The Misadventures of the Man Formerly Known as Victor Heart

V1CH8 Succubustin P2



I used the energy information structure to create another ring, Mena’s Book. This would act as an archive that would store all the knowledge I gather on my travels. As a side benefit, it would store my memories as well making me mildly resistant to emotion and memory altering effects. The name came from a story I heard as a kid.

The story goes like this:

Once upon a time there existed a magical lake that granted the wish of whoever drank from its waters. One day three strangers came upon the lake, each only connected by their shared dissatisfaction with their lots in life.

The first, Mena, was a scholar. While he was intelligent, his peers always made him feel so dumb. He was above average in a world of geniuses. He was tired of feeling foolish, so he set out to find the fabled lake. He would either be a true fool looking for a fictitious place or get his wish and never feel foolish again. When he drank from the lake’s waters, he wished to know all that there is to. The lake granted him a grimoire containing all the world’s records.

The second, Bodi, was a farmer. Bodi had been physically weak his entire life and thus was pushed around again and again. He was first bullied by his parents, then his peers, culminating in his crush publicly humiliating in front of the entire hamlet. He set out to find the lake not caring if he fell in the process as life as a weak man in medieval times was no life at all. He drank from the lake’s waters wishing for strength. The lake granted him a set of armor that granted him great physical abilities.

The third, Solaris, was a knight. Solaris had been a coward for as long as he could remember. While he was a genius in all matters relating to knighthood and excelled in training, he trembled and hesitated whenever he was in true combat. He committed his first act of bravery leaving his home and everything that he had ever known in pursuit of courage. He drank from the waters and was granted a scepter by the lake. The scepter granted whoever held it great courage and the ability to inspire it in others.

The three strangers felt a connection with each other as they were all starting their new lives at the same time. They set out to travel the lands with each other and with time they grew closer and more famous. Years later the tales of three brothers spread across the lands. The group helped all they came across.

Mena became known as the wisest man under the heavens. He granted advice and guidance to all who came across him. He spread new methods that benefited every profession and revolutionized every field of study.

Bodi became known as the mortal god of war. He defeated every warrior he came across; none could even approach his strength. His name spread fear to every lowlife and thug in the realms.

Solaris was granted the title of God’s Mouthpiece. He could lead farmers against even the most well-trained armies and win. He gained a reputation as a fearless commander who had never lost a battle.

However, with time and fame they grew apart.

Mena locked himself away in a tower to research and push various fields of study even farther.

Bodi went around seeking more and more challenges.

Solaris built an empire.

Mena’s isolation caused him to grow colder and more distant from the world. His research caused him to see worldly matters as more and more beneath him. This happened until the brotherly feelings that used to fill his heart turned to nothingness.

Meanwhile, Bodi and Solaris grew resentful of each other. Bodi hated that he was seen as a dumb brute, while Solaris hated that he was seen as a weak man who hid behind his subordinates. This resentment grew more and more as the years passed, until their brotherhood was a twisted hateful remnant of what it once was.

This culminated in a war breaking out between Solaris’ empire of virtual strangers that worshipped him as a messiah and Bodi’s small elite group of subordinates that he beat into submission. They both went to what they both thought was still their good brother Mena, but both were met with rejection and dismissal. Mena barely heard a word they said before going back to thinking of his various projects. Where once he would have tried to mediate between them or deescalate the situation, it now seemed like a waste of time and headspace.

Solaris and Bodi proceeded to tear each other apart unimpeded. When Mena looked up from his books and out of his ivory tower, he saw that he was alone and found that he was indifferent. He did, however, find that he cared about the fact that he did not care. He had lost his last connection with the world without even knowing when it had happened. He spent the rest of his life buried in his books and pushing the boundaries of various fields. He died alone just like his brothers and finally realized the cost of the lake.

He and his brothers all got what they wanted at the cost of everything else. He became known for his wisdom, Bodi for his strength, and Solaris for his courage. However, they had each died alone, He in his ivory tower, Bodi with his slaves, and Solaris surrounded by worshipping strangers.

My newest ring was the distillation of Mena’s story.

_

Mena’s Book

“A compendium of all my knowledge”

A ring that stores the user’s comprehension and knowledge of various concepts: charm matrix

_

It did not have a tier as it did not really do anything, for now at least. It was a simple origami ring covered in various lettering.

Current Equipment:

Head:

[The Black Wasp Jackal’s Face]

Earrings:

[]

Necklace:

[The Energy Baron’s Stomach]

Clothes:

[Suit of Armor]

[Muscle Shirt]

Rings:

[The Mentalism Ring]

[Succubus’ Kiss]

[Mena’s Book]

Bracelets:

[]

Shoes:

[Cement Shoes]

Armaments:

[Weaver’s First Armament]

[Sense Cane]

[Holy Straight Razor]

Storage:

[Various Essences]

[Chi Organ]

[Murder Weapon: Axe]

[Green Thumb]

[Glass Eye]


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