Die. Respawn. Repeat.

Chapter 55: Integrator Interview

[ Select between:

Warpstep (Rank A)

Misplaced Aura (Rank B)

Sunder (Rank B)

Somatic Discharge (Rank B) ]

[ You have unlocked an Inspiration. Bonus will commence once skill selection has taken place. ]

I pause as I look over my options.

Warpstep is an obvious choice. The other three are interesting, and far different from other Speed skills I've seen before. I wonder how much my phase-shift has changed, exactly.

Misplaced Aura, according to Inspect, is a skill that allows me to be in two places at once it's not unlike Temporal Fragment in that regard, though obviously the conditions for the skill are different. Unlike Temporal Fragment, the Firmament clones created by the skill are weak and are unable to do significant damage. It's the type of skill that's more for utility than combat.

Sunder wraps me in Firmament and then moves me so fast it creates a tear in space, held open by Firmament. It's a monumentally powerful skill for its rank, held back only by the utter lack of control I'll have over it. The skill comes with no way to actually control the destination, and according to Inspect, others with the skill have died trying to use it.

Yikes. It's a skill I'd only ever be able to use with the Eye, maybe, if I combine it with something that gives me more control.

Somatic Discharge, unlike most Speed skills, rips all the speed I've accumulated out of me and discharges it into the air; it allows me to come to an instant stop, which is something I'll most likely need as I accumulate Speed skills. It's easy enough to stop when I have a lot of space to move, or when I'm using someone as a punching bag and can transfer all my momentum to them; if something appears directly in my path and I'm not prepared, I might get crushed against it.

And then there's Warpstep.

Warpstep is simple. It's a more balanced version of the other skills, and is basically a short-ranged teleport option that isn't limited by line-of-sight. As long as I know my destination, I can get there. It doesn't go very far, with exponentially increasing Firmament costs beyond a range of ten meters, but that's good. That's more than enough to change a battle.

Once again, I'm stuck between a number of good options. As good as Warpstep is, I still want Somatic Discharge for its synergy with other Speed skills and for the potential it could have if I study it, or learn how to force it onto others. There's some leeway with skills, if I can learn how they work and use Firmament Manipulation to replicate most of the effects...

I sigh. Hopefully I'll roll it again.

[ Warpstep obtained! ]

And just as before, the world freezes around me.

This time, it takes a moment before Gheraa appears. I'm worried for a moment, considering the condition he was in the last time we spoke part of me worries no one will show up at all, or a different Integrator will show up, and all my plans will have been for naught.

Thankfully, Gheraa does eventually show up, and he doesn't look like he's worse for wear. I do notice his clothes are different he's wearing a longer suit-trenchcoat combination that covers more of his skin. The white and gold is pristine and fancier than anything I've seen anyone wear.

"I got new clothes," Gheraa says, grinning at me. "Do you like them?"

I say nothing. The fact that he's hiding any marks he might have isn't lost on me.

"Oh, come now, don't make my job harder than it has to be," Gheraa complains, heaving a dramatic sigh and leaning on a cane he conjures out of nowhere. "You're already giving me so much work. Do you know how many other Trialgoers have unlocked this many Inspirations this quickly?"

"Chat isn't working for me, so no," I say dryly.

"Right! We're working on that. It should be up soon." Gheraa clasps his hands together. "The point is, not many. But! Allow me to present you with your Inspirations, dear sir"

"Gheraa," I interrupt, and maybe there's something in my tone of voice, because Gheraa's entire body freezes in response. He doesn't quite meet my eyes, and waits for me to speak. "Do you mind if we just talk for a bit?"

"Well." Gheraa clears his throat. "Ahem. I mean. It would be improper. But I would not be opposed."

I see the lines of relief in his body, though. Maybe his body language isn't fully translatable to human but he visibly relaxes, and there's a furtive glance up towards the sky. "Inspirations are expensive, though!" he adds hastily. "So we must not dally too long."

"Surely the Integrators will be glad for an interview with one of their star Trialgoers?" I say, putting on a fake smile. From what I've gathered, and if what Gheraa says about me being exceptional is true...

Gheraa brightens visibly. "Aha! You're willing to answer questions, then?"

"Only if you're willing to answer mine." I hum. "Tit for tat. How about that?"

"There are secrets I'm not allowed to reveal," Gheraa says. "But as long as you don't ask me about any of those..."

"I'll be careful," I say.

Golden Firmament flows out of Gheraa body, and he conjures a makeshift stage, complete with two chairs and a fake microphone. I stare at the setup for a moment then at Gheraa, who is beaming at me and shake my head. "No."

Is he pouting? He looks like he's pouting.

"We'll talk normally," I add. I find a log and sit down on it, and wait for him to do the same, which he does eventually, though he grumbles about it the whole time. There's a lot of his behavior that I can tell is still an affectation, though in some regards I see him actually relaxing.

It probably helps, the fact that the other Integrators aren't here. Even if they're watching. I might not know the specifics of what's going on with him, but I recognize the signs of abuse easily.

"I'll start," I say. "What are the Integrators like?"

"I'm glad you asked!" Gheraa says, and considering the tone he adopts, I can tell almost immediately this is a practiced spiel. I don't mind it gives me information. "The Integrators are your saviors, of course."

I resist the urge to roll my eyes and point out that the Integrators are also threatening to destroy Earth.

"We are an old, enlightened species. You may have noticed that we are not organic." Something in Gheraa's tone changes, and I straighten my back slightly, paying attention to what he's saying. He holds an arm out to me, and I watch the strange, stonelike material glimmer with golden Firmament. "But we are not machine, either. We are living, solidified Firmament."

That's something new. I can't tell if he's telling me the whole truth, but there's definitely something to his words. If the timestopped world wasn't so restricted, I'd be testing Firmament Manipulation out on his arm.

Then again, he might not appreciate that.

"We travel the cosmic skies, spreading that same enlightenment to other worlds." This part I'm pretty sure is a lie the definition of enlightenment is too vague, and there's the smallest hint of disgust in his voice this time, when he says the word 'enlightenment'. "We consider it a sacred duty, you see."

"I'm sure you do," I say. There's not much else I can say to that without being antagonistic, and I don't think Gheraa needs that right now. "Do you just have a ship hanging out above the planet or something?"

"It's my turn to ask a question," Gheraa says, and I mutter a small curse while he smirks at me. "So! Ethan, Trialgoer extraordinaire. Any words for your fans?"

"I have fans?" I ask. Gheraa opens his mouth, and I hold up a hand. "Rhetorical question. I don't care. My actions will speak louder than my words ever will."

Gheraa closes his mouth and nods. "Fair enough," he says. "Do you want me to answer your question now?"

"Please."

"We are located on every planet that we have enlightened, and every planet that is in the process of Integration." This one isn't some pre-prepared answer Gheraa's tone is different. I wonder if this is something he's even supposed to tell me. "Firmament allows us to keep our city connected to every planet at once, although it takes a large surge of energy for us to be able to connect with a new planet."

The change in Firmament. Tarin described the Firmament on Hestia changing in some fundamental way when the Integrators arrived. More than that, Gheraa didn't say that they were above the planets he said that they were on the planet.

Their city's somehow linked to every Intgerated planet at once. That makes things easier for me, if I want to pull Gheraa out.

I just need to figure out a way to break in.

"Next question," I say.

"We'd love to know more about what drives you so much," Gheraa says. I wonder if he's telling the truth, or if this is just something he's personally curious about there's something about his tone of voice, the way he shifts his posture forward. "You're dealing with one of the hardest Trials we Integrators have access to. Others have given up much earlier than you did. Of course, others have lasted much longer, but you've adapted to this Trial the most easily by far. What makes you so driven?"

I give myself a moment to mull over the question. Gheraa doesn't seem to be in any rush, surprisingly, so I take my time; there are some limits on the answers I can give.

The easiest answer is anger. I'm angry at the injustice of the Trials, at what they've inflicted upon those they claim to enlighten. I'm angry because they've threatened my home, and as imperfect as the Earth is, the Integrators have no right to it. But I have a feeling that's not the answer Gheraa is looking for and more than that, it's not an answer I can give if I'm being watched, as the whole interview thing implies.

So I search for a different answer.

"I'm driven because I don't have any other choice," I finally say. It's close enough to the truth. "Because the alternative is worse in every possible way. Sometimes you don't need more of a reason than that."

Gheraa looks away from me. He's uncharacteristically silent for a minute, and I don't interrupt him; I don't know what's going through his mind, but it looks like it's something important to him.

When he does eventually respond, it's lacking a touch of his characteristic enthusiasm, although he's clearly trying. "Well," he says. "Thank you for the answers! I think that's enough for today, don't you? Why don't you check out your Inspirations?"

I watch Gheraa for a moment.

"If you're driven because there's no other option, though, it can feel pretty lonely," I add. "It helps to have friends."

I'm only able to cope as well as I have been because of Ahkelios, Tarin, and Mari. I'm under no illusions about being a self-made hero I'm where I am because they chose to help me, in their own ways. It's possible I would still be here without them, but I doubt I would be nearly as far.

Gheraa's shoulders stiffen slightly. "And if one cannot find them?"

"Then it's a good thing I'm here, isn't it?" I sling an arm around Gheraa's shoulders. I feel them stiffen even more, and the Integrator almost flinches away in a reaction I know is defensive but he's not angry, it looks like. I've gotten my message across.

Gheraa takes a deep breath.

"Here are your Inspirations," he says, studiously avoiding my gaze.

He does look a little relieved, though.

The first Inspiration appears as a crackle of lightning surrounding an empty void. It hovers above Gheraa's hand, spasming erratically.

Inspect triggers on it, surprising me.

More than that, the Void Inspiration within me reacts.

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