Patriarch Torand Fora stood to greet me as I entered his comfortably appointed office. The furniture and décor had all been updated since Kai relinquished control, but the style was still much the same.


    The man himself wore white robes embroidered with the markings of a Patriarch, though his embroidery was done in teal to represent his secondary affinity for Life magic. Time and Life were an excellent combination for a Healer, which was the man’s primary profession.


    Like the former Patriarch, Torand Fora looked quite young. On pre-integration Earth, I would have put him somewhere in his late twenties. However, considering the man was at the peak of Tier Nine, I doubted that was the case.


    “Elder Momentia, welcome back!” the man said with a friendly smile. He motioned me toward one of the comfortable chairs in front of his desk. “Have a seat. Make yourself comfortable.”


    Once I got settled in, the man asked, “How have you been? Is there anything you need?”


    “I’m honestly fine,” I answered. “I’m not quite sure what is expected of me right now. I know I was supposed to help teach some of the younger disciples before, but with my abduction…”


    Patriarch Fora nodded understandingly. “You are still welcome to teach if that’s what you wish to do. Let me know what format you prefer and what topics you’re interested in covering, and I’ll have everything arranged.” He tapped the tablet on his desk. “Is there anything else you’d like to do?”


    I tilted my head. “What kind of options do I have?”


    “Well, you can do anything, really. Even nothing, if that’s what you prefer,” the man said amicably. “I’m sure the Founder has already informed you that the obligative portion of your oath has been deemed fulfilled, so as far as the sect is concerned, you are free to do whatever you like.”


    Kai had mentioned something along those lines, but I hadn’t really given it much thought.


    “What do you need me to do?” I asked, certain that the new Patriarch had something in mind. “I’m happy to help the sect where I can. Even without the oath, I feel indebted to Epikairos, if for no other reason than the support you all have shown to my family while I was in the dungeon.”


    “You were in the dungeon representing the sect and on the behest of the former Patriarch,” Patriarch Fora said pointedly. “I really can’t express how much of a boon that your ascendance as a tri-affinity mage was for the sect. I am in agreement with the Founder’s opinion that any debt you may have had was erased by the positive publicity you brought us with your association.


    “If you’d like to contribute,” the man continued, “I would love for you to attend the charity gala the sect is hosting in two months. There will be an auction, so if you have anything you’d be willing to donate, the addition would be welcome. Just let me know in the next few weeks so we can add the item to the auction listing.”


    Kai had already warned me there would likely be some kind of social event put together to reintroduce me to the public, so the request didn’t come as a total surprise. In fact, I suspected the decision to host an auction in particular was due, in part, to my experience as an Enchanter. I could see how an item crafted by a tri-affinity mage could bring in a decent amount of interest.


    “What kind of charity?” I asked, curious about what the sect’s leadership might have chosen.


    “We’re supporting one of the local youth training programs geared toward the children of lower-tiered families living on Aegeas. They provide skill training to the unawakened children of those Tier Four and under.”


    “Does the Training Tower not handle most of that?”


    “Sure, but it’s always better to develop a strong foundation early instead of waiting until someone awakens to begin training.”


    I could understand that, and I wholeheartedly supported anything that helped children better prepare for the future.


    We discussed my position in the sect a bit further, but the new Patriarch didn’t demand much of me aside from asking me to hold monthly discussions on a variety of topics. Even that was a request and not a demand.


    Patriarch Fora also insisted on providing a small apartment in the Elder’s community in the sect’s Aegeas compound. He offered something similar to the penthouse I’d been given on Hadier, but I refused, claiming that I had no need for so much space since I carried a large, spatially expanded apartment with me.


    “So, I guess you don’t need this back then, huh?” Patriarch Fora asked, withdrawing a familiar egg-shaped piece of enchanted crystal from his ring.


    “Is that the pod I left in the penthouse?” I asked.


    “It is,” he said, handing me the item. “The Founder placed your items into storage when you went missing, and nobody has touched them since. Everything should be just how you left it.”


    I’d wondered what happened to the pod when I disappeared. I meant to ask about it, but I’d been too distracted by everything going on to remember.


    I’d probably give the item to one of my family members since I was sure someone could make use of it. It might downgrade over time if it was primarily used on a mid or lower-tier world, but I wasn’t overly worried about that.


    “The Oracle asked that you stop by after our meeting,” Patriarch Fora said a bit later when I stood to go. “I apologize for springing a second meeting on you like this, but I only just got the message from her. She seems to have a knack for timing things just right.”


    I pressed my lips into a thin line and tried not to say anything. I wasn’t mad at Anya for letting my brother die, but there were certainly some hard feelings there.


    I tried not to let my displeasure show as I followed the new Patriarch’s assistant to the Oracle’s office. Though she’d largely pulled away from the sect, she still retained a small office and residence within the Headquarters compound.


    “Hi, Emie,” the white-haired Fate Mage said when I entered her office.


    However, instead of appearing as a typical office with a desk and a few chairs, Anya had set hers up to look like a casual sitting room. The furniture looked comfortable and high quality, making the thought of settling in for a chat more appealing.


    Releasing a tense breath, I forced myself to smile. “Hi, Anya. How are things?”


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    She gave me a sad smile and motioned for me to sit next to her. “Things are going well. I’m sorry about your brother.”


    She seemed genuine, and Detect Lie didn’t indicate any falseness in her statement.


    “Kai said it was Fate.”


    “He’s not wrong,” she said. “I know that’s not what you want to hear.”


    “His wife is going to try anyway. You probably know that already.”


    Anya nodded. “Even if it works, it’ll only be temporary. She needs to understand that so she doesn’t keep trying endlessly. Doing so will likely draw the wrath of the realm itself.”


    “Do you have any idea why? Is there a common theme or connection between people that Fate insists must die?”


    “No. As much as I wish I could give you a better answer, I truly do not know how or why Fate works the way it does,” Anya said sadly. “I can tell you that your brother has been reborn if it helps.”


    “It does,” I admitted before hesitantly asking, “Is it possible to learn more about his new incarnation? I don’t want to interfere with his new life, but I’d like to know who he is, if possible. Maybe I can secretly sponsor him after he awakens or something.”


    Anya’s eyes flashed lavender for several seconds, and she slowly shook her head.


    “It would ultimately be disruptive to share that information with you or anyone in your family. As far as sponsorship goes…” She pursed her lips in thought. “I do not think that will be necessary with the family he has been reborn into.”


    Oddly, the news comforted me. Her statement meant that Justin had been born into an affluent family. While that didn’t guarantee an easy life by any means, it certainly put him in a better position than growing up without resources at his disposal.


    “Was there something specific you wanted to talk to me about, or did you just want to say hello?” I asked after a moment of silence. I doubted Anya’s appearance at the sect during my visit was a coincidence.


    “Yes, there is,” the Fate Mage acknowledged. “It’s actually about my brother. Though you are obviously free to do as you wish, I believe it would be in your best interest to keep your relationship with him as platonic as possible.”


    She held up a hand to stop me before I could say anything. I really didn’t think such a warning was necessary since I still struggled to see my former Master as anything other than a mentor, but having something said about it again was annoying.


    “I know you don’t see it now, but given time, your relationship would likely change without a conscious effort by one of you to prevent it.”


    “So, why not mention it to Kai?” I asked, curious about her decision to contact me instead.


    Anya shook her head. “That wouldn’t stop you from developing feelings under certain circumstances, and your feelings are the ones I’m trying to protect, not his.”


    I found her words a little odd since most sisters would worry about their sibling’s feelings above someone they barely knew. I certainly would, at least.


    The Fate Mage looked up at the ceiling and stared into nothing for a moment. I couldn’t tell if she was using her Sight again or simply gathering her thoughts.


    “Since your return, my brother’s path has grown far more solid. There is still a small chance that something might change, but for now, the most likely future involves my brother ascending while you are together in the dungeon.”


    My heart jumped a little. I had no idea Kai joining me on the tenth floor was even an option, but I couldn’t deny the possibility appealed to me. I hated the idea of being stuck alone for decades, much less a century or more.


    Sure, time felt like it passed a lot faster on the eighth floor than it had on previous floors, but I couldn’t count on that being consistent. I found it far more likely the floors would start feeling like slogs again, just like the seventh floor had.


    Having Kai there with me would be immensely beneficial for my mental well-being.


    I could suddenly understand Anya’s warning. Left alone together for that long, it would be easy to develop feelings for him, especially once I got over the mental disconnect I still felt at the idea.


    “If he doesn’t enter the dungeon once you reach the tenth floor,” Anya continued, “there is an even chance that you will ascend with him. However, if my brother does enter the dungeon, his ascension alone is almost guaranteed.


    “It won’t be intentional, but it will happen nonetheless. You will be left behind, which would be painful if you were to develop romantic feelings for each other. Further, even at your swiftest, you would not be able to catch up to him in any meaningful way. Time flows differently between realms.”


    “Again, why not tell him that?” I asked, focusing on the first part of her warning instead of the bit about time.


    “Because if I warn him, he won’t get the same advantage heading into the upper realm,” she said matter-of-factly. “He would either avoid the event that triggers his ascension, thus losing the benefits associated with it, or he would inadvertently sabotage himself by overthinking things. Both would be detrimental to his future beyond this realm.


    “I want the best for my brother, even after he ascends. Having him gain the benefits he could get through the dungeon is definitely in his best interest,” she stated. “At the same time, I see no need for added heartbreak. Protecting your heart would indirectly do the same for him, leaving him free to progress as he wishes in the upper realm.”


    I could understand her point. The more I thought about it, the more sense it made. I could definitely understand why she wanted to talk to me before anything could change between me and Kai.


    Before I could comment, Anya asked, “Did you know that no Fate Mage can get more than a glimpse into the upper realm? There are actually several upper realms, just as there are numerous lower realms such as ours. Most of our knowledge of those realms comes not from visions but from ancient texts penned around the time of the system’s arrival.”


    I shook my head in response. I actually hadn’t known either of those things. I’d always just assumed the information about the upper realm came from Fate Mages since they were the only ones who could know.


    “Where did the texts come from, then?” I asked. “Were Fate Mages stronger before the system was created?”


    “Not at all. If anything, we were far weaker since the use of magic was still quite infantile. The system was introduced to help people progress. Most scholars think that having people ascend is somehow beneficial to the realm itself, though there is very little information to support the theory beyond a few vague references.


    “As far as where the texts come from…” She tilted her head and looked at me with interest. “How much do you know about the Realm Dungeon?”


    I was a bit taken aback by the question. The Realm Dungeon seemed completely unrelated to the topic of discussion, but I assumed Anya had a reason for bringing it up.


    “Not much,” I admitted. “Sir Eri’Non had some kind of control or oversight of it. The dungeon itself seems to be some kind of sapient, or at least semi-sapient artifact that can either create or control multiple Mana Intelligences.”


    At Anya’s questioning look, I explained, “The dungeon golems are each distinct and far more aware and interactive than makes sense for them to be mere constructs. They also share information across floors. All of that is controlled by the dungeon, or the dungeon system, which seems somewhat independent of the outside system. The notifications look different, at least.”


    “And its purpose?” she asked.


    “To help people ascend, I suppose,” I said uncertainly. “I guess whatever studies are being done out of it are just… supplementary?”


    I really wasn’t sure about the second part. Sir Eri’Non obviously had some kind of control over the dungeon, and I doubted he cared much about helping other people ascend. I could be wrong, but I doubted it.


    “That’s pretty close,” Anya admitted. “According to the ancient texts, the dungeon actually predates the system. It is an intelligent construct sent from the upper realm that our realm is connected to with the purpose of increasing the number of ascenders. There is some mention of the system being connected to the dungeon, but that part isn’t clear since there was mention of other dungeons being sent to our realm.”


    The possibility of other dungeons existing in our realm was certainly news to me. I’d never heard a whisper about such a possibility.


    “So… how did Sir Eri’Non get control of the dungeon, then?” I asked.


    “Who knows?” Anya replied indifferently. “But the first Administrator of our Realm Dungeon shared the insights he gained from the position. Those insights are what make up the ancient texts that I mentioned. He was actually a tri-affinity mage, and the one credited by many with the creation of the system.”


    I already knew that the stories about the tri-affinity mage creating the system were likely false, but I found it very interesting that the first Administrator of the Realm Dungeon was the same tri-affinity mage. There almost had to be a connection of some sort.


    “Why tell me any of this?” I asked. “I mean, not that I don’t appreciate the extra information. I just don’t see the reason behind me knowing any of this.”


    Anya smiled, and this time, it seemed far more genuine. “Call it Fate,” she said with a hint of amusement.