Hours later, and still Wyn hasn’t gotten a wink of sleep. Even as her mind calmed and her body relaxed, Wyn can’t bring herself to rest. She’s simply not tired enough to rest.
Oh, screw it. If I can’t rest, what’s the point?
Reaching over to her nightstand, Wyn grabs the Eden bodysuit and slips it on. Just like before, the tent-like bodysuit becomes like a second skin, adhering itself to her body. It’s a strange sensation, but Wyn will have to get used to it in time. She then places the helmet on her head and gets ready to rejoin Eden.
And of course, Psai is also there. “Oh good, you’re back!” Psai says, his voice cracking.
“Uh. Yeah. I was coming back. Just needed to spend time with my family.”
“Of course!” Psai pauses for a moment before continuing, his words soft and quiet, laced with fear. As though he wishes to know the answer to the question in his mind, but is nervous to even ask. “Why do you need to spend time with my family?”
Wyn hesitates before answering. Psai has always been neurotic, but this was a new level, feeling more like a sad puppy than his usual self. “I don’t know; I never really thought about that. They’re my family, so they’re important to me. I don’t have an exact reason, but they’re important.”
Psai is silent for a long moment before speaking again. “Understood.”
Wyn is about to activate the headset and dive into Eden, but hesitates. Something is clearly bothering Psai, far more than usual. Like it or not, Psai is her constant companion. If he isn’t doing well, then he won’t be as helpful to her in difficult situations. And beyond that, Wyn has started to see Psai less like a computer system and more like a little brother. Each twinge of fear, each odd idiosyncrasy reminds her of Rohn. So, to help the strange artificial intelligence, Wyn decides to start treating Psai less like an AI, and more like a younger sibling.
“Look, Psai, I get it. Being afraid of losing something you rely on — that’s normal. That’s not just a computer problem. I feel that too, in my own way.”
There’s a pause on the other end before Psai speaks, his voice a little less rigid, though still coated with fear. “To mitigate uncertainty, I propose a system: reminders. Notifications, scheduled interactions. This would reduce the probability of permanent disconnection by maintaining consistent engagement.” His words sound clinical but earnest.
Wyn lets out a short laugh. “A forced schedule? That’s... kind of adorable. But no. If I have to interact with the game just to make you feel better, that’s forced. That’s not how you make a healthy relationship.”
Psai’s pitch jumps up by an octave. “Relationship?!”
Wyn chuckles. “You know what I mean. Not a relationship as in lovers. No offense, but… ew. More like adventuring buddies.”
She closes her eyes for a moment and thinks about the loving family she spent the evening with. The dinner, the easy laughter, the wild stories, and the way they ground her no matter what. It’s a simple truth she hadn’t fully acknowledged until now. “They’re my anchor,” she says softly. “If things get bad, I know I can count on them to have my back.”
When Psai doesn’t respond, Wyn sighs and continues. “I’ll check in more. Not because you make me, but because I want to.”
“Affirmative. Your commitment is registered and appreciated,” Psai responds, the awkwardness in his voice replaced by a faint warmth.
Wyn tightens the helmet, the familiar pressure settling across her head. She takes a slow breath, feeling the weight of the real world behind her and the digital one waiting ahead. Psai’s presence whispers in her awareness, a strange comfort in the strange void. A gentle reminder that she’s not alone.
Wyn’s awareness returns to her in the Interstice. Shortly after opening her eyes, Psai appears before her, floating in space. It’s difficult to tell exactly, but Wyn swears his orb glows brighter than before.
“Welcome back to Eden. Are you ready to return to Lethisburg, or would you like to process your level points?”
Wyn’s eyes roll at Psai. “Okay buddy, drop the script. You don’t have to talk like a robot with me.”
Psai’s face appears on the orb, blinking in confusion. “But I am a sort of robot?”
“Yes, and you can use your own words instead of the ones Progenitis feeds you.”
Psai processes for a moment before continuing, “So… would you like to use this time to level up or go directly back to Eden?”
Wyn considers it for a moment, but the decision is easy. She’s leveled up quite a bit since her last jaunt in the interstice. On top of that, Wyn should be able to increase her rank. While she doesn’t know what ranking up will do to her, Tilly mentioned it being a big change.
“Let’s rank me up, Psai.”
Psai gives an eager whirring chirp as a trio of screens pop into existence in front of Wyn, floating in mid-air. The first screen houses information about ranking up and the new rank, with the other two screens being the familiar ability upgrade and character screens
.
Congratulations!
You have successfully ranked up to Novice Rank, granting you additional benefits and challenges for your experience in Eden. At this time, you are ranked higher than 12% of players across Eden!
Firstly, as part of ranking up, you will no longer receive Crude rarity abilities, and will find that Crude rarity items do not function properly due to your increased skill level. If you have not yet purchased equipment of a higher rank than your starting equipment, it is recommended you do so as soon as possible. As part of the rank-up process, any abilities you have that are Crude rarity will no longer be available to you, unless you level them up to Common at this time.
Next, as a Novice Ranked player, your primary goal will be to complete your next Rank Quest and become Apprentice rank. The most important aspect of this rank quest will be joining one of the primary Guilds within Eden, and becoming the apprentice of an NPC or player of at least Veteran Rank. Potential options include the Gladiator’s Arena, Gilded Legion, Arcane Consortium, Thieves Guild, Blacksmith’s Guild, Fighter’s Guild, and many more. Note that player organizations will not count towards your Rank Quest.
Lastly, being Novice Rank comes with added benefits in the form of level points. At Whelp rank, you only received one level point per level. As a Novice, this doubles to two points per level, allowing you to increase your stats and abilities in Eden more easily.
Are you ready to finish ranking up?
Y / N
Wyn reads over the information a few times to make sure she understands it. A grin creeps up her face with the realization that she’s already ahead of the curve. Prior to logging out, Wyn had already become a member of the Arcane Consortium, or as most of the NPCs called it, The Mage’s Guild. She’s also likely well on her way to becoming either Lothran or Elara’s apprentice, so finding someone to train under will not be a significant challenge for Wyn.
There was the worrying piece about how she’d lose access to all crude rank abilities, though that explains why the system opened up both her character sheet and the ability improvement menu.
NAME: Wyn Abulata
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
RACE: Human
STATUS: N/A
RANK: Whelp — Rank up Available.
CLASS: Simple Mage - Level 9
ARCHETYPE: Combat
SECONDARY CLASS: #ERROR, value not expected - Level 7
SECONDARY ARCHETYPE: Control
STATS:
Strength: 9
Endurance: 8
Toughness: 10
Agility: 10
Willpower: 14
Awareness: 11
Intellect: 12
Presence: 15
ABILITIES
First Aid - Common — Upgrade Available
Refined Essentia Manipulation - Common — Upgrade Available
Mage Bolt - Common — Upgrade Available
Basic Insight- Common — Upgrade Available
Illusions of the Beyond - Common — Upgrade Available
Subtle Spellcasting - Uncommon
Fortify Self - Uncommon
Flickerstep - Uncommon
Oblivion Shroud - Rare
TITLES
Outworlder - Common
Surprisingly, Wyn had already ranked up all of her crude abilities, leaving her only common ones. Though, a question enters Wyn’s mind.
“Psai, I’ve got a question for you.”
“Excellent! Ask away.”
Wyn slumps, giving Psai a curious look. While it wasn’t her original question, another has entered her mind. “Psai, why do you always say ‘excellent question’ to everything?”
Psai bobs in the air, the equivalent of shrugging one’s shoulders without arms. “Excellent question! I am simply conveying my excitement at the opportunity to be of assistance to you.”
Wyn chuckles, glad to see Psai was back to his usual self. “Alright, my original question. I have nine level points available at the moment. If I rank up before using them, what happens to them? Do I double my points since I’m novice rank? Or do they disappear, or something like that?”
“That was multiple questions!”
Wyn blinks. “Yeah. Can you answer them?”
“Excellent question! I certainly can.”
When Psai doesn’t continue, Wyn mimes tapping a watch on her wrist, urging him to continue.
“I see, you wish me to answer your questions. Perfect. That I can do!”
As Psai speaks, he plays the exact audio of Wyn speaking, making her cringe at the sound of her own voice. “Your first question was, ‘If I rank up before using them, what happens to them?’ Assuming you are referring to your Level Points, this is a fair question. Upon ranking up to novice, your level points will remain unchanged. Only future level points will be granted at a higher rate.”
“Your second question was, ‘Do I double my points since I’m novice rank?’ I have already answered this excellent question in my previous statement.”
“Your third question was, ‘Or do they disappear or something like that?’ The answer is once again no, as previously stated.”
“Your fourth question was, ‘Can you answer them?’”
“OKAY!” Wyn shouts, waiting for his rambling to stop before continuing. “That’s enough. I got it, Psai.”
Psai tilts to the side. “I did not answer all of your questions. Do you still need the answers?”
Wyn is about to explain to Psai how he already answered that last question, but given the whole interaction, she’s not interested in sending him down another spiral. So, she simply says, “No,” and moves on.
With no reason to delay any longer, Wyn turns her focus to the rank up screen and selects yes. A bright golden light encircles her, filling her body with incredible power. The warmth spreads from her core outward, sharp and electric, sharpening every sense. The light pulses in rhythm with her heartbeat, steady and relentless. Around her, the Interstice seems to blur and hum, as if reality itself bends to acknowledge the moment.
Rank Up Complete: Novice.
Multiple Quests Accepted.
Basic Mage Class is ready to evolve!
Message received from: Elara Benith
Message received from: Lothran Tilowey
The flood of system messages overwhelms Wyn immediately following the intense sensation of ranking up. Deciding to take it one step at a time, Wyn tackles each notification in the order they arrived.
First up is the Rank Up complete notification, which thankfully has no additional details attached, so Wyn moves to the second notification. Three more screens appear, filling her already crowded view.
Rank Quest: Apprentice
You have successfully become a Novice in the world of Eden. While you are just beginning your journey, your potential is clear. Continue to grow your skill and your path in Eden will become clear!
Objectives:
Reach level 40: 16/40
Acquire a Rare Ability: 1/1
Join a Guild: 1/1
Increase your Guild Standing: 0/1
Become an apprentice to someone of at least Veteran Rank: 0/1
Rewards:
Rank: Apprentice
That all seems easy enough and is about what Wyn expected to see given the rank-up screen she read before. Dismissing the rank quest window, two more quest windows hover in the air begging for her attention.
Quest: Mysteries Unknown
You have been granted a unique class of strange origin. Uncover the source of this class and unlock the mysteries of this bizarre world.
Objectives:
#ERROR, unknown objective: 0/1
Rewards:
Unknown
“Oh god. Not this again.” Wyn groans.
Psai perks up. “You seem to be in distress. What is the issue?”
Wyn paints an easygoing smile on her face. “It’s nothing. Just some weirdness with a quest.”
Wyn closes the window, worried about how Psai will handle even more of her system being riddled with errors. Psai’s digital face gains a new feature, a pair of slanted eyebrows as he scrutinizes Wyn’s false portrayal of emotion. She chuckles nervously and looks at the third quest window before Psai can see past her facade.
Quest: The First Branch
Description:
Your two classes resonate with one another in a way the system did not anticipate. Their interaction has produced a branching point; an early divergence in your path as a mage. Most players never encounter such a phenomenon this soon.
This moment marks your first evolution. The form it takes now will shape the foundation of your magic, but it will not define the end. Eden recognizes patterns in your actions, decisions, alliances, and the forces you allow yourself to wield. These patterns will guide future evolution, though their criteria remain concealed.
What begins here will shift and adapt over time. The system will not reveal the full list of what is possible, nor how each branch is reached. Only that the path ahead is flexible, reactive, and uniquely your own.
Objectives:
Examine the evolution prompt triggered by your rank up - 0/1
Select the initial branch of your class evolution - 0/1
Continue playing Eden to develop your Path - 0/1
Reach Rank: Apprentice - 0/1
Rewards:
Varied
“Interesting,” Wyn says. “Psai, have you seen this sort of quest before?”
“No, you have not received a quest like this before.”
“Not what I meant. In your database thing. However you know things about this game. How common are quests like this?”
“An excellent question! Typically, individuals of Adept rank will a quest like this as part of their journey towards class mastery. It is exceedingly rare to receive a quest such as this prior to Adept Rank.”
Wyn frowns. “Is that a good or bad thing?”
Psai’s orb dims. “An excellent question. I am uncertain. This type of quest suggests your class is deviating from standard parameters.”
“Deviating?” Wyn asks.
“Changing in ways the system did not plan for.”
“Well,” she murmurs, “I’ve never been great at sticking to the plan anyway.”
And with a breath, she clicks on the class evolution notification to see what the system has in store for her.
