Shimmering with brilliant colors, grand and handsome, surrounded by celestial winds, accompanied by all sounds of nature.
Jonas's Mental Power Armor was like an External Armor, tight and heavy, with two curved horns on the helmet, and clear, intricate patterns on the faceplate, resembling a true dragon's head.
The shoulder pads protruded like dragon ridge bones, and the plate armor was layered like scales all over.
The tassets had patterns of a giant dragon pouncing, and the leg and arm armor joints were flexible, covering him completely whether bent or straight.
The misty light emanating from the ethereal armor formed small air currents, as if protected by the wings of a storm.
When he stood still, there was an aura of a towering hero.
Simon nodded, extremely satisfied with his appearance, but after testing, it was found that Jonas's shield was only for show and not practical.
Or rather, it wasn't a complete shield yet.
Jonas's form was similar to Simon's Divine Descent, and in the game, there was actually a Dragon Shout called Dragon Aspect, which had a similar effect to Divine Descent and a similar appearance to Jonas's armor.
Simon vaguely remembered the three words of that Dragon Shout, which should be [Valor], [Armor], [Dragon].
This was a Shout exclusive to the Dragonborn, and Simon should not be able to learn it.
The Way of the Voice is an obscure, profound, and extensive art.
After comprehending how to use mental power fluctuations to leverage the resonance of magic energy, Simon created two Shouts himself: Divine Descent and Breath of Burning Clouds.
The Fiery Palm, which he recreated with mental power, could also be considered a Way of the Voice spell.
Using the Way of the Voice requires strict demands on mental power.
The Greybeards often spend years repeatedly honing the same Shout, all to fully immerse themselves in the will of the Shout, so that the fluctuations of mental power are just right.
Simon's path was different from theirs.
He didn't intend to let the will of the Shout spread in his mind, so he recorded the mental power fluctuations of the Shout, memorized its waveform, and then, when releasing the Shout next time, he would forcibly disturb his mental power to the corresponding waveform.
Mental power is, after all, a subjective force, and the fluctuations of the Shout are not fixed.
Although Simon's method transformed it into an ordinary spell, the imprecise waveform—or what could be likened to a spell construct—caused a certain degree of damage to his body from the power of the Way of the Voice.
The power of the Way of the Voice is the transitional force that resonates between mental power and the earthbones, and it is the key to leveraging magic energy fluctuations.
Simon could carefully control his self-created Shouts, but using Shouts taught by others was often uncomfortable and carried the risk of injury.
Jonas's situation was naturally different.
Having subdued a dragon soul, he possessed the abilities of a true dragon.
Not only could he easily learn Shouts from others, but he could also research them himself without getting injured, and he wouldn't be affected by the Shouts.
Simon sometimes couldn't help but marvel at his talent, honestly, it was no worse than his own Bodhisattva incarnation; what he lacked was merely experience and state of mind.
It was currently Nightscythe, 4E 185, and a new year was approaching.
Dilo wanted to return to Whiterun to see his family, and Jonas also missed his companions at the College.
Simon granted their requests, first sending Dilo home, then taking Jonas back to Winterhold.
After happily spending more than twenty days on vacation, it wasn't until the sixteenth day of Morningstar, 4E 186, that he led the two boys back to the monastery.
Simon's daily work, in addition to preparing food and guiding cultivation, also included studying the lexicon, chatting with his mother, and practicing martial arts.
He had almost no time to study magic; his life was peaceful and leisurely, and there were no changes in the Pure Land.
Such days suddenly became quite dull.
For Simon, he was not satisfied with his current life.
What kind of life did Simon want?
He wanted to fully delve into Dwemer technology, research magic, build huge land-traveling fortresses, massive spaceships, or constantly experiment with new Shouts, or explore various ruins, kill Vampires, collect bandit souls to create an undead army…
But these things were like hobbies.
Hobbies must bow to duty.
Simon understood the thoughts of his elders more and more; as an elder, he was very qualified, even to the point of doting on the younger generation.
Jonas was now fully capable of standing on his own, but Simon just couldn't rest assured.
The Last Dragonborn faced too many calamities, and the boy seemed unable to bear them…
In fact, Simon himself knew very well that his care for Jonas was filling a certain sense of guilt in his heart.
He was not a Bodhisattva detached from all things; he was a living mortal, with joys, angers, sorrows, and countless regrets.
It wasn't that his heart wasn't sincere, but rather that his strength was insufficient.
People at every stage have their own rules of survival and their own helplessness.
Jonas was a substitute for him, taking the place of his offspring, his inheritor, making up for his hidden desire for kinship.
He gave Jonas knowledge, and Jonas eliminated his loneliness.
Everything in the world can be analyzed into a cold, hard form.
But Simon did not regard this as a premeditated charity or transaction.
By his values, it was clear that Jonas owed him a debt of gratitude, and he had no intention of making Jonas repay it.
Whether out of expectation for the younger generation or recognition of the Dragonborn, Simon's devotion to Jonas was unconditional.
Just think of it as witnessing a child grow up, Simon told himself.
Once Jonas came of age, he would be at ease letting the boy venture out on his own.
However, did he truly have the courage to face destiny?
…
Gaelina was in good condition.
After becoming a ghost, she lacked a sense of time, or rather, it was difficult for her to perceive the passage of time.
Simon accompanied her for two hours every day, with long intervals in between, but to Gaelina, Simon always came back in a short while.
Whether talking with his mother or taking her for walks around the Pure Land, Simon would use his human form, which made them both feel comfortable.
Unfortunately, they didn't have much common language, and their ideas had a vast gap, often leading to silence.
Gaelina gradually grew tired of this state.
Simon asked her if she wanted to go to the world of the dead, and she said there was something very important she still needed to find.
What exactly it was, she couldn't say.
Simon knew she was searching for memories.
He had carefully pondered Mara's Revelation and had a slight clue.
Perhaps it was related to Vampires and the Soul Cairn, after all, there was a line, "a bloody key to the dead," and the blood of the Vampire Serana was indeed essential for opening the path to the Soul Cairn.
He wasn't in a hurry before, because he still wanted to talk more with his mother, but now it seemed the day of their true separation was drawing closer.
The fated opportunity mentioned by Priestess Dinja was slow to arrive, and Simon felt a peculiar emotion again.
He both hoped it would come, to make up for his mother's regret, and secretly wished it would be delayed, so he could spend more time talking with her.
Simon knew he was an unfilial person; he never denied it.
Some choices were indeed greater than kinship in his heart, but now he could actually take it easy.
There are countless Bodhisattva incarnations, so he was not essential.
Simon was now living for himself; his ideals and goals were still too distant.
He was mentally prepared to transform into a lich, which would give him infinite time to seek the so-called ultimate answer.
For now, he would let time flow slowly.
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