02-25-2016, 11:41 PM
Nealaphh chose to elaborate on the subject.
It is due imminently, though there have been reports of banditry in the Steppes. If my agent in that verse is doing his job, though, it should be arriving within the next day.
Tom nodded slowly in comprehension, all while jotting down scrupulous notes on his current project. The nature of the wizard's magic was irksome to the God-Mind. It seemed too wild, too unpredictable. Yes, Tom wielded it in such a way as to be more coherent that it might have otherwise been, but ultimately Nealaphh could see the inherent instability in the details of his castings.
Normally it wouldn't have bothered Nealaphh; there were precious few arcane traditions that allowed mastery of the physical universe while also allowing the wielder to cling to their precious sanity. The God-Mind had tried to explain several times to Tom that its abilities were not magical in nature, at least not in a literal sense, but the wizard seemed to try and find ties in almost all the Omniverse back to his home world.
Clearly he was very attached to his universe of origin, especially considering his construction of this castle, as well as his subconscious summoning of the Harry and Ginny Secondaries. Nealaphh often found itself wondering just what significance these two young spellcasters held for Tom. Indeed, neither the Enigma or Tom had revealed a great deal of their pre-Omniverse lives to one another.
Perhaps it was out of a sense of respect, or maybe even standard caution. Nealaphh and Tom had been through quite a lot in their relatively short time together, but there were still occasions when the God-Mind could detect trepidation in the pseudo-human's actions. Perhaps the confrontation with Volvagia would prove to be the cornerstone in the foundation of this relationship.
This reminded Nealaphh that it would have to start marketing the Institute for recruits again. It was difficult to maintain long term interest in Primes when Nealaphh actually had little to offer in terms of having a home and job. Nobody should ever feel irrelevant in the Enigma's moral system; it was taking a significant gamble that banishing the dragon would prove a suitable catalyst to prove that the Institute was capable of providing such a sense of belonging.
Regardless, neither Tom nor the God-Mind had said anything to each other for several minutes, so Nealaphh decided that the conversation was over.
I will be in the lab if you need me.
Nealaphh was, of course, referring to the secret, sealed off dungeon that Tom had created for their mutual benefit. In the God-Mind's time away from the forge, it had recently been experimenting with making incursions on the minds of sleeping denizens. Using the Astral Realm as a conduit, Nealaphh had successfully infiltrated the dreams of several secondaries.
Even now, as the God-Mind emerged explosively from the radiant fireplace, the comatose humans stirred restlessly in their sleep. Nealaphh had taken the liberty of writing a Thrall into each one of their brains to monitor their ongoing dream cycles. The Enigma would have to check in with the invasive psyches shortly. For now, there was bigger game to catch.
After days of proofing, Nealaphh believed that it was time to try and insert itself into the dreams of a Prime. Sitting down on a dias it had made specifically for the purpose of meditating, the God-Mind closed its eyes and let its mind escape from its physical constraints. It was a pleasant feeling, being temporarily without form, but the Enigma swiftly found a vulnerable, sleeping psyche to latch on to...
It is due imminently, though there have been reports of banditry in the Steppes. If my agent in that verse is doing his job, though, it should be arriving within the next day.
Tom nodded slowly in comprehension, all while jotting down scrupulous notes on his current project. The nature of the wizard's magic was irksome to the God-Mind. It seemed too wild, too unpredictable. Yes, Tom wielded it in such a way as to be more coherent that it might have otherwise been, but ultimately Nealaphh could see the inherent instability in the details of his castings.
Normally it wouldn't have bothered Nealaphh; there were precious few arcane traditions that allowed mastery of the physical universe while also allowing the wielder to cling to their precious sanity. The God-Mind had tried to explain several times to Tom that its abilities were not magical in nature, at least not in a literal sense, but the wizard seemed to try and find ties in almost all the Omniverse back to his home world.
Clearly he was very attached to his universe of origin, especially considering his construction of this castle, as well as his subconscious summoning of the Harry and Ginny Secondaries. Nealaphh often found itself wondering just what significance these two young spellcasters held for Tom. Indeed, neither the Enigma or Tom had revealed a great deal of their pre-Omniverse lives to one another.
Perhaps it was out of a sense of respect, or maybe even standard caution. Nealaphh and Tom had been through quite a lot in their relatively short time together, but there were still occasions when the God-Mind could detect trepidation in the pseudo-human's actions. Perhaps the confrontation with Volvagia would prove to be the cornerstone in the foundation of this relationship.
This reminded Nealaphh that it would have to start marketing the Institute for recruits again. It was difficult to maintain long term interest in Primes when Nealaphh actually had little to offer in terms of having a home and job. Nobody should ever feel irrelevant in the Enigma's moral system; it was taking a significant gamble that banishing the dragon would prove a suitable catalyst to prove that the Institute was capable of providing such a sense of belonging.
Regardless, neither Tom nor the God-Mind had said anything to each other for several minutes, so Nealaphh decided that the conversation was over.
I will be in the lab if you need me.
Nealaphh was, of course, referring to the secret, sealed off dungeon that Tom had created for their mutual benefit. In the God-Mind's time away from the forge, it had recently been experimenting with making incursions on the minds of sleeping denizens. Using the Astral Realm as a conduit, Nealaphh had successfully infiltrated the dreams of several secondaries.
Even now, as the God-Mind emerged explosively from the radiant fireplace, the comatose humans stirred restlessly in their sleep. Nealaphh had taken the liberty of writing a Thrall into each one of their brains to monitor their ongoing dream cycles. The Enigma would have to check in with the invasive psyches shortly. For now, there was bigger game to catch.
After days of proofing, Nealaphh believed that it was time to try and insert itself into the dreams of a Prime. Sitting down on a dias it had made specifically for the purpose of meditating, the God-Mind closed its eyes and let its mind escape from its physical constraints. It was a pleasant feeling, being temporarily without form, but the Enigma swiftly found a vulnerable, sleeping psyche to latch on to...
And, we dream of home I dream of life out of here Their dreams are small My dreams don't know fear I got my heart full of hope I will change everything No matter what I'm told How impossible it seems We did it before And we'll do it again We're indestructible Even when we're tired And we've been here before Just you and I
Don't try to rescue me I don't need to be rescued
Don't try to rescue me I don't need to be rescued