January 26, 2019, 10:40 pm.

I feel both excited and guilty at the idea of spending my Progression points to level my class. If our final interaction with Ivicka hadn't cost Beth her Restoration, or even if I'd been the one to 'die', I'm certain I wouldn't feel guilty.

But it wasn't me.

Beth and Josh are still talking when we reach the pub, so we decide to sit at another table. Rose is staring, so I kick him gently, while asking if everyone wants to play a round of Astra's Stride.

"Actually, since they're still busy, I'm going to proceed with 'leveling up'," Roberts decides, going so far as to use air quotes before turning back towards the change rooms. As if Roberts deciding to go was a signal, we turn and follow him, making our way into the change room one at a time.

When Smoulder and I finally enter the room, she butts up against me. At first, I expect her to want me to build her an obstacle course. But instead, she directs me towards the bath. She doesn't get in, because she's already purified herself with fire. But she's insistent that I need to relax.

I don't fight her on it. Won't be the first time I've levelled while luxuriating in the bath.

Actually, I guess I got out last time for the actual levelling process.

As the bath fills, I run my hand in circles, watching how the water trails behind it. Of course, I can't stop there. Soon I have arches of water twisting over the bath. Which are soon joined by complimentary arches of each of the other elements until I have a lotus of twisting elemental power floating next to the bath.

Creating the lotus is almost as relaxing as slipping into the tub itself. Almost.

Despite the calming effect of the water, I find myself creating churning whirlpools as I excitedly make my way to the class advancement option.

Despite my excitement, I pace myself, only spending one Progression point at a time.

"Your Class - Cataclysm Seed has progressed to Iron Rank - level 3."

+1 Class Ability Point New Ability unlocked: Lingering Bonds Health and Stamina have increased: +2 pool, [+0.1 edge], (+1 regen/day). Mana and Focus have increased: +12 pool, [+0.6 edge], (+6 regen/day). Facet has increased: +12 pool, [+0.6 edge], (+3 regen/hour). Lingering Bonds: 0/2 Doubles/Triples status disability duration.

The first unlock is as unremarkable as last time, though the ability itself catches my attention. Too bad most of my opponents are either so strong they basically ignore any disabling conditions or they're too weak for it to matter.

I continue to unlock each level, the only difference between them the abilities I unlock.

Shifting Tides 0/1 Teleport any targets caught within a single ability, swapping their position with any other target within the effect or any linked target within 120 metres. Echo of Agony 0/2 All elemental damage inflicted is applied again over a period of a minute while also increasing the target's age by a year. Entropic Shift 0/1 Allows instant shifting of elemental mana type within active spells. All favourited spells can be used with any element.

They're all kind of interesting, but except for Shifting Tides, none of them seem that important. Just minor quality of life improvements. Though Echo of Agony is kind of insidious. It doesn't list a minimum amount of damage to trigger the ageing effect.

I spend a solid five minutes looking over my new options before deciding to talk it over with Tipan and Rufka first. Maybe I'll even ask Genitha. She'd probably have all sorts of insights about what sort of Class Abilities might be more powerful than others.

Since I'm here, I also invest half the integration points we received bringing my Strength and Constitution to fifty each.

I give twenty-one of the points to Smoulder. It's kind of funny that I have to give her points but she has full control of where they're invested. It's a shame there aren't more opportunities like the training areas that grant pets their own points.

Smoulder doesn't disappoint, putting all her attribute points into increasing Stamina as much as she can. Her mental attributes are… well, at least they're balanced.

Then I browse through the store, checking to see what options I might be interested in. The Anti-Corruption submenu is still there. Guess the System's decided we might still need them. "Though if the System really wants us to use the anti-corruption measures, it'd give us an Advancement point to buy them with."

…

Oh well, didn't really expect an answer.

Since it's only one iron integration point, I decide to purchase the Analyze ability. I want to test it compared to my already formidable ability to analyze things. But I also wanted to see if purchasing it unlocks an advanced version.

The second I purchase the ability, there's a slight tingle in the tip of my fingers, but it's gone as soon as I notice it. Way smoother than the Restoration upgrade.

Checking the menu, I find that Analyze is still listed, but instead of a range of Touch and only being able to Analyze mortal objects, I can purchase the upgraded version which would allow me to Analyze iron-rank targets at a range of up to two metres. All for a single iron Progression point.

That's not happening any time soon.

Finished with my browsing, I luxuriate in the bath watching the lotus as I make it pulse. I cycle through each of the elements, watching to see how each reacts when they're in the presence of so many other elements.

Most of them seem to weaken whenever I flare the other elements. The only exception is when I tweak Twilight. For some reason, when I increase its 'brightness', every element gets 'stronger' as well.

I continue playing with the elements until I get a message from Beth asking me and the others to join her at the table.

Begrudgingly, I inform her I'll be out shortly before getting redressed. As I'm pulling my jacket on, I glance in the mirror. I almost don't recognize myself.

It's not the jacket or other equipment I've acquired though.

The way I stand has changed. In the past, even when I was trying to strike a confident pose, I've always had a bit of a slouch. Now my feet don't even touch the ground. And it's not that I'm flying. I'm flying with a poise I've never known before.

Is this a result of my increased attributes? Or acceptance of the power that imbues my every movement?

Either way, I like it.

With one last glance at my reflection, Smoulder and I step into the busy bar. The first one I notice is Demo, who's leaned over the table his tails wound tightly around each other. My eyes dart to his leg. There's a massive metal case wrapped around it, with flickering blue lights on the casing. Looks like he's still healing then.

"Yeh're not upset?" Demo asks Josh, who's leaning back in his chair, his pink robe nearly touching the floor.

"Nah. System brought me back just fine. I lost more time the first time Ivicka captured me. Even healed a few injuries from when I was younger. Pretty sure the pin in my knee from football isn't there anymore. . . oh, and it turns out that I'm not circumcised either."

Rose interjects, "Oh, you want to talk about genitals, do you…"

Demo throws his hands up disrupting whatever Rose was about to say as he turns away from Josh. Which is when he spots me.

His snarl disappears, morphing into a wry smile as he congratulates me. "Good job chasing off the Reaper. They're bad news. Only thing the System gets right."

"Uh. I didn't do much," I counter.

"Really? I heard yeh're the one that got Ivicka."

"Oh. That. Yeah, that was me."

"Nasty bit of business. But at least yeh're done."

Beth's voice carries from the far side of the table where she's sitting between Josh and Roberts, "There are still Fallen out there. And we never found Folthka."

"Indeed. And we still need to return the prisoners to their homes," Roberts adds.

"Which isn't to mention needing to find a way home. After we figure out a way to save Earth from the incoming mana-swarm," I grunt out.

"I might be able to help with that," Demo volunteers. But before we can get excited he holds up his hands, adding, "If we can find my ship."

Beth nods, "We'll ask Genitha and check the cameras. There's a chance we can find the swamp you mentioned."

As I listen to the others, I realize we're making plans for the future. Without Ivicka chasing us, maybe we'll finally have an opportunity to explore Akilo.

I wonder if I'll finally have an opportunity to work on my crafting skills?

I'm drawn out of my thoughts when Rufka hip-checks me hard enough to push me out of the chair I was just settling into. Before I can retaliate, she pulls me into her lap, wrapping her arms around me from behind. She's so short that she rests her head against my back since she can't see over my shoulder.

"Jerk," I mumble as I let her hold me.

"You too."

As Tipan sits down next to us, Smoulder hopping into her lap, I look over the table. Rose is pestering Demo about his leg, asking if he can see the process because 'he has an idea' while Roberts and Beth argue with Josh about what we should be doing first. Or more accurately, second.

Everyone agrees that getting the prisoners squared away is first.

When Genitha joins us a minute later, we take the discussion inside the table.

This time, something is different.

When I arrive, I'm alone. None of the others are with me.

Thinking maybe I just spaced out again, I make my way to the central chamber.

When I emerge, the viewscreen isn't showing any of the varied vistas of Akilo.

Instead, there's a view of a dark structure, the black panelling glinting in the starlight. Above the panelling, a thick golden disk hangs in the sky, blocking out the stars. In the lower right corner, the label reads System Primary Nexus Outpost MWVAE-22009- Monocerotis Station, Accretion Camera 12.

I'm so busy staring at the view, that I almost miss it when a figure with a beautiful rainbow coloured Mohawk, jean jacket over a Johnny Rotten t-shirt, pair of strategically ripped blue jeans and a pair of painful-looking high heeled boots appears.

"Hey, Lexi."

"Hi, Wyonna. What's going on?"

"Oh, you know, just pre-empting the System to bring you here so you could have a one-on-one."

"Don't you mean, so we can have'?"

"Yeah. About that. Turns out things have gone sideways since I was sent to Earth. There's someone who needs to talk to you." As Wyonna finishes speaking, another form flickers into existence next to her even as Wyonna herself fades, a mocking salute frozen in place on her face.

Her replacement is wearing an elaborate set of overlapping wraps, a cacophony of colour that obscures most of her features. I barely make out hands with the rough consistency of tree bark and deep blue eyes with no iris or sclera. They're even faceted, like a gemstone.

"Hello, Forerunner Pandora. My name is Theglia."

"Uh hi. Your name sounds familiar, who are you?'

The being pauses, as if judging me. After several long seconds, Theglia finally speaks.

"A question with a long and complicated answer. But the most salient fact is, I'm the one who launched the Forerunner Initiative."

Class Cataclysm Seed Level Iron 6 ATTRIBUTE VALUE ADJUST STRENGTH 50 (+/-) CONSTITUTION 50 (+/-) AGILITY 90 (+/-) ENDURANCE 60 (+/-) INTELLECT 125 (+/-) SPIRIT 125 (+/-) PERCEPTION 97 (+/-) RESOLVE 97 (+/-) Integration Points 0 Progression Points 0 Storage 7.94 Cubic meters Bonded Armour 3/6 RESOURCE CURRENT/MAX [EDGE] (REGEN) Health 464/464 [31.4] (334)/d Stamina 475/475 [36.5] (372)/d Mana 1070/1070 [83.2] (1006)/d Focus 1050/1050 [73.2] (931)/d Matrix Facet 290/290 [20.7] (265)/h Resistance [EDGE] Mana [143] Elemental [143] Temporal [171] Spatial [171]