NOVEL NEXT 136: Hestia's Knowledge
[Theo and Julia]
When Theo and Julia returned from their Bath, they placed their hands upon Hestia's Core. Theo spoke first. "Hello Hestia, how long were we gone for?"
"You were both gone for nearly twenty-three minutes." Hestia said, then they both got the mental equivalent of a raised eyebrow. "You have both also increased in level upon the Utility-Power Index. That is... Interesting, and it allows me to tell you some more of what I know of the Overlook. You do still wish to know what I can tell you of the Overlook do you not?"
"Of course." Julia said, "This is our home so the more we know the better."
"Understood." Hestia said, "Before we start I should aske, how detailed do you want me to be?"
"In what way?'' Theo asked.
"If you so desire, I am able to calculate the volume and mass of the Overlook." Hestia said in a deadpan tone.
"I think that we are good. Why don't you keep it to a less detailed version?" Theo said.
"I agree, more generalized information will probably be better." Julia's face scrunched up for a moment. "Hestia, why can Skully speak, and you can not?"
"That is, to put it bluntly, a survival mechanism granted to Dungeon Cores with personality matrixes." Hestia said, "It was discovered at some point by the System that Dungeon Cores that could beg for their lives and cared about living, were more likely to survive."
Theo and Julia looked at each other and shrugged. Theo spoke, "That is as good an answer as any. Alright, Hestia, lay it out. What do you know of the Overlook and our claimed land?"
Hestia gave them the distinct impression that she was organizing information, and then she launched into her speech, displaying information to accompany what she was saying. First she pulled up the original notification of their land claim.
| Land Claimed Successfully! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property ownership on the surface is defined by both breadth and depth, with rights extending vertically in a straight line. For this, the Planetary First Claim of Planet Y-7F63C-3, the depth will be measured from the top of the Mesa to its base, known as the Threshold Depth. This boundary marks the transition point between the Mesa Strata and the Surface Strata. Surface Sovereignty grants exclusive control of the soil, structures, and resources within this defined vertical space. However, the Threshold Depth may be extended in the future to encompass the complete depth of the Surface Strata and later into the depths of the First Subterrane. Beyond the Threshold Depth of the Surface Strata lies the dominion of the First Subterrane, governed by those who call the depths home. Access through the Threshold Depth requires explicit permission from its stewards, maintaining a delicate balance between surface and subterranean interests. |
"Firstly, let us break this down," Hestia said, taking on a tone of simple education, "as it says, you have claimed the Overlook mesa from the top where we now are, down to the start of the Surface Strata. As you can imagine, this means you own a chunk of the Mesa of summer as well as the Overlook. Next, it discusses the First Subterrane, and unless you intend to build a massive underground city, I would not worry about this at the moment. However, I do believe that this is important to note as another potential entrance or exit from your land."
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Theo and Julia looked at each other. Hestia continued, "Please note that the following information is highly limited by the system. There is at least one Core on this claimed land that is not me. Odds are that it is just Skully. The Overlook as you have taken to calling it is soaked in blood from your recent battles. You have fought and killed for this claim, that holds a certain primal magic to it. There are a list of effects that the System has applied to the Overlook that are visible to me, and thanks to your recent upgrade in usefulness, you are permitted to know the names of. They are as follows: Anchorage, Sky_Bridge, Whisper_Seat, Roost_OPEN, Seasonal=veil, decinary=unknown, centinary=unknown. These effects, if not in effect will take effect upon completion of mana stabilization."
Theo was a little overwhelmed. "Hold on, if we guess the effect can you tell us if we got it right?"
Hestia paused, "The System will allow this."
Julia thought for a moment, "Sky bridge makes me think of like a glass walkway, but I doubt that is it. Whisper seat makes me think of ghosts. Roost_OPEN is interesting does it mean that something might come and roost here on the Overlook."
Hestia's response was robotic. "Unable to respond. Please ask about one effect at a time."
Julia tried again. "Roost_OPEN is interesting, does it mean that something might come and roost here on the Overlook?"
"Correct." Hestia said, offering no other information.
"What about Decinary equals unknown. Does it mean that there is a ten-year event that has not been chosen yet?"
"Correct."
"So Centenary probably means the same." Theo said to himself.
"Can you please provide us a list of possible Decenary events?" Julia asked.
A blue box opened and scrolled massive amounts of information past them at speeds that made it a blur of unreadable text. Suddenly, the blue box seemed to glitch and vanish.
"System authorization to share information rebuked." Hestia said, then fell back into her more normal speech patterns. "My apologies, Theo and Julia, I tried to let you see the list, but the System was not happy about it. I have also been bared from sharing anything else about that list, or the list itself with you again."
"Well, we tried." Theo said, and Julia shrugged, "is there anything else that you want to tell us Hestia?"
"I believe that it would be best to let you discover everything else on your own." Hestia said, "If I think of anything else, I will let you know."
Theo and Julia pulled their hands from the Core, and made their way down to the temporary room that was theirs. They curled up next to each other and went to sleep.