Mask of Humanity

238: Oddity


'How much for the information about the other Gifts?'

'I can give you an overview of all the Gifts for a mere 30,000.'

'I'll take it all. The overview and the Memory Disc about the Black Gift.'

The Memory Disc that appeared was slightly larger this time, and dark navy rather than electric blue. A higher grade?

'There are four Gifts. Black, White, Blue, Brown. The Blue Gift provides an enhanced natural aptitude when controlling Oma. Those who possess it find it easier to control Oma, gain Oma more quickly, and their Nodes can hold more than is normal. Any use of Oma is enhanced, with Symbiotes and Artifacts responding more easily and effectively to their will. At your current stage, Foundation, those with the Blue Gift are the greatest of Cultivators. Their natural Aptitude is above 99%.' She shrugged. 'Having the Blue Gift is therefore a great boon. Those with it are celebrated as prodigies.'

'The White Gift is almost as prized. It affects the realm of the Soul and all things spiritual in nature. Those with the White Gift have Souls that are significantly stronger and more durable, with larger and more powerful Soul Senses. Their Souls grow much more easily than others, who have to struggle for even the smallest of gains. Someone with the White Gift could relax and do nothing, and eventually their Soul would reach the peak stage for their Cultivation. They are capable of detecting and utilising Spiritual Energy from earlier on, blending it into their Arts. When using Spiritual Symbiotes and Artifacts, the power is magnified, and as a result individuals with the White Gift commonly pursue the Soul path. As the Soul is of paramount importance during the Nascent Soul stage, those with the White Gift are untouched within that level. On top of that, they are capable of peering into and even physically accessing the Spiritual Realm easily, something that usually requires the use of Symbiotes, Artifacts, or extensive Rituals. Mentally, these individuals tend to be very calm and stable.'

'The Brown Gift is less celebrated than the previous two. It is related to the body. Those with the Brown Gift are naturally stronger, faster, and more durable than is typical for their race. Their Cultivation system also gains some boons, with enhanced Aptitude, and an easier time storing Symbiotes. They are strongest during the Core Formation stage, coming after Foundation, as when one goes from Tier 3 to 4 their body is remade, stronger and more capable. Those with the Brown Gift doubly benefit from this, entering the Core Formation stage with a body of exceeding strength and power.'

As she had spoke her voice had sped up, beginning to trip over her words in her eagerness to get through them, and now as she spoke, she was grinning, wide and wild. 'Finally, the Black Gift. No one wants the Black Gift because it is a death sentence. It leaves one open to the Outside and the Outside's weaker sister, the Interior. Places of Demons and Entities and dark spirits. Those with the Black Gift invariable lose their minds, corrupted by external influences. They are known as natural demons, always hungering for blood and carnage. These individuals can become very powerful, enhanced and aided by the unnatural beings that come to infest them. They are also capable of making use of Free energy from much earlier than is normal, and their Souls are strange; unusually powerful and changeable.'

Nicolai had taken in all of this silently and without reaction, but now he stirred. 'Free energy?'

'Raw, unfiltered energy from the Outside. It is far more powerful than Oma, but tends to warp and twist anything it touches. Attempting to make use of it is extremely dangerous, and Heaven restricts it. Adding just a little of it to any Art will significantly enhance the power… unless it rips free of your control, and tears you apart.' She wore a bloodthirsty grin. 'The Black Gift is a curse. Those who possess it suffer, go mad, and die in vast spasms of havoc and carnage.' She let out a gleeful giggle, like a small and excitable child. 'Heaven does not like those with the Black Gift. Heaven does not trust those with the Black Gift.'

Nicolai considered the grinning woman before him. 'And you are a piece of Heaven, in a way. But you remain quite helpful.'

She shrugged. 'I have always had a fascination—personally—for the Black Gift. It is interesting. Had you been assigned a different agent, likely you would be having a different discussion.' She shook her head, pursing her lips. 'Poor boy. You have an untidy fate in store.' She rested her chin in her hands, gazing at him. 'I wonder, will you go mad and become some horrific being sooner, or later? I hope it will be later. Cultivators who make it far in spite of the Black Gift turn into very interesting beings, before and after it gets them.'

She leaned closer to him, over the table, peering into his eyes. 'And in the end, it does get them. To have the Black Gift is to be closer to the things of the Outside, to be one of them, in a way. A being that should not exist in this reality.' She once more giggled like a small girl, sitting back. 'How exciting. How marvellous. I have some time off saved. When you complete the Slayers Guild selection process, would you like to get a drink with me?'

'Are you asking me out on a date?'

'Yes.'

'I didn't think a disparate part of a hive mind would be allowed to go and do things like that.'

'As I said, we have some freedom. I am a part of the great mind, and I am also myself.'

Nicolai drummed his fingers on the table. His own mind was awhirl with what he'd learned. He spoke in a distant tone. 'And you have some kind of personal fetish for people with my affliction.'

'Precisely.' The smile she gave him positively glowed. 'You act sane but I know you hide a raving, bloodthirsty lunacy underneath that calm exterior. I find that rather… titillating. Not to mention the inevitable tragic end ahead of you.' She shuddered genteelly.

'Is it inevitable? There must be some with my condition who have made it further, who have held onto their sanity.'

'Some last a long time. All go the same way eventually. It is very hard at your stage, the Foundation, especially. You are extremely vulnerable to beings from the Interior, who will seek you out.'

'What can I do to survive that?'

'There are certain Rituals and methods that can be of aid, detailed in the Memory Disc I gave you, but the best route is to find some kind of Artifact of the Heaven Path. It is a natural counter. With that you could defend yourself. Alas, such items are perishingly rare.' She shook her head. 'Your chances are very slim. That's why you should come and spend some time with me. I can give you a night to remember.'

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

He nodded, eyes distant. His chances were better than she thought. 'And what of later?'

She chuckled. 'It only grows harder. In the latter stages of Cultivation, all begin utilising Free energy, though only in small amounts. Even the most basic and boring Cultivator will at that stage be working to transform into something not entirely… normal. Something different. Heaven allows this, though it dislikes it. But you? You couldn't help but go further.' She chuckled. 'What, would you limit your potential? No, none do, not ever. Even knowing that if they push and seek to make use of their Gift that Heaven will strike down upon them with great and vengeful fury, or that in the process they might be transformed into something unrecognisable which has lost all memory of their true self… still they attempt it. No Cultivator could know that they have the potential to become so great, so astonishingly powerful, and simply turn away.'

'So you're saying at this later stages, the Black Gift would let me become more powerful? Just as the White and the Blue aid Cultivators at earlier stages?'

She let out another shrill giggle. 'Yes, that's right. There it is, the endless lust and hunger for power, I see it in your eyes, I smell it on your body.' She jammed her fist into her mouth and started sucking and chewing on it, saliva drooling, her eyes boring into his own while she let out strange little noises. Her third eye was creeping open, and he saw that it was a great white orb with a tiny dark spot in the centre, full of red lines.

'What are you doing?' he asked. She'd previously been entirely professional and reliable. It was quite a change. Threat Analysis was concerned.

'I'mhn hewing hmy hfist,' she gurgled.

He ran a tired hand down his face. 'Can you not?'

'Sorry,' she said, wiping it on her robe, third eye closing. 'We still on for that drink?'

'No.'

'Was it the fist chewing?'

'Among other things.'

'Wouldn't you like to kick back and relax, have a few hours where you can just forget about the blazing inferno that is your existence?'

'A waste of time. I have much to do.'

'Really? I thought everything I told you might make you want to give up.'

'Really? No.' He smiled like a shark. 'So what if the road ahead is difficult? So what if my odds are infinitesimal? I'm going to keep going no matter what.' He leaned forward. 'I'm going to be the one who survives.' He saw her fist beginning to raise, creeping toward her mouth, and narrowed his eyes at it. 'Don't.' It slowly lowered.

He settled back, considering whether to ask about the Lizard next.

Ultimately he decided against it. He had no reason to believe this place was going anywhere. He'd be back in the City a week from now, and then again and again. Doubtless he would have more questions, and in fact he hadn't even had time to ask about absolutely everything.

He'd wait a week or two until he was sure he'd asked all the questions necessary. Knowing more details about the Lizard wasn't something he necessarily needed, anyway. Regardless he would attempt to find that individual, and he had a location to push toward. The Great Eye had told him it was his only chance. Maybe the Lizard will provide me the solution to this "Gift."

'I sense this is drawing to a close, and you don't have long until the Guild trials start,' said said, some of that veneer of professionalism returning. 'Would you intend to try and make use of the Memory Discs, and deal with your Black Gift soon?'

I have questions, spoke the Mask, surprising him.

He waved the Person off. 'One moment, please, I need to think.' He settled back into the chair, looking away from her.

What questions? he asked the Mask.

I wish to improve at my purpose. I have decided I need knowledge. I want to learn about… morality. The others tell me that humans have written about this. Threat Analysis tells me I should study Philosophy.

Nicolai felt an urge to laugh, but he pushed it away. He didn't want to upset the Mask.

What? it asked, and he could tell he'd upset it anyway. I'm trying to fulfil my purpose!

I'm just… surprised. I didn't think you'd want to study.

In the past, there have been times I tried to advise you, but you argued with me. You said… The Mask paused, in a way that reminded him of Cyberwarfare. Significant Pause. That I was being illogical. I need to prepare myself better and learn more.

I didn't… Nicolai grimaced. He had, he knew it, they all knew it. It was like a reflex. When people questioned his methods, he was always quick to create justification and explanations for why whatever he wanted to do needed to be done. He tended not to even think on it. It was as simple and automatic as breathing. He supposed that if the Mask wanted to improve its methods, to create better arguments, he shouldn't try to stop it. That was its purpose, after all, and as a counter to the dark it had always served him well. Based on what he'd learned today, its importance would only grow as time passed. If it wished to improve itself, to grow itself, that was good.

But this was not the place for it to gain the answers it sought. If the Mask wished to learn of morality according to the humans of Earth, this agent of Heaven wasn't ideal.

Before we leave this place we will go to the Trade Link that is here. It's possible to buy entertainment and media drives from the clutter section. Information on useful things was costly, but information on stuff Heaven considered "just for fun" was very cheap. He had a feeling philosophy and morality would be included in that. I will purchase you whatever you wish on those subjects there. Do you have any other questions?

The Mask relaxed, happy to know it would gain what it sought, and told him it had no other questions.

He looked back to the Person. She'd asked if he would attempt to deal with the Black Gift soon. He nodded to her. 'Thank you for waiting. As to your question, this coming week I will read the Memory Disc and do whatever I can to help myself deal with it, yes.'

She took a moment to answer, and he realised, from the faint spiritual weight he felt, from how her eyes were unfocused, that she was using her Cultivator's eyes and Soul together to try and gaze at his own. Looking eagerly for any signs of the Black Gift. Her mouth was slowly opening and a tiny string of drool crept from her lip.

He waved a hand. 'My eyes are up here,' he said sharply, and she blinked as though waking from sleep, her mouth snapping closed.

A practised smile spread over her features. 'The Disc about it will go into detail on this, but it will take some time to go through it all.' She flicked some fingers and a tiny Memory Disc appeared. 'This is a shopping list derived from that same Disc, about the kinds of things someone might need if they wish to perform the rituals and processes it will recommend.' She smiled. 'Just in the interest of saving you time. No need to thank me.'

He took the Disc, brows raised. 'Even so, I thank you. You've been very helpful. It was nice meeting you.' He glanced at the drop of drool on the desk. Mostly. 'If I come here again, will it be you that I talk with?'

'I'll make sure of it,' she said, her smile widening.

He gave her a practised smile in return. A hinting smile, a leading smile. 'Good.' If she was infatuated with him, or more specifically with his condition, that wasn't really a problem in his eyes. It was an edge. She was in a position that was useful to him. If anything, encouraging her in this… whatever it was, was well worth it.

He would certainly be back with more questions the following week. He hadn't even gotten through everything he wished to ask. The matter of his "Claim" on Paxolnaz, and how precisely to fulfil the condition of "defeating" the True Demon in order to actuate it. He also remained curious on some other matters, such as the Renown stat Cyberwarfare had found. But this Guild wasn't going anywhere and one of his questions to her earlier had regarded any possibility of being barred from the service, to which she'd answered that no Player could ever be refused service.

He seized the various Memory Discs from the table, the Big Mouth opening eagerly as he shoved them in. 'How do I leave?'

'There.' She gestured to a patch of wall and a door appeared. 'Come back soon,' she added, leaning on her elbow and watching as he rose and departed, her eyes and Aura full of a hungry fascination like someone considering a plate of unusual and delicious seafood.

Nicolai could all but feel her spreading the garlic butter over him.

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