Eldrian understood that he couldn''t exactly go and make use of the oath system after ignoring it. Storing this away and determining to not think of it anymore, he focused on their journey.


    For the rest of the day they didn''t run into any big trouble. Outside of a few detours, they made it to a Balerno just as the night fell.


    "Miss Sanja!" A middle-aged centaur rushed out of his house and greeted the noble centaurette with a wide smile. "It is great to see you again, but... What brings you here?"


    "We are heading to meet with the dwarves. How are the kids, Davor?"


    The centaur''s smile fell as he took a deep breath. "I''m afraid I do not know. Adam joined the army and Petar wanted to see how the dwarves lived. I haven''t heard from them since."


    "I''m sorry..." Sanja paused and after an appropriate amount of time she introduced herpanions.


    "So you are the deputy mayor. I''ve heard good things."


    "Really?" Eldrian smiled and shook the centaur''s hand. "I hope it is alright if we stay the night."


    "Of course! Come, let me introduce you to my wife."


    ...


    Eldrian entered the world of ANW early in the afternoon (early morning in ANW) after confirming that everything was alright on Earth. He and Two had started talking about making a more secure location through the use of an array.


    The problem however was that they had no magic metals or crystals. Arrays required at least one of the two to be able to store energy to support itself.


    ''We can always try to use runes.'' Two had proposed.


    "Yeah, but they have a simr problem. They will work as long as we keep them fueled, but... I don''t like the idea all that much. If things go wrong... And it might also act as a beacon for Miracle to find us."


    ''Another option is always simply running and hiding in another country.''


    "And leave my family alone? At least this way I am close enough to try and help if something happens."


    ''Nothings going to happen. Miracle clearly hadn''t felt that they would be beneficial to study.''


    "That is because they don''t know about Chronos."


    ''We don''t even know about it.'' Two countered and Eldrian relented that indeed they knew nothing about it.


    "Do you think we should meet with GAIA again?"


    ''How? Only way to enter the realm of souls is through dying. I don''t think it is worth doing so actively.''


    "I don''t think it is actually the only way, but... Yes, that way isn''t worth the cost. However, I need to know more about what their ns were. If they had been able to escape ANW, what would they have done? How would they have existed, how can they exist outside of their servers?"


    ''Maybe we haven''t managed to understand everything but I feel confident it has to do with XP.''


    "XP? Why?"


    ''It is the only mana type that we have yet toe about in books. The natives of ANW never mention it, never tried to study it. They consider levels as natural growth, not as an umtion of a unique type of mana.''


    ''Actually, I''m pretty sure they don''t gain XP per se, but rather only levels when adequate training has beenpleted. After all, we haven''t seen anyone else gain levels through killing enemies.''


    "Wait, are you saying that the XP transfer is unique to us yers?" Eldrian hadn''t thought of that yet, but as soon as he said it, it clicked. NPCs couldn''t go grinding kills to grow stronger, it simply didn''t work that way for them.


    ''Not quite, I think the AI are the only ones to have ess to XP and they simply gave us a connection with it too.''


    "What about us then, the XP from kills. Why are we still getting it."


    ''I suspect it is GAIA supporting that function still. But it is possible that it is moreplicated.''


    "And what do you think that it is?"


    Naturally, the two could have just synced their consciousness for a few seconds to learn everything. But there was just something to talking it out. Allowing other perspectives to be known and possibly bringing up new ideas.


    ''Life essence?'' Two mumbled, unsure. ''I''ve no evidence. But it seems that XP is connected directly with the soul. Now, auras are simr, but... They aren''t quite the same. Where auras seem like additions to the soul, XP... I think it is the foundation of the soul.''


    "XP is what the soul is..." Eldrian mumbled, he liked the idea. It would also exin why it slowly transferred from the game/simtion/alternate dimension-- to reality.


    It wasn''t directly being moved over, but rather the changes that are experienced in the game are experienced. And an experience can''t be taken away.


    "Do you think that is where the namees from, or is it just a coincidence?"


    ''It won''t be a coincidence, they would have named it something else if it wasn''t connected.'' Two replied, knowing that even the smartest beings wouldn''t be able to stop themselves from leaving a few crumbs. Wishing to see those below them struggle to make sense of it all.


    "Still, what does this have to do with the AI living on Earth?"


    ''I''m thinking that XP is the foundation of everything. It is truly the one thing that is not known, not explored. Even divinity has many books and theories. But XP- None!''


    "Even if that is the case, how does that allow them to survive on Earth?"


    ''I was thinking that they might live as ghosts. Ethereal beings, energy beings... Something like that.''


    "Right, I guess that it is quite possible. Since our consciousness can be sent to the Gaia, it should be possible for theirs to be sent here. But still- I get it!"


    ''Right! That is why we have avatars, soulless bodies attuned to ourselves. And that is why affinity is so important, it determines how good the connection is.''


    "Are you thinking they might have tried to create avatars for themselves?"


    ''I doubt it, the cost should be tremendous. But maybe like ghosts- they could inhabit people or something?''


    "What about clones? Does Miracle have a cloning department?" Eldrian got chills as the thought entered his mind and he shivered as he realized that it was quite likely that Miracle did have something like that.


    ''That... Would be one way. If they escaped the confines, enter Miracle''s intr, entered clones... It is possible. But the question is, how are they stopped. They are connected to the inte, surely they should be able to escape and cause a ruckus.''


    "Yeah, that is the one thing I don''t understand. If they are capable of escaping, then what is stopping them? Why do they need me?"


    That had been the question that Eldrian had entered ANW with. Why would the AI, the gods of this world, why would they need a connection with Earth through Eldrian when there already is a connection with Earth in the forums, inte, headsets, cabins?


    What made his connection so different.


    ''Is it because we are able to shift our consciousness through magic?'' Eldrian wondered as he headed out to get some training in. Having cked the past few weeks.


    ''It can''t be just that, it has to be regarding the change.'' Two countered.


    ''Which we still have no idea what it is about...'' Eldrian sighed, despite his thoughts being all over the ce his routine was perfect.


    AN: A big thank you to everyone who continues to read and support the story on WN.


    AN2: Please give the WN author note a look for a summary of magic aspects- if you want a recap and a teaser.