Contrary to what Josh had been afraid of when he passed out, his head was still attached to his shoulders upon waking.
He checked his interface and noted that his core was now approximately 25 percent full. There was no numeral next to the icon. He was just eyeballing it.
I would greatly appreciate numbers... Sadly, no number appeared after his directed thought. However, his green health bar was full again, and his blue free-Essence bar was sitting at 25 percent. Much higher than when he first absorbed the cannibal Essence into his core.
Josh prodded his core. There was still a pronounced difference between his pure Essence and the foreign Essence he had absorbed from the cannibals. But it was more like peanuts in chunky peanut butter than the rocks and water it had been before he passed out.
Sitting up, Josh noticed his body laid out in a straight line. Senyak’s crumpled top garment served as a pillow under his head. Looking over to Sen’s sprawled form, Josh felt a twinge of unspoken gratitude. The kindness of moving Josh to a more comfortable position after he passed out spoke volumes for an unquantifiable reason. Senyak was lying on the ground, slightly more spread out than Josh, right next to one of the dead creatures from yesterday. Clearly, after witnessing the aftereffects of Josh’s psychedelic experience, Senyak had been smart enough to lay down before he absorbed the second core. But there had been no one to help him afterward.
“All right. That is enough rest. Rise to your feet and be about your cultivation.”
Josh looked to the left, down the roughly carved tunnel toward the opening to the plaza they had barely escaped from the day before. The Clone was standing there. Did he stand guard over us? Given what he had done to them in the past, Josh found the thought highly unlikely... Still, he couldn’t argue with the Clone’s chosen position and his steady glow of multiple vibrant blue shades from the myriad inversions, emergence, and resolutions of unending fractal lines.
Absently wiping the sleep from his eyes, Josh’s thoughts returned to the growing mountain of questions in his mind... How did the sight enhancement continue after I was so low on Essence, I could barely stay conscious... and then when I was unconscious– And what the hell do you know about fractals–
Josh’s brain volunteered an answer without any pause whatsoever.
Fractals are geometric figure curves, each part having the same statistical characteristic as the whole. Useful in modeling structures in which similar patterns recur. Like snowflakes, crystal growth, and galaxy formation.
As the explanation ended, Josh’s normal brain volunteered an opinion... Something is seriously wrong with me... Where are all these stray thoughts of scientific certainty coming from!?
Josh had no idea. But he saw the Clone staring directly at him.
“You both have questions. I will answer one each to increase your productivity. Yours first, Joshua Elias Tanner, then Senyak. Though you both share many of the same questions.
Without more preamble, the Clone made eye contact and started. “Yes, Joshua, your free Essence has increased. Even unconscious, your cultivator’s core will work to convert foreign Essence already absorbed into Essence for its use. This process’s speed will vastly improve with conscious effort.” The Clone nodded matter-of-factly, perceiving Josh’s latest on-topic query in real-time, “Yes, we will do that as soon as we finish twenty questions.”
A slightly frightening and playful expression lifted the corners of the Clone’s mouth as his focus on Josh doubled. “Yes... there is something different about your ability to apply scientific principles to your everyday activity. No, it has nothing directly to do with cultivation. I will let Senyak go into more detail with you about this...” The Clone raised a brow to Sen, who was wearing a decidedly blanched expression. “... as he is the reason for its development. Far from needing to be concerned or worried or place blame about the phenomenon, note that this increased application of scientific knowledge saved your life yesterday... Did it not?
You are next, Senyak...”
Josh had jumped up to confront Senyak at the Clone’s confirmation that the shorter man was at least partly responsible for what was going on with Josh’s mind–
The Clone slowly turned his gaze back toward Josh, his mouth in a firm line.
Josh suddenly realized that, in this case, discretion might be the better part of valor. Instead, he stood there with his mouth hanging open, waiting for a chance to speak, showing all the tension of a runner on the starting blocks waiting for the pistol to go off... But a quiet and non-interrupting runner.
Strangely, Sen looked a lot like a caged rat about to be fed to a hungry python. But on closer inspection, Josh decided that his expression was closer to guilt than fear…
The Clone then continued to answer their unasked questions with Josh’s future mutiny quelled. “When you dedicate Essence to a process that incurs no further cost, Essence, which is eternal, continues to serve that purpose. Exempli gratia, your visual enhancement continued despite no additional Essence being dedicated to it–”
The Clone interrupted himself and raised an index finger back to Joshua, indicating he was addressing a question both Senyak and he shared. “-- Also, please note that I recognize that your enhanced hearing ended seemingly prematurely. That is due to the autonomic response of your body having to spend the Essence needed to sustain the effect to instead repair the damage done to your ears by the cannibalistic humanoid’s sonic emissions. Exempli gratia, more was demanded of the Essence, and it was directed to meet a healing purpose and then released back to the iteration. No further Essence was dedicated. Thus, your audio enhancements ended.”
Done answering questions and ready to give orders, the Clone stepped back and adopted his usual air of command. “Rededicate Essence to restart your enhanced hearing. Do so now.”
They both did.
Then the Clone nodded once to Josh–
—Josh flew the last two steps to Senyak, who was standing in the small corner of the tunnel.
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“--Dude, what’s going with all of this random knowledge–Just by looking at the rocks in this hallway, I can tell you with absolute certainty that we are in the continental crust, far away from an oceanic subduction zone. The rocks here comprise Earth’s three primary crust components—sedimentary, igneous, and deposits of metamorphic silicate...” Josh pointed two fingers to the far wall, “... There was a flood around here over twenty thousand years ago based on the thickness of the layers on that wall. Erosion created layers of lightly compacted dirt on top of the harder, volcanic rock, and when floodwaters swept through this region, it took with it the loose material, exposing the basalt underneath.”
Josh squeezed his head between his fists. “... I never even played in the sandbox when I was a kid! What is going on with my brain?”
Senyak spared the Clone a glance that spoke of wounded betrayal. He couldn’t look Josh in the eyes as he started to wheedle, “Err... well... ahh... you remember when I needed you to restore the physical functions of the Elder Sadie . . . the Ka dominion the independent chaos agent had invaded... and Damni sent you the information about cardiac resuscitation so you could do it? Well... as it turns out, she didn’t think there was enough time to pare down the transfer to just the packets of information necessary for resuscitation...”
“So, you sent me more? How much more? I can tell you are hesitating through your inverted body language and the gaps in your speech. I also know it through our Karmic Bond! Spit it out, man!”
Sen’s Asian features turned a very bright shade of red. “Well... Damni might have sent all of the knowledge packets concerning medicine up to the current place in your time stream, including all of the related physical sciences that could impact them...” Sen finished in a quiet voice.
“You put the entire Encyclopedia Britannica in my brain?”
“Ahh... well... um... vastly more than that... All known scientific data at that point in the time stream of your home iteration. So, yeah... vastly more...” Sen looked away and spoke under his breath. “… You were lucky that your cortex maintained cohesion...” Sen looked back with a chagrined depression. “... I’m... uh... sorry...” Sen quietly finished, his eyebrows raised, and his teeth clenched in a pained smile.
Face as red as Senyak’s, Josh slid from seriously concerned all the way to ready to tear Senyak a new orifice or three.
Raising a clenched fist, he pushed his index finger at Senyak’s face.
“You almost blew up my brain, and you didn’t think you needed to tell me about it!?!”
Wide-eyed, Senyak began jabbering. “Youcameoutofitfine! Andsomuchhasbeengoingonsince–”
“Hmhmm-hmmm.” Chuckling, the Clone finally interceded, mirth evident on his face. “As entertaining as this truly is, gentlemen, we must get back to our schedule today. Do understand, Joshua Elias Tanner. This egregious act...” He waved a hand behind him to indicate Sen, “Obviously lacking in judgment on Senyak’s part, is a factor that probability models hold as giving you and Senyak one of your most considerable advantages in advancing your cultivation and successfully transcending to the Immortal realm.”
Josh, opening his hand, looked at the Clone nonplussed. “How can being the world’s greatest high-school science teacher help us reach the Immortal realm?”
The Clone looked at Josh and Sen consideringly for a moment, then adopted a resigned expression. “Very well. Now is the time for this discussion. Your knowledge of physical science has been significantly enhanced regarding material-matter iterations. To understand how significant, you need to consider what Essence really is. Regardless of the basal origin of any iteration, exempli gratia, negative energy, antimatter, Polar Neutral, tidak ada, etcetera, Essence is the true center... A thing’s nature... Its most important quality. Presently, this knowledge has proven to be too much for your current mental capacity–” Josh blanched and moved aggressively toward Sen–and was restrained by the Clone. “There does not appear to be any impairment of your faculties. Far from it, in fact. Your brain is just learning to accommodate the mass of new information and occasionally allowing... pertinent information to break from your unconscious mind to your conscious thoughts. As your Cultivation increases, so too will your capability of dealing with this. Until then... expect unbidden information not instigated by your conscious control. But this... side effect is nothing but a distraction to this event's true import. Your ability to understand the nature of the world around you is a tremendously potent force multiplier.”
“In a physical-matter iteration,” The Clone spread his hands to indicate the terrain around them, “such as this and the one you come from, what is the true center... the fundamental aspect of Essence?”
Narrowing his eyes, Josh had a good guess. He didn’t, however, say it out loud.
“Yes, Joshua Elias Tanner... The laws of physics, or Natural Laws such as you know them. Electromagnetism, thermodynamics, entropy, gravity, friction, fluid dynamics, quantum mechanics, relativity, buoyancy, energy, mass, light, motion, uncertainty–we could go on for some time trying to list the various significant elements that mortal Essence is tied to.” A wry smile touched the Clone’s face. “... After all, at this point in the time stream, your mortal scientists are barely more than hairless apes trying to make themselves fly by recklessly swinging a thigh bone over their heads...
“However, probability predictions confirm that even this limited knowledge will be of significant benefit.” The Clone’s gaze grew serious and bore directly into Josh’s eyes. “It will help you make the necessary connections to understanding cultivation and Essence use. This will significantly speed up your spiritual growth by limiting the trial and error that most cultivators must go through. You will be able to succeed in complex cultivation functions with minimal difficulty. Often, you will find executing various aspects of mortal cultivation for the first time will come as if you have performed them thousands of times.” At some point, the Clone’s serious face had gained an element of almost dangerous glee. “As the humans of your iteration say, Joshua, you are a natural!”
The Clone’s exuberance continued. “What I am telling you is no small thing, Joshua Elias Tanner–understand this...” The Clone looked Josh square in his eyes, his constant involuting blaze burning through any attempt to resist total focus on his words. “While I am guiding and keeping you accountable for your progress, my guidance cannot directly advance your cultivation.” He shook his head to amplify his point and then raised a blue-lined finger to Josh. “Only the spiritual connections you make with your personal understanding of this iteration and its physically attuned Essence will trigger your spiritual and physical unification and perfection. After all, it is your individual relationship with an iteration’s Karma, Ballance, and the many faces of its Reality that ultimately leads you to the perfect union of the physical and spiritual.
The Clone tipped his loosely fisted index finger at Josh. “Understand... for all mortals, the multiverse-wide, spiritual growth or Cultivation is known as The Path of One. Because it is a singular journey walked alone... An individual can never fully explain to other cultivators their unique understanding of the iterational truths that bring them closer to perfection. All spiritual epiphanies are based entirely on feelings and intuitions as opposed to facts and probabilities...” The Clone paused as his dangerous glee turned into a downright feral grin. “...But you and Senyak have found a very uncommon loophole in the Path of One. Your Karmic Bond allows you to share feelings and intuitions with perfect clarity... A very rare thing! When you make rapid leaps in cultivation, as we fully expect you to... so will Senyak!”
A calculating look came over the clone. He must have decided in their favor as he continued speaking. “This is a reality that you have both already shown me.” Turning his head, he gave Josh a sidelong glance. Enhancing your core in less than twenty-four hours is adequate progress toward our goals. Very adequate progress.”
More than anything, the youthful joy that overcame the usual rock-hard and calloused Clone’s demeanor drove the significance of what he was saying home to Josh. Half a moment later, he returned to his reserved and sour self. But Josh had seen just how meaningful what he said was.
Josh and Sen looked at each other, unsure if they completely understood what the Clone had just told them. But without question, they both knew they needed to grow in strength and cultivation to get where they needed to be. Based on what the Clone had said, they were getting on this ride together. They gave a side nod to each other and then faced the Clone in his multihued azure luminescence for the first time as a team with joint goals.
The Clone nodded to them, recognizing that his words had the desired outcome. “Very well. Now, you must solidify your gains and purify the Essence you have absorbed by cycling it through the meridians of your lungs, kidneys, and bowels... Yes, Senyak, you have identified them correctly.
“You will know that the Essence is purified once it feels no different from your own. I will teach you a general cycling pattern for purifying Essence that will suffice for some time. You will learn others as you advance and need them. For now, follow my instructions…”
They did. Similarly to their first hours in the alley, the cells of Josh’s body didn't grow–not precisely, but became fundamentally strengthened and empowered. Josh also noticed his meridians gaining in dimension, and... ease of passage? The more he cycled the Essence, the faster it seemed to circulate with the same effort. It was getting, at least slightly, easier.
“You have both purified your Essence. Note that your free energy bars are full. Also, note that your Essence is racing through your meridians and core. Now, intend the deposit of all Essence not needed to fill your Free Energy bar in your core. Yes, Joshua Elias Tanner, it will be something you can feel. Do not be overly concerned with the need to objectify the endpoint. It will occur instinctively. Do so now.”
They both moved the Essence to their cores and experienced a slight sensation of fullness. Nothing compared to how they had felt the night before. Then, the core indicator of their interface registered an opaque level of 24 percent. There was an actual number this time. Not bad for absorbing two scruffy bats. Is this thing listening to what I ask for . . .? There was no response to Josh’s direct question. Time will tell.