Cynthia settled into the single-seat sofa by the window, her gaze drifting toward the neatly stacked collection of books and documents on the side table, which contained supplies she had gathered from the library.
"Vesaran," she called.
A voice echoed in response. "Master."
She picked up one of the books, idly flipping through its pages. "How was the analysis?"
"After careful examination, it has been determined that while you have ascended to the highest level currently known among warlocks, your capabilities remain limited. However, as previously stated, the scope of your potential is vast."
"Limited, you say? Why is that?" Cynthia inquired. "Last I checked, a Psy Lord has a vast array of abilities. What exactly do you mean by 'limited'?"
"The capabilities of a Psy Lord are indeed vast; however, your present abilities are not, due to several factors. You lack knowledge in various fields of study and must learn their principles to fully understand your Mystic Element. Additionally, while you have completely synchronized with your staff, an anomaly has been detected in your Soul Force, it appears to be in a fragmented state, indicating that something is missing."
"Something missing…" Cynthia frowned. "That's troubling. I know methods to strengthen Soul Force, but I have never heard of a way to recover a lost portion. Do you have any idea where these missing fragments might be?"
"I am still investigating, but I have detected faint traces of what seems to be your soul essence, though they are quite distant. Master, which trace should I focus on?"
"Is it difficult to track all of them at once?"
"With current capabilities, yes. Attempting to locate them simultaneously would take years. However, if we focus on one at a time, we could locate a fragment in a matter of weeks."
"Very well. Focus on the closest trace and track it for me."
"Order received."
Cynthia hummed in acknowledgment before shifting gears. "Now then, back to the present matter at hand, what can you tell me about my physical capabilities? I'd like to quantify them for better understanding."
"Strength, Agility, and Endurance " are the primary parameters chosen to provide a tangible metric. However, Master, keep in mind that the body is an incredibly complex system. These classifications are merely abstract methods to assist in understanding a broader and more intricate matter. Other interpretations and refinements can certainly be explored."
Cynthia nodded. "Understood. Continue."
"For simplicity, we will use a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 representing the peak of achievable power."
"I'm listening," Cynthia said, her focus sharpening.
"The average human falls within the following ranges: Strength, 1 to 4. Agility, 1 to 4. Endurance, 1 to 4. These are the natural limits of their potential, even with rigorous training and effort."
Cynthia considered this for a moment before speaking again. "And what of my situation?"
"Based on the analysis, your current parameters are as follows: Strength (5). Agility (6). Endurance (6). As your power develops further, these values will undoubtedly shift. Additionally, if you ever need to check your status, simply say or think 'Status,' and the relevant information will appear before you."
Curious, Cynthia spoke the command. "Status."
A translucent screen of information appeared in her line of sight, confirming Vesaran's assessment. However, as she scanned the display, she noticed an unfamiliar stat that had not been previously mentioned.
"Vesaran, what are your thoughts on Psy?" she asked.
"The power source known as Psy, as understood by you over the years, has been thoroughly analyzed. While not all aspects of its nature are fully comprehended, the data available was sufficient to create a measurement system for what I have detected within your body."
"So, you're saying you don't have enough information to fully gauge Psy energy?" Cynthia questioned.
"Master, you misunderstand. I have fully gauged and tracked the power source itself. However, the underlying nature and Mystic Gene responsible for Psy's existence remain only partially understood. Further study is recommended."
Cynthia acknowledged his reasoning and turned her attention back to the display, studying the numerical values:
STR: 5
AGI: 6
END: 6
PSY: 2000/2000
She pondered for a moment before speaking. "Vesaran, Strength, Agility, and Endurance are all rated on a scale of 1 to 10, yet Psy follows a completely different format. Why is that?"
"The reasoning is simple," Vesaran explained. "The first three stats are rated this way for ease of understanding. Various factors contribute to each value, but presenting them on a fixed scale makes them more intuitive to track. However, the nature of the Mystic Element made it difficult to quantify Psy in the same manner. Thus, a different approach was chosen. Consider this: Your Psy energy is like a glass of water. To provide clarity on how much you have at any given moment, I've assigned it a numerical representation that reflects your current capabilities."
Cynthia tapped her fingers against the book in her lap. "I see. So, for now, these are my stats, but with further research, they could be altered."
"That is correct."
"Vesaran, I believe it would be wise to include Soul Force if possible, as we had just mentioned."
"It is possible, Master."
"Well then, please include it among the stats," Cynthia commanded.
"Incorporating Soul Force in status data now."
After a moment, a new panel appeared:
STR: 5
AGI: 6
END: 6
PSY: 2000/2000
Soul Force: 50/100
Soul Fragments suspected: 2
She exhaled lightly. "Well, I believe I have a better grasp of the situation now. Let's move on to information gathering. Vesaran, you can record anything I read or hear for later interpretation, correct?"
"Yes, Master. All information accessible to you will be tracked and compiled for future or immediate use. The same applies to your memories."
"Good. That should prove useful."
Satisfied, Cynthia opened the book and began to read.