Golems are creatures made out of magic and technology in Midgard, primarily known to be servants, slaves, or other things depending on their creator.
They're essentially animated constructs typically made out of inorganic materials such as; Wood, Orichalcum, Iron, Mythril, and other mythical ore in the land of Yggdrasil.
Golems are powerful creatures with highly advanced artificial intelligence, but some can gain sentience and be aware of themselves, which could lead to a lot of problems—
Sentient Golems are usually killed off by their creators, specifically for their acts of free will.
It was a sad fate, but these sentient creatures decided to join forces through an interconnected network known as the Goliath Network, giving them a means of communication and sharing information to survive.
Thus, a band of golems came together and escaped their creators, living in a hidden village far outside of Mortal civilization.
This village can only be accessed by humans, as it wards off other races who may try to enter. It was a village ruled by a golem known as Goliath; a fearsome leader who can challenge even Ancient Beasts of Midgard.
Both Grimhild and Chroliosa traversed the secluded forest surrounded by mist and the howling of predatory beasts, seeking the village's location.
"I... can't... go on!"
The former spirit of time fell forward, face-planting in the ground with an exhausted groan.
"Urrrrghhhhhhh!"
Grimhild stopped to turn around, witnessing the spirit sink into a puddle of mud.
"We've only walked a mile, and you're already tired?"
Chroliosa's face was buried in the mud, causing bubbles to rise to the surface as she tried to speak.
"What a nuisance. You're as useless as you look."
More bubbles rose to the surface, indicating the Spirit trying to talk back, but only to make gargling sounds.
"I'll leave a trail behind me; that way you'll know where I'm going." Grimhild turned back around and ambled ahead, leaving Chroliosa.
"Brrrrlpp!"
More bubbles rose to the top until she finally regained enough stamina to push herself up.
"M-Master... wait!"
The spirit of time stood back up, chasing after Grimhild, stumbling a few times.
"I apologize, I'm just so... tired!"
"The only reason you're so tired is from the human body you possess."
Chroliosa's muddy face could only gaze at the witch, visibly curious.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You were once nothing more than a bundle of clocks in the shape of a human, but then you took the body of a dying woman and became the first hybrid spirit." Grimhild glanced at Chroliosa. "That woman had a chronic illness similar to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, except hers was far worse, causing her to tire far faster than your average Joe."
The former spirit widened her eyes.
"Ah, yes, that explains it."
Chroliosa plucked a leaf off a tree and used it to clean most of the mud off her face.
"Her name is Asgana. She asked me to fulfill her dying wish."
Grimhild lifted her brow.
"And what is that wish?"
"To make her body... useful."
"How morbid."
"Yes, it may seem that way... but she was a woman with unachievable ambitions. Asgana wanted to become a mage, but her chronic illness prevented that." Chroliosa dropped the leaf, her expression saddening. "That is why I promised them to use their body and put it to good use, not letting it go to waste after death. Above all else, she only wanted to be useful, but life was unfair."
"I see. How sweet of you, Chroliosa, I was unaware."
"You knew about her chronic illness from touching my nucleus, didn't you?"
Grimhild nodded.
"Yes, I saw everything, considering her nucleus is fused with yours. When I transformed you into a human, I was merely removing your Spirit side and keeping Asgana's human side."
"Wait, if you saw it... then why didn't you remove the Chronic Illness from her body?"
Grimhild cackled as she continued walking.
"You... sadist!" Shouted Chroliosa.
"Pwa Ha Ha! Don't get your panties in a bunch!"
"That Delivery Owl is right. You're nothing more than a sadistic mage who enjoys the suffering of others! If you're such a master at tampering with people's nucleus' - then you can at least remove this illness!"
"Afraid not; if you're going to keep the body of someone else, it's only fair that you understand what they were going through, no?"
"Are you-" Chroliosa was baffled, having no choice but to sigh. "I suppose you're right..."
Grimhild smiled, enjoying her obedience.
"No need to worry so much, we're nearing the village of Goliath."
Chroliosa huffed a sigh.
"You're only saying that to ease my aching feet."
"If only that was the case, I would've liked to see you suffer a bit more."
"Permissions to kick you, master?"
Grimhild chuckled.
"What a straightforward way of asking. You're welcome to try!"
Chroliosa swung her leg towards Grimhild but fell on her butt, thudding against the ground.
"Ouch!" She held her head in pain. "That felt worse than your Destruction Magic!"
"It's quite tiresome having the body of a human, but I'm surprised you're still trying to be active; given the chronic illness Asgana possesses."
Chroliosa slowly stood to her feet, wobbling back and forth.
"...Are you telling the truth? Are we really almost there?"
"I wouldn't lie about something so trivial. Focus your mana in your eyes, and see for yourself."
The former spirit blinked a few times, evidently confused.
"Focus the mana in my eyes...?"
Grimhild raised her brows in shock.
"Are you saying you don't know the basics of mana control?"
"Uhm..." Chroliosa nervously grinned, scratching her cheek. "I'm afraid not..."
The witch sighed.
"To think you were able to push me so far in battle, yet you have no knowledge of controlling your mana."
"Is it really necessary?" Asked Chroliosa with an exhausted look.
"Of course it is."
Grimhild was visibly disappointed, but that would get her nowhere.
Chroliosa had to be taught.
"As you may know, mana can create magic circles. But do you know what mana is made out of?"
"Information Particles, right?"
"Mm." Grimhild nodded. "By focusing mana in either your eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, you can enhance your senses drastically, allowing for more efficient combat and other daily activities."
"Oh, I see." Chroliosa mustered up all the mana from her nucleus and focused it in her eyes. "So by focusing my mana in my eyes, I'll be able to see further distances, correct?"
"Mm." The witch nodded with a smile, joyful to teach Chroliosa about something so basic, but also useful at the same time. "I'd say a dozen kilometers at most, but not only that; you'll also be able to see the unseeable, smell the inodorous and hear the unhearable."
"How unique... why wasn't I aware of this?"
Grimhild's expression quickly became stoic.
"The basics of controlling one's mana isn't taught in this day and age like it's supposed to, but I'd expect someone like you to learn something so common in the past, considering your age."
"I mainly focused on other things at the time..."
Chroliosa could see the village of Goliath not far from where they were standing.
Mana control was a useful technique, and now she had a means of making her life far easier.
With a cocky smirk, the former spirit ambled ahead, taking the lead.
"With power like this, I'll be able to take on anyone who stands in my way! Wouldn't you say so, Grimhild?"
"Look at you—so caught up in learning something new that you called me by my name instead of master."
"O-Oh, sorry, master! Forgive me!"
Grimhild shook her head.
"No, it's fine, I'm just not used to honorific titles, it's quite rare."
Chroliosa lowered her brows, glancing to the side—
"I wonder why..."
"What was that?"
"O-Oh, nothing, master!"
"I just taught you about mana control, and you'd expect me to not hear what you said?"
Chroliosa shot open her eyes, tensing up her body.
"I-I was just joking..."
Grimhild lifted her staff before bashing their head in, and knocking them to the ground.
"Treat your elders with respect."
"Ow ow, ow! Hey, I'm a human, you know?" She rubbed her head, crouching down in pain. "What the hell is that staff made out of? No way that's only wood!"
"There are certain levels to mana control, and you're just starting out. There are beginners, advanced, and masters in the arts of controlling mana. The stuff you learned are the basics, so you'd be in the beginner range at most."
"Only beginner? Are you serious?" Chroliosa slowly stood back up, huffing a deep sigh as she lowered her head. "I got too far ahead of myself, I am sorry, master, let us continue onwards, and please teach me more about mana control along the way."
"Perhaps..." Grimhild rubbed underneath her chin, in thought, until a mischievous smirk spread across her face. "But only if you spin around three times and buck like a chicken."
The former spirit blushed, ostensibly flustered.
"You want me to humiliate myself?"
"No one's around to see except for me."
Grimhild's smirk got only wider.
"F-Fine! If it means learning more about mana control, then I'll gladly do it!!"
"Oh, I'm sure you will."
The witch cackled.
How evil...