The Absaleth and Amareth Phenomena
Following the preliminary rodent trial, I have determined that the procedure’s success was facilitated by the absence of what I have termed Absaleth and Amareth phenomena. These constructs – reducible to “imaginary companions,” though such terminology is an inadequate simplification – are manifested as gendered anthropomorphic entities: the Absaleth assuming a more traditionally masculine presentation, the Amareth a more feminine.
While not physical in any neuroanatomical sense, they appear to function as psychogenic guardian: semi-autonomous cognitive-emotional constructs positioned between the subject’s core consciousness and external psychic or psychosomatic factors, including mental illness, systemic disease, and telepathic intrusion. Their emergence is often correlated with early-life adversity, wherein they assume an aspirational or protective role. Strength of manifestation varies. Some demonstrate formidable defensive capacity against psychic ingress, while others remain weak in influence beyond their primary domain.
It is notable that nearly all Inter Lineas volunteers thus far have exhibited one or both constructs. In such cases, integration or transfer of the cognitive-emotional strata requires overcoming these guardian’ resistance. Subject Theta, however, presents no such barrier. This has markedly simplified the experimental conditions and yielded an improvement in effect. Indeed, the subject has displayed an unprecedented level of reported contentment under my direct executive oversight. This is, of course, the natural outcome when one’s cognitive apparatus is guided by a practitioner of my particular caliber.
Subject ID: IL-781 – “The Couturier”
The subject, a middle-aged male in the military industry, exhibited hesitation regarding participation in Inter Lineas, citing perceived interference with occupational performance. Psychosocial history reveals an upbringing within a rigid nuclear family who were openly hostile toward his homosexuality. The subject’s Absaleth manifested as “Claude Songe,” an archetype derived from the biographical television series The Song of Songes, which centers on a renowned family of designers. Interestingly, the construct resisted displacement. Correlative analysis suggests that Songe’s persistence was linked to the subject’s internal conflict between military discipline and dream for a creative vocation. Songe asserted a neural co-location with regions subserving imaginative and aesthetic ideation.
The extraction phase required suppression of the subject’s associative pathways related to creative impulse, imaginative visualization, and non-utilitarian judgment. Knowledge fragments pertaining to fashion history, design methodology, and the Songe narrative were methodically excised and supplanted with fabricated autobiographical content reinforcing military identity, coupled with a newly synthesized Absaleth modeled upon a senior army officer. Post-procedure observation indicated an increase in occupational self-assurance and a pragmatic orientation toward work output. When probed with stimuli referencing prior creative interests, the subject exhibited aversion and dismissiveness. By operational criteria, the result constitutes a procedural success.
Subject ID: IL-329 – “The Rancher & the Starlet”
The subject presents a notably complex duality, evidenced by the simultaneous manifestation of both an Absaleth and an Amareth. The Absaleth adopts the persona of a Western film hero, while the Amareth embodies a Golden Age Hollywood actress. These idealized figures appear to function as surrogate parental constructs, likely compensatory in origin due to the subject’s orphaned upbringing. Both entities perpetuate a shared fantasy reality in which the subject remains psychologically enmeshed. Of particular interest is the subject’s obliviousness to the historical political stances of these personae, namely their overt support for domestic nuclear testing, suggesting a selective cognitive dissonance. The subject maintains an arrested developmental persona, self-identifying as the offspring of these cinematic icons despite chronological adulthood.
Upon inquiry regarding the potential removal of these constructs to facilitate maturation and reintegration into society, the subject unequivocally refused intervention. Given the unprecedented nature of this presentation and its apparent stabilizing function, I have opted to permit the persistence of both Absaleth and Amareth within the cognitive framework. Personal reflections on this decision include a rare sentiment of professional envy at the subject’s capacity for refuge.
Subject ID: IL-462 – “The Anomaly”
Subject presents a markedly aberrant profile, deviating from the typical Absaleth/Amareth dichotomy. Instead, the subject has a singular manifesting entity resembling a contemporary rock musician archetype, akin to Prince. This construct functioned as an overwhelmingly positive influence, actively encouraging exploration and fluidity of personal identity. However, discord has evidently arisen between subject and construct, concomitant with the subject’s expressed desire for gender transition and a complete somatic transformation. While conventional medical and surgical modalities can effectuate such changes, the prospect of accomplishing this via the Inter Lineas procedure remains speculative and fraught with complication.
In an experimental departure, I invoked a series of esoteric psychic rituals to attempt transference and reconfiguration. Regrettably, the construct’s psychic manifestation escalated dramatically, now exhibiting control over meteorological phenomena. Given the volatility and potential risk posed to both subject and environment, immediate containment and extended observation are mandated. Preliminary assessment suggests the possibility of manipulation or subterfuge by the construct, warranting further rigorous investigation.
