I went and sat down in the middle of the garden. Sometime between healing the Earl and now, I had accepted that this world was real, as was the Heaven’s Path. Even given that, something is definitely wrong with me. I couldn’t be this calm about taking a human life. That just isn’t me. I kind of felt something was wrong ever since I woke up in the cave. Hell, I should have been freaking out, waking up in a new world, but I just calmly accepted it, as if it was normal. Yes, there was the little voice in the back of my mind telling me this isn’t normal and filled with anxiety, but it went away. Even when I was attacked by the boar, I didn’t panic or even feel afraid. The little voice with its anxiety came after the fight. In fact, it was the same way with every fight or harrowing experience I have had. Now the fight with the rogues, the killing of Deguart and maiming of Subad. I should be feeling regret, sorrow, something. But all I feel at the moment is blah, as if something is dulling my emotions. Yes, the little voice was mildly freaking out, but wasn’t all that vocal. Even, the dinner with the Earl was way too comfortable as I now think about it. Meeting the leader of the town should have been stressful, but I was at ease the whole time. Why. I know I get nervous when I meet powerful people. In my past life, I usually just put on an act, but always felt butterflies in my stomach. With the Earl, nothing. Not even the little voice. See, right there, I mention my past life and it doesn’t disturb me at all. As if waking up in a magic world is normal.

  That was when I noticed my notifications were flashing. There was one kill notification, one defeat notification. Neither had any experience, as expected. Besides these notifications, I had three others.

  [Your sword skill has increased to level 6.]

  This was the first time I used my sword since leaving the cave, and there I only practice my forms until it hit level 5. It hadn’t budged after that. I had used both my knife and spear in fights, and they both increased in levels. It looks like I will need to be in actual combat/fight for my weapon skills to increase above 5.

  [Your Heaven’s Heal spell has increased to level 8.]

  Again, using my Heaven’s Heal spell on actual wounds seemed to speed up its leveling. Using it on myself still increases it, but only very slowly. Using on others who need it, speeds the leveling up.

  [Your Partitioned Mind has increased to level 6.]

  This last one caught my eye. Partitioned Mind. What exactly was that. As I thought about it, I became hopeful. It might explain my absolute stoicism. I brought up my Skill list and mentally clicked on Partitioned Mind.

  [Partitioned Mind

  1. Passive ability that prevents strong negative emotions from affecting you. Prevents panic and lowers anxiety during stressful situations. This ability creates a sub mind to process the negative emotions and reconciles actions that create strong negative emotional responses. The processing of these emotions/actions allow for the main mind to integrate them without negative consequences. After processing is finished, integration with consciousness requires active participation of main mind. Integration requires main mind to enter a meditative state. Warning: Integration of partitioned mind must occur periodically or permanent disassociation may occur.

  2. Active ability will allow you to direct the mind to focus on a subject/problem in the background. The sub mind continuously works on the issue without affecting the main mind. You need to set the parameters of the problem and the activate sub mind. Warning: passive ability will be off during activation period.

  ]

  Two things come to mind immediately: I can turn off the passive ability and feel everything real time by setting the sub mind to work on a problem. Should I do that or leave it on? Secondly, what does disassociation mean? Split personalities? Sociopathic? Whatever it means, it can’t be good. So, how do I enter a meditative state? Have I already done it unknowingly? I must have because I didn’t feel any disassociation. Maybe I should try to knowingly enter a meditative state.

  I crossed my legs, placed my hands on my knees, trying to emulate an image of a Buddhist meditating. Now what. I tried to clear my mind, but that only lasted a few seconds each time I did it. That didn’t seem to do anything. I tried to control my breathing. Breathe in deeply, hold for 5 seconds, release quickly, hold for 3 seconds. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Nothing. I tried a slow chant I heard once, “Om Ni Pa Dei Om”. I don’t even know what it means, but as expected nothing. Finally, getting frustrated I give up and decide to do something physical. Since I had to use my sword today, I decided to start with my sword forms. With practiced ease, I slid into the beginning position then transitioned through the first set. I continued through the forms, when my mind disengaged and every movement was automatic with no input from me. This has happened frequently in the last few times I did the forms. When I finished my sword form, I realized that my mental state had changed. I could actually tell that my Partitioned Mind had integrated, because I felt bad about killing the thief. Not terrible, as if I had done it a long time ago and reconciled. Apparently, my sub mind had processed the events from earlier and now integrated them with my conscious self (main mind). I felt regret at having taken a human life, but it was not the debilitating despair I would have expected.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  I put away my sword, and brought out my spear. I ran through the spear forms and noticed my mind did the same as in my sword forms. The forms became automatic after a few seconds. Eureka, this was my meditative state. This was how I had been entering a meditative state all along. It explained why I wasn’t in a dissociative state. I had inadvertently been integrating Partitioned State each time I did my forms.

  I finished with my martial arts forms and took a minute to rest. I cast Cleanse again and felt slightly refreshed. During my forms, I kept thinking about the Partitioned Mind. I knew it was affecting me, helping me adjust to this new world. However, since I have already accepted this world as real. I believe that I should face it without crutches. I decided that I could turn Partitioned Mind off. At least for now, and did so. I stood there, very tense waiting for something to happen. I think I was expecting something bad to happen, but I didn’t notice any changes in myself at all. Everything was okay.

  I decided to wandered around the garden until Gabriel came to inform me the captain was waiting in the foyer. I followed Gabriel to the dining room.

  When I entered the room, I moved towards the captain with my hand held out for a handshake. The captain shook my hand and introduced himself, “I am Captain Tyus of the city watch.”

  “I am Trevor of House Tierra. Pleased to meet you. My apologies, but I just moved into Covern House and most of the furniture has not arrived. We can adjourn to the dining room if you wish to sit. Otherwise, how may I be of assistance?”, I replied.

  “Sitting would be appreciated. I don’t get to do that much normally during the work day.” The captain said with a smile. We moved to the dining room and sat down. “If you don’t mind, I have a few questions about today’s event.”

  From there we discussed everything about the fight. First, he had me describe the event from my perspective. Then he asked a range of questions: Why was I walking in the alley, who drew weapons first, did the robbers say anything, etc. Then he asked to see my sword. I warned him that I kept my sword in my dimensional storage, before I called my sword to my hand. I showed him the weapon. When Captain Tyus asked if he could hold the sword, I hesitated.

  “It is a family weapon and bonded to me, so unfortunately, I cannot accede to your request to hold it. I will tell you this much, its name is Balmung and it is an EverSharp sword.” Frankly, I was worried that if I handed it over, I would never get it back. Because I knew that the police in my old world would not return a gun that had been used to commit a crime or to defend yourself. When the Captain’s eyes lit up at the mention the sword had a name, I knew I made the right call.

  “My apologies, I did not realize it was a bonded weapon. I would not have asked if I had known.” Tyus said with a smile. Hmm, good to know.

  We talked a few minutes more, then he handed over the 10-gold bounty. I thanked him and he left after assuring me that no more would come of this matter and that I had did the city a favor by removing the thieves. I briefly thought to myself ‘Maybe I should be a bounty hunter?’ Nope, not for me. I am not looking for an exciting life right now.

  Gabriel came back into the room and asked if I wanted tea. I said that would be nice, and he went to fetch it. A few minutes later he returned, made me a cup of tea. “Would not be a good time to discuss the state of the house?”, he asked.

  “Perfect timing for that. I could use the distraction.”

  “The staff furniture will be delivered and set up this afternoon. Two maids will be here starting tomorrow. Chef will be here to inspect the kitchen this afternoon, and one of her assistants will be responsible for getting the kitchen set up. Chef and the rest of her staff will start here tomorrow after lunch. There are three candidates for the secretary candidates, and they will start to arrive in a little over an hour. Here is a copy of their work experience.” He handed me a stack of papers. Efficiency thy name is Gabriel.