[video]

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch had finally been reminded of the network earlier in the day, and what had happened reminded him of something he wanted to get out there.

So here he is on the video feed, looking mildly distressed, but for the most part composed.*

The theory about the phantoms here...I don't believe it's true. They have a vaguely human shape, but I never saw any resemblance to...to the person its voice belonged to. As well, I was with someone else when we were attacked earlier, and we each heard different voices from the same phantom.

It must be an illusion.

Comments

[ video ]

[warriorscribe]

The "Collective"-...

*He stops short, trying to recall that strange term. It had something to do with God or Heaven...*

...Is it related, perhaps, to God's perception?

*...That's quite a heavy theory, Enoch, for someone who doesn't even completely understand what he's looking at, past experience or not.*

[ video ]

[oforder]

No, it is not.

[ Quite the opposite, actually. ]

It allows me to observe the consciousness of all mortals.

[ video ]

[warriorscribe]

*Well, if this was Meridian's, he doesn't remember him. Meaning he probably isn't Meridian's, given the track record.*

So you can hear our thoughts?

[ video ]

[oforder]

It is more complicated than that.

[ video ]

[warriorscribe]

What is the case, then?

[ video ]

[oforder]

The collective unconscious. It is the collective mind of all living creatures. One mind, made up of many.

[ video ]

[warriorscribe]

*....He'd heard that before. Tatsuya had used the term, though he was still unsure of what it was, exactly.* A place where minds are joined?

[ video ]

[oforder]

That's a very simplified way of describing it, but yes.

[ video ]

[warriorscribe]

So does it... *A pause to think.* ...Watch patterns, then, among men?

[ video ]

[oforder]

[ It's a little bit more complicated than that, but... ]

In a way, yes.

[ video ]

[warriorscribe]

That seems useful.

*Well, as long as he doesn't use it for evil purposes.*

...You said the phantoms affect it oddly?

[ video ]

[oforder]

Yes. They are not like normal humans, and thus, they confuse the Compass.

[ video ]

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch gives Wilhelm a confused look.*

But the nonhumans here don't do so on their own?

[ video ]

[oforder]

All human life is connected to the collective unconscious.

[ video ]

[warriorscribe]

I meant...those here that aren't human.

[ video ]

[oforder]

That depends.

[ video ]

[warriorscribe]

What is "human" in its eyes?

[ video ]

[oforder]

Anyone with a human-like, or sentient, mind. In my world, synthetic humans known as 'Realians' are a part of the collective unconscious, as well.

[ video ]

[warriorscribe]

The phantoms, then, do not have proper sentient minds.

*He may seem like he's repeating the obvious, but it's a spark of hope he's trying to cling to.

Of course, it's not much of one, all things considered.*

[ video ]

[oforder]

Precisely.

[ Wilhelm leans in a bit, folding his hands. ]

Yet, you do not sound surprised.

[ video ]

[warriorscribe]

I was hoping it would be the case. There's a theory that they're...the other people from our worlds.

So, no... *Enoch shakes his head, smiling a little.* I'm relieved.

[ video ]

[oforder]

[ He hasn't heard that yet. ]

Elaborate, please?

[ video ]

[warriorscribe]

The theory?

*Enoch's smile slips to a look of vague unease.*

Ah...I was told they appeared when one of our hosts was...overzealous, and tried to bring everyone here at once. It seems they could be from that alone, but...no two people will hear the same voice, as I said.

And your device there tells you they aren't sentient...

[ video ]

[oforder]

Then they are similar to Gnosis.

[ Only Gnosis' minds were still, for the most part, in-tact. Wilhelm isn't sure he buys this theory. ]

[ video ]

[warriorscribe]

"Gnosis"?