A routine is easy to break but has a weird feeling of being uncomfortable when you do end up breaking it. The routine of [Eclipse symbol, Sol symbol, repeat it until three days pass, eat food and drink water in one or less second increments, and then repeat it all over again…] had been going on for two weeks.

I was currently at ninety-eight percent. There were times when I could only get through two or three percent of the forest and other times when I could get through more.

‘In a day I’d be done with this. In a day I’d be done with this…’ Lately, I’ve been repeating this phrase. After the first week ended, I’d start by estimating the time it’d take to go through this and repeat it over and over for that day. It passed the time throughout each day.

The next day came by quickly.

Was it over? Was it finally over?

It took more than two weeks. If I could, I’d burn down this forest and throw the ashes into an ever-lasting cesspit of tar and then burn the tar.

The idea of doing that again if I ever failed this loop made my hand spasm.

The horizon was a welcome sight. It gave me relief. My left hand twitched. It immediately went into a Sol symbol out of habit. My hands were in pain. They felt stiff and weak.

It felt best when my hands were hanging. I didn’t want to put any energy into them, nor did I want to move them.

Everything after the forest wall was serene and tidy. There was a path of grass that was surrounded by sand. There was no dry wind nor a damp storm to irritate me.

I walked down the path since it was the only thing that led somewhere. The sand stretched on for what seemed like an infinity.

***

My step crunched the grass. The walk was almost endless. There was a whisper of a hustle and bustle that would usually be in a town. A town.

I hurried my steps and ended up starting to run. Without a Jolt, my body might never have had enough stamina to reach the town while running.

Eventually, buildings of a half-hazard sort popped up into view. The feeling of relief swept me and increased the speed of my steps.

‘A soft bed… No moving for a whole night…’ The thought of not moving for a whole night made my eyes groggy and cloudy. My steps soon slowed down.

When I arrived, the whispers started to turn into murmuring. I could guess why.

I saw a sign that read -Paradise Inn- which made me giggle. ‘It’s been some time since I laughed.’ I giggled more. And then started to laugh out loud until the murmuring stopped.

I walked into the Inn. The dust would’ve clogged my nose if it wasn’t for the open door behind me where a breeze passed through.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I saw the empty and abandoned hall. There was a man that looked to be in his mid-forties. He had a piece of cloth over his face, and I could faintly hear snoring. The breeze slightly pushed the rag off his face and woke him up slightly. I could see his eyes start to notice his surroundings. Then his eyes shot open when he saw me standing at the front door, the man groggily asked if I wanted to stay a night with a meal.

A vision spanned across my eyes faster than a blink. Everything was new and the inn and bar were crowded.

‘……What… did I just see?’ The same vision came back again and was longer than last time.

‘Fuck…’ I immediately blinked and went into my mind space to split my consciousness as the old man did before.

They were still connected and could speak to each other. It wasn’t like last time.

***

[Do Not Question]

That was the order I sent to the split self. His subconscious mind would listen to any order I say. Would it be better if I said ‘My’ subconscious mind?

[Stop it.] You’re me though? Well, the ‘main’ me.

[Focus on the task. I don’t want to go through two weeks of wood-chopping again.] K. K. But if I do die, do you think the loop’ll start?

[Stop that stupid accent. You’re not from the Common-side village.] That was fun though. Although, we were both the ones watching our body go insane.

[Never mind that.]

Mind if I narrate this? Wouldn’t want our adventures to fade into naught? Right? [*Sigh* Do what you want but please use the first-person point of view. I don’t want to experience Zothozeft’s and Solteq’s narrations ever again.]

The blinking kept happening and then stopped as the whole world became vibrant, and the inn was filled with people. [That isn’t the case.]

Well… To ‘me’ that is. What do you see? [Nothing changed. Well, the innkeeper’s merged with the ground but he’s always been like that.]??? No?

[You don’t need those question marks.] I’m the one narrating this so mind your business.

[We didn’t notice it when we were in the body. When split, I can use different angles. Although, the main body still needs to be in view.] That’s neat and all but do you mind telling me what’s behind me? In my vision, I see a bull of a man.

[Wrong again. It’s… well the void. Not an actual void though. Maybe a mythical beast’s stomach.] Mythical beasts? They exist? [According to Zothozeft’s memories they do.]

Do you know how to get out? [Not really. We’d need to figure out what it is. Do pray it isn’t an undiscovered one.] That gives me confidence.

[I can see and hear the sarcasm from here. Shut your tarp before I make a new order.] I would hate you, but you’re me so that’s already covered.

[Check around the building and notify you if there’s a heart inside or not.]

I looked at the musicians and hostesses giving drinks to the patrons. In other words, it looked normal. I felt like I was covered in viscous liquid when I went up to the second floor.

[I think we found its digestive glands.] Isn’t the stomach outside?

[That’s for the unlucky prey that walks outside. The more fortunate have happy dreams while slowly getting their spirit energy digested on the second floor.]

What about the first floor? [it’s for the ‘humans’ it can’t kill them. They don’t have any spirit energy.]

That’s fucking great then. I guess we both drew the short end of the stick.

[Stop whining and hold a symbol. Preferably, a symbol that is based on a spirit, great spirit, or elder spirit.]

I held up the Sol symbol since it was the only one that had a glaring similarity to a spirit’s name. I’m talking about Solteq if you forgot about his many defeats.

[You might want to dodge the glowing tendrils.] The fuck? The cheering fans on the stairs are tendrils I’m guessing.

[Exactly. Finally, not trusting your sight blindly.] Weren’t you the one who fell into this trap? [You were a part of me back then.]

Noted.

[After that, find its heart and then remember to forget everything you see after you escape.] Why? [It’s what his memories mention.]

Mind if I skip the next part, ‘Henry’? [Yeah, their consciousness would probably shrivel if we tried to describe it. ON ANOTHER NOTE, don’t use his name. I-His-My thought-thoughts-thoughts He-are-are was-still-still gone-here-here.]

***

Heh… Heh…Phew… That ended quickly, right? [We’re merging back. I’m mentally tired of this back and forth to move a single step.]

Finally, I was whole again.