Homestead Survival

<20 September 2024, MIRROR DEEP RETREAT, ????>
[Theo and Julia]
Theo and Julia waited silently for Lady Strigthix to continue.

Lady Strigthix let out a strange sigh, "Very well, I shall consider this my portion."

Theo and Julia glanced at each other, but continued to listen as Lady Strigthix spoke. "The Utility-Power Index is, for lack of a better description, an incredibly cold and calculated way that the System decides to grant you, well, anything. It is a list of invisible titles that grant you no stat bonuses, and you will never be able to see them, but everyone has them, even if they have never earned another title. The exception to this rule are children who bear a special invisible title that provides a relatively safe period of development for all children."

"Is there a way to reveal the title, even temporarily, to see what it is?" Julia asked.

"There is, but that is not something available to just anyone, even though we have not been able to take advantage of it." Lady Strigthix said, "But I can make an educated guess. Your notification said that you went up one level. The first three levels are Detritus, Fragment, and Lumen. I would guess that you are at either level four or level five. Asset, or Instrument."

"Those are some interesting names." Theo said, "Very... Descriptive."

This got a chuckle from Lord Ka, and Lady Strigthix continued, "You are not wrong. There are ten levels that we know of, in order from lowest to greatest they are Detritus, Fragment, Lumen, Asset, Instrument, Agent, Pillar, Catalyst, Paragon, Axis."

"We know what those words mean, but we would love to hear what the System thinks of them. Or what your estimation of what they mean is." Julia said with a thoughtful look on her face.

Lady Strigthix gestured, and a blue box appeared. "Here is what I know."

Lady Strigthix continued speaking as Theo and Julia examined the notification. "I can almost assure you that you have not made it past Agent now that I think more about it. From what the Patriarch there has told me, you are probably at Asset, Instrument at best. A vast majority of Users never make it past the Lumen level."

"What about the Detritus level? Does everyone make it past that?" Julia asked.

"No, you saw it first hand in those who rejected the System," Lady Strigthix said, "The System is many things, but an entity of charity it is not. One of the many reasons people suspect that children are granted a bit of safety is that the System is evaluating them, seeing where they should have their initial placement."

"So these numbers, titles, and descriptions are great, but can you give us an example we can relate to?" Theo asked, trying to place Patriarch Karzun on this scale.

Lady Strigthix shook her head. "I have already told you more than I intended. So I will be done. Welcome to the next level of power."

Lady Strigthix walked out. Lord Ka sighed, "Don't take that personally. The Species that Lady Strigthix comes from are solitary for most of their lives. So she sometimes struggles with interacting with others. As to your request, Myself, Lady Strigthix, and Lady Xandur are probably six or seven."

"I am seven or an eight," Patriarch Karzun said, "but you two have a contact with a nine."

Theo thought for a moment, "The God-Wyrm."

Patriarch Karzun nodded. "Exactly. Even in death, the System classifies it as Axis. This has led us to believe that there might be even more classifications that we are unaware of, and for whom they would apply."

"Now then, I think that is enough of that." Lady Xandur said with a smile. "You have been granted a great deal of information by Lady Strigthix, she mentioned., As to her part of what, there is an unwritten rule that if you witness someone progressing up the Utility-Power Index, you are to give them a gift. So I would give you mine, it is simple, but I have heard that maybe it will be something that you appreciate."

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Lady Xandur handed Theo a small pouch; inside was a ring and twenty gold. Theo identified the ring.

Theo and Julia smiled. Julia looked up as she put the ring in her pouch, and Theo put the gold in his Hand of Gold. "Thank you very much, Lady Xandur."

"Best of luck, little humans." Lady Xandur said and walked out.

Lord Ka stepped forward. "Now, for my part. I offer a choice: I can provide a gift, or I can offer to do you a favor in the future. The favor would be dependent upon you being at least level fifty."

Theo nodded. "You have done plenty for us, Lord Ka; you do not need to do anything."

A chuckle escaped the dark robe that Lord Ka was always wearing. "I am aware, but I would like to do this, so please choose."

"Then we will take the favor in the future." Theo said, "And thank you."

"Very well, have an excellent day, and I look forward to talking with you both in the future." Lord Ka said as he stood up, and simply vanished, his voice lingering for a moment after he was gone.

Finally, it was just Theo, Julia, and Patriarch Karzun. Patriarch Karzun nodded to them, "Theo, Julia, all is well?"

"Well, we are simply surprised. We were coming here to take a bath, then found out about the competition, and now we have won. So, it was a bit of a whirlwind event." Julia said.

Theo smiled. "Can't say no to some free progression though."

Patriarch Karzun smiled, "It is always interesting how people deal with things like this. But regardless, onto my offering, what do you need?"

"We need to get stronger and we need to make our allies stronger," Theo said.

"Especially, Fred, Joshua, and Renno. Velna needs the CON, and Sarah... well, she is a child." Julia agreed, wondering what Sarah needed.

"Then she needs everything," Patriarch Karzun said, "I will offer you two things, one is a piece of advice and the other is something to help you with your goal. Firstly, the advice is that children influence their starting class options, stats, titles, and so many other things by what they experience. I have heard from Sylvi that this Sarah has a 'pet' dungeon core? So you should encourage this and take her to new places, have her try out different weapons, and expose her to as much as you can. Now the item. While I am sure that Crypt Keeper would love to host you and your Family, the fact is that you two were a fluke; most humans do not do well in that dungeon, as it is scaled to dragons specifically. So I offer you this."

He handed them a Crystal that they identified and read the rather bland description.

Patriarch Karzun spoke as they read, "When I was a much younger Dragon, I sought out rare materials for a variety of different things. This Dungeon Crystal, on my 8th run, is where I hit level forty-six. It is yours now. Do with it as you see fit. I wish you both the best of luck and look forward to all the things that I imagine you will be bringing about."

With that, Theo and Julia were finally alone. Theo placed the Crystal into his pouch. "Bath time finally?"

Julia nodded, "Bath time."