The soul and life are inextricably entwined; once this bond is severed, the soul is prone to degrade into a dead spirit. Some contend that the deterioration following the fiftieth offspring is intimately linked to a fate of death predetermined before birth. Yet, dead spirits are not without their merits: unburdened by the constraints of life, they may be summoned in projection with ease—and, if one's strength permits, even the entity itself may be called forth.
Alas, the living soul is a different matter. Constrained by the corporeal, it resists the formation of a stable projection; even if such a projection is achieved, the compatibility with a host body remains problematic. Hence, projection techniques prove unsuitable for souls still in life.
"It seems I must either keep my modified creatures close at hand or swiftly master the spatial summoning arts," Adam murmured, his brow furrowed in contemplation.
Spatial spellcraft is neither as daunting nor as simple as one might imagine. This world is crafted of flesh and bone by the deities' own hands, and wherever creation exists, fissures are inevitable. Within these cracks, remnants of divine adversaries may linger, or one might find nothing at all. Such fissures permeate the world, forming a labyrinth of channels known as the Critical Layers. Yet these layers are exceedingly chaotic and in constant flux; without a fixed point of entry, one is apt to become irretrievably lost. Consequently, most practitioners limit themselves to carving out stable spaces within these chasms, rather than venturing deeper into the Critical Layers.
"Spatial travel technology remains imperfect," Antony remarked with a shake of his head. "Its greatest challenge lies in establishing a reliable point of reference."
Though spatial techniques exceed Adam's current mastery, Antony indulged his inquiry with a detailed explanation. "In theory, by employing the Reflection Tower as a beacon, I can enter the Critical Layer and, through its connection with me, find my way back—though that only covers the return journey. To reach a desired destination, however, that destination must possess an identifier capable of anchoring my position."
"This is exceedingly difficult—even one's own creations fail to serve that purpose," Antony continued. With a graceful gesture, his fingers traced the air, and from a void emerged a hound-shaped entity composed of blue flames, which bounded respectfully to his feet. "At present, summoning spells can only retrieve a target to the caster's side; they do not enable one to journey to the target. The interference of the Critical Layer renders the positioning effect too feeble. Even if I were to traverse the Critical Layer to where the target lies, my success rate would be less than one percent."
"As for summoning the target accurately, two pivotal techniques come into play: Temporal-Spatial Solidification and Source Return. I have explained these to you before—namely, that even when spirit departs from the soul, a connection persists. This principle underpins the continued control one may exert over a spell after its initial casting."
"In particular circumstances, spirit reverts to the soul—a phenomenon known as the Source Return Effect. The Source Return technique is, therefore, one that can remotely activate this effect. Combining these two methods, though not culminating in full-fledged spatial travel, facilitates an effective summoning. By securing the summoned object within a region fortified by Temporal-Spatial Solidification, the presence of a 'gateway' ensures that, under the Source Return Effect, the entity will transition into the Critical Layer and, subsequently, arrive correctly at its master's side."
"To the realm of spirit, the soul may serve as a navigational beacon—but the reverse does not hold true." At this point, Antony's analogy became evident to Adam: the soul is akin to a massive planet, with spirit comparable to a meteorite—subject to the planet's gravity, yet unable to draw the planet itself inward.
Inspired, Adam suddenly inquired, "Then, could one perhaps store an abundance of spirit in a region with solidified time and space, and periodically summon a filament of that spirit from within the Critical Layer? By doing so repeatedly, might one determine one's position accurately and locate the proper gateway?"
"In theory, that is conceivable," Antony conceded after a moment's thought. "But such a scheme demands an astronomical quantity of spirit. In the Critical Layer, your position is in constant flux; should you advance in the wrong direction, the journey could become interminable, and your expenditure of spirit would likewise verge on infinity."
"Conversely, if your trajectory is correct and you traverse the shortest conduit, the distance might be negligibly brief. Thus, theoretically, a summoner could achieve infinitely rapid summoning—but this remains purely theoretical. In practice, even the most adept summoners require a definite period to successfully cast their spells."
"Moreover, for your method to succeed, the frequency at which you summon spirit must exceed the rate of temporal-spatial change within the Critical Layer." Antony affirmed the theoretical viability of the idea while noting its practical shortcomings—a sentiment that only deepened his admiration for Adam. Many of the most advanced techniques in summoning were born from concepts that, while theoretically sound, proved unattainable in reality. It is the role of arcanists to propose theories and then overcome the myriad obstacles that prevent their realization.
Adam, undeterred by potential negation of his ideas, continued after a brief pause, "Since spirit exhibits a Source Return Effect, why not carry another's spirit and employ that effect to pinpoint the location of another in this world?"
"That notion has been considered before, but it faces too many impediments. For one, no one would willingly relinquish their spirit to another, allowing it to activate the Source Return Effect—a perilous proposition indeed. Moreover, even if mutual trust were established, it is unlikely that your spirit would harmonize perfectly with another's. Possessing another's spirit would cause a continuous interference with the Source Return Effect, leading you right back into the same predicament: an interminable passage through the Critical Layer."
"And without possession, if you simply rely on the Source Return Effect to operate unfettered, it would complete its course in such a fleeting moment that even a human would scarcely register its passage." Antony elaborated, "Thus, the only viable approach is to allow the other's spirit to dominate your own soul, fundamentally transforming your spirit to become their puppet. In that state, your spirit aligns harmoniously with theirs, and the Source Return Effect can proceed unimpeded."
"In this manner, summoning transforms into a different art, where the summoned entity becomes a human transmuted into a puppet, its resultant Source Return Effect directed unerringly toward its master. This implies that, moving forward, if I am to summon animals, they too must undergo a similar spirit refinement process." Adam frowned momentarily, then relaxed as the notion seemed increasingly attainable. Indeed, charisma is key—it can, in its radiance, alter an animal's spirit and vitality; consider those birds, whose very essence now appears to be drawn to me.