Shada was with Raelis in the Mound once more. Earlier that day he and Shinobin had talked with Mina about finding a Delver team. She promised to make some discreet enquiries. Her idea was for Shada's family to sponsor a Delve team. That way they could be fully vetted and contracted. They wouldn't need to know all the secrets, but it would be much easier to trust such a team with Shada's wellbeing.

  “I have been told, in no uncertain terms, that I need to learn a Physical Manifestation Skill in order to complete Operation Fake Familiar and join a Delve team. Both mother and grandmother insist.” Shada said with a mental sigh while directing his message at Raelis.

  “Why are they insisting on this, master Shada?” Raelis asked. “I don't see much benefit. You need not manifest to interact with a team after all.”

  “Wards. There are wards that detect, highlight, and immobilize invisible entities. The Delver's Guild has them. As do any locations worried about invisible spies and infiltrators.” Shada explained.

  “I see, but they ignore Manifestations, master Shada?” Raelis asked.

  “They do apparently. It is a rule. A weird rule, but it makes a sort of sense.” Shada replied.

  “I see. Then I suppose we should begin with a bit of theory first. You are currently not on the Physical Plane. Your Spirit Form exists on the Etheric Plane, in the border region between the Physical and Spiritual Planes. The most common analogy used to conceptualize this is like being on the beach between land and sea. Do you follow, so far, master Shada?” Raelis asked after his speech.

  “It seems relatively straightforward from my perspective, but how am I able to affect the Physical Plane with magic if I am not on that Plane?” Shada asked.

  “With Essence of course. The Etheric Plane connects all other Planes. Essence is the medium that mediates almost all Plane interactions, but let us not stray too far, master Shada.” Raelis admonished.

  “Of course. So Physical Manifestation? How does that even work?” Shada asked. “I am not a physical entity.”

  “It is a really strange process, master Shada.” Raelis said. “You have to force your Spirit form into the Physical Plane. This creates a strange reaction with the physical atmosphere, which results in the formation of a unique substance called ectoplasm. It is mainly air and water, but it will cling to your form as long as you are on the Physical Plane.” Raelis explained.

  “Ectoplasm is a real thing?” Shada asked. “It was actually something believed to exist on Earth by those that believed in ghosts, but most people considered it a myth or nonsense,” Shada explained.

  “It is indeed quite real, master Shada,” Raelis stated. “In fact my current form is made up of ectoplasm. It remains stable as long as I am manifest. It vanishes quickly if I leave the Physical Plane,” Raelis continued his lecture.

  “It sounds simple enough. What is the catch?” Shada asked curiously.

  “There are several ‘catches’ as you say, master Shada,” Raelis said. “The Physical Plane resists the intrusion of disembodied spirits. It takes constant effort and Essence to stay manifest. In fact, there are those that theorize that ectoplasm is a type of immune response, like the mucous the body uses to fight infections,” Raelis explained.

  “Where do we begin?” Was Shada's next question.

  “That is an interesting question, master Shada.” Raelis said then paused in thought. ”Due to your strange nature, your Spirit form is shapeless and indistinct. If you were able to manifest you would appear as little more than a glowing amorphous translucent ball. So I would suggest you start by developing a more distinct form,” Raelis said.

  “That tells me what not how.” Shada said in annoyance.

  “Master Shada, shall I give you a hint? Look at your Skills.” Raelis said sardonically.

  “Oh, I guess that does make sense…”Shada said as he considered how to bend his Shapeshifting Skill to work on his Spirit form.

  Skills could be strange. They were far more flexible than their descriptions showed. The Guide also provided intrinsic knowledge about how to use them, but the catch was you had to know what you wanted before some knowledge was revealed. It was a matter of not knowing what you didn't know until you needed to know it. So when he considered using the Skill on his Spirit form. The knowledge was just there waiting.

  What did he want to look like? Should he make himself look human? Humanoid? Should he appear like a wispy ghost? Maybe an animal? Birds and cats were common familiar archetypes back on Earth after all, Shada thought to himself.

  He played around with different forms. Changing the appearance in ways subtle and profound. He realized there was one problem. He wasn't very big. Sure he could make himself look like a regular person, but he would be barely a foot tall. His Spirit form was incredibly malleable so he could create rather complex shapes. He even tried pixie and fairy forms until learning those races existed and might be offended.

  In the end he decided to take a page from Luca’s imagination. He took on the form of a small shadowy cat. His attempts to move as a cat were left even the stoic Raelis amused. Even though he looked like a shadowy cat he was still just a Spirit without physicality. So he tended to glide rather than walk, hover rather than leap, and generally move like the creepy shadow of a cat rather than a real cat.

  “Will this do, Raelis?” Shada asked after playing around.

  “It will, though you are likely to scare a few superstitious people in that particular form, master Shada.” Raelis replied in amusement.

  “What's next? I have a form. You said I had to force myself into the Physical Plane correct?” Shada asked.

  “Just so, invoke your Will and your Intent. Then simply will yourself into physical reality, master Shada. If done correctly the Guide will recognize and grant you the Skill.” Raelis explained.

  It definitely sounded simple to Shada, but it wasn't so in practice. There were lots of false starts, partial manifestations, and some of the most disorienting sensations Shada had ever experienced as a Spirit. However, after several hours the Guide recognized his efforts.

  [Congratulations, you have acquired a new Skill: Physical Manifestation.

  This Skill allows you to create a minor visible manifestation of your Spiritual form.

  Warning: Your ectoplasmic form is extremely fragile and easily disrupted.]

  Shada experienced gravity for the first time in over a year. Ectoplasm was nearly weightless, but there was just enough weight that it took more effort to move as a manifestation. He would need a lot of practice to master this new Skill. He actually lost control of his shape and became a shadowy puddle on the floor the first time he managed to manifest. It was definitely nowhere close to having a real body, but it was at least something. He could finally interact with people more directly. At least as soon as he could maintain his shape and manifestation at the same time.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  —

  Shada did not like the manifestation ability. He was able to feel the Physical Plane’s resistance to his intrusion. He was used to simply willing himself to move. It took no more thought than walking as a human, in fact it took less effort as there was no delay between intent and action. It was not the same when manifesting. The ectoplasmic shell that made him visible also gave him weight and made him subject to physical affects like wind and gravity. He didn’t weigh much at all, but it was just enough to hinder him. He couldn’t really touch things. He didn’t fall through things of course, but there was no real force to his movements. If he pressed hard enough he would phase through things as he was used to, but that had its own issues. One of which was that it left behind ectoplasm that would then reform on the other side. Ectoplasm evaporated fast, but it left a noticeable if temporary wet spot. The same thing occurred if anything accidentally passed through him, like the hand of a curious child trying to pet the new cat.

  Shada’s Skills definitely helped him use his new form, which he thought of as Ghost just as he called the golem form Root. The Shapeshifting Skill helped him maintain his shadowy cat, or Ghost, form. The Physical Manifestation Skill helped him maintain his presence on the Physical Plane and even the Material Mastery Skill helped him move and interact with things, but it was a subpar experience all around. He much preferred existing as a Spirit then the bastardized ectoplasmic form he got from manifesting. With practice Shada knew he could use his combination of Skills plus maybe some illusion Spells to appear like a real cat, but that day was far off. No one would mistake him for anything, but the strange Ghost cat he could become.

  —

  With Shada being able to make a Ghostly manifestation the Clinic got a new resident. While at the Clinic he used Holy Essence to create his form via Shapeshifting, which gave him a golden otherworldly appearance. He was quickly recognized as the Blessed Spirit that people had heard about. He used this setting to practice his Manifestation Skill. He even learned a new trick with Material Mastery. He could conjure sound so with a lot of effort was able to create a voice. He didn’t like talking aloud anymore than he liked manifesting in his Ghost forms. It simply took far more effort than it was worth in Shada’s opinion.

  “Blessed Spirit, Shinobin requests your assistance with a patient.” Acolyte Vreen said.

  “Of course, can you lead the way, Acolyte Vreen? How are your studies going? Are you struggling to memorize those Celestial Prayers?” Shada asked as he mimicked walking beside Vreen.

  “Yes, they just don’t want to stick in my mind. The Priest that teaches them says that is normal and can only be helped with repeated practice. You mentioned potentially helping me, but I don’t know how that would work.” Acolyte Vreen said as they walked.

  “I am very good with languages. I might be able to coach you through the nuances. Celestial is a rather tricky language. It just doesn’t flow the same as the languages most people speak. I will try and find time today in fact. Do you have your practice notes with you?” Shada asked.

  “I do, I study them when I am not helping patients. It would be a great honor to receive assistance from a Blessed Spirit. I am more than grateful for any help you might provide.” Vreen responded enthusiastically.

  “I enjoy helping people. So I am glad to help.” Shada said.

  They arrived at one of the consultation rooms where they found Shinobin, Besta and one of the oldest looking women Shada had yet seen on Sierrallas. Aging was strange in a world of Stats and Cultivation. The young beauty could be hundreds of years old while a crone might be no more than a century old. It varied greatly.

  “Heal Shinobin, how may this humble Spirit be of assistance today?” Shada asked in an amused tone.

  “Oh, knock off the humble Spirit act, Shada. You know I dislike that level of formality.” Shinobin said in exasperation.

  “My apologies. Is this the patient you needed assistance with?” Shada asked less formally.

  “Yes, this is Ms. Esabela. I do not know what is wrong with her. I suspect a curse, but whatever it is can hide from my Spells. Now normally I would just send her off to a Temple and hope they could help, but I thought you might be able to figure out a solution.” Shinobin explained.

  “Diagnostics are not my area of expertise. I just provide Essence.” Shada said. He hopped, or more accurately, floated up onto the bed Ms. Esabela was sat on.

  “Ms. Esabela, I am Shada. I don’t know if I can help, but I am willing to try. Could you tell me what ills you while I use my senses to examine you?” Shada asked politely.

  Ms. Esabela was just staring silently at the glowing golden Ghost cat that was trying to engage her in conversation. It took her several moments to gather her thoughts. “Are you the Blessed Spirit? I had heard rumors, but didn’t expect to meet you…” Ms. Esabela trailed off.

  “That is what the Temple calls me, yes. About those symptoms Ms. Esabela? What brought you in today?” Shada asked again.

  “I am sorry, I am just a bit out of sorts today. As you can see I am old. I wasn’t this old yesterday. I don’t know what caused me to suddenly look decades older than I should.” Ms. Esabela explained.

  Shada looked at Shinobin for an explanation. Every gesture he made had to be thought out carefully. His head and eyes were not real. They were just a visual reference for others. So ‘looking’ at someone took more conscious effort than it should have.

  “As far as I can tell there is nothing wrong with her. I can find no illusions, no glamours, no charms, enchantments, or anything else to explain her appearance. If she didn’t tell me I would have no clue this was not how she always looked. In fact my Spells tell me she is an old woman and has entered her Decline. It is really a baffling case.” Shinobin explained.

  Shada tried the simplest test first and used his Analyze Skill. He was surprised, but not shocked by the results.

  [Name: Esabela Grasada

  Age: 27…]

  “Ms. Esabela could you confirm your age for me?” Shada asked curiously.

  “Of course, I am 27 as of the beginning of summer.” Ms. Esabela replied.

  “Analyze agrees. You are 27 years old. You look like an unawakened 80 year old. Do you feel older?” Shada asked next.

  “Yes, it was a real struggle to come in. I got tired easily. I hurt all over. I thought my knees may not hold me and I can barely straighten my back…” Ms. Esabela continued to list a litany of common ailments of old age.

  “Ok, I get the picture. Healer Shinobin, did your Spells confirm the ailments of old age?” Shada asked.

  “No, in fact Ms. Esabela appears to be a healthy young woman with a Physical Cultivation Stat around 20 according to my Spells. I have never seen anything quite like it to be honest. Do you have any ideas or should I have her escorted to the Temple?” Shinobin asked.

  “I can try one more thing, but I will have to unmanifest to use my perception Skill properly. Appearing like this just takes too much concentration.” Shada said as he suddenly disappeared.

  Back in his amorous Spirit form Shada focused his Essence Perception on the young/old woman before him. Not surprisingly she looked strange to his Perception. It was like there were two people before him, the essence of the old woman and the young woman superimposed onto the essence of the young one. The old woman’s essence was black tinged. When he focused harder he could sense a trail of essence leading off into the distance. He had no idea what he was looking at, but his best guess was some sort of transference magic he had never heard off.

  He didn’t bother to manifest and chose to open a Spirit Speech channel to everyone in the room. “I can see the problem or at least what I assume is the problem, but I have no idea how it works. There are two essence patterns. One that appears to be the young woman we know Esabela to be and another that is older and tainted black.” Shada paused. “I don’t know if it is a possibility, but could could someone be transferring their age, of all things, to Ms. Esabela?” He finally asked. “I can trace a trail off into the distance in the city connecting Ms. Esabela to something or someone.” Shada said as he finished his examination.

  “I don’t know. Acolyte Vreen? Have you come across anything similar in your studies? I confess Dark Magic is not one of my areas of expertise beyond basic curse and hex breaking.” Shinobin said.

  “It sounds familiar actually, but I can’t quite remember…” Acolyte Vreen trailed off before their eyes widened. “We need to get Squire Brumo. There is a Hag in the city. Healer Shinobin, can you have a message sent to the Temple? Blessed Spirit, can you follow the essence trail you mentioned?” Acolyte Vreen said breathlessly.

  “Yes of course, but what is a Hag?” Shada asked curiously.

  Shinobin was already talking to an attendant to have Squire Brumo summoned and a message sent to the Temple.

  “A monster, or rather a person that has become a monster." Acolyte Vreen replied.