B2 | Chapter 39 - [Meditation] Evolution

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B2 | Chapter 39 - [Meditation] Evolution

Theodore found himself back at the mana construct exercise. The previous failure with the orbital spheres hadn't discouraged him so much as given him something concrete to gnaw on, like a puzzle piece that almost fit but needed just a little more finessing to slide into place.

He settled into his study, dropping into the chair and turning into a slime, molding himself over the chair. Letting himself remain like this was weirdly cathartic, and it left him relaxed, so naturally he immediately began reconstructing the exercise from memory.

The central spinning cube formed first, its edges crisp and precise in his mental grip, followed by the inverted pyramid balanced on its point. The delicate equilibrium between the two shapes required constant adjustment, tiny corrections to keep everything stable while both pieces rotated in perfect synchronization.

Adding the orbital spheres came next, and Theodore found himself approaching the task with more patience than he'd shown in the field. Each sphere needed to be positioned exactly, their spacing calculated so they wouldn't interfere with each other when he eventually got them moving in their prescribed paths.

The mental shenanigans involved were more complex than he'd initially realized, requiring him to keep track of multiple variables simultaneously while maintaining the core construct's stability.

Theodore had already mastered getting all the spheres spinning on their axes from his previous practice, so that part came naturally now. The real challenge was what he'd been building toward all along—actually getting the spheres to move in orbit around the central construct instead of just sitting there like spinning ornaments.

That was the breakthrough he'd been chasing, the final piece that would push his skills. He was after those level ups!

The first attempt at orbital motion failed spectacularly, the entire construct dissolving the moment he tried to nudge one of the spinning spheres along its designated path. It was like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach while juggling. Which wasn't possible and didn't make sense, that was the point however. 

Theodore rebuilt the exercise again, this time approaching it with the methodical patience of someone who'd learned that rushing only led to more failures. The central cube and pyramid, then the orbital spheres with their axial rotation, then the careful attempt to add actual orbital movement to just one sphere at a time. His second attempt lasted longer before collapsing, and his third longer still.

So he tried another way, he reduced the amount of spheres and started with spinning one on its axis, which was far easier, and then moving it on its orbit. Which proved to be hard yet far simpler than doing a lot of spheres at once.

By his fifth reconstruction, Theodore found himself able to maintain one sphere actually moving in orbit around the central construct, though attempting to add orbital motion to a second sphere still caused the entire arrangement to fall apart. The mental strain was considerable, like trying to juggle while balancing on a tightrope, but it was manageable strain rather than the overwhelming difficulty he'd experienced initially.

He was starting to understand the fundamental principles behind getting spheres to actually orbit rather than just spin in place. The orbital motion required a completely different type of mental control, more like guiding something along a predetermined path than simply maintaining rotational momentum. Each orbiting sphere had to trace its circular path while simultaneously spinning on its axis, creating layers of complexity that pushed his concentration to its limits.

Theodore found himself thinking about it in terms of planetary mechanics, which probably wasn't surprising given what he was trying to recreate. The mana construct was like a miniature solar system with multiple moving bodies, each one requiring precise calculation to maintain stable orbital patterns.

The difference was that instead of gravitational forces keeping everything in motion, he was providing all the energy and guidance through pure mental effort.

The analogy helped him approach the problem more systematically.

Instead of randomly trying to make spheres move and hoping for the best, Theodore began analyzing the mathematics of orbital mechanics and applying those principles to his mana control. He discovered that spheres needed to maintain specific velocities relative to their orbital radius, and that adding too many orbiting bodies created interference that destabilized the entire system.

It was fascinating work, the kind of intellectual challenge that made hours pass without his notice. Theodore lost himself in the careful process of experimentation and adjustment, pushing the boundaries of what he could maintain while always staying just shy of complete failure. Each small success built on the previous ones, creating a foundation of understanding that let him attempt increasingly complex orbital arrangements.

His breakthrough moment came during what must have been his forty-something attempt at the exercise. Theodore had managed to maintain two spheres actually orbiting the central construct, each one tracing smooth circular paths while spinning on their axes, when he decided to try something different. Instead of attempting to add a third orbiting sphere, he began experimenting with different orbital speeds for the existing ones.

The change required constant adjustment to maintain stability, but Theodore found that his improved understanding of orbital mechanics let him compensate in real-time. The spheres were actually moving now, tracing visible circular paths around the central mass, their motion creating trails of shaped mana that reminded him of comet tails. It was beautiful in an abstract way, this purely mental creation that existed only in his magical perception but felt as real and solid as anything he could touch.

Then, feeling ambitious, Theodore carefully began adding a third orbiting sphere to the system. This one required a different orbital plane to avoid colliding with the other two, creating a complex three-dimensional dance of intersecting motion that should have been impossible for him to maintain just weeks ago.

But somehow, he was maintaining it.

Three spheres actually orbiting the central construct in different planes, each one spinning on its axis while tracing its predetermined path through three-dimensional space.

The construct held together despite its complexity, all components working in harmony to create something that was greater than the sum of its parts.

Theodore could feel the mental strain, a constant pressure at the edges of his consciousness, but it was manageable strain rather than the overwhelming difficulty that would have forced him to abandon the exercise entirely.

He held the construct for what felt like an eternity, though it was probably only a few minutes in real time.

The satisfaction of finally mastering something that had seemed impossible just hours earlier was profound.

Theodore felt a deep sense of accomplishment.

The notifications appeared in his peripheral vision just as Theodore was beginning to wonder how long he could maintain the complex arrangement.

[Mana Control] has leveled up! - Lvl 8 > Lvl 9!

[Meditation] has leveled up! - Lvl 24 > Lvl 25!

[Meditation] has reached MAX!

[Meditation] is Evolving!

Theodore nearly let the construct collapse in surprise, catching himself at the last moment and carefully dissipating the shaped mana rather than letting it scatter chaotically. The evolution notification was unexpected, though in hindsight it probably shouldn't have been.

He had just forgotten how close [Meditation] had been to evolving.

Congratulations! Evolutions available for: [Meditation]!

Evolutions available:

[Focus], [Mana Convergence], [Inner Sanctum], and [Indifference].

Oh…

Theodore stared at the skill names floating in his mental interface. They all looked interesting. He decided to go through each one.

[Focus]

You achieve a state of absolute, unbroken mental focus. When using [Focus], distractions fade, the world narrows, and your attention becomes a weapon. Boosts effectiveness of perception, precision, and sustained action. Can be maintained for long periods at higher proficiency. Enhances skill learning speed and greatly boosts success rate of fine-motor or detail-heavy tasks.

[Focus] sounded like it would turn his attention into something approaching a superpower, the kind of absolute concentration that would let him work on complex projects for hours without distraction or fatigue. Theodore could imagine how useful that would be for his various magical research projects, not to mention the practical applications for combat or emergency situations where split-second decisions mattered. The enhanced skill learning speed alone would probably pay dividends across every aspect of his development, and the boost to fine-motor tasks would be invaluable for rune inscription work.

But there was something potentially limiting about [Focus] as well.

[Mana Convergence]

Passively draw in ambient mana at all times, even while unaware. This absorption is slow but steady. When used with intent, drastically increases mana intake and regeneration for a short burst. Retains the clarity and calm of [Meditation], granting mental stability during magical processes.

[Mana Convergence] addressed one of his most practical concerns, the constant need to manage his mana reserves during extended magical work. The passive ambient absorption would be like having a slow but steady trickle of mana always flowing into his reserves, while the active boost could provide emergency power when he needed it most.

Theodore could see immediate applications for both aspects, especially given how mana-intensive he'd recently become.

The retention of meditation's mental clarity during magical processes was equally appealing, and it also confirmed his suspicions that [Meditation] didn't just have to do with meditating, but rather focus and mental clarity as well. [Focus] especially made it clear why [Meditation] leveled up in the times he was extremely focused on something.

Still, [Mana Convergence] felt somewhat passive compared to the other options, more about resource management than fundamental capability enhancement. Which wasn't bad at all, in fact he prefers this skill over the others so far.

It would make life so much easier.

[Inner Sanctum]

Turn your mind into a bastion. While in this inner mental space, you gain resistance to mental intrusion, emotional manipulation, and panic. 

[Inner Sanctum] addressed a different category of concerns entirely, but it was sort of useless given [Psionic Resistance], which was a higher tier mind protection skill.

Regardless, [Inner Sanctum] seemed like something that'd have helped him back when he'd transmigrated. Against the kind of mental vulnerabilities that Theodore had started worrying about.

Mental intrusion and emotional manipulation were real threats in a world where political maneuvering could turn lethal without warning, and the resistance to panic would be valuable in any number of crisis situations.

[Indifference]

Enter a state of perfect internal silence- no fear, no doubt, no joy, no rage. Emotions are set aside, leaving only purpose. While in [Tranquil], you approach your goal with absolute clarity and detached efficiency, optimizing every action without hesitation. Mental noise is eliminated, allowing for swift, rational decisions under pressure. Ideal for critical moments where emotion would hinder performance.

[Indifference] was perhaps the most intriguing and concerning option, promising the kind of perfect emotional detachment that would let him approach any situation with pure rational analysis.

Theodore could see the appeal of being able to set aside fear, doubt, and other distracting emotions when critical decisions needed to be made, especially in combat or emergency situations where hesitation could be fatal.

The description suggested that [Indifference] would turn him into something like a human calculating machine during activation, optimizing every action for maximum effectiveness without being hindered by emotional considerations.

But there was something unsettling about the idea of deliberately suppressing all emotions, even temporarily. Theodore had learned to value his emotional responses as important sources of information about situations and people, and he wasn't sure he wanted to give up that aspect of human experience, even for the sake of improved performance. He'd already become a slime.

This wasn't a decision he could make lightly or reverse if he chose poorly.

Each evolution represented a fundamentally different approach to personal growth and problem-solving, and Theodore found himself genuinely uncertain about which direction would serve him best in the challenges ahead. They were all good options, each offering significant advantages for different aspects of the complex life he was building.

So the question is, which one to choose? Minus [Inner Sanctum], they're all kind of good.

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