Lantern

[You use your carving knife and slice off a small piece of what you think is a part of a beast's liver. When you put it in your mouth, you feel like retching, but you forcefully swallow.]

A disgusting taste flooded Lem's mouth. His simulated self immediately shook his head, and put the container down.

Lem watched in curiosity as he reached for the small lantern, and turned it over in his hands. Lem guessed that his simulated self wanted to try to cook the beast meat instead.

There were a number of reasons why he had never cooked meat in previous simulations. The most important was that he did not want to attract the wrong kind of attention.

At the moment, he had the protection of the invisible warding barrier, so his main concern was dealt with.

Of course, his simulated self did not fully understand the functions of the barrier, so there was still risk involved, but Lem could not bring himself to judge him harshly.

Lem had never been forced to eat raw meat either.

He would also have preferred if his simulated self had looked at the jade slips first, but it was clear that his simulated self was not thinking in this direction. He did not know if his simulated self was afraid of taxing his mind, or if it just hadn't occurred to him to take into account the interests of the real self.

As Lem's simulated self studied the lantern, he immediately ran into trouble. 

It wasn't immediately obvious how the lantern was meant to be used. It was the tool of a cultivator, not of a mortal.

The lantern was formed from a few metal plates that were engraved with strange symbols. There were a few sliding doors on the lanterns that opened to two different compartments, and a separate handle that intuitively appeared to have the purpose of lighting the flame, and perhaps changing its intensity.

Lem's simulated self moved the handle, sliding it along its groove, but there was no reaction from the lantern.

Was it out of fuel?

[You decide to cook the meat instead of eating it raw. You pick up the small lantern from the martial elder's possessions and try to understand how to use it.]

As Lem's simulated self explored the transparent main chamber of the lantern, he saw that there was a wick, but no wax.

The wick did not seem to be made of ordinary material. It was a strange metal that had more symbols on it. He also noticed that the glassy inner walls of the chamber had a higher density of the strange symbols.

What served as the fuel?

Lem's simulated self opened the smaller compartment and saw a layer of black dust coating more of the same symbols.

Presumably, it was the fuel chamber.

Watching his simulated self play with the small lantern, Lem was filled with curiosity.

What were the symbols? What was their purpose?

His mind went straight to spiritual energy. Did they serve to channel it somehow?

Or did they directly connect to the operation of the world?

His simulated self frowned and turned to pouch where he had put the spiritual crystals. Even though he had several dozen of them, Lem could feel his reluctance.

Every spiritual crystal felt precious. One more used was one more gone.

Still, it was not just in service of making his food palatable, but also to learn more about the lantern as well as the uses of the crystals themselves.

Lem's simulated self stopped hesitating.

Even if he used up one, there were plenty remaining.

He took out one of the thumb-sized spiritual crystals. There was no obvious groove, so he just placed it in the center of the small chamber, before closing the little door flap until it clicked.

Lem felt his anticipation, as he moved the slider by a millimeter.

Woof!

Behind the transparent sides of the main chamber, the wick suddenly lit up, and a tiny flame was birthed at its end.