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

turned to shit very quickly, and we hadn’t even been able to defend ourselves. They plucked us out of our own ships like sleeping babies from a crib, and it terrified me. Now I had all of this responsibility, and I felt it was only a matter of time before I messed everything up. But most of all, I was terrified that I’d never see the big lump ever again.

Chapter 10

The Curtains are a-Twitching

 

The days in the training facility blurred into weeks—three according to Ialos. Day after day, they strapped me into training apparatus that were occasionally upgraded to ever more innovative designs, all while I continued with the boring repetitive tasks in my Mindscape. The newest apparatus had me suspended in an x position, arms and legs stretched to practically their upper limit, while strong currents were applied to make my muscles contract and pull inwards. It hurt just to hear it described, but thankfully I was pain-free in my Mindscape.

While the beautiful Ialos was a constant companion, Fiekela joined us less and less, and then only to measure my progress. Other Apochros visited to arrange various tasks for me to complete, designed to increase one stat or another.

Today, though, felt like it was going to be different. Another new face came to work with me. He was crazy and wore his long black hair past his shoulders. He could have been a different race altogether due to his towering height, thin frame, and gaunt features. Which was unusual, because everyone else I’d seen so far on Accre were well-muscled, with radiant complexions.

He introduced himself as Kirel, and I felt a sense of unease in his presence. I wasn’t particularly comfortable with him being in my mind. I hoped, with the training of the past few weeks, that I might be able to push him out should he do anything too strange, but for now I just tried to ignore my feelings of alarm I felt.

“Vakuna,” he said in his surprisingly normal voice, “today we are going to improve your abysmal Wisdom score.”

“Oh, that’s good,” I replied, and I meant it. Despite my unease, all my other scores were shooting up, and only my Wisdom had been neglected. I was suspicious as to why they had left it undeveloped; there was no clear reason I could see for it. And why, when they finally decided to develop it, did they send the creepiest, most suspicious-looking Wisdom teacher in the universe? Suffice to say, it didn’t ease my concerns. With any luck, an increase in Wisdom might stop my mind running around in random circles like this at least.

“We will be running through some scenarios designed to target and develop your decision making. To do this, we will be training in your Subconscious. Have you spent any time in your Subconscious Room yet?”

“I don’t think so. What does it look like?”

“The access door usually has powerful feelings emanating from within. They often cause discomfort to the untrained.”

“Oh, I do know the door, and no, I’ve not been inside. Nor do I particularly wish to enter.”

“Do not worry, that is a common reaction. It is not a common room to visit, even for our Elders. Yet, in this instance, it will provide us with an excellent place to give your Wisdom the workout it sorely needs. We will meet outside of the access door,” he instructed, then his face went blank as I felt him appear inside my brain. I shivered, feeling invaded.

“Good luck, Vakuna,” Ialos said from the side of the apparatus I was hooked into, ready to turn it on. I smiled at her before entering my Mindscape.

He was standing outside the scary door, waiting patiently. “Follow me, if you please,” he said, opening the door and stepping in without hesitation. With a gulp, I followed him into a large, dimly lit room. Darkness seemed to shroud the walls and corners, so much so that I couldn’t see the far wall. Kirel stopped in the center of the room. “Before we go any further, clear your mind as you have been taught. Stray thoughts can raise all manner of scenarios that we do not wish to deal with. We will walk forward into the darkness, and once we are fully shrouded, where no light penetrates, I will ask you to imagine a series of specific scenarios. Once they materialise, do your best to affect them to a satisfactory conclusion.”

“What do you mean by scenarios though? It’s not really making any sense to me.”

“Think of it like a dream. This place is where you can walk in your dreams, fully conscious, although there is a definite element of danger if you are lacking in experience. I have spent thousands of years working in my own Subconscious. The things you can do and create are… enlightening,” he answered with a sinister look on his face that really didn’t inspire confidence. “Come, Vakuna, let’s begin,” he continued before walking toward the back wall. It was not a wall though; it was just shadow. I was beginning to feel deeply uncertain as we passed into the darkness. Though the word uncertain didn’t really cover how I was feeling, terrified wasn’t quite right either. The usually very faint voice in the back of my mind offered a suggestion that seemed far more precise, and with greater insistence than usual. Following this nine-foot-tall creepy motherfucker into total darkness had me freaking the fuck out! I could normally tune out the voice, but it seemed far closer to me in here and oddly provided some comfort and confidence, with both its presence and its words.

“Why’s it so dark though, Kirel? Why would we want to train in here?” I asked the looming shadow in front of me.

“Wisdom is more than just knowing, Vakuna. It is a way of thinking that transcends logic. The logical answer is not always the best answer.” We both fell silent after that, and he continued moving further into the