A Demon's Core

Rose was quite interested in what Igneous found and I did consider sending her instead of Violet to scout the place out, now that I know I can still communicate with her outside. She might have a better idea of what to look out for while scouting. But I already offered the role to Violet and she was so excited about it. It would not be fair to take that away from her now. She spent part of the day packing things into a backpack to take with her.

Though, in her excitement, I think she might be overpacking a little. The pack is already full to bursting with everything she has stuffed into it. It already contains several sets of clothes, two extra knives, her tape measure, an empty plastic bottle, a tennis ball and a pair of scissors. Yet she is still looking for more.

I think you might be going a little overboard with packing. You will not be gone for that long.

She halts her search and looks towards the backpack.

“How long will I be gone?

That depends on how thoroughly you want to search the town, but I imagine you should be able to perform a reasonable inspection of the town within a day or two. I must admit though, I do not understand the purpose of some of the items you have packed.

She looked down at the pack, holding a small spade that she was about to try to force into it.

“Maybe this is a little much,” she concedes. She pulls everything out to begin packing again from the beginning. “I guess I got a little carried away and wasn’t thinking about what would actually be useful.” She selects only one set of clothes this time, but leaves the rest out.

The plastic bottle may be useful if you want to store water in it.

She grins and shoves it into the pack.

Be sure to leave room in case you find anything you want to bring back.

Rose, surprisingly, actually wanted to take a break from the magic lessons for a little while. She spoke to Igneous about what direction he went when he left the city and organized an expedition with some of the other imps and one of the hellhounds to find any potentially safe places to stop along the way, at least within the city limits. I will have her organize further reaching expeditions if Igneous and Violet’s next scouting mission returns favorable results.

With this being the first time she is gone for a considerable length of time since she became a guardian, I am able to notice some additional effects, both good and bad. First is that the effect she has on my mana regeneration has increased dramatically. It is likely that the excess mana that her body used to just release into the air is now being fed directly to my core through our connection providing a significant supplement to my own regeneration, but that supplement is cut off when she leaves my domain.

Another effect being that my natural mana regeneration seems to have been reduced, likely as a result of the damage my core has suffered. I did not notice it before now due to the extra mana I was getting from Rose. It is as though I have actually given a piece of myself to her. Now it is even more important that I not tell her about it or I am sure she will insist on never leaving my side. Though with her now improved ability to sense mana, she might figure it out herself eventually.

When she returns later in the day, she does tell me about a few possible locations that she thinks would be acceptable as temporary hideouts. I do not entirely know what her criteria is; most imps do not seem to have particularly high standards when it comes to accommodation, but I trust her judgment on this matter.

After her report, she wants to get back into learning more about magic, which I do not mind, but this time I suggest some more practical lessons. Learning the theory is important, of course, but ultimately pointless if it is not also put into practice.

The first thing I recommend she try is the mana platform that Jenna demonstrated. I know she can already create a shield, so this should not be too difficult and will be an important stepping stone to creating all manner of mana constructs.

It seems to go well at first, she conjured a platform just big enough for her to stand on about a hand span higher than the floor. It appears stable until she tries to step up onto it, then it falters and her foot passes through it. She tries a few more times with the same result, but eventually, with her eyes shut tight in concentration, she slowly lifts her foot to step on the platform and it holds. When she is finally standing on it, she opens her eyes and smiles.

“I did it!” She exclaims. “But it was harder than I expected. The human made it look rather easy.”

Can you explain the reason for the difficulty?

“I think it has to do with positioning and keeping it in place. When I create a shield, I don’t need to concentrate on its exact placement, as long as it’s in front of me. But with this, visualizing its position in relation to me and keeping it in place as I move to step onto it takes a lot more focus.” She explains.

So it is a matter of relative positioning then. I can see how that would complicate things. I try making my own platform and face little difficulty, stepping onto it with ease. I create additional platforms leading up into the air like a set of stairs and have no trouble climbing them.

Why is it so much easier for me than it is for Rose? I suppose it could be because what constitutes ‘me’ is not so easily defined. My core is obviously me, but this body constructed of mana is also me. In fact, it could be argued that, in a way, the entire dungeon is part of me, so the concept of relative positioning does not apply to me the same way it would to someone who has only a physical body and nothing beyond that.

I create a larger platform that goes all the way around the edge of the room about as high as her desk and Rose watches me as I walk along it.

“Now you’re showing off,” she says, pretending to pout, but I can see the hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth.

Our minds just work a little differently so it is easier for me. With practice, you will easily be able to do this and more, I have no doubt.

She did continue to practice late into the evening and when Violet eventually came into the room, she was stunned to see Rose standing on nothing but air above her bed.

“You’re flying!” She shouts in excitement.

“It’s not really flying. I’m standing on a platform of mana, which could be considered levitating, I guess.” Rose explains.

“I want to fly too. Please can you make me fly?” Violet pleads.

“Like I said, it’s not…” Rose begins but stops when she sees how excited Violet is. It is hard to get through to her when she gets this worked up. It will be easier to explain it to her once her excitement winds down a little. Rose closes her eyes to concentrate; when she opens them again, she looks down at Violet.

“You can’t see them, but there should be some stairs in front of you that will lead you up to me.” Rose says and Violet’s eyes go wide as she looks down at the floor in front of her.

“Invisible stairs…like ghost stairs,” she whispers, though still loud enough for Rose to hear her, eliciting a giggle from the smaller imp.

“Yes, like ghost stairs.” Rose repeats with a grin.

I did ask Rose about ghosts after the first time Violet brought it up. She agreed with Violet that spirits can sometimes linger after the body dies and occasionally are even able to interact with things physically, but they do not usually last long. She did not have any more details than that though. I am still a little skeptical, but knowing that Rose also believes in them does add credence to the idea.

Violet lifts one foot and carefully places it down in front of her, smiling when she feels the solid platform. She immediately tries to run up the stairs, only to trip halfway up. While she was quick to get back to her feet, she was a lot more careful the rest of the way up until she was standing beside Rose with a beaming smile.

“I am walking on the air.” She sings as she skips in a circle around Rose, making her chuckle at the antics, until Violet lifts her up in a hug without warning; the suddenness of it causing her focus to falter, resulting in both imps falling to the bed below.

“Sorry, I made us fall.” Violet apologizes sheepishly, sitting up on the bed.

“No, it’s my fault for not being able to maintain my focus.” Rose counters.

“We should go out to where the others are, I bet they’d like to try it too.” Violet declares as she grabs Rose’s hand and moves off the bed towards the door, but Rose pulls back and Violet turns and gives her a questioning look.

“I don’t know if I can make a platform big enough for everyone,” Rose says.

It is worth a try. It will be good for practice, not just for constructing a larger platform but also for maintaining focus in a less peaceful environment.

“Alright, I guess I’ll try,” she concedes and this time does not resist as Violet pulls her towards the door.

There are only a few imps lounging around in the common area of Room 5, but Violet climbs up onto the back of the couch to get their attention.

“Gather around everyone. Rose is going to make us all fly.” She calls out.

“I already told you, it’s not actually flying.” Looking around at the expectant faces of the gathered imps, she sighs and concentrates on creating another mana platform. Not wanting to make it too high this time, she creates the platform at her waist height and climbs up onto it, much to the astonishment of the observers, who now see her seemingly standing on nothing.

Coal crouches down and waves his hands through the air beneath her and looks up in wonder.

“How?” He asks.

“Magic,” she replies with a grin.

Rose expands the platform to make enough room for the others. Violet jumps off the couch to land beside her. Coal disappears from where he is on the floor and reappears at Violet’s side. Jasmine and Sneak only hesitate for as long as it takes them to find the edge of the platform before they both climb onto it.

“We’re flying!” They both shout out together, throwing their arms up in celebration.

“Flying!” Coal repeats, mimicking their actions.

“We need to show the others. Can you make it move?” Violet asks, turning to Rose.

“I can try,” she replies. As she concentrates the platform does move slightly to the side before destabilizing, causing the imps to fall; Jasmine and Sneak letting out a small shriek at the unexpected drop. It is a short distance though, so no one is hurt.

“Sorry, I don’t think I’m ready for that yet,” she laments.

“What about creating one really long path through the air that leads to where the others are?” Violet suggests.

“That could be a bit taxing on my mana, but it might work. You will need to open the door first.” Rose instructs and Violet rushes to comply.

She closes her eyes in concentration once more as the other imps look on hopefully. I can sense mana spreading out into a vague outline of the desired shape, but it is not forming a solid platform. Rose opens her eyes and sighs, shaking her head.

“It’s too much, I can’t make it that big,” she says and the others look down in disappointment.

Do you think you could make a smaller platform that you can extend out in front of you as you walk and allow to dissipate behind you?

“That sounds complicated, but I’ll try.” She creates a new platform, this one only large enough for one imp so she can practice the idea first. Once standing on it, she extends the platform out in front of her and takes a tentative step forwards. She allows the part she was standing on before to fade until she is again standing on a small platform, the same size as what she started with. The others watched eagerly, waiting and hoping for an opportunity to walk through the air again.

“It seems to work, at least in theory,” she confirms. "It just depends on whether I can keep doing this with a platform big enough for everyone.” She extends it forwards again, making it long and narrow. “It will be easiest to do this in a single file.”

“Can I be in front?” Violet requests. She is so excited she is practically bouncing.

“Alright, just don’t walk too fast or you’ll fall off.” Rose agrees, gesturing to her side and Violet does not hesitate to climb up to stand beside her.

The other three approach carefully with their arms out, feeling for the platform and climbing up when they find it, with Coal standing behind Rose, followed by Sneak and Jasmine.

“Onward.” Violet declares when everyone is lined up, pointing towards the door.

Rose chuckles and extends her mana forwards and soon the five imps are marching down the hallway like it is some kind of parade. They only need to go as far as Room 3 since Calla and her parents are the only other imps here at the moment, with River and Aster currently on watch and Willow and Birch having yet to return from whatever adventure they are currently on. When they reach the door, Violet pushes it open without hesitation.

“Come join us as we fly through the air!” She calls out, garnering the attention of everyone in the room.

As the procession enters, Calla is the first one to rush over to investigate. She is able to walk under them without even having to bend down as they are standing just above her head height. The hellhounds are not far behind her, sniffing around the imp’s feet and licking at the solid mana they stood on. Scar even tries biting it until Rose notices what he is doing.

“Hey, stop that!” She commands. Scar pauses and looks up at her, then lowers his head.

She pushes forwards a bit further without letting the platform fade at the back in order to make room for the additional imps. Calyx and Lily climb up without difficulty and they both reach down to pull their daughter up. The procession continues marching around the room, with Violet pointing the way and the hellhounds running and bouncing around them in excitement. The other imps laughing, cheering and only occasionally pushing each other off.

Overall it seems they are all having fun, except for Rose, who is struggling to maintain her focus with the strain on her mana increasing as time passes. It all becomes too much for her when Noctis decides she wants to climb onto the platform as well. As soon as the hellhound puts additional weight on the platform, Rose’s control of the mana collapses and all the imps fall to the floor.

They are all surprised by the sudden drop, but laugh it off as they get to their feet. Violet holds out a hand for Rose, who was panting from exhaustion.

“That’s all I can do right now. I’m sorry, I need to rest.” Rose says as she accepts the offered hand and slowly stands.

“It’s alright, thank you for letting us…” Violet pauses to think of the right word, “levitate,” she continues, with a wide smile. “It was lots of fun.”

She pulls Rose into a hug and the others quickly join in and Rose soon finds herself in the middle of a group hug. When they let her go, I send her some mana to take the edge off her fatigue.

I think you did remarkably well. But please be careful not to go overboard. Remember what Jenna said about mana depletion; it can be dangerous if you push it too far.

“Thanks. Yeah, I'll keep that in mind.” She replies, sighing in relief from the mana infusion.

Perhaps next you should try thinking of other useful shapes you could bend mana into. After you take some time to rest, of course.