As my eyes adjusted from having meditated for over an hour now, I moseyed back inside to wait for Lonni and the rest of his troop. Korbin had already shown off the docks he installed, hoping to get ships built to begin importing and exporting shit. It's incredible the speed at which a simple purchase from the Pylon Market could construct pretty much anything from thin air. Korbin's financial savvy had transitioned nicely into the tutorial, leaving him with an incredibly deep reserve of TP.
Apparently, he'd been busy doing some weird contract shit his Patron set him up with while I was away. He refused to divulge into to much detail how they worked but, clearly it'd proven beneficial, because everything was just more. Buildings were at a larger scale and far more plentiful, dedicated areas for Professions like blacksmithing areas, grindstones, forges and the works, along with a garden area labeled 'Botanists' had emerged.
There were even alchemy labs, and different training areas for all classes, including healers. The mage building was to no surprise the most encapsulating, having hovering books changing pages floating over pillars with green flame burning atop. The massive twin doors had a strange wriggling pattern, looking much like dark rippling water. Truly, mages were spoiled in terms of theatrical grandeur.
Fuck?! Korbin's been busy?
Strolling about, I remembered Korbin mentioned needing to get a profession, but none of them really jumped out at me. Sure, I could just pick one that might serve short term utility and forgo even caring about it, but that's just not my style quite frankly. It was difficult for me pre-integration to stick at any job longer than a year, as the eventual burnout from tedious action would dissuade me from even showing up anymore. Besides, how would I truly excel in something if I didn't even really enjoy it? TP or not, suffering voluntarily for shitty and unsought outcomes isn't my style.
I was taking in the incredible growth around our settlement wen a large boom shook the ground below me, the source coming from the entrance side to our Pylon. Excited for a little action, I ran to the gate and opened it manually with a lever. The doors swung out, revealing my buddy Lonni with Terra and Zack huddled closely behind. A smile crept over my face seeing Lonni had successfully brought both of them back alive.
"Oh! You made it. What's up guys? How was your trip?" I asked, a proud grin for my companion spread wide across my face. While whatever tale he may have of their assistance, Lonni's ability to lead them here won a whole lot of respect points from me. Especially since I'd began feeling a tinge of regret for leaving him so high and dry. Yet, clearly he handled his own enough. Speaking of which, his armor looked absolutely fucked, and the blood all over indicated his physical states not great either.
"Woah what happened to you? Why are none of you injured?!" I asked looking back at Terra and Zach.
"I was launched into a tree." Zach volunteered, easing his hand.
"…good. Come on in guys." I said, turning back into the base. They followed, and before I sealed the gate behind them I noticed Lonni's comically extended chain on his flail dragging behind.
"The fuck happened to your chain? Why's it so long now?"
Lonni stumbled inside and fell to his knees, his palm holding his upper half up.
"Aw dammit. I'll get Kailyn." I said, before fetching her accordingly.
While Lonni was patched up, he caught me up to speed on his journey, spending much focus on how utterly stupid Zach had been.
"Best part? He left those fucking pelts behind when we got chased out by the snakes. Honestly, that serpent and him might have found some shit in common."
My laughter escaped my chest in a burst, thoroughly enjoying his distaste for ratty shit. Even if he used snakes as his example, who are more opportunistic than conniving in my experience but, he'll get there.
"Don't worry bud. You got the rest of the day to rest up…and pick a profession to immediately begin working on." I said, the second part was much faster than the former.
"Oh! Sweet. A little R & R." He exclaimed sarcastically, laughing hardily having thoroughly amused himself. I couldn't help but join in on his infectious cackles. After we settled down from our half hysteric chuckling, I took the time to reassure Lonni of his workload going forward.
"Don't sweat it too bad man. We got a lot of stuff around here for all kinds of professions. You shouldn't have an issue finding one you like." I said, reassuring him before I left to meditate a bit more.
"What did you pick?" He asked as I turned the corner of the building adjacent to the entrance, stopping me for a moment.
"…no spoilers. Don't wanna influence your choice of work for the foreseeable future." I lied, continuing toward the docks.
The rest of the day went as I'd had hoped in truth, me meditating by the ocean on the docks as the water mana blew over the wind and wrapped around me like a mothers hug. My mind wandered back to all my fights scouring for areas where I could improve. The three recruits I picked up yesterday ran about working their little Professions after picking them relatively quickly. I figured they were too antsy to pick anything worth a shit, and would regret acting so hastily in a long run.
Anyways, day became night before morning once more, the sound of Lonni smashing his tool into the armor he'd cased all afternoon and shaped all. Fucking. Night.
Of course Korbin told him to "ride that creative wave" given my place was coincidentally right next to the smithery. Terra decided to go the alchemy route, her labs closer to the back of the settlement in the southwestern most corner.
Then there was Zach. According to Terra, Zach was a 'sapper' or a grad turned combat engineer, who specialized in creating land mines but had experience in a plethora of other skills such as building bridges and destroying fortifications. He jumped at the artificer profession after learning it wasn't much like the naval position he'd known about. This version was mainly crafting traps and that sort of thing.
The guy went ballistic, in the span of a day. Everywhere within a 5 foot radius of our Pylon outside of our main entrance way was peppered with simple bear traps. Just in time too, the first official wave hit on day 3 with the dramatic countdown on everyone's HUD and everything. Too bad only some of the outer traps were ever utilized due to Korbin's Pylon having insanely powerful automated magma cannons at all angles. Never saw those things at my Pylon shop…
Now to Zach's credit, between him and Lonni's newfound devotion in their craft, I'd begun admiring their tenacity. So much so actually, I'd grown terribly frustrated by day 4, as I'd yet to venture out for another adventure. Not by choice, it was simply the rule provided by someone more willing to be the governing body running all the bullshit math around here.
Fucking Korbin, to put simply.
By midway of day 4, I'd just about lost all hope. For hours I scrolled mindlessly through the myriad of profession options at Korbin's Pylon, yet not one caught my interest. Meanwhile, Lonni had leveled up his profession once already, having constructed his own custom flail that, honestly, looked worse than his original. Still, I'd hand made a Bo staff once before the system thing, and knew all too well the pride one found in their passion projects often served as a rose tint to its quality.
My demeanor remained excitedly supportive as Lonni showed off his new weapon. By the time I'd left the smithery and gotten back to the docks away from the other 5 humans and undead rat that occupied the settlement however, my frustration reached its boiling point.
You know what? Fuck it. I'll handle this later.
My mind egged me on to abandon this frivolous waste of time that could've been spent leveling.
By day 2, I'd already been class level fucking 4. Why Korbin insisted on curbing that progress is beyond me, but who was he to decide my choices?
The leader of your home.
Thank you, internal Korbin.
Regardless, the wonderful butterflies that danced in my belly imagining the glorious hunt of superior monsters resuming was enough, as I plunged feet first off the docks in search of some real progress. The water wasn't nearly as cold as I assumed, which made me question why I'd never taken the time to have a swim.
The rise in agility and endurance did wonders for my ability to dive deep for long periods of time. Only issue was, most of the ocean was devoid of any mentionable prey. Most of the sea life was either vegetation or too small to be worth smiting. To nature's credit though, it was certainly serene if you removed me from the picture. For about 30 minutes, I cycled down as far as I could swim down to hunt through the bottomless ocean, and up again for air and an angry water slap session.
It was around minute 31 when my senses came about me, accompanied by a screaming pain in my chest. Realizing I'm no fish, nor do I have any means to travel far or fast enough, I resurfaced to refill my lungs and dive back down. This time reserving my mind to seeking ways to alleviate the wasted energy that shortened my time spent down here.
The first thing that came to mind, that always came to mind, was meditation. Having held my breath for well over 15 minutes swimming at full speed, I figured I could afford floating down slowly for a while before wading upward when my lungs felt tight.
Gathering my legs crossed under each other, I assumed my normal meditative pose, my first fingers and thumbs touching at my shins as my body floated slowly into the sea depths. The first blind plunge I was nervous racking in truth, my anxiety at hearing a sound nearby causing me to flutter my eyes open and swim back to the surface.
Peering down seeing absolutely nothing, and laughing at my own paranoia, I calmed my nerves and floated down again. This time fully committing as I sank down into the ocean, entering into a true meditation. My thoughts yearned to replay old fights I'd analyzed a million times. My body however simply wished to soak in the plethora of glorious water mana surrounding me.
Knowing better than to ignore my spirit like that, I leaned into it, actively reaching out with my senses to feel the euphoric energy spinning and waving around me. Curious, I began wading my body in a rhythm as I floated cross-legged. Water Stance triggered as I felt the rush of stat's being boosted coursing through my muscles. One could consider this a waste, using a perception boosting skill with your eyes closed, but the skill wasn't the point.
See, I just wanted to spend a little mana for a bit. Having plenty of free time in my misery of boredom the last few days, I'd tested the mana cost of the few skills I have. Thus far, this one was the cheapest, having a cost of 10 mana to activate. It made the skill sound insanely overpowered until you read the debuff on endurance once you lost perpetual motion. Still, I just needed to spend a little to see if I could absorb a little.
Focusing on the flow around and within me, I tried to force myself to open up to the energies around me. Oddly, there was a moment in which it felt like my body was beginning to open up, but a harsh stabbing sensation in my chest closed that down quickly. Resetting my thoughts, once more I focused on taking in the mana around me. This time, instead of forcing myself open, I tried pulling in the wonderful water mana that floated endlessly before me.
The energy felt like it was physically pressing on my skin after like an exposing cocoon before once again a pain shook my focus, this time in my arm where the tension was building most.
What the fuck?
To me, it was absolutely insane I could even feel these things as I'd tried each method for the first time. However, by attempts number three and four of trying variations of them, my excitement had devolved to sheer passion for completing this feat. It's possible, I was just wrong somewhere major. Why couldn't it be easy, like I could just flip a switch and not even have to think about absorbing th-…
Wait.
Feeling a stroke of either genius or just the lack of oxygen getting to my brain from the diving and surfacing I'd for the last 40 or so minutes, my thoughts centered. Reaching out with my senses, I felt for all the water mana that covered me, my body still swaying in its perpetual rhythm.
The moment I'd felt absolutely attuned to what energies immediately surrounded me, I relaxed. My body stopped its motion entirely, going limp as I focused on allowing in rather than taking. As I floated adrift, a burst of tiredness shot through my chest, likely the effects of Water Stance deactivating.
I didn't care. This mana was going to be absorbed. This is my affinity. Even before all this shit, this was the element I'd based my entire philosophy on fighting around. It got me here. So why fight it any longer?
*ding*
*Congratulations!* You've unlocked
->
Meditate (common) - user regenerates their resource pools, as well as find solace for and within their own spirit over time.
*ding*
Special conditions met: Proficient knowledge of Flow.
Congratulations! You've upgraded
Meditate (common) - user regenerates their resource pools, as well as find solace for and within their own spirit over time.
->
Flow Meditation (uncommon) - user regenerates their resource pools through their innate connection to Flow and its mechanisms, also allowing them to control the spaces in which the mind travels, and regenerates the body's wear and tear spiritually from using Flow excessively. Must be in perpetual motion.
Eyes still wired shut, I danced excitedly in the water as I finished reading the notification. Finally, a new fucking skill, and it upgraded immediately. I got to do a bit moving forward. Now, I just have to move upward before I dr-
…
Feeling below me, my hands were met with a smooth sand as my eyes tried to adjust to pitch black surroundings, unable to detect any light source. Peering up, not even the faintest glimmer of sunlight was visible. I was completely engrossed in utter darkness. The ocean had taken on an absolute silence, probably assisting in my complete disassociation with my whereabouts. Now, I sat at the bottom of an ocean.
My feet had just pushed off the sand when my body froze as a bright light illuminated not 10 feet away. Two, in fact. Piercing yellow eyes with thin cut pupils cut through the darkness, directly gazing into mine. My body had completely locked in fear, and jolted as a voice rang through my head.
"Hey, you look a little lost?"
What.
"I said you look a little lost?" The voice said, answering my…thoughts.
"Wait, you can hear my thoughts? Are you uhh…you?" I asked, pointing in the dark. A laughter cackled through my thoughts.
"No, I mean, I can't read other humans' thoughts at least. And to answer your nervous pointing yes, I am me." The voice answered in an affable tone.
"Now, do correct me for being so presumptuous if I'm wrong but, you seem a bit out of place here, human?" The voice continued.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah I can't really see anything so, that may be true." I answered.
"Ahhh, that makes sense. The other ones that live around here don't usually sink down here on purpose. Or alive for that matter. You need a ride up?"
"Desperately." I thought, honestly. Hard to have a choice in the matter there with thinking versus talking.
"Gotcha', hop on." It said, followed by a large scaly mass rising from under me as the eyes dashed around quickly.
"You on snug?" The voice asked.
"As I can be."
A wave of water rushed against my chest as my mysterious savior shot upward to ward the surface, damn near knocking me off before the force abruptly dissipated. Leaning forward, I still felt the water hitting against my face as we assumedly ascended to get me some much needed air. The force was just gone, replaced now by a notification from Perunious on my HUD.
Become a Beast Tamer. Got upgrade plans for this one.
We breached the surface quicker than I could've possibly expected, my lungs filling with air in a loud gasp. Wiping the water from my eyes, I turned to look for what had taken me up from the ocean floor in such a short time. My eyes began forward, only to rise up several feet to meet the gaze of the giant water snake that hovered out of the water.
Its scaled skin was a deep blue, with stripes of black and lighter blues crossing over his body in different patterns. Its scaly belly was an eggshell white. Its body was as thick as the sequoia trees.
"Jeez, you could've said you were drowning, I would have sped up." The familiar voice rang through my head once more.
"O-oh. Uh no it's okay." I said now with my words.
"So what brings you to the bottom of the ocean, human? Or do you have a name?"
Damn, he's polite.
Wait.
"Did you hear that?" I thought…at it?
"Hear what?" The snake responded.
"Nothing uh, yeah my name's Tom. I came out here to farm some levels and progress some more in my class. Honestly, I just wanted to avoid not finding a damn profession." I said honestly to the snake through my thoughts. It's always easier in the noggin to be genuine after all.
"Makes sense. You humans always have to do some profession as well just to level the race skill tree, I truly feel for you."
Well, I didn't know that.
"Hey so, do you have a name by chance my slithery friend?" I asked.
"I do, Sanstevàn-Sotamosa." He replied.
"However, my friends call me Steve." He added.
I laughed aloud at the abbreviation.
"Hell yeah, Steve. Well what brings you around here? Didn't expect to find much of anything after trying to hunt all day."
"Yeah, yeah I saw you. Most things did, but to both answer your question to me and your lackluster hunt, I've been doing a little experience collecting myself." He answered in a sly tone.
"I like your style. Hey, you said 'other humans'?" I asked, trying to stay present in the conversation I was having with a giant fucking snake.
"I did. I've run into many around here actually. Some I met on less mutual terms, as they attacked me on sight. They weren't anything formidable, but they were all a level above me."
"Damn, that sounds pretty sweet, I'm not gonna lie."
"Right? It was like, 8 people all at once who definitely hadn't fought a snake a day in their life."
"Easy xp farm."
"Easy xp farm."
My face lit up with excitement as we said the exact same expression, the snake also appearing amused as his head reared back a bit, its eyes wide. It was my go to, it ran through my head when the spiders showed up until, well, they all showed up.
"You know, Tom? I like you man. And you can understand me, which is honestly a first without someone waving some big stick first." Steve said.
My eyebrow rose at that last part.
"Wait, what? Who spoke to you after doing that?"
"Oh, the other humans I've met. They live down below in their little makeshift settlement. I guess they were on some boat when this place got integrated, and just popped out here and stayed."
Well shit, that's pretty cool.
"Is there any way you could take me to them?" I asked.
"Sure sure, hey but, you're level 4 already." The snake pointed out.
"Oh, you got Identity!" I exclaimed, excited to see another race share skills.
"Hm? Not sure what that is but, I see your level, like anything else. How did you level so fast?!" It persisted, prompting me to check its level.
[Giant Water Serpent Level -4]
"I've been hunting these waters nonstop since I woke up down here a couple weeks ago. Having grown so large and, well, smarter, I just started hunting everything. Eventually, my Goddess chose me, Wadesha."
"Never heard of her, that's pretty fuckin' cool you're also a Chosen though! My patrons Perunious, God o-"
"Of Wrath and Lightning, Sovereign over the Storms. YEAH. I know him. What the fuck you're his chosen?!" The snake asked, lurching his head back and higher above the surface in shock in.
"I take it he's a big deal?"
"'Big deal'?! It's no wonder you don't know my Goddess, she's kind of down the ladder of your God's co-faction with Anutir, the Water Goddess. Both are basically my God's bosses." The snake admitted. Whoever said snakes were liars, man, really ought to meet one first.
"Honestly I hadn't thought about a hierarchy of Gods like that but, that makes sense. So, you like my God then?" I asked, now seeing a moment of opportunity.
"Kind of a 'no choice' deal, I'm pretty much obligated to listen to you." Steve answered.
"So, I got a message from the big man himself. He sort of wants me to do this thing but, I totally think the concept itself is like, kind of degrading. But if you're like, down it would be a great boon to your growth." Speaking out loud this time on purpose.
The snake merely nodded in attention.
"Okay, so my God sort of wants me to…'tame' you. I have to become a Beast Tamer class, but he wants to give you some upgrades, try making you stronger I guess? I know it sounds cr-"
"Oh definitely how do we start?" Steve cut off.
"Woah wait." I paused.
"No thinking about the implications of being my beast or?" I asked now in my head.
"Tom, buddy, if Perunious the Aboriginal wants to make me your beast companion in order to give me cool shit to be stronger, I really couldn't care less the reason. Besides, you're a chill dude. I'm not too worried about it." The snake answered casually.
"Well um, I actually don't know where to begin with tha-"
Create a contract to become Beast Tamer, the specifications for Steve will be in the contract.
The Patron Objective updated as I telepathically spoke.
"Okay. Where the fuck do I get a contract like that?"
I asked aloud.
Tom, you're joking right?
My face stared to the sky blankly for a long pause.
Korbin, Tom. Go to Korbin.
Oh, fucking 'duh'.
"Alright, we go to my buddy at our Pylon who's good with contracts fills, and we get to getting stronger ASAP." Finally answering the anxiously wriggling giant snake.
"Excellent. I'll have to inform my people of my absence, do you wish to meet the water humans? They're on the way, I can grab you after my things are in order."
Really never thought a snake would offer me a ride between errands.
"Sure, I honestly almost forgot about them."
"Naturally, alright let's leave now then. The sooner the better." Steve responded before I hopped on the back of his massive snake body, and we plunged below.
Traveling by 25 foot water snake was nothing short of an absolute blast, especially with sunlight illuminating where we swam unlike our introduction. One would assume I'd be throwing up with the side to side oscillating turns Steve performed cutting through the water at lightning speeds, but I didn't feel a thing. It was like the water moved out of his way entirely, and I was but a scale on his serpentining form.
Looking ahead after some angled swimming deeper into the ocean, a handful of makeshift buildings began emerging into view, along with some bright blue light sources tucked around a cave.
Below were people, swimming about at inhuman paces. A few stood waiting at a platform to greet us, as Steve spoke.
"Give me a moment with them, Tom."
"Okay,"
The snake's head turned toward the people around us now at the caves floor. After some time, one approached with a little stick that had a gem at the bottom of its handle.
"Don't worry, this won't hurt." Steve said, before the water person casted a ball of blue light at me, energy traveling through my lungs as I suddenly gasped in the water. There was a moment where I truly thought Steve just got me killed, when I noticed I had no issue breathing.
Taking in a few deep breaths of pure ocean water, the wand wielder fired again, this time a rapid bubbling sensation tinged in my brain.
"Welcome, traveler. Our friend Steve here says you're his new companion. It is a pleasure." A new, gruffer voice rang through my head. The man looked in good shape, however the grey hairs gave away he'd been around the block for a bit.
"Thanks, yeah we're cool. You know we have a Pylon not that far off from here west if you guys wanted to, you know, see the land for a bit?" I offered in my mind.
"That's quite alright. We've grown accustomed to living down here, the tournament having helped much in o-" the floating fellow looked me up and down a second.
"Wait a minute, you're the guy who absolutely cleaned-house at the water arena!?" The middle aged, tastefully greyed man said.
"You were there? Oh man did we fight?" I asked, still hazy on everything but excited to see a fellow water warrior.
"Ah, no. I got knocked out before that could happen. I did meet my Patron though, Tekuna, one that follows yours' orders turns out." He said, looking upward at what I assumed is his Patron Objective. That's if every God was using it as a one way text line.
"Well, I'm no stranger to how that works by now. I have to ask, is there nothing you folks need from us at all? I've got some well connected friends. Steve here kn-"
Turning back, Steve was already long gone.
Dammit, Steve.
"Well, Tom, I'd hate to be too forthcoming but, since you're persisting so…" the voice trailed off, the man's eyes trailing off.
"…well, we don't have a Pylon here. As much as we get by, we don't have access to the same amenities, nor much to trade until we can get Professions running around here." The man admitted, his eyes down. He must run things here if he feels such shame for their status.
"So, what are you asking?"
"Nothing too absurd. Just…a Pylon. We're not sure if there's any underwater around here, but my Patron confirmed they can and do exist. In fact, they do in quite large quantities, as water still takes up the majority of our planets surface." The man said, a hopeful glimmer in his eye.
To be clear, I didn't even know people can live down here, much less have Pylons. That being said, my position isn't one to know about those sorts of things. Someone else made that very much their problem already.
"I haven't seen any around here, I'll be honest. But, tell you what. If you got you some good fighters around here, I say you take a few with you, and meet that friend of mine I'd mentioned. I'm almost certain he'll have the answers you need, and if you can show some worth already, mutualities and maybe even favors for a fellow water lover could be in play." I offered, fully entering my car salesman mode.
Did I have to help Korbin out? No, not really right now. Well, sort of but again, not necessarily right now. It was more these folks, I admired their dedication in truth. They'd been far more loyal to the affinity than I, having learned to breathe down here already. Might as well make some allies I like for a change.
"Hmm…alright. I'm not one to deny the Chosen of the Wrath Gods proposals."
Surprised at the ease of my negotiations, I reveled in the newfound power of 'status', as I shared the whereabouts of the Pylon. After which, we traded stories of how the first few days of the Tutorial had been. While we'd fallen into luxury, these folks were semi-struggling. They took 2 days to find this cave, and 3 to teach everyone the underwater breathing skill before a mage got it as a spell. The leader and who I spoke to, Jeff, being that mage.
"How did you know you could teach a skill?" I asked, curious at not being the only one.
"Skills are what they've always been in that regard. Earning skills are just done in more ways than one now. My God simply put, 'you either work to level for it, or earn it on the way.' Thus far, the latter has happened more with this skill alone. Then again, we're all water affinity and were dropped here immediately, it could be a matter of exposure."
Taking in his clearly thought out theories, I found no consensus either, and decided to test further on my own time. Jeff went on to explain he'd had a kinship with the water life, as he'd been a marine biologist before all of this. He'd noticed he could speak to animals of the water pretty early, as it turns out; fish are chatty folks.
The eels he had roaming about his little cave settlement were huge, but smaller than Steve. Their bodies radiated Lightning Mana, making goosebumps on my skin as the euphoric combo of my favorite affinities would rush over me as they drifted by.
"Most people don't enjoy those things getting close like that, I suppose you share your God's affinity as well as his wifes." Jeff commented with a grin.
"You assume correct. I enjoy a bit of toaster bath powers here and there." I answered with a smile.
"Much like your pal Steve there then. Scary combo you two will be." He added, his chest bouncing as he chuckled underwater at the implication.
"Yeah haha, no kidding." I answered after a moment.
Kind of odd to feel hurt he hadn't mentioned his affinities, but to be fair I hadn't either. That was sure to be rectified as soon as he came back but, still strange it never came up considering the leveling talk. Until then, it was quiet time because my Jeff battery was empty.
"Well, I'd say this was an incredibly enlightening experience. I must meditate for a bit, take in the mana around me while I wait for Steve. I appreciate you, Jeff. Hope to be seeing you at my place real soon?" I said, wading towards the mount of the cave where I was dropped off at.
"Of course, Tom. I'd hate to disappoint 'Perunious' Chosen of Earth'." He answered in a sarcastic tone with a knowing grin. Okay, maybe my exits from interactions hadn't improved yet, but my intelligence is an 8.
After some actual playing around with Flow Meditation, finding much more escape into myself than previously, Steve's tail poked my shoulder.
"Ready to roll sleepyhead?" Steve asked, laughing a bit.
"Yeah, 'bout time you got here, almost learned that guys mothers maiden name I was so bored." I answered, swimming onto his back.
"Yeah yeah, the eels were being needy. Point me the way oh lord Tamer Tom." Steve said sarcastically.
"Don't. Don't do that. We're friends who level together, alright?" I said, in a far more serious tone.
"Sure buddy. Whatever you say."