After weathering Nyx’s flaming tirade about openly declaring to an unknown and probably untrustworthy party that I’m going to be vulnerable for some period of time, I take her advice and wave goodbye to Nerin for the time being to return topside. I am absolutely convinced that it isn’t related to her desire to see the cat again.

(I heard that!)

Yes, I’m sure you did. I... wait, what happened to the portal key?

Nyx sighs. (You dropped it again, didn’t you?)

After I phase around the settlement’s hidden entryway, I search around in the shallow waters outside it. And, I find nothing.

(Great. Just great.)

Well, there has to be a way to... wait a minute. I have an idea. Nyx keeps telling me everything is about intent... and well, I intended to keep that key with me. I didn’t intend to drop it. So what if I focus on wanting to have the key, and...

The portal key materializes in front of me, and I frantically materialize a feeler to catch it, only fumbling it once.

(Wait, did you just-)

[Available Skill: Dimensional Storage used for the first time!]

[Dimensional Storage (0) added to Skills!]

(-that.)

Oh. Good. I have no idea how that happened, but it works for me. From focusing on the skill, I can tell that my storage capacity is rather limited, but I should at least be able to fit the dead mechanic’s bag-

(Just call it your bag. It's yours now, he’s dead, he doesn’t need it anymore.)

-my bag, and probably a few other things from around the apartment if I wanted to. Not that there’s much to carry.

(Some of the parts scattered there should be worth something. You can probably use those to barter, especially considering they have somebody there worth their salt enough to know how to maintain a ghost trap.)

Fair enough. I’ll pick up what I can.

After a surprisingly short drift through the empty streets topside – Nyx pointed out that I can move quite a bit faster than I had been – I let myself in the front door and through the teleporter, arriving inside to poor, once-again-horrified Philip. He reacts by wedging himself even further under the sofa than the last time, if possible. Nyx promptly fawns over him.

(Quiet, you.)

Yeah, sure. So what do I need to do to level up here? Do I just-

[User has earned enough Experience for a Level Increase!]

[Begin Level Increase Process? Y/N]

Aha, I thought so! Literally.

Nyx sighs.

It’s ok. You know you love me.

I can’t see her, but I can tell she’s rolling her eyes. Meanwhile, I came here for a reason, so I visualize selecting ‘Yes’.

***

Some amount of time later – I'm not sure how long, since apparently leveling up makes you lose consciousness – I'm met with my Status again.

[Status]

[Name: Nemesis]

[Race: Manaphage (Spirit, Ephemeral)]

[SYSTEM: TYPE E – Level 1 – XP 70/2000]

[Inherent Skills:]

[Charm 0]

[Consume 2]

[Corporeal Form 1]

[Mimic Lure 1]

[Partial Phase 1]

[Temporal Corrosion 1]

[Wail of Torment]

[Sensory]

[Mana Sight]

[Spectral Sight]

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[Class: N/A – Level N/A – XP N/A]

[Class Skills: N/A]

[General Skills:]

[Identify 0]

[Nightvision]

[Stealth 1]

[Thought Projection 0]

[Sensory]

[Mortal Sight]

[Mortal Scent]

[Mortal Hearing]

[Language]

[Interplanar Common]

[Traits:]

[Mana Thirst]

[Titles:]

[Autophagic Cannibal]

[Stigma of the End]

Looks like there was some reorganizing in here...

(I did that. You’re welcome. Seeing everything jumbled up all the time was giving me a headache.)

You can see it all the time?

(You can’t?)

Nope! But I’m guessing I can just think about wanting to see it and-

[Status]

[Name: Nemesis]

[Race: Manaphage (Spi-

Wait nope, stop! That’s enough!

While Nyx snickers in the background, I take a proverbial breath and glance back at the instance of my status that had opened first in my mind and look around for changes.

Wait, did anything change?

(Your level changed.)

Yes, I can see that. Is that all? Why did I have to black out again just to change a couple numbers?

(More changed, but you don’t get to see it.)

And I suppose you do.

(Yes!)

Fine. Fine, sure, fine. I pick up the dead mech-I mean, my bag, and try using my dimensional storage skill. Wouldn’t you know it, the bag just disappears from my feelers with a pop. Simple enough. So I wander around the small apartment for odds and ends and parts of whatever the dead guy was most recently taking apart, and settle on a handful of tools nearby that look useful or valuable. Then, after waiting a solid hour for Nyx to stop oohing and cooing at Philip, we leave to head back to the settlement.

After time spent not splashing through brackish water, truly an advantage of incorporeal movement, I phase my way through the wall again and head on a non-hunt for Nerin. It makes sense, given they’re the only person there I’ve interacted with, and the others are likely to attack or run on sight. It takes a while, but eventually I spot them leaving what is probably a bar or tavern or whatever the local level of tech and social development has to fill the role, and I fly up casual while materializing my Nyx-lure on the move.

Hi there.

Nerin jumps a proverbial mile.

“Gods, don’t do that!”

Sorry, sorry. I keep forgetting you can’t sense me. Not like I can sense you anyway.

A concerned look briefly flashes across their face, and then they ask, “You can sense me? How?”

Mana signature. The same way that my lesser cousins can.

“Ah, I see. Just, for my curiosity... how far away can you sense me? Me, specifically?”

I take a moment to think about it. Doesn’t seem like that far...

Probably around two hundred feet? I couldn’t feel you when I first got into town.

“Ah. Yes. Two hundred feet. Yes. Perfectly reasonable.” They don’t look at all like they believe it's remotely reasonable, let alone perfectly. But, I choose not to hassle them for it, and instead I change the subject to getting introduced to other humans in the area. Possibly ones that can evaluate the tools I’m carryi-WAIT! I can just use identify!

[Tools]

Useless!

Nyx makes no effort to conceal her laughter at my expense, while I make effort convincing Nerin to help me out instead.

It turns out that Nerin themself has a higher-level identification skill than I do, which is my first indication that they’re also an ascendant.

(You could have just used identify on them,) Nyx quips.

That’s true! So, I try it.

[Eldra – Nerin (Unknown) – Level ???]

[Identify has reached Level 1!]

Hey, that was easy! Also, what’s an ‘eldra’?

(It’s what some planes call elves. They’re more-or-less what you’d expect compared to human stereotypes, longer lives, more magic inclined and less physically.)

So, I’m gonna ask, and you’re gonna treat me like I should already know, but what’s with all the question marks?

“It means Nerin is more than ten levels above you.”

Got it. Simple enough. I turn my attention back to the eldra, who is still leading me... you know what? Moving this lure is taking too much of my focus. I try levitating the lure like I do my body, and it feels like I’m trying to grip something through it. It’s just not working. But... I could probably manifest a feeler and...

Sure enough, I wrap a feeler around the lure’s torso and lift it like I’ve lifted anything else, and up we’re off, levitating lure is a go!

[Corporeal Form has reached Level 2!]

[Mimic Lure has reached Level 2!]

How convenient. While I’m experimenting though, I notice Nerin sure doesn’t look any less nervous than before now that they’re being followed by a floating, black-and-white woman in flowing robes. Huh.

(You don’t look any more comforting from a mortal perspective, probably less so,) my helpful assistant oh-so-helpfully points out.

I didn’t ask, but that’s fine because I know if I drew attention to that, you’d probably skip some important detail that would really help to know in the future.

(Good call.)

Yeah. Thought so.

(You should probably respond. They’ve been waiting for a while looking like they’re about to squeeze out a brick.)

Ah!

I’m sorry, I was stuck in a conversation with my Assistant.

(Sure, blame me,) she sulks.

Anyway, what were you saying?

“I said, these are basic mechanic’s tools. They’re probably not worth much, what level was the mechanic you, ah, received them from?”

He was a Level 2 Apprentice Mechanic.

“That would explain it. These are starter equipment. You might be able to get two or three hundred enni for them, but I wouldn’t expect much more.”

What is that worth?

“You should be able to get three or four meals for it. If, ah, if you ate mortal food.”

I see, as opposed to ‘Mortal’ food, amiright?

I can hear Nyx facepalm again.

Sorry. I couldn’t resist. Unless you’re willing to barter these tools-

(Keep them,) Nyx interjects.

-Or, maybe I’ll just keep them for now. I appreciate the help.

“Yes. Sure, that’s fine,” the nervous shopkeeper replies with an awkward laugh.

So. Is anyone going to complain if I wander around and ‘clean up’ the other ghost traps? I assume there are more.

“Yes, there are more. Um. Could you, maybe go back to walking for now? And, tell you what, here.” They take out a notebook and a writing implement – a pen, apparently, and scribble out a note before tearing out the page and handing it to me. “Show this to anyone who approaches. Hopefully it will be enough.”

Thanks, Nerin! I’ll be on my way then.

“Yes, you do that. Um, enjoy your meal?”

Oh I will!

As I drift away toward the outskirts of the settlement, I take a look at Nerin’s note. In ridiculously flowery handwriting, it reads:

To whom it may concern:

This terrifying system-possessing entity is sentient and has promised not to harm settlement residents in exchange for rights to the contents of our ghost traps. I have agreed to this exchange on our behalf, and any related questions should be referred directly to me.

Signed,

Nerin Mendeis

Grocer

P.S. its name is Nemesis.

Wait, I never promised-

(Shhhhh, just go with it,) my wing-clipped goddess whines.