“Well, that is extremely strange Aife. What makes Ito different? Or is it Sui instead that is different? Ito? Maybe something about the pair of them?” mumbled Trina.

Aife shrugged “Maybe Sui thinks more like a spider than a person” said Aife with a grin holding Kanina carefully against her ample chest. The rabbit was a little hesitant, looking at Aife as if she was making a poor decision but eventually snuggled against her without complaint.

Trina opened her mouth to contradict Aife but held her tongue. “You might be right… damn that would explain a few things” mumbled Trina

Hmm? Do I think like a spider? Hey Ito what are your thoughts? Ito crossed her legs and then spun around. Wait you think like me? Ito nodded. I… well… why?

Ito shrugged. Is this normal? Ito crossed her legs. So… why do you know things I don’t then? Ito shrugged. Huh “Ito says that she thinks like me, not the other way around” said Sui out loud.

Trina froze and you could almost hear her neck creaking as it inched around to face Sui “How? How do you know that and how does it make any sense?”

“Ito seems to know. As for how it makes sense, I have no idea” said Sui

Trina turned her gaze to Ito. “But you can understand me as well yes?”

Ito gave a bob of affirmation. “Right, so clearly the bond makes the animal side smarter, yes? Is that safe to assume or are there exceptions?”

Ito shrugged. Trina sighed in response. She was about to continue grilling Ito for information when Aife used her free hand to pull her into a tighter hold. Trina let out a small squeak in response “What are you doing” growled Trina with little heat in her words, but a large amount in her cheeks.

“Look, I understand you really want to know these answers Trina, but can’t we have a proper rest? We’ve gone from one challenge to another, and even though we were healed after each, none of us have slept properly. I have to wonder if that’s at least part of the reason we were so easily swayed by the rabbits” said Aife

Kanina seem to take offence to that thought and stared up at Aife with big eyes as if asking if she wasn’t totally adorable. Judging by the double sighs of both Trina and Aife her ploy worked. It may have gone slightly to her head though, because when she turned her gaze to Sui, to try and complete the trio.

Instead, once Sui noticed the rabbits gaze turned her way, both she and Ito turned as one to meet the rabbit’s eyes. Ten red eyes stared back into Kanina who shivered in response. Huh, I wonder what that was about. Ito and Sui looked to each other in confusion but just shrugged.

Trina, seeing the rabbit shiver broke out of her ‘these little things are adorable’ phase, and said “Ok fine, we can rest. But! We need to go over achievements. Did anyone pick one up because I didn’t”

“Nothing on my end” said Aife

“Nothing important” said Sui

Trina glared at Sui’s response “Suuuuuuiiii”

Sui shrugged at Trina’s response “What? I agree, I’m actually a bit tired and a rest would be nice, and the achievement has nothing to do with threadwork so I don’t really care about it that much”

“Bring up the damn achievement Sui” said Trina

Sui looked to Aife for confirmation, but Aife just shrugged and nodded, willing to follow Trina’s lead in this. The fact that she was cuddling with Trina and would have to get up if Sui decided not to, had no effect on the decision… totally.

“System, show me that achievement” said Sui

Achievement, What Is This, ‘Cute’ you speak off

Rabbit Madness Achievement

To Earn: Completely Resist the charm of the rabbits during Rabbit Madness

(I really don’t see what’s so cute. I mean really, they are just fluffy grey bunnies with big eyes and adorable little ears… er I mean…)

Reward – Mind of Steel

Error - Reward incompatible with Sui

Attempting to Delay Reward - Error

Error: Please contact administrator

Huh… well… that’s something I suppose? “So… I got an achievement called, what is this cute you speak off, I got the achievement for not getting charmed by the rabbits, but my reward is super bugged out. I got three error messages” said Sui

Trina perked up at this “What error messages? The system has error messages?”

Sui nodded “Yeah, so the reward is called ‘mind of steel’ but apparently I’m incompatible with it? Then it tried to delay the reward and then it told me to contact an administrator”.

Trina’s eyes shone with some bright inner light and her smile started to widen. Sui could swear they actually were brighter than before “Yes, yes this gives us so many chances. Quick contact them” said Trina

“Uh… contact administrator?” said Sui

Error. Identifier Sui has not yet been assigned to an administrator. Cannot contact administrator at this time.

Sui relayed what was said to Trina, but Trina’s smile didn’t seem to falter. “This is still great. It tells us that we get assigned to someone, and that we aren’t important enough just yet for individual attention. This is actually pretty good news” said Trina

“Except for the fact that, they are in fact watching us specifically” Aife pointed out, mostly just to tease Trina.

She took it like a physical punch to the gut “Oof. I hadn’t considered that. Damn, right ok… um… no, no, I still think this is good. It means that whoever is running this has probably done this a tonne of times before and we aren’t being singled out for any given reason, but it is really weird the ability isn’t compatible with Sui. I mean, why would that be the case?”

Ito climbed up the side of Sui’s face and pretended to turn a crank over both her own and Sui’s head ‘We’re both crazy.’ Sui shrugged and agreed with Ito. I mean, that’s as good a reason as any.

“No… no that doesn’t sound right” said Trina “I mean, Sui probably is crazy, but I don’t see why that would limit it. The skill is probably something that gives charm immunity or just increased mental resistance. Sui still needs it as much as anyone”

“You sure about that” asked Aife with a raised eyebrow

Trina smirked “Yes. Imagine if someone tried to cast a rage spell on her, that forced her to think about whatever would make her most angry. Imagine a Sui that thought someone was burning brand new thread. Can you imagine the devastation?”

Aife shivered “Yeah ok. So, what then, she can’t get the skill because it doesn’t have anything to do with thread or something stupid like that then?”

Trina opened her mouth but paused. “Hmmm. Actually, that might be the case”

“What?” said Aife dumbfounded, letting her mouth hang open

“No, see, I doubt this can be normal. This is considered an error, and if a perfectly normal person was incompatible with the skill every now and again, then it wouldn’t be an error. It requires someone so crazy about a particular skillset like Sui to cause something like this” said Trina.

Aife went to speak, but Trina continued “And another thing. We don’t actually get a lot of skills, so I bet there is a limit… or… or they make up a more central part of who we are. Sui, is so opposed to getting something unrelated to her chosen field that even if it was handed out to free, I doubt she’d want it”

“Really? Sui would you really give up a free skill?” asked Aife

Sui thought about it for a moment before answering “I mean maybe? I’m not really that upset I don’t get this one. I’m not sure I would say no to anything that’s completely free but I do feel these skills have a cost, so yeah… I think I might ignore them”

Aife groaned but Trina was practically vibrating in Aife’s arms out of sheer joy “Ok, ok that’s good. So, we need to make sure that we pick only skills we really want in the future. Ooh I wonder what” Trina was interrupted by her own yawn but ploughed ahead “what we have to do to get assigned an administrator… system?”

Trina was hoping for an answer, but none appeared. Aife however took that as her cue to place Kanina on her head, and scoop Trina up into a bridle carry. “What are you doing?” asked Trina.

“Taking you to bed. We need sleep, and I can see you are about to wind yourself up again. Sui you good to make it to your room?” asked Aife

“The couch will be sufficient. I need sleep and do not wish to dirty my bed overmuch, especially when we lack the water to clean it” said Sui

Aife cringed at that “Ah… hmm, yeah that could be something”