After some time performing the intricate process, Grievous began to shift the spiritual energy seeping into his body. He moved it carefully, like water flowing through narrow channels, directing it toward the core of his consciousness. Slowly, he guided the energy into The Mind Palace. The sensation was both alien and comforting, as if a hidden part of himself was awakening from a long slumber.
The journey through his own mind was not instantaneous. Every step felt deliberate, painstakingly cautious.
He imagined himself threading a needle through the fabric of his soul. As he approached The Mind Palace, a subtle force drew him in, pulling the spiritual energy upward and inward.
The features of the colossal column began to take shape in front of him, a monument both mysterious and majestic.
He paused, feeling the shift in perception. The world around him faded until all that remained was the vast interior of The Mind Palace itself. It was gigantic in every sense, a limitless expanse that defied ordinary understanding.
The air was dense with a strange energy, and the hues of black and purple dominated the landscape like an eternal twilight.
Surrounding him were ancient structures, doorless buildings with walls etched in symbols long forgotten. They seemed to hum with quiet power, resonating with the essence of the place. The architecture was alien yet strangely familiar, as if echoing some buried memory from a past life.
Grievous looked around slowly, taking in the surreal scene. The silence was profound, broken only by the faint echo of his own breath within this mental realm. He spoke aloud, his voice steady but tinged with awe.
"So this is The Mind Palace."
He turned his attention back to the towering black column, its surface smooth but rippling with unseen energy. It stretched upwards endlessly, vanishing into shadows above. The column was the heart of his power, a physical manifestation of his magical affinities and potential.
Instantly, he understood the elements that composed his essence. The column measured the lengths of each elemental affinity like a barometer of strength. Shadow dominated, extending over two hundred meters, a vast, dark river of potential energy. Next came Gluttony, a strange and insatiable force reaching around one hundred sixty meters.
Above these, Space stretched a hundred twenty meters, a dimension of possibilities and distance. Darkness followed, a hundred meters long, wrapping the others in its cold embrace. Beyond these four, the sizes tapered sharply, Fire flickered at twenty meters, barely a flame compared to the others. Light was barely a sliver, less than a meter, a faint glimmer in the void.
Grievous let out a low grunt, the weight of realization settling over him. The disparity was stark. His strongest affinities were reserved for the darker, more elusive elements, while the more traditional forces were faint and weak by comparison.
He returned his focus to the barren floor of the Mind Palace and spoke with quiet determination.
"Then the spells I have simply will not be enough to bring me to my full strength."
His eyes narrowed as he considered the implications. The spells he currently possessed were inadequate for the magnitude of power he sought. There was only one course of action now.
"I must have that organization bring me every possible spell for the first four elements."
He emphasized the importance of quantity over quality, aware that rank no longer mattered. He was still at the first rank of the nine ranks of magicians, but that was no barrier to amassing knowledge.
As he looked around the eerie expanse with calm expression, he made a decision.
"Since I am already here, I should begin learning the spells available at my rank."
His gaze settled on the element he knew most intimately.
"Let's start with Shadow Movement."
Grievous closed his eyes briefly, summoning the scene required to perform the spell. He envisioned a simple alleyway filled with twisting shadows, the perfect stage for the incantation. Slowly, he began to weave the spell from the threads of magical mathematics, the complex theoretical framework that the original body's owner had been gifted in.
The process was meticulous. Each calculation precise, each motion deliberate. The intangible began to take form. Before him appeared a translucent orb, resembling glass but shimmering with an inner darkness. Inside it, a shadowy double of himself floated, suspended in stillness.
Calmly, he reached out and grasped the orb. His fingers closed around it, and as he squeezed gently, he felt himself drawn into the shadow contained within. The sensation was like sinking into a cool, liquid void, weightless and silent.
Once fully immersed, Grievous moved quietly through the shadows, guided by memory and instinct. His footsteps made no sound. Above him, the alley opened to the world outside, and he looked up to see the familiar scenery beyond the veil of darkness.
He stepped out of the shadow and felt the subtle hum of spiritual energy within him. The consumption of his power was negligible, it was as if the spell allowed him to move effortlessly, conserving strength.
He flexed his fingers, closing and opening his hand, and spoke softly.
"The spell system is truly fascinating."
His mind raced with possibilities.
"It depends on the speed of thought. If the caster can create the spell within The Mind Palace quickly enough and bring it outside, they become nearly invincible."
He smiled faintly, the realization settling in.
"This fits perfectly with my basic ability. It cannot be a coincidence."
Grievous tilted his head, a spark of curiosity igniting within.
"Everything has a meaning."
He wondered silently, 'Why was I given these tools? What purpose does it all serve?'
His thoughts drifted to the other gifts he possessed, the abilities yet unexplored.
"I'm really curious to discover how to use the other ability."
The truth was undeniable. The First Brother had prepared these powers specifically for him. Every detail was tailored with intimate knowledge of his path, anticipating every step he would take.
Grievous allowed himself a moment to imagine what lay ahead. What heights could he reach? What secrets could he unlock? The possibilities stretched as infinitely as the Mind Palace itself.
He clenched his fist, determination burning in his eyes.
"Let me leave you to imagine what I will do to develop these abilities."