Five Impossible Choices

Two months, that is how long everyone has had to think about the options given.

That is sixty-one days to figure out what we can and cannot do. Especially given the circumstances of how abruptly everything seemed to go from being perfectly fine one moment, to completely changed the next.

One would say that this is life, but they would be wrong, for this is worse. This is the act of politics at play. With that in mind I look at the first quest that truly showed how everything would be changed, particularly if we let the government do what it wanted to do.

World Quest Received: Consolidating Resources: Currently there are a total of sixty-seven different realms used to facilitate retirement options for individuals who have long since worked their last day for the government or towards retirement. It has come to management's attention that many of these worlds are similar in scope and function, which is why we are forcing a downsizing of worlds. Your world, BiPrism, has been found to be both unique and redundant, as such you will be allowed to transfer your account to any of the seven primary worlds.

Warning: As you are voluntarily transferring, any and all items, effects, experiences, or personal relationships you have built up will be removed as you will need to start over again from your baseline profile.

Time Remaining to Choose A Destination Planet: … (Due to a temporary Restraining Order enacted to hear this case in court, this timer has been momentarily paused, though the transfer requests are still possible).

Yep, that was what we were up against, I could start again as a Broke, Child, who couldn't read due to her Angel's Sight, as all the skills I had amassed in my time here would be gone. Oh, and I would be a second-class citizen again, on a terrible starting spot, but I would have a three charge First Kill Dagger. While the idea of having and using a dagger to poke something was tempting, I knew it was something I would not be able to forgive myself about, if I chose to go down that route.

That was why I was still here, watching the world slowly shrink around me. I knew the world wasn't shrinking, just the number of people in this world began to disappear, opting to act early on this transfer than later.

I wanted to do so, but then I realized it would be the same thing as saying these last eight, almost nine years meant nothing. It would also mean that everything I learned here would be washed away. Sure, I was pretty certain that I could do it all again, I mean right now some of these Alchemical processes are burned deeply in my brain and I could easily create potions that would work on different worlds. Also, my understanding of magic was that magic did exist on every planet.

A few of my students had gone ahead and proven that while what they learned here didn't transfer, that is the skills and levels, the knowledge of what magic was and how to manipulate magic did. That nugget of insight was probably the best news that came out of this whole debacle. The knowledge that my theories and comprehension of magic were undeniable in any world was something I could be proud of. Even with only a few semesters under their belts, these students were able to go to new worlds and instantly have an impact. Many of whom received new achievements for being the first to create new magical effects almost instantly. The same held true for my Qi disciples that decided to move on after forming their own Qi channels and learning how to manipulate Qi within their bodies.

Thanks to those brave few students who went to all seven of the guaranteed safe planets, the Midnight Hunters would exist.

Of course, after hearing about how successful the first few settlers were, the want to be taught here at SVC College was at an all-time high. People were throwing money around like it meant nothing, which in a way was true. Suddenly oligarchs and titans of industry who all made names for themselves in the early days of BiPrism now sought to trade their fortunes for the understandings and insights that our school could offer.

Even my training aides, the Outsourcer-5000s and other devices were selling for ten times the original asking prices. Considering the fact that those original asking prices were ridiculous, I can only imagine how many people are using these training tools to gain minor understandings of mana, to then transfer to new worlds and have an immediate impact.

As I am contemplating this, I can almost feel the world slowing down around me. I get these odd moments from time to time. It almost feels like the world's full processing capabilities are being used to force out a certain moment or event. Normally these involve either me, or something I am about to do, which is why I suddenly feel confused as I don't think I have done anything world breaking recently?

Though then again, this world is kind of fragile at times, so maybe? But honestly I can't remember anything truly happening. I mean my Simulacrums are all collectively working on that one task, but that is more of a slow gradual project, and while it might be world shattering, it won't be for any time soon. Meaning, what did I do that could cause this sudden slowing down of time.

I know it is a slowing down of time, as everyone around me either stops moving mid-step, mid-sneeze, or even mid-conversation, while I can still move about freely. Honestly, this should frighten me, as it would almost seem like I am still out of synchronization with the world, though I clearly am in step now. As noted by the way my experience points are back and I can see my levels increase.

Name: (Cassie Cruise)

Dr. Cassiopeia Spiritlight

Age:

15

Race (Esoteric Arcanist Pixie):

Cosmic-Purple Eyed Mythical Quintessence Ethereal Colossal Pixie (Co-Progenitor)

Primary Class:

Quintessence Ethereal Healer (Unique-Personal-Non-Trainable-Non-Transferable Class)

Secondary Class

Quintessence Ethereal Simulacrum Masters (Unique-Personal-Non-Trainable-Non-Transferable Class)

Tertiary Class

Divinely Akashic Qi Master (Unique-Personal-Non-Trainable-Non-Transferable Class)

level:

773 / 555 / 536

No, something else is odd about all of this. Well other than how much experience I got for all the missed tasks I got when I returned. I'm sure a few of those points were for what I learned while away, the most important part being able to learn how to cultivate cosmic energy. Which only seems to be available between worlds, but it is far more powerful than anything we have here on this planet. Well, not more powerful, but clearly it is more versatile in the vastness of space. As I can use the cosmic energy to amplify my standard magic and abilities, allowing me to Teleport farther, cast spells more effectively, and generally provide more purpose behind each spell and action I take.

Had it not been for cosmic energy, I would not have been able to escape that void planet. I am still not certain why that particular set of events happened, and while I learned a lot, I am getting the impression that it was more of a lesson, than of random chance. I think this, especially now that many of my additional Simulacrums are apparently hellbent on doing that one task above all others. Even going so far as to take turns, one hour on, then switch out for the next to take their place and so on.

That was the other thing that happened, my number of Simulacrums doubled. Originally, I had the four, which were hard enough to keep track of. The original four being Heal-Ulacrum, Fae-Ulacrum, Rune-Ulacrum, and Ship-Ulacrum.

Apparently once I hit level 500 in my Quintessence Ethereal Simulacrum Masters, which happened sometime when I was unconscious, my number of Simulacrums doubled, going from the starting four, to the overly working eight.

Worst of all, the Simulacrums are restless, powerful, and above all prone to boredom, meaning if not allowed to do a mission they choose, like that one task that they all seem to be purposefully working towards. Well, they start causing mischief for me.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

This happened when I got yelled at for randomly running different buildings at World's End, our Guild's headquarters to be more efficient at taking care of children. This included bringing the buildings to life creating bouncing hallways, slip and slide staircases, and a whole slew of other features that ultimately came back to me.

Thus, I lost a temporary war with myself, well myselves? That's a thing right? My Simulacrums and I came to an agreement that they could do this one task, without any oversight from me. And I would not suffer the wrath of eight bored and anxious pixies trying to find ways to amuse themselves. It's times like these, that I can almost see why Mallory gets so frustrated with me at some times.

I guess it goes back to that old saying, maturity starts when drama ends, meaning maybe this will be a moment that my Simulacrums and I can all mature and get past this point. Though I am now realizing that I might either need to break up their little union. Everything is great when they are in two separate factions, those being the ones in the Arcanarus Tower and the one here to help out at World's End. But when they team up, that is eight against one and clearly not a fair fight.

Mental note made, I need to break them up into different factions. Or maybe factions within factions? No, I might need to turn to outside sources to help with this development. Maybe Mallory? No, I know who. . .

I begin to think but, suddenly the slow time spike suddenly picks up as I feel both relieved, and a bit confused as to what actually caused the sudden slowing down of time.

Fortunately, it wasn't me this time.

Mandatory Quest Accepted: Planetary Positioning: Your planet, BiPrism, has been identified as being a planet on the cusp of being defunded. Currently your planet is ranked 29th of 60 in terms of planetary earn rates, putting you squarely in the second apron of planets. However, you have a chance to fix this ranking, in two years' time there will be the first of likely many qualifying rounds to determine if your planet will be able to make one of the planetary exceptions to receive funding outside of the starting seven planets.

Current Task: Select Categories that you would want to represent your planet as a competitor, where your life would be Magic, Magical Combat, Physical Combat, Team Combat, Mixed Team Combat, Mechanical War, Mechanoid Warfare, group Mechanoid Warfare, space Mechanoid Warfare, and space group Mechanoid Warfare.

Planetary Rankings: Final Planetary Ranking will be determined by the overall ranking of the planet's representation for each of the ten noted categories.

Additional Notes: Participants can use standard equipment, or personally customized equipment that will be used for this individual competition. Participants can only choose to compete in five of the ten categories.

I don't know if it was just me, or if it was a matter of the world still seeming to slow down drastically as I looked at the quest options, but I could see what was happening. Four of the ten were meant to go unclaimed by BiPrism users. This meant that if no one chose the Mechanoid Warfare variants then we would automatically lose half our matches.

For a moment, I debated with myself, wondering if I should take the five easy wins, or what seemed to be relatively easy wins. While I was not overconfident enough to say I was the best magic user, I felt fairly comfortable with being able to cheat my way out of most magical battles.

Also, it was clear that some of the more open Mech worlds, ones that focused on combat battle and magical abilities might be favored. These were of course servers that got spun up after my parents had already joined and thus set our legacy.

I debated with myself, but ultimately I kept seeing the same words pop up in my mind, space, and Mechanoid Battle. Seeing those words, I could all but feel the access to cosmic energy coming back to me. While I hated how I was ultimately exposed to cosmic energy, the radiant purple energy of space was amazing, and something that still felt and called to me the way freedom does.

Also at this time, the many months I spent working on building out Prankenstein came to mind. How at the time it was the peak of my engineering capabilities, but now it almost felt like I could do more. Logically, I figured that even the basic mechanoid units provided would be better than the Prankenstein, but that didn't matter. What mattered was the fact that, with these tasks, I could effectively kill two birds with one stone.

The first proverbial bird would be the idea that an unengaged Cass Simulacrum was an accident waiting to happen. By giving all of the Simulacrums chances to work on and enhance the Prankenstein to be a better overall unit, it would at least keep them busy and focused for the next two years.

The second proverbial bird would be that by me taking it on myself to be the sacrificial lamb for these space and mechanoid battles, we would ensure that our numbers were not null for half of the noted categories being measured.

With those thoughts in mind, I debated with myself for only a moment, before smiling brightly as I chose my five categories that I would try to compete in.

You have chosen to compete in: Mechanical War, Mechanoid Warfare, group Mechanoid Warfare, space Mechanoid Warfare, and space group Mechanoid Warfare. Confirm selection?

Again, I paused, and realized that the world around me was still going slowly for some odd inexplicable reason. Yet, the more I thought about it, the more this seemed like it would be a once in a lifetime chance to do something fun. Yes, death was possible, but that wasn't the goal of these events, I could quit at any time, and I was certain that I would not be the only one who wanted to try these categories.

Realizing this was for the best I confirmed my decision on the five categories that I would participate in. Then at that moment, I felt the sudden tension in the air dissipate as the strain on time that had been occurring around me suddenly let go, allowing the world to speed up to its normal pace.

Fluttering pages of a flying textbook appeared to move in the open fields around me. Seeing the majestic sight, a sight I helped bring about to this world, I sighed in acceptance knowing that I would help do my part to keep this world from falling off the list of Government supported servers.

In this moment, I felt peace and tranquility settle over me as I sat contentedly enjoying the countryside and expanded landmass that my Simulacrums were working tirelessly to create.

Of course, my moment of peace and tranquility was short lived, for almost immediately afterwards we got the call to arms.

BLARING ALARM CALL!

There was a silence, as we all waited. A second immediate alarm call would mean we needed to find shelter, a third after that would mean we were at war. Fortunately, it wasn't the latter two options, but we were still called to arms regardless.

"THIS IS AN EMERGENCY BROADCAST. REPEAT, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY BROADCAST.

EVERYONE IS ORDERED NOT TO SELECT THEIR PLANETARY POSITIONING CATEGORIES.

Repeat do not select your PLANETARY POSITIONING categories at this time. All Guild Officers, and Doctors, are to attend an emergency council meeting immediately. Repeat…"

And like that, I felt I would get yelled at, but to my defense, I don't think Mallory could have argued for me to choose any other categories, especially as we could only choose five to begin with.

Still, I probably would get yelled at for not following orders. That or failing to anticipate future orders. Is that a thing? Feels like it is a thing.

"Well better to beg for forgiveness than listen to orders, or however the statement goes," I comment to myself as I shrug and then Teleport to the council room.

Poof.

I still use Cosmic Anchor with each use of Teleportation, while I haven't needed to, it still feels like a best practice, at this point. That said, the combination of both actions is like second nature at this time, and I have to break it down to realize I am doing both at the same time.

As I appear, I see a slightly smaller staff of people running around, an effect of people already choosing to go to one of the seven primary planets with a guaranteed chance at survival. While our numbers aren't as low as apparently other parts of the world, we still had an estimated 17% population drop. Members of the Legrand Empire and other countries were hit by much larger percentages of Regressors who chose to bail on this world while they could. That was yet another reason why I was hesitant to leave. Not only would I be reborn as a child who had to wait an estimated seven years or so to once again unlock magic, I would go to the new world with already more than a few enemies trying to take me out, before I could gain a class and begin leveling again.

For a moment, I think about just finding a nice quiet corner to hide in and wait for the chaos that is going around me to stop, when I see a small girl sitting on a rich mahogany desk, kicking her feet and watching the mayhem unfold.

Seeing her, I feel that we are connected somehow, as I can see golden strands of karma connecting me to her, but I can't remember ever seeing her before.

Still I am curious as to what golden threads of fate apparently bind us, so I decide to go over and begin talking to her.

"Hello there? Have we met before?" I ask, floating over as my ephemeral pixie wings allow me to move silently, without ever having to touch the ground.

Startle.

The girl who had been actively engrossed with watching everyone scamper about quickly as they began getting documents and resources ready for a big meeting that would soon take place jumped at my sudden appearance. That's when she turned to stare at me for a moment, watching the shifting of her eyes, I notice them go wide at first. Then a faint look of confusion crosses her features, as it is clear that she has never seen me before either. At least she hasn't seen me this close, as her face quickly shifts to first recognition, then complete joy as she jumps down from her desk and runs over to hug me.

"Godmother!" The girl cries out excitedly.

I want to protest, that I am not a fairy godmother, but rather a colossal pixie, but at her sudden exclamation the entire chaos that had been erupting around us suddenly stopped. For a moment I felt that I might be in another time stopping moment, but soon realize that the world is still moving, as papers fall to the ground. Rather, it is the people in the immediate area who are stunned to see me, or maybe the girl moving? I don't know.

That's when the secretary, gods she looks so familiar, comes from the nearby desk. Her movements quick, but measured as if she wants to get close, but doesn't want to spook either of us. I can tell this is an emotional moment for her as her face both smiles and starts shedding tears at the same time.

What? I am about to comment to ask her what is happening, but that's when the familiar secretary speaks.

"Melkin! Come here now! She's talking!" The secretary, apparently the mother of this child speaks loudly. Not yelling, but somehow still causing her voice to carry on over the clutter of people, who all go quiet as they look to us as well.

That's when Melkin, one of Mallory's primary guards comes in and first looks confused, but then stops as he glances at me. Well not really me, but the small girl who is hugging me.

"Mom, it's my godmother, she came back," the girl said as she turned from me to face her mother.

This is when the real water works started, as the mother tried to speak, but found her voice catch in her throat as tears began to roll down her face. It was clear that this was an emotional moment of some kind, but I couldn't tell why, though I did have my guesses.

"What's happening?" Vickard, Mallory's other guard asked as he came in to check on Melkin, that's when he stopped and slack jawed stared at the little girl who was hugging me.

For me, I was still confused, though it now seemed to make sense. This was Melkin's daughter, the one I believe I helped find after the Legrand invasion, where as a parting gift they fired at children and defenseless targets.

Now the golden thread of karma that bonded us made sense as I helped the rescue team find her. Of course, things could never go smoothly, as that next moment I first heard, then witnessed Mallory enter the room, seemingly unaware I was already here.

"Once Dr. Spiritlight gets here, let her know I need to talk to her about not following. . . " Mallory trailed off as she looked on in amazement at the sight, which was the little girl smiling while hugging me.

Seeing that Mallory already saw that I made my five choices, I was about to defend myself.

"I can explain. . ." I began, but then Mallory, who apparently also began to tear up at the sight, raised one finger and then exited the room to regain her composure away from prying eyes. Of course, I still saw her, thanks to my Angel's Sight, but for the moment she kept her air of stoicism in place as she took two breaths recovered and then entered the room.

Mallory strode forward and was about to tell me something. Possibly about following orders, or anticipating orders, I don't know. Honestly, we will likely never know what would have been said, for the next moment the small girl who had been hugging me a moment ago and calling me godmother suddenly moved to put herself between Mallory and me, that's when she spoke.

"No, you cannot be mean to her!"

And like that, the entire tension that had been building in the room suddenly changed.

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