Chương 21: 021

The room they brought me to was massive. Lush red carpets swallowed the stone beneath my boots, their vibrant hues echoed by the furniture spaced carefully throughout the chamber. A wide window stretched nearly the length of the far wall, opening onto a balcony that overlooked the city beyond.

"Is it to your liking?" The guard who'd escorted me shifted from foot to foot, unease written plainly across his face.

"It's perfect," I said quickly, nodding before he could spiral.

"Thank you for bringing me here." A beat of stunned silence passed before he bowed deeply and backed toward the door.

"O-of course. If you require anything, press your palm to the rune on the wall. It's linked to the staff room. Someone will be with you shortly." For a world that didn't seem to have technology, they sure figured out room service quickly. Shaking that thought aside, I sat heavily on the plush mattress and rubbed my eyes. First priority: contact Time. There were too many unknowns, too many moving pieces. If anyone could identify the true catalyst, it was him.

If the army was the trigger, he'd know how to deal with it before the so-called apocalypse truly began. And if the catalyst was whatever, or whoever, the king had summoned… Well. We'd cross that bridge when we reached it. Still, the thought churned my stomach. What kind of idiot summons something from another universe without knowing what might answer? Best-case scenario, he pulled someone willing and capable. Worst case? A kraken-sized nightmare from the void. I cut the thought off before it could take root.

Spiraling wouldn't help. Time would know what to do. I just had to reach him. Now… how should I do that? Karma had been in my head for nearly my entire life, a constant presence. But could other spirits hear me the same way? Was this a prayer situation? Think it hard enough and hope someone listened? My headache pulsed in response. Only one way to find out. I drew a breath and forced myself to still. Easier said than done—thoughts ricocheted like pinballs, refusing to settle.

Images of the orc woman's lifeless eyes clawed their way to the surface again, tightening something sharp and cold around my chest. Slowly, painfully, I wrestled my mind into something resembling order. Time, I thought, pushing the words outward along the bond Karma had always occupied. Are you there? I found a few things that might be the catalyst, and I really need help sorting this out. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Nothing.

Minutes stretched, tension coiling tighter with each passing second. Time, I tried again, sharper this time. If you can hear me, I need direction. Now. Silence. I hissed and tangled a hand in my hair, fingers tugging hard enough to sting. For all I knew, I was shouting into the void. Karma hadn't told me how to reach her husband, or if I even could. He was supposed to just… show up. So why hadn't he? He's fucking with you, the familiar voice whispered. Another joke. Another setup.

I shoved it down, though the effort felt thinner than before. Karma would never do that, not with the fate of a world at stake. Maybe Time was chasing leads. Maybe he couldn't hear me. Maybe Karma was the only one who ever could. Or maybe this "meeting" I'd assumed was immediate wasn't scheduled until tomorrow. If that was the case, there was no telling how long it would be until I had help. With Karma resting and Time absent, I'd have to figure it out on my own. Because I'd done so well so far…

Frustration scraped raw across my nerves. I clenched my knees, breathing through the urge to punch the nearest piece of furniture. Breaking my hand would only make things worse. Though… hadn't Karma said I'd have healing magic? Might as well take inventory while I waited. I moved to the window and studied my reflection. The hood still covered most of my hair, though long brown strands slipped loose around my shoulders. Green eyes stared back at me, tired and ringed with shadows deep enough to bruise.

Not even a day into my new life, and I already looked exhausted. Fantastic. Focusing inward, I summoned the menu. Then I expanded the secondary list, ignoring my basic stats for now. Quests Reputation Skills Spells Stats There were only five options, but somehow they seemed impossibly overwhelming. Taking a breath, I started at the top. Quests flashed before expanding outward.

There was only one, thankfully: Find the Catalyst to the Apocalypse: - Contact Karma or Time - Gather Information on the Approaching Army and the Summoning Ritual King Silas Used Well. At least it was concise. Contacting Karma was off the table for now, but information gathering? That I could do. Setting that aside for now, I moved to the next. Reputation: Waterglade - Magical Savior From Another Universe, King Silas's Only Hope The rest was blank, but it would probably fill out as I explored.

Skills: First Aid - Using rudimentary materials, patch up most basic wounds. Poison Resistance - Become resistant to most poisons. Premonition - Sense a fight or threat before it happens, allowing for more reaction time. Stealth - Move silently and avoid detection. … That was it? Years of medical school, endless nights studying anatomy and trauma care, boiled down to First Aid. Demoralizing didn't begin to cover it. At least Stealth explained why the guards hadn't noticed me earlier.

Years spent tiptoeing through foster homes, avoiding attention at all costs, apparently translated well across dimensions. I shut that memory down and moved on. Spells: Fast Forward, Level Ten Spell When cast, all enemies within the area of effect rapidly age, crumbling to dust. Area scales with mana expenditure. Mana Cost: Variable. A shiver traced my spine. I skipped past it quickly.

Bramble's Embrace, Level Two Spell Thorn vines surge up from the ground to hold an enemy in place, doing damage for every minute they're held and potentially poisoning them. Mana Cost: 10 Crop Growth, Level Two Spell Healthy dirt will grow a crop native to the place the spell is cast in. Will only grow seasonal crops. Mana Cost: 5 Verdant Renewal, Level Two Spell Moss covers a minor or moderate wound, speeding up the person's natural healing until the injury closes. Mana Cost: 5 Okay. I could work with this.

Plan: gather as much information as possible. When Time finally showed up, I'd have something concrete to bring to the table. And with Stealth on my side, I had an edge. Taking a breath, I eased the door open and peered into the hallway. No guards. Good. That would make this a lot easier.