Chapter 34: How Would I Know

System windows spun in my head, empty or with broken characters before Friday’s voice broke through my mental static.

“Monday March! Open your Eyes!” The warmth and calm remained, yet somehow there was a gravitas and urgency piercing the calm tones.

‘Toad belly’ was my very first thought. Buckle and Dominick were looking down at me from my left, Ann’s silver eyes were looking down from my right. Willy’s damp belly was on my lips and nose as I saw amphibian eyes leering at me from less than an inch from my own.

My hand was reaching up to grab Willy off my face as Buckle pulled the toad off and planted him on his own shoulder. Ann met my eyes and I could see a hint of an accusation there. “Why would you even gaze on an Egregore!”

“Why would I even know that was an Egregore?” My strange or estranged part of my brain supplied that an ‘egregore’ was a social thoughtform usually containing the focus and thoughts of many people as a manifestation, either spiritual or physical.

Ann’s silver eyes glared at me and her voice didn’t tickle, it shook. “I said it was God’s Day!”

“And how would I know what that means, Ann?”

Ann blinked.

Dominick blinked.

Willy made a croaking sound.

Buckle sighed.

Friday spoke in my head. “Be honest, but see if they are willing to keep your secre…”

“Buckle knows, but Ann and Dominick, I’d appreciate it if you can keep this to yourselves unless you can’t for some reason.” Not sure how, but Ann and Dominick’s eyes widened more. “I’m a Syssy and I just woke up two days ago with no real memories. Well, now I remember my 5th Birthday cake, so that’s something, right?”

Dominick blinked and seemed to be pondering, Ann sort of… slumped languidly? Like what I said made an impact that wasn’t entirely clear to me.

Anyhow…

Buckle met my eyes and grinned, teeth pointy and visible. “She’d eat you up, I suggest findin’ a differnt target fer yer attention, Monday March.”

“Call me Monday, Buckle. Anyone deserves to do so, it’s you. And maybe I’m fine if she ate me up? Then again, I get the feeling she already found who she wants.” Ann’s quick intake of breath wasn’t overly loud. I looked at the blue sky and then back to Buckle, seeing him nearly glare at me, but the wet glistening of a joke lay in wait. “The way the system seems to work for me, Buckle, finding targets might not be an issue."

The brow over his large left eye rose higher. “How so?”

“Unlocked Charm stat, and I’ve seen a few looks, heard a few comments, seen glances at my hands.” I’d just leave Billie out of this.

“Oy, need ta find ye a sammat ta take ya down a peg. Yer a bit full a yerself, Monday March.”

I smiled up at the goblin and started to stand up. “Monday, Buckle, Monday is fine. And this didn’t take me down already? So, what happened?”

Ann and Dominick looked like I asked why the sun rose, Buckle just responded. “The god a God’s Bath, the Egregore o’ the Bath, manifests on days the mist settles o’er the waters afore dawn, ‘appens near sunset mostly, but kin be any time that day. Folks look low in respect, ‘n usually get a blessin’, like the waters do. You looked, drew more attention, so it looked deep in ya. Prolly just o’erloaded ya a bit so ya had ta.. restart.” I shrugged, Buckle shrugged back.

Sub vocalizing as I looked up at the sky. “Friday, how long was I out and did you hear what the ‘god’ told me?”

“84 seconds, and nope. It just looked…? and then nothingness for 82 seconds. I waited 2 more seconds before I spoke to wake you up.”

“Oh, so it shut you down too? Add this to your logs ‘You are new and old, you’ve Boons and Bane. You know me not but have untreated pain.’ Can you search and see if there are any changes in my status, thanks.” And then aloud. “Sorry, just clearing my head. So, don’t look at egregores?”

The green haired healer spoke up. “Well, you sure can, but grabbing their attention can have consequences. And Monday March, I won’t mention what you said before, but most Syssies don’t really keep it a secret. Like a lot of things though, they only mention it if it comes up or seems pertinent. Why would you mention not liking an uncommon food unless it came up naturally?”

One of my blocks of soap was digging under my shoulder blade from its position in my pack, so I sat up as I nodded at Dominick. “Thank you, I’m still not positive about that sort of thing. Plenty of things in my head, but I seem to be lacking quite a bit of common knowledge.”

Ann piped up, “And common sense.”

‘I really could use some eyebrows for raising and arching.’ I thought. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. Not my place, especially after you’ve been helping me.”

“Fine, I forgive you.” Ann sounded genuine, but her voice was more firm and less ticklish.

“Thanks, Ann. Buckle, your hides are in my room at Ann’s. I need to go by the Guildhall, but if you like I can move them for you first.” Climbing to my feet I saw plenty of grey skin. It still looked wrong to me, but the nausea and distortion didn’t rock me the same way. Stretching my arms up I enjoyed the feeling of morning sun touching my fingers as I wiggled them.

“Nay Monday, ye get ta the Guildhall. Ann ‘n me kin catch up ‘n Dominick gets first crack at the hides anyhows. Just help me move ‘em afore dinner? Come on Sis, ye kin fill me in on what chaos Monday March ‘as gotten up ta since savin’ me life.”

I think Ann and I both rolled our eyes at the goblin, if for different reasons. I bid all 3 farewell and headed off to the Guildhall, waving at Tavi as I passed through the bath reception area.

While walking to the Guildhall, a few people were moving about in the dim light as the sun wasn’t quite high enough to breach the wall and reach the ground. The tops of the buildings shone in the light though, a few birds and a lanky looking cat sunning themselves on various rooftops.

A few people greeted me, and I waved or nodded back. Reaching the Guildhall I scanned for Bluebird, and went over to Crag when I didn’t see them. “Hi Crag, Bluebird in? I’m supposed to meet them this morning.”

“Go on back, Monday March.” Crag’s dark bearded face cracked a smile as he had to look up a smidge to meet my eyes.

Knocking on the door where I’d talked to the Guild Master yesterday I heard their melodious voice allowing me entry. Entering I saw Bluebird already speaking with a familiar person at the larger table. Bluebird looked at me with a slight apology in their eyes. Mustache, er Roy, looked at me with confusion.

The blue haired Guild Rep held a hand up, seeming to ask me to wait before saying anything. “Roy came to me with concerns about you, Monday March. I’ve not told him anything. However I thought it might be useful to clear things up.”

I squinted a little bit before nodding at the both of them, closing the door and moving to sit at the table with them.

“Roy, would you care to explain your concerns to Monday March? I’m unable to discuss much, and she is within her rights to withhold information which invades her privacy, so best to make your case honestly and see if she is willing to share.” Bluebird’s angular face turned to me before Roy could speak. “It’s up to you if you share anything, however there are a few things that Roy and the Merits may be able to do which can assist you. So I suggest you hear him out.”

I shrugged and indicated a willingness to listen as I adjusted my pack so I could sit more comfortably in the chair I’d selected. Roy blinked and looked between Bluebird and myself for a few moments. I could almost feel him making mental connections as examined us.

A sighing breath emerged that spun up into words. “So Monday March, you are a Syssy. M2 though, so not standard, and likely unaffiliated. You have some leverage on the God’s Bath Guild Master, in some fashion, probably an oath, though likely limited. You also had the most jarring level of growth between dinner and breakfast that…” I scowled, not happy to have him express this aloud in front of Bluebird before I had the chance to decide what I might want to say. “Er, that… that I’ve seen personally in such a short period of time.” Roy seemed to be trying to mitigate my reaction a little by softening the impressive level of my growth. “I, I…”

“So, through some non-System technique you can see growth? Powers, or potential, something like that? Bluebird, what did Roy tell you that he detected about me? I don’t want you to tell me anything Roy wouldn’t want me to know about his abilities. I just don’t want to be lacking information in this conversation about what you’ve already discussed.”