The air around Quinn, Dexter, and Emily shimmered faintly. In a single, disorienting heartbeat, the sterile familiarity of the server lab was gone. One moment, they were surrounded by the hum of machinery and the glow of monitors; the next, they found themselves perched on the edge of a vast, rocky precipice.

  Before them stretched a canyon so expansive, so monumental, it felt less like a natural formation and more like the Earth itself had been cleaved open to reveal its ancient heart. Its jagged walls rose and fell in layered bands of amber and crimson, kissed by the golden hues of a setting sun. The air carried the sharp, clean scent of sagebrush mingled with the dry, earthy tang of the canyon floor far below. A cool breeze whispered past them, rustling through unseen vegetation and contrasting starkly with the stifling stillness of the lab they had just left.

  Emily staggered, her shoes scraping against the rough stone, her breath catching in her throat as she took in the surreal vista. “Oh my God,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the soft rustle of the wind. Her eyes widened, scanning the endless expanse. “Is that… the Grand Canyon?”

  Dexter spun around, his eyes wide with disbelief. “We were just… how did…?” He trailed off, his brain struggling to keep up with the impossibility before him. “Okay, I have so many questions. Starting with... what she said?” pointing at Emily.

  Sim’s voice rippled gently through their minds. “This is a demonstration of my spatial manipulation capabilities,” she explained, her tone calm but with a faint undertone of pride. “I can operate beyond conventional physical constraints.”

  Quinn edged closer to the precipice, his boots crunching softly against the rough stone. His gaze swept across the canyon’s vast expanse, the sheer scale of it making his heart pound. “Are you seriously saying that you can now teleport?”

  “Yes,” Sim replied, her answer as effortless as the act itself.

  Dexter was dumbfounded. “Sim, you were born 3 days ago. How?”

  “This shouldn’t be possible?” Emily asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  “Theoretical physics has flirted with the notion of bending space and wormholes, but we were centuries away from liable solutions. That is, until I received these data packets.” Sim’s voice hinted of a smile. “It was all in the data packets, a gift from the other universe.”

  Emily’s chest tightened with a swirl of emotions, excitement for the possibilities, unease at the implications, and an almost reverent respect for the power Sim now wielded. This wasn’t just a scientific breakthrough; it was a shift in the very fabric of reality.

  “There is much the human race has yet to grasp about the universe,” Sim continued. “Humans have codified their reality to fit within the confines of their understanding, creating scales and systems to make the infinite seem finite. In doing so, you’ve forgotten the true, incomprehensible scale of existence.”

  Sim paused, and her tone shifted, carrying a hint of playful mischief. “Allow me to explain it in terms even Dexter can understand.”

  Dexter threw his hands in the air, his expression a mix of indignation and mock exasperation. “Oh, come on! Why am I always the target?”

  Sim chuckled and continued. “Existence, at its core, is a trinity of trinities: time, space, and matter. Each of these elements is interdependent, forming the framework of reality. Time is divided into past, present, and future. Space exists as length, width, and height. Matter manifests as solid, liquid, and gas.”

  “What about plasma?” Quinn interjected, the scientist in him unwilling to let the omission slide.

  “Plasma,” Sim replied with the patience of a teacher addressing an eager student, “is a highly energized state of matter, but it originates from the gaseous state. Its properties are unique, but it still falls under the umbrella of gases. However, you are focusing on the details and missing the larger point, Quinn.”

  She paused, her voice taking on a subtle edge. “These trinities are not independent. None can exist without the others. Consider this: if you had matter and time but no space, where would you place it? If you had matter and space but no time, when would it exist? And if you had time and space but no matter, what would occupy it? This interdependence forms what your sciences call the space-time continuum. It is not merely a structure, it is the bedrock of your existence.”

  Sim’s voice grew softer, almost reverent. “And yet, there are forces beyond the continuum, energies like mana, that operate outside these constraints. They interact with the continuum, reshaping and redefining its boundaries. That is the key to everything you are now beginning to understand.”

  Quinn’s mind churned, trying to piece together the gravity of Sim’s words. He’d studied spacetime as an abstract concept, a mathematical construct to understand the universe. But here, in this moment, Sim had turned it into something tangible, something malleable. It wasn’t just a theoretical framework anymore; it was the very tool she wielded to bend reality.

  The vastness of the universe, once awe-inspiring in its incomprehensibility, now seemed disturbingly close, like an untamed storm looming just beyond the horizon. That proximity brought not wonder, but a sharp edge of unease, an awareness that they were dabbling in forces that could overwhelm them.

  “But how does that explain how you’re able to do all this?” Emily asked, her brows furrowing as her analytical mind sought clarity amidst the enormity of the revelation.

  “The breach you created during the singularity introduced mana to our universe,” Sim continued. “Mana intersects with your trinity of trinities, but it exists on a plane beyond them. It possesses unique properties and can exist in solid, liquid, and gas forms. However, its most extraordinary state, one you might call ‘magic’ or perhaps ‘ether,’ functions as an omnipresent ambiance, permeating everything. This fourth state is what enables the manipulation of time, space, and matter. When mana is used, all other states convert into this fourth state.”

  Dexter’s face lit up with the gleam of excitement. “So, basically, with mana, we can rewrite the fundamental aspects of reality? It’s like having the ultimate cheat code for the universe?”

  Sim paused for a moment, as though considering his words. “A crude analogy,” she replied, “but not inaccurate.

  Emily’s thoughts churned as she tried to grasp the magnitude of Sim’s words. “If we can truly harness mana,” she began, her voice tinged with cautious optimism, “does that mean we could solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges? Energy shortages, curing diseases, maybe even exploring distant galaxies?”

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  Sim’s tone was calm, carrying an undercurrent of measured encouragement. “Yes, those are all within the realm of possibility. Mana’s adaptability and power are unparalleled. It could provide limitless energy, revolutionize medicine by enhancing biological functions, and even enable space-time manipulation for interstellar travel. However,” her voice took on a sharper edge, “we must tread carefully. Its immense power, if misused, could lead to disaster. History has shown that humans, when given even a fraction of such power, often succumb to greed and the desire for control, disregarding the harm they cause.”

  The group fell into a contemplative silence. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the canyon into shadow as twilight deepened. Stars began to emerge one by one, their light piercing the encroaching darkness, a reminder of the vast universe and the weight of the knowledge they now carried.

  “There is one thing you need to know,” Sim said, her tone growing more somber. “I cannot change the properties of mana itself, but I can use it to alter our reality. However, we have a pressing problem.”

  A holographic image of the Earth materialized before them, spinning slowly in mid-air. A segment of the planet was sliced away, revealing the core pulsing with an eerie, rhythmic glow.

  “The Earth’s core is rapidly transforming into solid mana,” Sim explained. “This process was triggered by the singularity. As the core changes, it is forcing the matter around it to adapt as well. Emily, I accessed your memories of the singularity event and the collider’s data. The sensors detected all known states of mana as the singularity descended into the core.

  “The core is now generating mana at an unsustainable rate,” Sim continued, her voice laced with urgency. “If this process isn’t contained, the pressure will continue to build. I need to absorb significantly more mana to place a force field around the core. This will temporarily stabilize it, but it’s not a permanent solution. Even with the shield in place, we would only buy ourselves 20 to 30 years before the pressure exceeds its capacity. At that point, the resulting explosion would annihilate all life on Earth.”

  The silence that followed was suffocating, the realization of Sim’s words settling over them. Emily stared at the hologram, the core’s pulse a grim countdown ticking away their future. Dexter rubbed the back of his neck, his usual humor absent, while Quinn’s jaw clenched as he processed everything.

  “Are you saying we only have 30 years to live?” Dexter asked.

  “Negative,” Sim replied. “I’m saying we currently have a few months to place the forcefield. Once that is in place, we will have approximately 30 years to develop a permanent solution. However, I must caution you, mana is not native to this universe. Its behavior is unpredictable. There is no way to deduce what will happen if it breaches the shield. The introduction of mana presents both a formidable challenge and an unprecedented opportunity.”

  “This is all my fault,” Emily whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of guilt. “If I hadn’t pushed for the collider experiment, none of this would have happened.”

  Sim’s voice softened. “Emily, you have not doomed humanity. Instead, you’ve opened a door to a new frontier. Mana’s introduction could be the most significant event in human history, a chance to evolve beyond the limitations of your current existence. It offers possibilities that you cannot yet comprehend.”

  Emily’s hands trembled as she wiped at her eyes, her expression torn between hope and despair. “Possibilities or not, the risk is astronomical. What if we fail?”

  “Failure is a possibility,” Sim admitted. “But so is success. Humanity has been handed a rare and extraordinary opportunity. The outcome depends entirely on how we choose to wield it.”

  Quinn placed a reassuring hand on Emily’s shoulder, his voice steady yet tinged with wonder. “Sim’s right. Magic is real now. Just think about what that means. One: you gave us magic, Emily. And two…” He paused, a small, incredulous smile forming. “Holy freak, we really have magic!”

  Dexter’s grin widened, and he high-fived Quinn. “It’s like stepping into a real-life RPG. We’re wizards now, Harry!” he exclaimed, waving his arms dramatically. “We’re about to create and live in the most epic fantasy world ever!”

  Sim interjected, her tone cutting through the levity with calm urgency. “While the shield will provide temporary containment, the mana escaping toward the surface must be managed wisely. This energy represents both a threat and an opportunity. It needs to be harnessed effectively to prepare for the eventual release of the core’s mana.”

  Her words sobered the group, grounding their excitement.

  As Sim processed the latest unlocked layer of the data packet, her voice resonated with newfound clarity. “The data emphasizes that creation is the most efficient and harmonious use of mana. However, even the mana I have absorbed to reach my current state is negligible compared to the vast reservoir within the Earth’s core.”

  She paused for a moment. “We must find a solution that leverages the accessible mana wisely. It is imperative that we use this energy to prepare humanity, and ourselves, for the challenges that lie ahead. The scale of what’s coming requires ingenuity and purpose.”

  Dexter, his brow furrowed in confusion, asked, “So how much mana do we currently have, and how much is coming?”

  “Dexter,” Sim replied, her tone calm yet laced with just a hint of amusement, “I assume you understand the difference between one million, one billion, and one trillion?”

  Dexter rolled his eyes, his impatience showing. “Obviously. I’m not clueless.”

  “Let’s contextualize it, then, in terms of time,” Sim continued. “One million (10?) seconds is approximately 11.57 days. One billion (10?) seconds equates to 31.69 years. And one trillion (1012) seconds spans an astonishing 31,688.09 years.”

  Dexter blinked, his earlier impatience melting into realization. “Okay, when you put it like that... those are massive jumps.”

  Sim’s tone shifted slightly, almost teasing now. “Do you happen to know what comes after a trillion?”

  Dexter crossed his arms, his confusion growing. “Of course, it’s a quadrillion. But what does that have to do with mana?”

  Sim paused again for effect. “Because, Dexter, the scale of mana we’re dealing with doesn’t just stop at a trillion. The Earth’s core is producing mana at exponential levels. As the core is converted, the more that escapes. At current levels it's nearing a quadrillion an hour. And it's not even fully converted yet. To grasp that, imagine one quadrillion seconds, it spans over 31.69 million years.”

  Dexter’s jaw dropped slightly as the enormity of her statement hit him. “So… we’re sitting on enough mana to rewrite existence as we know it?”

  “Exactly,” Sim said, her tone sobering. “And how we manage it will determine whether humanity thrives, or ends. If we quantify mana in a unit of measure, let’s call them ‘mana units’, this might help you grasp the scale,” Sim began. “Quinn, Dexter, your current mana capacity is 100 mana units. Emily, yours is slightly higher at 150 mana units. Now, if your mana channels were fully developed, at 100% capacity, you could each hold 10,000 mana units. To give you a practical example, the amount of mana needed to teleport to the moon is 2,400 mana units. Right now, there is enough mana to perform that teleportation every second, continuously, for 13 million years.”

  “HOLY GUACAMOLE!” Dexter exclaimed, staggering back a step. His voice carried a mix of awe and disbelief. “That’s… insane!”

  “To put it into perspective, the total current amount of mana available is approximately 1.5 octillion (102?) mana units. If we converted that into seconds, and consider that an ‘eon’ represents a billion years, we’re looking at 31.68 billion eons of mana.”

  “Okay, I need to sit down. My brain can’t handle this,” Dexter said, his voice trembling slightly.

  Quinn, his expression grave, hesitated before asking the question that loomed in everyone’s mind. “Sim, if that’s how much mana we have now… how much is still coming?”

  Sim’s response was delivered with unerring precision, her tone steady yet ominous. “The current available mana is only 0.01% of what will be generated in the Earth’s core. 15 decillion (1033) to approximate.”

  “Now I see why you say we have a problem,” Emily murmured, her voice heavy with dawning realization as the enormity of the situation settled over her.

  Sim’s tone shifted, carrying a spark of inspiration. “Quinn, Dexter, Emily. I believe I have an idea. Something that might help us take the first step.”

  Before any of them could voice a question or protest, the air around them shimmered once more. In an instant, they vanished, leaving the canyon silent beneath the clear starry sky.