Chapter 45: Low Places

“I need to know where I can find a Sovereign Sect temple,” Trint asked.

“Oh, I’m sorry. There are many temples and sect followers, but none close to our people,” Watcher apologized. “We can point you in the right direction, but you should stay here tonight, and we will send a guide with you to get you on your way tomorrow. Then we can fulfill your request to speak for a day.”

“That is generous of you,” Trint acknowledged, “but I think I would like to get going after our discussion. I understand it is late, but I am in a hurry.”

Since arriving in the Subsystem, Trint had not yet tested the extent of his spiritual strength. While talking with the elders, Trint had been hyper-focusing on his would-be assassins and scanning for other threats.

His sharp focus revealed some changes from his most recent time in i7. First, Trint could distinguish vastly more detail from a lot more of his environment scanning. He saw further, but everything was vividly descriptive to his sense. If he focused, he could distinguish more than shapes and outlines. He could now sense these people had internal spirit and spirit paths.

Their systems varied in intensity and the extent of each network. The elders all possessed the most vibrant auras radiating from their spirit, and their networks were also more complete than the rest of the tribe. Trint was interested to see that their system branches were more organic and smoothly flowed through their bodies.

Trint’s own internal spirit system was jagged and angular, forming shapes and extending beyond his body to form a spherical dome. The dome was comprised of 110 hexagons connected to 12 Pentagons. The shape extended spiritually around Trint at all times but could only be perceived by Trint. He didn’t notice it unless he was in his personal Spirit Space.

Trint’s new vision of the people around him was like having access to an always-running MRI for their spirits. He began to wonder if he could affect others' spirits with his Spiritual influence.

“Well, it is already late,” Watcher responded. “Let us continue while the fire burns, and we will retire for the night once it cools.”

“That is acceptable,” Trint agreed.

“What would you like to ask us first?” Watcher inquired.

“I am most interested in the Sovereign Sects. What can you tell me about them?”

“Ah, an apt question for a Sovereign,” the elders nodded as Watcher spoke. “The Sect is one of several groups that believe and follow the ways of the sovereign. Their faith was less fantasy than we thought. They have temples throughout the subsystem. They claim that Sovereigns will come to rule over them and live in their temples.”

“Their beliefs make no sense,” Another elder interrupted, “How can they claim to want to be ruled but also preach that Sovereigns offer freedom. There is no true freedom when you are a slave. No one can serve two masters. We are all slaves to the system. Any idea to the contrary is a lie.”

“What this elder means,” Watcher retook the lead, “is that we are all subject to the system's call. None of us are truly free. When it is our time, we are taken. Yes, we are sent back but at great cost.”

“What, wait. What cost do you pay?” Trint sincerely asked. “What does the system ask of you other than to fight in the instances? I thought you were healed when you returned.”

“Ha ha ha,” Watcher and the others laughed. Watcher rolled up his pant leg. “This is the latest of many such injuries I returned with. You see, if during our fighting in the instance we do not cause the stem’rs any damage, then we are not given the resources to heal fully. If you cause damage or death to an adventurer, you are healed and even progress in Exp and levels. But that is only the path of the gifted and strong. We here are like the majority of the subsystem. We are the kindling the system uses to light others’ fires. When used, we burn up and provide heat but are left to slowly fade to ash. We heal much slower in the subsystem. Is it true system-born that you are reborn when you die?”

“That is what the system has told us, but I have not had a restart yet,” Trent informed them.

“Ah, you are young then.” Watcher 55’s face spread in a knowing smile. “Yes, you are still ignorant of the system and its intricacies. I see why you sought us for knowledge.”

He continued, “Well, in the subsystem, all who live here are not given any warning when we are taken to an instance, as you call them. We call them trials. I have lived through over 10,000. If I die in a trial, I will reappear here. Depending on my performance, I either benefit from my forced encounter or end up beaten and weakened for poor performance. The system is not kind to us. Unless you are a favored or gifted fighter.”

“But, if any of us die while not in an instance, there is no restart or rebirth.” The elder solemnly paused.

“I didn’t realize things were so much worse for you here,” Trint sympathized. “Do you have system menus and stat points you can assign?”

“Ha ha,” they all chuckled. “Now you are talking about fairytales.” One in the group said.

“No, we have a basic readout with our Subsystem id and our level and an Exp percentage. Can you see this?” Watcher flicked his wrist and raised his palm in front of Trint. A second later, Trint saw a screen.

Subsystem ID: Sn6C673-55

Level: 227

Exp: 16%

“What about Spirit? Can you use it?” Trint asked, “I have never seen this density of Spirit before, even in i7.”

“The sects speak of spirit, but I don’t know of any who use it while in the subsystem.” the Watcher considered, “There are many who, when sent to the trials, receive abilities that are beyond our power to use here. I have met some in the cities who could harness great power during trials. If you can use more than that here, you would truly be sovereign among children. Are you sure you can use Spirit here?”

‘Trint,’ Pneuma interjected, ‘with their fear of you already high, I think a small display of power might turn their thoughts of fighting to that of awe. Try something small.’

Trint extended his right-hand palm to the group and formed a glove of black spirit around it. This time the Spirit was not diffuse and mist-like. It was like the glove grew on his hands into the image he created with no leakage. He tried to develop other floating mist and liquid to swirl around it. As he willed it, the image of flowing liquid ran around the glove and whipped rapidly around an inch from the surface while a mist billowed out.

The glove shocked the group, and at the sight of the billowing mist, they were all on their feet, backed to the edge of the tents.

“That is not possibly Spirit,” the elders said in shock. “Stop that now, or we will attack?”

“Sorry,” Trint apologized while he returned his hand to normal. He had remained seated in hopes of appearing less threatening.

“Calm, yourselves,” Watcher bellowed to his peers. “He has not attacked. He was merely showing us his Spirit ability.” They all sat back down after a moment of whispers and further encouragement from their leader. “Sovereign, are you sure that is not magic. Many here can use magic; none use Spirit unless they enter a trial.”

“Depending upon our status, some have gained access to powerful Spirit powers, but they are locked when we return home. I don’t understand why you can access it here. But we have never seen someone from the system here. I don’t know what would happen if others from your system came here if they too could fight with Spirit. Would you tell me about the symbol on your palm?”

Trint looked at his palm. He had forgotten about the symbols there. While they were with Jung, he had formed a habit of folding his hands and absent-mindedly using his left thumb to trace over the scars.

“Ah, these are the symbol of my family,” Trint explained. “At least that is what I have been told.”

“They are also similar to the symbols the Sovereign sects use on their temples,” one elder spoke. “I have been to a temple when I was young. I remember the strange shapes and symbols. My first watchers were Sect members. I left that all behind. So don’t count on me to worship you.”

“I don’t want you or anyone to worship me,” Trint said while holding his hands by his face as if to surrender. “I honestly am just trying to get to my family.”

“That is admirable, and we can see how you mean us no harm,” Watcher said, “If you are correct, that Spirit you showed sets you apart in all the Subsystem. I imagine you could wipe us all out with ease. So what would you have us do? Do you wish directions to the temple in Joppa? It is the nearest city. Yet it is nearly a year’s journey for our people. “

Trint’s face scrunched up in discouragement at the news. Then softened back to his neutral expression.

“Does that displease you?” He asked. “Is that farther than you were hoping?”

“It’s true,” Trint admitted, “I hoped to handle some things in less time than it will take you to travel there. But I might be able to decrease the time it takes if I travel alone.”

“Most of my generation left that city. We have heard the news, but not much has changed since we left. Joppa is named for the Temple in the city, which is also the territory's name. I believe the leaders there would like to see change and improve the lives of the forgotten, like us. But there are other powers at play in Joppa and the other cities. The Sovereign Sect is but one of many, and most only work for themselves. Anyone of the commoners is left to fend for themselves. Some would capture our people. Enslaved people are the primary source of labor around the civilizations like Joppa. Food is cultivated by the poorest, but large farming industries are contending for control. They use traders to fill their fields with workers.“

“That is why we have moved so far from Joppa and other cities,” Continued the elder. “They offer only violence and slavery for ones who lack power. I never imagined we would meet a Sovereign. I never believed in what has been a fairy tale to me. My watchers growing up were faithful and told me about the tales of a coming Sovereign.”

“Once I was a slave, I lost any faith I once had. Now I don’t know what to believe. I must ask, do you come to free the people here?”

Trint had listened, learning and considering. When asked about his plans and intentions, he lost his composure for a moment. The anger he felt towards the mistreatment of Watcher people was the first thought and expression on his face.

“Sovereign, I meant no offense; your plans are your own” Watcher bowed as he apologized. The others followed his example.

“No, no, stop bowing,” Trint told them. “I don’t want your worship. I am not a god, and you didn’t offend me. I am repulsed by slavery and the suffering of your people. In my world, slavery is one of the most despised forms of treatment towards our fellow humans.”

“Oh…” Watcher paused, “We thought slavery was common in your world too.”

“Well, I can’t speak for the System’s higher iterations,” Trint confessed, “I came from the lower parts of the System, with short lifespans. I never saw slavery during my time there. But in my world before the system, I was in a world that had a history of slavery. There were still slaves, but most of my world acknowledged the evil nature of it. It was only done in secret by people who were humanity's worst.”

“So, will you free the slaves here?” Tree Two asked. “My people have struggled and become like our former captors. We struggle to care for even our people. Even my wife….” At Tree Two’s interruption, the elders turned to him. Having forgotten, he was among them. Then at the mention of his wife, one elder hit him across the face.

That’s when all hell broke loose.