Dominion of Earth:

  Fourth Sphere- Bloodline Talent awakened: Reality Sculptor. (3201/100000)

  Reality Sculptor - The will of a Titan shapes natural w, to better align it toward their ideal paradise. Enhances domain projection, offers resistance against contrary natural ws, influences environmental and metaphysical presence. Seed of Reality awakened.

  __

  Dominion of Knowledge:

  Fourth Sphere - improved will projection and concentration. Focus on a singur task can be amplified through personal time distortion at an inverse ratio. Enlightenment Cantrip acquired. (1253/100000)Enlightenment- allows transference of memories and ideas to other consciousnesses, or impntation of intent into inanimate objects.

  After the vision with Beloved came to an end, Cyril remained locked in meditation to analyze the results. The boons from these breakthroughs were certainly..more complex and abstract than previous ones. To be expected after invoking Divine Inspiration and seeking a more intellectual solution to the problem of Elys’ disappearance.

  The natural treasures he had id about in anticipation of his breakthroughs had mostly been consumed; only faint motes of their qi remained within the chamber. Beyond them, Cyril could sense a deeper connection to the Library--a pleasing sort of rapport, like being in the presence of an old friend. Its aura was welcoming, suffused with Knowledge that was both foreign yet comfortable. He suspected he was sensing the natural ws that the Library’s spiritual network influenced, acting in pleasing harmony with his own wishes.

  Despite the awakening of his Bloodline Talent, he still had little idea what natural ws truly were. His basic studies as a youth had not touched deeply upon such high-level concepts.

  From what he could recall, natural ws dictated the physics and possibilities of the world. In certain regions, they could be warped or maniputed by powerful enough spiritual energies. The Four Rotating Isnds and the satellite ndmasses from Beloved’s vision, for instance, had the environment and the people within undergo mutations from a dense accumution of Leviathan’s qi. Likewise, Elys’ Phoenix Aura had passively improved the cultivation of relevant affinities for those under her protection.

  Visions he had of Behemoth had revealed the Titan of Earth had a simir presence. Its physical form created a whirlwind domain of force and w that imposed itself on the world. The sheer weight of its metaphysical presence warped reality.

  That meant that Reality Sculptor imparted a simir boon to him. At his current level, he doubted his mere presence would be enough to overwrite the natural ws of the world. Still, it should manifest itself in interesting ways. It would also presumably offer innate resistance against rival domains and environments.

  Recent confrontations had exposed his poor understanding of domains in general. He thought that the gravity field he could project was an early domain, but he had been deluded about his capabilities at the time. Perhaps this was the first step toward developing a true high-level technique.

  Most exciting of all, Reality Sculptor was a Bloodline Talent. This was a rare boon in the cultivation world: familial inheritance.

  Cyril’s ancestor had a deep connection with the Phoenix, which had carried down through the ages long enough to make Elys a viable candidate to become the Titan of Fire’s Vessel.

  Any future descendents of his would have an innate connection with Behemoth, forever influencing their fate. Immediate offspring of his would be prodigies beyond the pale. And as Elys had proved, even distant descendents could possess a bloodline of high purity.

  Certain treasures were also rumored to enhance Bloodline Talents. They were exceptionally rare, though not necessarily priceless. Any prospective sellers had to find a prospective buyer, after all--someone that could utilize the treasure and was willing to pay handsomely for the opportunity.

  Cyril would have to look into any possible options for himself. A future avenue to explore. First, he had to establish access with a global mercantile network capable of finding such treasures. Second, he had to ensure that he didn’t fall into a trap set up by the Cult of Leviathan. Their empire would have their finger on the pulse of trade, and any other form of power distribution and consolidation throughout the world. He couldn’t expose himself to anyone he didn’t trust, and anyone he sent to negotiate on his behalf would be at risk.

  The supposed ‘Seed of Reality’ mentioned at the end of the Fourth Sphere’s boon also caught Cyril’s attention. A quick survey of his spirit and body revealed a few alterations from the breakthrough. Most significantly, the mental channels throughout his head were coated in patches of shimmering blue-green, like clusters of lichen growing along tunnel walls. That could have been the Seed of Reality, but he wasn’t sure. The specific hue reminded him more of Knowledge qi opposed to Earth, but the dual breakthrough may have led to a fusion of the energies.

  He moved on to analyzing his Dominion of Knowledge next. His mind did feel sharper, more inspired in creativity of thought than usual. The full extent of it was impossible to tell while sitting around staring at his soul.

  Most of his inspiration in the past had come from the battlefield. Later, he honed them through breakthroughs. Pure meditation did have its uses, however, and he intended to slow down and consolidate his Destiny before speeding forward again.

  The mention of time distortion immediately made him want to experiment. He thought he understood the basics of the boon, at least. Time would seem to slow down for him whenever he was engaged in a task. The more engaged he was, the more it should slow down.

  This effect wouldn’t overwrite the natural ws of time, of course. Only his own perspective would drag on. In a sense, it would make focusing on a task more tedious. But if suffering through a longer stretch allowed him to truly devote his soul to an important project, it would be worthwhile. Upper echelon cultivators already lived thousands of years; for an entity like Behemoth, centuries passed in the blink of an eye.

  The inverse aspect of it also brought a smile to his face. If he was completely unfocused on a task, could he speed up time from his own perspective? It was hard to imagine many cases where that would prove useful, but it could offer some amusing benefits. Or some morbid ones.

  Of all the boons, the Enlightenment Cantrip was the best of all. It was an unassuming concept, but the rhythm of the technique was vast and complex. This technique was the keystone of his project, and brought the full synergy of his new boons into full view.

  Beloved was able to impart some facsimile of sentience into his golems. They could operate independently according to a set of embedded principles. Fly in this manner, swing a sword through this pattern. Enlightenment, in theory, should enable Cyril to also give directions to his creations.

  Finding Elys would be a more complicated process than sending out an army of single-minded golems to search for her. Especially deep in Leviathan’s territory. Anyone who came across them would immediately dismantle them and discover traces of Behemoth’s qi involved in their construction.

  A bit more creativity was required. A golem didn’t require a humanoid form. They didn’t have to march around searching for someone. Given that he hadn’t even experimented with the Cantrip yet, he doubted he could create anything particurly complex. Even making a golem walk in a straight line could prove a challenge. Witnessing Beloved’s innate skill with golemmaking gave him an advantage, but he wasn’t a heaven’s chosen with the same unique set of insights.

  No, it would be better to create an object that could be snuck into enemy territory and allow him to communicate with Elys.

  What better method of transferring Knowledge was there than, say, a book?

  Libraries simir to the one within Beljeza lined the entire known world. They were meant to be neutral territories, though it would have been naive to think some of them didn’t have their own allegiances. If Elys was stuck in hostile nds and her spiritual prowess diminished after her revival, she would seek out such neutral locations. Her retionship to Knowledge made Libraries an obvious choice.

  Cyril sighed. He supposed he had finally reached the inevitable stage of a Librarian’s career, and so early too: he had determined that he was going to have to write a book of supreme importance. The details would have to capture Elys’ attention without being too obvious to others. Specific details for its construction would have to come ter.

  Finally, he reviewed the descriptions carved onto his soul. His breakthrough to the Fourth Sphere of Knowledge had led to some shuffling in the yout. It provided a simple record of his many deeds and accomplishments--suffering, and success. It was nostalgic to gaze upon, but he felt he was reaching a point where he no longer required such a reminder. The information had already been written onto his being, though he knew he was far from unlocking the full potential of his abilities.

  Prince Cyril, Vessel of BehemothPeak Foundation Stage

  Dominions:

  Earth, Fourth Sphere 3201/100000Knowledge, Fourth Sphere 1253/100000Sun, Third Sphere 3750/10000Gravity, Third Sphere 8311/10000Mass, Second Sphere 993/1000

  Constitution:

  Self-Forming Paragon - Cy [First Stratum]Magmatic Heart

  Bloodline Talent:

  Reality Sculptor (Awakened)

  Cantrips:

  FlickerMind ScrollPressureReinforceTransmuteTranstePurifyWorld MapEnlightenment

  Blessings:

  Seed of KnowledgeA Beacon HomeSeed of Reality

  Cursed Blessing:

  Scion of the Underdark (partially suppressed)

  Cyril finally opened his eyes.

  No one else remained within the Crystal Chamber. It was impossible to tell how much time had passed. He stood and brushed himself off. The natural treasures he had consumed during his breakthroughs had disintegrated into a fine yer of dust and ash. Lost to entropy, the enemy of all cultivators.

  Soon after he stirred back to life, Djinn Librarian-Three floated into the room, hands csped together in greetings. Cyril paid special attention to the tome that made up the spirit’s head. Its design had inspired him, at least on a subconscious level, to consider writing a book embedded with a golem’s instructions. Djinn Librarian-Three, perhaps noticing the intensity of his scrutiny, retreated backwards a few paces.

  Cyril smiled. “How long has it been, then?”Hesitantly, the pages of the spirit’s head opened, and ink scrawled itself along the papyrus. By your way of understanding: exactly three days, seven hours, thirty-seven minutes, ten seconds, fifty-seven--

  “Right,” he interrupted. “Any cataclysmic events in my absence? Complete breakdown of social order? Mundane uprising?”

  My interest in the world beyond these walls is as minimal as possible. The Library is not set afme. No frantic visitors have attempted to disturb you, beyond some of your followers seeking an update on your status. Shall I send out summons for anyone in particur, Librarian Cyril/Behemoth?

  Cyril waved the spirit away. Djinn-Three folded its arms, leaned its bookhead forward, and turned to depart.

  “Wait,” he said. “Would you mind if I use my new Knowledge technique on you?”

  That depends on the nature of your technique.

  “Providing Enlightenment,” said Cyril.

  To his surprise, his intonation changed when speaking the name of the Cantrip. A small wisp of Knowledge qi escaped from the channels surrounding his mouth, infusing his will into the sound vibrations. Contained within the word was a vague sense of the Cantrip’s functions.

  Djinn-Three paused for a moment, considering the information contained within Cyril’s response. Interesting. This technique must be the root of that mental network that Lady Elys was able to create. As always, I must warn you, any hostile intentions will be reciprocated with the full might of the Library.

  Cyril rubbed his hands together. “Good. I’ve done enough sitting around. Time to get to work.”