Chapter 13
What is the void?
According to Ain Rand, or the written explanation, the void is a spiritual world that exists because it does not exist, is composed entirely of information and emotions, and is pure and unreasonable.
In the void, there is no time, space, and no life in the true sense, but it is completely blended and overlapped with this world-just as inseparable as a person and his own shadow.
This kind of explanation sounds extremely mysterious and abstruse to Loren, as if it was written just to prevent others from understanding. Even though the little wizard in front of him had tried his best to explain in a way he could understand, he was still at a loss.
But he feels that the statement about the void is somewhat similar to the "agnosticism" of the previous life-that is to say, even the person who wrote this book did not really understand what the void is. What kind of form existed, he just wrote down what he saw and speculated.
But there is one thing, whether it is in the book or the little wizard said very clearly-for the wizard, meditation is the only way to enter the void, and it is also the safest way.
"But I remember clearly that when you were under the church cellar, you said that it was completely eroded by the void." Loren asked, "Did we count as'entering the void' that time?" "
"Not exactly. And as I said, it's dangerous!" Ain shook the head: "We use meditation, but we don't want to directly touch the power of the void."
And meditation is dreaming-after the people of this world sink into their dreams, their spirits can peep into the void, and deeper dreams can go further. Based on this, the wizards found a safer and more professional way.
"The term meditation originated from ancient times. It is derived from the two words'mind' and'traction'. This word itself also explains the meaning of meditation, pulling the mind to the emptiness. ”
At this step, Loren understood a little bit. Just like a coin has pros and cons, this world is also divided into two levels, spiritual and material, and they are dualistic.
It is precisely because the two levels overlap each other that this world appears to be corroded by the void—the twisted cellar, the mutant monster, and even magic are all caused by the influence of the void. of.
"...For the creatures of this world, the mind and the material are two completely separated parts. Needless to say, to the point where you are, even a slight touch, it will fall like dirt It melts like the water..."
Loren suddenly remembered what the guy named Asriel had said. If it was really like that, he could explain his doubts. This is why Ain found that he was safe and sound. The reason for the surprise.
But in this way, Loren has a new question: He, who is completely spiritual and material, should be unique in this world. What does this mean? I'm afraid it's more than just what it shows now.
But should I really believe him? Indeed, the other party is almost equivalent to saving his own life, but Loren’s innate suspicion still keeps him skeptical of Asriel, especially the other party’s weird smile to send cold shivers down one's spine, as if everything on his body is in it. He was exposed in front of him...
All kinds of thoughts were piled up in his mind, and it took Loren a long time to calm down slowly-so distant things are not something that I should consider now. At the moment, the most practical thing is to start from the basics.
"Sorry, meditation and emptiness are basically the knowledge of mysticism. My main focus is alchemy. I don't really need to understand these, so I can only learn from the text." The little man who saw Loren fell into contemplation The wizard said somewhat sorry: "But if you are going to learn alchemy, I would..."
"Thank you, but I don't need it anymore." Loren smiled and shook his head, but didn't want to let it go. This little wizard who trusts himself so much is disappointed: "But if I can, I would like to try meditation."
"It's okay..." Ain's expression can still see some loss , But still actively helping Loren: "My first meditation was the help of that bastard Isaac, so I still remember how he did it."
"Empty your mind, don’t Have extra thoughts, and relax as much as possible-the whole process is like a journey, you will fall into the sea of your own memory, and when you wake up again, you will step into the void."
With faint expectation, Loren closed his eyes, breathing slowly to relax his body. Only vaguely noticed that his forehead was lightly tapped, like a ripple on the surface of the water, and the spirit that was still sober was instantly ethereal.
It's gray and white.
This feeling is really very special. Loren feels that he can "see" things around him, but he can't see himself, as if from a "God's perspective". Everything around it seems to have lost its color, monotony, blankness, and nothingness...
For the first time in his life, Loren didn’t know how to describe his experience anymore. It seemed that he suddenly came from the living world. Falling into a book with a white background and a black frame-if you want to give an example, it is like a chair made of wood and nailed up. It suddenly becomes a "word" composed of a few letters and symbols!
This kind of surprise and joy even caused Loren’s consciousness to fluctuate slightly, and he had to restrain his excessive excitement, like a child looking at his new toy, carefully Observe this world which is completely beyond one's own concept.
According to the book "Into Meditation", I am not really entering the void now, but only "wandering in my mind" and constructing my own spiritual palace.
This is the only way for all wizards-after all, meditation is just a means of contemplation and recovery, it is impossible to venture into the void every time. And spiritual palace is the product of such a compromise.
Strengthen self memory, control and awareness of the void, mental sensitivity, and what Loren is most curious about and cares about-any wizard who wants to use magic must be present It can only be constructed in your own spiritual palace.
It's really getting more and more interesting...Loren at first thought that spiritual palace was a memory method similar to a thinking palace, but it didn't seem to be limited to this. You must design and construct it yourself to make it perfect, not just store your own memory.
The masonry that builds this "temple" is the power of the void. As for now, my own temple basically doesn’t even have a foundation, so it can barely be considered as a construction site...
Gradually, calmly and gradually separated, the spirit and consciousness are like passing through a surging torrent. Looking back from the spiritual palace to his body, the original emptiness of the world has regained its color, the lost focus gradually returned to normal, and his eyes slowly opened.
Sure enough...Even if I regained consciousness, I still have not been disconnected from the spiritual palace in my mind, and I can still clearly feel its existence. The corners of Loren's mouth raised slightly, and the joy in his pupils flashed by.
But when you look slightly, it is pitch black outside the window, and Loren almost blurted out: "How long has it been?!"
"It's been a whole day." The little wizard who was still sitting there yawned, and his eyes were tired: "It's okay, you are meditating for the first time. It is normal not to notice time."
"Today Let’s do it for now, until tomorrow Dalton tutor will officially start teaching you some basics." After yawning, Ain Rand stretched his waist and stood up, "If you need help, my room is next door. If you need help, remember. Come knock on the door."
"I will." Loren smiled and watched the little wizard leave until the door closed again and the darkness in the room returned to the room, and the smile on his face changed again. Excited ecstasy.
"If the void is the abyss, magic is evil..." Taking advantage of the moonlight outside the window, Loren cocked his mouth and said to himself.
"Then I can't be more depraved now!"