Leveling up still left Clare wobbly and overwhelmed.

Kepler had sunk into her *(@--

Mind-pain.

[Clare, please avoid incomprehensible thoughts.]

Shut up and let me process. Her mouth was dry and sticky, aura trembling and sensitive. Her new territory huddled inside her, sending jitters through her at movements as small as changes in air pressure.

[Are you alright? Perhaps I should have leveled you while you were asleep again...]

Clare looked at his face—his form returned to his usual monster-human-pet hybrid. As they had leveled, she had felt his emotions against her bare soul… acute worry, that he would level her the way the system had tried to, that he would harm her; a serious dedication to her happiness; raw, unfiltered acceptance of her emotions, of her very self…

Rubbing her imaginary eyes, she shook it off. Nah, it’s cool.

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[Are you sure? Your human soul seems unaccustomed to such immaterial experiences--]

Clare chuckled. He hadn’t worried this much since he’d realized she needed sleep.

His ears drooped.

Thanks. She patted his head. I’m really fine, though.

And she really was. Had it been any other being, under less voluntary circumstances, she would have felt deeply violated. But Kepler was so sincere, so very… Well, she’d honestly enjoyed it.

Not that she would ever say so.

What notifications did we get?

Kepler perked up, although he still smelled a bit worried (it wasn’t really a scent, but certain things didn’t translate well into a physically-styled mind-space).

[Ah, well, we picked up quite a few new designs! It seems we’ve absorbed a chunk of, well, a palace.]

Oh?

Clare felt her new territory, finding an impressive throne room.

Dayumm…

Gemstones the size of her previous fists, swirls of magic-dense metal, intricate carvings, a throne made of a material so thick in magic and enchantments it nearly burned in Clare’s vision.

The diplurans, sensing her mood, began playing ‘We’re in the Money.’ Van Gogh hummed along, harmonizing unconsciously. His little blue body sparked happily as he carved glowing stars into Clare’s ceiling.

Kepler laughed ominously. [I told you delvers would be begging us.]

Yesssss!