In my dream I’m at home, mom is bringing a cake from the kitchen. It’s white with purple borders and my name is written better than she could have done. Eight candles sit just inside the outer ring of purple frosting. Definitely store bought. That’s not a complaint though, there’s a delicious bakery near us. I feel like that’s a secret I shouldn’t know. I ignore the odd feeling as Benji tries to snap the string on my party hat, but playfully, not really putting any effort into it.His fingers feel sticky as I swat his hand away. Not sure where daddy is, maybe getting my presents. Mom plants the cake in front of me and I take a deep breath to blow out the candles. It’s too quiet though. “Aren’t you going to sing?”

  “Sorry sweetie we can’t,” She says. “We’re dead.”

  I jerk awake, already feeling a hot tear slide down my cheek. Then I remember where I am and what I heard before I fell asleep. Quickly sitting up I look around to find a big black bird sitting on my desk beside a twine and brown paper wrapped present. The cake from my dream is sitting behind it unlit.. Some kind of corvid, based on the size it’s probably a crow.

  My mouth opens, jaw working, but sound is suspiciously absent. I’m out of that moment between sleep and wakefulness but I can’t quite shake the feeling of dreaming. It takes me a minute to realize there’s something odd going on with the mana and I reach out to try and understand it. The mana is just odd, fluctuating around things in a way that makes me feel like I’m seeing double. I can’t even get my mana close to the crow, There’s a circle around it that’s impenetrable as far as I’m concerned.

  I open my mouth again and stop just as quickly. Don’t ask the obvious question. If this is some sort of setup I have to stall until I can think of a way out. Whoever this is doesn’t feel like Heacate and whatever they’re doing is messing with my perception. “Can you stop messing with the mana in here?” Well, I stayed quiet as long as I could. I felt like a kid in the back of a car yelling that my sibling is touching me. Strangely that never happened in real life, despite the old shows I’d seen making it out to be a rite of passage.

  “Hah, good girl,” The crow said in a deep woman’s voice. “Not who are you, or how did you get in my private tent, but stop messing with the mana. Unfortunately I can’t do that without completely destroying this place and you along with it. This is not my true form, just a substitute that you can handle for now. Messing with the mana is how I wrapped this image around my traveling conscious.”

  Oh no. Not my goddess. What are the possibilities? Assuming this person is as powerful as my goddess, if not more given my luck, she’s here to completely change how I think or mess with my path. She’s going to reveal some crazy scheme to destroy the system or tell me my goddess is pure evil and I’ve been misled. Or maybe she’s going to offer me some devil’s deal to save myself at the cost of some ritual sacrifice. Oh no oh no, does that mean the cake is evil? That thought breaks the stupid barrier and I calm down a little. Look at the other side, I was asleep for who knows how long and yet I’m fine. I can see that she’s messing with the mana so she probably hasn’t messed with my head. Maybe this is in relation to the event, or maybe everyone gets to talk to someone on their birthday?

  “Surely that’s not the end of your curiosity?” The crow somehow gives me the image of a librarian looking down her glasses at someone being too loud.

  “There is no end to my curiosity,” I say truthfully, “but I’ve learned that some people can get more information from a question than the asker can from an answer.”

  “You’ve learned? You mean you’ve read. I’m not sure Hecate knew the paranoia she was instilling in you by assigning that so-called ‘homework’. Don’t worry I take no offense and in fact I think you might get along well with my people.”

  I take a chance. “I could ask all the questions, who are you? What do you want? How did you get in my private tent that a goddess made for me? Or you could be polite and introduce yourself and explain your purpose as a guest in my home.” Please let her be as nice, at least outwardly, as Hecate.

  “CAW. Ahem. Peace little one I’ll follow all the rules of guestright. I was invited here, in a round about way, by the maker of this little bubble in space. But before I answer further, how did you know?”

  Common sense would tell me to be quiet. Let her guess. But again, my curiosity really was limitless. “Know what?” I replied.

  “Oh. You were simply trying to gain the upperhand. Honestly not a bad ploy from your position. I’d warn you to be careful with your words when dealing with deities but you’re doing just fine with the knowledge available to you. Very well, as requested, allow me to introduce myself. I am your godmother and I’m here for your birthday.”

  This is a dangerous situation. I’m not sure I even have godparents. I know the term of course, and I get the function but shouldn’t I know my godparents if I have them? I can’t call her a liar, in fact she might be telling the truth and there’s just information I don’t have. I just don’t get why she’s playing with me. From the moment she started talking she’s been messing with me and a part of me wants to loudly whine “quit it” in an echo of who I used to be. Strangely, the other side of me is not aggravated at all. I’m grateful to have anyone to talk to. I’m not sure which side is more dangerous but I lean into gratitude for now. She wants to play a game, ok I can play games. Welcome to my tea party godmother, let us discuss the weather!

  “Do you doubt my words?”

  Oops, I was in my own head too long. “No, of course not. Welcome to my home godmother, thank you for coming on my birthday.”

  “So polite. Are you satisfied with my answer, dear hostess?”

  How do I say no, without offending her? “We’ve just started talking, I’m sure I’ll find out more when the time is right.” Got her. “I suppose you being my godmother I can show a little ignorance without being in danger. I didn’t even know I had one. Would it be disrespectful to ask you how you became my godmother?” Ugh. This is so much harder than I thought. I need to come up with a better way to phrase things, as it is I sound like a child trying to copy her mannerisms. Oh. Yeah, I guess that makes sense.

  “Why that’s no secret at all, your patroness allowed me the honor on the day of your awakening. The reason itself, silly as it may sound, all started with a single tooth.”

  “The t-” I stopped myself. Whoo that was close. “That is so interesting.” The tooth fairy is my godmother! Wait. No, that tracks. So she’s my fairy godmother and Hecate made her my godmother. The crow is staring at me, say something. “Thank you godmother for the mana potion in exchange for my lost tooth.”

  “Why, no problem at all Marie. Might I call you Marie, or should we stick to titles?”

  Ooh a name for a name. She really is playing a game. “It’s only right godmother that you can call me by name in my own home. And would it be ok for me to know the name of my godmother?” I’m gonna find out the toothfairy’s name!

  “I am the Morrigan dear child, triple goddess of the Fae and I have to say I completely understand what Hecate saw in you. Look at you facing a goddess and just scheming away. You managed to be so polite too. Tell me, do you know my name?”

  I didn’t. I wasn’t sure what the Fae were but it had to do something with fairies based on what she did with my tooth. “Some kind of fairy?”

  “CAW! That is not the preferred nomenclature. I am a Queen Goddess of the Tuatha De Danaan, and a ruler of the Fae lands. Do not use that term again or I will take offense.”

  “Yes ma’am. I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” Dammit. How badly did I just mess up. She sounded like I said a real bad word. I’d heard a couple, one yelled at my dad when we were in the car by someone he’d pulled out in front of. I’m not sure I understood what happened at the time but looking back the honking had started beforehand. Then the other car pulled up beside him at the light and said go home. Almost as an afterthought they said the word I wasn’t supposed to ever repeat. I asked my dad what the word meant as the guy drove off and he kind of snapped at me, “don’t say that word. Sorry, vida, that's what stupid people say when they get mad at people who look like me. Not even the right ethnicity.” I called her a slur!

  “I’m sorry,” I said again, “I didn’t know it was wrong. I’m really really sorry.” Great, now I’m back to sounding my age. “Please don’t be mad.” That was just pitiful. Why did I say that?

  The crow, or Morrigan, fluttered over and sat beside me. Sidestepping and leaning against me she said, “So you’re not a cold hearted monster just playing along. I forgive your ignorance this once, which is more than I forgive for most people. You’d better add Tuatha De Danaan, Daoine SIdhe, and Fae to your homework though. I may quiz you next time we meet. I suppose it’s only fair as I’ve been messing with you since you woke up. I might not have done it so long if you hadn’t immediately caught me out fishing for information. Breathe out little one, Hecate helped you as much as she could and that included letting me assist you too.”

  I breathe out and to my surprise it’s genuine. It feels like the game is actually over. I hope it’s over because I wasn’t ready for this at all. Why is talking to people a skill you need in a post apocalyptic combat based world? The feeling of a living creature leaning against me is comforting in a way I had longed for. There was a reason I kept trying to befriend the local animals. Part of me was even angry at myself for not trying with the water wolf.

  “Alright child, you were born at two in the afternoon, that gives me twenty four hours from that point to stay for your birthday before the System kicks me out. I do hate having to follow someone else’s rules as a queen, but I won’t be losing any eyes to the System.. It’s six now. Hecate sends her love, but that’s all the system will allow her to send. She can help a little more when you see her again so the quicker you get to level 50 the better. I’ll do my best to help you now but I won’t be losing any eyes to do it. Before we get into all that, why don’t you blow out the candles on your cake?” The candles all light at once, as she flies back to sit on the back of my chair.

  I blow out the candles and then stare at the cake. Wait, I don't have plates or forks or knives. I can make mana constructs for myself but I don’t know if I can make one that someone else can control. Is eating with our hands/claws out here?

  “My apologies,” Morrigan says. Two plates, two forks and a serving knife appear. “I forgot you lacked the finer things. You may serve us now”

  I cut myself a slice from the cake and then turn to my godmother, “how big do you want your slice?”

  “The same as yours is fine,” she says.

  I give her a slice as close as I can get it and slide it towards her. Her fork floats over and sticks itself in the end of the slice as she looks back to me. Of course, birthday girl eats first.

  “Thank you for the cake, “ I say, taking a bite. Oh my goddess. I’m not sure if it’s the lack of sugary treats over the last seven months but this is the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. This might be the most delicious thing anyone has ever eaten in the history of ever. “Mmmmm,” I hear come out of my mouth.

  Morrigan's fork delivers a bite to her beak. “It is to your liking then Marie?”

  I almost call her Morrigan but I’m not sure that’s right. I think she gave me permission but it feels like talking to my Nana. I would never call her by her first name, it would be weird. Like kids who call their parents by their first names. “Yes godmother, I didn’t know you were also a goddess of baking.” Doesn’t hurt to give her a little sugar in return.

  “You flatter me child. I do accept the deliciousness of this cake, but I was not the one who baked it. That would be my husband Dagda. He truly is a god of baking, and the way to my heart has ever been through my stomach.”

  “Does that make him my-”

  “No. He was not part of the agreement. That being said it was likely only because he wasn’t there when the deal was struck. Hmm. If you have no issue with it I may rectify that with Hecate in the future. You do your share of cooking and a blessing from him would go a long way in that regard.”

  My eyes widen a little. Oh no I’m doing the annoying kid thing and just assuming that things revolve around me. “I don’t want to cause trouble,” I say.

  “No trouble at all. Dagda loves children, he can never have enough. Aside from the ones he’s fathered himself there are nearly uncountable fosters across the universe. In fact, were this not a newly integrated universe he likely would adopt you himself. Unfortunately you’ll be long grown before that’s even an option. At best he may sponsor an orphanage but even that’s pushing it a little.”

  We finish the rest of our cake in silence. I want to talk more but I feel like all I do is put my foot in my mouth. As I set down my plate and fork they disappear, along with Morrigan’s. She looks up at me, “Aren’t children usually more excited about presents? I was expecting jumping up and down and begging to open it. Have I done something wrong?”

  She sounds so sincere and so hurt by yet another insult from me. I do something I’ve never done before and kowtow. I’ve only seen this in anime and manga and I do it gently instead of slamming my head into the ground. “I’m sorry godmother, I don’t know what to say or do. I’m trying but I feel like a stupid kid trying to stay out of trouble at school. I promise I’ve been working hard and I’m trying my best but I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing.” I’m nearly in tears but there’s enough fear to stop me in case that’s also disrespectful.

  “CAW. Child I must apologize again. Seeing your progress and speaking to you even I forgot for a moment. You are a stupid kid. Well, not stupid compared to other kids at this point but stupid the way the young always are. You don’t know enough yet to know how little you know but you’re grasping at the edges of it. I told you I was here to help but I suppose I was also too stern at your ignorance and too willful in the game I started. Even with your attained knowledge and what wisdom you’ve made of it you don’t have the experience to temper yourself. You’ve been forced to grow up very fast, and there’s not even anyone here to learn from, just the archives of your people. Most of that was meant to entertain, not truly inform, and the educational variety is often dry and lacking in true human feeling.

  Let me put you at ease. I will not harm you for three reasons. The first is that I am forbidden by guestright unless you seek to harm me first. That is first because it is part of what I am. The second reason is because through Hecate I have come to care for your wellbeing. The last is selfish, if that makes it easier to go down and that is because you can become a bridge for my people to come to this universe. Now stand up and open your present please, we will have hours to talk after and not all that I will say is pleasant but it is for your own good. So swear I. While that may not mean enough now, you should come to find that my people do not lie.”

  I stand up and wipe my tears, still somewhat ashamed that they came at all. “Thank you,” I say, and mean it. She was direct and she was right that knowing there was an ulterior motive made me feel better. I realized I wanted to be useful to her. I wanted her to like me. I knew this wasn’t her but a product of my loneliness. Loneliness that was torture. I had shoved that information away. You weren’t supposed to be alone like this, like I was. It should have messed me up worse, but I think it still messed me up plenty.

  I pull the present towards me and reach for the twine holding it. I look at it for a second. The knot is strange and I’m not sure what to pull. Morrigan says nothing. This is another test. For my own good she says. I could cut it but honestly this twine is way better than anything I could make and there’s a lot of it. In fact there’s way too much twine and I think there are multiple layers of this waxed brown paper. Wow this would be really good to wrap the rest of the cake with. Or meat. Honestly this could be useful in a lot of ways. It hits me like lightning, and I should know. This is part of the present.

  I reach out with mana and trace the twine, it takes me a minute to start but I find the pattern and start manipulating the twine out. This is actually difficult, even with my stats. I’ve blown through my school work so quickly I forgot what a difficult problem feels like. The kind I want to ask for help with but I know somehow I can’t. Minutes tick by and I realize I pulled something wrong and have to stop and reassess. I find the problem and dive back in. I estimate a good twenty minutes have passed when I finally get the last loop out.

  *DING*

  Intelligence +1

  I’m left with what has to be 30 feet of twine. It’s smoother than expected to the touch and feels unnaturally strong. I just unraveled it and I still don’t understand how it all fit around this present. The wax paper is soft and almost feels like a more pliable laminate paper. There are twenty pieces wrapping the parcel and I unwrap them with care to find something you’re not supposed to want as a kid. Clothes! There’s a long sleeve shirt and pants, and underthings besides. Unfortunately there’s no shoes, which is bad because the bottoms are coming off my sneakers. Actually there are no socks either. I had already been looking into making something like moccasins though so I was still better off than where I started.

  “I hope you don’t mind the extra packing,” Morrigan said. “I wanted to make sure your first gift was well protected on the journey. I suppose you won’t mind taking care of the wrappings for me? I do hate carrying things in this form.”

  What? She gave me a cake and twine and paper and then clothes too but that’s only one present? The System. That’s why she was playing the game, not to mess with me but to warn me she had to play by the rules. I’m not sure if I was mad at her for expecting me to figure that out or proud of myself that I did. What was I thinking? How could I be mad at the person who brought me cake and presents? If she never lied like she said was doing weird stuff like this how she could be a little dishonest? It’s not like she was doing anything bad to me but it seemed like she was definitely tricking the System.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  I held up the shirt, a hunter green that seemed to lighten a little when I pulled it from the brown paper. Not my favorite color, but definitely useful in a forest. I’ll take useful over pretty but honestly it didn’t seem like I was giving that up here. The fabric was so light and felt fantastic on my skin.

  Garment of the Wood Elves

  A birthday gift from a Queen of Fae. Regenerative. Growth.

  I realized Morrigan was still waiting on my answer.

  “No, of course not, I’ll take care of it. This is so pretty godmother, thank you.”

  “Don’t you want to know what it does?”

  “It does stuff?” I said slack jawed. Oh yeah the descriptions. Magic equipment! I was wondering when I would finally get some. I had searched high and low for chests or hidden boxes but either the System hadn’t hidden any or I was really bad at finding them.

  “Yes child, it ‘does stuff’,” she said, mocking my voice a little. It didn’t seem mean though, the more we talked the more she felt like family. Like this was natural. I really hoped this was a true connection and not a reaction to trauma. I had already decided to go all in. Anything to stop feeling so alone. “Go ahead and put it on while I explain.”

  Not even hesitating, I started changing while she talked. “The cloth is magical of course, made by Goibniu, another name I expect you to recognize next time. The clothes will form to you and grow as you do. They’re warm in the winter and cool in the summer, adjusting to whatever temperature and climate you’re in. The clothes themselves are very hard to damage and will protect well against slashing weapons, some against stabbing but almost not at all against crushing weapons. They will however absorb energy making them decent against magic. To be clear they are made for mobility and stealth with some consideration for defense. A conversation we will be having shortly.” The last part sounded a little stern.

  Clothes fully changed I felt like I was wearing the most comfortable pair of pajamas in existence. I moved around in them, stretching and even jumping a little, thinking about how useful they would have been in past fights.

  “Thank you godmother, I love them. And they’re so pretty too.” The fabric was weird to look at, almost like it blended into whatever was beside it. That must be the stealth part. The cuffs and trim of the legs had intricate designs, some kind of interlooping circles. I could feel mana moving through those circles though I didn't understand what they were doing.

  Morrigan laughed, “Pretty indeed. You may find that most Fae crafts are aesthetically pleasing and functional as well. Truth be told I initially wanted to give you a dress but Hecate said I was being too traditional instead of thinking pragmatically. In this I bowed to her wisdom, I hope that was the correct choice.”

  “I think I’d be happy with whatever you gave me,” I said, still enjoying the softness and delicacy of the clothes after months in furs. I realized she was staring at me after a minute and continued, “I love these and Hecate is probably right the way I like to jump and climb. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love a beautiful dress one day!”

  “That’s more like it,” she said. “A child ought to be a little greedy. Next time I’ll bring you a dress. Now a couple more things about the clothes. They’re self-cleaning, part of the enchantment, so you only have to worry about keeping yourself clean.”

  Clean? I was still covered in wolf blood. I was going to have to wash my sheets and blanket and me. This whole time, since she’s been here, I’ve been disgusting. Worse, I’ve put on these new beautiful clothes while dirty. I stop myself from taking a big whiff to see how bad I am when I realize there’s no blood on my arms. I stabbed that wolf a lot and blood went all over me. Looking around I don’t spot any blood anywhere.

  “Finally noticed, did you? I took it upon myself to tidy up a little for you since it’s your birthday and all. Don’t worry the magic is so minor even the System didn’t mind. Last thing about the clothes. If you somehow manage to damage them they’ll repair themselves under moonlight, the fuller the moon the faster the mend. I suppose you will damage them eventually but you’re a good way off from that kind of power.

  Now before you get the other two gifts we have to have a very frank talk. We have to talk about what you’ve been doing and how you’ve been doing it. We have to talk about your path and what you need to do. But mostly I need to understand why you’ve been fighting the way you have. Let me ask you a question Marie, what is your class?”

  My class? Wouldn’t Hecate have told her? “I’m a mage.”

  “What kind of mage are you?” She asked.

  What kind? Is this some kind of existential question about the nature of my path? Am I supposed to explain my view on magic and how I’ll use that to become stronger? I can tell her about my idea to use gravity training I guess. I still want to use lightning magic, that hasn’t changed. Or maybe she means do I view magic as just a tool or do I really love it. What kind of question is this?

  “I see you’re overthinking again. I know you’ve lacked socializing but those pauses are a little too long to be natural. Maybe if you weren’t very intelligent but we both know that isn’t the case. I mean what is the descriptor in your class beside mage?”

  “Oh, uh range.” That was easier than I thought.

  “That’s right, you picked a range class. So can you explain why you haven’t been fighting at range? Your last kill, against the most dangerous opponent you’ve found, was fought mere inches away by design and a lot closer by failure of your plan. Do you understand why your skills are still so low? You’ve been using melee skills as a range mage and you don’t have a single decent range attack. You’ll be lucky to get a class with range capabilities the way you’ve fought.”

  I wanted to argue but wasn’t sure what to say. I hadn’t figured out ice magic yet, mostly through lack of trying to be honest. I wasn’t sure how to do a ranged fire attack without the fire being put out by the wind. Wind and earth were still just basic skills which I hadn’t even tried to use as a real attack. My experience with water wasn’t great, killing an insect with it had freaked me out. I had seen some possible ways to improve it into a real attack but I didn’t feel like I was anywhere near that. Really there was only one thing to say.

  “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

  I could swear the crow grinned somehow. “ That is obvious. Don’t feel too badly though, you have plenty of company. Out of the roughly one and a half billion humans left on this planet you are the one thousandth, seven hundredth and second person to reach level 20 as of today. Of those there are maybe two hundred fighting alone, the rest teaming up in groups to fight. Of that two hundred you’re the only one to have not killed another human yet.”

  I was having a hard time getting past that first number. There had been eight billion people before the System. More than eighty five percent were dead. I wondered how many orphans there were like me. “What happened?”

  “What happened? The System happened. Most human constructs were destroyed during integration as Earth was fundamentally changed. All electronics are likely fried, there may be some things that were turned off during integration that still work but it’s doubtful. This world was a far cry from the spectacle of Vimanas, which used a much cleaner type of energy before the system. Needless to say without technology and with a much different geography supply chains were broken, medical facilities lost all power and local food supplies were almost immediately diminished in metropolitan areas. There were many dying and the System didn’t do anything for them except keep them alive during the tutorial. Some were saved as the System generally starts destroying viruses and diseases, but for those too far gone it’s a change that would come too late.

  There are some net benefits here, non-magical diseases, birth defects, and genetic illnesses will have been eliminated. People will live longer on average, be more resilient to injury and have the chance to further improve their physiology. If you make it to level 100 you won’t have to eat anymore and will be able to survive on mana alone. Go ahead and ask your questions, you look like you may burst.”

  “What is Vimanas? What do those numbers mean for me? Can you help me become stronger?” I had so many questions but I needed to at least try and focus. I need to get the useful information before I start on the stuff I just want to know.

  “Hecate told you the story of the two pre-System worlds, yes?”

  “She said there was a magic city and a city of technology, no one knew which one found the other first. She said their stuff didn’t work across worlds but they made another place to collaborate.”

  “I won’t speak ill of a friend, let us assume she was so distraught over your situation that she prioritized other things in the moment. Or perhaps she thought to spare my reputation. You have the basic shape of it. There were two worlds, each with a golden city at the height of its power. Some say at the height of any power pre-System though I might contest that. The technological wonder Vimanas was a techtopia, like the System they had eliminated all negative biological conditions, eliminate the need or want for currency and prized education above all else. They celebrated any kind of creation, from space travel to bio-engineering to sculpting and painting. They boasted a democratically led council of three species and one god, Vishwakarma. Gods from pure technological universes may seem strange to you, they’re viewed as extradimensional beings that operate on a level high enough to seem like magic while somehow actually obeying every physical law of that universe. Some of them have claimed that their universes are a single being and each person is merely a small output of the whole. It’s odd to individualistic pantheons, but some of us do contain many aspects so it’s not without reason to me.

  Vishwakarma had a disciple known only as the Grand Artificer. I mean to say that she must have had a name but it’s lost to time. I see you squirming child, no we can’t ask Vishwakarma because we don't know where or if he is. Regardless, the Grand Artificer was an unparalleled genius and in my opinion was likely the one who discovered the other city, which I’ll get to. The Grand Artificer was greedy, not that most gods actually see an issue with that. She wanted to be a god as well but didn’t know the way. There are some gods who weren’t born that way, but it’s a very small number and those that weren’t born full blooded gods usually had some kind of blood relation with them. This is still true. The System provides a path to godhood, long and arduous, five people have entered that echelon since the beginning, with most gods simply being from newly integrated universes. Very few of us have been here since the beginning, both Hecate and I being examples of old gods integrated in the earliest days. Which bring me to the other city.

  Avalon. Avalon was the magical mirror of Vimanas. You have likely noticed at this point that names and histories of other universes have bled somewhat into your world. That’s not an accident and I intend to explain that as well, but let’s not get off track. King Arthur, though that was not his real name, ruled with his knights and the council of wise men and women, though you might call them wizards. True still that he bore a son with his half sister, better known as Morgan le Faye. Much of Morgan’s story and self determination are attributed to Merlin. Let me go ahead and lay that to rest, Merlin was never an advisor or great name in Avalon though he did visit from time to time. He had nothing to do with Morgan in so far as I know. Unlike Morgan Merlin is still around though I defy anyone to get useful information from him. He is quite mad. Morgan was also a little mad, it's said her blood was imbalanced by a Fey father though I never learned the truth of that. The parentage would not surprise me though I’ve never seen any ill effect amongst the half Fey. Morgan hatched a plan to steal all of Avalon for herself, believing that Arthur’s rule was corrupt and she was the rightful inheritor of his title. Little Mordred was her weapon towards that goal. One could say she was correct about the corruption given Arthur’s infidelity in a city that revered faithfulness.

  Mordred was not an only child, and in fact would be considered illegitimate in Avalon except that Arthur recognized him. Outside of heady whispers in secret places Mordred was referred to as the nephew of Arthur, which was not a lie if only half truth. Amongst his brothers he was the least of them in sport and hunting. There was only one arena in which he was unmatched and that was magic. On his birth Morgan brought young Mordred to me and begged a boon. Morgan was smart and learned in the ways of the Fae but she was also desperate. She asked me to teach her the magic of the Fae and in return she would return to us Excalibur on Arthur’s death. We did not ask for her to hasten his death only to stop the sword from falling to his kin, as it was not made for their hands.

  There was no prohibition for what Morgan did with the knowledge entrusted to her. In our history most who gained that knowledge would create their own end and her story follows suit. She taught Mordred everything she knew in service of obtaining the throne, even as a puppet master. Again I want to repeat that she believed she did this in service to a greater good. I honestly do not believe this was selfishness or even self delusion. She talked often about making Avalon live up to the ideals it espoused and I had no reason to disbelieve her as she practiced our craft.

  Mordred learned well at her side and became one of the wizards relied on by the king. By this time my part in our agreement was quit and I had moved along to other endeavours only now and again hearing of their exploits. Most everything from here on is supposition, but supported by System provided information. Mordred being ranked so highly, became the primary contact with the Grand Artificer. While trying to create their third space the Grand Artificer felt they only had two thirds of what was needed and Mordred took her to Fae.

  Hecate left Fae out of her telling. Fae is a third place, or was, all of its own. It has long since been integrated with the system insomuch as it can be. Fae connects to every universe and as such has local echoes of the greater Fae. Those places are entrenched in even the most technology heavy universes, sometimes even breaking through into their world. Your world had some small dealing with such an echo before the iron pollution of the industrial revolution drove them out. Now that they’ve been integrated they can return with that particular weakness nearly eliminated.

  So my part in this is said. Without my boon this likely could never have happened. Hecate disagrees, she says this was bound to happen one way or another. Both of us have somewhat precognitive abilities , though they go in separate areas. I won’t naysay her but I do think she sometimes speaks to ease my responsibility instead of to show me truths. I find myself sometimes envying that ability to tell lies. I haven’t forgotten your other questions but take your time on digesting that, I know you’re about to awkwardly pause before speaking so make sure something sensible comes out of your mouth.”

  What was I supposed to say to that? It was clear she knew more about one side than the other because she was actually there. Or there adjacent. She didn’t outright say it but clearly the System did something to the two cities, maybe the two worlds. Was part of Fae taken too? Am I supposed to say something about what she did? I’m no goddess. How should I know if she should have known better? My head feels like it’s gonna explode. I guess I should say something.Something smart.

  “What will the System tell us about what happened next?”

  “That wasn’t a challenge child, I just meant for you to take a minute to think on what I told you. Those worlds are gone, completely ripped from reality and the System has refused to tell anyone why.”

  “What about Fae?”

  “The Grand Artificer may have used it in her calculations but her third place was completely artificial and only connected to the two cities.”

  “Why did she help Mordred make the System?”

  “Now that’s an excellent question. No one knows. For that matter no one knows that she did. I can’t talk much about why the gods are on your planet, or how the lottery works or why it’s needed. Try and figure those things out on your own. I can however make comments based on what I’ve picked up from this planets, specifically in the last several decades. If someone made a computer that could do anything another computer could, they wouldn’t necessarily have had to help someone else install an application to it.”

  Hearing Morrigan talk about apps was kind of jarring. I hadn’t watched a lot of science fiction but everything looked completely unrecognizable to me. It seemed like everything was so specialized that people had to train to use specific parts of the whole. Maybe that was wrong though, maybe the better the technology the more easy it is to use. Maybe the System was an accident and Mordred just wanted to play his favorite game on the best computer ever made. She was telling me no one knew. Worse, I don't know how this helps me, I probably could have learned this later. Curiosity got the better of me and she let me waste time. Didn’t she? Maybe this was important and I just couldn’t see how yet. Time to be smarter.

  “I don’t think I have time to try and understand all of that right now. I’ll try to figure out why it’s important but I think I need to figure out how to stop making mistakes.”

  “CAW. Oh child,” she chided. “If you want to stop making mistakes you should simply die. That really is the only way. Of course if you do so you may break Hecate’s heart and you might also expect me to be distraught losing a goddaughter. But if you want to be a little less dramatic I think you’ll find you aren’t doing so poorly and I can help you get stronger.”

  “Thank you godmother,” I say. Somehow every time I say it it feels a little more real. I want to trust her so bad. She’s being so nice to me, but a little part of me keeps picking apart her words. Like saying I might expect her to be distraught. Does that mean she wouldn’t actually be? Maybe she doesn’t know how she would feel and can’t say for sure. Or maybe she wouldn’t care too much.

  “I have to say I’m starting to like the sound of that. I suppose you’d better not go dying. Let me take some sting from my words. I know this feels like a lot, it feels like this is all happening to you instead of you being an active participant and that does have to come to an end. In truth you’re doing very well, but if two goddesses are going to intercede on your behalf you must do better than very well. Above average is your starting point, not the end goal. So enough of me talking, it’s time you tell me how you see yourself as a mage. Give me your half finished ideas, your day dreams of grandeur, tell me of the power you’ve gathered to yourself and I will help you weave it into the story of a champion.”

  I’ve been so tired. So lonely. I’m not dead yet so maybe this mistake is ok. Please don’t be a mistake. “I made some rules. Rules about not getting hit, not letting my guard down, being self reliant. I mean that’s some of them. I need a way to feel if an attack is coming and a way to move out of the way or counter it. I don’t think I should go head to head with any attacks. It makes more sense to make them miss or get out of their way, maybe knock them aside? I want to get faster and stronger. I was thinking maybe I could learn some space magic so I could make myself heavier all the time as, like, passive training? I still want to use lightning but I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong, I keep shocking myself. My aim is terrible so I haven’t been doing a lot of range stuff. I’ve been trying to get better at, I guess you would call it fine mana control? I’ve gotten really good at automatically making shields when I’m in danger but if I could get some kind of danger sense to tie that to that would be better.”

  “Those are fine rules. I understand a little better now, you’re breaking your rules because you want everything I say to be true. I’m too limited in this form to make you believe without breaking you. You will find everything I’ve told you to be true so far as I know it to be. I cannot tell willing falsehoods but I can be mistaken. Thank you child for the trust you’re showing me. Now let us take your difficulties one step at a time.

  Unlike Hecate I have no intention of telling you what skills to pick. I don’t disagree with her choices seeing how you’ve grown but this is your story not mine. I can give you common knowledge though. Both space magic skills and a skill called Early Warning exist as System given skills. You seem to learn mana manipulation extremely quickly given an example. It may not have occurred to you that you’re sitting inside an example of space magic right now. I can also tell you that the principle of Early Warning exists around the concept of being able to feel all the surrounding mana in an area without having to actively push mana from your body. Both of these things are achievable on your own. I would also note that it would be a rare class that gave you two immediate skills and at this level of progression you should start getting a System skill every five levels.

  You could pick one skill now and the other in five levels, you could pick one skills now and choose to learn the other one naturally. You could even choose something completely different and work to gain both of these skills naturally. “

  “Hypothetically-”

  “You’re already very close to one of those skills and the other is difficult to learn naturally. That doesn’t seem to stop you with most things though so the choice is yours.”

  If there was one thing I was definitely good at, it was mana manipulation. So I could probably get the Early Warning skill on my own. I was somewhat ashamed to realize I had never really tried to study the tent from the inside. Honestly I had assumed it was divine level magic and I had zero chances of figuring it out. Hecate had used two pieces of metal to display electricity and that had still been a chore. A chore that still hurt me every time I worked on it.

  “I want to throw lightning,” I said.

  “Hold on, we'll get to that last. Next question, what will you do with more strength and dexterity? It sounds like you want to be a ranged fighter despite your previous endeavours."

  “I want to be able to do both. Everything I’ve found from Hecate’s homework says that I have to find a way to do something the System doesn’t expect me to. I can’t just be a really good mage, I have to be able to fight too. That’s why I keep working on my shield and mana knife.”

  “I’m sorry to tell you that most people try to cheat the System and it’s rare that any of them succeed. I do like your idea of training though, instead of trying to find workarounds to get more power for free you’re looking to make the System let you earn it. You’ve surely noticed by now that outside of combat your training takes longer, yes?”

  “Yes, but if I get good at it I can get credit for it in combat later.”

  “Good girl, that’s right. Very well, I have one note before I give you your second present and then we will discuss your ‘lightning’. If you’re going to increase gravity as training you should keep your Mana Walking active at all times.”

  “Always!?” I cover my mouth at my outburst. Then decide to give in. “I know the mana cost isn’t that high but I’d run out within a couple of hours at best, and that’s without the gravity magic. Am I doing something wrong?”

  “CAW. Yes, you’re doing it without your second gift. Because you’re Hecate’s disciple I can’t give you a divine blessing, the System wouldn’t allow it. Otherwise pantheons would increase their numbers by having everyone bless a single individual. However, I am more than just a goddess, I am a Queen of Fae, and your godmother besides.”

  Once again Morrigan flew over, this time landing on my shoulder. I looked at her and she pecked me right between the eyes. Fire! Ice burnt into my brain and all I saw was white. It felt like that peck had knocked me backwards and outside of space itself. My eyes started to uncross and in trying to understand what was happening I got a System message.

  Touch of the Fae Queen

  Crowned with blood and made her Joy. Become beloved by mana, mana regeneration dramatically increased. Rate based on ambient mana level, can generate mana without ambient mana.

  “Ow,” I said, holding a hand up to my forehead. I pulled it away and saw there was a decent amount of blood on it. “Hecate didn’t have to beat me up to bless me.”

  “Hecate,” Morrigan replied, now standing on my bed, “Is a goddess of pure magic and gave you a blessing of pure stats. Like me she is a triple goddess, but all of her aspects relate to magic. I am a Queen of Fae, and my three aspects are very different. What I just did was the equivalent of making you a mortal knight of Fae. Mordred held this honor as well. Only with the aspect of war could I bless you without asking a boon in return. A powerful blessing indeed, and one unasked for. Now for the fine print as it were. If any Fae in my court asks your help three times you are bound to try to help them to the best of your ability or lose the blessing forever. If a Fae from another court should ask you seven times you must help them in exchange for a boon from them. You can also renounce it at any time.

  I am coming to like you child so I will tell you more than I intended. If you throw away this blessing it will not affect our relationship, I will still be your godmother. I won’t ever be able to give you a blessing again though and unless the situation is truly dire I will not take you throwing it away lightly. Now let’s talk about your ‘lightning’ before we move to my final gift. For this, however, we need a change of venue. Let us adjourn outside to continue.”

  With that she disappeared entirely, leaving me alone. I sat for a second before getting up to head outside. The last thing I wanted to do was make her mad at me. Before I stepped outside I turned Mana Walking on and kept myself barely above the ground. I should practice this, there’s no reason to let people know what I’m doing.

  I stepped outside and remembered I was right on top of the wolf. Good thinking using Mana Walking. That’s when I heard a sound. A bad sound. Something was howling, and there were at least three of them. Make that four.