Mindscape

The mindscape was something Alexander unlocked with one of his new skills, Create Mindscape, in book 3. It creates a psychic representation of his mental state and allows him to build up his mind like a fortress to protect him and others.

This ends up becoming a key factor in fighting the corruption and even a key factor in Alexander’s development as a thinking being. His monk doppelganger, who spent most of his time sitting about the monk monastery meditating, would build the city and make sure it was sturdy enough to resist the ravages of corruption and whatever other things were trying to attack his mind.

Alexander would often mention that just the simple action of reinforcing the walls of this mental city (by stacking stone on top of stone on top of stone for hours and hours on end) was enough to calm him down and stave off the corruption’s progress. It helped him gain insight into himself as his monk self worked to lay down streets that represented his personal values, erect buildings that represented people and things he cared about and build monuments to commemorate the important people of his life. 

Beyond these walls, however, was the corruption. It stretched as far as the eye could see and seemed to have no end.

Eventually, Alexander finished building a central boulevard running through the city. He chose to have the boulevard represent the idea of ‘autonomy.’

He then started working on some of the monuments. Each monument represented someone he found important. Constans had one, Ibi had one, and Isabella also had a statue. Then, he set down the river. He drew inspiration from the Rhine and had a river circle his city, creating a three-hundred feet wide moat that offered even more protection to his mind. This river represented the end of civilization, the breakdown of rules and expectations, but also the start of a more primal set of rules. These were rules that animals understood instinctively.

Right before book 3 ended, Isabella released a great number of the souls she’d been holding inside Alexander’s mindscape. She can still summon them at will, but this way these souls will have an easier time resting and Alexander’s mindscape itself will feel more warm and welcoming.