The more Gilgamesh spoke with the Elders and Mariam, the more he understood about the way the real world worked.
Cultivation was as broad as it was mystical, comprised of innumerable paths. At the very base of it all were the Ideas, without which nothing was possible.
Ideas were the foundation of everything, and as such All-Matter was an enigmatic place, which many longed to experience in some way, shape or form. Unfortunately, true Ideas cannot be seen or touched. The only way they can be made manifest, is through countless years of pain and effort.
Mariam spent centuries just seeking to learn more about the Idea of Truth before even a sliver of knowledge descended unto her, and she was luckier than most.
She had access to an ancient technique, through which she could cultivate Lesser Ideas based on her understanding of Truth, and use them to guide her meditation.
Gilgamesh also learned that each of the Great Elders were still in the process of pondering upon the Ideas that they resonated with, but were no where close to Mariam's level of success.
They were all in the Way-Making Stage-- the most important turning point in any cultivator's journey. As for Mariam, she was in a stage of her own making, based on her Way that was born of the Idea of Truth.
She called it the Newborn Truth stage, likening her understanding of the Idea of Truth unto the understanding of a newborn child.
Once Gilgamesh realized that she- in truth- was not being modest, it blew his mind.
As for the standard forms of cultivation, they could be categorized into simple groups.
First, the cultivation of magical essence or mana, which was present throughout the world. Through the study of magic, 'mages' were able to manipulate mana to accomplish great feats.
They each trained to deepen their understanding of mana, mana manipulation, spells and various other magical techniques. In order to grow stronger, a process called 'Mana Infusion' had to be carried out.
Some people were born with greater affinity for mana than others, but in the end they all had to rely on Mana Infusion to increase the amount of mana they could retain and control. That was the only way for a mage to become truly powerful.
They usually meditated on Ideas related to magic, like the Idea of Mana, the Idea of Spellage, the Idea of Charms and so on. Mariam only knew of one mage that had ever gotten past the Way-Making stage, though.
There was also a path of cultivation that was entirely focused on the body, and the manipulation of internal energy in order to strengthen the body. In addition to this, external elements such as pills, elixirs, and natural phenomena were also helpful.
In order to walk this path to the peak, many Body Refining techniques were formulated. In addition to this, of course, was the study of Ideas that were suitable for the body cultivator.
Many people were clueless about true Ideas, but through the power of guesswork, they were able to formulate Lesser Ideas which they would convince themselves they understood.
In Mariam's own words, it was 'a long and boring dive into delusional reality.' Trial and error was the only way to even attempt to perceive a true Idea.
Aside from Mana Infusion and Body Refining, there were the Ability Users and the Qi Refiners. Although there were many, many differing paths of 'cultivation,' they would all more or less fall under one of the four groups.
The only constant was the Way-Maker stage. No matter what path you took, it would always be the first step any cultivator would take into manifesting their Way.
There was typically no way around this, but as Gilgamesh learned, the offspring of two Gods of Creation was not so unfortunate.
By the end, Gilgamesh felt he had a clear enough understanding of that aspect of the world.
"So where are we?" He asked to anyone wishing to answer.
Early straightened up while rubbing his head, "We are at the Southern Border of Conceala City, in the Central Region of the Land of Demons. Our Clan is charged with regulating traffic through the Southern Gate, as well as taking action should any threat be identified."
"Mm," Gilgamesh brushed his nose, "so the Felis Clan helps protect the city. I'm guessing you serve a lord?"
"The City Lord," Darla answered, "Lady Stefene, the only human Lord in the Land of Demons."
Hearing it again, Gilgamesh asked, "Land of Demons?"
"That's where we are. The Land of Demons." Mariam stated matter-of-factly.
Gilgamesh blinked. "So... there's actually like... a Demon King?" He recalled Mariam mentioning such a thing in passing, but he didn't think she was being serious.
"There were a few recorded in history. The rest lived too long ago for us to know anything for sure, but myth and legend transcend even time." Mariam started before producing a book from seemingly no where.
"The study of Demon History is quite interesting- especially the Demon Kings. They are the 'Destined Ones' of their entire race, and always lead in an affront against The Lord. The first Demon King spoken of in legend dates back to at least 15,000 years ago, and was said to be born purely of a true Idea."
"Is that even possible," Gilgamesh asked, puzzled.
"Thematic Beings are Ideas made manifest, and they are born purely of Ideas, However, the Demon Kings are independent of their Idea, as history shows."
"The first Demon King- the Demon King of Slaughter- led a massive purge of humans in the Land of Demons-- called Fantasia back then. That Demon King identified humans as Heaven's chosen race, thus humans all but vanished from this continent thanks to them."
Mariam took a sip of something she conjured up; Gilgamesh wondered where she was even getting these things from.
"Yet, later down the line about 8,000 years ago, the Demon King of Pain rose up. Unlike the Idea he embodied, and not at all characteristic of a Thematic Being, the Demon King of Pain brought peace to the Land of Demons through a pacifistic rule."
"Humans, in their small numbers, were left alone to wander the plains like animals. The last Demon King we know of, the Demon King of Villainy, challenged The Lord for a chance to bless the demon race with a stronger affinity for cultivation like humans have."
"In the end, both sides conceded and a treaty was brokered through The Phantasm. Heaven did not want to incur further kharmic ties with the Demon Kings- or the Ideas themselves.""
Gilgamesh stroked his chin, "It sounds to me like the Ideas favor the demon race."
Mariam chuckled, "The Ideas favor no one race. Human Sovereigns have rose up in distant lands, born of Ideas just the same as the Demon Kings. The same can be said for the Elves, the Beasts and every other race we know of. Certain individuals have appeared in every race, throughout history."
Carael laughed lightly, fixing his glasses. "If you ask me, the only opinion the true Ideas share is that they hate Heaven with a passion."
Gilgamesh laughed at that, a peculiar glint in his eyes as he pondered the idea of hating heaven. It was something he was all-too familiar with, as the Heaven that was always imposed upon him was unjust and cruel.
He had come to associate 'Heaven' with selfish desire and arrogance. The word itself was plagued with sourness. In the end, a thought came to him that jolted him out of that area of his mind.
"How do you know what path of cultivation is meant for you? Is there some kind of test?"
When Gilgamesh asked this, the Great Elders all looked to Mariam.
"Well," Darla pursed her lips, "we have something better than the standard tests."
Realizing what she meant, Gilgamesh furrowed his brows. "But didn't you already try to expose my truth and fail?"
"I tried to expose a specific truth about you- the truth of the Idea I believed you embodied. I thought I could see your Way, but I was wrong." Mariam corrected.
"However, that doesn't mean I can't reveal the truth of your affinity. And it's much simpler."
Snapping her fingers, Mariam watched as the Great Elders all shifted and produced two items each.
Earl. Pontius, Darla and Carael all produced tiny pouches filled with something, and miniature plant pots. Again, Gilgamesh had no idea where they were getting these things from.
"Each of these seeds has an intended purpose, linked to the four groups of cultivation. Whichever of them grows will reveal your affinity." Mariam smiled as she motioned with her hand for Gilgamesh to step toward Earl.
"What if, because I'm not actually a real person born of this world, I don't have an affinity for any of them?" Genuinely curious, and also slightly worried, Gilgamesh posed the question.
"Not to worry. It is impossible for anyone to not have an affinity for any of the four paths. Just wait and see which path you are destined to walk," Earl said smilingly.
And so, Gilgamesh grasped the seed of Mana Infusion, then planted it in the pot.
There was no response.
Moving on, he grasped the seed of Body Refining. Once again, there was no response.
Taking hold of the seed of Abilities, he licked his lips and gave Mariam a look, to which she responded by using her eyes to hurry him along. Gilgamesh stuck the seed into the soft soil and covered it up, only for there to be no reaction once again.
Finally, Gilgamesh took hold of the Qi Refining seed.
"So he's a Qi Refiner? I didn't expect that," Carael said as he took a mental note, seeming genuinely surprised at the result.
"I thought for sure he would be a Body Refiner like me. Just look at that impressive body of his." Earl lamented.
"Ability Users are far too rare," Pontius simply stated."
"At least he isn't a mage. I would hate to have to teach him," Darla sighed in relief.
Mariam urged Gilgamesh on, and so he planted the seed. They all looked on in anticipation of the seed germinating, knowing that Gilgamesh definitely had to be a Qi Refiner.
Yet, to their great shock, the seed did not germinate. There was... no reaction.
Gilgamesh had successfully... failed all four tests.
"Impossible..." the Great Elders all murmured in unison, then looked to Mariam with grave expressions. They did not know what it could possibly mean, and could only think back to Gilgamesh's initial theory.
Perhaps, because he did not originate in their world, he was unable to possess an affinity for cultivation.
Mariam bit down repeatedly on her fingernails as she wracked her brain.
"Could there have been some interference from the Idea again?" Earl proposed, but Pontius and Carael shot him down almost immediately.
"The Idea does not belong to Gilgamesh, so it cannot have any influence on his affinities for cultivation." Carael finished with a hint of disbelief.
"Does he truly not have any kind of affinity? I suppose I have now seen the impossible happen... twice. Heh, heh." Pontius said half-jokingly, laughing at himself.
Earl sighed, "What kind of twisted game is fate playing? If Gilgamesh cannot cultivate, then what awaits him in this world?"
Immediately, Mariam's head snapped in Earl's direction. "You said what?"
Caught off guard, Earl scrambled a bit, "Uh- well- what did I say again? Oh! That fate is playing a twisted game!"
Mariam suddenly smiled after considering something for a short while, and she looked at Gilgamesh with a rekindled fervor in her eyes. "That's it."
With a wave of her hand, the plant pots all vanished. Replacing them now, in the center of the Elders where Mariam was sitting, was a wooden game board.
Upon the board were a number of smooth, round stones. Half of them were white, the other half were black.
"This is!" Earl gasped.
Pontius and Darla sucked in deep breaths, meanwhile Carael chuckled and instantly moved closer to the board.
"The Game of Life and Death. It tests the very soul of a person. When all else fails, the soul alone can reveal one's fate. Even if you possess no affinity right now, that does not mean you never will."
Gilgamesh sat across from Mariam at the game board, and looked it over. "So how does this work?"
"Although it sounds ominous, this game is really just a contest of fates. It weighs the fates of both players, and whoever wins in the end simply possesses the stronger fate of the two."
"All you have to do," Mariam said while demonstrating, "is turn over a stone. If the first stone you turn says 'Death,' then you automatically lose. If you have a Life stone, then you are able to overturn a Death stone and continue playing, as both stones will nullify each other."
"If you no longer have any Life stones, but turn over a Death stone, you lose the game. The winner is the last person alive. Are you ready?"
Gilgamesh nodded; the Great Elders came in close in order to watch the game unfold. They knew that, of all of them, Mariam's fate was the greatest and most mystical. She was destined for far greater things than all of them combined.
She was the best person for Gilgamesh to play this game with.
Mariam had overturned a life stone, and thus it was Gilgamesh's turn. All eyes followed his fingers, and as they overturned the black stone they all saw a white character on it.
Strangely enough, the writing did not say either life or death. Before they could commit the writing to memory, the stone turned to vanishing dust. Just like that, it was gone from view.
The Elders and Mariam were absolutely stumped. Realizing this, Gilgamesh did not even bother to ask them what happened.
Carael swallowed his saliva and adjusted his glasses, instantly producing paper and something to write with. "Go again. If more strange writing appears, I'll write it down as fast as I can."
Mariam continued the game, overturning another life stone. Gilgamesh sighed and overturned a random stone, which was once again neither a life or death stone. Carael drew on the paper as fast as he could, then the stone turned to dust again.
The game continued like this, with Mariam turning over her stones and Gilgamesh doing the same. Each time, Carael would record the writing on Gilgamesh's stones, noting that there was something different each time.
Mariam and Gilgamesh had ten stones each, and so the game was over pretty soon. Carael recorded everything he saw on Gilgamesh's stones, and when the game was finished he studied the paper without looking away, pacing as he did so.
"That's never happened," Mariam slowly enunciated, looking down at the board.
"No shit," Earl chuckled as he looked at Gilgamesh's own surprised face. Darla was looking at Carael, and Pontius was sitting with his eyes closed, lost in thought.
In truth, no one had been paying attention to Mariam's side of the board. No one but Gilgamesh.
"I think she was referring to that," Gilgamesh pointed. The three elders looked to where he was pointing, and saw Mariam also staring down at her side of the board.
There, ten stones had been overturned. Each and every one of them... was a life stone.
"There's no way," Darla breathed.
"That's.... That's im-"
"I figured it out!" Carael shouted, then he raced back over to them before slamming the paper down onto the empty half of the board.
"This is the written language of the Demon Kings, possibly dating back to the time of the first Demon King! Each of the characters were letters and- although I missed the first letter- I already know what the word is."
Earl drew lines from each of the characters, then wrote the letter they each corresponded to. At the bottom of the page, he eventually ended up with the letters, 'M', 'P', 'O', 'S', 'S', 'I', 'B', 'L', 'E'.
"Impossible..." Mariam whispered.
When the Great Elders finally looked away from the page, they turned to see Gilgamesh staring at them in confusion. However, they no longer viewed him the way they had always done.
Now they knew that, without a doubt, he was unlike anyone that had ever lived. Through the Game of Life and Death, an impossible truth was revealed.
That truth, was that Gilgamesh's fate- his soul itself- was Impossible.
Mariam uttered the words softly, at first, and was barely heard over the sound of the Great Elders' minds breaking.
When she spoke the words again, they were clearly heard.
"The Idea that attached itself to you... is Impossible."