[Book 1 Completed] Industrial Mage: Modernizing a Magical World [Kingdom Building LitRPG]
B2 | Chapter 39 – [Meditation] Evolution

Theodore returned to the exercise on mana constructs.

Instead of discouraging him, the orbital spheres' prior failure had given him something tangible to chew on, like a jigsaw piece that was almost complete but required a little more work to slip into position.

Dropping onto the chair in his study, he transformed into a slime and molded himself over the chair.

Letting himself remain like this was weirdly cathartic, and it left him relaxed, so naturally he immediately began reconstructing the exercise from memory.

First came the central spinning cube, its edges precise and sharp in his mental grip, followed by the inverted pyramid balanced on its point.

To maintain stability while both pieces rotated in perfect synchronization, the delicate balance between the two shapes required constant adjustment, even down to the smallest corrections.

The orbital spheres were added next, and Theodore discovered that he was approaching the task more patiently than he had been back when he was returning home from Farmer Jed's field.

In order to prevent interference when he eventually got the spheres moving in their designated paths, each one had to be placed precisely, with their spacing measured.

He had underestimated the complexity of the mental shenanigans involved. After all, this construct required him to monitor several variables at once while ensuring the stability of the core construct.

Theodore's prior experience had already taught him how to start all the spheres spinning on their axes, so that portion came easily to him now. Getting the spheres to move in orbit around the center construct rather than simply sitting there like spinning decorations was the true challenge, which was what he had been working toward all along.

That was the breakthrough he'd been chasing, the final piece that would push his skills. Those level-ups were what he wanted!

When he attempted to move one of the spinning spheres along its intended course, the whole construction disintegrated, making the first effort at orbital motion a disastrous failure.

It was similar to juggling while rubbing your stomach and patting your head. He simply didn't have the hands required to do such a job. Which wasn't possible and didn't make sense; that was the point, however.

Theodore reconstructed the construct, approaching it this time with the methodical patience of someone who had discovered that hurrying only made things worse.

The central cube and pyramid, then the orbital spheres with their axial rotation, then the careful attempt to add actual orbital movement to just one sphere at a time. His second attempt lasted longer before collapsing, and his third longer still.

He thus attempted a different approach, reducing the number of spheres and beginning with only one sphere that was much simpler to spin on its axis. Only then did he start moving it in its orbit. This was proving to be a bit difficult but it was also much easier than what he had been doing previously.

By his sixth rebuild, he was able to keep one sphere truly moving in orbit around the core construct, but when Theodore attempted to add orbital motion to a second sphere, the whole setup collapsed.

The mental strain was significant, akin to juggling while walking a tightrope, yet it was tolerable compared to the immense difficulties he had first encountered.

He was beginning to grasp the basic idea of making spheres orbit instead of merely spinning them in place.

The mental control needed for orbital motion was entirely different, more akin to steering an object along a predefined course than merely preserving rotational momentum.

Each sphere in orbit had to spin on its axis and follow its circular trajectory, adding layers of complexity that tested his ability to focus.

It certainly wasn't unexpected considering what he was attempting to duplicate, but Theodore found himself considering it in terms of planetary movement.

Similar to a small solar system, the mana construct included many moving bodies, each of which needed to be precisely calculated in order to maintain stable orbital patterns.

The distinction was that, rather than everything being kept in motion by gravity, he was giving it all the energy and direction through sheer mental effort.

The analogy helped him approach the problem more systematically.

Theodore started studying the mathematics of orbital mechanics and used those ideas to manage his mana, rather than haphazardly attempting to move spheres and crossing his fingers.

He found that the addition of too many orbiting entities caused interference that destabilized the whole system and that spheres had to maintain certain velocities in relation to their orbital radius.

It was fascinating stuff, and hours went by without him noticing since it was an intellectually stimulating challenge. As he carefully experimented and adjusted, Theodore lost himself in the process, straining the limits of what he could sustain while always avoiding total failure. Every little accomplishment built upon the one before it, giving him the knowledge base to try ever-more intricate orbital configurations.

His breakthrough moment came during what must have been his forty-something attempt at the exercise.

Theodore had managed to maintain two spheres actually orbiting the central construct, each one tracing smooth circular paths while spinning on their axes, when he decided to try something different. Instead of attempting to add a third orbiting sphere, he began experimenting with different orbital speeds for the existing ones.

To ensure stability, the modification needed to be adjusted frequently, but Theodore discovered that he could make real-time adjustments thanks to his growing knowledge of orbital mechanics.

In fact, the spheres were now moving, following discernible circular routes around the central mass, leaving behind comet-tail-like trails of mana. It was beautiful in an abstract way, this purely mental creation that existed only in his magical perception but felt as real and solid as anything he could touch.

Theodore then started cautiously incorporating a third orbiting sphere into the system out of ambition. This one required a different orbital plane to avoid colliding with the other two. Just weeks before, he should not have been able to maintain this intricate three-dimensional dance of intersecting motion.

But somehow, he was maintaining it.

Three spheres were actually orbiting the central construct in different planes, each one spinning on its axis while tracing its predetermined path through three-dimensional space.

Despite its complexity, the construct held together because all of its parts worked together to produce something that was better than the sum of their individual parts.

The strain on Theodore's mind, a steady pressure at the edges of his awareness, was tolerable; it was not so great as to make him give up the exercise completely.

For what seemed like an eternity but was likely only a few minutes in real time, he held the construct.

It was a profoundly satisfying feeling to finally master something that had seemed impossible only hours before.

Theodore felt a deep sense of accomplishment.

At this point, Theodore was starting to question how long he could keep up the intricate arrangement. That was when the notifications came into his vision.

[Mana Control] has leveled up! - Lvl 8 > Lvl 9!

[Meditation] has leveled up! - Lvl 24 > Lvl 25!

[Meditation] has reached MAX!

[Meditation] is Evolving!

Theodore nearly let the construct collapse in surprise, catching himself at the last moment and carefully dissipating the shaped mana rather than letting it scatter chaotically. The evolution notification was unexpected, though in hindsight it probably shouldn't have been.

He had just forgotten how close [Meditation] had been to evolving.

Congratulations! Evolutions available for: [Meditation]!

Evolutions available:

[Focus], [Mana Convergence], [Inner Sanctum], and [Indifference].

Oh…

Theodore stared at the skill names floating in his mental interface. They all looked interesting. He decided to go through each one.

[Focus]

Type: Active

Effect: You achieve a state of absolute, unbroken mental focus. When using [Focus], distractions fade, the world narrows, and your attention becomes a weapon. Boosts effectiveness of perception, precision, and sustained action. Can be maintained for long periods at higher proficiency. Enhances skill learning speed and greatly boosts the success rate of fine-motor or detail-heavy tasks.

[Focus] sounded as though it would transform his attention into something that was almost superpower-like, the kind of complete focus that would enable him to work on difficult tasks for hours on end without being sidetracked or exhausted.

Theodore could see how helpful it would be for his numerous magical research endeavors, not to mention the real-world uses in emergency circumstances like conflict when quick judgments are crucial. Just the increased speed at which he could pick up new skills would likely benefit all facets of his growth, and the improvement in fine motor skills would be crucial for work involving rune inscription.

But there was something potentially limiting about [Focus] as well, especially in comparison to the other options.

[Mana Convergence]

Type: Hybrid

Effect: Passively draw in ambient mana at all times, even while unaware. This absorption is slow but steady. When used with intent, it drastically increases mana intake and regeneration for a short burst. Retains the clarity and calm of [Meditation], granting mental stability during magical processes.

[Mana Convergence] addressed one of his most practical concerns, the constant need to manage his mana reserves during extended magical work.

While the active boost could supply emergency power when he needed it most, the passive ambient absorption would be like a steady but slow trickle of mana entering his reserves constantly.

Given how mana-intensive he had recently become, Theodore could see immediate uses for both aspects.

The retention of meditation's mental clarity during magical processes was equally appealing, and it also confirmed his suspicions that [Meditation] didn't just have to do with meditating, but rather focus and mental clarity as well.

[Focus] especially made it clear why [Meditation] leveled up in the times he was extremely focused on something.

In contrast to the other possibilities, [Mana Convergence] seemed a little more passive and focused more on resource management. Which wasn't bad at all, in fact he preferred this skill over the others so far.

It would make life so much easier.

[Inner Sanctum]

Type: Active

Effect: Turn your mind into a bastion. While in this inner mental space, you gain resistance to mental intrusion, emotional manipulation, and panic.

Given [Psionic Resistance], a higher tier mind protection skill, [Inner Sanctum], which addressed a completely different category of concerns, was really kind of pointless.

In any case, [Inner Sanctum] seemed to be something that would have benefited him back when he had transmigrated. It would've helped him against the kind of mental vulnerabilities that Theodore had started worrying about.

Mental intrusion and emotional manipulation were real threats in a world where political maneuvering could turn lethal without warning, and the resistance to panic would be valuable in any number of crisis situations.

[Indifference]

Type: Active

Effect: Enter a state of perfect internal silence—no fear, no doubt, no joy, no rage. Emotions are set aside, leaving only purpose. While in [Indifference], you approach your goal with absolute clarity and detached efficiency, optimizing every action without hesitation. Mental noise is eliminated, allowing for swift, rational decisions under pressure. Ideal for critical moments where emotion would hinder performance.

[Indifference] was perhaps the most intriguing and concerning option, promising the kind of perfect emotional detachment that would let him approach any situation with pure rational analysis.

When crucial decisions needed to be made, Theodore could see the value of being able to put aside feelings of fear, uncertainty, and other distractions, particularly in emergency situations or combat where hesitation could be lethal.

The description suggested that [Indifference] would turn him into something like a human calculating machine so long as it was active, optimizing every action for maximum effectiveness without being hindered by emotional considerations.

However, the thought of purposefully repressing all feelings, even for a short time, was unnerving. Even for the sake of better performance, Theodore wasn't sure he wanted to give up that part of the human experience. Theodore had learned to value his emotional responses as important sources of information about situations and people, and he wasn't sure he wanted to give that up.

This wasn't a decision he could make lightly or reverse if he chose poorly.

Theodore was really unsure of which path would best help him face the problems that lay ahead since each evolution represented a radically different approach to problem-solving and personal development. They were all sensible choices, with notable benefits for various facets of the complex life he was leading.

So the question is, which one to choose? Minus [Inner Sanctum], they're all kind of good.

***

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