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— I don't suppose you have a blue one, do you?
— I am terribly sorry, Master. That was the only nutrition pill I had in my possession. Do you wish me to find you a blue coloured nutrition pill?
Rue turned her head to the side showing her puzzlement with my statement. Ignoring her I just throw the pill into my mouth. Immediately afterwards I regretted not having asked her to bring another one.
My vision went dark for a moment. Yuck! The taste of the powder is all sorts of horrible. It is tasteless but at the same time tastes like all the dishes I hate most: pickles, olives and all sorts of other less discernible but equally horrible tastes. I want to vomit, but there isn't anything beside the pill in my stomach. If this is what truth tastes like, I definitely prefer to live in the world of illusions.
— What is this atrocious torture-pill?
— An emergency nutrition pill.
— But why was the taste so horrible?
— The pill provides all the necessary nutrition for most known life forms. By itself it is pretty much tasteless. Thus they were quite unpopular and avoided. As an attempt to promote them an illusion magic was used during their production. The idea was that the pill should taste the same as your favourite food.
— So how did it turn into this... I don't even have words to describe how disgusting it was.
— According to the documentation left: the idea behind illusion spell was to draw out the strongest positive taste and use it. Unfortunately, for unknown reason, instead of drawing out the strongest positive taste it has just draws out the strongest tastes. The result is what you have experienced.
I can somehow understand what she means. If you mix two dishes one of which is exceptionally good and the other is exceptionally bad, the result will almost always be exceptionally bad.
— So what tragedy led you to possess one of these pills?
— The defect was discovered too late, so a very large batch of them was produced. Since it was another branch of Illari research institute, to cut on the losses, the product was distributed among other branches as a part of emergency package. — Rue took a small pause, and continued. — Master, may I inquire why you characterized this story as a tragedy even before hearing it?
— If these pills end up being consumed by a living being, then it cannot be described as anything but tragedy.
— I see. Thank you for your response, Master.
The conversation died out and I continued walking through this forest accompanied by the buzzing of Rue's wings. Some might wonder why I accepted existence of Rue so easily or why I wasn't commenting on how she addressed me as 'Master' Besides the fact that it felt oddly natural, there were two main reasons.
The first is that I had plenty of other things to worry about, and having somebody help me deal with them was like a boon. So I adhered to the wisdom of my ancestors — 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'. As for the second reason... Well, let me ask you this — 'What kind of an idiot would refuse help of a cute little faerie that does everything ask of her'?
The walk through the forest was quite short, so I haven't met anybody. But I did hear sounds of leaves rustling, so I assumed there was somebody nearby. Anyway, the building I came to is huge. It is more than two hundred meters in width and is shaped like a pyramid. The pyramid is familiarly grey-coloured and covered with green vines.
At the top of this pyramid is a blue transparent crystal in the shape of octahedron. The crystal is quite far away, so it is hard to tell its size, but I would assume it to be around one meter in height. What is interesting is that this crystal seems to be hovering with its tip barely touching the tip of the pyramid.
After marvelling at the pyramid for a bit, I start walking to the entrance. By the way, the pyramid is monolithic so there aren't any doors or windows. Though it is still obvious where the entrance is. Like the building I came from, this one is also thickly covered with vines, except for one part that is slightly bigger than what a door should be.
I walk close to that segment. When I was about to touch the wall, it split opened. Inside is a familiar dullish grey-coloured corridor. Like in the previous building, there don't appear to be any sources of light, but it is still bright. I am really starting to hate these monotonous designs. Why couldn't anybody add a bit more colour? Whatever the case, I start walking along the corridor.
The walk was really short. Turns out, there is some kind of an optical illusion, and another door is less than ten meters from the entrance. This door opens as soon as I come near it. When I enter, I feel unusual heaviness and brightness, but it passes in an instant. The room I come in is quite peculiar and slightly scary. It is white and shaped as half of a sphere. The whole floor is filled with a writing in some unknown language. What is unusual about this writing is that the lines of text form different geometrical figures. There is so much of this writing that you couldn't step anywhere without stepping onto the text.
The only space not filled with the writing, is a circle in the middle of the room. The lines of text form the edges of this circle, but the inside is a clean white floor. This circle in the middle catches my eye, since as soon as I enter, it is starting to glow. I turned around to make sure the escape route is still open, but behind me was just a white concave wall that forms a dome around this room.
No escape? This makes me slightly scared. First I try touching the wall, but to no avail. Now I'm beginning to panic for real. I understand that this shouldn't be dangerous, but being locked in a room with magical writing all over it and glowing circle, that is starting to glow stronger and stronger, is still scary.
To calm myself down I'm doing the only thing I can come up with — I'm trying to convince myself that all of this is just a cool CG.
This is not real. Not real. Not real!
This is just a light. Just a light!
This is nothing to be afraid of!
To my huge surprise, I actually succeed. It's as if something clicked in my head. The pressure of the upcoming survival game decreases. I somehow feel... No. I somehow know that I will survive it. I also know that I don't need to fear this situation. The strange glowing circle is still there, and I'm still wary of it, but I also know that whatever happens, I will be able to deal with it.
In some respect this resembles what I felt when I played VR-games. In them I knew that nothing would happen to me. In the worst case I can start from the beginning. This new feeling I have is similar yet different. I'm trying to put that feeling into words, but can't come up with any words that will suit it.
Still, this feeling gives me confidence. This new-found confidence eases the fear and panic, clearing my mind and enables me to think properly. Only now do I realize that Rue was beside me all this time. I can't understand why I didn't ask for her help or at least an explanation? I was about to voice my questions when it happens.
The glowing disk suddenly bulges. It takes a shape of a drop of water that is dropping upwards. The bottom split into two halves forming legs. From the top emerges a sphere which takes a form of a head in a cape. Slowly the bluish glowing droplet starts resembling a shape of a humanoid in a robe. I would say a human, but in light of all that has happened I am slightly pickier on when to use that term.
At first it is just a shape of a humanoid, but as the glow starts to get dimmer, it becomes clearer that it is a human. In some places, like for example legs, you can see through him. The only part not covered by robe, is his face. The beard and wrinkles start to become visible. It becomes clear that it was an elderly man in a robe.
He is made of glowing bluish light. If I am to describe him, then telling that he is what you could call a ghost would explain his appearance best. Looking at his transparent blue eyes I got a sense of immeasurable age and wisdom.
The elderly man starts to speak:
— So... — He makes a dramatic pause. — Didn't wet your pants, did ya?
The elderly ghost grins. This grin is so mismatched with that old face that it destroys all illusion of age and wisdom. Now he just seems like a childish old man. He is giving off a vibe of eccentricity.
How should I explain this properly... Imagine the boss at your work ordering you to go to the neighbouring town to fetch him a brand of coffee he likes. And when you bring it he just says he changed his mind and doesn't want it anymore, throwing coffee into junk and grinning. Looking at the grin of this old geezer I feel the same indignation.
— What? A cat got your tongue? — Continues this geezer. — Or are you still so afraid that you can't even move?
For some reason his grin is making me really angry with him.
— Rue, weren't we supposed to go into the library? Why did we end up in a home for elderly?
— I apologize, Master. According to the database, this was the library, but it seems the building was remodelled into a nursing house.
Wow! It took me a moment to realize that Rue was just following up my off-hand joke. She is definitely not an NPC.
— Oi, oi. Why are you ganging up to me? I am the High and Mighty Keeper of Knowledge, one of the High Spirits overseeing this library.
He straightens his shoulders and puffs his chest. If anything, it seems comical.
— I see that you are high, or at the very least high maintenance. Then give me the book which would explain how to kill spirits. Or better yet a book that explains how to force spirits to do my bidding.
— Now let's not be so hasty. Maybe you would like something more practical. Like for example: 'A complete manual on conjuring the philosopher's stone', 'Rituals for summoning. Volume IV: Djinns' or perhaps 'Inter-dimensional travel for dummies'.
That made my heart skip a beat. Does this mean I can escape this place without attending the tournament? I know it couldn't be that easy and I shouldn't be getting my hopes up, but still... Still...
— Rue.
— Yes, Master?
— You said that there was practically no way for me to avoid the tournament.
— Yes, Master. That is the case.
— Then what if I would escape this world.
— In that case Master most likely would avoid participation. Though escaping from this world is not possible for Master right now.
— Why is that?
— There is a barrier around this complex. It prevents going in or out for anybody unauthorized. Currently Master is unauthorized to exit and only one person may give such an authorization.
I asked gloomily:
— The organizer of the tournament?
— Master is correct.
I see where this is going.
— So, by the same logic a wish granted by a djinn and the immortality from a philosopher's stone wouldn't help me fight either?
The ghost, who was silently listening to my conversation with Rue, suddenly grinned again.
— Correct! Not a lost case, yet. Ha-ha-ha!
His laughter is getting on my nerves.
— Rue. Are you certain that this is more efficient than if you would teach me?
— Yes, Master. Unfortunately spirits are best at teaching the skills from the books here.
The old geezer started complaining:
— What's with this 'unfortunately'? What do you mean by 'unfortunately'?
Ignoring this outburst, I continued my conversation with Rue.
— Are you sure? It certainly doesn't seem like it to me.
As if to illustrate my point the geezer shrank, retreated to a corner and started pouting. Yes, you heard me right — he 'retreated to the corner'. Since the room is round, he made a corner from the bluish light that he was made of. What is it with this childish behaviour? Am I in a kindergarten? And why am I even going along with this?
With a sigh Rue replied to me:
— As teachers, spirits in this library are unrivalled.
Well, it's not like I have any better plan of action. So even though Rue hasn't dispelled my doubts, I decided to heed her advice and ask for the help of the spirit.
— So, what do I need to do for you to actually teach me?
Suddenly, something changed. At first I coudn't understand what had happened. That is, until I looked at the old geezer. No, right now calling him old geezer would be inappropriate. He's standing in the middle of the room gazing at me. His eyes are sharp and serious. As if, the way he acted right before now was just a dream.
Then he began speaking:
— So you wish to develop your special ability and learn magic?
I don't remember telling him the purpose of my visit, so how did he know about it? I wanted to ask that, but the spirit continued.
— But you don't seem to know even the first thing about it. So before we start let me give you an interesting riddle: Ether Link is an ability to tap into the energy of the world — Ether. Every living being has an Ether Link, there are even some special animals and species that have special abilities thanks to that. Though at the same time, it is only sentient beings that are able to strengthen that Link. Using that information, what would you say is basis for Ether Link and what is needed to strengthen it?
'That is what I came here to find out!!!', or so I would want to say. But his eyes are telling me that this time he is serious. Time for joking around has ended. If I want to survive I need to take this seriously. So I start thinking about it.
He said that every living being has Ether Link. If you look at this from another angle then it means that beings who aren't alive probably can't have it. So, what is it that separates living beings from non-living? The first thing that comes to my mind, the most obvious one — the ability to reproduce. Though, it is certainly not the correct line of thought here. Suffice to say, that if it were, the library wouldn't be the place to which Rue would have sent me to learn the Ether Link, so let's just leave it at that.
To approach it from another angle — he said that only sentient beings are able to get stronger. It means that non-sentient beings cannot strengthen Ether Link. To obtain it I need to have something any living being has, but to strengthen it I must have something only sentient ones have. Twisting and turning conditions of the riddle I thought back on the behaviour of this spirit. He was basically fooling around, wasn't he?
Meditation... Fooling around... Doing what you want... Following your desires... Thinking about it, it finally hit me. If you think about it from a perspective of a fantasy story the answer should be an obvious one. Instincts. All living beings have instincts. What separates sentient beings from animals? An ability to go against your emotions. An ability to go against your instincts. This would mean...
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