<01 August 2024, The White House - Earlier in the Day, D->

  [President Armstrong]

  Joshua Armstrong had his head down on the desk as if he were sleeping in an eighth grade math class. The onyl difference was that Joshua Armstrong was fifty two years old, and the desk that he was resting his head on was The Resolute Desk. A secret service agent stopped in. "Mr. President, there is a thing here to see you."

  President Armstrong sat up straight and took a deep breath. "What does that mean Fred?"

  The secret service agent was someone who the President had known for several years no, and they had become fast friends thanks to a shared interest in several hobbies. Fred, looked shaken, which Joshua knew was not good. Fred spoke quickly. "There is a creature that says it is here on the orders of The System. It asked us to identify it, and it is showing as being near level one thousand. It has a Special Temporary Title of 'System Emissary' we can not stop this thing, I would recommend speaking to it."

  President Armstrong nodded, "Then show this creature in please. And see if anyone can come up with a list of questions that we need answered now in case I get an opportunity to ask some questions."

  Fred nodded and a few moments later, something that the President Could have never imagined prior to this catastrophe stepped into his office. The voice that spoke next was a cacophony of wrongness, but it was also definitely feminine. "Greetings System User Joshua Vern Armstrong. We are a member of the Nar'Och, sometimes called the children of the System. You may address us as Starfall."

  "Greetings to you as well Starfall," The president was sure that if he was not sitting down he would need a change in clothes, the raw power that seemed to emanate from the Nar'Och was terrifying. "I was told that you needed to speak to me. And please just call me Joshua, and of course have a seat."

  Starfall looked at one of the chairs available and then clacked her fingers together in a way that distinctly denoted amusement. "We are pleased with your courtesy, but We are confident that your furniture would not support us. We do need to speak with you. As you have surmised, and begun to adapt, your world has changed, and as a former world leader, you still have some ability to disseminate information. You should know that others of the Nar'Och are visiting each and every city of humanity, and ensuring that the people who are in charge receive this information. We will tell you some things and then at the end of what We must convey to you, We are willing to have a discussion with you."

  President Armstrong nodded, after dealing with the insane changes that had happened, he was just glad to finally get some answers. "Please by all means, convey what message you must then if you amenable I might want to get a couple of other people involved with our conversation if you are okay with that."

  "Of course. Now then..." Starfall seemed to take a breath, then she spoke again, and her voice made all who heard it tremble. "The System is Life, and Knows All. We greet you, System User Joshua Vern Armstrong, Leader of the former United States. We are Starfall, an emissary of the System and one of the Nar’Och. We swear on The System that all we say in this message is the truth as the System wills it. We come bearing truths that are neither negotiable nor subject to change. Listen well, for your world’s future now depends on understanding the new order."

  President Armstrong, who was literally feeling every word, knew that all of this was truth, the System, whatever it was, made sure that he knew it. Starfall continued. "The world as you knew it has ceased to exist. The technologies that your species relied upon—electricity, digital systems, modern medicine, and all industrialized methods—are gone. They will not return. Not through effort, nor through ingenuity, nor through resistance. The System has deemed such advancements incompatible with the paradigm now in place. Your people must adapt to new methods of survival, production, and warfare. Those who fail to do so will be consumed by those who succeed. Humanity is no longer the sole inheritor of this world. You now share the Earth with a multitude of other species, some of whom have existed far longer than your own, others who have arrived through means you cannot yet comprehend. They will claim land, resources, and influence. Conflict is inevitable. Peace is optional. How your species navigates these relationships will determine your future standing among the inhabitants of this world."

  President Armstrong knew some of this to be true, as reports of elves and other creatures had already made their way to his desk. Starfall had more to say."The structure of global power will soon be unrecognizable. Nations will crumble. Borders will fade. In their place, ten or more Families will rise to rule over territories that span continents, not countries. The nature of these Families is yet to be determined. Some will be human. Some will not. Control will not be given, but taken. You would be wise to understand this before attempting to preserve the remnants of your former governance. The United States, like all nations, will not persist as it was. Its survival depends on its ability to transform into something greater—or to align with one who does."

  Those words sent a shiver down the spine of the President, his only thought at that moment was simple. "I will preside over the end of the United States of America."

  Starfall interrupted his emotional distress with a final statement. "You will have choices in the days to come. You may attempt to resist, but resistance against inevitability is destruction. You may attempt to negotiate, but the System does not recognize treaties made by the weak. Or you may seek power, adapting to the new rules of existence and securing a place for your species among the ruling few. We advise the latter, if you wish for humanity to retain any sovereignty over its fate. This message has been delivered. Consider it carefully, for the world has already changed, and only those who acknowledge this will live to shape what comes next."

  Starfall paused in that manner of taking a breath once more, and then nodded her giant antlered head, "We have delivered our contracted message, we will now do our best to answer your questions. But please understand We can not tell you everything. So ask your questions carefully."

  President Armstrong feeling as if he were going to be able to breath again was about to ask for another moment to think and bring in some others when the door opened and a six year old girl ran in. "Hi dad!"

  President Armstrong was about to panic when he felt the power that casually emanated from Starfall suddenly suck back into the creature. President Armstrong scooped up his daughter from where she had walked up to the side of his seat. "Sarah, I am a little busy."

  "I know, I saw Starfall in the yard." Sarah Armstrong said with a smile and a wave at Starfall who waved back.

  "You know this person?" President Armstrong said in confusion. Glancing between Starfall and his daughter.

  Starfall spoke. "We were searching for an appropriate way to enter without causing too much of an issue with the people or the building itself when your daughter appeared and guided Us to the needed door."

  "Yepo!" Sarah said, with a smile then she turned to her father, "Dad, isn't Starfall so pretty?"

  President Armstrong glanced at the Nar'Och woman, and did not see whatever the girl was seeing.

  Starfall shrugged, having no input to this. President Armstrong nodded picking something to compliment the woman on. "Yes she is honey. The glow that she has certainly is pretty."

  Sarah nodded without another word then jumped down from her fathers lap, and then walked up to Starfall, "I hope I get to see you again! Have fun Starfall!"

  "You too child." Starfall said as the girl ran out, President Armstrong was able to signal Fred to bring his advisors before the door shut. Starfall surprised him then still looking after his daughter, she spoke. "Our People, the Nar'Och, do not have children in the sense that most species do. But We have always enjoyed the innocence that accompanies the helplessness of youth."

  President Armstrong nodded, his thoughts on Sarah's future with the message that was delivered. "She is why I will strive to establish a Family as you said would take over the Earth."

  Starfall locked her head in his direction, giving him the sense that he was being stared down, finally after what felt like an eternity, Starfall nodded. "That is good motivation, but I must warn you that you will have a far more difficult time with that than you imagine. It might be worth your while to allay yourself with those who are closer to achieving that."

  The president nodded just as the door opened and his advisors came in. He made introductions before starting off the discussion.

  "Starfall, we have many questions and we hope that you will be able answer many of them, let us start with the concerns we have for those who depend on medical equipment to survive."

  Starfall nodded. "No more will people who require these devices be born. The System recognizes that technologies such as yours has a place as far medicine goes, and it hates some technologies so it simply does away with the medical reason that would necessitate the technologies. You will notice that many of these people died almost immediately. Others stood up and walked away from their devices."

  The advisors and the President nodded. Starfall continued. "The System has ways to speak with people that transcends consciousness or ability to speak. It gave each and every one of these people a choice, the release of death, or to be placed into a cured version of their body with average fitness for someone their age. As has been seen on other worlds it is usually about forty percent that choose death with another twenty percent rejecting the System, and the remaining forty percent accepting the cured body."

  "That is..." The president searched for a word, but one of his younger advisors, the only one using a Skill to take notes rather than pen and paper, beat him to the punch.

  "That's a little bit fucked up." Thomas Fords mumbled under his breath.

  "The System is Life, and Knows All." Starfall said and shrugged, "whether you are right or wrong it matters not. The System offers everyone a choice, you must be prepared to accept the consequences."

  This conversation went on like this for several hours, Starfall answered many questions about some potential solutions for some of their problem, almost all of her recommendations boiled down to 'find the person with the right Skill.' Finally the advisors left and Starfall was still standing there. Joshua looked very confused about the conversation.

  "They don't get it. Even after you repeated the message as you gave it to me. They don't get it." The President mumbled.

  "Many are not suited for adaptation. There are very few of your species who have excelled." Starfall said.

  "I don't doubt that." The President took a shaking breath. "They ignored much of what you said but I am determined to find a way for Sarah to be safe. You said that there were others who were closer to forming a family than I would ever be. Can you tell me who they are."

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Starfall stared at him. "I can not."

  The President deflated. He was one man, and in his initial confusion of what the System was he had selected the class Grand Administrator. "Then I have failed. I am not a warrior to keep her safe."

  Something hardened in his face. He locked eyes with Starfall with a fierceness that surprised the Nar'Och woman. "Will you take her somewhere she can be safe Starfall. I have nothing to give you but my life. If you would keep her safe I would give it to willingly."

  Starfall placed a gentle hand on his shoulders. "We do not have the ability to take her. Though we know why you ask."

  President Armstrong deflated once more. Starfall looked at the man. "We give you these four pieces of advice instead of any other gift. Firstly, make not the promise of your life as that has a drastically different meaning in the world you now live in. Secondly,"

  Starfall waved her hand and suddenly a scroll was laying on The Resolute Desk. "... Complete this structure in the next thirty days. Thirdly, you your daughter and anyone you wish to prosper should focus on raising your personal mana density. And Finally, One of Our kin will be returning to this world for a reason. Possibly sooner than they think. We will have Them check on you and relay a message to someone. Think on this message carefully as they are one of the ones headed towards being a Family. The System is Life, and Knows All."

  With a sudden flash Starfall was gone. President Armstrong looked at the contents of the scroll and was confused. He was about to dismiss it when he shook his head. "Thirty days, I think it can be done. I need to get to work."

  President Armstrong set out, fully planning to get what milage he could out of being the last president of the United States of America.

  <01 August 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER , A+>

  [Theo and Julia]

  Theo and Julia were surprised at what all they had learned from Oreburn. They spent several moments going over several of the key points that Oreburn had made. Finally they came to the elephant in the room.

  "Welp," Theo said, looking at the chest, "What all do you think is in there?"

  "Only one way to find out." Julia said some what excitedly, "But before that we should talk."

  Theo nodded. "We should, so let me start. I am sorry that you are stuck out here. I know it was your choice and we are both trying to make the best of it but we really don't know each other. If you are willing I would like to get to know you better. Not in any weird way, just in general."

  Julia smiled, "I appreciate that, and I would not mind getting to know you as well. And I would like to apologize for my shouting earlier, I just... I think I was having a panic attack, everything that has happened just kind of all hit me at once."

  "That is fair," Theo locked eyes with her, "I know that we are barely acquaintances, let alone friends, but if you need to talk, please feel free to ask."

  "I will," Julia said, "Now, about what Oreburn said about a Family..."

  "Why don't we check out the chest first, and then we can go from there?" Theo asked.

  Julia nodded, the sky was growing darker by the minute, and they would need to sleep soon.

  They both approached the chest, and first things first they looked a the two skill crystals. It was two copies of a D rank skill called Hand of Gold. From what they could make out, the skill allowed them to store currency in a small dimensional pocket that was linked to their hand. It would also display a tattoo like number on the palm of the hand to indicate how much money was in the pocket. The user could then summon whatever coin directly to their hand for purchases.

  "That seems handy," Julia said, placing emphasis on the word handy.

  Theo looked at her puzzled, "I'm unsure if that was a hand joke, or a hand-job joke."

  Julia shrugged, "why not both?"

  They each picked up one of the skill crystals and pressed it to their heads, absorbing the skills. Then they split up their current funds. They decided to simply split it down the middle which resulted in them each having a little over twenty two and a half gold.

  "Now that those are out of the way, lets open the chest!" Julia said excitedly.

  "Okay." Theo said, touching his hand to the chest, expecting it to dissolve like the other System Containers they had encountered. Instead it did nothing. So Theo Identified it.

  "Well that tells me a whole lot of nothing. But I guess it is a real chest. And it saves food." Theo said.

  Julia quickly identified the chest as well. "I wonder if it would preserve berries and the like. Or maybe we can get it expanded. So its like way bigger inside."

  "Both very good questions, but it will be gone in a month." Theo said dismissively.

  "I mean we have the gold." Julia shrugged, "and it sure beats wondering if our food will hold out due to spoilage."

  "That is true," Theo agreed, "five each?"

  "Five each." Julia said summoning the five gold to her hand and looking at the chest, there were ten indents in the lid. They each put five gold in dropping them down to roughly seventeen and a half gold. The chest shimmered and seemed to loose some of its ethereal-ness.

  "Lets see what ten gold gets us." Julia said and they identified it together.

  "It's Higher level than we are." Theo said quietly.

  "What the hell." Julia said then got a concerning look on her face. "Do you think that maybe that is the level they expect people to be in an A- mana density."

  "Ohh..." Theo said, quietly, "Are we fucked? And why was there a level three lion?"

  Julia shrugged. "I have no idea. Let's just hope that this is not an omen."

  "Right," Theo said trying to sound more upbeat. "Lets see what is inside. shall we?"

  The contents of the Chest were rather simple. After pulling it all out, they were left with a rather nice stash of supplies.

  Theo ran through the list, "Okay so we have about a hundred gallons of water, forty-five days of food, some basic equipment, and this."

  The object that he was referencing was a cube. Julia perked up, "Hey that looks like the cube I found!"

  Julia grabbed the blue cube that she found earlier, and looked at it. "I guess its good that we have Identify now isnt it."

  She cast the skill on the blue crystal cube.

  "Wait, it generates a customized dungeon?" Theo, who had also identified the cube asked.

  "I think," Julia pondered, "that it is very specifically not a dungeon. It almost feels like baby's first dungeon. Maybe it's meant to give people a first taste of a dungeon before they go out and delve a real one."

  "That would make sense," Theo said. "So then what is this purple one? Is it part of the initial supplies or is this something that Oreburn gave us. He seemed like he was maybe helping us out a little more than he normally would."

  "I don't know, lets see what it says with Identification, maybe there is a way to tell, but it sure does not feel like an item that would be given to everyone."

  "True." Theo said as he used his Identification skill.

  "Okay that is incredibly specific." Julia said, her voice somewhat concerned. "Does that mean that Oreburn has enough influence with the System that he can change what Skills display, or what Item descriptions are?"

  "That is mildly terrifying," Theo muttered "however both of these seem like they will be incredibly useful to us in our current situation. I think that we should use these to get some early levels, and quickly."

  "I agree but I also think that we should go to bed, finish the cabin, find the Thronehold that Oreburn mentioned and see what we can do to get started on making some kind of seat of power there." Julia said ticking off things that she thought they should do, "oh and also, we should absolutely identify the strange berries and things that we find."

  Theo paused for a moment, "Are we committing to the Family path then?"

  Julia blushed, but she could tell from his tone that he didn't mean anything by it. He was simply asking. "I... I don't know. but I think someone who is basically a God to our level two asses told us to push for it, and seemingly went out of his way to help us out. I think we should work towards the seat of power so that the option is open. If things go that way, then we are good to go, if not then we can cross that bridge when we get there and decide on a new course of action."

  Theo nodded, "I think that is a great way to look at it." Theo said, he tossed another log into the flames of the fire they had been keeping going constantly.

  "But first things first, I think that we should get some sleep, tomorrow we can get as far as we can on the cabin, and then make a plan." Julia said moving to the temporary shelter.

  Theo adjusted his sleeping area next to the fire, and they both went to sleep.