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Saturday, October 1st, 2253 - 6:23 am

The Mystical Menagerie.

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The city was just beginning to stir as Jeremiah stepped out onto Market Street, cool morning air tinged with the scent of dew and fresh bread from Ulrick's bakery. The sky overhead glowed a pale, hopeful blue, the kind of soft, early light that made even the cracked sidewalks and leaning lamplights seem touched by magic. In his arms, he balanced a box of supplies — a five-pound bag of coffee beans, a bag of day-old rolls Ulrick insisted he take for "the animals and the odd customer," and a small parcel of treats tucked into his coat pocket.

He paused on the corner across from the Mystical Menagerie, letting the quiet sink in. After the wild, chaotic week he'd had, these last two days felt almost like a reprieve. No major discoveries, no emergencies, no cosmic revelations. Just the steady, calming rhythm of tending to his shop and the small lives inside it.

He let out a breath, some lingering knot of tension finally unwinding in his chest. It was, he realized, the first Saturday morning since becoming a System User. A full week survived.

Not that the first week hadn't been a trial by fire — near-disasters, wild magic, criminal eyes, and the kind of secrets he'd never even dreamed of when that first screen appeared in front of his eyes. For a while, it felt like every new day brought another surprise. Yet, somehow, things had settled. The Menagerie was starting to feel not just like a place, but his place.

He shifted the box in his arms and crossed the street, fishing out his keys as he reached the painted sign. The door creaked open on familiar hinges, and Jeremiah was greeted by the warm hush of animal breath and sun-dusted silence. The shop was a patchwork of gentle sounds — the distant hum of the fridge under the pastry counter, the shuffling of paws on tile, the soft purr of Sissy curled up in her enclosure's patch of sunlight.

"Morning, everyone," Jeremiah called softly, closing the door behind him with his foot.

Milo, sprawled atop the Dreamshell cushion, cracked one eye and huffed out a doggy sigh. The puppies were already awake, yipping and scrabbling at the glass of their enclosure, tails wagging in hopeful, frenetic rhythms. Sissy merely flicked an ear, radiating feline disdain, though he could feel the contentment bubbling at the edge of their attunement.

Setting the box on the counter, Jeremiah got to work on his morning routine. He topped up the food bowls, swapped out the water, and checked on Sissy's kittens before heading to the puppy enclosure. The animals had settled into their own patterns, learning to trust him — and, in Milo's case, to expect extra treats with every meal.

He worked in silence for a time, grateful for the quiet. His mind wandered as his hands moved through familiar motions.

Thursday and Friday had been almost… peaceful. No unexpected visitors, no magical emergencies. The new security cameras had deterred most would-be thieves; only two had tried their luck, and Jeremiah had caught them almost instantly thanks to the Shopkeeper's Regalia — its subtle magic nudging his attention at just the right moment. He was getting better at handling trouble, or maybe the city was learning to think twice about causing it in his shop.

Jeremiah's favorite part, though, was the faces that were starting to become familiar. The large, silent man had come by every day, always purchasing the same fancy cat food, barely uttering a word before vanishing into the morning light. The tired mother from Tuesday had returned, her two children in tow, grateful for the chance to rest in the cafe nook while the puppies wore the little ones out. Sally had stopped in twice — once with a bag of cinnamon twists she claimed were "slightly burned, but perfectly edible" — and Ulrick dropped by for a cup of strong black coffee before the bakery rush.

And the Grim children, Jeremiah smiled at the memory, had pooled their allowance to buy a jumbo bag of birdseed, acting suspiciously evasive when he'd asked what for. He'd let it go, deciding some mysteries were best left unsolved. It was enough to see them excited, their laughter brightening the shop for a few fleeting moments.

Even a handful of new faces had come to peer at the shelves and linger in the cafe. Most didn't buy much. Pet food, a toy, the odd cup of tea, but the comfy chairs in the cafe corner had been in use nearly all of Friday, one customer or another quietly reading, napping, or simply enjoying the sunlit hush.

It wasn't the kind of week that made for stories, maybe. But as Jeremiah knelt beside Milo, scratching the old hound behind the ears, he felt a deep sense of gratitude. There was comfort in the ordinary, he realized. In the way each morning unfolded into its own small rituals. For the first time since opening, he allowed himself to believe that the shop could really work. That maybe, just maybe, he was meant to be here.

He rose, wiping his hands on his vest, and glanced around at the gentle chaos he'd come to love.

And, of course, a hard week's work came with its own rewards. Jeremiah pulled up his status screen.

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〖Jeremiah Bridge〗

Distinction: ☆

System Authority: Standard User

User Grade: G - 9

Mental - (G): 4

Physical - (G): 5

Supernatural - (G): 0

User Skills: [2/5] [✚]

User Equipment: N/A

Quantum Marks: 540

Active Bonds:

Attunements - [3/3]

Contracts - [1/1]

Pacts - [0/0]

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He wasn't entirely sure when his System Authority had "leveled up" — if that was even the right word — but the shift was there all the same, subtle as a changed current beneath familiar waters. Between that quiet upgrade and the steady rhythm the shop had found, Jeremiah felt, for the first time, a genuine sense of forward momentum. Like he was finally stepping out of the pit he'd fallen into.

As for the practical difference between his old probationary status and this new "Standard User" designation, the results had been underwhelming at best. Hardly earthshaking. When he'd asked Mero about it, the sprite had doubled over with laughter.

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"What did ya expect, kid? The System's just saying you've got the basics down. Enough not to fall on yer face. Keep running the race."

Jeremiah chuckled at the memory, now that some time had passed. Still, not everything felt so anticlimactic. He caught sight of his current balance on the interface and couldn't help but grin.

Over five hundred marks. A fraction of what he'd received in those early System bonuses — nothing like the windfall of his first payout, but these marks were different. These he'd earned, bit by bit, through early mornings and long days, every one a quiet testament to his own effort. That made them feel more solid, more real, than any amount of System charity.

A bright whistle cut through his thoughts. Mero suddenly materialized over his shoulder, wings flickering with mischief as he peered at the interface. "Not a bad haul for your first week, kid."

Jeremiah flinched, startled by the guide fairy's abrupt arrival, but quickly masked it with a crooked grin. "And that's just gross profit," he shot back, rolling his shoulders as he tried to reclaim his composure. Even the monthly rent at Tell Tale only cost him about thirty marks, once he'd run it through the QTM's conversion. That left plenty of room to experiment.

Mero rolled lazily through the air. "Any idea what yer gonna do with it?"

Jeremiah raised an eyebrow, a spark of amusement playing at the edge of his mouth. "Why? Hoping for a commission? Any suggestion?"

Mero's grin widened. "Plenty. But c'mon, ya know better than anyone what's missing right now."

Jeremiah let out a low sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose as the weight of the decision settled over him. "Yeah… you're right. I just don't know if I can really afford it yet."

He sent a silent command through the interface, and the item he'd bookmarked the day before flickered into view, hovering at the edge of his vision, persistent temptation, waiting for him to decide.

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The Twin Boundaries

Rank: F

Quality: Exquisite

Keywords: Security, Barrier, Selective Access

Description: "A line drawn in the sand, immutable. Declare to the world; This far, and no further."

A paired set of enchanted ink brushes — one a deep cerulean blue, the other a striking crimson — rest in a slim case etched with interlocking geometric patterns.

When a continuous line is drawn with the blue brush, it forms a silent, invisible barrier: any object marked with the red brush cannot pass, as if striking an immovable wall. If the blue brush is used to mark a red-marked object, it erases any red mark upon contact, restoring the object to neutrality.

When a line is drawn with the red brush, it creates an invisible boundary faintly shimmering with crimson energy when touched. No person or object may cross this line unless they are marked with the blue brush. If the red brush is used to mark a blue-marked object, it erases any blue mark upon contact, restoring the object to neutrality.

Each mark feels cool and electric to the touch. All marks fade after three days or until marked by the other brush.

System Note:

Perfect for guarding sensitive items, private rooms, or designating 'no entry' zones with absolute clarity. Lines and marks glow faintly to attuned System users, but are otherwise invisible. Barriers created by these brushes can withstand F-Grade and below force. These brushes require recharging every 1,000 uses with mana-infused ink. See Store for options.

Cost: 300 Marks.

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It wasn't a Safeguard Ward Array, but if Jeremiah had learned one thing this past week, it was his lack of security was going to become a problem sooner than later. More common solutions like the cameras, and even the alarm system he installed Thursday, could act as deterrents, but they wouldn't actually stop anyone. Or deal with the more... unusual cases.

The Twin Boundaries was the cheapest non-standard security opinion he could find that had met all of his requirements. Namely preventing merchandise from leaving the store, and stopping intruders from taking alternative routes.

The problem was, at three hundred marks, it wasn't cheap for him at the moment. What's more, unlike the Safeguard Ward Array, it wasn't a "set it and forget it" system. It would require constant upkeep, both on the part of him and his wallet.

He sighed again "Though I guess I don't have any other options, either."

Mero laughed. "Think of it as an investment, kid. What ya spend on safety today, you'll save tomorrow."

Jeremiah's finger hovered on the confirmation screen. Three hundred marks was a steep price, but the memory of that near-miss with the thief tipped the scale. He drew a steadying breath, squared his shoulders, and pressed Purchase.

The air before him shimmered with a ripple of System magic. There was a faint pop, and suddenly, a long, lacquered case appeared atop the counter, still dewy with condensation from wherever the System conjured its wares. It was beautiful — narrow and weighty, a fine geometric pattern etched into the black lacquer, with a subtle, shifting iridescence. Interlocking lines of cerulean and crimson glinted across the surface, looping into an unbroken knot at the center where a tiny lock held the case shut.

He snapped the clasp open with a satisfying click. Inside, nestled in dark velvet, were the Twin Boundaries: two exquisite brush-pens, one a deep blue veined with gold, the other a striking crimson with a silver filigree twist near the cap. Both pens felt oddly cool to the touch, heavier than they looked, the craftsmanship so fine it almost hurt to think about using them for mere shopkeeping. Each one rested in its own precisely cut groove, the slender bodies balanced perfectly for writing or marking.

Jeremiah let his fingers drift over the set. "Well, Mero, if nothing else, at least I'll look like I mean business."

Before Mero could quip back, the world froze. A bell note echoed inside Jeremiah's mind — a System notification, sharper and more insistent than usual.

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Compatible Upgrade Detected: [Twin Boundaries]

Shopkeeper's Regalia supports modular enhancements. Would you like to fuse [Twin Boundaries] with your equipped Regalia?

Fusion will not destroy or diminish either item, but may alter or change core features. Additional functions may also be unlocked.

Fusion can not be undone.

Proceed with Fusion? [Yes] / [No]

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Jeremiah stared. "Wait — what? I didn't even know that was possible…"

Mero's eyes went wide, wings flickering with excitement. "Neither did I…"

Jeremiah's eyes went wide, and he turned to Mero. "What?"

Mero smirked and shrugged. "I told ya before. We're learnin' things right alongside of ya, for the most part. Some System nodes allow for something similar to this in other iterations, but those are typically for Craft types. Never heard of it doin' it for a iteration like yours. Not like this."

The fairy's eyes narrowed, and he stared at the prompt in deep contemplation. "I'll be honest, if it's offering it now, I'd take it. There's no tellin' when — or if — you'll ever get a chance like this again."

Jeremiah turned back to the prompt and swallowed. With his heart hammering, he mentally selected Yes.

Instantly, the lacquered case in his hands burst with a radiant light. For a heartbeat, color and heat bled through the room — the distinct blue and red lines looping and weaving together, wrapping around his chest like living threads. The Twin Boundaries dissolved in a swirl of light and sank into the front of his uniform vest. The brilliance faded, leaving Jeremiah blinking and momentarily blinded.

When he looked down, the old vest looked unchanged — until he noticed a new breast pocket stitched seamlessly onto the front, elegant and sharp-edged, as if it had always belonged there. Nestled in the pocket, clipped in with practiced precision, were the two pens: blue and red, gleaming under the early sun.

Before he could even marvel at the craftsmanship, another System window appeared, bold and gilded at the edges.

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System Notification: Shopkeeper's Regalia — Perk Upgrade

New Perk Unlocked: A Line In the Sand

You may now summon or dismiss the Twin Boundaries pens to your hand with a flick of your wrist, regardless of physical distance. If lost or stolen, they will instantly return to your possession when called.

All barriers and effects created by the Twin Boundaries now scale in strength with your current Grade and benefit from Regalia-based enhancements. [Minimal F-Grade].

All other properties of the Twin Boundaries remain unchanged.

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"This… this is amazing." Jeremiah's voice came out as little more than a whisper, eyes tracing the System notification's glowing script.

Mero hovered closer, wings humming with approval. "I'll say. That's one hell of an upgrade."

Jeremiah's thoughts raced ahead, piecing together the implications. The first function would keep the pens from being stolen or turned against him — no more worrying about a clever thief getting their hands on his security. The second, more subtle feature meant the Twin Boundaries would evolve with him, growing stronger as his own abilities advanced. It might not really matter until he was past F-Grade, but the promise was clear: as long as he improved, so would the protections around his shop. That, Jeremiah realized, was a kind of security no pile of mark could buy. More valuable, perhaps, than even the fanciest arrays listed for ten times the price.

A slow, satisfied grin spread across his face. Mero snickered, catching the shift in his mood. "I guess that means ya don't regret buying them?"

Jeremiah laughed, genuine and bright, a weight lifting from his chest. "Best three hundred marks I've ever spent."

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