Whistle. "Only Artonans can be wizards, though, I thought?"

"That's what they want everyone to think. I'm not sure it's absolutely true, but nobody I know who tried to learn it got anywhere. They clam up real good if you ask them about it, too. I was more making the point that you can earn extra youth by impressing Artonans, if that's your goal. And even if it sounds selfish, time is a lever."

"Oh, gotcha. I don't know how to impress Artonans, though. I don't know if they'll ever want to summon me with my oddball Skill, and if they just want me for my heap of stat points surely I'd also need to learn some less-oddball non-capitalized skills to go with them."

"Yeah, that's the thing isn't it? It's not impossible. Resistance skills are weird, especially. If you decide you want to go on a track to getting summoned and working with Artonans I'll write up stuff for that. If you decide you want to train your talents as much as possible it's a slightly different plan. If you decide to say screw it and start some sort of charity- Difficult, but I can work with that too. I just... Make sure it's a path you like, would be my advice. Something that brings you joy. I've seen too many kids destroy themselves a bit trying to be some imaginary version of themselves who's a superhero or a genius Wright."

"Well, I definitely don't want to be a superhero. Not that I can't see the appeal but the numbers don't work for me. What's getting summoned like, what are Artonans like when they're at home?"

Neha taps the side of her chair.

"...They're mostly just people. They have personalities, hobbies, preconceptions, and expectations. Some are nice. Some are jerks. There's a lot of culture I can't sum up in a sentence but under it all they're people. For me, getting summoned has long since turned into a core part of my life. I'm not sure I still have the new Avowed perspective at all. I get the call, i get teleported, I get told what to do, and I do it. Professional and polite. There's room for exploring or joking around and friendships, even with Artonans, but it's a job first."

"What kind of range is there in your jobs - I know mine would be different but just for a loose sense?"

"Rabbit skills are all domestically inclined. The Artonans actually keep me busy because I've spent a long time building myself up. I'm on a month-long vacation from that right now, just long enough to do a batch of intake- Which is probably my favorite job. Most of the time I'm doing office work. My S-rank skill is all in here." She taps her head. "Locate Resources. Subtle, right? But very strong. Plus some other talents to help tune the results to the summoner's needs. So a lot of office work, managing people, pulling supply lists, instructions, and schedules out of the blue for them."

"Locate... resources... gosh, it sounds like a cheat in a computer game, that sounds really cool! Does it work outside officey contexts? Are you a metal detector and amazing to have along at the thrift store too?"

"Aren't all powers cheats on the game of reality? And anything ranked S had better be solid, right? I've had it for so long that I have a sort of feel. Different skills have different amounts of play in them, but the good ones respond to your focus and practice. It works best with... Institutions. Data that's in a computer somewhere, bureaucracies that can be managed and poked into shape. Schedules. Offices. Forms. Permits or allowances or scholarships that are theoretically available but have annoying hoops to jump through. I think it has something to do with magical symbolism. I find magically useful endangered animals for wizards sometimes. There are reserves with a really long wait list for a hunting license and the like. Thrift stores, yes, absolutely. And it's good for class trading or trying to buy or sell something really niche. Sometimes even for finding people who'd make good friends or coworkers or contacts, but that's really unreliable. And I can't actually run it constantly."

"I would like to be able to run mine constantly, especially if I can't get an upgrade that makes it turn on when I need it. - can I see if it confuses yours? It probably doesn't but I'm curious."

"I have no idea if you'll be able to run it constantly. Skills definitely fatigue faster if they're under strain- If you get mentally attacked a lot or by really strong people, it'll eventually quit on you. As for trying it with me, sure. Say when."

Go go gadget skill activation?

There is a handy little mental button for it. When she tries to do the thing, she does a thing. A little shield icon appears on the corner of her interface.

Oh, convenient. "When!"

"Okay. I'm targeting you with summoner-customizing stuff. There's a few."

Neha flashes blue at various brightnesses. Bella can feel a bit - shoved in the head - in time with each one.

"-Huh. It's counting a lot of edge cases. Neat! What if I just look at your body's needs... That one worked. That chair's bad for you."

"Whoa, I felt that, that's interesting! What kinds of edge cases - what's wrong with the chair, are they all the same or can I swap with one in another apartment?"

"Back support. And sure, or I can scare something up from Facilities. It's keeping me from telling what annoys you about this room even though I get the kinesthetic power-sense that one's about the room, what kind of food you would like and would be good for you, whether you're a good fit with your roommate, how much attention you're paying to me and how interruptible you are, and the sense I'm getting of whether a hypothetical schedule would work for you is weirdly tentative. That's really neat! I wonder if you can let certain things through while the skill is up."

"Maybe, do you wanna try one of those again and I'll try to see if I can detect what it is and decide to let it in?"

"Okay. I'm going to do the nutrition one. Three... Two..."

It's fine with her if Neha knows what Elisabel likes to eat!

Neha flashes blue and Bella is poked-in-the-head.

"Maybe you have to let things through by person and not by kind of effect? Like, your power can't tell what I was trying to do and was suspicious of it?"

"Maybe. I saw you glow blue for a second."

"That's probably a System assist... Well, I'm sure many of your new neighbors would be interested in helping you test it out- Maybe even the Sways, but ask me for an intro for that one please- But I'd like to refocus on your goals so I can prepare a few recommendations for once you settle in."

"Makes sense. Uh, I'm smart and learn fast, I know some wordchains..."