Katharsis: A Valens Heritage Universe Novel by Gerard Peter

Author:Gerard, Peter [Gerard, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-17T00:00:00+00:00

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“So this is where you’ve focused your attention lately,” Helga said as she joined Gael and Will. They were in the basement room that contained the spell Áthas was tied to. Will had that faraway look that indicated someone working in VR. Gael focused briefly on Helga and smiled a greeting before joining Will in the VR experience.

Mother and Will have been adjusting the interface for me.

“Are you guys making any headway?” Helga asked.

“We are,” Will answered, but his expression remained distant. “The primary problem is how the interface is designed to work. I built it to interface with the brain, not directly to the soul.”

“You humans are too tied to your physical existence,” Gael accused. She remained in the VR experience. “Without the soul, you are nothing. The body is simply a tool the soul uses to navigate reality.”

“Headway?” Helga asked, encouraging Will to expand his statement.

“Being so tied to physical existence, I designed the interface to work with the brain’s signals. Mundanes simply don’t use mana enough for me to use the connections mages or even lycans would use.”

“That was very cumbersome,” Gael added. “Better to connect directly with the soul. Use chi pathways rather than the mana pathways human mages use.”

“Human mages don’t use chi, Lady Gael,” Will replied.

“Well, now you do,” Gael added.

“Yes, thanks to you,” Will said. “I think your approach will work with mundanes, too.”

“Is that an improvement?” Helga asked.

“Yes and no. This method of connecting to the interface enables a much more immersive experience, but requires the user to spend more time connecting to the interface,” Will told her.

“When will Áthas have her interface, Gael?” Helga asked, hoping for a more direct answer.

“A day or so, I think,” Gael replied. “I have the spell worked out. Will just needs to prepare it so we can enchant a suitable object.”

I can’t wait! Áthas said excitedly.

“I can’t wait, either,” Helga said, sending a warm surge of chi to caress her friend. Can we talk, Gael?

“Join me for a moment, Helga,” Gael asked, then led her to the area of the room She’d taken for her own. They walked past a privacy barrier. Helga felt the tingle as she crossed it.

“How can I help you?” Gael said, indicating a chair for Helga to sit in. Helga took a seat.

“It’s Art,” she said quietly. “There’s a darkness in his soul, Gael.”

“I know, Dear,” she replied. “It’s very attractive.”

“Seriously?” Helga asked, surprised.

“Very seriously,” Gael answered. “Follow that darkness, Helga. It leads to the part of him holding your links. The part of Art that holds Áthas’ link.”

“That’s where he’s most empathic,” Helga protested. “How can he have that darkness and still feel what others feel?”

“He feels what those he cares about feel, Helga,” Gael clarified. “He’ll face the Adversary himself to protect those he cares about.”

“But his core nature is so caring,” Helga said. “The darkness seems so different and alien to that core.”

“We all have a dark part of our souls, Helga,” Gael told her. “You’ve seen mine.

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