Pacing the edge and looking carefully, Marcus sighed in relief when he couldn’t find anything squashed underneath the house. Thinking back on what he’d done, he tried to remember if he’d dragged the mana through anything living underground, but the area had seemed empty. So he was left with a lifeless beach, that was lifeless before he did anything, and his new beachfront home.

“What did I do? Did I kill the branch? Did I win a prize?” He asked the air around him.

“What do?” Datov asked, intrigued by Marcus’s antics.

Marcus rubbed his temples as he explained. “I went up a level. As far as I know you get those from killing things, and I haven’t done that, so I have lost what little grasp of the system I had.”

“Confusing.” Datov agreed simply.

“...You’ve got a level, right Datov? How do you increase yours?”

“Don't know!” The planet replied.

“You didn’t investigate it at all?”

“Didn’t talk. Didn’t help. Didn’t care.” They said with a mental shrug.

Marcus was about to comment on their lack of effort, but realised he only cared now to try to sort out his own problems. For the living planet, a bunch of numbers didn’t do much, and certainly didn’t make for good conversation.

“Fair enough, I guess. What level are you anyway?”

“Don't know!” Datov repeated happily.

Marcus paused. “... Are you sure? It doesn’t say it at the top of your status?”

“Don't know. All wobble. No help.”

“Wobbles? You can’t read it?” he asked.

“Read?”

He sighed. “Ok, backtracking a step then. Reading is... when you look at a bunch of pictures called letters, which go together into words and sentences, to share information. Did you understand that?”

“...No.” Datov admitted after a moment.

“Yeah, me neither. I'm really not a good teacher.”

“Best teacher.” They interjected defensively.

He smiled. “Only teacher, but thanks anyway. Let me check if the System can field this one.”

Opening his own menu, he tried to search for a language setting, or whether it was like all those old sci-fi movies and English was just the default language of the universe. A few minutes of rolling through various descriptions and filters eventually gave him his answer.

-System Language – all communication between sapient users of the system is instantaneously converted into the System standard. Those born within the system usually only know this language since it is the only necessary, but certain skills allow for speaking other languages for codes, prayer or other reasons. The language set in the System menu is the one best known by the user when first logged as a user-

“Best known...” he muttered, deep in thought. Suppose you were a very old and isolated entity, that managed to come into consciousness all on your own. You have no idea of literally anything, but suddenly are, so you flail around. You manage to open the system with no concept of others, let alone communication or language, so what would you see?

“Wobbles.” Datov agreed sadly.

“Private thoughts Datov, but yeah, I think that might be the case. I couldn’t see anything about changing it, but maybe we can eventually find someone who knows what they’re doing to ask. Speaking of...”

“Soon, maybe?”

“Well, I guess I’ll go make myself at home.

~

A loud crack rang through the air, causing Marcus to jump, leaping up from his seat.

“Near!” Datov said with excitement.

“Yes, the noise gave it away.” He answered dryly. “Was that a gunshot, do you think? Do they have a gun?... I don't expect you to understand these questions Datov, this is just nerves from finally seeing another person.”

“Datov not person?” the planet said, hurt.

“You’re a good person Datov, I’d just like to talk to one of my... scale.” He apologised quickly.

“Datov best scale.”

“Not what that means, but we’ll cover that later, I think I see them!”

Stepping from the remaining tree line onto the blackened shore, there was nothing else for them to hide behind. Wearing thick leather armour and a rich green cloak, it was clear that they’d come equipped and ready to be here which filled him with hope. If they knew how to get here, they presumably knew how to leave. With a rough grey beard, weathered skin and the butt of what looked like a rifle slung over one shoulder, they were every bit the image of what Marcus expected a hunter to look like. The part where they were two feet tall threw him a little though.

-Gnomish Light Gunner. Level: ????-

“A gnome?!” Marcus acclaimed in surprise.

“An idiot?” they responded sarcastically, giving Marcus a glare.

“Er… gonna admit I'm not sure of the social normalities anymore, but I'm going to take it that I was offensive?” Marcus said with a wince, taken aback.

The person in front of him grunted while eyeing his surroundings, studying the house closely. “Offensive, and a bit racist, yes. You often just shout people’s biology at them, or you trying something new today?”

“Hey, I'm not racist, some of my best friends are races.” He said, feigning hurt, getting a snort from the hunter.

“An idiot more than an ass then? Could be worse I suppose. This shack’s yours then?”

Marcus didn’t have to feign being hurt this time. “Shack!? I’ll have you know this is a three bed, two bath house with a large kitchen, butler’s pantry, garage and home office, all design in colonial style! This is no more a shack than the ocean is a pond!”

There was a twinkle in the gnome’s eyes. “...So it’s yours then?”

“...er, yes I suppose it is. Want to come in?” Marcus said awkwardly.

“May as well, see if you can explain to me why you’ve got a ‘house’ on what is supposed to be an uninhabited world.” They replied casually, stressing the word.

Marcus kept talking as the gnome came over, opening the door. “So this world is recorded somewhere? Like people do know about it?”

They shrugged, studying at the doorway as he walked in. “Somewhat I suppose. It’s on a list as an empty death world to avoid unless you’re a quad, so it’s confusing as hell that you’re apparently living here. Your turn to answer.”

“Ok, I guess turns works.” Marcus said, scratching his head as he wondered how to answer. Was he supposed to keep his nature a secret, or was their universe being absorbed public knowledge? Eh, what was the worst that could happen; he’d already died once this week.

“So, bit of a question before I answer yours, do you know about another universe being... added to the System?”

The gnome’s eyebrows rose. “I do, and I've heard a few stories of people ending up all over the place. You ended up here then?”

He sighed in relief. “I did indeed. I've been wandering about for... god only knows, a month and a half or so, I think? Time gets a bit fluid sometimes.”

“It does, especially when hopping between worlds. Check your clock.”

“I have a wooden house, but as lovely as it is, I don't have a working clock.”

“I meant the one on your menu. You did know you had one right?”

There was a lull in conversation as Marcus frantically looked through his menu, finding a ticking clock buried in the settings before dragging it to the main page of his menu.

“I do now.” He said, annoyed with himself. “Fifty one days since I've logged in, about what I thought. Seriously if we’re taking turns, most of my questions will probably be how the damn System works.”

“Careful with how you talk about the system, there are some people out there who worship it pretty devoutly. They can be touchy if anyone complains or bad mouths it. Touchy and stabby. I’d say it’s your question now by the way.”

“I’ll open with the big one then. How can I leave this world?”

“No Leave!” Datov mentally interjected, but Marcus signalled for him to be patient.

They squinted at him for a moment before scratching their head. “Getting here takes a lot of effort, leaving will be harder for different reasons. I used a guiding stone.”

Reaching into a pouch on his belt, he pulled out a purple orb the size of an apple. The stone sphere was covered in golden runes and symbols, several of which were lit up dimly.

“This thing,” he continued. “Can take you to any place marked for it by putting in the right runes and a pile of mana. Had to rent the orb and pay a fee for the destination runes, but then it was just a matter of mana to get here.”

“So that could get me out of here?” Marcus asked, staring at the stone with naked desire.

“No chance I'm afraid. They’re a two way device, but they can only take back the person they sent, nothing else alive. Even a flower wouldn’t survive the trip, so you’re out of luck there. There are a few magical tools that could work, but they’re well out of my price range.”

“Friend promise no leave.” Datov said warningly.

“I won’t leave yet,” Marcus thought back. “But I need to know how to get to my family.”

Out loud, he spoke. “How much are we talking? Could you get one?”

They shook their head. “Only kind I could handle myself are used for kidnapping, and wouldn’t reach a world this far out. Besides, you don't have the mana for it, which leads to my own question. How is a level two like you alive here?”

“How’d you know-“

“Identify, literally the most basic thing anyone learns, but I suppose you’re a long way behind the curve. As a quad, my level is in the thousands if you looked, so I can see a lot more about you than you could of me.”

“So thaaaat’s what that is! That’s been bothering me for ages! So quads is thousands, I assume hundreds would be trips, less than a hundred are doubles?”

“Close, except people like you below ten are singles, rookies or my personal favourite, fodder. So again, how’s a piece of fodder like you still alive after a month here?” He growled, pulling a knife from his belt.

Marcus looked down at the gnome. “You get that you’re not exactly intimidating right? I mean I'm sure you could take me easily, but you still look like I could punt you out to see from here.”

“Don't push me twig. There’s no way you could survive this long on your own at your level. So you’re either hiding your level, or acting as bait for someone else. So spill your guts now, or I’ll spill them for you.”

“Don't like.” Datov said, sounding distressed.

“Yeah I'm not fond of him either.” Marcus said aloud with a shrug, causing the gnome to glance around for the one he was talking to. “He’s still our best source of information though, so we’ll keep talking. If he attacks me on the other hand, you can do what you’d like.”

The gnome advanced. “Nice try, but I've set plenty of ambushes and spotted many more. I can tell you’re on your own here, so start talking or I start cutting.”

“Really, you’ve looked around? Let me guess, using identify?” Marcus said, ignoring the hunters threatening gestures and pulling up a chair. Or trying to, as he found that when he’d built the house, he’d made everything in one piece and the chairs were attached to the floor.

“What the hell are you on about? There’s not a living thing within a mile of here, just you and me. And at the rate you’re going, it’s about to be just me. Now explain yourself!”

“Bad friend.” Datov said.

Marcus chuckled. “Yeah, I think you’d be better off talking with the squirrels.” Focusing on the gnome he gestured to the doorway. “You’re right in a way, I'm not bait exactly, but I am here with a friend. In fact, I’d say they’re the best friend. So I’ll tell you what, you go out there and have another look around for them, looking up and looking down, and when you spot them, we can talk.”

They snorted. “I really don't think you understand the situation. The one with the weapon calls the shots.”

“Oh please, if you know enough about this world to doubt I could survive here, then you should know you are far from the most dangerous thing I've seen today. Now go outside, while I try to pry one of these chairs free.” Marcus said, turning his back and trying to snap the chair free.

Something about the complete lack of fear Marcus was displaying was bothering the gnome, as well as the unsettling feeling of being watched. Knowing that any threat he faced wasn’t in the house, they decided to risk it and stepped outside, keeping an eye on the struggling tree.

Marcus had managed to get the front legs free with a few kicks and just managed to snap the back ones off when he heard a strangled cry of fear from outside. Looking outside he saw the gnome, pale faced and shaking, staring at the ground on their knees, a growing smell indicating their state of fear.

“Looks like he noticed you Datov.” Marcus said with satisfaction.

“Datov biggest. Very noticeable.” They said proudly.

“Biggest and best. Now, let’s see if they’ll be a bit more polite when answering our questions.”

He waited a few minutes for them to move, but they just remained trembling on the beach. Sighing Marcus went and picked up the gnome, struggling a bit with the weight and brought them inside, sitting them on a chair before breaking off another for himself. Still not seeing any response, he tried snapping his fingers in front of them, yelling but eventually gave up and slapped the gnome across the face. It made a sharp noise, almost sent them tumbling off the chair, made Marcus feel much better about the day and most importantly got their eyes to focus onto him.

“Ah, back with us then?” Marcus said as he shifted his chair forwards. “Wonderful, my very large friend and I have quite a few questions, so I think we’ll be asking all the questions for now.”