Mia plopped down on the sand, it was a new sensation for her, reminding her a bit of a lot of dust clumped together but more…dirt like? She had to fight the urge to play with it as she devoted her attention to AM, who had begun to speak.

[As you know, I function as an assist feature operating in the confines of the hidden skill known as [time]. My primary function is to assist the user of the skill, offering advice, managing certain features, and taking control, when necessary, in order to protect the skill user.]

Am held out her hand, and in front of it appeared a blue screen, on it was a familiar description.

[Skill: Time. Level 1 – Grants the authority to {Save} and {Load}. Grants one Save slot. {Save} saves the users current state to any available slot, {Load} returns the user to that state. Experience, levels, memories, and stat points gained after a save point are lost, if a moment in time is lived enough times a vague memory may remain.

Level 2 – Grants a new save slot. Memories are no longer lost when loading. Grants access to the [LOG], [Settings], and [Assist] Features.

WARNING: saving and loading in battle may cause opponents to be aware of the load.

WARNING: Due to an extreme number of deaths, accessing [LOG] at this time is not recommended, please refer to [Assist] for specific inquires or use [Settings] to limit the displayed information.

WARNING: [Settings] has sustained substantial damage during last save/load cycle, please see [LOG] for details.

NOTICE: [Assist] has been assigned to repair [Settings]. Please be aware [Assist] will be unavailable during this time.]

Mia read it, then for the first time it hit her, noticing what was obviously wrong with this. “Wai-“ She started to get up, but was cut off by AM

[Every hidden skill of similar nature to yours, [Void], [Fate], [Destiny], and others, have similar assist modes that also handle similar tasks.] AM’s gaze shifted towards the ocean, staring out into the white void passed it [But as you have been told, I am different from the others, how exactly I cannot say, but how I operate is fundamentally different.] She focused back onto Mia.

[I ask for forgiveness and understanding, I cannot go into every detail at this time. But can do my best to answer specific questions.]

Mia was left standing there, confused and bewildered “…why can’t you? You said you would explain everything.” Mia said, a bit miffed “how are you different? Why is this…” she gestured to the description “still saying to ask you for help when I disabled you?”

AM nodded [I am unable to provide you with information that matches the skill level of [time], originally, I would be unable to tell you this much at this level, but [Void] has made you privy to it.] She paused [At this level, unless given permission otherwise, I would only be able to inform you about skill features.]

She then held up two fingers [All I am able to say is that I am different in how I function. To clarify the best I can… They function one way, I function another. I am sorry this is not clearer.] She then held up three fingers [Lastly. This description is locked in a custom display set up on request, if you would like to change it back to its default description you may do so simply by wishing it.] She then lowered her hand, finished answering the questions.

“…I-..” There was a lot to process, Mia turned away from AM, pacing a bit in the sand before deciding to get the one thing out of the way, willing the des-wait “Who told you to change it!” she snapped to AM, walking up right in front of her “who requested it!?”

[I am un-]

“No!” Mia shoved a pointed finger into AM’s cheek “You said honesty! You promised to explain! So explain!”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

AM’s eyes drifted to the finger before continuing […able to take any requests that effect your status from anyone other than you.] She then took a step back, moving away from Mia [To clarify, I will explain what I am able to at this time, to the best of my ability, based on your skill level.]

“…” Mia shrunk back a bit “…you are saying I requested it? When? I don’t remember that.” Mia could still remember the first time she saw it after being able to read, there shouldn’t be another time unless… right, another time.

“But how… I couldn’t read or see my status…” She clutched her head, the confusion causing her to get a bit of a headache. She stood up and faced the fake status, willing it to go back to the default description.

[Skill: Time. Level 1 – Grants the authority to {Save} and {Load}. Grants one Save slot. Grants access to assit features {Assist Mode} and {Log}. {Save} saves the users current state to any available slot, {Load} returns the user to that state. Experience, levels, memories, and stat points gained after a save point are lost, if a moment in time is lived enough times a vague memory may remain.

{Assist Mode} Provides basic assistance when operating the skill [Time]

{Log} Provides a detailed chronological description of events between Saves.

Level 2 – Grants a new save slot. Memories are no longer lost when loading. ]

The most notable differences were that the warnings were gone, assist and log were unlocked from the start, and settings was nowhere to be seen. “Why…why all the changes…?” she couldn’t believe it, why would she request such a change to something she couldn’t even read “AM!” She snapped back towards her clone, who had been silently watching her “why did I request the change, how did I request the change…”

[You requested it to protect yourself.] AM stated bluntly [As of how…It is a simple task for me as your assistant to communicate your status to you even when you can not read it yourself, that is not what happened.]

Mia paused her train of thought “What? What do you mean?”

AM paused, as if in deep thought [This is… very difficult to explain.] AM seemed troubled, she gestured to the description screen [I would like to describe one change, the warnings, if I may.]

“…sure?”

[The {Log}, the warnings stated it was broken, while it is technically not broken, as you have personally experienced it is deadly to use.]

Mia blinked “Wait, it isn’t broken?” the overwhelming amount of information shoved into her forehead, all the voices and feelings… how could something like that NOT be broken. “It just kills me, how isn’t it broken?”

[It functions as intended; upon your request it fulfills it by giving you the relevant information. All of it. At once. If that was one or maybe two lifetimes of information it is possible it would not be so bad for a simple mind, but a combined total of two hundred thousand years worth? That is an issue for any biological mind.]

“I’m over two hundred thousand years old?!” Mia shouted, she figured she was old, but THAT old?!

[…You are as of right now best considered 11 years of age.] AM plainly said.

“…sure…” Mia shrugged, she had already decided on something similar, just getting that large of a number shocked her. “So that’s why it kills me? Can it not be limited?”

[That is one of my functions, as stated in the fabricated description.]

Mia raised an eyebrow “So why didn’t you when I tried to use it?”

[I was asked not to.]

Mia twitched “By WHO!?” she shouted, getting frustrated.

[By you of another time.]

Mia threw her hands into the air with an exaggerated huff “Why!” Having information like that would have been useful! If AM was telling the truth, then her past selves were working against her!

[…Using {Log} shares the memory, along with the information at the time, this may include how the you of that time was feeling. Due to this, yourself at the time did not want an eight year old to potentially experience the complex feelings of a 30 year old…say…burning to death in “a past life” as that may negatively influence them, so the ability was sealed.]

“…but I got stabbed, burned, cut up, and killed and I’m doing just fine, that would have helped a lot.” Mia huffed.

[With all respect, you are not fine, when possible, I suggest seeking the help of a therapist.]

“…” Mia frowned, she at least felt fine, she didn’t need the help of this therapist, what ever that was. “So, a past me disabled it and just decided it was better for me to die as soon as I used it.” She huffed “And she also had the fake description set up, even though I couldn’t read.”

[Incorrect.]

Mia perked up “Hrm? What?”

[The Mia that requested {Log} be disabled is not the same person who requested the fabricated description.]

“Eh?” She didn’t see get the point; it was still her who did it “So?”

[…]

Mia took a step back from AM, even though the clone of her didn’t change in anyway, she somehow got the feeling she was getting frustrated “…what?”

[…I am saying this for no particular reason, but, I ponder if two people did something similar, even though that thing they did was similar, maybe each one had a different reason for doing it?]

“…” Mia stared blankly, not understanding what she was getting at, then it dawned on her “Oh, sorry… so why did the me of that time change the description.”

AM nodded [To prevent future lives from reading the original, to manipulate the actions of the rest to avoid an outcome.]