In the end, they had been more than happy to let us keep the mana orbs and were excited about their new mana beast. Apparently, it hadn't been the only mushroom mana beast on the planet, and while they were shocked that it had somehow formed something like a dungeon, they were happy to have it nonetheless.

The revelation did leave everyone with one big question still. If the dungeon hadn't been a dungeon, where were the core beats coming from? Pryte made a deal that if they found the actual dungeon, we'd be willing to handle that delve for the same fee.

The news on the mushroom at least had made leaving the planet on good terms much easier, as what I had learned from the paladin of conservation had stuck strongly with me. The fact that so many planets just killed their primal mana beasts seemed like such a waste.

Despite the fact that Red and Rabyn had gotten off to such a bad start, she was growing into a great member of the city. The fact that she was so willing to take care of Glorp's family was just another plus.

Then there was the moose. He had snuck off after Alex, determined to help rescue William. At least that was what I assumed he was doing. The way he had stuck to Alex through her pregnancy had started to make more sense since we learned about William being a core baby, and the moose's continued determination to stick by them. There was something there that had bonded the two, not that I understood what, but I guessed it was similar to what Maud had with her cats now.

I couldn't say much for the orca or the hoary marmot. Neither of them had tried to really contact the city, despite the marmot living behind my house. At least Maud had made positive contact with the orca. Had Alpha interacted with the hoary marmot much? I'd have to ask the core about that.

Pryte was just happy it had all ended well for once. We had decided to call this a successful dungeon delve, even if it was stretching the truth somewhat. Once we returned, Elody had gone straight to work researching whatever it had actually been, while I relaxed and took a look over my new mana orb.

I figured Pryte could handle getting the others settled. They all needed meals and a checkover for lasting spoor issues, but beyond that, they did well. So I assumed they just wanted some relaxation time as much as I did.

It was time to learn just what a soul-siphon mana orb could do. Sure, it wasn't a mana-draining orb or another elemental orb like I had originally envisioned for the empty slot. But with how often I used soul mana these days, it seemed like it might be the perfect choice.

With that goal in mind, I pulled up a chat window and sent a message to Beta.

Dave: Beta, I need you for a bit. I've got the mana orb for your other empty slot.

Beta: Really? I shall grow stronger for the empire. I have placed myself back in your storage already.

Karlinovo: What kind of orb do you find?

Dave: Soul-Siphoning, not entirely sure what it does yet, but it sounds interesting from the name

Karlinovo: Yes, it does. I assume it will work similar to other mana-siphoning orbs. There is a whole class of orbs that work with soul mana. I'm never seen that one personally, though. When you are done, please make a note of all the abilities.

Dave: Will do.

I pulled Beta back out of my System storage and quickly added the new orb to the box cutter. "Alright, I'm going to take a look at the abilities. You're welcome to resume whatever you were up to," I said after it was socketed.

"I will return to guard duty!" Beta said loudly, zooming from the room as I pulled up the new mana orb.

Mana Orb Soul Siphon (0) -First Tier- Soul Detection (0) Requirements: N/A Soul Detection allows the host to detect soul energy around them. Further ranks increase the range of the detection. Soul Drain (0) Requirements: N/A Soul Drain allows the host to drain the soul energy from any creature they are touching. The target soul will fight back against this. Further ranks increase the power of the attack.

Those were both interesting mana skills. I could certainly see a use for soul drain paired with my other absorption effects. The downside of course was that I'd have to be touching a creature for it to work. Did that include my paired cores, though? Would I be able to drain soul energy every time Alpha hit someone with their mallet?

If that was true, that would be a pretty big power-up for my shields. Having a faster way to regain soul energy every time I used it as mana was something I had wanted for a while.

Soul Detection, on the other hand, while not immediately useful, might prove important. Once our people with soul knots finish healing, it might be possible to see more of the knots' connection using it. For the matter, what would happen if I tried to drain their soul knots?

With those thoughts in mind, I moved both of the mana skills up to a full twenty-five ranks and took a look at the second-tier abilities.

-Second Tier- Soul Anchor (0) Requirements: Soul Detection (10) Soul Anchor allows the host to place an anchor for their own soul. If, for any reason, the soul is separated from the body, including the death of the body, it will be able to return to the anchor point at the will of the host. Each rank allows for another anchor point to be created. Soul Reflection (0) Requirements: Soul Detection (25) Soul Reflection allows the host to peer into detected soul energy and pull from it secrets hidden deep within the soul. Further ranks increase the amount of information that may be gathered before the soul is destroyed. Soul Absorption (0) Requirements: Soul Drain (25) Soul Absorption allows the host to add the drained mana back into their own soul. Further ranks increase the amount of drained soul energy that may be absorbed by the host's soul.

Again, this was getting more and more interesting. If I could place a soul anchor, that would make it much easier to start working on my soul separations. In fact, it was probably something I'd do tonight. That way, I could give my soul energy time to recharge while I considered other experiments tomorrow.

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Soul reflection, while kind of intriguing, worried me. I didn't like the idea of destroying someone's soul just to learn their secrets. Even if I could think of a potential use for it sitting locked away in Timon's personal dimension right now, the thought of using it on the jester made me feel dirty. It just seemed to go back to the line of torture and what I wasn't willing to do.

Wait, did soul absorption imply that soul drain didn't give me the energy back I drained? Damn, I hadn't realized that. I was almost annoyed at myself for wasting my ever-dwindling skill ranks, but the fact that it was a requirement for absorption anyway made me brush aside my misread of the ability.

I placed a single rank in soul anchor, and the full twenty-five in soul absorption and went back into the mana orb to check the third-tier. While I knew it wouldn't be unlocked yet for use, I could at least see what I was aiming for.

-Third Tier- Soul Strengthening (0) Requirements: Soul Anchor (1) Soul Strengthening increases the host's rate of soul growth as long as they are around one of their Soul Anchors. Further ranks increase the rate of growth at an increased mana cost. Soul Bond (0) Requirements: Soul Reflection (25) Soul Bound allows the host to bond themselves with a source of soul energy in place of Soul Reflection. This removes any chance of soul destruction, but the bond is permanent. Further ranks increase the number of Soul Bonds the host may have.

I was much more willing to use soul bond than I was soul reflection. Though that assumed I learned the same information that way. The mana skill didn't actually cover what it meant to be soul-bonded to someone. I'd have to look into that more before I ever did it.

For all I knew, that could give the person bonded to me just as much access to me as it did me to them, and that wasn't something I wanted. I had only seen it referenced in one of my class abilities I hadn't unlocked so far. And that was just to soul-bond a mana orb.

Soul strengthening was both obvious in its use and something I greatly wanted. The moment the mana orb increased in rank, I'd make sure to unlock it. That, along with my other mana skills that continually trained my body, plus the growth orb, would help push me faster than most people would be able to. That was one of the big benefits of having as many mana sockets as I did, even if it seemed my orbs grew slower.

With the orb itself out of the way, I figured it was time to try making a soul anchor. I channeled the mana into the orb and activated the ability, aiming near my bed. It seemed like the best place to return to life if I had to. Though without a way to create a new body for myself, at least yet, I probably didn't want to use it in that fashion.

Nothing happened. The mana had passed through the orb. Why hadn't the ability worked when I triggered it? I tried again, to the same results.

As I pondered just what was going wrong, Corey manifested in front of me. "Dave, I believe we need to use soul mana for this," they said.

That made sense. "Okay, we can try it. I wonder how people without soul energy like I do use it then," I said as Corey routed soul mana through the orb this time.

I felt the difference when I triggered the ability again. The soul mana drained through me and formed a small, semi-translucent outline of myself near the bed. Soul mana had been the answer then. I reached out to touch it, and my finger went right through. Well, at least I wouldn't crash into it half asleep.

"I do not know the answer for those without soul mana, but from what I have learned, it is not unheard of for people to channel soul mana. It is just a harder path," Corey answered.

"Yeah, I suppose that's fair. I guess it makes sense that there are mana orbs that some people just can't use. What are your plans for the night?" I sat down on the side of my bed as I asked. I wasn't planning to be awake much longer.

"I have a meeting with the Travelers and the penguin core. We wish to discuss their name," Corey answered.

"Oh, they've picked one? That's great."

"Yes. I will head out now. Good night, Dave," Corey said as their form vanished. I wondered how often they scared people when they just manifested around the city.

Yawning several times, I prepared myself for a good night's rest. The nightmares from the jester's attack had mostly faded. I hoped the same held true for Alex, but considering the result, it seemed very unlikely.

As the thoughts of the quiet house started to settle into my brain, but before the old loneliness could rear its head, Chip leaped up onto the bed next to me. Where had he been hiding? I pet his head as he fell asleep on my chest. The sounds of his light purring quickly lulled me off to dreams of my own.

"You called?" an older, slightly familiar voice asked, as my consciousness slowly returned.

Was I back in the soul realm? Wait, that voice, it had been Otis. How had I called him? "Otis!" I yelled.

"That's me," he replied

I stood up and looked around. It was the same small stone room we had been in the last time we were here. Only this time I was alone. No, wait, I wasn't alone. Chip was on the ground next to where I stood, still sound asleep. Why was he here? Where were the others?

"So I don't know how you think we called you, or for that matter, why I'm here with just Chip," I said, confused.

"Actually, that is a good question. If I remember right, you were pretty attached to those other souls last time. That is quite strange," Otis replied, as I noticed a string of chat notifications.

Karlinovo: Dammit. Something happened with one of my soul mana experiments that I was using to try to contact Otis. It reacted with something in Dave's room.

Corey: I do not understand what happened. I can no longer sense Dave. But as the soul chat remains functional, it seems as though he must live. Before Dave went to sleep, he created a soul anchor. What exactly was the experiment?

Karlinovo: Yes, I'm in his room now. I can see it. His body is actually still here, and so is Chip's, but I can't wake either of them up. As for the experiment, I was trying to create a beacon of soul mana that might hit whatever the soul realm is that Otis had talked about. I'm guessing this new soul anchor drew it right to Dave. Can someone find Elody?

Dave: Guys, I'm okay. I think. Chip and I are in the soul realm again with Otis.

Karlinovo: Wait, so the experiment worked then? Well, that's so damn good news. I don't understand how you are there without Corey, though.

Dave: Neither does Otis, or I for that matter.

Corey: Dave, be careful.

Dave: I'll do my best. I'll let you know what I learn.

"Well, it looks like something one of our people was experimenting on to get your attention somehow reacted with a soul anchor I had made, and now somehow Chip and I are here," I said after closing the chat window. I nudged Chip gently with my foot, waking him up.

He screeched lightly as he looked around the room. I was sure he was as confused as I was by the entire scene, but he calmed down almost instantly. Likely, my own lack of fear at our strange surroundings helped calm him.

"Still, those bonded dungeon cores you have, leaving them behind isn't something I'd have thought possible," Otis replied.

"We're all still attached in my chat system, but beyond that, yes, somehow they are still safely behind on Earth." Well, Otis was here, so what did I ask him exactly? Would my soul anchor still work to get me home? What about Chip?

"Fascinating. Why were you all trying to contact me anyway? Did you wish to work on your soul realm?" Otis asked, walking closer to Chip as he talked. He bent over and examined the small pumakey.

"We were hoping you might be able to help with a soul knot problem we are having. We were attacked by jesters, and they used soul knots placed in several of our allies as a way to easily bypass our city's defenses," I said. It was a very abridged retelling of what had just happened, but I doubted he needed the exact story.

"Those things are back in the Spiral? And that's just being allowed? How times have changed, it seems. A soul knot, hmm. I have some ideas, but they will require you to develop this soul realm of yours. Are you ready for that kind of undertaking?" he asked, picking up Chip and scratching him behind the ear as he did.

"I have no idea. What does developing a soul realm entail exactly? How much time will it take?" I asked, watching Chip start to purr under Otis's attention.

"As I said before, I've never seen one develop from this early, so I can't say for certain. I do know the first step is to conquer yourself. As for what that esoteric phrase could possibly mean, I could toss out a dozen guesses and there is every chance none would be right," he replied.

"Uh, was that always there?" I asked, pointing to a door on a wall with a sign over it. "David Imogen" were the only two words on it. Even though I had asked, I was sure it had not been there before Otis's statement. Had he willed it into existence? Or had it just been created by the nature of our acknowledging the first step?

"Curious," was all Otis said in answer.

The study of the soul, its energy, and the mana it can be converted into is rarely undertaken. The reason behind this is that most of the people who go down this route soon vanish. From the scant witness accounts I can find, it seems that the researchers are visited by men claiming to represent the Spire before they ultimately disappear. And while I cannot say with a certainty that they are the cause, it would come as little surprise to anyone to find the Spire again tampering with the lives of Spiral residents.

That is why, as I begin to compile my own notes on the studies I've undertaken, I will keep them hidden until I fully grasp what I've begun to work on. I believe that, should my project proceed the way it is lining up to go, I will have found a way to escape their prying eyes by the time my work becomes public.

Soul Energy: Desires Made Manifest by Berztilin

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