Kim held up a hand to stop me from getting up. “Wait, Gabby? You’re not from earth are you? Do you know what caused the system? Why is all this happening?”

Gabby tilted her head, a faint look of confusion crossing her face. “The system? Oh, you mean the way everything is now quantified and monitored? No, I am not from Earth. I come from a place far beyond the reaches of your galaxy. But as for the system, it’s a living thing. It has existed in the universe since time began. Some theorize that the system is the universe, but it isn’t intelligent. It only monitors and quantifies the universe and provides limited feedback.”

Kim’s brow furrowed. “So, it’s just there? Watching and recording everything?”

Gabby nodded. “Yes, in a way. It’s like a cosmic observer, ensuring that the flow of energy and matter remains balanced. It doesn’t think of plan; it merely exists, maintaining a certain order.”

“But why is it here on Earth? Why now?” Kim pressed.

Gabby shrugged, a delicate motion that seemed otherworldly. “I don’t know. I’m not an Earth expert. My knowledge of your world is limited to what I’ve observed and experienced since meeting Gavrin. But I can speculate. The system simply expands, it could have found Earth during its natural growth or something could have guided the system here. I tend to think it was the latter. Mana void regions are rare, and mana void regions without the system are even rarer. The void pulls things in and attracts the system at an accelerated rate. I’m honestly surprised it hasn’t happened sooner.”

Kim leaned forward, intrigued. “What kind of thing could guide the system?”

Gabby’s expression turned thoughtful. “It would be a creature of immense power and influence, something ancient and deeply connected to the fabric of your world. In some worlds, such entities exist as guardians or overseers of natural order.”

Kim shivered. “Can you describe one of these entities?”

Gabby nodded slowly. “One such entity I’ve encountered in my travels was a massive tentacled creature, knows as the Eldranoth. It resides in the depths of a distant ocean on a world far from here. Its body is covered in bioluminescent patterns that pulse with a rhythm matching the planet’s tides. The Eldranoth is ancient, as old as the stars themselves, and it communicates through vibrations and electromagnetic pulses. It’s said to be able to influence the very currents of time and space around it.”

Kim and I exchanged uneasy glances. “Are you saying there could be something like that here on Earth?” Kim asked?

Gabby shrugged again. “It’s possible. The universe is vast and full of mysteries. What’s important is that you adapt and learn to work with the system. It’s here to stay and understanding it will help you navigate this new reality.”

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I sighed. “You know, the Eldranoth sounds a lot like an octopus or squid. Can you imagine a squid with magic powers. They can already flash and pulse their skin, imagine if they cast spells like that.”

The room grew quiet. I finally asked. “What are the chances the squid are related to the Eldranoth? Life evolves independently, right?”

Gabby shook her head. “If it looks like an Eldranoth, it probably is. No one knows its life cycle for sure. That could explain why the system doesn’t work properly for you, Gav Gav.”

My head moved sharply at that. “Come again?” I asked.

Gabby smiled at me. “Yes, your experience with the system is atypical. There is a society of beings that wander the starways and search for worlds outside the jurisdiction of the system. Well, there are multiple societies that search, they all have different agendas. But I suspect there was a more benevolent group that found your planet.”

I couldn’t hold it in. “Then why the lightening fall, why the monsters?” I asked.

Gabby tilted her head in thought. “Now that I am here, I can see how the astral leylines are arranged. You call this world Earth, but it is really a water world. Look at you, you have roughly the same proportion of water in your body as the entire world does. Your blood and body are constantly trying to maintain a slightly saline level inside your cells. It is more accurate to describe you as a hive-mind sea creature walking around than an actual terrestrial animal.”

“That makes no sense.” I paused, and then continued. “Are you talking about cells? Isn’t every living thing made of cells?”

Gabby pinned me with stare and I felt a prickling as she rifled through my soul. “No. They aren’t.”

She took a breath, as if deciding how best to explain. “Most other sapient beings in the universe are composed of mana infused matter. Their very essence is shaped and sustained by their soul’s energy, rather than the cellular structure you’re familiar with. They are not a collection of individual cells working together but a single entity formed from raw mana given shape by their spirit. It’s a fundamental difference in how life can manifest."

I leaned back, trying to absorb this new perspective. "So, you're saying that other beings out there are more unified in their structure, with mana directly influencing their form and function?”

Gabby nodded. “Exactly. This is why their interactions with the system can be so different from yours. They’re innately connected to the mana that permeates everything, whereas your cellular structure adds a layer of complexity. It’s also why the system’s introduction to Earth has been so chaotic. It’s trying to overlay a mana based framework onto a fundamentally different form of life.”

Kim looked thoughtful. “So, understanding and adapting to this new reality isn’t just about learning new skills or fighting monsters. It’s about fundamentally changing how we understand our own existence and our connection to the world around us.”

Gabby smile. “Precisely. And that is the true challenge you face. But it’s also an opportunity. Embracing this new understanding can lead to incredible growth and power.”

I sighed, feeling the weight of this revelation. “Well, I guess we have our work cut out for us.”

Gabby laughed softly. “Yes, but you’ve already shown you’re capable of amazing things. Just remember, you’re not alone in this. You have each other, and you have allies like me. Together, you can navigate this new world and thrive.”