5 Discussion and Influence

"I am just a spirit, but I was once named Arlow," Arlow answered with a nostalgic tone.

"Great Spirit Arlow, what... are you?" Slagar asked.

"I- am not sure anymore," Arlow responded with an unsure tone.

Slagar licked his dry lips and fell into thought. The being in front of him was beyond his understanding in many aspects, perhaps it's not as important as to where he came from, but more about what he wants. Slagar and Arlow fell into a round of silence as both of them fell into their own thoughts.

"I have been watching your race for a long time," Arlow said, breaking the silence.

"Why?" Slagar asked.

"It's been a long time since I last spoke with someone. I wanted some company." Arlow said.

"That's it? You want company?" Slagar said, confused.

"Well, that's it. I don't need anything from you." Arlow answered truthfully.

Little did Arlow know, that his ability to tell if someone was lying to him, had grown during all this time. He now radiated this ability temporarily granting those who were near him the same ability, while also providing a connection between the two of them. The connection would allow the connected to 'read' the history of Arlow since the formation of the Immaterium. The result was that dialog and trust were built within a few minutes which would be the equivalent of 'knowing a friend for many months'.

Slagar and Arlow continued the discussion of many topics. Arlow asked a lot about Slagar's time in Old One society, what it was like for him as a hatchling, and finally his dreams. Slagar was forthright about nearly everything. The combination of his near-death experience and Arlow's natural influence caused him to have a deep feeling of intimacy with him. Eventually, they got up from their sand thrones and walked while talking. The sands of the silver desert were calm enough with Arlow nearby.

The conversation continued on for what would be days or even a full week, without Slagar even noticing the passing of time. In fact, the longer he spent talking with Arlow the stronger and healthier his body was growing. Arlow was feeding his body with nutrients he pulled from the Materium, sustaining him while they enjoyed talking.

They came before a section of the silver desert that was different from the rest. The strands of energy here were bronze-red in color, while the silver sands also reflected this in appearance. There were 5 star-like bronze gems floating in the Immaterium above the sands, with the beginnings of a 6th one next to it. The gems each had an outline of an Old One surrounding it like a phantom, with the bronze gem-like light floating where their hearts would be.

The area around these gems seemed to be slowly spreading the color bronze, while the silver sands would be pushing back against the change. It was like a war was taking place between which color should be in this area.

"What is this?" Slagar asked curiously.

Of course, he was curious, there were silhouettes of members of his race here. Though he already had a guess of the answer in his heart.

"This? These are the psychic titles condensed by the Honored Ones on your Great Counsel." Arlow explained while motioning to them.

Slagar stared silently at the bright flickering stars and then again at the creeping and waring colors represented in the silver sands underneath them.

"Are you curious about what is happening?" Arlow asked, watching Slagar's body language.

"A bit. Please enlighten me, Great Spirit." Slagar grinned sheepishly.

"Hmm," Arlow said while performing a divination art in his mind about the consequences of explaining this to Slagar.

The divination art was not all-powerful, it is best understood as a prediction mechanism in which end results are determined based on the probability of occurrence. Each time someone wants to read the future, he will get thousands if not millions of possible futures at once. For most people, this art is completely useless unless much practice is done to sort out the results.

Arlow finished his divination and decided he would tell Slagar the answer, despite its future implications. He quite enjoyed his conversation with him.

"This is the psychic influence of the Honored Ones manifesting in the Immaterium," Arlow explained.

"Psychic influence? Is it a kind of ownership of a section of the Immaterium?" Slagar asked, excited.

*Chuckle* "Not quite. The Immaterium is shaped by the thoughts of intelligent beings that are a part of the Materium. The souls of sentient beings will influence and change the Immaterium just as the Immaterium can influence and change the Materium." Arlow explained patiently.

"But, why does it look like the silver influence is eating away at the bronze?" Slagar asked innocently.

But then it hit him and he realized the answer. The silver influence was most likely the Great Spirit's influence and the bronze... was his own Great Counsel members. He looked down at his chest and looked at the bronze-colored dim light near his heart. He also had a bronze color around his soul. But... what did it mean?

Slagar looked at Arlow in confusion, but Arlow was one step ahead of him as if he already knew the questions he had in his heart.

"Yes, my influence is suppressing and eroding the influence of your Honored Ones," Arlow said.

"But why?" Slagar asked.

"That... is not an answer you need to know," Arlow stated with a reassuring tone.

"Just know that with me doing this, I am not harming you or your race." Arlow continued.

Slagar couldn't know that Arlow's reasons for suppressing the influence of the Old Ones were actually for their own good. An immature race could end up creating strange or malevolent beings in the Immaterium just from continued worship or thoughts. Arlow's silver influence has an attribute of purity and truth mixed into it. His being here purifies the Immaterium from chaotic thoughts that could pollute it, even if suppressing the Old Ones weakens them.

Arlow turned back from the Honored One title stars that floated in the Immaterium while pulling the still-confused Slagar along with him. He then changed the topic to an important decision he had come to.

"Slagar, I have enjoyed my time talking with you. I want to ask if you would like to study under me." Arlow asked with seriousness.

"Study? Like an apprentice! *Hiss*" Slagar asked, letting out a hiss in excitement.

"*Chuckle* Yes, I want to guide your race and pass on my learnings about the Immaterium. I made my decision with you, would you like this?" Arlow reaffirmed his offer.

"Yes! *Hiss* *Hiss*" Slagar affirmed, once again letting out hisses in excitement.

"Fantastic. Then come with me. I have much to teach you." Arlow said, amusement in his voice.