Robert paid for the contraption in full. He got a small discount for being the one to bring the idea of a novel artifice to Yolania as usual. He also signed a contract authorizing the sale of scaled-up versions, which had a negligible impact on the final price. Deployable habitats already existed. He signed anyway because he wanted to build a relationship with Aethericheart Artificers.

"This will take a month to make," Yolania said. "The hardest part is hiring an Arch with Space essence."

"Well, we wish you luck," Amanda said as she gently pointed Robert toward the exit.

They left the artifice shop. Only when they were far away from any ears did Robert ask why she didn't even allow him to decide for himself if he wanted to keep his secret or not?

"Hurry up and reach three stars if that's the kind of risk you want to take," Amanda hissed. "As you are now, if the wrong people learn about you, not even Granny can keep you safe. Unless she keeps you in her penthouse which I believe you don't want either."

"Okay, okay." Robert waved his hands in a placating gesture.

"Let's go shopping for casual clothes, accessories, and shoes now. No shenanigans this time."

They shopped for mundane things, including decorations for their houses. When they were done, the two returned to the bookstore to pick Veronica up.

They didn't need to search for her. The former salesperson was waiting for them next to the shop entrance.

"Ms. Samson, Mr. Blaze," she said with a bow. "Everything is in order. The items they had in stock are already enroute to the arcology, and the publishers are confirming the remainder."

"Thank you for the update, Veronica," Amanda said.

"Mr. Blaze, I found the books on the Puffbloom Islands with one of our used book resellers. But he's from Boston so it will take a few days to arrive. I took the liberty to order some other out-of-print books on other realms too. I hope I didn't overstep."

Robert grinned. "No, not at all. In fact, I want you to keep buying these rare books, any that you find. If Amanda allows, I want to get a list of the collection at the arcology library, cross-reference it with the collection of the city's public library, and then give you free rein to buy only books that are not in either library."

"That's quite the project, sir," Veronica said.

"And that's why your help is invaluable," Amanda said, drawing a proud smile from the librarian-in-training. "Let's go. Veronica, where do you live?"

"On district Twenty-One," Veronica answered, then added. "I live alone."

"Do you mind if we stop by your home to get some essentials for you? Since you will be living at my manor. I will send a team of movers to pick up your things and have our lawyers cancel your contract. I will pay any cancellation fees and cover your deposit, if necessary, of course."

Veronica seemed happy. Robert probed with his senses and then checked with his life sense.

"Amanda, is it okay if I give Amanda a welcome gift?" Robert asked and then added with telepathy, "I want to buy her a Prime."

Amanda squealed and screeched historically. The idea of playing with that many Prime Vestiges excited her. Should he suggest she should start collecting them? Nah. What she liked was the novelty of the discovery. Amanda might even consider old Primes boring.

"you beat me to it, Robert. It seems we have one more stop."

She called the limousine and the three of them took the back seat. Robert held the door open a while longer, then confirmed with silent message that Freddy was on board.

"Shouldn't I go in the front seat with the driver?" Veronica asked.

Amanda smirked. "If you don't mind sitting on Tyrone's lap, be my guest."

Veronica blushed. Robert looked surprised. He didn't know Tyrone was acting as security in the vehicle. Amanda noticed.

"You should have some instructions in your inbox. Granny made this change while we were shopping."

Robert used the car's terminal to check his messages. The directives had changed. In case of contact with hostiles or any dangerous situation, Robert should extract Amanda from the site immediately while Tyrone engages the hostiles. Best defensive tempering combo in the world or not, Amanda was not to come into harm in any case.

He felt it was patronizing. A threat that could cause serious injury to Amanda could also wipe the floor with Robert. He felt like a paper cannon, depending on foreknowledge to avoid attacks. That and luck.

Wait. Luck? The idea resonated with his affinities. More likely, due to his Fey or Fairy affinity. Could it be?

While the car rolled down the street, he focused and entered his Ethercosm. There, he found that his idea had already formed a translucent shell. He focused his Fairy essence and guided it to crystallize the new tempering.

He named it Serendipity.

*

*

When he opened his eyes, Robert saw a glass of water in Amanda's hand.

"Wakey, wakey, time to hydrate!" She lilted.

He accepted the glass. It slipped from his hand, fell on the bench, and spilled inward, all the water falling on his crotch.

"Damn!" He cursed over Amanda's giggles.

He picked up the wet glass. It slipped again and fell on his foot. Edge first. It dealt 5 points of emotional damage. Robert stared at his aching foot.

Amanda opened the car window and waved her hand. She seized control over the spilled water. She dragged it away from him and out the window.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Robert grumbled and picked up the glass. "At least it wasn't juice or wine."

The car took them to the square in front of the ATA building. It reminded Robert of when he obtained his Prime. Then it went down into an underground garage, where it stopped in front of a VIP door. A valet with an ATA uniform opened the door for them. They all left and Robert blocked the door from closing, leaving it open a bit longer so Freddy could get out. He did the same with the building door. It drew the attention of the ATA security guard.

"Hey, what are you doing there!?!" He stood from his post and approached. The guard flared the pressure of a three-star.

Robert assessed their surroundings. The hallway and lobby were very well decorated, even for the ATA standards. Paintings, sculptures, many couches to sit on while waiting for their vehicle, and even a fully stocked bar.

Amanda took a step forward. "Is anything the matter?"

"Miss Samson?" The guard asked. "Your guy here held the door a bit too long. Long enough for someone invisible to pass through."

"Oh, yeah. It's my personal assassin hit squad," Amanda deadpanned. "Please, tell me your scanners failed to detect them! My granny will be so happy with this field test!"

Robert stared at the guard and raised an eyebrow.

"If you didn't, please don't waste my time," Amanda demanded. "And stop using your pressure. It's rude."

The guard put his hand on his baton and approached. Robert placed a hand on Amanda's shoulder and pulled her behind him. Veronica was five paces behind Amanda.

"Miss, you'll have to come with —"

Crash!

The door broke down as a blur came through. Tyrone punched the guard's head, pulverizing it into a spray of gore. "SAMSON SECURITY!" He shouted.

Robert immediately cast two shield voidlings, one deeper down the corridor and another by the door. He sent Tyrone a silent message. "Don't come within ten feet of these orbs. They'll react to any living matter.

"PERIMETER SECURE," Robert shouted and moved to defend Amanda from anything coming from the corridor.

Tyrone took a square tower shield from his storage and moved to flank Amanda on the other side.

"Veronica, stand next to Amanda!" Robert shouted.

He pulsed sense life. A group of five was running down the hall. "Five from inside."

"ATA!" The agents running down the hallway said.

"Samson Security! Don't come within ten feet of the sphere!" Robert shouted.

The ATA agents stopped before entering the range of the shield voidling. "What is going on here? Identify yourselves."

"Samson Security, agent Tyrone. Badge Alpha-Two-India-Five-Nine-Zero. Personal security detachment for Miss Amanda Samson."

"Samson Security, Agent Blaze. Badge Tango-One-India-Two-Zero-Zero. Personal security detachment for Miss Amanda Samson and one civilian."

"What happened here? Why did you kill our security guard?" The lead agent asked.

"The better question," Robert retorted, "is why your security guard was acting hostile toward Miss Samson, using his three-star pressure strongly enough to trigger my partner's detection."

He left it vague on purpose. It all felt bitter for Robert. Because his danger sense didn't react at all. The guard wasn't going to attack. It seemed that Tyrone was on a glory-seeking mission. But right now they had to present a unified front. Worse, the ATA knew Amanda was coming. They didn't let just any limousine park at their underground VIP entrance. Robert had no idea if he should be more wary of the ATA or Tyrone.

Tyrone proved to be very unstable and coveted this position as Amanda's bodyguard badly.

"Agent Tyrone, what did you sense?"

"Fuck you, Rogers. Pay more attention to the obvious plants in your organization!" Tyrone barked. "Using one's pressure against a VIP? What the fuck!"

Maybe Tyrone had a point there. Robert watched as the ATA agents relaxed their stances.

"We will look into it," Rogers said. "Agent Blaze, can you remove your sentries?"

Robert cast drain essence on the voidlings, recovering about half of what he spent on them plus the cost of the drain essence. No need to let essence go to waste.

"Gentlemen, I will need a report from each of you," Rogers declared.

"You can ask Samson for a copy of what we'll submit to them," Tyrone said. "Along with a letter with the ATA apology and offer of compensation. Or maybe I'll ask Titania to come here and deliver it personally."

Rogers dropped his act. "Fine, fine. We will investigate this incident internally. Miss Samson, we are sorry for the distress."

The really distressed one was Veronica. She seemed sick. Disregarding protocol, Robert turned, offering his back to the ATA agents and placing a hand on each woman. He then channeled healing hands on them, easing Veronica's stomach and clearing her bloodstream of the excess adrenaline. She calmed down almost instantly. Amanda was fine but she thanked him anyway.

"Blaze, sitrep!" Tyrone commanded.

Robert stared at the hothead commando for a while. Tyrone wasn't his boss but the whole chain of command thing was still touch-and-go. Robert wasn't Tyrone's boss either.

"Condition normal. Everyone stable. What about you?"

"As cool as a cucumber," Tyrone grinned. "I'll wait in the car, give me a shout if you need me."

"That won't be necessary," Rogers said. "Miss Samson, I hope you find the remainder of your visit enjoyable. If you excuse us."

They walked down the corridor. A janitor came to clear the gore littering the corridor. Robert saw him only en passant but he stopped. He recognized the guy. It was the trader who traded the Supreme Poet Prime Vestige for the 1% In Real Life one. Why was he working as a janitor?

*

*

They were led to a spacious office where they sat across a large table with Amanda in the middle. On the other side, another ATA trader, an older man who looked to be in his fifties but probably was more than a century old.

"Miss Samson, how may we help you today? My name is Thompson, I'll be your ATA liaison today."

The treatment was leagues different from what Robert experienced. But then again, he came in here as a clueless homeless mortal.

"We are looking to buy a Prime Vestige for my newest employee, Veronica," she introduced the former bookstore salesperson.

"Very well. What sort of Talent and affinities are you looking for?"

Amanda held Veronica's hand. "Veronica, this is your life we are talking about. What kind of talent do you want?"

Overwhelmed, Veronica could barely form coherent words. "I... I don't know, Miss Samson. Anything, I guess. I have no idea."

Amanda turned sideways. She squeezed Veronica's hand with one hand and rubbed the woman's arm with the other. "It's fine, Veronica. Close your eyes. You know more about Archhumans than the average person. Robert here, he was clueless when he first came here."

The trader gave Robert a good look. Robert returned the gesture with a stare. Amanda continued.

"Okay. Now tell me, what elements do you want to wield?"

"Holy," Veronica said. "I want to be a healer."

"Excellent choice. Mister Thompson, can we see the Holy-affinity Primes you have in stock?"

"Absolutely. I'll have them brought here for you."

It took some minutes, but several glass boxes with Prime Vestiges came on a cart. Most of them were golden but almost every color was represented there.

Thompson thanked the person who brought the cart and then gestured toward it. "Now, what talent are you interested in, Miss Veronica?"

Veronica shook her head. "I have no idea. Something related to information? My job will require organization and information management."

"Will it be a combat or utility talent?"

"Utility. Definitely utility. I don't want to fight if I don't have to."

Robert saw a hint of disgust in Thompson's face. It vanished the next time he blinked, replaced by a professional smile. He didn't blame the trader, not after what he saw in the interspace. Robert didn't have a strong opinion on the matter but he now believed that all Archhumans should be geared for combat. Utility, crafting, and even.. farming can come in second place but not become the sole focus. Those who decided to skip combat entirely inevitably became stuck at two stars with no hope for advancement.

He remembered what he discussed with Titania. She was stuck at four stars and the same sentiment as those unable to ascend to three stars was there. No. Settling down was a fool's endeavor. One who went down that path might even find themselves fodder for another's ascension.

That might be what drove the Kraven Patriarch to risk and ultimately lose his life in the interspace. Stuck at four stars, desperate to ascend, he bet it all and lost. Now he was considered a fool. He was among the few true elites of the planet. Leaders untouchable by the law. Beholden only to their peers and the Empress.

It was also connected to the fate of the Taulusian. Pacifists by heart, they became pets in another world to survive.

Power needed to be taken.

That also planted a bug in Robert's mind. Tyrone must've gained a lot by one-shot killing a three-star. Had that played any part in his decision process? If true, it painted a much darker picture of the volatile security agent.