Envy's reassurances finally chipped away at Daniel's paranoia. After several rounds of persuasion, she managed to convince him that Sylvana, Koyuki, Greed, and everyone he considered family were safe. As a precaution, however, he instructed Odysseus to deploy someone to monitor the situation in San Francisco, just to ease his mind.
By the time his anxieties subsided, it was already late morning. Having missed breakfast, Daniel decided to make a brunch of it.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Army and his soldiers were holding a crucial meeting. They were strategizing on how to fortify their position and debating whether to send a strike force to bolster another front. These decisions were best left to the professionals – the seasoned soldiers and the veteran commander, Nicholas, who seems to be more giddy than usual as he's on the battlefield.
He also has a very important meeting. A lot has happened recently, and the points he has accumulated reached an unexpectedly high level. Especially after Oceanos unleashed that planet-destroying shot, he doesn't know what happened, but he senses that something significant has occurred behind the scenes, which will likely complicate his life in the future.
He feels that something is in motion in the background and will greatly impact his life in the future. So, he needs to have a word with The Keeper. Although The Keeper may not have all the answers, he usually gives hints about things Daniel doesn't know, helping Daniel to prepare for the future.
Daniel walked into the restroom and then locked the door. Here, he doesn't need to be afraid that someone might intrude while he is visiting the Keeper. Daniel then summoned the door to the shop, and in a moment, an old vintage mahogany door appeared from the thin air within the restroom.
—
Within the shop, there was another transformation. A panoramic glass now adorned the entire wall behind the counter where The Keeper stood. Through this glass, one could see the endless expanse of starry space, resembling the intricate patterns of tree roots.
"Good morning, Mr. Emberweave. How may I assist you today?" The Keeper greeted with his distinct British accent.
Daniel took in the shop's changes with awe and curiosity. "What's happened here?" he asked, gesturing toward the panoramic window.
"Ah, this?" The Keeper began. "You may not be aware, sir, but your actions outside have infused this place with power. Whatever you've done seems to have impacted the fate of trillions, hence the changes." He gestured towards the panoramic window showcasing the starry space beyond.
"Trillions?" Daniel echoed. It dawned on him that his total points had surged from 25,000 to a staggering 200,000 overnight, reaching the current maximum point accumulation.
He recalled that when Oceanos fired a shot, his points spiked by 10,000 and then abruptly halted. Typically, earning 10,000 points would require winning a war or defeating a Hell Lord and destroying their domain. Yet, this time, the points appeared mysteriously without his direct involvement.
The drastic evolution of the shop didn't sit well with him, at all. It meant he must have done something significant, perhaps unintentionally. When one's actions impact the fate of so many, consequences of equal magnitude usually follow.
With a sigh, Daniel quelled his internal rant. It wouldn't solve anything. He needed to explore any new features the shop offered and how to utilize them.
"Mr. Keeper" He started. "Since the shop had changed into this, are there any new features or do we get a new set coming?" Asked Daniel.
"Ah Yes, Mr. Emberweave. I'm pleased to announce that the shop power, or rather, your power has reached a new height, and the shop is a representative of your power." The Keeper turn toward the panoramic window to the side as he gestures toward it.
"I sense you may have questions about the view outside. You might be wondering if it's space or not, and you may even think this shop is in outer space. But rest assured, this shop isn't in real space. What you saw beyond the panoramic glass window isn't real space either, and those twinkling star-like lights are not stars," The Keeper reassured.
"If they're not stars, then what are they?" Daniel asked.
"They are the light of destiny across all timelines and countless possibilities. Each mote of light represents a reality where many things can happen. Those lights of countless possibilities are like the roots of all things, embodying the trail of countless outcomes that magic can manifest," The Keeper explained.
As Daniel took in this scene, he was stunned. If what The Keeper said was true and all of this was his power made manifest for him to recognize, then what exactly was his power?
Thinking about this, Daniel recalled Envy's words. She mentioned that he has two Origin Elements. If Origin Elements represent the core of a person's magic, then could the other one start with 'R'? Was it reality? Creation and Reality? It seemed too grand to comprehend.
Daniel's face went pale when he came to this conclusion. The combination of creation and reality represented a power comparable to the creation abilities of gods. Even though he was largely ignorant about mage common sense, he knew the significance of this. He definitely couldn't let anyone know about it.
"Mr. Keeper... if all of this is my power... then what are you exactly? Are you also an entity representing my power? A power that has gained its own will, perhaps?" Daniel asked, his eyes fixed on The Keeper, trying to discern any hint of deception.
The Keeper responded with a kind smile.
"Yes and no, Mr. Emberweave. I do have my own will, that's a fact. But am I your power? I don't think so. However, I can't exist without your power, or your existence.
That's all I can say for now. You can think of me as a parasite living within your power, if you will. I don't mind, since that is a simplified definition of my existence. Yet, I am also a type of parasite that manages your power and the fabric of reality to ensure that no powerful beings from other dimensions catch wind of your existence or find a way to this dimension.
So, please, ease your mind; your well-being is my highest priority," explained The Keeper.