Under the guidance of the Talvi, sabercats were able to easily navigate the forested, mountainous terrain despite the mist, and after an hour's ride, we stopped at the bank of a dirty swamp. Using my perception to search the waters, I was able to find an anomaly that existed here.
~"Monster?"
-"We call it Swamp King."-Bheara explained.-"Due to the power of spring of life, it became invincible."
~"It's not invincible. What happened here is similar to what Evilus tried to achieve in the Dungeon, Spirit monster hybrid."
-"Can this Spirit be saved?"-Asked Uskari, who, as an elf, worshiped spirits even more than gods.
~"Yes. Artemis, I'll have to use my true power here."
-"Don't worry, this matter is more important than some fun."
Nodding, I manifested [Oath of Silence] in my hand. Locating the monster, I used Al'maiesh to bind it and bring it to the surface.
After a few moments, a somewhat plant-like being with countless slime tentacles appeared before me. Its filthy appearance contrasted with Al'maiesh, which appeared pure and holy.
The Swamp King tried to escape from the bindings, but as I effectively sealed every last drop of its power, it couldn't even move. Analyzing it carefully, I began to formulate a plan of action.
-"You are far stronger than I thought."-Bheara touched the Al'maiesh that was around my arm.-"Is this your Arcanum? No, you are not a god. So this must be your power as Spirit."
~"You can treat it as such. I'll begin, move back."
Focusing on the monster, the first thing I had to do was isolate and remove the Spirit that was absorbed. Because this monster was not born recently, the assimilation between the two progressed to the stage where it was hard to distinguish one from the other.
Conventional methods won't work in such a situation, but combining my Divination, power of time, and my healing powers should be enough to save that Spirit.
Reading the Karma of the Spirit with the assistance of the [Wyrd], I partly manifested the power of Helheim with the [Oath of Silence]. With me as the epicenter, the world started to turn dark gray as the time anomaly appeared.
-"This!"-The power I just used shocked Bheara beyond words.
Ignoring her, I started to retrace the changes of the Spirit by reading its Karma, using my powers to recreate everything in reverse, making it look as if I had turned its time back. This was a technique that I learned from Terminus to avoid breaking the Taboo of true time reversal, as after she learned what I did in Otto's world, she decided to give me a long lesson on how to avoid breaking the Time Taboos.
Slowly but surely, the state of the Spirit started to reverse as it separated from the monster, which became weaker as the process continued. After around an hour of work, the monster and Spirit became fully separated.
Killing the monster so it wouldn't trouble me anymore, I checked the Spirit for any lasting injuries and found that there was a serious issue with it.
Normal Spirits only possess Soul and Law, making them effectively mindless beings that act on instinct. The True Spirits, such as Kindred, possess sentience because of their age and the specialty of their law.
Kindred evolved from a mindless being to what she is now due to how people perceived her, and as Spirit of Death, she absorbed beings that she delivered end to, strengthening her and creating her ego and spirit, allowing her to become a True Spirit of End. I was an even greater anomaly as I possessed spirit first and later became a True Spirit of the World.
The Spirit before me is a Spirit of Life, but for whatever reason, it possesses an ego, meaning it must have developed a spirit. Focusing on it, I discovered the source of this anomaly. This spirit didn't belong to the Spirit but was something it rescued on the impulse of bringing and sustaining Life.
Due to wounds sustained by that spirit being ones affecting the Soul, even the Spirit of Life couldn't heal them easily, but it found a way to overcome this difficulty. By absorbing the spirit into itself, the Spirit of life used its soul to mend the injured one, fusing the two beings.
This was probably also why that simple monster could absorb the Spirit, it must have approached it during the process and somewhat forced itself to also fuse together, and as its ego was strongest then, it dominated both Spirit and spirit.
~"If the Evilus discovered this monster, they could have perfected their methods of creating artificial Spirits. Calling this being a miracle wouldn't be able to reflect how great luck it needed to be created."
-"Is the Spirit OK?"-Asked Artemis.
~"It will live, but I'm afraid that splitting it and that ego apart would be too damaging."
-"What do you mean?"
I explained to them the situation with the Spirit and what had happened to it before.
-"What will happen if you keep those two joint?"-Bheara was visibly amused by everything that was going on.
~"The Spirit would become sentient."
-"Is this bad?"-Wondered Talvi.-"How will this affect us?"
~"Sentience would result in Spirit changing its behavior, so there is a great chance in it leaving this place, making the spirit of life dry."
-"This..."
-"Why do you value this spring so much?"-Artemis looked at our guides.-"Only for longevity?"
-"Yes, but not exactly why Lady Artemis thinks so."-Answered Lidari-"The people in the village suffer from a disease that shortens their lives, and only the spring can resolve it."
-"I see. Yue, would you be able?"
~"Sure."
Using my perception of the Talvi who stood next to me, I quickly discovered the source of the disease. Using Path of Abundance, I manifested a branch of my Tree on which three fruits grew. I gave them to Talvi, Lidari, and Uskari, explaining their purpose.
-"Can those really heal us?"
Before I could answer Uskari's question, Talvi ate her fruit, and an unmistakable aura of the Path of Abundance appeared on her. This aura was only noticeable to Bheara, but after understanding what it was, the eyes she looked at me changed, now having a deep respect in them.
-"Yue is right. This definitely can heal you. If those fruits couldn't resolve your problems, even gods would be powerless."
-"But what about the people in the village?"
~"Don't worry."~I created a seed and gave it to Talvi.~"This seed will grow into a tree that grows those fruits. While it would take a few years to grow the required amount of fruits, it will resolve your issues. Just promise me one thing. Never sell those fruits. I don't mind if you give them to others but never receive anything in exchange. This gift is to be used to heal, not profit."
-"I promise you that I won't allow this gift to be tarnished."-Bheara assured me.
Returning my attention back to the Spirit, I used the Authority of Sentience to wake the dormant ego, healing any damage to the spirit in the process. Soon, a green light started floating before our eyes.
~"This... Where am I? Who are you? What is going on?"
~"Calm down. Here, this is what is going on."~I transmitted some knowledge to the Spirit so that it could understand its situation.
~"How can this be!"
~"Freaking out won't help you. How about you tell me your name first?"
~"Yes, you are right. I'm Natsume Kokoro. it's a pleasure to meet you."
~"Hello, I'm Yue."
~"Yes, the person who healed me."
~"Indeed. Can you tell me how you ended up here?"
~"I'm not sure. I was playing a game, and suddenly something happened, then a moment later, I ended up here."
~"I see. For now, you will have to adapt to what you have become. I can send you to the place where you will be safe, or you can remain here."
~"While I don't want to impose myself on Sir Yue, I know that remaining here is dangerous, so I will have to take advantage of Sir's charity."
~"I'll call you Kokoro. You don't have to be so polite. I'll explain you some more things later. For now, I'll take you to the Emerald Dream."~I teleported Kokoro to the Emerald Dream, where my second avatar was already waiting.
~"Done."
-"Thank you, Yue."-Bheara bowed to me.
~"There is no need to thank me. I just helped a fellow Spirit."
-"But you resolved a crisis that I couldn't."
~"Don't mind it. Artemis, we should get going."
-"Right."
~"The sabrecats will take you back and return to me after that."
-"Don't forget to visit us on your way back."
~"We will."
Saying our goodbyes, Artemis and I mounted the sabercats and started traveling to the Elsos Ruins as planned.
In the Hold, after helping Kokoro, I left her in Moon Palace garden to give her time to think and slowly control the power she gained. I, meanwhile, received a guest in my office.
~"What can I do for you, Marshal Hua?"
-"Well, I wanted to ask for something to do."
~"Weren't you quite happy to retire?"
-"I was at first, but seeing how everyone works while I just lay and play chess with Huaiyan and spar with little Yunli..."
~"Hmm... There are two positions I can offer to you."
-"What are they?"
~"First would be taking over the role of overseer of the Military Academy, taking care of the recruits."
-"Becoming a teacher? That can be fun. What about the second?"
~"Work for me directly in Spirit Empire. We lack actual strategists and someone with experience in wars not fought in defense. While elves possess many good generals and commanders, no one can take overall strategic command."
-"Hou? Do you want me to take Ling's job?"
~"Ling is my Guard first, commander second. She can't remain in the Emerald Dream to coordinate everything during the war. Aside from that, I would like to learn from you in those coming days to have better results in the trial during the Martial Meeting."
-"Hmm. Sure, I can do this. I can't wait to see Nobunaga's face when you win."
~"You should stop your rivalry, or at least don't be so overt with it."
-"Right, right. There won't be a problem with the Elves, right? Won't they oppose my appointment?"
~"No, as long as you won't create problems for them."
-"Why do you look for commander-in-chief so suddenly?"
~"I was in charge of that position in Spirit Empire, but I'm well aware that I'm not well suited for being in command behind the lines, so I need someone who can fit this role better. Aside from you, no one can fill that role."
-"I feel honored to be held in such high regard by you. So when do you want our lessons to start?"
~"Right away, I have just over ten days before the trial, so I don't have the time to waste."
-"Sure, let's go to your simulation thing."
~"Simulated Realm, you mean. Sure."
Marshal Hua then proceeded to destroy any plan I came up with, picking it apart and using even the most minute weaknesses to her advantage. As Emmanator of Hunt, one that contended against Abominations of Abundance, she was never the one to show mercy, but that kind of teacher was something I needed the most.
In battle, there is no place for weakness, doubt, and mistakes. If you don't get used to ruthlessness before you go to war, you will suffer. As a soldier, the worst that can happen is death, but as a commander, people under your authority will be the ones who have to pay for your errors.
In the late evening, Artemis and I arrived at the entrance to the forest where Elsos Ruins lay. As entering the forest in the middle of the night was not safe, we decided to camp there for a night. After setting up a tent and lighting up a campfire, we sat down together and watched the cloudless night sky.
-"Hey, Yue. What do you think is our place in the world?"
~"Why the sudden question?"
-"Ever since I came to the lower world, I started to wonder if goods are truly necessary. Many of us help mortals, but an equal or even greater number of gods simply play with their lives. I have also seen worlds where gods either do not exist or do not involve themselves in the lives of others. I just doubt if gods are needed. If our presence just harms the world and mortals."
~"There is no way to answer that question objectively."
-"Then what is your opinion?"
~"I think that this is a wrong question. In my eyes, too many people look for some greater purpose in everything. Rather than seek your place or purpose, you should create them."
-"Create them... This is something you would believe in. But what if what we do is wrong? If our existence brings harm to someone else."
~"Artemis, this is why there is no objective answer to your question. In my eyes, right or wrong doesn't matter. Only the results weigh on what choice I will make."
-"I can't be like that."-Artemis shook her head, reminiscing about something.-"If everyone acted only with interests in mind, the world would become a hellish place."
~"Or a paradise where one is not misguided by feelings and misconceptions. This is the beauty of philosophy. There is always 'but' or 'or'."
-"As an Aeon of Ordination, I thought you would hate uncertainty."
~"I actually appreciate it. Without uncertainty, there is no chance, no hope, and no meaning you can think about. If your every action was decided even before your birth, that would be boring."
-"You sound like those gods that yearn for entertainment."
~"Because I do. I just find different things entertaining, such as this conversation under the starry sky dimmed only by the beauty of my companion."
-"..."-Artemis smiled and leaned her head on my shoulder.
~"But if you want a different answer to your first question, how about your place being by my side?"
-"You are right. If you are my moon, then I'm your goddess."
That night, the moon seemed to shine brighter than ever.
The next morning, we gathered our camp and moved into the forest, this time on foot, but with Elun'dris accompanying us and scouting the surroundings. The Elsos Ruins were deeper in the forest, and we expected to encounter some wild monsters along the way, but surprisingly, there was nothing that tried to attack us.
-"Strange."
~"Yes, I can see traces of the monster's nests, but it's as if they were abandoned."
-"There are no traces of combat here. Did the monster just leave?"
~"That is illogical. Something must have caused this exodus."
-"You think something took control over all those monsters?"
~"Unlikely. The traces show that it was not organized. I think that something spooked everything living in this forest, and by knowing the history of the Elsos Ruins..."
-"Seal was undone?"
~"At least the sealing effect diminished to the point where a monster sealed inside can affect the outside world."
-"More the reason to hurry up."
~"Yes, the ruins are a little over three kilometers from here. We should reach them in two hours. But be on guard. Only a stronger monster can scare a monster to run away."
-"Of course."
Looking for any more traces, we moved forward into the depths of the forest.