Mari:

  “Are you alright?”

  Kris was standing silently, eyes transfixed on the wreckage before her.

  When her lover didn’t answer, Mari gently reached out and wrapped the girl in a tight hug from behind. She knew what was wrong, and she knew Kris had finally confronted what she’d had a hand in.

  “What can I do? Kris? Talk to me. Tell me what you’re feeling.” Mari implored, a note of desperation rising inside her.

  Kris shook. Trembled in her arms with a sudden choking sound.

  The silence grew, as did the sobs and shakes.

  “Their lives are over. What gives me that right, huh?” Kris finally said. “Look at me. Held in your arms, receiving comfort. The sort of comfort they’ll never feel. Seriously, Mari, how could I do such a thing?”

  Mari buried her face into Kris’ back.

  “I could say all kinds of things. They threatened us, tried to steal from us. They didn’t show remorse, and they might’ve hurt a lot of others over the years. Does hearing that help?”

  Kris shook her head, her hair dancing around Mari’s face as she shrank further into herself.

  “In Marielle’s memories… there are a lot of monstrous people. Those who would murder children without a blink. Drop bombs on city blocks, taking the lives of thousands from the safety of an office. Those people never once considered the happiness of the people they killed. No thoughts were spared for the little loves and dreams of the lives they trampled.”

  She let those words sink in, taking Kris’ frigid hands in her own and tightening her grip on them to lend her own warmth.

  “You’re not one of those monsters, Kris. You care. You’re thinking about those things, and it hurts to think about them. Carry it with you, Kris. Because it doesn’t get better, and words don’t help. Remember the happy moments in your life you’d never trade for anything, and remember that others have those moments, too. Remember it so you never take a life thoughtlessly.”

  Kris finally turned, and Mari loosened her grip enough to bring them face to face. Despite her sniffles, arms came around to embrace Mari in return as Kris staggered into her.

  “Thank you. You know me too well.”

  Mari nodded in return, patting her lover on the back gently.

  Because she did know. Of course she did. Kris was too analytical to not see through rational justifications. No matter what Mari said, Kris wouldn’t feel any less a monster for all the justifications in the world. The best she could do was to separate the true villains of history from the empathy and pain Kris felt about what she’d done.

  Mari raised her eyes to the ramshackle vehicles the people had used to accost them. People, just as much as any others. Perhaps they’d only done what they had out of desperation. It didn’t really matter. Life moved forward, and she’d seen enough to know which side of survival she’d rather land on.

  After a time, they moved away from the crumpled masses of the land-sailers and back to their own camp. Anise was there, staring into the fire as she stirred the coals back to life.

  At the young girl’s questioning glance, Mari shook her head quietly, then guided Kris back to the sleeping bag they’d laid out.

  It had been enough for one night.

  The next morning, Mari let Kris sleep a little longer before checking on Anise.

  “Don’t worry about me.” And that was all she’d said before beginning to throw together a light breakfast.

  It didn’t take long before Kris was up and they’d all eaten a little.

  Mari took over driving, and Kris clung to her back so tight she could feel the desperate need for stability. It broke her heart, but the choice had been made. Kris wanted to follow her, even if it meant more things of the same nature might happen.

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  They’d pull through together.

  Instead of the direct approach to Uriel Point, they stopped early and decided to try some investigations first, at least to identify the security system, if there was one.

  Their interrogation had informed them that anyone approaching the area simply collapsed after walking to a certain point. Anise had an idea of the cause, but it seemed strange to her. Supposedly, when the insurgents had entered her home beneath Elitheen, they’d collapsed in a similar way from the sudden influx of mana between the outside and inside.

  Anise led the way forward, and when they drew near enough, the girl would take the lead, being the most durable of their group.

  When they’d arrived at last, Anise’s guess was right on the money.

  “Mana density is way too high. It’s not just abnormal, it’s high enough to be super dangerous to anything that enters. All of it seems to be in the air, so keep your minds focused.”

  Mari nodded grimly, but Kris frowned.

  “I need a moment,” was all she’d said before taking a few steps away and sitting down in a meditative pose.

  “Ah,” Mari nodded in realization, “she’s trying to overcome last night. Clear her doubts.”

  “It’s the right decision. This much mana could turn conflicting beliefs fast enough to give a person a stroke. Just remember to keep an eye out for monsters. Typical wildlife doesn’t have the complex thoughts people tend to have. They’d survive, and the mana would warp them into faster and stronger versions of themselves.”

  Mari turned grim at Anise’s suggestion. “What about any survivors within the facility?”

  “Don’t expect there to be any.”

  After an hour of focus, Kris opened her eyes, then stood. “I’m ready.”

  “Let’s gear up, then.” Mari turned to the ACV and began to gather her gear.

  In addition to her sword, she had her railgun, Stinger, hooked in the folded position to the back of her belt. Remera was in her thigh holster. The crossbow from their basement was slung over her shoulder and had a dozen different flammable and explosive heads ready for use. She was wearing a tactical vest over a bodysuit that could absorb kinetic impacts. Last was a photosensitive tactical visor that could react to sudden flashes of light while protecting her eyes from debris.

  Kris had her catalyst weapons, including Symphony, Aria and Requiem. She also had received a modified Magball glove from her mothers, though it wasn’t much of a ranged weapon. The sphere that orbited the glove was larger, and was meant to be propelled with a simple punching motion, allowing Kris to build up power before smashing anything that got too close to her.

  Interestingly, Anise didn’t have a ranged method of attack beyond launching herself at enemies. She had picked up the second crossbow, and they’d tuned it up for the highest draw weight it could handle. In the event of a tenacious foe, Anise could take distance, infuse her power into the arrow, and then remove the threat from long range.

  With all three of them equipped, Mari took Kris’ hand before striding towards the peninsula.

  Anise was in the lead, and the moment she crossed the threshold into the deeper mana region, she tucked one toe behind and to the side of the opposite heel, then pivoted in an about-face, her heels snapping together. The girl’s eyes closed as she focused on something, then she raised a hand towards them and gestured in a pushing motion at them.

  [Welcome to the System!]

  [Warning. New User Identified!]

  [Warning. Credentials set by administrator. User: Kishibe Mari]

  [Level Assessment in progress…]

  [Assessment complete…]

  [Awarding Experience…]

  [Your approximate level is now 63!]

  [Warning, Power imbalance detected.]

  [Level reassessment required…]

  [New statistics generated.]

  [User. Please say ‘status’ to view current ability measurements.]

  “Status.”

  Name: Kishibe Mari

  Affinity: Eternal Harmony (Administrator Override)

  Health Status: 100/100

  Interference Potential: 100/100

  Body Lv: 16

  Mind Lv: 63

  “That should help a bit, if you slip up at all. Just be aware that if the mana levels dip enough that you lose connection, your focus has to be perfect if you enter high mana density areas again before I reconnect you.”

  Mari did her best not to think about what a disaster that could be. The moment she stepped across that threshold, she felt it.

  The atmosphere was corrupted, like the air currents were malevolent and poisonous. There was a weight that felt like it had a firm intent to twist and distort life.

  Despite that, when Kris stepped up beside her, there was no sign of discomfort at all.

  “What level did you get?” Kris asked with a faint smile.

  “Body is reading sixteen. Mind is sixty-three.”

  Kris frowned slightly. “I only got the generic level number. Forty-nine.”

  Anise hopped towards them and bonked them both on the head. “Let’s focus, ladies. Levels are just loosely broken down by your cultivation tiers. Kris has only gained ranks with a wealth of mana around that I’ve gathered. At the same time, Mari’s been healing slowly. It really isn’t the time to be competing like children.”

  “Right, sorry.” Mari winced, more than a little embarrassed for the both of them.

  “Let’s find us a secret research facility, yeah?” Kris cheered, none of her earlier discomfort showing.

  Anise planted her hands on her hips. “If you kill anything, congratulations, because the temporary system access I’ve granted you will assimilate it into experience that becomes more levels. If you reach level one hundred, you can even break into the next realm.”

  With a little luck, they might have time to hunt.

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