Eliot walked through the forest of thought, trying to understand how he ever thought trees where this large. The scale was completely lopsided, the trees were thick as a house and as tall as skyscrapers. It didn't make sense how light was even pushing through the deep canopy. After walking for a few minutes he noticed how there was always noise in the background, like music.

Everything had a sound to it, he would rub his hands on the ruff alligator like bark and it would create a melody that would blend into surrounding symphony; or every step he made in the grass would shingle with glee. He loved it, it was a beautiful noise filled with calming qualities. He continued to walk admiring the scenery and listening to the music; when he noticed an opening through the trees. A huge crystal clear lake with a small waterfall creating a small mist over the otherwise calm waters, was waiting for him when he walked into the gap of the forest.

There were rocks jutting out of the lake with simple shapes on them, that glowed a soft blue. Next to the waterfall was a tree like any other in the forest of thought; but this one was covered in moss and had a hut built into the base of the tree. Windows circled the large tree with other wooden structures like balconies or stairs built throughout the tree itself. All Eliot could do was whistle in appreciation as he looked up and down the treehouse.

He walked up to the house and knocked on the door before he realised this was his world. He turned the bronze knob and pulled it open; there was little resistance from the moss before the door fully opened. Inside was a cozy looking living area, there was a couch with a fireplace and a coffee table. With shelves that held knick knacks and memorabilia. Moss has made its way from outside into the interior of the house covering almost half of it with vegetation.

At the back was a staircase leading upwards, Eliot walked towards it and began to ascend up the tree. Through the windows he got a better view of the lake and how big the little alcove really was. The forest of thought seemed to circle the alcove giving it a sense of privacy and secrecy.

There were multiple different rooms in the tree, some were bedrooms while others seemed to be studies and some were just plain empty; but the one that proved to be the most aweing was the library. It was huge to say the least, rows and rows of books were stacked close together on the many floors of the library. Eliot walked up to a random shelf and picked up a book.

On the spine of the book was written in glowing braille and it was a date, exactly three years ago. He opened the book, the pages began moving on there own. First it was slow but then it began moving rapidly not stopping until there were no more pages left to turn. Eliot was completely overwhelmed as memories of that day three years ago flooded his brain.

There were no images but he remembered everything else, from conversations he had to the music he listened too, even the smells and things he touched were loaded inside of the book. ‘Holly crap this is my memory storage?’

Eliot couldn't believe it, everything he's ever heard or touched and now seen was being stored in this massive library. After going through some of the books, especially the ones where something good happened to him; he walked back downstairs into the largest study he could find from his walkthrough of the tree house.

Inside the study was everything he would need to start practicing the Book of Tut, and that was just a large floor mirror. There was other things in there too like a desk and shelves with empty jars and some bookshelves, there was also a small nook sitting area in the wall with a large window overlooking the lake but other than that it was pretty bare. Eliot walked up to the mirror and pulled out the book from his messenger bag.

He sat down in front of the mirror and looked at himself for the first time ever. It didn't even occurred to him to see how he looks, he's not once had to do it before so it was the farthest thing from his mind. He had unkempt black curly hair that was falling over his eyes a lot, it never mattered before when he was blind but now it was kind of annoying.

He had his father's green eyes but his mother's pale skin and a slim build. He couldn't tell if he was handsome or not but he wasn’t hard on the eyes. ‘Hmm not too shabby, maybe it's time to find a girlfriend.’

After gazing at himself for a couple of minutes he decided to get to work. He opened the book and began pouring over its contents. The book of tut and its uses in shaping the universe vol 1, was a well written book with clear guidelines and illustrations. Tutting is to use magic through hand or body movements to create geometrical patterns along with breathing in certain rhythms. It's usually used for large rituals with many people, but is known to be used by single individuals on rare occasions.

It seemed simple enough, but the execution of the hand signs and the breathing have to be literally perfect before anything can even happen; even when you get it perfect that doesn't mean the spell is going to work, you would need a shit load of practice just for the most basic of spells. No wonder it was so cheap.

Apparently each book elaborates about certain core topics that govern the universe and the world, volume one speaks of ‘forces’ that hold or move the universe, and how to manipulate them to your will. ‘Sounds good to me.’

The first couple of pages where a bunch of finger and hand exercises that would help your fingers and hands become more flexible and strengthen your joints in each ligament. Eliot checked the time on his braille watch and noticed that even though he's been here for at least an hour now, time on the watch has only passed a couple of minutes. ‘So the time is still synced to the real world that's useful.’

He began the arduous finger exercises trying to match the pictures in the book exactly but it was hard and very awkward but he kept at it. He kept thinking about how he needs more power if he was ever to make it out alive in this new world.

***

James and everyone heard the argument that Eliot and Katherine just had, they were practically yelling or at least Eliot was. James couldn't blame him, Katherine was in the wrong this time but he could've handled it better. She clearly regretted what she did no need to throw salt in the wounds. “Sigh, I miss when they were small and got along.”

Vivian couldn't help but chuckle “You mean when Katherine would try to play with her brother but couldn't because of his disability, and just found bullying him was easier.”

James scratched his beard at that, he always thought they were just playing together. He should go talk to her and see if she was alright, that is his baby girl no matter what she does. As he got up he noticed Natalie making her way over to them; she looked liked she had something on her mind.

“James, sorry to bother you two but can I speak to you privately?” She looked James directly into his eyes, ignoring Vivian.

Without hesitation James agreed bringing his gun with him, and leaving his wife alone. Vivian squinted her eyes at what just happened but decided to wait until he comes back before saying anything.

While they went to go have their private conversation Vivian got up and went to go get her children, when James returns she would have a conversation with all of them on their choices in abilities and usage of points.

She regretted that she didn't do it before at the house but she felt pressed for time and thought she would have the chance to have a long discussion at the summer home, she guessed wrong. If she had talked to them maybe she could have prevented the stupid stunt her daughter pulled. ‘That reminds me, I need to think of an appropriate punishment.’

As James followed Natalie he saw Eliot fast asleep using Anubis as a pillow. ‘How did he get to sleep so fast, must have been completely exhausted.’

Natalie suddenly stopped and turned looking James in his eyes again. Her pupils glowed a pinkish light for split second when she spoke. “James, you're such a strong man. So much strength to protect your family but i'm afraid there's not enough strength to go around for them. From now on, I want you to only protect me and Thomas are we clear?”

“....Crystal” James slowly uttered as his priorities were being overwritten.

“Good, you can return to your wife now.” Natalie was sweating a lot by now, her power of compulsion allowed her to make people do her bidding for a certain time but it took alot out of her.

She walked back to where Thomas was and looked him the eye “Sleep, I will bring you back to your father.”

Thomas grimaced but did as she commanded. ‘Good boys should listen.’ Natalie thought with a smile as she also got ready to sleep.

***

Eliot couldn't feel his hands anymore, they were sore and shaking from the arduous hand exercises. He couldn't fathom why he brought this book out of all the other ones. There were books that could teach you to use magic through voice incantations, why didn't he get that one.

‘Oh yeah this book is the only one with multiple volumes, and I thought I can just get really far in this subject of magic even though the other volumes are pretty expensive especially since i'm so good with my hands and because I have the method of loci ability. I almost regret buying it, but it's too late now, gotta commit.’

Even though it was hard he could feel himself progressing and getting used to the finger movements, he didn't start any of the actual magic. He wanted to make sure he had all the fundamentals down first.

While he was waiting for his hands to regain some of its feelings. He decided to read some of the threads in the forum of the satellite system, see how everyone else was faring through the apocalypse.

He got up and sat in in the alcove with the large window getting comfortable and then opened the forum. To say he was surprised at what he found would be a lie. Towers have erupted all over the world just like here, it talked about how a lot of people died in the initial attack when the thrall rained down. There were literally hundreds of threads on just the thrall, and people wondering where the military was.

After scrolling down for a while he saw a thread by someone named ‘David&Goliath’ (huh, didn't know you could change your name. That's good to know.) The thread was about the initial distribution of points and his theory on how the points where spread; before he could start reading he heard a knock on the front door downstairs.