Many thoughts rolled through Keynes's head as he considered the offer. Each time he glanced at the guardian, he wanted to ask if this was an elaborate joke. However, given the revelation about the Children of the Forest, that seemed unlikely.

What made him uneasy about the offer was the implication that the Father was acting against the System. Could that even happen?

The System isn't actively micromanaging the whole universe, Alice informed him. It only 'acts' directly when necessary and possible. Otherwise, its changes are indirect, operating at the level of the Code, like when it altered the rules governing spiritual companions.

So is it possible? Keynes inquired, not finding a clear answer in Alice's response.

It is. And I would be surprised if the System did anything to stop you if you accepted the mission, she replied.

Keynes understood the basic tenets of the System's functionality. It wasn't omniscient or omnipotent; it had limits and rules. But since neither Keynes nor Alice knew what those rules were, this knowledge was virtually useless to him.

If he were an average ascender, he wouldn't give it a second thought. However, he suspected that his ability to open sealed rifts, combined with his involvement with Chaos, could provide the System with a loophole to eliminate him once his Talent was no longer required.

Now, one of the System's minions had—supposedly of their own volition—come forth with an offer that seemed to antagonise the System further.

Coincidence?

Keynes didn't believe in coincidences, not after his experiences with the Greater System—or whatever it chose to call itself.

"Are you finished?" The guardian glowered at Keynes, who returned the glare with equal intensity. He wasn't in the mood for niceties. They were trying to manipulate him again; he was certain of it.

"Finished?"

"Your thoughts are as dense as honey. I can almost taste the bitterness in them."

"You're reading my mind?"

Keynes instinctively checked his spiritual interface, but the Pure Body buff didn’t ping anything. Nothing appeared to be invading his thoughts. Could he be inadvertently revealing them again? This was an issue Lem Solaris had warned him about.

"I don't need to," the guardian responded cryptically, his voice tinged with coldness.

Keynes suspected that his negative emotions were leaking, betraying his inner thoughts. He needed a Mind Barrier to contain this leakage.

Or you could learn to keep your thoughts and emotions to yourself. You are doing extraordinarily well with your spiritual aura, Alice interjected.

If only it were that easy, he retorted mentally. Controlling spiritual aura came naturally to him, but mental discipline was another matter entirely. The mind operated under a different set of rules, demanding a sophisticated control over his Mind attribute.

Herein lay the problem: accessing attribute cores was beyond Keynes's current capabilities. He suspected this either required ascending to a higher spiritual stage or mastering a specialised technique. Neither was a viable option for him in the foreseeable future, as he felt his spiritual core was not yet ready for advancement and mastering techniques proved exceedingly difficult.

"Keynes Kid," the guardian interrupted. "The Father is awaiting your answer."

Keynes glanced at Kora, who maintained a neutral expression. She obviously didn't want to reveal anything with the guardian sitting beside them.

"I don't have an answer for you," Keynes finally said.

"In that case, it's imperative that you provide it by tomorrow," the guardian declared, rising from his seat. The chair, formed out of intertwined roots, retracted back into the ground, leaving no trace. "If you can't decide by then, consider the matter closed."

With that, he moved towards the exit.

"Why? Are you going to find someone else?"

Kora gently placed her hand on Keynes's shoulder, sensing his inner turmoil. He smiled at her with a mirthless but sincere smile.

The guardian hesitated in the doorway, his broad frame barely squeezing through. Keynes felt a tension ripple through the air as the guardian's gaze intensified.

"You're well aware that there's no one else like you, Keynes Kid. The offer is unique and won't be extended again—to you or anyone else."

"Can we have more time?" Kora interjected.

The guardian shook his head. "Timing is of the essence. The Father needs time to prepare the Inner Sanctuary, among other matters."

With that, the guardian departed, leaving them alone for the first time in what felt like ages. Keynes's body sagged; he longed to collapse onto the bed, yet he refused to spend even a single night here. He didn't trust the Father or his underlings.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"What now?" Kora inquired, her mood noticeably brighter than his, though she remained unusually quiet.

"I was considering the module house," Keynes responded.

Kora feigned a scandalised look, clearly aiming to lighten his mood. It worked, to an extent, but what he truly needed was restful sleep.

"Yeah, I don't mind," she finally said. "Though this isn't a bad place to stay."

Her words drew a shocked expression from him.

"Don't worry, I'm here to protect you," she laughed.

In the end, they opted to set up the module house in the backyard. While Kora didn't mind the peculiar treehouse accommodation, they both concurred that the situation was abnormal enough to warrant caution.

They needed privacy to discuss the day's whirlwind events, most of which had unfolded in the constant presence of the guardian.

The module house came equipped with a basic privacy formation. It was far from ideal, but it was the best they had.

Before they could sit down and delve into their thoughts, however, Keynes needed a bed.

***

Keynes opened his eyes, feeling somewhat rejuvenated, although dark thoughts still swarmed his mind. His disquiet stemmed mainly from the precarious position he found himself in. If he could simply fight his way out, he'd be more at ease, but the recent antics of the dominion boss had made it abundantly clear that violence wasn't the solution.

Then there was the offer. Keynes clenched his teeth at the mere thought of it. Someone was attempting to manipulate him, yet he couldn't discern who, or to what end. Was Lem Solaris part of this scheme as well? It was entirely possible.

The Father of the dominion had a request: for Keynes to move the Inner Sanctuary—not just from Earth, but out of this universe, through a greater rift. The issue wasn't the audaciousness of this idea; rather, it was that accomplishing this feat would unlock personal quests, a fact known only to Keynes himself.

Could it be that Lem Solaris had somehow probed his thoughts? That would explain the suspiciously convenient offer.

Alice, what's your take? Am I overthinking this, or is something truly amiss?

I… do not know, Alice confessed. I wish I could dismiss it as mere coincidence, but the circumstances seem too tailored to your situation.

Could the System be attempting to lure me out of this universe?

I doubt the System wants you gone. Without you, no new rifts would be opened.

But what if Lem Solaris or her master struck a deal with the System? She has demonstrated the ability to enter sealed rifts. Theoretically, she could open them, right?

Yes, it is a distinct possibility.

That was the missing puzzle piece. After his stunt with the Chaos, the System was now seeking to eliminate him.

His musings were interrupted by the irresistible aroma of bacon and scrambled eggs. Shaken from his reverie, he followed the scent into the main room, which served as both the living room and kitchen.

"Morning," greeted Kora.

It took a full second for Keynes's brain to sync with reality. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen Kora in casual clothes—a simple green t-shirt paired with denim shorts. They had been so engrossed in battling monsters that the notion of a 'normal' life had faded away. Though fighting was his calling, the sight of Kora like this reminded him that he wouldn't mind a day off.

"Hello," Keynes finally broke the silence, sounding slightly awkward. "You're up early."

"Or you're running late," Kora retorted.

His brow furrowed. "How late am I?"

Kora placed bacon and scrambled eggs on the plates. "You're doing it again," she warned.

"Doing what, exactly?"

"Forcing yourself into that weird state where you feel compelled to wrestle with all the world's issues," she clarified.

"But—"

Kora cut him off, her tone suddenly steely. "Look, I've been around you long enough to notice certain patterns. You've been on edge ever since we got here. And you don't need to be."

"Really?" Keynes retorted incredulously. "Given the offer on the table, an offer that stinks of manipulation by Lem Solaris and the System, how can I not be—"

Kora's spiritual aura surged, pressing against Keynes's own. Though he could have easily countered, he refrained. Instead, he watched her approach with the food, her composure regained.

"If you don't like the offer, decline it. You don't owe them anything," she asserted.

The advice was glaringly obvious, yet he needed to hear it to consider alternatives.

They ate in a tense silence. Keynes endeavoured to empty his mind, while Kora maintained an air of serenity, as though their earlier exchange had never happened.

"What are you thinking?" Keynes asked, breaking the quiet.

"I'm pondering the competition," she replied. "Specifically, whether I should absorb the trait or not."

"Kora, you don't have to—"

"Don't 'Kora' me," she interjected, smiling despite her curt words. "We need to decide our course of action, and time is of the essence. Plus, I doubt this treehouse appreciates our absence."

Keynes shrugged.

"Do you want to win the competition?" she queried, quickly adding, "It's okay if you don't. Lem Solaris only tasked us with getting here, not winning."

"It's the rewards," Keynes admitted. "They're worth the risks. I might find similar items in the future, but the timing of these particular rewards could expedite my plans to leave Earth."

A sense of déjà vu swept over him; the rewards seemed custom-made for his needs.

"In that case," Kora concluded, "we have no choice but to utilise the traits."

***

The guardian stood outside the fence, his face etched with seriousness but devoid of hostility.

"I reject the offer," Keynes announced, stepping beyond the fence. For a heartbeat, he braced himself for a possible attack, but the guardian simply nodded in silent acceptance.

"We'll proceed to the amphitheatre to learn the theme of your first competition," the guardian finally spoke, giving them a scrutinising look. "I see you've opted against absorbing the Trait of Nature."

"Not necessarily," Kora responded. "We'd like to assess our competition first."

The guardian made no further comment. They walked in silence to the amphitheatre, where other contenders were already assembling.

Several moments after the last competitor had arrived, the Grand Druid materialised.

"Your first challenge is the Mana Garden. Create a garden with the highest possible mana output. You have one week."

And then, as abruptly as he had appeared, the Grand Druid vanished.