This chapter is mostly an explanation. And credit to IAmEmaMae on YouTube for the explanations on paths and elements. Thanks to those videos, I have a semblance of understanding of what I'm talking about.
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Orion walked slowly through the halls as he inspected his system status. 'It's really simple for a system.'
[Of course it is. We are not a gamer system; we do not categorize your abilities into statistics.]
'What are all of your functions?' Orion asked.
[Menu, Status, and Inventory are all that is currently available.]
'Menu is exactly that, a menu for the other functions and status, and inventory, and self-explanatory.' He brought the status up once more.
[Name: Orion
Race: Human
Fate Path:
-Beauty(Imaginary):(Beginner)
Given abilities:
-Natural Body(E)
-Manifestation of Beauty(E)
-Low-rank Honkai Affinity]
'All of the abilities from the beginner package are good, but what use is honkai affinity in a world like Star Rail? The only use I can think of is fighting Welt, and I don't even think he uses honkai anymore.'
[Honkai Energy still exists even if it is sealed by finality on the moon, but the seal only works partially. With the assistance of the system, you can eventually learn to wield Honkai energy for yourself.]
Orion simply nods at the information. 'Why are all of the abilities given by the beginner package connected to my fate path?' Orion grabbed a steel pipe lying within a container for protection.
[Because we, as the system, are only strong enough to give you abilities related to what you already have.]
Orion's head shot up in interest. 'You're weak right now?'
[Indeed. Our strength depends on yours, as we are permanently bound to you. As you grow so do we.]
'Bound to me? Ohh. I think I understand now. But why are you weak?'
[Why would we not be? We are a newborn creature among our species.]
Orion's eyes widen in surprise. 'Your species? There is a species of systems?'
[Indeed. We as a species can not survive long without a host, but unlike normal parasitic organisms, we can never unbind from our host. If our host dies, so do we. We are now a part of your soul until the day of both of our deaths.]
'Ah.' Orion nodded in understanding, perhaps too shocked by previous events to be startled by that information.
[Master while you hold a basic understanding of how to utilize your path. You do not understand the meaning behind the path. If you have mentally recovered enough, I believe it would be best for you to be informed of it.]
'Go ahead.' Orion peeked around a corner for the Antimatter legion. Upon finding none of them, he continued down the path, searching for people.
[The path of Beauty is about meaning and perception. Idrila is to IX what Nanook is to Tayzzronth. They are polar opposites. To perceive something is to give it meaning; that is the core of the path of Beauty.]
'What does meaning have to do with beauty? Is it something like beauty holds no meaning unless it is perceived?' Orion asked.
[Correct. That is the core concept of the path.]
'This might be a dumb question, but could I use the path and not just the element?' Orion asked.
[You're talking about how if someone of the path of the hunt held the lightning element, the output would be the same as someone of the path of destruction with the lightning element; yes?]
'Yes, I am.' Orion said as he rounded another corner.
[Yes, it's very much possible. For example, by using your path, you could temporarily give yourself 360-vision or a limited clairvoyance with your current understanding and mastery. In the future, you might be able to gain future sight by using your path.]
Orion smiled at the thought as he then asked. 'What about the imaginary element?'
[The imaginary element is held by those who know the singular future they want; some of them already hold the answers, most don't. The elements' abilities themselves are governance of what is, and the order of the world around them.]
'That sounds too good to be true.' Orion says.
[It's not like you will automatically hold the ability to bend the world to your will, but, as you have done yourself, you can cause minor changes in the things around you. You have already added 'Digital' weight to an object. You could also do things like changing air resistance or changing the conductiveness of an object.]
'That's still amazing, and incredibly useful.' Orion at last found traces of others as he found a trail of blood on the floor.
[Far warning though. You are weaker than almost any other pathstrider alive as of this current moment.]
Orion froze for a moment. 'Why? Is it because I haven't really embraced the ideology of the path of beauty?'
[Partly. The path of beauty is one of meaning. So I ask, what meaning do you place on yourself?]
'What the hell does that mean?' Orion asked as he felt some resentment well up in his stomach.
[The meaning you have placed on yourself is 'worthless'. You see yourself as something worthless. Be it from your father's constant insults, the needless beating, the actions of those you call friends, or the stories you read. Be it from one of them or all of them, you have decided you were worthless. That is why you are weaker. After all, why would something worthless have the capability to do anything?]
'I-' Orion stopped in his tracks as he choked on his words.
[I'm not trying to hurt you, my friend. I'm here to help you after all. I just have one question to ask you.]
It took a few moments for Orion to force the words out. 'What? What is it?' The words came out like a choked sob.
[Do you think you could find the capacity in your heart to love yourself?]
"No, no, I don't," Orion admitted.
[Well, it seems that we will have to find someone who can do it out for you.]