The Owner felt excitement well up in him as he finally reached his goal. Just ahead, only a few hours worth of travel away, stood a distinctive rock formation. From it, he could sense the subtle vibrations emitted by his kind. More importantly, he was close enough to understand what they were saying, the unique tremors transmitting a very clear message. He was approaching the Elder’s pack.

  The next few hours were the longest in his life. Every second that passed made his excitement grow, every tentacle length he traveled made his anticipation grow. Not only was he about to meet a living legend, this was his last step in becoming one himself.

  He only needed to preserve for a few more hours, and his journey would be complete. He would truly cast away his nameless status, having fully earned his Title. Through It, he would be remembered. Through It, he would live eternally.

  Already, many of the Sil’piceus knew of him, even if they had never met. Already, his Title and mission had become common knowledge. He was no longer just an unidentified member of a group, who only introduced himself with the number of greater cycles he had lived through. He was important, and he was different.

  Being granted individuality was great, but it was only the beginning, and it was far from enough. He was but a child, rewarded for what he could do rather than for his actual achievements. His mission was incomplete, so his title was incomplete. His potential was enough for him to become famous, but that was it.

  He wanted more than temporary recognition. He wanted his name to be passed down through generations. He wanted to know that his story would be used to inspire the young. He wanted everyone to know what he had gone through, for his sacrifice to be forever inscribed into history.

  Most importantly, he wanted everyone to know that he had been successful, that his actions significantly contributed to the advancement of his race. In a thousand years, the Sil’piceus would look back, and they would thank him for his contribution.

  Knowing that the end of his journey was at hand, he stopped conserving energy. He made full use of the Mystery's strength, gladly sacrificing a little mental energy for some additional speed.

  It was with a touch of awe and reverence that the Owner crossed the final meters separating him from the Elder. His journey complete, they were technically of equal status, but the Elder was much more than just a Titled individual.

  He was the smartest creature in the world, the longest lived Sil’piceus. The Tunneler and the Observer both claimed that his advice had been invaluable to their success. Even the Teacher had said that he was only trying to imitate the Elder, and that he had not invented anything new.

  The Elder’s legacy was unparalleled, his knowledge and wisdom seemingly infinite. His glory shone so bright, it was hard not to get blinded.

  A trace of indecision and doubt surfaced in the Owner's heart, wondering if he was really worthy of his company.

  He suddenly froze, confronted with his own inadequacy. His only merit was finding a mysterious object through luck. He had not invented anything, he had not made remarkable achievements, he had not advanced society. He had been lucky. He was incomparable to everyone who had ever gained a Title. He was not rewarded for his efforts, but for his dumb luck.

  The moment of doubt lasted for a fraction of a second, before his powerful will, tempered through a decade of battle, easily squashed all the fluctuation of his heart.

  He had been lucky, but he had then gone on to prove his worth. His journey had been his trial, and he had surpassed it. For more than a decade, he had done many things no other Sil’piceus had ever done.

  Just wandering alone without a group was impressive enough, but he had done so much more. He had fought hordes of beasts relying solely on his tentacles. He had felled huge monsters, he had survived a firebolt from the sky. He had rampaged across the land, sustaining himself on the blood of his victims. He had learned to harness the forces of the Mystery, he had created a powerful battle technique for himself.

  The Elder was admirable, but at the end of the day he had always followed tradition, relying on his mind and intelligence like everyone else. Only he, the Owner, had truly pioneered a brand new way of hunting.

  He walked a path no one else walked, and on his path, he was an absolute expert.

  His movements instantly lost all of their hesitation. He decisively impaled his tentacles deep in the earth. He stoically waited for his communication limbs to stabilize, using his tremendous control to offset the disruption of his brusque action.

  He doubted anyone had noticed his moment of weakness. After all, they had all lived comfortable lives fed by traps, and their awareness was far below his. Rather than lingering on his mistake, the Owner sent out a well-practiced pulse, signaling he was ready to talk.

  At the same time, he used his tremor sense to its fullest, trying to discern what the Elder looked like. This was the first time he was close enough to do anything more than hear him.

  “Welcome, gifted one. I have long heard of your Title, and of your mission. You are here seeking my counsel, are you not?”

  He instinctively returned the greeting, but he did not go ahead and explain his situation. Instead, he asked the question that was burning in his mind. It might be slightly disrespectful, but he had to know.

  “You are small, like a child. I know the Elder is old so why are you the size of a child? Are you withering, falling into Emptiness?”

  There was a moment of silence, before he heard a good-natured laugh.

  “Size does not directly correspond to age, young one. I have simply never found the utility in a big body, preferring to conserve energy to power my brains. What is important is the power of the mind, not that of the body. I assure you, I am perfectly fine. I still have too much to do before I succumb to Emptiness.”

  For the second time in less than ten minutes, the Owner froze.

  “The power of the body is the most important! My body is the strongest, and I have killed hundreds of monsters with it. It is the future, and it will help us break free from the limitations of traps!”