After the abrupt end of the second trial, Ged and the other disciples were transported into rooms similar to the cube-shaped chambers they had encountered in previous trials.
These rooms, however, were several times larger and resembled hotel suites, complete with essentials for an overnight stay. At the center of each room hovered a familiar clay tablet, which held the instructions for the upcoming trial.
Most disciples barely glanced at the tablet, instead collapsing onto their beds in exhaustion, desperate to recover from the grueling challenges they had just endured.
Ged, however, was more excited to discover that his bag had been returned to him.
After rediscovering his haul of treasures from his escapades in Main City, Ged eagerly approached the tablet at the center of the room to see what it had to say.
As he touched its surface, a familiar archaic voice echoed in his mind.
"Now comes the final trial of three."
"It is known as the Trial of the Everyday."
"Those who wish to climb the Mountain must always make time to improve themselves."
"The slopes of the Mountain are harsh, and while death is certain, one must not allow obstacles to easily block their path. Only through vigorous self-improvement can one overcome avoidable dangers."
"Learn and diligently practice the contents of the provided manual. Daily progress checks will be conducted. Each day, you will be given a set of conditions, and if any are not met, you will receive a strike. Three strikes will result in trial failure and expulsion."
"Your first task is to read and familiarize yourself with the Introductory Guide to Improvement and create at least one Soul Sprout."
The voice ceased, and the tablet shimmered with a golden light. Within the glow, a small manual materialized, its pages fluttering as it gently fell to the ground.
Ged let out a sigh of relief. He had been worried the third trial would be as violent as the second, but hearing that this one focused on self-improvement, he thought it couldn't be too bad.
Ged felt a sense of trepidation as he stared at the manual on the floor. Though the trial didn't seem deadly, it had a time limit, and he felt the pressure to complete the tasks quickly.
He picked up the book, determined to see just how challenging creating a Soul Sprout would be.
"Introductory Guide to Improvement," he read aloud. Running his hand over the cover, he noticed it felt as smooth as silk, and the golden letters gleamed under the bright lighting of the cube.
In the center of the room was a cushioned mat. Sitting down on it, he opened the manual and began reading the introduction.
"Climbing the Mountain is merely the passage of time.
Once we start the climb, we cannot stop or slow it down.
This is the truth of life, but the climb only grows steeper as time moves on. Each passing moment becomes harder than the last. If one does not take precautions to strengthen themselves now, they risk being crushed by the challenges of the future.
Self-improvement isn't optional—it is a necessity."
Ged felt motivated by the passage. The emphasis on self-improvement seemed surprisingly simple for people with such magical abilities, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized how much sense it made.
With renewed focus, Ged continued to the next page.
"First Section: Improve Your Mind," he read aloud, puzzled.
Unsure of its meaning, he proceeded to read the introduction.
"The mind is our most vital tool, and we must ensure it functions at its best.
Our five senses constantly transmit information through our nerves to the brain—a process known as 'sensations.' Once this information reaches the brain, it is interpreted to form our 'perspective,' creating a dynamic image of our surroundings. Together, these processes create what we call the "periphery," the foundation upon which the mind is structured.
To strengthen our mind's foundation, there are two paths: increasing the amount of sensations we experience or refining our perspective. The first path, increasing the amount of sensations, is complex. Our sensory organs are finely tuned, and enhancing them requires significant time and resources, making it a challenging endeavor, especially for beginners.
The second path focuses on enhancing perspective. While this might seem to involve the brain, it is actually governed by the soul. The brain stores sensations, but the soul interprets them and shapes how we perceive the world. Unlike the body, the soul is self-made and imperfect, meaning it can be improved.
As we grow, the soul expands along with the body, but once physical growth ceases, the soul becomes more rigid and harder to change. However, during the growth phase, one can take advantage of these natural imperfections, allowing the soul to expand beyond the body by creating openings through the growth plates in the joints. When the soul first extends beyond the body, this phenomenon is known as a 'Soul Sprout.'
The next section will explain how to achieve a Soul Sprout. Once unlocked, limitless soul growth becomes possible, enabling heightened awareness and a more refined perspective of our environment."
Ged finished reading the passage. The idea of improving his mind left him dizzy with confusion—it was difficult to grasp. To him, an improved mind came from higher education or arduous, meditation-like practices.
Reading about sensations and Soul Sprouts made his head spin. But knowing the results the church achieved through their magical abilities, it was clear that the knowledge in this manual was a well-guarded secret. The thought of accessing such secrets brought a look of excitement to Ged's face.
However, as Ged continued reading and discovered what was required to create a Soul Sprout, his expression gradually changed.
"Internal Technique: Soul Immolation," the next section's title read.
"Soul Immolation?" Ged muttered, a frown creeping across his face. "Hopefully, it isn't as unpleasant as it sounds."
He hesitated before turning the page, then immersed himself in the intricacies of internal techniques and the specific requirements for Soul Immolation.
Ged learned that an internal technique is a self-created experience, typically triggered by the visualization of a mnemonic. In this context, an experience is a sequence of sensations felt over time at a specific tempo. For instance, the experience of fire would involve the sight of the flame, the sound of crackling, the feel of heat, and the smell of burning—all combined and experienced in sequence.
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Since internal techniques are not real experiences, the mind must be tricked into perceiving these sensations as genuine. This is where the magic of mnemonics comes into play. Each mnemonic image contains a combination of nine unique glyphs, each stimulating different core sensations shared by all individuals. With the right arrangement, the mind can be tricked into feeling any sensation.
By visualizing and reciting these simulated sensations in a precise rhythm, one can combine them to create almost any experience.
Ged noted the sensations required for the Soul Immolation technique: the sensation of burning, the building pressure of steam, and the feeling of the soul within the body.
Looking over the list, the only sensation that didn't sound painful was the feeling of the soul. With a wry smile, he turned the page.
The next page displayed a dense black spiral winding inward, with faint traces of gold glimmering along its edges.
Ged frowned as he examined the page, trying to figure out its purpose. Prodding the image with his finger, he made some discoveries. Wherever he pressed, a small section of gold lit up, imprinting three images in his mind. As he traced his finger along the spiral's outer edge, the images changed—sometimes more appeared, and other times fewer.
A metronomic sound played as his finger hovered over each image, indicating how long it needed to be visualized before moving on to the next.
Ged ran his finger along the spiral in sync with the metronome, and once he reached the end, he paused.
"Was that all I needed to do?" Ged wondered aloud. "I don't feel any different."
He didn't experience any of the sensations the mnemonic was supposed to evoke. Scratching his head, he read further into the instructions for internal techniques.
Three common issues can arise when reciting mnemonics. The first is visualization: the soul must fully translate the sensation of each mnemonic image for it to reach the mind's periphery. For most, this requires practicing the visualization of each image before attempting the technique. The second issue is the speed at which the images are played in the mind; if it's too slow or too fast, the experience won't register. Lastly, unfamiliarity with the sensation can be a problem. Even if everything is done correctly, the mind may discard an unfamiliar experience, preventing it from reaching the periphery. Only through repeated and accurate recitation can this be overcome.
Ged considered these common issues and realized that any one of them could have caused the problem.
Determined to fix it, he decided to start by practicing visualizing each set of images to address the first issue. He hoped that with enough practice, the other two issues would naturally resolve.
The Soul Immolation mnemonic consisted of about thirty sets of images, with an average of three images per set. Ged meticulously memorized over ninety images, each more complex and unique than a Rorschach test.
After an hour of studying, Ged's legs began to ache from sitting too long. He stood up to stretch, feeling his confidence return. He was ready to attempt reciting the full mnemonic once more.
Tracing his finger along the spiral, the images flashed in Ged's mind. After thirty seconds, he completed the sequence, internally checking for sensations along the way.
He felt a slight warmth developing in his chest and a stirring sensation under his skin. A grin spread across his face, but as soon as he stopped reciting, the sensations disappeared.
"The sensation of burning and the feeling of the soul!" Ged exclaimed. "Although I still need to work on their potency, I'm getting closer to a complete Soul Immolation."
Persistence is key with internal techniques. After reviewing the images a few more times, Ged made additional attempts. Fifteen minutes later, he felt a buildup of pressure beneath his skin, like he was inflating.
"The building pressure of steam!" Ged exclaimed in celebration. Now that he had all the necessary sensations, all that remained was to combine them in the proper tempo.
This, however, proved difficult. After an hour of constant adjustments and reciting the mnemonic, Ged was finally starting to get the hang of the Soul Immolation technique.
On his fiftieth attempt, the mnemonic truly came to life. Ged felt an alarming and dangerous sensation beneath his skin.
His soul ignited with fire, and just beneath the surface, Ged could feel an intense heat building. As the flame roared, it transformed into steam, creating pressure throughout his body and causing slight discomfort.
Even though he had stopped reciting the mnemonic thirty seconds earlier, the experience didn't stop. In fact, it seemed to grow more intense, as the flame spread through his body, causing him to break into a sweat.
Like a pot of boiling water sealed with a lid, the pressure inside him increased at an alarming rate, searching for an escape. It pressed relentlessly against his joints, targeting the weak points in his growth plates.
The pain was excruciating, and he gradually lost control of his body.
Like a marionette cut from its strings, Ged collapsed to the ground, his arms and legs wracked with spasms of pain.
In his agony, he tried to summon the green grassy hill, hoping to ease the pain coursing through his body. But instead of the lush landscape he was used to, a desolate blue smog had overtaken the scene. Desperate, Ged tried to deflect his pain by focusing on the image, but it provided almost no relief.
He screeched as the pressure inside him swelled to unbearable levels. The steam had built up within his body, and there was no more room for it to expand.
At last, the pressure released, and from the joint of his left pinky finger, a stream of ethereal steam escaped.
Ged felt immense relief as the sensations from the Soul Immolation technique finally began to dissipate. However, once the adrenaline wore off, a blanket of pain spread throughout his body.
His muscles twitched involuntarily, each movement sending fresh waves of pain through him.
On top of the excruciating physical pain, Ged's mind was spinning with confusion.
"Why isn't it working?" he muttered.
He retreated further into his mind, desperately trying to find calm in the green grassy hill, but it proved largely ineffective.
Fear etched itself across his face as he stared at his trembling hands, unable to find any relief.
He spent another hour lying on the floor, attempting to visualize the green grassy hill again, but it had vanished from his mind's eye.
A deep sense of trepidation and confusion welled within him as pain continued to course through his body.
Ged closed his eyes, hoping rest and relaxation would bring relief from his pain. But as he lay there, haunting memories and experiences from his past, no longer suppressed by the green grassy hill, began to stir, forcing his eyes open once more.
"I still have things I need to do," he muttered.
Unwilling to confront his lingering thoughts, he chose to focus on the trial's conditions to distract himself. "I can rest after I make my Soul Sprout."
With great effort, he pushed himself up off the ground, but the lingering pain was too much, and he couldn't remain seated.
With determination in his eyes, Ged wriggled his body across the floor until he reached the back wall of the room. Propping himself up, he managed to find a somewhat comfortable position.
His mind was weary, but he forced himself to stay focused as his shaky hands navigated through the manual once more.
Exhaustion weighed heavily on him, causing him to constantly reread passages and slowing his progress much more than before using the Soul Immolation technique. Aware that his sluggishness was likely due to the damage the technique had caused to his soul, Ged took a long look at the knuckle of his left pinky finger.
"At least I have my soul opening now," he murmured, trying to lift his spirits.
In the manual, Ged read about an internal technique called "Soul Flexing." It required combining six or more different sensations, and the mnemonic was incredibly complex, with each set on the spiral containing six or more images, and fifty sets in total.
Ged stared helplessly at a two-page spread illustrating the mnemonic for Soul Flexing. On one side was a diagram of the body, with joints outlined in silver and gold. On the opposite page, a large black spiral covered the entire space.
He experimented with the body diagram, discovering that touching a joint caused it to light up on the page, which in turn altered the spiral beside it.
He soon realized that each joint he selected increased the number of mnemonic images in each set. Curious, Ged played around with the diagram, selecting six joints at once. As he browsed through the mnemonic, he found that each set now contained eleven images.
"It's a good thing I only have one soul opening," Ged thought, relieved that his workload was smaller.
He selected the left pinky knuckle on the diagram and began tracing his finger along the spiral's edge, imprinting the six images in his mind. Slowly, Ged memorized the more than three hundred images of the mnemonic.
Due to his exhaustion, it took much longer than expected.
Five hours of memorizing had passed. Ged struggled to keep his eyes open, and half-asleep, he attempted to recite the mnemonic.
Though not perfectly clear, something began to stir beneath his skin. Ged felt his soul oscillating, stretching and relaxing like kneading dough. It pushed back and forth, causing discomfort. When the sensation reached the knuckle of his pinky finger, he felt a tight squeeze. After completing the mnemonic, he looked down and saw a tiny, hair-thin white worm just beginning to emerge from his pinky finger.
Ged dropped the manual, blinking rapidly in disbelief as he realized what the white worm represented.
"Soul Sprout!" he exclaimed, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "It's a Soul Sprout. I can't believe it. It's finally over."
Even from the small worm, Ged felt an increase in clarity. As his tired eyes scanned the room, the world around him seemed sharper, clearer, and easier to understand.
But running on fumes, he couldn't savor this newfound sensation for long. His eyelids grew heavy as waves of fatigue washed over him. His joints were too stiff to carry him to bed, and in his stupor, he collapsed onto his side, falling into a deep, well-deserved sleep.