With my bright violet eyes, I stay low beneath the table, obstructing them with my arm. Through the haze of my arm, I watch and listen in on the conversation between the two people known as Jessica and Leo.

“Right, I’ll radio for backup...” Jessica replies before pausing, “Hey! Wait, I think there is someone on the floor.”

“Huh?” A clicking noise is accompanied by a blinding light. The light illuminates the shivering young woman. “Yeah, there is, and she doesn’t look so good. Radio for an ambulance as well; once backup arrives, we’ll extract her,” Leo says.

Jessica nods, pulling out a black box. She speaks into the black box, “928 to central."

To my surprise, a voice actually answers, "928, go ahead."

"We have a 10-21 possibly in progress at the ‘Boathouse’ in central park. We are requesting backup immediately and an ambulance for a civilian down."

"928 copy.” A shrill beep comes from the black square, and it again starts talking, “Central to all available units, looking for assist for 928 with possible 10-21 in progress. Location is Central Park, Park Drive North East 72nd Street the ‘Boathouse’ restaurant can someone respond?"

“876 copies en route.”

“Roger, 876.”

‘This is growing complicated fast; I should flee… I believe they are likely here to help the woman.’

“Should we go ahead and try to pull the woman out? She obviously needs help sooner rather than later,” Jessica asks, placing the black box at her side.

“Like I said, wait for backup.”

She grunts a bit bitterly, “10-4.”

‘Time to leave. The woman’s words seem to confirm they do not have any ill intentions.’ Entering a squatting position, I wait for an opportunity to leave. However, the people outside keep shifting their light about the room as if searching for someone. ‘It is an utter mystery for whom they might be searching for. I cannot tarry here.’

Using the cattail, I grip whatever I can find and throw it toward the other side of the room. The object smashes against the wall, and the light snaps over there in an instant.

“Someone’s in there!” Jessica shouts.

“Come out with your hands up!” Leo states in an authoritative tone, “We know you’re in there.”

A second clicking sound as yet another light makes itself known. Now over half the room is blindingly illuminated.

‘...That did not go as I hoped at all.’ Slowly, I begin crawling from table to table, doing my best not to be spotted. The cattail swings behind me, almost like an actual tail, but I cannot afford to wrap it around me in case I need it. ‘There was a back door; I shall leave from there.’

“There!” Jessica shouts.

‘Do they see me!?’ I cease all movement, freezing mid-crawl. The world turns so silent I can hear the twitter of birds hiding from the cold weather on the patio outside. ‘Should I flee?’

A moment later, she sighs and says, “Damn, I hoped that would work.”

“That’s only ever worked on that guy hiding in a dumpster that one time, and you’ve done it every single time since.”

‘Trickery!’ My gaze turns toward the window. ‘Forget it. If I flee across the lake, they will be unable to pursue me.’

With the cattail, I grab a chair and sling it toward a nearby window shattering it. Both lights shoot toward me, but I have already committed to running.

“Freeze!” Leo commands.

‘Aye, the weather certainly seems chilly!’

“Shit!” Jessica shouts, as one of the lights turn away, “I’ll go around back.”

Leaping through the window, I am again on the back patio. Hastily I pass between the railing. The kiln bumps against the bars as I drift slightly downward. Once more hovering over the lake, I sprint away.

A voice echoes across the lake, “Stop!”

‘Just because thee tells me to does not mean I shall do so!’

With the light about to illuminate me, I fall flat unto the lake to hide but allow the haze to keep moving me away. Alas, it does not seem to be enough as the light shines onto me.

“Stop! You’ll freeze to death, moron!” she yells.

‘Nay! Not stopping! It is good she does not seem to realize I am not a person, however.’

“Dammit! 928 to central. We have a 10-60 suspect last seen swimming toward Bethesda Terrace."

“Roger 928, 876 officers in pursuit of the suspect, please proceed to Bethesda Terrace.”

“10-4. We’ll be there in approximately three minutes.”

‘...Let’s not go back to the seed just yet. I will instead take shelter in the thicket of trees directly across from the Terrace.’

A few minutes later, when I arrive at the small thicket of trees on the lake opposite the Terrace, I can see more blue and red lights reflecting off the lake.

‘How did they know I was in The Boathouse? I was not expecting anyone until morning.’

As soon as I hide in the bushes, the familiar blue wall appears.

Achieved Interim Sneak [Grade 1]

+1 Agility

11 Stat Points Remaining

‘Cosmic System, prithee! Can thee be a tad more considerate in regards to displaying the walls? It is rather distracting. Especially when I am in the middle of something! Times like now are not all that disrupting, but walls while fighting and such get in the way.’

Preference of Entity 1-3-2-3 has been logged.

As time passes, more of the red and blue lights emerge from the twilight darkness. I part some leaves, attempt to obscure my eyes, and can see people walking around with lights as if searching. Half an hour later, two bright lights approach my location.

‘Pray thee, do not find me.’

“Check the bushes near the lake; stupid moron might be dying of hypothermia after swimming through the lake,” a man says.

“Right,” another man replies, “I thought I saw something purple when we pulled up anyway.”

Hearing this, I retreat deeper into the thicket. The two men spend the next hour searching the area near the bank and some of the nearby bushes.

“Let’s go, they aren’t here anymore, and I’m damn near freezing to death.”

With that, the two men depart. ‘Thank the lord they are leaving. Who are these people in black anyway? They seem to be some wealthy man’s guards or noble’s guard. Mayhaps the noble from the castle I spotted the other day? If so, it is quite shocking to have seen that female guard, Jessica. Perhaps, this world does have a few good points.’

I notice the horizon, where I can see the sun beginning to rise.

‘Would returning to the bush near the restaurant be a bad idea? I think I shall, but I should wait a day before attempting to move…’ The snowfall picks up, and a new set of noble’s guards arrive, making the decision for me. ‘Aye, let us wait a day, shall we, Earl? Until then, we shall practice our skills and stay out of sight.’

Achieved Interim Naturalist [Grade 4]

Achieved Interim Humorism [Grade 4]

Achieved Interim Sneak [Grade 2]

+1 Endurance

10 Stat Points Remaining

After the noble’s guard left, the night was fruitful, and I managed to increase several skills. At the moment, I am still in the thicket I fled to this morning. Currently, I sit dissecting a goose I managed to sneak up on several hours earlier. It fought courageously, almost too courageously, but in the end, I persevered.

‘Earl, did thou hear what I thought in my head when I attacked this goose? I hope so because it was quite a fun quip! Aye, I shall reenact it for thou!’

I raise the cattail and point straight ahead. Imagining the honking goose in front of me, I make an internal smirk while clenching my fist.

‘Ha! Fowl creature, thy goose, is cooked…!’ I place my hand on my chest with a satisfied nod. ‘See Earl; if thou had a chest, it would hurt from laughing so hard. It was quite the jest!’

My gaze turns downward toward the massacred goose.

‘Although, without the glass, I had to use a sharp-looking rock instead. I am not happy about what I have done to this poor animal’s carcass, but I hope it would take solace in knowing its sacrifice was not in vain.’

Having learned and lectured all I believe I can from this goose’s body, I set it to the side for the moment. Thinking about ways to grow stronger, I abruptly remember I need to refine Nebula.

‘First things first, Earl, may I refine some Nebula?’

Earl Interface:

Would the user like to refine your storage of Nebula and Vitrum using your personal mana reserves?

[Yes] [No]

Reading the message, I hastily shake my head. ‘Nay, last time I passed out! Earl, is it possible to select how much I refine at once? I cannot afford to lose awareness every time.’

Earl Interface:

Refining Options:

[Refine All]

[Refine All Vitrum]

[Refine All Nebula]

.

.

.

Earl gives me a long list of refining options, and I eventually spot one that is near what I wished for. ‘Earl, I pick the one that allows me to refine the maximum amount of Nebula without losing my shield.’

The kiln’s flame lights up, and I can feel what I believe is mana being pulled from my body.

‘Aye, Earl. Please display the adaptations thou recommend, and I may afford with my current Essence values.’

Earl Interface:

Warning: If essence drops under the 5 Essence line, the user will likely enter a frenzied state of mindless harvesting. It is recommended that the user avoids this dangerous state at all costs. If the user reaches 0, their flame will be snuffed.

Particulate Form Germination Tier Adaptations

Available Crown Adaptations

Raka Factory Horns

(Recent Meal Loin of Lamb)

Grow a pair of hazy spiral Raka sheep horns that will refine small amounts of Vitrum and nebula stores. Max amount of .5 Vitrum or Nebula a day unless upgraded. Horns will consume 10% of current mana stores a day.

[Cost: 42 Essence + 2.3 Refined Nebula + 1 Vitrum]

Feathery Crown

(Recent Meal Pigeons)

A pair of hazy black wings sprout from your head just above your ears. Utilize them to forcibly send a wave of haze toward your enemies.

[Cost: 51 Essence + 2.1 Refined Nebula]

Negating Membrane

(Recent Meal Chicken Breast)

Gain a nictitating membrane above your eyes resembling eyelids, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Enables you to block the radiance of your eyes to better hide your presence. When the negating membrane is fully in use, natural night vision will be lost.

[Cost: 32 Essence + 1.1 Refined Nebula]

Available Skin Adaptations

Throng of Haze

(Recent Meal Copepod Throng)

Separate the haze into its primary components via specialized varieties of micro-copepods. Allow the copepods to merge together and send them cascading toward your target. The range is short without a mana shield, but the effects of your haze might have greater utility than you may realize.

[Cost: 52 Essence + 2.3 Nebula]

Available Dress Adaptations

Cannot Afford/Not Recommended

Available Armament ‘Cattail’ Adaptations

Cannot Afford/Not Recommended

Available Miscellaneous Adaptations

Paste Pearl

(Recent Meal King Oyster)

Encase and store overflow paste within a black pearl-like structure. Pearls can be used to feed, mutate, and awaken animals or plants that have not been introduced to mana prior—a maximum of five pearls can be made before they automatically fall from the kiln.

[Cost: 35 Essence + 2.3 Refined Nebula]

Essence Available: 82 [R = 87%]

Refined Nebula Available: 0.2 [7.3]

Refined Vitrum Available: 5 [2.6]

Refined Unknown Superacid: 0.5 (0.0)

‘It seems like some of the other adaptations disappeared, not to mention whatever that ‘R’ number is has dropped even more. Also, dress and skin have separated into their own adaptations. Odd.’

I read through Earl’s list of recommendations. Out of curiosity, I summon the full list of adaptations to find the reason Earl did not recommend more if they seem to interfere with previously selected adaptations. Not only that, but some of them are just plain outlandish, like one that changes the cattail into a shrimp's tail.

Deciding to simply focus on the ones Earl recommends, I examine them one at a time.

‘To be honest, having to refine is a bit of an annoyance and nearly makes me wish to select the Raka Factory Horns, but I am not exactly looking to grow horns… Still, I shall consider it again in the future. The negating membrane is also very tempting; not only has the glow of my eyes been a bit of a problem, but regaining one of my lost features is tempting. It would be nice to be less… monstrous. The wings seem like they look elegant, and it gives me an attack with range. Yet, wings jutting from my head permanently makes me nervous about picking it.’

Shrugging my shoulders and shaking my head, I continue.

‘The Paste Pearl seems like it would also solve my problem of accidentally shedding paste, so that is tempting as well, except I cannot fathom why I would ever want to feed it to something.’

Studying the final one, I am surprised it is still an available adaptation as a few days have passed since then.

‘This last one, it speaks of separating the haze. Does that have something to do with the colors in the chronicles? Moreover, it is another adaptation that provides some range…’

I ponder for a time, considering all the adaptations. Yet after thinking for a while, the final one is the only one that allows me greater diversity. Everything else I am capable of already to some capacity. This makes it a very tempting selection.

Earl Interface:

Ninety-Five mana was used to refine 2.2 Nebula.

Earl’s box appears, so I check my status. I note that I still have a bit over a hundred mana left in reserve for my shield.

With a nod, I make a decision. ‘Earl, I believe I shall select the final adaptation, “Throng of Haze.”’

I raise my arm to observe the process and watch as small bumps appear beneath the haze, scurrying about like bugs. They tunnel through my skin, resembling the copepod throng I ate the other day. Thank the lord, I do not have a mouth, or I may shriek. However, to my relief, they move to the kiln and vanish.

‘...Perhaps, I should have chosen a different adaptation.’