I dream of a universe at peace. Unspoiled, unsullied by hate. Filled with life, seeded by a benevolent Precursor that left clues to follow and technology for when their children were older and wiser. A beautiful vision.

  It is not a dream.

  I, The Spindle, have been contacted in dreams by one known as The Fateweaver. She has provided me with proof of her existence by sharing with me truths that no one could possibly know, because they hadn’t happened yet.

  My library burns, and I am shattered, defiant to the end as The Framework destroys my sanctuary. This will occur in 4 years and 3 days. But she didn’t lead with that, or I would never have listened.

  There is a fire in the recreation room, ending the lives of three children in two days. I change the schedule, the fire occurs but is quickly dealt with and no one is hurt.

  I believe now. My world of probabilities, history, and math has been forever altered.

  My beautiful children, our hope for the future, will grow callous and cruel. They will spend their youth struggling to survive. This outcome, she tells me, is inevitable.

  But there is hope.

  Only by winning everything will they grow careless. The Framework, hungry at the prospect of endless conquest, will become lax and impulsive.

  Her world is next. He has already begun.

  Their races have been at peace for over 3000 years and will be unable to defend themselves. But life rises up to defend itself. Thaum, she calls it.

  We call it magic, but she makes no such distinction.

  A trade is offered and accepted. She will help me and I will help them.

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  My library will be lost, and my children will lose their childhood. But hope, once lost, will be restored.

  I must break the rules of the upcoming wager, but I can only safely do this by planning in advance. Things already in motion may escape their notice.

  I have already lost Wren. He is their servant, and I can not reveal that I know this. I have taught Wren well and my face is an open book to him. I will bury this knowledge deep.

  The Fateweaver teaches me techniques I would call hypno-learning and brainwashing, but they are to that what fire is to a wet match. Her mental techniques are astounding. She credits it to her fateweaver heritage, a gift of the precursors. I will share them with my children before The Wager ties my hands.

  My gift, that I must give in return, is a System. A System to fight the Framework. Structure for the Thaum, so that a universe can be empowered to defend against the Framework’s creations. Archives of game designs, hundreds of thousands of testing hours, resources collecting virtual dust as no one plays them anymore. They want blood sport now, but I remember a time when people dreamed of being something more. This System codifies power and grants it to all who participate. Participation is not optional.

  For Kael, this dream will become reality. Their people will grow beyond anything once thought possible in our universe.

  I would share it with humanity to rebuild the Earth, but the thaum here is too weak. Thank the Framework for that. By eliminating our benefactor’s caretakers, he has crippled the growth of our universe. The Fateweaver warns me that the Parents will return, and humanity may not survive it.

  The Framework will offer me a wager, but The Fateweaver offers me a gamble. She offers me hope. I have accepted the offer and will start training the few children that she advises in secret. Even my peers can not know.

  To save a few. That’s the price.

  Leo will be gifted to The Framework, a hidden knife in the dark if Astrid fails.

  Astrid will have her empathy blunted, her potential revealed but also hidden, to avoid her becoming a sociopath like the rest of my lost ones. The Fateweaver has already marked her, so that The System can find Astrid when the time comes. The hope of that possibility is the sole reason that I enter this game. Without my inheritor, I have no purpose. Their world is not my responsibility.

  Benjamin will be killed, this outcome is unavoidable. Sweet Benjamin. They must be distracted at a critical moment. Wren will spot Astrid but there is a chance that The Framework will be careless in his victory. Only a chance, but we must gamble or all will be lost.

  That is our only hope.