Death, Devotion, Dissonance

Perhaps Evin was also feely antsy due to the imminent possibility of separation. He felt like separation was something far off in the future, so he was shocked to see it come to him so soon.

'How did it even come to this? Didn't we just come to the North to save my family from those mysterious attackers? At some point, the mysterious attackers turned to otherworlders and then we had to visit Lord Kena, hoping he'll be able to help us somehow… who suddenly offered a solution to split our soul…'

The past week was too much adventure; not just for his family, but to Evin as well. He felt tired, confused, and there was a constant weight of something on his mind.

The unnatural gray surrounding him did not help his mood either. He also felt the need to constantly look back, in case some people were following him from behind.

Evin needed something to distract himself.

<Even if we can separate, what kind of body are you going to inhibit?>

<I'm sure Lady Twelve Jokes has an idea,> Endra shrugged. <But I do hope it's an adult body… actually no. I hope it's around your age, since I want to live as much as possible. It'll be perfect if it's immortal.>

<No way it'll be so convenient.>

<I guess you're right… But it doesn't hurt to dream.>

Evin kept on walking, occasionally glancing back to see if someone was following him. So far, no one had shown themselves so he was starting to feel like an idiot.

<What are you going to do when you do manage to separate?> Evin asked.

<Hmm, I want to say that I'll go traveling, but I don't really have enough money to do that. Ah, shit, I'll have to find a way to get a stable source of World Shards too, right? Should I enroll in the Academy? Hmm, or maybe I can go ask Kena if I can study under him? So many possibilities~>

Endra's tone was giddy; dreamy almost. It was the first time Evin heard him act like this. It felt weird thinking that him and Endra were having completely different emotions.

<But enough about me,> Endra said. <What are you going to do?>

<What do you mean?>

<You're still being hunted by those people, aren't you? Those otherworlders.>

<Ah.>

<I'm sure I'll be fine since I'll be in a different body, but I feel you're not going to have such an easy time. They seemed rather tenacious, you know? Now that you've killed three of them, who knows what they'll send at you next?>

<Huh…>

<Now that I think about it, you have so many problems waiting at home. The Chairman, the otherworlders, Decatur, the War, your girlfriend, your mom and what you did to Theor… What else is there?>

<There's also the thing with the Helm Class, the Heart-casting class, me being able to cast portals… well, the Academy in general.. And it's wrong to call Bella a problem. She solved the war problem for me too.>

<That's fair,> Endra said. <Anyhow, I guess your only choice now is to contact the kingdom. Tell them you can cast portals and tell them what happened to you and your family the previous few days. Find Rith and Melayn and have them act as your witnesses. I'd trust Rith more on this matter, personally.>

<So I get protection from the kingdom?>

<Yep. Try to get a private audience with the king or something. Since the founding king of the kingdom is an Aspect working for the Empress, I'm sure the king would know about the otherworlders. I don't know what kind of actions they take against them, but it'll be a start for you.>

Evin thought about the idea and the more he thought about it, the more he liked it.

<That solves the problem with the Chairman and Decatur too. I'll be too important for them to mess with.>

<Look at you, so grown up already. I don't think you'll recognize yourself from a year ago.>

Evin chuckled. <I was thinking the same some time ago.>

Listening to Endra, Evin couldn't help but think that this person was completely different from the man he saw in his visions. Their personalities were different, their speech and mannerisms were different, even their thoughts were on a completely different level. Evin reckoned that even he, a 10-year-old was smarter than the man he saw in those visions. Not just smarter, more worldly and not as naïve either.

The only resemblance Evin could think of was in their looks. The 'Evan' that died in the visions looked exactly the same as Endra. Every part of their face was exactly the same, down to the smallest detail.

'But did I really see Endra's past? Or was it something I dream up?'

Evin couldn't really say that. His experience felt true. The amount of control he had, the length of the visions and how the information was relayed, everything was real.

<Though, I'm sure you'll end up getting sent to the war if you do that,> Endra hummed. <You'll also end up having to teach portals to the younger mages… most probably the slaves, or perhaps even children.>

<I get having to teach, but why the war?>

<They had you guys learn portals so you could act as their supply line in the first place, after all.>

<But wouldn't I need to be protected? From the otherworlders, I mean.>

<Sure you'll be protected. But that doesn't mean you can't cast portals during that time,> Endra' chuckled. <Actually, you'll probably be more protected than the king himself. Though I'm sure half of that protection will be dedicated to keeping you from leaving.>

<Huh.>

<Yep. You'll become too important for the kingdom's logistics to let go. Though, don't look too gloomy. At least you'll live a life of luxury. You'll get a noble title, tons of money, entire libraries of research and history for yourself… what else? Bitches and hoes?> Endra laughed. <Don't know how you're going to explain the last part to Bella, though.>

<I want none of that though…> Evin said, thinking of the sigh-inducing list of 'luxuries'.

<Well, whatever you end up wanting,> Endra chuckled, <convey it to king Seth and he shall arrange it for you. Don't you like the idea of having a king be your fetcher-boy?>

<Now it just sounds like you're being delusional.>

<Of course, not all will go your way. You'll just have to be prepared to sacrifice something. The world functions on trade, don't you know?>

<I just want to get along with my mother and be close to her,> Evin sighed.

Things were going well before all these things happened, but for the past few days, his mother's smile only turned more and more miserable.

He felt he'd feel better if he didn't have to see his mother's sorrowful gaze all the time, but now that she was gone, only regret at making her go through such a hellish experience lingered. And at this point, Theor must've already talked about how Evin tortured and threatened him to get his way.

'It suddenly feels like I'll never see her again. And even if I do, she'll only have hate and disgust for me.'