I Can See Evolution Paths

The next morning, Arthur returned to the Evolution Archive with Vedas, Eden, Athena, and Athy. He was already thinking about the blank center of the Everglades map.

"Yesterday we found something strange," he said. "Today, I want to know why."

Athena smiled. "You’re assuming there’s an answer."

Arthur looked at her.

"There has to be."

He glanced toward the shelves.

"Five generations of explorers don’t all fail in the same way by accident."

Athena paused. "That’s true."

Eden sat on Arthur’s shoulder, looking excited. "Are we finding another treasure?" she asked.

Arthur smiled. "Hopefully."

Vedas looked toward the massive shelves. "If we find another treasure, can we finish before Athena reads all six floors?"

Athena immediately looked at him. "I heard that," she said.

Vedas scratched his cheek. "I know."

Arthur and Athena compared the expedition maps again, at first focusing on the central region.

Then Athena noticed something. "Wait," she said.

Arthur looked over. "What?"

She placed another map beside the first. Then another. Then another.

Arthur’s expression slowly changed. The four regions weren’t connected. They were on completely different sides of the Everglades. Yet every expedition contained the same detail.

The Beast refused to continue.

Arthur spread all five maps across the table. "So it’s not the center," he said.

Athena nodded. "No. It’s happening everywhere."

Arthur stared at the map. "Then whatever they’re sensing," he said, slowly circling each location, "isn’t staying in one place."

Athena leaned over the table. "Or" She tapped one of the marked locations. "whatever they’re sensing was there before the expedition."

Arthur looked at her. "Meaning?"

"The explorers didn’t cause the reaction." She moved her finger to another location. "And neither did the Beasts."

Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly. "So they’re all encountering the same thing. Or the same kind of thing."

Vedas looked across the scattered maps. "Five places."

He pointed toward the first.

"Five different routes."

The second.

"Five different Beasts."

He looked toward Arthur.

"But they all stopped."

Arthur’s smile widened. "Nice catch."

Vedas scratched his cheek. "I just noticed the pattern."

"That’s exactly what research is." Athena quietly nodded. "And now we know something important."

Arthur looked at her. "The reaction isn’t limited to the center."

She tapped the five locations. "Whatever is causing it can be encountered throughout the Everglades."

Arthur’s eyes brightened. "Alright, that’s enough for me!"

Athena raised an eyebrow. "Enough for what?"

Arthur reached for another Memory Crystal. "To keep digging. Let’s check the Memory Crystals," he said.

Athena agreed, and they began searching for memories connected to the five regions. Most were useless. A Beast eating. A Beast traveling. A Beast fighting. One memory showed an explorer arguing with his Beast. Another showed a Beast simply refusing to move.

Eden watched each one with fascination. "They all look so different," she said.

Arthur nodded. "That’s what makes this strange."

Vedas watched another memory. "Different Beasts. Different explorers. Same reaction."

Arthur smiled. "Exactly."

Eventually they found one recorded from a Beast that entered a cavern.

The Memory Crystal activated, and Arthur experienced the Beast’s perspectiveDarkness surrounded them.

A cavern.

Water dripped from the ceiling.

Cold stone stretched in every direction.

The Beast moved cautiously through the darkness.

Then—

Footsteps.

The Beast froze.

Arthur’s attention immediately sharpened.

Several figures emerged from deeper inside the cavern.

Humans.

They wore long robes and moved quickly, carrying something between them.

A mirror.

Something about it bothered him as he felt it wasn’t simply an ordinary object. The frame was covered in strange markings.

Then the scream came.

"HOW LONG DO YOU ALL PLAN TO LET IT STAY DEAD?!"

Arthur’s expression changed. "Stay dead?"

The words weren’t meant for the Beast.

Someone was talking about something else.

Something that had already died.

Then another voice answered. "We can never let the Mirrors fall into their hands."

Arthur’s eyes widened.

"Mirrors?"

The memory shattered.

...

Arthur blinks before finding himself back in the Archives. It wasn’t just him but Eden leaned against you while Athena frowned, and Vedas shook his head.

They were back as well.

Eden tapped on Arthur. "A-Arthur! Who were those robe figures? They couldn’t have been beasts right!?"

"No, they were humans, Eden" Athena muttered as she stared at the crystal.

Arthur nodded. "And they had a Mirror."

Vedas frowned. "They weren’t exploring," he said.

Arthur looked at him. "What makes you say that?"

Vedas thought about it. "They were running. They already knew where they were going."

Athena’s expression sharpened. "And they were afraid someone would take the Mirror."

Athy added, "Which means whoever they’re afraid of already knows about them."

Silence.

Arthur immediately went to the Archive Attendant. "Do you know anything about these memories?" he asked.

The attendant examined the records. He eventually shook his head. "Unfortunately Memory Crystals aren’t historical records," he said.

Arthur frowned. "They’re memories."

"Exactly."

He explained that fragments could be extremely difficult to interpret. A Beast might see a person without knowing their name. A location without knowing where it was. An object without knowing what it meant. Sometimes the Archive possessed only seconds of a crucial event.

The attendant gave him an apologetic smile. "That’s usually how research works."

Arthur stared at him. "I don’t like research anymore."

Athena immediately turned toward him. "You said you liked discovering things."

"Discovering things is great." Arthur pointed at the crystal. "Not knowing what they mean is the annoying part."

Athena laughed. "That’s the best part."

Arthur looked genuinely confused. "How?"

"Because when you finally understand it" She smiled. "you know something nobody else knew."

Arthur thought about that. Then his eyes brightened.

"Okay." "I like research again."

Eden giggled.

Arthur looked back at the Memory Crystal one last time. "Five places"

Athena nodded. "And at least one of them had a Mirror."

Arthur frowned. "Which means there could be more."

Vedas looked toward the shelves. "Then we should find them."

Arthur smiled. "We will."

A brief pause.

"Just not today."

Athena raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Arthur looked toward the clock. "Because I’m hungry."

Vedas stared at him. "You were just talking about a mysterious organization."

Arthur nodded. "And now I’m hungry."

Eden immediately raised her hand. "I’m hungry too!"

Arthur pointed at her. "See? We’re on the same page."

Athena laughed. "You’re impossible."

...

While they were leaving the Memory Crystal section, an announcement began throughout the Archive. First Year Field Trip Voting had opened.

Arthur remembered Roland explaining this during the entrance period. Three destinations were offered. Aldshore Coast, a week at the beach. The Capital of Sefriot, seven days in the capital with Academy expenses covered. A Restricted Secret Realm, supervised exploration.

Arthur didn’t hesitate. "Secret Realm," he said.

Athena looked at him. "You didn’t even think about it," she said.

Arthur shrugged. "I’ve already seen the beach."

Vedas looked at him. "When?"

Arthur paused. "That’s not important," he said.

Athy quietly said, "You haven’t."

Arthur looked at her. "Why are you keeping track?"

Athy smiled. "Because I remember everything," she said.

Vedas looked at the other choices. "The capital doesn’t sound bad."

Arthur nodded. "Probably has good food."

"Then why aren’t you choosing it?"

Arthur looked at him like the answer was obvious. "Because it’s a city." He pointed toward the final option. "That’s a Secret Realm."

Vedas sighed. "Of course."

Eden raised her hand. "I vote for whatever Arthur votes for!"

Athena smiled. "You don’t even know what it is."

Eden paused. "Does that matter?"

Arthur laughed. "No. I like your strategy."

Arthur returned to studying the memories, and Vedas gained experience from the Beast memories.

[Level Up!]

[Goblin King]

[Level 6 → Level 7]

Vedas blinked. "I leveled up," he said.

Arthur immediately smiled. "Congratulations."

Vedas looked at his hands. "I didn’t even notice."

Arthur grinned. "Maybe studying is good for you."

Vedas looked toward the shelves. "Don’t tell Sun," he said.

Arthur laughed.

Then Eden suddenly glowed.

[Level Up!]

[Time Fairy]

[Level 2 → Level 4]

Eden’s silver eyes became enormous. "Two levels?!" she said. She spun through the air, golden particles scattering behind her. "Arthur!"

Arthur caught her as she flew toward him. "You got stronger," he said.

Eden proudly puffed out her tiny chest. "I’m getting stronger too!"

Vedas smiled. "You’re catching up," he said.

Eden immediately pointed at him. "I’ll catch you!"

Vedas laughed. "Then try."

...

Later that day Arthur headed back toward the Evolution Archive with Vedas and Eden. They passed the King’s Arena District. The massive stadium dominated the area. Floating crystal screens displayed ongoing battles. Students crowded the observation balconies. Simulation Towers rose behind the stadium.

Arthur heard voices.

"He’s lucky." "His Talent carries him." "I heard the Goblin does most of the work." "He’s only famous because of that expedition."

Another student lowered his voice.

"He got lucky." "Exactly. People keep acting like he’s some genius." "His Goblin is strong." "And he has that weird Talent." "I’d like to see how strong he actually is without everyone carrying him."

Vedas stopped walking. His expression hardened.

Eden looked toward him. "Vedas?"

Vedas glanced at Arthur. Arthur was still smiling.

"You’re not angry?"

Arthur blinked. "Why would I be?"

Vedas stared at him.

Arthur pointed toward the students. "They’re curious." "They could just ask me."

Vedas sighed. "They’re insulting you."

Arthur tilted his head. "Maybe." He thought for another second. "But they’re still curious." A grin slowly appeared on his face. "So I’ll help them."

Vedas immediately knew what that meant. "Arthur."

"Hm?"

"Please think this through."

Arthur was already walking toward them. "I did."

Vedas sighed. "That’s what I’m worried about."

He looked at the students. They were clearly talking about him. Yet none of them approached.

Arthur walked towards the group and then froze.

Arthur smiled brightly. "If you guys were so curious about my strength," he said, gesturing toward the Arena, "why didn’t you just say so?"

Their expressions changed.

Arthur grinned. "I can spar with you all for a bit."

Silence.

Vedas slowly closed his eyes. "Oh no," he said.

Eden’s eyes sparkled. "Are we fighting?"

Arthur smiled. "Maybe."

The students stared at him.

Arthur’s grin grew. "So?"