The cup crumbled. Annoyed, Vivian groaned. Anya offered another wooden cup. Vivian wrapped her fingers slowly around it. Lifting it slightly, she squeezed her fingers closed. The cup creaked and splintered. Vivian sighed in frustration. Sasha. Why, after every augmentation, I'm forced into an adaptation period more annoying than the last?

I already stated this effect was unintentional and unexpected.

Why do I feel like I'm your test subject?

That would be because you are.

That it's true is one thing, that you openly admit it is entirely another. Vivian shook her head. Also, why are you proud of that? Just stop.

I need to make more adjustments. I trust you have no objections?

I'm already incapable of holding a cup, what's next, I leave a crater the size of Isa's foot when I'm walking too?

Just some fine-tuning should help your control.

On the bright side, as I'm already discombobulated, I prefer getting this all sorted out, so I only have one adaptation period. Still, though, why is it getting harder to adjust?

Vivian dismissed the next cup Anya had molded together for her. She could feel Sasha tinkering with her body. It was a strange feeling, but it wasn't as disconcerting as it was initially. Her muscles spasmed as Sasha did her tweaking. The process progressed slowly through her body as Sasha focused on one connection point at a time.

That's a strange feeling, almost tickles a little. Vivian remarked. She flexed her arm and opened and closed her hand. Fine-tuning? It almost feels like I'm back to how I was before everything.

I am glad I could help. I have done all I can; you will need to break through on your own. You should have no problems holding fragile objects anymore.

Thanks, Sasha. Wooden objects are not considered fragile, though. Vivian took the cup from Anya with a graceful fluidity she never had before.

Caretaker. I am glad to see you well again. I-

Vivian nodded, interrupting, "You have a pretty voice. Anya, please call me Vivian."

I will try, Vivian, Anya shuddered shyly.

"I'm sorry I worried you, and that I couldn't properly protect you," Vivian stated softly.

You did all you could, Moth-Vivian.

"Do you see yourself as my daughter?" Vivian raised her eyebrow, and her voice trailed off, "If you're more comfortable with that, you can call me mother..."

Thank you, Mother. Anya smiled, without warning, she pushed herself against Vivian and hugged her warmly. Vivian couldn't resist chuckling, she placed her hand on Anya's head and stroked her grass-like hair affectionately. The dryad tightened her hug.

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Daryl took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of the pure nature city. His eyes unfocused, he waited for the thousands of voices to overwhelm his mind. This was his first time taking the initiative, summoning the oracle. He clutched his head as voices painfully filled his mind—so many whispers, incoherent, and indiscreet overlapping into white noise. As suddenly as they appeared, they merged into a single voice.

"Y'all are in for a shitstorm. Duck and cover or struggle with futility. But we suggest y'all run."

The voices faded into nothingness before Daryl could argue. "I wonder how serious they are? Never been so candid before. The vagueness I am used to, though."

Daryl massaged the lingering pain from his temples. He took a moment for himself before he made his way over to Lulu's new workshop.

He slid himself into one of the new chairs Lulu had made from scratch. The wooden chair imparted a comfort he wasn’t expecting. He glanced over at Vivian and Anya, then turned his gaze to his wife.

"Lulu."

"That bad?"

"The oracle called the future a 'shitstorm' and recommended we run, though to where I'm afraid it didn't even make a suggestion."

"Confronting it?" Vivian asked, wrapping her arms around Anya in response to her shaking.

"The oracle called that a struggle against futility." Daryl shook his head.

"Okay." Vivian shook her head, "You all will run."

"You're not going to?" Daryl asked, shocked.

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"I didn't run from the sphinx, did I?" Vivian held her breath a moment as she firmed her answer in her heart. "Twenty-two years of my life spent running, with no other option. Well, no longer. I live by my own decisions, my power.  Come to think of it, where did my name come from?"

Your grandfather died while saying, "Vi.” However-

Vivian frowned, "Don't 'however' me, Sasha, just tell me."

"Sasha?" Lulu and Daryl passed a sharp glance at each other.

Vivian held her hand up, silencing them. Then she addressed the system commandingly, "Sasha!"

I found the name 'Vivian' etched firmly into the core of your being during the initial scan. I simply brought it to the surface.

"What does that mean?" Vivian questioned.

The details are hidden, but I can say with certainty. A powerful being named you with a permanent intent that persisted the passage of time.

"The god?" Vivian asked, drawing complete silence in the room as everyone held their breath.

I can not ignore that as a possibility.

Vivian sighed, "Does Jaden remember?"

"Remember what?" Jaden closed the door behind after he crossed the threshold.

"Naming me." Vivian turned her attention to him, locking her white eyes on him without blinking.

"If I do?" Jaden's gaze matched her intensity, "I could never forget."

Vivian took a deep breath, "What is my purpose, God?"

"I'm afraid it's nothing grand. Your soul was the first created of the race. I created a village, and I observed it while I put APHAS or Sasha together.

"I had a fleeting wish, a moment in which I wanted to interact with my race, not as their creator but as a part of them. Part of a family, growing up and living side by side in peaceful harmony the same as I created them.

"I chose you for that purpose. Observing you, I became attached. I watched you with your family. I developed a longing that turned into envy. I etched the name into the soul I gave you, a name that would persist through reincarnation while leaving you completely unaware of it. Also -and I'm sorry for this- a hidden title."

"Matriarch," Vivian stated with disdain.

Jaden nodded, "As the god, if I were to be born into the race, my Mother would have to be the Matriarch of the race. Not for my sake, but for hers."

"What of us?" Daryl asked shakily.

"You ask as though I had some grand plan. Sorry to disappoint, if there was I don't remember it." Jaden broke eye contact with his mother, dropping his gaze to the floor, he stopped when he saw Anya shaking in Vivian's embrace. "What's wrong with Anya?"

"Just another oracle," Vivian's tone and the wave of her hand dismissing it lightly.

"Don't treat it so nonchalantly," Jaden spoke softly, his voice getting lower. "The oracle is comprised of souls forcefully ripped out of the reincarnation cycle.  For all its faults,  that reason alone demands respect. Hundreds of thousands of souls are trying to convey the problems of tomorrow in a single voice. Their problem is that their time to talk is limited, they have much to say, and can't agree on the message."

Jaden turned to Daryl, "The message is vague because the voices are many and must come together in agreement to say what needs to be said. Honestly, it's amazing they can agree upon anything at all. What was their latest message?"

"A shitstorm is coming, and we should run." Daryl relayed.

"Today, tomorrow, a week? A month? Maybe a century from now?" Jaden scratched his chin.

"KIIIIIINNNNNNNNG!" a loud voice heavy with desperation and fatigue echoed through the empty city streets.

"That sounds like Brains?" Jaden scratched his chin. He turned on his heel and left.

"I have my reservations about the ratfolk," Daryl stated. "Their methods are in direct contrast to their intentions."

"They didn't hurt anyone," Vivian countered, "I'm only better now through their actions."

"Lulu?" Daryl turned to his wife.

"Evan is with them, I'll reserve judgment for now," Lulu replied carving a bowl.

I do not like them. Anya admitted, her shuddering stopped.

Vivian shook her head and looked up at the ceiling. There's much I need to do.

"Where's Isa?" Vivian asked.

She is building herself a den and nest, just outside the city.

"She's quiet about it," Vivian commented. "I need a word with her, but I don't want to interrupt either."

I am helping.

Vivian nodded and left with Anya, her hand resting on Anya's shoulder, "I need to talk with you too."

With me? Anya smiled. About what?

"What happened after the sphinx stepped on me." Vivian laid her eyes on Anya.

I don't remember much. I will tell you all I am able.

Vivian nodded again, falling silent as they approached Isa. Isa's den was a vast underground hole excavated between her claws breaking the hard ground, and Anya taking it away. Isa had curled up in the dirt, a fire fountain nearby raising the temperature of her cave by fifty degrees. Vivian placed herself between it and Anya, shielding her from the direct heat.

Isa slowly opened her eyes with a sigh.  With a wave of her right foreleg, she dimmed the fountain.  "I can imagine why you're here.  Make yourselves comfortable this will take a while."

"Thanks, Isa.  I know this isn't the best time,"  Vivian nodded gratefully, casting her eyes slowly around the den.  Made underground with dirt walls, it held no luxury.  She didn't miss Jaden's marker gaining distance before suddenly disappearing entirely from her map.

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"King!" Brains greeted when Jaden appeared before him.  Jaden looked him over slowly, waiting patiently.  The man before him taking deep breaths; he had forced himself onward even as fatigue filled his limbs with anguish.

"Please, you have to stop them!" Brains continued between heavy breaths. "They've started a war."

Jaden cast a bored look over the desperate Xelia.  "How long ago?"

"I left immediately, and it took me four days to get here," Brains replied.

Jaden looked over Brains appraisingly.  Brains held his breath and waited for him to answer.

"I don't care about your people, and both your rulers are reckless," Jaden broke the silence with a sigh. "And yet, I can't just leave them to die needlessly.  There's also the fact Evan is in your care."

"King?"

"Go and rest.  I'm going ahead." Jaden bolted towards Talhaven.