Transcendent Idyll

Some philosophy schools are centered around the idea that we, humans, have a problem with overthinking things. Many things would be simpler if we could get rid of all expectations, desires, hopes, and give up to whatever reality is, according to the vision of particular conception, of course. The point is we ourselves might be perfect, and the world, social relations, and anything else is just an unnecessary detail.

There are also those who like to say such things only because it's convenient to use it as an explanation why they should do that or something else. Those… there's quite a lot of such people. They think some phrases about looking into oneself, and cutting oneself off being present in the world, can explain how life should be, or there's some wisdom in not trying to expect anything, desire anything, or that some categories conjured from the dictionary can explain what drives people to be better or happier.

'Bullshit. They can't.'

It was late night. In the quiet of a cozy farmhouse, sitting on an armchair a young, vibrant woman was reading a book she recently bought. She was tall, she couldn't bend knees enough without making sitting mildly uncomfortable. She had long brown hair, and dewy olive skin. Next to her there was an elegant bed in which a few months old child was sleeping sweetly.

That child was the main reason why she was reading the book. The child was in fact a Saint, probably first, and the only child to become a Saint in the history. Despite all the implications it was one of the happiest days in her life. Not only she has become a mother, but also has become a mother to the strongest child ever.

Not only that. She's got a great husband, whose name she can't remember, but that doesn't matter. The love can be true even if you don't know the name of the other, right?

Yes, it can be. The husband was Sleeper, and recently Awakened. What a day it was when he returned to her, and revealed that the thought about her was actually keeping him alive. Not only that. He could leave her under the pretext he's unable to take care of such a child. Well, she probably wouldn't let him abandon it anyway. If that was necessary she would drag him with her, and make him take the responsibility for what they have done.

Thankfully such measures weren't necessary. The Awakened in question had a great resolve, and he's doing whatever he can to bring happiness to both her, and her child. The proof of that was all around her. He built the house they're living in. He's growing his own food to provide good, and healthy feed for both of them. At the other night he entertained her a lot. She was pretty convinced that no men could do better than him.

But he was only an Awakened, and there was only so much he could do. The child was much stronger than him, and her appetite… is simply endless. He could work all day, and by the end of day end up tired, and that still wouldn't be enough. The best husband couldn't feed her. It was a cruelty of her flaw. She had to get food for herself by herself. Similarly because only she could, she was the one to take responsibility for raising her child, and teaching it to be good. She had to pour into him both wisdom, and sense.

Currently she was making sure her little Dumpling is getting some sleep, and she killed her time… by reading books. If Saint Athena learned from her husband something like this could happen she would not believe.

Nobilified by the purpose she urgently needed both wisdom, a sense for that was what she's lacking! After all she's Raised by Wolves. Where the wisdom comes from? Books! That's how people like Nephis, Cassie, and… what was she thinking about? It doesn't matter. The track of things is that wise people find themselves immersed in the process of studying.

So she procured some books. Mostly coaching stuff, but there were also many older. She stumbled across 'Machiavelli for moms'. She read it quickly as it was rather a light literature, and she wanted to know something more about machiavellism. Because of that she boldly put her hand on a book titled 'Prince'. The result was… really disappointing. She found out there's no good analogy between the two. The first was about how to control children, just few children in a situation of divorce. The second was about how to rule the state just to keep the power by taking taking people's freedom, turning them against each other, betraying your friends, and appearing to be benevolent before your people.

It wasn't clear, but soon she realized she indeed wants to control her child, but not to take his freedom, and indeed she wants to be a benevolent mother, not a mother that fakes her benevolence. So the wisdom of the book was not really from Machiavelli, just from the twists made by the mother from the title, who had work to do, but also children who can pour water on her electronics.

Many things were like this. There were some coaches who said something, but soon it appeared to be a distorted version of some philosophy. There was Marcus Aurelius who had written down some of his thoughts, but she found it to be nonsense on too many levels. Some thoughts contradicted each other, especially about natural law. What's good about nature when so many things are corrupted, and nature itself is ruined? But when she read that the soul according to Aurelius is untouchable… she understood that guy was living in a totally different world that knew hunger, but not a ruined soul. Thoughts concerned people who feared that they would eventually die of old age, and were thinking that life doesn't have that much to offer, so they have to really concentrate on whatever good they can take from it.

Which is somewhat good, but for her… the Dream Realm is already a paradise. Her real problem is how to not get lost in this paradise, not how to live despite it's not one. She's not getting closer to death with each day. Gods… In her case things are the opposite. She extended her lifespan at least four times. She's greedy for more. Those 'Meditations' are way too random, often right, but also often just wrong.

"Damn this thing! I don't feel any wiser. I rather feel like I'm gonna die of foolishness."

She finished the book, and turned to her other problems. While the time was running, and she needed answers concerning what, and how she can teach her son, that could wait till she'll rest from her recent lectures.

She stood up, and gently put the book on the shelf, trying to do it as gently as possible to not use her immense power. Her experience she doesn't even remember told her she has to feel the weight behind her movements. One jump could put a nasty hole in the roof like the things she did to…

Normal cradles for children fall apart. As for wood from Bastion… it could do well for some time, but the problem is for how long it can withstand the might of a Saint. In more decent circumstances a Saint would at least control his power to the point when sleeping on a normal bed would not make a problem. One had just learn to control his body while sleeping, which was way easier than it sounds. But when a Saint is a few months-old child that may not be taught yet.

'And then I thought that being pregnant in the Nightmare is bad… But look at his sweet face…'

Her husband was able to construct a few using that wood, but it all didn't last for long. The problem wasn't his carpenter skills. They could be better though. So far in beds first to fail was the material itself. If she had to describe what happened, she would say the problem is that the wood is dead. It was a very peculiar way to talk about a material, but by that she just means the planks used to construct a bed would be sturdier, if they were alive, and inhabited by the soul of Fallen Titan. As a hunter who hunts bastards in order to devour them she knows what she's talking about. Dead flesh is easier to bite through, a fact that she perceives almost every time…

In short: her problem requires a special kind of craftsmanship. Very shallow, and straightforward conclusion she would rather prefer to not make. Maybe…

'Cassie?'

[Don't count me in.]

'Oh, come on! Don't you want to flex your runic sorcery a little?'

[Do you think it's so simple?]

'Kind of… I mean… you were able to repair that flying ship, right? Reinforcement should be very straightforward. What do you need?'

[I don't see myself making beds.]

'Cause you're blind?'

[...]

'Wait. I'm sorry, the Saint of divine sight. Please, at least try to give me some advice. At least do that for Ling.'

[Fine. Do you have a bed ready?]

'Yes.'

[How sturdy?]

'I'm not sure. It's just that Bastion wood.'

[Only that?]

'Sturdier trees are hard to come by.'

[Fine. So let's do that this was. Our carpenter is still on mission with Neph. Make your husband construct another bed. Alternatively you can order one in Bastion. Then go to NQSC…]

…

"So this is ice cream?"

He looked with curiosity at the bowl filled with red cold balls of red mass that fell rather under red than pink, but redness was still intense. Through the cold he could very clearly smell the fruitness.

"Bought in the délicatesse shop. The one owned by Mrs Masako."

He still was unsure if he really wanted to taste it. Aiko catched a note of his coy gaze, and wondered what it was about.

"I didn't salt them or anything. Two tons of salt will be here by tomorrow. They're intended to be consumed while cold.'

Sunny sighed, and braced himself. He submerged his silver spoon in the soft creamy texture. The moment felt like a minute. The treat looked beautifully, but the thought it could be something else…

Till it didn't.

An alien play of sweet, and sour taste filled his mouth. Then he took another spoon, this time to try to taste it through heartedly.

He felt like he didn't taste anything tasty for a year. It was so incomparable to things that he used to eat so even honey couldn't compare. Honey was too sweet, and very unbalanced, also its sweetness was a product of… special insects produced it by ingesting and regurgitating floral nectar. In this case he was thinking more about the fruits of the Sacred Tree, but lesser.

"It seems that you like it. Is it really the first time you're eating ice cream?"

"Yes, and I still want to know what it is. I mean… it's sweet, creamy, somewhat fatty, yet the color is red."

"I think they're made of raspberries."

"And it isn't some sort of coagulated blood?"

Aiko hid her face in the palms.

"Dammit, Sunny! It's fruit! It's a goddamn fruit!"

Sunny looked at her with an expression frozen between satisfaction, and gloom. Subtly, at the verge of his perception he could see some of his avatars hiding their faces in embarrassment, especially crazy, and creepy.

"Nice to know."

He happily ate the rest of the bowl silently, enjoying every spoon of it. Crazy, and Creepy that expected him to feel the taste of blood were in tears. Naughty was saying something about him being such an idiot. Haughty just smirked. Stupid guys…

'I have to get a recipe.'

Then he suddenly heard a doorbell ringing, breaking his moment of comfort.

"Someone at this time? Fine... Aiko, I'll take care of it."

Aiko took the empty bowl, while Sunny came to the door to let the customer in.

*Bite*

After ordering the doors he was met with teeth. A little puppy bit him in the hand. It didn't hurt him, but the power of this puppy was significant.

'Transcendent puppy? Who the hell would want an Echo that is so weak? Seriously! And it's unbearably lively! It's like Quiet Dancer, but three times more annoying.'

"Hey! You can't bite people. Let him go! I said let him go!"

The voice was too familiar. It was his old friend. He couldn't hide his surprise. The puppy let him go. it was overly excited, and energetic. The eyes were glittering as if something polished a black pearl, and then added rinse. He was breathing in fast, shallow respirations, with a tongue in front of its adorable muzzle, and the tail wagging.

'Walking trouble.'

He said in tired voice, sounding more like a complain than a greeting.

"Effie?"

She widened her eyes at him.

"Saint Athena for you. Effie for friends only. Just because Cassie told you that, you can't just call me that."

Another friend that doesn't remember him. He has come to some terms with that, but the truth hurt him nonetheless. For a moment he wanted just to run away, and hide somewhere from that nightmare. Fortunately after so long time he was able to fight that frustration back.

"Sorry. It's a habit of mine. You should watch him better."

"I deeply apologize, Master Dof… *cough* *cough* Master Sunless. He probably just likes to play with you. Did he hurt you?"

Sunny showed his hand looking at it with curiosity. There was no wound. How could a puppy, even Transcended Beast puppy hurt him? It couldn't.

"No, my hand is fine. Don't worry about that. What can I do for you?"

"Right… I want to enchant a bed for the child of mine. I heard that you can help me."

Enchanted furniture… Sunny felt like it's something he wants to try himself. The Spell offered many weapons, armors, tools, but all of them were made rather to assist Awakened in survival in the Dream Realm or fighting the Nightmare Creatures. Spell was almost stripped from anything else. Even if the Memory was like Silver Bell or Ordinary Rock. He would like to see something that could exist for comfort. Unfortunately…

"Enchant a bed? I'm not sure I know any enchantments meant particularly for furniture. I can make it sturdier, if that's what you want. Not much anything else."

"Really? You don't have to do that much. My husband constructed a bed. Just please, take it to Saint Cassia. She will do the job herself. I heard that you can do it."

"I will take care of that. He's inside, right? In your locket on your neck."

He pointed at her neck.

"Yes… My husband is currently resting from taking care of Ling. It's not easy for him."

"He's named 'Ling'? You… know… like 'Dumpling'?"

Effie reddened like a tomato.

"O… o… of course not! Who names a kid after food?"

"Maybe you?"

Sunny was happy to grant some payback for being 'Captain Doofus'. The best thing was he didn't have to do anything. Her naming taste came all from her. To his amusement.

"Back at the Forgotten Shore there was a cool guy called 'Ling'. That's the sole source of my inspiration!"

"Suuure… I am totally convinced that's true. By the way, I have a question. If the father is sleeping, and Saints, like your beloved son, have very low need to sleep, who's taking care of Ling now? Not anything. I'm just worried about who has to keep up with him."

She regained her composure, and said with open pride.

"It's me."

He widened his eyes. He didn't see it yet, did he? There's no human child here. Just him, Aiko, Effie, and the puppy.

"But I don't see him being around."

"I assure you he's being around. Actually he's right here, behind you."

A cold, ice cream cold, shiver ran down the spine.

*woof* *woof*

He saw the puppy that just spotted Aiko who came to see the customer. It took the momentum, and run into Aiko, throwing her into the ground. Just like that his assistant was overwhelmed by the puppy, and showered with licks.

"Hey. Stop. Please. Stop licking me…"

"LING, HOW MANY TIMES I TOLD YOU TO NOT JUMP ON PEOPLE? BAD LING, BAD LING!"

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Author's note. I need to thank chabri2000 for the inspiration I took for this chapter. It came from one of his 'Sunphis comics'.