The skiff sliced through the black water. Each pull of Kelix's oar drew a thin sound—wood against current, rhythm steady, precise. The sea hissed in reply, salt frothing against the hull. Above, the sky was a bowl of ash and stars. Below, everything smelled like brine, copper, and the faint electricity that always clung to Kelix's skin.

  Idalia lay low in the skiff, chin on the rim, eyes half-lidded but glowing faintly in the gloom. Her breath came out in short, even rumbles. She didn't like boats. The floor moved too much, like prey trying to squirm out from under her claws.

  Still, the water was oddly soothing. The kind of rhythm that let her think.

  Think meant she had time to peer at her {Status}. Which she did.

  {Open Ida's status}, she thought. In that instance, the runes bloomed alive before her eyes.

  Starting out was the simplest stuff. Just the flat values here and there; and she had plenty of points to spend. Maybe this boring ride across the sea had some purpose.

  Next up, she recalled her evolution options.

  {Display Further Possible Evolutions}. With that command the evolution paths appeared. She went through some. Ignored Hirohowl's of course, only to furrow her brow at a new third option that she'd never seen.

  "Since when did you get there?"

  Idalia felt a ripple of excitement at the prospect of this evolution. The thought of becoming a creature that could strike fear in the hearts of swimmy creatures was intoxicating. Yet, a sliver of doubt crept in. Would this transformation change her too much? Would she still be Idalia, or would she become something else entirely?

  "Ida?" Kelix's voice broke through her reverie. She glanced up, meeting his curious gaze. "You okay?"

  "Yeah. Just... thinking."

  He nodded, his brow furrowing. "You know there's not much out here besides the sea and our thoughts. It's easy to lose track of time." He glanced around, scanning the horizon as if expecting something to break the surface. "But don't forget there are creatures in these waters that wouldn't hesitate to sink us."

  Idalia glanced back at her status menu, the evolution option still glaring brightly in her mind. "Hmph. I know," she murmured, "but what if there's a chance for something more?" She pointed to the status, her claw hovering above the Liorex Sharkusrex entry.

  "Strong, but not enough," Idalia frowned. "What's the point of being just strong when I could be something a little more incredible?"

  Her gaze lingered down to the third option on the possible evolutions. She believed it would've been more worthwhile to select.

  Kelix's sigh caught her attention, and for a moment, the skiff bobbed silently in the calm water. "Power comes with responsibility. If you evolve into something too troublesome, you might lose sight of what really matters. We need to stay grounded, not become monsters."

  His words struck a chord, and she felt a tug of hesitation. "You think I'd become a monster?"

  He shook his head, earnest frustration in his eyes. "Not a monster, but the world sees strength differently. Some respect it, others fear it. I just want to make sure you don't lose yourself chasing the thrill of power."

  She pondered his words. Her chest ached.

  After a while, she couldn't stand the quiet anymore.

  "Kelix," she said suddenly. "What do you think about sharks?" She only had a faint idea of how one looked. But the elders described them as tremendous, sleek predators, both awe inspiring and terrible.

  However, how did they roar in the water? That sounded outright ridiculous!

  Kelix glanced back. "Sharks are formidable,” he replied, his voice low, careful. "They are predators—but they also respect their territory. You think you want to be one?" He said with a faint smile.

  Idalia let the dream unfurl in her mind like the sails of a ship catching the wind. To swim as freely as she could run, to command both elements—water and space; it was an intoxicating idea.

  "I could become faster," she mused. "Stronger. I could hunt better. Search further with one less limitation. Isn't that what I have been training for?"

  With his oars cutting through the water, Kelix nodded slowly, weighing his words. "True, but it's more than just strength. It's a change. You'll need to learn the right balance, the right respect for the world around you."

  Idalia felt a rush of determination, thinking harder than her norm. He made sense, the ocean was a vast unknown, teeming with life and danger. She imagined herself darting through the water, her teeth gleaming in the dark, tasting the fear of her prey with potent hunger. But she didn't want that, as she wouldn't look the same before Papa and the Pride.

  Thinking of her current stats, she measured her options. The requirements for the evolution were just within reach—at least on paper. And she felt ready for the challenge, ready to push and expand. But the Microrex, despite her current age, seemed more appealing than the Sharkusrex. It spoke of cunning and intelligence, a way to navigate the world without just relying on brute strength.

  "Kelix," she said slowly, her thoughts gathering like clouds before a storm. "What if I chose the Microrex? It seems like it would make me smarter, not just stronger."

  Kelix tilted his head, intrigued. "Smart is good. Being clever can help you avoid danger." He paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. "But it takes time to grow into something like that. Why a Microrex?" His tone was one of suspicion.

  Idalia's heart sank a little at the sound of his voice; it felt like an interrogation. What bothered her more was how this boy could possibly know what a Microrex was. She had never seen such a creature in real life before; its incredible nature was left to her imagination.

  It felt unfair. Curious. Curious. She must know more, even if he had little to tell her. "What does it mean to devour a thinker?" she blurted.

  Kelix's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, the steady rhythm of the oars faltered. "You shouldn't focus too much on that part," he said slowly, choosing his words carefully. "It's... well, it sounds dark."

  Idalia felt a chill creep down her spine. "Dark? How dark?" Her curiosity was like a flickering flame, eager for more air.

  He hesitated, glancing over his shoulder toward the open sea as if expecting something to rise from the depths. "It's more about consuming knowledge," he finally replied. "To grow smarter, you might have to defeat something clever first. Books! Just focus on devouring books…." His voice lowered, carrying a weight that hung in the air between them.

  Idalia tilted her head, suspicious. Kelix looked tense, more than usual. But more importantly, she snarled, "What in blazes is a book?! Is it some type of juicy prey with a big brain?"

  Kelix chuckled nervously, trying to sidestep the topic.

  "No, no! A book is something you read, not something you eat," he said quickly. "It's just a way to learn more about the world, stories, and ideas. Much safer than biting."

  He knocked his foot on the skiff's floor, thump thump. "Consider it as a block of wood—full of maps."

  Idalia lidded her eyes slightly, wondering. "But if I have to defeat something to get smarter, how do I do that if it's just a book?"

  She felt irritated and intrigued. Books didn't sound like the kind of challenge she was used to.

  "They're not exactly monsters," Kelix replied carefully, still avoiding her gaze. "Think of it like... learning from your experiences. You gather knowledge over time, like collecting treasures from the sea." He waved his hand as if trying to brush away her doubts. "Just imagine it like a big puzzle. You solve it piece by piece, and that makes you clever."

  Idalia wasn't convinced. "But if I wanted to be the Microrex, I have to devour a thinker! It sounds much more exciting than just reading." Her voice was a bit sharper than she meant.

  Kelix shifted in his seat. "Well, think of it like... um… okay! Let's say that you're in a race. You gather information on how to run faster, how to outsmart your opponents! That's all you need—knowledge is your prize. Much less risk of, uh, bloodshed."

  "Sounds boring," Idalia scoffed, rolling back onto the floor of the skiff. "I want to be strong and smart! Why can't I be both?"

  Kelix let out a long breath, clearly trying to steer the conversation away from the darker edges of her question. "Sure, you can be both! But let's not get too caught up in the details. Evolution can be a big step. Focus on growing, training, instead! You'll find your way."

  He forced a smile, but Idalia didn't like the way it looked.

  "Or I could just devour a big brain and be done with it!" she shot back, a grin creeping onto her face at the thought of chomping down on something clever.

  Movement!

  Idalia shivered slightly, peering into the shadows of the water. What could be lurking beneath? Her mind's [Spatial Sight] conjured images of creatures, their eyes gleaming, waiting for the right moment to strike. "Defeat it? Like a game?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood but feeling her heart beat faster.

  Kelix shook his head, amusement and concern in his eyes. "You're just going to have to trust me on this. There are lots of ways to grow. And…" he hesitated for a moment, glancing back at her.

  He was serious now. "When you devour a thinker, you're absorbing their essence. It's not something to take lightly. You have to be ready for the consequences. There's a part of them that stays with you. Their knowledge, their memories…" He trailed off, as if he could see things she couldn't.

  Idalia's heart raced with the thrill of the unknown. "What if I didn't just want to be a predator? What if I wanted to be a guide, someone who helps others?" The thought excited her—a different kind of strength.

  She imagined leading her Pride, using her sharp mind to navigate dangers rather than just facing them head-on.

  Kelix looked at her thoughtfully. "That would be admirable."

  Idalia stared at the shimmering surface of the water, her reflection dancing in the moonlight. "If I become a Microrex, could I still be that?" She felt a wave of hope swell within her. "Maybe I could learn from both the shark and the clever ones. I'd like to spend some points!"

  She had hoarded enough; it was time to change that.

  [Allocating Points]

  - WIL +20

  - STR +22

  - New Values:

  WIL: 50 [+24]

  STR: 80 [+52]