Condition Evolution 4 by Kevin Sinclair (parable of the sower read online .txt) 📗

quickly enough that it was Fiekela’s control, but my innate instincts went wild as I began moving out over the void. “Wha…!!” I screamed breathlessly, while flailing around in full panic.

“Remain calm, Vakuna. I am merely assisting your descent with telekinesis. Please, for your sake, try moving around less.”

“I’ll try,” I said, fighting the urge to flap further. Fiekela floated alongside me, a warm smile on his face, which did actually calm me, before we both began to descend into the void.

We arrived in a large open room lined with metal walls and glowing panels that illuminated the underground area. The room was a stark contrast to the rest of the village. Unfamiliar apparatus covered the walls and a large number of rings hung randomly, suspended from the ceiling, that seemed to serve no clear purpose.

Fiekela regained my attention as he spoke. “The first thing we need to do is enlighten you on the history of our race and the relevance of the wider galaxy. This should give you a clearer vision of who we are, and why you are necessary.”

He levitated a piece of machinery towards us, in the center of the room. As much as I tried from visual inspection, I couldn’t figure out what on earth it was intended for. “To improve your Strength and Constitution we will use this apparatus to put strain on your entire body, bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Do not be too concerned. I assure you, you will not be aware of the pain while you are safe in your Mindscape. We will be working to heal the damage at intervals as you train. After each session of training there will be an opportunity for you to recover fully, in order to be at your best for the following session.”

Staring at the contraption, I didn’t feel enthusiastic about his intentions. While I was compelled to say no, I had a strange sense that I should do as he asked in regard to training. Trusting my instincts, I sat down. A huge number of straps and ties began to wrap and tighten around my body, seemingly of their own accord. Squeezing and pulling muscles, restricting my chest and breathing. A strap wound its way around my head, pulling it back, tight against the headrest. Raised indentations dug into my skin. Not for the first time today, I began to panic.

“Quickly, you must go into your Mindscape,” Fiekela’s calm voice said.

Following his instruction, I was filled with relief when the pain stopped. It was no surprise to find him waiting in the corridor of my mind.

“While your physical body undergoes strengthening, you can escape here to enhance your mental skills. A highly efficient means of developing, don’t you think?”

He didn’t wait for an answer; it seemed like he enjoyed the sound of his voice far too much. “Now, take the seat in your control center and prepare to absorb the information that we will send through. Knowledge is a key first step.”

Taking the seat, I braced myself. To my surprise Fiekela just disappeared. I looked around in confusion, then a moment later I was struck by a flood of images and voices. They showed how the Fystr grew corrupt and ruthless, conquering a quarter of the galaxy and pushing all other races out. It also covered significant events leading to the division that motivated the peaceful Fystr—the Apochros or departed—to escape and hide away.

After that came a barrage of information on the Mindscape, on the stats display, how to carry out a holistic repair of one's own body to prevent aging, how to speed up mental processing speed from the mindscape, levitating and other mental manipulations of the physical world. It felt like my mind was going to explode. I certainly didn’t feel like I was absorbing any of the information shown anymore. It was just an impossible stream of nonsense by the time it came to an end. I was slumped in the chair inside my mind when Fiekela appeared.

“Well done, Vakuna. That is all you should learn for today. We must give your mind some time to process everything. Please come out of your Mindscape.”

I nodded numbly, doing as I was told. Fiekela was not alone when I reentered Normal-State. Someone else hovered over me, and I could feel they were doing something to my raw, exhausted body. I never found out who, as I passed out.

Chapter 6

Float like a Butterbean

The next thing I knew, I was waking up in a bed. Looking around, I saw that the bed was in the house I’d seen yesterday. A woman sat asleep in a chair next to my bed. As soon as I moved, she sat bolt upright.

“Good morning, Vakuna! How are you today? Are you feeling okay?” She asked a barrage of questions, putting me on edge.

“I'm honestly not sure,” I answered truthfully after a moment of reflection, “I feel strange. Not in any pain, surprisingly, considering how I felt when I came out of the Mindscape yesterday.”

“That is extremely good to hear. I am glad my ministrations have worked.”

“They must have, but my mind is in turmoil.” I sighed. “It’s a hard sensation to describe, like everything I learned yesterday is in there, but all disjointed and meaningless. It also compounds how little I know about myself. I don’t know much but I know this is a horrifying experience.”

“I am sure it will all come flooding back,” she said, laying a soft hand on mine that caused me to shiver from the touch, only now noticing how beautiful she was. “I have faith in you, Vakuna.”

I felt surprisingly better after she spoke, but promptly realized I had no idea who she was, or why she was here, other than something about ministrations.

“Thank you for that confidence, but I’ve no idea who you are either.”

“Oh dear!” She laughed. It was a lovely sound that made me want to get to know her more than I wanted to know myself.

“I quite forgot that