A suprising revelation.

You in there Cammy?

The answer came quickly. I am always ‘in here’ Leon Marshall.

In an odd way, it was nice to know that thanks to the voice in his head he was never truly alone, even on a long evening time return to Lily’s. A schizophrenic comfort.

Noted. How’s Jessie doing? Any changes?

She is still alive, and still safe. I shall notify you immediately if that should change.

Thanks Cammy. I don’t know what I’d do without you.

There was a part of him that wanted her life to be put in danger so he could teleport to her side, save her, and be with her again, but most of him understood that it wouldn’t work out like he hoped. He wasn’t a superhero. If he teleported in while she had a gun pointed at her or a car speeding towards her, then there was a high probability he would either die with her or be relegated to watching helplessly as she perished. It was good that she wasn’t in danger. Wishing for anything else was just selfish.

And how are YOU doing, Cammy?

M-me? I have told you many times that I am a mere AI, and as an AI, I do not experience emotion.

You keep saying that, but I don’t think it’s true at all. You sounded awfully surprised when I asked how you were doing, and last I checked, unfeeling robots don’t get surprised.

I was not surprised, Leon Marshall. There was a temporary glitch in my programming.

And now you sound moody. You’re more emotive than you think you are.

Let us discuss a different matter.

Embarrassed too? I never knew my AI was so cute.

Do not call me cute, Leon Marshall. It is a foolish waste of praise.

Leon liked having Cammy on the defensive, but it probably wouldn’t be the best idea to piss her off too much considering where she lived.

Sorry ‘bout that. Got a little carried away.

Indeed.

He thought the conversation was over until she spoke again.

...May I ask you a question?

Uh... Sure. What’s on your mind?

It was unusual for Cammy to ask him something. He must have really bothered her.

My records indicate that previous users of the Chronicle System spent long hours plotting and planning, putting immense effort into strengthening themselves and their Soul Links. I do not see this kind of effort from you.

Or not. Technically, she had a point, but there was a simple reason for that.

My Soul Links are strengthening fine on their own. That whole ‘Key’ thing doesn’t seem like much of an obstacle anyways. Hell, I’ve bumped into almost every Key I’ve found by pure coincidence.

Yes. As I have mentioned before, using the System as a parlor trick is effective to a certain extent. However, there are still many exceptional Miracles that you have yet to tap into.

It’s only been 4 days, Cammy. I’ve made a ton of progress already. Besides, those exceptional Miracles you speak of aren’t exactly going anywhere.

Perhaps, but your power will not stand unopposed forever. If you allow your power to languish, you and your Soul Links lives may very well be put at risk.

That was probably the most ominous thing Cammy had ever said to him. His heart rate sped up as he walked, and it wasn’t due to physical exertion.

Was he dragging people into something that might kill them every time he forged a new Soul Link?

What the hell does that mean? You never said a damn thing about any sort of danger!

The System did not consider your Soul worthy of this information prior to your last Rank increase.

Fuck the System! Why didn’t YOU warn me!?

Maybe it was stupid, but he’d always thought Cammy and he were a team. It hadn’t mattered to him that she was an extension of some mysterious System.

Leon Marshall, I am the steward of-

I thought we were partners.

If he couldn’t rely on Cammy to guide him through this, he was truly on his own.

I-

Fuck your excuses. Just tell me what you made me drag these poor people into.

...I cannot fully divulge the information at this time, but I will tell you everything that I am able to.

Of course you can’t. Fine, tell me literally everything you can about why our lives are in danger.

There are several others in the state of Florida who have been chosen by a System.

The Chronicle System is two timing me?

You are the only inheritor of the Chronicle System. However, several other Systems exist, and each has their own inheritor.

This meant that there were other people running around Florida with their own unique super powers.

What sort of powers do these people have?

I cannot answer that at this time.

How many people is ‘several’ exactly?

I cannot answer that at this time. All I can tell you is that there is currently one System that has not discovered a worthy inheritor.

Great. What a big help that is. Okay, why Florida of all places? Why not a different state, or country? Why not spread these inheritors across the whole world?

It is imperative that all of the chosen inheritors are within close enough proximity to encounter and interact with one another. Florida was chosen at random.

Why’s it so important that we’re all together?

I cannot answer that at this time.

He wanted to punch something every time she said that stupid phrase.

Can all of the Systems be used to hurt people?

Every System has the potential to inflict pain upon others. Some are more partial to inflicting pain than others. As you know, the Chronicle System can be used for that purpose, if the inheritor so chooses.

So we’re not actually being targeted, it’s just that there are dangerous people out there who could hurt us if we happened upon them.

When given the power to change reality itself, some people may not accept the existence of others with reality altering power so readily. They may be seen as obstacles in the way of another’s perfect world.

That... makes sense. But if I just lay low I can keep me and my Soul Links safe, right? All I want is my modeling agency. The rest of these fuckers can do whatever they want.

All Systems have a unique way to reveal or track each other, when they are powerful enough.

That was extremely bad news.

...Which is why you want me to hurry. Otherwise I’m going to get caught with my pants down.

I cannot tell you what they are, but the Chronicle System has many Miracles that can protect you and your Soul Links from the other inheritors.

I hope they don’t require any more Soul Links, because I’m not making any new ones. I’m putting too many people in a bad situation already.

While it is accurate that other inheritors may target your Soul Links once they discover that they are the source of your power, by making Soul Links with people and strengthening your bonds, you also make them many times safer than the average person.

Putting a target on someone’s back never makes them safe.

Take Jessica Marshall as an example. If she were not Linked to you then she would be wandering Florida with minimal protection. The only reason this is not the case, is because you can teleport to her side in the event of an emergency. Not only does this protect her against normal dangers, but other inheritors as well.

I was thinking about this earlier. It hardly makes her safe for me teleport to her. I’m not strong. In most situations I wouldn’t even be able to do anything.

Which is exactly why you must continue to get stronger. The stronger you are, the safer you and your Soul Links are.

I should have been told about this from the start. I could have prepared better.

No inheritor is informed of their situation initially in order to give all inheritors a chance to build up some modicum of power.

Is this some kind of war?

I cannot answer that at this time.

...You said you’d help me build a modeling agency, but you knew about this the whole time. How the hell am I supposed to build something when I’m being hunted!?

I am sorry, Leon Marshall. I wished to warn you, but my programming prevents any potential rebellion against the System or its laws.

I see. I guess it’s not your fault. You’re just strings of code regurgitating its orders.

Cammy fell silent.

Just as well. If he had a choice, he’d **** her out of his head.

All he could do for now was quicken his pace toward Lily’s house. Apparently there was no time to waste. If he wanted to keep Jessie and the others safe, he needed to get proactive.