There she was, the first person that greeted me to this new strange world, and the first one to introduce me to its many lies.

I don’t blame her for anything, at least not yet, because I don’t know how much she knows, or how much sheltered she is, since she’s the daughter of the [Water Demi-Goddess].

But seeing her there, on top of that podium in the center of the building, with those flowing aquamarine hairs braided and decorated, with what I think are precious gems, just gave me a bad vibe, one that I really couldn’t place.

"I am glad to see that you all got through the [Introduction] without any problems, but I want to remind you all that the [Introduction] is a deeply personalized experience, and you may notice discrepancies once you start discussing it among yourselves, but they are simply born from the difference in your upbringing and culture; so don't mind them too much and concentrate on the similar parts, the ones that really important, like the names of the true [Gods]: [Creation], [Destruction], [Time], [Luck], [Life], [Death], [Growth] and [Decay]. Or the name of the new place in which you are, the [Nexus], and the general circumstances that brought you here; or-"

And on and on she droned, with what was very clearly a rehearsed discourse, and one that I couldn't be bothered to listen to.

Why? Because the [Introduction] named Raymond as the primary culprit of this dimensional domino coming to our doorstep, and I already know that it’s a bunch of crap.

You see, while I said to my best friend that I couldn't understand the nature of the machinery he ideated, it was instead that I just didn't want to dedicate enough brain-power to comprehend all the gritty details, but I did get the gist of it, and that lets me say that this [Introduction] is some kind of weird, subliminal propaganda, that people simply didn’t have in them to contest, because they had their fight sapped from them, thanks to the [Pacify Enchantment], which I think I broke by mere luck.

Another thing I want to point out is that the 'story' put [Growth] and [Decay] below [Life] and [Death] in the hierarchy of the [Gods], which is bull, because things can still grow or decay without being dead or alive.

But I guess that’s why she asked about not minding the inconsistencies, it’s too easy to figure this stuff out with a clear head…

I wonder: Is what I discovered 'earth-shattering', or does everybody native to [Nexus] already know and just doesn't care?

"Any question?" Udine finally finishes.

Mine and several other hands shot up, seems like I’m not the only one with holes to fill.

Please, do not say that way, it made even me feel dirty, and I do not have anything material that can be dirtied.

"Oh, excuse me, buddy, but I never had to filter my thoughts before, because I always have been alone before in my head." I try to not sulk at the prospect of not having idle private monologues anymore, but it’s hard.

If I didn’t know better, I would say that Undine is deliberately not looking my way; did she notice something? Do they know about [Tutorial]?

Impossible, it is more likely she has determined you an outlier of your species and deemed you worthless, or akin to so.

"Why the hell would you say something so mean, and why would you think that she would think so?"

Darwin, look around you, but really LOOK, and honor your name-sake.

And what that is supposed to mean I’m still not sure, but let me look then, and I only notice young dudes and dudettes, some are even standing… uh, they must have woken up with less sore bodies… didn’t they wake up after me? How come they finished the [Introduction] at around the same time as me? What is happening here? Wait, why are there no old people? I mean, there are salt and pepper dudes, but no legitimately old people… also, they are tall motherhumpers, and they’re all handsome and pretty. Wait…

While the [Introduction] says that people get chosen by a random factor, that is obviously not true, instead the [System] picks the best specimens out of the most prominent and evolved civilization in the "affected" quadrant of the universe, and it [Transfers] them.

You are an outlier, in the eyes of everybody else you shouldn’t even be here.

The [Transfer] ended up picking you over someone else because you attracted its attention by waking up, when it should have been impossible for you to do so.

They are the best of [Humanity], you are clearly different, and I mean nothing bad by it, but it is apparent after only a slight glance.

"So, I get to be treated as a weirdo even in another world, with aliens and fantastical creatures?"

"Fan-fucking-tastic."

Luckily Undine doesn't notice my brooding, since she's not even remotely looking at me, and in real time mental conversations are relatively fast.

An athletic bloke gets picked and voices his question "I was told that I would have access to the [System], but more importantly my [Status], as soon as we were done with [Introduction], but so far, it hasn't been the case."

"That is true" Undine replies, with an easy smile that you would give to an impertinent child "But there is one more step before that, and we thought best to withhold this information to after the [Introduction], simply because it would be easier to digest after even some more context"

"Spit it out already!" shots an excited chick next to the first bloke.

Amusement briefly passes over Undine’s expression, but only a raised eyebrow is left after no more than a few seconds, and quickly goes back to a simple smile.

"I know that you are all excited to begin" yes, the pacified ones at least, not me, or anyone else that broke free, because I can’t be the only one, "But there is one bit of information that you need, and that is that your bodies are fundamentally different from those born in the [Nexus], constantly touched by [Aether], and need a filter to protect themselves from it; this filter is in the form a [Patronage], this is a contract between a person and a more powerful being, but the [Transferred] have the uniqueness of being able to make a contract with the [Gods], without being a divine existence themselves. This [Patronage] will help in the absorption of [Aether] and its consequential distribution in more useful forms, manly [Mana], [Experience] and [Stats]."

"Why is she talking in video-game terms?"

Cultural interpretation, it is an implementation from the [System] to ease the understating between civilizations.

"Ok, good to know, but also:"

"These fuckers are trying to put a leash on me, a fancy one, but a leash nonetheless!"

Do not fret, any control that it would have given them would have been through me, but me being as I am you will be safe from their influence; still, I can see you trying to find ways to escape this situation, and I can tell you that the [Patronage] is an intrinsic part of the [System], and while it is done between [Guardian] and [Protegee], it is needed to properly access the [System].

"Nngh, how annoying!"

"Don’t worry about the choice of [Patron], since it can be changed at any moment, it isn’t permanently binding" she continues.

"Oh, then it’s not so bad, is it?"

"Except if you bind yourself to a divine being, since the more the power-difference, the more one-sided the [Contract] is"

"SHIT!"

You do not have to bond yourself to a [God] obligatorily, but the more powerful the [Guardian], the better the benefits that you will get.

"That doesn’t make me feel any better, it only makes me worry that to preserve my freedom I’ll have to widen the gap in ability and potential between me and the other [Humans]!"

Again, do not fret, even though I have no more access to your [Status] than you have, the fact that you awoke during the [Transference], that you broke free of a [Godly Enchantment] and gotten [Indominable] from it already proves that you are a unique existence, and should not feel inferiors to your peers.

"That… makes me feel kind of better, thanks buddy."

Through repeated use you have changed [Tutorial] name back to [Buddy] and instated [Tutorial] as its title.

Congratulation, you have renamed your bonded to [Buddy, the Tutorial].

You can repay me by stopping messing with my name.

"Sorry, but it does fit you more."

Whatever, now stop zoning out and pay attention.

I follow [Buddy]'s advice and turn my attention outward, to Undine, that was done responding to other inane questions like 'will they be able to control me through it?', or 'will I feel any different afterward?', idiots, like they would answer any of those questions truthfully.

"Now that we are done with the question I will tell you how to contract a [Patronage], simply [Pray] in the most familiar way to you and think about who you would like as a [Patron], and your thoughts will travel trough the [Aether] and attract the attention of those that are more compatible to your wishes; that means that you may want to make a contract with [Destruction], in order to gain more power, but end up with a contract with [Conflict], that it’s in no way worse, but you have to understand that thinking carefully about what you want is more important than the result you wish you had."

"So, it's random, don't know how to interpret that, are they masking the 'illusion of choice', and everything is predetermined, or are greater beings in some kind of contest to gain the best [Protegees]? Alas, I do not know, and I hate going into things blind."

I hold no answers for you, all I can promise you is that whatever the result may be, I will help through it.

"Glad to see that at least someone is on my side, although I think you’re just ensuring your safety by guarding mine."

Can it not be both? Remember that you are both my progenitor and my partner, I am part of you in 2 ways, through the [Bond] and through the way I was born; do not doubt my allegiance, it will be towards you, for better or worse.

"That last line was kind of ominous, but still nice."

I look around and notice that many are already prostrated on the ground, or simply with their head bowed and eyes closed, "guess being [pacified] makes you even more prone to comply than I thought."

I come from a catholic family so, and pang of pain from thinking about my family aside, my first question is 'should I get on my knees or not?', but dismiss it, since I don't want a contract of servitude I will need to think and act like it.

My second question is 'what exactly do I want from this [Patronage]?', and there start the problems, since I really wish I could do without one.

But I guess that’s exactly it, I want a [Patron] that will give me the chance to stand beside the other [Humans]… no, in front! So that I may protect them from whatever this world holds in reserve for them; I never was one for charity, but it’s never too late to start, and I will support anyone willing to stand with me!

"Got it!"

I begin by punting my hands palm to palm in a praying position, I don’t lower my head but I do close my eyes, and then, I project my thought out into the world:

"I want the opportunity to protect my peers, help those in need, and punish villainy."

"I want freedom, with all it entails, both the good and the bad, but it must be by my choice."

"And I am willing to concede only two things, respect and entertainment, and knowing my past record, there will be lots of adventures laying in wait for me."

Slowly, but always more forcefully, I can feel 'something', whoever is trying to be my [Patron] possibly, pushing against 'something else' in my chest, my mana-core maybe, it would make sense that it would be involved with [Aether]. Then the force in my chest seems to start pushing from different directions, more [Patrons] must be trying to 'break' inside me, but [Indominable] is holding them back, but I feel it will not last long.

Almost imperceptibly, I feel a new force 'touching' my [Core], just as strong as the other ones, but this one doesn't start pushing, it's just there, almost offering me a choice, willingly choose it, and be saved from the other forces, or ignore it and succumb to the first one able to break into my inner self.

I can feel them too, and as disconcerting as it is, I agree that this new "player" may be our best choice, after all, it is giving you exactly what you asked for: an opportunity, and freedom to take it.

[Buddy] is right, as I already said I hate going in blind, but I’m also reckless, so… what the hell?

I imagine myself grabbing hold of the force gently touching my [Core] and, suddenly, all the others snap away, and in my mind, which apparently looks like a starry void, I am left with the image of a pretty, feminine face smiling down on me, with hazel, almost yellow, eyes and voluminous black hair.

"What? YOU!?"