Parasite laid there in the hollow of the tree. Mind of the adult, but body of an infant just a few weeks old. He was abandoned by his mother, the only person he truly knew still unsure if it was a curse or a blessing in disguise. He knew that she despised him, but he didn’t think she was capable of this. Alone and helpless, he did the only thing that he could and tried to find a way to survive in Mother Nature.
I should be able to Absorb from any living thing shouldn’t I?
Parasite slowly extended the tendrils from his hands and feet. Reaching out and feeling around, he extended his feelers into the tree and tried to Absorb Bio-Matter from the tree he was nestled in. He closed his eyes and felt the tree begin to strengthen his physical Body, but to his great pleasure, he felt no emotions coming from the tree. It had no impact on his Mind, but a strong sense of stillness and clarity seemed to fill him instead. He must be tapping into the Soul of the tree as well. Having found the tree a steady source of nourishment in the short term as well as it giving a new found clarity he was missing from the turmoil his mother had continuously carried, Parasite began to think about what he should do from here.
I remember hearing that I inherited Soul Flux S as my Primary Power and Bio-Matter Conversion S as my Secondary Power, but I should take a look at the rest of my status as well. It seems as if I will need to rely on my powers for a while until I am able to move on my own. As he thought about his status, a small summary appeared before him.
First Name
Parasite
Last Name
Unknown
Primary Power
Soul Flux S
Secondary Power
Bio-Matter Conversion S
HP
80
Attributes
Mind 10
Intellect 3
Wisdom 7
Body 8
Might 4
Precision 4
Soul 55
Vastness 35
Resilience 20
Super Powers
Absorb 1 C
Biostasis 1 A
Soul Tempering 1 S
Soul Linking: World Tree 1 S
Skills
Empathy 2 F
Mental Fortitude 3 F
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Bodily Autonomy 2 F
While looking over his stats, Parasite noticed a couple super powers that he was unaware of as well as some skills he can assume how he gained.
Soul Tempering 1 S This must be related to my Primary Power Soul Flux S as well as this other Super Power Soul Linking: World Tree 1 S. I would assume this tree is the world tree or somehow connected to it. That would also explain the sense of stillness and clarity that I feel while linked together. I’m not sure how I got Soul Tempering 1 S but if my life so far had anything to say about it, it definitely has been a trial by fire so far.
Soul Tempering 1 S – Through countless hardships already endured, you have started down the path of tempering your Soul. You find it easier to take on the hardships of life with the Vastness of your Soul and can more easily recover from these tribulations with improved Resilience. While more troubles may put your Soul in Flux, you will always find yourself stronger for them.
Soul Linking: World Tree 1 S – The World Tree has heard of your misfortunes through the local trees and taken on a share of the burden. You find yourself empowered by the World Tree’s broader view to see the cycle of withering and renewal. Your Soul will continue to grow with the give and take of the changing of seasons as you and the World Tree make each other’s burdens easier to endure.
I’m too young for all this. Thought Parasite as he read through the descriptions of his two new Super Powers. Seems like Soul Tempering means the more my life sucks, the stronger I will get. Can’t say I am excited about it, but at least I’ll get something out of it. This Soul Link on the other hand, I guess I have this tree here to thank for that.
“Thank you for looking after me while I can’t look after myself.” Parasite sent to the tree through his thoughts. He felt gentle soothing pulse returned from the tree. With this, he wiggled as much as his tiny body would let him to get comfortable in the hollow of the tree. He began to use Absorb on the tree feeling Bio-Matter trickle to him from the canopy above down to the roots below. Growing to about twice his size, he was still tiny, but it would help him to survive the environment and be self-sufficient faster.
Parasite barely moved for the next six months almost like a hibernation, slowly growing in the hollow and gaining strength from the tree. He kept himself at about twice the size for his age. Thinking he had grown enough to gain a little independence, Parasite kept his feet rooted and tried to stand. Gripping the edges of the hollow with his tiny little hands, he slowly stood with the wobble of a toddler. He took his first step. Shaky the whole way, he started to slowly make his way around the trunk of the tree little by little trying to improve his Bodily Autonomy so he could get around easier. Keeping one hand on the tree, he continued to waddling around the tree each day for the next week until he was too tired.
Finally he had enough confidence and let go of the tree. Looking at the forest around him, he took in the plants and small wildlife in the area. The forest bed was covered in underbrush, there were some small bushes not too far off as well as some other small plants that he could not identify. He could see birds and small creatures, but the all seemed skittish and all kept their distance. Last, Parasite looked up to the canopy of his tree before he frowned. All the trees around were in full bud for spring and the tree with the hollow barely showed any green.
He gently rested his hand on the tree. “I must have done a number on you.” he thought toward the tree as gazed back up toward the sky. “You took care of me, so I’ll do what I can to help you now too.” Parasite focused on how it felt when he was using Absorb to pull nutrients from the tree all the Bio-Matter all the vitality. He traced every pathway that the energy had flowed to him though over those past six months, felt inside his own body where all the Bio-Matter was stored to help build him up, then he pushed.
Parasite began pushing Bio-Matter back into the tree. Every fiber of his tiny little body, he pulled from them and sent it deep into the tree, down into the roots and up into the small yet to bloom leaf buds. He felt the calm and stillness return to him that he remembered from those many months ago. The tree seemed to be a small bit healthier with the added Bio-Matter, but it left him weak and fatigued. Wondering what he just did, he took a quick glance at his status. He had grown stronger over the past few months naturally as he was growing fast for a baby, but he noticed a new Super Power as well as a few additional ranks to Bodily Autonomy skill. Bodily Autonomy 2 F had increased to Bodily Autonomy 4 F. This was what helped give him the strength to finally be able to move about. More importantly though, he gained the Super Power called Infuse 1 B.
INFUSE 1 B – Push Bio-Matter into target in within physical contact. Thoughts, emotions, physical tissue, anything from the physical Mind or Body can be pushed in to the target for the purpose of invigorating or rejuvenating the target until you are diminished to 50% of your natural physical state.
Infuse seemed like a good complementary skill to Absorb. Between them, he could grow up to twice his normal size or down to about half. More importantly, it seemed like he was able to be more selective with what he sent into other living things. Apparently it warranted the higher rating for the Super Power, but it also meant he wouldn’t lose his memories or constantly send his thoughts to those he was filling with Bio-Matter. Definitely a good thing.
It feels like I can still walk if I Infuse myself down to 180%. Not bad for being under a year old. He began to slowly walk away from his tree rooting himself down with each step and gently using Absorb on the underbrush. He can see the plants wilt slightly but intuitively knows that he didn’t cause any permanent damage. As he pulled Bio-Matter from them though, he grew to know a little bit about each of the plants around him. He can identify their different properties. Moss that can capture contaminants if liquids are poured through it. A root from a nearby bush that creates a warming effect when brewed. The sap from a nearby tree that can bind anything together if you are not careful with handling it. He took in all this knowledge and at the same time filled himself back up to 200% so he could go back to his tree with the hollow that he was calling home.
About a month later, he looked up at the tree and it seemed to be doing a lot better. You wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference between it and the other trees in the area anymore save for the hollow in it trunk. He could not only take care of himself now but was able to revitalize the tree. “I’m not done showing my gratitude to you yet.” He said to the tree as he held the trunk before going out for his daily walk. He wanted to venture out a bit further this time. Maybe if he looked behind the tree, he could find the trail the bitch took out here to leave him. Slowly, he looked through the forest directly behind his tree. It went slightly uphill and was proving to be more tiring for him. As he approached the crest, he thought he would use the top of the hill to rest and get a good look at the nearby area.
No sight of the trail ahead, just more forest for his tiny feet to try to get through. He wobbled slightly before plopping down to give his legs a rest. Looks like I’ll be in this forest a while. He thought as he leaned back on his hands and stretched some tendrils down into the soil to help recover. Casually he looked around seeing some new lands for the first time. He could see an empty band of forest further in the horizon and assumed it must be the highway between towns. That would have to be his goal eventually, but who in their right mind would pay attention to someone so young who can’t even speak without physical contact.
Lost in thought atop the hill, he planned out his next steps. He would need to keep repaying his home tree. That tree would live a long time if he had anything to say about it. Next, he would need to keep practicing with his Super Powers to improve them and get stronger through them and maybe some survival skills he can pick up. He did already learn a bit about Botany as he discovered more about the plants in the area, Forestry and Arboriculture from his extensive relationship with his tree. He thought he was even scratching on the idea of Navigation soon.
It looks like my next skill will have to be in Zoology. He thought as he withdrew his hands from the earth and turned toward the sound of a “Hiss” as he saw a snake coiled not far to his left.