3 Chapter 2: Visiting one's thoughts (part 1)

The boy has been training with his master for awhile now, and years have passed. Through his training, the boy has awakened his "inner mind", so to speak. It is a place within oneself where you can visually see your thoughts. Most people cannot enter their inner palace, but it is one of his masters gifts to him. His master has explained to him that this place is the instantiation of his belief that "bias blocks the ability to increase power, but also is what manifests it in this world". Ironically, this is his masters bias, but it has created the "mind palace" ability as well.

In this inner palace, one can view their biases as floating, speaking entities. When the boy opened his inner eye, he saw the floating specters with their blurry shapes.

"Hello, owner."

A voice suddenly appeared in his mind while witnessing his inner palace. Looking around, a bright floating light appeared before him. it was very soft and pretty in appearance, and yet it felt harsh, as if it would illuminate all of his faults. "Who, who are you?"

The little light sighed with disappointment. "Figures you wouldn't recognize me. It's not like you've ever cared to listen to me before"

The little light sounded hurt and angry, with a deep-seated resentment audible from its disembodied voice, a voice that seemed to echo in the space rather than come from the light.

"I am your conscience. I've been with you ever since you could make decisions".

"My, my conscience? Why do you seem... to be separate from me? Wouldn't my conscience be a part of myself"

"Where do you think you are, kid?" the light said with a bit of exasperation.

The boys cheeks flushed a bit, remembering he was still within his mind's palace. Still, it felt a bit disconcerting to have a conscience he seemed to have no control over.

"If you are a part of me, why ... do you feel so separate from me? Like I can't seem to control you at all?"

The boys cheeks flushed a deeper red at such a presumptuous statement, but asked anyway since this was supposed to be his own brain.

"Hmmm, at least you are speaking to me now..." The voice said more to itself. Directing its words towards the boy now, "well, your consciousness isn't determined by your own thoughts, per say, but more like by your beliefs. Also, since I am only a part of you, I can't tell you for sure if there is *something greater* that forms me, since I only know what you know or have heard. Even I am a bit of a mystery to myself. I can at least say you can't affect me without also affecting your beliefs in a substantial way."

the boy stared at the light, hearing the words echo in his mind. He felt confused, but also weirdly like he completely understood. he *felt* the words it said to be true, as if it echoed his unconscious thoughts. This feeling was incredibly uncomfortable though.