A basket full of golden eggs

....

"Before we begin, do you know what od is?"

Leaning back, I ran mana through my brain to improve my memory and remember reading its definition.

"It's pretty much the life energy that lies dormant inside of every living being."

Giving a cocky grin, she leaned forward and pointing at my chest. "You're right but also wrong." And with her finger hitting my heart, she stared into my eyes.

"This energy isn't dormant at all. As you go day by day, your od is subconsciously burning to keep you alive."

"So you are technically 'using' it already, just not in a conscious way that is. And personally, I have no idea how to consciously control it either."

She then let out a sigh before hugging her chest before pouting. "Being dead has made my theories impossible to test out for myself."

"Get to the point."

"Alright fine, telling you with words would be a pain so lean your head towards me." Echidna said while licking her hand.

Seeing this, I proceeded to stare directly into her eyes. "How is the authority of Gluttony going to help anything? Messing with my memories is something you don't want to do."

Frowning she just waved me towards herself. "I don't know how you came to that conclusion, but who's to say I can't 'share food'."

Frowning, I looked at her and started to hesitate. Knowing her personality, she would definitely try and take the upper hand... but then again, I bet she's dying to 'know' about me.

Not everyone can tell when an authority is activating with just a glance. And besides, her eyes are currently looking at me as if I'm the most interesting specimen around.

And with my mana reinforcement, I can always tell when a memory space is blank so I'd catch her immediately.

Closing my eyes, I leaned forward and felt her hand softly caress the side of my face. And with her caress came an excess of knowledge and theories on the workings of od.

But there was one thing that bothered me.... this information was too much. A lot of stuff I have is information unrelated to the conversation.

There is even information on mana control and some small theories related to immortality. She has literally sent me everything.

Looking up with caution, I saw her with a content smile. This isn't like her....

"Why? This isn't something 'I' would do."

Snapping her fingers to refill our cups once again, she just took a sip in silence before looking at me with a very blank expression.

"Because I'm dead of course. And I believe that someone like me will be able to test 'all' of my ideas regardless of morality."

"Plus it would be a shame to let all of my knowledge die out wouldn't it? Especially when someone like yourself can build upon it."

She then let out a sad smile and looked down towards her feet. "Who knows... maybe you could even 'complete' what I failed to do."

Tsk, her question is going to be a pain in my ass. She's speaking half truths to make me feel pity towards her before she absolutely clowns me.

Sighing, I looked down at the cup bellow the table and once again drank all its contents. To be totally honest, I have no issues with drinking this stuff. In the end, it's only making my witch factor stronger.

"Go ahead and get to your question Echidna."

Letting out an annoyed expression, she soon calmed it down before letting out a deep sigh and muttered. "I'm dead you bastard, at least let me have some type of fun. It's been four hundred years!"

Letting out a chuckle, I then froze and grabbed at my chest. Feeling it I looked towards her with a sly grin.

"It seems my time is up Echidna."

"I can see that." She said as she started to lick her hand. "I guess you can choose between counting yourself unlucky or lucky. I was just about to ask you something interesting about 'someone' I know."

She then got up from the table and walked towards me before leaning down in front of me. And with her black eyes staring directly into my own, she let out a soft smile.

"I'll give you the rights to take the trials. But it's only because I'm 'extremely' interested in just what secrets your little mind holds Suburu."

I looked directly into her eyes and let out a chuckle. "Oh you wouldn't want to see what I have stored up there. Your mind wouldn't be able to handle the 'truths' that you would learn.

After all, If where to learn that my life consists of nothing but a novel..... Wait a seconds....no that's stupid. If I were to learn that my life was written by a higher being, I would become 'unstable' to say the least.

I'd probably just kill to the kill. After all, nothing would matter at that point. My life would consist of nothing but just being a form of entertainment.

Letting out a chuckle of her own, she leaned forward and gave me a kiss of the lips. However, there was absolutely no feelings behind it.

All I could feel from it was a silent 'goodbye'. And with that soft feeling still upon my lips, I felt myself blank out again.

...

Waking up, I found myself in a very familiar place. Yup... I found myself under the sheets of a bed. And with my eyes now open, I looked around the room and noticed that it was dark outside through the window.

And if it's this dark outside, Emilia should have either failed or just begun her trails. Sighing, I sat myself up and stretched to pop the joints that went stiff from my soul leaving it.

But as I felt my back pop, I looked to my right and noticed a sleeping Beatrice. This girl really does have a soft heart on her doesn't she?

And looking to my left, I noticed Rem also sleeping peacefully. Shouldn't she be watching Emilia's trials with her sister?

And what's with this situation? This feels like some cheesy cliche for a harem. After all, I doubt many people wake up with two girls best to them.

Sighing to clear my thoughts, I got into a meditative position and began focus mana through my memory banks. Doing so allowed me to smile almost madly as I saw the sheer amount of knowledge Echidna had becoming my own.

But this isn't the greatest thing, she also gave me her 'experiences'. And since her experiences also include authorities, I should be able to use them just fine.

focusing on the witch factor inside my body, I drew out the authority of Sloth from it. Unfortunately to my displeasure, it seems that my limit is 10 arms.

As the original wasn't quiet as proficient as I am now with Echidna's knowledge, He wasn't able to fully bring out and control all his 'hands'. So while he started at one, I will start at 10 which is my 'current' limit.

But my excitement doesn't end there, I still have a ton of knowledge to go over. All I need now is time and I'll be plenty prepared for the events of arc 5. And I'll be able to handle almost everything after that.

But if I ever have the chance of meeting an undesired variable, I'll be sure to have a counter for them ready. Plus it doesn't end there.....

Pulling out the book I had stored away inside my pocket, I looked at the gospel inside my hands and let out a chuckle and whispered.

"I can make and also destroy these things."

.....