《Amauga: Far From Any Semblance of Modern Civilization》003: The Quest to Seek the Greater Truth
Advertisement
I can ponder about why that happened later. I walk up to the dead rabbit and remove the arrow from its body. Ugh, it feels yucky. I'm glad to have replicator food at home! But I have to say that slight blue hue is certainly interesting. Blue in one of the rarest natural occurring pigments in the universe. Does that colour give it an advantage at survival?
I take the rabbit to the area below the shuttle and to butcher the rabbit. I have Mittens create me some tools for that.
“Mittens, why did you get me a bucket and a rope?”, I ask.
“Cut open the throat and hang it from its leg over the bucket to drain the blood. Also, throw in the parts you do not need. I have discovered something that warrants testing.”
I take a knife and see in to the eyes of the dead rabbit. Can I really eat something this cute? Get a grip, Aster! It's already dead! I cut it at its throat. Yuck, I don't like this sensation at all! Then, I take a robe and hang it over the bucket as Mittens suggested.
After the rabbit stops bleeding, I try to dismantle it. I've never done something like this before… In the simulation games, you usually give them to an NPC that takes care of that for you. I work on the rabbit for a while. Eventually, I have managed to separate the skin, bones and innards from the meat. But the meat and everything else are in little chunks. This is much harder than it looks. And it takes a lot of stamina, too.
“Mittens, , I need cookware. And a fire source to cook.”
I'm panting, but I have to force myself to breathe slowly, with this much oxygen in the air, it's easy to hyperventilate.
“It is in the middle of winter, any wood you collect is not going to be dry enough. I will synthesize a gas cooker along with the cookware for you. But can you bring the bucket and its contents inside to the replicator?”
“Of course,” I take the bucket into the shuttle.
“Put it onto the shelf in the replicator.”
I do as Mittens asks. The bucket along with its contents dematerializes. After that, a block of metal with a depression and a dial appears, along with a pot.
“I discovered a possibility to save on energy by using an undocumented feature of the replicator. You can put in raw material for the replicator to process or dematerialize. It works similar to the Matter Deficit Generator.”
“So I can put in this meat and have the replicator process it to a steak?”
“Technically, yes, but judging from the experiment just now, it will only save energy when processing heavier metals to lighter materials. The efficiency with other input materials does not seem to be enough to result in a significant reduction of energy spent to justify the destruction of such materials.”
“In the end, I still have to cook myself.”
Advertisement
“Yes, you do. Since it is your first time, I suggest you make stew. That way, you will be unlikely to burn the meat.”
I get the gas cooker and put a pot on it. Then, I put the meat and some snow into the pot, and turn the dial of the gas cooker. I hear a hissing noise.
“For this model, you need to turn up the dial further than the maximum setting to activate the ignition crystal.”
I do as Mittens instructs, and a little spark lights up the gas. Soon the snows in the pot melts. That isn't enough water to cover the meat, I continue putting in more snow to get more water. After I have amassed enough water, I stop putting in snow. The water starts steaming lightly. After a while, the water bubbles. The bubbling becomes more violent over time.
“You need to turn the output down a little, so the water still boils but doesn't boil over.”
“I see.”
I turn down the dial a little. After letting it cook for a half an hour, Mitten tells me it should be ready for eating. I switch off the cooker and wait for the pot to cool down. I fish out a chunk of cooked meat and put it into my mouth to eat.
This taste?! Is this the taste of cooked meat? It's so overwhelming!
“This tastes so simple, but it's so good!”
Sure, the other tastes are missing… but still…! If other self-made food is like this, I'm not sure if I can ever enjoy replicator food again… I finish my meal and walk around the temple for a stroll.
I remember the unusual behaviour of the arrow. Maybe Aevita knows something about it. I enter the temple. A gentle breeze greets me when I enter. It feels like walking through an air veil back on Terra. It is me, or is it much warmer in here since before? I take off my coat and clip the microphone and speaker to my shirt. Yes, it's as warm in here as it is in my shuttle!
“I'm back, Aevita,” I announce myself.
“Welcome back,” the voice answers.
“Did you make it warmer in here?”
“We offered you sanctuary.”
“Thank you, but doesn't it take a lot of power to heat this place?”
“Don't worry… life is valuable.”
“Life is valuable. I guess this is the reason I was asked not to kill animals in here,” I mutter.
I look at the inscription on the back again.
When the two moons…
“So this planet has multiple moons…”, I mumble.
“It does not,” Mittens answers, “there is no indication for the existence of a second moon.”
“Why does the inscription say two moons if this planet only has one moon?”
“People believe the blue moon and the green moon to be two different bodies,” Aevita answers.
“I see.”
I continue reading.
When the two moons and the sun equal in strength, gentle winds announce the departure of Cryaci and with it, the arrival of Aevita. Now the ᑎᐁᓐ have run their yearly cycle, we celebrate them who bring the ᓄᐊ ᐳᓐ and the return of life…
Advertisement
I can't read the symbols mixed into the translation. I guess Mittens hasn't been able to translate them yet… So Aevita is a deity or some other transcendent worshipped being… They seem to represent spring. It seems Cryaci represents winter. I don't believe in the transcendent. I assumed they were an AI left over from some advance civilization that has since left the planet. Aevita seems to know the moons are just one single body…
No, that would require a power source for the AI to run. I'm sure Mittens would have notified me there was something like that around. Furthermore, an AI with this level of functions should be able to communicate via Radio or Subspace signals. So is an actual deity to the people of this planet? Or just a worshipped spirit? And what is it really? Some advanced life form? Whatever it is, it gives me a convenient explanation for Mittens: Mittens is my personal guardian deity that inhabits my shuttle.
Young ones that have seen ᒧᐃᐸ years of life, present yourself to them that ᓂᐅ the ᑎᐁᑦ. If you are ᓐᑰᓐ, you shall receive their blessing and bestowed command of the winds…
Aevita's blessing is command of the winds? Like in wind based magic?! My arrow shot… I'll ask.
“When I was hunting earlier…”
“… you used my blessing,” Aevita finishes my sentence.
Did I really gain the power to control the wind? No, magic is not real! There must be another explanation!
Even if you were denied their blessing, continue your ᐅᐣᖊ and present yourself to Favol, Therbea and Cryaci. Favol shall expect your arrival when the sun is at its strongest.
This temple is just the first stop of a pilgrimage… Since you might receive a blessing here, I guess you might get blessings at the other temples, too.
“Favol represents summer,” I speak my mind, “they will receive the pilgrims at the beginning of summer.”
“You are knowledgeable,” Aevita answers, “you are qualified to receive all of our blessings.”
“That sounds nice, but sorry, I don't believe in magic.”
“For those that have or seek greater knowledge and believe in the blessings, there exists a greater truth to be discovered. You have the knowledge, but without belief, the truth will remain out of reach to you. Not many have the chance to seek the greater truth. You have witnessed the blessing before. Feel the possibilities of the blessings!”
The voice has become more compassionate. But they are right, I did see that arrow move along a very unnatural path. Maybe there's something more to this. I should check it out.
“But this sure sounds like quite a convoluted fetch quest…” I mumble.
Suddenly, a window appears in my vision.
“Mittens? Is that window your handiwork?”
“You did say it sounds like a convoluted fetch quest. I simply took the liberty of creating a visualization of that comment of yours,” Mittens answers.
“But this isn't a game…”
“Yes, that statement is correct, but that venture Aevita proposes could end up worthwhile pursuing. Even though we don't have an explanation for the phenomenon we witnessed earlier, if you can learn to control it and similar ‘magical’ feats, it should help you with surviving on this planet.”
“I see… You have convinced me. We'll have a look at it. Let's say I believe in this blessing. How do I control it?”
“Feel, search, imagine,” Aevita answers, “feel my blessing, search for my blessing within you, imagine using my blessing.” I feel a gentle breeze blowing again.
“Feel… feel the blessing… I can feel a breeze… Is this breeze part of your blessing too?”
“My blessing embraces you.”
I can't tell if I am imagining it, but something feels different about the breeze… Some kind of warmth seems to flow into my body. It's an unusual kind of warmth, it also feels somewhat cold at the same time. I have to believe this blessing to be real… Is this warmth the blessing I'm supposed to find within me? I close my eyes. This sensation… it spreads throughout my body… Where does it come from? It seems it's connected to my lungs… Is it generated by breathing? So do I need to breathe faster? Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. No, the warm sensation is waning! I need to calm down my breathing! Inhale… exhale… inhale… exhale… This reminds me of meditation. Inhale… exhale… inhale… exhale… I feel the warm sensation returning.
This blessing gives me command of the wind… and this temple is somewhat dusty. If this works, I can practice this by cleaning up the temple!
So how do I use the blessing? Do I just imagine what I need? I want the dust in the temples to move outside. Nothing happens. I guess that was too vague! Move the air fast enough to take the dust out all at once. I can feel the air moving. I open my eyes again. The dust is still in the temple — all I've done is blowing it up. Now I have to wait until the dust settles to try again.
“This is much harder than I thought,” I mumble.
“My blessing is not easily be controlled by people of uncalm mind,” Aevita replies.
So I need to meditate. I end up spending the rest of the day trying to meditate. Inhale… exhale… inhale… exhale… Clear my mind. When night falls, I return to my shuttle to sleep. Usually, a shuttle has two folding beds in the back. But they are not very comfortable, so I had hooks for hammocks installed in my shuttle. Maybe it's just me that prefers sleeping in a hammock. I hang up the hammock and go to sleep.
CC-BY 4.0 q. Thái “0xReki” Chung
https://amau.ga/1/3/
Advertisement
- In Serial1363 Chapters
VRMMO: The Unrivaled
Lu Chen used to be a ranker of the most popular VRMMO game, Spirit of Grief. After a car accident turned his dreams into dust, his disability left him incapable of escaping the pit of mediocrity he was thrown into. Helpless and defeated, his story ended.Two years later, the Eternal Moon Corporation launched a new VRMMO called "Heavenblessed", and Lu Chen stumbled into another terrible accident that left him in a complicated situation far beyond his ability to handle. That won't stop him from rising to the top, however. Not again.Come witness the rise of the sword-wielding zombie and the relationships he makes during his journey to the apex! For riches and bi- ahem, for career and love!He wields a demonic sword from Hell, he dons armor shining with Heaven's light. His boots stride across the sky as his helmet devours the souls of his enemies. On his left side sits the Goddess of Death. On the other, the Angel of Beauty.From the land of ice and death, a generation of Asura Kings rises, their roars reverberating throughout the world.Tremble in fear, noobs!
8 8156 - In Serial1353 Chapters
Refining the Mountains and Rivers
A young man's life changes when he stumbles upon a mysterious item. Qin Yu had never been a lucky person. Weak of body, bullied by his peers, and with only his friend as his family, he struggles day-by-day to live. But everything changes when he stumbles upon a little blue lamp. An immortal and demonic cultivating adventure.
8 3344 - In Serial2455 Chapters
Mortal Cultivation Biography
A poor and ordinary boy from a village joins a minor sect in Jiang Hu and becomes an Unofficial Disciple by chance. How will Han Li, a commoner by birth, establish a foothold for himself in in his sect? With his mediocre aptitude, he must successfully traverse the treacherous path of cultivation and avoid the notice of those who may do him harm. This is a story of an ordinary mortal who, against all odds, clashes with devilish demons and ancient celestials in order to find his own path towards immortality.
8 1050 - In Serial1503 Chapters
Dragon Prince Yuan
Destiny stolen at birth, the prince of the once mighty Great Zhou Empire, Zhou Yuan, has been plagued all his life by a fatal poison, forced to suffer powerlessly until one day when fate draws him into a mysterious domain where he meets a beautiful girl in green, a bizarre dog-like creature and an unfathomable old man in black.Join Zhou Yuan as he is thrust into the whirlpool of destiny while he seeks the pinnacle of cultivation.
8 1057 - In Serial677 Chapters
Ranker's Return
In the early days of the virtual reality game, Arena, meleegod was the strongest ranked player! He deleted his character and suddenly left. In order to restore his bankrupt family, he returned to Arena!"Do you want to create a character?"
8 1715 - In Serial1525 Chapters
Monarch of Evernight
Qianye rose from hardship but was felled by betrayal. From then, one man, one gun; he tread the path between Evernight and Daybreak and became a legend. Even if Evernight was destined to be his fate, he still intends to become the ruler who dictates.
8 22861