Syl was mentally exhausted by the time she went to bed. The cool rain created a pleasant soothing sound as she spent the last few hours answering a seemingly unending barrage of questions from the Julie and Stan. They asked questions while they made dinner, ate dinner and then after. The couple also seemed to prefer Syl’s conversational answers to getting the information directly from System. To be fair, if the situation had been reversed she probably would have done the same, asking friends and family was usually how she liked to learn and it was fun. Her uncle had never failed to get animated when describing his character build philosophies and there was something deeply satisfying about to hearing maids arguing over how to min/max. Assuming the maids that worked with her mom weren’t talking about food, maids always ended up talking about food.

The experience with Stan and Julie was reminiscent of being back on earth and teaching a non gamer friend how to make a character for a popular game with the added layer of picking a degree program. It was a fun though demanding position and she hoped that they would choose with enough information as not to regret the choices later. System had the couple deciding on a starter class and they each had a customized list based on their current skills, talents, and interests. System was doing a good job, though the choices would have been overwhelming even if they understood the general concepts. Neither of the pair had settled on a class by the time they gave up for the night.

Finally alone and in her room Syl closed her eyes on her fluffy pillow, thankful for the break and felt her perspective shift back to Mist Vale and the Realm of Magic.

“Welcome back my lady.” A young woman said from the end of room. She was standing in the basement a respectful distance away.

“Thank you, who are you?” Syl said.

The young woman smiled and stood straighter. “You called me Title Mind once, I am one of your chosen, would you like to rename me?” She said.

“I didn’t realize you had a body.” Syl said while considering the implications.

“Oh, we didn’t have bodies before. You started a trend!” Title Mind said as she waved her arms excitedly.

“Oh.” Syl said.

“A few of us were moved by everything that has happened recently and wanted to make ourselves available.” Title Mind said.

“A lot has happened, could you be a little more specific?” Syl said.

“Ooooh, um you and System having a moment and making up? She has been brooding for years… and she is kind of scary. And you woke up, big one there.” Title Mind said.

Syl could definitely imagine System being scary. “Wait, a few of you? Where is everyone else then?” Syl asked.

Title Mind pointed at the door, “They are outside with the baby.”

…

“Baby! I leave for one day and we have a baby!” Syl said surprised as she walked to the door. She opened the door to the basement and walked through the small stone building that was her house out into the valley. A gaggle of people were clustered around something small, presumably the baby she hurriedly moved their way. She heard a loud cough from Title Mind and there was a jolt of awareness that spread through the small gathering. One of the women turned towards her and almost jumped when she saw Syl’s quick pace towards the group.

“Lady Syl!” The woman said sounding startled as she dropped to one knee with her head bowed. The rest of the group now aware turned their attention toward her and knelt. The kneeling was the icing on a way-too-much-is-going-on-cake and she stopped. In the center of the group was a petite woman wearing a green dress holding a small baby in her arms. The woman smiled and nodded her head as she bobbed still holding the baby.

“The enchantress has returned.” The woman in the green dress said, her voice familiar and different at the same time.

“System? And please everyone rise, no one needs to kneel for me.” Syl said.

System nodded and the group started to stand and as they stood one of the group came over. “Can I touch you?” She asked.

“Uh, sure…” Syl said feeling very awkward in the moment. Slowly and reverently the woman touched Syl’s hand. Then in an instant the woman gave her a big slightly too long hug.

“Thanks, so will someone explain how you all are here and any ideas where the baby came from?” Syl said

System walked over with the baby, who was a light shade of green and had a pudgy round face that looked up at her with big brown eyes. “We are the individuals made from your split mind. Though we call ourselves the chosen and have been around much longer than a few days. This baby is the spirit of a magical tree that grows in Ril. She is the first of her kind, do you plan on making more? We have decided we like having this one around.”

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The baby was reaching for her with small chubby digits so Syl reached out to hold the child. System pretended not to notice and slightly backed away. “Magical tree spirit… As weird as that might be it sounds familiar.” Syl said while giving System a look.

Syl considered the child for a moment. It was odd to think that Earth lore could exist on Werthe seemingly by accident. She had birthed the tree with magic and fed the seed her power to grow. Doing that had permanently connected the tree to the realm of magic. Would everyone that used magic end up as part of her realm? No she decided, probably not, there was a duality to this new creature that gave it both a physical and magical form. This wasn’t a tree that was infused with her power, it was a being born of magic. Syl reeled at the implications of using her power this way. Would every sentient magical tool have a spirit that lived in her realm? She decided the valley wouldn’t be enough space and her house might need a lock. If there was an annoying mage that created too many magical beings she could also blast him publicly. Hopefully the hypothetical mage wouldn’t ever exist and it would be a problem for future Syl.

“She’s a dryad or a tree nymph. I’m not sure if we should distinguish the two. It would be a shame if she was alone in the world so we will need to give her a family at least, I’ll do it tomorrow. Can any of you use a body on Werthe?” Syl said confident they had this one right.

“A few of us have acted on your behalf in the past lady Syl. We can appear for a short time or manifest using an item or construct similar to how you use an avatar. Though it’s been ages and only to assist your sister goddess. Doing things in the mortal realm has caused no end of problems.” One of the men said.

“Our actions indirectly created a few different religions. In the region of your avatar the most notable are the Sun worshipers of the Republic of Sul and the Sisters Temple. The more well known objects we have used to manifest in the past have become known as holy relics.” Another woman added.

“The Republic of Sul has used our vessels for power grabs and wars, they have managed to stubbornly collect many of the relics by chasing even the smallest leads. They frustrate me.” Title Mind said.

“I wish you guys had done this day one, information sooner from now on please, I’m not everywhere at once.” Syl said happy to finally feel like she was catching up.

“Ehh.. you kind of are everywhere at once Lady Syl.” One of the women said.

One of the men pointed at her and nodded to emphasize the point. He reminded her of a frat guy from a movie.

“Having information available doesn’t mean I know what is relevant or important at a given moment and there are limitations to my… current perspective. Is there anything I should know about that you guys can tell me?” Syl said.

There was a look amongst the group and she immediately regretted asking.

“The Senate in Sul used the last prophecy to deduce you are awake and what general region your avatar is located. They also seem to have decided that the prophecy could have been a positive sign that they will finally conquer the region while they hunt for you. This is all based on recent Senate measures and discussions in chambers. Two legions have also been activated.” Title Mind said as she made a face like she just ate a sour pickle.

“Have you discovered the shards yet? They might eventually shatter the universe. We aren’t sure what they are and why they exist, though logically you made them.” One of the women added.

“Your sister goddess has been imprisoned for a few hundred years. She told us she wanted to wait for you.” One of the men added.

“We should definitely talk about Nim, he’s a time dragon and part of an invasion of dragons we tried unsuccessfully to seal away. There is also a Zim dragon that might be the Nim from a different timeline, we aren’t sure.” System said.

“When should we mention the Ilvante?” One of the men added.

“Nope, I just pretended to eat. It’s too soon to talk about that right now.” The woman that mentioned the shards replied.

“There are some prophecies that are concerning from a few thousand years ago when your sister goddess was really into the doom and gloom kind of thing. She exists in time differently than us so its usually a good idea to know what she rambles on about.” Another woman said.

“You know I thought being a goddess was going to be more about being really powerful and doing cool stuff.” Syl said.

You have earned the title “Ridiculous”

“Oh stop it, it’s weird when you are in front of me.” Syl said with a pout and then added, “Lets start with names and then move on from there it will be easier to keep track of you guys.”

She decided to just sort of run with the best names she could think of and fire them off. “Frat guy, you’re now Ezra, Title Mind you are now Isabella, Other guy you’re now Levi, Other other guy… Leo. Hmm Mia, Charlotte, Ava, Mateo, Elijah, Evelyn, Olivia. That just leaves you System, any thoughts on a name? System is your title, you still should have a name.” Syl said.

“I would like you to name me.” System said.

Syl smiled and gave System a hug carefully avoiding the baby she still clutched like her life depended on it. “I’ve been saving one of my favorite names for you then. Thank you for everything you do, Luna.” Syl said.

Luna stood there stunned for a moment and a few of the other chosen gasped.

“What?” Syl said.

“In the Sisters Temple and the First Temple you are called Sister Moon and you just named her after the moon.” Isabella said.

“And you hugged her! She got a hug!” Mateo said.

“Thank you.” Luna said it looked like she might cry.

“I can’t stand it anymore, what’s with all this sister stuff? I never had a sister.” Syl said.

“Ah, it’s from the creation story, and was one of the first prophecies from your sister goddess. Sister Sun and Sister Moon. You should probably read it.”

“Wait there is this wolf that calls me Sister…I kind of thought it was a wolf thing.”Syl said remembering Chucho.

“Some beings are more perceptive than others, we can’t hide from them. A limitation of the divine? Thats where this whole relic thing started in the first place. Somehow there are always beings that know who we are.” Charlotte said.

“Limitations of the divine seems dense…” Syl said while scratching her temple.

“After a talk with Sister Sun you’ll get it, She is a firm believer in our limitations.” Ava said.

“Probably why she is still in prison.” Isabella said.

“Yeah probably,” Mateo said.

“She will only talk to her chosen and us and we assume you Lady Syl.” Luna added.

“What?! Why would she do that?” Syl said feeling her eyes bulging as she tried to digest the new information.

“I never would have thought we would have to tell our goddess about this kind of thing.” Luna said looking at her with piercing eyes.

“Memory loss is legit, she is pretty old” Frat guy Ezra added.

“…e tu Ezra?” Syl said.

“Each of you is a force of creation. You might be the power that fuels our reality but she is the engine that defines it. So anything she says to a mortal defines them.” Isabella said.

“Her words blow up heads, there was an ugly few years there in the beginning” Mateo added.

“But why stay in prison at all it seems like she could just leave by saying something at worst?” Syl said.

“The time thing.” Elijah said.

“She is surrounded by other prisoners so if she uses her voice it would kill a lot of other people. There is probably someone in there that the future needs. She also really values life or maybe she is bored without seeing you?” Ava said half interested and staring at the baby.

“Wait, but her prophecies kill people.” Syl said.

“Smoke and mirrors my goddess!” Ezra said while doing jazz hands. Syl stared at him and sighed.

“Yep those aren’t people those are her chosen. Random villagers that didn’t exist a few days ago, things like that. The fire is burning the vessel so it doesn’t become a stupid holy relic or something later.” Leo added.

“You guys are serious about not making more relics.” Syl said.

“Holy wars, you’ll understand once you’ve seen one.” Ava said.

“No, I get it, holy wars are something I’m familiar with from another reality.” Syl said feeling down.

“Any ideas on how we get her out of where ever she is? And just so we are clear, I like people a lot but this goddess is ok with blasting stuff. There should definitely be a clear message that it is not ok to imprison divine beings.” Syl said and the conversation got a little more intense from there as they started to plan a raid on Sister Sun’s prison.