It was barely dawn. The sky still wore its bruised shade of bluish black, like the world hadn't yet decided whether to wake up or roll over. Mnex hadn't stopped working. Schematics. Ratios. Revised reinforcement designs. Material extrapolations. If Henry had been awake, he would've been impressed. But he wasn't.
Not until…
BAM!
The door slammed open with military precision. Boot met wood. Silence died a sudden, violent death.
"Henry!"
Mnex jolted. Systems scrambled. Without warning, control shifted.
"What's going on… wait, why is the door… Grandfather?!"
Percival Galahad Godfrey stormed into the room like a thundercloud wrapped in nobility. His eyes swept across scattered scrolls and sketches on the floor, every trace looking as if drawn by Henry himself.
"What are these?"
Henry blinked. "Uh… research?"
The old man grunted and snatched a paper from the desk. Complex diagrams, numbers, unfamiliar terms it was all gibberish to him.
"Did you draw these all night?"
"Oh, uh-huh… yes. I mean, not just the chicken sauna and hot or not stick… I've got other plans too."
Percival's eyes moved from page to page, scanning silently, his expression unreadable.
"Explain. What are these?"
The tone was conversational, but the command behind it was unmistakable.
"The Virid'Avon River runs through the city. It's filthy, it stinks, and… frankly, it's an embarrassment. So, I designed something to clean it and also make life more convenient: the Poo-B-Gone Initiative. Or PBGI for short."
"PBGI..." His eyes remained fixed on the papers as he scratched his chin. "And where are you planning to build this?"
"Underground."
"People… are they supposed to go underground to, you know, do their business?"
"No, no. They'll do that in their homes. Then it goes underground pipes will carry it away. The system takes it from there and, well… makes the poo be gone."
"Hmm. Gods... you're nothing like your father. Is that good or bad? Still not sure. A system that fights poop. Interesting."
He paused.
"And, you're telling me this structure will be underground... carrying sewage? Then you'll need every wall reinforced with runes."
"Why? Isn't concrete enough?"
"Concrete? What's that supposed to be?"
"The stuff that holds buildings together."
"You mean lime mortar?"
Mnex. They don't have concrete.
"I was already suspicious of how smoothly things were going.
But worry not, Henry. Congratulations on your next invention. Yay. How wonderful.
Truly, your genius will be measured by how many basic inventions are somehow missing in this world."
"Ahem, Grandpa? Why are you here?"
"Ah, right. I've decided to train you as my apprentice. Since you can sense mana, it's time to construct your mind world."
Mnex? What's a mind world?
"I'm still recovering from the Poo-B-Gone shock."
How about I call it M.N.E.X. for short?
"If you do that, you'll incur the wrath of ancient cosmic beings. My full name already exists in record."
Then what does it stand for?
"You're not authorized to access the full acronym. Let's just say I was the best thing anyone ever built for aeons."
Before I could process that, he moved on quickly, like he hadn't just dropped a cosmic flex.
"There's no information in this world about mind worlds. But given how things are going, we'll figure it out soon enough."
"Yes, I know this is a lot to take in. But we've delayed enough. Now, sit down. Cross your legs. Eyes closed. Breathe."
Oooooooooh. So the Mana Cultivation Arc is beginning.
Yay! Classic mana pose. All I'm missing is a bamboo flute and some cherry blossoms.
This is it. Everything starts now.
Are you ready for OP Henry?
"OP Henry? Yes, Henry. You're unstoppable. Just like a rolling turd down a polished slope."
Can you not ruin my dreams for once?
Still, I sat down on the floor.
"Now listen carefully, Henry. The mind world is a tool. It lets someone who can feel mana actually shape it. But there has to be an anchor, something solid that connects your mind world to reality. Think of a place to dive deep into your thoughts. And in that place, picture a rock. Not just any rock. One that's unshakeable. Indestructible."
"Cognitive depth scan complete. Result: 0.4 meters. Suitable for children aged three and below."
I ignored Mnex.
A mind world. Something unique to me. A rock that would never break. Never move.
"The fact that we're calling this 'a mind' is already an insult to words everywhere."
Not helping, Mnex.
"Close your eyes, Henry. Let your imagination lead you. You can feel mana, let it carry you into your mind world. Go with the flow. Follow it."
It was a kind of meditation.
Mind world. Mind world...
I tried. Until sunlight filled the room. And even longer.
"Mind world… what a beautiful concept. I wish you had one too." Mnex chimmed in.
If you keep going like this, I never will. And guess whose fault that'll be?
"I believe I understand the problem," my grandfather suddenly said, standing up. "Come. Follow me."
An expert mage who thought he knew the issue and wanted me to follow? He must have a solution.
Maybe he'd give me a pill, like in those Murim manhwas. Or maybe he'd channel mana into my body…
Nope. None of that.
We stepped out into the mansion's backyard.
"A sound mind resides in a sound body," he said. "But you? You're as mushy as overcooked rice porridge. Now: 10 push ups, 10 jumping jacks, and two laps around the garden. Move it. I hate waiting."
He crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and waited like a statue carved out of judgment.
"Come on, soldier. Hit the ground. Ten push ups."
Mnex sounded absolutely delighted.
Eventually, I stood before him drenched in sweat, lungs on fire.
"Good boy!" said Mnex, still far too happy.
"Now, sit down. Let's try again. And if you fail, this time it'll be 20 push ups, 20 jumping jacks, and 4 laps."
His tone left no room for negotiation.
Mnex, I swear if I fail again, even if it's your fault or not, I will dedicate my entire soul to proving how useless you are across the multiverse.
"How is it my fault you're a weak, powerless, chronically disappointing organism?"
I don't care. If I have to do that training again, it's on you.
"Mnex Protocol: Silence Mode activated. Estimated duration: one whole minute."
You've got to be kidding me.
Mnex? Seriously? Did you really mute yourself for a full minute?
...Fine. I'd better start.
I sat down again.
Focused.
A mind world. An empty space, mine. And at its center, a rock. Something that tied me to this world. That wouldn't move. Wouldn't fade.
It felt like falling asleep.
Not exactly falling.
More like a feather drifting slowly from the sky…
The world went quiet.
Birdsong vanished. Even the warmth of sunlight on my skin faded. I opened my eyes…
Something was wrong.
I opened my eyes…
...and there was nothing.
Just… void.
Welcome back to Void?
"Mnex?"
No response.
"Mnex, answer me!"
Silence.
MNEX!!!
Then something deeper than silence: a void so complete it began to press in on me from all directions. My breath caught in my throat. My hands trembled.
Was this… death?
Wait did I die?
Mnex said if I died, he'd vanish too.
Suddenly, I became aware of my heartbeat. Louder than ever. Pounding. Echoing in the darkness.
I wasn't just alone.
I was truly alone.
In this moment, I would've traded everything in the world for a single sarcastic insult.
But… why?
No. I can't be dead. Why would I be dead?
Why?
Maybe my body couldn't handle the transition. Maybe it was too much for a three year old.
Damn it, TABAAL. You said this would never happen again. You said no soul would ever suffer like this again.
TABAAL!
...I need to find that door again.
Lorath! Yes, I can find Lorath. Again.
A thousand years…
No, not this time. It won't take that long.
I'll find the door. It's actually a good opportunity.
Since I've fallen back here, I'll ask them for Mnex. But forget magic. Forget anime. I want a world that's clean, technological, comfortable.
No more "cool spells" or "mana flows."
Just peace.
Give me a century of peace.
Okay, Henry or is it Hal?
Henry Evan Godfrey. Hal Miller. Henry. Hal. Evan. Miller. Godfrey...
Ha ha haha haha haha
I'm sorry, Mom. Dad.
For putting you through all of this.
I'm so sorry.
I wish… I wish we had more time.
I wish I hadn't cared so much about other people. I wish I'd just spent that time with you.
kikikikikikiki
How long has it been?
An hour?
Five?
Three days?
A month?
I don't know anymore.
Oh! Dear viewers.
How long have you been here?
Yes, I'm talking to you.
Don't look around. You, right there. Sitting in a dark room, holding your phone, scrolling through this madness.
Were you scared?
Yeah? Well, me too.
If this is enough to scare you, imagine how I feel.
You'd have wet yourself…
Wait.
Actually…
I think I already did.
Anyway.
Let's keep that between us, yeah?
If you tell anyone, a very angry spirit will crawl out of your closet and…
"Henry?"
Huh?! Did you say something?
Don't just stare, did you call me?
"Henry? Who are you talking to?"
You, obviously!
"Then why are you pointing at nothing? And also… where even is this?"
Oh. So you just got here too.
I thought you'd been watching me the whole time.
"Yes, I told you. You lunatic. I activated Silence Mode for one minute. So this… this is your mind world? Why is it so big?"
What?
Mnex?!
"Yes?"
MNEX! You damned little gremlin! I love you...