Then a voice similar to Astra but more robotic spoke to Wein. From the atmosphere and display, Wein could tell it was a onetime thing and highly sensitive.
"House Voss's Accretion method is based on three Core principles. Resonance with Bloodline, Pressure Induction, and Synthesis. Most accretion manuals rely on pure emotional manipulation and physical force; movement. But House Voss's method is a harmonization of your surroundings' effect on you and yours on it."
The glowing lines bent into complex patterns to illustrate the principles.
"Resonance with Bloodline refers to the connection between your personal Divine Core and the accumulated power of your ancestors within it. Through ritual synchronization, a noble increases their divine strength by gaining a portion of House Voss's ancestors."
Wein's jaw tightened. Ancestors. He had none here, not in this House. He said nothing and continued to listen intently.
The hologram showed a vast lineage tree, with roots burrowing deep. Each branch illuminated as it connected to parent and parent up to the top. Other images showed how this worked, when a noble used the manual, they get connected to ancestors where they gain portion of the strength in the rituals each time.
"Note," the voice continued without emotion, "This applies to blood relation."
The tree dimmed.
"The second principle Pressure Induction focuses on reaction and asserting force equal to the surrounding. The noble must be in a state of being where the force he gives out is nearly equal to the one applied."
Images flickered, showing a figure now standing upon water, momentarily suspended before sinking. He managed to keep afloat but eventually sank.
"Finally is Synthesis. The nobles construct an internal dominion, a mental world where bloodline inheritance and pressure converge. This world becomes the blueprint of their Authority."
A soft melodic hum resonated through the room. Then the interface shifted, displaying an image of a sword, symbolic and shining with a mysterious light.
"The Sword of Voss, also known as The Falling Leaves, is the embodiment of House Voss's authority. To wield this technique is to bend the will of the world around you, directing the divine strength through controlled elegant motions. The sword is both an expression of noble power but also mental strength. This technique is only mastered once you can create a world only through the sword, not mentally."
The hologram showed a noble wielding a translucent, ethereal blade. With a single motion, the sword cut through the air leaving behind trails of light that shaped falling leaves.
"Rain Drop is a slightly less advanced form of The Falling Leaves, combining fluidity with precision. It is named for its ability to strike with pinpoint precision and speed. Like the main technique it bends the will of the world but does not have the features tied to nobles. Rather it is used mainly by knights of house Voss."
The sword then shifted to a fluid form, its blade now resembling a striking shot on a water droplet, fast and precise.
"To harness these techniques, you must remember this information."
The hologram began to show the sequences of the Accretion and the sword movements taken for hours while Wein remained glued. There were sword strikes, rhythm breathing and visualizations to assist until the hologram went blank.
It was over. Wein gazed as Astra's normal functions returned and the atmosphere was back.
His fingers tingled, the memories of what he had witnessed were raging in his mind but he stopped it. He could see the path he would be following, but it was not the one the manual intended.
Wein remained kneeling long after the hologram faded. The lineage tree had shown him its roots, its branches, and its accumulated history. There was kinship with each one, yet even with their Divine Core, he was not one of them.
He took a deep breath and focused, entering his mind and recalled the steps in the manual. He drew out the latent powers of the Divine Core and from them he could feel the tree, Voss's history tree. All that was left was to connect to it, it was fuzzy in the mist of his mind.
As he tried to connect to it, he was forced to pause. Then he withdrew.
Rejected.
The power was there, close enough to touch. The connection to the ancestors of House Voss could be felt as if it was his. But as if a wall was placed around him, he was unable to fully grasp it.
He was not one of them. He, Wein Serin, was a nobody. Once a poor commoner living day to day, with no prospects for his future. His own ancestors were nothing special. His bloodline of no significance.
For a long moment, relief fell over him like a waterfall. He became calm again and calculation began to emerge.
"Resonance requires ancestry," he murmured into the dark room, "bloodlines and connections. If I don't have that then I need to become the root, the start."
He returned to his mind still filled with mist and darkness. The tree of House Voss was still there, still unapproachable. In a bold move he cast it off sending it furthest away from him and returned to concentration.
First principle, connection to the ancestral Divine Core. He had none. So, he would have to be one. The anchor, the beginning.
He would start off as the seed.
Second principle, equal reaction to exertion. He tried his best to calm himself. His mind, body, muscles and blood. Slowing like a drift into still water.
Third principle, internal dominion. A mental world where the first two principles converged. In his mediative posture, Wein felt his body projection change. It shrank, folding upon itself and vanished into something small and unseeable. A seed, planted deep beneath the mist floor.
The seed rested atop the mist. Small, unseen, and alone. For several breaths, nothing happened, just stillness.
Then the pressure came. It came from everywhere at once, a cold, crushing worldly weight pressed through Wein causing his breathing to falter for a moment. His breath caught, then went still.
His Divine Core stuttered, a raw pain jolted him to realize the Core was not strong enough and would break. His eyes dilated with that realisation that he would break before succeeding. The mist below and around began to tremble.
The best way was to not fight the pressure, let it behave as it always had. Accepting this, Wein slowed his thoughts down and began breathing slowly. The pressure settled within him like a dam finally releasing its pent-up water.
The seed continued to move lower and lower to a firm foundation. Wein felt the ache in his body sharpen, amplified by the sting in his core. Despite that he held on, forcing himself to be calm.
During this he reached a subtle equilibrium and the seed was settled deep below the mist, like it was nestled in soil and his Divine Core stabilized.
After the seed settled, Wein opened his eyes to see his body fail and tumble and blood dripping from his nose. The room went fuzzy and he was knocked out cold.
***
After some time Astra reactivated, her usual soft glow returned but her internal diagnostics were not calm.
"Warning, heart rate elevated…Internal injury detected, alerting personnel."
Wein lay motionless when guards busted inside the room and saw him in a puddle of his blood. They were instantly alerted and went into overwatch, being extra cautious. They carried him out to the medical bay.
When hours had passed and it was now morning Wein finally opened his eyes, the room was not his own. He pushed himself upright, ignoring the sharp ache in his chest.
He remembered the past night and what he had done. He returned to his internal world, for the first time he felt a connection he had never felt, it was drawing him closer, small, and fragile but undeniably there.
The seed he had planted was there. He could feel it, only needing to grow into a tree with his divine ability. He exhaled loudly in gratefulness.
"I see"
With that Astra's voice returned, calm as ever.
"You were found passed out last night my lord. I had the servants bring you to medical quarters, it looks like your internal injuries were not too dangerous."
"Thank you Astra."
"Might I advise postponing the meeting today."
"I cannot unfortunately" he replied forcing himself off the bed. "This has been a long time coming. It is time to step into the role of baron."
"As you wish my lord."
She then turned off, leaving Wein alone in the room with his thoughts and the hums and beeps of the machines.
He forced himself on his feet and began walking to the window. Yes, the steps were painful. But each one came easier than the last. The most important thing was that there sat something steady beneath the ache.
Something that felt like a firm foundation he had never experienced before. He grinned and let himself feel it.
The memory of the holographic sword forms replayed in his mind. The Falling Leaves, practiced by House Voss's descendants. And Rain Drop, practiced by their knights. Just picturing them quickened his pulse.
Everyone in the galaxy from commoner to nobles knew fully what sword forms were. They were the closest things to cement mortals into the realm of nobles, they were a sign of knights and knights meant you were more than human.
He recalled the times he would read about the forms when he was just a commoner, he never thought he would come across them in his lifetime much less learn from them. These things were so rare. Some nobles did not have access to them.
Imagine the tools that are instrumental in turning a mortal body into one so close to a noble in ability and potential.
Wein wanted, more than anything, to try the forms. Just once. But there was no time for it. He was already injured and had an important meeting to attend soon. He cursed his weak body and let it go.