—
Completely Normal Bracelets (Unique)
These are completely normal and uninteresting bracelets. 100% normal. Nothing suspicious here. Move along already. Seriously these are just Bracelets!
—
I nodded toward her wrists. "Those bracelets seem... interesting."
Elena twisted them absently. "Just thought they looked cool. Used some creation credits." She met my eyes briefly. "That's all."
I raised an eyebrow but let it slide. In my seven years as her father, I'd learned when to push and when to wait. The truth would surface eventually—it always did between us. My knowing smile made her fidget.
"Hold on," I said, scanning her outfit again. "No weapon?"
"Dad," she straightened her shoulders, chin lifting slightly, "I am the weapon."
Her deadpan delivery was perfect—the same face she'd used when explaining why the cookies had "suddenly disappeared for no reason at all." She held my gaze with such unwavering commitment to her story that I had to look away first before I gave in and started laughing.
I examined my own gear next. My clothing options were practical but unremarkable—standard jeans, t-shirt, hoodie, socks, and pajamas. According to their descriptions, I could customize their appearance at will, and they promised the oddly specific benefit of never causing sensory discomfort or making me "want to rip your skin off due to existing." The pajamas offered an enchantment to improve sleep quality — a small mercy in this nightmare.
The armor, however, stopped me cold. Sleek dark leather with pulsing blue runes etched across its surface caught the light as I turned it. Overlapping plates formed the chest piece, all bordered with delicate silver threading that seemed to shimmer with purpose. The attached hood rippled like liquid shadow, bending light around its edges. Something about it resonated with the part of me that drove around my home town with angry music blaring and wrote bad poetry about the void. When I used [Identify], a single description appeared for the entire set.
—
Guardians Embrace (Rare)
Set Pieces Equipped: 6 / 6
Born in a act of love and sacrifice this armour was worn by a nameless defender as they stood between their small ward and the chaos of an unraveling world. Their resolve and intent did not falter, even as hope waned. Every piece of this set is woven with the intent to protect another at any cost, tempered by the defenders love for their charge.
This set has passed through untold generations since, finding its way only to those who choose protection over glory. Each plate, rune, and silver thread carries echoes of ancient oaths, resonating with the memories of every act of devotion performed while worn. It is said the armor’s true power awakens when the wearer forms a bond of love or duty—runic sigils brightening, the cape cloaking them in subtle shadow, and the chest piece dispersing harm that would otherwise fall upon their charge.
To don the Guardian’s Embrace is to continue a legacy of steadfast courage. It is not merely armor, but a living testament: that even in the heart of chaos, a single soul’s resolve can shield another from darkness.
Effects:
- Veil of the Vigilant (Rare)
A black shimmering hood that appears to bend light, helping to obscure the wearer’s appearance when raised to anyone but their charge. When danger nears their charge, the hood subtly tightens, pulling the wearer’s focus toward the threat, granting bonuses to [Awareness]. - Heartbound Aegis (Rare)
Etched with concentric runes around the heart, this leather cuirass hums faintly when the bond between protector and charge strengthens. The silver-thread seams glow whenever the wearer takes damage meant for another. When within range of their charge it may absorb a small percentage of damage intended for them and redirect it to the wearer and partially nullified in equal portions. Occasionally will whisper words of encouragement from previous wearers. - Hands of Devotion (Rare)
Runes coil along the arms and wrists of these vambraces like veins of light, channeling energy into both weapon and spell. They strengthen the link between heart, blade, and intent. Wearer gains bonuses to any weapon based skills or abilities when acting in defense of their charge. When touching their charges, the wearer may choose to transfer the effects of a single spell, ability or trait to their charge for up to 1 hour. - Burden of the Guardian (Rare)
Silver-trimmed shoulder guards bearing the faint impression of scaled wings. Enchantments within allow the redistribution of force throughout the armor set and help mitigate any physical damage the wearer takes; this effect scales with each piece of set worn. Once per every 6 hours the wearer can cause the runes on the armor to flare, drawing enemy attention away from their charge. Provides bonuses to strength when the wearer imposes themselves between their charge and harm. - Pathkeeper’s Stride (Rare)
Black leather greaves etched with flowing runes resembling roots and lightning. They hum softly with each step, a sound only the wearer can hear, guiding them toward their charge no matter the distance. Provides bonuses to dexterity and travel speed when moving towards their charge. Enhances the distance of any short range teleportation effects. Provides bonuses to balance and evasion. - Echo of Shelter (Rare)
Soft-soled boots that make no sound unless the wearer wills it. The wearer may choose to leave luminescent footprints behind that are only visible to their charge. Once per day they may emit a protective ward where they are standing that covers an area of 5m in diameter. So long as one of them is standing within this area, defensive stats and resistances are enhanced for both.
Soulbound: Each piece of armour is bonded to it’s current wielder (i.e. you) and can not be lost, or taken from them. The only way to break this bond is through the death of the current wielder or by them willing giving the item away. Can be summoned to the wielder with a thought.
Self-Cleaning & Self Repairing.
Set Bonus: Legacy of the Nameless Guardian: Should the wearer fall, a protective shade of similar level and abilities will rise and defend their charge for up to 1 week.
—
Soulbound, huh? If only my car keys and wallet had possessed that before all of this.
Then I took a moment to enjoy the holy grail of all magical properties I had come across thus far — self-cleaning. No more laundry. I thought. Best apocalypse ever!
I turned my attention towards the two blades the System had granted me but I’d had yet to inspect them, despite having already used one of them. Probably should have read the manual first.
I drew the longer of the two blades first — clearly the one intended to be wielded in my dominant hand. The blade was a mosaic of shards, each one containing slivers of starlight, and moments of frozen time. When I held it close to my ear I could hear soft, barely audible whispers and a gentle hum — as if each shard was recalling a memory of what it once was. I triggered [Identify] and was extremely pleased by the prompt.
—
Dimensional Edge (Rare)
Forged from the shattered remnants of a dying universe, the Dimensional Edge is less a weapon and more a scar — a wound where reality once broke and never quite healed. Its blade is double-edged and broad, shaped in the style of a xiphos, but every inch of its surface shimmers with impossible geometry.
No single facet stays constant for long. The sword’s metal folds light through itself, revealing glimpses of alien skies, inverted constellations, and seas of glass that exist only in the spaces between worlds. Fine fractures run along its surface, glowing faintly with starlight that should have gone out eons ago.
When drawn, faint motes of unreality drift from its edge — fragments of broken dimensions bleeding into the air before fading like dying fireflies. When swung, it hums with a note that vibrates in the bones and mind alike — the sound of a universe trying to remember itself.
Effects:
- Phase Cut: The blade vibrates through dimensions, partially bypassing physical and magical defenses.
- Blink Resonance: Reduces the cooldown of short-range teleport or displacement abilities by a small percentage.
- Growth: This weapon will grow with the wielder and will advance as requirements are met
- Soulbound
—
The second blade was smaller and sleeker compared to the first. Its blade was a mix of silver and dark grey metal, with an edge that looked razor-sharp. The handle was made of smooth, polished wood, intricately carved with swirling patterns. The blade, which was made of some form of shiny and polished metal, was about 12 inches long and had a straight design. I noticed several small nicks along the blade, though they did nothing to detract from its sharpness.
As I grasp the handle, it felt worn and smooth, as if used frequently. I could sense a faint buzz of energy emanating from the blade, as though it is alive and eager for action.
—
Guardian’s Seax (Rare)
This handcrafted seax bears the marks of countless small repairs — a tool, a keepsake, and a promise all at once. It was forged from a piece of a nameless guardian's essence, shaped by their desperate will to protect their charge at any cost. The edge gleams with a faint, pale warmth, and a single blue rune on the hilt pulses softly in rhythm with the heartbeat of their long forgotten charge. Effects:
- Guardian's Vigil: The seax emits a protective aura that boosts wielder’s awareness, allowing them to sense hidden dangers and potential threats within 25 meters.
- Sheltering Embrace: Once per day, the blade can project a shimmering shield around Cain and Elena, absorbing a portion of incoming damage and converting it into temporary vitality for both.
- Soulbound
—
“What do you think, Dad?” Elena said, pulling my attention to her. She twirled again, this time launching a burst of rainbow motes into the sky. They hung for a moment, each one lazily spinning before blinking out. It was beautiful, but the sight had a bittersweet edge: for every shimmer of wonder, I found myself bracing for the horror waiting in the next clearing.
“It’s… perfect,” I said honestly. “Though you might want to keep the twirling to a minimum until we know if there’s anything else out there.” I nod at the rainbow detritus drifting down around us. “That stuff is basically a billboard for every predator in earshot.”
She stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes. “I can turn it off, see?” She snapped her fingers and the motes winked out of existence. Oddly enough that didn’t make me feel any better; if anything, the air felt heavier, as though her glitter had been the only thing holding off the dark.
I really need to tone it down. I’m starting to sound like one of those edgelord MCs who spends more time engaging in emotional masturbation that they do actually developing the plot. Soon I’d be telling everyone how I'm "not like others” and endlessly dwelling on the nature of power and authority.
I snorted at my own melodrama. If the universe had cast me in the role of "Dad in the End of Days," I'd at least try not to be the insufferable kind. Elena deserved better than a father who couldn't see the rainbow for fear of what might be lurking behind it. I took another breath, gentler this time, and let my shoulders drop. I'd rather face the apocalypse with a dad joke than a monologue. I took another breath and let the tension in my shoulders ease. Right now my daughter was making magic with her fingertips, and that seemed worth staying present for.
We made our way along the stream, which had grown wider with every bend. I watched the mossy banks for signs of more murder bunnies, but all I saw were tiny, blue-shelled crabs like frogs scuttle jumping over the rocks, their pincers clacking menacingly at us. Well as menacingly as anything that was 9 cm tall could manage. Occasionally, one would stop and fix me with a beady, multifaceted stare, antennae twitching wildly before quickly scuttling away. A quick [Identify] didn’t provide much more information than what I could already gather.
—
Terrascuttler
Species: Amphiscuttla Audaculum
Level: 1 (G Grade - Harmless)
The Terrascuttler is a small amphibious creature resembling a cross between a frog and a crab. Barely the size of a clenched fist, it sports a glossy blue carapace mottled with slate-grey speckles that shimmer when wet. Its powerful hind legs allow it to hop short distances — often in a jerky, almost comical fashion — while its front claws snap with startling speed and confidence.
Despite their size, Terrascuttlers are infamously confrontational, known to posture and clack their pincers at creatures hundreds of times their mass. Their bulging, multifaceted eyes give them near-perfect peripheral vision, and their twitching antennae seem to sense vibrations in the ground, alerting them to even subtle movement.
Terrascuttlers act as natural scavengers, cleaning detritus and algae from stones and riverbanks. Their colonies are often considered signs of healthy water sources, if you’re willing to risk your ankles to get it.
—
Harmless? What did that mean? I focused on the word and another prompt appeared.
—
Harmless: A designation given to indicate that something poses no threat to the person in question. Due to this no experience will be awarded for killing anything marked with this designation.
—
Makes sense I guess, I thought to myself then turned my attention away from the strange new creatures and back to the forest around us.
We drifted into a strange rhythm: Elena ranging ahead, though still in sigh, looking for more cool rocks or bugs, with me lagging behind while scanning for threats, real or imagined. I called up my [Arcane Sense] every few minutes, letting the world’s hidden energies overlay my other senses. Sometimes, I’d catch the indistinct afterimage of something massive gliding through the canopy far above, its mana signature burning as hot as a magnesium flare before blinking out again.
After what felt like an hour but probably wasn’t, we reached a clearing that had appeared to have been used as a campsite. A ring of stones marked where a fire had burned. The ground around it was covered in old footprints—human like in appearance, but only barely. The toes were longer, the arches higher, and some had a faint webbing between them. They also seemed much smaller than one would expect from a fully grown human.
I raised my finger to my lips and gestured for Elena to stay back. Drawing both blades from their sheaths, I felt the Guardian's Seax hum to life in my left hand, my senses immediately sharpening. The clearing revealed itself in new detail—scents, sounds, the faintest disturbances in the air — but nothing registered as an immediate threat. I beckoned Elena forward with a nod.
We picked through the abandoned campsite, finding nothing but discarded wrappers and a suspicious pile that made me wrinkle my nose and steer Elena away. The strange footprints led southwest, away from our intended path.
Once we'd put a good distance between us and the clearing, Elena tugged at my sleeve. "Who do you think was there?"
"Something we're lucky to have missed," I said, squeezing her shoulder. "Let's keep it that way. Hey—want to show me that [Flight of Ideas] ability instead?"
Her eyes lit up at the thought, and she immediately held out her hands. The air between her fingers shimmered like heat waves rising from summer asphalt, then solidified into what I can only describe as a house limo—magnificent and impossible. My heart swelled with awe even as my stomach dropped when Elena suddenly collapsed to one knee, her face pale beneath a sheen of sweat. I lunged toward her, every parental alarm blaring, but she held up one trembling hand. "I'm okay," she said with a weak smile that didn't reach her eyes. "That just... used up way too much of my energy."
Once I was sure Elena was okay and she was back up on her feet I turned my attention towards her creation. It looked like a luxurious stretch limousine fused with a cozy, miniature house. The exterior gleamed with rainbow-colored paint and sparkling glitter, while puffy cloud-shaped wheels allowed it to float just above the ground. The door is a candy-cane-striped archway that swings open with a cheerful chiming sound. A rooftop garden grew lollipops and sunflowers, with a built-in slide spiraling down the back.
Inside, there’s a living room with squishy bean bag chairs, a blanket fort ceiling lit by twinkling fairy lights, and walls decorated with drawings that come to life and wave hello. There’s a tiny kitchen stocked with cookies and faucet that Elena claimed could generate anything you wanted to drink. There was a secret reading nook under the dashboard, and windows that changed scenery — from jungle treehouses to underwater castles.
My jaw dropped as I took in her creation. "Elena, this is... this is absolutely incredible!"
Her smile could have powered a small city, dimples appearing as she practically vibrated with pride.
We climbed inside, and I instinctively made my way to where a driver's seat should be. The house-limo might not have been the most practical way to navigate a dense forest, but I wasn't about to rain on her parade. Then I noticed a rather fundamental design flaw.
"Um, love? There's no steering wheel," I said, patting the empty dashboard.
Elena shrugged. "You don't need one."
I waited for further explanation, but she just blinked at me, perfectly content with her answer. "Okay... so how exactly does it move?"
"Like this," she said matter-of-factly. She wiggled her fingers, and the entire vehicle lurched forward.
Dear god. My six-year-old is driving a magical stretch limousine through an otherworldly forest. Parenting books definitely hadn't covered this scenario. Yet somehow, we glided between trees that should have stopped us, squeezed through gaps that defied physics, and made impossible turns with the grace of a fish in water.
The house-limo glided alongside the river as we explored its fantastical interior. I reached for one of the perfect chocolate chip cookies, still warm as if fresh from the oven. The first bite exploded with sweetness on my tongue, but when I tried to swallow, it dissolved into nothing but the memory of flavor. Elena giggled at my confused expression.
"They're pretend food, Dad," she explained, twisting the faucet to produce a stream of purple liquid that evaporated from her cupped hands.
Time stretched strangely in the forest. When I wondered how long we'd been traveling, a translucent blue window materialized before my eyes: 10:27:36.892. I nodded my silent thanks and the numbers faded away.
Our magical transport finally met its match where the forest grew too dense and rocky. Elena stood at the center of her creation, arms extended dramatically like a tiny conductor. With a flourish of her fingers, the house-limo dissolved in a shower of rainbow sparkles.
"Next time it will have a pool," she announced, eyes gleaming with possibility.
I just shook my head with a small smile on my face. “Now it’s my turn” I said and I cast haste upon myself. When I tried to cast it on Elena the spell failed to take form. The spell description echoed in my mind: "Makes you go faster. That's it. Nothing else." Not "makes someone go faster." Just you. Why couldn’t it though? According to every fantasy book I had ever read, magic should be malleable. I even had a skill called mana shaping.
The world around me slowed as I triggered [S.T.O.P.] and called upon my [Arcane Sense]. As I cast the spell my perception tunneled until only it existed. I watched azure threads of energy coil around my limbs and infusing my muscles, pulsing with each heartbeat. Again and again I cast, the forest fading away, Elena's curious stare becoming a distant anchor as I sank deeper into the spell's architecture. Not its mechanics—those remained frustratingly opaque—but its essence, its intention. It was like learning a song by ear instead of reading its sheet music. My fingers tingled as they traced invisible patterns, trying to reshape the azure coils, slowly stretching them outward. The magic responded, not to my commands but to my understanding, my intent. On my twelfth attempt, the threads extended outward, enveloping a nearby Terrascuttler in an azure glow. Better the crab than my daughter for this magical experiment.
That poor Terrascuttler shot off like it had just had an extra large espresso with a side of cocaine. Its spindly legs blurred into a cartoon-like wheel as it ping-ponged between rocks, leaving tiny confused bubbles in its wake. The other crabs tilted their eyestalks in perfect unison, following its manic trajectory with what I can only describe as crustacean befuddlement.
One particularly dignified specimen swiveled toward me, and raised a pincer as if to say, "Me too?" Well, who was I to say no? I flicked my fingers like a demented orchestra conductor until I was surrounded by a troupe of hyperactive Terrascuttlers performing what could only be described as "Riverdance: Crustacean Chaos Edition." I grinned at Elena, who was doubled over giggling, and wiped tears of laughter from my eyes as my interface pinged with notifications.
Mana Shaping increased to 15
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Mana Control increased to 13
Parenting increased to 28
Secondary stat [Intent] Unlocked!
Intent +2
Intuition +1
New spell learned — Haste (Uncommon - G Grade)
New Title awarded — Shaper of the Arcane (Rare)
Experience awarded!
Experience partially diverted to [Elena Alighieri]
Before I could delve deeper the first Terrascuttler I cast [Haste] on came up and quickly crawled up my leg and onto my shoulder. I turned my head to look at it and it very gently booped my nose before running away to rejoin its friends in their speed induced frivolity.
New Title awarded — Friend of Snips (Uncommon)
I turned to my new titles and spells, starting with the newer version of [Haste] I had learned.
—
Haste (Uncommon - G Grade)
Makes you or a target of your choosing move faster. That’s it. Nothing else.
—
Not bad. I thought to myself. Now what about that new stat.
—
Intent: The strength of your will to shape reality according to your desires. Derived from: Constitution, Intelligence & Wisdom
Current Value: 11
—
Hmm. Okay. I’ll have to play around with that to get a better sense of what it does. I thought to myself. Just not now.
—
Shaper of the Arcane (Rare)
Books? Years of study? Who needs them? You have successfully learned a new spell through intuitive shaping of a spell you already knew.
As one of the first 100 people on your planet to do so this title has been upgraded in rarity.
As one of the first to do this within the first 12 hours of integration the rarity of this title has been upgraded.
Rewards: Bonus +10% to all Mana skills
—
A quick look at my character sheet confirmed that my [Mana Control] had been increased to 14 and my [Mana Shaping] to 17. Not bad.
—
Friend of Snips (Uncommon)
You have managed to befriend a colony of Terrascuttlers despite their natural cranky disposition. Even thought it was completely accidental and you were in fact using them for magical experimentation, they remain grateful for their “Zoom Zoom” time.
Rewards: You are now marked as a friend of all Terrascuttler kind. You will also receive bonuses when engaging in amicable dealings with any type of Crustacean or Anura.
—
Not sure how that would help, but any friend’s better than none right now.
“My turn! My turn!” Elena shouted, practically vibrating with excitement. I cast Haste on both of us, waved goodbye to our scuttling allies, and off we shot into the woods. The trees became a green blur as we wove between them and not once id I stub a toe or nearly face-plant into a trunk.
Skill unlocked! Running
Accounting for pre-integration experiences…
Running based value set to 2.
Running increased to 7!
Then — THWACK! Suddenly I was cartwheeling through the air, having caught my foot on a root when I was distracted by my notifications. I twisted my body trying to avoid a face full of dirt and managed to achieve something akin to a rolling skid.
Skill unlocked! Tumbling
Accounting for pre-integration experiences…
Tumbling based value set to 0.
Tumbling increased to 2!
“Stupid system,” I muttered, brushing leaves and dirt from myself. But actually, the pop-ups gave me an idea: why not turn our practice into a full-on game? If using a skills and figuring out tricks helped us build them up faster, why not treat it like the world’s glitteriest training montage.
Over the next two hours Elena and I took turn trying out various skills and abilities to see how we could make them work and get a better understanding of them. I went first, since I was the adult and therefore responsible for conducting all highly scientific experiments. Our first experiment was one crucial to human survival — or at least that is what Elena claimed when she came up with the idea — "does using [Flicker] repeatedly make me throw up." The short answer was no, it did not, but it did prove to be rather disorienting after a while.
“This is serious science,” I slurred, wobbling like a tipsy bard.
Elena just grinned, fingers steepled in the most villainous pyramid imaginable. “Now it’s time for Phase II,” she pronounced.
Phase II consisted of her conjuring glowing dream-construct projectiles, that I had to dodge. We raced through the trees, playing a manic game of one-sided tag, breathless laughter echoing among the trunks. I blinked, ducked, and dashed with every skill and ability I had. She chased me through the trees, lobbing soft glimmers that streaked through the air. With each blink I got smoother, more graceful; her throws got sharper, more precise.
I don’t know how long we kept it up, but we laughed the entire time. Eventually we both stopped and collapsed into a pile on the ground laughing and trying to catch our breath.
“DAD! I got a skill! It’s called [YEET IT!]” she loudly exclaimed. “It lets me throw stuff better. And I leveled up a bunch of other things too. This is awesome!.”
I ruffled her hair and checked my own notifications. Sure enough a new skill and a couple skill increases awaited me.
Skill Unlocked! Proprioception
Accounting for pre-integration experiences…
Proprioception based value set to 0.
Proprioception increased to 3
—
Proprioception
Your body knows itself. Every limb, weight shift, and micro-movement sings through an inner map only you can sense.
Proprioception is your awareness of your physical position, posture, and movement through space. Enhances balance, reaction speed, spatial accuracy, kinesthetic control, and fine motor precision. Individuals with Proprioception can instinctively map their body’s orientation even amid disorienting environments or sensory disruption. Proprioception helps to stabilize short-range teleports and ensures precise arrival in close-quarters combat.
—
Parenting increased to 29
Parkour! increased to 5
Quick Reflexes increased to 12
Running increased to 9
Situational Awareness increased to 15
Teaching increased to 25
Pretty decent haul overall. Who knew that "dodging your daughter's magical projectiles" counted as quality parenting? I grinned, brushing a leaf from my hair. "Now it's your turn, kiddo," I said, before Elena could dream up some diabolical Phase III involving flaming hoops or blindfolds. "Stealth mission. I'll close my eyes, count to ten, and you try and hide and see if you can —"
A translucent apple smacked me square between the eyes, exploding into a shower of pink and silver glitter. Elena's giggle bubbled up from somewhere impossibly close.
"Like that, Dad?" she asked, materializing at my elbow with that mischievous smile that always melted my heart.
"Exactly like that," I laughed, blowing a sparkly puff from my lips. The glitter dissolved into nothing, but the warmth in my chest remained.
By our twelfth round, I'd been glitter-bombed in places I didn't know glitter could reach. Somehow this tiny human in her rainbow dress could vanish like a ghost when she wanted to. Each time, though, my senses sharpened — the faint rustle of leaves, the slight change in birdsong, the almost imperceptible giggle she could never quite contain.
"No fair!" she pouted when I caught her for the third time in a row, scooping her up and spinning her around. "You're totally cheating!"
"How exactly am I cheating, love?" I asked, setting her down and kneeling to her level.
"I don't know. Magic probably." She narrowed her eyes, pointing two fingers at her eyes then back at mine. "I'm watching you, mister."
Then her serious face crumbled, and she patted my cheek with a small hand. "I'm hungry. Can we eat now? Sneaking makes me starving."
“Absolutely,” I said, patting my stomach as it rumbled in solidarity. “Culinary excellence awaits. Prepare yourself for the glory that is… space ravioli.”
Elena squinted. “Is that a real food?”
“Only one way to find out.”
We found a little shelf of rock above the stream with a view in both directions and enough tree cover to break sight lines. We set our backpacks down and pulled out two of the MREs and some water. I peered at the MRE packet, turning it over in my hands as Elena did the same with hers. The packaging was oddly pristine—gleaming silver with blue runes that seemed to shift when I wasn't looking directly at them. A small symbol in the corner resembled a stylized galaxy.
"System-provided food," I mused, tapping the packet. "Let's see what multiversal cuisine has to offer."
I pulled the tab, and the package unfolded itself with origami precision, revealing what looked suspiciously like pasta in some kind of sauce. The smell hit me immediately—rich, savory, with hints of herbs I couldn't quite name. My stomach growled embarrassingly loud.
"Mine looks like mac and cheese!" Elena exclaimed, her package now containing something orange and gooey. "But it's... moving?"
I leaned over to look. Sure enough, the tiny pasta shapes were slowly rearranging themselves into smiley faces, then stars, then what appeared to be tiny dancing figures.
"Animated food," I said, trying to sound like this was perfectly normal. "Just another day in the apocalypse."
Elena giggled and scooped up a spoonful. The pasta briefly formed a tiny heart before she popped it in her mouth. Her eyes widened and she mimed fainting — a sure fire sign that the food was good.
Cautiously, I tried my own meal. The flavors exploded across my tongue—rich tomato, fresh basil, a hint of garlic, and something deeper I couldn't place. It reminded me of my Nona’s homemade ravioli, yet somehow more.
"Space ravioli for the win," I mumbled through a mouthful.
We ate in companionable silence for a few minutes, the forest around us alive with strange sounds—distant chirps, occasional rustles, and the constant babble of the stream below. It was almost peaceful if you could ignore the whole "stranded in an alien forest full of murder bunnies" situation. I took a second to check my gains from our final round of training.
Proprioception increased to 5
Quick Reflexes increased to 14
Situational Awareness increased to 18
Teaching increased to 26
"Dad?" Elena's voice broke the quiet. "What do you think happened to our house? And my school? And... everything?"
The question hit like a punch to the gut. I set my food down, my appetite suddenly diminished.
"I think..." I chose my words carefully. "I think they're gone, love. At least in the way we knew them. The Architect said our world was expanded, changed. The old places might still exist somewhere, but they're probably different now."
Her small face crumpled slightly. "So my room is gone? And all my toys? And my playhouse?"
"Yeah." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "But you know what's not gone? Us. We're still here. And we've got our memories." I tapped her forehead gently. "No one can take those away."
She nodded, but her eyes remained downcast. "I miss my stuffies."
"I know, love." I pulled her into a side hug. "But hey, you've still got Baby. And look at all the new things we're finding. Those little crab-frogs. The glowing moss. This magic food that dances."
She poked at her pasta, which had arranged itself into a tiny stage show. "I guess."
I felt that familiar parental ache — the one that comes when you can't fix everything, when the world has sharp edges your child must learn to navigate. But then an idea struck me.
"What if we made a new home?" I suggested. "Not right away, but eventually. Somewhere safe where we could build something just for us. Maybe near a stream like this one, with room for a swing set and a garden."
Her eyes brightened slightly. "Could I have a treehouse? A real one, not just a fort made of blankets?"
"Absolutely. With a rope ladder and everything."
"And can I paint my room however I want? Even if it's all rainbow and glitter?"
I laughed. "Especially if it's rainbow and glitter."
She smiled, a real smile this time, and resumed eating with renewed enthusiasm. Crisis averted, at least for now. The weight of our loss remained, but the immediate sting had lessened.
As we finished our meal, I felt a prickle at the back of my neck. The forest had gone eerily quiet—no bird calls, no rustling leaves, just the soft murmur of the stream below. I casually reached for the Guardian's Seax, activating its awareness-enhancing properties.
The world sharpened around me. Every shadow, every subtle movement registered with crystal clarity. And there, just beyond the tree line, something was watching us. I could feel its gaze like a physical weight.
"Elena," I said, keeping my voice light despite the sudden hammering of my heart, "why don't you pack up your things? It's time we moved on."
She glanced up, ready to protest, then froze. Her eyes widened as she stared at something over my shoulder.
"Dad," she whispered, "don't move."
I turned, slowly, my hand tightening on the knife's hilt.
A figure stood at the edge of our little rock shelf—humanoid but distinctly not human. It stood a little over 1 meter tall, with skin the mottled green-brown of river stones. Its face was oddly proportioned, with eyes too large and too wide-set, a tiny nose, and a mouth that stretched nearly ear to ear. Those enormous eyes blinked at us from beneath a cap of what looked like water lily pads.
I fired off a quick [Identify] and while information flooded my mind I drew my other blade.
—
Wyrdbourn Aelkin
Species: Wyrdaelus faeoccultis
Level: 6 (G Grade)
The Aelkin, fey born of ancient mist and forgotten songs, are semi-elemental beings that guard the quiet arteries of the natural world — rivers, streams, wetlands and their hidden pathways. Their ancient songs once harmonized with the burbling currents, their dance a perfect reflection of water's eternal patience.
Then the water changed.
A sunken artifact. A dead god’s dreaming pulse. A forgotten entity whose essence leaks through cracks in reality. Something changed it. The water became a conduit for That Which Should Not Be, and the Aelkin's eyes now reflect impossible depths and unknowable hungers.
Now it watches with pupils that spiral inward like whirlpools — waiting for those who will hear the sweet call that draws them down, down, down into the welcoming dark.
—
The creature's eyes locked onto mine — pupils spiraling like tiny maelstroms — and I felt a sudden, insistent tug in my mind. A voice that wasn't quite a voice whispered beneath my thoughts, soft and beckoning like water over smooth stones.
“Come closer. The water is waiting. So many secrets beneath the surface...”
I shook my head, fighting the compulsion. "Elena, stay behind me," I said, keeping my voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through my system. I shifted my weight, positioning myself between her and the Aelkin.
"We mean no harm," I called out, attempting diplomacy. "We're just passing through."
The creature tilted its head at an impossible angle, its mouth stretching into a smile too wide for its face. When it spoke, its voice sounded like bubbles rising through thick mud.
"Passsing through," it repeated, dragging out the sibilant. "All things pass through. Down the stream. Into the deep."
I felt Elena press against my back, her small hands clutching at my shirt. "Dad," she whispered, "it feels wrong."
The Aelkin's gaze shifted to her, and its pupils constricted to pinpricks of absolute darkness. "Little star," it crooned, "bright little star fallen to earth. The waters below have waited so long for such a light."
My skin crawled at the hunger in its voice. I raised the Dimensional Edge slightly, letting sunlight catch on its impossible geometry. "We appreciate the welcome, but we'll be moving along now."
"Moving along," the Aelkin agreed, nodding so vigorously that water droplets flew from its lily-pad cap. "Yes, yes. Moving along the stream. Following the current. Down, down, down."
It took a step forward, and the air around it shimmered like heat waves. Something was very wrong. I activated [S.T.O.P.], and time seemed to crawl as my perceptions sharpened. The Aelkin's form appeared to blur at the edges, as if it wasn't quite solid. Beneath its feet, the stone darkened with moisture that hadn't been there moments before. I took a moment to notice my surroundings before casting [Haste] and [Blur] upon myself. Time sped up as I let [S.T.O.P.]’s effects fade.
"Last chance," I warned, my voice dropping an octave. "Back away."
The Aelkin's smile never faltered. "The deep places call," it said simply, and lunged.
I shoved Elena backwards and barely had time to raise my blade before the creature was on me. It moved like water—flowing around my guard, impossibly fast for something its size. Cold, wet fingers clutched at my arm with surprising strength, and where they touched, my skin numbed instantly.
I slashed with the Dimensional Edge, but the blade passed through the Aelkin as if through mist, leaving only a momentary distortion in its form. The creature giggled — a sound like stones tumbling underwater — and its free hand shot toward my face.
I triggered [Flicker] and teleported a meter to the right, breaking its grip. The numbness in my arm spread, and I realized with horror that my fingers wouldn't respond properly. Whatever this thing was, its touch was dangerous.
"Elena, run!" I shouted, casting [Haste] on her.
She hesitated for only a heartbeat before darting away, her rainbow dress a blur of color as she scrambled up the rocky incline behind us.
The Aelkin's head swiveled toward her retreating form, its mouth opening impossibly wide to reveal rows of needle-like teeth. Before it could pursue, I cast [Abyssal Embers] directly at its face.
The black flames caught it mid-turn, and for the first time, the creature screamed—a high, piercing sound like steam escaping a kettle. It thrashed, its form rippling as the dark fire consumed light and heat around it. Instead of collapsing like the murder bunny had, the Aelkin seemed to melt, its body liquefying into a puddle of murky water that hissed and bubbled where the embers touched it.
I backed away, breathing hard, but my victory was short-lived. The puddle surged upward, reforming into the Aelkin's shape — now with patches of its body darkened and smoking, but very much intact.
It raised both arms, and the stream below responded — water rising in a twisting column that shot toward me like a striking snake. I dove aside, but not quickly enough. The water caught my leg and yanked, pulling me toward the edge of the stream.
I stabbed the Guardian's Seax into the ground, halting my slide as water coiled around my ankle like a living rope. The Aelkin giggled again and twisted its hands. The pressure increased, threatening to pop my ankle like a grape.
Pain lanced up my leg, and I bit back a scream.
"HEY WATER WEIRDO!"
Elena's voice rang out from above, and both the Aelkin and I looked up. She stood on a boulder overlooking the shelf, her hands thrust forward, fingers splayed. Between them, a coalescing ball of energy pulsed and grew—not her usual glitter bomb, but something darker, shot through with threads of midnight blue and silver.
"Nobody hurts my dad!" she shouted, and hurled the sphere.
A crystalline gale of shimmering motes exploded around the Aelkin, snaring its vision in blinding flickers, choking its senses in a glittering fog. Another surge of raw magic flared to my side and suddenly Elena stood beside me — not as the six year old she currently was, but older, likely somewhere in her twenties. She was draped in a flowing linen gown, a woven crown of fresh flowers perched on her head. Her presence washed over me in a cooling wave, numbing pain and clearing the haze in my brain. She met my eyes with a calm, knowing smile and then wheeled to face the Aelkin, her gaze ablaze with fury.
I didn’t need [Identify] to realize who this was. Vinessa Rose — Elena’s first and most consistent imaginary friend when she was little. With a graceful sweep of her arm, the earth around the Aelkin split open as thorned vines erupted, each stem crowned with jagged-petaled flowers. Those blossoms snapped open like endlessly hungry maws, filled with rows of razor teeth dripping ichor, and the vines lashed themselves around the creature’s limbs and torso. The Aelkin let out a bone-rending scream as the flowers sank in, tearing flesh with savage hunger.
Heart pounding, I thrust my hand forward and invoked [Chrono Shard]. A crystalline sliver of light shot out, trailing a rippling halo of distorted time. It slammed into the Aelkin’s chest with a thunderclap, and for a breath the world around it fractured—ghostly echoes of itself tore free, only to flick back into place.
The Aelkin went slack, nearly toppling over if not for the relentless, carnivorous vines. Within seconds it was shuddering, shaking its head, forcing the haze from its mind. I called [Flicker] and blinked beside it, blades poised to strike — only to wince as searing pain lanced through my leg, nearly causing me to loose my balance.
Before I could strike, the Aelkin’s gaping maw opened in a grotesque rictus, and it unleashed a shriek that sounded like a drowning person’s final gasp echoing through a cavern. Vertigo struck me like a sledgehammer—world tilting, my knees giving out—and I tumbled backward onto the jagged stones at the stream’s edge. Stars bloomed behind my eyelids.
Somewhere behind me I heard the vines tear free. It had broken loose. Get it together, I thought, gritting my teeth against the nausea and disorientation. I forced myself upright, every breath lurching, and saw the Aelkin bearing down on me, jaws spread wide in savage triumph.
Desperation driving me, I drew upon my magic and unleashed [Abyssal Embers] straight at its face — burning coals of black fire that hissed through the air. The Aelkin twisted aside in a fluid, stuttering motion. The beast wove through the embers with inhuman grace, its movements warping like light through water.
I activated [Flicker] again, hoping to move to cover — but I staggered as it refused to activate, my mana bleeding away, my blood pounding in my temples as [Haste] abandoned me. My limbs turned leaden. I watched helplessly as the Aelkin lunged once more — its eldritch maw opening wide — when suddenly two spears of purple-hued light gouged through its side, sending it off course, and anchoring to the ground with a crash. The ground erupted beneath it, vines sharpened like dark steel bursting upward through ribs and belly. It let out one final, soul-shaking cry that sent another wave of vertigo crashing over me — and then lay utterly still.
You have defeated a Wyrdbourn Aelkin Level 6
Experience awarded…
Bonus experience awarded for defeating a monster 3x your current level!
Experience diverted to [Elena Alighieri].
20 system credits awarded.
Congratulations! You are now a Level 3 Homo Fabulis.
+3 Free Stat points awarded.
1 Aspect choice pending
Combat Casting increased to 13
Dual Wielding increased to 11
Proprioception increased to 7
Quick Reflexes increased to 15
Situational Awareness increased to 19
Swordsmanship increased to 14.
I had barely registered all the notifications before my head spun again and I found myself on my knees reliving the space ravioli in reverse. Oh god, I hope this doesn’t become a regular thing.