Hugo’s resolve

In Hugo's spiritual world…

The ancient Owl could easily deduce Hugo's thoughts and emotions, she sighed and continued explaining the path of mysticism and its risks.

"I understand that you are quite eager to start your mystic-arts training."

"However, you must understand that once more mystic arts are made available to you, your grace period as a new pyramidology posterity will be over."

"Pyramidology?" Hugo mumbled, confused.

"You don't need to think about the concept of pyramidology now… However, you need to take note that I won't be able to aid you in life-threatening situations like before…" Bundi paused, waiting for the information to sink into Hugo's mind.

"That is unless you can qualify to enter the Transcosmic-pyramid." She added.

"Why wouldn't you be able to help me? You have free will, don't you?" Hugo inquired. He couldn't understand the Owl's logic.

[How could obtaining more mystic arts relate to this. Is the Owl being restricted in some kind of way by the pyramid?]

"Because of it… And I made a promise," Bundi replied while pointing her golden wing towards the pyramid.

[…That implies that the golden pyramid is more formidable than the Owl.] Hugo shuddered despite himself after this conjecture had taken precedence in his mind.

Although the Owl was eccentric from time to time, she was an easy-going, and kind entity that aided him when necessary. That was the sort of vibe the Owl – Bundi projected towards Hugo.

Hugo couldn't comprehend and didn't particularly care about the reason why the mysterious Owl and the gigantic pyramid were present in his spiritual world. He just understood one thing: The entities meant no harm – that is at least towards him.

If the Owl or pyramid wanted him hurt, they would have just left the job to the token or even the evil spirit from before. Hugo could not see any reason why such powerful entities would bring his soul to another world just to hurt him. It was simply illogical.

But learning the simple fact that an inanimate object like the pyramid could restrict the ancient and powerful Bundi made Hugo tremble with trepidation.

The trepidation was not due to the presence of the pyramid, but how abnormal his world was becoming.

[What is left? Will I meet a talking stone shortly or maybe a flying flower fairy?] Hugo was tickled by his weird thoughts.

Seeing the vibrant aura projected by Hugo's fantasies, the Owl once again diverted the topic to the risks involved in following the ancient path of mysticism.

"You have been sheltered from the dangers of this world by my presence. If I wasn't here in your spiritual world, you would have died a thousand times over. Don't you think so Hugo?"

Hugo was taken aback and couldn't help but ponder over the incidents of the evil spirit and the hooded-skeleton mysteriously appearing in his spiritual world. He was still plagued with nightmares of the bull-headed spirit even after a full six years had elapsed.

"Evading danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold." Hugo responded, gazing straight into the Owl's green eyes.

He was trying his best to coax the ancient entity that was the Owl into teaching him the mysteries of the cosmos… But also, at the same time, trying to persuade his inner-self to accept such a reality.

Hugo's strong resolve and pure zeal to pursue such knowledge had by now triumphed over his fear.

[So, what if you hide in a hotel room to conduct your experiments? The assassins could still attack you despite your timidity.]

[What is there to fear? I would rather face the danger now, than wait for it to ruin my future.] Hugo mused as he set a firm goal in his mind.

"I won't let fear hinder my path to becoming a mystic." He mumbled.

"Have you made your decision?" The Owl's tone was solemn.

"Your magnificence, the ancient Bundi; I would like to start training my mystic powers as soon as possible." Hugo paused as he organized his next few words. This could be a turning point in his new life and he didn't want to squander it.

"...You have to know that fear is temporary, but regret is forever. I don't want my mother to die in the hands of our enemies even before I can become a mystic." Hugo's voice was firm as he spoke, every word projecting his determination.

He would rather die trying to become a powerful mystic, than wallow in regret after losing a loved one.

"Some fates are even worse than death," Hugo added, recalling some of the painful memories from his previous life.

"Okay, I understand. I hope that you won't end up like your predecessors. I am very bored spending eons seeking a posterity who may never appear. I really wish you luck young Hugo." Bundi mumbled, her tone earnest.

"Thank you!" Hugo was excited. He could now begin his path as a mystic in this new world.

"Okay! Listen up, young fella…" The Owl's voice was now back to its usual imposing tone.

"Since you have already advanced your soul, you can easily make use of the Grimoire. It is a gift from the pyramid. And believe me… It very rarely gives gifts."

"How do I use the Grimoire?" Hugo tried his luck fishing for the answer from the ancient Owl once again.

"You can slowly explore how to use it after you leave the space. That is all about mystical spells." The Owl added, ignoring Hugo's disappointment. "Just remember to drop some blood on your picture on the cover."

"My picture?" Hugo was confused.

The Owl – Bundi shook her head in resignation after witnessing Hugo's obliviousness.

"The picture on the cover of the book you dimwit."

"Aahh!" Hugo was shocked speechless.

"Next on agenda, I will leave you with a mystic-art to help you strengthen your body. …You should have heard of Kratos - the personification of strength in ancient Pangea? Haven't you?" The Owl inquired, completely ignoring Hugo's previous uncertainties.

"Yes. He was a character in myths of Greek origin. They were popular back in the Austrian Empire." Hugo still remembered the basics of Greek mythology. He had studied some religious subjects that were part of the core primary curriculum back in Smiljan.

"This body-mystic-art was stolen from the mighty Kratos by Prometheus. You know the Prometheus I am talking about… Don't you?" The Owl looked at Hugo inquisitively.

Bundi's tone would turn energetic as long as a conversation involved mythology, history, or philosophy. Hugo didn't want to dampen the Owl's mood before receiving the mystic-arts, and thus, he decided to play along and answer truthfully.

"I have heard of him… He is also part of Greek mythology."

"Hahaha… Mythology, not history?" Bundi was amused.

"Are you saying that all those myths are real?" Hugo hurriedly asked as this was a doubt that was deeply seeded in the minds of scientists back on Earth.

Hugo needed to know whether stories about gods in his past life were just myths or historical facts.

Bundi's reply was a mysterious smile.

"Are they true?" Hugo once again asked, his mouth agape.

"Don't take me back to the topic of reality. When too many souls worship an entity, it is no surprise that that entity will be actualized in reality or the astral realm. That is the power of true faith."

"…Even a tree worshiped by billions my light up its godhood and achieve divinity. So, what are the chances of mythical Greek gods appearing in Earth's past?"

Hugo shook his head in confusion. He didn't have the required information to reject the hypothesis that the gods truly existed.

"Just think about this. The Earth you were from was more than four billion years old. Even the archeological details there confirm that there were large mammals some 30 million years before you were born…"

"… You are the scientist… What is the probability of having a superior civilization hidden in Earth's early history?" The Owl once again inquired.

"Hahaha… Like the lost city of Atlantis?" Hugo laughed.

"What if the city existed?" The Owl countered.

"Okay… Okay… I get it… There may be Greek gods and lost civilizations back on earth… But can we go back to mystic-arts?" Hugo hurriedly diverted the topic back to what was most important.

Although he liked to delve deeper into the history of his previous world, this was not the time.

"It is your loss. If you can survive and ask me about this in the future, I will ignore you." The Owl harrumphed as it looked condescendingly at Hugo.

Hugo chose to ignore the Owl, only patiently waiting for the mystic-arts.

The Owl always emphasized that they had limited time, however, she was the one that would always spiral off into philosophical discussions as long as a chance presented its self.

Hugo wasn't really worried about the threat of the silent treatment promised by the Owl. He was instead more apprehensive about the Owl leaving without explaining the mystic-powers.

"What a bore?" Bundi sighed after seeing Hugo's negative reaction to her goading.