Date: Mörsugur 15th, 999. (Alt: 28th Dec, 999 AD.) Location: Götaland (Ancient Sweden.)
This process took multiple hours throughout the night, involving the transportation of personal belongings, depending on the nests per family and other miscellaneous items.
The number of deer was staggering, though not the amount that was originally introduced into the artificial forest. More than likely, a few had died due to such illnesses or were isolated in the forest through voluntary or inexplicable reasons. A potentially long process.
'First, to find them. Birds, lizards and small mammals would be the only creatures that could pick at their flesh or carry small bones away from them, their corpses should be near-intact. Second, I will do a preliminary scan throughout the entire area where they could be sheltered. Third, I would see if any other pre-sapient creatures could have close or equal intelligence to the deer. After all of this, I must inform Gorm of these sudden changes and to check whether it also similarly affects humans.' Heath's expression was grave, serious.
His mental jotting could be felt through his intent surrounding him. These deer are much more sensitive due to how they used to live in their environment. The closest to Heath had their heads sideways to look directly at him, and their body language showed confusion.
They wondered why the man's whole demeanour appeared solemn and calculating. They may not know of his expressions, but they could understand him well enough due to being able to read his aura like a book. They thought they were good, accommodating hosts in their home, one of them responded with a questioning nudge, which caused Heath to respond back that it was not them, and that he was planning ahead of time on how to help them further, keeping himself vague as it was not a definitive process.
A few more minutes pass before Heath travels back to the original deer's compound, then he breaks down the dirt walls and uses it to fill in the moat and flatten the terrain. He regrasses the entire area to make it appear untouched by any intelligent hands. It now looks as it was.
Then he scans the surroundings for deer corpses. There, by the south of the original compound, he finds a large cemetery-like structure where many of them were half-covered or placed in graves. The finished dirt mounds show proper practices. He found a few others strewn about in a way that did not match those that were most-possibly ceremoniously buried, meaning it may have been caused by local scavengers like the magically enhanced hooded crows that were above in the tree canopy. About that, they were also pre-sapient.
And they did not seem friendly for the deer, while their pickings was mostly due to survival, there was also an air of superiority and mockery for their dead. More than likely meaning that these two species had a. . . Non-friendly relationship, to say the least.
And it makes sense, they took many of the same resources in the food chain and before their intelligence increased, crows used to pick on a growing antler's velvet that hung off during shedding seasons, which may be seen as distressing or an annoyance for them, leading to tensions. Heath simply viewed them from below. Then brought the deer corpses into a hidden area to later be used for possible resources or ressurection. 'It is the least I can do due to my rushing.' Heath also searched for any hooded crow corpses and did the same.
He could also use them to search for the reason of their death. He had chosen healthy individuals from their population, and unless some of them were asymptomatic carriers, it should not have spread so quickly. Heath then dropped off similar foods as talked before.
That showed that he was a face to memorize quite clearly, in his opinion. They clicked their beaks and sang their subsongs for him while he walked away. A full, positive affirmation and a thanks for the good food. '. . .Damn! This just reminded me of the flight test with the suits I was meant to do a few days ago. What sort of excuse could I give?' Heath was annoyed with himself as he was too distracted on other tasks to lead the example, literally the day after Leif and Sigrid arrived. *UGH.* Heath verbally showed his frustration with himself.
Now used to ripping tears in the fabric of space-time, he warps yet again towards Gorm's life signal. Gorm himself is used to it and does not react. "I have news!" Heath responds with an artificially chipper tone, hiding his emotions. Gorm catches onto it though, side-eyeing him.
He stayed quiet, though. Knowing what Heath may say is more important. "I have found that the deer and hooded crows I had placed in the forest have grown in mind and body, they are as intelligent as an average older child!" Heath's comment caused an eyebrow raise from Gorm, who understood the implications well enough that if it affected the animals that are 'wild'. . . What about their farm animals? Gorm puts it aside for now. "What is wrong, Heath? I can tell you are hiding yourself emotionally." His matter-of-fact tone breaks Heath's crux.
"Compared to most in my home realm, you are very straightforward. . ." Heath coughs harder than usual, an intensifying new habit formed from continuous embarrassments. He steadies himself to think of something, but he comes up with nothing, so all he can do is apologise.
"I have been too distracted and had too many plans to work individually for the flight suit's ceremony to be fully inaugurated. I am sorry, Gorm. What do you suggest?" Gorm frowned from seeing Heath shaming himself. He did not like a person who he has come to quickly understand and trust do something like this. "We understood you were busy. I had told the people you already had been overloaded with plans and had a tight schedule. They have seen more than enough times that your reliability is not to be questioned. There is time."
Gorm's dismissal of what Heath felt was an important event internally shook him, not many people would regard something like personal flight as something small. But when he put it to perspective with everything that he had shown? He realised it really wasn't that important.
'Had I been putting too much external emphasis? My power has not grown as quickly as I had hoped, I may have been putting too much focus on base development.' Heath would still finish the plans for the ceremony by tonight, but he feels there should be a shift to what should be done. He is nowhere near strong enough to fight against the greatest contenders this world had to offer, especially for the other religions stated. Nor does he know how their power of faith works. Heath was yet again very close to blue-screening.
*Knock knock* Like the first time he got lost in his mind, Gorm brought him back. "I could tell when we first understood you that you were not the type of man to overthink like this. While you may see parts of our future, is it really that bleak?" Gorm questioned tiredly.
No, it was truly not that bleak with Heath helping to stop the massacre that will occur in a few months. However, that does not mean he cannot worry about the way this world functions. It is too mysterious, and its power systems are unknown to him for any theories. He knows that even in Norse mythology, Þórr could lift Jörmungandr, who was transformed into a large cat, with one paw lifted off the ground. While that may not seem much, if we are to believe the snake's largest scale. . .[1]
As well, in the show's trailers, he was shown as a skilled combatant when serious with Sigrid, yet he did not show his true strength then. Heath simply could not know due to him leaving his home realm to join this one before seeing the show. Either way, he will not underestimate.
Heath simply smiled, and said he would find a way to finish it. Gorm was more concerned when Heath had this resoluteness around him. But he would choose not to stop him, understanding it as a matter of trust. Heath said a few last goodbyes before warping towards the farms, it was time for him to do some changes, after all. He went to the nearest caves, collected every metal that wouldn't have a shelf-life and turned them to pure bar forms. Then used the same intent as the (copper / iron ingot farm.) Renamed to the (elemental farm.)[2]
Called that as he also collected nonmetals and gases that are turned into bricks, with those that are more volatile or would dissipate being covered in a glass casing. In total, it is 50 stories of pure material synthesis. An industrial powerhouse that could be easily duplicated.
Such a farm, being magically self-sufficient, would be more than enough for all their physical needs for the next few years. And it could be expanded upwards by multiple times its own height. NOW, it was time for the absorption. He sat in the middle of the copper area of the farm, and began absorbing all of the replicated copper ingots for magical growth. He sat there for a few hours at this point, tens of thousands of pieces now transformed into an overflow that is then concentrated as his own power, where it soon turned to midday.
He was about 1050 / 1 of the way, and if one ratiod it from when how he had grown from the first day he arrived, it would have been a bit above 3096 / 1 of the way. A value that he thought impossible to achieve quickly when he first arrived. Now comes the hard part.
The slow process of soul distilling (patent pending.) He just had to do tasks that didn't involve expending it. 'WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING I DO.' Heath groaned in his mind. No warping and no self-flying, meaning the next best bet was the flight suit or hoverboard. From that thought process, he walked through the nearby portal that then led towards the north of the (forest farm) and now started jogging to reach the area where they recycled 100 / 400 hoverboards with extra materials into 300 stored, respectable flight suits.
300 first because he had wished to personally create 75 'unique' versions of the flight suit with better features that would be used as part of a special operatives team that may be for protection services or for higher-rank soon-to-be-created military personnel.
Yes. They will probably be creating a military. It was discussed through off-hand conversations about the runic injectors that were provided for a more efficient chain of command. With major changes to provisions of armour and supplies as well, and for more unique developments thought about through the newly made think tank. Heath looked down towards one of the flight suits, then turned to see Agnarr, Egill, Hervor and Valyria were nearby. The three were currently teaching her about time management skills.
Well, it was mostly Egill, but the other two were trying their best to join in. After a little while, during a pause in the middle of their conversation, Heath walked up to them. "Would you mind me borrowing a flight suit? I am currently conserving magic to grow in power."
"How does that work?" Valyria asked, confused on how not using something that was part of a living being could make it stronger. She had learnt about exercising, after all. And did not know how this sort of situation would apply. "Because it is like a stomach, I ate too much and I am letting it settle. Hopefully, my engorging would make it bigger." Heath's simple analogy was close enough to the mark. "Thanks, papa!" Valyria then appeared to note something down mentally and had a look on her face as if she was planning something. . . Surprising.
'Did I just give my kid the wrong idea?' Heath crumpled into himself, he knows that look anywhere. When a mad idea would drop into his head, he had been told he would do a very similar face to it. But he did not know what it could be, so he could only watch her intently.
"I hope your magic training goes well. Heath. And I can tell from you that you would know your daughter would go into shenanigans, as you would say. We will keep an eye on her." Egill comments with developed EQ. As he could read their expressions well enough to know something was going on between them. "Thanks, Egill. See you all soon. By the way, kid, I will soon come around and we could have some family bonding time. okay?" A bear hug and nod was given back, Heath then left to put on a flight suit, then flew off immediately.
"When do you think he would ever stop working? He never rests at any point. And he always appears stressed." Hervor asks both Agnarr and Egill. Who simply shrugs. "I will simply assume he is still burdened with the future potential battles against the Æsir." Agnarr stated.
"What battles?" Valyria asks, her eyes narrowing in a way that caused her already big irises to appear like her whole eyes were two onyx gems. "You need not worry. He has made this home to reduce such a risk. Ask again once you are more ready." Egill's comment, being a blunt infantilization, caused Valyria to huff and simply move on to be taught about the next applicable topic. But it was obvious she did not let the knowledge of her family being in danger slide. She was way too smart of a kid and didn't understand emotional regulation yet.
Well, Heath flew around doing odd jobs. Helping the villagers with their tasks by hand distracted him and made him feel useful, like the past few days. By the afternoon, he had another conversation with Gorm involving the Dökkálfar and pre-sapient deer.
"First round of business. Have you been able to collect their memories as I had shown you how to beforehand?" Heath saw Gorm nod and bring out the runic injectors. "That is good. Now, what do you suggest I do with the intelligent deer? I believe I may have a way to make them as intelligent as Mennskr." Heath dropped yet another bomb unimprompted, but Gorm stayed still, calm. More than likely expecting it. "Do as you like, as long as you are capable of making them allies." Gorm's weary, conditional approval was immediately accepted.
'Oh hell yeah.' Heath was so excited that he switched to internal congratulations in English, also doing a victory pose at the same time. 'HeHeHeHeHeHe. . .' Heath flew while giggling to himself, if one read his mind, they would think he was going through pseudobulbar affect.
He went to absorb some excess copper, yet again. Then went to the forest, where he saw that the deer had fully acclimated to the new area where they were placed. "Hello! Bring news. Come here for it! (I have returned with news, new friends. All who wish to hear can
come as necessary!)" Heath's voice riled the deer and many who had already spotted him to walk towards him, they appeared eager and fully recipient. "Can make. All smarter. Want it? (I have ways to increase your intelligence, do you wish for this procedure?)" All went silent.
Then the most rigorous head bobs Heath had seen started occuring, many were bleeting so loudly and at such a high pitch that it sounded like giant tea kettles that were finished with boiling their water. One in the background was even jumping in place, overly excited.
'I have never seen that done by deer in our world, should expect the unexpected though.' Heath tried to hide a well-meaning smirk and let their excitement die down before starting his next sentence. "If you want. Go in line. Front first. Last back. (For all that have agreed, do a single file line where those of priority go first. Those of least priority stay at the back.)" Heath's statement was met with every flipping deer swooshing in to go to the front. Heath even had to raise his voice a few times to stop them from storming into each other.
Once the line was done. Heath sat down as to be head-height with the deer. He reminded himself of the information required for these new changes. 'Slight alteration to skull size and spinal connection to reduce pressure to the back of the brain and space for parietal lobe,
enlargement of the nostrils without being entirely noticeable to allow for greater airflow and heat dispersal due to the brain's extra energy expenditure, increased neuronal density while following previous neurogenesis treatment for the people I had provided towards, a minor position change of the eyes and reduction of the jaw to allow for more frontal lobe and temporal lobe space, addition of cone varieties to the eyes for removal of colour blindness and lastly the alteration of the larynx to be human like for greater noise variety.
Am I missing anything?' Heath double-checked with himself, in case any other features may be needed. 'Oh, right. The posterior inferior frontal gyrus, in language development and speech articulation. And to not alter their pre-existing memories.' Heath finalised his intent.
He started the procedure for the first in line, his magic slowly permeating the deer's whole being that started through its nervous system. The procedure was slow, yet painless. Taking a few minutes while everything he had described was occuring. With Heath personally sustaining the procedure, it meant like the healing he had done, it would not require extra calories for the first few weeks while they are conforming to this new process. They looked slightly different to the normal deer, but it was barely noticeable from a human's perspective.
But for a deer, it was as if one changed from normal to uncanny. He appeared alien to the rest behind in the line. While they recognised him as one of their own, their body language was one of stress and anxiety. Before finishing the procedure, a foggy sensation started.
This led the deer to close its eyes and fall asleep on the spot due to the overwhelming sensation of suddenly gaining about 6x in brain weight and corresponding sapience. The deer in front stayed put, but to reduce the amount of stress, he overloads his magic and does a large expanding cylinder of influence to cover all of the deer. It was not as efficient as Heath would have wanted, but they all soon fell asleep after a few minutes. 'Now that they are asleep. . .' Heath flew to collect a runic injector, to install a common language for them.
To not waste any more magic, Heath asked Egill for his knowledge of the Norse language. He agreed, and after an hour had passed, all of the deer were implanted with full understanding. 'I am surprised it was that quick. Now, I simply have to let them rest.' He transported them.
They soon were kept upon their respective nesting areas, and Heath then flew off to check on Valyria. For being away a night, she had acted mighty fine without him. Her independence was well received by many around her, and when Heath went to apologise, she had gone and stopped him directly with a hug. Saying "Welcome back, papa!" It was nice to see she understood Heath would still always be there for her. Hopefully, she would not grow too quickly due to her environment. She should have time to be a child, after all.
Well, there are a few final notices. Gorm had gathered the information on a band of Dökkálfar, 35 strong, where they have been preying on those who were few in numbers and had committed many atrocities to them. They had captured a portion of their group now.
Gorm is indecisive on whether he should go after them and potentially alert others like them, or wait them out and strike them once they are vulnerable. He walks towards one of the larger tents in the middle of the temporary campsite to seek Jorg and his son's counsel. They discuss it for a few minutes before reaching an ultimatum which was. . . To chase after them and deal with the issue in the moment. And as such, they find and speak with Heath for the necessary precautions for this battle. So, Heath went to make more and described them.
"The grenade cover (which was shown in chapter 17.) If you press this button and drop it, after*Raises 5 fingers, 1 / second*this time. It would make a battle invisible to the outside of a field it would form. I added a new feature that allows you to make it explode or cause a
form of sensory overload per this toggle on the side, meaning it causes high temporary blindness and deafness. You can have 5 of them. The next object I will provide is this." Heath brings out a handgun that appears much like the Space Marine 2's Bulwark Class Plasma Pistol. "A personal portal gun, fed with some of my magic to allow for 25 shots or so." Heath gave it to them, because of the height difference, it appeared more as a hand-cannon. But it was still easily portable onside. Gorm appeared pensive when provided with these items.[3]
"Are you not trying to save on magic to make yourself stronger? How much did this cost?" Gorm was worried it may have been too much. It was a lovely gesture and would make any retreat easy, so he wanted to repay him. "Nowhere near the price of our friendship."
Heath's response was honest, but cheesy as usual. Leif just gave him a tired look in the background, knowing this would lead to a back-and-forth between Heath and his father. He simply walked off. "- I can easily regain this magic, seriously. It is fiinee!" Heath raised, exasperated. "Tell me, so we can be even, Heath." Gorm and Heath bickered like they had known each other for years. "Fine, I am planning to test a way to make Mennskr magic-compatible, provide me willing participants, and that will make us even." Heath finalised.
"You are a perfectionist, there would likely be no failures from what I know of you. That would make us further indebted to you." Gorm deeply breathed and calmed himself down. "Alright. We will discuss something more collaborative in the future." Gorm vexedly agreed.
They finished their communication, yet Gorm appeared like he was planning a way to reduce this one-sided relationship to something more equal. We will see what he has for the future.
(As payment, I had increased this chapter to a few hundred extra words. I may not post for a while again due to life issues. Sorry it has been so long.)
[1] The Earth is 39,466.6006621-Model Km (≈ 12,756-km (7926.2109-mi) in diameter at its most oblong point, then we follow the largest snake (titanoboa's) density, which was ≈ 125.58 kg / m^(3). If we follow the square cube law, and know that the size increase is about 892,028 x, or 900,000 for short. Then a snake that large would weigh 831,940,814,250,000,000,000. ≈ 8.320 x10^(20) Kg. (917,057,769,567,420,160. ≈ 9.171 x10^(17) US Tons.) Or a few million times heavier than Mount Everest.
[2] ᛟ (Heritage / Estate Rune,) ᚾ (Need / Hardship Rune,) ᛃ (Year / Harvest / Earth Rune) and ᚷ (Generosity / Gift / Spear Rune.)
To self-replicate and create 8 extra (non-runic) copies of itself on all horizontal axes.
[3] https://spacemarine2.fandom.com/wiki/Plasma_Pistol