The Systemic Lands
Chapter 639: Day 5,185 (2) – Delayed

“Emperor Michael,” Samantha said, and I paused. She was my personal assistant and handled a lot of minor issues on my behalf while I wasn’t around.

“What is it, Samantha?” I asked and paused. I was on my way to the airship port to fly away and start taking on the towers.

“The approval of the squire policy is going into effect five days from now. I wanted to know if you would want to be present?” she asked. I paused to consider the question. It was a novel concept, and I did like the idea of supporting the kids that were trying to better themselves.

“You have already picked out someone to run the program?” I asked.

“One of the teachers, a former soldier and grinder who opted for retirement. They have set up an office and have reached out to various groups and individuals. One year of training, letting them keep the points and crystals they earn and we pay them 100,000 points after 500 days,” Samantha explained. That was a year and a half, or close enough not to matter.

That was the headache of keeping track of everything in days and not years. But it was important to do days in my mind. Years would be hard to track using the deek, a ten day measurement of time that was based on arrivals.

Arrivals to the Systemic Lands had been the biggest focus a long time ago. They had become less important, but still a valuable way of measuring time. One that was implemented by the System itself and that I wasn’t going to disregard easily.

“How many are part of the first wave?” I asked.

“There were twelve applicants. All of them passed the tests that were set up and all of them have had mentors arranged in level 2 zones,” Samantha explained.

“Perhaps a completion ceremony, but there is no need to make a fuss at the start. For minor things like this, it isn’t needed to make a fuss or have me make an appearance. I have better things to focus on at the moment,” I said. While I would have enjoyed a small celebration in the past, right now things were too chaotic.

It was a shame in my opinion that such an event was going to be sidelined, but I couldn’t just sit around. My vacation was over. I had been getting mentally lazy from my injury and I needed to get back into the swing of things. Back to fighting and living on the edge of combat.

“I will make the arrangements. Thank you,” Samantha said. I waved her off and continued on my way to the airboats.

Once I reached the top of the airship port, I noted the Crystal Vortex was waiting there along with Captain Francis and Michelle. That was a pleasant surprise. “Back already?” I asked.

“Got word to come back. You are planning something?” Captain Francis asked me. It had to be Clarissa arranging this. I was surprised I hadn’t found out, but I was happy. It was good to have people I trusted being around me.

“All healed up. Going to be crashing some airboats into the top of towers. You are giving me a lift?” I asked.

“I got enough crafting crystals for a while and points for Jacob’s research. We are your team, not his,” Michelle said. I could sense some tension there. I nodded slowly at her statement.

“Alright, that is fine. I plan on targeting the towers from the air. Head in at high speed with an airboat, leap off, and beat the boss at the top of the tower,” I said. It would be a shame that the airboat would be lost, but it would be a worthy sacrifice.

“I am glad you are healed up. I thought you would have gone for level 8 zones?” Michelle asked.

“Got to let my injuries rest. So only towers in level 3 zones to minimize the risks,” I said.

“Well, we are ready to go. We got in last night,” Captain Francis added.

“Michelle?” I asked her.

“I am fine. You will be doing the fighting this time. I will just be playing overwatch,” she said.

“Thank you. Both of you. It is nice to have people around that I can trust. Dealing with East Bastion on my own was a massive nightmare. This should go much more smoothly,” I replied and started moving towards the walkway to get on the airship.

“You are going to jinx us,” Captain Francis muttered.

“Well, we are still alive,” I said with a smile and turned back to look at the two who were rolling their eyes. I looked between the two trying to think if they could be a couple. Maybe, but it was unlikely. Still, it was possible, and I wasn’t sure. I was tempted to ask if they were togeather but stopped myself.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

As amusing as it would be to get more information on their personal interactions, it was none of my business. As long as it didn’t impact their ability to do their jobs then it didn’t matter if they were togeather. They had been working togeather for quite a bit, so it wasn’t illogical to think that there might be some kind of relationship forming.

I thought back to their previous interactions and there was nothing that gave them away if they were in a relationship. But it wasn’t my place to dig and interfere in their personal lives. If they did get togeather, that would be the highest level relationship that had formed in my government. Clarissa was in love with power and her own life. Doctor Katz was focused on helping people. He hadn’t meant the right person yet.

As for me, there was only power and the pursuit of it. I was much like Clarissa in that regard, which was probably why we got along so well. I could have had a harem of beauties without any issue, but that would just slow me down even more. That was my curse, the moment things looked like they were going to settle down, something else came up.

As I sat in my chair on the bridge of the Crystal Vortex, I considered the future and if there was room for someone else. For a family possibly. There was a certain appeal and temptation, but I couldn’t afford to allow myself to have weaknesses or distractions.

As much as I would want to invest my time into my personal life, that was just asking for pointless drama. The trick to avoiding drama was strategy, not tactics. Other people with less self-awareness would start up relationships and get entangled in that drama of a family. For me, it was better to avoid it all to begin with and focus on getting stronger.

I glanced over at Captain Francis as he detached the Crystal Vortex from the airship port and had two airboats latch onto the side of our vessel. I couldn’t even ask him for advice. I couldn’t ask anyone. Not even Clarissa, if my thinking was correct. It was a personal choice, and just as I didn’t interfere in personal matters with people under me, I didn’t want them to interfere in mine.

It was lonely at the top. I missed Naran and the ability to just chat with someone I viewed as an equal in combat. While I respected Clarissa, she would tell me to focus on getting stronger in order to maintain stability. I already knew her answer, since her future was invested with mine. The same with Michelle, Doctor Katz, and Captain Francis.

I knew their answers and how they would go. But Naran had been independent, willfully so. That was why he had been willing to leave my side. Now there was no one left who I could speak to about matters of the heart and mind.

It was lonely at the top, incredibly lonely. I didn’t regret using my meta-point to make myself stronger or my path up to this point. This was what I had wanted, and I had managed it. I had become an invincible existence, above all other people.

As the Crystal Vortex began to ascend out of the Purgatory Pit, I couldn’t help but think that maybe I had pushed people away. If I asked other people, most would say that power was the most important thing in this place, but it wasn’t the only thing.

I smiled and shook my head. This was why I shouldn’t be allowed to have long vacations, I got to thinking too much about my personal situation and pointless speculation. I looked out the front of the bridge at the connections from the pit to the outside zone.

Chunks of building had been used as makeshift structures at the edge of the pit where the cardinal entrances used to be. A series of pullies lifted and lowered platforms with people and carts from the city up to the zone, back and forth.

There was construction using chunks of building to build further up on top of the towers over the entrance towards the edge of the pit. They were still a work in progress but getting close to completion. Once done, people would be able to climb up a set up stairs back and forth. It would be exhausting work, but that was how things were going to be done.

It was amazing how resilient everyone had been. I guess it was easier losing people out of sight, than right in front of you in some bloody conflict. That was why the sphere, despite having been the worst opponent in terms of human casualties felt small in comparison to the Divine Empress and others I had faced.

I had felt those deaths, those defeats much more personally. This had been a sudden attack, without me present. And while I had suffered, it just felt smaller. Perhaps that was due to my strength or recently acquired meta-point. But it still didn’t feel like it had been a struggle.

Perhaps that was due to having a team at my back that I could count on to help me. My role was to fight. It wasn’t to plan, or work something out. It was to fight. Another thing that bothered me, not being the smartest person in terms of knowledge about energy. Before I would have shouldered the role that Jacob and Doctor Katz had taken on, but that was in the past.

It was hard to put into words how I felt. I was relieved, but I was also struggling mentally with the fact that my role had been reduced to figurehead and fighter. It was something I had done and allowed to happen, but it was still a harsh realization that I had sidelined my talents in thinking things through and researching this place.

“Vacation really doesn’t agree with me,” I muttered.

“What was that?” Michelle turned towards me and asked.

“Just saying that vacation doesn’t agree with me. I think too much about personal issues. What about you? Need a vacation?” I asked.

“I am fine for now. But maybe in the future. I don’t mind going out and fighting, but I am not doing that for Jacob,” she said sternly. I held up my hands, showing I didn’t want to argue the point.

“That is fine. You have my trust. If you don’t want to work on getting crafting crystals for him that is fine. I was just asking if you would like a vacation. I know you have been working really hard and I appreciate that,” I said.

“Thanks. Sorry that I got so annoyed. But I am happy helping you out,” Michelle said. I couldn’t tell what was wrong, but I didn’t want to dig. I wanted to avoid pointless drama. If she wanted me to interfere, she was a grown woman and use her words.