The group gestured for Kiresula to sit down on the bench. Qari started explaining about glitchlings without anyone prompting him to: “So, welcome to being a glitchling. I am sure Kshi has already told you a few things about us, but to be honest, there is quite a bit more. There is something called the second system.” There was a pause, which only made sense due to the cultural connotation of the word second as associated with intrigue, strife and general sinisterness. “The second system is something that us Glitchlings can sense in certain circumstances. Not really pleasant circumstances, but it helps us to investigate the situation. Debuffs and negative status effects can assist with this. Those who research this, due to the lack of reliable magic, mostly rely on status effects like [parched] to attempt to access the second system. The goal is to decrease the [System] stats under arbitrary thresholds. When the hidden stats of the second system are higher than the open ones of [System], then we Glitchlings are capable of some if not incredible, then at least average for everyone else, feats. There might even be a chance for progression, but we are still working on establishing that.” Qari looked very proud when telling that.
Kiresula raised an eyebrow: “So, there is no way to directly access the… second system, but you are sure it exists? Can you tell me how? And can you tell me how you are sure it is not the [System]?”
Qari was eager to respond: “Of course and with pleasure! There is a systematic difference, not only in terms of the colour, but also in regard to the information shown. We all know that the fundamental stats never change their name and always are shown on the [System] window, when opening it. However, people have reported - and I have seen this with my own eyes - fragments of something else shining through.”
“Variation in the stats? Can I see that? This sounds unbelievable!” Kiresula said incredulously.
“You generally need a series of chained debuffs, that suddenly feels like a buff instead. Unfortunately, I don’t know your second stats so I don’t know what would be a chain for this.” Qari explained.
“Wait… so this can be caused by something like an [Enfeeblement]?” Kiresula asked.
Qari shook his head: “[Enfeeblement] is a pretty weak debuff, you’d need high starting [Strength] or [Endurance] if that works. I mean, if you experienced that, sure. But it would be a pretty shoddy start.”
“Maybe,” Kiresula said, “I thought that this was a miscast of the spell, that made it work as a buff, but I hadn’t checked [System] while it was going on.”
Qari smiled broadly: “Grand! So, if you know that, there’s your next challenge: Get someone to cast it on you without telling them the entire situation about a second system.”
Kshi joined into the conversation: “Yeah, we’re already on thin ice with the religious folks of the city. Any talk about second [System]s would get into torches and pitchforks territory.”
Sidik nodded: “That happened to the Rainbow House in Ilkshehir. Barely got away with my life.” His accent clearly was both from the capital area and the lower classes there, not the kind of people who would normally go on a long journey to the other side of the country.
Kiresula swallowed an expletive. “That’s terrible!”
Sidik nodded: “Yeah! That’s why we don’t explain this to anyone.”
Kshi agreed: “We are trying to be seen as innocent, purely interested in mutual support, not in researching what we are with what little we can do. Not working on understanding the second system.”
Kiresula asked: “What about my wife? I would hate to have secrets from her.”
Sidik’s voice was icy: “This must never leave the Rainbow House. If you want her to be in on it, she would need to be a glitchling as well. The Dungeon sometimes has spikes of broken magic, if you are serious about it.”
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Kiresula shook her head: “I don’t… no, I cannot do that to her!”
Kshi looked at Kiresula seriously: “I don’t know how far you can trust her. And even if you can trust her with your life, she might in some situations be compelled to tell something. There are some nasty spells out there. I know how it hurts you to keep a secret. I know that distrust is not the basis of a relationship, but I implore you to keep anything about the second system under wraps. I don’t want our community to be at risk.”
Kiresula nodded: “I will keep the second system secret. The effects of debuffs… it might be too late for that, though I mentioned that I assumed a miscast. I mean, I am… or rather was, a teacher, so I know a bit about form and state and that particular gangster’s form was so hideously terrible that I would’ve failed him so badly!”
Kshi nodded: “Yeah, I assumed that after I had seen your streak of glitchness yesterday. For those who can see it, it was quite obvious that you accessed the second system.”
Qari shook his head: “Only to those who had been able to unlock certain skills of the second system. Like you and, I think 3 people in the entire kingdom!”
Another glitchling, probably Styuq, piped up: “Who’s the fourth one?”
Kju turned to Styuq: “Kshi, Sintiq over in Karashehir, Tkanj in the new Ilkshehir group and… Qay in… I am not really sure about her whereabouts?”
From there, the discussion shifted to that particular glitchling and her exploits. The fact that glitchlings seem to love gossip just as much as everyone else just showed Kiresula their similarity with any other species of the kingdom.
Kiresula mentioned, that she’d just step outside to look how her wife was doing, then stepped outside. The talk about a second system seemed preposterous and she needed a moment to breathe and to consider this.
Mayana saw her and immediately came for a hug: “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, let me hug you!”
Kiresula hugged her beautiful wife and felt even worse about what she had to do. After the hug, she tried to tell Mayana: “I have heard things which seemed… either ridiculous or scary. And I can’t even decide which. And worst of all, I can’t even talk to anyone about this because of just how out there it is. Like, dangerously out there. Heads on spikes out there.”
Mayana looked concerned: “You are not going to tell me, I take it?”
Kiresula shook her head: “I would love to, but you know, the church can get information out of people even without them willingly disclosing it. I don’t doubt your goals, your ethics and your morals at all, but I was told that the group in Ilkshehir had to disperse and many died because their branch got angry.”
Mayana looked shocked for a moment: “I don’t like this, not at all. I don’t like secrets. I understand why you deem this the best course of action and I understand where you are coming from, but every hair on my skin bristles at the thought of you having to keep a secret.”
Kiresula looked dejected: “I understand this. I also don’t like this. Unfortunately, this is something that is only to be shared among glitchlings. Kshi had mentioned that you can step into a field of broken magic, but, you know, I would deem that too high a price.”
Mayana nodded: “Indeed. That one is one steep donkey of a price.” She paused, fidgetted and looked into the forest. “Will you promise that you will not use this to cheat me, deceive me or in any other way against me?” she asked.
Kiresula swore in the traditional manner: “No axe, no sword, no spell, no guile, will ever break this vow of mine. No act of force or evil smile will force my mind hurt your shine.” she said with a depth of conviction as deep as the ocean floor.
Mayana seemed somewhat placated: “I don’t like it, but I understand that it is required.” she fidgeted. “If you do need my assistance with this matter, I am still willing to help.”
Kiresula smiled slightly: “I do actually, to find out if this is one huge lie or real. I know that as an enchanter, you know some spells, that can’t do. Can you hit me with what you’d consider the nastiest debuff?”
“I am going to assume that this is related to the thief and the [Enfeeblement]?” Mayana asked, “Like, I understand that this situation bothers you.”
Kiresula nodded.
Mayana bit her lip for a moment and then her face lit up: “I think you will recognise that one!” As she moved her hands fast. Kiresula recognised it, they had worked on that spell together. [Unrecovery] hit Kiresula, she felt an icy chill creep up her body, it didn’t feel sapping though, it felt as if the chill empowered her. She was just about to check her status, when a notification appeared in a field of vision. It was green.