《Heaven's Oddity》Chapter 18: Mental health.
Advertisement
After taking the amber into his hand, Leo went through Dinna's tool on this table and picked an Array drawing pen. Afterward, he began drawing on one side of the ember stone. He quickly did so on both sides while energy undulations appeared around him. However, the interference didn't spread out, staying confined in a region around Leo.
While Dinna couldn't take her eyes from the show from Leo's right hand, some tiny amount of energy flowed from his left hand's fingertip into the ember without obstruction. The flow was so inconspicuous that Dinna didn't notice it.
A minute or so after, Leo finished and then offered the small object to her.
Accepting it, Dinna observed it. She tried to figure it out, and the first thing she noticed was a glaring difference. While one side had a drawing very smooth looking, the other one was crude and ragged.
"Which side?" even while in a trance, she heard Leo's question.
Moving her eyes, Dinna looked at the elderly. He was calm and composed again.
"I'll leave you at that and go outside and take in some air." he continued.
"I can lead yo..."
"No need. I can find my way out and ask people around for some tea. I'm sure you were already bored enough, so spend some time with your toys. First, look around. Well, once you figure the amber out. That will be self-explanatory, so no need to be hurried."
"I'll see you later," Leo added, bowed, and left the lab.
Left alone, Dinna frowned at the ember.
She noticed both sides had a few similarities, like the initial reactions to trying to trigger the Array. Also, both webs of circuits went through the surface while going inside the ember-like roots in the ground.
On the other hand, she noticed a few differences. Besides their appearance, the way her energy flowed was radically different. Likewise, so were the techniques used to build the Arrays.
What Leo made puzzled her. It seemed to try to do a bit of everything.
The arrays also had multi-outcomes and multipurpose. So, things like transmutation were just the first few details identified.
What puzzled her was how easily she found herself able to activate them through multiple paths. So she instead chose to hold back to avoid destroying the amber.
After spending some time, she moved her attention to the surrounding projects. Dinna questioned why did she decide to work on those? What could she have done differently? However, since such questions were too big, she sat and looked back at the ember stone.
Advertisement
There she stayed for quite a while.
---
By asking some people around, Leo found his way outside.
The place was a tea table on a veranda. This place wasn't as wide open as some other recreation areas in this house. But around him, Leo saw a gorgeous and colorful assortment of flowers. And, above his head, he saw a beautiful vine netted roof.
On this open veranda, the wind flew, carrying the enchanting smell of the surroundings. And some rays of the sun find their way through the roof, creating a relaxing atmosphere.
After being served tea, Leo asked to be left alone.
Leo stayed sitting there, enjoying the afternoon sun. While he was peaceful on the outside, his brain was contentiously working.
First, Leo cleared the confusion of his mind by situating himself well inside his timeline of memories.
Second, Leo reviewed where he came from and where he was going with his life.
Third, he focused on his muddled emotions, remembering what he felt after getting out of the trance and what may have triggered it.
At last, he pinpointed his loss.
Regarding his memories, Leo was clear on how feeble they had become for him. So he didn't spend his time despairing. His priority was to identify what crumbled accurately. And use that to fix this agonizing anxiety that wanted to take over him.
It took him some time, but he eventually discovered where the hole was in his timelines of memories. And he, therefore, worked on remembering things around it to fill the gap. While this is an imperfect solution, that's the best he could do.
Since a significant event was missing this time, it didn't take him too long to ascertain which one it was.
'Fellow monster, you are gone.' Leo felt the gap between the excitement before the forgotten chunk and the disappointment after the encounter.
Then, he readily filled the gap with whatever he could muster. After that, the meeting became only a fable in his mind, making Leo feel like an outsider in his own life a bit more.
The best and worse arose when it was an important event. While Leo could quickly pinpoint and fill the gap with detailed information, the alienation was much more powerful.
But, when it was a trivial memory, the hole was much harder to spot. And, even when Leo found it, often he couldn't even fill in the gap, leaving only the anxiety behind.
Advertisement
'I didn't expect a memory loss right now. Is my consciousness becoming fragile? But I saw no signs. Another answer could be that those random events might become closer as time goes on. But that would be worse. So much damage caused by a mundane wolf skull.'
While drinking the tea, Leo's mood slowly became colder, and he lost the little excitement he had towards socializing with the kids around.
Although he identified his mood swing, he let it be since too much stuff had been happening around him lately. Compared to his daily life in his last few hundred years, this had been overwhelming.
'Maybe I should've fixed the clock some other time... No, I wouldn't be able to hold back once everything was ready. Then, what do I do next? Receiving the payment comes first, but I should ultimately leave after solidifying a good relationship. I'm too old for this.'
Once dealing with the essential details, Leo forcibly controlled his emotions by fine-commanding his body conditions.
However, even with the chemical shower and precise muscle control, the annoyance deep inside Leo's head didn't disappear.
Despite everything, he continued to eat his afternoon snack. Besides, since he must do a detailed screening of his mind later, he would make the big resolutions then, when wholly focused.
Eventually, Leo cleaned the table, and the afternoon came closer to an end. After the night approached, Ginn finally appeared and joined Leo at the table after shaking hands.
"Hello, Leo Moon, the affair related to your old and new identity has been solved. We made sure to leave no trace behind. Ah, it has been quite some time. Have you recovered? Do you need anything else? I'm very grateful for the incredible help you provided by extracting the poison from Eloise. Sorry for the harsh welcomed you encountered that day. Of course, we solved that problem, and you can comfortably stay here for as much as you feel like it. My wife also expressed her gratitude, but unfortunately, you two will not be able to meet for a while. She entered a deep body recovery process that will at least take two more months. But before she submerged in medicine, she asked me to pass on this message: I will never forget the second chance you gave me."
After the urgent treatment, they began to plan how to proceed so that Eloise could begin cultivating afresh. Since she was healthy again, they could finally focus on moving forward.
Looking at Ginn Aravyz before him, Leo noticed small changes. While he always seemed like a bright young man, now he carried a hopeful and ambitious atmosphere, like he felt much lighter.
After thinking for a moment, Leo nodded and answered: "I'm good, thank you for asking. Also, you should tell your wife not to worry too much, as we already agreed on the payment."
While a smile appeared on his face, Ginn said: "She may not agree with it."
To that, Leo only responded with a hopeless shrug of his shoulder.
"Anyway, here is another part of the payment," Ginn said as he took a ring from his finger and gave it to Leo.
He continued: "If you're okay with it, the biweekly auction happens in two days. You already have a reserved place. But if you have something else in mind, I can reserve you a place in the next one."
"Two days, it is," Leo said as he inspected the ring.
"Also, thank you for sharing some of your insight with Dinna. While we can trade with people, getting knowledge is particularly difficult. However, that can't even compare to how difficult it's to receive guidance from someone experienced, that carries even more chains."
"No worries, that isn't much."
"I don't think she would agree with that either," Ginn mentioned.
"Alright, I also came here to invite you to join us at dinner. I would like you to meet this big family of mine. Since they all are around, you'll be meeting all my sworn brothers and sisters. Sadly, Eloise can't join us, but I hope we can repeat such an event once she's back walking around. Then, the gang would be all together."
"I felt like you would act more ."
Leo said in a humorous tone.
Ginn added in a flat tone.
But he then changed the subject:
'Is he telling me in advance because I may run away?'
Leaving the veranda, a young man guided Leo to his room.
Advertisement
- End1252 Chapters
Immortal Mortal
Here, only those with spiritual roots can cultivate while those with mortal roots are destined to stay mortal.
8 5199 - In Serial31 Chapters
Down the Deep Blue Hole
Greetings. I would be in those situations called "reincarnated into a dungeon" sort of thing popular in novels. I mean, who would have thought that those wasps could kill. Also, what is with this tiny cave? What is with this....pool? Lake? Either way, somehow I need to find a way to survive, which should be easy right? There's nothing around anyway, what could go wrong? Oh wait, I remember now. If memory serves this strange formation was called, in my previous life,..... a Blue Hole. ------------------------------------------------------------- First time trying to write at all, unless you count school essays. Help me out and rate my writeup I wish to improve my writing skills This has been inspired by way too many fictions to list, I have no life. (Starter concept: Interactive dungeon, Evolution mechanic: The Bound Dungeon and Scale dungeon, Dungeon resource: Lazy Dungeon Master, Magic Mechanic: original, Creatures: original, Dungeon abilities: The Bound Dungeon, Lazy Dungeon Master, The Demon Lord's Urban Development, Dungeon companion: The Slime Dungeon) and many more P.S.:please read said novels as well they are pretty good.(plz pester the writers and translator to do it faster). cover image courtesy of Google Images Beware the Depths of the Deep Blue Hole
8 135 - In Serial20 Chapters
Parallel World Vet
After a difficult and lonely life, Arun is reincarnated in a parallel world thanks to his love for animals. In the body of a brilliant vet who doesn't have any success, he wakes up with the ability to hear the voices of pets. And in this new world, they have a very important place, to the point that each human being has a unique pet. Thanks to the new capabilities offered by his system, Arun decides to take over the veterinary clinic he now owns, to help pets and their owners through their problems. But it seems that in this world where pets are as intelligent as humans, understanding them may lead him into complicated cases... What will he discover about this mysterious world, and about the true role of pets ? 1 chapter / day.
8 153 - In Serial125 Chapters
The Princess's Feathers
The Dragon captures the Princess. The brave knight appears to save her and slays the Dragon. Wooed by his gallantry, they both live happily ever after. I'm certain you've heard a variation of this tired fable countless times before. Real life isn't so idyllic, though. Far stranger, I've recently discovered! I'm a Princess too — at least, I used to be. While exploring the countryside a terrible event occurred and my life was plunged into danger. But instead of being captured by a Dragon, I turned into one! Acting on my draconic instincts I was able to defend myself and save my life. Wonderful! Now there's just one large, fire breathing problem: How do I turn back to normal? Um, I didn't ask for any of this, you know? I'm the Princess! I have a Kingdom to run, I can't be a Dragon! Why did this happen to me? And what am I going to do about it? A fantasy novel with dragons, anthropomorphic characters, and hand-drawn illustrations! Expect some slice of life before delving into adventure after Princess Asha transforms in this chapter. Updating Mondays for the month of August. Character Profiles: toyhou.se
8 157 - In Serial31 Chapters
Reincarnated As A Crocodile
There are two types of people in the world. Those who are live strong and free and those who live sacred and weak. Our hero of the story is a mixture of both. All he can remember is going to sleep after winning the lottery and ready for an easy life. Because by god working is such a pain the ass. Now he woke up in a marsh pond as a crocodile. "Noy Jitat! Did why am I in a Jitatin marsh pond!!?"It seemed like this place was a fantasy world where strange-looking beasts ran rampant. And just like in a game, I seemed to be able to check my enemies’ and my ability.Let’s hunt monsters and gather titles in order to level up and evolve into a Strong Beast! And I heard a mysterious voice in my head, “Let’s aim to be the strongest!”But fuck that! I will be so strong so that no one will able to beat me and I will be lazy damnmit! Or just be lazy and hide for the rest of my life.
8 146 - In Serial28 Chapters
Wonder Baby
A man reborn as a baby, where even opening a door requires thought . A true struggle for a baby to find his place in such a large world. This Fantasy world is one of great delights and dark paths that make it hard to see who is a good person?
8 178

