I awoke after a deep slumber, surprised at how my body had collapsed under the psychological stress. As much as I hated to admit it; I truly needed the rest. Stretching and going through my morning routine, I quickly noticed my mind was clearer than it had been in months.

  With my family now up to speed on my requirements for them, I decided to focus on my own abilities. The money was flowing, the kids were practicing, and for once, I had time to concentrate on myself.

  Our parents had returned home to gather the rest of our immediate family, set to join us by the end of the year at my new compound. My only requirements: they learn what I ask, on my schedule.

  They would each receive a monthly stipend, effectively making them free humans while living on my property. I needed to gather reliable people that could be trained until The Fall, roughly two and a half years from now. Money was always an excellent motivator.

  Through my recent experiments circulating mana through my frontal lobe, I’d discovered I could accelerate my learning for a brief time. I went to the local library and grabbed several copies of the ‘For Idiots’ series: Quantum Physics, Light and its Bending Properties, Biology for Beginners, and Plants We Need to Live.

  I walked into my office and closed the door, letting everyone know I needed some time alone. I decided to start with Light and its Bending Properties. I wasn’t sure if my earlier discussions with Xavier had been efficient, so I wanted to study more before giving additional advice.

  This experiment would involve rotating my mana while consuming literature simultaneously. If we could cast spells, move faster, and become stronger with mana, then reading and comprehension should also benefit from it as well.

  I closed my eyes to begin the mana rotation throughout my brain, sucking in a breath as a cold chill permeated my skull. Holding it for longer than a few minutes would be a challenge, but I was determined to succeed.

  Understanding, Construction, Manifestation, Mental Image. The mantra echoed in my head.

  I imagined myself skimming through the book at high speed, absorbing only relevant information, similar to a control-F function on a computer. Opening my eyes, I began with the content page. By the second chapter, I had to run to the bathroom and vomit out my breakfast.

  As massive amounts of information swirled into my brain, proving my efforts, I focused on calming down my breathing to parse what I’d learned. The cooling sensation from my mana channels soothed the nausea and pain like a fire extinguisher; so I started my first test.

  Earlier, I downloaded a series of questions from the first chapter. I answered them all immediately with barely any concentration. A randomized 50 question test comprising the book on light took barely a few minutes for me to complete.

  Again, a migraine threatened to assault me, but the repetitive application of mana to the frontal lobe tempered the pain.

  I fully understood the phrase “Eureka!” in that moment. This was a monumental achievement! A smile crept across my face. Though this experiment had been a long shot, it could change everything. As a matter of fact, if The System had still been in place, I knew this would precisely be the moment that I learned a new skill.

  “Skill Book” I said in a measured tone; while smiling from ear to ear. That would be it’s name.

  I spent the next several hours absorbing knowledge about light and decided to call it a day; allowing my mana to regenerate. The next day, I called Xavier to my study.

  “Listen X, you don’t need to be a psychic to see that you’re itching to become stronger as quickly as possible,” I said as he sat down. “I understand completely, you know I do. Few people can say this, but everyone in this house was there; we know the feeling of powerlessness.”

  “I think I might have a way to help, but not without risks. What I’m about to try could change everything. I’ve discussed this with your mother, and she told me to leave it up to you. You’re an adult now.”

  “I’m ready, whatever it is,” he said firmly, then added, “Once we’re done, we need to talk though Dad.”

  “Is everything okay?” I asked, concern rising.

  “It’s a problem for another time…literally,” he said with a chuckle. “Let’s do this.”

  I nodded.

  “Okay, this will feel similar to the Memory Pocket skill. I’m going to download information about light directly into your mind, chapter by chapter. However, I won’t lie to you, there will be intense pain. It’ll feel like it’s breaking you, but if you persevere, you’ll have taken your first steps into being truly unique.”

  Xavier took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”

  I took the packaged information and touched his forehead with the skill, careful to input as slowly as possible.

  “You’re doing great, son. Let me know when the pain becomes too much. We’re about halfway done.”

  “Dad, it hurts!” he cried out, tears forming. “It’s hot and cold at the same time!”

  “Circulate the mana in your brain to cool it down,” I instructed, worry creeping into my voice.

  His seemed to start to convulse as his eyes started to roll back in his head; suddenly he stopped shaking and took in a deep breath. “I’m ok, it worked. I can hold on a little longer. Oh my God, Dad! I can see it all in my mind; it’s right there.” He pointed into the air. “I think we could actually go a little further...”

  He screamed again as another lance of pain shot through his mind; terrifying me to the core.

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  “I don’t understand! I didn’t have any of these reactions to more information!” I screamed internally. I’m such an idiot performing experiments on my children without further testing.

  Suddenly a word popped into my mind; It gave me a fear so deep that I can’t believe I hadn’t tested anything regarding it: System 2

  If everything seemed to form a twisted form of game logic, then my body had transformed as well. I’d been so caught up in the day to day, I hadn’t properly examined my own body. I had grown to addicted to the notification screen to handle all my knowledge. That meant my threshold for pain, physical strength and mana channels had grown outside the realm of the last fighters in the previous timeline.

  I cut the mana to the skill immediately, easing his pain. I gave him some water and rubbed his back while he held his hands to his eyes.

  “How are you feeling, son?” I asked.

  “Like you just hit me in the head with a hammer,” he joked through teary eyes. He looked up at me. “But I got it, Dad!” His thumbs up made my heart swell with pride.

  This kid was something else. Even under intense pain, he still had a quip ready. It was wonderful to see the old him again. I gave him back the famous line from one of our favorite movies.

  “Show me.”

  Xavier took the test for chapter one and aced every question. The experiment had been a success. “Yes!!” he shouted excitedly.

  After celebrating his success and settling ourselves down, I figured I’d see what was going on with him.

  “So, you needed to talk?” I asked.

  “Before that, I had an idea,” he said excitedly. “I think the information you gave me helped me breakthrough a problem I was having.”

  Xavier closed his eyes and took a deep breath. I watched as he circulated his mana, following the principles I had taught everyone: Understanding, Construction, Manifestation, Mental Image.

  “Light wants to move in all directions,” he explained as he worked. “The trick is getting it to stay where you want it.”

  A faint glow appeared above his outstretched hand. Unlike his previous attempts that had always flickered out instantly, this time the light remained, gradually growing brighter and more focused.

  “The book changed everything,” he continued, his face showing concentration but not the painful strain I’d seen in his earlier practices. “Before, I was just throwing mana at it and hoping. Now I understand how light actually works.”

  The shimmer coalesced into a defined shape as Xavier guided his mana to contain and shape the light. Within seconds, a blade formed above his palm, about two feet long and glowing with steady brilliance.

  “I’m basically wrapping the light in mana,” he said, opening his eyes to admire his creation. “One holds the shape, the other provides the energy.”

  He moved the blade through the air with careful precision. It hummed softly, leaving faint trails of light in its wake.

  “Son, that’s amazing!” I exclaimed, genuinely impressed. What would have taken months of practice, he had accomplished in hours after receiving the knowledge.

  Xavier grinned proudly. “It still takes concentration, but now I know what I’m doing instead of guessing.” He let the blade gradually fade. “I couldn’t have done this without the information transfer.”

  “The difference between knowledge and power is application,” I said. “You’re proving that right now.”

  He nodded, his expression turning serious. “I need to tell you what happened to me, Dad, about my death. There’s more to it as well. I think I have a... prophecy?”

  “A prophecy from who?”

  “From Rose,” he said, his voice suddenly thick with emotion. “She came to me when I was dying.”

  Xavier’s eyes took on a distant look, seeing something beyond the walls of our home. “I was bleeding out in the forest after escaping Grayson, from the Hyenas.”

  I saw his expression darken at the memory. I had to keep it together. “Let him finish.” I repeatedly told myself.

  That’s when I heard her voice dad; singing that song she used to sing when we worked in the garden.” His fingers trembled slightly on the beer bottle. “A song only she and I knew.”

  I watched his face carefully. Rose Martinez had been Xavier’s anchor in the apocalypse; his reason to keep fighting when everything else had fallen apart. They’d planned to marry after the final wave. Her death two years into The Fall had nearly broken him.

  “At first, I thought I was hallucinating,” he continued. “But she knew things, Dad. She knew about conversations we’d had that no one else heard. She even...” his voice caught, “she even wore the promise ring I gave her the day before she died.”

  We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of his words hanging between us.

  “I know how it sounds,” he finally said. “But it wasn’t my mind creating what I wanted to see dad…It was really her, somehow.”

  I reached for the beers, handing him one. “In a world where we can manipulate light with our minds and transfer knowledge through touch, I think we’ve moved beyond impossible, son.”

  Our bottles clinked together in a toast to the absurdity of our reality. The beer tasted especially good; another simple pleasure once taken for granted.

  After a long pull from his bottle, Xavier’s expression grew solemn. “She had a message specifically for you, Dad. At least I think it is, I don’t know whoever else it could be for.”

  His eyes locked with mine. “She said: ‘Points are still accumulating, contracts are still valid, and they are still watching us. Make sure the Archon knows this as soon as possible. His class is the key to the future of Humanity.”

  The word “Archon” sent a cold pulse through my veins. That title…my class; according to Lilith it shouldn’t be known to anyone but me.

  “Did she say anything else?” I asked, keeping my voice steady.

  Xavier nodded. “She said our timeline isn’t the only one in motion. That choices made now ripple across possibilities we can’t see.” He leaned forward, intensity in his gaze. “Dad, she told me we won’t be able to stop The Fall, but we can change who survives it.”

  I sat back, processing the implications. If our points were still accumulating without access to the status screen, then the rewards should be larger for me after The Fall. The more people I helped with their potential, the more power I would gain.

  But more than that, Rose had somehow known about my contract, about my class. The cosmic game was more complex than I’d imagined.

  “You did good bringing this to me,” I said, patting his shoulder.

  Xavier’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I need to find her, Dad. In this timeline. If her spirit or whatever it was could reach across time to find me, then she’s not just some random person I met after The Fall. We’re connected somehow. I need to find her before everything goes to hell.”

  I recognized the determination in his eyes, the same look Aurora had when she set her mind to something. This wasn’t just about prophecy or preparation anymore. This was about love that had survived death and time itself.

  “I understand,” I said softly. “What do you need from me?”

  “Can I bring her in? To our circle? To know what’s coming?” The question came in a rush of barely contained hope and fear.

  I considered the request carefully. Adding more people increased our risk of exposure, but Xavier’s judgment had always been sound, even before he gained the weight of his other life’s experiences.

  “Bring her to me tomorrow,” I said finally. “But understand the weight you’ll bear, son. Once you restore someone’s memories, or tell them what’s coming, you’re taking away their innocence. There’s no going back.”

  Xavier nodded solemnly. “I know. But if I don’t tell her, I’d be taking away her choice. Her chance to prepare. I can’t do that, not to her.”

  We embraced, and I was proud of the man he had become. He was no longer the carefree boy of this timeline nor the hardened survivor of the last, but something new forged from both experiences.

  “Get some rest,” I told him. “Tomorrow will come soon enough.”

  As he left, I could see the battle of emotions on his face; fear tempered with hope, determination shadowed by doubt. I recognized those feelings all too well.

  “Goodnight, son. Love ya.”

  “Love you too, Dad.”

  As sleep began to overtake me from the constant and new uses of my limited mana pool, my thoughts drifted to the one word I had dodged discussing with my son.

  “Archon,” I whispered as consciousness slipped away.