DING!
…
…
…
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DING!
…
…
…
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DING!
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…
"Uuugh…"
…
DING!
"What? What is it?" Cecilia sat upright. The last of a delicious, dreamless sleep fell away. It was… afternoon already. Well, since they did it to the morning…
Beside her, Oathran stirred. His arm was still splayed across her waist. He made a low, rumbling sound of displeasure at the disturbance but didn't fully wake, his breathing deepening again almost instantly.
[Good morning, Cecilia! We are back!]
The voice in her mind was chirpy, synthetic, and brimming with a faux enthusiasm that felt violently out of place in the intimate quiet. The System. Its 24-hour maintenance was over.
Oh.
She flopped back against the pillows, letting out a slow breath. The initial spike of adrenaline faded. "Yes. Good morning," she thought back, her mental voice flat. "Now, update me."
DING!
[Congratulations!]
The announcement flashed behind her eyes with virtual confetti.
