Soulship: Book Two: Soul Shelter by Nathan Thompson

Author:Nathan Thompson [Thompson, Nathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-06T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

“And that’s where I think we should stop, Jasper,” Vessa told me, as the second wisp in my mind stabilized. Unlike the qi drops, or the essence cracks, it did not take on a particular color or shape. Instead, it began to float in a particular pattern, one that was indecipherable to me at the time.

“Is my choice really that rare, Vessa?” I asked my teacher, puzzled by her earlier comments.

“It wasn’t quite as rare back in the day, but for the present, absolutely,” the gray woman confirmed with a nod.

“But it seems like such an obvious choice to make,” I argued. “So much of mana revolves around studying. I would have thought everyone would pick this subject for their beginning wisps.”

“They don’t,” Vessa insisted, “because most worlds aren’t nearly as far along in the sciences as your own. Especially when Source energy can power so many different things in so many different ways. There just isn’t enough need to invest in non-Source disciplines, and things like ‘the study of fire’ or the ‘the study of ice,’ or even ‘the study of flight,’ are both far more approachable, and far more appealing, than what you just picked to study for your second wisp.”

“But my second wisp literally encapsulates all those things you just mentioned,” I argued back. “If I’m understanding it right, it should literally let me do everything, or at least come very close.”

“I know,” Vessa sighed tiredly. “But most mana practitioners don’t want to do everything, Jasper. They want to fly, throw fireballs, heal wounds, amass power and wealth, or live forever. Or some combination of all of those things. They might pick your particular discipline later, maybe after the bronze stage, but like I’ve been saying all along, they go for the easier, faster, surer roads to power and longevity. Studying a science this broad would take forever, even if it would provide the best long-term gains.”

“Is it going to cost us?” I asked, though I was repeating the question. Vessa gave me the same answer as before.

“No,” she said patiently. “Not with the way you’ve handled your other two Sources. You’ve been rounding things out very well, in fact. And if we keep finding the resources I need us to find, your Advancement shouldn’t really suffer. So you’ll keep pace with being able to handle my random needs, instead of coming up with a path to power that benefits yourself.”

I shrugged, not willing to have that argument with her again. I had already pointed out to her that helping her helped me, and I had a whole bevy of new potential as evidence.

“At any rate, that will have to do for now,” the ship-woman said, making an annoyed frown as she glanced over to where her Beacon was sleeping. “Nova should have already woken up by now…”

“Oh, I doubt it,” I replied easily. “She loves sleep, especially in a comfortable place. Her favorite thing about our old orphanage was the fact that she got to lie down somewhere soft, warm, and safe.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.