Amdirlain's PoV - Material Plane

Amdirlain sent Sarah an image of Aitherlar on their porch and received a swift acknowledgement.

When Sarah returned, she set a crate of diamonds on the porch and shot her mother a grin. "I wondered if your guest had built a nest and settled in for a chat."

"They stayed slightly longer than expected." Aitherlar eyed the container. "Are they for me, or are you feeling broody and stocking up?"

"They're for you," Sarah grumbled good-naturedly.

A stream of rough diamonds spun upwards, shedding flaws and grit. When they were a gleaming vein, Aitherlar delicately plucked one from the mass like selecting a grape and crunched it between her back teeth. "They're not exactly natural, too smooth a scent and texture on the tongue, there isn't a sense of age."

"It's a relatively newish planet. To give it a background feel, I sang the diamonds into existence."

"What about dinosaur bones?" Sarah smiled expectantly.

Amdirlain huffed. "No, I didn't falsify evidence of previous life forms. Not that it matters. I don't think I'll add sapient life forms to this world."

"Why not?"

"There is no planar barrier to an uncivilised world, so you can come here with me to watch the stars."

Aitherlar nodded approvingly. "She's giving you an entire world to nest on alone. It's an acceptable gift."

Sarah snorted with laughter. "Only one world?"

"There are eight worlds in this system, along with assorted moons," Amdirlain noted drily. "I guess evolution might produce sapient life one day."

"I guess that makes the grade," Sarah acknowledged, still snickering softly as she dropped onto the swing seat beside Amdirlain.

You're procrastinating, Amdirlain. You've never been good at prioritising your own problems. Plus, opportunities might arise to help others with them. There is something else I've been putting off.

"Would you tell me how the treatment of the Fallen went?" Amdirlain asked.

"It took a few centuries before they properly cooperated and weren't merely putting on a facade hoping to escape, but they're now making steady progress. I would not presently recommend their release."

A knot of tension formed in her shoulders, but Amdirlain caught its source: her original disappointment at a Celestial being able to fall. A memory shifted within Lethe's vault caused echoes to resound through her essence. Sour notes and a thick scent of blood ran through her consciousness before Lethe restrained it.

"Do you want that memory released?" Lethe questioned. "Something triggered a powerful draw for it."

"I'll get to them after I clean up these death memories." Amdirlain returned.

The turbulence in her emotions caused Aitherlar to straighten. "Was that impact from one of the death memories?"

"No, one of my memories in Orhêthurin's lifetime."

"Then let's alternate working on your psychic shielding alongside cleaning up memories. Why don't you both form and maintain protective images while working on other matters?"

Sarah tucked her feet under herself. "Are you going to fish out what we're doing?"

"I won't call you on it, so you won't know how well you're doing. Instead, I'll record the details into a memory crystal, and you can see how much you let slip after each session."

"Is it okay if we use other powers or just Psychic?"

"Sarah mentioned that you'd progressed to Psychic-Prince. What Power are you looking to grow?"

"Mental Fortress, but I've only got it in the Apprentice rank."

Aitherlar wrinkled her nose. "It's strongest against direct, intrusive attacks at that rank rather than keeping mental noise contained. We can start training it, just be prepared for your memory crystal to contain most of your stream of consciousness."

"I'm sure I'm pretty noisy right now."

"You are, but among your thoughts is a hum of indecipherable sound, with images thrown in." Aitherlar plucked another diamond from the hovering bunch.

"Amdirlain frequently thinks in True Song." Sarah smiled.

"It's concise. Please tell me about Mechanus and its residents. While I've got a degree of Planar knowledge, it's spread across hundreds of planes and doesn't address any in depth."

"While I go into detail, you can disassemble those psychic patterns and then ask questions once you've analysed them."

As they chatted about Mechanus and the beings native to it, Amdirlain got to work. Her evolution of Psionic Lore allowed a clear understanding of the stable patterns Aitherlar had provided. Still, paranoia scratched at her. At first, her knowledge points stockpile provided temptation to push the lore higher and see if she could find something concealed. Still, given her early concerns about affecting things she'd learned, Amdirlain tried a different option.

[Neural Isolator

Details: For the identification of foreign thoughts, memories, and emotions. Used by healers and investigators to see if the target has been a victim of psionic influence from a third party and identify the injected elements.

Note: I wondered if you'd still use the Skill, but it's fine if you're not looking to chat. This won't detect things I've provided for points, as skills and assorted knowledge require being experienced through your neural pattern to function smoothly. It's the reason the complex skills and languages caused you such pain.]

[Empathic Shunt

Details: Draws the emotional energy from selected memories. A related Power must expel or consume the memories' emotions; if let loose within the subject, they can inflict trauma and/or psychosis.

Note: Can heal or harm just like any tool.]

The twists in perspective of the memories she'd encountered suddenly seemed a good thing.

I'll need to use isolator repeatedly, taking it apart a memory at a time until I've cleared the lot.

The details rushing through her mind caused Aitherlar to raise an eyebrow. "Who did you get information from just then?"

"I checked with Gideon, the Aspect of Knowledge, to ensure I'd gotten my review of the pattern right. They also confirmed the patterns wouldn't cause me problems in other areas."

"Alright, of course, you have a means to contact an Aspect." Aitherlar nodded after a brief consideration. "Are they in charge of psionics as well?"

"No, there is a different Aspect whose focus is on thought." Amdirlain shifted in her seat. "Would you supervise me venting some of this emotional energy?"

Sarah squeezed her hand.

"What are you going to practise against?"

"Just plain targets. I'll need to pick a spot where I'm only damaging the landscape and not risking anyone else."

"A Demi-Plane?"

"I thought I'd set up a shooting range on the moon," Amdirlain clarified. Creating a shielded sphere hovering a few kilometres above the lunar surface, she projected the location and teleported.

The others joined her as she considered the moon's relatively smooth surface, an almost unmarked sphere.

I created the planets, but didn't include any excess material. Since there is no free material in orbit to form meteorites, there are no impact craters on the moons, nor shooting stars crossing the night sky.

"What are you going to use as a target?"

"I thought I'd create objects along the horizon. The debris will go outwards until they're pulled back by the sun's gravity. Where they end up will depend on how hard I hit the targets."

"You just had a thoughtful expression. Did you expect there to be boulders or something to use?"

"I've got many details filtered out, so while I know all the stone, metals, and minerals that compose the moon, seeing it in person showed me what I'd missed. There are no stray materials in this solar system, or in the others I made. The various planets and moons will remain unmarked except by solar winds. Whatever species end up here will never experience the wonder of shooting stars unless I make some tweaks."

Should I visit a few worlds and see their situations for myself? Or is that me making an excuse to revisit Qil Tris?

Amdirlain created a ring of monoliths at the extreme curvature of the lunar surface. With it orbiting the planet in the same fashion as Earth's moon, there was no danger of materials immediately spraying towards the planet.

When she set a shunt into the first memory, there was a surge of emotions, and Amdirlain hurriedly empowered hundreds of Excising Concerto. The blazing lines of golden energy raced towards the targets and completely obliterated them. Some even nipped at the moon's surface and flung debris away from the moon. No longer laced with the terror of impending demise, Amdirlain fetched the person's name from the treated memory. Her attention flicked to the crematory memorial she'd created and marked the Catfolk's name on the first plaque before symbolically sealing the memory in the matching urn.

There was nothing big enough ejected to survive reentry.

"You need to hold tighter control over the energy flow if you don't wish to use it so hurriedly," Aitherlar noted, projecting a change to Amdirlain's handling. "Yet I didn't detect any turbulence that would show inward leakage, so well done. I didn't expect emotional energy to cause such a large physical display."

Amdirlain nodded. "It is surprising, but the emotional energy is a catalyst for the Ki applied in this technique. It was developed for purging negative emotions and pain, and I advanced it considerably."

"Keep going, and I'll monitor your thoughts for any issues."

Songs formed more targets in a millisecond, and Amdirlain destroyed them as fast.

Maybe I shouldn't refine the Psi pool into my essence until I'm confident I can duplicate all these techniques with Primordial Will.

Stolen story; please report.

♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Even with Aitherlar's psionic patterns, separating millions of memories from their emotional energy took time and effort. The trio took frequent breaks, during which Amdirlain trained her mental shielding and continued with Sarah's updates. In messages exchanged with Livia, Rachel, and others, they persistently told her to take her time.

The local seasons were close to Earth's, and the year rolled through summer, autumn, and winter before the bulk of the death memories had calmed. While there were still more recollections from those whose lives she'd improved, they didn't run riot or interfere with her concentration. Aitherlar had stayed for the duration of Amdirlain's self-treatment, only leaving when the last of the turbulent memories had calmed.

Having seen Aitherlar's off, Amdirlain sprawled on the deep living room couch, her head resting across Sarah's thighs.

"You haven't talked about your followers lately," Sarah noted, stroking loose strands of Amdirlain's hair from her face. "Are you becoming accustomed to their prayers?"

"There is quite a difference between the worlds. Lots of prayers from Catfolk who, while I sense are in very different regions, seem to have similar concerns. It seems to be only elves on the other worlds. The main reason for their prayers is to thank me, minor emergency healings, and seeking guidance about survival problems." Amdirlain frowned. "It's so odd even to be thinking about having followers."

For the first time, learning more seemed something she could handle, and with no warning from Precognition to cause her to shy away, Amdirlain used Analysis with a specific question.

[Worlds of followers (ordered by number of faithful):

- Qil Tris

- Galadhtë

- Melehta

- Márornë

- Sótëniquë

- Ornendur

- Haiyaél]

Aside from Qil Tris, Amdirlain recognised the elven meanings of the names. Haiyaél turned out to be the world she'd created for Danu, while Sótëniquë and Ornendur only had a small pantheon present, and Danu was common to all three. A quick check on the other worlds besides Qil Tris showed Danu present on all of them, and their populations of elves were in the millions, with no other intelligent species present.

I'll have to speak to her, but there are a few other things to do first.

Amdirlain shared the details with Sarah.

"Told you it wasn't me. You know how the courts feel about repaying favours done."

"That's a challenge for another day. I'm taking a week off and figuring out what I'll do about my Domain."

"Any thoughts you want to bounce around?"

"I'm thinking of the Outlands, perhaps positioned near yours, Livia's and Kadaklan's. Though you still haven't told me how they're positioned."

"If you imagine the outpost Mountain as the hub, Kadaklan and mine are spokes heading away from it, forming a T shape. My Domain mirrors Livia's while Kadaklan's Domain extends away from the Spire. The territory our Domains claim broadens the further from the mountain we get. The trial you provided Livia means the Monastery's gatherers don't have to venture far for suitable materials."

"I never measured how distant the spire was." Amdirlain grinned. "Still, I could have fun with dimensional folding to get more room if I needed it, and I'd get to come home to all four of you. I so want to meet Klipyl's children."

♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

"Livia, I wonder if you'd come visit. I've got a nice little place here, no planar barrier, and a light dusting of stars."

Livia appeared directly on the front porch. Her appearance hadn't changed from her unique condition since climbing the peak near Judge Po's court. Her white hair was almost silvery, and along with her crystal blue eyes, it was very eye-catching.

"Fancy receiving room you have here, Móðir."

Amdirlain rose from beside Sarah to hug Livia. "Hello favoured Human."

"Very droll, Móðir."

"I know. I crack myself up when I'm not completely out of my head."

Livia grinned through happy tears. "Sarah said you were a bit of a bird brain for a time."

"Ouch, you didn't have to repeat her teasing."

Sarah serenely eyed the pair. "Yes, she did."

"People I love are picking on me, so unfair," Amdirlain huffed playfully into Livia's shoulder.

"Only because we know how you'll take it." Livia hugged her tighter.

"Careful, you've grown," Amdirlain objected, as her ribs creaked.

"You can take it."

Amdirlain wiggled in her grasp. "Strength was never my focus, brute."

"You had me worried," Livia whispered, her grip easing off. "Hearing from you was great, but I'm so glad you're ready for company again."

I'll get scolded if I apologise for the time it took again.

"Your theme is massively stronger. How many worlds has Custodian gotten you involved with?"

"Hundreds," Livia shrugged. "I don't know why they keep spreading my name and tenets."

"They've offered no insight?" Amdirlain released their hug with a last kiss on the cheek. "It's so good to see you again. Sorry if asking about Custodian feels like an interrogation."

Livia opted for a spot at the table, close to Amdirlain's original seat. "No, that's fine. They asked if I'd take on more worlds each time I got established on one, but changed the topic when I asked why."

"They're probably ensuring you're protected by having worshippers on as many worlds as possible," Sarah offered.

Amdirlain patted Sarah's leg as she sat. "Or it's an apology."

We've used their name enough for Custodian to hear. They could offer their perspective if they wanted to.

"Why do you think it's an apology?"

"If you'd followed the Jade Court route, you might have cleanly progressed to being a Primordial. You might never make that transition now since you're a Deity."

"Custodian wasn't involved in my reaching Círbann, nor were they engaged in that mess with the Frost giants."

"Another Aspect was probably involved, but Custodian can only help within their field. Helping beings access a goddess focused on protection means they're in the clear."

"I wonder if Rachel's old patron was responsible," Livia murmured thoughtfully. "Not that it matters. We've helped so many people, I don't regret what happened."

Who does Livia count among her we? Just ask; you're still such a paranoid person.

"Who are you working with when helping people?"

"Various deities I'll not name here to avoid showing them this world without your permission, but also the celestials in my service." Livia paused. "Is it odd to think of celestials sworn to you as team members?"

"No." Sarah and Amdirlain echoed each other.

"Anyway, I've enjoyed improving people's situations."

"Since you're having so much fun, I'll drag you onto a few more worlds," Amdirlain teased.

Livia's gaze brightened, and she sat forward eagerly. "With you? That would be wonderful! The four of us could do so much together."

"I'll assume you're including Kadaklan in the four."

"Of course, I expected you'd want to work with Kadaklan, though a few other deities would love to help with your plans."

"Your former boss, and a certain soldier and his wife?"

I should contact Mars and Anna. Well, when I get a chance.

"And others."

Amdirlain straightened her shoulder. "I'm ready to sort out my Domain now. You three have your domains in a T-shape, so I'll use the Monastery's mountain as a starting point and see if I can find a welcoming place on the side toward the Spire."

"Just going to stroll casually?"

"Pretty much. I want it to be a relaxed place and it might carry some of that hectic scurrying if I hop about."

"Enjoy your bush walk then," Sarah offered.

"I know you prefer to fly over trees, but ground level has a different feel."

Livia opened a Gate to the Outlands, the threshold set at the outer junction of her Domain and Sarah's. Amdirlain took in the nearby rice fields and the many tiers of buildings that now covered the nearest slope of the mountain. On the Monastery's far side were cities and woodlands that sheltered millions of petitioners dedicated to Livia's tenets. The nearest regions of Sarah's Domain were nominally empty, containing only mechanised patrols and wisps of spiritual energy from souls who had opted to join with the Domain rather than be reborn again. Beyond Mortal sight, Qil Tris-style townships and cities rose, mingled with fields and woodlands, and beyond them were diverse species from Sarah's other worlds.

The newly dead find comfort in familiar sights, even though they no longer need many conveniences.

"Did you steal the Titan's design?"

"Emulated. Mine are not even close to that of his guardians in Judgement."

Amdirlain nodded towards the spire. "I'll wander that way a bit, yell if you need me."

"Yell," Sarah responded immediately, gaining a bright smile from Amdirlain.

With a wink, Amdirlain headed off, her thoughts lingering on the memories of her original Domain and what differences might show.

I'm still the same in many respects. My Domain should be a place of peace, a comfortable, welcoming shelter.

For days, she strolled lazily among the woods and glades, listening to the trills of birds and taking in traces of furtive animals, until hundreds of kilometres away an elongated grassed dale caught her attention. Bare of trees, the only features peeking through the waving greenish-blue grasses were a scattering of grey boulders and smaller rocks. On the upper slope, Amdirlain knelt and ran her fingers along the soft grass before she pressed her energies downward, letting them rush out in a flood. All four types carried the mental image and her hope.

A crystal clear water geyser broke from the ground at the dale's lowest point, containing the entwined core of her energies that linked deep into the Plane.

Amdirlain turned and waved towards the distant grey Spire, still a faint line splitting the horizon. "Patḗr, I'm home."

Unexpectedly, a lump hit her throat, and tears of grief and longing streamed from her eyes, as memories in Orhêthurin's vault rattled around.

"I'm sorry for leaving, but I wasn't in a good place and didn't have the tools or trust in anyone to get better. I'm still not good with lots of company, but I'll ensure I don't cut myself off completely the way I did last time."

Stowing her boots, Amdirlain sat in the grass and dangled her feet in the water.

It's not the river that ran through my old Domain, but I'm not who I was then, nor who I'll be in the future.

The surrounding terrain transformed as her energies soaked in; dimensions folded and space expanded, allowing some normal-sized trees to grow into colossi. Their canopies sheltered thousands of houses, with winding paths linking them and climbing into the upper canopies. The stone for the houses had shifted from deep in the earth to allow space for other changes. Tunnels and chambers extended down within the bedrock, mimicking a Dwarven holdfast from another realm. There were homes and places for crafters and other creators who might wish to continue their professional dreams while waiting for reincarnation, serving the Domain's needs or those of their fellow petitioners.

Amdirlain sent out messages as the Domain's boundary continued to expand.

Maybe I poured too much energy into its creation.

She teleported to the woodland glade near the spire she remembered. On the nearest edge to the Spire, vines framed the edges of an emerald pool. With her mind on Qil Tris, Amdirlain stepped into the waters and found herself among the white clouds of Judgement. Millions of battered souls stood quietly waiting, bearing scars from their passage through the graves and the Astral Plane. Among them walked the Titan's clockwork constructs, guarding against intruders.

They suffered such a battering getting here. I need to carry them safely, and Enervating Aura possesses an unwelcoming coldness that forces souls to come with me. That isn't what I ever want to use again. I need something different.

Amdirlain focused on the powers within her essence, and some dark-toned energies she'd kept stood out. Dominion and Enervating Aura, one power to control the impressions of others, the other to drain living matter and yank souls from the flesh that sheltered them. Her desires pressed them together and moulded them into a new ability, shedding some elements and strengthening others. Insights into the transformation for protecting souls bloomed in her thoughts while the two powers merged beneath her will.

[Enervating Aura [M] (18) and Dominion [S] (28) combined into Soul Haven [Ad] (1)

Primordial Will [J] (2->3)]

That's a significant drop in rank. I hope I didn't screw it up.

As the changes continued to hum through her, she felt her understanding settle.

[Refined Shards:

Transformation: +1

Soul: +1

Note: Just in case you wanted an official acknowledgement.]

Thanks, Gideon. You saved me from checking my Profile for changes. Now, about this new Power.

[Soul Haven

Details: This aura makes souls in the vicinity aware of your inner nature, attracting those with similar convictions while repelling others. Your form's protection draws in any willing, unanchored souls, while the living know the strength of the individual before them. Those who feel repelled will move away, either calmly or fleeing, depending on the extent of their opposition to your principles. Those welcoming the aura gain a resistance to any magical attacks while within its radiance.

Note: You lost a lot of ranks as the offensive and compulsive capacity made up much of the contributing powers.]

Pleased by the changes she'd wrought, Amdirlain activated her new aura, and a soft glow swept outwards. Though its radius only extended for a kilometre in this new, reduced manifestation, the Power washed over thousands of nearby souls. Even though they hadn't followed her in life, many stepped forward, accepting her offer of shelter and transformation.

"Let's take you home."

A precise Planar Shift took her to the waters surrounding the Wellspring, and Amdirlain released the souls she'd gathered. They exited her body like streamers of light, their roiling energies echoing with exhausted sighs. Not regaining physical form, their insubstantial presences drifted towards the Wellspring. As they neared its core, energies worked into their scars, and the faintest became tiny seeds of wisdom.

The Domain should have someone watching over it.

Within moments of her messages going out, the sky filled with her rainbow-winged daughters, calling to her cheerfully, their themes thick with emotion.

The closest gushed and clapped excitedly. "Mother, there are so many plants here. Will this be our home now?"

"If you want it to be."

The cheers and squeals of delight were answer enough.

Amdirlain raised a warning hand. "The Domain is more vulnerable here than on Laurelin, so stay alert whenever venturing beyond its borders. Ensure you don't change your Home Plane to the Outlands."

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