A/N: There were going to be two chapters today, but I kid you not, right as I wrote 990 words for the second chapter, my electricity went out, corrupting the file. Fml. 2 chapters tomorrow, but today Iām too pissed to write the second lol.
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āWhat do you think about him?ā Uriel asked.
Solenne thought it over for a moment, then answered:
āIn all honesty⦠He seems more genuine this time. He also doesnāt hold the same amount of prejudice as before. Also, did you really lie to him and get away with it?ā
āI⦠Um, no. I did lie to him, but I donāt understand why he didnāt call me out on it.ā
The truth of the matter was, Rael was too preoccupied with his thoughts to completely process Urielās words. Because of that, the lie kind of bypassed him. Or at least, that was what Rael wanted to think.
He was actually not sure how his lie detection didnāt detect such bullshit. But then again, Rael figured it might just be something in Urielās DNA that messed it up. Who knows?
Whatever the case may be, he didnāt chime in and let them talk it out.
āHmm⦠I wonder what heās planning. You donāt think heās just trying to get into our lives because heās trying to poison our food, right?ā Uriel pondered.
Obviously not.
āMaybe?ā Solenne put a hand on her chin. āI feel like heās definitely got some kind of alternative motive, but I donāt quite see it. Maybe we should observe him a little longer?ā
No�
āI agree. Should I invite him to dinner tomorrow too?ā
āIndeed. Invite him tomorrow.ā
Huh.
Welp.
Rael didnāt quite see it coming, but was he dealing with two tsunderes?
He really doubted that they were saying and doing this just for the sake of observing him. There were much more efficient ways to observe someone rather than actually inviting them to dinner.
Well, Rael was most definitely not going to refuse, since this was a good opportunity to talk with Uriel and get to know him better.
So while the two of them were busy chatting amongst each other, Rael simply chuckled, feeling a certain warmth in his chest that he didnāt believe was possible given his current bodily circumstances.
But oh wellā¦
Rael smiled to himself and finally, once the two came back, they were already ready to lead him out of here.
āIāll walk you out,ā Uriel offered, and Rael merely nodded, accepting the offer. With that, the two of them left, with Rael saying his goodbyes to Solenne.
The two of them walked alongside the dwarven road, occasionally stopping to admire the dwarven architecture, until finally, the only thing left was to really say their goodbyes. And speaking of goodbyes, Rael couldnāt help but sigh.
āSo, want me back tomorrow?ā
Uriel paused for a moment, then chuckled. āDidnāt think you really listened in. But yes. Do come back tomorrow at the same time if possible. I have a few questions I really wanted to ask, but didnāt find time today.ā
Rael shrugged. āSure. Iāll be back at the same time. Also, one thing did bother me⦠Do you want an automatic cooker or something? No offense, but I felt like that dry chicken was you actually trying.ā
Uriel pouted. āIāll have you know, Solenne says Iām an excellent cook. Itās just you who somehow is immune to my good cooking skills. Also, I was a bit busy today, so I didnāt manage to actually fix the chicken.ā
Fix it?
How could someone fix something so dry?
Maybe Solenne had some kind of methods? Probably not. Regardless of that though, Rael was more than satisfied with today, and so, with another wave, he teleported away, prepared to come back tomorrow.
For starters, before he did something extremely irrational, he decided to get a second opinion, and he did so by reaching out to possibly the strongest and smartest person he knew.
That person was none other than Gaia.
Not sure if you can hear me from over here, but if you do, read my mind a little bit. I want your opinion on something.
As Rael floated above Urielās planet for a little while longer, he waited for the reply. After just a few minutes, the reply came.
[Hmm⦠Thatās a really neat ability. And yes, I donāt mind you doing something like this, since it doesnāt look like you can actually get hurt. Itās a very⦠overpowered ability, to say the least,] Gaia said.
Rael let out a victorious chuckle. He already knew how overpowered it was, since he had seen it firsthand. Finally though, Rael was ready to just get it over and done with.
[One sec. Let me get inside your mind first.]
With those words, Rael felt a slight wriggling around in the back of his mind, and then, he felt the presence of none other than Gaia.
[Okay. Iām ready. Though Iām not really sure how thisāll go⦠Well. If it seems like itās dangerous, Iāll make sure to get out,] she said.
Rael nodded, and after flying into space, he went ahead and de-atomized himself once again, turning into the same being as before.
Now that he thought of it⦠Could this actually be the application of his physique? He had been told to master his physique, but what if there wasnāt that much to master?
What if the end goal of his physique was to not have a physique at all? Nothing but mana. Mana that was able to access every nook and cranny of the universe.
Even the places that were devoid of mana. Really⦠What more could he ask for? Not to mention, despite him being in this formless state, and not being able to feel anything, he could still vaguely sense Gaiaās presence in the back of his mind.
And of course, when he focused on his mind, he was able to hear her loud and clear.
[This is a very strange sightā¦] Gaia mumbled.
Rael let out a chuckle inwardly. What do you see? Or should I say⦠What do you not see?
Gaia clicked her tongue. [I didnāt take you as someone corny. But no. I donāt see what you saw. Instead, Iām seeing something entirely different right nowā¦]
What do you mean? Rael asked plainly.
Gaia thought over it for a moment, then said:
[Itās a white box, of sorts⦠Iām in the very middle, and every time you make a move or look around, I see a few images. Theyāre displayed to me, and then they vanish with time.]
Oddā¦
[The best I could explain it is that this is the Dream Realm. Or more like somewhere in between the Dream Realm and your consciousness,] Gaia added. [Itās a strange place, to say the least.]
Rael nodded. It did sound very strange, and while he wasnāt sure how exposure to such a place would play out in the grand scheme of things, he trusted Gaia enough to know that she wouldnāt do something stupid.
So with that in mind, Rael let her do her thing, which he assumed would be in the form of research. Research that stemmed from her will to know more.
And it seemed like he wasnāt too far off the mark, as before he could even start looking around for the people, Gaia chimed in once more:
[Mhm. The best way I can describe this place is a Realm Between Realms. In between the Dream Realm, the Mind Realm, and many other realms.]
Rael nodded inwardly. He had never actually been inside the grand Dream Realm. He had only been in someoneās mind every now and again, exploring their dreams and pretty much messing with them through their memories.
It was a fun application, but never the real thing. That was what kind of made Rael want to explore the Dream Realm in its entirety, but then again, he felt like at his current power level, something like that might be dangerous.
Putting himself in a situation where just about anyone could enter his mind or dreams seemed a bit dangerous. After all, if there were beings like Evelyn around, beings who could practically enter someoneās mind and scramble their memories, Rael knew there were definitely similar beings in the Dream Realm too.
Most of those people were probably waiting for him to enter.
Welp.
He just had to leave it be.
[If you donāt mind, Iām going to go ahead and do some research on whatever realm this is. If I deem itās too dangerous, Iāll leave. Donāt worry about me, and do what you have to do. See you in a bit, Rael,] Gaia said.
Finally, the connection he felt with her faded a little, but that didnāt mean she was completely gone.
In the meantime, Rael decided to dedicate some of his time to finding the beings that threatened the Concepts. He was expecting it to take a while, but as someone who could search through the multiverse all while helping Zafira, Lilith, and Melina fix the ship up, it was relatively easy.
As expected, within just a few seconds, Rael spotted them.
And now, it was time to act.
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