Chapter 13: Making Soul Structures
Carlos frowned and put a hand on his chin, thinking. "Hmm. A dungeon core making a soul structure. Amber, do you know any reason why it might not work?"
"Um. Well, dungeon cores don't have mothers to give them soul shells. On the other hand, dungeons have a much stronger natural influence on mana, so I'd think they shouldn't need a soul shell."
Carlos nodded. "Makes sense. That just leaves us back at no ideas, unfortunately." He paused briefly. "Purple, I think you need to talk with someone who has experience making soul structures, and see if you can give them an impression of what your attempt was like so they can tell what's different. Since you can only talk with me so far, that means I need to make a soul structure first."
[Ok. Can wait.]
"While I do that, how about you get started on setting up defenses? If you have enough mana for that?"
[Cave had mana. Enough. Two pits. Two darts.]
Carlos glanced towards the narrow passage they'd entered through. "Can you disarm the traps temporarily when we need to get past them?"
[Yes.]
"Good. Then let's start with a smaller version of what you had near Erlen. A pit trap, a dart trap, and then a combination, all in that tunnel."
[Ok.]
"Alright. Now I'll just help Amber finish setting up camp here, and get to work on a soul structure." Carlos stood up and turned toward the center of the cave, where he'd put his pack, and started getting out the tent.
Carlos meditated with his eyes closed, sitting next to Purple's crystal. He remembered the sensation of mana flowing. He remembered the feeling of something being etched into his soul. He held both of those feelings in his mind, and focused on the idea of understanding, just as he had when he made his wish with Purple. He felt like he was close to a breakthrough, but wasn't sure whether he might just be imagining that.
At first, various itches and cramps and noises had distracted him, but he'd dealt with those and pushed what remained to the background, allowing him to focus properly. He pushed mentally at the concepts he was focusing on, but more minutes passed with no change. The feeling of a near breakthrough remained, but came no closer.
He took a deep breath, and paused to consider. Was there something missing? What all had Amber said about soul structures, and making them? Carlos breathed in, and out, his mind calm. Amber had talked about conceptualization. Mana. Soul shells. Synergy connections. Connections... Oh, of course! If he weren't so calmly meditating, Carlos might have slapped his forehead. He needed to focus on how those feelings and concepts should combine.
He took another deep breath. No use scolding himself, just use the new insight. Once more, he brought to mind the feeling of mana flowing. The feeling of something being etched into his soul. He imagined the mana flowing into a newly made etching in his soul. He focused on the idea of understanding. The feeling of that understanding being etched into his soul with mana. He felt mana begin to move.
He paused, and felt the mana hesitate as he did. He breathed in, and out. Something felt off, in the back of his mind. He had successfully started etching understanding into his soul, but was that really exactly what he wanted? Amber had warned him about the risk of getting small details wrong. He wanted to understand everything, that was definitely right. But this soul structure... The purpose of this soul structure was to give him the ability to understand.
Carlos let out a sigh of relief at the close call. He had almost made a soul structure just to preserve and store his current understanding and knowledge, not to help him gain new understanding. Thinking of that, he remembered that he also wanted to base it on the wish Purple had granted him. Maybe even incorporate that wish's magic, and transform the existing wish-spell into a soul structure, instead of building one entirely from soul shell mana.
He kept the feelings of mana flow and soul etching in mind, but carefully changed the concept to etching something to enhance his ability to understand. He imagined taking the magic of his wish and literally etching that into his soul. He felt his mana reach out and connect to something. Something that, while not truly his in the same way, was still firmly intended for his benefit.
[Not understand.]
Carlos frowned. He might be talking in words, but if he focused on it he could tell that Purple was getting non verbal concepts through their link instead. He focused on an impression of a stream of mana filled with wild currents and eddies, then imagined those currents and eddies dying down, ending with a stream of mana all flowing smoothly and calmly, following Purple's directions attentively.
[Oh! Can do. But takes time.]
Carlos nodded. "Good. The other problem is with your concept for the soul structure. What do you want that bond for?"
[Talk. Understand. Like with you.]
"Ah. She'll appreciate that, but you need to hold that purpose in mind. The mana doesn't know what you want if you don't tell it."
[Oh. Ok.]
"Now, for improving it. Instead of making one bond, make a soul structure that gives you the ability to make bonds with anyone. Then you can make a bond with her, and if you want to make a bond with someone else in the future you can just use the same soul structure again instead of having to make another soul structure for it."
[Huh.] Purple paused, and Carlos felt a sense of uncertainty over the link. [Don't want other.]
"Last week, you didn't want this bond either. You don't know who you might meet in the future that you might want to bond with. And for right now, you'll get the bond you want regardless."
[Ok.]
"And one more thing. Instead of talking, have the soul structure make these bonds to communicate."
[Oh. Yes. Good.]
"Ok, that's all I've got. See what you can do with that. I have my own project to get back to."
[Ok.]
Carlos closed his eyes to begin working on his second soul structure.
Enchanter Tornay nodded with satisfaction at the glowing white dot on the thin sheet of platinum-inlaid steel he was holding. "I have the destination. It will take me the rest of the evening to make a scroll to teleport there, and I don't know what might be waiting for us. If you want to see this through personally, come prepared for anything tomorrow morning."
Darmelkon nodded. "Of course. See to your own preparations as well, enchanter. I doubt those two have any real backing, but they've pulled some surprising tricks. It would not do to underestimate them." He turned to the door, and walked out, calling out over his shoulder as he left. "I will see you at your shop, at dawn. Good doing business with you."
