10:55 am, local time. (January 11, 1329)

Considering how much I have to look over, I create a throne of stone at the edge of the training field. Smoulder takes her place on my lap as I open up the first option.

“Framework: Void Cataclysm Lotus. Framework incorporates destructive aspects of the Umbra resource. Framework structure requirements: Low Health base. Low Stamina base. Extreme Focus base. Extreme Mana base.”

“Framework processing modifiers: Excellent processing of Focus, Mana, Umbra and Facet. Limited processing of Health and Stamina.”

“Framework ancillary functions: Umbral Resource emulation and incorporation.”

I blink at the display for a few seconds before Focusing. And thankfully, there’s more information available. The requirements of the Framework are as simple as they seem. I need to have a good amount of mental Attributes, and some physical, though a great deal less. Unlike the overview, Focusing reveals that I specifically need Eighty in all my physical Attributes and a hundred and twenty-five in my mental stats.

And there’s a sort of link that I’m able to follow, which allows me to determine my Attributes. They’re the same as they were before my rebirth, which gives me a small feeling of relief. I think I might be able to sort out all my status, if I wanted to, but I decide to start the reconstruction first.

After I’ve finished going over the frameworks.

The processing modifiers are my System’s ability to transform mana. Not into regeneration, but into upgrades for the same attributes I was just checking. Though it’s not clear what sort of limits it has.

As for the ancillary function…

I’m basically able to copy Beth’s abilities. I could even have Resource based armour, if I wanted.

I sit back, staring upward as I consider if this changes anything. It seems like the Framework is still just a class.

The Radiant Cataclysm Lotus is similar, except it lists Splendor as an ancillary function. A resource I don’t have any information on. And my ability to download new codices is gone.

So I ask Uthica if she’s heard of it.

“No. The only thing I can think of is Luminance. Did you unlock a new Class while practicing?” Uthica asks, reminding me where we are. And when I am.

“Uhm. Not exactly,” I reply.

“Splendor is likely a high grade resource. The more abstract a concept a resource represents, the more powerful it tends to be,” Pern notes from where he’s standing at the edge of the training ground.

“Are you going to need more time?” Uthica asks, her eyes drifting towards her camp.

“I… probably. But I’d appreciate your advice for this. Both of you. Maybe we can take it back to your tent. Or somewhere more private,” I suggest, looking over the camp.

They share a glance, then lead me further away from camp. Straight towards the hill where I pulled myself out. We don’t go down though, instead making our way to the top of the crude building. At the top is an enchantment that stands in clear contrast to the building. The lines are neat and perfect. Any one of the enchanters I know would be impressed, I’m certain.

Once we’re in the center of the carved runes, Uthica kneels down, and places an equally runed strip of metal down, pulsing mana through it. The runes flare, and a transparent dome pops into place overhead. Then it flashes, growing darker until the camp below is little more than a vague outline.

“Hmm. We should be secure,” Uthica says, leaving the strip of metal in place. “Father, can you confirm?”

“Of course,” Pern replies, his hands already tracing runes in the air. I watch as he carves a spell into the air, surprised by the visual component.

“It’s part of his class,” Uthica answers my unasked question. “He’s able to empower his spells by making them into rituals. It’s excellent for stress-testing.”

Even as she finishes, Pern unleashes a spell that I’m only vaguely able to discern the purpose of, some sort of Piercing effect. It doesn’t create the smallest ripple.

Uthica waves at me. “Go ahead, try it.”

“Was I that obvious?” I ask, unable to keep the grin off my face. Yet before I can rebuild and test my own Pierce spell, Smoulder unleashes a flaming blast at the barrier, an incandescent white burning away with no more effect than Pern’s spell.

For a second, the interior of the dome gets warm enough it's uncomfortable. Then it cools down, a cool breeze sweeping over us.

Thankfully, compared to the adjustments I had to make to my binoculars spell, Pierce is simple, only requiring a few extra energy storage runes. And it splashes as ineffectively as the others.

It also produces an unexpected message.

“Spell recalibration detected. Please complete Framework selection so System Reconstruction can commence.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter at the System as I turn to Uthica. “So… this might take a bit.”

She retrieves a set of wooden chairs they had folded to one side of the enchantment, as it even blocks access to inventory. After Pern hands me one of their ciders, I take a long drink. Then I sit down, and start filling them in on… well, everything since I talked to her last.

The System instability and subsequent glitches. The cities we got flying again, thanks in no small part to her. The unexpected queendom I’d mostly foisted onto Tipan and Wyonna. I even tell them about Odean.

I finish with Beth’s accidental… I’m still not sure exactly what happened, and that’s what I tell them.

My side of the story is short. And when I ask Uthica what I’ve missed, she trades a glance with Pern, then pats my hand. “It’d take far too long to catch you up. And we can do so later. First, it sounds like you should address your System glitch.”

“Yeah, might be best,” I agree, pulling up the next Framework.

“Framework: Cataclysm Yggdrasil Sapling. Framework enhances the System and Spatial aspects of the Facet resource. Framework structure requirements: Moderate Health base. High Stamina base. Extreme Focus base. Extreme Mana base.”

“Framework processing modifiers: Excellent processing of Focus, Mana and Facet. Moderate processing of Stamina. Limited processing of Health.”

“Framework ancillary functions: Facet Resource capability expansion. Interplanetary transportation, Improved System customization.”

I stop, then reread the last line in the ancillary functions. Interplanetary transportation. That’s… well, it’s amazing. When I Focus, I discover that it’s limited to places I’ve been to. Which is… well, I mean, that’s basically Raz’s place. Much less exciting. Sure, it doesn’t require Nexus points and… actually, I think it allows me to grow my own, in mana-rich areas. Though it would take a while.

Realizing how much information I’m able to tease out of the description, I Focus on Splendor again. It’s… healing related. Similar to Reprieve, but without the barriers. And with some amount of offensive use. Even though it wouldn’t allow me to create barriers, I could use it to form armour, which causes me to snort. There was a time I would’ve loved all these options to armour myself up.

The System customization is also interesting, as it would let me set up my own System nodes in each seed I created. But they could be overrode by the primary System. Which makes me wonder… am I disconnected from the main System? Is that what happened?

Either way, I take a minute and tell them both what I’ve discovered. Which leads to a longer discussion as Pern starts questioning me about everything I know about classes and resources.

Uthica indulges us, only cutting in when Pern and I start talking about the differences between the Aero and Wind resources. Wind being the less refined version, that is slightly better at creating an undirected burst, but worse in all other ways.

Not that I really needed to know that, but we got a little carried away.

“You mentioned that you’d be able to create transport nodes?” Uthica says, as Pern and I smile sheepishly at each other.

“Yeah, but it takes… uh, years, for them to develop. Decades, I think.” After quickly Focusing on the relevant part of the description again, I nod. “Yeah, it depends partially on the local mana, but the fastest a seed can grow into a proper sapling is twenty years.”

“Hmm. Less than ideal, but still useful if others can use it.”

“True. And the class is… interesting. But I still have other options I wanna check,” I say, waiting to see if she has any more questions before opening up my menu.

“Framework: Gaia’s Cataclysm Oakling. Framework enhances the Perspective aspect of the Facet resource. Framework structure requirements: High Health base. High Stamina base. Extreme Focus base. High Mana base.”

I blink several times as I reread the second line. How is it supposed to enhance Perspective? I can already see through other people’s eyes. And swap memories.

“Framework processing modifiers: Excellent processing of Focus and Facet. High processing of Health, Stamina, and Mana.”

“Framework ancillary functions: Facet Resource capability expansion. Improved Networking. Social Prowess. Increased Physical Endowment. Regeneration.”

Oh. Yeah, I guess that could do it. Improved Networking is much more impactful than it seems. It not only allows me to build a network with my IFF ability, which I confirm is functioning normally, it allows me to spread it through existing contacts. And it makes it so my number of links is effectively trillions.

That’s a lot of potential eyes, ears and teleport beacons.

Social Prowess is being good with people. But… really good with people. To the point it’s a little creepy. It comes with the ability to instantly know everything about any person connected to my Improved Network. And to know how to act to better influence them.

Increased physical endowment would make me more curvy.

It’s only regeneration that keeps me from giving this Framework a total pass. As I Focus on it, I realize it’s not just a little extra Health recovery. As long as I had the Facet, I could regenerate an arm in less than a second.

I tell Uthica and Pern everything about the class as I sit there, steepling my fingers and tapping my chin, thinking.

“It is worrying that such a class exists,” Uthica says, running a hand through her chocolate-coloured mane. “If Jethico had even a fraction of that ability, imagine how much more disruptive she could’ve been.”

“Your aunt can’t do any more harm. Not now that she’s been sealed away,” Pern reminds Uthica, patting his daughter’s hand.

I blink. That… I’m pretty sure that’s not how it happened. I guess history’s already changed. This… I don’t really want to think about it. I’ll need to, that’s for sure, but I don’t think I’m ready to do so yet.

As Pern pulls Uthica into a hug, I decide there’s more important things to worry about than history being entirely rewritten. Like giving Uthica a hug. Smoulder agrees, and we all hug for over a minute before breaking away.

There’s dampness around Uthica’s eyes, that I’m a little surprised she doesn’t just whisk away. Then she lays a hand on mine and her father’s shoulder. “Thank you. It’s been… too long. But we’re still not done, are we?”

“Uhm, no,” I admit, almost flicking to my menu. “We still have one left.”

And it’s the one I’m the most excited about. I was barely able to keep myself from jumping straight to it.

Cataclysm Paradox.

“Well, I can tell you’re excited. Go ahead, Lexi,” Uthica says, squeezing my shoulder.

I nod, smiling back at her before opening the description.

“Framework: Cataclysm Paradox. Framework was enhanced by Temporal aspect of Facet. Framework enhances Temporal aspect of Facet. Framework structure requirements: Alexis Wyonna Everette.”

Well, that’s not… incredibly weird or anything.

“Framework processing modifiers: Excellent processing of Focus, Mana and Facet. High processing of Stamina. Limited processing of Health.”

A little more normal.

“Framework ancillary functions: Facet expansion. The End allows you to wade within his pool, the Beginning reminds you to remember, the middle is yours.”

Uhm.

What?

How is that a description? If Wyonna were here, I’d swear she was trolling me.

When I look at the description again, I blink.

“Framework ancillary functions: Facet expansion. Blessing of the Omega. Temporal Library.”

After spending a second wondering if my brain’s playing tricks on me, I can’t help but Focus on the Blessing. To my surprise another notification appears.

“The End has witnessed you and you survived. He has given his blessing, protecting you from being swallowed by lesser dwellers of the Temporal Tides. This blessing grants no additional benefits without the Cataclysm Paradox Framework.”

In addition to the notification, I know that if I choose this Framework, the Blessing will protect me from the worst effects of Temporal experimentation. Like deleting myself and everyone I’ve ever known.

I… it would’ve been nice to know that was a thing I needed to worry about before I sent myself hundreds of years into the past. Not that I did it on purpose.

Also, when did it observe me?

Shaking my head, trying not to worry too much and feeling the need to distract myself, I inspect the Temporal Library.

Which is a literal building, that I can access from anywhere when I’ve drawn time to a complete stop. Meaning it’s not easy, cause Pause doesn’t even come close to that, despite the name I’ve given it. But part of the Library’s benefit, is knowledge on how to bring time to a full halt. I’ll still have to build the improved spell, but it gives me a starting point.

It’ll also allow me to store any Facet ability I create in a mental spell vault to make modifications easier. And to top it off, within its walls, it contains every book I’ve ever seen or heard of. Even if I’ve never read it, the books will be available somewhere on its shelves.

If knowledge is power…

When I tell Uthica and Pern about the weirdness, they exchange a glance. Then Uthica just snorts, “It’s hardly the first time a class upgrade has had weird flavor text. And I’ve seen far more ominous.”

“She’s correct. And it can be the opposite too. Poor Noj’son was bound to a blood parasite, which she had to cut herself open to use. She even went around talking to it. Her flavor text just said ‘blood familiar’.”

“And I thought Gaia’s Cataclysm Oakling was bad,” I say, sipping at my nearly forgotten cider as Smoulder shifts in my lap.

I give her headscritches as Uthica reaches into my lap to do the same. “Not all classes are good for the user. We’ve known that since I used to call you Stranger. Some thought I had that kind of class. Until this little spawn of Vaus came raining down from the sky.”

“Well, despite the ominous message… Yeah, I’m still taking it,” I say as Smoulder has a moment of crisis, forced to choose between my lap and Uthica’s as we both scritch her. She almost falls, her legs stretched between us when I stop petting her. Even as she blinks up at me, I will my choice at what remains of my System.

“Framework confirmed: Cataclysm Paradox. Please prepare for Facet expansion.”

Smoulder chooses to respond by launching from between Uthica and I to land in Pern’s lap, turning to look up at him as if he will restore her rightful quota of scritches. Which he does, after an amused sigh.

“Facet expansion has begun.”

Four little words that don’t even begin to encapsulate the everywhen I’m experiencing. The table, Pern, Uthica and Smoulder are suddenly a tiny mote of my existence.

Feels like there are a few too many Tuesdays, for some reason.