Chapter 35: Real Talk

Bluebird looked over at Roy. “It would help everything if you agree to me sharing everything we discussed. Also might be a job in it for The Merits.”

Roy glanced between us and sagged a little and nodded. I think he was a little afraid when he looked at me. A very odd feeling for me.

Bluebird didn’t smile, but relaxed as they started to speak. “Roy is a non-System adventurer and has worked with the Guild in the past. He came to me worried about Monday March who is staying at the Pillow and Pie. The individual in question had shown immense growth in a very short period of time, as well as slight personality changes between the two meals. Roy can sense qualities about a person, to put it in System terms he can sense spent and unspent Experience. We, the Guild, have tested it in the past with various other Guild affiliated System users. Roy’s concern was that such growth might mean various dangerous things: perhaps you had somehow killed townsfolk, perhaps Monday March had been replaced by some kind of shapeshifting monster, or you had a sentient parasite that could display as 2 different beings to his abilities or, well, anything.”

Bluebird looked at Roy and paused for a moment. “This was not an attack on you, Monday March. This was Roy coming here to share his concerns, and probably see if I knew anything about what he believed himself to have detected. As of this time I have said nothing to Roy about Monday March beyond things that anyone in the front room might have been able to tell him.”

I looked at Bluebird and shook my head. “Spirit, not letter.” Bluebird paled slightly at my words. “And you are playing very close to the edge. You could have simply taken his report, and talked with me separately. Roy, what have you supposed, and what do you believe certain about after this?.” I gave Roy a genuine smile. “You won’t even need to buy me a dessert.”

“You’re a Syssy, unaffiliated, and somehow have an incredible growth ability. You don’t have an epiphany trait, so all your growth came overnight. You and Bluebird have made an oath that is supposed to protect your privacy to some extent.” I saw Bluebird wince. “And now I’m pretty sure that is correct. And because you have a pin, but it is only copper, you are non-standard to the System as well. And you didn’t know why Jazmine didn’t want to travel with a Syssy. You have amnesia, and might even be reborn, which might explain the growth.”

Continuing to look at the Guild Master, I sighed. “So, how bad is the penalty going to be if I take offense? And if you get hurt because I choose to take offense, is that another loophole, as you are a God’s Bath resident?”

“Bad. It wasn’t deliberate, but bad enough.”

“So why did you do it?”

“Thought it would show you I was willing to act to your benefit. Maybe make it easier to get some of the bonus rewards.”

I thought for a moment. “Roy, can you stick around for a bit. Bluebird and I are going to talk and bargain for a little bit. Can you speak up if it seems like either of us are being stupid, or missing something obvious?” And sub vocally, “You too, Friday, please.”

“I, yeah, I can do that.” Roy nodded, as Friday made an affirmative that only I could hear.

“Bluebird, what does the System request want you to do, both the basic request and the bonus rewards?.

“Verify your growth is exceptional. Inform you about and do what I can to see you arrive at the Grindstone in Big Bay if the growth is at a certain threshold. Bonus rewards are mostly to improve your disposition towards working with the System and the Guild, or learn specifics about your learning curve, experience gain, skills or traits gained and the like. Keep you out of trouble and be helpful.” They looked a bit beaten as they seemingly shared more honesty than they were comfortable with doing.

“Was that so hard? And honesty like that would have done more goodwill than whatever you thought you were achieving. Are you hiding anything, or obfuscating beyond what we discussed yesterday about how common Guild expectations might limit my growth?” That caused Roy’s eyes to open wider for a moment.

“I’m not sure I should be around for…” Roy got interrupted by the Guild Master.

“No Roy, I’ll own my errors, and it will help Monday know that I’m not trying to protect myself.”

I kept myself from smirking, somehow. “Bluebird, you also don’t need to share anything personal that isn’t directly related to me.”

“Then… I don’t think I’m hiding anything?” Their thin frame sat up straighter.

“Well, your request does a bit to explain the blatant propaganda in the information you sent over.” Must admit I enjoyed the wince in response to that. I had Friday pull up the differences from yesterday to today. “Incomplete, but some of the improvements yesterday include that I improved all of my unlocked statistics, unlocked a new statistic, gained over 20 new skills including Mana Control, raised 3 of the 4 skills I had the day before, gained my rewards from the information report and 320 Experience for killing the lesser taz.”

The eyes of both Bluebird and Roy widened, then Bluebird’s mouth gaped a little, then Roy stared at Bluebird for a few seconds before looking back at me.

“Yeah, you got Experience for me just being upfront and you are used to people trying to get something or leverage out of it. Simply might not be my nature. Bluebird, can you tell me why the System doesn’t automatically know? I mean, it is the system, right?”

Bluebird didn’t quite look embarrassed, but perhaps uncertain. “Probably something to do with how you got here, and that you might not have been in Cecal previously.”

“And that would matter… why?”

Bluebird glanced between Roy and I. “If the System could reliably communicate between regions, it probably wouldn’t be an issue. You are probably like a traveler that just showed up inside God’s Bath without coming through a gate or transaction. Some protocols, like verifying identity and such might not have taken place normally.”

“So I can advance and gain Experience, and even gain rewards, but I’m currently invisible to the local extension of the System?”

The Guild Rep shrugged “Maybe in some way, but we can’t be sure without asking or… well, I’m not even sure. If you were to do something that it might normally adjudicate outside of the normal advancement system and it didn’t react, that might prove it? Unless it decides not to, so probably no way, and it can learn about you and your actions through other affiliated…”

“Like you?”

“Like me.” Bluebird agreed.

“And I am already someone it is interested in.” Another nod.

“Roy, what is your opinion about if I should try to avoid the System or avoid becoming affiliated?”

Roy spent a moment confusedly looking between us, while Bluebird’s lips were tight. “I don’t want to get in between you and whatever is going on…”

“Pretend I’m Feathers, one of the scruffies or a younger cousin. Something happened to join them with the System, even if they don’t remember how it happened. They know you adventure and have a healthy caution about the System and System users, and they ask you for advice.” I was really trying to see his brain tick over and figure out how he was feeling about what I was saying. His discomfort had drifted towards actual consideration for my words.

“Look. People choose. Everyone becoming a Syssy made a choice. If it did happen, you are still a part of it even if you try to stay out. I’d think avoiding it can't work. You minimize contact and association, or you affiliate: at the very least you should learn more, otherwise it is just an uninformed choice.” Roy paused and looked around the office, at Bluebird and back at me. “Especially when you are already known to it, being uninformed feels unwise.”

“Bluebird? Counterpoints? Though I think Roy is making your points better than you have been.” My words set me thinking. ‘If the system can’t really detect me, why do I feel it’s fingerprints in my conversation? Or maybe it isn’t the System at all? Am I deep down a far thinking manipulative person?’

Placing their hands on the table in front of them, the Guild Master lowered their head to rest upon them. About 10 seconds passed before Bluebird spoke, into the table, but I could hear the words clearly. “No one else wanted the job out here. I had reasons I thought it wouldn’t be too bad, and it hasn’t been bad at all. I never wanted to be a hero, I never wanted to be management, I just wanted to fly.” Pushing up from the table, Bluebird's deep azure eyes locked onto mine. “Meet the System as an equal. Want nothing from it, but bargain to the advantage of you both. I say go to the Grindstone and hear it out.”