“I thought that was never going to end,” Chloe says as we finally depart from the university shortly after two in the afternoon. “Every time I thought we were going to get out of there at a reasonable time, Nora came back with even more paperwork and stuff that you had to do.”

“You didn’t have to stay all this time, you know,” I say.

“Yeah, but after yesterday, I’m feeling a little bit clingier than normal.”

“I appreciate it, love.”

It turns out the university plans to have me teach three classes next semester. The first is the course I’d been expecting to teach from the beginning: Introduction to Ethertech and Spellcrafting. They would have me teaching a higher-level course, except that there won’t be any students who will have met the prerequisites. It’s the sort of conundrum that they’d brought up earlier— they know they need an Ethertech program to compete with every other university which plans to offer one in the fall. And yet, there isn't really anyone qualified to teach it at the rigors expected of a university undergraduate course.

The second course is related: Introduction to the System, in the Philosophy Department. This course is also one I don’t exactly feel confident in teaching, for the exact opposite reason. I— along with Chloe— are the only two people who know that the System is the harbinger of the universe’s eventual end. Madison had kept that knowledge secret, fearing that if that were widespread, it would lead to despair and the collapse of society and civilization leading up to the end.

I’m not convinced she made the right decision. The people have a right to know about what will happen in the coming millennia. I’m not sure if they’d break down in despair, or merely act like ostriches burying their heads in the sand. Or scoff and dismiss my knowledge out of hand, remaining smug in their ignorance. Considering I have no real proof of my claims, I suspect the last of those is by far the likeliest.

The last of the three, however, is the one I didn’t expect, and is also the one I’m most excited to teach. In short, it’s a class about combat and dueling. And, though I’ll need to get it formally cleared with the Director of the Athletics Department, I can probably get Chloe hired on as an instructor, or at least as my teaching assistant, even if that's laughably understating and undervaluing my partner’s Skills and abilities on the battlefield.

It’ll also be a good way to recruit others who might have an interest in dungeon diving and fighting the hordes of monsters that will inevitably attack sooner or later. That much was left unsaid during the meeting earlier, but Chloe and I both picked up on the implication.

Chloe’s phone buzzes, and I realize that I completely goofed earlier. I stashed my phone, along with my purse and other belongings, in my [Inventory], where I will of course fail to hear when it goes off. In a flash of teal light, I summon it forth, and after half a minute while it connects back to the network, I am stunned to see seventeen missed messages. And not from anyone I’m looking forward to seeing now or at any time in the near or not-so-near future.

“I guess the good major gave up on trying to get a hold of me after seventeen times and figured you were the next person to ask?”

“He wants us both on base as soon as possible. Considering that there are four expletives in the text he sent me, I’m guessing that was supposed to have been some time ago.”

“Ugh, well, I suppose we should go be productive and responsible members of society, or whatever it is that we’re trying to be.”

Chloe laughs. “Yes, that sounds about right.”

We bank from south to west, veering across the midtown sky as we head toward the western edge of town. I don’t see any waves of monsters immediately attacking, so the situation probably isn’t quite as urgent as I’d immediately feared. A relief, but a hollow one, considering the military-style reaming I’m likely to receive for reasons I can’t even begin to fathom. The Ether Cannon used by Nicholas and his men to dispatch the harpy horde is still there, although it seems to have been retrofitted since then to be even larger and more powerful. Perhaps necessary, but I don’t like the symbolism at all.

We touch down on the outskirts of the base and make our way up to the gate checkpoint. I can’t help but feel a bit forlorn as I don’t spot anyone I recognize from my time here a couple of months ago. Logically, it’s likely that most of my former comrades are merely on assignment elsewhere in the city, or somewhere further in the base, or on leave, or anywhere else. I can’t help but worry, though, that at least a few of them have perished as a result of the attacks that have transpired between then and now.

Maybe, had I revealed more secrets about Ethertech earlier, some of them would still be alive. Or maybe there would have been backlash or uprising against the deployment of military forces on US soil between now and then, and it would have led to more loss of life. Or the System would have sent stronger forces, or… Too many potential counterfactuals to get swallowed down that path. Instead, I choose to cling to the hope that they are alive and as unharmed as possible given the circumstances.

It takes only a minute to make our way through the checkpoint and onto the base proper, where we’re greeted by a very disgruntled middle-aged man.

“Ms. Mortensen, Ms. Jacobs,” Nicholas says. His tone is curt, an air of indignance and frustration beneath his stoic countenance. “It’s good of you to have finally answered my summons.”

“I’m sorry it took us so long,” Chloe says. “Sera and I have been down at the university all morning and afternoon filling out paperwork so she can start teaching in the fall.”

Nicholas is completely unfazed. “After her little speech and declaration a few weeks back, I’m not surprised.” He turns to me. “Of course, your declaration and disclosure of dangerous information has caused no shortage of problems in recent weeks.”

“Dangerous information,” I say. “It’s perfectly fine when you want to build an Ether Cannon and have it pointed toward the civilian population of my hometown, but when I want to make sure that people have the knowledge and resources to defend themselves— against monsters and the military alike— I’m accused of being problematic.” I raise my [Mechanical Arm Cannon] ever so slightly. Not enough to actually try anything, but enough to convey that I won’t blindly submit.

“Sera!”

“I know.” I lower my finger. “And, I’m sorry, Chloe. I just–”

“Just take a deep breath. You believe you did the right thing, right?”

“Yeah. Better that this information be publicly available than that it be sequestered by the military. Or worse, proliferated by black markets, arms dealers, and war profiteers.”

Chloe gives me a slight nod. “And I agreed at the time and continue to agree with that. So let’s stand with our heads held high over that decision, regardless of Nicholas’ displeasure.”

“Yes. Your actions are problematic,” Nicholas says, bringing Chloe’s and my conversation to an abrupt end. “I’ve been in the forces for nearly twenty years, first as an enlistee, and then as an officer. I have been placed in a position of public trust by Colonel Wilson, by the Department of Defense, and by our President and the country to whom we both owe our allegiance. And so I have the right and the responsibility to make the necessary decisions that will ensure that my men are capable of fighting off the next set of bastards that try to wipe us off this planet like last night’s shitstain!”

“Because absolutely no one in a position of public trust has ever misused their power or authority or taken corrupt actions out of convenience or self-dealing.” I sigh, knowing weeks ago exactly how this conversation was going to go. “Anyway, my allegedly ‘problematic’ actions aside, for which I will not apologize, I suspect you didn’t summon the two of us here just for a social gathering.”

Nicholas glares at me, but I stand firm. Unlike when I was first here, not even level 20 and easily outmatched by both him personally and many of his soldiers, now Chloe and I sit among the upper echelons of power. I will not be cowed, even by his display of legal authority or the daunting— though honestly fairly feeble— aura he’s summoning forth.

He sighs. “Very well. How much do you know about the areas outside of the city?”

“Not a whole lot,” I say. “We flew over some of the countryside while heading back from our travels in Red Clay City. We saw a few interesting landscapes, but we didn’t take much time to investigate any of them.”

“Did you see the massive fetid bog located about eighty miles southwest of here?”

Chloe nods. “We did. I don’t know much about the place, but even from midair, and being much weaker than I am now, I could sense a dark and foreboding presence. I don’t mean to be overly judgemental when I say this, but I dare say I’d call it evil.”

“Then, I can be brief,” Nicholas says. “We have received credible reports in recent days that the area of decay has been expanding. We don’t know the causes, or whether the corruption will eventually reach an equilibrium, but I do not believe we can leave this to fester any longer.”

“Okay, but why us.”

“A few reasons. First, Chloe is the strongest healer in the city, and it’s not particularly close. Based on Seraphina’s treatises, her healing and Light magic should be particularly effective against the undead and corrupted creatures that are likely to dwell there. Secondly, and related to the first, the two of you are among the strongest individuals in the city. You are therefore most likely to be able to extricate yourself from the situation should things head south while investigating. And third, and perhaps most importantly, I simply don’t have the manpower available to both protect the city while also arranging a necessary strike force to investigate the bog while also maintaining a sustainable perimeter of soldiers for city defense.”

“Okay,” Chloe says. “What do you want us to do, and how are you going to compensate us for our trouble?”

“You’re sure you want to do this, Chloe?”

“Yeah. Regardless of the fact that I know you don’t like Nicholas, and I don’t fully trust him either, that bog is still dangerous. And we’re probably one of the best equipped to handle both it and the fallout.”

“Then I’ll support you with everything I have. But we should make sure we’re fully stocked up and prepared for battle.”

“As for what I am asking of you, I want you to investigate the area. Figure out what is causing the blighted region to spread, and if possible, destroy it. As far as compensation, I’m not authorized to provide financial remuneration beyond a small per diem, but I can relinquish from the stores of artifacts and Skill Books that my soldiers have discovered over the past several weeks. In fact, I think I have just the thing for Ms. Mortensen, should she be amenable to this assignment.”

He gestures to the subordinate standing to his right. He opens his briefcase, revealing a strange metal hand. I gaze down toward my own, and imagine that there has to be some sort of connection.

“Based on our analysis, it appears to be some sort of expansion pack for your [Mechanical Arm Cannon]. But with Lindsey still away in Red Clay City, I haven’t a soldier under my command who can [Identify] more than that. You may have it as a… sign-on bonus for the mission. Consider it a gesture of goodwill that, despite our differing viewpoints on many important matters, we can still find common cause and work together on others.”

I smile and offer my hand to Nicholas. “Then, I think we have a deal.”

Chloe nods in approval. “I hope that we can bring back news of our success in short order.”