Ryker, after laying what felt like an eternity on the cold ground, finally summoned enough strength to get to his feet. His body protested every movement as he dragged himself back through the mansion's vast halls toward his mother's cultivation room. He didn't need to knock; he knew his mother would be expecting him.
Entering the room, Ryker made his way down the spiral staircase that stretched further into the depths of the mansion. With each step, the air seemed to grow heavier, resonating faintly with the energy of deep meditation practices. At last, he arrived in the expansive chamber where he had meditated before. Lila sat in her usual spot, her mesmerizing, golden eyes trained on a book in her lap. Her expression remained neutral, almost unapproachable, as though she hadn't noticed her son's arrival.
Ryker didn't mind. He simply dragged his exhausted body toward the center of the room, where one of the four meditation platforms awaited. With careful movements, he adjusted his posture, settling into the familiar position. His breaths were ragged at first, but he began to calm himself—focusing inward, taking deep breaths to soothe his mind. Before long, his eyes closed, his breathing falling into rhythm like the steady beat of a drum.
Lila lifted her gaze briefly, her attention flickering toward Ryker for a moment. With the faintest quirk of her lips, she returned to her book, flipping its pages in quiet deliberation. The room fell back into silence, broken only by the faint rustle of pages and Ryker's heavy breaths.
Seated in meditation, Ryker began reciting the first part of the Ethereal Mind Scripture—the foundation of his mental cultivation technique. The recitation carried power, resonating within his consciousness. Slowly, he felt his drained mental energies begin to recover. The process was sluggish at first, but soon it picked up momentum.
Inside his consciousness space, the colossal sword suspended above the realm began to vibrate, its golden runes flickering like stars against its radiant surface. Threads of shimmering energy began to unravel from the sword's blade, cascading down into the mountains and lakes that comprised his mental constructs. Each thread seemed to breathe life into the translucent structures, solidifying them bit by bit.
This intricate process continued for what felt like hours, the sword glowing brighter with each pulse. When Ryker's eyes finally snapped open, he felt renewed. His physical exhaustion remained, but the mental fatigue he had accumulated was washed away, leaving him more focused than before.
Looking around, he noticed Lila had put away her book at some point and was now staring at him intently.
"Hello, Mum," Ryker said awkwardly, unsure how to interpret her unwavering gaze.
Lila didn't respond immediately. Instead, she suddenly reached out and grabbed his hand. A faint pulse of mana flowed from her fingers, scanning his body like a meticulous examiner.
"Your father really did a number on you, didn't he?" Lila murmured, her tone neutral but laced with underlying concern. "Your body's a mess. I had a feeling he would take things a little overboard, but this… this is excessive."
She paused before adding, "Should I have a word with him on your behalf?"
Ryker shook his head, straightening slightly despite the aching in his muscles. "No, Mother. I'm fine, really. I can handle this bit of discomfort. I was serious when I decided to chase after the peak. If I can't even endure this, then I might as well give up now."
Lila studied her son for a long moment, her expression inscrutable. Finally, she sighed. "Alright. I understand."
The silence lingered between them until Lila broke it with a casual remark: "By the way, have you met Elias yet?"
Ryker frowned. "Elias? The commoner boy who berated me two years ago?"
"Yes," Lila confirmed matter-of-factly. "I had him and his family brought here to serve as your household servants for the slight."
Ryker let out a long, exasperated sigh. "Dear Mother, why would you disturb the lives of that small, unfortunate family? They clearly hate people like us with a passion. Why bring them here? This isn't good for them—or for me."
"They're to be your servants," Lila replied simply.
"I don't need servants. And even if I did, they should be willing—not forced, like you clearly have." Ryker's tone hardened as he added, "Besides, aren't you worried they might try to harm us? If they don't care about their lives, what's to stop them?"
Lila's lips curved into a faint smile. "And how, exactly, would they harm us? Don't forget, my dear boy, that their love for each other outweighs their hatred for us. They'll do what they must to survive rather than risk endangering their family. Not that they'd have the means to hurt anyone, even if they tried."
Ryker rubbed his temples, defeated by his mother's unyielding perspective. "Alright, but when were they brought here?"
"That same night," Lila said.
"And I had no knowledge of this?"
"Yep."
"Why?"
"They weren't ready to serve yet," she said smoothly. "Besides, we had to do something to garner goodwill. I had Mathias treat his mother's sickness. She's not fully recovered yet, but she can function like a normal person."
Ryker narrowed his eyes. "Mother, you can fully heal her if you want, right?"
"Of course."
"Then why not? Wait—are you planning to use her illness to keep them loyal?"
Lila didn't bother denying it. Her innocent smile turned mischievous.
"Mother, this is quite literally kidnapping and blackmail."
"And what of it?"
Ryker shook his head, utterly exasperated by her blatant disregard for morality. "The mindset of the strong and influential is truly different," he muttered.
"Anyway, Mother, I have some questions about mental cultivation."
Lila's expression brightened instantly. "Alright, my dear boy. What do you want to know?"
"Everything relevant to my current stage," Ryker said, his tone serious. "What are its characteristics, the standards, and the best way to progress to the next stage?"
Lila nodded, her demeanor turning instructive. "The first stage of mental cultivation is called the Solidified Consciousness Stage. This stage provides the awakened with resistance against mental attacks and illusions. Normally, breaking into this stage allows a person to open their consciousness space and draw in mental energies through specific techniques."
Ryker tilted his head thoughtfully. "So, the main benefit is opening the consciousness space and gaining access to mental energies?"
"Yes," Lila replied. "That's the foundation of the stage. But there are additional benefits—better perception, increased mental fortitude, and a modest defense against mental attacks and illusions."
"Okay…" Ryker hesitated before asking, "What stage am I currently at?"
"The Solidified Consciousness Stage," Lila answered, smiling at his curiosity.
"But if that's the case, why do I have mental constructs and a giant sword hanging in my consciousness space?"
Lila's smile deepened as she leaned slightly forward, her piercing gaze fixed on Ryker. "Before I answer, I believe I already told you that the Ethereal Mind Scripture is very special within our clan," she began, her voice calm but carrying an undertone of reverence. "It is, quite literally, the best mental cultivation technique we possess—known only to the direct descendants of our progenitor herself."
She paused, as if contemplating the weight of her next words. "It is said, within our ancient clan scrolls, that the technique did not originate from this world. It was gifted to the progenitor by a great being from another realm. Whether this is true or simply a myth, I cannot say for certain. But what I do know is this: the Ethereal Mind Scripture is far superior to the average mental realm techniques practiced across the world. It does not follow the same rules and certainly does not yield mediocre results."
Lila leaned back slightly, folding her arms. "For those who cultivate the Ethereal Mind Scripture, their mental world begins to take form right from the foundational stages. Its size and intricacy depend greatly on the talent of the one cultivating it. Typically, when one breaks through into the Solidified Consciousness Stage using other techniques, their consciousness space is empty—just a vast void waiting to be filled over time.