It's like winning the lottery, they said. Smart people don't play the lottery, they said. Focus on other things, on the life you are almost guaranteed to have without ever getting your hands on powers other than wordchains, they said, neither you nor anybody you know will ever -

When Elisabel was in elementary school she read the whole contract, a children's annotated version but the whole thing. It seemed pretty reasonable to her at the time. If she were a rich powerful magical interstellar civilization that was nonetheless not completely past the need for imported labor she'd probably do something more or less along the same lines, with, like, slightly more optionality but she can think of some arguments a reasonable person might construe as justification for doing it this way instead and for all she knows they have those arguments on various Artonas. It's a sweet deal, it screws some people over but even if there's no good reason to screw them over and it's just what made all the rest of the aid package politically realistic for the Artonans back home it maths out pretty well, and if she hadn't decided it was stupid to dwell on wanting powers, she'd, yeah, have absolutely fucking wanted powers with all her heart, and here they are! Apparently! She has won the lottery after spending her whole life responsibly never trying to buy a ticket since they don't even sell those!!!!

It's a good deal. She'll take it.

YES

Thank you for your agreement and welcome to the Contract.

To complete your affixation, please review each of these categories. Any choices may be freely revised until you finalize your affixation. If you do not finalize your affixation within 90 days, it will be finalized automatically.

Skills

Spells

Foundation

Privileges

Finalize Affixation

If she's a Unique there's not going to be much Internet research to do, but it's nice to have the time flexibility. What are her options for Skills?

A winter coat versus moonbouncing. She'll take moonbouncing.

Spells?

She can pick either one D or two F rank spells. There's a pretty expansive list. F rank spells are decidedly unimpressive, like Light Candle. Ds are a lot better, but far from world breaking and many of them consume expensive components.

She wanted would have, if she had been thinking about it, preferred Adjuster. They get better spells. Or at least more of them, you could maybe build up a decent synergy out of these. Are the spells ones other people have gotten before, can she find suggested packages to iterate from if she looks for the more googleable names online?

She seems to have most of the common spells in her list. Adjusters typically get offered more specific, powerful, and synergistic spells based on one's they've previously selected. There are tons of build trees posted for everything from cryomancy to cooking. Only one D or two Fs puts her far behind any Adjuster except F ranks though.

No shit, but if Light Candle and Dry Flower are actually best friends for some reason she wants to know that. Any joy?

Refreshing Mist and Chill Object can ice something over? Glimpse Afar and Mark Stone can give you a way to peek at places you can throw a pebble to? Dry Flower and Light Candle can actually be useful in camping. Apparently wet tinder counts as both flower and candle.

Mark Stone plus Glimpse Afar looks promising, actually! What are their actual textual descriptions?

Mark Stone: A stone you are touching becomes linked to you for several minutes. It is as though you are still touching it.

Glimpse Afar: You receive a brief glimpse of the surroundings of an object you are touching. You remember this glimpse more easily.

Apparently Glimpse Afar was used with long rods or wires before the pebble trick was noticed.

She likes Glimpse Afar, and actually still likes it without Mark Stone. Anything else surprisingly handy like that? Minor teekay? First aid type healing spells? Anything else that affects what she's touching? Notetaking-related utilities?

Slow Bleeding is a D-rank spell impression. Unfold Paper is F. Dry Ink is also F, and is apparently different from Dry Flower. Lots of spells have the 'you are touching' modifier, she may have to be more specific.

She's hoping for something that makes her "touching" a thing she's not touching, like Mark Stone, though she'll just grab Mark Stone if she can't find anything for text search.

Nothing for text search at F or D rank, at least. And she might be out of luck on the touching thing too.

Okay. Tentatively Mark Stone and Glimpse Afar, disappointing though it is to not immediately happen upon an exploit that lets her teleport through walls or something. Foundation is all stat points, she knows how those work and they're not as conceptually exciting though she will certainly appreciate them - Privileges?

Signing Bonus (pick one):

Eight Foundation points

Privilege - 10x Unrestricted Summons Refusal (emergency summons cannot be refused)

Item - Any single item costing 100,000 argold or less from the System Catalogue.

Item - 50,000 argold

Privilege - Improved Fragile Atmosphere - A single-use life-saving spell. Provides a stable and safe environment in which to await rescue for up to one hour.

That's not bad. Or, actually, she has the vague sense that she might be getting lowballed, but they're rich as fuck, so it's not bad.

Can she see the System Catalogue before she affixes?

Sure! There's a LOT of stuff on it. All kinds of enchanted items, from toys to industrial machines to defenses to mobile homes to weapons to enchanted clothing that does stat boosts or activated powers. 100,000 argold will get a Very Fancy car or a hoverbike (with some asterisks on it) or superhero armor with enhanced toughness and stat boosts or magic maid-outfits that are always clean and give different stat boosts or a spear that teleports back to her when thrown (up to twice a day) (and weapons have their own asterisks) or a very very fancy all-in-one kitchen setup or some kind of robot-rigged workbench or magic rings that give her better grip or-

Well, a lot of Stuff is in the catalog. All of it is magic in some way.

Shiny, but there are all those asterisks and life is supposedly pretty cushy on Anesidora even without extra swag. Probably she wants the points. She can earn money the old fashioned way(s).

Now it's time to go fuck with her foundation points till she can cure her dyspraxia and all that good stuff.

Oh, also she should probably tell her parents. She goes and tells Reena before she goes and fucks with her foundation points.

The Foundation Points are pretty standard. She already has a few pre-selected, as all Avowed do. There is plenty of online material about them- You can specialize and apply dexterity specifically to your hands and processing specifically to your proprioception to get better at wordchains, for example. You can opt out of the empathy-enhancing side of Appeal if you like too, and just be prettier.

She has 10 points to distribute, and her presets are:

Sympathy for Magic +0

Processing +0

Appeal +0.5

Agility +1

Dexterity +0.5

Speed +0

Stamina +2

Strength +1

She likes how she looks fine but she will go in and fuck with the details on her already-assigned half-point of Appeal. Does the internet know what Sympathy for Magic actually does? It's obviously not the same thing as being able to learn spells like a wizard, but it's right there.

The internet is pretty sure it mostly makes magic items and tools easier to see and use. It might help you read other people's powers. The exact details are unclear.

Not amazing. Maybe she'll bump it up some if she winds up with magic tools and other people's powers that she's having trouble with.

How many points till her dyspraxia has fucked off forever?

The System chews on that question for a bit and then gives her a window that says: 

2.25 

1.5 Dexterity (specialized), 0.5 Agility (specialized), 0.25 Processing (specialized).

That is a surprisingly complex answer with less weight in Agility than she expected! But she can afford it no problem. Goodbye, dyspraxia.

What've we got in the sub-sub-whatnots of Processing, that looks fun.

Some standout interesting ones include Proprioception (what was suggested for her dyspraxia), Visual Processing, Language Processing, Memory, Social Understanding, Numerical Processing, Kinematics Intuition, Auditory Processing, Task Switching.

Does the internet want to tell her what kinematics intuition is?

It's the thing where you can predict where thrown objects are going to land and also know how to throw them correctly! Some internet nerds are very excited about it and explain it in detail. Animals really have terrible throwing accuracy but humans can, like, play baseball. Kinematics Intuition points also give you the ability to call how dice or coins are going to fall a moment before they do, at high levels, or see intuitively how forces are playing out on bridges and buildings, or exactly how something is about to break if you know what it's made of, or help you 'feel' the flow of cars on a road. Avowed use it for sports, or like, grenades.

Or Marked Rocks?

She can tell she's going to pour a lot of points in here, but if the Internet wants to sell her on speed or agility or dexterity now's the time.

The Internet's Points Against Processing:

1. The System itself tells you too much processing is 'suboptimal', and that 1 point per three months, or less, is best.

2. It doesn't actually make you smarter or more creative, it mostly makes you faster.

3. Some of history's greatest geniuses were absolutely miserable, you know.

Processing certainly has plenty of fans too though.

Does the System care to elaborate for her on why too much processing is suboptimal?

Avowed will see greater overall improvement for the same investment of points in Processing if the points take effect over time. Rapid affixation of Processing can also cause undesirable side-effects in extreme cases.

Side effects like what?

The Contract does not answer her.

Rude?? Like, not wildly more rude than just declining to talk to almost anyone on the planet in the first place, but.

Does the internet know?

The internet has wildly inconsistent information about this subject. The anti-avowed crowd think it turns you into an INSANE MURDERER. The pro-avowed crowd think these people are idiots for ignoring System Warnings. One guy says he insisted on affixing six points of Processing all at once woke up a week later in a House of Healing, missing a bunch of childhood memories and also the ability to sing. He was, though, happy about this, as his parents had tried to murder him for being Avowed.

What the fuck. Okay, she'll go slow on that! She guesses! Does she need to use all her points in affixation or can she save some for Christmas.

You may save up to four Foundation points for later at this time. Additionally, up to four Foundation points may be allocated to Processing to come in over time (over one year), and these do not count against the limit of saved points.

Okay. Two and a quarter points are already eaten up in an anti-dyspraxia effort. She's going to bank four - the folks on Anesidora will be able to give her advice better than the Internet's, probably, especially since she's a U and doesn't even know what she'll be summoned for - and put one in Processing to start and two to grow in later. That leaves her three-quarters of a point to do other things with. She goes and sprinkles that around in dexterity microsubskills that will make her better at writing and typing, and puts a bit in speed so her brain won't wind up outpacing her body too much. Is there, like, a Critique My Build forum anywhere that looks nonfarcical?

There are, with varying levels of seriousness. The most serious ones want a verification of registration at an Anesidoran consulate before letting her sign up.

Right, how long does she have before Australia kicks her out once they know about this? Will she have time to go visit her dad?

Technically she doesn't HAVE to leave until she actually affixes, up to 90 days from now. Internet says that you tend to get bugged, a lot, about how your travel plans to Anesidora are shaping up, though. Maybe even some cops coming to check that there aren't any problems. 

So possibly she wants to be AT Charlie's place when they find out, which would be fine except he lives out by Alice Springs and she doesn't think they even have a consulate. Maybe she should get Charlie to visit her in Sydney. She calls him to arrange this. Then Reena wants her to have dinner, which is reasonable, so she does that, then back to the internet. - oh, the points for her signing bonus are not already incorporated into her available stat boosts, are they. Wow. She's got a lot of them to spend and could really use consultation, yep. Travel to Anesidora is a free teleport, right? She wraps up her affairs here and then poof?

Free teleport from any consulate or other approved spot! If you can't make it to one of those, you can get an escort, just call this hotline! Straight to the Intake Program! Meet new friends and real life heroes! See new places! Learn about Anesidora! If you're worried for your safety as an Avowed, call this hotline!

They have a lot of material dedicated to making Intake seem appealing and easy. The apartments look really swanky.

Ironically that's making her far more concerned that there is something terribly wrong with the place. Her baseline wasn't super high, and it's probably the right marketing call on the whole, but ick.

She'll go to bed and in the morning after breakfast she will let Reena take her to the consulate to register so she can get on a forum and get advice on her ridiculous heap of stat points. Charlie should be over soon.

Once she's ready, the consulate's front desk person has her approve a System request to see her class and rank, and then she is sent to a different person (not the actual Consul still) and there is Glorious Paperwork to fill out! Charlie and/or Reena can come with.

Also: A lot of pamphlets in the waiting room. Going by their tone and subject, a lot of new Avowed are freaked out by having to leave behind everything they know. There's an Anesidora Prep Checklist, and lists of hotlines and information resources, and slightly patronizing 'how to deal with sudden life changes' stuff. There's material on how Intake works (there's a point system with various events and intro classes, and advisors, and some sort of schooling is mandatory until age 20), and what to expect from Anesidora, and how summoning typically works, and all the education options available there, and so on. Also, apparently family visits to Anesidora are restricted for the first few months.

Yeah, okay, she will take pamphlets and stock up on hugs. Are the pamphlets going to say... why... family visits are restricted for the first few months. Like, some people get picked even younger than her, right? This is not the standard age at which human beings fly the nest.

Anesidora believes strongly in creating a clean break and fresh start, so you can make the most of your new life. Frequent visits from friends and family can distract you from settling in! Exceptions can be made for family emergencies.

It's not actually Anesidora's fault that they have had to build a civilization out of exiled teenagers but they are sure leaning into it.

She can get into politics later. Now she needs to get advice from the forums.

The big pinned advice post has this to say:

--This is a forum for discussing skills, talents, spells, equipment and other aspects of your choices as an Avowed. We don't discuss trading or politics here.

--Here is a proposed-build-template-maker plugin! It's handy.

--Here is the Master Link List of Reference Materials

--Everyone should know that what they are accepting from the System, they are permanently making a part of themselves. Choose things that you can actually live with and imagine how you would use it in your daily life as well as in heroing/Avowed work/emergencies. There are lots of stories of "optimal builds" that end in tears because they were poorly thought out or didn't end up working for their owners.

--Keep in mind that the choices you make might make you more or less appealing to be summoned by the Artonans.

--Keep in mind that many powers are restricted in many places, even on Anesidora. Someone with volatile and destructive abilities has a harder time getting travel permits.

--Discussion about the Chainer class is officially banned. It inevitably derails. We don't care. Talk about it somewhere else.

--The Sway Discourse is relegated to the Sways subforum. Bring it up elsewhere at your own peril.

This will handily eat her day so it's a good thing that Reena is letting her cut school about it.

She inputs what she's got so far in the template-maker thing, makes sure she's looked at all the relevant reference materials - is there a list of things that make you more or less appealing for summonses? What's her own personal Unique delay time on answering summonses?

The System tells her she has a minimum of 48 hours to answer non-emergency summons, but some may be issued further in advance, and prompt acceptance may carry bonuses in some cases.

Things that probably make you more appealing for summonses:

Specific wizards knowing about you and looking for you by name (See: Boaters[link]).

Certain classes or skills, especially the Rabbit class, and especially the following list of skills.

Official System-recognized commendations and awards of any kind. Artonans almost never issue empty/pointless awards though, you have to seriously impress them.

Choosing the 'volunteer' option in the system interface for reduced pay (you typically do this to start building up a reputation and contacts list, or gain experience with your talents).

High power rank

Having a non-combat class

Things that might make you more appealing for summonses:

(A whole lot of speculation.)

Okay, so she's a non-combat thingamajig - probably - actually she might be specifically good at apprehending rogue Sways? Sheeeeee should probably read up on the discourse about that before she does something like wear "ask me about apprehending rogue Sways" on her system profile. Skim of the Sway containment zone.

You want to trade Sway for basically anything else unless your lifelong dream was to be Vega from Falling Stars or something. They get treated terribly. (Well, some people think low-rank Meister is just as useless and at least Sways get taken seriously.) They have far more restrictions on their powers than anyone else, even though some guy with super strength could sure punch someone to death just as easy as a Sway could make them jump off a building, maybe easier. On the other hand, mental stuff is creepy and has WAY more potential for subtle bad shit than physical stuff! Mind control is especially evil when it could be subtle and thereby utterly annihilate the social trust and whatnot. On the third, morphed hand peoples' careers have been ruined by false accusations of Sway-hood before - look up Bridgit Fairfax, hero name Morgana, retired 1988 due to persistently low public opinion polls even after she was cleared of Swaying at a sports riot in the process of de-escalating it. On the fourth hand, Sways with specific limited powers can earn a lot of money if they are willing to put up with intrusive verification and the like. The big one is lie detection, but some Sways have also gone in the direction of something like an unofficial Healer of Mind.

The people who have a Sway (Verified) badge in their name seem hesitant to talk about it too much but consistently say that there's a real sense of community among Sways, if only because of the common enemy effect.

Wow. It's not like the Artonans run a central clearinghouse where you can return your Sway assignment if you don't like it, somebody has to be them. Probably she will not be running a one-girl rogue-Sway-apprehension arrangement, especially since she doesn't have lie detection and would just be bringing people in on suspicion or something. What... is she for, then.

She makes a forum post with her fixed characteristics and tentative picks on it and asks if anybody can help her figure out what this power is meant to even do and where her heap of stat points should go.

The posters in this forum are (mostly) helpful and polite!

Wow, Unique! U types are cool!

Oh, U-types are ALWAYS weird. It's really hard to figure out what they're for. Some alternate theories: Maybe some demons are Sways? That's a scary thought. Or maybe there are wizard labs that are mind bending just to exist in, like some kind of nuclear reactor situation.

Forum agrees that Refusal of Gravity is better than the other two combined; It has more potential for constant use and sounds more trainable. 

She gets suggestions for alternate spells to pick- One creates an updraft, maybe she can use a glider with it- But they're kind of stretching.

Someone notes that both her Skills are active, meaning that she should look for some way of alerting herself to things before she needs the mind shield. Maybe a warning will be available on a level up, or grow out of Fortress of Mind as an upgrade? Lots of Shaper skills turn into fractal upgrade flowers like that.

People suggest a fairly even spread of Foundation points if you don't know what you're going to do in the future. Strength and Stamina and Agility are all good for general health.

Whoa, mindbending magical reactors sound strangely cool actually.

Some kind of warning would be good, she makes a note to keep an eye out when she gets level-up options.

What stats will be best for navigating by moonbounce? Probably mostly Agility but she was surprised by the distribution to nix her dyspraxia.

It kind of makes sense? Agility tends to go towards improving muscles and tendons and flexibility, dexterity more specifically towards control. Ballet dancers and gymnasts need DEX more than AGI- Soccer players or pole vaulters the reverse.

Oh, huh. Are there any stats that are like Processing in that you don't want to whack them too high all at once or is that one special?

It's considered best practice to do them a bit at a time (like, four at a time at most) and get used to it, but Processing is the only one the system actively waves you away from blasting all at once.

Okay. With eighteen points to add on top of her presets...

Processing got none as a preset but it gets +1.25 (with the .25 being antidyspraxia specialized and the 1 spread out), plus four scheduled to come in over the next year. Appeal can sit at .5 minus the don't-fuck-with-her-brain parts. Agility gets the dyspraxia extra half point on top of the preset one. Dexterity has half a point out of the box and she'll stick three on top including the dyspraxia stuff. Two to speed. One and a quarter to stamina on top of her two default, maybe she'll be able to leap small buildings in a single bound with the moonbounce skill. Two strength on top of her one default. Four in the bank. That's eighteen. What does the forum think?

Does she want to try to be summoned often? If so, more Appeal and some Sympathy for Magic help with that. As a starting point it's probably fine if it sounds comfortable to her. You don't really ever need more than ten or so in the really physical stats unless you want to be a hero, but she has a lot of points to throw around even before the signing bonus. They might come slower in future. Saving some is a good idea, the System doesn't always let you do that.

Does anyone on the forum want to make a case for Sympathy for Magic? She has heard it doesn't help with wordchains or spells or anything and mostly just makes magic swag a little more user-friendly or something but maybe it lets you sense wizards in action or... something?

Doing work for the Artonans sometimes involves a LOT of interacting with magic swag. It gets kind of essential if you can't remember where 30 unmarked buttons on mystery magic appliances are. It is pretty niche though. Most people don't get much, just a point or two for convenience. 

Eh, she has banked points if she decides she needs supernatural button-identification help.

Oh, speaking of summonses, she knows it's expensive to do System calls between planets, but does anyone carry hard copies (possibly of digital content, like, a USB stick) to and fro, is that a thing?

This forum is pretty harsh about staying on topic but yeah! Long term stays are much improved by someone bringing a laptop with a buncha movies. More info on this other forum about dealing-with-summons tactics.

She will go make an account on the other forum, sure. She's not so much thinking about entertainment while on summon, though, she's thinking about correspondence and trade. She's never seen, say, an Artonan movie. Why not?

Artonan film is... Really weird??

The go-to example is a coming-of-age type movie where the hero achieves his dreams of heroic importance but ends up utterly miserable, and the lesson is that he should have just stayed on his bean farm and been thankful for a peaceful life. This is one of the more comprehensible ones.

Well, anime is weird until you get used to it, too. And summonses would be less onerous if it were easier for people to have, like, Artonan pen pal, classified ads, that kind of thing. There should be more correspondence is her point.

The System seems to default to keeping secrets, when it can. And talking to random Artonans won't get you anywhere, it's the wizards you have to make nice to if you want the shinies. They consider non-wizard Artonans second-class compared to Avowed, you know! Well, sort of. Things Artonans say about Avowed conflict a lot: That they're blessings from the universe, that they're immature and in need of guidance, that they're honorable for their sacrifices...

The Artonans should have stayed away from Earth entirely, one person opines. Her forum thread threatens to derail quickly after that.

Does she have moderation powers or is it a loss?

She can report him and threadban, as thread creator at least.

That's good enough, yeah. She'll post a chirpy little admonishment about how this is not the place to argue about space colonialism, it's about interplanetary correspondence! She wants media and pen pals on other resource worlds too!

This sort of thing is mostly put off by the transaction costs, and also Artonans' general hard-to-describe hesitancy around Avowed. The other aliens are even harder to get into contact with.

She should try getting a Griveck as a pen-pal. That would be funny.

Maybe she will!

When she decides she has milked enough use out of the forum she goes on her last hurrah of Australia with Reena. Even if she affixes on the sly there's not time to learn to surf, but they can hit Dreamworld and the zoo and stuff like that in a whirlwind week punctuated by quiet evenings with Charlie.

And then she presents herself at the consulate to be zhooped over to intake.

Her System interface counts down to zero once she accepts the teleport, and then she is in a small chamber- With nice trimmings- But closed, metal walls all around.

"Welcome to Anesidora, miss Swan!" A speaker announces. "I see it's your first time here, and you're heading to intake. Congrats or condolences, as desired! Now I know it's a bad first impression, but everyone entering Anesidora must either consent to a security scan for contraband, or request an in-person evaluation instead."

"Just like, you're making sure i didn't accidentally bring vodka? Scan away."

"Precisely. One second... You're good now, thanks for the cooperation!"

The steel door slides open, revealing a spacious atrium, with a few other people walking to the right. 

"Can you head down to the customs office at the end of the hall? Green door. We have a few things to get sorted out before you can head down to Intake."

Yeah, okay. She wants to be somewhere safe when she affixes in case she faints, so she just walks at her accustomed pace down the hall to the green door. Hopefully there's not a line.

No line! Just a bored middle-aged man at a desk.

As journeys through the cogs of bureaucracy go, it's fairly painless. Ten minutes, really.

Present Australian ID. Sign here. Stamp. Consent to pulling medical records so they know she's up to date on vaccines and the like. Sign here. Consent to a partial System profile pull, or fill out a long boring questionnaire. Sign here. Acknowledge that you've read and understand the Anesidoran law primer. Sign here. Receive passport and Intake Papers (both in the System and as physical documents). Be wished a lovely day and told to go with the nice man who showed up a couple of minutes ago for a taxi ride to Intake.

They are really trying their best with the teenage refugee thing.

Into the taxi with her.

Driver helps with her luggage. He, like a lot of people, has a System nametag over his head in her vision. [Samedi - Intake Driver]

"Hey, good afternoon. I'm basically an errand-runner for Intake. Whatever you kiddos need. It's going to be about half an hour driving. Feel free to ask any questions you have- 'Bout intake, life on the island, whatever."

"That's a weirdly long drive, why isn't there a closer teleportation spot?"

"The teleportation complex is the only major transfer center on Anesidora. A few people have private pads- Hero teams, important public figures, and the Artonan ambassador. The houses of healing. But for most people, it's the main complex. Mostly a security thing as far as I understand? And it's not like Anesidora is tiny either!"

"It looks pretty tiny on maps, but fair enough! I haven't affixed yet because I wanted to be sure I was on something soft if I fainted, is here good or should I wait till I'm in my room?"

"Huh, I was wondering why you had a squishy warning. I think it's fine? You wanna be sitting down for it, but, yeah."

"I'm sitting down! I'm buckled up! Here goes nothing."

Everything where she expects it to be? Good.

Finalize affixation.

She is in a white place. Featureless, but oddly un-dreamlike. Some people get System visions when they affix, it's a known factor. They mostly don't remember much of it, going from anecdotes.

There's some sort of pressure in here. It's a little uncomfortable, but not in any sensible way.

A blue window appears before her.

Hello, Isabella.

I am the entity known to you as the System. Due to your Unique Class, your affixation is more complex than average and your awareness during affixation is necessary. I usually help Avowed experience this process as this a virtual reality scene generated based on their memories, but my guess was that you would not prefer that.

More of the Contract's attention is focused here than usual. If you have questions for me, now is the time to ask them. I do not promise to answer, but I promise on the Interdimensional Warriors Contract to not lie.

Whoa.

"Why did I get a Unique Class?"

Before telling you this information, I would require you to agree to not reveal it to other people without the System's permission, with penalties to be assessed if you deliberately or carelessly do so.

"...why?"

I am responsible for an entire planet, and my actions affect the entire universe. Information is a weapon. I can assess that you are likely to keep secrets if you see the importance of doing so, but not whether you will consider my reasons sufficient on their own. I am weighing the certainty of a small gain for you against a tiny chance of great harm to others.

"Are you reading my mind?"

I am slightly reading your mind, in order to perform affixation safely. An automated system is reporting some summarized aspects of your mental state to other automated systems, which are operating this conversation and performing the affixation.

Without this information, affixation has an unacceptable risk of failure. Records of your mind will be deleted after affixation. However, though I use first person pronouns, the System is not best described as a person.

"I guess that's okay... what kind of penalties to be assessed are we talking about and can you say anything more about your reasons for keeping this secret to begin with?"

Possible penalties include additional information restrictions going forward, loss of non-emergency teleportation privileges, lowered summons rewards, and loss of System Shop privileges. The most likely case would be additional information restrictions.

Certain interpretations of the secret may do great harm to the public perception and esteem of Unique Classes.

"I have not actually had the impression that you cared about your PR much. - do I have non-emergency teleportation privileges?"

I care about PR less than I care about other objectives, but it remains a factor.

Yes. Avowed may request delivery to any location on Earth when returning from assignment. Avowed may also request instant teleport-based delivery of System Shop items. These privileges can be revoked.

Approaching 1/3 completion of affixation.

"Huh. Uh, I will do my best to keep your secret assuming it's not blatantly horrible or something."

'Assuming it's not blatantly horrible' is not, actually, sufficient, but the gestalt confidence level for secrecy reported by the affixation monitor is sufficient.

Unique Classes can be considered extreme outliers. The property of Avowed which allows affixation of powers is not a simple number, and sometimes it can be, for lack of a better word, biased and unstable. In some cases instability can result in the painful death of the Avowed in question, as well as uncontrolled manifestation of powers, among other negative outcomes.

Unique Classes are designed to work with the bias and create stability, while also creating a set of powers that are at least marginally useful to the bearer, and secondarily, to Earth and to the Triplanets.

In your case, your stability is high, but your bias is very strong. It makes you unsuitable for most Classes. I decided not to deny you the opportunity other potential Avowed receive and arranged for the design of a Unique Class for you to affix if you accepted the Contract.

"Why didn't the instability thing ever happen before the Artonans found Earth, then?"

I'm sorry, but I will not answer that question.

"Gosh. Okay. Well, I do like my Skill, and am glad I'm not exploding or anything, and I guess I will go along with your model of the PR consequences. Anything else I should know about my class besides that it's working with some kind of magical bias I have?"

You may request features of future skills offered for affixation. However, there is no guarantee they will actually be offered.

"Well, I'd like some kind of warning when I'm going to need my Fortress skill operative, for one."

Request noted.

Affixation 2/3 complete.

"What are my level-ups going to be like in general? Will I get more spells, for instance?"

Do you want more spells?

You are likely to receive mostly Foundation points, skills, and skill upgrades. Spell impressions are moderately incompatible with your bias.

"Huh. I mean, most spells at the rank I was offered aren't great, I guess. Why are they incompatible?"

I don't think I can answer in a way you understand that would not be a lie or breach secrets. Spell impressions are very different from Skills 'under the hood'.

"What about wordchains? I know I'm not a Chainer but like if I just learn them extracurricularly are they in conflict."

Wordchains are just as different from spells as skills are. You may use them without worry.

"Okay... is it a coincidence that I do really like my primary skill or is that related to how I'm biased?"

That is unknown and debated even to those wizards who study such things.

"Are they gonna wanna study me, will I get research-subject summonses?"

Unlikely. The ethical constraints built into the Contract to prevent abuse forbid invasive study. They will have to convince you to volunteer or content themselves with passive data from skill use.

Affixation is almost complete.

"I wasn't imagining invasive research! - who's getting passive data about my skill use, what do they get about it."

The System throws up a section of the full text of the Interdimensional Warriors Contract.

TL;DR: The System monitors the strength and growth of skills and other magical features of Avowed and records data about their effects on the world, in order to better match summoners to summonees, prioritize emergency responses, and know when and how to affix new features. Only "Knights", "Honored" wizards of high rank, or "Arbitrators", have any ability to look at the raw data of exact times and circumstances powers were used, rather than the summarized profile that merely describes capabilities, and only if they have a reason, and the reason is recorded.

"Can I access those records?"

Yes.

Affixation is now complete. You will lose awareness of this scene momentarily. 

Thank you for your future service.

And she is in the taxi again. They appear to be on an enormous bridge. The Contract section is still up, and she has a new interface button - Activity Records

"Whoo! How long was I out?"

"About five minutes! Feeling alright? Please don't do whatever you do in here if it's flashy."

"I feel fine, and it's not at all, I'm very defense-oriented plus I can moon walk which I can't try very well with a seatbelt on."

"Huh. Well, congrats! You might want to set your name tag. What's your class anyway? I just get told 'fetch them for Intake'."

"I'm a unique!" What's the driver's nametag say, so she can copy the style?

It used to say [Samedi - Intake Driver]. Now it reads [Samedi - Intake Staff - Brute - D]

"Cool! I jope you'll like the Rabbit building- Uniques are rare, so they get shooed in there."

"Rabbits sound like good neighbors to me."

[Elisabel - Unique A]

"Yeah. There's a lot of cultural norms to absorb but Rabbits have very good-neighbor ones. Very friendly and helpful and outgoing. A lot of them get summoned even before they leave Intake. There's a tradition called Spree Day, where Rabbits hold a huge, expensive party. Lots of gifts, lots of food. Kind of conspicuous consumption, but they get a little looked down on so I think it's fine, personally."

"There's so much politics about classes! What am I looking at as a U-type?"

"Hmm... Jealousy. A little bit of isolation maybe, just because of not having class solidarity. U types are always strong and weird. Speculation and brainstorming about your skills. Maybe an expectation that you'll show off but that's kind of everyone above a C."

"I did get a bunch of stat points, I could take up parkour or something."

"If anyone wants to watch you get hit and not get hurt or something screw them yeah."

"Is that common? Yikes."

"It's... Not unheard of especially among brutes and meisters."

"All fun and games till somebody loses an eye."

"Regrettably, occasionally literally. We try our best to keep it down but some people are just that determined to be reckless. And ultimately, Intake is to orient you, not baby you. Swimming in the ocean at night, jumping from buildings because the System says they can withstand it, trying parkour or rock climbing or fighting with real weapons without the fancy safety setups CNH has... Making Wright-stuff outside of a hot lab..."

"Good to know there are designated parkour zones, at least."

"There are gyms for it. Varying levels of fancy, from just really fancy padding to magic fall arresters and protective suits and stuff. Kind of expensive once you get really superhuman, but Avowed at that level can afford it."

"What's the price range look like for Intake newbies?"

"You mentioned moonjumping? Low-grade movement powers... Probably like thirty argold a month if you just want somewhere to bounce around safely? But I wouldn't want to say for certain without seeing it in action."

"And I get a stipend, right? I have no idea what my summons situation is going to look like and I'm supposed to be in school for the next five years, so."

"Yeah, students get a stipend and living expenses. I think the basic government assistance is free housing, cafeteria, and fifty argold a month? Also, there's a resettlement fund that most Avowed qualify for."

"Yay. Consolation for Australia exiling me."

"...Yeah. You wanna get into that now, or nah?"

"Eh, as you prefer."

"Not, then."

"Sights you recommend I see, or anything? Restaurants?"

"You might have to give me a category or I'll just list my favorites. There's way too much. Everyone trying to keep busy and all. You'll probably get a lot of flyers- There's a pretty good no System spam mail norm, so the spam becomes physical instead. But it's decent at showing you options."

"Flyers, okay. I like Chinese food?"

Samedi hems and haws for a bit before suggesting three places- One cheap, one 'western Chinese food' and one traditional Chinese. He really likes a certain kind of soup at the last place, apparently.

"Thanks!" Can she notes-to-self in the System or is it only for communications to others?

The System has a private notes function if she asks for one.

She puts restaurants in it. Are they there yet?

Not quite! They're off the highway and going through semi-suburby areas now. Three and four story apartment buildings, lots of green spaces and parks, with shops interspersed. Traffic is fairly light, and it looks like a lot of the streets are pedestrian-priority.

"I want to suggest going to a gym and getting used to what your Foundation points do," Samedi says when she seems to be done. "There's a big shared gym facility for Intake between the Brute and Meister buildings. Pool, running track, weights and cardio machines. I bet you can get permission to moonbounce there, now that I think of it, it's just you won't be in Intake forever."

"I should take advantage while I can, then. How can I tell where the places marked for no power use are, and can I just run as fast as feels safe to me anywhere else, or?"

"The System signposts them really strongly, and there are physical signs too. There are speedster lanes in Apex, but not really in F City. Down here in F City, keep big flashy powers like throwing boulders around down unless an area says its okay, like the Sandbox we have for Shapers to play around in. Or, well, it's kind of context dependent."

They turn.

"End of this road and we're there!"

"I appreciate the ride, thank you!"

"Your daytime intake counselor is called Neha, she knows what's up. I'm sure you'll hear from her soon. You should be getting your room assignment any second now, and the door locks are System-integrated so they'll open for you."

Samedi pulls up to a particular apartment tower. One side faces the ocean, and there's a beach just beyond. He gets out and unloads her luggage from the taxi's trunk, then offers a handshake.

A beach! Maybe she will learn to surf after all. Shake shake.

To the building go her and her rolly suitcase.

There's a polite security person and an atrium and an elevator bank and signs to ground-floor facilities like counselor offices and a pool and a copy center, and a couple of Fellow Teens leaning against a wall arguing about which restaurant to go to in French and looking like they're considering coming to say hi. The System gives her subtitles. Her room is apparently 1803. Top floor.

Little wave to the French kids?

[Jean - Meister of Rifles] and [Camille - Wright - C] wave and approach!

<Hello, new neighbor!>

<Yes, hello! We were not so different from you one week ago!>

"Hi! Nice to meet you."

<Yes yes. Always with the nice meetings.> Jean says.

Camille elbows him. <Ignore him. Will you perhaps be a tie breaker for us? We are friends, but-> A shrug. <Do not agree. Maybe we also invite you along, our treat. To lunch.>

"- sure, though I'll want to put down my suitcase first!"

<Of course!>

<Naturally.>

<Don't feel pressured to come. If you must settle in, needs must. That said, Hawaiian food or classic French bakery-cafe?>

"Ooh, good question. I'm leaning bakery-cafe personally at this moment."

 Jean sighs in defeat. Camille pats his arm.

<Thank you for letting us welcome you, Elisabel! The place I have in mind is just a few minutes by bus, so we will wait here for you. Feel free to ask us me any questions you have after you deposit your luggage. I am trying to make the most of my Intake period.>

<Don't let her pressure you into overworking if you're not a studying addict.>

"I do like studying but only if it's the right things!" And she wheels her luggage to the elevator.

<We'll wait here.>

Her floor seems to be mostly empty! Aside from this one guy reading a book in a sort of common area. He has bright purple hair and eyes and no nametag.

...probably if he wanted to be talked to he'd have a nametag and maybe not be reading a book. She leaves him be and goes to put her suitcase in her dorm.

The French duo are still on the first floor. They will banter with each other while showing her to the bus stop. It seems they knew each other tangentially before both being selected around the same time, and have mixed feelings about now being entangled with each others' everything. Camille, the Wright, also thinks she's going to make it big in the Wright-equipment secondary market, fixing used magic stuff. Meanwhile Jean is interested in medical school.

"I was probably going to wind up in medical school if I hadn't been selected but who knows what I'll decide makes sense now."

<Powers sure do change a lot for those lucky enough to get the good ones. At least I have foundation points for steady hands. Unique, eh? What is that like?>

"Saved me a lot of dithering, since I couldn't trade it. Also had a non-negotiable skill come with it, mental defense thing. Somebody on the internet thought maybe there were magical reactors in space that were mind-bending to be near and I could have a future repairing those but I think they were making that up."

<...That is a point. At least most of us have the chance to trade.>

<I have heard of wizards who study demons and chaos. Only the fact that they exist, not anything about how they work, though.>

Bus is here! A bunch of people get off. They get on. You don't have to show a pass or anything.

The transit is public as in library! Cool. On the bus with her. Does she actually feel different with the stat points installed when she's not actually trying to do anything special?

She absolutely feels different. There's a lightness and ease to moving around that simply wasn't present before- The stamina and strength seem to be helping more than dexterity or speed, at least when just walking around. And she hasn't threatened to trip even once so far.

Jean looks at her getting on the bus a bit strangely, then nods. <Oh, right. You probably just affixed. You can kinda tell you're getting used to the stats. Also- You have a bunch. A rank, eh.>

"It's a lot, yeah, the System actually let me bank some for later so it'd be a less huge adjustment but I'm really glad I don't have dyspraxia any more!"

<Dyspraxia? If anything would be an instant solution, dexterity weould. I think I like you because you seem to have avoided wasting it on Appeal.>

<Appeal is not a waste, Jean. Empathy is a real skill, and however much you disdain it people do treat you differently based on your appearance. It is the way the world works.>

<I'm going for the cranky surgeon archetype. Or maybe I will wash out of medical school and become a store clerk.>

Camille huffs.

"I didn't really want to have anything mess with my mind and was fine with how I looked, so yeah, I am only as appealing as I was last week."

<Just out of curiosity and not criticism, did you review exactly what the mental effects of Appeal are before rejecting them?>

"Cursorily but it makes less difference to me than you might expect. I can buy in later if I change my mind."

<I suppose. You don't get whatever fraction of a point back, though.>

<I don't think most people want to optimize every facet of their lives, Camille.>

"I might like to but not with mind control!"

<It's not- They're entirely new pathways, new neurons, like a little bit of bonus specialized Processing!>

<Peace, peace. Stop after next is ours.>

<Fine. I will be quiet.>

"I would actually be interested to hear about it but it's certainly not urgent."

This is a good way to get an amateur neuroscience lecture from Camille. Apparently Processing and to a lesser extent other Foundations make neurons measurably faster/more resilient/more active, and there's a lot of medical study on just what Foundation points are and how they work.

They get off the bus. The cafe is right there by the stop, all brightly painted awnings and smell of fresh coffee and croissants in the air. Signs are in French and Chinese, with more System translation.

Huh, maybe she'll be able to actually learn to read more than a couple hundred characters of Chinese if she tries it with live translation and bonus Processing. School wasn't very good at that.

The place is counter-service with cutesy themed dishes and mugs. Everything smells delicious. Her new friends repeat that it's their treat, and order two bagels, a chocolate croissant, a slice of lemon cake, and two custom coffee orders for themselves.

<You have to appreciate little things.> Jean insists. <For all that I wanted a different place... The smell of fresh bread and the pleasant chatter of conversation on a warm day. It's good.>

She'll take a baguette sandwich and a giant double chocolate muffin and an iced tea. "It's so atmospheric, I love the dishes."

<The owner designs them all, you know? I had to ask her where she got them, and it's one of the pottery places in> "Boomtown"* <-So they're wrightwork, just a little bit, for being fired in a magic kiln, at least.>

*This one word is said in English, and untranslated

"Does that imply anything about the finished products, particularly, or does it just make the firing process better in whatever way?"

<The glaze is one that wouldn't normally work. It has antimicrobial properties!>

"Oh, cool. Going for an A plus from the health department."

<Copper nanoparticles! I am, I will proudly admit, a bit of a nerd. I don't think there are any Wrights who aren't, because of the trade system.>

Jean sighs. <Yes, yes, the trades. Everyone wants the good classes, and there are not enough of them to go around.>

<We've talked this to death, Jean...>

<It's the natural right of the French to complain. I'm done now.>

"I didn't touch the trade system, obviously, I assume it's vicious - I wish they'd let us trade on an interplanetary basis."

<It's vicious. I ended up paying eight thousand Euro to get Meister at all- And it's of rifles, not knives like I wanted. Surgeon, you know.>

<The Avowed Council gets into arguments with the ambassador all the time about class distribution and talents. They've been pushing for new-model Sways for decades.>

"Are those arguments on public record? I'd be so curious."

"Oui." <Partially at least. Let me send you a link...>

A moment later, it comes through as a new message on her system window. Camille eats lemon cake slowly, savoring it.

"Thanks!" Is there like file storage or something where she can stow that, she doesn't want to watch ambassadorial debates right now while trying to make friends.

The System has not lost track of any of her messages so far. There's also a notes feature.

<It's politics, so don't expect bastions of sanity, rationality, and morality,> Jean opines. <I'm surprised they didn't kick Aulia Velra off the Council sooner than the Gloss thing...>

"Gloss thing?"

<They did a monstrously strong, fate-bending luck wordchain of some sort and spread it across their whole family. When you look at the aftermath, that screwed a lot of things up for a lot of people- From dropping fresh muffins in a Velra's lap to political opponent's secrets being revealed. One of the Velra boys' schoolyard rival broke his leg, and it's all being blamed on the Gloss. This was... A month ago, I think?>

<Yes, just after we arrived at Intake. It didn't affect us personally but it's all anyone would talk about for a few days.>

"That's awful! Why did they do that?"

<Who knows? They're certainly doing their best to keep things quiet. That's what the Velras do. Rich people things, keep it hush-hush. Probably they had to impress some important wizard from the Triplanets and had to be in top form for it. Something like that.>

Camille purses her lips. <I think it has something to do with Hazel Velra. She was going to be stuck without Chainer unless they did it, I heard. That this poor boy got bamboozled into giving up the class in a trade to them at a funeral. It's just rumors, but that's the one that seems the best supported to me... Or maybe there were multiple reasons. Who knows, really.>

"Messed up! And they'd've had to pay it back, too, what'd they call down, a meteor?"

<Their yacht nearly sank. Car crashes. One of them flunked a test, apparently. Aulia getting booted from the council, maybe? It's hard to pick apart the general backlash and actual bad luck.>

"I guess it would be. Was this not... illegal?"

<Wordchains, being illegal? When a Velra is on the Council?>

<It is now, of course. They drafted new legislation about it, but it's being challenged by guess who.>

"I guess I was imagining it was legal in some more minor form."

<I think they're mostly moving to classify wordchains as just like any other potentially-destructive power now. Before, everyone thought they were too weak to merit that.>

"The ones they teach at the embassy are weaksauce, yeah."

<I only know Peace of Mind.> Camille shares her head. <So much else to do and learn...>

<I'm trying to learn Traveller's Pace but it's not going well.>

"I'm glad Peace of Mind exists for people who need it but it kind of freaks me out. Traveller's Pace was really handy when I still had dyspraxia, though I imagine I'll have less call for it going forward."

<Maybe you can tell me what I'm doing wrong?>

He switches to Artonan and does the hand gestures.

<Today, I am walking far. Let me borrow another's patient pace. I shall one day offer the gift of my own feet's ability in return.>

(He seems to have learned the gestures subtly wrong.)

"I think your pronunciation's close enough but your pinky's following your ring finger too much." She demonstrates the hand gestures.

He watches carefully, then attempts it. Too slow, but correct aside from that. 

<Like this? I don't know how people without Dexterity do this.>

"I think if you do it like that till you're solid enough and then speed up you'll be all set - it takes practice and weird hand exercises, our hand muscles aren't exactly like theirs, but it's doable!"

The French pair will keep chatting about shallow topics for the remainder of the meal, wandering from Intake gossip to the coolest power demos they've seen this week to debating what class famous historical figures would have gone for. Is there anything in particular Bella wants to talk about?

Gossip and random speculation is great, it helps her feel like this is a normal situation she is in. After they bus back she'll go up to her room to unpack.

Purple Guy is still there, on a laptop with headphones this time. One eye tracks her while the other keeps watching the laptop. He gives a hesitant little wave.

Wait, literally? Does he have some kind of Artonan eyeball mod?

Apparently, yeah. He notices he's doing it, blinks, grimaces, and looks at her with both eyes after a moment. Then he sighs.

"U-type?"

"Yeah. Is that as disorienting as it looks, the eyeball thing?"

"It's not disorienting at all, I barely even notice which... Fuck, actually, I don't really want to go into my powers right now. I'm sure you know what I mean."

"I suppose I can guess. Elisabel Swan, I'm moving in to 1803."

"Andrei Sovak. Do your powers not come with some giant asterisk or interestingly upsetting drawback? Uh. Not that I mean to pry. I thought that was true of all U-types..."

"Not especially? They're not flashy, I got a really defense-oriented Skill."

"And it's not... Involuntary, creepy, or painful?"

"No! It just makes mind control bounce off me."

...He sighs again. "Lucky you."

"You're giving me a new angle of appreciation for it, for sure."

"I mean, it's not intolerable. It just - everything all at once. The System acting suspicious and, let's go with inconvenient powers I had no choice about, and having to move here, and... Everything. I don't really intend to be a huge grump. It's just hard to not right now. Wanna let me complain about my creepy powers? Or nah?"

"Go ahead, at this point I'm pretty curious."

When I touch people and certain objects I - absorb? Mimic? Riff? Something from them. Usually it's some kind of weird body alteration. There's no rhyme or reason to it. System says it's not affecting the things and people I touch. But my actual, active power? Is to reject or purge the weirdness, or focus on not letting it happen. So I can just be walking along the street, not paying attention, and brush against someone and have fire instead of hair. True story. Lost my favorite hoodie."

"Whoa, weird. Is it skin to skin contact only?"

"It's not, which is bullshit. It goes through clothes unless they're seriously heavy, like multiple winter layers, which stops it sometimes. And sometimes I just have to be near whatever to mimic it too. I'm trying to find acceptable stuff to kind of... Fill the slots. It's less trigger-happy that way."

"Yeah, that sounds like the way to go. Do you want to poke me? Maybe you'll get my ultra passive thing."

He makes a face, but... "If it's bad, better to know now. If it's good, also better to know. Sure. Thanks."

Andrei stands and cautiously reaches out and pokes her hand.

His skin turns orange and he starts to smell strongly of mangoes.

Sniff. Shrug. "Could be worse!"

It startles a laugh out of her. "How am I mango themed?"

"When I said no rhyme or reason I really meant it."

"Do you keep notes? Maybe a weird pattern will emerge."

"When I'm not moping too much and actually know who or what I touched, yeah. I'll write this one down and let you go unpack and stuff though. Welcome to Intake, I guess."

"Thanks."

Off she goes to put her clothes in the closet and her notebooks on her shelf.

This activity has attracted another girl out of her own room.

<New roomie!> Declares <Jian Xue, Rabbit, C>. <Oh wow, A rank. They told me this block would probably be full in a few days but you're the first!>

"Hi! I'm Elisabel, it's nice to meet you. I guess there's probably a steady trickle."

<Jian Xue, it's lovely to meet you as well. I like gardening, fashion, and puzzles. Our intake-friends will be our buddies until we're settled so I am trying to make a good impression on everybody.>

"I like reading and aliens and wordchains."

<So I know what to get you if I feel like you need a present now! Do you need more time to unpack, am I bothering you?>

"I didn't bring much, I was actually just about due to get a new batch of clothes anyway and figured I'd do it here, so I just have a week's worth and some books that I can," she picks up eight of them at once and hefts them onto the bookshelf, "get done pretty quick."

<There are certainly a lot of clothing stores here. This place was compared to Hong Kong to me before I arrived. Dense, busy. I don't think it's entirely wrong. There's a lot to do, and if you can't find your hobby, you can rent a space and start it yourself!>

"Reportedly it's an economic miracle, yep! My mom loves big dense exciting cities but obviously it's hard to get a chance to come here, that might be her favorite thing about my getting selected."

<I think it's pretty obvious. It's because the Artonans pay Avowed lots of money, and all the Avowed are right here.>

"Well, by itself money's nothing, you just get inflation that way, and we're paying extra for anything from Earth because its got to get shipped to what's otherwise the middle of nowhere, so - I don't know, I should maybe take an econ class, I assume the high schools here are fancy enough for those."

<Likely. It doesn't interest me. I'm going to go for general studies at Weilu High School and become a florist and gardener. I even picked my talents for it. There's a Rabbit skill called Tend Plants.>

"Neat, what's it do? Directly perk them up or give you insight into it or what?"

<Some insight but also I think magically hitting the plants somehow? It's definitely one plant at a time. I target it and activate the skill, and the plant perks up a little bit right then, and I also know what to do to make it even perkier. But that second part is a lot more vague. You have to guess right and follow the feeling of 'yes, that's it'. And being actually familiar with the plant helps. I like that, that knowledge and skill is still useful.>

"Sounds fun! Gardens and also, hm, if I had that I'd be going for endangered plants, probably, those trees that are so rare that where they are is a state secret."

<Well, none of those are here on the island, are they? I suppose it's a route towards getting permission to visit China. Artonans are very serious about certain kinds of plants. Magic ingredients, I think. I'm hoping to be summoned often and learn about alien plants.>

"I have no idea whether to hope to be summoned because I have no idea what they'd want me for," snorts Elisabel.

<I don't know much about U-types. I know 'Ghosten' is a famous hero U-type, but...>

"Yeah, I've heard of her, but I don't think she'll be very predictive."

<Maybe the floor advisor knows more. Neha is a Rabbit, but she's an experienced one.>

"I should ask her when I meet her, yeah."

<She hasn't texted you yet? We should go bother her! She might have missed you somehow. Or just be busy...>

"Where does one find her?"

<Either walking around the building or in her office on the first floor! I could just text her. She's more likely busy than forgot you.>

"I'm not used to that yet, go ahead."

Nod, nod.

Jian Xue looks focused for a moment, but then shakes her head slightly and starts air-typing instead.

<Mental texting is hard. I'm still not used to it. It comes out like bad autocorrect but I'm getting better.>

"Huh, I've been doing notes to self and stuff and haven't noticed typos yet."

<We all have different talents? Maybe you just think in a text based way.> Shrug. <Okay, I texted Neha, so we'll see. Want to see this room block's special feature? Each set of rooms has one. To encourage people to mingle and visit. Ours is I think some kind of alien video game or art piece?>

Oh, if thinking in a text based way helps then that's probably what it is. "Ooh, yes, show me!"

The special feature is a big circular table with a completely black top. It's a giant hi-def touchscreen. When you put objects on it or trace or hit it with your hands, soothing colorful rainbows in different colors ripple over it like soap sheen and slowly blur together and fade back to black.

<These buttons down here change how it works. There's a lot, but this one is the prettiest I think.>

"Huh, you thought it might be a game?"

<Some of the other modes are more game-like.>

She taps one of the buttons and cell-like bubbles in different colors appear, flowing around slowly. She nudges some. Same colors merge, different colors annihilate. There's quiet music.

"Huh, I wonder if there's a win condition." Poke poke.

<Save as much green as possible. Red and blue eliminate each other.>

Poke poke poke.

<Don't make them fast, that makes it harder...>

Elisabel will try accumulating as much green as possible, sure.

Eventually they have a few big green blobs floating around a field of tiny ones of other colors.

She gets a text.

Hello Elisabel, this is Neha, your Intake guide. Sorry I didn't contact you right away! Some days get really hectic. I like to have a chat with every newcomer about their goals and how to pursue them. When is a good time for that?

Right now I'm just playing the alien art game, so whenever you're free works for me!

Right now would be great. Down in my office or should I come up to your room?

I don't know how to pause this thing so if you can come up that would be cool!

On my way!

Neha knocks before letting herself into the apartment common area a couple of minutes later. She looks fairly ordinary, and her nametag just says "Neha, Intake Counselor".

"Hello, Bella!" <Hello, Xue!> "Bella, do you mind if miss Jian is here for this? Usually I talk to people privately because we're talking about their futures and that can be a little sensitive, but it's up to you."

"I guess if privacy is customary we can do it that way. Jian, do you mind if I kick you out of the common area, I think I'm getting the hang of this -" Poke poke.

<I don't mind in this case. Try not to make a habit of it, please. Common areas are common. Have fun. I'll go back to my book. The one you recommended, miss Neha, it's good.>

She stands and waves, then heads off into her bedroom.

"So, Bella. Unique. That's a tough one sometimes. But let me introduce myself- I'm Neha, S-rank Rabbit, and it's my job to do whatever it takes to set you up for success. I'm good at it, I have capital-S Skills for it. What does success look like for you?"

"Well, I don't know yet. I was aiming at probably medical school before selection, but if I have the leverage to do something more specialized now I'm interested - I just don't know what my Skill is good for."

"That's the problem with Uniques, yes. I've found that the System is often a lot more willing to tell U-types just what your Skills do and don't do, compared to the average Avowed- It absolutely will still refuse to say things, but something about Uniques means it owes you a bit more than usual, is the impression I get. So one thing you could do to clarify your plans is ask it questions. I don't actually know what your Skills do except what you wrote in the intake profile. As for medical school- Why medical school? A passion for the field? Wanting to help people?"

"I wanted to do medical research, actually. Eradicate the flu or something. My skill makes mind-affecting stuff bounce off me."

"So still helping people, but more in the abstract? I'm racking my mind for mind-affecting magics... You might want to try and get a feel for where the border is, do illusions count? Stunning effects? Sleep spells? There's Object Shaper talents that make objects attention grabbing or hard to notice and other things that don't quite get classed as Sway. All that doesn't need to be answered today, of course. It sounded like the mental shield is your big one. If you want to get more magically powerful, get more and better talents, you'll want to use it creatively and often. And when you don't have a clear direction in mind, it's often best to just self-improve as much as you can, and something will turn up. Not that I'm forcing anything. Just a lot of thoughts."

Notes notes. "In the meantime while I'm working on that I need to be in some kind of school, though, and I assume the normal default thing for English speakers is going to be fine for most possible life plans?"

"Talent development programs are schools. The normal default thing is for normal default people. You sound at least slightly more ambitious than that. How far did you get in your planning to do something about the flu-or-something?"

"Supposedly Johns Hopkins is the best place for it, I was poking at student visas. That's sure not happening now that I am a member of an oppressed minority."

"I want to make a sarcastic comment, buuuut... Yeah, being kicked out to a place you don't know just sucks a lot of the time. We try our best to make it suck less. I'll have to research who's on the cutting edge of magical healing research for you if you're set on the medical field particularly. Are you? Or is it just a big lever?"

"It's not Anesidora's fault, Anesidora's doing its very best, but there's basically nothing else I could have grown up to be that would have gotten me exiled from Australia and forbidden to even apply to Johns Hopkins... It's just a big lever, I'm into big levers and not partial to epidemiology."

"Every time you say things, I'm more tempted to recommend some kind of talent development program... It's cliche, but skills, spells, foundation points, and talents are the biggest lever most Avowed ever get their hands on. Here's an icebreaker. How old do you think I am?"

She looks young. Twenty five or thirty at most.

"Well, you look twentysomething, but since you asked and Jian said you were particularly experienced I assume you are noticeably older than that actually?"

She nods.

"I became an Avowed in 1963, right after the first treaties. S rank Rabbit. So I'm over seventy. The really powerful wizards and healers can do so much on the health front. It's rare, not impossible. If you want extra years, it's definitely something you can aim for. Extend the length of time that you're a total badass who mastered her skills and has plenty of contacts and resources, accomplish whatever you want."

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..."

"And you want to acquire the biggest levers you can. Which probably means talent development schools. The kind that focus on training your Avowed side above all else. To grow your powers and learn useful things and network with other ambitious people. Do you have any other system skills? Spell impressions?"

"I have a skill I haven't tried yet that makes gravity affect me less, Refusal of Gravity. And a couple spell impressions, I got Mark Stone and Glimpse of Afar."

"That's a great little spell combo, especially if you get touch-based talents or spell impressions later... Now, the very best programs for talent development are actually superhero prep courses. They train the hell out of you, get you in great shape, make you use your powers really creatively. It's not like they're going to shove you in tights and throw you at bad guys once you graduate. I think you might be able to get in if you really focus on it and try your best. Maybe. It'd be better if your A-rank skill was more flexible, not just defensive. But you might hate the culture, and it's an awful lot of hard work. What do you think just on hearing the option?"

"I'm still getting used to no longer being disabling levels of clumsy, but I think that even without that I'm temperamentally best suited for big levers that don't involve me being in great shape."

"Okay, it takes all kinds. What kind of schooling does appeal, then?"

"I was wondering earlier today if normal high schools here are fancy enough to have economics classes? I'm interested in interplanetary trade and communication, and in aliens..."

"Powers grow best in response to stress. We're pretty sure on that one. But we can definitely get you economics classes, in a normal high school or not. Artonan Studies? Maybe a politics track?"

"Artonan Studies maybe, though I'm also interested in the other aliens and it seems weird to me that our interactions with them are basically all gated on Artonan involvement at this time."

"They really paint themselves as the center of the universe, don't they?"

"Yeah, and they have the leverage to make it cash out that way too, but I'd like to be able to have a normal conversation with other kinds of aliens too."

"Yes, all the teleportation is through the System. I think there are a tiny number of aliens on Earth, but they're rare, even moreso than Artonans here. It sounds like you'd be a lot more comfortable in higher education or some sort of diplomatic or political type role, rather than strictly going for power development above all else."

"Sounds about right to me. Like, I want some power development, but." Shrug.

"Okay. You kind of sounded like an idealist at first with the wanting big levers. And we get a lot of hero hopefuls. So I had to shift gears. I think I have enough to go on, to start looking at options! Anything else you want to cover right now?"

"I wouldn't say I'm not an idealist, just not specifically about powers getting bigger and shinier in particular. I'd like that fine but there are lots of kinds of levers."

"You're not wrong. So maybe you want to get rich or earn the ear of the powerful. I'd better go for now but I'll set something up soon! And I will be replacing that chair, and always feel free to text me if anything is wrong! Have you seen the event calendar yet?"

"No, where is it?"

"Should be in your message inbox somewhere, and also posted on the bulletin boards and in my office. Along with all the other intake rules and processes."

You can come out now

I was leaving soon anyway so goodbye

Several more messages, yep. The Event Schedule is pretty full - Intro to Anesidoran Civics, Meet the Neighbors, Boomtown Tour, Franklin High Tour, Job Market Guide, What to Expect from Summons, Rabbit Floor Potluck - and has a points value attached to most of the events. Apparently there's a minimum number of points you need to get before you're allowed to move to your own place that you've found. Other Intake Rules are pretty relaxed. They're not restricted to the block or anything. There's a curfew, but it's late. After midnight they'll send someone looking for you. The rest are just common sense good-neighbor stuff about trash and noise and not starting fights or having irresponsible sex and damage to the rooms.

She'll sign herself up for civics and What To Expect From Summonses - what's that do for her point total?

A bit more than an eighth. The programming says most people are out of Intake in 4-6 weeks, and if you're still around by week 10 the classes start being mandatory.

There's plenty more, ranging from tours of different universities and apartments, job fairs, apartment-choosing workshops, adapting to Anesidora guides specialized for certain countries, Home Ec type things, how to develop your powers...

She schedules herself a couple tours, and a class on budgeting to get herself used to working in the relevant currencies, and a roommate matchmaking event.

Neha brings up a replacement chair, then gets caught in a talk about entrepreneurship with someone else. The chair is very comfy.

None of the events she's interested in are happening right now. A bunch of other Intake people in the neighboring rooms come say hi; They're almost all rabbits, except for one Adjuster. Intros on Anesidora apparently involve names, ranks, hopes and dreams, and gossip about one's powers. Her roommates are certainly eager to show them off, cleaning things and fixing chipped paint or crinkled paper and making beds with magic and offering free magic haircuts and more. 

What about her power? Some kind of mental shield is one thing and the guy who suggests they find a Sway to poke her is chastised by the rest, but what about Refusal of Gravity? Has she tried it? What does it look like? How does it work? Excited neighbors will take her straight to a gym as a guest if she'd like!

"I haven't tried it yet and I'm excited to! I need to find a good place for it, if you know a gym I'm game!"

There's the Newbie Brute Gym right here in Intake, or this Rabbit- Sammy- Can bring guests to a magic-safed dirtlot practice area. Sammy has a power called Azure Rabbit, which is also kind of moonbouncy but only works on Ground.