“Hyperion, Sucellus, and Theia have perished.”

It was a massive, circular space made of a mix of overgrown branches and roots creeping at the walls, combined with something flesh-like pulsing in an even tune, similar to the sound and look of a beating heart. Hexagonal patterns line the walls, each hole containing a room big enough for several Primeras and their bonded creatures, the main space and the rooms separated by an obscured glass wall, made in such a way those inside can look out to the main space, while the main space saw nothing but lit rooms.

In the middle of the space, a pillar stood, bundles of wires and branches extending to every direction, while the pillar itself looked like it was carved from a piece of the sky. Impressions of clouds would pass, drifting as if winds were blowing within the false sky patterns.

Then, the clouds parted, revealing a gray-eyed woman with brown hair striking towards the direction of the camera, before cracks shattered the footage entirely.

“This is the final footage sent before Hyperion perished. Theia and Succelus has no final footage. What are your thoughts on this, Ouranos?”

“They did not follow the precautions set by the Central System, resulting in their demise,” a voice came from one of the many hexagons on the walls, their voice carrying a tinge of regret, “It seems that we were too hasty in designating the BS-Sol-3 as a safe planet.”

“incorrect,” another voice chimed in from another hexagon. “The Central System has established that all Primeras visiting all colonies must attune themselves with the Central System for security and information collection during their stay. No matter what you say, Ouranos, it will not change the fact that your subordinates have been neglectful.”

“Caelum, why are you interfering in the Central’s judgement?” Ouranos said, their voice strained, heavy with anger. “However, I admit that I do shoulder some blame in this failure.”

“What is your next move, Ouranos of the Gloom?” the pillar asked.

“Use the hero of the ultimate clairvoyance, and bring this matter to a swift, decisive end. I will carry out my mission as the Prime Steward of BS-Sol-3.”

“Then, we of the Central System await your good news.”

Ouranos did not offer any reply, and soon, the glow of their hexagonal room faded away.

 

–

 

Izabel had half-expected their first victory to be a bigger deal.

However, Cordis has been silent since then. In a way, even though they seem to be able to communicate to other domes now, nothing has changed, and there was no additional options or any other alteration to the Heart Mirror app. In a way, though they knew that logically they had achieved a highly difficult feat, there was no one to make a bigger deal out of it - at least, not outside the virtual space.

There was also the fact that there weren’t as many groups as in the first meeting, where Cordis explained everything.

“Calm down, Izabel. The foundations of even the most magnificent structures are under the ground,” Hunter chided, directing her to focus back on their training. 

Ever since Izabel was wounded back in the fight, whenever the system notified them that it was downtime, Hunter made her train on dodging projectiles and close-range weapons. Armed with Hunter’s gun, Izabel weaved through moving dummies in the virtual space, relying on the slight shifts in the air to tell her the direction of the attacks.

“Still, though, It feels like just any other day. Seriously, we managed to break one of their systems!”

“Concentrate.”

Smack.

Hunter’s warning was immediately followed by a hit from a dummy weapon right on Izabel’s stomach. The sudden attack caused her to fall over, and with a mildly pained, embarrassed expression, Hunter commanded the equipment to disappear with her mind, allowing Izabel to fall over safely.

“If I get sick when the system hours tell me it is time to follow their schedules, the blame is on you, Hunter.”

“I did warn you to concentrate.”

“Actually, can we call it quits for the day? I’d rather not suffer when I wake up.”

“You are aware that in order to strengthen yourself, you must put your body through pain?”

“Yes, but I’m not going to get stronger in the span of five days, save some of the suffering for later, please.”

“It is all to accomplish our shared goal, Izabel. Have you forgotten already?”

“No, but I need rest. There’s a message on the room’s control system, too.”

With the virtual room now cleared of equipment and returned to its normal size, Izabel approached the orb in the middle of the room. An incoming mail symbol was projected right on top of the orb, and then, it disappeared as soon as Izabel touched the top of the orb.

[Facsimile of Emotional Experience of Life – BETA system]

[Update to the Facsimile System:

Invitation function now live!

Are you a frequent user of the virtual entertainment during your system downtime?

All users of Heart Mirror app are now allowed to invite people to experience the results of your creativity in the system’s provided room. If you frequently use the virtual entertainment provided by the Coronam Vitae system, the Facsimile BETA essentially functions as a sandbox version of those virtual worlds, allowing Heart Mirror users to customize and share their creation even to those without the app. However, keep in mind that those invited this way will be set in a visitor mode, and they will experience the Facsimile the way they would experience any other virtual entertainment system. 

Other Heart Mirror users will be able to visit the area with your permission, You can either grant permission remotely with the provided options, or invite them directly.

For now, enjoy the downtime, and automatic reports will be sent to the system should any errors occur.

Regards, Cordis]

“... So, it’s essentially a sharing feature to a virtual dollhouse,” Izabel deadpanned.

“Correct, but I think the underlying intention behind this update is to create some sort of rules-free space where anything and everything is possible, at least within memory limits,” Hunter explained. “So far, we used this space as a mental training area, however, we do not know the actual limits of what it is capable of. Considering other users can visit this space, it should be possible for us to create a room specifically to conduct a mock battle, while the rest of the space is used for other things.”

“That’s an interesting idea, but why do we need to fight other users? We’re on the same side.”

“Mental training with tools like this help you get stronger, but there is no replacement for combat experience with a real, live opponent, even if they are not a Primeras,” Hunter explained. “Not to mention, you have seen what happened before. There are people who chose to aid the Primeras.”

“Right.”

Izabel thought of the time Cecilia defeated one such person, a few days ago outside the domes.

“I really want to know why.”

“As your Mirror Avatar, let me remind you that while I and the app are capable of many things, that does not include reading minds, I am afraid,” Hunter replied. 

Izabel sighed, then she stretched her body. “Now that I think about it, I’m curious how this virtual space works.”

Hunter gave a slight smile in response.

“Alright, you have earned yourself a break.”

When Izabel was about to tinker with the control orb, a notification popped up from the Mirror Device. A quick glance revealed that Pestilence was contacting her. With a flick of her finger, projection appeared in front of her eyes. As soon as the projection appeared, Pestilence - Valerie, spoke in a sing-song tone, her relaxed mood evident even through the slight distortion from the device.

[“Hey, Izabel! Have you seen the new feature? Come here, I want to show you something.”]

Pestilence gestured for the projection to expand, showing that she was waiting outside the rooms. Behind her, a part of the massive tree in the middle of the virtual space could be seen.

[“I’m waiting outside the rooms, you should be free, right?”]

“I am free, yeah. Right on time, I’m curious too.”

[“What is it, Len?”]

The sound notification of a new projection interrupted the two. Next to Pestilence, Barnett, or Claire, can be seen. She was sitting behind a desk, an opened sketchbook with drawings of flowers lying right in front of her. A slight frown decorated her features. It seems she did not appreciate being interrupted.

[“Finally! Come here, Claire! I have something to show you.”] 

[“Sure, I have some time.”]

[“Well, see you both in the common area.”]

With that, the call ended, and Izabel walked out through the door.

Valerie was already there, waiting while leaning against a wall, laughing at a conversation she was having with Pestilence floating next to her. Not long afterwards, Claire emerged from one of the rooms, scanning through the people passing by for a bit before heading towards them, Barnett floating close behind her.

“Hey, it’s been a few days. How is the situation over there?” Valerie asked first.

“Nothing much happened, just mostly trying to be on my best behavior,” Claire shrugged. “Thanks to the interference, my Happiness numbers are doing pretty good, it’s pretty much a matter of time until I’m out.”

Izabel glanced at Barnett floating behind her. The witch, noticing her gaze, gave Izabel a small, reassuring smile, and then gave her a thumbs up.

“Barnett asked me to tell you that she’s been keeping me company. As long as the machines don’t walk in to check, we pretty much have free reign. They’re discussing about the possibility of continuing the treatment outside, something about reintegration into the society at large.” 

Claire shrugged, then continued.

“I’m not here to talk your ear off about that, though. Val– Len, why are you calling me here?”

“Right, the thing,” Valerie nodded. “First of all, come here with me.”

The three walked past a few doors, then stopped right as Valerie did. As with the others, the door looked unassuming. Then, Valerie opened it.

Behind the door, a massive room could be seen, decorated in such a deep, pervasive sense of luxury that it was nauseating. Gold lined the walls, along with piles of treasure behind a velvet lined-throne, chandelier made of sparkling crystals gilding the ceiling like they were worth nothing. It all was almost blinding in its opulence, the sheer scale would be magnanimous if–

If they weren’t an illusion.

“Did you ask the system to make the tackiest room imaginable then run with it?” Claire spoke first, and Izabel sighed, unable to help but agree. “This can’t be the thing you want us to see, is it?” Claire continued.

“Oh, it is,” Valerie smiled, meanwhile, Pestilence was floating next to her, his expression equally pleased. “Considering that we can create anything here, I decided to make this. You don’t think that is all to this room, do you? Try sitting on the throne over there.”

“... Okay, I am kind of intrigued now.” Izabel said, then added in her mind. “Hunter, stop laughing.”

“My… ahem, my apologies, Izabel. You cannot deny how ridiculous this is, though.”

“True, but I can hear you hold it in my head, just let it go so you’re not making me– pfft.”

Well, the jig was up.

“Not you too, Izabel,” Valerie said. “At least try it first. Sit on that throne.”

She gestured at the luxurious, velvet-lined throne sitting at the center of the room, just in front of a massive pile of glittering treasures.

“Alright, I’ll bite.”

Izabel walked to the throne and climbed up onto it. She resisted the urge to tell Valerie to at least make it reachable and less ostentatious.

Right as she did, a notification appeared in front of the eyes.

[Would you like to start Everlore of Reminiscence - Disaster Edition?]

For a moment, Izabel was silent, knowing what Valerie has made.

“Did you really just make your own virtual entertainment, without using any resources provided by the Primeras, in the span of days?”

Izabel looked at Valerie. It was then that she noticed the bags under her eyes, a sure sign that she has been sacrificing sleep for it. However, even though she looks a little worse for wear, her lips was curled into a proud smirk.

“Yes, I did, what of it?”

 

–

 

[“Adler, I’ve brought news.”]

A deep, grave voice filled the silent habitation unit. Adler, along with her Mirror Avatar, was looking at the screen projected in front of her, depicting a lanky, thin man wearing a hooded coat. His brown eyes and hair looked unremarkable, and were it not for the smattering of white that crept up from the roots of his hair, he would disappear the moment he walked into a crowd. The room was darkened, all windows covered with blackout curtains, and the only light source was the projection.

[“What is it, Lapin?”]

Lapin took a deep breath before answering.

[“First, the outside of the dome. We checked and tried to find the source of the miasma, however, we found nothing. The person named T isn’t there, as well. Even the location information given has nothing. It is all the same, untouched landscape.”]

[“Didn’t the reports also mention that the Primeras left nothing but their spherical core?”] Adler asked. 

[“Yes, but I can’t find any spherical objects with the stated descriptions, nor can I find any traces.”] Lapin explained. [“There is no way the elements outside got to the cores first or eroded everything, because there was really nothing, no weapon marks left on the stone structures, and considering that  Hunter uses a bladed weapon, it was impossible to not leave marks at the battleground at all.”]

Adler’s expression turned grave at the explanation.

[“I see, I’ll try to take that into account for the next extrapolation.”]

In the dark space, she was sorting through a pile of papers, something her partner has encouraged to use for better safety purposes. Though her Mirror Avatar possesses a dagger for protection, it was clear to anyone watching that she would not last in an extended fight.

[“Speaking of extrapolation…”] Lapin started.

[“Still no news of what you’re looking for, I’m afraid,”] Adler shook her head. [“This time, everything is too blurry, and the vision ends in black before I can really see anything. One thing is clear, though, a stranger’s voice said–”]

She took a deep breath before continuing.

[“Leave, for her clairvoyance sees all.”]