The stream of words from the system Tutor had paused. Despite the magnitude of its words one thing above all stood out.

  “Peppy? Why would a Tutor from the system be peppy?” Bev said. Staring at the messages with wide eyes.

  I have analyzed your psychological profile. Along with suggestions made during the creation of the Vonn protocol. This was determined to be the best mood to teach you. It certainly puts you at ease.

  Kennon wasn’t certain about the last part. But it certainly made him want to laugh at the absurdity.

  As per the Vonn protocol I’ll tell you the basics. There are two systems. The evil “primary” system most people use that gives free power at the cost of mutilating people’s souls. And the growth system that teaches you how to empower yourself. Their creators don’t like each other much. So the primary system tries to shut us down whenever it is convenient or necessary.

  Margie was killed because it deemed it necessary. It attempted to purge the growth system, or as it calls it the, “anti system” from Kennon because it was convenient. I suggest you stay away from realm walls. Unless the creator of the realm is known to favor the growth system.

  “What? The system ordered Margie’s death! That is why the church sent an army? Why?”

  I can’t spill the beans on the point of the grudge. Just know that it is of the most serious kind.

  Ok? So there is a war between gods. And they were caught in the middle. Wonderful.

  Not gods. Ascendents. Though some like to pretend to be gods.

  Ascendents. Add that to the list of questions.

  Bev said, “Margie said to find her allies. Can you tell us where they are?”

  Sorry, that information is private. Save up 10 growth system points and you can bypass the lock though.

  “What are system points?”

  Glad you asked! They are how much the system likes you. You can gain them by showing potential to accomplish the systems goals and by furthering its purposes. It is the same for both systems. They can be used to ask the system to break its rules. The Vonn protocol was the largest expenditure of Growth system points in history. Your parents and caretaker took great pains to protect you.

  They stared at the message. Not breathing. Not even blinking.

  This Vonn protocol was set up by their parents. And Margie.

  They didn’t know much about their parents. Not even their names. Margie always said that they were adventurers together. And they died noble deaths. After that she became their caretaker.

  But if it cost 10 points just to get a location.

  “How many points were placed in the protocol?”

  3,982

  Their jaws dropped. They had actually heard of system points before. Only rumors though. Random mentions that a priest got one from saving a town.

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  The only things the stories had in common was that the points were rare, and required impressive actions to get. If their parents, and Margie had almost four thousand of them to spend on them. Who were they?

  “Why do we already have one point?” Bev said.

  As the less common of the two systems all who accept the growth system gain one point.

  “What exactly does the Vonn protocol do?”

  Its triggers and actions are private. However, one point was spent so that you would know it was designed to store and spend points to ensure you grew up to become “greater than all who came before.”

  On achieving that status the remaining points, if any, are to be split between you.

  That was… quite an inheritance. And quite an expectation.

  “How do we stay safe from the church of the system?” Bev said.

  The specific answer changes from moment to moment. However as long as you don’t interfere with them they should leave you alone. The only ones aware of the conflict are the military branch and their supervisors. Should you be unlucky enough to catch their attention they will be able to identify you easily.

  However at this moment no one is searching for you. And the common people are aware there are oddities even among the primary system. So until you take direct action against the system, or do the otherwise impossible such as integrating at 14, you should be able to sneak around.

  Until? It seemed Tutor expected them to make some noise eventually. This conversation had actually answered most of their questions though. At least the most vital ones.

  “What is the advantage of the growth system?”

  This data is locked. I am so sorry. All I can tell you is what you already know. You will level faster and you can swap skills at will. As well as the little trinkets embedded in it such as myself.

  Now that the duties fostered on me by the Vonn protocol are complete. How would you two like tutoring in magic, alchemy, and enchanting! We are going to have so much fun together!

  “I still have more questions about the nature of the system.”

  That information is locked. I’m sorry. Perhaps if you trigger another condition of the vonn protocol?

  Would you two like tutoring in magic, alchemy, and enchanting! We are going to have so much fun together!

  That was it. That was all they were going to get.

  Kennon dismissed the tutor’s messages from his mind. They had answers. But what did they really mean?

  Bev wiped a tear from her eyes.

  Kennon felt himself tearing up too. Ten days. They had been alone for ten days. They had made a great deal of progress with their camp. Their magic. Their knowledge.

  But for what?

  To be trapped in some proxy war between gods? Ascendents. Whatever.

  And to not even be told why.

  “Kennon”

  “Yes Bev?”

  “I’m going to do it.”

  “Do what?”

  “I’m going to tear the system down. Piece by piece. It took everything from us.”

  “Margie?”

  “And our parents. Do you think they died to a random beast? When they were apparently some sort of leaders in a war. They were murdered. That is why we have been hiding our whole lives. I’m going to use this stupid growth system to become strong enough to tear both systems apart.”

  Kennon had never seen so much rage in his sister. But he had to admit. He felt it as well. Maybe there was some deeper point to all this. Maybe there were explanations for what had happened. But that didn’t matter much when most didn’t even know that a war was raging.

  That was why the systems were so focused on combat. They were using their world to build armies. Just how many had died?

  The system was no god. Simply a tool made by one. An ascendent. What was to stop them from ascending as well? They would use the system. They would need every advantage they could. And they would gain its favor. Spend the points to find out who was behind this. And when they outgrew the systems. They would go for its creators.