Amelia questioned me for three hours.
She called it investigation.
I called it being trapped in a conversation I could technically leave but could not finish without landing on letters one at a time.
Her first question: HOW DOES EVOLUTION WORK?
Excellent.
I did not fully know.
I spelled: F E E D E N E R G Y S A M P L E T R A I T Amelia wrote beneath them.
“Feeding provides energy.” One buzz.
“Unusual biological sources offer adaptations.” Yes.
“You choose among compatible traits.” Yes.
“Can the Codex create abilities without a biological source?” I asked internally.
— Most adaptive functions require a traceable biological or environmental basis.
System may translate function across compatible host architecture.
Arbitrary unsupported abilities unavailable.
— I relayed the answer.
Amelia nodded.
“Better.” Why?
“Limits create stability.
A system that grants anything without structure would destroy you.” Fair.
Next question: “Can you take every trait from one organism?” Two buzzes.
No.
“Why?” Capacity.
Conflict.
Energy.
Mass.
I spelled each term while Amelia organized them into a page.
BIOLOGICAL CAPACITY TRAIT CONFLICT ENERGY COST WEIGHT / METABOLISM “Your reinforced shell made you heavier,” she said.
Yes.
“Your venom reservoir altered your balance.” Yes.
“And Tissue Regeneration consumes energy.” Yes.
She made a note beside the trait list rather than praising the obvious.
Good.
We tested the Codex with controlled samples.
Not dangerous feeding.
Not mystery tissue from the vent.
Amelia found shed gecko skin near the window.
I touched it.
— Common gecko shed detected.
Regenerative trait template already integrated.
No additional high-value adaptation available.
— No duplicate farming.
Next, the remains of an ordinary fly from the windowsill.
— Low-value biological material.
Estimated Evolution Energy: negligible.
No recommended trait extraction.
— Then a tiny piece of feather Mayra had carried in on her jacket.
— Common avian keratin.
Host compatibility: Low.
No relevant trait template.
— No instant bird-flight improvement.
Good.
I already had wings.
Amelia placed a strand of her own hair near me.
The Codex reacted more strongly.
— Human keratin carrying trace high-grade bloodline residue detected.
Direct trait extraction unavailable.
Insufficient biological relevance.
— Excellent.
No acquiring Ice Phoenix from hair.
Amelia seemed pleased.
“You cannot gain power from symbols.
Only biology with actual function.” Mostly.
Yes.
“What happens if you consume something incompatible?” The Codex answered: — Potential outcomes: – rejection – energy loss – toxin exposure – tissue instability – host failure — Host failure again.
Amelia read my summary.
Her expression hardened.
“Then you do not eat unknown material without analysis.” One buzz.
She narrowed her eyes.
“You agreed too quickly.” Idiot buzz.
“Plenteaful.” One buzz.
Actually agreed.
Mostly.
Then Amelia asked the most dangerous question.
“Does my blood count as a trait source or only energy?” Both, perhaps.
Frost Resistance had come from exposure, but the Codex had explicitly rejected full bloodline assimilation.
I asked.
— High-grade source may provide: – Evolution Energy – environmental adaptation pressure – compatible trace traits – future catalyst influence Full bloodline assimilation is currently impossible and highly dangerous.
— I relayed the answer.
Amelia became thoughtful.
“My blood may stabilize some changes.” Maybe.
“Or contaminate them.” Also maybe.
She looked directly at me.
“Do not use me as an unlimited energy source.” I was offended.
I had never— Fine.
I had considered it.
One buzz.
Agreed.
Then she explained bloodlines.
In Eryndor, powerful beasts carried inherited structures deeper than ordinary traits: dragons, phoenixes, celestial wolves, void serpents.
Some cultivators tried to steal pieces of those inheritances.
Many died.
Some survived badly.
“Strong traits can weaken identity,” Amelia said.
“A beast may remain alive and still stop being itself.” I looked at my status.
Frost.
Armor.
Venom.
Regeneration.
Four traits already.
Stable now.
Future uncertain.
The Codex displayed: — Bloodline Stability: 99.98% Lineage Anchor: MOSQUITO — I relayed it.
“The anchor is protecting you,” Amelia said.
“Respect it.” One buzz.
Yes.
Then she wrote a sentence across the top of a fresh page.
MOSQUITO FIRST.
EVERYTHING ELSE SECOND.
I stared.
It felt right.
No becoming gecko.
No becoming spider.
No random collection of whichever monster happened to be strongest.
Take lessons.
Remain me.
One buzz.
Amelia looked satisfied.
“Good.” There was that word again.
I was beginning to like it.
Terrible.
Then Mayra entered and saw the page.
“Mosquito first?” Amelia closed the notebook.
“Biology notes.” Mayra looked from her to me.
“What class?” “Independent study.” “About your pet mosquito.” “He is not—” Amelia stopped.
Too late.
Mayra’s eyes widened.
“You called it he again.” Silence.
I flew away.
No involvement.
Mayra smiled slowly.
“This is getting weirder.” Idiot buzz.
She pointed.
“And he keeps insulting me.” Amelia looked at me, then Mayra.
“Coincidence.” The lie was becoming weaker.
Soon, Mayra would know.
Not yet.
For now, the important sentence remained inside Amelia’s notebook.
MOSQUITO FIRST.
EVERYTHING ELSE SECOND.
My first real evolutionary law.
Not a rule the Codex had imposed.
A rule I had chosen because every useful adaptation still had to fit the creature living with it.
Mine.