Die. Respawn. Repeat.

I'd almost forgotten about the Chromatic Root and Chromatic Threads, wrapped up in the rest of the rewards as I was. I'm not sure what to do with the Root, but I'll maybe consult with Akar about it — she probably has the most experience with herbs and plants.

Or Ahkelios.

Yeah, I'll ask Ahkelios first, or the little guy will never forgive me.

The Threads... I don't know how to summon them, exactly, but the moment I think about it, I feel a mental button make itself available to me. It's not dissimilar from the feeling of a skill activation. I press on it, feel a strange warping sensation as my Firmament twists—

—and a set of threads, each tied around a finger on my right hand, manifests. They glow strangely, flickering with rainbow hues; what stands out immediately is the way the Firmament all along the threads are perfectly in tune with me. Firmament Manipulation moves both the Firmament and the thread easily, meaning this is the type of weapon that gives me excellent control.

...I'm not entirely sure how I feel about fighting with threads, though. I like the Amplification Gauntlet better.

"What that?" Tarin says curiously. He waddles over, peering closely at the threads tied to my hand, and then makes a whistling sound deep in his throat. "Oooh. Weird Firmament."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask, suddenly feeling protective of the threads.

"Not bad thing!" Tarin holds up his wings in mock-surrender. "It just weird. Feel... pure? Usually it hard for me to sense Firmament. But this easier to sense."

"Huh." That's not a good thing. The advantage of using threads is that they're hard to see — it defeats the purpose if they're both glowing and easily sensed to anyone with an affinity with Firmament. "It's supposed to be a weapon. You think it's useful at all?"

Tarin pokes at it curiously, then tests it against a feather reinforced with Firmament. Both of us stare as it cuts through the feather easily.

"Yes," Tarin says firmly.

I agree. Reluctantly.

"I'll have to practice with it so I don't cut myself in half," I mutter, and Tarin nods vigorously in agreement.

"I not spar with you for this. You ask your mantis friend."

"Wha?" Ahkelios looks up from his moss, then to the threads, then to Tarin. "...What are we talking about?"

"We'll discuss it later," I say dryly.

Knowing what the Threads do is helpful, insofar as it's information I might need when picking my next skills. I glance at my Interface again, just to see what my credit distribution looks like.

Credit Distribution:

Strength: 30 (179 banked)

Durability: 256 (84 banked)

Reflex: 101 (124 banked)

Speed: 194 (79 banked)

Firmament: 156 (100 banked)

Hm.

Durability and Speed will both trigger an Inspiration, and I want to talk to the others about what questions to ask Gheraa first — maybe see if there's a way to explore the time stop more than I already have. That leaves Strength, Reflex, or Firmament to start with.

Firmament is the most attractive one of the three, but it's also the most versatile. I'll bank it last, not because I want to, but because it might give me something that could work in synergy with whatever Strength or Reflex skill I get.

Strength... I don't want to bank that just yet. That's a Rank D skill if I bank it — not the worst, but I could do better.

Reflex is just barely over the mark for a Rank B skill, which is good, because I couldn't imagine being just one point short. I'd have to wait. Again. I don't want to.

[ Are you sure you wish to bank 101 Reflex credits? ]

[ 101 Reflex credits banked! Rolling for results... ]

[ CRITICAL ROLL. ]

Oh.

Something surges. The Void Inspiration whispers within me, almost like it's excited; I feel tendrils of its Firmament reaching out towards the Interface. It doesn't seem able to affect it — I would be worried if it could — but it's an interesting reaction, nonetheless.

[ Critical bonus! All existing Reflex skills will be improved. ]

[ Mental Acceleration (Rank C) has evolved to Quicken Mind (Rank B)! ]

[ Intuitive Analysis (Rank C) has evolved to Inspect (Rank B)! ]

[ Select between:

CRIT: Psychic Defenses (Rank B) —> Iron Mind (Rank A)

CRIT: Snap Retort (Rank B) —> Witty Banter (Rank A)

CRIT: Premonition (Rank B) —> Foreshadowing (Rank A)

CRIT: Slipknot (Rank B) —> Tripwire (Rank A) ]

The options spool out before me, and I nearly pick Iron Mind instantly. Inspect tells me it solidifies my mind against mental intrusions, and if there's any thought I despise, it's the idea of being controlled — particularly since it's an active threat I've had to worry about. Naru claims the ability to wipe my memories after interrogating me, and a defensive mental skill is exactly what I need to counter that.

Except I don't know for sure that even a Rank A skill would be strong enough. It's better than nothing, but...

I at least let Inspect tell me about the other two skills.

Witty Banter is apparently something driven by a unique form of Firmament that builds itself on the metaphysical bond between two opponents. It's strengthened by emotion and creates a sort of resonance that amplifies the damage I can do. It's... amusing? And would likely be effective against Naru.

But I'm not sure that's how I want to fight. It's the type of thing that will put me in the wrong frame of mind — I won't take battles as seriously as I should. It's also not going to be effective against monsters or anything that doesn't talk or understand what I'm saying.

Then there's Foreshadowing.

Premonition in itself is already an upgraded version of Danger Sense, apparently. Foreshadowing is the third in that line of skills. Each increase in rank gives you more information about the upcoming danger; Danger Sense just tells you that it's coming, Premonition gives you a direction and a threat level, and Foreshadowing gives you an idea of what the threat is.

It's a good skill. But the time loop itself already gives me that exact ability, and while I can't rely on it forever...

The idea of having better mental defenses is far more attractive to me right now. Especially since I doubt my encounters with Naru were my last.

Last but not least, Slipknot and Tripwire. They're the strangest of the four, no doubt a result of the particularities of my phase-shift. Inspect tells me that Slipknot is a skill that allows me to essentially create a checkpoint and jump back to it, in a slightly more restricted form of teleportation; it triggers when I'm in too much danger, pulling me back to a point of ostensible safety. Tripwire is a thin line of Firmament that I can leave behind, allowing me to jump back not only to the starting point but also to any point along that line depending on the danger it detects — essentially allowing me to hop back and forth to evade a pursuer.

They're interesting skills, not just because they're so different from typical Reflex skills, but because I wouldn't categorize them as Reflex at all — they seem like Speed skills to me, given the teleportation effect built into them. I understand why they're Reflex skills, though. They're responsive. They're built for me to escape situations, to react to them.

And I badly, badly want Tripwire. It would be perfect for evading both the automaton in the Fracture as well as Naru. It's just...

I don't want them badly enough to give up the mental defense Iron Mind would offer.

I really hope I roll them again.

Iron Mind.

[ Iron Mind (Rank A) obtained! ]

I feel the change almost immediately. Firmament surges up and settles down into the base of my skull, shifting erratically for a moment before stabilizing into something firm and reflective. It's not a skill I can test immediately, but I feel myself relax, nevertheless.

Apparently Naru's threat has been weighing on me more than I realized. I sigh, glance back at the Interface again, and resolve myself to continue. Next on my list is Firmament, and I bank those credits with a thought.

[ Are you sure you wish to bank 156 Firmament credits? ]

[ 156 Firmament credits banked! Rolling for results... ]

[ Select between:

Imbue (Rank B)

Temporal Static (Rank B)

Mimicry (Rank B)

Fireball (Rank B) ]

For a moment, looking at the list, my mind blanks. Fireball? I haven't done anything related to fireballs, and it's the closest thing to traditional magic that I've ever gotten from the Interface.

...Maybe it's a result of the phase-shift.

Still, as much as it's tempting to pick it up, I don't think it's the most helpful skill for me as I am right now. Even disregarding the fact that a fireball is less than optimal to use in the middle of a forest, there's the fact that Imbue and Temporal Static are far more interesting.

Inspect tells me Imbue is a skill that helps me imbue items directly, much like Mari was trying to teach me to do. It takes over most of the work and simplifies the process, although strangely, most experienced craftsmen apparently refuse to use it. I keep that in mind as I look over Mimicry.

It's pretty much what it says on the tin. Like Fireball, it's one of the stranger skills I've been given the option to take; it gives me the ability to mimic other things by projecting Firmament over my skin. It's effectively a powerful illusory skill.

It's unique, but hiding isn't exactly my strong suit, or my style. It's the type of skill I would want to pick up in the future, but not something I need now.

As for Temporal Static, it's... strange.

It's a skill that messes up time in an area, slowing it down, speeding it up, and even reversing it in random pockets. It would be far more powerful if I could control it — as it is, there's a chance it will disadvantage me just as much as my opponent.

Except that my ability to sense Firmament and my ties to the skill will give me a slight advantage. I'm certain I can use it, and use it well.

Of the four, it feels like my best option — not only because I need something that gives me more area control, but also because I might be able to learn something from it. A quick discussion with Ahkelios and Tarin reveals they both agree, and so with some regret in my heart, I pick Temporal Static.

[ Temporal Static (Rank B) obtained! ]

I do tell myself I'll get a Fireball or other magic-esque skill when I have the opportunity, though, just because I want one.

Next on the list... the Chromatic Root.

"Hey, Ahkelios," I say out loud. The mantis looks up at me expectantly, and with a thought, I call upon the Interface and pull out the Chromatic Root. It emerges out of thin air as a strange, black, branch-looking thing that twists and coils in a way that's uncomfortable to look at. Tetrachromacy reveals just the slightest shimmers echoing along the edges of the root, but it doesn't look anything like the Chromatic Threads, and something about it still feels wrong. "Do you know what this is?"

"No?" Ahkelios says, then his voice turns playfully accusatory. "Did you burn a plant?"

"No," I say with a laugh. "It's the reward from the Hotspot. The Chromatic Root. I was just wondering if you know what to do with it."

"I don't think I ever got anything like that..." Ahkelios slowly realizes what I'm saying. "Are you saying this is a plant?"

"Assuming the Interface isn't lying."

"Fascinating," Ahkelios murmurs. He hops up onto the Root, then promptly hops off, wincing as though it's burned him. "Ow."

"Are you alright?" The Root isn't doing anything to me, I don't think, but if I use my Firmament sense I can feel something strange going on with how it interacts with things, including Ahkelios. I just can't tell what it is.

"I'm fine," he says. "Um, can you let me study this for a while?"

"You're the expert," I say with a chuckle. "Just let me know what I can do to help."

"I don't have any of my tools," Ahkelios mutters, half to himself. "I can simulate some of them with Firmament..."

I try Inspect while Ahkelios is talking, but it doesn't give me much information. It's not useless, exactly, but all it says is that it's to be used in the Empty City; that doesn't tell me how it's useful to me if I want to use it now. Just because the Interface has a plan for how it wants me to use its rewards doesn't mean I want to play by its rules, and judging by the feel of the Firmament within it, it's powerful.

Powerful enough that the Void Inspiration is reacting to it.

It's subtle enough that I don't notice it until I pay attention, and then I cast a mental glance inward, concerned. I still don't know how to use the Void Inspiration, exactly, and it's one I'm a little worried about using. The reaction isn't strong, not yet, but I keep a close eye on it.

This is good. I want it to pay attention to this moment.

It's all a part of my plan.

"Ethan," Tarin says. He pokes me with a wing. "Your smile worry me."

"What?" I blink. "I'm fine! Let me enjoy this moment. It's not like I'm planning anything evil."

"Okaaaaay." The old crow deliberately drags out the word, narrowing his eyes at me. He does not break eye contact with me as he walks backwards and sits down on a stump. I just stare at him, then glance back to Ahkelios, who's muttering to himself and looks like he's staring at the root through a giant magnifying glass.

...Time for a change of topic!

"I'm going to see Gheraa again soon," I mention. "Do you have any ideas what I should ask him, if anything? What can I say without breaking his cover?"

"Ask more about Integrators," Tarin says immediately. "That not suspicious. Ask about culture, goals. Curiosity natural. If he smart, he give you information when he answer."

That works for me. I take a breath.

Between Durability and Speed, I have far more Durability skills — and I can push for a Rank A skill besides, if I keep collecting credits. So for this, I'm going to bank Speed.

[ Are you sure you wish to bank 194 Speed credits? ]

[ 194 Speed credits banked! Rolling for results... ]