Elder Cultivator

There were certain mysteries still about how Vari was unable to control her actions- influencing the minds of others was difficult even for powerful cultivators. Catarina conjectured that the Holy Harmony Technique had some interaction with formations set up on planets controlled by the Harmonious Citadel. Without visiting herself she could not confirm anything, but that along with more mundane methods was likely how Vari’s brainwashing came to be. She wouldn’t question her control being rewritten if she was taught that all was as it should be.

Besides that point, assisting Vari with her potential cultivation options was going well. She was learning much, but when it came to matters of ascension her knowledge was lacking.

“What do you mean you had to tear apart the fabric of the world to ascend?” Vari’s eye twitched. “Isn’t it just… another cultivation advancement?”

“The lower realms don’t have any ascension energy,” Catarina pointed out. “Upper energy, as you would call it here. So to get access to it various extreme measures are required. Advancing without it is… impossible.”

“I have the feeling you were going to say something else there,” Vari said.

Catarina raised an eyebrow, “Oh? Do I detect a hint of Insight in there?”

“... it seemed important to train that. It’s difficult, though. I think the Holy Harmony Technique is incompatible with it by design,” Vari sighed. “It’s… I almost wish I could just be like I was before, believing the Saints were something great. I guess they are great, by some definitions. And also terrible.’ Her eyes flashed, “I’m going to destroy them.” Then she cleared her throat. “Just kidding. I know I’m not strong enough to do that.”

“Wow,” Alva said. “This is… a pretty serious flip, either way.”

Vari shrugged, “Almost everything they told me is a lie, or at least a deception. Now that I’m willing to accept that, anything less than wholehearted rejection would be a disservice to myself.” She frowned for a few moments, “It’s still hard not to fall into old habits though. But about that ascension thing…”

“We’re fairly certain that actual ascension creates a fundamental difference in Integration cultivators,” Catarina said. “The members of the Harmonious Citadel we’ve come into conflict with… all Integration cultivators on some level should be considered elites. They had flaws but were still strong… but not as much as perhaps they should be.”

“I think you guys have weird standards,” Vari commented.

“Do we? I understand that we are not typical cultivators where we come from, but even you were able to stand up against an Integration cultivator for a time. The difference in power is not what it should be.”

Vari shook her head, “We were inside your formation though. But I’ll admit… there might have been something else. I felt…” she frowned, “Like I was taking something back, I guess? Not just my determination to resist, but also something more practical.”

“Very interesting,” Catarina replied. “What would you say that something was?”

“I can only guess,” Vari admitted. “But it should be devotion. That’s the fundamental difference with the Glorious Harmony Technique. I don’t know that for sure, though. Making use of that… will likely be difficult. I can’t exactly practice safely.” Her mind drifted away, thinking of various absurd options. “I at least might be able to alter my cultivation technique to maintain control over myself, with your help.”

There were many more details to discuss- but such things took time, during which they had other goals to pursue. That included a return to Everheart’s Tomb.

-----

Having previously studied the Great Hall, there were several more locations that Catarina surmised some important connections to her formation plate were. The Gardens were sprawling and wild, a place that nobody wanted to land directly even if some chose to explore the area. The Labyrinth was another, and their previous trip they had simply been trying to get through- their route either hadn’t taken them close to the sort of thing she imagined, or they missed it. That left the Library, which was not only a place people were willing to come and go, but also potentially useful for various endeavors.

It seemed to be full of all sorts of cultivation knowledge… but instead of being freely available, access to certain parts of it had all sorts of stipulations and tests. As was the case with the entire tomb contrary to those on Ceretos, some of those tests could be deadly. They still maintained the frustrations that were Everheart’s bread and butter, of course- the annoyance factor was perhaps even increased, with the danger dialed up as well.

Outside of the Library was a scholarly projection of Everheart- a well manicured beard meant to provide a tone of dignity, along with well fitting robes that were not overly ornamented, at least as standards of powerful cultivators went.

“Stay in line, everyone!” Everheart called out. “Everyone will be processed quickly.” There was only a single entrance, and for some reason people were being manually observed by this projection instead of things being handled by a formation. It seemed unnecessary, but that was just one eccentricity of Everheart. Given that this was one of the largest points of interest on the planet, the fact that only several hundred individuals were in line was quite reasonable. “Level one access,” Everheart handed a group badges. “Next!” Several more cultivators approached him. “Insufficient contribution points. Go complete some challenges… or hunt down some bounties,” he gestured to the side.

“What are the bounties?” Vari asked Alva.

Alva didn’t know, but she was able to focus her eyes more than the others. “It appears to be tied to people… and particular texts. It seems that people have stolen some things from the LIbrary.”

Another group approached, “We come with donations,” the leader said, holding out a magic bag.

Everheart dumped it out on a nearby table- his usual carefree attitude showing through, though he did use his energy to soften their landing to avoid damaging them. “Moonlight Shadows…” Everheart flipped through the book, “Already have it,” he casually tossed it back into the bag. “Golden Heart…” he said as he unfurled a scroll. “An early copy. Fascinating.” He set it aside. “Ten Thousand Sword Stances…” Everheart looked through it. “Ehh… I guess I technically don’t have it. That’s worth something.” He continued to sort through the book- rejecting many and disparaging many more. “This is sufficient for you to go to the third level,” he declared to the group, tossing them back the bag of the rejects. The rest were swept out behind him with a flick of his sleeve, flying into the Library on their own.

The line moved fairly quickly- Everheart made snap judgements about donations of texts, and people either had enough points to enter or not. Eventually it came to time for the five- or seven, if the wolves were to be counted. “Any destruction of property by your animals will be your responsibility. As a group, you can descend to the second level.” With that he waved them through. But just as they were about to cross the threshold, Everheart turned from the group he was about to screen back to them. “One moment.” They stopped, aware that ignoring him could be dangerous. “You don’t happen to have a copy of Candle Wax, do you?”

“I don’t believe so,” Catarina took the mantle of speaking for the group. “Why?”

“It’s simply that I have been looking for it,” Everheart shrugged. “It’s worth extra until my whim passes.” There was a muttering of those in line at that. Then Everheart turned to the group in front of him again. “This technique manual is garbage,” he said. An older member of their group dove after the book he tossed into the distance, a pained look on his face.

Before they could be stopped again, the others continue past the threshold, finding themselves inside the Library proper. Unlike the Great Hall it was a reasonable height- shelves that the average human could reach the top of- but stretching out in all directions as far as the eye could see. Scrolls and books and even ancient stone tablets filled the shelves, or occasional other methods of storage. They didn’t have a specific goal in mind except for the thing Catarina was looking for, but the huge stores of knowledge were an opportunity for all of them.

-----

Inside the Library seemed safe, which didn’t mean it was. In fact, Catarina could confirm that it was decidedly not safe, but nothing under Everheart’s control ever was. From what she could tell it was mainly for the protection of the books. In this place, fighting was expressly not allowed. “Why does he allow books to be stolen?” Catarina wondered.

“People are just tricky, I guess,” Vari said.

“That only works if you aren’t being monitored at every moment. Placing something in a storage bag will hide it from vision at the exit, but he still knows who stole what. Otherwise there wouldn’t be bounties. This place has sufficient power to just stop them. Or it should…” Catarina muttered to herself, “Is there insufficient power, or is it for some sort of sadistic fun?” The truth would likely swing towards the latter.

Vari looked at the shelves around her. They were vast in scope, rows and rows stretching off beyond where she could see. “I don’t know how anyone finds anything here,” she admitted.

“That is my job,” a floating orb of light said from right next to her. She startled, as she hadn’t sensed it approach. “Do not be alarmed. Combat functions are not included in me. What do you want to find?”

“Uh…” Vari frowned. “Things on the Integration stage and… stealing energy?”

“I can direct you to the former. The majority of the latter category are in levels you do not have access to. Do you desire materials on Ascension as well?”

“There’s a difference?” Vari asked.

The orb of light paused for a few moments. “I do not understand such things, but they are overlapping categories. What do you wish to be directed to?”

“Umm, both, please.”

“Very well. Please be advised that you are limited to-” the voice faltered briefly, “-eight texts in your possession at any time. Reading tables are provided throughout the Library. Please remember to eat and drink, but do not make a mess. This includes forgoing such activities and dying on the floor. You will not be forgiven for such an act.”

“... I don’t plan to die,” Vari said. “Can you help me find my way back to my companions?”

“They are here,” the ball of light said.

“I mean later.”

“Yes. With their permission, I can guide you to others.”

“Okay,” Vari nodded. “I’ll find you all later, then?”

She followed the ball of light which scurried off down between rows of shelves- while also remaining exactly in place. “Can I help you find something?” Catarina somehow felt the formless voice was directed at her.

“Formations,” she said without thinking. Though her answer would have ultimately been the same regardless.

Timothy and Hoyt left to study energy redirection and fire control respectively, though as they were inspired they might find interest in different topics.

That left Alva with two wolves- one seemingly quite comfortable and the other concerned about being indoors. Spikes was still new to non-cave things around her.

“Your interests?” the light askes Alva.

“Archery, mounted combat…” Alva frowned for a moment, then was nudged by Fuzz. She watched how his paw moved on the ground, tracing letters but not actually scratching the surface. “And he wants beast techniques, if you have them.”

“Very well. This way.” The light split in two. “Archery here.” The other swirled slightly, “Beast techniques here. I must remind you that damage to property via teeth marks still results in penalties.”

“Uh, actually,” Alva said. “... maybe I’ll go with them right now.”

The light leading the other direction disappeared, and she followed the other with the two wolves. Spikes didn’t seem to fully understand what was happening, though Fuzz seemed to be able to partially explain. At least the light didn’t require clarification on beast techniques… or maybe it did. If she found herself looking at taming options, she would have to be more clever with her wording. If Everheart even had what Fuzz was looking for.