit more in depth knowledge about what Pure Energy is, exactly.” The giant leopard gracefully flicks her tail in silent concession. “So, the next question is why Lathani is more affected than she should be. Last time we came through this space, she didn't suffer poisoning; only I did. So, what has changed between then and now? And why is she alone out of all the Tier ones suffering effects?”
Do you actually have any answers? Lathani asks. Unlike her calm mother, she’s the very picture of impatience, her tail flicking this way and that, her eyes narrowing.
“Some, I think,” I tell her with fondness. “But, as I said, it’s important to set the scene of what we do and don’t know. Now, after examining the Energy channels of Lathani, Fenrir, Bastet, Catch, and myself I’ve come to the conclusions that the key factors here are the size, length, and strength of the being’s Energy channels.
“Catch has significantly smaller and fewer channels than any of the rest of us. Fenrir and Bastet’s channels are at least double the size of Catch’s and more numerous, Bastet’s more than Fenrir’s. Having experienced some of an Evolution from Fenrir’s perspective, I have to guess that the channels are blasted open during the process.”
They are, both Bastet and Kalanthia confirm simultaneously. Exchanging a look, Kalanthia continues. In fact, the channels failing to be opened enough – or indeed, being opened too much – are reasons for the failure of an Evolution, or the creation of a weak Evolved beast. I nod in acceptance of her point, storing it away for future reference.
“Larger channels which lead to the outside of the network mean more consumption of Energy. Larger channels within the internal matrix itself mean that Energy and mana are more easily carried around the body.” This observation is something which has given me an idea for my own development. “Consumption of Energy is also affected by the length of the channels which extend from the body.” This was something I’ve been aware of for a good while.
“Lathani’s channels are even wider than Bastet and Fenrir’s. If Catch is any indication, that is unusual but in and of itself, not a bad thing. From what I understand, the more Energy a being can absorb and use, the faster they can make progress?” I end that with a questioning lilt, looking to Kalanthia for confirmation.
That is true, though it takes more than just that to progress to become Enlightened.
“OK, but it’s a factor. So having more Energy available is good. The main issue is to do with the strength of Lathani’s channels. I have to guess that on Evolution, the channels are strengthened as much as they are widened?”
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Once more I receive confirmation from Bastet and Kalanthia.
“The issue is that Lathani has the channel width of a Tier two – or wider – but not the strength or density of one. From what I can tell, the Pure Energy density which she is absorbing into her channels becomes detrimental to her very quickly and starts eating away at her channels. The same thing happens to Fenrir when he enters the cavern below: the density of the Energy there is too much.” And the same thing happens to me when I’m closer to the Pure Energy – I’ve found out the reason for the corrosion I’d noticed in my Energy channels.
“The reason for Lathani’s poisoning now established, I have to wonder how it happened. And why it affects her mana and stamina rather than her health. I would guess that the whole thing is a consequence of what the shaman did; what I don’t understand is why it’s only affecting her now. I would have noticed if her health or stamina had dropped like this last time we came through.” I might not have noticed about her mana since she wasn’t using it, but if it had dropped to zero, there would have been indications of that – nausea, exhaustion, dizziness.
Here I notice an odd expression on Kalanthia’s face. When she speaks, I realise that it’s either embarrassment…or guilt.
That may be partly my fault, she admits. My eyebrows go up in surprise. Not what I was expecting, admittedly.
“How is that?”
I did not consider that strengthening her channels would be necessary. I have been encouraging her to retrace her original foundation, incorporating her new and wider channels within the design. It has required her to…extend her channels further, and to build new channels which lead to the exterior.
“Ah,” is all I allow myself to say to that, concentrating on not letting my instinctive thoughts emerge enough to be picked up by the telepathic leopard. Since it’s hard not to think of something, I focus on thinking of other things instead – like the fact that I have made my own stupid mistakes, and with far less of a justification than not fully understanding what I was doing. Nor am I really an expert here, I remind myself. I still don’t understand why it’s only her mana and stamina which are being affected.
“I can see why that might have exacerbated the problem,” is all I say, doing my best to be diplomatic. “So, that’s the situation. I would say that the priority for Lathani now is to strengthen the channels she currently has and only work on retracing her foundation once she is able to tolerate higher levels of Energy around her.”
Lathani doesn’t look very enthused by the possibility.
Does that mean I can’t go into the den with everyone else? she asks rather dolefully.
“Not for now,” I tell her firmly, though with a hint of sympathy. “But it’s not all bad,” I tell her, leaning over to stroke her head and scratch behind her ears. “From what I understand, and your mum can say whether I’m right or not, once we get your channels sorted, you’ll probably be even stronger than you would have if everything had gone right.” I look up at Kalanthia meaningfully.
As long as you can make it through Evolution, she says. Then, perhaps at the pointed exasperation she can feel emerging from me, she continues. Which I have full confidence that you will be able to do. Yes, your potential will be even higher than I was expecting.
Lathani doesn’t look entirely satisfied, but she’s less disgruntled than she was. At least she won’t be alone in sleeping outside – Fenrir can’t join us underground yet and Sirocco doesn’t want to.
“I’ll make sure you have some Energy Hearts to help you keep up with everyone else,” I promise.
I do not think that Energy Hearts will help, Kalanthia says reproachfully. Have you not just been saying that too much Energy does her damage?
“Pure Energy does, but I’m not convinced that what is in the Energy Hearts is Pure Energy any more. It’s worth a test, I think,” I say. That then leads to another round of testing to see whether different Energy hearts have different effects.
I feel gratified when it turns out that they do, though less pleased when some actually cause more damage to Lathani’s channels.
We’ve only just discovered that an odd dark purplish type of Energy Heart is the most beneficial to her with the brown earth-aligned Hearts as the second preferred option when the first group of Evolved samurans arrive, led by my favourite Pathwalker.
I leave Lathani with one of the purple Energy Hearts and go to greet the samurans. Upon exiting the vine-stranglers, the group takes an almost collective step backwards. The cause is obvious: Kalanthia. It’s the first time some of them have seen her, perhaps ever. And those who have seen her before no doubt hold strong memories of the animosity between them.
River, of course, doesn’t have an issue. She overcame the problems between her and Kalanthia long ago. Iandee also looks relatively unfazed – he isn’t nearly as comfortable as River is with Kalanthia, but he has seen her a few times. That’s a few times more than most of the other samurans.
The group of lizard-folk are tense and getting tenser. Kalanthia’s not entirely relaxed either. She’s giving a good impression of being so, but I know her well enough to see the way she’s prepared to leap if necessary.
“Alright everyone, enough of that,” I say, striding into the space between the two parties. “Kalanthia, the Great Predator, won’t attack you unless you attack her first. And you’re not going to attack her, are you?” I ask, pinning each of the most fidgety samurans with a hard gaze.
There’s a rumble of discontent conveyed both audibly and through the Bond. I cross my arms, about to lay down the law, then sigh and forcibly uncross them.
“Look, I know that you have had issues with Kalanthia. And she’s had issues with you. You invaded her territory. She killed members of your village. Your shaman ordered her cub to be kidnapped and changed in ways that are still causing problems for her. She has agreed not to retaliate because I am the leader of the village. This is your opportunity to clear the slate,” I tell them, though throw a pointed glance over my shoulder to make it clear that I’m including Kalanthia in this too. “But if you can’t deal with the fact that Kalanthia lives here, then you don’t have to come here again.”
Several of the Warriors and Sticks look hopeful. Flower, however, looks like she’s waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Tamer, why would we want to come here at all? she asks cautiously. I grin – could I have asked for a more perfect cue?
“Come this way and I’ll show you.”