“Hey, stop being so quiet, you were so talkative before.”
Finally, talking to me huh?
“Let's start with names, I’m Clay…”
Yeah, I got that.
“...and you are?”
Not so sure I want to talk now, you’ve spent the entire time ignoring me.
“The polite response is to give your name back.”
… Sephtis.
“So Sephtis, why the hell are you in my head?”
Hey, I know a fun way we could do this, how about we take turns asking questions?
“Sure.”
So it’s my turn
“No, that counted as your first question, now answer mine.”
Fine, I found you in the Forest of the Dead and decided to hitch your soul out.
“What?”
My turn, are all humans as pathetic as you?
“Humans are far from the strongest in a physical sense, and a very small minority have notable amounts of mana, though none on the level of elves if that's what you mean. Have you never met humans before?”
Not what I meant, was talking about how you got all emotional earlier, but noted. And I’ve seen plenty of souls come through the forest on their way to the afterlife, but I’ve never actually interacted with one. I always thought it was one way, but yours was the first to go in the opposite direction. Next question! The girl across from you, what would you rate her attractiveness? Out of curiosity.
Clay looked up at the woman sitting across the table from him. She was taking notes of the conversation he was having, at least from what she could follow. Clay would fill in the gaps after, but maybe he would omit this question.
“I’d say… an eight.”
Nice.
“Shut Up… what do you mean my soul was the first to go back?” Clay remembered his “dream” from last night and was sure he already knew.
It’s like I said before, your soul is different from every other soul to come through the forest. It was tethered to this body. When I saw you going back I took it as my chance to escape and explore a whole new world. I planned to take over your body but…”
“But what?! Don’t just say something like that then not finish it.”
Well, I just can’t, something is preventing me from doing so. Even more than that, it’s like I've been caught in whatever is tethering your soul, I can't hop out of you.
“Great.”
Isn’t it? That doesn’t count as my question. Next one, how is it that pathetically weak humans like you aren’t slaves or food or just wiped out by the other races? I’ve seen enough souls to know you have a diverse world here.
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“Well, humans have the highest level of technology of all the races.”
Not enough of an answer, give me more.
“What the hell do you want, a history lesson?”
Maybe a short one.
“A couple of hundred years ago Humans were at the bottom of the food chain, so to speak. Our early tribes were hunted to near extinction, but the Elves intervened, as the oldest race, and due to their immense magical ability, they stood at the top of the world and took it upon themselves to enforce their ideas of balance, they saved us and a loose code of rules was established between all the races and enforced by the Elves. It saved us from extinction but did not enable us to prosper. Our kind was still regularly attacked by Orcs and others.”
So what changed?
“Technology did. First, with metallurgy, we could create weapons and armor that, with sufficient numbers, gave us the means to defend ourselves from the ferocious strength of the Orcs. Time went on and our weapons advanced, then about 150 years ago everything shifted. Our weapons became so powerful that the other races couldn’t oppose us. 100 years ago the crusades began to destroy the Orc kingdoms, with them powerless to stop us we were set to wipe them out entirely. But then the Elves again intervened, this time to defend the Orcs. 80 years ago began the first Great War, lasting 15 years. The Elves were able to force humanity to surrender, and the Orcs were saved. However, our technology continued advancing at a rapid rate, and just 15 years later began the 2nd Great War, this time fighting the Elves to a stalemate.”
And then what happened?
“An agreement was reached between all races to end the conflict. The Eurasian continent was ceded to mankind, the Orcs were forced to South America, and the Elves abandoned all their cities around the world and concentrated on their homeland in Oceania. Africa and North America were left open to anyone else.”
Interesting, maybe I was a bit hasty in my judgment of humans.
“Or maybe not.”
Sephtis went quiet as Clay began filling in the investigator on the conversation he had just had.
“If what he says is true, it's likely we’re dealing with a Specter.” The woman said as she collected her notes.
“Can you get rid of it?”
“If this were just a regular possession case it would be fairly easy, but a Specter is something far more powerful. Honestly, it’s out of my pay grade, I’ve never even heard of them outside of academic circles. A few have been summoned in the past, but even the most powerful necromancers cannot control them. Summoning them has since become illegal in almost every country.”
Clay sighed “I see.”
Aw, I’m not that bad, am I?
“So what now?”
Back to ignoring me? Figures.
“Well considering what he said, and the fact you still have free will, it seems you don’t have to be worried about it controlling you. I will do some research and see if there is anything more I can learn.” The woman stood up, collecting her belongings, “Best of luck to you, and I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Yeah… thanks for the help,” Clay muttered as she walked out of the interview room.
Hey so, not for nothing, but why are you still here? Doesn’t your sister need your help?
Clay bit his tongue from lashing out “It’s not like I even have the first idea of where to begin. It seems I might be able to come back from the dead, and I have your annoying ass with me now, but it's not like I have gained anything useful to deal with those elves if I found her anyway.”
Well, since it seems we’re stuck together, I could lend you my power.
“Wait, what?”
Before Clay could continue the door opened, and a new face walked in. “Clayton, you’re free to go, and also, I was told to give you this.”
The man handed clay a white envelope addressed to him.
In another room, the Chief of the Investigative and Enforcement Bureau sat with several of his agents.
“Are you sure about accepting his application? From his tests and evaluations, he has nothing much to offer the Bureau.”
The Chief just slid over a file with Clay’s name on it. “That was before these latest developments. If this is all true, he could be quite useful to us, and otherwise, it gives us the chance to closely monitor and assess his situation, especially regarding the Specter that seems to be inhabiting his body. Given the circumstance and unknown threat, termination would be a consideration, but that may not be possible in this case. This is the next best option.”