We spend the rest of the morning and into the early afternoon testing how our bond works. One of the first things I realize is that the telepathy abruptly cuts out at the one mile mark. We can have a perfectly clear conversation one moment, but the instant we cross that threshold, we can’t hear one another’s thoughts anymore. The distance is calculated continuously, based on the standard Euclidean metric to the best of my ability to calculate.

And this, in turn, suggests that we can use our bond to triangulate where one another is, at least to a rough approximation. By walking or flying right against that threshold, we can calculate the vector normal to that invisible bubble surface and use that to find one another. I hypothesize that the same works for the 1,000 mile radius within which we can sense one another’s general emotional state, but I’m not traveling two states over and spending a day and a half away from Chloe just to verify this. I should hope I never have to do so.

The other notable thing we discover is that [Etheric Armor] isn’t considered a buffing or protection spell the way [Saintess’s Cloister] is, and doesn’t get stronger when I cast it upon Chloe. While it does function similarly, creating a translucent barrier of light and [Ether] energy to protect its target, it sits over the wearer instead of applying to the target like our other spells do. It’s a nitpicky distinction, but it’s literal magic. Good to know about, even if I feel the System is cutting way too fine of a line here.

Chloe is… extremely happy throughout it all. And she’s already found plenty of devious ways to use our telepathic bond in… less savory ways, so to speak. Like sending very lewd thoughts to me while she’s in the shower, describing her every action in graphic detail while I sit at the table and attempt to focus on the list of glyphs in my sketchbook. We’ll be taking on the Tower Gauntlet soon, and I feel we need better armor and accessories if we’re to come out with our lives intact.

It’s hopeless, though. Chloe’s mental assault is a bit too much, and I realize in the moment one of the— admittedly small— downsides of this incredible Skill I now share with her. It will be that much harder for one of us to concentrate while the other is in pain, particularly in the field of battle. Both of us have high [Mind] stats, which should help us resist this downside to an extent. But— I suppose it’s not that much different than before, the sympathetic pain one feels when their love is hurt. Just that much more real, more visceral, to have that same pain inflicted directly onto one’s own psyche.

“Hey Sera,” Chloe messages. “Do you want to see about getting some of those materials you were trying to pick up the other day?”

“I’d love to, but I figured you would want to stay in and have a relaxing day.”

“I do, but I think you should get out of the house for a little bit. I can feel some of your nerves through our bond.”

“Sorry about that. I guess I can’t hide it from you anymore. Just… worried about this whole Tower Gauntlet thing. And now that Nicholas has given us these Skills, I feel like we have to succeed.”

“Remember what I told you before? About how you’re just one woman, and how you can’t shoulder the weight of the world on your shoulders?”

I send a chuckle through our bond. “Yeah. I still feel responsible for everything, though.”

“Remember that you have me and you have others who are willing to help.”

“But–”

“I know, Sera.”

And I know that she knows. She knows the guilt I've been feeling ever since I realized how my arrival in this world might have been responsible for bringing the System, and with it, so many, many deaths. Moving forward is… A form of penance, as much as it is a way to try to prepare for the future which lies beyond my foresight and control. Maybe it’s also a way for me to try to exert some control on that future, and bend it in a more favorable direction.

The two of us quickly get dressed, moving at speeds that whip up the breeze in the house, though neither of us are consciously attempting to rush ourselves. It’s a phenomenon that I’ve started to notice ever since the fight against the Luminary Oracle. My perception of time is starting to slow down. Each second feels a little longer than it used to, a consequence of my [Speed] and [Mind] together improving my cognitive processing speed. Before long, I’ll need to consciously slow down my speech to be able to carry out a conversation with Mrs. Jacobs or others who haven’t gained many levels.

I– I choose not to think about all the societal ramifications this simple fact will cause in the longer term, especially as some of us start reaching even higher levels. Goodness, how big will the gap be once we hit Level 64 and presumably unlock another class?

Within the span of two minutes, we’re both suited up in our armor and are flying out the door. We decide to head to an actual jewelry shop instead of a pawnshop this time around; I’m sure I’m going to be fleeced that much harder, especially on gemstones, and I’m not sure if they’ll sell gold and silver outside of jewelry. But I think it’s significantly less likely that we’ll be accosted by black market arms dealers. Not impossible— we could run into gem smugglers if word has gotten out about the value of gemstones in Ethertech. But hopefully less likely.

Once we find our destination— a small shop in midtown— the two of us descend and make our way into the shop. It’s far cleaner, far nicer than the grungy pawnshop from a couple of days ago. We’re greeted by carpets of red velvet and guards in full suits that look like they could have come right out of the Secret Service. With my [Archangel’s Gaze], I distend my sight away from my eyes and look out at the large room, taking stock of both the offerings and the potential threats. Seeing plenty of the first, albeit with higher price tags than I think appropriate, and none of the second, I take Chloe by the hand, stepping into the center of the room.

An older, distinguished man in an elaborate vest approaches us. He offers Chloe a gentle handshake— he’s quite astute if he recognizes that Chloe’s the one who he needs to woo. At least he would be if our goal was to pick out jewelry specifically to wear ourselves. Maybe I give off a more masculine vibe? Or is it because I’m taller?

“And what are you looking for today, ladies?” he asks.

“Chloe, if there’s something that you want for yourself, let me know telepathically.”

She responds with a nonverbal assent.

“Can you show us any assorted gemstones you might have?” Chloe asks. “I know we’ve been looking at a few elsewhere, but I’m not really sure what you have on offer.”

“Are you looking for one for any particular reason?” the man asks, completely professional and unflappable. “Perhaps I can show you to our birthstone collection? Or are you looking at getting something for a certain special someone?”

“Sera here is a bit of a hobbyist craftswoman.” She flashes her [Crude Ring of Regeneration] and her [Bulwark Ring] at the gentleman. “The problem is that materials are difficult to come by, and we were hoping we could find something suitable for her to work with.”

“Hmm…” the man says. “If you’re looking for raw materials, you might have better luck…” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small business card, writing an address down for some store I’ve never heard of on the far side of town. “Tell them that Lawrence sent you. With that said, if I might interest you in anything here…”

----------------------------------------

We do end up getting a matching pair of emerald earrings before we depart. Partially because I feel some obligation to purchase something from Lawrence for his time, and mostly because Chloe thought they looked good and matched my eyes and general aesthetic. And damn, does she look good with them on.

I won’t admit that it was the most efficient use of our money, but I think that’s the poor girl talking, used to scrimping and saving and never splurging. I have to remember that I’ve got literally half a million dollars now— life changing money, really— but eighteen years of deprivation makes for a hard mental habit to break.

It only takes a few minutes to fly across town, and we step down in front of a small building that looks more like a fortress compound than an actual store. The windows have iron bars over them, and they appear to be heavily reinforced. More than that, however, is the characteristic glow of Ether leaking out of the building.

My first instinct is to assume this is a trap and prepare accordingly. Chloe and I cast all the abjurations we have on one another, and I further coat myself in [Etheric Armor] before we step into the compound. The moment we pass through the door, I activate [Archangel’s Gaze] and discorporate my vision, staring all around the complex, prepared to fight or flee at a moment’s notice.

To my surprise, however, there’s no slate of armed guards to greet us. Just a middle-aged man wearing a simple shirt and pair of slacks. He’s fairly muscular overall, though not without a bit of stomach pudge, and he’s got a few scars from… I’m not sure I want to know where. But the most interesting part about the man is that he’s quite a high level. I don’t think he’s quite reached the level 32 class change, but he’s probably in his high 20’s, maybe 30.

“Seraphina?” he asks.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “If we’ve met, I don’t recognize you.”

“No, I’m sorry, we haven’t met before, though I have to say that I’m extremely impressed with your work. Oh, sorry, I should introduce myself. Name’s Zackary, with a ‘k’, not an ‘h’. I’m a [Gemologist], both in terms of profession and class.”

“Nice to meet you,” Chloe says. “How does that work?” she follows up.

“Seraphina understands the basic principles, at least from the lecture she gave. Which is how I know of her. Absolutely brilliant ideas, I have to say.”

I smile; the guy knows how to flatter, at the very least.

“Anyway, as I said, I’m a [Gemologist]. I infuse gemstones with my power and can use them later on to cast the spells stored within them.”

“Which is why there’s a lot of Ether leakage in the room, as well as why there aren’t any other guards around the place,” I say. “The entire facility is rigged to go boom if anyone tries anything.”

Zackary smiles.

“Anyway, welcome, welcome on in. I can’t imagine you’re here just to window shop. Though, if I may ask, how did you find out about this place?”

“A man named Lawrence mentioned you.”

“Oh, my uncle. Manages a jewelry store over southside?”

Chloe nods.

“Yeah, I ended up following him into the business. He mostly prefers to do front-office work in retail these days, while I prefer to be more hands on with lapidary work in the back. Now I run my own little boutique, and end up selling a number of specialty works that don’t have the same type of mass-market appeal.”

“So, what kind of gemstones do you have?” I ask, my interest now fully piqued.

Zackary gives me a full grin as he guides me toward the back. “By all means, let me show you some jewels that I think are going to be just perfect for the goals you’ve outlined.”