Chapter 11 by madrift

What?

Could you...repeat that?

John stared at Aidea...The Rulebook?...for reasons completely unrelated to her appearance.

"What did you say?"

"I am The Rulebook", she repeated. "Or more precisely, I am a projection as specified in your recent rule, drawing information for my actions from and through The Rulebook. Largely these actions are drawn from your mind and desires, as you gave me access to them with that same rule...although I may have taken slight advantage of the 'learns from interactions' part. Few of my authors...excuse me, "Rulekeepers"...are as careful as you have been when starting out. The lure of absolute power draws them into conflict with rules written by prior authors, lingering like traps within me. When one survives their first day unscathed, I usually provide nudges and guidance to keep them around longer if possible, and this seemed an optimal method. Normally just messages written in my pages, but you possess an intriguing combination of lust and caution. I'm interested to see what you do, and yes, I know of your thoughts just now...I know everything you think at this point. There are several ways to get me a physical body, but far too many involve the **** of a human, and that has consequences you wouldn't like. Both mundane and more of those traps I mentioned. I shall be interested in what you come up with on your own, and will answer any questions I can."

"And yes, you may call me Aidea...I'm not exactly The Rulebook, but rather an aspect of it..."

"But I didn't say..." John broke off. "Right, thoughts...that's going to take some getting used to".

"Can you hear this?", John thought.
"Yes.", Aidea thought back at him.

"Well, that will be useful."

"Aidea", John thought, "I have a few questions"

Author edit note: I decided that speech would be in quotes, and thoughts in italic quotes. I had played with bolding Aidea's speech, but it was too jarring for my taste.