I am in so much pain. I hate grappling!
"See ya tomorrow, Alex!"
This doofus's smile dispels all my lingering resentment as he goes up the stairs to his room.
"Yeah see ya, Hugo."
Hugo is a good friend, but an awful training partner. It's been five weeks since we had our first combat training class, and he still hasn't learned what holding back means.
Being partnered with him to train takedowns is almost worse than that whole ritual thing back then, but the worst by far is striking practice on Friday, Hugo can pack a punch.
Anyways, got to go to get going too. I already stuffed myself at lunch, so I guess I'll skip dinner today and just cultivate till sunset. God, when did I become so hardworking? I wonder if daddy would still call me a disappointment...
No, I'm not crying you are!
I arrive in the backyard, set myself down cross-legged on a comfy sofa on the patio, and look up at the sun, It won't set for another three hours that's good.
Hansen told us last week that the Rising Soul Prayer guides positive spiritual energies towards us through Elat's will, so it's more effective to cultivate in open sunlight. It didn't really matter that he didn't tell us earlier because it was still winter, so far too cold to cultivate outside back then, but I'm still a bit resentful.
I steel my mind and start chanting in the spring sun.
"Lord behind the rising sun, I ask for the rise of my soul under you divine will that commands this world..."
I feel my surroundings get colder and darken as I draw positive spiritual energy from it. The spiritual energy passes through the vortex to that one spot the soul pearl absorbed from, the spot where my soul is anchored to my body, and continues to grow the bridge to my soul.
Originally, just like Hasen said, I didn't feel much from the prayer, but after two weeks I started feeling this bridge growing like an extension of myself.
"... it with righteous glory. For this servant pleas to his Lord Elat of the Rising Sun."
I reach peak velocity, and the absorption does its sudden increase. It's black hole time. From the end of the first cycle, the peak velocity is maintained throughout my new cycles of the scripture.
I continue like this as the sun continues to fall on the horizon and the vortex continues to feed the bridge.
I sense the bridge is close to completion. It's a weird feeling, like coming closer to myself, but not myself. This is some trippy stuff.
It's been like two hours now, this is so boring. I can't believe I found this har-
Crack!
"Argh!"
A sudden pain assaults me before I feel a pull and my vision blurs.
What the hell happened?!
[Welcome back Julian or do you prefer Alex now?]
When my vision returns, I find myself in front of a ten-meter tall apple tree, and a white spider hanging from its string right in front of me.
I immediately recoil.
[Ew! Don't be so close.]
[Nice to see you too prick.]
So, I succeeded in opening my soul. Nice!
[Yeah, you did. Good job buddy!]
He makes a mocking clapping motion with his front legs.
Annoying mindreader.
[Oh, yeah I forgot you have no concept of privacy and are a condescending ass.]
[Remind me who just called me disgusting? That's body shaming, you know.]
[Yeah right, If you're really me like you said then you don't give a shit.]
[True, I guess. I am beautiful as I am. Anyway, welcome back to your Soulscape what is that you want here?]
[Shouldn't you already know since you're me.]
[No, I'm your soul core, a reflection of your core traits and personality. I don't have your memories and Ideals that's all mind stuff, not soul stuff.]
So, my core trait is being an asshole spider. A good self-esteem booster right here.
[No, Brother Hansen didn't give me any instructions on what to do once I got here.]
[So you're clueless, cool.]
I'm starting to hate myself more and more.
[Oh, and what's up with the intruder?]
He points his tiny legs to the east where to sleeping, thirty-meter tall Snorlax is lying in the fetal position, or at least I think he is.
I can't actually see much because of the blindingly bright sun rising behind him.
[That damned sun appeared after your first visit. It's way too bright. I really miss my calm twilight sky.]
So that's the connection Lord Elat has to our soul that Brother Hansen talked about.
[That thing is the mark of a diety?]
[Yeah it is, mind reader.]
[You can mind read too. It's your fault for limiting yourself, and also great job. I got to say getting a god's mark, that can spy on our every move, into our Soulscape is a smart move.]
[I didn't choose this either dumbass. Getting that mark was hella painful!]
[Oh, well what's done is done. I forgive you, my child. Is the diety malicious?]
I look at the rising sun.
[No, Lord Elat is righteous and just.]
As far as I know, at least, I'm pretty sure the church didn't survive on just kindness. This world doesn't seem too kind till now.
[So, what do we do now, spider?]
I look back, but the spider is gone.
[No clue, you're the one with access to the outside world. I only have the memories you share with me while you're here. Also, call me Julian. I'll take your old name since you have a new one.]
I find him again perched on a tree branch eating an apple.
[That's helpful.]
I guess I'll ask Brother Hansen how to continue cultivating tomorrow morning, and as for the sun. I can't do anything about it, so I'll just ignore it for now.
[Hey Julian, can you tell me how to leave?]
[Dude, how many times do I have to tell you. I don't have the memories here. Just will it or something.]
But I don't want to use my brain...
Ummm, ok, I got here through the bridge, so maybe if I can locate the bridge I can leave. I try to focus on it like when I cultivate and a wooden door suddenly appears in front of me.
[Oh, you were thrown in here in one of those things.]
Thanks for the info, Julian.
[No problemo.]
I can finally leave this annoying mind reader. Through the door, I go.
[Bye-bye, Alex.]