“You truly don't know what «Restoration» is? Do you not practice the «Way of Life»?” With two words, Laurence had managed to actually stun Luke. A lot could be said about the clans of way, but in Luke’s mind cross-pollination was not one of them. It was so out of character that they would let one of their children study another path before the Way of Life that he felt there had to be something going on.

“No. I practice with the «Book of Creation». Why would I know anything about this way of life?”

“Because that is the practice method of the Absolution clan. Are you secretly a Hephaistia child? Or are you some sort of test to gain control of the six books?” Luke scratched his chin and then checked on the food again. It was almost ready at this point so he got some plates and cutlery out, then set the oak table they were sitting at. “This is food for thought. A very interesting development indeed.”

Laurence frowned. “All I know is my father's name is Angus Absolution, my mother’s is Maris Morgana Absolution, and that I am from Ribec village, in a region outside of the tower. Mother always said that father was an important member of the clan we were part of, but never said how. So it is possible that I am an experiment.” He shrugged.

“You seem awfully calm about this. You do realise that being a test subject is a bad thing, right?”

“Why would I be bothered by it, though? Even if it is a bad thing, or something that could have bad results, I can't change who I have become. So why worry about it. Worrying won't fix it, and if I let my worries consume me I would probably go mad.” Laurence looked at Luke sadly. It was the first time Luke had actually seen a negative emotion on the child's face. For some reason it seemed slightly forced, as if Laurence was doing it intentionally. “Either way, I study the Book of Creation, I know I need to make a «Manifestation», but none of them seem right to me. I have the capability, I just seem to lack... something.”

“The thing you lack is experience. With any of the paths that people tread, the only way to truly work out the right choice is by experiencing many things.” Luke began serving the piping hot meat and roasted potatoes to the boy and the wolf. “It's kind of hard to explain to a child, because you lack the experiences that are so required for the explanation. To understand what you want and need, you have to have it, then lose it. In having a thing you can come to understand the sensation of losing it, while in losing a thing you can come to see why you wanted it in the first place.

“This is one of the cycles of the way. To gain the future you must give up the past. Remember that.”

“How does this help?” Said Laurence. His head was beginning to hurt from all the talk of circles and want. To remedy this he took a gulp of water and stuffed his face with food, hoping that the sustenance would stop the throbbing between his eyes.

“In essence, you don't know what you want because you don't have enough experience to know yet. «Manifestation» is a profoundly unique experience that is dictated by your life up to the point where you actually manifest. It will come in time, so just wait and experience the world. Have an adventure, make a name for yourself.”

“That makes me feel a lot better about this. I wasn't worrying, but I might have begun to soon.” Said Laurence, stuffing more food into his mouth. It had been a long time since someone had actually spent time and effort cooking for him. The food itself was incredibly tasty, far more flavourful than anything he had eaten in recent memory.

They began winding down their conversation as the food finished, and as Luke was clearing away the plates Laurence decided it was time for him and Yun to get moving. They said their goodbyes as they helped clear up and began their journey again. This time Laurence did not waste too much of his time and effort on manifesting, instead he built bizarre objects out of heat and light. He made himself a defensive bubble out of heat that he could activate with a word and a variety of sculptures that could only be seen from certain angles, or felt through difference in temperature. It was still an exhilarating experience for the boy, and as he neared the exit he told Yun that he would come back to this floor one day. The two friends reached the stele to the next floor one hundred and two days after entering, older, wiser and a lot more understanding of their place in their cultivation.

Meanwhile, across the world, Luke Jeshua sat by his pond. He was drinking a glass of wine and absent-mindedly fishing in his lake as he thought about his visitors. They were the first visitors he had had in a long time, and that could only mean one of two things. It quickly dawned on him that one option was not possible, so he made himself comfortable and smiled thinking “What an interesting visit.”