Human minds are fragile things, yet within them, great power is held almost effortlessly.

Inhuman minds, are even worse.

A gnome, for all that it looks like a short, cute, cuddly human child with an uncanny love of mechanical things, is not human.

Not even close.

Taking a glance around as I float within the mind of the Gnomish Master Engineer, I am amazed.

The world within this creatures mind is clockwork.

Like something out of a fantastical tale, the world is made of gears, precision, oil, and math. There are automatons of various sizes denoting the mental defenses within. Stairs that lead nowhere, walls that rise endlessly, gears that turn without effort, and more.

Some of these gears would be the size of a mountain, if this were an actual real world. However, since it is a mental one, the restraints of gravity don’t exist unless the person wants them too.

Rarely do people remember gravity in their mental worlds.

After all, if they did it would be impossible to fly in them.

I am guessing that since a great deal of this gnome’s mind is dedicated to math, gears, and precision he took a strong blow earlier. Off in the distance I can see what looks like the floating remains of part of the mental landscape. It is quite clear a meteor of some type struck that area, likely the mental representation of seeing me put those rings away in my leaves.

When people say ‘bolt out of the blue’ it is just as violent as described. When someone comes and totally destroys the mental landscape that you have spent years creating, it hurts. The degree of mental damage received is in large part, dependent on how flexible someone’s mind is.

A child for instance can easily destroy and reconstruct their mental landscape with ease. On the other hand, an elderly individual is quite set in their ways, sometimes a blow to their values can be life threatening.

Shrugging my branches I push my senses outward.

I am searching for the core within this landscape, the mental domain that a soul will retreat to when under extreme stress.

Deep within the mental landscape I sense a pulsing heartbeat of power that I quickly lock onto.

Saying a short prayer that I do more good than harm I summon my Flame cloaking myself in it. Within another person’s mind, unless they are actively controlling their defenses, it is difficult to suppress intruders.

This of course is for normal individuals, as any decently trained mentalist can be very dangerous within their own home ground.

Luckily, this gnome isn’t really ‘at home’ currently. Having your entire worldview shattered will do that sometimes.

Following the mental lock I have, I make quick work of a variety of automatons that attempt to stop me from reaching the core. From giants that would do well in a mecha movie, to smaller humanoid types that could play in an AI movie, everything melts.

Upon reaching the inner core, I see a small gnomish child staring up at the large metal orb of pulsing white light.

Sensing my presence the child turns around. His eyes are dead, as if someone murdered his entire family in front of him.

“You.” the gnome child says, without preamble.

I wave my branches in a hello mode.

“What you did is clearly impossible. The math clearly demonstrates the power requirement for something of that nature, like a spatial warp, is immense. There is no way you could perform that action without completely destroying this planet, if not the solar system. No amount of math, no matter how imaginary, can provide any answer to how it works.” the gnome child says, his tone dead, akin to an AI monotone.

I have to be delicate here. Some people have difficulty understanding things outside their small worldviews.

“What if there was a power source great enough to provide endless energy, would the math work then?” I ask, my tone calm.

“Yes. At that point it wouldn’t be a matter of impossible, just a matter of drawing the energy without destroying the surrounding matter.” the gnome child’s eyes light up with passion.

“Watch carefully, since this is your mind, you can see everything I do here.” I reply.

Reaching out to the Chaos within my own mind, I pull a small fraction of the endless energy that exists everywhere. Filtering it through my Dao of Fire, a small glowing seed appears floating in front of me.

The gnome’s eyes are concentrated on the seed of pure fire. Shadows appear rapidly surging around the area, as his mind rapidly flows from one concept to another.

Transmitting the Dao in this manner has inherent risks for the recipient. It can shorten their lifespan, limit them on the path forward, in theory it could even destroy them completely.

Attempting to possess power that you cannot comprehend when comprehension is necessary has grave risks.

Fortune shines her mathematical features down upon this gnome though. I can see the moment understanding occurs.

The tiny seed of fire leaps like a spark of electricity jumping from one circuit to another. It enters into the gnome’s forehead becoming a circular seal within which sits an endlessly burning flame.

Without any mockery, the gnome bows down before me.

“This gift, is priceless. I am not young enough now to believe it was given without any strings. Tell me, what has this gift cost me?” the gnome child says, his form aging before my eyes until a wise elder stares back at me.

“I forbid you from spreading the knowledge you have learned to more than a single descendent of your bloodline. I forbid you from mentioning anything about what me, or my companions to anyone. I’d also like a deeper understanding of mechanical knowledge. Combining my forging skill with some of the mechanical principles I have seen in your mind would create amazing things I believe.” I replied back.

Sure, I’m asking for a lot, but I did just open the path to possible immortality to this guy. I figure what’s a few lessons from a Master Engineer in exchange for something like a very long life!

Besides, it never hurts to hedge one’s bets when going against the Divine. I believe I shouldn’t have issues, and my plan forward is sound, yet even so, I feel the need for a bit of insurance just in case. I’m not worried about betrayal since the breaking this deal would shatter the gnome’s newly formed Dao.

Once shattered, a Dao is millions of times harder to realize once more.

Even if the Master Engineer attempted to form insight into another type of Dao, it would slip through his fingers like water through a woven basket.

Grasping principles of power on such a scale, and then thoughtlessly abandoning them, does not make them desire to return.

That was the main reason I was even willing to enter this mind.

“A price well within acceptable parameters. I agree.” the gnome said before the mindscape around me melted like snow on a hot summer day.

After exiting the Master Engineer’s mind, I quickly glance around. There is no disturbance to the cabin, and I can see Mishra is halfway to the Captain’s quarters.

Time moves different when within another’s mind after all.

Mishra, return. I’ve come to an agreement with our new ally. I send into the aether, and watch as she halts. Seconds later, Mishra returns to my side closing the cabin door carefully behind her.