As Tatiana strolls into another room to get us a drink, an enjoyable thing to watch, I sit down in her living room and open up my notifications, then settle in to read through them.

Significant Event - Saturated Mana Interface Evolution Integration Complete!

All previous SMI functions now stable and integrated.

Examining Aura and physiological changes…

Calculating allowable parameters…

Calculating new and integrated functionality…

Significant Event - Unique Ascended Class Pathways Fully Mapped!

Unique Ascended Class pathways granted by your ‘Savior of Earth’ and ‘Dark Mana Tempered’ Titles are now integrated in your SMI Evolution pathways.

Override permissions have been granted, Class Quests completed in advance.

Required prerequisites Class Evolution: reach Level 30 of your Legendary Class.

Significant Event - Affinity Integration

Due to a unique set of circumstances and a unique SMI Evolution, your Mana Affinity and Dimensional Manipulation Affinities have achieved a limited integration with your SMI functionality.

Significant Event - Skill Enhancements

Due to a unique Evolution, Affinity dynamics may now be applied to both triggered and passive Skills in a pathway carved by your experience.

Likely enhancements to Omnipresent, Greatest Need, Regeneration, Greater Regeneration, Unbreakable, Imbue, Sword of the Sentinel.

Current effects unquantified, observation required for new Skill descriptions.

Warning! Unprecedented circumstances regarding a Saturated Mana Interface

Warning!

The extent of effects and enhancements on your SMI are currently unknown and possibly harmful.

Warning!

Due to the nature of your current and future Class pathways, the limited SMI integration with your Affnities does not apply to spell casting. Attempting to force integration between your Affinities and spell casting is likely to result in catastrophic interactions.

Significant Event - Potential Research Notification

Due to the nature of the Evolution of your SMI’s known and projected functionality, a notification has been triggered and sent to the SSA’s Mana Interface Research Institute (MIRI) with the highest level of restricted access and encryption.

Study Requirement Notification - Compulsory Summons from MIRI

Due to the activity of your SMI operating 10 standard deviations beyond estimated implementation parameters, you are required by the SSA’s MIRI to report for evaluation.

Automated Portal retrieval initiated….

MIRI Portal Failure!

Your location is currently unable to be determined.

You must report to the closest MIRI facility immediately.

Failure to comply with this compulsory summons will not be tolerated by the SSA.

Failure to comply will result in the immediate deactivation of your SMI, with grave consequences.

Compulsory Study Requirement Enforcement Penalty Initiation

Calculating penalty to Bronwic Cadimus…

Initializing execution of SMI deactivation…

Enforcement penalty blocked.

SSA Clearance Level override.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

User Title dynamics incorporated into allowable punitive action.

Special status override implemented. Additional User privileges granted.

SMI connection with MIRI forcibly downgraded to message only capability.

Enforcement penalty and compulsory summons requirement permanently waived.

Automated Portal retrieval process permanently discontinued.

Penalties and restrictions now applied to MIRI activities relating to Bronwic Cadimus.

MIRI appeal registered…

MIRI appeal rejected.

Congratulations!

Your SSA Clearance Level has been upgraded from 7 to 9.

Contact your High Enforcer liaison for further details and assignments if relevant.

Urgent Message from the Mana Interface Research Institute

Greetings, Bronwic Cadimus.

We contact you due to the unprecedented events relating to your SMI that we have just been made aware of. A highly unusual defect with your SMI has been transmitted to us which puts you in danger.

We apologize without reservation for the failed attempt at compelling you to report to our finest research facility to ensure that you receive adequate care and support from our Universally respected teams of dedicated professionals. It is important we understand the series of events that have led to this alarming situation in order to assist you.

Due to circumstances that may be known or unknown to you, we cannot locate you or interact with your SMI in any way. You may be in immediate, life threatening danger.

As a valued member of our SSA High Enforcers with a Clearance Level higher than 3, you are entitled to the very best medical attention in the Universe.

Please report to our MIRI Headquarters as soon as possible.

You can request special transport to MIRI Headquarters at any Shop, it is pre-approved.

Warmly yours and with deepest concern for your safety,

X’yylin Gonngular Bharrgiivhlar

Executive Director, Mana Interface Research Institute

Holy shit. That’s one hell of a lot to take in. I’m not surprised something like this has happened, but I am shocked by the speed of it. What has it been since I felt everything click? A minute? Two? I glance over the notifications again to try to take it all in.

Medical assistance from the MIRI my ass. That’s all clearly bullshit. I have no doubt that the equivalent of an all points bulletin has been put out on me and I wonder who’s in my corner or if it’s just Luck, given my recently boosted Attribute. Tenebris? B’esloor? Kauran? Nobody?

There is so much about the Universe I am still totally ignorant about.

All of these notifications and what’s happening to me breathes some new energy into my veins, thinking about what the future might bring rather than what’s happened in the past. I need to put some things behind me, but they seem to come up all the time whether I want them to or not, haunting my thoughts. A new focus on what’s in front of me and the chance to win the KCT might be just what I need.

I admit I’ve been worried about the thought of the KCT starting while I am still struggling to get my Skills under control. Now we’re talking about a whole new ballgame and I’ve tipped over into looking forward to seeing what I can do rather than how I’m going to get myself killed in the most spectacular and unfortunate way.

“What’s going on, Bronwic?” asks Tatiana as she emerges from another room to join me in the living room, a drink in each hand and boots delicately echoing on the wooden floors. The way she moves and the way she fixes her eyes on me is fascinating, a sultry mixture of confidence, curiosity, and full attention.

“What do you mean?” I ask, hoping to clarify whether she’s asking about why I’m here, or what’s going on between us, or something else. She laughs with a wide open, joyful twinkle in her eyes and it’s impossible for me not to return a smile.

“The expression on your face when I walked in is enough to tell me that something monumental has either happened to you, or it’s about to happen. I can’t imagine you’re about to profess your undying love for me and ask if we can start a family… so, what’s going on? Why are you here?”

I stare at her for a few seconds, stunned. She hasn’t said any of that with a hint of anger, judgment, resentment, or any of the emotions I’d be unconsciously or consciously expecting from her. She just literally seems curious and caring, nothing more and nothing less. It’s more than enough to make me think my increased Luck has bent the Universe by bringing me here at this time to talk to someone who has nothing but my best interests at heart, and is totally accepting of whatever I might reveal.

“The long and short of it is, you’re right. Something has happened to me,” I say slowly as she passes me a drink that looks like golden whisky in a tumbler. I think for a second she’s going to sit beside me, but instead she settles comfortably into a dark gray couch that’s still close, but just beyond arm’s reach.

“That’s no surprise at all!” she says. “You’re practically radiating power and you’re even more broody than usual. Don’t give me some story about how you’re probably going to die, or things are really dangerous, or you have powerful enemies. Let’s just assume those are a given based on everything we both know about you, ok? What’s really going on, Bronwic?” she asks and takes a sip from her drink, watching me over the lip of her glass with her eyes that look icey blue at the moment. Have they changed color? I find I can’t remember. Once again, there’s no heat in what she says, no anger or expectation. We exchange grins and it’s like we’re laughing at a movie together that happens to be my life.

I’m not sure what I should say. Not because I don’t trust Tatiana - I do. More because I’m not sure if knowing what’s happening to me is dangerous to her or not. I have no idea what kinds of powers and Skills and spells are out there. What if telling her something about this means I put her in danger? What if she tries to help me by taking some actions I don’t know about and that results in her being killed or worse? Or… maybe that’s just glass half full? Maybe telling her is the best thing I could do and nothing bad will happen. Maybe.

“I’ve gained a bit of power and some Levels, and now I’ve been given the chance to participate in a competition that’s beyond even the Koldaavi Combat Championships. Getting those Levels caused me some problems, but they seem to have resolved themselves now. I was just thinking how this might be a new start for me. A way to look forward instead of backward for a while.”

“Beyond the KCC? What’s bigger than that?” she asks.

“Something that could set humanity up for good if I win it,” I say. “I need another Level to get my Tier 4 Legendary Skills, but I also want to support Logan and reconnect with you, and a lot of other things.”

Tatiana’s face screws up and the dark around her eyes seems to spread to cover more of her face.

“What?” I ask her. “What do you think I should do?”

“Stop talking to me, for starters. It’s incredible to see you and what are you doing here? Go get another Level, dump all your Skill points into at least one Evolution, and try to win that fucking tournament for all of us!”

What she says does resonate deep down.

I guess it’s settled then… time to finish my whiskey and hit the road.