Fire Mage (Web Novel)

Chapter 100: New Consciousness

'It's not a simple thing, lad. Before I tell you about how to separate a consciousness, I will ask you a question.' The Holem's Crown deliberated for a moment and asked.

'Do you know how one's consciousness is formed?'

'No.' Charles instantly shook his head. He searched about the mysterious 'consciousness' on the internet even in his past life, but he knew that those pieces of information were just imaginary nonsense of some random spiritualist.

'Haa, I will tell you in detail, so listen carefully. Let's take a newborn male baby as an example. After his birth, his mind will be wholly filled with emptiness. Although he could express his basic emotions, he wouldn't remember anything and only observe the surroundings curiously. Later, he will gather information in the name of memories, and these memories sooner form into memory fragments.'

'Those memory fragments started to gain more knowledge and experiences through seeing, hearing, smelling, and sensing and soon mature into a basic consciousness form. That's how the babies will be aware of their own selves. Now, if you want to split a part of your consciousness, you need to replicate most of those memories through your inner world's power and create artificial consciousness. That's how you separate a part of your own consciousness.'

A look of realization appeared on Charles's face.

'That explains everything.' He nodded his head in enlightenment and soon sat on the bed in a cross-legged position before closing his eyes.

A second later, his consciousness traveled through the dark space and soon appeared in the Inner world. In his illusionary young form, Charles opened his eyes and soon looked around the gloomy dark forest filled with his past life memories.

First, he went near an illusionary memory and soon got confused about how to copy this memory.

'Wait… I'm a God in this Inner world, right? Hmm, I want to try something interesting.' He curled his lips upward as he zeroed his gaze on the first memory of his killing and clapped his hand. At that moment, another illusionary replica of that memory appeared on his right side!

"Shrink." He spoke coldly.

In a second, the whole memory illusion shrunk into a small pebble-like red stone and then landed on his illusionary palm!

'It worked.' A smile crept on his face.

'Now, I have to replicate the most important memories and then combine them to form a consciousness.' He nodded his head and started to work. Whenever he thinks of a specific memory, it would appear in front of him in the form of illusion. Then, he would replicate them and turn the replicated memory into a pebble-like red stone.

Like an almighty God, his illusionary form hovered in mid-air and started doing this process at a fast speed. He explored all his childhood memories, training memories, assassination memories, and so on and started picking up the important memories.

More than 60 years' worth of memories were scattered everywhere in the form of illusions in his inner world. Among those memories, Charles only chose the basic and important ones and assembled them into a single fragment.

Once he was done, he concentrated his attention on it and started to weave it into the form of a human shape.

More than five hours had passed as he completely focused his attention on weaving the memories and soon smiled as he saw that memory fragment turned into a clone image of his illusionary self.

'This is the final touch.' He muttered to himself and soon put another memory about his first memory of the killing.

As he completely weaved the final memory into the clone form, a change occurred in it.

Those memories started to fuse completely, and soon the clone image of him opened his illusionary jade eyes.

"Who are you?" Charles asked with a grin.

Confusion appeared on the clone's face and soon widened its jade eyes.

"Incarnation?" The clone 'Him' titled his head in puzzlement and soon started to grasp the situation. But Charles knew that he needed more time to turn this consciousness form into a mature one entirely, so he simply shook his head.

"Stay in the inner world and gather more information from my memories. Although you can't absorb those memories without my permission, you can see them for yourself." After saying those words, Charles pulled his consciousness from the inner world with the 'Flame Body' spell's guidance and soon opened his eyes.

'Good. Next is about my disguise.' He thought for a moment as he opened the game interface and poured 1898 Exp points into the Sub-Class option.

[759 Exp has been deduced for leveling up!]

[You are now a Level-2 Disguiser!]

[1 Free Attribute point Rewarded!]

[20 Skill points Rewarded!]

…

[1139 Exp has been deduced for leveling up!]

[You are now a Level-3 Disguiser!]

[1 Free Attribute point Rewarded!]

[20 Skill points Rewarded!]

…

'Hmm, I now have 100 free skill points.' He thought to himself and checked his body status.

'Oh? Did my [Disguise] skill increase on its own? Hmm, it must be due to my current disguising.' He nodded thoughtfully and soon put 22 skill points on the [Disguise] skill.

'The skill hasn't reached the peak level. Looks like 100 skill points is the peak level for skills.' Charles instantly noticed the difference and soon put another 20 skill points on the skill.

[Disguise skill has reached its peak state!]

A moment later, a change occurred in his body.

'What is this? I can even control the strength of my body?' Charles muttered to himself in shock and soon widened his eyes.

At that moment, the Holem's Crown also noticed the change and spoke in a confused tone.

"Why do I feel like you really turned into an old man?"

"Did you feel any difference?" Charles raised his head, stared at the black cane, and asked with an interesting smile on his face.

"No. Wait… Kid, did it have something to do with the [Trickster] series class's skill? Now, that explains a lot." The Holem's Crown spoke in an understanding tone.

On the other hand, Charles simply shook his head and soon fell into deep thoughts.

'From my understanding, I can tell that my sub-class skills are improving on their own. Currently, I have 58 free skill points. If I level up my sub-class twice, I will also receive another 40 skill points. But that won't be enough to increase other unique skills.' He paused for a moment and soon turned his attention to the unique skill tab.

'Conceal, Inspect, Intermediate dagger arts, Inspect, Sharpshooting. Among these unique skills, only [Inspect] skill is helping me these days. Although [Sharpshooting] skill is helpful during assassinations, I don't think I need to waste my skill points on this skill. As for the conceal skill, I will think about it.' He nodded his head, and soon spent those two attribute points on 'Strength' and 'Constitution.'

He then thought for a moment and closed the game interface.

After that, he took out the pocket watch from his space ring, opened the outer case, and checked the time.

'It's 12.30 A.M. Can I go out and check the informer? If I'm not wrong, he is living four streets away from this Maple Street, right?' Charles raised his eyebrows and soon shook his head.

'Aurora knew very little about that guy's personal strength. But he knew about Rhea's background and even blackmailed Aurora with that information. To silence him, Aurora and the Blood Priest paid more than 200 gold coins. Hmm, this type of guy is not someone I should take lightly. He might be a wolf hiding in sheep's skin.'

After thinking for a moment, he placed his head on the cotton pillow and closed his eyes to sleep.