-----
"So what exactly is this place? From what I can gather, it’s supposed to be a bubble created inside my soul to contain a fragment of my Spiritual Heart—which I already retrieved—along with Gardenia, Ignis, my Spiritual Heart Arts, and the Spiritual Heart Beasts... oh right, Irene and my other equipment’s Spiritual Souls are here too. But... I thought it was just going to be a container, not an entire world?"
"Oh!" the giantess said, surprised. "So this is indeed inside your soul? It truly feels like a whole world... Ummm... Do you recall creating that bubble?"
"I... no, I don’t," Elayne admitted. "I couldn’t have thought about making a bubble specifically to save these things in the heat of the moment. I had already spent all my power saving my daughter and her friends..."
"Did Gardenia do it then?" the giantess asked.
"I always assumed it was her. After all, she can manage the power I regain by spending Spiritual Energy Reserves," Elayne said.
"I see. Perhaps it was made subconsciously by her," the giantess suggested.
"Yes, but that doesn’t explain how you’re here..." Elayne said. "Gardenia! Are you here? Gardenia!"
Elayne called out, but there was no response. She only saw birds flying across the blue sky and a giant whale swimming in the sea of clouds in the distance.
"Uh, I guess she’s not here... Ignis?"
Elayne tried calling for Ignis, but there was no response either. This world felt so real, and she felt so small within it, so desolate...
"Haaa... I guess I’ll have to talk with Gardenia once I wake up," Elayne sighed. "I’m sorry about that."
"Oh no, it’s quite alright," the giantess said with a gentle smile. "Well, how about we investigate together, Elayne?"
"Oh, I thought you couldn’t move?" Elayne asked.
"I can! Don’t worry about me," the giantess replied. "From what I recall, when I woke up, I was already in this world. I assumed it was just a world I landed in, but if it’s inside your soul, that only leaves three options."
"Three?" Elayne asked, curious.
"Yes. First option: it could be a Mindscape," the giantess explained. "That’s the most likely case, but I don’t think mindscapes feel this real and physical. They’re made from our own minds and are non-physical, non-ethereal worlds born of pure imagination, thought, and memories. Usually, they aren’t this vast or... alive."
"I see..." Elayne nodded. "And the other two options?"
"This could be a Soul Realm," the giantess continued. "They’re worlds born inside powerful Divine Souls. They’re mostly ethereal, but as long as you’re inside, they take physical form within your consciousness and perception. Soul Realms can even evolve into physical realms through the absorption of divinity and spirit energy."
"Uh-huh... wow, you know a lot," Elayne noted.
"Ahhh... Well, I don’t really know why," the giantess admitted. "And the last option would be a Spirit Realm."
"What’s the difference?" Elayne asked.
"Haven’t you visited a Spirit Realm before?" the giantess asked. "They’re independent worlds, much more magical and filled with spirit energy. They tend to be volatile, constantly changing, and are usually not that large unless they’ve existed for a long time and gained many spirit gods."
"Huh..." Elayne nodded. "I guess Avalon would fit that category. It’s a Realm separate from the world, not part of someone’s soul... or maybe it exists inside someone’s mind."
"Yes, well, I don’t know what Avalon is, but I suppose you’ve visited a Realm like that already," the giantess said.
"Wow, you’re so knowledgeable about these things," Elayne said.
"I guess I am! I had no idea though..." the giantess muttered. "Whoever I was, I must have been smart!"
"Yep. So... what sort of world is this then?" Elayne asked.
"Hmmm... It feels real, with living beings here. It definitely can’t be a Mindscape," the giantess said. "It’s inside a soul, so it’s likely a Soul Realm. But you’re not a goddess, right?"
"Right now? I’m a zombie..." Elayne muttered.
"A-Ah... well, I guess not," the giantess said awkwardly. "Then... it’s interesting."
"Is it?" Elayne tilted her head. "How so?"
"Well, this world... it seems like a mix. It works like a Soul Realm, but its nature is closer to a Spirit Realm. So it could be a Spirit Soul Realm. They aren’t that rare."
"H-How did such a thing just appear inside my soul?!" Elayne was shocked. "Was this always here?"
"I believe it might have appeared through me..." the giantess said. "Upon my fragmentation and awakening, this place manifested as my home. I’ve been here, hearing things from the outside world sometimes, feeling what you feel—like a Mindscape. But it isn’t, right?"
"Perhaps it’s a mix of all those things," Elayne said. "But at the same time, I only arrived here while sleeping. Is this a Dream Realm?"
"A Dream Realm!" the giantess exclaimed. "Hmm, maybe... we’d have to explore more. Dream Realms are unique. They’re pseudo-physical and ethereal at the same time, but their rules and laws differ from any other world outside the Dream Plane. Usually, you can’t bring things out of the Dream Plane—they become ethereal and scatter. You have to store them inside your Mindscape! That includes inhabitants too, but by using Mana and Spirit Energy, you can temporarily or permanently materialize them into the real world."
"That’s amazing to think about..." Elayne nodded. "Wow, you’re like an encyclopedia!"
"A-Am I?!" the giantess gasped. "I am! Wow, I’m so smart!"
"Hahaha, yeah. But how did I even end up here?" Elayne wondered. "I’m certainly inside my soul—how did I manifest a body here?"
"Hmm, perhaps it’s Astral Projection or something," the giantess suggested. "Oh right, let’s talk while we walk!"
"Uwaaah?!" Elayne gasped as she was lifted onto the giantess’ shoulders. The giantess began moving, making the world tremble with each step. "A-Ah...! We’re so high!"
"Well, aren’t you too scared? This is normal," the giantess said.
"Not for little people like me..." Elayne sighed. "Ah, well, I also had the power to get really big when I manifested my Yggdragon Power."
"Yggdragon?" the giantess wondered. "That name... I think I remember it from somewhere, but I don’t really know where."
"Oh? So you know of the Yggdragon," Elayne said. "That’s interesting. You’re most likely someone who knew it or worshipped it... The Yggdragon was created by—wait! The Yggdragon is only from Arcadia. If you recognize that name, aren’t you from there too? I thought you were from Earth."
"What?" the giantess asked, confused. "What’s Arcadia?"
-----
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login