"Is creating this atmosphere warranted?", ASPECT asked Norris.
"Well, Mages sometimes could be too smart for their own good", Norris replied looking into empty space.
"Creating this atmosphere easily disoriented them. Made them listen without overthinking. If not this simple problem would have become complex due to trust issues, wasting time".
Norris turned his skull to look at ASPECT.
"Now we have enough time. Can you tell me how I survived? I had to give the mages below a reassurance that I didn't die in my experiments", his expression serene.
ASPECT happily came to narrate everything that happened. "Following the unforeseen attack that resulted in loss of consciousness, an entity from the Death Realm intervened, eliminating the unknown assailant—a creature of Chaos. Unfortunately or fortunately we don't have any information of the assailant.
As a consequence and reward, you have been granted essential energies from the Death Realm.
Through my connection to you, I successfully siphoned a portion of the energy that enabled your survival. This acquisition is expected to yield significant benefits. Based on the mage classification system, it appears that I may embody a novel category of undead entity, distinguished by unique characteristics.
However, your lifespan has been depleted. Given that vitality is a form of energy, it is proposed that the Death Realm's essential energy could be utilized to compensate for the loss. Three potential methods to achieve this have been identified. You..."
"It's ok. Thank you ASPECT", Norris waved of ASPECT rambling. With the way ASPECT acted during his little ordeal, one would think he was quiet and rational.
Norris looked at ASPECT going around scanning, Identifying everything around with curiosity, came to a conclusion, "well I guess that's just survival mode on. This is what ASPECTS should be like, a child".
"Well, this experience brought mostly benefits except from maybe a scar in my mentality and 40 years of my life. I guess I benefited. I'm a sixty year old man. Have about 140 years to live", Norris said rather sarcastically.
Norris tried changing to human form to relax.
"Well I guess there is more. I can't become human anymore. The essential energy making me stuck", Not seeing any changes Norris rambles on.
"But to be honest, it feels good to be alive". Norris felt even his undead form was good too. At least he was alive.
Norris decided to take a one day break. He should relax and observe.
Norris went through the twilight forest. He observed the mindless hordes of lesser undead and their shepherds.
He also took time to see the unique products of the death realm. It's not everyday you see plants exhibiting death attribute. He picked them up and kept them in his storage bag.
As he walked leisurely, enjoying the view, his undead senses on high alert. Suddenly, he felt a shift in the air, like the whisper of a thousand ticking clocks. The trees around him seemed to straighten, their edges sharpening into perfect lines.
As he turned a corner, Norris stepped into a realm of crystalline order. The air was filled with geometric patterns, each shape fitting seamlessly into the next. In the center stood the Aeon, its presence radiating an aura of absolute structure.
Norris felt the rules of this space imposing themselves upon him. Every step, every gesture, was governed by the Aeon's laws. He raised a hand, and the Aeon's rules dictated the precise trajectory and speed of the movement.
The Aeon regarded Norris with an unblinking gaze. "You have entered my domain," it said, its voice like the chime of a clock.
Norris looked at the Aeon. Then he looked at the sky and raised a skeletal middle finger to whoever is making him pass through this ordeal. "An author, A God, the Echo, whoever you are? Take my middle finger".
Looking at the Aeon, Norris noticed that it was just as strong as an adept, a level before him. With overwhelming mana release, Norris could easily break the restrictions.
But Norris didn't do that. He just followed the rules. Each step taken must be exactly the same length. So he chose a length he was comfortable with and walked. Each arm swing must be the same. He did that easily.
He tried breaking the rule and he was immediately restricted and was made by the rules to face a wall in isolation. "Time out for me", Norris chuckled.
He cast a spell feather floating (1st tier). And he felt very light.
"Magic works on chaos and order. Oh so what is the nature of magic? I guess have a lifetime to figure that out. Now what should I do with this Aeon?", Norris tapped his skull.
Norris was planning on what to do with this Aeon. His musing was interrupted by the Aeon, "Now that you have received your punishments, don't break the rules."
Norris was surprised. Aeons are manifestation of extreme order. Breaking their rules and not getting a dead sentence was very rare. The dead however would be reborn as a new Aeon.
"So what are your core rules.", the Aeon was confused. In its determined order there was no interaction between it and whoever ventures into his domain.
Norris looked at it and shook his head. Aeons are not as difficult to deal with at the lower stages compared to chaos creatures.
Using loopholes to deal with them was easy for mages. They are not machines. Instead a weird kind of ...living code??. Norris doesn't really know what to call them.
Norris smirked. "Your core rule? Don't drink water.. " He snapped his fingers, summoning ASPECT. "lets parse the rules and see what we can use against it."
ASPECT buzzed. "Ah! Penalties require verbal agreement. You never consented."
"Flawless oversight," Norris said, turning to the Aeon. "Let's renegotiate. Add Rule 0: Learn from intruders. Start with me."
The Aeon's rigid form flickered. "Define… learn."
Norris transformed his feather spell into a geometric origami crane. "Order with creativity. Next lesson: knitting."
The domain shuddered—then stabilized. "Rule 0… Accepted."
ASPECT chirped, "Aeon's energy now has a 0.3% personality variance!"
Norris grinned, plucking a death-realm flower for the Aeon's crystalline "ear." Taming order with loopholes? Perfect.