Beyond The System-Chapter 283: Patterns and Effects

The Inner Realm stretched wide within my consciousness, a vast inner expanse unfolding in every direction.
Right. So, just like I told you before, paddle in different ways.
The villi that made up Drybel shifted shape and obeyed, flowing to match my intent. We had already discussed the plan before we started this. Before permanently altering what may already be the final transformation of my Inner Realm, I wanted to test alternative methods of moving my Internal Force.
And, in doing so, the others would benefit as well. Naturally, he had been quick to agree.
First, the villi paddled in circular motions, churning up small whirlpools of mixed energy that slowly spiraled up my arm. The flow was gentle at first, then the speed surged, swelling into energetic rapids. Along with it came a tightening sensation, not unlike the constriction my roots could produce.
It had been a blessing, in more ways than one, that my Internal Force had finally evened out with the addition of Air Force. The once-domineering presence of Fire settled under the balancing influence of Air. I supposed its role might have caused that balance.
I willed my Water Core to slide into place, giving an extra
oomph
to its presence, its influence slightly overlapping the other two powers within me. I extended a palm, and an icicle manifested, laced with thin red veins of explosive force pulsing beneath its surface. Though, curiously, Air seemed all but absent within it.
I fired it at a nearby tree, and the usual effect followed. The impact, the explosion, the familiar destruction. Yet there was a noticeable difference in a brief spike of speed the instant it left my grasp, before slowing back down to its usual velocity relative to the power I’d used.
Maybe… Hmm. Path of least resistance? If I was creating a pressure vacuum, then naturally it would more or less pull things into it. In a sense. I wasn’t an expert, but still—no air outside, air inside, air moves outside. The concept wasn’t exactly complicated.
Next, I switched to my Fire Core, but the compressive nature of the flow still resulted in my Water Force dominating. So, following Elric’s advice, I searched for the opposite sensation, realizing this might be an alternative way not only to practice effects for Grand Carving, but also to train my root hand to better compress my energy.
Eventually, I found a loosening sensation that flooded me with heat. Fire Force overlapped the others, allowing me to create detonations of explosions followed by icy implosions. However, the explosion itself was actually smaller, consuming everything quickly within the unseen orb gathered in my palm. It lent even more weight to my ideas about controlling my powers through this new connection.
Hmmm. Right, but paddling isn’t really something I can carve. I can only etch grooves. And I’m getting a bit off my original goal…
Could you solidify into actual shapes?
I requested. Drybel responded at once. The villi shifted, fusing together, becoming denser, coiling into spiraling patterns that produced the same energetic responses within me as before.
I held out a hand to Elric, who was still moving, sweat rolling down as fractions of blades flew around him independently, scattered, moving like a swarm of disconnected yet hive-minded bees. “Need something to draw with.”
“Get it yourself,” he grunted, a bead of sweat dripping between his brows.
I grumbled, not wanting to move, but it wouldn’t be right to interrupt his training just to support mine. My hand remained extended anyway. “I’m your king.”
His gaze sharpened, and the red-gold blades began to flit in erratic patterns, some drifting closer and closer to me in their strange circular motions.
I cleared my throat and pushed myself to my feet. “I’m only joking. I’ll go get something myself.”
And just like that, the blades shifted, returning to the disorganized mental torture Elric had to be under.
Running back through the mud, away from the small pocket of peace the forest offered, I headed for the building and slipped through the window of the room I’d been in before, smoothly diving through and catching myself on the frame so I didn’t slam into anyone.
Thea was still sitting there with Bristle at her side and a small slime curled in her lap. I’d wondered where it had wandered off to earlier, but I guessed it had gone into the forest to explore—strong enough now that Thea hadn’t seemed concerned when I last asked.
I tapped her shoulder.
Nothing.
Hmm.
I very lightly nudged her.
“Theaaaa?”
Still, silence.
She wouldn’t be able to tell in this state, right?
No, definitely not.
A single finger raised from my hand, slowly making its way toward a slightly puffed-out cheek. Carefully. Cautiously.
Sniff.
I froze, pausing for a moment as she rubbed her nose unconsciously. But, still, I was safe. So the journey continued, fluctuations of energy around myself fading as I isolated my power in a veil.
And only a single moment away, I froze again. But not in reaction to anything. My head shook and I leaned closer to her and whispering softly in her ear. “I know you’re awake.” I then pecked her on the cheek before leaning back.
She opened her eyes, glancing sideways at him. “You don’t feel like teasing me?”
I shook my head again with a playful smirk. “Maybe later. You have anything to write with?”
She reached behind her, taking a small cube from a back pocket in her pants. Then, with a flash of light, a pen powered by magic and a notebook appeared. “Griffith gave them to me. So, no messing around with it.”
I took the items outstretched from her hands, pulling her into a tight hug that squeezed the air from her lungs in a mildly strangled sound. “Quit—it.”
I gave a final, petty effort into his squeeze at her strained words, then released her and headed back toward the window. “I’ll head back to Elric. He gets lonely, so—”
“You’ll be back quickly,” Thea said in a singsong tone.
“Why?” I asked.
Thea shook her head. “I’m getting a little revenge, so go ahead.”
My lips pulled to one side in thought, but then I did as was told, hopping through the window again and sprinting back the way I’d come. By the time the trees entered my line of sight, my arrival was only several seconds later. But then, I froze at the sound of an annoyed voice.
“I just—I need to get stronger. You saw that man. We couldn’t do anything!” It wasn’t a shout, but Elric’s tone was clearly frustrated beyond a standard measure.
“I know,” Sia hushed. They were farther away where the brush hid them, but I could clearly hear them and, if I wanted, see them by utilizing his Spirit Sense. “But you heard what Sei said. Their bodies are weak. We could all kill—”
Elric cut her off. “Only if I can reach them. But that barrier was impossible to get past.”
I began to walk forward silently, slowly realizing the conversation occurring. The Starborn. They held frustrations over their inability. That kind of frustration was something I deeply understood, but still, this information is news to me.
I continued creeping forward, wanting to hear more.
“We can both stand to relax a bit,” Sia said breathily. “Especially you. You say he doesn’t have to handle everything alone; it’s the same with you.”
There was a pause before a shrill squeal froze me in place.
“You’re right… again?”
The acts that followed turned into a series of noises I very swiftly fled from. I retreated just as Thea had predicted, and when I entered, a single eye cracked open.
“Welcome back.”
“You could’ve just warned me that Sia left,” I said, rolling my eyes at her.
“Elric keeps bringing up our experience…”
A quick breath of air huffed out of my nose. “And what? You think he’ll get just as embarrassed as you if you bring this up?”
“That… Uh—hm.” She cut herself off, fumbling over her words, cheeks tinting as she tried to think of a response.
I sighed and let it go, not particularly bothered that she hadn’t thought her ‘revenge’ through all that much. Sitting down beside her, I leaned back. “Well, he’s not lonely anymore, so I’ll stay.”
She closed her eyes again, releasing a satisfied sigh. “Preferable that way.”
I nodded in agreement, then pulled her notebook onto my lap, opening it and writing across the top of a fresh page:
Grand Carving: Patterns and Effects.
I immediately began scrawling, as delicately as I could manage, the patterns I’d gleaned with Drybel’s assistance. Sketching shapes and annotating lines with notes on movements and the ‘feelings’ they evoked.
Spiral:
Effects vary in severity based on quantity and density. Creates whirlpools of energy that cause a sensation of tightening, or pressure on oneself. Water Force seems to thrive under these conditions, while Fire is suppressed. Air Force appears unaffected by these factors, along with Natural Force.
Hmm. Maybe the inherent properties of Water and Fire, and their roles in the universe, enforce that dichotomous opposition. Perhaps Air and Earth wouldn’t clash in the same way. I shook my head, steering my thoughts back to the task before I wandered too far into theory.
Valley:
In testing, these were more often constructed as walls. However, the effect is likely similar in nature. Mostly opposite to whirlpools. Reason: No idea. Someone else can ruin their body to figure that out.
Movement at my shoulder stilled my pen.
“Very scientific,” Thea teased.
I closed the notebook with a soft thump, set it and the pen aside, and glanced down at the pets.
A Sensory Veil spread out from me, gently excluding them from what followed. What can I say—I have manners.
Then I proceeded to tease her for a good while, our banter and closeness drifting into something far more private, before the two of us finally settled down and returned to our respective tasks.