After the meeting ended, I went to the Laboratories and met with Herta, Black Swan, and Aranyani. We were already working on a project to allow Knights faster Cultivation before.
-"Meeting ended?"
-"Yes, we can return to the work. Herta, is my plan feasible?"
-"Yes, if we create a Simulated Universe based on a mix of Cultivation and Paths, we can make the perfect place to train. Problems are how we can provide essence needed to Cultivate and time itself."
-"Matter of time could be solved by using memoria and multiple paths to create an immersive realm in which time passes faster. Black Swan, can we achieve that, and what are the limits of this approach?"
-"Hmm... It certainly can be done. But you would need a powerful foundation to create a Memory zone of such magnitude."
-"Well, I think that Yue already thought about that issue, and that's why I'm here. You want to modify the Akasha system to make it the foundation for what you need, am I right?"
-"Exactly. The Akasha system is based on [Grand Library], and most of our other technologies are then created upon the Akasha System."
-"If we truly add powerful memories aside from the knowledge from [Grand Library], then creating a Memory zone will be easy."
-"The problem is that [Grand Library] can't contain memories, just knowledge."
-"Yes, but nothing stops us from adding something to the Akasha system that can contain those."
-"But what do you plan to use for that?"
-"The Tree, right?"
-"Bingo."
-"It's possible to connect the tree with the Akasha system. I can do it in a week or so."
-"Will that be enough for time dilation?"
-"Should be. From my calculations, around a hundred-time difference can be achieved. Black Swan, can you confirm that?"
-"Let alone hundred-time I think that we can reach a two-hundred-time difference."
-"That still leaves the matter of essence."
-"About that, I plan to create a Garden where I will tend to plants and creatures from different words, creating a source for the essence."
-"So this is a project Ruan Mei is working on right now. She didn't want to disclose it."
-"Yes, I asked her to help me modify some plants and animals. She likes the idea of the Garden probably even more than I do."
-"The question remaining is, will that provide enough essence?"
-"No need to worry about that, Herta. While Ruan Mei was working on those plants, she passively Cultivated to the Life Destruction stage."
-"If you truly can gather enough of those, lack of essence won't be a problem."
-"Then what will be left is the Simulated Universe. How do you want to put it all together?"
-"Garden will be base for the realm. Memory zone will be built on it being kept by the Akasha system. A Simulated Universe will provide a way to walk the Paths, and Shen Meng will help us later by creating a dream that will help with the Cultivation."
-"Good. Now, we have to try and achieve it. How much time do we have?"
-"I won't place a specific deadline but aim for the meeting in my homeworld as the time of completion for the project."
As we agreed on the plan, we split up to start our tasks. I went to Ruan Mei's lab, where she was standing before the incubators.
-"I must say that every time I see you in the laboratory, your appearance of a traditional noble lady contrasting with the hyper-modern equipment here always makes me stop because of the gap."
-"Thank you. I take great care with my appearance."
-"How are the results?"
-"Why ask? You already created another Fae form that Kalista woman."
-"Well, I have confidence in your creations, but I want to know the details."
-"Fae are all that we predicted. Connection to nature is as strong as that of the Spirits. Lifespan is the same as the environment they inhabit, meaning that in the Garden, they will be immortal."
-"Perfect. When the Garden is created, they will guard it, and Kalista will be their leader."
-"I don't care about that. I just want to unravel mysteries of life."
-"Taking about that, when will you undergo your life destruction?"
-"Now. You will help me, right?"
-"Of course."
-"Then can you provide Origin, Death, and Abundance for me?"
-"In the end, you continue upholding your belief. I will do everything you need."
-"Then let's go to the Tree."
I nodded and took us both there. Ruan Mei made her preparations, calling Feng for assistance. She then asked us to begin. Feng was to use her fire to perform destruction, while I was to help with reconstruction.
⌊ Lamb, watch over her.⌉
⌊ Don't worry.~⌉
Golden flame erupted on Ruan Mei, signaling the start of her breakthrough. Her body was soon destroyed, leaving only spirit and soul. She then used the powers I was providing to reconstruct it. A few minutes later, she was floating slightly above the ground, reborn.
I manifested a blanket with Authority of Reason to cover her, as she could not create new clothes. She awoke from her unconsciousness sometime later.
-"And here I thought you would use this occasion to admire my beauty, Yue."
-"I still have a bottom line. I will admire it when you are conscious."
-"Feel free to do so."
-"How are you feeling?"
-"Not bad, a little sore as painkillers were not strong enough, but nothing major."
-"Take care of yourself."
-"In contrast to my co-members of Progress, I don't live on instant noodles. No need to worry about me."
-"Are you up for some tea?"
-"Yes, please."
We spent some time together, ending our break when Fuxi came and called me.
Returning to the office, Yae, Ei, and Makoto were there waiting for me. Makoto has already returned to full health, and Yae also returned to her duties as Minister of Culture.
-"Sorry for calling you here, Yue."
-"It's my job to sit here, so I should be sorry for delegating my duty. What can I do for you?"
-"I wanted to officially join Hold, but I'm not sure under which Principle I should do so."
-"Hmm... I believe that Duty would be the best match, but I see that you have your thoughts."
-"Yes. I was considering becoming part of Domination to help Ei."
I looked at now meek Ei, always staying a step behind to the left of her sister.
-"I think that you can join Domination, as you are correct that Ei is good at leading troops in combat but not so in strategy."
-"Then I will do so. My other reason for coming here is a matter I discussed with you before."
-"No need to worry. I already prepared everything on my end. I'm only waiting for those items and memory stones that will allow me to restore their spirit."
-"We brought them here."
-"Then we can start."
Four of us moved to my workshop, where supporting formations were placed. In three of them, souls that I preserved when reviving Makoto were slowly being restored.
Makoto took out the items she had prepared and gave them to me. Those were mostly personal items of people whose souls were being healed, carrying the emotions of those people.
I started to construct pseudo-spirits using memory stones and those items, supplementing gaps with what I could Diviniate. The pseudo-spirits slowly become complete, almost as solid as Makoto's during her revival. The next step was to create new bodies for them and fuse three parts together. It was not hard, as I already had experience in this.
The whole procedure hadn't taken more than two hours, and now three people were lying on the floor, waiting to be woken up. After checking for the last time if there were any problems, I started to wake them up.
-"Same as last time, keep them calm and ground them in reality before trying to restore memories."
Three girls nodded, each one approaching one person. The first to wake up was a Tengu man named Sasayuri, who opened his eyes and was lost, but seeing Ei by his side, he calmed down and started to think.
-"Sasayuri, don't think too deeply right now. You were just revived. Stay calm."
-"Revived, huh? Good, I'll try not to think too much."
-"Calm yet casual as always."
-"And you are still direct."
Two of them engaged in small talk. The stoic character of Sasayuri made it so no problems happened. The next person to wake up was a petite Oni woman. She was not as calm, especially when she saw Makoto.
Only after Makoto spoke to her and explained what had happened did she calm down, but she was still grief-stricken. I had to use Path of Elation to suppress her emotions before she could injure her still fragile spirit.
-"Calmed down, Torachiyo?"
-"Yes. What about my family?"
-"Your children passed long ago. Their descendants still live."
-"Sigh. At least they didn't follow in my foolishness."
-"Ei understand that it wasn't 'you' back then. No need to beat yourself over it."
-"Ugh..."
-"Makoto, not now."
-"Sorry, Yue."
The last person, a kitsune woman, didn't wake up for a long time. We were able to stabilize both Sasayuri and Mikoshi Chiyo to the point of not needing constant surveillance of their state, yet Kitsune Saiguu had yet to wake up.
-"Is everything all right with her, Yue?"
-"Yes. Give her some time."
-"So, this is the one who saved us?"
-"Nice to meet you."
-"Thank you for saving us and Makoto."
-"I promised Yae that I would do so, and I don't have a habit of lying."
-"You only promised to save Makoto, not us."
-"Yes, but between my promise and today, other things also changed. I no longer promise help to strangers but to family."
-"Family? Did Inazuma finally gain consort?
-"Sadly, neither I nor my sister has that kind of relationship with Yue yet."
-"Yae is my partner."
-"Youngest? Congratulations, then."
-"Thank you Sasayuri."
-"If you want some tips, I can give you some as an experienced mother."
-"Well..."
-"Hmm? Is there some trouble?"
-"It is impossible to have children in the normal way. Even if I want to have descendants, I would need to create them. True Spirits don't reproduce. They come into existence spontaneously."
-"I apologize for bringing up a delicate subject."
-"Don't worry, I don't mind that. I just want to be with Yue."
I simply nodded in acknowledgment of apology.
-"But True Spirit? I never was aware of such beings."
-"Not strange, Spirits in our world are all minor or even lower Spirits. More so, most are just Spiritual Beings."
We continued our talk, introducing changes that had taken place during their absence. When the subject reached the Hold, Kitsune Saiguu showed the first signs of waking up.
The moment she opened her eyes, troubles happened. A Burst of power erupted from her as she tried to attack Yae, who was closest to her. I instantly jumped to block the attack and used the Authority of Binding to stop her from acting up.
-"What's going on?"
-"Exactly what I was afraid. She is too unstable."
-"Can you save her?"
-"Yes. Give me a moment."
I put Kitsune Saiguu into a coma and entered her mental space with Path of Remembrance. Inside, I was welcomed by a dark world slowly falling apart. Walking forward, I found Kitsune Saiguu curled on the ground.
I sat next to her and waited for a while. She didn't notice me at first but gradually realized that I was next to her. As she was getting used to my presence and I tried calming her down with my aura, she continued to lay there, shivering from time to time.
-"Were you also consumed by that?"-She whispered, still afraid of everything.
-"No. I'm here to save you."
-"It can't be done."
After that, she didn't speak anymore.
Knowing that her will had been broken and only my power was keeping her mental space together, I had to find another way to approach her situation. Deciding to take a safe approach, I took Yae inside and used time dilation to our advantage to create a dream for Kitsune Saiguu. Sealing her latest memories, we entered the dream in which she never left the Shrine to meet her demise.
I watched over how the dream played out. Day after day, Kitsune Saiguu would wake up and continue her chores. Inside, Yae played herself, while I became her partner and guardian for the Shrine.
We played our roles, giving time for memories to solidify themself. But I started to notice that Saiguu, who became close to me, started showing regular déjà vu, slowly finding incongruities in the dream.
From time to time, she would question what was happening, especially when three of us would drink in the evenings. Deciding that it was time, I started placing hints for her to find, allowing her to unlock parts of her sealed memory.
-"You sure, Yue?"
-"We spent over two months here, meaning that around three days passed outside. We have to break the shell slowly."
-"Sigh. I like spending time with you like that. Wake in the morning, do cleaning chores, eat together, and drink while listening to you play zither in the evening."
-"We can continue it outside, just cleaning chores changed for Hold duties."
-"But here I have you all to myself."
-"I would believe that if not for you trying to push Saiguu to me during our evenings. You even brought her to sleep a few times."
-"Oh my! I would never."
-"Yes, yes. I'll take care of everything. Just make sure nothing breaks along the way."
Entering the last stage of my plan, I needed to do two things. Saiguu has to make the same decision she made in real life that led to her death, even knowing what awaits her from the slips of memories she recovered, while I have to break that end, making her believe in living again. This might sound cruel, but I can't change the fact that she died. I can only make her accept it and help her move forward.
For the next several days in the dream, troubles will start happening. Not only demons were appearing, but also miasma poisoning started affecting some members of the Shrine.
As time passed and the situation became more and more serious, Saiguu also noticed similarities to memories she would have questioned before. At first, she just worked with me to stop demons and heal the wounded, but as stronger monsters appeared, she would be quieter and quieter, often staying all night looking into the sky.
Giving her the space she needed, I continued playing my part while Yae would stick close to her, providing support when needed. The whole play was approaching its final act, and the only thing left was to provide adequate Catharsis.