56 – Not Much HopeIt only took Hector a few seconds of mulling over his system report to decide what to do next. Go ahead and start the leveling process. That leaves me with six potentia, right?By way of answer, Evie flashed another system update://35 potentia applied. Corpus Vivum conditioning has begun. Approximately 24 hours to complete level advancement. Disorientation, weakness, and even fleeting incapacitation may occur. Extra caloric intake is recommended.////Aura potentia: 6.//Hector nodded. “Buy the speed boost.”//Speed Boost ability purchased for 5 aura potentia… Initiating aura pathway propagation. This process is queued and will not begin until after you’ve completed your level-up. Once begun, expect extreme fatigue for up to 6 hours. Bed rest is recommended.//Hector noticed Sass staring, clearly fascinated by the idea that he was interacting with his aura system. He smiled and held up a finger. “Almost done. Evie, don’t start that second one unless I’m going to be sleeping. Give me a heads-up.”//Understood.//“So, like, that’s how you do it? You just talk to the AI and it applies the potentia?”Hector nodded, sipping his cola; the car attendant had been good about keeping it topped off. “Basically.”The car lurched, decelerating appreciably, and the AI announced they were approaching Heliopolis. “Where’s our stop?” Sass asked, peering out the window. Hector wondered if she’d ever been to Helio before. Had she ever left Redwick Station?“Past the center of town. We’ve got a few minutes.”She nodded, reaching for her cola, sipping it through the straw. “Is it true about aura colors?”Hector sighed. “Is what true?”“How the colors, um, cancel each other?”That got Hector’s attention. (...)