I fell asleep right after my shift.
When I woke up it was late afternoon and the sun was already setting.
Penguin was snoring right next to me, sprawled on his back. I grinned and rubbed his belly gently.
Then, I looked around and sighed. I had never minded this before, but… going back to my old hours and habits after so much had happened felt a bit weird. Especially after having died.
I mean, I'd never been interested in having a career before, I just did what I had to to pay my rent, but… it felt even more pointless now.
"Are you awake?" Llewellyn asked suddenly through the bond.
Oh.
Well. This, on the other hand, felt amazing.
"Just woke up," I said. "Could you sense that?"
Llewellyn hummed. "I can get a general sense of how you're feeling if I tune in. You didn't seem to be asleep anymore, but I'm still not sure if I'm interpreting the readings correctly."
It looked like he'd been correct, after all. I wondered if this was part of that Compatibility Assessment Update the System had mentioned yesterday. Maybe I could discuss it with Llewellyn later.
"Do you have any plans for the evening?" I asked.
I wanted to spend some time in my Core Partition, but… I wanted to meet, too.
"If you're available," Llewellyn said. "I was thinking… We haven't visited Gléonwon in a while."
He was right! With everything that had happened, we just hadn't had the time. I was actually going to suggest we equip concealment and go to the Yun Seojun festival, but he was right, this was a good idea too.
"We could do both," Llewellyn said. "If it's not too late afterwards, we could grab food there."
Honestly, that sounded perfect. Maybe I could even drag him to an Elemental Café afterward.
"That sounds good," I said. I checked my watch. It was already 5 PM. "I need to shower and spend some time in my Core Partition. How about we meet in an hour and a half?"
"Works for me," Llewellyn said. "Come over when you're ready. I'll tell the System to let Gléonwon know to expect us later today."
"Yeah, okay," I said.
Penguin had woken up in the meantime and was looking up at me with sleepy eyes, chirping.
Ahh, he really was adorable!
And whole and safe and all.
***
After a quick shower, Penguin and I teleported into my Core Partition.
The fireplace was crackling merrily and the table was full of coffee and snacks. It seemed like the Magic here was aware I'd skipped breakfast so I could get here faster. Well, I definitely appreciated it.
There was also sashimi for Penguin, who chirped, delighted, and waddled toward them happily.
Alright, then.
I sat down at the table, reached for a croissant, and opened the System interface.
Penguin startled me when he started searing the tuna slices, though. Looked like raw salmon was fine, but raw tuna was really not his thing. It was a good thing he was an amazing cook.
"System," I said. "What can you tell me about this Authority thing Queen Seolene returned to me? Are there any books I can read about it?"
The System chimed.
[System Notification: The System is not authorized to disclose that information.]
Ah, damn it. Not again.
I frowned. "Can you at least tell me what it does?"
[System Notification: The System is not authorized to disclose that information.]
"What about whether other people also have it?"
[System Notification: The System is not authorized to disclose that information.]
…This was going nowhere.
"Why?" I asked, frustrated. "I obviously know it exists. I have it. Why can't you explain what the hell it is and what it does?"
There was a long pause, then—
[System Notification: The System is not authorized to disclose that information.]
Goddamnit.
"Fine. Let's scrap that. Can you tell me anything that might help me understand what happened and what Queen Seolene returned to me?"
There was a pause.
[System Notification: User Ryo's Magic has been rebalanced. The reintegration was successful. User Ryo's Magic should now be more effortless as long as it's used according to its own disposition. User Ryo should now also feel the magical flow more easily.]
Huh? Wait, really?
I focused on the Magical Field for a moment and… Oh. The System was right.
Damn, this felt good.
Could I do anything with this?
[System Notification: User Ryo's Magic has stabilized. Elemental channeling should now require less conscious effort.]
I blinked. "Does that mean I can do more stuff now?"
Could I maybe learn how to use the other Elements too? That would come in handy in Distorted Realms.
[System Notification: User Ryo should test magical output when convenient.]
Well.
I closed my eyes and tried to feel it again.
The diamond-like feeling at the bottom of my sternum flared.
Huh. This wasn't completely new—I'd felt it before alongside the itch, but it'd never been so clear before.
Still, when I tried to do something with it… nothing happened.
I opened my eyes again and frowned at the System's interface. "Can you at least tell me if this Authority affects how I interact with the Knots?"
There was a pause.
[System Notification: User Ryo's magical flow has been rebalanced. The reintegration process has enhanced User Ryo's Intuitive Drift.]
Wait. What?! And it was only telling me this now?!
"Why haven't you said so earlier?!"
[System Notification: The information was not relevant to the conversation.]
I beg to differ!
"What about my other Attributes, Abilities, and Skills?"
[System Notification: Elemental Mastery and Knot Listening have also received slight enhancements.]
Well!
I was going to have to test this properly.
I glanced at Penguin, who had finished his sashimi and was now chasing the feather dusters.
"Alright," I said. "Let's leave this for now."
I still had fifteen minutes in the Core Partition, but… My mind wasn't really on this right now, anyway.
Besides, the System was the one supposed to take care of the Knots. If it was going to withhold information, it could solve its cosmic shenanigans by itself.
***
A few moments later, Penguin and I were standing in Llewellyn's kitchen.
Penguin chirped delightedly and, when Llewellyn came closer, stretched his neck up to get a head rub, before jumping off my arms to go and look for Lumos.
Llewellyn crowded me back against the kitchen counter immediately.
"Hello," he said.
…Yeah, this was great.
I kissed him.