"Welcome, Master Mrizem," Peachith spoke, and those words sent a jolt through my heart. The appearance of Mrizem, the enigmatic figure who had haunted my dreams, expelled me from the inner sanctum, and seized control of my body in Niafell, was finally a reality.
Soon, Mrizem gestured for Peachith to depart, creating a spatial distortion through which she gracefully stepped, vanishing from sight.
"No… This can’t be," I whispered in disbelief as the shadowy figure revealed himself. Both Kei and I were fixated on him, stunned by what we saw.
"We finally meet... Wallace, or should I say, the other me," he spoke, his words piercing my heart like invisible needles.
He looked identical to me, like a reflection in a mirror, albeit with slight differences. He appeared slightly older, with jet-black hair and scars etched across his face. It was as if he had endured the trials of life and emerged as a seasoned individual. His flowing black robes seemed to shift and sway, giving him an ethereal presence.
"Who are you?" Kei exclaimed, unable to comprehend the sight before us.
"I possess two identities. One is Mrizem, the keeper of space and one of the Voidkeepers. The other..." he paused, a subtle smile forming on his lips.
"I am also known as Wallace," he declared, his words resonating through the darkness.
"I don’t understand any of this," I began to say, but he gestured for me to pause.
"Where should I begin?" he mused, pondering for a moment before commencing his explanation.
"There exist an infinite number of parallel universes, each representing various possibilities of action within their own unique realms. Due to the consequences of a failed experiment by ‘that’ person, I was summoned to this universe. In essence, I am you, but from another dimension," he began to elucidate.
"Why don’t you return then? Why align yourself with the Void Order?" I questioned him, trying to process his explanation, which felt like swallowing bitter medicine. For the time being, I had no choice but to believe him, as he did not seem to be deceitful in his words.
His face contorted with anger, but it swiftly gave way to a serene calmness as he began to speak.
"I cannot return immediately; I am bound to stay until ‘that’ person grants permission. He has made a promise to send me back once his objective is fulfilled, which involves collecting all nine fragments," he responded.
"When I was summoned to this world, the governing laws of this universe should have erased me as an anomaly. However, to my surprise, your existence played a pivotal role in saving me. You are me, and I am you. The universe deemed me to be you, and as a result, a connection was established between us. I’m certain you have experienced dreams about my life, haven’t you?" he inquired.
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A realisation struck me. I recalled all the dreams I had, and his explanation began to make sense. When I searched my memories for the earliest dream, the one that marked the beginning of it all—the dream I had on the day I spoke to Gary over the phone, the day I cleaned my house, and the start of this extraordinary journey—it became clear. It was the dream where Mrizem battled the second Herald, a monumental clash unfolding in what was likely Compound 002 just moments before its collapse.
Why hadn’t I pieced this together earlier?
"You’re right, I am. Were you the one I encountered within my mind, in the inner sanctum?" I inquired.
"Yes. The connection that binds us allows our minds to be linked. The bridge you traversed to reach my mind was the manifestation of that very connection," he explained.
He was correct. The child version of myself had mentioned that the bridge had inexplicably appeared several years ago. It served as proof of his words.
"Due to this connection, if one of us were to perish, the other would also meet their end. That’s why I entrusted the Voidshades with safeguarding your existence, as your demise would result in my own. However, the foolish Cyanthos grew suspicious and chose to betray me, leaving me with no choice but to assume control of your body to save both you and myself," he elucidated.
"Is my mastery of space also a result of our connection?" I asked, finally voicing one of the lingering questions in my mind.
"Yes, indeed. In my world, I was a scientist deeply engrossed in space research, on the verge of a groundbreaking discovery. With my profound knowledge of space and time, I inadvertently became a target and was mistakenly summoned to this world when ‘that’ person’s experiment went awry," he responded, a tinge of sadness clouding his expression as he reminisced about his former life.
"Due to the link that binds us, you have gained access to some of my powers. Your fighting style and choice of weapon are subconsciously derived from me. Every action you take is influenced by me, Wallace. The powers you possess are, in essence, stolen. You are nothing more than a thief," he continued, his gaze filled with disgust, as if regarding me as a loathsome entity to be rid of.
"Furthermore, your presence in this very place and our meeting at this precise moment are also orchestrated by my will. My influence is more dominant within our link," he concluded, finalising his explanation.
Suddenly, everything fell into place. All the incidents I had encountered began to align and make sense. It was as if an empty void in my mind had been filled, and all the puzzle pieces had interlocked perfectly.
"Why did you lead me here? What is your objective?" I inquired while my companion wore an impassive expression, silently processing the revelations. Finally, the truth behind it all had been unveiled.
Mrizem or Wallace did not immediately respond to my question. He paused for a moment and then reached out to touch the vacant pedestal. In an instant, the entire chamber began to shimmer, and the ground trembled beneath us.
"Since I was summoned to this world, I have been working towards severing the link between us. My efforts are nearing completion, and the final piece of the puzzle lies here, within the resting place of the overseer. As this task involves the utilisation of high-dimensional powers, only the overseers, who also originate from a different universe, can bestow upon me the necessary abilities to achieve my goal," he explained.
Abruptly, he withdrew his hand, and in that very moment, a resounding sound echoed inside my head, akin to the severing of a thick thread with a pair of scissors. Simultaneously, an excruciating headache overwhelmed me, and a faint vision appeared before my eyes.
The bridge connecting our minds within the inner sanctum was crumbling, fading away along with the area it led to. I witnessed the destruction of the bridge unfold right before me until its last remnants vanished, rendering the unseen area beyond it completely obscured. As my vision returned to normal, a grin spread across Mrizem’s face.
"It is finally accomplished. The link has been severed," he declared in a relaxed tone.