Chapter 79: Affinity Paralysis

“My theory,” continued the other Trint, “is that your companion and adoptive family wanted you to focus on Spirit first. You kind of snowballed and ended up skipping steps in your journey. From my perspective of your memories, I can see places you were using one of your affinities without much thought or awareness. I believe it is how you grabbed the Sovereign title. But I won’t just spoil that one for you,” he laughed at knowing and withholding the key to that mystery.

“I, on the other hand,” the man continued, “spent most of my time before you came, building my stats. Building my level, one Instance at a time. I had to buy or find my skills, and spells. I built up my intellect and wisdom before I found my first elemental affinity was for water. Now I know Soul and have seen what elements can do when fueled by a Soul.”

“That is how I know we are not the same. You don’t seem to connect to water like I naturally have. I have become so close to water. I won’t tell you all the ways I have bound myself to it. But I am fluid and adapt to my environment and give life. When water is absent, so is life. When necessary, I can cut through anything given time or enough water. My ability to create, manipulate and fight with water had been good. But thanks to you, they are amazing.”

“I still don’t understand how we are connected, and you changed since getting my memories,” Trint interrupted.

“Well, I used to destroy things,” Trint’s double responded, “Myself primarily. I prefer life-giving uses now, in many ways. Your memories had a lasting impact on me. I even took a profession that nurtures plants. Not a farmer mind you, but I found my second affinity when I gave enough of my Soul water to some plants to strengthen a wall. They gained sentience and now they have joined me in my quest to reach True Ascension.” He pointed to either side of the garden.

On the walls were vines as thick as Trint’s thighs. Some were smaller and there were a few that were the width of his arms. Two of those reached out to T-Rex.

“I used to be a complete mess and a wreck of a man. Thus, the moniker Rex. I added the T in front to get some respect and then someone thought it was fun making a joke of me, mimicking a dinosaur with short arms. I had to beat a few of them. But eventually, I got it to stick and for the reasons I wanted.”

“Wait, so you are telling me you had a long time since getting my memories and now are suddenly a good person? Because that is not what I witnessed in your memories. I don’t think we are anything like each other,” Trint’s interruption caused T-Rex to show many emotions. Beginning with anger, pain, and embarrassment but he settled on remorse and conviction.

“I imagine it’s hard to believe,” T-Rex continued. “Although our merger has changed me, I still need to keep a bit of T-Rex to fight to the top of this heap. We are more alike now than before you arrived. You will find that my memories are a part of you too. I think you will find some of them helpful. When you consider my experiences with Mana and elemental affinity, I think you will see a new door to open. I have probed your Soul. We are separate and unique. Although we share many things now, the overlap is not exact. You will never be me because you are grounded in your Soul. But you can learn from my life and knowledge. Maybe more of what not to do but…” he paused, seeming to consider something.

“Let’s focus on the positive stuff,” T-Rex continued, “our affinities appear very differently But I know with great certainty that you will unlock your own with some focused effort. And you can learn from me. Now and later.”

“That concludes today’s hints,” T-Rex bowed. “Now if you don’t mind? My request in return for the brief instruction is simple. I would appreciate an introduction to Pneuma. I have been unable to slide sideways as you were able to. Another of our differences. You seem to have a unique affinity or something similar. The last hint, I’m giving. You should already have figured some of it out at this point. I believe you slipped through the dimensional layers. We are likely just from separate universes in a larger tapestry of a multiverse. At least that is my working theory.”

“That would make sense, but it sounds like you’re just guessing,” Trint challenged. “And based on what we’ve encountered from our mind meld, I am not certain I know how to bring Pneuma here. There is no guarantee I can even get back to my timeline or multiverse. I might end up in another one and meet a truly dangerous version of us.” For all I know you are one, he thought to himself.

“Let’s say I have a suggestion, if I were to tell you how to return would you in good faith promise to come back if you are able and bring Pneuma?” T-Rex asked.

“That seems reasonable,” Trint conceded, “I will agree to honor that request, if…If you promise you mean no harm to me or Pneuma.”

“I would give you a system-confirmed contract, but I already know you can’t accept it,” T-Rex confessed. “Our Systems are similar but there are differences. Believe me, I’ve tried to use my System to confirm some things from you. But you don’t show up as anything with my identification. And that doesn’t normally happen. I have brought others into my Soul, and I always have full access to their stats and character information. I suspect that some of the multiverse dimensions don’t even have a system or possibly the Iterations at all. Those you likely can’t even access.”

“Well, despite some of your memories and our differences,” Trint considered, “you have always been a man of your word. I will honor the agreement you are suggesting. I agree, so how do I get back?”

“Simple, that ring on your finger. That is tied to your Soul, through your adoption, and is part of you and part of the one who adopted you. If you focus, I believe you can follow the thread from here to there. I also grant you access to this Soul. Not full access but I believe you will be able to find me from your Soul and affinities now.”

“Ok, anything else you want to tell me before I go?” Trint asked, his mind wrestling with the urge to not trust this man and appreciating the help getting back.

“Just remember to come back. I know you’ll need to consider my words and this experience. I’ve had years to process this. My Soul stops time for me and only moves very slowly for others when they are here, compared to the real world. Unless you sync with those you bring in. I chose not to completely stop time for you. But let you recover at a very slow pace compared to my time. Please don’t make me wait years. When you come back, I’m sure you will get another download of what I have learned. It shouldn’t be as harsh as last time. The rest I could offer is best discovered on your own. I don’t want to hinder your potential. So, try to figure out some of your affinities before getting back here. But don’t make me wait too long.”

“You might as well get going. And good luck! Oh, wait, neither of us believes in luck,” he said with a wink.

“It’s creepy to see yourself wink,” Trint said as he sat down to concentrate. Even with all his scars, he looks like a creepy version of me.

“Yeah, I know, that’s why I did it,” T-Rex chuckled.

Trint closed his eyes and focused on the ring. The connection to his adopted heir was faint but he grabbed it. With the same sideways sense in his Soul periphery, he grasped it. He lurched violently sideways and was sitting again by his Tree in what he hoped was his Soul.

“Trint!” Pneuma gasped, “Are you okay? I couldn’t tell where you went. One moment you were gone. Your whole Soul Space shuddered and your creatures had a seizure but then they slept. You’ve been gone for days here.”

“First tell me how long I was gone,” Trint asked, hoping it wasn’t years.

“I’ve been waiting,” Pneuma considered, “I think a few hours passed in the physical world. The time dilation got weird, and time moved faster in here than normal.”

“I’m okay, Pneuma,” Trint stood and embraced his companion. “It was a weird experience. Let me catch you up with the last few hundred years.” Trint smiled solemnly.

“You’ve got to be joking,” Pneuma hardly believed Trint experienced that much time away.

“You’re right,” Trint said and went on to recap what happened when he went sideways through what he now believed were dimensions.

Pneuma agreed and tried to convince Trint to never attempt that ability again. But Trint was able to win Pneuma over and they agreed to try returning to T-Rex later. There were already benefits, and if he gained the knowledge his other self knew since their merger, he would be even further along.

He also considered trying to find another dimension if that were possible. Considering it, he realized he could feel several other connections like T-Rex’s just at the periphery of all his Soul senses. Though he just returned, although unscathed, he knew it wouldn’t be wise to tempt fate another time today. But tomorrow? He needed some time to explore all the recent developments. Things were moving too fast again.

Pneuma confessed how grateful he was that Trint was back and hadn’t been hurt. He was relieved to hear Trint would wait to try that dimensional travel for a while. If everything he explained was true, then there could be another Trint out there that could offer lifetimes of experience to help. But the impact of those experienced memories could potentially change Trint. Pneuma was concerned that Trint might not even be aware of any changes. They could be a blind spot for him. Having experience hundreds of years in such a short time would change anyone. Hopefully, the difference in lives was enough for Trint to not connect and become like T-Rex. He seemed to have a depth in his eyes. Like the windows to his Soul, he seemed to carry a heavier weight than before.

Trint and Pneuma spent much of the remaining night with Finry. Discussing Trint’s experience and potential affinities. Finry agreed with T-Rex, that it was best for Trint to discover them himself. Even if it meant he possibly never did.

“Shortcuts are helpful but potentially crippling if their guidance is different from the actual affinity,” Phinry explained. “Trint could end up unlocking an affinity using others’ guidance, but the self-discovered affinities always trump the inherited and taught ones. What do you think yours are?” he asked looking at the other two.