CH841

Two days later a small crowd had gathered in the yard of Pelenia’s home, the guests all wearing amulets to protect themselves with few really understanding why they were there. The only thing they knew was they were all being paid for only a little bit of time to stand there as a ghostly child walked around them, staring deeply into their souls and watching as they cast some simple spells before calling out once he was done.

“Alright, I got everything I needed.”

“Alright, wonderful,” Abrus said. “In that case, thank you all for your time, for your own safety, we ask that you begin making your way back to your homes or go off to enjoy the city itself. You’re all welcome to keep the amulets so it’s the perfect time to take in some of Anailia’s wonders.”

For what they were going to be doing, having too many other bodies there would only put them at risk given how Bloom’s birth had turned out, the spirit nearly insane from the unexpected altering of its very nature, even if he had become more and more stable with each passing day.

Ben’s eyes turned to that very one, having joined the rest of them with a body he’d created for himself. Made of living wood with a green surface layer of photosynthetic cells, he’d created himself a form that was undeniably male, with two arms and legs. A shape that was familiar without being the general form of an incubus, the body Bloom had made was modeled after Ben’s own, the second spirit in the world to use him for inspiration.

Well, I guess that even if I die, I’ve left my mark now that two different immortals have decided they want to look like me.

He noticed Thera glancing that way too, her eyes shifting between Bloom, Ogilt, and Ben before shaking her head, whispering at his side.

“Try not to let this go to your head too much.”

“Alright, as long as you try not to get distracted by just how handsome a couple of your newer uncles are.”

She gave him a look, not one chuckle coming from the joke. “Should I even be thinking of Bloom as an uncle? He’s younger than me.”

“Why would he be younger than you? None of the spirits who went into him are.”

“Okay, sure, but he himself was only born from them a couple days ago.”

“I mean, if he’s not your uncle then I think he’s your grandson then. Which means Pelenia gets to enjoy being a great-grandmother now too. Think she’ll get a kick out of that?”

“I know I don’t. Okay, you win, he’s my uncle now because we are not about to say everyone Mora’s about to change are his children. Anyway, just be ready so we don’t get any repeats.”

“Yeah, you got it.”

The great spirits had been careful in selecting the regular spirits they’d be changing, making sure they were all fully informed of what would happen and what they could expect from it, with Ben having checked all of their minds to be sure they really understood things and were prepared for what was to come, with him still standing by to assist with whatever issues might still come once the change happened. They’d all prepared the best they could, all that was left was beginning.

“So what should I start with?” Mora asked them, with Lux stepping forward.

“Blessing magic. If there’s any issues, at the very least it’s not a destructive affinity. It will be a good test case.”

Mora nodded as light and life spirits came forward, all of them abuzz with the idea of a change, even if it was from curiosity more than excitement. They weren’t against it, they were interested and curious, but in a far more muted way than he would have expected from any mortal gaining the level of power they were about to.

Of course, on the one hand, any mortal might be a lot less excited if they knew they were only going to be getting that power after being merged with a bunch of others, but on the other hand, the spirits don’t seem to care about that fact at all. Oh well, let’s see how this goes.

Ben in particular was watching with wide eyes, not wanting to blink and miss a second of what was about to happen when he’d already missed out on witnessing both the birth of Bloom and the other plant spirits. Souls were one of his many topics of research, something he alone in the universe held the power to create too. How could he not want to see whatever change would take place in the souls of the spirits around him to let them grow into something more?

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

With the soul sight he held giving him the perfect view as he tried to work out exactly what was happening once Mora began, watching as some structures within them were shifted and changed, his connect stretched out to observe the minds of the spirits themselves too while it was happening before it was done, the alteration snapping into place as the spirits Mora had worked on collapsed to a central point and immediately began to scream.

Oh, that’s not good.