ThereÆs one other thing Randidly said after they both took a step back Most of GhostÆs stuff had already gone through the portal I want to stress try your best to survive the Calamities That is the time frame that IÆm thinking Kharon is strong now but
Ghost seemed to whirr as his AI considered that I see True the help I could give to them now is relatively limited Heh I understand what you want my role to be You worry more than I thought you would Mr Ghosthound
IÆve been given a crash course in worries these past few weeks from an expert Randidly answered dryly It hadnÆt been enjoyable but it was quite true Besides this is me worrying now so I will be free from these feelings tomorrow
Good luck Ghost told him before heading through the portal and examining his new space
Then Randidly went and visited both of his original two Soulseeds Both were overjoyed to see him but Randidly could sense that there was some distance in their relationships now that probably would never be bridged again their pure adoration of him was gone Compared to the duo of Acri and Sulfur that had been by his side the entire time there were clear signs that the early separation from Randidly had adjusted how Thorn and Arbor would grow
But although that made Randidly sad it was probably for the best Their independence meant they werenÆt going to be limited by him
Their general cheer at his arrival was basically the same but what happened after was quite different between the two of them Arbor immediately unloaded all of the details of the Cult of Arbor starting with KierstyÆs most recent struggles to control her budding feelings for one of the guards that worked for King Phirun So Randidly sat rather still while the smoldering Arbor clambered all over him covering him with soot and smoking leaves and inundating him with gossip
Randidly sat and listened The veins of Yggdrasil ran through his body as he was patient and kind with this being which he had created
At the end they embraced and Randidly said a few quiet words to Arbor about the importance of balancing the need to listen to its followers and the need to act as his own treant Randidly went on to say that Arbor should try his best to life purposefully There was no right way to live life so each day should at least be an affirmative choice That way Arbor would be taking responsibility for the shape of his living
Then they embraced again and Randidly had moved on to his next task ThornÆs interaction was even briefer
Thorn also embraced Randidly impressing him with the plantÆs ability to deal damage to his body that was improved by his physicalized images The sharpness of his nominal thorns was no joke Then Thorn passionately explained its current idea to grow stronger through emotion and images dig to the center of the planet and take up permanent residence there where his thorns would be able to reach anywhere in the world From that position he would be able to protect everyone No one would need to die
RandidlyÆs eyes softened as he listened to Thorn explain
Of course Thorn was currently having difficulties getting his vulnerable core through the molten stone of the mantle And the deeper it dug the hotter it got But it emphasized that RandidlyÆs power to use Absolute Grasp of Yggdrasil had inspired it It wanted to possess that same absolute capability
For now itÆs probably for the best that Thorn doesnÆt get that capability Having him able to reach across the whole world
Thorn Randidly paused unsure of what he wanted to say Because when he looked at Thorn he saw quite a few worrying similarities to himself But regarding those flaws what right did Randidly have to criticize So he could only slowly exhale His images crowded around each with their own idea on what to say to Thorn
In the end Randidly stuck with the feeling that Yggdrasil released He reached out and patted ThornÆs pink and black core DonÆt forget to have fun buddy LifeÆs something worth enjoying sometimes And if we are talking about living you cannot ever completely eliminate risk
The last visit that Randidly made was to Neveah They had been in near constant contact over the past few weeks as the plans for the Keystones were finalized but they hadnÆt actually seen each other for quite some time Through their connection Randidly had known that it was because Neveah wanted to be alone right now What had happened with Roy left a deep scar on her that Randidly couldnÆt quite understand
But now Randidly was leaving and Neveah refused to go with him So he was no longer willing to let her have her space He wasnÆt going to go without saying goodbye
When he arrived at her cabin she was already waiting with the door open He followed her inside sniffing and catching the scent of a stew she was making In the corner of the room a large cauldron merrily bubbled bits of carrot onion and potato periodically visible as the mixture continued its steady churn What surprised Randidly was that Sydney was sitting in the corner of a room folding laundry She looked up at him with a slightly unfriendly stare as though daring him to question while she was here
Randidly wasnÆt a fan of the antagonism in her expression but decided he had bigger fish to fry at the moment He looked at Neveah and sent her a message Is it fine to talk about things here
Is there anything that we would talk about that we are trying to hide Neveah responded Outloud she asked Tea
Please Randidly said moving over to sit in one of the wooden stools at the table While Neveah went through the small motions of putting a kettle on to boil and Sydney returned to her folding Randidly tasted the swirling emotions around their images In addition he could use his Nether Nebula to brush against the significance that pooled in this place Despite the limits imposed by the System there was quite an abundance of Nether present
This cabin was a dense mess of Nether
Neveah ground up some tea leaves I assume part of the reason you are here is to ask me again if IÆm sure I donÆt want to come I will say that I am sure If you want that letter on the table is RoyÆs suicide note Read it Then you might understand
Frowning Randidly looked at the letter in question He picked it up and unfolded Someone likely Neveah had taken great care when refolding the letter The creased paper was sharp and stark against the messy words written within Randidly scanned the letter and his frowned deepened Certainly the handwriting was overly stylized but more than that
He read the letter twice before he set it down His emerald eyes glittered Do you think this is accurate
Yes I believe so Neveah said Steam began to whistle out of the kettle and she whisked it up and poured the boiling water over the leaves When he died RoyÆs consciousness was pulled somewhere Likely all living things governed by the System are taken there Part of the damage he sustained was due to witnessing the crazy meat grinder of images but more than that and the reason that nothing ever seems to try and escape from that place
ThatÆs where all the significance goes Randidly breathed Everything that has been stolen from the Cohorts And they use it to try and make
The words on the page floated at the forefront of RandidlyÆs mind All the parts of an infant are assembled there all the limbs and organs But they were drawn by someone who had never seen the real thing The pieces float around each other the heart orbiting the pelvis while passing through a belt of drifting fingers and toes like a solar system
Neveah barred her teeth Or perhaps its better to say that the reason the Nexus can gather all the dying images is that it already has so much significance gathered in one point And when you witness that mass of significance it means so much more than you ever could That hits you viscerally You feel rightfully insignificant ItÆs probably why Roy became so obsessed with heroes and their tropes only in stories could he feel meaningful Being a part of something softened his certainty that he was individually meaningless
Then Neveah lowered her gaze I have to admit it has me worried Against Kaan IÆm not mentally strong Randidly Not like you are If I had to face that significance Even if I could just sense it existing nearby I would be crushed So itÆs better for me here