Hou felt the sceptre in his hands and glanced upwards. He muttered under his breath, "You still only have this much after months of accumulation?"
Hamar sighed and answered, "Hey, don't invalidate it just yet. Once you use it, you'll understand. It packs a punch in that small amount of energy I could create. Don't waste too much time talking, get moving."
Hou cracked his neck and within his mind he started to unravel his limited knowledge. He was, after all, a split soul; his information was limited and fragmented.
Still, though, he had the confidence that it was enough. "Remind me to see if we can't get in contact with the other split soul, I'd like to supplement my magic knowledge. I only gained some of the basics, the other split soul must've got the vast majority."
***
Hamar rubbed his forehead, or the equivalent as a consciousness put into backseat of their own body. He couldn't even begin to fathom how much knowledge Hou had that he could split his soul and they would each have so much knowledge and expertise still.
Hou pulled up his magic knowledge into his mind. The basis of magic was controlling laws, creating laws; all with the basic control over mana.
To even begin to truly understand mana intuitively was the realm of true masters like Hou's own magic mentor from the outside world, Araxis.
Hamar could sense what Hou was thinking about, and while he didn't understand it entirely, he gained a newfound respect and...possibly reverence for Hou's outside master.
The mere memory, an echoes of a memory of this great master became Hou's master through a dream; Hamar was stunned.
While Hamar could look at what Hou was doing, he wasn't a mage. Nor was he trying to be, he did not try to understand the runes and methods Hou was using.
What he did understand was that he realised that he was much like himself. "Everything is one, Swordsmen and Mages, cultivators too. They all collide..."
The reason for this small realisation is that Hamar figured out why Hou could create seemingly arbitrary runes and symbols and create meaningful changes.
"It is just like my sword...it's a conduit for understanding. I see the world through sword movements, others may see it through painting, through talking, singing, it was all different paths to the same destination; control."
He observed Hou once again, as he worked at near light speed, "He merely sees the world through the lens of those runes and symbols; a way to make sense of mana...I see."
Through observing Hou's preparation, Hamar had not become a mage. But he understood that deep down, there was no need to be a mage, it was merely a different path.
***
Hou smirked as while he was preparing his live, he made sure to observe Hamar. He made sure to make his magic easily viewable and easily understood, "Hopefully this'll help you just a little."
At the same time, he had to rush. He could feel the golden royal energy depleting quickly. He did not have much energy as he had criticised to Hamar, this limited his magic options.
He needed to hope that Hamar was right and that the little amount of energy had a huge affect. And to hope that now that it was his consciousness controlling the energy that it would follow his 'rules' of symbols and runes.
"Done!" Hou raised his scepter and outwards a massive golden ring circle the sky. At first it was a singular line until it split into a thousand threads which quickly formed a weaved pattern.
That weave contained multiple symbols which Hou had used to pacify the tribulation. He only needed to hope that it would last long enough for Hamar's disciple William to breakthrough and the tribulation to stop.
He looked down in hope, but he saw little progress in Williams breakthrough, his body had turned into a massive icy crystal.
"What sort of memories flowed into him?" Hou had a vague idea what Hamar's 'river of time' did and was not surprised but he was intrigued.
Looking back up, he steeled himself and using a mental trigger, he activated the magic circle. The springs of golden aura lit up like molten lava and the whole circle began to spin.
"Tribulations are actually fairly simple in nature, as a split soul given to you, Hamar, my main body actually gave me extensive knowledge...well as extensive as the main body knew, on tribulations!"
Hamar snapped out of his daze and applauded mentally, "Very good, that means this should be easy!"
Hou looked to the side, "Well...the truth is that main body didn't have much more knowledge than you already know. But, don't fret, I also took some inspiration front he Yin Yang inscribed onto your bone structure!"
"..."
"Don't worry, it should be fine...hopefully....maybe?" Hou laughed and close his eyes as he held the golden sceptre with both hands.
He used a mental link into the magic circle and controlled it manually to best counteract the different manifestations of the tribulation.
His forehead beaded drops of sweat as he gritted his teeth. Within his stomach he felt his aura nearing it's bottom and soon he would not have a backup if he didn't stop the tribulation, and William may not have the inspiration to gain what he needs if the 'river of time' stops.
***
William stood in the middle of a snow storm, atop a pile of corpses. He hands, covered in dry blood, trembled as he looked down.
Tears fell from his eyes as he felt an emotion, an experience that was not his own. 'He' had killed 'his' whole tribe.
Did 'he' feel regret? Sadness? Anger? Sadness?
No.
He sat there with tears that contained no emotion, they dried upon his cheek into icicles which fell off with skin still attached.
He stood up with an emotionless face and a broken blade within his hand. He feet stepped on each corpse, one life gone forever.
A mother, a father, a child, a lover. Now, but pieces of flesh frozen in the cold.
He did not have his consciousness but somewhere deep down 'he' could feel his true emotions; a waste. That was his true feelings, he wasn't sad or angry just a deep sense of wastefulness.