Ch.5 System Messages

Ruby heard Silver pull the wooden gate shut behind them. Within the wall of wood, the first haven of civilization stood in this tropical paradise. In the middle of the new clearing was a humble house. Well, humble as in she had restrained herself to the barest number of rooms for four people. It was two-stories, with windows for each and every room. An exterior stairway climbed from the side of the house up to the second floor and onto the flat roof. They would need to create a firepit in the courtyard since she had resisted creating a stone oven. She could make one, but she wasn't sure there was much point since it would take a couple of days to make the bricks individually and then assemble the oven to enjoy it only a couple of days.

I could leave it as a boon to the first settlers of Opes, she mused. Little doubt they will claim this home.

It was the first time she allowed herself to think of others beyond basic survival. Without any sign of Threda and with basic survival assured, she found herself reluctantly relaxing. Her team followed her through the wooden door into the house. No paint or ornamentation, just a large, empty room for them to gather. Yet, she was content and a little excited. As temporary as this was, this was her first home on Remnant.

Reality heard her calming thoughts and decided it was too calm.

I am thou… Thou art I; Thou hast established a new bond…; Thou shalt step ever closer to freedom; Hear our blessings with the Fool Arcana.

"Ruby, you okay?"

Her eyes jerked upward as a giant, almost translucent, tile drifted from the ceiling down toward her. Except it wasn't a playing tile as she knew from several games. The tile was far too thin and wasn't wood or stone but other strange material. Worst of all, she knew without a doubt that she used to know what it was really called. As confusing as it was, she was far more interested with the image on the tile. It was a lifelike painting of herself. Her image strode across the painting, about to step off a cliff and into the sea. Her doppelganger didn't see the danger as she looked skyward with an amused expression. A war-scythe rested in her right hand as it stretched past her shoulder to behind her, a bag tied right below the bladed head. In her left hand was a red rose in full bloom. She didn't know which was worse: the fact she was about to walk to her death in the gaudy outfit she wore. It looked like a jester's garb, but in red, white, and black with bright, yellow boots. At the top of the tile was a zero, and beneath the cliffside was "The Fool" written across the bottom.

The tile came to a stop at floor level as it stared at her. She glared back at it. "What is this sorcery?"

"Uh, Ruby, mind cluing us in?"

She twisted and saw the others staring at her. Not at the tile. She pointed a finger at it. "Can none of ye perceive the tile that-ah!?"

"What?" Weapons came up in guards. Red's head snapped right, while Silver's head to the left. Yip scanned the whole room.

Ruby, however, was focused on the last of the fading tile before it vanished entirely. "It's spirited away."

"What did?" Red asked.

She explained her vision. Once she finished, Silver guessed, "One of the Commands?"

"I believe thus. Let me inquire." Contract, was the vision caused by a Command?

Affirmative.

…could thou identify thine Command?

No response.

Contract, identify Command that caused the vision.

She heard someone ask a question, but she ignored it.

Command here: This command shall only be heard once you have defeated the brother gods, be it slaying them or removing them of their divine nature; You and other individuals of relative importance shall be bound to the 22 Major Arcana through a ritualized system of power by an additional contract you must sign first before recieving it (a short introduction for the 22 Major Arcana will be sent alongside this command once you receive it). (From Yip)

Ah, she had forgotten that Command. She dimly remembered being forced to agree to this covenant, but details were hard to recall since she had been fighting for her life against Fin's betrayal. Well, it was active now, but why did it show her that tile? Contract, what other knowledge is tied to this Command?

Introduction Proper

(Supplied by Yip the Goatherd)

Welcome to the Arcana System.

In order to start this system to access it, you will need to awaken your Arcana. To do this, you must find yourself in a space that you consider safe (or relative). Once this requirement is fulfilled, a voice similar to the one heard when you receive Suggestions will speak to you.

The following phrase will be spoken to you, "I am thou… Thou art I; Thou hast established a new bond…; Thou shalt step ever closer to freedom; Hear our blessings with the (Arcana's Name) Arcana." To the eyes of you only, a semi-translucent tarot card bearing the Arcana told from the voice shall descend upon you—you and others will be unable to physically interact with this card—before disappearing five seconds later.

As per your status within this system, the Arcana bestowed to you—the Fool Arcana (0)—will then be revealed. To access the Arcana System now, do as you would for calling upon the Contract or its ledger. Once you have accessed the system, then the benefits of this contract will activate, and you will be able to gain Koa through this system.

Disclosure, you will not know which individuals have an Arcana, nor will you know what their Arcana is prior to being revealed. I will, however, give you this. All of the Bonds have an Arcana.

"Ruby, could you please keep us in the loop?"

She blinked as she focused on her companions. Red was frowning, Yip curled her head to one side in curiosity, and Silver waited serenely. "At this moment," she paused when she saw Red's eye twitch. "Just now, one of the Commands, activated. A… sub-contract that grants me Koa, faith-power, and other benefits."

Red grimaced. "Another contract?"

Even a small frown popped up on Silver's face. "Are the requirements burdensome?"

She frowned. "I know not. I mean, I don't know." Before Ruby could think of something, existence twitched.

Priority alert! The Contract announced. First party request incoming. Prepare for translation.

Ruby's eyes bulged. "What?"

To her additional shock, Red had the exact same reaction. Even Silver blinked in open surprise. Yip scanned them all with a confused frown. Ruby focused on her clones. "Did thou-?"

Before she could finish the question, a bright light shined from the door, obscuring the world outside. "What's going on?" Red demanded as he assumed a defensive stance.

The light flooded the room, blinding its occupants. Ruby felt a strange lifting sensation. Not for her body but for her mind. She could feel herself ascending to… something…

[Connection lost… reinitializing…]

A/N: Apologies for the unusually short chapter. There's been a major shift in my personal life, not least of which included a birthday. My next upload will explain more.