Wilheim looked down at the Forest Mana Core in his hands, his brows furrowed inwards, pushing his freckles towards the centre of his face. The floresiensis did not sleep well the previous night, thinking back towards the one-sided discussion Jon had given him not even twelve hours ago.

Wilheim had thought that things were going quite well amongst the three of them. Five if you counted Ru Luan Di and Huo Liyu.

The short-hazelnut skinned humanoid enjoyed the company of Jon and Avahni. He appreciated learning about the differences between their cultures and societal notions. Explaining various ideas and philosophical concepts to Jon. Learning Nain and teaching Pluntian to Avahni. Their histories, mythologies, and fairy tales, Wilheim found all of it so fascinating.

Wilheim thought that he was a pragmatic person, but perhaps he was more of an idealist at heart.

Introspection was quite a wonderful tool, until it started pointing out all the personality traits and certain dispositions that someone tried to ignore.

Wilheim had yet to share with the group the integration of his third Mana Core, something that he hoped Jon and Avahni would celebrate with him. This Mana Core had been his task reward for the completion of the sixth mandatory task, in addition to a Mortal Title Fragment, the second one he had obtained over the duration of the System Introduction.

Despite his age, Wilheim had wanted to show off his newest Mana Core. While the task reward was random, the floresiensis had thought that it fit his preexisting abilities quite well, allowing for several synergistic effects.

The introduction of the Forest Mana Core into his possession only compounded that notion.

Name: Wilheim Freytal-Isenburg Age: 72 Rank: Mortal Tier: Third Initiation Title: N/A

Mana Core(s):

[1]: Castle [Fragment Of Protection] [Preservation Of Thou Sacred Ramparts] (Castle, Protection, Spell, Defensive, Enhancement, Buff)

[Fragment Of Hearth] [Celebration Of Thou Hallowed Halls] (Castle, Hearth, Spell, Regeneration, Cleanse, Enhancement, Buff)

[Fragment Of Strength] [Strength Of Thou Impenetrable Soul] (Castle, Strength, Spell, Enhancement, Buff)

[Fragment Of Wall] [Light Of Thou Consecrated Shields] (Castle, Wall, Spell, Shield, Defensive, Buff)

[2]: Mountain [Fragment Of Marrow] [Ours Is The Blood That Courses Through The Mountain] (Mountain, Marrow, Mutation, Passive, Ability, Enhancement, Buff)

[Fragment Of Rime] [Mountain Art; Weight Of The Frozen Peaks] (Mountain, Rime, Spell, Debuff)

[Fragment Of Pillars] [Mountain Art; Earth Forest Erosion] (Mountain, Pillars, Spell, Debuff)

[Fragment Of Brumal] [Mountain Art; Winterous Land Of Ice And Snow] [Mountain, Brumal, Spell, Debuff)

[3]: Tundra

[Fragment Of Inspection] [With Eyes That Pierce Through The White Winter Plain] (Tundra, Inspection, Perception, Sensory, Spell, Buff]

[Fragment Of White] [Walking Beyond The White Horizon] (Tundra, White, Spell, Concealment, Buff]

[4]:

[5]:

[6]:

Wilheim had been waiting for himself to complete additional optional tasks to claim fragments of his choice. The final two slots in his Castle Mana Core had been reserved for a Fragment Of Transcendence and a Fragment Of Manor.

As the symbol of House Freytal-Isenburg, Wilheim would not settle for anything less than perfection regarding the abilities of his Castle Mana Core. After discovering that certain tasks would allow him to choose specific fragments as rewards, he no longer thought about integrating fragments that he had obtained within the small realm.

Despite the growth that Wilheim had experienced over the past couple months, the development of his abilities and rudimentary grasp over spiritual energy manipulation he had formed, laid forgotten as he looked down towards the bright green Mana Core in his hands.

The floresiensis felt his gaze linger in the direction where Jon often practiced his abilities, where the human had spent the previous night under the canopy of his enormous bodhi tree summon.

The Fragment Of Inspection that he had integrated allowed him to peer at an individual's status page. While Jon had somehow managed to resist this effect, the twelve metre tall bodhi tree he summoned most evenings was not.

Ashvattha Rana.

The name sounded strange on his tongue but found that it suited "a bodhi tree spirit born from the enlightenment between knowledge and reincarnation".

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Wilheim did not understand what a bodhi tree was but did now realize what the first Mana Core Jon had ever integrated now was.

"Knowledge Mana Core… Jon does want to become a scholar over a soldier, I suppose. I cannot believe I did not suspect that he would desire such a thing before," Wilheim shook his head from side to side, chastising himself for not realizing such a thing before that moment.

Wilheim suspected that Ashvattha Rana was part of the reason why Jon wanted to leave and better explore the small realm. He himself had barely scratched the surface of what spiritual energy, Mana Cores and Title Fragments were capable of and Jon had some powerful bodhi tree spirit giving him an even greater understanding of what "strength" was in the integrated universes.

After the completion of the sixth mandatory task, Wilheim was rewarded with one Mortal Title Fragment. Despite his eagerness to activate the effects of this Title Fragment, he found the words greyed out, a font a different colour to the rest of his status page.

Mortal Title Fragment "Sage": Increases the effectiveness of all abilities with the Spell Trait.

In addition to another Title Fragment, one whose requirements left him befuddled.

Mortal Title Fragment "Environs Dominus": Increases resistances towards heat-related and cold-related damages, afflictions, and debuffs.

Whatever Ashvattha Rana had told Jon, both scared him and left him with an overwhelming sensation of awe and curiosity. Wilheim knew that the various tasks that the System had given the participants of the System Introduction would not be available to the rest of the universe after it had been concluded.

Theoretically however, considering that everyone was able to bring objects into the small realm, Wilheim speculated that objects could be taken out upon the conclusion of the System Introduction.

Not even three weeks had passed within the small realm, and Wilheim himself had integrated almost a third of the maximum number of fragments he could assimilate.

After a thousand days had passed, how many fragments would Wilheim or Jon or Avahni manage to accumulate?

"I wonder if it is possible to change your Mana Core or fragments after increasing your Rank as well," Wilheim softly asked himself.

Despite what he thought about Jon's affinity towards martial concepts and warriorlike characteristics, Wilheim did not deny that the Knowledge Mana Core suited Jon, perhaps even more so than his own Castle Mana Core.

Knowing this fact, allowed Wilheim to understand Jon to a greater degree. The human wanted to obtain strength and knowledge, that much he understood. He valued the friendships he formed and the ties that connected him.

While he was somewhat guarded, once someone obtained his trust, he would stand beside them at best and worst of times.

That was his impression of Jonathan Randall Guilliman.

Taking a deep breath, Wilheim let out an uncharacteristically loud sigh.

"A Guild huh…" the short humanoid muttered, remembering the words and concepts that Jon had attempted to convey.

An association or organization built on trust and friendship. On oaths and promises.

Wilheim almost wanted to scoff at the thought before remembering the serious expression on Jon's face. His youthful appearance caused Wilheim to remember his own time as a young floresiensis, bright-eyed and smiling, hoping to use his own dreams and ideals to change the world.

"Is it the folly of youth to yearn for something more?" Wilheim whispered, no-one around to hear him.

It was remarkable how similar the youths of humanity were to the youths of the floresiensis. Although, Wilheim was beginning to believe that this was perhaps that was just the nature of youth…

Jon was going to leave just over seven days. That was what the human had said to him and Avahni. The Forest Mana Core and Wind Mana Core was a gift for the two of them, alongside the invitation to join him on his journey throughout the small realm.

In doing so Jon would search for System generated Wonders and Safe Zones. Explore and complete Dungeons claiming the rewards contained within them. Perhaps even discover one of the System generated Lords within the small realm, growing strong enough to slay one on his own.

Wilheim did not understand the difference between Mortality and Knighthood, let alone the difference between Knighthood and Lordship, he assumed that Jon did, through his connection to Ashvattha Rana.

With a vast wealth of knowledge available to him, it was no wonder that Jon wanted to push forward with the completion of his task rewards. While there was a vast number of opportunities available for them within the small realm, it was up to them to reach out and grasp for it, rather than remaining here in one small corner of this inverted world.

'Jon does not want to settle for being second amongst the other participants in the System Introduction. So why should I settle for anything less as well?' Wilheim thought to himself.

Palming the Forest Mana Core in one hand, Wilheim brought up the System integration notice. With the Mountain Mana Core, Tundra Mana Core and Forest Mana Core, Wilheim felt as though he had started to birth a unique synergy between each different nature of spiritual energy within him.

The various Spells that he had manifested from his Castle Mana Core and Mountain Mana Core allowed him to assume the role of a ranged, supportive spellcaster. Abilities such as [Preservation Of Our Sacred Ramparts] and [Strength Of Thou Impenetrable Soul] granted himself and his allies an increase to their physical capabilities and specific resistances.

[Mountain Art; Weight Of The Frozen Peaks] and [Mountain Art; Earth Forest Erosion] allowed Wilheim to strike his opponents with a series of debilitating effects and debuffs. The former increased the weight of anything trapped within the Spell radius, while the latter transformed the environment around Wilheim, obscuring lines of sight and providing cover to his allies.

The [Light Of Thou Consecrated Shield] manifested a pseudo-physical construct of castle natured spiritual energy. The Fragment Of Wall prevented the entry and exit of certain types of spiritual energy, or those who Wilheim himself had declared as unworthy.

The [Mountain Art; Winterous Land Of Ice And Snow], was an offensive Spell with defensive capabilities. Shrouding the area around himself with a violent torrent of ice and snow, anything caught within, including his allies were struck with ice natured spiritual energy and instances of [Enfeebling Cold].

Most of his abilities were focused on manipulating or transforming the environment around himself. While he was unsure of the compatibility between himself and the Mountain Mana Core or even the Tundra Mana Core, the hazelnut-skinned humanoid was pleasantly surprised at how each ability synergized with one another.

Wilheim did want at least one more environmental Mana Core but wanted to reserve his final Mana Core for something else.

He had not decided on what to integrate but opted to keeping his options open rather than locking into a single Mana Core.

Taking a deep breath, the floresiensis looked down towards the Forest Mana Core in his hands, reading the System integration notice.

"Forest" Mana Core detected.

Would you like to integrate this "Forest" Mana Core?

Y/N

Taking a deep breath, Wilheim glanced towards the direction where Jon and Ashvattha Rana resided, before steeling his resolve and accepting the integration notice. The short humanoid collapsed to one side, awaiting his shift in Tier from the Third Initiation to the Fourth Initiation.

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