EDN terminals are the primary interface method with the network. Communication can be audiovisual or written, with written allowing for delayed delivery. Accessed content is projected as a Feed, a hovering expanse of Energy that can be interacted with and manipulated while it creates visual data.

  Terminals need to be connected into a Construct that has EDN access to be functional and specialized functions can be configured when associated with other Construct elements. A Terminal next to a Portal or Doorway typically serves as notification of incoming Awakened and defaults to displaying access requests. While one next to a Vault would typically default to displaying an inventory list to simplify collaboration.

  ~ * ~

  Anya waited silently until Yshe made it down the hall to the main room before turning towards Seb. When he turned to face her she focused all her thoughts on the frustration she had felt at Yshe's words right before Seb got in her way. A moment later she'd pushed him against the wall and held him pinned with a finger. When he started to react she pushed a little harder to make sure she had his entire focus.

  Seb. Let me make two things perfectly clear.

  She gave him long enough to focus before continuing.

  I can defend myself. I can protect myself. I do not need you to deal with the opinions of others when I am there to do so myself. Do I make myself clear?

  Seb started to shift, started to push against her finger to be able to draw a full breath, only for her to give one more jab that winded him fully before relaxing the pressure enough to let him breathe easily.

  Do I?

  Yes Anya. I'm sorry, he said after a moment.

  She gave him a long look then stepped away.

  What was the second thing? he asked after taking a deep breath.

  Hrm? she answered, intentionally keeping her focus on how she had felt in the moment.

  You said there were two things you wanted to make clear.

  Right. She turned to walk down the hallway before letting herself smile. Thank you.

  She felt as much as heard Seb stumble as he followed her, his confusion fading as she sent her clear appreciation for his actions.

  I don't need you to do what you did. Especially against someone who might be higher level than my mother. I've never had anyone do that. So thank you.

  She heard him take a few quick steps to catch up to her and smiled while rubbing his chest. I won't fight your battles, but I'm not going to let anyone say those sorts of things about you.

  He took a moment then chuckled ever so slightly. I might have also been trying to prove to myself I wasn't going to let fear take control. Valene got to me, and then Yshe reminded me of it before I came to terms with it.

  She paused, turning to put her hand on his chest to stop him, her touch as gentle now as it had been aggressive moments before. I get it. But never again.

  He looked down at her hand then into her eyes and started to nod before hesitating. I'll try. I won't promise I never will, because I might end up overreacting again.

  She smirked. Just realize that if you do, I will show you why you don't need to. Only rule will be is everything has to heal within 48 hours.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  That's fair.

  ~ * ~

  Hearing loud voices coming from the main room they stepped into it to see a floor panel removed in the corner and a panel embedded in the wall next to the Vault Access.

  They barely had time to take in the changes before Yshe appeared in front of the panel. Seb saw Energy Patterns light up in front of her even as Sam climbed out of the floor, looking as confused as Seb felt.

  "Auntie?"

  "Sam! Keep retrying the EDN connection until it picks up. Bring me the remote terminal once the connection is established."

  Before Sam could answer Yshe had grabbed something that was materializing from the Vault and vanished once again. Seb glanced around before spinning around to see Yshe taking the wall apart right where she had said she would install the portal.

  Any idea? he asked.

  None, Anya answered.

  "Sam?" he called out.

  "Huh?" Sam answered, tapping at something on the panel before turning to look at them. "She was looking at the Core and then started yelling, then rushed back up here."

  He grabbed something from the Vault then tapped on the panel again, frowning.

  "What is that?" Seb asked, pointing at the panel.

  "EDN Terminal. I set it up next to the Vault so you can use it for Vault inventory and management by default. It still does everything else but you'll have to change views."

  Don't worry, I know how that works, Anya sent.

  Thanks.

  "Has he picked up yet Sam?"

  "No-" Sam started to answer then looked at the EDN terminal. "Yes."

  "Hello? Yshe is trying to reach you. Give me a moment to bring her the terminal"

  "Yshe? Of course."

  Seb glanced at Anya. Valene?

  Sounded like him.

  Sam rushed past them down the hall to Valene. Seb waved his hand through the air, cutting through an Energy flow he could see stretching from the panel down the hall to the object that was now in Yshe's hand. It looked as though the object was wired to the wall, yet there was nothing there and the wire kept a straight line even though it was passing through the corner of the wall.

  Seb?

  He did his best to send through the image of what he saw and saw her frown as her eyes traced through what had looked like empty space.

  Weird, she said after a moment.

  "Valene?"

  "Yshe."

  "Good," Yshe said as she set the remote terminal on the floor beside her. "I need you to have me showing as un-retired as of 20 minutes after Sebastian and Lysanya left your office."

  "I can't-" Valene started to answer.

  "Val. They have a Seed and it isn't bound."

  "What!?" Valene's voice roared through the connection.

  "A Seed. I need to be an active Engineer before I left to come here. My nephew came with me, if I let him handle this you know what will happen."

  "Yshe…"

  "Val. You sent them to find me, you can make this right," Yshe persisted, her hands still darting in and out of the wall.

  Seb slowly walked down the hall, Anya keeping pace beside him. They could hear Valene sighing before finally answering.

  "It's done. I'm assuming you're going to send me a Portal address?"

  Yshe placed the object she had taken out of the Vault into the wall and Seb froze as he saw the Energy flow warp and shift around the object even as the wall formed itself as well. If it weren't for Anya's reaction he would have thought he was imagining the physical changes.

  The wall…

  It's mirroring the Energy, everything shaping together, he answered.

  "Sending it now. I'm adding your signature then locking it down to approval only for everyone else," Yshe answered.

  As Yshe tossed the remote terminal back to Sam, Anya stepped forward with a frown.

  "Mind explaining exactly what is going on Engineer Yshe? And why you are making decisions about access?"

  "Lady Lysanya," she answered. "When I told you earlier that there were three types of Constructs I lied. There is a fourth type, a Seed. I did not mention it because they are so rare as to be unheard of."

  "And..?"

  "And it turns out you have a Seed. I'm going to have to let Valene explain what that means beyond the rarity, I just know how to recognize one."

  "Why the panic though?" she asked.

  Yshe turned and stomped back into the main room then gestured at the Terminal in the wall. "Because I had my nephew install that. Which he did a fine job of and thought ahead to place it somewhere useful."

  "Thank you Engineer."

  "Not now Sam," she answered reflexively then shot him a smile.

  Seb frowned. "That doesn't explain the panic."

  "Now that it's connected to the EDN it will show up as a unbound Seed. Cores are common enough that you would likely have had a week, but Seeds are so rare that someone will probably be trying to get in and take it from you within the hour."

  "What do you mean, take it from me?" Anya asked.

  "Bind it before you can, hijack access permissions, find a way to take you out of the picture, or turn you into some sort of vassal." Yshe made her way to the main room, pausing in the center where Anya had previously attuned the Construct.

  I don't like the sound of that.

  They are not going to take our Holding. I won't let them, Anya sent back, her possessive anger coming through as strongly as her frustration had when she pinned him to the wall.

  We won't let them, he answered just as a flare of Energy came from the hallway.

  Want to support Confluence Saga?

  Leave a comment to tell me what you think of the story so far.

  is 10 chapters ahead.

  Want to chat about the story? Come to .

  Current Bonus Chapter Goals:

  - 28/50 Followers - Bonus on Oct 18th

  - 7/10 Favorites

  - 6/10 Ratings

  - 0/2 Reviews