In the imaginary number space where time was but a void, Samuel's right hand crackled with azure lightning. The golden chalice floated before him, threads of thunder weaving into it, probing its mysteries.
Samuel had nearly unraveled the secrets of the Holy Grail: its ritual, the formula for condensing energy, and the fragment of the "Third Magic" it contained.
In this timeless place, roughly a year had passed—odd to say in a realm without time, but such was the notion.
"The Third Magic, Heaven's Feel."
Souls are immortal but shift with material experiences, their essence defined by these changes.
Pure, potent souls—like Aiwass—cannot descend to the material world. Their mere existence distorts the material world, a violation of its nature.
Thus, they require a vessel, which influences their power's expression.
This proves matter can affect the soul's strength.
Magic Gods are unique entities, capturing mystery through their souls via esoteric rituals, transcending both matter and spirit beyond the world's limits.
Samuel theorized their state resembled Heaven's Feel.
Their souls became their bodies, abandoning all else, surpassing causality and time.
They are the beginning and end of all things.
With no mortal form, their immortal souls became their vessel, rendering Magic Gods indestructible.
Souls can be infinitely vast, capable of holding boundless "mystery." They are Magic Gods, wielding magic to dominate all.
In a sense, fully mastering "Heaven's Feel" could lead to true "infinity," bearing limitless power, becoming a Magic God.
The Grail in Samuel's hand held only a sliver of "Heaven's Feel," yet its essence rivaled an "angel."
This hinted at the terror of a Magic God.
Perhaps... "Heaven's Feel" was merely the first step to becoming one.
Samuel resolved to experiment, to forge a path to rival Magic Gods.
It might be delusional, a clown's spectacle, but he would try...
Why?
Since ancient times, only the strong claim all they desire, and only the strongest claim everything. That's all.
Few pursue power for power's sake. Most chase it for protection, greed, or curiosity.
Protection—to keep what's theirs.
Greed—to seize what they lack.
Curiosity—to explore the unknown.
Many reasons exist, but these three suffice.
This experiment's reversibility was uncertain, so Samuel needed a test subject. The best? Himself. Thus...
"It's you, Leumas."
"???"
The Leumas was his clone, infused with a fragment of his consciousness, crafted through complex magecraft like the "Human Order Observation Formula."
Testing on it allowed direct data extraction. Success yielded results; failure cost little.
It was just a processor—worst case, he'd make another!
He embedded the Grail into Leumas.
Their knowledge and intellect were linked, so its extreme rationality could extract and experiment independently.
A worthy test subject conducts its own experiments.
Meanwhile, Samuel had another project.
Deeper engagement with the Human Order deepened his understanding of its power.
Though the Human Order's might seemed underwhelming, it rivaled mystery in potency.
Strictly, the Human Order is part of mystery, and mystery part of the Human Order—opposites, yet inseparable.
Magic Gods were once human but transcended humanity upon becoming gods.
This suggested mystery and the Human Order were linked before godhood but diverged after.
Samuel didn't grasp this divide, but he had a hypothesis for mastering the Human Order's power.
Humans are children of the earth. Though they gaze at the stars, yearning for the cosmos, they are bound to the ground.
Without external aid—magic or technology—humans cannot fly.
Humans belong to the earth.
In Greek myth, Prometheus, with Gaia's blessing, created humanity.
In Norse myths, and many others, humans are tied to the earth.
In Biblical tales, God crafted man from His rib, then exiled him to the earth, birthing humanity.
Faith...
Some say it's a unique power born of human belief, nurturing gods.
Others claim faith is a codename for the earth's divine authority. The earth nourishes all, and humans, wielding a fraction of its power, sustain gods through offerings.
Both theories intrigued Samuel, who believed they coexisted.
Human souls descend from higher planes, their bodies formed of material "earth," symbolizing the ground. In scripture, earth represents the body.
Thus, faith encompasses both.
What if humans possessed the earth itself?
Normally, impossible. Humans live on the earth but cannot own it.
But...
Samuel saw a chance... though it felt improper... to grant humanity dominion over the earth's divine authority, he had to bear this responsibility.
"Ah!"
Samuel shouted...
A massive, adorable creature emerged from the endless sea of illusion.
"Huh?"
***
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