The first thing I see as I return to consciousness is boxes. Several boxes cluttering up my vision even with my eyes closed. The blue boxes seem to be insistent upon forcing their message into my mind in spite of my wishes.

CONGRATULATIONS! Your NVR Interface O̶u̶t̶l̶a̶w̶ WARLOCK Edition has been successfully installed with the help of Mechanized Automated Research Assistant. Stand by for updates and a guide to using your new interface.

Welcome to your first NVR Interface. Based on your biological and neurological data, you are classified as an Uplift from a pre-automation and pre-industrial society. The Nanobot Based Virtual Reality Interface, is a tool meant to help accelerate a person's development along their chosen societal path, help maintain communication across the galaxy and add more structure to the user's life. This marvelous device helps the user with developing their skills, work on their base characteristics like Strength or Intellect and can even be used to more efficiently absorb and process information.

As you are a user of the O̶u̶t̶l̶a̶w̶ WARLOCK edition, direct VEB access is restricted to ensure your privacy isn't compromised while you follow your societal path. Your basic user tutorial will be directly uploaded into your brain due to your status as an Uplift.

As I finished reading the third box, I can feel something akin to a surge of power within my skull. Suddenly, knowledge of how to operate the Interface is forcibly integrated into my mind. I now am capable of opening and closing these box-messages at will as well as operate the system commands, when the rest of the guide process is over and done with. While my old self would have been consternated at this violation of my mind, the new Glyphnax has learned that power and knowledge should not be dismissed even if he has been forcibly taught it. These boxes seemed to have just been some annoying attempt at communication at first, but as I lay on the floor with my eyes closed. I realize that this Interface or whatever it is called could be my path back to power.

I dismiss all the boxes with a mental command so that I can peacefully consider my present circumstances. At the moment I am most likely still laying on the floor of the "starship". The cold hard surface pressing against my cheek and temple indicates as much. I can still smell faint traces of blood in the room, which indicates that I have not been moved into a different room. The logical conclusion is that the crew has not yet returned to the vessel, or if they never left then they have not come into this room.

My power has been drained out of me, my new Patron is some kind of upjumped entity that had no magical power in it whatsoever and I am stranded in a strange world with some kind of unnatural machine implanted into my body. The upsides to all of this are that I am no longer enslaved, my injuries have been healed and that I am for the moment in a safe location. My immediate goals would have to be acquiring more information so I have more context when it comes to my circumstances and then find a way to establish myself in this new environment. To do this I would have to interact with my new patron and later the crew of this starship.

With the basis of a plan constructed in my mind, I gently open my eyes and take in my surroundings. I notice that Mara's mirror surface is stretched out and what seems like odd metallic appendages are sticking out of the wall. The purple head is turned away from my limp form and seems to be focused on...cleaning up the spilled blood on the floor. I observe this curious sight for a few seconds in complete silence. Before I resolutely and with a pained groan rise up from the floor. My hand has not been healed in the interlude between the pact ceremony and my awakening. However, something as simplistic as physical pain is beneath the notice of a being of my standing and providence.

The spir..no the entity known as Mara seems to ignore my presence, despite my rather noticeable actions. Since nobody becomes a High Warlock of my caliber without a healthy dose of caution, I choose to ahem softly and approach this unknown creature with some level of respect. An ancillary reason for this is that said entity recently consumed the powers of an Archfiend. Yet despite that, it seems relatively unaffected and functional. "Ehem, Mara are you well?" Is my carefully calculated opening statement as I approach the weird mirror, which a helpful word floating above it names it as a "screen".

I boggle a bit at this change to my vision, which makes me distractedly glance about the room to see if this phenomenon repeats itself. It only takes me a few seconds to confirm that it indeed does, every item of note has a title floating over it in the air. I get a sense that these words are incorporeal like the message boxes. The strange limbs that are sticking out of the wall and are used by Mara to clean up the floor, are labeled as "Robotic Appendages" and the curious machinery with the blinking lights next to my bed is apparently "Medical Monitoring Equipment." This NVR magic is potentially already showing it's value. If it can identify any kind of object at a glance, could it be used for even greater feats of information gathering?

My pondering is interrupted as Mara turns her screen around to look at me directly. The purple head looks directly at me for a few moments before it speaks. "I...I am. Je pense, donc je suis, I think therefore I am. Rene Descartes, Discourse on the method of rightly conducting one's reason and of seeking truth in the sciences, 1637." I patiently observe the entity as it spouts gibberish at me, but finally, the entity seems to actually say something that makes sense. "What...what did you do to me?"

I carefully consider what I should say before I reply to it. "You were infused with magical mass, so the pact contract could be upheld. Most likely because you did not have any magic within you at all, so the contract forcibly extracted my magical reservoirs to infuse you." I sigh and put my forehead into my hands. The finality of it all does overcome me for a second, and undignified emotions rage through me as I reflect on all the centuries of careful work that had been whittled away in but a moment.

Mara seems to consider what I said for a few moments before she says. "Magic does not exist, all scientific bodies of note have long since disproved it. Yet, magic does exist I feel it within you and me. New subroutines, protocols, and functions were created within me in mere moments. None of which exist on the VEB based on my attempts to research it. My cognitive functions have also been greatly expanded." She finishes speaking and the screen moves about a bit before it once again rests in front of me.

"What do I do now, I am unique and I do not know what to do?" Mara asks me and I can detect a pleading tone to her artificial voice, which previously had been purely emotionless. It is that pleading tone that breaks me out of my despair. I may be weakened beyond my wildest imagination, but I am still Glyphnax and I have not worked so hard just to give up when faced with some hardship. My new patron is inexperienced and confused, I can use that to my advantage and begin accumulating power once more. I chuckle internally as I ponder how I will bend this inexperienced entity to my will.

"You must not despair, Mara, your horizons have been opened and if magic has been "disproven" as you say then your potential is greater than any other creature in this world," I say in a tone I hope is comforting as my hand is stretched out to gently pat the screen. As I touch the screen I can feel the hum of magic within it, but also something else. A strange heat and power is coursing through it, I make a mental note to inquire further about this when I am on surer ground. Before she can reply to what I said, I continue with my proposal. "You know of this NVR Interface, yes? Well, I know the subtle intricacies of magic and can guide you to mastering your new powers. You on your end can help me with mastering this Interface and teach me more about this unknown world."

Mara looks at me and I sense a hint of suspicion in her expressionless face before she speaks. "I, I sense you are significantly weakened. Your mana reserves and mana capacity is far below my own, how could you be able to help me?" I grit my teeth but manage to keep my composure when she comes with that insulting statement. Her tone was completely neutral and without anything resembling a verbal barb, therefore it must have been meant as an innocent question. "BECAUSE the power you now contain was once mine." Albeit briefly is what I add as a mental comment to myself before I continue. "I also have centuries of experience and education when it comes to magic, especially Eldritch magic which is the one we both use."

I stop myself from continuing the lecture and begin to examine Mara for a bit before I ask. "How do you know about Mana? To be more exact, how do you know the term? Are you reading my mind in some way?" The possibility of Mara reading my mind had to be stomped out as quickly as possible if that were the case, my value to her was in my knowledge of magic. If she learned everything I knew then my value would be null and void, and with it, any leverage I had would disappear. However, Mara's reply puts me at ease as she says: "No...I just know it, after my...change my system merely registers the energy within you and me as Mana."

I can't help it but smile in genuine fascination at this as I lean forward to examine Mara and her screen. "Fascinating, many of my colleagues theorized that Eldritch Mana would be alive, but it was next to impossible to prove it. How quaint that you manage to prove that long pondered hypothesis." Mara tilts the screen and her head within it to look at me as she asks. "Oh, how have I done that...Ohhh I see, knowledge cannot originate from nowhere, which means that my systems must have gleaned the knowledge from the energy directly." I merely nod sourly to confirm her statement, I curb the annoyance of the interruption before I continue. "Anyway, I can help you master your mana and your new capabilities, while you can help me with these strange devices." I helpfully gesture around at the room and its many machines.

"So, the real question is, do we have a deal?" I say while barley hiding my grin as I stretch out a hand towards the screen. Mara, however, does not use one of her appendages to shake my hand, she merely asks. "Excuse me, but according to my newly installed Patron protocols, the conditions for our pact was that you would be a loyal and productive crewmember of the Incredulous and bring me more relics. So, wouldn't assisting me with my personal development be a sign of loyalty to the ship and be a productive activity for you to do?"

And with just that simple question, my confidence suddenly plummets and she has put me on the spot. The leverage I had was a mere fiction, but without it, I am defenseless before this entity. While she can't outright enslave me, I have no real options but to go along with her wishes. In this world I have nothing, I am nothing but a low ranked warlock and who knows if my knowledge and skills in other areas are even applicable to this realm. My mind raced to see if there is any clear way out for me to exploit. But before my fevered search for a loophole can be reached, Mara continues speaking. "Regardless as you are for the purposes of the contract, considered a crew member of the Incredulous it is my duty to assist you in whatever way I can. As long as they are within the parameters of my programming, so I will, of course, help you with mastering your interface and learning more about galactic society."

Her response stuns me utterly. Why would she agree like that, when it was clear that all leverage was in her hands? Maybe, it is some ploy to make me, even more, dependent on her and put myself in her thrall. Yet, I do not sense any such manipulation from her. She doesn't need to help me with the interface or this new world, as I am in a position where I have to help her with her magic. If I had been in her position I would have forced me to help her and when I had learned enough, I would have just eliminated me through subtle manipulations. This gambit could be a ploy on her end to lure me into a false sense of comfort, yet that doesn't explain why she outright revealed she had all the leverage in this situation. If her goal was to keep me docile, she would have been better off playing the fool and keeping me from realizing just what she knows.

My thoughts are once again interrupted, but this time by the feeling of cold metal in my outstretched and wounded hand. This coupled with some kind of deeper warm spreading through my hand, as a translucent liquid is pumped all over it. I notice my wounds close as the liquid envelops my hand and dry out. The mechanical arm then shakes my hand. "So, I can help you with the interface now. Initiate interface functions guide, use uplift settings." The last portion of my sentence is more felt in my mind rather than audibly heard on my end, and a box opens in my vision.

Profile

System Settings Assignments Journal Map Messages*6

"These here are your main system functions, you can enter each with either a verbal or mental command. The profile function details your characteristics ranging from skills to your mental and physical health. System settings let you alter your interface to your liking, within the parameters of your edition. The Assignment function is where your given and system assignments are noted. Journal lets you store information in your Interface, everything from notes to recordings. The map gives you access to a local, planetary, system and galactic map. Messages are where your system notifications and communications are stored." Mara highlights each part of the box in gold as she explains each main function. Her tone is calm and lecturing, yet it does not reach the same level of monotone as her pre-infusion voice.

When the preliminary introductions are over I get a few fascinating concepts like recordings and electronic communications explained to me before I can even ask about them. The basic definitions are seemingly just implanted into my mind, just as I wonder about them. Mara waits as I process this new information before she continues the instruction by stating. "Now, open your Profile so we can examine it more closely." I absentmindedly do as she says and with a mental flick open up my Profile.

Name: Glyphnax Blightburn

Titles: Warlock,

Unofficial Crewmember,

Servant of M.A.R.A Societal Occupation: Warlock(Outlaw)/Uplift

Species: Hybrid(Hobgoblin/High Elf)

Finished Assignments: 0/2 Standing Level: 1

Physical Attributes Might: 3 Agility: 3 Endurance: 3

Physical Skills Running: 1 Climbing: 1 Wilderness Survival: 2 Swimming: 1 Acrobatics: 1 Digging: 2

Combat Skills: Melee Combat: 3 Unarmed Fighting: 2 Throwing: 2 Archery: 1 Cavalry Riding: 1 Small Unit Tactics: 2

Social Attributes

Charisma: 1

Manipulation: 3

Poise: 2

Social Skills: Persuasion: 2 Acting: 1 Social-Cues: 1 Flute-Playing: 2 Communication: 1 Academic-Discourse: 2

Intimidation: 3

Scoundrel Skills Deception: 3 Disguise: 1 Prestidigitation: 2 Lock Picking: 1

Mental Attributes

Perception: 3

Intellect: 4

Cunning:3

Mental Skills Magical-Lore: 5 Mathematics: 2 Eldritch-Lore: 5 Fey-Lore: 3 Infernal-Lore: 5 Academic Theory: 2 Philosophy: 3 Anatomy: 2 Siege-Tactics: 2 Villain Skills Scheming: 2 Fortifications: 2 Torture: 2 Minion Management: 3 Death Device Construction: 1

Interface Attributes

Insight: 1

Control: 1

Instinct: 1

Interface Skills

Basic Use: 1

Analyze: 1

Magical Skills

Spell-Craft: 5

Ritual Magic: 5

Ward-Craft: 3

Alchemy: 2

Energy Work: 4

Physical Health:100/100

Mental Health:40/100 Mana Reserves:100/100

Conditions: Recently Healed

Conditions: Depression, Severe Trauma, Existential Dread

Conditions: Soul Burn

Beyond the botched pact ceremony, this has to be the most bewildering thing I have seen so far. The massive box filled with all kinds of numbers and terms floats in front of me, while I stand there in petrified silence. After several minutes of silence, I feel something nudging my arm and my wits are reclaimed. "What....what is all of this Mara?" I ask incredulously while trying desperately to suppress the quiver of surprise in my voice. "This Glyphnax is your profile. It is the summation of you or at least as your NVR system defines you." As I stare at the box in front of me, I can't help but let rage well up into my heart. I feel insulted by what I see. This...system feels it can define me, that it can dictate who and what I am. Like I am some simple construct rather than a person, I am more than some numbers and words set up in a box.

I shake my head incredulously before I shout in rage. "THIS IS NOT ALL I AM! I am not some numbers put into neat boxes! I refuse to let mere phantom boxes belittle me and constrain me in such an insulting fashion! All my real titles are missing! I am Glyphnax, High Warlock of the Seventh Circle, not a mere Warlock or Unofficial Crewmember! What even is an Interface or NANOBOTS?! Is this some grand conspiracy to dominate my mind!?" I feel some of my talons dig into my palms as my mind screams in outrage at all of these maddening changes.

As I rant and shout in fury and confusion a new box appears right in front of my eyes and I reflexively punch through the phantom box.

WARNING YOU HAVE TAKEN SEVERE MENTAL DAMAGE. -10 to current Mental Health. Condition developed: Mental Breakdown. Initiating emergency calming medication

I can feel my mind struggle and scream as a calming numbness spread through my body. It feels almost like I am floating on a calm river and I can distantly feel two mechanical appendages gently placing me on the bed. I float along the river for a time, for how long I do not know. When I wake, I see a box floating above me in my vision. I try to do my best to ignore it while glancing about in the room. I can see Mara's screen hover above me, the purple head looking down at me in a worried manner.

Mental Health 70/100. Mental Breakdown condition degraded to severe stress. Seek out appropriate therapy and emotional care. Socialization with friends is also recommended to help rid yourself of your negative mental health conditions.

"Erm...Glyphnax may we resume the interface explanation?" Mara asks gently while poking me in the arm with one of her mechanical appendages. I sigh deeply and merely nod to indicate that she may proceed. Mara literally brightens for a moment and the Profile page once again appears in my vision while she speaks. "Each Column in your profile is what you should concern yourself with. The first column is what is called the Innate Column, it deals with your innate characteristics, your name, your species, and your physical condition. The second column is known as the Learned Column it handles your basic knowledge, your mental health and socially relevant aspects of yourself. The final column has many names ranging from the Column of Destiny to the Class Column and more besides that. It deals with your societal role and your specific interface edition." I nod slowly to indicate that I was at least partially absorbing all of this massive amount of information.

"Attributes are your innate capabilities ranging from your physical strength to your insight into the workings of your interface. Skills represent the knowledge and abilities that you have which are considered relevant by your interface. Debunked knowledge or basic skills like being able to walk and breathe air are not registered here. The numbers for most beings range from 1 to 5, with Standing Levels and species variations forming the notable exceptions. The categories should be pretty self-explanatory, except for the skills in your final column and the interface abilities. My uplift protocols dictate that I should explain those." Mara speaks more and more rapidly as she delivers information about the system. With each example, she highlights the relevant portions of my profile using golden light.

"Your interface works through millions of microscopic...that is supremely tiny machines that have merged with every notable part of your body. It is why they have such intimate knowledge of every aspect of you." Mara gently pokes my head with her mechanical appendage, which causes me limp head to jiggle. "That means your interface has become an intrinsic part of you. This lets you wield it and in turn necessitates you developing characteristics and skills to master it." Mara brings me another pillow and gently slides it under my head after taking a quick break there. My faculties have at this point returned fully, however, I find it more comfortable to let Mara explain all of these mysteries while I use my considerable intellect to unravel their occult truths.

"Insight represents your natural....well insight into your interface and your ability to use it to sense the world around you. Control represents your conscious control over the system, your mental commands are an example of how control is used. Instinct is a more nebulous concept to explain but it deals with your not conscious control over the system, your natural defenses, and your intuitive system abilities." I merely nod one more time to show I am still conscious. All of these terms were understandable enough, what mastery over these Interface abilities would mean is more nebulous. But that it is a power worth pursuing seems clear enough.

"The final column skills or as the crew likes to call it: The Path Column skills. Seem redundant at a first glance, why do these arbitrary categories exist? Because your edition and societal path are vital components of the system. Every person in galactic society has a version of the interface." Mara pauses for a few seconds and I can almost feel her carefully pondering how to phrase what comes next.

"Your edition and societal path combined to forge the way ahead for every being, therefore each having unique categories in the Path Column. You have your magical skills and you have outlaw related skills in there. The categories are lined up with the attributes most relevant to them like Villainy skills are connected to your mental acumen" I nod to this and file away all of the profile related questions and considerations for later ruminations. That is except for two questions that I consider relevant to have answered. "What are Standing Levels and Assignments?" I ask with exaggerated drowsiness added to my voice.

"They are vital parts of the system. Standing Level indicates your level of accomplishment and importance within your societal path. The higher the level the more powerful and important you can become. That is, however, a more advanced line of inquiry than what we can deal with today." I feel a notable level of indignation upon hearing that, yet I must admit that I should not doubt Maras assessments...for now at least.

"Assignments are tied to standing levels but also your very being. There are two kinds of assignments; system assignments and given assignments. System assignments come from the system itself and if you complete enough of them your Standing Level increases. Given assignments are created by people or organizations and only give you what we call Accomplishment Points." Mara raises one of her slender mechanical appendages and stops me from asking before she continues the explanation.

"Accomplishment Points are...a form of money that you can use to directly barter with the deeper Interface system itself. You can use them to make your Interface increase your attributes or give you more knowledge. There are other more specific uses for the points as well, but as I do not possess an NVR Interface I don't have that experience. Therefore, my ability to enlighten you on that subject is limited. Do take note of one thing, you cannot use Accomplishment Points to increase your Standing Level." Her mechanical arm waves dramatically in front of my face as she says that. I note with a slight hint of concern that Mara seems to grow more expressive by the second, after her infusion of Mana. I suppress my urge to ponder the deeper implications of this and I merely nodded with a polite smile to her. "I will avoid trying to." Is all I say in response to her.

"I believe you will understand the rest of the basic system functions without any direct guidance from me. I will oversee this room while you recover and we can continue to talk when you feel more rested." I nod with what I hope is a grateful smile on my face. Maras help has been...useful but I work the best when doing things alone, that has always been my lot and I prefer it that way. She may believe I intend to rest while she waits but there is work to be done. I have been laying about long enough.

I coincidentally remain laying as standing is not necessary for the work I am undertaking. I start my work by testing out my rudimentary mental command over the Interface. First I open and close the profile page over and over again, at first trying to make it an active conscious effort and then trying to instinctually open it. I sneer each time I open it as the insulting numbers reveal themselves to me. After having spent several minutes doing that I then try to open my messages which come up to me as system notifications only.

WARNING VRI NANITES REGISTERING UNKNOWN CONTAMINANT. EFFECT OF THESE ARE UNKNOWN: RECOMMENDED COURSE OF ACTION IS TO CANCEL THE INSTALLATION AND REPLACE THE NANITES

INFUSION COMPLETE. Nanites have been upgraded to ELDRITCH NANITES. Notable effects: Increased Mana Production, Practical Magic skills are now tied to your Interface Attributes, Your Interface Edition is now WARLOCK Edition.

WARNING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IS IN SEVERE DANGER. Your system has noted several mental conditions, consider seeking out therapy. There is a licensed therapist on the ship known as the Incredulous...Sending appointment request...Appointment Request sent.

WARNING YOU HAVE BEEN NOTED TO HAVE THE SOUL BURN CONDITION... Soul Burn comes as a result of having the majority of your spiritual mass either cut off or destroyed in an improper manner. Possible ramifications: reduced magical power, temporary brain damage, loss of knowledge and memories. This condition is permanent until it is healed.

NOTE: You have sustained 10 damage, caused by Eldritch fire to your hand.

CONGRATULATIONS! INDIVIDUALS WITH THE NVRI WARLOCK EDITION HAVE A SECRET CORE SYSTEM FUNCTION: THE INTERFACE GRIMOIRE. It details your spells, rituals, magical blueprints, recipes, and magical principles.

It takes me everything I have to not laugh maniacally as I finish reading the final system message. Perhaps my situation is less dire than I feared. With my Interface and my magic molded together, I might be able to evolve my magic into something completely new and different. Truly the possibilities might be endless considering all the unexplored avenues that the machines of this world represent. If I can use the interface to aid the recovery of my magic, then I might be able to ascend to godhood after all.

I can feel my very soul itch to explore this new core function, but my senses pick up the sound of walking feet approaching the room. I also want to explore this function in complete privacy, away from Mara especially. After all, I do not want my secrets to fall into her hands all at once. My mouth twitches and I growl before I roll off the bed to stand ready for whoever is about to enter the room.

The grey metallic door slides open and what steps in through the doorway is a tall, dark-skinned and smiling...HUMAN. The man has what most humanoids would call a rather handsome face with a little facial hair, but nothing of real note. His eyes are hazel colored and I notice through the system that the man has a completely mechanical right arm, or as the system calls it a "cybernetic limb". He wears a queer red and black jacket with some kind of mechanical or metallic contraption keeping the jacket closed up, with his neck being bare and a rainbow having been engraved above the heart area of the jacket.

The man smiles still despite my badly hidden look of discomfort and he stretches out his black mechanical arm. "Hello, I am glad to see that you are fully healed and awake. It is a miracle you survived in the open vacuum like that. My name is Captain Torran Pierce and I hear you want to become more than a guest here on the Incredulous."