Comply

You grimaced. “At the end of the day, I don't really know any of these people, do I? They're dangerous, they're scary and they- they just seem to place themselves above everything. The Heavenly Great Master person seems nice but I don't know her either.” You were mostly speaking to yourself in order to sort out your thoughts.

“I care way more about Milk and Moona and- and who knows who else they've harmed.”

“Yes!” Synra grinned, her bright red pupils growing as her eyes widened.

“That's right, isn't it, Evie?”

You sighed. “Okay. I'll comply with what you want willingly, just tell me what I need to do.”

“Huhu... Oh Darling. You've just done it!” She hopped up and floated the small distance towards you, landing on her toes in front. While the wide grin remained Synra performed a wafting motion with her hands. Up. Suddenly you felt yourself rise. You could not move, not even an inch and your body felt like it was on fire. You remembered something.

“W-wait... Does this make me Scriven?” It was undoubtedly too late to ask. You simply wanted to know.

“Scriven?” Synra spoke gleefully. You continued to rise up into the air in front of her.

“No... Scribe, not Scriven!”

“W-what does that mean!?” A shuddering feeling washed over you.

“No more questions! Become my creation.” She demanded. Pleasure shot through your body from the tips of your toes to the ends of your fingertips. It felt dirty and wrong. At the same time you lost track of your body and to a greater extent your spirit. You thought about Star Trek as you got the sense that pieces of yourself were unraveling and being put back together indiscriminately. Then it simply stopped. You dropped down, sweat drenching your robes. Your hands shook and you were afraid to look at them for what you might see but they just seemed normal. Everything just seemed normal until you looked up and saw in the same Synra that stood in front of you before something you had not seen in her before. The sight gave way to feeling with became a thought in your mind that simply came out of your mouth hesitantly as:

“C-creator?”

“That's right, sweetie. I'm your 'Mom', basically. I 'made' you.” She caressed your face gently. She stared down at you with a benevolent smile.

You felt like you knew what she said was wrong but you felt that even those errant thoughts belonged to her, your creator. It's like the Writer had swooped in and without any work scrawled her mark over everything you were to take credit. With your knowledge remaining from the other world it struck you that a better name for her The Plagiarist because that was her power.

“What... What on earth have YOU created?”

She cocked her head to one side and smiled sweetly. “You, Evie. My dear Scribe. I created you... Even that question. It was my design that you ask it.”

You relaxed. “Oh.” Your face scrunched up in confusion. What she was saying felt right, but so did your thoughts. But then... Those were made by her, so it was her intent to make you question her, you thought.

'Maybe I was wrong? She is like my... Mother...' You cringed at that. You had one but that was also a thought she wrote to exist within your mind for some inexplicable reason.

“What's a Scribe?” You asked, feeling your head.

“A Scribe is YOU, silly. You're my agent within the world and within my domains. I created you to carry out my will, basically. It's also going to be up to you to create more Scriven to expand my growing influence. But... That will come later once I can let you our with your memories in tact. For now come over here and give Mother a hug.” She opened her arms. You crawled a few steps forward, then rose and leaned into her, hugging her. She was neither warm nor cold. Her arms closed around you and you closed your eyes.

-

When you opened your eyes again you were staring up at a domed ceiling. There was a warm cloth laying over your forehead. It felt fresh like someone had tended to you recently. You carefully took it off and sat up. The bed was lavish and far too big for a single person. The sheets were softer than anything you ever felt and you could feel them quite intimately because you were naked aside from a loose white robe. You swung your legs over the side of the bed and tried to stand. Luckily you did not feel too weak to stand. There was no one around but the room did not feel empty. You began walking until you found the familiar balcony that belonged to the Great Master.

'Was I in her room the whole time?' You stepped out and saw the woman staring out over the many pillar-like mountains contemplatively. In her lap a scroll sat open.

“Uhm... Master?”

She turned to look at you, rolling the scroll in her lap. “You are up. Good.”

“I guess I am... What happened?”

“What do you remember?”

“I remember leaving your room and losing consciousness. Was I out?”

“You were ill, yes.”

“How long?”

“You have slept for a month.” Jhiana offered flatly.

You gasped. “A MONTH? How?” You blushed.

“Also was it you that took care of me all that time?”

“With help, but yes.” The woman stood up and walked towards you. She smiled gently but her eyes showed sadness as she looked at you and rested a hand on your shoulder.

“The forces within you are in turmoil. It seems they have been that way for quite a while.”

“Is that bad?”

“It is.” She nods.

“But, it is also to be expected. Our school is one that walks both the spiritual and physical paths at once. This has not been an issue for any of my disciples so far, however you are suffering memory issues. Your Core carries great power but the control you have built up over many, many years with us is gone. With no control over Soma, too much can be a poison to your body and with Aura it is the same, but for your spirit.”

“But I felt fine for so long.”

“Yes, because those powers were not stirred by anything... Up until Lyla made a mistake.” She was not specific, but you remembered her pushing her energy into you through your back. You covered your mouth.

“Oh... But she had good intentions. Please don't punish her.”

Jhiana closed her eyes and sighed. “She is being punished and has been. It was unwise to act without me being present. If I continued to be absent you would not be up and speaking right now.”

“So she makes one mistake and now... Now what?”

Jhiana looks down at you curiously and strokes your hair. “You have an odd perspective on punishment due to your memory problems. I suppose it bears teaching again.”

“What does?”

She returned to the Balcony and looked out, folding her hands behind her back. Her long sleeves fall over them. You felt like she was not done with you, so you returned to her side. She was just breathing for a few moment, then she began to speak.

“People say that it is the mistake that defines us and that those who do not make them are virtuous or superior. My perspective that I have always taught is that mistakes are meant to happen and it is what we do after we make them that defines us.”

You considered the sentiment as you leaned over the balcony railing. “So then... With punishment.”

“Those who make mistakes should seek atonement either through punishment or a return to those affected. Whatever is possible. Those who make mistakes and attempt punishment or compensation are who our sect defines as 'bad' or 'guilty' people. They are the burdened ones and the immoral ones across this world.”

It did not sit right with you. It reminded you of some traditions from back home. “You could make a mistake that's bad and 'atone' and everything is fine?” You were worried she would scold you for asking questions but instead she smiled a little wider.

“There are those who would seek shallow atonement to move past their mistakes. That is why it can only come in good faith. A drastic mistake requires a drastic return and that should be carried out.”

“If you make a mistake and it seems like the punishment should be ****.”

“If I do such a thing then I should die.” She offered forwardly.

You stammered. “I-I didn't mean you specifically, I more just meant-”

Jhiana covered her mouth and laughed quietly. “I understand what you mean.”

A thought struck you. “Mio said she destroyed a nation and she just had to act as a statue... Is that right? She also doesn't seem guilty...”

“Guilt is not entirely necessary, but... I will have to talk to her about that further. Mio destroyed a Nation that was being ruled by beasts. It was not a 'wrong' action but it was carried out inconsiderately. Those Beasts that ruled the common folk were not good for the people, but were the people better off with no one?” She lifted her hands, pantomiming a scale.

“I would not have measured that Nation to be worth dissolution. On the other hand, it was a problem that we were qualified to handle, and it was expected for us to do so by those in the surrounding lands.”

“So it's how she did it... Can't you go 'return' to those people that were left.”

Jhiana shook her head. “We could return, but now anything we could give would help or harm a mortal faction. I have sworn that we should not interfere in the troubles of mortals except where it concerns other Cultivators, Primals or Beasts.” Your face scrunched up.

“I can see you are not satisfied.”

“It's unfair... We can't help them now because it's all 'mortals' being in trouble or being at war? Even if it was OUR fault? If we caused the problem then doesn't that mean that the issue inherently involves Cultivators?”

Jhiana rubbed her chin. She looked up in thought and remained silent for a few seconds. “It would require delicate intervention to both aid them and to maintain our distance. Far greater effort than it would usually take.”

“That's the punishment, then, right? We make the problem so we have to bare the cost, the annoyances and all the complications of the solution.”

Jhia smiled fully and turned. She uncrossed her hands from behind her back and placed both on either side of your shoulders.

“Well said. Mio and some other Disciples will return to that land.” She looked at you appraisingly.

“W-wait. Didn't you say my Core or something was all messed up?”

“Your Core has been suppressed by me. It will act up again in time, however the solution to that is for you to practice control in the mean time. That should be learned outside the temple. Technically someone of your ability would not even be allowed within these walls for your own safety... You must train hard and learn more to be able to make it back here.”

You felt sad. “So I wont see you again unless I succeed?”

Jhiana, surprisingly, was affected by your expression. Her cheeks reddened subtly and she inhaled slowly.

“For you, I can visit outside of the Temple when I am on my way to and from various appointments.”

“That's great!”

She looked touched. Jhiana turned you and began to lead you back inside. “You should go. Your Familiar has been waiting for you outside my chambers for each of the thirty days you've been here.”

“S-seriously? That long?” You felt guilty. Something else struck you, though.

“Wait, Master. Do I have to go on that Mission with Mio?”

She shakes her head. “I have never stopped my Disciples from finding their own path. My suggestion was merely a guide. Furthermore, if you are fearing venturing out alone I actually have quite a high opinion of that Familiar of yours at this point and I believe that she will be able to help you at your level to the extent that any of your sisters could.”

“I see.”

You stepped out of the room. Just as Jhiana said, the large form of Milk, the Minotaur Queen was sat against a large pillar trying not to doze off. As soon as she saw you she jumped up and trotted over.

“Meekling!” She lifted you up in a big, tight embrace that had your toes off the ground. You groaned as the life was squeezed from you.

“H-help...”

She released you. “Sorry! You're still recovering? I should go easier on you. Want some milk? It'll make you feel stronger!” She held her breasts and leaned forward with a wide smile, beads of white appearing at the ends of her nipples.

You blinked. “But that's your milk. Aren't you weaker for having people take it from you?”

“If I don't offer it to you, who should I? It's meant to be drank and it's meant to help little ones like you grow strong. I simply didn't like that those Cultivators were stealing it from me...” She clicked her tongue. Milk leaned back and let her breasts fall loose once more.

“You look like you have something on your mind.”

“Well, I have a choice to make. I can either go and try to help some people that are in a mess because of these Cultivators or I can... Maybe strike off on my own and explore a bit with you.”

Milk lifted a brow. “Huh...”

“You look stunned.”

“What it really is, is that I'm flattered. You're a different kind of person, Meekling.” She commented.

“I'd be honored to be at your side regardless of what you pick but I'm glad that one of those is just you and me.”

* * *

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