376 First Friend

'Something's off.' Jake said mentally to his Oracle AI with a frown.

[Everything is wrong.] Xi stated calmly. [The Aether around us, can you feel it?]

'Of cour-'

Jake paused abruptly and closed his eyes. After a while he reopened them and with a puzzled face he honestly admitted the truth,

'I can't. I do perceive a small amount of Aether, but it is insignificant. Unreasonably small compared to the Aether density of this world. But instead..."

Jake briefly closed his eyes again and concentrated on his feelings.

'I feel a different kind of energy. Although it' s just an impression, the air feels thick and viscous, like a...'.

[Fluid?]

'Exactly!' Jake exclaimed excitedly, touching on what was bothering him.

Having identified the problem, he examined his Body Status minutely and soon discovered that his body possessed a new centimeter long organ that looked more or less like an unopened mussel. The organ was located between his eyes, just behind the glabella.