July 26, 493 U.C.

Vials lined the shelf in front of me. Like glowing bottles of the best drugs, they were vibrant cures for pain and suffering. And they'll all be gone tomorrow. Ignoring that depressing thought, I turned and grabbed my hoodie. Dad muttered something or other from the door. I didn't really listen. Instead, I pulled on my hoodie and stared at my desk, debating if I should visit Daniele again.

I was jolted from my stupor as my phone buzzed. A message popped up.

Raptor: Rescue!

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Dad stopped talking as he saw it. I grabbed a mask and swapped the amulet, keeping the hoodie. Then I teleported to Earth, appearing in Africa. Time came to a screeching halt as I used Time Stop.

A massive group of Water Buffalo surrounded me. Like a swarming hive, the ground had been agitated and charged in defense. I surveyed the mass of living creatures below and winced. Four human bodies and a few dozen carcasses were in the center of the herd.

Getting closer, I studied the people and grimaced. This is bad. This is really bad. I sent out teleports, sending them to the underground medical center. Then I teleported and resumed time.

The four bodies appeared in medpods. Using Haste, I raced forward and grimaced. Three of them were dead. I dropped Haste as the pod took over. A siren rang through the air as it triggered.

People came rushing in. I vaulted back and took a spot near the door, sending a text.

Me: Three dead. One critical. What the hell were they doing out in the savanna without an escape?

Raptor: Damn it! Doctor there?

Me: Yes.

Raptor: I’ll inform people to stop being foolish. We need another batch of fish and potions for tomorrow.

“Damn it,” I cursed audibly. What the hell is wrong with people? I looked at the pods. Like a tidal wave, guilt slammed into me, mixing and mingling with the pain. They died. They died because of me. With a long breath, I peered at the sole survivor.

“You should go, Viper,” the doctor called.

I teleported while the guilt built. Arriving in my room, I let out a long breath and started to cry. I plopped into my seat and stared blankly at the wall.

Minutes ticked by. Footsteps sounded, rousing me from my stupor.

Dad walked into the room. “It’s not your fault, Casey. I need a teleport to your grandfather’s place.”

I nodded at him and didn’t protest that the awakening potions were now impossible. I just sent him on his way. Loneliness and sorrow continued their unending assault.

In a desperate attempt to leave my building funk, I swapped amulets, teleported, and knocked on an apartment door. It swung open moments later.

Job smiled. “Hello, Casey. How are you?” Then he frowned and pulled me into the cozy little apartment. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s a bad day,” I murmured woodenly.

“What happened?” Job asked, gently pushing me towards the couch.

I looked up at him. Tears began streaming down my cheeks in earnest. “I was too slow. People died.”

“Damn it,” Job cursed and punched in an order on his coffee machine. “Are you holding up alright?”

I nodded and looked at the brown carpet. It’s my fault.

“It’s not your fault,” Job said from the kitchen. “I know you are thinking it. It is not your fault that someone went and did something foolish. You are not to blame. Do you hear me, Casey?”

I looked at him and shook my head. “If I’d been faster -”

“It wouldn’t have made a difference. Don’t play the what-might-have-been scenario. It will get you and others killed. What if you are too distracted to help someone now?” Job grabbed the mug of cocoa and brought it to me.

Loathe as I was to admit it, he had a point. I took it and sipped. The warm liquid flooded down like a soothing hug.

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Job took a seat next to me. “I’m worried about you. How are you?”

I stared at the mug. "Not great. Dad's mean."

Job frowned. "Consider journaling. Maybe that will help." He studied me again. “And I mean it. Don’t blame yourself. Come visit if it gets too bad.”

I nodded. “Thanks, Job.”

He turned on the television, pulling up a baseball game. I groaned at it and looked at him.

Job chuckled. “What? It’s not that bad.”

“It’s so boring. They are in time out again!” I gestured to the screen that was proving my point.

“It is not. It’s peak entertainment.” Job chuckled at my bewildered expression.

I giggled and took another sip. “Thanks, Job. I needed this.”

“Visit anytime,” Job said and mussed with my hair. “I’ve missed having you around. We got our first grandchild a week ago.”

“You did?” I asked.

“Yes, little Tara. She’s a cute one. We’ll have to introduce you at some point.”

I nodded and took another sip. That sounded like loads of fun. Then I looked at his phone and grinned. “What a cutie.”

“That she is,” Job said with a grin. “Aren’t you hot in that hoodie?”

“I’m just cold today,” I lied and sipped the hot chocolate. Leaning back, I sunk into the soft fabric of the couch.

Job grunted. He was always good at seeing through my lies. But he seemed to let it go, turning back the television. “See. They even threw!”

“Boring. I could have hit that right out of the park.” I giggled.

“And broken that bat to smithereens, I’m sure,” Job added dryly. “I saw you on the news. Heroics?”

“Don’t tell my dad. I needed that too.” I sipped hot chocolate and enjoyed sitting there. I watched the pitcher launch a ball.

Urgent Quest: Rescue! - Jaguar Attack. Rewards: 1000 Reputation.

Time slammed to a halt. I studied the screen and didn’t bother waiting. I wasn’t letting someone else die today. I scribbled a note to Job, dropping it there. Then I swapped outfits and attire.

With one final look around the lovely apartment, I willed myself to some city in South America.

“Hi, Casey. You aren’t doing something foolish, are you?” Death asked as he appeared.

“Rescuing someone.” I turned and gasped. “What happened to you?”

He was covered in black ooze. He made it vanish. “Had to kill a little shit. Have anything good to eat? I miss food.”

“I have some jerky?” I grabbed a bag and tossed it to him.

“Thanks! Remember the rules.” He waved and vanished.

I shook my head, used haste, and resumed time. A field of coffee trees surrounded me, reducing my vision to nothing. With a growl, I summoned Ela and shot forward, spewing dirt behind me like some tiller.

Ela shot forward, acting as a guide. I followed her, dodging through the three-meter trees. Leaves fluttered in my wake. A poor yellow butterfly went tumbling, slamming into a tree.

Breaking out of the trees, I spotted the reason. The spotted Jaguar’s eyes were glowing. Like the horrible sabrecats, it was moving which did not improve my mood. Its claws stretched as it leapt in slow motion. A low-pitched scream rolled over me.

I leapt and summoned my two-handed axe. It slammed it down, smashing through bone and flesh. The jaguar’s body slammed down with a burst of blood. Its head looped through the air, spraying blood mist over the farmers.

Quest Complete! Rewards: 1000 reputation. You now have 2000 reputation.

I let out a long breath and didn’t bother sticking around. I teleported back home. I did need to make the potions. Firing off a thank you text to Job, I turned and resumed my job as a living lab, spending hours making more potions before I headed to bed.

Current Level 10 Current XP 95.99% Current Max Mana 8019.89 Regen per minute 13.37 Reputation 2000

Tier Skill Cost Tier 10 User Time Dilation (Haste)

- User experiences 256 seconds for 1 earth second.

- Force transference limited to 12.5%. 2 mana per earth second. Tier 6 Pocket Dimension

- 128 cubic meters of pocket space.

- Rapid stash and rapid draw.

- You may tether objects to your pocket space.

- Your pocket space preserves items inside. 32 mana Tier 6 Time Stop

- Caster leaves spacetime. They may remove and place things back in spacetime.

- You may control the flow of time in the demiplane.

- You may summon in willing living creatures.

- This automatically triggers if you take significant damage. 200 mana to cast.

Variable cost to move items in and out. Tier 6 Teleport.

- Teleports the caster or a willing creature.

- You may cast this on an unwilling creature if they are within ten meters.

- You may teleport inside an object, causing the matter to push outward.

200 mana for the caster.

400 mana for a willing creature.

1000 mana for an unwilling creature with no resistance.

- Short range casts cost less mana.

Tier 3 Attire Swap

- Locked to a single outfit. Current outfit set to Magical Girl Uniform.

- Attire cleaned on swap.

- Attire repaired on swap. 20 mana. Tier 3 Enhanced Body

-Caster’s body is enhanced by a factor of eight. 2 mana per caster second. Tier 2 Enchanting.

- Enchantments last twice as long. Variable cost. Tier 2 Potions.

- Potions last twice as long. Variable cost. Tier 1 Free casting

- Cast any spell you can replicate. Variable cost. Penalty of 8x mana. Tier 1 Familiar Manifestation. 20 mana to cast. 1 mana for each additional minute.