“Why did you alter your flesh like that? You resemble Archie a tad, otherwise that perverse form is rather distasteful.” Daniel took out several pieces of paper and magical quills and arranged them on the table.

He didn’t mention the abominable parody between Wolf’s legs. He knew Adventures of the Perverted Mage must have scared Wolf’s fragile teen emotions, resulting in that python.

“What do you mean? I tried to—” Wolf attempted to say he wished to resemble his father, but choked on the lie.

“I know what you wanted to do.” Daniel said with a warm smile and a glint of understanding in his eyes. “But that’s not how you do it. You are who you are. Wrapping yourself in false flesh just to… Never mind. You’ll understand one day.”

While speaking, Lord of Steel handed Wolf half the magical quills, then activated his portion and the sound of pens scratching on paper became the backdrop of their conversation.

How was your trip to Demon Forest? Did you collect enough Monster Cores to return your debt? The quill wrote and Wolf dropped ten Monster Cores next to the sheet.

Are you prepared to promote your True-Namer Order? I can reserve the Hall of Names for you as soon as you’re ready. You may stay as long as you need to advance.

Do you have any plans for your marquisate? Your friend, Northshield, sent regular reports to me. I have them here. Another stack of papers appeared next to that sheet and Wolf flipped through them while talking with Daniel.

Your women are safe and sound. Your disciple arrived years ago, and I settled her near Ms. McCoy’s suite. You must talk to her about certain serious matters; I hope you will act reasonably.

Half a dozen different threads of conversation unfolded simultaneously. This kind of communication would break a normal person’s mind, but for Archmages and True-Namers, exchanging information like this saved a lot of time. However, they seldom used it because it left evidence.

Lord of Steel recorded a bunch of technicalities and Wolf replied, haggling on prices of Monster Cores and valuable beast parts he could sell to fill his domain’s coffers.

I’m offering you a decent price. Lord of Steel wrote.

I will inquire with the Church of Fairness. Wolf’s reply caused the kooky old man’s lip to twist.

I can give you seven percent more. But that’s my bottom line. The magical quill underlined those words twice, while Wolf struggled to explain the logic and convenience of his new body without uttering lies.

The interview took fifteen minutes, during which Wolf and Headmaster Smith made a day’s worth of arrangements. Wolf headed straight to Mandy’s. The night was young, and he yearned to test his augmentations.

***

Wolf’s macho form floated in the Hall of Names. Multicolored aurora permeated his Mind Palace and his original, child-shaped Mental Aspect walked out of the first Mind Hall. He glanced at the door and the finished carving on its surface.

The relief depicted a kindly faced man. This handsome person wasn’t old nor young. He was neither a human, nor an elf, nor any other race Wolf knew. He held a set of fine scales and gazed at them with sadness and melancholy.

Wolf believed this man was his vision of death. Death was impartial. His aura was neither black nor white. It was somewhere between the two, a shade which manlings wrongly labeled as gray, when in fact it really was a shadow.

Wolf once more looked at the engraved visage and slowly shook his head, revealing confusion. However, it wasn’t the time to consider this carving. With several steps, Wolf’s tiny body reached the door of Life. He placed his hands, followed by his forehead, on the warm wooden surface.

Wolf’s Mental Aspect closed his eyes and let the vibrant green guide him. There was no hint of the storm he originally witnessed. What greeted him were fuzzy emerald hills, the brown blob and the hazy skies. His understanding of life had improved, nearing truth.

Wolf revisited the familiar scenes, however, these visions failed to spark new inspirations. He only experienced sorrow and loss. When the last event unfolded, and Wolf ate his first meal, he focused on his new insights about life. He thought of the Demonic Converters’ duality. About its transition from overwhelming vitality to rot of death in a matter of minutes.

He sensed resistance.

“I guess that’s not it either.” Wolf didn’t feel dejected. It’s normal to err when blindly stumbling your way forward. In fact, this mistake made Wolf happy. He felt the green wind blow and gently pulled him towards understanding.

The event it depicted happened earlier that morning. Wolf was behind Mandy’s juicy butt, thrusting, or more correctly impaling the woman as he tried to batter his way in. Poor Mandy moaned and screamed, experiencing pain and pleasure.

Come on! Say ‘Deeper’ bitch! Wolf saw his thoughts from hours ago with clarity. As a detached observer, he was ashamed and covered his face with a palm.

“All life is holy? She is also life, and I’m treating her like that?” Wolf’s Mental Aspect attempted to figure out why he was seeing this scene. He sensed lust, anger, blame and even a hint of hatred and desire to torment Mandy, but those emotions had nothing in common with life.

“Maybe I should end things with Mandy?”

Wolf found guilt, but failed to find traces of life. However, for reasons beyond his understanding, the green wind didn’t disperse the vision. Instead, as time passed, it grew clearer. Finally, Wolf groaned and his Mental Aspect understood something. “Is this supposed to represent the creation of a new life? But I can’t do that.”

However, Wolf realized the Hall of Names gave him a chance to comprehend this unique aspect of life. He grasped it. After a simple thought of acceptance, the scene replayed and Wolf watched.

The vision ended for the third time.

“I understand.” Wolf’s Mental Aspect took a deep breath and smiled. The green grassland appeared for a moment. The brown mass became a trunk, while the hints of green condensed into the crown of a magnificent tree. Brimming with endless life, the towering tree observed Wolf under the warm sun, which nourished all life. This idyllic scene lasted a flash.

*Crack!*

A sudden snap echoed in Wolf’s vision, and he convulsed from soul-shredding pain. Wolf’s Mental Aspect screamed, feeling like a dagger pierced his eye.

Wolf immediately knew something which should never break had shattered. It was as if a divinity blasted a hole through his Mind Palace, and his Soul Force gushed outside.

“This is a crippling injury,” Wolf’s Mental Aspect muttered while the vision dissipated and the second Mind Hall’s door appeared.

The door creaked, then banged opened. Wolf tottered and stumbled inside, then fell flat on the ground. All around, his Mind Palace echoed with groans of masonry.

Suddenly, Wolf’s vision doubled. One set of eyes saw himself falling down, while another simultaneously watched the wooden floor rapidly approach his face.

Wolf’s prone Mental Aspect looked up and saw a copy of himself returning his gaze.

“What?” Both Wolfs said and simultaneously blinked.

Wolf’s Mental Aspect glanced left, as did the other one. With that simple motion, his Mental Aspects perceived the entire Mind Hall of life.

The chamber differed from the Mind Hall of Death. Instead of the smooth whiteness of the rock-bone, this hall was light-brown, entirely molded from wood.

In an instant, Wolf examined his surroundings, finding that everything in this room looked like it organically formed inside a giant tree. The chamber’s aura was also different, and its columns appeared like tree trunks.

The first Mind Hall had a dignified and official air, while the second one gave Wolf a mischievous and vivacious impression.

“Is this Mind Hall supposed to represent my childish side?” Mental Aspects said in unison, then locked gazes.

“Who? What? How? Stop.” They shut up.

“If we are one, then this Mind Hall created a new Mental Aspect. I don’t sense Lonely Eagle from you.” Both Wolfs spoke, one of them even referring to himself in second person.

“This could be good!” Wolves smiled. “If I can separate who’s doing what, that should double my thinking speed. Should I say I or we?”

The prone Mental Aspect stood up, while the standing one didn’t move.

“It seems I don’t have to move my Mental Aspects in the same way. Hopefully that means there’s room for improvement.”

Wolf then tried to have one Mental Aspect raise his hand. Both of them did, after which they pursed their lips, making an identical grimace. While performing this gimmick, Wolf’s Mental Aspects pressed their palms against their temples.

A wave of piercing pain assailed them. They felt like vices clamped their heads, squeezing until their eyes were ready to pop out.

“Dammit!” Mental Aspects shrieked. “I should’ve waited some more. I pushed myself too hard and damaged my soul while advancing my True-Namer Order.”

Wolf’s Mental Aspects collapsed to the ground. They convulsed while the Mind Palace around them creaked. As Soul Force gushed out of the temple of Wolf’s soul, cracks and fissures spread all over, terrifying Wolf’s Mental Aspects. His soul neared collapse.