<31 August 2024, MIRROR DEEP RETREAT, ????> [Theo and Julia] >Local Message: Universal Translation in effect "Greetings and welcome back to the Mirror Deep Retreat," Laurel said.

Theo and Julia had taken their time eating and made their way to the Homestead Core, teleporting into the retreat just as the sun started to set. Julia smiled, "Hello, Laurel."

"Lord and Lady Sorrin, it is a pleasure once again to see you. How may I be of service today?" Laurel said.

"We would like a bath, but we are also expecting roughly four people to join us at some point." Theo said, "I am unsure if they will want to bathe, but if they do, odds are that they might not want to bathe with us, or if they do, they will want swimwear, so can we accommodate that?"

"That is not a problem." Laurel said, "If you pay for a Full Cleanse Package, this can be accommodated. It will cost you two gold and fifty silver."

Theo shrugged and handed over the money. Laurel nodded and was about to send them on their way when a group popped into existence behind them. Theo and Julia turned only to recognize the face in front of them as one that was world-renowned before the system. Theo raised an eyebrow. "President Armstrong?"

The man in front of him flinched. "Yes, but not anymore. Are you both Theo and Julia?"

"We are," Julia said with a smile. "We were just making arrangements."

Theo turned to Laurel, "Do you need to check them?"

Laurel shook her head, "They are all below level ten, so they are of no real concern to me. Please take them with you."

Theo and Julia nodded and turned back to the group, and Theo nodded towards the hallway with a purple thread guiding them. "Let's go, we can do introductions after we get situated."

They all walked quickly to the bathing area. An attendant waited outside, "Men to the left, women to the right, bathing garments have been provided. And a shower for those who wish to prewash is available."

Theo, Joshua, and Renno walked through the blue carpeted doorway, and Julia, Velna, and Sarah walked through the purple carpeted doorway. Several minutes later, they were all sitting in a large bathing area submerged up to their necks in water. Sarah was sitting between her father and Velna.

"Now then, I guess it is time for introductions." Theo said, "I am Theo Sorrin, and this is Julia Sorrin."

"Hello!" Julia said with a smile and a small wave at Sarah, who had waved at her.

"Good to meet you both." Joshua said, "I am Joshua Armstrong, and this is my daughter Sarah."

"Hi everybody!" Sarah said excitedly before taking a deep breath and submerging her head.

"I am Velna Marrowglint, and that is my grandson Renno Marrowglint," Velna said, reveling in hot water.

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"So," Theo said, "you all seemed to want to talk to us. So shoot."

Joshua nodded, "We did, well, I did for sure. I want to find a way for my daughter to be safe. And my conversation with Starfall led to contacting you, and in all honesty, I am unsure what to do now. At one point, I had asked Starfall if she would take Sarah and keep her safe. But..."

"You should not leave her," Velna said, and then Sarah surfaced from her breath holding.

Joshua took a breath, smiling at his daughter, who was very excited about her achievement. "Yes, I have realized what I was going to try and do was a mistake. So I ask you both."

He locked eyes with Theo and then Julia. "What can I do to secure your help?"

"Alright, that's reasonable," Theo said, "but I want to know what you mean by help?"

"I want to make sure that my daughter grows up safe and has the most opportunity to succeed. And I was led to believe that the best way to do that was to start a Family or ally myself with one. The whole world received a notification that you formed the first family. I am honestly surprised you have not been approached more." Joshua said.

"We are roughly ten thousand miles from the nearest human settlement," Theo said, and watched Joshua's face fall at that. "But we are currently working on having our home built. And actually, let's have Ordus and Kreldar join us to chat."

Julia nodded, and a pulse of energy rushed out from her. They talked about many things, Theo and Julia telling them some of the events they had already had to deal with. Finally, Ordus and Kreldar arrived.

Joshua, Velna, and Renno looked shocked. Sarah was beaming at the two men who had come in and taken a seat on the floor. Julia introduced them, "Everyone, this is Go'Van' Ordus, our Majordomo, and Kreldar Underbrace of Clan Molbrak, I guess you could call him our architect."

"I think that would be a good description." Kreldar agreed happily.

"Ordus, Kreldar, these are Joshua Armstrong, Velna and Renno Marrowglint, and Joshua's daughter Sarah. They are the ones who reached out to us through Oreburn." Theo said.

"It is a pleasure to meet you all. How may we be of assistance?" Ordus asked.

"We are looking for a way to help them," Julia said, and then continued to explain what Joshua had said.

Ordus nodded, "Very well then, tell me what everyone's Personal Mana Density?"

"I am at C minus," Joshua said.

"Same for me," Velna said.

"I am C plus," Renno said.

"Hmm." Ordus said, "That is problematic."

"How so?" Julia asked.

"Mana Poisonin'." Kreldar said, "The System locks better an' better resources behind mana density."

"At an A-plusrank that the Overlook is at, the minimum requirement to even enter an A-plus Mana zone is C-minus. But surviving the mana is a different story. At the Personal Mana Density of C-minus, the Mana Poisoning would prove fatal after only ten minutes."

The faces of everyone fell. Sarah didn't quite understand why everyone was sad. Kreldar nodded. "But the little one is fine."

Joshua's head snapped up. "What do you mean?"

"She's protected," Ordus said, shrugging.

Joshua furrowed his brow, "The merchant called her Protected User as well. What is that about?"

"Well, best as we can figure," Kreldar said, "the System wants people to grow up big'n strong so that they partake of whatever machination it decided on. I've also heard a theory 'bout the System that says we power it with actions, so who knows. But long story short, Mana Poisoning, and many general maladies will not harm her until she turns fourteen, then she will have her Personal Mana Density determined and begin to be affected by lot's o' things."

"Kreldar is correct, there are other stages, but as of now, the best thing you could do for her is to get her into as high of a mana density as you can for as long as you can, and try and teach her to meditate and feel the mana around her based on feeling alone," Ordus said.

"Interesting." Theo said, "Is there any item or way to help them negate the Mana Poisoning?"

"Healin' usually helps, but it's not a cure," Kreldar said.

"There are items, but I do not have any knowledge of them. You should talk to the merchant." Ordus agreed.

"Alright, good to know." Julia said, "Anything else you think we should know?"

Kreldar shook his head and rose to his feet. Ordus followed suit, and they left together. Theo nodded, "Very well, Joshua, I have a proposal for you."

Joshua looked up and waited to hear what this strange man with a dwarf and something else working for him had to say.

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