It’s now dark out and I am still in the RV; fortunately, I left Gen a way out of the cave.

Presently, the only other people that remain are Owl, Emily, Lorcan, and I. Lorcan is operating the RV while Owl is doing things to the arc suit, preparing it to be embellished and “reborn.” Emily, on the other hand, is groveling in front of Terra.

I have spoken to Lorcan about my sign language and other things of interest while Terra talked to the people that attended the meeting one at a time. According to him, it’s important the RV keeps moving from place to place so that it’s harder for anyone to listen in or try to do something to it. Many people out there do not like Terra apparently, but they very rarely know where she is because she does not typically meet people in person. Lorcan said she usually speaks to people through the lap-top, and that meeting her in person is like meeting the “Queen of England” mixed with someone called “Genghis Khan.”

Owl removes a yellow string. “Please, raise your arm, Fairy. I need to ensure the length is correct, so it shall fit you perfectly.”

Raising my arm, I watch the altercation between Emily and Terra.

Emily is on her knees a few feet in front of Terra with her hands together, almost like she’s praying. “Miss Galtry, me and my sister love you! I-I have copies of all the interviews you’ve ever done and… and you’re the reason I even joined the Church!” Terra’s bored expression cracks at Emily’s words, becoming a grimace, still, she quickly corrects the lapse. “Lots of the women and girls joined because of you; I wouldn’t dare do anything to deliberately offend you!”

The RV shakes as it slows to a stop.

“That’s enough, Charm,” Terra says curtly. “We’ve already discussed your assignment.” Lifting the yellow tome she traded me for earlier, she tosses it onto the table in front of her with a thump. “Find whoever this tome belongs to and give me their name. But, if you dare reveal it’s me looking for them...” She pauses, leaning back in her chair. “...well, I guess after our little contract that won’t be a problem. Now get out of my RV. I’m tired of listening to your simpering.”

With a few enthusiastic nods, Emily starts to walk away but hesitates. “M-Miss Galtry, can I get your autograph for my sister?”

Terra frowns. “Get out, right now or I’ll throw you out onto the interstate at full speed.”

“Yes, thank you,” she says, stepping toward the RV’s door hastily. Looking out a window, I see her leap into the air and whisper-shout, “I made a contract with Galtry!”

I shake my head. ‘What a lunatic.’

After Emily’s departure, Owl, Terra, and I are the last remaining people aboard the RV, save for Lorcan in the front.

“Well, Fairy, I believe I have all the details I can with you wearing it.” Owl stands with a small nod of his head. “The others have already begun forming the new materials. I am confident it will look truly marvelous. Some of the best craftsmen in the city are working on it.”

‘...Everyone acts so differently with Terra around; Owl is so formal and does not call me doll, while Emily grovels, everyone else is merely afraid to speak. This must be why she wanted her veils, so people would act normal around her.’

I write on my whiteboard and hold it so Owl can read it. “Will it enable me to move around more smoothly?”

His eyes sweep across the board and he nods. “If we do our job properly, then we believe so. If it isn’t to your liking, we’ll make adjustments.”

After making the thumbs-up gesture, I return to writing on my board. “It is appreciated, Owl. May I ask another question?”

“Of course. How could I say no to a Fairy?” he states with a small smile.

“Why art thou so odd? Art thou from an exotic realm?”

He bursts into laughter. “Well, I never expected a Fairy to call me weird!”

“Should I not have asked?”

“No, no. It’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting a personal question.” Squatting down, he stares into my suit’s window and continues, “Helping Hands enjoy partaking in fringe culture, and in our free time, we are permitted to do nearly anything we desire. No matter what your background, you can be a Helping Hand if adequately talented. Nevertheless, when we have a client and are executing their orders, we operate under a strict amalgam of tradition, customs, techniques, and laws. That’s how you get someone such as myself and my cohorts. I can’t say much more than that to anyone outside the group.”

I wave my hand and lift my whiteboard. “Nay, that was plenty. I thank thou for the knowledge.”

“I’m curious if you don’t mind me asking, what does a Fairy think of our little group?”

Erasing my whiteboard, I think for a moment and then write, “If I understand fully, I like the concept. Though there could be problems if anyone and everyone is allowed to join.”

“Interesting. What do you think about working with me specifically?” he asks.

“I do not know thou and outside of thy group, without the restrictions, thou couldst be anyone. Perhaps if I was a ‘client’ as I am now, but not casually.”

His small smile grows a touch larger. “Interesting, let me speak to the client.” Standing he steps around me, Owl stops just short of Terra and makes a small bow. “Miss Galtry, I wish to assist with your plan.”

“My plan?” Frowning, Terra states, “Please, be more specific, Owl.”

“I wish to help with the production of the videos.”

“I didn’t mention that to you. Who told you about that?”

“Sorry, but I overheard the man with red hair speaking to Fairy about how best to go about learning her lines. I assumed this was part of your plan, and I wish to help.”

She lets out a sigh. “And why is it you wish to help, Owl?”

“I studied film and costume design before I joined the Helping Hand and after hearing you speak earlier, I would be crazy to not want to be a part of this.”

“I heard your discussion with Fairy.” She crosses her legs, glaring at Owl. “Are Helping Hands even allowed to support such pursuits? This seems out of character for your group; they rarely perform jobs outside of their client requests. In fact, I believe it’s forbidden for them to exercise their talents outside of client or group work.”

“Normally, that is true, but if you are willing to charter me, then I could assist until I am released from my obligation.” Glancing back at me he continues, “I realize this is odd, but I’m willing to give the steepest discount I am entitled to give.”

The room turns a bit quiet as Terra taps her finger against the silver tome in her lap. Finally, she asks, “We plan to film as soon as the suit is completed. Won’t you be exhausted from the rushed delivery?”

He shakes his head. “No more than you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean, Owl? You’re awfully loose with your words.”

“Apologies, I simply mean it’s already past midnight and you don’t seem intent on sleeping any time soon.”

“Midnight? Hmm, I hadn’t even noticed. No, I guess I won’t be.” Glancing toward me, Terra responds, “But it’s up to Fairy; you’ll be under joint direction from both her and me. The Helping Hands are an organization known for their tight lips, but there have been a few cases in their century-long history of them deceiving their clients.”

‘Under joint direction! I have never had anyone under my direction before, except for copepods, I suppose.’

Owl’s head sinks. “That is true; there have been some outliers in our ranks over the many years. However, I wish for the record to show those disloyal traitors were dealt with sternly and paid dearly for their actions.”

“Yes, I can confirm that’s true.” Swapping which leg is crossed over the other, she stares at me. “So it’s your decision, Fairy, do you want to hire Owl until your ‘moving pictures’ are done?”

Gazing at Owl, I notice he does not look at me directly, presumably, so he does not influence my decision. Just as I am about to reject the offer, I glance back at Terra in time to see her stifling a yawn. ‘She is exhausted and things have only just begun… I assume if it were an issue, Terra would reject it herself. If she tries to do this too, she shall never rest.’

With a touch of hesitation, I nod and write on my whiteboard, “I suppose it is fine.”

Terra’s head tilts; clearly, she did not expect me to accept so easily.

A few more hours pass. I am now in a small back room that is only around eight feet wide and contains naught but a small bed. Terra told me RV’s usually have a much bigger space for sleeping, but hers is specially modified. Moreover, this RV is unknown to the Bishop. According to her, she had the Helping Hands acquire and modify it for her around three years ago. It’s been hidden somewhere since. That was also where her relationship with the Helping Hand began. They have been one of the few resources she has been able to openly use since they take their jobs quite seriously, meaning they would not tell her father of their private dealings.

‘Terra must have given up on her father long ago. She’s clearly been hiding things away and scheming while waiting for a chance to free herself from him and the Church. I suppose the Cosmic System and I were that chance.’

I extend my hazy hand watching a copepod crawl around my arm. Around two hours ago, Owl left with my arc suit, which is why I am in this back room in the first place. Owl stated the arc suit would be completed by noon. Evidently, they have already made most of the pieces somewhere else. Lorcan saw the receipt and nearly vomited. I believe he said it cost “one-hundred-thirty K” or something like that because it was a last-second job. I do not know if that many “Ks” is a lot, though going by his reaction, I assume it is.”

‘Come to think of it, I have not actually seen any of this era’s coinage. Perhaps I may ask Terra to show me a K so I may see what it looks like.’

Sitting on the bed, I command the copepod to my lap; if I leave it connected to me, it will not leak haze. It crawls through my haze, stopping where I commanded. I have been interested in attempting something, and by “interested,” I have been trying since I moved into this back room.

I place my hands on either side of the mouser-sized sable copepod. Concentrating, I try to compress the haze of the copepod. After being in my vermillion form and seeing how much longer they seemed to last, I wanted to know if I could make my sable copepods last longer as well. The haze begins to twist and turn around where my palms are.

Leaning closer, I struggle harder.

The copepod bursts into a puff of haze, slipping out a window I opened earlier.

Achieved Interim [Mana Compression (I-4)]

‘Oh, well, that is unexpected.’ Pushing away the wall, I resume my thoughts, ‘This method seems more efficient than the orb training Terra recommended. I suppose I am not a person. It makes sense a different method may work better for me.’

The door to the room opens and Terra stumbles in, collapsing face-first onto the opposite side of the bed. Raising her right arm, she reveals the bag of sign language things and drops it. She lifts her left arm, presenting a brown bag of paper with “For Fairy” scribbled on it; she drops it as well. “Constance, why is everyone so stubborn,” she says in a muffled voice. “I wish they would just listen and stop making me have to pull them around by the nose. They all know they can’t afford to not listen to me, but they still insist on beating around the bush.”

Tilting my head, I ponder the events I witnessed and then say, “Perhaps they enjoy the process? That Emily certainly appeared to.”

“Enjoy the process?” she asks, her face still buried in the bedsheets.

“Aye, I think they enjoy being threatened by thou. In fact, I think they covet it as if it is an honor.”

With a harsh groan, she replies, “That’s really frustrating.” Pushing herself up, she moves into a sitting position and pulls her silver hair back over her shoulder. “Are you sure you’re fine with Owl being in your cave?”

“Thou cannot do everything on thy own.”

She raises an eyebrow, observing me with amusement. “So you allowed it because you didn’t want to burden me?”

I shrug. “Mayhaps. Thy time is going to be limited, though, and thou hast hardly slept.”

“Well, neither have you,” she states, mimicking my shrug.

“I do not sleep, and thou knoweth that.”

“I regret to inform you that your plan has failed.” She releases a long drawn-out sigh and fakes a frown. “I intend to be there to keep you company either way. I’ll work and monitor how things are developing while you two film.”

Squinting, I cross my arms and scoff in my mind. “Thou art far too stubborn.”

“I don’t want a lecture on stubbornness from you of all people.”

I place my hand over my chest. “I have nary an idea of what thou speaketh of.”

She laughs.

Lowering my hands to my lap, I continue, “But to be honest, it does not matter to me much if people know of my cave; I shall be entering hibernation and shall abandon the cave for the most part.”

“Oh, so you aren’t as opposed to people going there as you made it sound previously?” she asks.

“Nay, not especially, I guess. I thought about it some more and I shall reasonably begin living inside the Tower after I reawaken and the gate has a watchword. Therefore, it does not matter that much.” [1]

“Hmm, watchword?” She pauses for a moment, rubbing her chin. “Oh, you must mean password, right?”

“Perhaps,” I respond with a shrug. “I do not understand why everyone makes new words for things that already have them. It is unnecessary.”

“Yeahh… let’s not delve too deep into that topic again after how the ‘thou vs. you’ conversation went. I wanted to talk to you about that boy Daniel; he came here looking for you. He thinks you ‘chose’ him and that thought has probably only gotten stronger since our little meeting earlier.”

“He thinks I chose him?” Recalling our one and only conversation, I nod. “He did seem to say something like that, but all he did was run into me.”

“His life was thrown into disarray and he’s probably trying to find a way to cope… or not, I don’t know. I don’t really know what he’s thinking or how he feels, so it’s merely a guess.”

“Is that so? It is unfortunate our paths crossed back then; at the time, my situation was dubious at best. Perhaps I should inform him he is not a ‘picked one?’”

She waves her hand, rejecting my thought, “No, what I wanted to recommend is that you use him to support you in some way. He thinks being awoken is his ‘burden’ to carry as a chosen one. It’s a rather silly, ‘tragic antihero’ way of thinking, but in my mind, it just shows how naive and inexperienced he actually is. What he’ll one day realize is being awoken early was the best thing that could have ever happened to him—a privilege rather than a burden. Let him support you, don’t do anything to betray his expectations, and I think you’ll find yourself atop an insurmountable pedestal in his mind in the future.”

“Using him? Is that really fine? It seems rather deceptive to allow him to believe he is chosen.” Pausing for a moment, I realize something. “Wast that why thou invited him here, for me to use in some way?”

“Well, it sounds worse when you say it like that, but yes.” Rubbing the back of her neck, she smiles awkwardly. “He seems loyal enough and you could use him as a pseudo housekeeper, delivery boy, or something like that until he adjusts to his new circumstances. Let him slowly learn the truth on his own or he might enter a self-destructive spiral.”

“So another person would be directly involved with me and my cave?”

Dropping her arm, she nods. “I’ve looked into his background and he’s ordinary in every way. Spends his time just working, playing games, and going to college, studying social work.”

I tilt my head. ‘That’s ordinary? People spending their time playing games and going to college. Seems as if this whole city might be nobility. Making their own city is something nobles would do, I suppose.’

Leaning against the wall of the RV, I respond, “Since he is ordinary, he is unlikely to betray me of his own volition, but ordinary people are rather susceptible to fear, intimidation, and pain. Would someone not take advantage of that?”

With a small chuckle, she sighs. “You really do have a lot of experience with people, don’t you?”

“At their heart, people have not changed from my era. They are outlandish, in a way, but in the same sense that someone from a foreign land is outlandish.”

“Uhm, well, I wouldn’t put it that way, but it makes sense. Still, I don’t think you need to worry about that. I’ll make it clear he can come to me if someone tries something.”

“I suppose...” Hearing the sounds of pigeons outside, a thought crosses my mind. “If I do allow him access, can I send him to a butcher in my stead?”

“I’ll provide him a salary and the funds to retrieve whatever you might reasonably need. If my funds are cut off in the future, he can decide if he wishes to continue working for you or not.”

“...So I can have him retrieve anything for me?”

She leans back against the wall and nods with a yawn. “Yes, please, if you need anything, just get it or ask; don’t hesitate to do so. Things will only get harder to buy and get a hold of in the future.”

Things go quite as I think. ‘Anything I need? All that comes to mind are seeds, meat, and books. Maybe, livestock? Oh! King oysters, I wish to obtain that pearl adaptation to solve my paste problem.’ Hearing some strangely rhythmic breathing, I glance over to see Terra with her arms crossed and her head down. ‘Sleeping.’

Standing, I fold the blanket back over her lap and sit on the floor and look through the bag of sign language materials. ‘I shall read for a bit and then I will try to obtain my novice Mana Compression. It’s beginning to seem as if I shan’t have much time for such things in the coming days. Oh, and cannot forget to select my scrounger skill as well.’

My eyes drift to the brown bag with “For Fairy” written on it. Pulling it over with the cattail, I open it finding it filled with sandwiches. ‘Bless thou, Terra.’

After Terra fell asleep, I bolted the door to the room she was in and slipped out the window to sit outside atop the RV. Some haze was seeping from my body, so I did not think it wise to linger in a room with her sleeping. The RV is in a dark alley, so it practically blends into its surroundings.

I glance toward the sky from between the two massive buildings—clouds and fog obscure everything. ‘I hoped to see some starlight, but alas, they are not visible. I have not seen even the moon since my encounter with the fopdoodle.’

Lowing my head, I do my best to ignore the snores of Lorcan that emanate from the front of the RV and command a copepod to sit in my lap. This is the ninth one. I am determined to complete my Mana Compression skill here and now. I can feel I am close to something, I do not know why or what, but I simply feel as if I am.

I squeeze the copepod, attempting to compress it as I would a fruit for its juice. A violet glimmer emerges from within the copepod before it bursts.

‘Nay! I felt it! I was certain that was! Huh?’ Leaning forward, I notice that the purple glimmer is still present. I reach out and take it between my fingertips. Bringing it close, it has the shape of a very tiny starfish, is as thin as a needle, and as wide as a toddler’s fingernail. ‘It is… glass?’

A blue wall appears.

Achieved Interim Mana Compression [Grade 5]

You Have Shown Enough Ability to Rank A Interim Skill to the Novice Rank

Please Select One Below

[Novice Mana Crunch]

A rarely seen or taken - frequently used as a crafting-based skill for Entities that wish to collide and compress Mana saturated lightweight particles together to generate a different material. The new material’s makeup depends on the initial particles that are collided and compressed.

I hold the little glass shard high. ‘I made glass! It was not on purpose and it is very small, but I did do it!’ I prepare to make my selection, yet I find only a single choice for a Novice Rank upon reading the blue wall. ‘Strange, but I suppose it makes my selection easier… so aye, Mana Crunch it is Cosmic System.’

Congratulations!

You have earned the “Novice Mana Crunch” skill.

Prepare for memory upload.

Similar to all the times before, pictures flicker in my mind. It is an image of me holding a loaf of bread, a tad odd compared to my past experiences. Taking the loaf between both of her hands, I watch as she seems to be compressing Mana. It is difficult to tell because I cannot see anything happening to her or the bread, but I do recognize her movements and mannerisms are the same as mine when I try to compress Mana. She stops and breaks the bread. In the center of the loaf, a small bit of sandy material spills out.

The scene resets. Once again, she is holding the loaf between her hands. This time I notice black haze flows into the bread, stopping soon after. She stops once more and breaks the bread. This time, the bread is partially hollow and a long piece of glass runs through the center.

The thoughts dim.

I stare out onto the dark alley. ‘Interesting, it seemed like in the first image pushing in Mana did naught but ruin the bread and turn it something akin to sand. However, in the second, when the haze was added, it instead became a shard of glass instead of simply falling apart. I shall have to experiment with that more. Ah, now for my scrounger skill, Cosmic System, prithee, display the scrounger choices.’

The blue wall emerges.

You Have Shown Enough Ability to Rank A Interim Skill to the Novice Rank

Please Select One Below

[Novice Scrounger II]

Continue along the general path without any particular specialization. For an entity that is more of a natural scrounger and reliably able to both find the items and make use of them.

[Novice Trashy Scrounger]

A specialized skill for those that scrounge through garbage and make use of items that most beings wouldn’t even touch with gloves on. For entities that wish to be creative with their items - one man’s trash is another man’s treasure is the motto of those that have this skill.

[Novice Routine Scrounger]

A skill for those that often scrounge in the same areas day in and day out. Can be beneficial for those that wish to remember certain items, places, and value of the locations they regularly inhabit.

[Novice Invasive Scrounger]

An uncommon skill that can force Mana into small areas and objects, mapping and searching confined spaces for anything of merit. Beneficial for Entities that wish to see and learn to recognize that which they cannot see with their eyes.

Reading the wall, I tilt my head, finding a new skill has become available. ‘Four, I have never had four skills choices at once before.’ I look through the skill and think for a moment. ‘That skill is hard to imagine; it seems more magical than most of the skills I have been offered. I had planned to take Trashy Scrounger, but I think I shall take Invasive Scrounger instead… Aye, Cosmic System, I shall take the Invasive Scrounger skill.’

Congratulations!

You have earned the “Novice Invasive Scrounger” skill.

Prepare for memory upload.

The pictures flicker in my mind. The Cosmic System must either think it relevant or has a sense of humor because it is the bread picture again. Though this time, I am not watching from a distance I am holding it. Haze begins to infiltrate the bread. An odd sight appears in one of my eyes; it is as if I am perceiving a dark area through a hole. I can see darker and lighter areas, yet not much more than that. Glancing around, I realize what I am seeing, the inside of the bread.

The images fade.

‘I just looked at the inside of the bread like I was actually inside it. Magic is so strange. How is such a thing possible?’ Tossing my legs off the side of the RV, I kick my legs as I ponder ways I may use my new skills. ‘I believe this may work well with my Mana Crunch or perhaps even my Humorism.’