Volume One - Chapter Ten: Integration

I’d just arrived back at the mansion, when Ali flew up to me. “The mistress would like to see you in her office, as soon as you have cleaned yourself up.” Shit, I haven’t done anything wrong recently! Not long after I arrived at the mansion, I realized that these faeries and I were very similar. We love practical jokes! Early on, I got together with some of the younger (relatively speaking, they are immortal) faeries. We proceeded to terrorize the other inhabitants of the mansion. I’m pretty sure that most took it as pure fun, I still remember the time we got Gunther. That morning, I woke up early and snuck down to his room. We turned the hallway leading to the staircase outside his door into ice. Using one of my friend’s ability, he’s a water faerie. Then, because we knew that earth faerie’s all have incredible balance, we used my other friend, an air elemental faerie, to tug on his feet is tripping him. It only worked because he’s always groggy in the morning, and I’m sure he knew it was me because beat the ever living crap out of me that morning. Usually, he at least gives me a chance to fight back. Not that morning. Still, it was worth it to watch him sliding down the hallway and then rolling down the stairs! Of course, we didn’t stop there. Who do you think I am? The next day, we tried to get Great-Granny Kingsly… it was a horrible plan, and didn’t even come close to working, so I won’t bother to document it. Suffice it to say, Great-Granny Kingsly’s methods of dealing with us were… interesting.

Since then, I’ve avoided all contact with her whenever possible. I’ve come to the conclusion that she isn’t really evil, but some of her methods surely are! Getting called to her office happens for one of two reasons. One, I’ve done something stupid. (Even I know that it’s stupid I just can’t help myself) Or two, it's time for my training schedule to change. That’s even scarier, because Great-Granny Kingsly seems to actually enjoy my practical joking and gives me minor punishments. But, she never, ever slacks off with my training.

I quickly ran to the shower, because the last time I was too slow for her she threw me into a giant lake full of monsters. Telling me to have fun before strolling off. It only took me a few minutes to get presentable and sprint at light speed to her office. The faeries I passed on the way pointed at me, speaking in loud voices, “I wonder if he’ll survive this time.” Or in a falsely pitying voice, “I’d rather go a week without mana then get called to her office.” I arrived, expecting to find the door closed like normally, but it seemed that she was really looking forward to this meeting. As I entered the room she smiled and waved her hand, before I even realized it I’d fallen asleep.

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Jaw’s POV

We all knew this was coming, but there was nothing we could do. Our affinity to psionic type magic is total shit! Before this life, we’d never bothered to use it before, and we didn’t have the advantage of being alive. When you’re alive you can increase your affinities quickly as long as you’re willing to work hard. But, after death and entering the subconsciousness, it becomes incredibly difficult. We could have integrated fully in a few hundred years, but six months was far too short a time. We’re screwed was all that we could think, as we looked at her evil eyes and hung our head.

“So, you didn’t succeed, as expected.”

We looked at her and glared, as if asking, then why did you tell us to do it so quickly! But, we had learned better than to mess with this lady. We held our tongue.

She sighed, looking saddened before going on, “I don’t know what to do, much longer and you will start breaking apart, seriously damaging yourselves and harming David in the process. I give you 20 years, max. I really don’t want to do this to you, but I don’t see another option.”

“We know what we need to do, but our affinity to psionic magic is total shit. We had hoped to use one of our more powerful personalities, one that had been on the cusp of immortality while he was alive, as a focal point and connect all of the rest of us to him. Leaving us as separate entities, but all integrated and connected like we used to be. But, we just couldn’t do it. We’d need at least a couple hundred years.”

“You don’t have a couple hundred years, but what you described would certainly work in the short term. In fact, it’s very similar to what you do when you become an immortal. However, in order to actually become an immortal the main personality, the one in control, has to be the one that runs the consciousness.”

We kept looking down, saying sadly, “Do it, whatever it is you’re going to do. We won't take this chance away from David. Most of us have existed for tens of thousands of years. The oldest among us as existed for over 100,000 years. We will accept the death of some of us in order to reach for immortality.”

“What I was originally planning to do would have been a permanent fix, one that would’ve lasted through all of your future lifetimes if David failed. However, it would have also destroyed the part of your soul that makes you so unique and powerful. It would have fully integrated you into one being at the cost of much of your power and knowledge. However, I think that I can do for you, what you originally planned to do. The fix will only last for a few hundred years at most, but it will give David the time he needs to become truly strong. When he finally reaches for immortality, and uses his power to fully integrate all of you I’d much rather he received all of your knowledge and power. Not just the pitiful remainder that would’ve been left if I had forcefully fully integrated you.”

At that, she touched our forehead and entered into our subconsciousness for the first time. She suddenly used her powers, connecting all of us to her with a psionic link. Then, she moved the focus of the linkage from her to the most powerful of us… the dick from the Magician’s tower. Not finished yet, she created a small, tenuous linkage between the subconscious and the conscious mind. She then spoke to us, “Do not abuse that link, it is only to be used in times of extreme peril! I made it to help David when he begins to study the mysteries of psionic powers. However, if I ever find out that you abused that link, and I will know, I will do what I originally planned to do. Teach him what you can while he meditates, I will ensure that he is powerful enough to succeed when the time comes.”

After that, she disappeared from our mind, and David was back in control of the body. We looked around, and could feel the connection was back. It was even stronger than when I first joined the entity known as David’s soul. We all looked at each other, saddened by our lack of privacy. But, at the same time we all felt better. We are meant to be a single entity, and with our connections reestablished we finally noticed just how seriously we had damaged our own soul by focusing so hard on individuality. Great-Granny Kingsly may have given us 20 years max, but we were sure it wouldn’t have been more than another 10 years before we were damaged beyond repair. As scary as that woman is, it seems like she really does care about us. From that day forth, we focused on training David as best we could while looking out for him. We needed him to be strong, to reach immortality, and do it quickly. For all of us, including him.

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David’s POV

As I awoke again, I noticed that I was standing. I thought for a few moments and then began to grow suspicious. That place I was just in, it was eerily similar to where I go when I meditate. It was time that I started asking questions. Something was going on with me, and Great-Granny Kingsly was causing it. Finally, I spoke up, “Ok, I think it’s time you tell me what the hell is happening when I black out like that. I’ve noticed that every time it happens, you wave your hand at me, then I black out. I never noticed before, but the place I go to is very similar the place that meditating takes me too.”

She sighed, looking tired, “You really are too smart for your own good, but that’s to be expected. I will not tell you, and not because you don’t deserve to know, but because telling you now would be harmful to you. Only when you begin to approach immortality will you be able to understand, comprehend, and accept the truth. It is something that all of us who seek power must go through, and it is not fun. Please, just accept that that’s all I can tell you.”

“Fine, I never expected you to tell me anyway, I just had to ask. Instead, isn’t it time that you taught me how to refine energy? I already know that I’m far past where I can begin.”

“No, I will not. Nor will anyone else teach you how to refine until you are sixteen. Please, don’t ask again. I won’t explain why, either. There are some things that you are better off not knowing until you are older.”

“So, I just have to wait another nine and half years before I actually get to start living my life? Do I even get to see my parents or go to school?”

“Of course you do! I told your parents three years, and I meant it. You will have to train while you go to school and live with your parents, but it won’t be as intense as this. Just, trust me, please.” She looked at me so sincerely that I couldn’t do anything but trust her. Especially, because something inside of me was telling me that she’s telling the truth. Finally, I just sighed and left. It was time to start meditating, anyway.