Chereads / StarDuster / Chapter 23 - Establishing Known Information

Chapter 23 - Establishing Known Information

Sleep, that is what I need after today.

Sometimes, I forget that I am mere flesh and blood. Though realistically I shouldn't need to sleep, it just feels… right.

I walked off, dusting my simple clothing off with a flick of my finger, and excited the small platform that was prepared for that pill. There were Automata gathered in the outside perimeter, taking notes on the process and monitoring my condition. I greeted them with a happy smile and wave, checked and confirmed my own scan results, and then left with a hearty laugh.

The conversations I have with these automata are sparse now, and I haven't seen Thoth not Eset for a long while. In all honesty, I miss them deeply. Not to say all these other ones aren't adorable and so worthy of being spoiled like a beautiful and good child, but I can't possibly spoil all of them and surely I'd get in trouble for that.

So, to my room I head. As to what Arch is delivering me, I'm scratching up theories and possibilities endlessly within my head as I almost salivate at the prospect of some new material to mess with.

Some of my Souls were interested as well, I feel Ideal, Virtue, and Ambition bubbling in anticipation.

I think I deserve one little nap before I start messing with Chronurgy again, that kind of stuff is… delusionally powerful, and demanding of the body and mind. Chronurgy, otherwise known as Time Magic, is the process of basically fucking with the natural order of the world by kicking time in the metaphorical nuts.

So, you can imagine it's more difficult than a simple fireball. It requires years of study to efficiently use, and lots of raw energy to boot. Automata are perfect candidates for this, as they can literally download all the experience they need.

I'll hook up an Automata to the time rocks Arch will give me, experiment with Void Art traveling during the process of manipulating time, and we'll see how it goes from there.

I preach the utility of these abilities but I have yet to record it for my more ignorant souls, perhaps then it will be useful to explain the process to them.

I gathered my souls and mentally prepared a speech. Ambition and Hope excused themselves, citing that they are already aware of the process.

"So, I'm going to go quickly and explain these subjects. If anyone else has knowledge about Void Arts and Alchemical processes you can tune out. Any questions before we begin?"

Justice tipped his hat and looked up at me from within my body. 'Just one, partner, ya' mind if I sit this little science fair out-? I'm a shooter, not a stuffy lab-coat assistant like these youngins.'

"That is also a completely valid reason to leave, I wouldn't wish to bore you with a lecture but I do advise staying. The more we know about the world, the more effectively we can relay information to others and recognize how things work within our world, you understand?"

'Hah, fine. Roll it.' He sighed.

Truth grinned. 'Finally, something noteworthy.'

'Lets go! I've been dying to know all these fancy words you use, I'm so ready -!' Virtue happily danced about with excitement.

'Right, right. Hurry on with it.' Ideal coldly remarked.

"Of course, I'll make this as swift as possible." I mentally prepared a metaphysical white board and began drawing on it mentally.

"Firstly, Void Arts is the process of using Void Energy to delete properties, objects, or even people. It's incredibly dangerous, and it's sourced directly from a place known as 'The Primeval Void'. When something is consumed by Void, its Data is stored there and held. When White Void, the exact opposite energy, is used; it creates things from that data. Thus, we can use Void to delete and White Void to create. There are scientifically studied and measured processes of using various Data sets to different values, but generally this process is all purpose. Some formulas and items, known as Void Arts and Void Cores respectively, can augment these abilities further depending on their quality and how trained the user is in them. A signature problem with Void usage, is that while it can solve lots of problems it makes you fundamentally weaker in other ways… normal magic heals you less or not even at all, and it constantly drains other resources stored in you like Magic, Ulma, or worse: Karma."

"Karma is the power of your Soul. It is the energy souls burn to survive, the stuff souls are made out of, and the stuff souls produce ambiently. It's practically life force in its purest form, and can really one be used for crafting or… theoretically… perhaps weapons. I'm not totally knowledgeable about it, as it's my weakest subject."

"Ulma, otherwise known as Alchemical Energy, is a semi-solid and manipulatable force. Some people refer to using Ulma as Psionics or other names, and nobody can really agree on its name. But, ultimately, you just need to have a firm connection or understanding to it and you can mentally manipulate it so long as you train extensively to feel and command it. It can be used to alter the physical world and fuse together things typically not meant to be fused."

"Magic is not exactly desperate for an explanation, it's the most commonly practiced and understood form of Energy within our world. Magicraft, spellcraft, sorcery, hexes and more are all other ways to describe the process of branding mana into physical form via The Weave. Now, the Weave is one of the many pillars of our world. Much like how the River Styx flows filled with the Souls, the Weave flows with the Mana of the world. There are components, rituals, and many multitudes of variables that augment Magic… most, I'm not likely caught up on entirely. There has likely been development… hopefully."

"Lastly, there are three other supposed 'Energies' that remain to be… not yet tapped into. Aura is one of them, which only Arch currently can manipulate and control, and the other two are only speculative. Any questions?"

Justice dimmed in brightness, retreating away with a shy remark of unknowing. 'Huh, well, that's… incomprehensible.'

'Idiot, of course it's not easily understood- we are normal folk, only that 'Ambition' has any sort of studious background.' Truth shook his head in embarrassment.

'It was acceptable enough, I propose a further investigation on Karmic energies for obvious reasons, Dragon. Remember our deal-?' Ideal plainly said, keenly interested.

Virtue humbly asked 'Well, it never became fully realized as a contract but… yeah, once we are settled with the monster issue… we are priority, right?'

'That goes without saying.' Truth remarked with a glare.

Justice flickered with a threatening glow. 'Exactly. He's gonna have to, after all, we outnumber him six to one. If he knows what's good for him he'll-'

"Yes, yes, I'm still planning to uphold my end of the bargain." I mentally responded. "Now, I'll be preparing myself a meal. Tommorow is a big day, so take some time to reflect on this information I gave you… if it will be of any help. I realize that those souls who can read my mind do not always share with the rest of you, and so I came to the understanding you all may not get along. In the case any disputes between you all come to be, inform me first so I may help you all solve any issues."