A Novel Concept

Priam relaxed for the first time in nine days. With his body immersed in the warm pool, he felt the tiny currents of water caressing his body. The warm, smooth stones were strangely comfortable. Only his head was sticking out of the water. He had started by closing his eyes to preserve Claire's privacy because, at this distance, the thick fog could not totally block his perception. Priam, relaxed, was enjoying this rare moment. The purifying hot water and the calm allowed him to recover from the fatigue of the fights. Thermal waters have always had therapeutic properties, depending on the minerals they contain.

In Japan, onsens were reputed to soothe pain, cure skin diseases, constipation, menstrual disorders, etc. In France, the country of his birth, half a million people took a spa treatment yearly, a medical procedure used to treat sinus and respiratory diseases. Priam was not ill, but he felt the beneficial effects of the hot spring infused with aether.

However, a part of his brain wondered about the geothermal energy needed to heat the water. To increase the temperature of the water, the Moon now had to have a molten core. The System demonstrated once again its limitless capacities. The water circulated underground, capturing beneficial chemical elements as it passed through and reached Priam. If I dive with the current, can I go deeper into the Moon? I could surely find another treasure. Maybe this Concept fragment? But that's a useless thought, I'll be dead before ten minutes from lack of oxygen.

With his eyes closed, Priam began to meditate. Sleep to overcome physical and mental exhaustion would have been a better solution, but Priam refused to fall asleep in the middle of a hostile environment. His own ghost would have insulted him in unknown languages if he had died in his sleep.

Meditation helped him to focus his attention on himself. He inspected his wounds before analyzing his last fights. It was this methodology that allowed him to improve day by day. Priam had years of reflexes and knowledge to catch up with the champions of other civilizations in Elysium. Many other humans had fighting skills as well. Priam had a head start with his skills and titles, but there were geniuses out there. For now, his superior attributes would allow him to dominate over-trained military or MMA champions. But for how long? They had experience, talent, reflexes, knowledge, and exceptional training. Priam knew he had to work harder to maintain first place. Being second was much easier than being first. Less pressure and a clear goal in mind. But Priam wanted to be free, and the second was never really free. Only the first could sometimes claim that.

For half an hour, he emulated the fights in his imagination, analyzing his decisions and their consequences. He questioned their effectiveness and tried to point out his mistakes. Identifying his own errors was difficult. A trainer or coach could have saved him valuable time, but it allowed Priam to take a step back. The exercise was made easier by his mental characteristics. His Memory allowed him to recall fights in detail. His Dexterity remembered his movements. His Vivacity increased his speed of thought. His Willpower helped him to concentrate.

Priam watched his fights from every possible angle. His technique did not yet allow him to replay a battle under different circumstances - facing more wolves or fighting underwater - but it would come. Little by little, he found solutions to each of his problems. Finally, after half an hour, he was sure he could face the same opponents without a scratch. He had confidence in himself.

Lvl Up: [Meditation] lvl 2

WILL +3
Lvl Up: [Shadow Boxing] lvl 4
FOR +1
AGI +1
DEXT +1

Well, even if I'm tied up one day, I'll be able to train. But that goes for the locked-up hoplite champion too... I'll have to take care of him as soon as I get back, or I might get some nasty surprises. I can't wait to see who will have progressed the most!

Holding back a smile, Priam finally embarked on an exercise he had been dreading and putting off for as long as possible. An introspection.

Lately, his life has been a succession of adventures. Adventures that he had not chosen. He was simply reacting to the problems that the Concepts were sending him one after another. Briefly, when he built Log-a-rhythm, he thought he was planning what to do next. He first created a skill he liked and then began to explore the area. On his first trip out, a rabhorn killed him. It was his fault, and he made no excuses. Then the problem appeared. Was it a coincidence that he had met the hoplite champion on his first outing?

Since his arrival in Elysium, Priam had felt the portal activate eight times. Unless he was mistaken, eight rivals - including Arnold and the Hoplite - were pacing around the portal. To encounter one of these champions so quickly - who didn't even seem to be looking for him - was suspicious. Most of them would be within five kilometers of the portal. Beyond that, the danger became too great, and you could only take advantage of rare resources if you stayed alive. In concrete terms, the area reserved for the beginner measured fifty square kilometers. To visualize this, it was roughly the size of Manhattan or half that of a city like Paris. Without being huge, Priam suspected that the chances of meeting a rival on his first outing were low.

Priam wondered. Was he really free to choose? The notion of coincidence became blurred when seven genuine Concepts governed the universe. To escape them, there was only one solution: use the System. At the end of the Tutorial, each participant received a personalized message from the System. Priam remembered it very well.

No one is born free. Neither men nor gods. For some, even death does not offer freedom.

The wise find a superficial freedom in their minds. You are not a wise man, and this kind of freedom is not enough for you.

You seek the ultimate freedom. You seek the Zenith.
Write your story.

Priam remembered those lines. When he read them, every word was written in letters of fire deep in his soul. Part of the reason Priam was the champion of humanity was that he represented the greatest desire of his species. Humans aspired to be free. It was the first right they claimed. It is my fundamental right, and it is my duty to fight to be free.

Priam opened his eyes. The concepts, the hoplite champion, Arnold, the Reunion, and many other things would come between him and his right.

"Life is such that it tests us. A reward is only valuable when victory is snatched from the world. I will not win my freedom. I will take it, for it is mine. No other shall write a word in the book of my life," he murmured.

Priam was motivated once again. He had spent nine days surviving, not really thinking about anything else. It's hard to want anything but life when spiders and rabbits bully you. From the moment he arrived in Elysium, Priam had moved on, because to do otherwise meant death. But man was not made to survive. He was made to live. By finding a purpose, Priam was finally able to breathe again. Of course, he had short-term goals, the first of which was to find his family. But saving his loved ones or himself from death was still survival. He wanted to live.

Priam smiled, for his decision, his quest for freedom, was resurrecting him far better than his skill could. [He Who Eludes Death] was resurrecting his body. His ideal of freedom was resurrecting his soul.

"Is that what you're fighting for?" asked Claire.

Priam turned to Claire. He could barely see her behind the screen of mist, and it seemed to him that she was scrutinizing him. She seemed intrigued by his words.

"For freedom? In the long run, yes," Priam explained. "The System is an incredible opportunity, and I'm glad it happened. But I'm not a Sim. I want to decide my life. If I'm going to chain myself down, through responsibilities for example, I want that to be my own choice."

"A noble cause. What do you mean by 'chaining'?"

Priam took a few seconds to formulate his words.

"Looking for my family. Get married. Have children. Making promises. These are choices that carry responsibility. If I make those choices freely, I will happily chain myself to the causes that affect me. I'm not running away from that. If my freedom is so precious, giving some of it to those I love is wonderful. How can you say you truly love when you are ready for no sacrifice? I am ready for that. But this world didn't ask me. This System takes what I have not given it. Its gifts do not redeem that. I do not seek to destroy this System or the Concepts. They are just neutral parts of this universe. But I will not let them make a puppet of me," he stated.

After a pause, Claire asked. "What are you looking for then?"

"Well, to get out of the game? If alcohol gave me a headache, I wouldn't drink. But I can't run away from this System or refuse to play by the rules. So there's only one thing left for me to do..." Priam said.

Claire remained silent. The answer seemed to have given her something to think about. After a minute, Priam didn't know if he should start meditating again or continue the conversation. Curiosity won out.

"And you, what are you looking for?" asked Priam.

Claire did not answer immediately. Priam let the silence settle. He was currently enjoying a cleansing spa, so why rush? He'd have plenty of time to fight monsters again and get covered in blood. I need a spa like this in Log-a-rhythm. Taking a break between massacres sounds great for my mental health. Maybe Log-a-rhythm has a Massage upgrade?

In the corner of his mind, the System notifications were piling up. Priam knew the bath was good for him, but he'd have plenty of time to watch his progress afterward.

As he struggled not to fall asleep, Claire decided to break the silence.

"I'm looking to survive. I don't know if it's right or wrong to not have great ideals. Freedom... I think it's beautiful, but it's not for me anymore. Ten days ago, we were ordinary men and women. Today I saw you kill a half-ton beast. I'm still afraid of dogs. Maybe you'll manage to be free, even though we know there's little chance. Me... I won't make it," Claire's voice sounded weary as she answered. "I'm not alone, you know? I want to save my family and my loved ones. As long as I want to put their happiness before mine, some people will have a lever to manipulate me. Even without them, they already have the means to force me to obey."

The girl stopped there, and Priam didn't know what to say. They were both adults, and she didn't seem like a fool. Kind words of comfort would ring hollow. He didn't know much about her. To say, ‘everything will be fine, don't worry’, or ‘while there's life, there's hope’ would have been hypocritical.

In this new world, if a powerful person knew your weak points, you could not be free. To avoid being manipulated, you had to hide - but if you had power, they wouldn't let you go - or become stronger than your executioner. But the intelligent executioner prevented you from becoming stronger than him by putting pressure on your family. In order not to enter this vicious circle...

"I understand your concerns. You can hide from this, you know? You need to find your family and get them to safety before they can be used against you. I don't know who 'they' are, but they can't do anything during the Reunion. We are cut off from the rest of the universe right now," Priam advised.

From her speech, Claire seemed to think that people were trying to use her. Priam did not ask why. The girl would tell him herself if she felt the need. She sighed.

"It's too late... I am marked. We are all marked in the village, and I have seen what happens to those who refuse to obey. I have no chance to escape. I am too afraid to disobey. So I have only one choice left. Find my family and chain them with me while doing my best to protect them. Or not find them, try to survive alone, and hope they can manage without me. I was still hesitating, but you convinced me."

"Me?" replied Priam.

"Yes. I have seen what you are capable of. Against a man like you, my family is powerless. I won't let my little sisters be abused by someone stronger. I will take them with me and work to protect them. As long as I get results, they will be safe. That's a promise before the Concepts, and I believe it. If I have to get my hands dirty, I might as well find a smile on the faces of my loved ones at night..." Claire stated calmly.

Priam did not answer. He disagreed with this defeatism, but it wasn't his job to convince Claire. He had given his arguments, and she had made a choice. If he denied her that choice, he was taking away her freedom and had no right to do that.

The girl resumed. "You helped me, and I told you I would not forget it. So let me warn you Priam. I don't know where you ended up after the Tutorial, but I learned some things in my village. Do you think Reunion cuts us off from the outside world? You are mistaken. Many factions from ancient civilizations are interested in this Reunion. Some humans are no longer allies of humanity. There is much to be gained in this Reunion, and powerful people covet some rewards. Even humanity is not united. When was it united? I have been given a mission. I know you suspected it, but I can confirm it. You have nothing to fear from me, but be careful. You're not just fighting humans..." she warned.

Priam nodded thoughtfully. The three men they had just met had not arrived in a human settlement. They'd been dealing with aliens, accustomed to the System for centuries. They were certainly not alone in this. It was even likely that some humans had already agreed to work with alien factions in exchange for knowledge, training or resources. If Claire is right, and she has nothing to gain by lying, some factions have armed humans and now hope to get the rewards that are rightfully theirs.

Men and women had always put their personal comfort before the common good. Priam was not surprised that this was still the case after an apocalypse. He couldn't blame them, perhaps he would have done the same in their place. And he was honest enough to know he was still young and not tied down. He might have to do much worse in ten years to protect his dreams. But it also means I don't have such a huge advantage over these champions. In the long run, Elysium is the royal road, but it's still early. Other than the hoplite spear, I'm pretty much naked. I've had good resources and Titles, but so have they... I can't rest on my laurels.

"Thank you for telling me all this. If you can ever give me any other advice, don't hesitate, I'll listen. If you can't... That's already a lot," Priam said.

Priam had no way of forcing Claire to give up all her secrets. Of course, some would be useful, but he didn't want to threaten her - it wouldn't do any good anyway. Kindness was his best asset at the moment.

"It's okay, and it's my turn to thank you. I'll help you if I can, but I've told you the most important thing. Just know that there are some things I am unable to talk about. The rest you can figure out on your own," Claire said.

Priam nodded, and despite the haze, he saw Claire do the same. Her skill goes beyond tracking. She sees through the mist. At least in part. Priam had tricked her. Seeing this well in the mist wasn't normal, but Claire must have had no point of comparison. Nodding back was a reflex, and someone so emotionally disturbed and weakened could not think of hiding that ability. I feel a little dirty checking her abilities like this, but if she doesn't mean any harm, she has nothing to fear from me.

He had relative confidence in Claire, but she had admitted to him that she was obeying unsavory individuals. He did not want to underestimate her if they ordered her to go against him.

Well, the bath has lasted long enough. Let's take a look at its effects. Priam hadn't seen any new notifications from the System in a few minutes. It was time to get back on track.

Notifications.
You have plunged into the heart of a natural spring infused with aether. By the grace of the Concepts, your body and mind have been purified. Your affinity for the Concepts has increased very slightly.

Your mental state has been reset. You are no longer in the grip of panic and can think straight again.
PHYSICS +1
MENTAL +1

Aether residues cleaned up in part. Your tempering will be easier.
There are still 4/15 possible uses of the purity fragment.

"My tempering will be easier?" Priam wondered. He knew that the [Tempering Die] obtained from the hoplite warrior could increase his characteristics, but the rest of the process remained unclear to him.

"You've never heard the term?" asked Claire.

"No." Priam preferred to lie. To him, the most dangerous action Claire could perform was not an assassination attempt. He would certainly get away with it, and she knew it. But the wrong information could prevent him from getting the best possible tempering. That could be problematic. He might as well cross-reference Claire's information with what he had intuited from the description of the die.

"I don't know much myself. In the village, some idealists shared the information they received at the Tutorial," Claire said.

Each Tutorial was different, and you didn't learn exactly the same things. But at the end, each survivor was given a broad question. The System answered that question, and some of the information was of interest to Priam.

"Many hunters have asked how to gain power. One of the main ways is tempering. Using aether and rare resources to strengthen and reforge the body," Claire explained. "I don't know much more about it, but the more contaminated the body is, the more complicated it is to temper the body. This cleansing is welcome, too bad we can't take advantage of it more."

Priam began to think. The fragment had cleansed him, body and soul. It was good for his temperament, of course. But even better, he could finally think straight. His brain was no longer flooded with the drugs created by panic, and his state of mind was pushing him forward. This was the most important thing, because he finally felt like himself. His brain had made him a spectator to his lives and deaths to protect him. Priam didn't want to be protected or to live his life like watching a movie, from a distance. But risking my life and dying again could put me back in that second state. Unless I can purify myself again. That fragment would be so helpful...

Capture the Purity fragment?
Cost: 40 Potential

Absorb the Purity fragment?
Cost: 80 Potential

Priam laughed. There was always a solution. You just had to be rich enough to find it. Yes! He mentally selected the second option.

The world seemed to freeze as an infinite consciousness touched Priam's soul. With a divine look, the hot spring lost its physicality. A thought later, it was sucked into the Priam's mind. With his eyes closed, he saw the hot spring as a mirage. Concentrating, he mentally approached the pool. When he reached the edge, he bent down and looked at the reflection of his soul. He looked tired but smiling.

"Am I going to have to wait a long time and pretend everything is normal?" Claire asked.

Priam opened his eyes. The mist had dispersed, and he was sitting on a pile of white pebbles stinging his buttocks. Across from him, a woman who was still wet was looking at him disapprovingly. A gust of wind picked up, and she shivered. Priam looked at it one second before looking away. She wasn't completely naked and didn't seem to mind, but he didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

"You stole the water, and now you're stealing a glance." She began to laugh. "Do I get an explanation?"

"Sorry. I..." A notification stopped him.

Perk obtained!

[Mirror of the Soul]

Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)

PHYSICAL:
Strength 61
Constitution 78
Agility 92
Vitality 113
Perception 67

MENTAL:
Vivacity 78
Dexterity 51
Memory 30
Willpower 48
Charisma 40

META:
Meta-affinity 8
Meta-focus 20

Potential: 70
Tier 0