The soul and I.

Since the dawn of time, seekers have strived to define

The soul's elusive essence, a mystery divine.

Through ages past, various truths have been revealed,

Each era's wisdom shedding light on the soul's concealed.

In modern times, a new perspective has emerged,

A theory of three interconnected essences converged.

By embracing this framework, one embarks on a journey within,

A process of ordering the soul, like a canvas to begin.

In the mystical realm, the soul is comprised of three,

Amour, Raison, and Coeur, interconnected and free.

Amour, the spark of self, illuminates individuality's flame,

Whispering 'I' to the universe, a sacred, eternal name.

Raison, the voice of wisdom, navigates life's twisting tide,

Tempering passion with discernment, guiding us to abide.

Coeur, the depths of the heart, stirs primal desires and fears,

Awakening remembrance of mysteries through laughter and tears."

Norris pondered, nodding thoughtfully, as he continued to read,

"Amour, the Ego's spark, ignites our uniqueness, beyond compare.

Raison, the Superego's voice, guides our decisions, noble and wise.

Coeur, the Id's primal depths, stirs our passions, emotions, and sighs."

Norris pondered, nodding thoughtfully, as he began to analyze the mystical framework. "Let's break it down," he said. "Amour, Raison, and Coeur - these three interconnected essences seem to correspond to the Ego, Superego, and Id in modern psychological theory."

He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing in concentration. "Amour, the spark of self, appears to be analogous to the Ego - the part of the soul that corresponds to our sense of individuality and self-awareness."

Norris paused, considering the next aspect. "Raison, the voice of wisdom, seems to align with the Superego - guiding our decisions, tempering our passions, and helping us navigate our higher callings and aspirations."

He nodded thoughtfully. "And Coeur, the depths of the heart, appears to be equivalent to the Id - driving our primal instincts, emotions, and motivations."

Norris leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face. "It's intriguing to see how this mystical framework parallels modern psychological theory. Different names, same fundamental concepts. I've seen similar ideas in my past life, and it's fascinating to see how they align with modern thought."

He smiled wryly. "I guess great minds think alike, huh? This theory resonates with me, and I can feel a shift in my perspective. By accepting this framework, I'm not just acknowledging a concept – I'm embracing a new way to understand and shape my soul."

Norris found resonance, a familiarity to make whole. With humility, Norris acknowledged the wisdom he'd found, A reflection of his own experiences, a truth profound. In this modern theory, he saw a harmony of thought, A convergence of ancient wisdom, forever brought.

Norris's eyes gleamed with a sense of delight. "I'm embracing this framework to understand and shape my soul. It's a step forward, none the less. Accepting this means further order in the core of my soul, which means I've taken a step forward on the path of self-discovery and growth." Is this the ultimate truth of the soul? Norris doesn't know, Norris doesn't think so either. But Norris found resonance with this theory.

Norris having translated and assimilated what he had read, read on,

---

"From the dawn of time, chaos dwelled within the soul,

Infinitely close to the warp, where instincts take their toll.

By nature's course, it grows stronger, a force untamed,

Professionals rise, and upon the brink of sublimation, it's named.

Awareness dawns, and from the chaos, order can be wrought,

Granting control over desires, personality, and thought.

By embracing this framework, the soul is safeguarded,

A sanctuary of desires, personality, and wisdom unmarred.

The essence of Amour, Raison, and Coeur, intertwined,

Separates the aspects of the self, that harmony may be designed.

A mage, with soul thus ordered, may walk the rational path,

Unswayed by emotions' turmoil, yet still feeling their aftermath.

The whispers of the heart, now tempered by wisdom's gentle hand,

Guide the mage's journey, through life's labyrinthine land.

This framework, as the soul's core, shields against demonic sway,

And divine influences that seek to manipulate personality's way.

A safeguard against external forces, it empowers self-reflection's might,

A beacon of inner wisdom, shining through the darkness of night.

In this dynamic harmony, the soul's aspects may shift and sway,

As the individual chooses their state of mind, come what may.

From the stillness of normalcy to the fervor of experimental fire,

The soul, now ordered, may navigate life's complexities with greater desire."

---

Norris nodding thoughtfully, as he began to translate and analyse what he's read.

"The soul of mortals is in a state of chaos, infinitely close to the warp. By instinct, it grows stronger. By instinct it protects itself. By instinct it absorbs nourishment for knowledge and experience. But instinct alone cannot grow far without the nourishment of control and knowledge. Weaker Professionals at the Initiate and Adept realm still grow stronger and protect themselves using instincts. Only when they are about to sublimate will they become aware of the soul.

From then on that can order the soul from its chaotic state given them more control."

"Following this framework, I can better manage my desires, personality, and wisdom. The separation and integration of Amour, Raison, and Coeur helps me make better decisions and control my emotions. It also protects me from outside influences, like demonic or divine beings, that seek to change how I feel or act. Greater self-awareness will help me grow. The ability to adjust to a rational point of view will help me during battle, removing distracting thoughts. The method's flexibility lets me adjust my mindset depending on the situation, switching between logical thinking, wise decision-making, and emotions when needed." But as Norris looked back, he couldn't help but recall the framework he had once devised using his previous life's knowledge of fantasy novels. Maybe revisiting these memories would reveal insights he never anticipated.

Norris thought back to his experience before sublimation. As a child from a single mother who was a harlot, he had no backing. This made it hard for him to get concrete information on the path of practitioners. His sudden awareness of the soul came as a surprise to him. In the fantasy novels in his previous life, dealing with the soul was a high end skill. He already had a hunch but to be sure he tried looking up information from secret gatherings, libraries, and exchange from fellow practitioners but found out that this was a stage most go through when their soul is reaching the limits the mortal body can withstand. How to proceed from there was up to him. This revealed that he was at the Apex of the Adept stage.

Norris, a little frustrated but also getting used to the information blockade knew he could only depend on his rigor and imagination to solve this. With the aid of an array that slipped through the blockade, though he thinks it's been intentional released for some reason, he carefully felt the soul and the it's nature was reminiscent of description of chaos from his previous life. As a fan of Chinese primordial myth stories in his previous life, he instinctively thought of an axe splitting the chaos. He tried doing so both as a joke and ritual incase something does happen. In this magical world, thoughts can actually do a lot of things but to be his non surprise nothing happens.

He's not as strong as pangu nor does he study creation. So he decided to adopt the mind sea theory from novels which he didn't really understand as different authors bring different theories. Having calmed down from the experience he thought of what he was about to do. He came to the conclusion that he had to be more serious and think carefully about what was about to done. Lack of information about this situation plagued him but his instinct screamed that this might affect his future and he wouldn't want anything to go wrong especially since he was going to risk his future potential for immediate power not knowing this would cost him a healthy soul.

First of all, he felt carefully and discovered that while the soul felt infinite, it's actually not. There's a limit to the Ectoplasm. He tried casting spells and discovered that any visualization and use of intent during the process of casting spell depletes this Ectoplasm. He also felt the edge of the soul like a barrier protecting the soul from the more turbulent chaos outside which he thinks should be the warp.

Armed with this test results he set out to his first step for ordering the soul. He first of all made his barrier more compact and complete. The soul inherent barrier wasn't going to be enough when he became a sublimation being. Then he imagined a world tree. The world tree is a highly neutral being which means it's not going to reject his necromancy. To make the world tree in his soul not just an illusionary existence he made a ritual to the real world tree at a steep price. A hint of it's power was bestowed as a seed. In Chinese cultivation novel this would have been written as taoist charm. Norris sighed with nostalgia thinking about novels he might never get to read.

This seed consumed most of his Ectoplasm to grow and manifest but he thinks it's worth it. An illusionary world tree was structured and it immediately began reinforcing it's new home by creating an even stronger barrier. He was going to use this as a skill tree like a game character. By engraving spells on its branches he can have quick cast spells to help him in battle. Though that hadn't worked out yet, Norris felt like it should be soon. The world tree also helped him structure his soul according to Norris scattered ideas while using it's inherent knowledge contained within it to do so. An illusionary world was created as the world tree efficiently managed his Ectoplasm.

This came with it's con though as Norris affinity for death was reduced. The world tree

no matter how neutral it is, still is a tree

With acceptance of this new framework, the illusionary world was further divided into three realms. The realm Norris's Mind Sea is structured into three interconnected realms: the Information Realm, a grand library housing all his knowledge and memories; the Thought Realm, a serene garden where his mental processes and creativity flourish; and the Energy Realm, a vast ocean of glowing energy representing his Ectoplasm reserves. Norris's Energy Realm envelops and supports the Information and Thought Realms, creating a cohesive inner world. The grand library (Information Realm) floats within the ocean of energy, and the serene garden (Thought Realm) rests on an island surrounded by this spiritual sea, ensuring interconnectedness and balance. His information realm representing Amour, the Ego. The thought realm representing Raison, the superego and the energy which mostly interact with the outer world mostly embodies Coeur, the id.

Happy for his spiritual growth, Norris read on hoping to get more,

"In the grand tapestry of existence, the soul and body are inextricably entwined, their symbiotic union a sacred mystery. Like two wings of a majestic bird, they soar together, their harmony a wonder to behold. In the mystical realm, the soul, a luminous essence, dances with the body, a terrestrial vessel attuned to the celestial rhythms.

The body, a sacred temple, houses the soul, shielding it from the whims of the external world. The subtle energies of hormones, memories, and bodily processes weave a mystical spell, influencing the soul's odyssey. Yet, when the soul ventures into the mystical domain, the body acts as a sentinel, filtering out passive influences that seek to sway it.

Like a wise guardian, the body protects the soul from unwanted whispers, preserving its autonomy and integrity. However, against a formidable foe, a high-level being with malicious intent, the body's defenses are breached, its fortifications crumbling. The soul, once shielded, lies vulnerable to corruption or assimilation.

In contrast, the body stands as a stalwart guardian against casual influences, safeguarding the soul's essence. Thus, the body and soul form a sacred alliance, each relying on the other to navigate the mysteries of existence.

Living beings, imbued with the spark of life, form self-sustaining systems, autonomous and free. Their vital force, a radiant energy, pulsates within, nourishing body and soul. Unencumbered by external dependencies, they flourish, their essence unfolding like a blooming flower.

This inherent autonomy distinguishes living beings from other entities, such as the undead. Though the undead possess self-awareness, their existence is a mere shadow of life. Bound to the Death Realm and the authority of Death, they rely on dark energy to sustain their being, severing their ties to the vibrant essence of life.

Petitioners, bound to the Kingdom of God, offer another fascinating case study. Though they surrender their essence to the divine realm, their life force endures, a flickering flame that dances with eternity. Yet, only demigods and beings of higher stature may truly bask in the radiance of eternal life, unencumbered by the weight of time.

Mortal souls, though devoted, eventually succumb to the whispers of eternity, their essence worn by the relentless tides of ages. The Gods, benevolent or unforgiving, witness their devotion, and the benevolent may offer a path to transcendence, a golden thread that weaves the petitioner into the tapestry of the divine.

However, not all Gods are so gracious, for some merely observe, draining the faith and devotion of their followers, squeezing every last drop of vitality from their mortal souls."

Norris's eyes scanned the text, his mind absorbing the mystical and poetic tone. He translated it into a more concrete understanding.

"So, the soul and body are connected, relying on each other for balance. The soul's like a vital energy interacting with the body, its physical vessel. The body shields the soul from external influences, protecting its integrity."

"But what about when the soul explores the mystical realm? The body acts as a guardian, filtering out negative influences. However, if faced with a powerful, malevolent force, the body's defenses can be breached."

"Living beings have a vital energy that sustains them, allowing growth and flourishing. This distinguishes us from the undead, bound to the Death Realm."

"Petitioners devoted to the Kingdom of God have their life force persisting even after surrendering their essence. But only demigods and higher beings can truly embody eternal life."

"Some Gods offer paths to transcendence, earning them benevolent titles. Others drain their followers' faith and vitality, revealing malevolent nature."

Norris paused, focusing on a specific phrase: "Only demigods and beings of higher stature may truly bask in the radiance of eternal life." He translated it further: "Pursuing eternal life is only suitable for powerful beings or those with divine connections. For mortals like me... it's a path leading to trouble."

Norris's eyes narrowed, his gaze intensifying. A project he had been planning came to mind, and he realized that it might be a foolhardy dream, a perilous expedition. He decided to bury it for now, along with the phrase, deep within his heart.