Ged Gives Some Advice

Ged's eyes narrowed as the shapeshifting panther, Saha, sauntered closer. The creature’s grin only widened.

"Hello there. Name’s Saha. Which demon friend might you be, knocking on doors around the 49th interpretation?"

Ged furrowed his brow.

"I’m not knocking on any doors. I’m just passing through." He took a step back.

Saha’s confident posture faltered. "Passing through?" His tail flicked as he let out an exaggerated sigh. "Ah, but you saw my last attempt, didn’t you? That Bug Alien completely shut me down and treated me like some kind of pest at his doorstep." He shook his head in exasperation.

"It’s hard to figure out what we’re doing wrong on our own," he continued, stepping beside Ged like an old friend. "That’s why demons need each other. Possession is just a means to an end, after all. We all need something to sharpen ourselves against, don’t you think?"

Ged hesitated. "...Sure?"

Saha’s grin brightened, sensing an opening. "Exactly! Since you were kind enough to view my work, why don't you provide me with some feedback?"

From within his forehead, he produced a metallic black disk and gently guided it into Ged’s hand.

Ged stared at it, then back at Saha. “What is this?”

"A Market Disk. My ancestors invented them," Saha said proudly. “Thousands of demons use it every day to trade their experiences. It’s the best way to improve as a door knocker!”

Ged turned the disk in his hands, unimpressed. Seeing his lack of enthusiasm, Saha started to feel as if he had lost him.

"I’m not asking for much," he added quickly. "Just a small portion of your feedback will do. I will provide an appropriate amount of experience to match."

Ged could only blink in response.

Saha grew more anxious. "Of course, I wouldn’t just give you any ordinary experiences. You’re clearly a demon of stature." He straightened up. "Take a look at this."

Saha’s forehead shimmered. A luminous purple palace emerged from his mind, spinning lazily in the air. As it rotated, a vast, shifting holographic map unfolded before them, displaying countless swirling galaxies and layered realities.

Ged’s eyes widened. The palace’s glimmering light showcased a vast, red holographic representation of Mount Existence. It cataloged every known slope, forming an intricate web of overlapping dimensions. It even detailed a small fraction of the doors, providing tiny notes with information about the beings behind them. The sheer number of entries reflected generations of demonic door-knockers who had contributed to its vast records.

"Is that a map of Mount Existence?" Ged asked. His perception of Saha shifted. Whatever doubts he had before, the map was too valuable to ignore. For now, he could only play along and see how much information he could gather.

Saha’s tail flicked smugly. "Better." He let the palace hover between them, allowing the spiraling layers to unfold further. "These are my ancestral demonic possession door-to-door notes, records passed down for generations by my family of demon door-knockers. Every door, every success, every failure. All for my eyes only. In exchange for your advice, I may be inclined to give up a small fraction of it."

Ged's face brightened, and his mind raced. "Does your map have any information about a place called Planet Blue Eagle?"

Saha looked into the purple palace, scanning the notes. He flicked his thoughts into the palace, and immediately, a red light pulsed. The map shifted, shrinking inward. Fifteen solar systems with blue planets shimmered into view beneath the palace’s glowing core.

Saha smirked. "I have possession notes for fifteen different interpretations of Planet Blue Eagle," he declared.

Ged knitted his brow.

"Interpretations? What exactly are you talking about?"

Saha tilted his head, as if surprised by the question. "Interpretations of the Primordial Gray."

Ged said nothing, continuing to stare blankly at Saha.

Is this a test? Saha narrowed his eyes, baffled by Ged’s ignorance.

Saha sighed deeply, his gaze drifting past the rainbow waterfall into the endless gray abyss beyond the mountain’s edge.

"This fog." He gestured outward lazily.

Ged followed his gaze, his eyes widening. It hadn't been long since he had nearly died in that very fog.

Saha’s voice turned almost wistful. "Every realm, every world, every reality is just an interpretation of the Primordial Gray."

Ged felt something cold grip his spine. His mind turned the words over, again and again, until a chilling realization struck him.

A question formed in his throat, though he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the answer.

"Wait... interpretation...? Whose interpretation is it? Is it ours?" he asked.

Saha side-eyed Ged.

"No, but I like where your mind is going."

"It's the Peak’s interpretation," he said. "For all who live in reality exist only within its fleeting perspective."

Ged swallowed hard.

Saha leaned forward, his grin unfazed by Ged’s unease. "Now, as I was saying... My ancestors have all the information you need to knock on doors in this 'Planet Blue Eagle' you’re so interested in. If you’re still keen, I can trade you some possession notes... provided you're willing to give me advice."

Ged’s pulse slowed as he thought carefully. Beyond his initial awe at Saha’s revelations, the mention of Planet Blue Eagle was like a bucket of cold water.

Could the information Saha possessed reveal the current state of his body?

He needed to find out.

"I only need information on one interpretation of Planet Blue Eagle." He turned his attention to the black disk in front of him. "How do I use this Market Disk? I don't know how useful my advice will be to you, but I'm willing to trade."

Saha's eyes glowed with excitement. From within his forehead, a second Market Disk emerged. "Channel your thought stream inside, and I’ll show you around."

A thought stream flowed from Saha’s forehead, colliding with the disk. It vibrated as engraved channels filled with Saha’s thoughts, creating the illusion of a bustling market town atop its surface.

"Now you," Saha encouraged, gesturing for Ged to follow suit.

Ged’s dragon thought stream emerged from his forehead, and he guided it into the disk, mimicking Saha’s movements.

A glint flickered in Saha’s eye at the sight of the dragon thoughts, but he quickly suppressed it. I really reeled in a big one!

As Ged’s thought stream merged with the disk, his awareness shifted. It was as if he had unlocked a new way to perceive the world. Like instructions embedded in his mind, all he had to do was shift his focus toward the engravings on the disk, and suddenly, he found himself surrounded by a crowded, shadowy marketplace.

His eyes widened in surprise.

Exploring this newfound perspective, he quickly became more familiar with the mechanics of demonic abilities, gaining deeper insight into what these different "interpretations" of reality might mean.

In the market, identities were concealed, and every figure surrounding him appeared as nothing more than an indistinguishable black blob. The marketplace stretched before him, lined with shops, each marked by a distinct sign and unique branding.

Ged's eyes wandered through the stalls, absorbing the strange scenery as he patiently awaited Saha's next instructions.

In front of him, a black blob pulsed. Within its amorphous form, a set of blue curtains materialized, parting briefly to reveal the shapeshifting panther.

"Follow me," Saha said.

He revealed himself for only a moment before slipping back behind the curtains, once again blending into the marketplace’s anonymity. He led the way, and Ged followed.

Saha guided Ged down a street lined with massive brass balance scales. Each scale was supported by a towering brass pillar with two outstretched arms, from which a pair of spherical platforms were suspended by chains. The spheres acted as counterweights, shifting ever so slightly whenever experiences were placed inside, disrupting the scale’s equilibrium.

From within Saha’s black, formless figure, the purple palace emerged, spinning in place. Then, with a flick of his thoughts, a golden scimitar appeared. His formless black figure unleashed fifteen lightning-fast strikes, slicing through the palace. In an instant, fifteen ephemeral purple palaces froze in rotation before them, each displaying a familiar-looking Planet Blue Eagle interpretation.

Ged narrowed his eyes at the scene.

He had seen Manduka use a similar scimitar before. Witnessing its strange properties again piqued his curiosity.

“Put your feedback on one side of the scale,” Saha instructed, “then choose which of my ancestral door-knocking records about Planet Blue Eagle you want.”

Ged agreed and began to move.

Beneath his featureless appearance, a wry smile remained hidden.

He still had no good feedback to give Saha.

Determined to retrieve information on Planet Blue Eagle, he could only hope to bullshit his way through at the last moment.

Since his thoughts were already streaming into the marketplace, he found them surprisingly easy to control. From within his anonymous form, his thought stream drifted toward the spherical platform. As soon as it entered, he was immersed in a moldable gray space.

Inside his mind, he replayed the scene of Saha knocking on the door. The gray space began to shift, sculpting itself into a clear visualization of the event.

He played the scene multiple times, seriously trying to come up with any reasonable advice.

I don’t know... Maybe he was being a bit too pushy?

Because of his uncertainty, the words "Maybe too pushy?" appeared in the moldable gray space.

The scale barely moved. The weight of his advice was truly pitiful.

Saha frowned.

Was I wrong about him? he thought. How could any high-status demon give such terrible advice?

He sighed. “Maybe… we can trade something else—”

But before he could finish, Saha’s eyes widened in shock.

As Ged reached his wits’ end trying to give Saha reasonable advice, the green grassy hill in his chest pulsed with light. A wisp of Peak energy emerged, flowing from his chest into the spherical scale.

The Green Grassy Hill had formed within Ged when he first arrived. He knew little about it except that Manduka had called it the Peak Concept.

As its green energy merged with his advice, profound changes took place. Subtle yet powerful insights into the art of door-to-door sales became embedded. Adjustments to Saha’s posture, refinements to his speaking cadence, and slight word-choice alterations were all hidden within the seemingly simple feedback.

The scale slammed to the floor, unable to withstand the sheer weight of Ged’s Peak Concept-altered advice.

Saha’s jaw dropped. “W-What kind of incredible advice is that?”

Ged was just as surprised by the scale’s sudden drop. Internally, he could feel the green grassy hill stir, but he had no idea what alterations it had made to his advice for Saha.

His thought stream returned to the sphere, but all he saw were the words "Maybe too pushy?" The only noticeable change was a faint green tint to the letters. He couldn’t perceive the deeply layered wisdom hidden within.

With a wry expression, he spoke. "Is that good enough?"

Saha gulped, shifting his gaze between the scale and the shapeless black blob that was Ged. He couldn't tell that Ged was just as dumbfounded as he was.

What the fuck?! Saha thought, his mind racing. I thought he only wanted one interpretation! Why did he give such deep and insightful advice? Is he fucking with me?

"Yes, yes. That will do," Saha answered, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead. Screw it! Even if I have to give up everything, I will get that advice! His eyes grew bloodshot with determination.

Ged stepped toward the interpretations, intending to pick just one, but Saha’s voice stopped him.

"Don't worry about picking an interpretation..." he chuckled nervously. "You can have them all."

He hurriedly gathered each interpretation of Planet Blue Eagle and funneled them into the other side of the scale.

Nothing.

The scale didn’t budge an inch.

Fuck!

Panic set in.

"Uh... it seems those interpretations weren’t quite enough," Saha admitted, his voice tense. "Let me try balancing it out with a few more things."

Experiences poured out of his body like a river, all funneling into the sphere. The time he had spent as trees and as grass piled onto his side of the scale.

Nothing.

Saha gritted his teeth, a pained expression twisting his face. With a decisive flick of thought, he stripped away the countless plant forms he had once experienced and shaped for himself.

The scale budged a little.

But it was nowhere near enough.

Saha frantically assessed himself, weighing every part of his existence. What else can I dispose of?

With an aggrieved look, he pulled out the purple palace. I must do it! I'm sorry, Father, Mother, Ancestors… please understand!

A crazed look flashed across his face as he hurled his ancestral purple palace onto his side of the scale.

At last, the scale shifted significantly, but balance was still out of reach.

Saha's face fell.

How much more do I have to sacrifice?

Ged did not realize the intense mental strain he had placed on Saha. All he saw were white lights streaming into the orbs, the details of the exchange remained obscured.

Must I? Saha hesitated. I must!

Steeling himself, he made the ultimate decision to trade his most prized possession, his panther experiences and even his panther shape.

A bright white glow surrounded his panther experiences as they flowed into his side of the scale.

His form flickered. Without any forms left to shapeshift into, his appearance was that of a solitary green frog.

Once his panther experiences entered the sphere, the scale lurched again, creeping ever closer to perfect balance.

"One centimeter off... it's still not enough." Saha muttered, his head hanging low with defeat.

He had given up practically everything and yet still could not equalize the weight of Ged's incredible advice.

His frog form was all he had left. If he gave it up, he would cease to exist. He had nothing left to give.

But his gaze remained locked on Ged’s advice.

He refused to give up on the trade.

"I don't have anything more to trade. I'm afraid that's it," Saha finally admitted. "Is there anything else I can offer that would make you part with your advice? I would even be willing to become your slave for a few lifetimes if it comes down to it."

Ged was completely shocked. He had no idea what Saha had sacrificed, but considering how much light had exited his form, it must have been substantial.

He already had everything he needed… but since Saha was desperate enough to offer himself as a slave, Ged figured he might as well ask.

"How about that golden scimitar of yours?" Ged asked.

Saha’s eyes lit up, his small frog face beaming.

"You want it? You can have as many as you want."

From within his shapeless form, Saha withdrew two golden scimitars.

"Wait… promise you won't go back on your word."

Ged grimaced at the sight of the second scimitar but eventually agreed. He was genuinely interested in acquiring one for himself.

One of the scimitars floated in the air. With a swift motion, Saha struck it with another. Instead of splitting in two, each half reshaped itself into a fully formed golden scimitar, creating two identical weapons.

Saha repeated the process, and soon, four identical golden scimitars hovered before them.

"Take two, and you can make as many scimitars as you so desire."

Ged raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Two of them floated onto the scale, but the weight didn’t shift at all. The scimitars were completely valueless.

Ha! What a sucker! Saha snickered inwardly.

Afraid Ged might still back out, Saha moved toward the center of the balance weight and extended his thought stream into the central pillar.

Half of the balance weight glowed with light.

"Come on, accept the trade. You promised you wouldn't back out," Saha urged.

Ged sighed and followed, extending his own thought stream into the pillar. As soon as his thoughts linked with the scale after Saha’s, he accepted the trade.

A golden light surged through the balance weight.

The two spherical platforms trembled as streams of light emerged, transferring their contents and items to their new owners.

Ged’s mind flooded with panther instincts, plant possession techniques, and generations of demon possession secrets from the fifteen interpretations of Planet Blue Eagle. After taking a moment to process everything, he carefully guided all these experiences, along with the purple palace and the two golden scimitars, into his Tree of Mysteries.

At the moment, he had many such experiences, but how to use them remained a mystery. Still, seeing the purple palace and golden scimitars filled him with excitement.

His awareness snapped back to Mount Existence.

He found himself face-to-face with a tiny frog demon wearing a jovial expression.

"Incredible. This advice is too precious," Saha muttered in awe as he glanced at Ged's advice.

A grin spread across his tiny frog face. It had all been worth it.

"Heh. Thanks for the trade!"

He hopped away, his mind still spinning with the words: Maybe too pushy?

"I-I had no idea… so in-depth," he muttered to himself, hopping away, laughing with glee.

Ged watched in silence, staring at the tiny frog.

Was that Saha? What happened to him? he muttered inwardly.

He was about to sort through his newly acquired experiences when a voice called out from behind him.

“Ged?”