Arc I - The East Horizon [Eteru/Melon] [Non-Canon]

Lincoln's comment would actually get Tulam to genuinely smile. Not out of amusement, like his many cocky smirks he had flashed before, but a real smile. He then chuckled, looking to his own creations, "Yes, they are very nicely made. Both are good products, on my part! Certainly fulfilling." He paused thought at the other word, thinking for a second, before continuing, "I suppose cathartic is an accurate word to describe the art. The art of creation is a means by which I truly enjoy life. For you see, vessel, creation is life. Constantly, we are in the process of creating and destroying, and that is life. We create tools so we may destroy, but also so we may create new things in their place. Even the basic processes like eating destroy, but the food you eat create nutrients for your body, which fuel the constant cycle of destruction and creation that form your very being. Even thoughts are subject to this cycle. I hope you'll come to understand more about creation, vessel, for it is life's greatest virtue. And, I'll add... Good that you can appreciate things beyond just your carnal needs! Haha!" His smile had turned to that smirk again, before he faded again.

The Psion left Lincoln to open the tube, and it was very smart of him to quickly back up. For soon after the tube deactivated, Caretaker awoke within. White Eyes flashed, and suddenly magical chains struck the ground in front of the tube. She leaped out of her containment, centering her attention on Lincoln. Her eyes narrowed in contempt, and she readied another batch of chains to strike.

This is when Tulam finally acted. When he appeared, of course the Caretaker could not see him, as the Psion was for now a figment of LIncoln's mind. But then, the world flashed blue for a moment, and Tulam stared at the Caretaker. She stepped back, quite surprised, but after a moment then dropped to one knee.

Tulam smirked, looking back to Lincoln, "See? Handled. A good slave, does their job without speaking any unneeded words or any hint of hesitation. But that's a good enough demonstration, Caretaker. Stand up Slave, there is work to be done. This station needs to be restored to at least semi-functionality. And ensure that my temporary vessel here is exempt from the security systems. I need him alive for now."

Standing up properly, the Caretaker gave a nod. It was notable that she didn't actually nod directly at him. It seemed she still couldn't see him, but his voice and presence was enough. She spoke rather loudly, "THE STATION WILL BE RE-IGNITED, AND PURPOSE RESTORED! THIS ONE WILL BE EXEMPT FROM BEING DEEMED A TRESPASSER SO LONG AS THEY ARE USEFUL! CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY, MORTAL, TO BE GIVEN SUCH MERCY FROM PAIN! AHAHAHA!" And in a rather dramatic flash, the Caretaker disappeared from sight. Although if one was paying attention they could see her tail quickly scurry around the corner.

Tulam just shrugged, "Suppose she still has that penchant for drama. It's amusing at least so I'll not stop that. Caretaker will bring this place back to full readiness nice and quick. She has full knowledge of the station and its functionality, and the abilities to repair it. Just don't disturb her until she's done."

The Psion then suddenly glanced back at the hanger, narrowing his eyes again. He was silent for a full five seconds, before shaking his head, "Must just be the effect of not being here for so long. Now then Vessel, I am sure you want to rest. But before that, any particular questions you need to ask first? I'll address one thing quickly. The Caretaker belongs to me, not to you. So she'll not indulge any of your pervert fantasies unless I allow it. So if you ever want that, you'll have to ask me, not her. And you'll only get that allowance if you impress me enough to grant it."

When Tulam spoke how creation is a cycle in which we create new things to take the place of what was destroyed made Lincoln melancholic for a moment. Feeling one of the underlying meanings to that was about being able to let go and move on. The memory of a passage from a death poem floated through his mind. Love doesn’t die, People do. So, when all that’s left of me is love, Give me away. And if you cannot give me away, at least let me live in your eyes and not on your mind. He looked down at his hands. Still stained with blood. Proof that he was still struggling to truly move on from that night all those years ago.

The tease made him blush somewhat. He wasn’t wrong but that said. His words continue to make him ponder upon his life. Not for long since the tube was opening. He tense a bit when the chains moved before relaxing when it was clear that Tulam has everything under control. Once she made her dramatic exit he found that he quite liked her. He enjoys people who have a dramatic flair to their personality. It keeps things more lively with them around.

Once more he found himself looking to the ground when Tulam addressed his perverted fantasies. He definitely can’t lie that he didn’t have any after everything he saw. There was something about the way Tulam said that which felt familiar. Strange, but on that thought. “I have plenty of questions. But for the time being, I feel it’s for the best to hold them off after I get some sleep. And I know, I won’t have my slaves with me either.” He huffed. But he knew he couldn't complain too much about it. Abstaining from sex was for the best.

Tulam shrugged, "Have it your way, vessel. We can talk more after you've rested. And good that you remembered. They will sleep in a different room. Don't worry, there are plenty of different rooms and beds. This station is capable of housing a fair few slave workers, and I consider myself to be a gracious master. The rooms will be comfortable. Now then, head down that hallway and go towards the right, that's the closest set of beds that is usually reserved for the hanger workers. You can explore more later on, now let's..." As Tulam was pointing at the hallway, he paused.

The Psion's arm dropped and he spinned around to look at the hanger door again. He seemed a lot more tense now. He spoke quietly, with a very serious tone, "Look alive, vessel... I can sense something. We're not alone, and that isn't one of my slaves. I do feel something familiar however."

While Tulam was trying to figure out what he was detecting, suddenly a streak of red energy flew into the room. At lightning speed, it dashed at the empty husk of a vessel, merging with it before anybody could act. Tulam grimaced, "Oh no... I recognize that presence now. Somebody is here to ruin my day. Stand tall, vessel, not sure if our visitor is here to be friendly or a menace. Or both, in her own twisted way. Just stay back, and get ready, but don't attack first. Trust me."

Meanwhile, the fox-like vessel came to life. Her eyes opened, glowing with red energy, and soon after the body emanated a pulse of magical power. This broke the tube containing her outright, and she floated down to the ground. Inspecting herself for a moment, the now-inhabited vessel smile and stretched her body, clearly enjoying the sensation. Lincoln could feel that whatever just took over the body was an extremely powerful force, which added on to the already notable power of the vessel itself. She spoke as she continued to stretch, including doing some provocative stances. Her voice was quite beautiful and graceful, like a master singer's, but it was also laced with arrogance, "Oh it has been ever so long, but I am finally back. Aaaah, and it feels even better than I had hoped!"

She turned to look at Lincoln, even while still stretching her back and pushing her chest forward, "You've gotten better at your craft than I thought, Tulam! This vessel is quite fitting for me, although that is to be expected. I made sure to stick the specifications in Salia myself, after all. Oh, and hello to you too, little slave. Enjoying the view?" She chuckled, before doing a little spin.

Tulam's form grunted, and he pointed at the intruder, "You of all the possible damnable creatures had to be the one to show up, didn't you? And rather snake-like of you, but that is how you operate now isn't it? I was surprised Salia wanted such a specific and well thought out vessel, I should have been more cautious. If I knew it was you who had truly commissioned it, I would've burnt that sack of fur."

Putting a hand to her mouth in false surprise, the trespasser spoke with feigned distress, "Oh how could you? This creation is a work of beauty! And I knew you were just the person I needed to make it. So why the aggression? Don't you enjoy somebody appreciating your talents?" Moving her hands down to her hips, and adoring a triumphant grin, she continued, "But yes, this was my request. Salia did her job quite nicely. A shame my daughter went and got herself killed, I didn't really want that. This was meant to be a lesson for her in being careful to inspect whether her thoughts were truly hers, or somebody else's! And of course acquire for myself your work in the process, naturally. If you only were more willing to work with me directly, I wouldn't need such schemes. This is your fault, in a way."

That caused Tulam to huff, and cross his arms, "Leave it to you to use and discard your own child in such a fashion. That's the second time you've done something of the sort." He then finally looked over at Lincoln, and remembered that he was likely clueless of what was going on. As such, he pointed to the intruder and began to explain, "For introductions... Vessel, meet Nilana'Ran, another Psion and one that I am all too familiar with. And now she's stolen one of my works. A most irritating creature to deal with, and one I had hoped to never see again."

Nilana, who seemed to be capable of hearing and seeing Tulam, gave a small wave at Lincoln in jest before speaking again, "Tulam, you are being quite rude, failing to mention a few key details! After all, I am sure you are all too aware that I am no mere Psion associate of yours, like that idiot Roono or my foolish daughter, I am soooo much more. Do not neglect to mention that I am a Psion Overlord, and your partner! Did your experiences with me mean so little?" In exaggerated fashion she put a hand to her left eye, as if cleaning a tear, all the while still grinning.

With a roll of his eyes, Tulam spoke up again, "Former, former partner! We are quite through with eachother, you scheming bastard. For one so powerful you are yet so incapable of keeping up your end of any deal! Too irresponsible for me to ever recognize you as an Overlord, even if you can scare other cowards. And get off my damn back, I am quite finished dealing with you and your antics. I can barely believe you so obsessed that you would follow me even here! I don't even know how you got here, and ended up needing a new vessel at all? What, did the might Overlord get killed by an uppity slave? I bet it was one of those comfort slaves you enjoy so much, hah!"

That comment was the first that seemed to actually irritate Nilana a bit, as she frowned for just a moment. However she quickly smirked again, and looked at Lincoln, "My activities are my own business, but you should not judge, given who you have hitched a ride with yourself Tulam. I've peeled into this one's mind a bit, I have glimpsed his thoughts and memories. Something tells me you wouldn't be all too unhappy under me, now would you little slaveling?" She stepped forward towards Lincoln, standing up to her full height which put her as a notably tall woman, and on full display.

His chest thundered from the beating of his heart when he saw that they weren’t alone. Muscles became tense when he saw that scarlet comet streak across his vision. It’s presence made his soul quiver.

Fear crept into his thoughts. The hair on his flesh stood up. The radiance of the streak alone emanated power. He stepped away, thoughts buzzing in his skull. Eyes widened when he saw that it poured itself into the once hollow body.

A million shards clatter on the ground as the tube broke. Making him flinch from the explosion. He looked over to Tulam’run. There was little that Lincoln could do. He retained enough control to take in his words and understood the meaning beneath it.

He looked back over to the kitsune. It was evident that the person inside of that body was a Psion. Which meant that he mustn’t think. To not make conscious movements. That led to a practice that Lincoln wouldn’t normally have gone to if he had other options.

Tulam’Run was giving him time he knew. Whether intentionally or not by keeping bantering with the other Psion. It wouldn’t do anything if he just stood around staring at how succulent her body was.

He took a deep breath. Trust. He trusted him before, and he’ll trust him again. There was something that told him the way that Tulam will take control of the situation. But he can't think deeper on that thought to not give it away. He needs to remain calm.

Yes, he needs to be calm.

That word brought up an old memory. That memory by itself feels almost like a dream. He can only recall flashes of it, at best. In some ways, perhaps it was.

He used to hate winter. From the frost to how still the world seems to become. For years he couldn't bear it. The cold felt like dead fingers wrapping around his bones. It scared him.

Later in life he came to acquire a certain Servant. Who came from the same group of people that Mitena came from. He was old, older than he had thought at first. The most notable thing about him was that he was a practitioner of the principle of Winter.

He was one of most impactful influences on him before he was overtaken with his carnal desires. Burying those lessons beneath warm and wet flesh. It brought him a pang of shame when he realized that. But he can’t dwell on that.

The wiseman had helped him with his issues. The major one being his tendency to overthink and dwell on things too long. A problem that still persists to this day. He had revealed that one of the contributing factors to this is that he was afraid. Afraid of the stillness of a mind at rest.

He had helped him not feel as much shame as before regarding that night. That the fear was a natural wound of having come so close to a twisted aspect of Winter. Later he taught him how to meditate to a degree where he would no longer mind standing perfectly still, in a graveyard, for hours. In the dead of night. During a thunderous storm.

To not mind being silent.

He was too rusty to achieve that level now, but anything was better than nothing at all.

His chest no longer thumped loudly from his beating heart. Od started to flow throughout his body differently. Rather than a cascade of shuddering power like before it was more akin to frost forming over a lake. He took in a deep breath, the developing coolness of his body helped soothe his mind.

He held his breath for a few moments longer before exhaling. The air leaving his lips was cold enough that it could be seen. He blinked when she addressed him. Watching her perform a graceful spin. The heat of desire licks at his skin. She was very much a cozy cabin, inside was warmth and comfort. The temptation was there and it was very alluring.

It was fortunate then that he was able to still his mind enough to stay where he was. Not minding how cold it was outside. “Of course you’re beautiful. Tulam made that body.” He must let the words flow out of him and not linger on them. They must be as transient as the soft wind whistling through the silent woods.

Lincoln was now feeling calm and relaxed. Not feeling the exhaustion that once weighed on him as much as before. He peacefully watches the two psions go back and forth. Both were suns above a very small frozen lake. He disturbed the stillness of his mind for a moment to ponder the significance of the Overlord title before catching himself to drift back to that sense of stillness.

He calmly watches Nilana'Ran approach him. Vividly aware of how much he was like frost beneath her feet. But he can’t dwell on that. He needs to put his complete trust in Tulam. Once more he took a deep breath, cold air filling his lungs. And exhaled. “Tulam found me first.” He said simply. “So far I have more reasons to trust him than a Psion I just met.”

Whatever Tulam has planned, he was ready.

Lincoln's steadfastness didn't deter the newly arrived Psion, just seeming to amuse her further. She got right up in his face, looking into his eyes. Nilana's gaze held in it total confidence, looking down upon him in certainty that she held the power here, "How precious, you are putting on a strong display. But I could see the fear in you, and taste the emotions you are trying to bottle up. You don't know much about Psions, but allow me to educate you on one important matter... As a Ran Psion, emotions are my specialty. The thrills, the sensations, those are my trades." She traced one claw gently down Lincoln's cheek, speaking in a lower tone, "Perhaps you think you can compare, but I assure you... I am so much more. Besides, you see this body of mine. It was once property of Tulam as well. If I want something, little slaveling,it is mine with no questions asked." Her finger rested under his chin, pushing it up to look her directly in her glowing eyes.

This moment lasted only half a second longer however, as then suddenly... Tulam's fingers flicked her in the face. This caused Nilana to stumble back, and then pout. Tulam's form appeared in front of Lincoln, standing between the two of them, and he grunted, "Cease being such a slut for at least a few seconds. And no hands on the vessel, I have a bit more investment in this piece of property than the empty sack you stole. And vessel, while I know you are so easily tempted, I would hope you have a bit of sense. Nilana here is not wrong in what she says, but she likes to neglect mentioning that her tools and toys rarely last very long. Like the irresponsible wandering harlot she is, she isn't the sort to have any sort of loyalty. She chews things up, and spits them back out. Only I have avoided that particular fate, but her awful influence continues to haunt me. Two abandoned children, and countless abandoned slaves. You'd do the same with the vessel here as well, now wouldn't you?"

Crossing her arms and looking to the side with a huff, Nilana spoke in response to Tulam, "I don't waste my slaves that easily! And I have told you, those are mistakes. It's not my fault I am not some expert parent like you so, oh so glorious Tulam. Not as if you can boost a perfect reputation either, given what happened with our... Hmph, in any case, I have said what I mean. If I want something, I'll take it. And your vessel seems like he has some delicious memories and emotions within him, not to mention those two slaves of his, pretty women who's bodies can service me well and minds filled with yet more delicious lives to savor... And from what I've gathered, he can bring more. With a little work, he'll happily give them all to me. Mind, body, and soul, all mine." She did a little spinning step to the side, and looked at Lincoln directly, "All you need do is give yourself to me, and I can make your life one without any worry at all."

Tulam then smirked at her, snapping his finger, "If you could take him, you would've already tried. But you know well that you cannot. After all, I'm sure you already found the traps and tricks I left in that vessel. Not to mention I may not be at full power or have a body... But you know well that I've beaten you back in the past before. I doubt you need a reminder of what I can do, witch." Tulam held up a hand, and conjured a ball of fire, smiling with confidence.

That got Nilana to pause for a moment, but then she smirked again. She got into battle stance herself, with her nine tails spreading out behind her. At the tip of each, a ball of magical power appeared, and her claws started surging with power, "And you also know I'm not to be underestimated. Maybe you won't use my title, but I AM a Psion Overlord. I have killed members of our kind easily, I force respect. Your little traps and controls in this body were built for Salia, not me. They may slow me down, but they can't control me. And you are all too aware that I can still be a major threat. There is no certainty that you will win, or me..." Her magic was dispelled, and aggression faded from her. She then stood up tall and smiled at Tulam, "So a truce is the best way. I have what I truly want already, after all, this beautiful vessel. I'll agree not to pry your vessel away from you, although you can't do much if he decides to submit to me willingly. Acceptable, yes?"

Tulam snorted, but dispelled his own prepared magic, "You could've just said it without the dramatics, harlot, but yes. Now get off my station."

The Kitsune walked forward and straight past Lincoln and Tulam, dismissively waving a hand at them, "No thank you. I'll crash here for a little while, I am tired after such a journey, and nothing in the truce says I have to leave. Not like you can make me anyways~! But if you want, you're allowed to come in my bedroom, for old times sake... You too, little slaveling, the offer is open to you. Although I do offer this to your slaves too. A way for you to get a taste of what I can do via them, and allow them to enjoy themselves while you cannot. Then again... I may just decide to keep them if I like them, and they'll never want to return, oh hoh hoh~!"

With that, Nilana'Ran disappeared around the corner. Tulam snorted, and shook his head, "If only I knew that damn woman was intent on showing up, I wouldn't have come here. Or at least prepared better defenses, irritating creature..." He then looked over to Lincoln, mostly to gauge how he was taking her offer.

After that, he spoke again to him, "Now then, vessel, allow me to be clear here. That creature is not to be trusted, at all. I do hope you won't let your body and temptations let you loose the small progress you've made. If you go to her, you will not leave. I know Nilana very, very well. She's right about the fact that you don't even have a quarter of the knowledge she has in her chosen trade, but that's not a good thing. That means you are little more than a simple tool for what she wants. With me, I can teach you to be better, and I'm a lot more honest in my intentions. With that said... Before you find a bed to rest, I will address any questions you have. On her, me, or whatever. And I do insist if you have something major on your mind, speak up. No point letting your little slave mind come to false conclusions or dwell on dangerous things... Or dangerous people, for that matter."

He could feel the heat off her body. A great shadow was casted over the cold lake. He mustn’t let it bother him. Everything will be okay. Let that fact bring him peace. Focus only on the serenity that stillness brings.

Cold air continues to leave his lips. Snowflakes were beginning to form on his shoulder. There was a tremor in his left hand. Let it be. Don’t pay attention to it.

He felt the claw on his chin. She would find that he felt a bit corpse-like. He didn’t mind that. After all, his body is just a corpse that is still moving, isn’t it? And what really matters, the thing that really is Lincoln Loud, is much, much more than just the corpse.

He stood there, continuing to look at Nilana with a calm expression. “I’m afraid.” He let it out peacefully. To suppress the truth was to disturb the silence in his mind. “But again, I trust Tulam. Just that is enough.” It was bold. He let the words go and not dwell on them.

If he wasn’t taking in the principle of Winter, watching the antics between the two psions would have been amusing. Tulam crassness did make him blink. He closed his eyes. Taking a breath through his nose before exhaling to make the tension leave his shoulders.

He opened his eyes once more. His baby blues were quiet. Blank even. Watching the two Psions as one would watch mighty caribou walking across the tundra from afar.

His eyes didn't track Nilana when she walked by him. Once he knew she rounded the corner he took another breath. He blinked once or twice. Then a light shiver ran through his body. His body was still cool but the air that filled his lungs was room temperature again.

He made eye contact with Tulam. It was apparent that he didn’t think anything about what she said at all yet. She might as well be talking to trees in winter. With the only response being the silence that it embodies.

With Nilana gone he felt that it was safe to make conscious thoughts. A blush rose to his cheeks when he looked back at the whole exchange. He averted his eyes to the side. It didn’t bother him that Tulam felt that she was tempting to him. There was no room for him to complain because it was exactly the temptation of the flesh that led him to so many problems. Made him forget the things he learned.

He let out a sigh. Rubbing the back of his neck before looking back to Tulam. “I’m aware of how...transient her gifts are.” He said softly. Endings is one of the aspects of the principle that is Winter. Thus, it made him even more aware of just how little carnal desires can yield. “Meanwhile, you’ve proved me right for the second time.” He smiled. That alone was enough to seal his decision.

Tulam’s offer to answer questions made him consider. Exhaustion was still not present for him. Through Winter, he doesn’t feel hindered by physical discomforts. Might as well then to take it. Especially when there is a dangerous new roommate that they have to live with.

“Alright, let’s talk for a bit then. Firstly I just wanted to ask. Was I on the right track to clear my mind? I figured that since she was clearly proficient in psionics that she could counter anything I do by reading my thoughts and intent. I needed to rely on just my intuition….or have I watched too much anime.” He gave his first question shyly. A few of his Servants could do it, granted they’re Servants and he’s not.

“I know I can’t do anything to her, that much is obvious.” He glanced to the corner that she went to. Thinking what to say he looked back to Tulam. “I don’t want to just rapid fire questions so I’ll just give a general curiosity. Just what is a Psion and their capability?” Meaning how old they were as a race, where did they come from, how many of them were there, what is their culture, ect. They were all similar enough that he felt he might as well give a broad question.

For the next question on his mind, “What will we be after you get out of me and in a body of your own?” He figured that was a important question to ask. Now for the next one he wasn’t sure on asking. But considering it was very relevant he needed to know.

“Just…what is the history between you and Nilana? At first it sounded like you were partners in a business sense. But did you actually…slept with her?” It was just hard to imagine Tulam’Run to be engaging in that activity after how much he made it apparent that sort of stuff was beneath him.

Speaking about Nilana'Ran he might as well ask it now. “Lastly, given she seems to be sticking around, what’re we going to do?” It doesn’t seem likely that she’ll lose interest and leave. Not when he must look so appetizing.

Tulam's form sat down... While still floating. From this position of fly-sitting, Tulam looked to Lincoln and grunted, "Lots of questions, vessel, but very well. I'll address them one by one, as best I can and in a more timely manner. Let's get to it."

"First off... You were on the right track at least, vessel, with how you handled Nilana'Ran, and probably did the best you could given her surprise appearance and your lack of knowledge on how to approach that kind of situation. However clearing your mind is only the most basic way to approach Nilana or somebody like her. Simply put you were entirely outmatched. She can indeed gleam your thoughts, but Nilana's true weapon is not her ability to read the mind. It is her ability to read the soul. Nilana is a masterful Ran Psion, and as such her expertise lies in emotions. Clearing your thoughts is part of what you need to do because when handling Nilana, controlling your emotions is essential. You don't have the degree of control over your emotions that you would need to stand up to her, so clearing your thoughts entirely was the smarter move. But there is a lot more work to do there. If you tried to fight her with just intuition, you would lose. Just as she can gleam your thoughts, she can gleam your instinct by tapping into your emotions. Of course, you wouldn't be able to fight. If you had encountered Nilana on your own vessel, without preparing your defenses or without having me to shield you from her powers, you would've been exposed to the full scope of her emotional control. Nilana'Ran can effect the emotions of others as well if they lack the ability to shield themselves properly, and play with those emotions. If she was the first Psion you met, and you encountered her alone with your previous mindset... I believe all she would have to do is suppress your hate, fear, and sadness, and enhance your desire. You'd maybe last a minute before she had you wrapped around her finger as a lovestruck slave. I suppose you'd get to experience what your female slaves do, but in a far more intense and one-way manner."

He sighed, "Fortunately, you have me to shield you from those powers, and you did have the sense to quiet your emotions and thoughts. You'll be safe so long as I am around. But since that won't be forever, we must work on your emotional discipline. Nilana can be defeated. She is highly intelligent and capable, but she can be out-smarted. Although before we worry about that, you need to focus more on controlling and shielding yourself so you don't just need up on your knees kissing her feet. And that may sound like an exaggeration, but it is not. Nilana is a very powerful Psion. I've seen what she can do, even to other Psions. As such, keep the concept of "defeating" her out of your mind. Your focus, as it should be, must be on survival and protecting yourself."

He then crossed his arms and chuckled, "Now, your next question is a rather wide reaching one. But I'll give you a summary on us Psions, and explain some of the key terms. We Psions are a very powerful and old race, not from this galaxy. We come from a smaller one fairly close by. That galaxy is almost virtually dominated by Psions, none of the Slaveling States that exist here, or at least none that matter. As for our capability... Limitless." He smirked and paused a moment to let that sink in, and then spoke more jovially, "Alright, not quite, but we Psions have our name for good reason. You'll not meet a species more than we more naturally talented in the Psionic Arts. We are highly evolved, highly intelligent, and extremely powerful. Some of us more than others, but even the youngest, most inexperienced Psion is a major threat to any Slave Society. Especially since we are born aware of our natural superiority too. In general, it is safe to say that Psions are extremely powerful, for our will shapes the universe around us as we see fit. We Psions do not know Gods, for our potential is that to one day surpass any divine entities. There is nothing beyond the reach of a Psion with the dedication and time to work towards it. A true Psion is constantly growing, constantly empowering themselves! Just like me, constantly learning and growing. That is why I say a true Psion's capabilities are theoretically limitless, because our potential is beyond compare."

He then waved a hand dismissively, "But enough of that. On more important topics, I suppose I would say there is no single Psion society, because none of us could ever stomach such a thing. It's difficult dealing with others of my kind for simple business deals, it would be another horror entirely trying to live with one. And I know the feeling is mutual. But there are some things we generally hold as constant between eachother, mostly important terms and concepts. The biggest one you'll have grabbed by now is our epithets, or clan names as some call them. There are six; Run, Ran, Ren, Ron, Rin, and Rex. I am a Run, Nilana is a Ran, and all other Psions will generally fall into one of these six. The origins of the names comes from the names of the first six Psions, and each of their names now carries importance. For the epithets are about following the path of one of the six, to learn, grow, and one day surpass the namesake. I could spend a while discussing each of the six, but I'll give a quick overview."

"Run Psions, such as myself, are focused on the concept of creation. I like the creation of life, I consider it to be the most fascinating. But not all others are so enlightened. Other Run Psions may take more preference in creating architecture or building spaceships or whatever. In generally, we all share the joy of creation and an appreciation for the art of imprinting our artistic vision upon the universe. Doesn't mean I think many of them are very good, but we can't all be masters now can we? As for the other five, in brief... Ran Psions focus on memories and emotions, they like to feel the full scope of the emotional spectrum. Ren Psions are focused on control, forging the universe to be as they deem to be perfect and orderly. Ron Psions are nonsensical collectors, they just want to grab whatever it is that interests them at the time and add it to their hordes. Rin Psions are focused on the spirit and soul, specifically their own, and how to best become one with the universe. Rex Psions are about strength and conquest, they are mostly airheaded fools focused on conquest but there are those who appreciate the strength of mind as well as body. It should be obvious of course which is the best."

Tulam paused and then seemed to remember something, holding up a finger, "Ah, yes, and let me address a term Nilana brought up, 'Overlord'. Overlord is a title among we Psions that means one thing above all; the ability to command respect from other Psions. A Psion is not an overlord because of power, wealth, strength, control, or any other measurable thing. A Psion can only be an Overlord if he can demand and successfully acquire the respect of other Psions around them. We Psions don't care to respect others, including eachother, unless we have extremely good reason to respect somebody. Overlords have some reason that fits the mark, and so they cannot be taken lightly. Nilana is respected by many other Psions as an Overlord. I would be too but I don't care to go around and stake the claim. It's bothersome, and distracts from my far more important work. Still, if a Psion can successfully stake a claim to the title, they are not to be trifled with. For they are a Master among Masters, and you slaves should be aware of what that means." He ended that with a smirk.

Then he thought for a moment and shrugged, "Likely I'll just send you on your way. What happens when I restore my body is dependent heavily on the circumstances of when it happens, and the situation around that, but I am not an ungrateful being, vessel. I have been rather plain with you since the start. My goals are right now just to reconstitute my glorious body, get out of your body, and then get back to my work. So long as you support that, and don't get in the way afterwards, I see no reason that my departure need include any sort of violence. I'm not a Rex who must prove my strength. And perhaps if you continue to prove yourself as useful, we can continue to work together. It does look like you'll need it after all. Still, I'll just give you the one assurance I can... I have no intent of betrayal or killing you. And that's a pretty good promise now isn't it? I wouldn't give that promise to another Psion that's for sure, because they'd never give it to me!"

Tulam sighed, as he realized what was next, "Now... Your next question is rather personal, vessel, but I am a being of my word. As for being partners... Well it was a form of business partnership in a way, and the more intimate partnership as well. Just because I'm not ruled by such interests doesn't mean I cannot engage in them, vessel. I have raised two children in my lifetime, you know. Rather rude of you to assume that just because I'm not some lustful slaveling that I haven't the capacity for such acts at all. But I suppose I am getting ahead of myself. The reason the partnership was both business and intimate is because that's how we have children as Psions, vessel. We don't engage in the marriages slave races do, or in the primitive mating processes of animals. For Psions, children are an investment of time and resources. When a Psion decides to have a child, we make an arrangement with another Psion of the opposite gender. One will agree to raise the child, and the other will receive a nice payment up front. The one who raises the child will then raise, educate, and prepare the new Psion youngling and from them gain payback on their investment by having the child serve under them for a degree of time, to pay back their birth debts, before finally letting them go. I have been part of three such deals. Twice as the child raiser, and once as simply a contributor to the procreational process."

While he approached that rather seriously, he sighed again, "But that's not what you wanted to hear. Ugh, alright. Nilana was one such Psion I engaged in such a deal with, and the first one in fact. We were both much younger then, and I will admit that at the time I was not as wise and controlled as I am now. Her charms were more effective on me back then. Although given her consistent interest in me since then, perhaps my own charms are stronger than I anticipated. In any case, we had a son, and I raised that son for most of his upbringing. Most, as part of the deal did see Nilana raise him for a while in his teenage years, although that proved to be a mistake..." He looked down, sighing again.

He was silent for a few moments, clearly thinking on the past, before shaking his head. Tulam snapped a finger and looked back up at Lincoln, "In any case, for your more slaveling perspective... She's an ex-girlfriend, basically. That is it. Now, onto the final question. The way we deal with Nilana is simple... Maintain the truce. She won't be going anywhere, not until her fancy makes her leave of her own accord, and we are in no position to force her. But she is also in no position to do anything crass. With every moment my soul recovers, restoring more of my power. She knows that, and she knows from experience that I am quite capable of equalling her in a fight, without the weaknesses of desire that she takes advantage of in most others. On her part, acting now is also foolish because of the various locks and traps I left in that vessel she stole. Now since they were only made for a Psion of Salia'Rex's strength, Nilana will be able to remove and dispel them with time. They are temporary problems, but they keep her down enough. She lacks my skills, and so she will remove them more slowly. In effect... We will remain at equal levels of power for a long time coming, which means it is in neither of our best interests to pick a fight. A fight with no certainty of victory is very foolish when we have much to lose and little to gain. The truce is mutually the best option for both of us. Nilana will leave eventually, she never sticks around in one place long."

While he was confident, he then realized he had to make a few additions, "All the same, avoid her as best you can, vessel. I can shield you from her most powerful techniques but that's no reason to take unneeded risks. Oh and make sure your slaves avoid her too. I don't fully understand those 'servants' of yours and how they work just yet, but they seem to be able to feel emotion. Which means Nilana can and will manipulate them. I am not sure she can outright control them, but even minor manipulation can be deadly. Your Assassin in particular must stay away. Her strong desire to protect you is an incredibly easy vector for Nilana to use, for multiple reasons. For deep and serious manipulation or she could do it for no reason more than to screw with you, and by extension screw with me. She doesn't need any complicated reason... Also you're absolutely keeping them in another bedroom. I can already sense her ideas of scheming to try and intensify the carnal sides of you and them in order to mess with me, and I won't allow any such victory on her part. Oh, and I have already informed Caretaker, worry not about her. She knows what to do. Now then, are you satisified?" He tapped the side of his head and looked at Lincoln like a school teacher would to a student.

Lincoln came to a sitting position as well. Akin to a student listening to the master. Throughout his detailed explanation on the danger that Nilana posses he became more aware of just how immense the gap between Nilana and himself.

He was right, survival and protection is the only thing he needs to focus on. Especially when it comes to disciplining his emotions. The more the lecture went on the more he felt a chill spread through his bones. Not the chill that came from the principle of Winter. It was a chill of horror and shame.

Nilana’Ran was the reflection in the mirror. She was all of his worst aspects taken to the extreme. A selfish monster who can only consider satisfying her own cravings. After all, wasn’t what he did to Ialla roughly exactly the same thing she would have done?

It is true when they say that you tend to realize just how bad a person you are when you look at it from an outsider perspective. He let out a sigh, knowing that he can’t let this weigh him down. He needs to get a grip on his emotions.

He perked back up when Tulam began to go over his people. Eyes widening when Tulam kept expanding his horizons of what he saw the Psions as. It made the reason why Iammelon even manage to stand against them in the first place was because the invading force fragmented before they even reached Iammelon.

“If they had kept to the plan for five minutes they would have easily won.” His words slipped out of his mouth unintentionally. He was a bit at awe of the might that the Psions wield. And a bit frightening to imagine a galaxy full of them.

It was fascinating to hear how there were six original Psions that all Psions take up their name to reflect their passion in life. He tilted his head when he heard that the Ran Psions like to experience the full spectrum of emotion.

He could sense that Tulam’Run was over a millennia in age excluding the years spent in confinement. Which meant that Nilana’Ran was likely just as old. “She lived so long, and only spent those years indulging in sex? Such a waste...”

A second pass.

Then it hit him.

“O-Oh…”

For the first time in a long while, he felt the full force of shame. “I’ve seen so much, experienced so much, did so much, and yet my only thoughts were…” He could remember that week on Praxus. He was in a whole new galaxy. Filled with countless things he never saw before. Stories he never heard.

And how did he choose to spend it? In the field using the local farm girl as a personal onahole. Sure, he was suicidally depressed and didn’t think much of his surroundings, but it was still a choice.

Truly he was like Nilana in some ways, thinking the pleasure of life can only be found in the bedroom. He was starting to feel a bit sick with himself. Just how far did he fall? He rubbed his face. Then took a deep breath.

It was very fortunate that he came to meet Tulam’Run.

Setting his hands back on his lap he looked at his mentor. “Yeah, I do agree that the Run sounds the best. Life is the root of all things after all.” He was still dealing with the revelation that he was a bigger mess than he first thought.

Re-focusing on Tulam’s words more. Learning about the weight that the title of Overlord carries puts it further into perspective on just how strong these two Psions were. It did make him realize something a bit amusing. “I suppose it makes sense that even if one of you guys earn that title. It still won’t stop other Psions from spitting fire.” He’ll certainly leave the sass to Tulam for sure. It was doubtful he could get away with saying something along the lines of ‘Huh, I thought I was hearing the sounds of a cow but it was actually you talking’ to her face for instance.

It was a bit of a surprise that Tulam’Run would just let him go his merry way. But it was telling of the sort of person he is. He can tell that he just wants to focus on his research. “I see...thank you then. That does sound like a very rare thing for a Psion to give, so I’m extra thankful.”

He did like the idea of working with him. Because he knew that he needed to reposition his life on more peaceful endeavors. He shouldn’t have even entertained the idea of getting himself tangled up with the wider galaxy. It was a good call to have let the elksni family deal with the house stuff while he goes off on his own. For now, he just needs to focus on himself.

It made him a bit flustered when Tulam called him out for being rude. Making him rub the back of his neck, “I apologize, I just felt it was important to know in case Nilana tries to make you look bad.” It was a bit melancholic to hear how Psions raise their children. But it made sense considering what he learned so far. Another thing that stood out to him was that Tulam was a father. He did let the past assumption blind him shamefully. He wondered about that son he mentioned but knew it was best to not inquire about it.

He could tell how sensitive of a subject this was so he eagerly latched his attention to the last subject. Giving a nod in understanding that this will be a waiting game. “I’ll use everything I can to stay away from her.” He crosses his arms, thinking about other ways to help the situation. “My slaves will stay away from her. If I need to I could use a Command Seal to turn them into a Saint Graph Card to hide them. The downside would be that I would have to use a Command Seal to turn them back. That and it would be stupid since they would be in a defenseless state if Nilana find them.”

Saint Graph refers to the foundation of a spiritual being's existence for Servants. It is possible to analyze Saint Graphs to determine details like size, Class, relative strength, and the type of spirit. The Chaldea Security Organization is able to store the Saint Graph data of Servants to allow for resummoning after defeat. Rather than directly returning to the Throne of Heroes, they are able to summon the same Servant with their memories intact.

Within the original Chaldea base, this data was kept in Saint Graph Storage, but a staff member was able to compact the data into a portable briefcase for usage in the field and the new Novum Chaldea by turning them into a Saint Graph Card. Under certain circumstances, destruction of the Saint Graph may make recovery of memories impossible.

It’s to be noted that under normal circumstances, it's impossible to resummon a Servant with memories of their previous summon from the same Master. The only reason why he got around this rule was thanks to his Origin. Meaning if it weren’t for that, he would have summoned the Assassin-class and MoonCancer-class servants in their factory default pretty much.

Musing aside he got to his feet. “That said, thank you, I’m satisfied for now. I should go to sleep now to rest up. Perhaps set defenses up in my bedroom, probably won’t do much to someone as powerful as Nilana but I figure anything helps. Haah, this will be a long few days or weeks.” With that said he went to the bedroom that Tulam gave directions to earlier. On the way he passed on the orders to his slaves.

Once he would finally drift to sleep. His dreams would consist of the Blank Door as a side effect for using the principle of Winter. He never went through it. It wasn’t his time yet, the life of Lincoln Loud was just beginning.

Tulam seemed amused at Lincoln finally noticing some of the parallels, but he didn't decide to comment on it. It was enough that he had the realization. He did decide to make some other comments. First he just shrugged, "It is a rare grant to just be let off the hook without any sort of trouble like that, but I am a rather reasonable individual. That and I don't personally care to mess with you or anybody else. What I prioritize most is my work, my art. So long as you don't get in the way of that, and assist me in getting back into a position where I can resume my work, then as far as I am concerned our time together is good. The thing you should be thankful for is not the easy departure, but all the free lessons I'm giving you. Those are priceless."

He then chuckled, "Any physical defense you could set up would perhaps just amuse her more than anything. Which, when dealing with somebody like Nilana, is a bad idea. You'd just encourage her. Leave the defense part to me and the Caretaker. You focus on rest." With that, his form faded, so he could allow Lincoln to go off to bed.

The bedroom was a rather simple one. It was not a single bed, but rather it was clearly a barracks of sorts. Multiple bunkbeds, some chests around to store belongings in, and a bathroom towards the back. Of course as Lincoln was alone in the room, he could as he pleased, including redecorating given that Tulam indicated he didn't really care how Lincoln altered the station. The one thing he would notice is that the lights were coming back online, and power seemed to be returning across the station beyond just the backup power. Caretaker had clearly gotten to work already.

Lincoln, as he went to bed, could tell Tulam wasn't going to sleep. His form had faded from view but he was silently active in the background, doing something. Presumably working on the defenses he mentioned, and coordinating with Caretaker to restore the station. In any case, it was safe to sleep.

-

When Lincoln woke up, he would see Tulam's manifested form sitting on one of the nearby other bunkbeds, tapping the side of his head. He snapped his fingers loudly, "Wake up now, vessel, time to get up. The station is mostly back online fully, and it's time to get moving. What you do for the day, I don't really care, but just make sure you do something. Being slothful is pointless here. Tomorrow once everything is properly prepared I'll get you in a schedule for training, but also to start working towards the important goal... Rebuilding my body. You'll need to help me a bit there, given my current lack of a physical form. But that'll only work once Caretaker has all the equipment set up, and all of that is powered up again. She's doing that right now. Although it shouldn't take too long. In any case, take this day as the one free day you'll have for a while before I put you to work. Oh and Nilana is still around so do be cautious. Your slaves should be more cautious however. At least with me I can ensure Nilana is civil with you, safe from her best techniques. I can force such respect. For your slaves however... Well let's just say Nilana will not at all respect the slaves of a member of a slave species."

He thought for a moment, and then Tulam slapped the side of his own face, "Oh, duh, obvious answer. Just send them down a few levels to work with Caretaker. She can put them to work doing something useful for restoring the station and its main laboratory, while also keeping them away from Nilana. She doesn't care much for such places... Except when I am in one, just to annoy me." With that, he faded away, leaving Lincoln to decide what he wanted to do with his free time as he had it for now. Tulam seemed to have left everything open.

For people to talk to, there was of course Tulam. But Lincoln would also be able to reach out and sense the other two major presences on this station besides his own Servants. The first being Caretaker, who was faint but was working a few levels down. The second was the far more easily detectable Nilana'Ran. The Psion was a massive beacon of psionic power, which was easy to pinpoint because it seemed she wasn't bothering to hide it. Probably because she knew everyone aboard the station already knew she was here anyway. In any case, Nilana was only one level down, relatively still, in a simple room. She didn't seem to be intent on leaving it anytime soon, so she was probably doing something in there.

The sharp wake-up gesture did rouse him from his slumber slowly. It was one of those times when open his eyes without much drowsiness. He sat up while listening to Tulam next to him. A tad surprising that he had a day to do what he wishes but it made perfect sense. It takes time to set things up.

“I’ll do something productive.” He says to Tulam. Watching him fade away he then got out of bed, tidied it, and went to go do his personal hygiene. Taking a cold shower first to use the time to think about what he wants to do today.

He could sense where everyone was in the station. None of whom he doesn’t feel like disturbing. One is busy, one is walking into a lion den, and the last thing he needed to be was to be in a room with a woman.

His thoughts went to Nilana. It would be hard to stay away from her, he was on a station after all. “I wager you could hear me anyways.” He said while looking at the floor beneath him. It was probably childsplay for a Psion to hear the thoughts of less than a handful of people on an isolated space station.  They could probably hear the thoughts of someone on the opposite side of an urbanized world.

“This is going to be bothersome.” He said to himself. One of the things he wanted to do was start gathering the materials needed to make a mana reactor. But with a swiping fox around he doesn’t want to risk the components ending up in her hands.

Turning off the water he dried himself off. Then he went to do other hygienic care before getting into fresh clothes. A simple white pants and shirt. “Haah, now to get busy.” He decided to spend the day to himself. Of exactly what he’ll spend it on is something he’s still thinking about.

But first he went to rearrange his room to suit his needs better. Hewas tempted to call his MoonCaner-Class Servants to convert the other bunk beds into raw resources but decided it was best to do it himself. Beside, he had his slaves be with the Caretaker.

His transmutation magecraft wasn’t shabby. In ten minutes he got all the other bunk beds beside his own broken down to their basic elements that he stored into a chest he made. He also broke down the bed on the lower bunk of the one he’s using to have that space be extra storage. Most of the other chests were all stored on the lower bunk as well on top of one another.

Putting the last chest in there he turned to face his now spacious room. “Quite a bit of space to work with.” A growl came from his stomach. So he used some magical tricks to sate his need for sustenance. A habit he developed from being a workaholic.

Walking over to the center of the room he sat down. Rolling his shoulders he closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath. His thoughts went to that certain Servant who told him about an aspect of the world. He spoke about life, and how it inevitably leads to death. About stories, and how they inevitably lead to endings. And how all of that was so very beautiful.

Winter is the principle of endings, cold, beauty and silence. It encompasses all things that have already ended and waits patiently for all things that will end. But one knowledgeable on its ways might figure out how to work around endings, and perhaps death itself.

He was not that knowledgeable however. For reasons beyond not having enough time to meditate on it. One being that it was roughly necromancy being filtered through flowery prose. Even though he technically raised spirits, he wasn’t fond of normal necromancy.

However, Winter evokes thoughts that give him tools to come to his own understanding of firmament. Sometimes when his breath exits his mouth it is as cold as a midnight chill, and he knows that it is because he has learned certain words. This might happen because the words wish to be spoken, or this might be because his body wishes for him to be silent.

There is something curious about stillness. When the air is still you have quiet, when the mind is still you have peace, but what might happen when the spirit is still? Whatever the answer is, he knows that it must not be taught with words, for if the answer breaks the silence then it is, by principle, incorrect.

It came to him that this understanding was reminding him about the Rin Psions that Tulam’Run spoke of. It felt they would meditate just like this, reflecting deeply on the nature of the soul. “I suppose I share some things in common with them.” He said calmly. Cool air filling his lungs.

He opened his eyes to see that frost layered the floor around him. His eyes caught sight of his left hand. Small chunks of ice were sticking to his pale skin. A sense of unfamiliarity came to him when he studied his arm.

It wasn’t the effect of Winter. Nor any form of magic. It came from something else because it resonated with the nature of Winter. Closing his eyes he noticed something. It was related to the Light that he had obtained from his experience with Ialla. There was something in him alongside the silence. It was a cold chorus in his ears, a shattered song demanding to be heard. Then what was noise became a chilling harmony born of dissonance.

But it wasn’t exactly Light, it had receded. Leaving behind only Darkness. This discovery would have excited a scholarly mind such as himself. But in this situation it didn’t give much curiosity because he knew he didn’t have much to go off of to properly study it. He would need to go talk to the Elksni to learn more about it. In the meantime he should train himself to be more aware of the sources he might be resonating with so that he’s only focusing on one.

He opened his eyes again. Gazing at how the frost formed along the ground. The absence of light made him think about the absence of memory. Memories are curious things. They are experiences to put it simply. Flashes and images, smells and sounds that hinge inside your mind. But the interesting thing about them is that all of his memories, no matter how small, are also a part of him.  

More than that, even. His memories are what make him. Like the countless stars that dot the night sky. Like the numberless little things that comprise a house. Each memory, each recollection, is like a single star. Every single memory is like a small object inside a house. They can be great and important, like the brightest star of a constellation or a pillar that supports an upper floor.

Or they can be small and easily forgotten, like a pinprick star that disappears at the slightest hint of a fog, or a key to a room you have never bothered to lock. Indeed, Memories are curious things. But what do they leave behind when they are gone? That was a question he often pondered on when he sat in that unlit hallway of his childhood home. Gazing at the open doors that led to empty rooms.

He can’t say that memories are never truly gone. Everything ends, everything is gone one day, but then what do memories leave behind?  Is it perhaps the thing called “experience”? Do memories, especially those he made during his childhood, eventually coalesce into habits and instincts?  

But then what about, say, the similarities that a child has to their parents? A person's memories are what makes them, of course, but their memories only make their own ‘self’. There are other things that he inherited. Things that serve as a foundation, so to speak, and that… No, this is wrong.

What he is thinking about is not incorrect, of course, but this is not the path that will lead him to the answer he seeks.  Memories, it is not that they leave something behind, but… Hmm. His musings on this subject came to a pause.

He gave a short laugh. “I’m meditating on these subjects while there’s an expert on the floor beneath me. Isn’t that right Nilana’Ran?” He spoke above a whisper. No need to put much voice into it since she could obviously hear him as clear as day. Or maybe not, he’s assuming she’s even listening in the first place.

“Huh.” That made him think. Looking up to the ceiling in thought as he crosses his arms. “Yes, why would you be listening. You have probably seen this before. A young man sitting in a room philosophizing on the immaterial. Of course, that’s a bit of a degrading way to put it. It’s not like it doesn’t have value, but that you probably feel you won’t miss much unless you’re interested in that person.”

The history that was brought up last night was now being seen in a different light. “I wonder, assuming a lot here, that a part of the reason why you regarded your own children as tools was not because they were expendable, but because you technically already had children. Gave birth to a thousand souls, raised a thousand young a thousand different ways, buried them in the earth under a thousand different skies. What then, make your own children stand out in comparison? I feel it’s wrong of me to say they were meaningless, because that implies there’s no value in experiencing the memories of more people. Thus it would imply that Ran Psions would stop at a certain amount. But I feel they wouldn't, yes? Just rare if they did, every Psion is different after all.”

“It can’t be that over time all faces start to blend together. Or that you start to see the same eyes in different people. People are unique as the stars in the night sky. There is only and could ever be one say, Lincoln Loud. I wager that in a way you consider reaping my memories as doing me a favor. Because now, a thousand years down the road, you would be one of the few who still remember me. I would still be living inside of you. While everyone in Hoshizora would only see the cosmic dust that was once Lincoln Loud.”

“I wonder if it’s not that you see me as expendable, but rather why bother? I'm that person you met at a trucker bar after a long day of driving, I’m that person at the bus stop that you saw once, I’m that person sitting in the theater two rows down from you. I’m just the millionth person you came across in this long road we call life. But unlike the many who pay much attention to the stranger they sit next to at an airport. You’re addicted to that feeling of sonder. Thirsting to know just what kind of vivid life they must have lived.”

Then it dawned on him. “Is this what you feel? That curiosity, the desire to know what they know? Is it why so many Psions are so prone to stab each other in the back because they simply want to know. Is...Aaaaah, I understand more why Tulam’Run said these lessons were priceless. A Psion likely feels proud to acquire innumerable memories and experiences. To know of stories that are long forgotten. To have wisdom that many mortals have lived their whole life to find. To just share that, I can understand why Psions are reluctant to do so.”

He looked down to the floor again. The frost has mostly disappeared by now. Leaving droplets of water around him. “I can empathize with you to a degree, Nilana’Ran. A Master and their Servant share a deep mental connection. As a result, when the Master dreams, they experience memories of their Servant’s past. Normally, you would only have one Servant so for a mortal it’s not too disorientating to experience. But in my case, having summoned hundreds of Servants.” He trailed off for a moment.

The silence lasted for a moment before he spoke. “I’ve experienced death a myriad of different ways, I’ve led amies across battlefields, I’ve been raped by men, I’ve watched the sunset when sailing on open waters, I’ve played a flute to a city on fire, I’ve flew by the celestial bodies of my star system,  I’ve gave fire to the first man, I’ve choked on my blood while laying down in the mud in some distant jungle, I’ve strode across a grassland on all four of my furry paws, and all of this is just the tip of the iceberg.”

He kept his gaze on the floor. “That entices you, doesn't it, Nilana’Ran? So many memories across time and space. Experiences from all walks of life and cultures. It’s amazing, I know it is for me. Having said that, I wonder if that’s another thing that makes you even more distant from actual people. Perhaps you’ve once thought the same thing that I did when looking at other people, ‘How can they ever hope to understand me?’. How can I ever hope to understand you, Nilana’Ran? I can’t. Because I’m not you. In comparison to me, you must have taken the memories of millions, perhaps a billion for all I know. I've been nothing more than a comatose man since birth in your eyes. This is likely not the reason why you see me as merely a transient face, I’m assuming a lot about how a Psion I just met might think. But I feel it doesn’t fall too far away from how a Ran Psion must think.”

He tilts his head. “I can only imagine what it must be like to have a sea of experiences. You know, with your clear focus on pleasure I wonder in ways the well of memories influenced your opinion and sexual preferences. Or say reinforced your stance against sexualization of minors and children? Because that near-universal repulsion on that must be that one constant in all those memories. Perhaps you even took memories of victims who were molested as a child, so you know what it’s like from their perspective even.”

A sigh left his lips. “I admit I find you fascinating, Nilana'Ran. While I dislike your kind practices of taking memories from people, I find pondering how life must be from your perspective fun to do. I want to talk to you. But unfortunately I know that I can’t trust you. Unlike Tulam’Run, you would want a price in exchange for telling me about things I don’t know. And I can’t pay that price. You’re predictable.”

He then frowned. “No. That isn’t right. It’s wrong for me to say you’re predictable. While it’s apparent you guys seem to be unable to go five feet without stabbing each other in the back,  that thought is actually a crude stereotype. Because it’s saying that Psions will always lie, always betray, always plot. It’s saying that you’re all the same, and that you can never change. But, that’s not true is it? Psions change very much, each and everyone of you are so individually unique that it’s probably an insult to say that you share something in common with another Psion.”

“Then I take back what I said. I do trust that you can be honest to a degree. Because you have to. Otherwise, how can a Psion manage to convince someone if they somehow regard the Psion as someone who lies 100% of the time? That’s why a lie needs a glimmer of truth to hook people in after all.” Having said that he got up to his feet. Feeling like going out to get something to eat something at the food court or whatever is equivalent here. While he could cheat again, he still likes to eat normally.  He had spent the past hour meditating. “I’m going to get something to eat. But I bet you can sense that already. While I eat there, I wouldn’t mind having someone to talk to before going back to my room to start on other stuff. Do note, that if I can tell you’re just trying to worm your way into me. I’m just going to sigh and leave, sadden knowing you just proved my point that I was making several seconds ago.”

Lincoln finally left his room. Mentally poking Tulam’Run where he can get food at. Once directions were given he would go there. Getting some food he would go find a place to sit. Thinking back on his lengthy monologue session. It was evident that he quite liked the Ran, but still regarded Run as being the best. In a way, he sees every other group stem from Run. Everything begins with Creation. Emotions, Soul, Strength, Avarice, Control, ect. Therefore, the ideals that Run poses were thematically superior. His thoughts quiet down when he proceeds to eat his food in peace. Well, possibly that is considering if a certain someone was intrigued enough to come out and have a little chat.

Tulam simply gave Lincoln a mental prodding outside of the barracks, towards a nearby small cafeteria. Like the barracks was meant for the hanger workers to live in, it seemed this cafeteria was for those same workers. It was thus generally a fairly simple and basic cafeteria. Split into two sections, the kitchen and the eating area. The eating area just had simple tables and benches to eat on, and a counter over near the Kitchen. Presumably the kitchen staff would serve the workers, but of course there weren't any here right now. As such, Lincoln would need to head into the kitchen himself to grab some food.

The Kitchen was similarly simple. This wasn't some place to create full course meals, it was very clearly just here to prepare the pre-prepared meals for consumption by the workforce so they could get back to their duties. And this was useful as it meant it was very easy to operate. Lincoln would find that once he searched the refrigerators, he would find they were still stocked with rations. Tulam's voice spoke up, "I did intend to come back to this station after winning. So I left some food supplies behind, to make sending a new workforce here easier. Didn't end up happening, of course. But these ration packs will each still be quite edible. I designed them myself! I may prefer creating life, but most creatures do need to eat. The genetically crafted meat analogues and fruit substitutes, when stored properly, can last for far longer than I was away. If I remember correctly, the packs here also include nutrient bars, drink mix, and salt packets. Should be plenty of water in the reserves as well. You'll be quite fine for a while, vessel. For even if you somehow exhaust the stores here, there are more throughout the station at the other cafeterias. And if you somehow manage to eat enough food for a whole station crew meant to last them two years in the mere course of a few weeks... Then we would have a very different problem."

His voice faded, and let Lincoln take the food as he wanted. Tulam was correct, as all of the food seemed to be quite fine after some simple preparation. The food didn't look exactly inspiring, given the "meat analogue" looked like a square block of beef, and the fruit was a blue circle with red dots. Looks aside, they were entirely edible (and as he would soon learn, actually quite tasty for what seemed to be basic rations by Tulam's standards), and water was water, although with the drink mixes he could turn it into either a form of coffee or a form of juice (which made it taste similar to the blue fruit). The nutrient bar looked like a chocolate bar, and tasted similar, although it was presumably healthier and a bit less sweet.

Once Lincoln picked out what he wanted and prepared it as he saw fit, he could head back on to the main eating area of the cafeteria. And there, sitting at one of the tables, was Nilana'Ran. Her fox-like form seemed to be a bit bored, and she was quietly humming an unfamiliar tune. She stopped soon after Lincoln would see her however, as she quickly noticed him. She made an exaggerated move of stretching her back, which meant showing off her body a bit, and then looking to Lincoln with a slight tint of annoyance, "Took you long enough, really. You know if you wanted to talk, it would've been nicer to send the invitation first, and not mentally monologue. With how openly you were transmitting, and how long you went on, it was really quick troublesome. Should be a bit more considerate, hm? Especially with all those insinuations in there. Quite rude! Such one-way conversations aren't very pleasant. Now, please, sit down. My turn to talk." She simply gestured to the side of the table opposite her.

Once Lincoln sat down, he would be able to note that Tulam's form manifested again off to his side. Not sitting, just floating there with his arms crossed and a look of annoyance on his face. Nilana gave him a smirk, and then looked back to Lincoln to speak in that singer's voice of hers, "Now, now, where to start? Your one way rant was a long one, and so accusatory! Remember the Golden Rule, little one! Ah yes, first, let's hit that little thought of yours that actually got me to pay attention, because of what it stated... So quick to assume you know who I am, so quick to assume you know how I value people. I am not Tulam's version of me, you cosmic toddler. And yes, that's what you are, a toddler, compared to me. It's quite obvious really. So let's address the big problem in the room here, your worst assumption. The idea that somehow because I have grasped so much experience, and felt countless lifetimes, that I would lose track? Utter nonsense. My children are my children, little one. Regardless of how I act, they aren't meaningless to me in the slightest.[/i]"

That comment got a sneer out of Tulam, and then Nilana turned to him and growled. The snarl on her fox-like form saw her stare down Tulam for a moment, but when it became clear he would allow her to continue without interruption, she calmed and looked back to Lincoln, "Regardless of how others feel as well. Now, otherwise, it is true that not all beings are equal in value to me. Most are small. But... It is the incredible few who are worthless and truly expendable to me, little one. That is why their memories are worth having. Every experience, every moment, is different. And the same moment can be experienced differently by different people. Every single moment in time is built upon thousands more other moments as context. I appreciate that fact, and I revel in it. But it is indeed ever so lovely to know that I preserve those most special bits of knowledge and emotional experience."

She was smiling as she explained that, and she continued to smile as she went on. Her smile was a real one, a graceful and beautiful one, "You are right that you are a very enticing little morsel, and one I would deeply enjoy taking a taste of. And I have my own limits and morals, as even the most mad Psion does. Mine are stronger than most of my kin, I will say, for I do know countless lives who have been harmed in ways I can directly feel the effects. I have felt all of their pain, experienced the emotional turmoil in each and every one of their worst memories. And also the moments of rare joy in those who found solace. I prefer those memories, and that is why those who serve me are quite happy. But allow me to explain something..." Nilana got very serious now, and with one finger she tapped the table, "You definitely cannot understand me. You may think you can, but you as a toddler cannot. Not until you obtain some emotional maturity, and the maturity of a Psion who can differentiate memories and lifetimes. Something you very clearly cannot. You, little one, worry so much about memories and experiences because you let them blend. I can see it all over you."

She sighed, shaking her head. Now Nilana just looked disappointed, "You are ever so wasteful, little one. The memories I have, the experiences I know, have all taught me to enjoy every moment as a unique experience in itself. I am never truly bored. You allow yourself however to be bored. That's why you are so indulgent... Even in your self pity, if nothing to add of your carnal experiences. So engrossed in your own jaded worldview that you must experience the new to get any feeling at all! I'm not like that, little one. In comparison to me, you're the more... I believe the word among your kind that best fits is 'kinky', no?" She gave a low chuckle. "I understand the joy of the new experience too, and I do ever so love such experiments. Of course I do always prefer to be on top, but I have enjoyed the other side on that front as well. Rare, but it was gotten out of me by somebody present~!" Nilana then winked at Tulam, who grunted and shook his head. He remained quiet.

She then calmed down a bit and went on, "Same goes for my scurrying of memories. When you know as much as I do, little one, many things repeat. Constantly, really. And I don't mind at all. This doesn't make those moments mean less in themselves. I take every new experience as just that, a new experience to enjoy for its own merits. And I allow it to grow only better by building atop others. I never let the past diminish the present or the future. I never grow bored, jaded, empty... The simple things have merit. Something you should really relearn, if you want to be more than an emotional toddler in my eyes. Am I wrong, Tulam?"

Despite her clearly playful demeanor, which Tulam didn't like at all, he sighed and shook his head, "No, not in this instance. Life has many new things to experience, but also lots of retreading the same steps one has walked upon before. It's important never to grow resentful of that, and let that part of the journey lose meaning. It's part of development, of growth. Of course somebody here enjoys those old steps far too much for my liking, especially the promiscuous ones!"

Nilana laughed at Tulam's annoyance, and her tails swirled around a bit as she dramatically posed, "I cannot help who I am and what I love! After all, I am the best. In that regard, and so much more..." She gave a suggestive wink, which it was hard to tell if it was aimed at Tulam or Lincoln, or both.

However she returned to a more normal stance quickly enough, "And, on that. Never call me predictable again. I enjoy what I do, who I am, and what I have accomplished. I am a being of sheer power and passion, who can bring whole worlds to their knees in admiration of me. My speaking like this is in itself an honor, for me to grant you this instead of simply educating you in a way I far more enjoy, and one you would as well as I taught you all the wonders of living under me. My price is a fair one for what I offer, and it isn't as bad as grouchy Tulam here says. None who give themselves to me ever complain. That is what I am. Call me predictable again, and perhaps you can 'predict' what may happen." She leaned in, rubbing one finger down Lincoln's face, speaking more quietly and assertively, "Am I understood?" She then pulled back, a confident smile on her face as she settled back down and out of his personal space.

Nilana then chuckled, "And that is my just repayment for entertaining your long thoughts. You may speak again. I'll humor you a little while longer, then I need to return to undoing the power locks on this body. It is a surprising amount of work. Then again, this is Tulam's doing, so I should've expected it. After all... I know he likes to play rough~." The teasing again just got a grunt out of Tulam, who refused to engage. He was more watchful of Lincoln. Tulam was clearly allowing him to have the conversation on his own terms and without Tulam controlling the talks. Though he was obviously protecting him from Nilana's influence. As while she continued to exude an aura of power and allure, it was clearly far less than it should have been. The suppressed power could still be felt a little, and it was very good for Lincoln's free will that Tulam held a firm mental grip there. It allowed Lincoln to engage Nilana in conversation fairly, even if the power dynamic was still far from equal.

Listening to Tulam he was impressed that he made long lasting food. It would have been obvious yes, but he’s still a fish out of water when it comes to the ‘future’. A lot of stuff that is likely to be mundane to others would be interesting to him. “Thank you for the explanation, Tulam.” he chimes. Making his way into the kitchen to get something to eat.

The meat being in blocks made sense to see. The fruit on the other hand was something he looked at a bit more as he held one in his hand. It was so alien looking. A lot more simplistic than a lot of the alien food he saw on science fiction movies and shows. Getting some food on his plate and a glass of water he went out to sit in the eating area.

He saw the Overlord Psion right away. Not hard considering she was the only other person in the same room. Taking a deep breath he kept his feelings amiable towards her. They were going to be on the same station for who knows how long and he knew that he can’t stay away from her. They were going to have chats like these whether he likes it or not. Hence it was best to not be hostile towards her. He’ll leave that to Tulam’Run who can get away with it a lot easier than he can.

It’s because of that why he chose to sit at the same table she was. No matter how he distances himself from her, he might as well be dancing on her palm. His eyes were drawn to her ears. Having a small urge to scratch them but brushed that away. Her comment made him look away a bit embarrassed. Rubbing the back of his neck. In hindsight she wasn’t wrong, he failed to take into account that just because a Psion can hear thoughts doesn’t mean they want to hear it all the time. They likely tune it out the same way people do walking on the street or in crowds.

“I apologize for that, I’m very prone to naval-gazing and figured that given I'm surrounded by demigods given flesh that there was no point to filter it. So you both got to hear what my thoughts are like when left to my own devices.” He admitted. Looking back he could also see that even if his thoughts were audible, it still would have been proper to make a gesture. “Had been since I was in my pre-teens even. Mentally monologuing on concepts such as communication, memory, secrecy, public spheres, meaning of self, the detective’s burden, contingency, intersection between social media and socialization, nature versus nurture, and so on.”

He stopped himself when he realized that he was letting his thoughts flow out of his mouth again. Looking at Nilana’Ran he made a circle with his hand around his face. “My point exactly. Typically I would have taken it as a sign to go outside and touch grass. But even that can spark an existential crisis. One time I had a crisis while painting a room regarding the true nature of identity and the fleetingness of the self. And so I proceed to watch the paint dry for several minutes.”

Before he finally shut up he just wanted to say one last thing. “I’ll be more considerate in the future.” Tulam’s lessons will certainly help with that. Speaking of, he saw him manifesting off to his side. He didn’t say anything because it was the other Psion's turn to talk. That includes not thinking too much in the middle of it.

Sitting there he listened to Nilana’Ran. Making a conscious effort to not speak back or delve in long-winded thoughts on what she says. A blush rose up his neck and cheeks when she called him out on his rude mannerism. Trying not to reflect on it until she and Tulam stared each other down when he realized something.

Am I letting myself be influenced by Tulam too much?. He thought to himself quietly. It was the same problem he had before. Heck, even before he came to Chaldea. Yes, he was being accusionary a while ago. The bias he has towards Nilana’Ran came from Tulam. But because he trusted Tulam’Run he instantly took it as fact. Now that he was looking at them. How likely was it that he might have said it out of spite towards her? ”I feel I should have been making my own judgement.” He thought in shame.

This time he managed to cease his thoughts before they spiraled out into his usual philosophical musings. Not making a peep to the verbal tongue lashing. Especially when it expertly cut the wires that were wrung around his heart. His shoulders sag a bit. Not bothering trying to hide the fact that he was bored and repulsed even towards the act of physically having sex. Something that he hid from himself even for some time.

He kept himself quiet to the very end of her lecture. Letting out a soft sigh after she was done. Having been quite humbled by the Psion Overlord. There wasn’t much he could say after that, especially not on stuff that she can obviously see. He wanted to bring this conversion to a close to not overextend her honor of ‘chatting’ with him. But it was proper to speak a bit more before parting ways.

“It’s as you said, I’m a toddler. That’s why I can’t accept your offer even if it’s ‘fair’ in your eyes. Because you will treat me as such.” He didn’t say that in a mean-spirited way. The power difference was clear between the two of them in many ways. “And...I’m tired. I don’t want to be horny anymore. I just want to be happy.” There, he finally admitted it. Mostly to himself.

Lincoln looks up to Nilana’Ran and over to Tulam’Run. “I realize that I need to work on forming my own opinions, and not let them be given by another. Even if it is likely to be correct.” Truly he has a long road to go to fix the mess that is himself. Despite who these people were, and how depressing it is to find help from them, he was grateful to have met them. Otherwise he would have finally fallen apart.

With that said he felt he took up enough of her time, waiting for her to speak back first. After he would likely comment on it he would then say. “I appreciate you humoring me, but I feel like letting you go back to your work. Thank you for chatting with me.” He waited for her to let him go before standing up from the table. Putting the dishes away in the kitchen before heading back to his room. Making sure his thoughts were a lot quieter this time.

The rest of the day would actually be productive. Lincoln set up a magic circle in the corner of the room when he used it in a magical process to create a set of three Homunculi look alike that he named Uno, Dos, and Tres. Doing them in white cloaks with a roman numeral on each of their hoods that signify their number. He had them help make a mana reactor in the other corner of the room. It was fairly small as it’s meant to be a proof of concept. It took a few hours but he managed to get it up running. The reactor took the appearance of a sleek, white tower that constantly funnels potentially infinite magical energy to him. Of course due to the size and other factors, the power he can draw from it is equivalent to a normal house generator.

Having finished that small project he went to sleep in his bed. The Homunculi went to sit along the wall to meditate. Laying in bed it took awhile for sleep to claim him. He was restless. His thoughts are busy. Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes. Clearing his mind. The chill of Winter seeped into his flesh. In his mind he imagined himself back in that snow-laden forest. He was a child. The falling snowflakes, while felt almost real, didn't bother him.

He looked around for a bit before seeing the entrance to an artificial burrow, large enough for someone his size to crawl into. Going inside it he came into a small space. The interior was obscured in darkness, with only the dim moonlight showing an outline to things. From the leaves on the ground, to the oddly shaped mass that looked like it could be a log. It was hard to tell. Lincoln's imaginary self lay on the rather comfy pile of leaves and moss to him. Resting his head on the thicker portion of the ‘log’ he wrapped his arms around it. A distorted sense of comfort befell on him. Enough to make him finally fall asleep.

Nilana smirked, before starting to chuckle, "Oh hoh hoh! You are on the right track, and learn fairly quickly. I see why Tulam is bothering to teach you, little one. But you're only on the right track with that statement, not correct. Not quite yet. There are an incredible few I don't treat as toddlers, because that is what most creatures are! But, since you were so quick to admit it and accept that I was right, I'll give you a boon in the form of some advice. You said you wanted to be happy, little one. That is the right course. However, you're not right to approach it as 'happy means not being horny'. The emotions are not mutually exclusive, you know. What's important is to figure out why you've let those desires cloud your happiness in life. The specifics of that? Well that's up for you to figure out. I theoretically could help, but that goes beyond a little favor! Anywho, goodbye little one, see you and Tulam later!"

After that, she stood up. As she did before, Nilana'Ran simply casually walked away, headed back to where she had been prior before Lincoln called for the impromptu discussion. This left Lincoln with just Tulam, who looked over to him and grunted, "Now that the snake is gone, I will add that you are correct. Just because I am right pretty much all of the time doesn't mean you should just blindly accept that. That is the mentality of a slave. A true slave, to be specific. One enslaved by their inability to stand on their own, and forever chained to the views of another. But that doesn't mean you should ignore wisdom! And allow me to add one more thing, vessel... I do have incredibly good reason to dislike Nilana, based on my own experiences with that viper. So caution is smart. But, if you wish to be your own individual instead of a simple tool of my will, then you must withhold major judgement until you have enough experiences of your own to make that judgement. It is not a bad thing to take the views of others to build an understanding and to inform yourself, but decisive judgement of any matter must be constructed from yourself, and nobody else." With that, his form faded away to let him clean up his food.

As for sleep, nothing would go on to disturb him that night. He could still feel the Psions, as they were rather impossible to miss. Nilana for her part was rather stationary most of the rest of the day, minus one instance of her wandering before going back. It seemed she had found a room and decided it was hers. The fact that the room was right below Lincoln's was likely not a coincidence given her attitude and enjoyment of teasing him and Tulam. But she wouldn't disturb him further, busy as she was with whatever it was that held her attention for that long.

-

A floor below, Nilana'Ran opened the door to her recently claimed room. She stretched her back, and let her new body's nine tails flow out behind her. She walked into the room before closing the door behind her, running a hand down the back of her neck, "These traps Tulam set are truly bothersome. But it will be worthwhile to fully unlock this body. And what a joy it is to have a body again, aaaaah! It means I am finally back in the game. Speaking of which... I'm done with my little errand, my little intruder. Which means, it's time for me to finish my business with you."

Putting a hand to her hip, Nilana looked over into a section of the room she had set a psionic barrier around. The barrier was both to contain what was within, as well as cloak it from anybody else's notice. Be they Lincoln, the Caretaker, or of course Tulam. Nilana approached, smiling down. The physical barrier part was no longer needed, as the one within had by this point long given up even the concept of wanting to escape, and so the Overlord Psion dispelled the physical barrier, although she kept the sensory cloak active.

The one Nilana started down at was a human female. Tall, toned, and with short red hair. Her outfit was that of a trained infiltrator, a black cloaking suit that was meant to shield her from vision both from eyes and psionic senses. Impressively, it was enough to keep her out of sight from even Tulam, and of course covering up the senses of Lincoln and the Caretaker was no issue at all for this very specially designed suit. Nilana chuckled again at that. She understood the suit's purpose and design very well, and it was deeply impressive. But it was no real match for her. It was a specialist design, and Nilana knew that. After all... its wearer happily told her every last detail about it, and the mission for which it was designed.

Nilana traced a hand up from the chest of the suit, to the chin of its wearer, lifting them up so they could look into eachother's eyes. The woman was enraptured by Nilana'Ran, not at all prepared for her aura of sensual dominance. The Psion knew that the infiltrator was entirely hers now, and in truth it had happened a bit by accident. The suit had concealed the intruder from psionic detection... But that didn't really matter much once the suit's wearer had come across Nilana, who still had her aura active in the wake of her initial encounter with Tulam and his new vessel. It was a bit of a surprise to be sure when the figure uncloaked in front of Nilana, falling to her knees in newfound devotion, but a good Psion overlord never took anything for granted. And that was what she had been handling for most of the day. Interrogating her new slave, learning who she was, what her mission was, and how she had come across such specially crafted gear that was made for this sort of Psion-spying type mission. The information was fascinating, and tantalizing for Nilana.

Of course, she had zero interest in informing Tulam or his vessel about this infiltrator who had been following them. It would be far more interesting if she didn't, and it had plenty of opportunity in it. And let none say that Nilana'Ran would ever let a good opportunity slip by so easily.

Nilana's new slave, for her part, had ceased to care about her original mission soon after being (accidentally) ensnared by Nilana'Ran. To her, the fox-like woman was now nothing less than her goddess, and over the course of Nilana's interrogation that initial effect had seeped much deeper into the infiltrator. As Tulam had warned, Nilana's powers were quite effective once she got her claws in. The new slave's world now revolved around her new mistress, everything else had lost its importance. And that new world was a joyous one, a simpler one. The infiltrator got a strange closure now, finally knowing what was right in the world and what was wrong. Nilana was right, all else was wrong. Her beautiful mistress removed all the doubt, all the uncertainty that had plagued her life and work for so long, and for that she was forever grateful.

The Overlord of course knew this, and plenty more. She further examined the woman who now belonged to her. Strong, capable, she was a very experienced and effective operator. Nilana knew her selection for this mission was no simple random pick, this infiltrator was trusted for both loyalty and capability. But the Psion also enjoyed the other benefits. The intruder was a pretty little thing as well. Nilana could appreciate beauty in either gender, and enjoy the sensations of being with either. She didn't have time to enjoy that particular activity with her new slave, not now. But it was very enjoyable to see this pretty agent on her knees, with a whole new purpose in life. The kneeling, lovestruck pose was a sight Nilana would never grow bored of. Psions all generally enjoyed new slaves being acquired, this was true. But for Nilana she loved making the matter personal with each one if she could. Completely reshaping the slave's life, giving them new meaning. After all, there really was no greater joy in life for a slave than to be one of Nilana's slaves. And seeing slaves come to appreciate this fact was one of Nilana's own great joys.

But while it was fun to take in the absolute adoration in the woman's eyes, Nilana had to move on with the new plan she had concocted. She spoke softly to the infiltrator, "You remember what I told you before, dear? It's time to send you back to your employer. With of course my instructions on how you will report your findings. You lost track of the Psion and its carrier in the Ether, but you acquired a different lead. That is where you must direct your employer's attention, and where they will find the target, as well as other interesting things. I'm sure your employer's bedfellow will enjoy the other piece of information I included in this little data drive, make sure it gets to them as well. And never fear, I will be in contact when there is more you must do for me. Your service has meaning, as you desired. Make me happy, and I will grant you even more than that. Now, go." She handed the slave a small data drive, and then gave her a small kiss on the head. The kiss of course made the slave very happy, but it also saw her phase out, teleported off the station to go back to her ship, and return to base as Nilana's new sleeper agent.

Back on the station, NIlana was incredibly pleased with herself. Striking a triumphant pose with her tails flaring up and performing a little fistpump, the Psion Overlord spoke to herself in a happy tone, "Oh it has been far too long since I did that! Aaaaah! Yes, I am back, universe! The setback is done, and I am returned. And I have a fun show to look forward to as well... And now back to the unfun part." With a sigh, Nilana sat down and closed her eyes. She still needed to unlock the body's full potential. But at least now, she had a plan, and a future she saw as being incredibly entertaining.

-

In the morning, when Lincoln finally woke up, Tulam was again impatiently waiting. He grunted when he finally saw Lincoln waking up, "You're very lucky I let you sleep in like that. You snore loudly. But we've got good news. The station for restoring my body is mostly back online, and Caretaker has most of it operational. Of course, we need the last pieces. The first of course being that bone of mine you reclaimed. We need to set it up in the machines so the body can be reconstituted. And then later you'll need to do some work as well, to prepare your own body. My soul leaving your body without the proper prep work would result in... Well you wouldn't be alive to see it. Simply put, the weird soul situation we have going on needs to be disentangled. We'll be doing some training so your soul, mind, and body are ready for that. Unless you'd prefer to just die. But that would be wasteful."

He thought about it, and then spoke again, "That training will be useful to you in other ways, too. Both the rebuilding the body, and preparing your soul. I can teach you a little about creation! After all, building a body is no simple feat in reality. And when we get to the soul training, we need to discuss some other important questions. Like what you want to do after I'm out. I know what I want, but you need a clear goal too. Don't worry about it now. For now, you just need to get some food, and then head down a couple levels to where Caretaker currently is. She'll handle the work with the bone."

Lincoln woke up without much protest. Besides being a little chilly he was fine. Listening to what Tulam’Run was saying he gave a nod. “I’ll get down there. MoonCancer would give her the bone in the meantime.” He was rather looking forward to it. Rather interested in the notion of soul training. It wasn’t something he dabbled in much. No, his focus was more centered on destructive arts. Not that he had any choice in the matter. It was just an unfortunate necessity when he was in the thick of it.

As he does his hygiene and goes to have breakfast. He would mentally prod his MoonCancer to give Caretaker the bone. All the while his thoughts continue to buzz in his head. This time he doesn’t let them stray to Nilana’Ran to not bug her. ”Helping create a body. A Psion at that.” Sitting there he felt a strange sensation. A buzz course through his bones. He was excited. It wasn’t like when he was taught the rudimentary in how to construct a Homunculus most because he just followed a blueprint and overall it was imperfect.

The most glaring element that spoke of his lack of understanding in that field is that they lack a soul. Homunculus souls are young, pure, and sturdy like an infant's. As such. they won't be dyed by anything, and their bodies can endure any kind of transformation,like being possessed by a Heroic Spirit or by a Divine Spirit. A perfect homunculus is essentially a man-made artificial extension of nature that, external factors aside, will not die for as long as the planet is healthy and has mana left.

However, his Homunculi are nothing like that. ”They’re essentially biological robots programmed with personality similar to my own and rely on mana that a special organ in them produces. Oh well, regardless they have been very helpful.” He wasn’t planning to perfect this field anytime soon. He was more interested in the things that Tulam can teach him. Cleaning up he put the dishes away before finding the elevator to take him down where the Caretaker is.

Tulam smirked at the hint of excitement Lincoln felt. That was something the Psion understood very well, and he gave a chuckle before commenting, "Your creations are primitive, it is true. But we must all start somewhere. Even my genius didn't start with creating full fledged creatures, had to start small. Of course I started with just modifying things that were already around. Making little changes to other creatures I caught as a youngling, doing little experiments... But that's besides the point for now. Creating a body that is meant to house a soul is a good first step in understanding how to build a body that can produce a soul. Just some slight differences in the process. Your creations have the body but not the true framework that a true Psion vessel body has. The way your 'Divine Spirits' inhabit them is brutish, crude. Nothing compared to a body that is purpose crafted in the way a master can do it. But you'll see soon enough."

The rest of the journey would take a decent while longer, given that the destination was a few levels down. It would take going through an elevator and then heading through a few more hallways, giving Lincoln time to think if he wanted. The rooms he would pass were mostly abandoned from what he could tell. There was yet another barracks nearby the destination, although it was a smaller one, and a noticeably more fancy one. Likely because the ones who lived within that barracks were Tulam's lab assistants, who of course would need a bit more than just what hanger workers would presumably need.

When they got to the lab itself, it was most definitely not empty. It was first of all extremely large. It was all in nice pristine white, and very nicely maintained in contrast to the notable decay of the rest of the station. A number of various bits of equipment were strewn throughout the room. From simple things like microscopes to larger computers. And of course the centerpiece of the room was a giant cube-like bit of equipment. It was very big indeed, large enough to house a creature like Vixgor. The most notable thing was that it had a display port in the front, allowing one to look inside. Inside was what looked like a large tube, which was for now just filled up with an odd yellow liquid. The other sides of the cube had large tubes connected to them, each connected to a different device in the room. And finally, in front of the display port, was a terminal. That was likely where the cube's functions were controlled from.

They were noticeably not alone. The Caretaker was here as well, and having just acquired the little piece of fingerbone was inserting it into one of the Machines, which appeared to analyze it. This caused a beep from the primary terminal in front of the cube.

Tulam's form reappeared, smiling. He looked to the Caretaker and nodded, "Well done. Stand by for now, in case I need further assistance." She nodded and stepped off to the side, leaning up against a wall and watching Lincoln carefully.

With that, Tulam turned back to Lincoln, "Welcome to the Vessel Construction Lab, Vessel! In this place, using that machine, I create vessels for Psion souls. This is the same lab that built the body Nilana stole and is currently running around with. And as you saw with that particular vessel, this lab can create powerful things, with the right amount of work! Now what I need you to do is relatively simple, thanks to the bone. That device right there..." He pointed to the device to the left which the Caretaker had inserted the bone into, "Is currently analyzing the DNA of the bone. With that it will be able to build a rough reconstruction of the form of the body. Rough, because DNA is never so simple. Ironing out some of the kinks will require manual work. And that's where the main part of the job comes in."

He gestured to the main console, as well as the Cube, "That is the Vessel Constructor. Utilizing DNA information from the DNA Analyzer, biological materials from the Component Bank, various chemicals from the Chemical Distillery, and finally the direct input of a Psion's Psionics, this device can build any body I want it to. Normally starting from scratch I'd have to utilize the information found in a variety of different genomes to pick and grab the pieces I want, modify them with the chemicals and my own tampering, and then build it with the components. We get to skip most of that process thanks to the bone. All the Genetic Information for the template is already acquired, and as I wish to just rebuild my body I have no need for extreme modification. As such we are done with the DNA Analyzer and no need for the Chemical Distillery. However Vessel what we will need to do in order to rebuild my body is give instructions to the Vessel Constructor, and do a little manual tampering to make sure everyone goes well. Left unchecked, the rapid growth process will result in countless mutations."

Tulam paused for a moment, clearly feeling he needed to explain that, "And when I say countless, I do mean countless. Most of them would be small, unnoticeable, and completely meaningless. You mutate quite often in fact! Our bodies simply adjust for this, and eliminate the errant cells most of the time. When that fails you usually get sick or get cancer or some other biological issue. Simple biology. But in the rapid growth process, natural elimination of mutant cells cannot occur, as the time needed is simply not there. However the rate of mutation in the accelerated growth doesn't slow down, it is accelerated as well as the growth, naturally connected as it is to cell reproduction and creation. This means the more noticeable and extreme mutations can fester, and develop rapidly. And when a mutation isn't dealt with, it grows and reproduces too, at the expense of the natural and desired growth. As such. without attention and work, it would most likely just result in a cancer-filled, half-dead husk. Probably covered in tumors, missing a hand, and having a weird protrusion in the chest! Very poor thing if you want to actually live in it. We are going to avoid that."

"Secondly! We will need to apply Psionics for the preparation of the Soul. This entity will be soulless, as I need to put my soul in there. However from the beginning we must appropriately prepare it. That is why I must forge a Psionic connection with the body at the time of its creation, tying myself and it together in the universe. This would be different if I wanted the creature to have its own soul. And that's something I will explain to you later. All you need pay attention to for this exercise is the establishment of a connection, which I will do by placing a very tiny, miniscule piece of my soul within the body during its development, and instruct it to prepare a place for my full soul. That is done to ensure that my new body considers my soul natural to it, and therefore will be ready to accept my soul entirely when the time comes as a natural part of it. Rather than as an invader barging its way in, like a virus. That's the difference between my method and the method of most others, and why they are so pathetically easy to kill if you know what you're doing."

The console behind him then beeped again, and he smiled, "Analysis complete. Now, Vessel, head over and hit the little green button that appeared in order to confirm that this is in fact the DNA being used today. It will proceed to make a template, and I can handle correcting that." He pointed to the console. Although he would not know the language, as it was not of anything he would have seen up to this point and was presumably something only Tulam knew, he would see the green confirmation button. Tulam tapped and then shook his head, "Ah, right. That's in Velxi, a language that was developed by one of my slave races. One I made in fact! I found the language charming so I used it in all my personal equipment! Helps that it's not a language most Psions would be able to pick out of any random brain, so it's a security feature. But I'll give it to you."

Lincoln would feel a little tingle in his head, and now when he looked at the console he would be able to clearly read "ANALYSIS COMPLETE. PRESS CONFIRM TO CONTINUE WITH THIS GENOME, OR CANCEL TO END THE PROCESS." Meanwhile to the left of that message was a very, very, very long list of various genetic markers, math, and other data points. The Psion Genome, compressed down into data. Data that only a computer could read, although it seemed Tulam was able to read it as well given this console was built by him for his own purposes.

Lincoln listened to Tulam. Taking in all the information as he spoke. He was quite fascinated with all of this. It was cool to see such an advanced alien lab. Hearing that he needed to go over to press confirm he heeded the instruction. Coming over to press that green button. Once he did so his eyes drift over to all the complicated information. Tracing the genetic markers with his eyes a thought came to him. ”Oh right, it would be possible to make Hoshizoran Servants.” He had forgotten that not an easy process in practice, the likelihood to make Hoshizoran Servants was more feasible than he had thought.

Obviously the execution would have to be different. There’s no omnipresent power that records everything in existence in this universe. Therefore they wouldn’t be able to make accurate historic individuals since it’s impossible to recreate memories of someone who is dead to the smallest detail. But there was a category of Servants that were having a detailed well of memories doesn’t matter as much. Fictional servants, whether they be from fables, virtual personalities, or even inanimate objects.

Not to mention Phantom Servants, who in short are beings with legends to them but their tales aren't strong enough to put them on the Throne of Heroes. Less 'Timeless Legend' and more 'Urban myth'. Fusing multiple ones together can let the combo manifest as a servant and/or fusing them to heroic spirits can grant the servant new abilities.

He always wanted to make someone based off some modern piece of fictional work. It was a common geek wet dream after all to have their favorite character be real. While it’s true he used to have impure thoughts of the characters he watched, like a lot. He mostly just wanted to give them a hug. There was this one woman from a franchise about slaying demons who lost her sister that he really wanted to give a kiss on the head to.

His line of thought came to a close. Waiting for further instructions from Tulam’Ran. Paying attention to anything that is going on. Not letting his thoughts wander off too far. If he did it would distract him. Especially that conversation he had earlier. Right now he has to focus on the task at hand. This continued to fascinate him. Excite him even.

The confirmation went through, and the screen then switched to a new one. The computer began to create an image, and soon enough it had rebuilt a very similar image to Tulam's body. It was nearly a splitting image of the Psion Lincoln would've seen images of in the museum, which of course was presumably Tulam'Run when he had his body. Nearly, because there were some irregularities. The right arm was slightly enlarged, his head tendrils had irregular lengths, and other slight inaccuracies across the body. Tulam grunted, "This is what I meant. DNA analysis can only get so much, but without a full thing to scan, there will be inaccuracies. Fortunately at this point I can handle this. Watch."

He brought his finger down to the screen, and it actually seemed to work with the terminal. He brought up an interface quite like that of a painting software, and he began to adjust the body. Spinning around what became a 3D image to smooth out all the wrong parts, and bringing it closer and closer to the perfect recreation of Tulam's body that it was meant to be. It was some rather complex software, like a combination of image editing software, a 3D modeling program, and more. It was all quite complicated, but Tulam was doing it as if it was nothing. Very experienced hands which had used this software countless times before simply going through the motions, like an artist in their prime.

While Tulam was doing this however, behind them they would hear the door to the lab open. Graceful feet entered, and it was in fact the form of Nilana'Ran who walked in. She gave a wave of her hand, and then leaned up against a wave, "Don't mind me, boys. I'm just here to watch, got bored being so alone... Just act like I'm not here." She gave a wink. Notably, the Caretaker slowly inched away.

As for Tulam, he rolled his eyes, "Just ignore her, vessel. Focus on the important work. And there we go!" On the screen, Tulam's body had been fully reconstructed in the image. Now, he hit another button to confirm. In front of them, the cube came to life. The pipes started rumbling, and inside the cube Lincoln could see that a new liquid was filling the tube within. And, almost entirely unnoticeable, a tiny speck came in as well. And now, it began to grow. Tulam chuckled, and then explained, "That is an artificially created egg, based on the DNA. It will grow into a fetus, and eventually a fully mature subject. And now, we add a little soul."

The image of the Psion moved forward, holding out his hand. A tiny little spark appeared, and flew forward, merging with the growing egg. Tulam's manifestation shook a bit, and he grunted, "Ugh, that never feels pleasant. Even such a tiny speck of my soul going away is... Uncomfortable. Like losing a bit of myself. But now this egg will grow connected to my soul, to me. Perfectly suited for when I need to take it. Now, vessel, if you wanted something like this to grow independent of another soul, we would need to sort of recreate the process of reproduction. That would mean gathering fertile eggs and sperm, to naturally recreate the process of reproduction. But that'll be for another time. For now, the next step."

In the back, Nilana chuckled, "Ah yes, the next part is getting ready to separate! That should be amusing to see. Is your soul strong enough to survive Tulam's soul leaving your body? It isn't quite as simple as you think, with the two of your souls being closer than you think. He's not just riding along in you, little slave, he's semi-merged into your soul. It's not like taking something out of a jar, it's more like ripping a heart out of a chest! Or a blade in your chest! ...Or a really big splinter."

Tulam glared down the vixen-bodied Psion for a moment, and then sighed, "Well, she's not wrong. That is why we need to prepare, vessel. Meditation is part of it, but in general you simply need to be ready to steady your soul. This way, when I leave you, you survive. And don't have a massive portion of your soul ripped out with me. There's no danger to me here. Don't be offended, but the fiber of your soul is not strong enough to hurt me. We'll be doing training for that. And in-between that, we need to come back here so I can make sure the developing body has no issues. This should last a couple days, vessel. Are you quite ready for that?" He glanced over at Nilana again, "I'm sure the Ran in the room has her opinions on this matter of the soul. But do please only speak if you're going to be helpful."

Nilana did a little 'harumph' at the implication she wasn't going to be helpful, and put a hand to her cheek, "No need to be so rude, Tulam. As for me, I maaaaay have some interest. Of course if the little one wants my help or for me to grace him with more conversation, I would need a little incentive. I'm only here right now because I like watching you work." She gave Tulam a wink, which got a grunt out of him, but then she continued, "Still, I guess I have a reason for keeping the little one alive. My little birdies have told me that there are some interesting things revolving around this one, which could be fun to watch. And that does mean he needs to be alive. So my price will be a little lower than usual."

Lincoln averted his gaze when Nilana’Ran spoke about a price. Knowing full well what she was implying. But first he needed to respond to the other Psion in the room. “I’m ready for that.” He spoke. His thoughts flip through a few images that came to him when he heard the word mediation. A treeline in winter, fires over the horizon, a crown of floating horns made out of beguiling light. He could feel himself unraveling. Becoming more self-aware of who he is. And what he can’t ever be again.

Doesn’t make it any less painful. Making himself look at Nilana’Ran he mustered the voice to speak to her. “I have been thinking of the tithe to give you. I just...need some time.” He had a hunch that she would allow him that. Because it meant that she would feel him squirm in internal conflict that much longer. At the very least it was sensed that it wouldn’t be too long.

That hunch would be proven right that night. In his bunk he tossed and turned. Before finally laying on his back. Exhausted eyes staring straight up to the ceiling. His mind was bringing up all sorts of old memories he had not thought of in awhile. Remembering how many people told him to not be so fixated on the past. And what had he been doing for the past several weeks?

With an exasperated groan he finally got off his bed to pace around the room. The damning part was that he knew that this was the right thing to do for him in this situation. He had to do this. Clenching his fist he came to a halt. Facing his magic circle he made he went through the same motions as before back in that derelict base.

The produced cloud of mana particles subsided to reveal a very mature woman. One who was one of the first he contracted with. It was rather fitting, for Raikou was such a maternal soul. And he needed warmth similar to that in those first weeks. It didn’t matter to him that she wasn’t an actual person.

Lincoln couldn’t help himself but fall to his knees. And like always she was already there by his side. “Ssssh, it’s okay Lincoln. What’s troubling you?” He was no doubt a confusing sight to her. Typically Lincoln hardly breaks down after summoning a Servant. With a moderate amount of difficulty he explained what was going on.

He couldn’t tell, but he felt that she had a soft, understanding expression on her fair face. “Is that so? It can’t be helped then, I’m proud of you for making this decision.” Her words twisted the emotions in his gut.

“How can you be proud of me? Im….giving you away.” He was letting go of her. And it was painful. He heard her shush his tormented noise. Rubbing his back soothingly with her hand.

“I admit it makes me sad. There are hundreds of us and yet I’m the one that was brought out. It wouldn’t surprise me if it was a sign however. Lincoln, sweetie. Shiki-chan is right. We’re Servants, not substitutes for real people. Much like how I can’t be a substitute to fill the role of a maternal figure to you forever.” Her words made Lincoln wince. For she was correct.

His eyes fell to the command seals on the back of his hand. The truth was too glaring for him to ignore. She wanted him to outgrow her. She place his hand over his. “I’m touched that I mean so much to you. And that’s exactly why you need to do this.”

He gave a resigned sigh. “I know.” He looked up to look at Raikou in the face. “It’s just going to bother me more because I have a hunch that she’s going to make me watch her explore her present.”

She let a low giggle. Brushing some of his locks out of his face. “Shouldn’t be too bothersome for you. You’re quite fond of watching women engage in intimacy are you not?” She teased to lighten the mood.

Lincoln gave a furious blush. Unable to counter his kink for the big gay. Instead he looked back down. With a sigh he spoke. Scarlet light shine beneath her hand as one of his command seals was being spent. ”Raikou, you’re free from my contract.” He heard the sound of glass breaking. The bond between them faded away. It was strange how despite her still sitting next to him, she felt so far away.

She took him into a hug. Not bothering to say more words. After awhile they eventually got up. Lincoln needed to get Raikou over to Nilana’Ran. But first he told her that she should probably get into something formal, a simple matter for a Servant since they can easily transform their attire because it’s made out of prana. Something told him that Nilana wasn’t the sort who preferred having new slaves be presented to her naked or in underwear. There was a charm in stripping them with one's eyes before doing it for real. He definitely had a thing for undressing his slaves.

It was an uncomfortable, silent few minutes later till Lincoln was at Nilana’s bedroom door. He gave a knock out of courtesy. “Overlord Nilana’Ran, I’ve come to gift you a tribute.” He steadied himself. Who knows how long Nilana’Ran will stretch this out to see him squirm. But at the end of the day, despite hating to admit it. This was the first important step he needed to take.

As Lincoln was headed towards Nilana's room, Tulam's voice spoke out in his mind, "I'm going to stay out of this one. Not something I feel like watching. I'll be dormant until then, or unless you need me for something. Good luck with your little tribute mission, vessel. See if you get anything out of it. And this will be a lesson for you in interacting with a Psion on your own." With that, Lincoln could feel the ever present gaze of Tulam fade. From what one could tell, he had indeed gone dormant, which meant Lincoln was alone in this one. Although he did still have a bit of shielding from Tulam, which would keep him safe from Nilana's sheer presence.

With one Psion out of the picture, Lincoln could approach Nilana's room. It was clearly just a servant room she had adopted for herself, but the door was closed. As he got close though, he could hear some sounds coming through. It was music. Specifically, it was a tune being played from a flute, an oddly relaxing bamboo flute specifically. There were some additional sounds which one could tell were being magically generated, but the flute was being played for real. The music would continue for a moment even after the knock, coming to a natural close before stopping. Then Nilana's voice spoke out, "You may enter."

And then, the door slowly opened, allowing Lincoln to view the room. It was similar to the room he had taken up residence in, although Nilana had shaped it a bit to her own liking. For instance, there was a large mirror. And the bed was fancier, seeming more like what one might find a luxury hotel rather than a servant's quarters. However those were the only real additions, otherwise it seemed quite normal.

Atop the bed was Nilana, sitting comfortably and looking towards the door. She had a simple flute in hand, lowering it down from her mouth and looking off towards the side. She spoke out loud, not looking at Lincoln and perhaps not even really speaking to him, judging by the fairly thoughtful voice she spoke in next, "This isn't mine. It was left here and I just found it. And yet, the melodies of its owner came fairly naturally. The emotions left a mark on this item, it was important to whomever owned it. Didn't think Tulam would allow his servants such artistic freedom, but seems even I can be wrong at times. I'm just happy I was able to connect with the emotions it once gave its owner, even if I may never know their face or name, I can still grasp a feeling of the type of person who used to own this." With a small smile, she then placed the flute down on a bedside table.

Now Nilana looked in amusement towards Lincoln, speaking directly to him and regaining her usual confident tone, "Of course I'm sure you're not here to hear me philosophize. Quite the respectful entrance, somebody clearly wants something~" She winked as she stood up and walked over towards the door. She was standing to her full height, making her vixen body quite the imposing sight, "Now, let's evaluate what you've brought me."

Her aura of allure was not currently active as she walked right up to Raikou. The Psion Overlord ran a single clawed finger down the servant's chest. She had her eyes closed as well, as she delved into feeling both the body and soul of the one in front of her. Then she grinned, and looked towards Lincoln, "This is acceptable. I believe I shall take this tribute, little one."

After making sure Lincoln was watching, Nilana's powers activated, focused fully on Raikou. Her aura of dominance and allure came about all at once, and Lincoln could feel it in the room as the Psion stopped holding the strength of her presence. For Raikou, it would be even more intense, given that she was the target. Like the perfect being had just popped into being in front of her, a Goddess made manifest. Nilana stepped back a bit, so she could watch both the change in Raikou and see Lincoln's response, as she wanted to see the look on his face as this happened.

The Psion decided to offer a bit of explanation as well, "She will have all her memories, all of her life before remains the same, little one. After all, what is the value of taking something if it just then becomes something else entirely? But I will say, it shall all pale in comparison to what is to come. There will be change in how she views the past, and what it means. Isn't that right, my pretty new servant? I am going to have some fun with you." She flashed a predatory smile after saying this. To Lincoln, it was a rather clear sign of Nilana wanting to show off her dominance in this situation. For the new Raikou, it was a sign of her new Goddess showing her favor.

She then gestured towards the bed, "Now go and kneel over there, slave. Get yourself prepared. As for you..." Nilana looked towards Lincoln, "I know well what this is for. Should you have tried this in a non-genuine way, you would have gotten nothing out of it. I would take, and in turn give nothing. But little one, I do enjoy this tribute for what it represents. She's a pretty thing, sure, but on that front I could just take that and you wouldn't be able to stop me. It's the act of giving that counts, and what you are giving away for just a bit of my favor. A smart way to approach a Psion Overlord. For that, I grant you the boon of getting to request of me directly what exactly you want out of me and any sort of future relationship you're trying to court. Go ahead, though of course as you do so I'll keep myself happy as well."

Nilana then went back over towards the bed, and gently sat down upon it. She gestured for Raikou to lay her head upon the Psion's lap, to pat her on the head calmly while waiting for Lincoln to speak.

It was certainly melancholic to see Raikou succumb to Nilana’s grasp. He didn’t feel too distraught but it did hurt. ”Huh, so this is what it’s like from an outside perspective.” While Raikou wasn’t one he fiddled around too much, he did what Nilana did to other Servants. As a result he felt he didn’t have any room to feel bad about it. Especially something such a guilt since it would be counterintuitive given he would be following the footsteps of a Psion. He watched Raikou follow Nilana’s will. Then something clicked. ”Oh...I need to gift Tulam’Run one of mine Servants as well.” Lincoln shelved that thought to worry about after this exchange. Well the Run was certainly right, this was proving a good lesson on how to interact with a Psion.

That new dilemma that will surely lead to new pain aside. He could feel and acknowledge the power dynamic in the room. Taking a breath to steady his nerves he spoke politely. “I’ll be honest that I’m paving the way for a...some form of working relationship between us in the future that doesn’t lead to me being swept away by your magnificence. I apologize if this is greedy of me, Overlord Nilana’Ran. It’s just that I feel there would be moments where Tulam’Run would want to focus on his projects with little distractions. And that...I need to learn how to enjoy life in a new way.” For he can’t ever return to the specific normality he once had. “To put it bluntly and respectfully, Overlord Nilana’Ran. I wish to travel with you across this sea of stars in the future.”

In the time it took for him to get to Nilana’Ran’s room. His thoughts drift to an old friend of his, one of the most influential Servants he had. In his session with Tulam today he had thought of him. He could remember one of the last things that his friend said to him ”Ah, there you are, Friend! Or should I call you Master? Come closer, it's been a while since we last talked right? Never since the day I put you on this life-changing trip. Thanks for indulging me and sorry for all the trouble, Hahaha. Well, there we go. It's the end of our so-called partnership. I just wanted to show you this. Do you see it? This infinite world of wonders. Of people getting by, living day by day inefficiently but filled to the brim with moments of complex and marvelous intricacies.”

”This is what I found. All of this beautiful world of splendor and simplicity is what I've witnessed throughout my voyages. It's me. It's my faith and my cynicism, my qualities, and my vices. It's what I'm most proud of. It's my Rihla. You know, when I made that tome, I meant it not only as a Gift for all the ones who loved to travel or the ones who wished they could but also for myself. So I could never forget what made me who I am. So I could always go back to it. And I'm honestly satisfied with it. I don't have any wishes. But Master, though I must have appeared to you just as a silent book, I paid attention to your journey.”

”Haha, please Master, don't be ashamed, the path you took was a beautiful one. Filled with laughs and tears, enemies and friends. You were right in some and wrong in others, but you nevertheless grew and grew in what you are today. And though this Journey of yours might have reached an apparent conclusion, in actuality it really is just the beginning of it. Please keep this book like I kept mine. As a present for yourself, so you could always reminisce about that Journey that began with a crazy man and his book. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to witness your Rihla. Ma'a Salama”

He should pull his Rihla out of his Vault. It had lost all magical properties since he meant his Journey’s End, becoming just a travel diary that recounts his entire journey through life, in an account not much different from his friend’s own Rihla. It would be a much needed refresher. Mere days ago, the blood and loss was all that he could see. And while he still does see a blood-stained world. He was beginning to recognize that he had forgotten just how blessed he was with the opportunity he got. Yes, he had been through years of strife. But he also got to experience what only a rare few could ever experience. The wonders of seeing the world. Flying all across time he got to see and experience a plethora of vibrant places. Meet historic and not-so historic people. Witness events that no normal person will ever believe.

The greatest source of shame was how much he forgot about all the things that he was taught by others, such as his friend. In the present, Lincoln came to further understanding of how the road before him should shape. Down the week it’ll become clearer thanks to Tulam’Run lessons. If there was one thing that he understood with clarity. That a Journey with Nilana’Ran, while perfectly aware of the risks, would be beneficial for him. “I’m...coming around to accept that I can never fit into regular society. I’ve changed too much. Done too much. The only place I can be is outside of it. Given that you, Overlord Nilana’Ran and Tulam’Run are Psions, thus above any notion of society, I can learn how to properly adjust to my new place in life.” He explained more of his reasoning behind the request.

Nilana was of course not blind to the fact that this was Lincoln being on the opposite side of what he usually dealt with. And that was what she particularly enjoyed. She smirked and spoke, "It is interesting to see how it is on the other side, isn't it? To watch instead of participate. Something you'll have to get used to around me. Of course, I don't think I'll let you watch the aftermath, not this time. That's something you'd enjoy I'd be willing to bet, and I'm not granting that particular boon quite yet. Don't be too disappointed now."

Then she seemed to get rather amused, not expecting that particular request. The reasoning behind it only added to that, and she chuckled as he finished, "My oh my, little one. Such arrogance to put yourself above all the other slavelings so quickly! Fancy yourself a Psion already, hm? I think you're a little quick to assume you are very different. For you see, little one, the only reason you are outside thus far is because you are unwilling to choose. You can't choose between becoming an outsider for real, or trying to go back. And going back... Is incredibly easy. You don't want to admit it, of course. I can see your blossoming ego telling you that you are too special for the rest of Slaveling Society, that you could not possibly rejoin it! The truth is that you can, and it would be easy. One of the easiest choices you can ever make is to enslave yourself, and it is the choice that countless souls make every second of every day."

"You're in the middle right now. Considering your options... But you are right to see Psions as the ones who are above it. For we make the true difficult choice. To be free! And, through that, reign above the slaves to the universe that most are." She moved a hand down towards Raikou's legs, moving it up as she stroked. The Psion went out ignoring the subsequent sounds that came out of her, "We aren't outside of society because we cannot be part of it. No, it is because we make the conscious choice to be free of it. Psions reject enslaving ourselves, despite how easy it is."

Nilana then smirked, "I can allow you to join me on my various adventures. But you need to make the choice, little one. Don't just 'accept that you are different', because everyone is. You must consciously choose to be different, to make the first step of your own free will to being above society. Not forced out by some whim or some concept of specialness imposed upon you, for that is merely slavery of another sort. Be free by your own will. To take this path you cannot merely adjust to circumstances outside of your control, but take the reigns of your own life and bend them to your will! To impose your own meaning upon the universe and damn all others in their attempts to impose their own!"

She calmed down, as she realized she was getting a bit excited, and returned to her more graceful tone, "That's something both I and Tulam do. Tulam has his own ambitions of creation and whatnot, and I'll grant that he has a very nice art. After all, it was good enough for me to procure! That is not my path however. I am an adventurer, a traveler, and most of all... An experiencer. So little one, if you do want to follow me, I will grant you the allowance to do so. I'll even avoid dominating your will, as a free bonus. But, if you wish to follow, the main caveat is this... Make sure you keep up, hoh-hoh!" She chuckled.

With a smile on her face, she went on, "I'll add that your request was a very bold one, and I like that! Boldness is my life. But the path I offer is a fairly life changing one. My advice on that is simple; think at least a little. I know, I know... Tulam would scoff at me of all people saying that, and he would have a point. I act on my emotions more than my mind pretty much all of the time. But that is not because of some failing, little one. It is because I have long since chosen to let my heart guide my path. I made that my life by my own will, consequences be damned! And making that choice did require thinking." She tapped her forehead to emphasize that, "I won't be going anywhere until I get to see Tulam's new body, since I do want to see his actual form with my eyes before I go. That should be about a week, which is quite long enough. Take that time to put at least a little thought into whether or not you'd like to come with me when I leave, or follow me at any other point really. Understood?"

She certainly wasn’t wrong that he would enjoy watching her dominate other people. The next thing she said puzzled him as that wasn’t what he meant but he wasn’t going to think about that. Trying to clarify things to people like her tends to not go very well so he just kept his mouth shut. The subject after that was fair. In hindsight he did make it seem that it was truly impossible to fit back in. Because that was saying that it was impossible for say Veterans to fit back into society. The core reason why so many of them have problems is because their country treats them like shit. Which is sadly ironic given how much his country worshiped them. Heck, a lot of them don’t even use the Veterans Affairs as their primary healthcare provider due to bad prior experience.

“Perhaps...I shouldn’t self-diagnose myself when I don’t even have a degree in psychology, huh.” He just didn’t feel he could be fixed. But perhaps it was that exact belief that was making him think that? He can’t say for certain anymore. Thinking about it he knew he should stop being an armchair therapist. Heck, he never been to official therapy so he has not much ground to say how effective or ineffective it is. ”Should I go find myself a therapist somewhere?” He thought to himself. Now that he thought however, he felt that it wasn’t needed. Or rather, getting help from a regular therapist. Because he has a hunch that neither of the Psions in this station would approve of him going to some ‘slaveling’ therapist when he could be learning from them instead. He was just being cautious on not trying to ask too much out of them.

”Then again, these two have helped me a lot so far. In that case do I need a therapist?” Lincoln was trying to be more aware in trying not to judge what does or doesn’t need. In the end he felt he should stick with them. They’ve been influencing him for the better so no point in trying to fix what isn’t broken, right? Musing of his mental health aside. He was enthralled somewhat by Nilana’Ran’s passionate words. It reminded him of more moments in his past that he had forgotten. Looking back on them, to say the least, Nilana’Ran was right.

He listened to everything else that Nilana’Ran. Nodding along as she does so. “I understand, Overlord Nilana’Ran. I’ll make use of this week to think much on this. Thank you for the generosity in giving that lesson.” Lincoln gave a glance to Raikou before politely stepping out of the room. Closing the door behind him he let out a big sigh. Not realizing how tense his muscles were up till now. “That’s one Psion pleased, now the other…”

Lincoln did feel a bit bad that he had given her a Servant before he did. Therefore he’s going to make up for it. The hard part was that he had a strong feeling that, like with Nilana, he would want a Servant that meant a lot to him since that’s what he gave to Nilana’Ran. So it has to be someone just as valued as Raikou was. “This turned out to be a long night.” He heads back to his room to summon a Servant. Shouldn’t take too long.

Turns out he was wrong. Standing before the summoning circle once more he found himself at a loss on just what to give Tulam’Run. He knew what the Run Psion would like, but it gave him limited choices. Nilana’Ran was simple to come up with someone she would like. A mature woman with succulent proportions. Tulam’Run on the other hand couldn’t be satisfied in the same manner. Plus, it needed to be someone that can be more of use to him beyond just being an extra set of hands around the place.

Tulam’Run would have liked his current MoonCancer-Class Servant but they weren’t as close as he was to Raikou. ”Think Lincoln, he’ll be working a lot in his laboratory. Who could be of some use to his research.” Not all that much, or at least the ones that there close to him in a bigger role than being a happy fuck buddy. There was the friend he thought of earlier that a general Psion would have liked. He has a Collector skill for the concept of Events. The 'talent' to collect high-quality goods, a 'luck' that draws rare items into the possession of the Servant. In his case, rather than the talent to bring physical goods, it's rather the ability to bring out rare and interesting events near him. Those events could be big or small, but it's no exaggeration to say that almost everything interesting happening in a city will happen near him. By just taking a stroll through the town, He will bump into the leader of the local mafia; the crazy old homeless man; a small magus family making ends; a tattoo artist known for his use of blood; a lost little girl looking for her family and so on. In short, a Psion could use him as a tourist and make him go to places to draw out potential goodies. The problem was that Tulam’Run doesn’t feel like the type to be interested in the galaxy at large.

Lincoln thought about his Casters because that is the Class that would line up with what Tulam’Run wants the most. Going down the mental list he came upon one that checked off the boxes. ”Ah...her.” The mythical den mother of humanity. Her skills definitely fit in Tulam’Run’s alley. She's a surprisingly warm-hearted, playful creature with the personality of a flirtatious younger mother. She doesn’t care whether they are human or homunculus, male or female, alive or dead, her strike zone is quite simply the entirety of the human race. He was close to her for roughly the same reasons as Raikou. “Huh, I have mommy issues.” He commented in a moment of self-realization. Beside that, the only issue was that her Noble Phantasm was invalidated because of his antics. Not too big of a deal given the context of what it is, plus her skills are enough to hopefully be of assistance to him.

It was hard to make himself summon her. He definitely feel bad once he saw her erotic form as the blue haze faded. Then feeling that familiar sensation of being coiled by her. “Ooh Lincoln, It’s so good to see you again.” This was bad because Lincoln was getting aroused. And well, he doubts the Psion would appreciate a dirty gift. With much willpower and restraint he managed to separate himself from her.

The talk went about the same as with Raikou. She was more saddened but like Raikou, was happy that he outgrew her. “To think you’re finally leaving the den.” She spoke with an air of melancholy. “It does make me a bit happy that you’re giving me to a Master that would allow me to birth many children. I just wish they were yours.” She sighs. “So this is what mothers feel when their young leave the nest. I’m not fond of the feeling. Aaah, I’ll savour what time we have left. I’m ready, Lincoln.”

Even though Tulam’Run was a floating spirit that can appear anywhere. Lincoln felt it was more ceremonial to bring her down to his lab. Using a second command seal to free her of their contract they went to have one last walk together. Later, stepping out of the elevator she slithered up beside him. Lincoln spoke out to the Run Psion, wherever he may be, “O mighty and glorious Tulam’Run. I bring forth a tribute to show my respect to you.”

Tulam, for his part, was mostly focused on his lab and reconstructing his body. As he mentioned, he had to keep a fairly close eye on the progress of development for the body, to ensure nothing went wrong and it was all up to specifications. And so after Lincoln entered, he would see Tulam's spirit form there, working on the console. The Caretaker was here as well, assisting with the machine that filled the primary creation cube with biological materials, to ensure it was all going smoothly on that end.

The Psion turned back to Lincoln and then visibly rolled his eyes, waving dismissively, "Vessel, you don't need to ham it up around me, given we have interacted already for more than a few days. I care not for undue formality. Besides, as soon as you left Nilana's chambers I reengaged my senses. I already know what this is about. Don't forget I am technically still in you, until this is done at least. But, that aside..."

He held up an arm and looked at the serpentine creature, "Given that you actually put thought into this, about how this slave can actually be useful to me in a way that I care for, it would be only fair for me to accept in order to honor such thought. I accept the tribute. I need to rebuild my slave forces after all, and competent lab assistants are a difficult commodity." With that, Tulam's eyes began to glow. Suddenly from his outstretched arm appeared two small beams of light, which flew into Echidna's eyes. This process would go on for a few seconds, with Echidna seemingly dazed while Tulam moved his fingers a bit, as if directing something. Finally, he let his arm down and the light dissipated.

Tulam's spirit form then spun back around, going back to the console, and he spoke back, "There we go, mine. Slave, the Caretaker will show you the ropes and get you to work where some help is needed. Caretaker, ensure the new slave is informed of how I expect my slaves to act. Get to it." The Caretaker made a salute, and the newly enslaved Echidna would give a small bow. The Caretaker would lead her out of the room, towards some of the lower levels.

With those two gone, Tulam spoke again, "She'll be more useful when I establish a more permanent lab on a new planet. I need to re-establish my domain, find a nice place to settle down to continue my work. I would say preferably without Nilana knowing where, but she'd find it eventually so why bother with that caveat? Now, Vessel, you should continue preparing yourself for the soul separation. Given the stakes at hand I am sure you know the value of it. After that, you will be free to pursue whatever you want. If you've figured out what that is, at least."

“She would?” He inquired. He had figured that he might as well journey with Nilana to give Tulam time to find a nice planet that no one could find. And he can’t really go out exploring alone like last time. It was luck that he managed to get as far as he did. Oh well, he’ll think about this later. “Alright, I should get some rest then. This is going to be a long week.” He took one last glance at his former Servant before politely excusing himself.

And what a long week it was. [Side Story - The Reawakening of the Flesh]

It was the early morning of Saturday when he felt something off. At first he thought it was just his nerves for the big make it or break it moment at noon. But it wasn’t. It felt like something was reaching out to him. He had gone to the bathroom to freshen up.

In the corner of his eye he spotted the surface of the mirror shimmering. Emitting a soft, hazy blue glow that reminded him of a holographic display. Turning his head, instead of his reflection. He sees a familiar woman with long purple twintails, black/green hat, and glasses. She wore a white shirt with green tie, covered in a purple blazer and white skirt.

“S-Sion!?” He sputtered in shock and disbelief.

It was Sion Eltnam Sokaris. A member of Atlas who had supported the Chaldeans since the beginning of the Lostbelt War.

“Lincoln! It’s so great to see you’re still alive!”  Was her radiant response. “It took a bit of tinkering to reach you. Had to integrate some untested stuff into making this connection work! It helped that you seemed to have summoned some Servants. We detected signatures going into a ‘void zone’ to put it simply. They stood out a lot as a result and we knew it had to be connected to you. Looks like we were right!”

It was fortunate that she was chatty. Because he needed to compose himself after the realization.

Naturally, he broke down.

Sion, a bit flustered from the display, did her best to get him back together.

Turns out that Lincoln was fortunately wrong. In hindsight it made perfect sense. He was caught in the dissolution of the skein that the Alien God had wrapped around the world. His world was actually still in one piece.

Ten minutes later, Lincoln got a basic rundown of what was going on over there. “Everything went back like last time? That’s good. Haah…” It was tough to hear how the old Chaldea headquarters in the south pole was still a frozen wreck. “Thank you and the Atlas Institute for securing it before anyone else could.”

“Of course, Lincoln! There was no way we were going to let the Mage Association get their hands on it. There is already bickering going on between us.  That said, all things considered this place is yours. And we’ll ensure that no one will take it from you.”

“Thank you, I’m so grateful for all of you. I’ll send Uno over to act as my proxy along with one of my Servants.” He sensed a day ago what his Servants were doing. It was thoughtful for them to let him be in his preparations. Still, he didn’t quite like being out of the loop. He’ll let it slide for now.

After all, he’s not allowed to do his normal form of punishment.

“I…can’t come back quite yet. I have an opportunity to go explore new places…and be free.”

Sion gave a nod. “I understand, you deserve a bit of vacation. But do come back soon, Mas~ter.”

That made him smile.

See, there’s benefit in having a high libido!

“Hehehe, I won’t forget about you. I promise.”

The connection flickered off. Leaving behind only the polished surface of the mirror. Lincoln stood there for a while longer to process the new emotions.

Later he left the bathroom and then the room. Out in the hallway he found a certain Servant. “Well look who we have here.” He said as he grabbed her by the hips. Making her squeal in excitement.

“M-Master! I was just coming b-Ah!” Ada was interrupted when he spanked her rear.

“You know better than trying to lie to me, my gorgeous slave. Look at you, hiking your leg up my thigh. If I had the time, I would have disciplined you. Instead I’m going to leave you with a punishment.”

“A punishment, Master?” She said nervously. Her petite frame shivered with anticipation.

“Why yes, not only will you take Uno to the other side through the Mirror Road and work on matters over there. But I’m also going to make it so that you can never get a release. Hopefully this will teach you a bit of restraint and patience.” Ada’s body quivered when she felt her master’s mana inside of her.

“I will learn my lesson, Master!”

“See that you do. On a side note, I want you to do something for me. When you’re over there, copy the entire internet onto a custom laptop and send it back to me real quick.” He likes to have something to do when on those long rides between planets. It would be especially important considering Nilana will no doubt tease him non-stop.

“I will do that, Master!”

Lincoln smiled as she let her go. Watching her skip away happily. With a few hours to burn he went to the cafeteria near the hallway to the elevator to wait. There he did some more light exercises to prepare him for the moment.

It was a half hour away when one of his homunculus came by to drop off the package. Setting it on the table in front of him. He could taste the extensive amount of mana that Ada put into it. Must have been really excited to carry out his will.

It was a simple, black laptop. His command seal in green was on the top of it. Opening it he found that everything was set up according to his old laptop layout. Looking around he figured he should listen to something nostalgic to get him further in touch with himself. And he knew exactly the sort of music to listen to.

For the second time that day, he naturally broke down.

This feeling was better than sex.

It was the music of his halcyon days. He held to that sensation tightly for he knew it would help him. Seeing the time he stood up. Not bothering to shut the laptop down. There was little point in trying to hide it from Nilana’Ran. Besides, it would give her something to look at if it interested her.

He was glad he wasn’t one of those people that like to download large amounts of porn. It always puzzled him that people hoard it. Sure, it’s handy when there’s no internet. But do people really need thousands of pictures and videos?

The only embarrassing thing is Nilana’Ran looking at that hypno fetish site that he looked at a lot according to his memories. Not even a VPN would cover the tracks from a Psion. No doubt she may find more things to tease him with.

Such as a certain forbidden love.

Oh well, he’ll worry about it after separating himself from Tulam’Run. With that thought he went to the designated place to perform the process.

The site for the soul-splitting was the same location as where Tulam had constructed his new body; the station's main laboratory with the creation cube in it. Lincoln would be able to feel as he approached the lab a large big up of psionic power, and Tulam's spirit felt notably distance. The preparations for the process long underway, with Tulam giving it his full attention right now.

And when Lincoln got to the Lab, he would see that Tulam's spirit form was there making a number of final calculations and adjustments on the console, preparing the subject body within for release as soon as the process was complete. Notably the body within was visible now as well in its full glory. The body was a fully developed Psion body, one that would in fact be familiar to him thanks to the museum and Tulam's spirit form. It was a spitting image of Tulam'Run, although the actual body was a fair bit larger than the spirit form was, and being in its full physical splendor it was also more intimidating. Psions may not be renowned for their physical strength, but they were still rather imposing.

Also in the room was the other Psion aboard this station, Nilana'Ran. She was standing off towards the side, leaning up against the wall and watching Tulam. She gave Lincoln a little wave as he came in, "Ah, and there you are. Yes, I'll be spectating. No, you don't get to choose for me to leave. But out of respect for Tulam graciously providing me with this body, I've promised not to interfere with him getting back in his own body."

Tulam shot her a glance at that comment, "And because I've informed you of the consequences of interference. Consider yourself lucky I need to focus on this and can't force you out."

As Nilana gave a little pout, Tulam seemed to finish up what he was doing and turned back towards Lincoln, "Preparations complete. Now then, vessel. We will begin the process of separating my soul from yours. This is quite the real deal, so I hope you are ready. I will remind you again, it is a matter of your own survival. So treat this with the seriousness of a life or death scenario. If you've been performing training as I instructed, then you should be fine. Otherwise, it'll be your own failure and the consequences that come out of it will be your own."

His spirit form then floated up, and turned to the side. He extended both of his arms, one towards Lincoln and one towards the body. Tulam grunted, "Ready yourself. This is going to hurt, quite a lot. Remember most importantly of all however, the physical pain is false and only a distraction in the end! The true danger is in the mind. Keep your sense of self together, call upon your most important memories. And then hold on as hard as you can if you intend to keep them! We begin in 3... 2... 1... Now!" Suddenly a spectral chain shot out of both of Tulam's arms. One imbedded itself in the body, leaving no physical marks but causing it to flinch. The other spectral chain flew straight at Lincoln, with a similar effect. He would be able to feel a major sensation of pain, like he had just been impaled. Tulam's spirit form then began to pull on both the chains, binding them together.

As he did this, the real hell would begin. The spectral chain imbedded in him was perhaps not real, but it felt every bit like the real thing. As if something had gripped his ribs, and was trying to pull them out. Every bit of his flesh had the sensation of being ripped at, like a thousand tiny claws. It was strongest in the chest, where the spectral chain was, but no part of him was spared the sheer, unrelenting pain.

But as Tulam warned, the true danger was within the mind. Lincoln would begin to experience flashes of memories, and see them twist before his very eyes as they began to overlap with Tulam's. If he looked down at his body, it would flash between his own and that of the Psion's. His fingers turning to claws, and then back again. His hair turning into the distinctive head tendrils of the Psions, and turning back again in the same instant. His senses would be sent out of control, as they attempted to grapple with the countless conflicting signals.

The world flashed. He was in the lab at Chaldea, surrounded by the various Atlas staff and his servants. But he was not Lincoln, he was Tulam'Run, preparing a mighty psionic lightning bolt to strike at the figure in the room who stuck out. Another Psion, who glowed red. A filthy thief, who cackled with laughter as he stood his ground. He was to be struck down.

Another flash. He was stood aboard a mighty spacestation, looking down upon the cityscape of Avalantus below him. This was a moment of triumph, he could feel such satisfaction. And yet, oddly, it was so very cold. It was snowing indoors somehow. But that wasn't important, because the cold was suddenly mixed in with a great deal of heat. Behind him a massive explosion went off, bringing scorching pain.

Everything went white again. The world around him was moving fast, buildings were flying by, upwards. There was no ground beneath his feet. He was falling, fast. And yet, he was peaceful. The sun shined brightly, and the light summer breeze caressed him even as he descended.

Yet again, a flash. His body lay broken and bloody upon the ground. Fire raged all around as debris continued to fall from the sky, crashing loudly down around him. But most important was the pain, as his charred, scarred flesh raged at the pain. But he was not alone. Shapes moved in the distance. Hundreds of faceless people, rushing forward quickly. Their bodies and faces formed and reformed in instants, between a thousand different people in seconds. Some human, some not. The faces of angry mortals, and the occasional vengeful God. They were all wielding clubs, pipes, hammers, simple instruments. As they began to swarm and beat his own crippled body, he would feel the pain of every blow. The agony of every cracked bone. He would be in suffering, whoever "he" was at this point.