Chapter 36: School?

I closed my eyes and postured as if I was thinking about what Roy and Bluebird had discussed with me.

“Friday, are you connected to the regional System in such a way that you have received queries about me, or information for how to deal with me?” Even after doing it for only a few hours the sub vocalization has gotten much more natural.

“Not to my knowledge, Boss. As far as my directives show, our survival depends on your trusting me. I’m not allowed to lie to you unless you direct me to do so.” The warm voice is nice to hear, and I know it might be a pleasant lie, but why not trust the voice in my head.

“Did you find out anything from the windows or messages when we were dropped by the egregore?”

“Mostly broken text. Compiling it allows me a 40% certainty that there was an attempt to ‘Improve Integration’. That is based on text replacement and some very basic code breaking efforts.”

“You can code break?”

“I’m not programmed for it, but I am mostly made of math.” Friday’s warm snark was pleasant as well.

“Any comments about what these two have said?”

“Makes sense to me. If we don’t capitalize on the next 363 days, we might suffer more from that Bane than you would enjoy. Do remember that you wanted to ask about options regarding Skills and Boons to assist with that. I’m not much for empathy, but I think Bluebird is a bit desperate to not burn bridges with you. Oath issues or not.”

“Yeah, I seem to have already provided them with quite a few bonuses, Hopefully it might relax them a touch. Thanks Friday.” I opened my eyes a sliver. “Bluebird, may I ask you something personal?”

Tight lips loosened a touch and eyes opened a bit wider. “I’d rather not while Roy is here, unless…” I waved them off.

“No worries, I’ll ask her first.”

“Ugh, are you doing this on purpose?”

“Probably.” I smirked a little. “Anyhow… would you like to stick around Roy? Or do you want to bail? Bluebird mentioned a possible job, but that is probably to escort me, and Feathers, er, I mean Jazmine probably doesn’t want to travel with a Syssy.”

Roy’s eyes snapped open wider and Bluebird’s eyes darted between us. “How do you figure that?” Bluebird asked me.

“One of your system requests is to get me to the Grindstone, er I mean…” I listened to Friday repeat the phrase from before, and then also repeated it. “‘See to it that 'I' arrive at the Grindstone in Big Bay.’ As for the ‘inform me about’ part, I’m not sure how well I’ve been informed. Propaganda… well, I won’t consider reading propaganda as being informed. Anyhow, I know the Merits are looking to get back to Big Bay. So, stay for the offer, Roy?”

“Jazmine probably won’t agree, but I’ll hear it out.” Roy sounded interested, which was honestly more than I’d expected.

“What IS the Grindstone, Bluebird?”

“The most efficient skill raising institution in Cecal for System users. Also, one of the best training facilities for non-System users in Cecal. And where the core interface for the System is located in Cecal as well.”

“A school?” I asked

“Er, no, not a school. More of a… a training facility.” The Guild Master sounded uncertain.

“So a school… Academy Arc?” Part of me uttered from somewhere inside me.

“I have no idea what you mean.” Bluebird said with a lilt of confusion in their voice.

“Me either..” I sighed.

The looks that Roy and Bluebird shot me were confused with a hint of pity.

“Bluebird, what are your pronouns? They/Them, He/Him, She/Her or some other ones?” Apparently a day might be my limit for not asking.

The laughter was sudden and cut into me, like embarrassment poured directly directly into my spine. Not an infectious laughter. I certainly didn’t want to join in, but it was something from deep inside them, something that shivered the air. Bluebird gasped out, “Was that your personal question?”

“No, but I’ve been curious since I met you and, well, and I’d not known how to ask.” I shriveled the least little bit. I knew asking was the proper thing, but I’d no idea how to do so, or how to do so without it being ‘WRONG’.

“Sorry, Monday. They / Them. Ask flat out if it comes up again.” Bluebird looked at me and I couldn’t tell compassion from pity. “Even so, that isn’t a personal question, it’s polite. Like asking someone how to properly pronounce their name.”

“Anyhow, the Grindstone is a training center and where the regional System… interface is located. And the System wants me to go there?” I asked.

“Enough that she’s in a rush. Ways passes for you and your escort team, reward on arrival for the escort, reward for you as well for showing up. Increased rewards for expedited arrival.” They were reading or paraphrasing from a system window, it appeared.

I’m sure I looked puzzled. “So, the System is a she? Not they?”

Bluebird and Roy both nodded with sounds of agreement. ‘Well, I guess I’ll understand when I meet her.’

‘So I’ve only been in God’s Bath a day, but that means I’ve made half my memories here. And, of course, everyone I know is here. And Billie’s friendly and her interest in me is cute, and Ann’s voice is just…’ “Friday, any reasons not to go? I mean, aside from me having to say goodbye to people I barely know but enjoy.”

“Nothing obvious. There is a chance that continued change may create stress, yet the opportunities of a larger population and training facility should not be ignored. Additionally it would be our likeliest path to a solution for your Bane.” Comforting and obvious, but not compelling.

“Fine, I don’t want to for various self-serving reasons, but I’m in. If you can arrange an escort I can be ready to go tomorrow morning.” I stopped Bluebird’s smile by continuing. “I want the following from you first: tell me what I should be prepared for once I’m there, provide me with anything I won’t already have to get to the Grindstone, If the Merits don’t agree to be the escort I want people that Ann or Buckle can vouch for to do it, an M3 or M4 test or pass and the pin to go with it, and give me any information you have that might help me avoid a deal with the System that would be unfair to me. Additionally, Buckle should probably get his axe back, as the taz is dead.”

The Guild Master sighed as we got down to it. The next hour was busy as we talked through a few of the traveling logistics, what I’d already bought yesterday and was picking up later today. After about 10 minutes and a few questions of his own, Roy took off to discuss the possible job with the rest of The Merits. Once he had left I asked about abilities to see System user status, actual status screens or experience like Roy does, and how common they are.

“Most abilities can exist, but people tend to react poorly if they are being viewed by them. System users are more likely to take analysis abilities that don’t include people as the ones that will work on people are much more expensive. Someone like Roy that trained or has a natural talent for it? Maybe one in a few thousand, and often they are limited like his. I met a merchant once that could smell how much money you had on your person.” The short blue hair shook slightly as their head shook. “Now you said you're picking up a set of clothes that has jeans and a jacket of some sort? Any boots?”

Logistics talk continued before transitioning into some basic instruction about how much normal System fees were. I eventually got Bluebird to pull up a few lists on her desk so Friday could memorize them. Sadly information costs for more specific information wasn’t free and didn’t have an easy to gauge range, just 1 Experience and up. ‘Which I suppose is a range of sorts.’

The list for suggestions about mitigating Inverted Sobriety consequences was paid for by Bluebird as a favor of sorts, or just to smooth the way for maintaining a positive attitude so they could complete their request. It cost 3 Experience for a list of skills and boons which impacted intoxication, sobriety or loss of control. That list was limited to those that cost less than 3000 Experience to purchase, and was limited to options that did not have particularly stringent or unknown methods to unlock them. Friday tucked that away as well while I made a show of reading it over carefully.

‘I wonder why I’ve not confessed what I got as my rewards. Or why they haven’t asked.’ I tried to put it out of my mind, but it kept looping back into my head.

“Okay Monday March, the test for maturity ranking is pretty much the same for every rank. While a Guild Master or other respected and confirmed individual can grant a copper pin after a short interaction with a person, anything higher has to go through an official System testing device.” Gesturing me to join them, Bluebird stood and headed towards the door. “There’s only one in God’s Bath so I suppose we’re going over to the Circle and Stick.”