Welcome to Rhamiel, A Civilization Core LitRPG

Two days had passed before Joselin’s Father appeared. It was a time that the Core filled with his work, using it’s single Drone to clear the area of trees, stones, and large plants. All of which it gathered and put together in the only other pair of buildings it had placed. The Basic Storage Sheds could not hold much, but their description was helpful.

-Name: Basic Storage Shed

-Building Type: Non-Magical Storage

-Description: A small storage space meant to keep things organized, clean, and put away. Resources stored here are protected against the elements and are twenty percent faster for your Drones or Citizens to utilize.

It was nothing groundbreaking, but it did take some of the resources that the trees and rocks were leaving and put them somewhere.

Joselin was bored most of the time. She was either out gathering food and water or looking around for anything interesting. What little she did find were berries and some edible roots, to which she talked the Core to the point of boredom; it could not taste what she described as sweet.

But they did talk over the last few days. Mostly, she spoke to the Core about her family and their old home, the hamlet of Patrov. It sounded dull and small to the Core, nothing like the vision of the City it had seen, but the Elf spoke of it fondly. It remained quiet when the Elf got teary-eyed, as she seemed to do when she talked about Patrov. It had no idea what to say and was not interested in getting snapped at while working.

Apparently, Joselin had other family members besides her Father and mother. She also had an older brother and two younger sisters, all of whom carried something called a bloodline trait. It gave them some special perk, but she refused to expound.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, But… I… uh, should not have mentioned that,” Joselin said, seeming embarrassed. “It is supposed to be a secret.”

The Core knew what the word secret meant, but it had never heard one before. It hummed in agreement to not say anything and returned to work expanding its Domain. It was slow work because the larger it became, the more effort it took to grow. But it was an effort made a little easier with the notification it received yesterday.

You have expanded the land you are working with and have gathered sufficient resources to Level up to Level 4! You have gained 3 Attribute points to spend towards your progression.

The Core quickly put all three points into its Core Strength Attribute and felt its power condense. It was the kind of feeling that made it want to cheer, but it was in the pre-dawn darkness when it had achieved its level up, so it remained quiet so as not to wake Joselin. Its reasoning for its decision was based on its Summon Drone Perk. If it could summon more Drones, its work would go faster.

After trying to Summon the new Drone, nothing happened. It felt the Mana gather together and channel through the Perk to summon the Perk, but then it simply fizzled out the second it tried to manifest. The Core did get one helpful little Prompt in its wake.

Perks and Skills, unless stated in the description, primarily work off of whole numbers. You can only summon another Basic Drone once your 1.6 Core Strength Attribute reaches 2.0.

The Core was a little annoyed; this detail would significantly halt the number of Drones it could make. But then again, it might just be impatient. Yeah, it was not at all concerned with the speed of its single invisible Drone working to fulfill its dreams of a City it built.

A few hours later, after its quiet rant, someone new entered the Core’s Domain. It felt the presence enter and instantly knew them; the Core could see the person and regarded them as they stopped just inside its vision. The person looked around, confused but cautious at the same time as he crouched low and spun around in a circle. This new person stayed in his little piece of foliage for several minutes as they tried to parse this new sensation.

Several long moments passed, and the Core watched the person as they looked around. When they found nothing, they reached into their clothing and produced an item the Core already knew about. It was a flat, rectangular piece of purple Crystal that fit snuggly into their hand. They touched the surface with a little Mana whispering into the item.

That whisper of Mana carried something with it; it was a thought, a… purpose. No, it was an intent; yes, that word felt right. And with that intent, this new Elf, a fact that the Core discerned after observing their ears and how they looked like Joselins, sent out a line of Mana deeper into its Domain.

At that exact moment, it found that Joselin was grabbing at her piece of purple Crystal and was fumbling at the item before she held it securely. The Core could connect to the line of Mana, which was likely connecting the two devices, but it decided it did not have to do that. It could hear both sides of the conversation without trouble, given that both were inside its Domain.

“Dad?” Joselin asked the device hurriedly.

The Elf on the edge of its Domain spoke quietly, “Yes, it’s me. I think I’m where you are, but I just entered a Dungeon or a Grove. I can feel its Domain.” The figure, now identified as Dad, said into the Crystal. “I will go further in, but I must go carefully to avoid its traps and monsters.”

The Elf known as Dad did look like Joselin in some ways. Besides how they dressed, similar in design in their mottled green and black stained leathers, Dad’s were certainly more intricate. Both shared the same shade of pale blonde hair, though Jocelin’s was noticeably longer. They shared similar facial lines and eyes that might have glinted gold in the sun’s light. It had no actual frame of reference, Joselin being the only person it had met before, but that was out of the norm for normal beings, right?

“Dad,” she said quietly. “I, uh, I don’t think you have to worry about that.”

There was a pause, one that the male Elf, Fathers were male, took a moment to look at the device in confusion. “Uh, Joselin, why do you think that.”

“The Core keeps saying it is not a Dungeon, and I have not seen a monster since the Werejackel,” Joselin told him. “The Core is annoying and spouts nonsense, but it seems friendly enough.”

The man rubbed his hand over his face and sighed into his hand, “Joselin, it is a Core. Whether it is a Dungeon Core or not does not matter. I can’t trust that it won’t try to kill me the second I lower my guard. Besides, even if you haven’t seen a monster, it does not mean one is not there, right? What is the first rule of the Ranger Ethos?” he asked her seriously but not gruffly.

Joselin’s expression went stern, and her back went rigid as she answered. “When in doubt of safety, always air on the side of caution.”

“Correct,” he said, a small smile cracking his mouth. “Now, just tell me you are not inside the Dun- the Core’s Domain?”

Joselin did not answer, only looking around and trying not to look too guilty.

“You are inside it’s Domain, aren’t you?” He asked exasperatedly.

“Y-yeah,” she responded, defeated.

The Core was done just listening to this man. It connected to the string of Mana that connected the two devices and spoke into the now three-way connection, “Hello, Dad, I feel like someone should be speaking more directly for me.”

Both Elves went quiet for a long moment. “Who is this?” the Father said sharply. “And how are you talking on our Commune Crystals link?”

“I am the Core whose Domain you are in. You reside in? You are in my Domain? That one, you are in my Domain.” The Core answered after making its word choice. “Sorry about that. Words are hard.”

“If you hurt my Daughter, then by the wrathful hands of Love, I will-” the man began swearing with an enthusiasm that the Core had to interrupt.

“Hurt Joselin, why would I do that? She is my first friend,” the Core told him. “Wait, are we friends? We have only known each other for almost three days, is that enough time to become friends? Sorry, I have never had a friend before.”

“Joselin Setalla,” her Father said; the sharp way he spoke her name made the young elf woman cringe.

She winced as she spoke, “I, uh, I don’t know about a friend, Dad, but… it did help me from that Werejackal, and I helped it out of the Caves it fell into when it appeared in the sky. Then, it built a shack to sleep in, so I was not exposed. It helped me, Dad.”

Again, the man went silent as he processed the information the Core and his daughter had given him. His grip on the purple Crystal tightened as the seconds passed, and he seemed angry and, perhaps, a little afraid. There was a look in his eyes that Joselin had when the Werejackal was fighting her; maybe it was his fear… or he was hurt. The Core had no reference.

“Core, do you have a name I can call you?” Dad asked, teeth clenched.

“Nope, Joselin has just been calling me Core, and I am okay with that!” it chirped through their devices.

Groaning, Dad continued forward. “Core, will you swear on then Outer God, Love, that you will not harm me or my Daughter?”

The Core was only silent for a second as it thought about that. “I would, but I don’t know what it means to swear on the Outer God, Love.”

“Dad,” Joselin quietly chided. “It was only born a few days ago.”

He breathed and rubbed at the bridge of his nose as he spoke. “Love is one of the Outer Gods; their existence brings power to the world and helps keep it moving. If you swear upon one of them, the promise becomes magically binding, and the consequences become dire if you break it.”

“Oh,” the Core became contemplative. “Okay, I swear on the Outer God Love that I will not harm you or Joselin.”

You have sworn a binding oath upon the Outer God, Love. Breaking it may mean your destruction or a curse upon your existence. Be careful when you swear upon the forces outside your world; looking out, you may find something staring back in.

“Whoa, that sounds freaky,” the Core said as it read the Prompt.

“Well, I… Joselin, I am coming in to meet you; stay where you are, and I will find you soon, okay,” Dad said to the phone before closing the connection the crystals shared.

But the Core kept connected to the Crystal and spoke into it, “Hey, Dad, I can point you to Joselin. You know, save you some time,” it offered with a bit of glee in its voice.

“Ah!” he shouted, startled and almost dropping the Crystal. “How are you doing that?!”

“Oh, I’m not sure,” the Core answered thoughtfully as the man adjusted his grip on the Crystal. “You closed the thread of Mana to Joselin, but not the one I created to talk to you on this… thing. Would you like me to point you to Joselin?”

“No,” he grumbled as he slid the item into a pocket in his leathers. He then turned in a slow circle, eyes moving seemingly randomly as he searched the area for something; the Core did not know what. “but I have a question for you, Core. If you aren’t a Dungeon Core, What are you? This Domain feels like a Dungeon Cores Domain.”

“That is probably because all Spirit Cores can create Domains, but I don’t know. I have never felt a Dungeon Core’s Domain. I am a Civilization Core,” the Core said with pride.

The man stopped turning and stared straight ahead momentarily before beginning to walk. It was not a perfect line to Joselin, but the Core was surprised at how accurately the man had aimed toward her. It wondered what kind of Skill or Perk he had that allowed him to do that; it was the only way the Core could figure that he aimed that well.

“What is a Civilization Core? Never heard of that before,” Dad bent to move under a low-hanging branch and continued through the brush.

“Oh, that is probably because I am the only one currently,” The Core preened.

“Good for you, but what is a Civilization Core? Dungeon Cores create labyrinths filled with traps and monsters to kill interlopers; they are bloodthirsty things that exist to kill living things. But what can you do?” Dad asked carefully.

“Oh, I, uh, I feel it is a bit complicated,” the Core deflated. “The Prompt description was a little wordy; it said I bind to the idea of a growing and expanding community. Pretty much, I build a city with people, for people. I think.”

Dad visibly and vocally scoffed, “Build a city? Why would you want to do that?”

“I don’t know,” the Core answered honestly. “It felt like the right thing for me, like building a sprawling metropolis was my destiny. Do you know what I mean?”

Dad stayed quiet after that admission, and the Core did not know what that meant. But he continued to carefully trudge through the wooded forest, eyes wide as he looked around and focused on safety. He did freeze a few times; the first time, he drew a bow and arrow in a single movement and then aimed at the noise.

That chipmunk got the scare of its life as Dad glared at the little guy.

But eventually, he made it to the clearing where the Core had been chopping down trees and building its few structures. He looked around critically, staying just beyond the clearing and his bow down but ready to use in a moment.

“Joselin,” The Core asked her directly, not using the Mana thread connected to the Commune Crystal. “Dad is just outside the treeline. Would you like to go greet him?”

“He’s here!” she squeaked, instantly brightening up. She was hanging out in the Basic Dwelling and had spent some time getting it a little nicer. Her efforts had been limited to taking large green leaves and making them into a bed. She shot up from the bed and hurried outside, making herself visible without calling out for him.

This action made the older Elf react; standing from his position, he moved towards the clearing and into her line of sight. He shook his head slightly exasperated but readied himself to embrace her anyway. She leaped into his arms, and they hugged in a way that made the Core wish it had arms to join them but was content to watch.

After a long moment, Dad parted from her enough to look Joselin over with a critical eye. He must not have liked what he saw because his softer expression disappeared into a serious one. “Did the Core do this to you?” He asked, carefully rubbing a thumb around a few scraps on her face.

“No, no, no, that was the Werejackal,” Joselin pushed his hand away from her face. “Other than some light beratements, the Core has been nice to me. It saved me from the last Werejackal, the one that would have killed me.”

“Then,” Dad started with clenched teeth. “Then it has my thanks, and I won’t destroy it immediately.”

“What?” the Core gasped. “Why would you do that?”

Separating himself from Joselin fully, he put a fist on his hip and looked around the clearing critically. “World Law, any Core that can be destroyed, should be destroyed. No exceptions,” Dad stated solemnly. “But because you saved my daughter, I will give you a chance to explain why I shouldn’t just find your Core and break you before you kill people.”

“Before I kill people,” The Core repeated back, agast. “why would I do that?” The Core asked innocently. “I would never kill anyone; why would I start killing people I don’t even know?”

“It’s what your kind does: kill. You and everything else on this god-forsaken planet sparing none of the Civilized. What makes you so different from all the other Cores that want to do just that in the past thirty-two hundred years?” The man challenged.

“I- I don’t know, I just am, I guess?” The Core said. “I just want to build the City of my dreams and have all the people in it live happy and content lives with me. Is there something wrong with that?”

“I don’t know; I’ve never heard a Core make such a claim. But how can we know that you won’t start killing people unjustified? We cannot know how you will act in a week, let alone a year. Why should we let you live?” Dad spat, anger tinting his voice.

The Core thought about it; something in its mind searched for an answer that would allow it to convince him to trust it. But what? It knew next to nothing about Dad or why he hated Spirit Cores. The only thing it knew was that they killed people, but how do you convince someone that you have no interest in killing people?

“Didn’t I just swear to love that I wouldn’t kill you or Joselin? Why would I swear that if I meant any of you harm?” The Core pushed.

“Found you,” Dad said, looking at the Artifact that sat directly next to the small pale white Core. He began walking towards the Core’s location, “you did, but that does not mean you would attack anyone else if given the chance. I took a vow to protect lives, Core. Both preemptively and actively, I must keep people safe. If you are here, I cannot guarantee that.”

“Dad, stop!” Joselin yelled. “You can’t kill it! The Core won’t hurt people; if he wanted to, it could have killed me!”

Pausing his advance, Dad looked back at Joselin, “We can’t predict the mind of a monster. It could have been trying to lure more of us here; maybe it wanted to kill you for more experience later, or maybe it just wanted to keep you as a pet. I don’t know, but we can’t let it live for Destiny’s sake. It might-”

“Destiny, wait! I know what that is! Oh! I swear by Destiny that I never want to or intend to harm anything that will not hurt me or my friends first!” The Core announced.

“What did you say?!”

You have sworn a binding oath upon the Outer God, Destiny. Breaking it may mean your destruction or a curse upon your existence. Be careful when you swear upon the forces outside your world; looking out, you may find something staring back at you!

Warning! You have invoked the sight of the Outer God, Destiny, with your Oath. Beware the notice of any Outer God, for their full attention can wipe away souls, break divinity, and snuff out the sun.

The morning daylight broke, a large portion of the bright sky fracturing and pulling away from itself. Beyond the ruptured atmosphere, an endless expanse of black sat just beyond the break, dotted with points of colored light and swirls of color that defied description. It was beauty and horror, fear and love, life and death, the finite and the infinite.

All three looked up into the tear in the sky, and Joselin was the first to break down. The young Elf fell to her knees as her sight remained locked onto the event above them. An eerie and cosmic light glowed from her eyes as she stared at it in awe, tears flowing down her cheek.

Dad was next, his body relaxing and his eyes burning with that same light; his reaction was more advanced. The light flowed through his veins and seemed to glow under his skin as he crumpled in a limp heap. Even as he fell to the ground, the Core heard the words that he muttered as he passed out.

“No, this is impossible.”

The Core had no eyes to glow and burn. It had no brain, no veins, and no heart for this unknown event to ruin, hurt, or affect. It thought it was clear as it observed the two in its Domain and how they reacted, a little happy it could not just look up and see whatever was happening. Then, defying the Core’s expectation of safety, it saw and felt pain for the first time.

You have taken 1 point of Durability Damage.

Its crystalline form felt the pressure and heat from inside itself, and it was uncomfortable.

You have taken 1 point of Durability Damage.

The crack that now decorated it was unsightly and incredibly painful. The Core was unsure it could feel pain without the flesh and nerves needed for such a thing, but here it was, in pain. It was not enjoying the novelty.

You have taken 1 point of Durability Damage.

The Core did not care about the pain; it only cared about seeing the infinite void filled with those lights. It felt whole and empty all at once while it stared at the rift, a thick azure ooze dripping from the cracks forming along its body.

You have taken 1 point of Durability Damage.

Then it appeared within the split sky and amongst the empty black, a figure made of glowing spirals and burning nebulae. The thing appeared somewhat humanoid, with the lights illuminating its form, but the scale seemed beyond comprehension. Even more entrancing were its eyes, those monochromatic eyes that glowed with a force that the Core could not fathom. Though, as it stared into them, those burning blue and red eyes spoke of countless years alone.

You have taken 1 point of Durability Damage.

Those eyes bore down upon the Core, a certain amount of curiosity and madness in its glare. It looked, and the Core felt its breath from here, its presence from across the separated dimensions, and it could feel the lights that burned out of its body. It was chaotic and harsh, the cosmic light burning it further.

It opened a maw that was outlined with starlit fangs. “Call of Destiny,” The thing spoke to them, a voice that echoed across the planes. Its words invoked something more profound than anything the Core had experienced. It resonated with meaning and invoked a higher quality than it had ever heard before.

You have taken 1 point of Durability Damage.

It was filled with purpose even more than before. Determination, resolution, courage, and a renewed sense of purpose filled its body as it got a Prompt.

The Outer God, Destiny, has seen the possible outcomes of those present and called upon its power for you. It has called upon your ultimate fate and empowered it to grant you a boon. Use this to advance your cause with new vigor! Live and Die by your own choices, Unnamed Core.

You have been given a choice of three new Perks from the Outer God, Destiny. Choose one!

Domain Cooperation (Passive) - You are the spirit and soul of the City, and your being encompasses the entire surrounding area. Even with that, you are only one being. Working together with your populace gives them purpose and helps you advance faster. Any project that involves one of your Professional Drones and a City Professional grants both a 20% speed boost towards finishing the project, a 30% chance of increasing the rank of the finished project(When applicable) by at least one rank, and a 40% boost to the City Professional’s Skill and Personal Experience.

System Guide(Active then Passive) - Many other Cores get a Fairy, Will o’the Wisp, or the Soul of an Ancient King as part of their System starting package. These beings can bestow advice on their Core’s growth, give ideas on their lair design, or even have thought-evoking conversations. However, Civilization Cores automatically get no one to fill that role due to their affinity for cooperation with the Civilized Races. This grants you a one-time use Boon to grant to one willing Civilized Person. This Boon gives them a Systemic Subclass that will allow them to see your status, assist with your growth, and grant them other abilities for their service.

Systemic WarCore (Passive) - There are many types of Skills and Perks in the world, but few are as terrible as the ones designed only to hurt others. Taking this Perk will grant you an additional Skill or Perk Choice at every fifth level, taken from a list of Wartime Skills or Perks. Once chosen, you can use them through any Drone you control.

The Outer God, Destiny, turns its sight away from you but not its attention. It will be watching to see how you choose to grow and how you act going forward, but it shall not directly interfere again.

The tear, in reality, reversed itself in a chaotic whirl of power. It was distracting enough that the Core did not immediately notice the thing that fell from the broken sky and into its clearing with a crash that went overlooked for a long moment, spraying the elves with debris from its crash.

The moment the Core could hear again, the first thing it heard was Dad yelling in anger and disbelief. His eyes were still glowing with that nebulous light, but they were dimming by the second with apparently no lasting damage. “No way, impossible. No way are you an Agent of Destiny, you! A Core!”. He shouted angrily, “I should kill you now, keep you from doing whatever you are destined to do!”

“Dad, no! If Destiny came because of the Core’s Oath, doesn’t that make it even more viable!” Joselin shouted at him, trying to be heard beyond him. “Doesn’t this mean we can trust it!”

Frustrated, the man dropped his bow and covered his eyes as the light within them dimmed. “No, we can’t. But we should be able to trust that Oath! Oh, dead gods of old, what can we do!” He shouted, turning his face to the sky and screaming his woe.

Joselin seemed torn between Going over and comforting her Father or going to where the Core lay. She chose her Father after only a moment, wrapping her arms around him and speaking quietly to comfort him. It seemed like she needed them, too, her eyes tearing up and falling down her face. A fact that her Father caught onto quickly enough and turned to embrace her as well.

They stayed there for several minutes as the aftereffects of this ordeal were traumatic for them. The Core was in pain but did not feel the shock or existential dread it was sure they were feeling. No, it was confident that its structured mindset skill helped it there, given that it somehow could feel that skill had risen.

Structured Mindset has increased from 1 to 2. Your mind can now better process information and store it for later use. The Blueprint Storage Limit has increased from 10 to 20.

Cool, but now what? The Core had a Perk to choose from, and whoa, was it a doozy of a choice.

It did not care for Domain Cooperation very much, mainly because it mentioned several things that the Core had yet to learn, such as when it would get them or when they would be helpful. Professional Drones, Civilian Professionals, who knew when it would get either. It could be. Well, A while. What came after days, Months?

The ones it was more interested in were System Guide and Systemic WarCore. More System Guide, honestly, because it had no idea what it was doing, and having someone to talk to about its stuff sounded nice. The fact that it could ask Joselin if she wanted the position now was an extra incentive. Systemic WarCore was next, but that was primarily due to how it mentioned getting a new Perk or Skill choice at level five, its next level. Getting anything extra would also be helpful, given that monsters could roam in at any time. But Joselin and her Father were Rangers, whatever that meant if she agreed to become its System Guide, then it would not need the offensive power.

The Core waited, unsure if it should interrupt their embrace for its need. So when they did release each other, The Core asked tentatively, “So, are we not going to kill me now?”

Dad glared in the Core’s general direction as he spoke, “I really, really should, Core. But I will give you one chance to convince me why I shouldn’t break you.”

There was a long moment of stretched-out silence as the Core waited. “Oh, you were done. Okay, uh, what about my Oath to Destiny?”

“It is the reason I am giving you this chance. To get the attention of any of the Outer Gods is an event to pay heed to, but Destiny specifically is unheard of. We only knew it existed because the System acknowledged its existence. So, again, why should I let you live?” Dad pushed a hint of menace in his voice.

The Core thought about it for a moment longer, and in retrospect, the answer was obvious. It needed something, and Dad could help provide it. That was if he cooperated with the Core. Because if he did not go for this, the Core would probably die.

“How about a deal? It said enticingly. “I am a Civilization Core, which means I can build a city, and people can live in what I build. I am not very powerful now, Dad, but I promise I can become more than any dungeon Core you have ever seen. All I need is time and Citizenship in my Domain,” The Core explained.

“Wait, wait, did you just call me Dad?” Dad asked, his posture relaxing as the word disarmed him.

Joselin burst into laughter, “Ha, I-I told it not to call you that.” She said, hugging her belly as the laughter peeled out of her.

“She called you Dad; I don’t see why I couldn’t call you that,” the Core defended.

“Are you serious, Core?” Dad asked, the corners of his mouth twitching upward.

“Of course,” it chirped. “I don’t see why I can’t call you that.”

“No, about the other thing. Can you do that? The City thing?” Dad asked, scowling again, the remains of his almost smile gone.

“Oh, yeah. I am serious! I would need people eventually anyway, so there is nothing wrong with starting now.” The Core told him it barely contained enthusiasm slipping through.

“What is the catch?” Dad asked skeptically.

“Catch? I can’t catch, no hands,” the Core chirped.

Dad groaned, “No, what do you want out of this? You build a city for people to live in and work to keep them safe; what do you get from this arrangement?”

“Oh, nothing,” the Core said sincerely. “I just want to build the City and live out my life’s purpose. I will need help from all of you mortals. Apparently, I am supposed to work with the Civilized Races that live in my Domain. For example, I got a choice of Perks from Destiny. The one I want to choose requires a willing person to take a Subclass; I was hoping my only friend Joselin would take it.”

“A Subclass?!” Dad asked, incredulous.

“That’s what one of the Perks says,” The Core told him. “Why?”

“Subclasses are rare, incredibly rare. Rare enough that it would be worth her time to take the offer. They mean extra Stat Points per level and new Perks. Even if they aren’t combat related, the Stat Points are helpful.” He explained, then hesitated. “What is the Subclass anyway?”

“It is called System Guide. All other Core’s get helpers automatically. Mine takes a Perk to get one. It will let her see my status page, allow her to help with my growth, and give her other Perks. It doesn’t say what,” the Core said whimsically.

“Wait,” Dad said, slowing this down and taking a breath. “Joselin, you were old enough to get a Class and join the Rangers of Patrov. I don’t know if this is a good idea, but Destiny was here, and the Core does seem sincere. It is your choice to accept this or not,” Dad told her seriously.

“I have another Perk I can take instead,” the Core assured her. “It would also be beneficial, but this is the one I would rather do. So, no pressure, but… would you like to be my System Guide?”

Joselin looked at her Father, seeing a severe expression on his face that had been plastered there most of the time in the Core’s Domain. But seeing that face, Joselin seemed to come to some conclusion. Her expression firmed up, and she looked towards where the Core sat next to the Artifact. “Core, were you serious? Did you want to help people?”

“Yes, yes, I am serious. I am building a city anyway, so I need people to live there. That makes sense to me, right?” The Core told her.

“Then yes, I will be your System Guide,” Joselin told the Core and looked at her Dad, expression a bit guarded and ready for… something.

“Okay then,” Dad nodded. “Core, I will give you a chance. But if you do anything to hurt the people we put under your care, then I will end you myself.”

The Core quickly opened the Prompt from Destiny and selected the Perk, System Guide.

You have gained the Perk, System Guide!

System Guide(Active then passive) - The world is a dangerous place, this world especially. A Core’s life begins with terror and confusion, so a helper and guide from the System assists them with knowledge, guidance, and company. A Civilization Core is unique in its approach to life; by working directly with the Civilized Races, they form a symbiotic relationship with them to progress. This Perk allows you to designate one person within your Domain as your System Guide, granting the Subclass of the same name.

A System Guide is a companion, scholar, diplomat, defender, and the voice of the Civilization Core that gives it to them. This can grant them several Perks to assist them in this function, including one to allow them to see the Core’s System Screens. Choose carefully who you make your System Guide; you can get one System Guide, and if they die, your soul will suffer for the loss.

The Core then quickly activated the Perk.

You have two people in your Domain; only one can become your System Guide. Would you like to offer Joselin Setalla the Subclass, System Guide?

The Core assented, and the Prompt vanished. A moment later, Joselin got a glassy-eyed look that the Core assumed meant she was reading the message to accept becoming its System Guide. She took a long moment, even after her stare became more normal, and she looked at her Father as if looking for reassurance.

“It is your choice, Joselin,” He said. “It’s your future that you are deciding.”

Then, with a determined nod, she accepted the Prompt.

Joselin Setalla has accepted the offer to become your System Guide! Congratulations on this achievement, Nameless Core!

For gaining the first Ciitzen of your nameless settlement, you have accumulated enough personal EXP to level up to Level 5! You have gained 3 Attribute points to spend towards your progression and a Free Perk Choice. To see your Perk Choices, ask your status screen to reveal your Available Perk List.

For attaining level 5 with at least three Core Karma, the System has deemed to offer you an Upgrade. Would you like to upgrade your Perk Choices to a higher Tier in exchange for three Core Karma?

The Core wasn’t sure what the System meant by Spending its Core Karma to make its Perks a higher Tier. But it was willing to find out since Core Karma seemed to come to it rather naturally, for some reason. It was okay with spending some.

But before it could spend the points to upgrade the Perk Choices, he was interrupted by Joselin and her Father. “Uh, Core, I think there is something we need to do before anything else.”

“What? What do we need to do first?!” it asked, excited over the prospect of something it needed to do. Maybe it was some insight from her new Subclass as System Guide; it had no idea but listened closely to her following words.

“You need a name,” she said thoughtfully. “The System told me that whatever name you accept as your name will affect your City, your Drones, and everything you do, even adding little things to your Perks. It even told me you could get a new Perk or Skill immediately, depending on the name’s cosmic, cultural, magical, or universal significance. It also says that your City will be named automatically after you, so we best pick nothing mundane like Jeff or Claude.”

Dad harrumphed, “Your uncle was named Claude.”

“I know. I love the man, but the name Claude is stupid. At least his middle name is cool. Azhura has a scary ring to it for an Advanced Ranger.” Joselin mused. “Do you have any ideas?” she asked the air around her and her Father.

“No,” the Core told them. “I have no idea how to pick any name. I have only ever met you two, and I only really know Joselin’s name.”

“My name is Corinth Setalla,” Dad told the Core seriously.

“Nope, Dad is fine with me,” it said stubbornly. “You guys pick a name; I don’t have an opinion. It is just something that you call someone else, right? So as long as I am not called Fecal Breath or The Unshiny one.” The Core told them seriously.

There was a brief discussion between the Father and daughter; many words followed it, and what the Core assumed were names in different languages. The tone and variety of speech changed with other names and phrases.

“Okay,” Joselin breathed out. “We have a few good choices for you. How do you like the name… Nodlon. It’s Gnomish, which means one who rebukes evil.”

“Eh, no, thank you. It’s not bad, but it doesn’t sound right?”

“Okay, how about Ragnal. It is a dwarfish word meaning defender of the Walls.” Dad offered.

Again, the Core rejected it.

The two sighed and kept listing names. For several minutes, they just began listing every name they could think of, and eventually, Dad said, “Horune, Frendien, Orien, Rhamiel, Meaglan, Sangfroid-”

“Wait!” the Core called out. “Go back a few, Dad. What was that one again?”

“Meaglan?”

“No, before that,” the Core instructed impatiently.

“Rhamiel?” he asked.

“Yes, that’s it. I want to be called Rhamiel.” The Core proclaimed triumphantly.

Both looked at each other and then at the Core, “Why Rhamiel?”

“Why not? It just feels right, you know? Like I have heard the name before, and it sounds familiar.” The Core explained, confusion affecting its voice. “Why, is there a problem with that name?”

“No, no, not a problem,” Joselin assured it. “It’s just, that name is from an old legend before the Age of Decline began and the Night of God’s Tears. Supposedly, it is a divine being from another world.”

“It was a being the defined hope,” Dad finished seriously. “I think the name suits the lofty heights you aim for, Core.”

“Yes, it does,” the Core assured him. “From now on, I am Rhamiel.”

Congratulations, Spirit Core! You have taken on the name Rhamiel, a name translated from its original language when its original bearer came to this world. He was the Archangel of Hope in some versions of his myth and was responsible for providing divine visions and guiding the souls of the faithful into their afterlife.

By taking on this name, you have gained the Perk, Beacon of Hope(Tier 1)!

Beacon of Hope(Passive) - Let all who see you have their worries and fears calmed and replaced with the undying candle flame of hope.

Tier 1 - All new Civilians gain a temporary bonus to their resistances to all adverse mental effects and find it easier to overcome their woes for the future that you offer.

This Perk will grow stronger as you gain Citizens who wish to stay in your Civilization.

“So, are we ready to get to work?” The Core asked the two, its voice a couple of octaves deeper than the somewhat androgynous voice it had been using before.

Joselin nodded, smiling while her Father watched and scowled.