Mark's POV

After I finished getting a glass of water to drink, I walked back to my room. I didn't really feel the need for sleep, but it was a habit that had been ingrained into me since birth. I also didn't feel the need to eat, only doing so for normalcy's sake and to sample the taste. All I felt was the mana in the world surrounding me, keeping my desires sated.

It's strange though, I had felt like that ever since I woke up and went through that dreadfully painful transformation. I guess my body became different ever since the Creator tinkered with it. I stopped thinking about such things when I entered the room. I saw Yuzu and Alice asleep on my bed. I opted to not disturbing them, so I picked up the weapon in the making. I thought of what to do with the wood shavings, deciding to devour them with my ability. A hint of surprise flashed through my eyes as I witnessed flames come out instead of the usual smoke. It was colored the same as when my soul took shaping, fluctuating from black and purple to white and blue.

Once I was finished, I left my room and went to the roof for some peace and quiet. I arrived up there, with no one in sight aside from guards patrolling the grounds passing by every now and then. I found a place to sit against and observe the night sky as I carved.

I kept looking up to the sky, wondering if what the Creator said was actually true. That I had created all of this but I lost my memories somehow. Also how he said that Aurora was my first true love. Did that mean that the others were also my lovers? Did I really create a harem? If I did, where are they now? I should stop thinking about harems. Their words are just getting to me.

Still, I couldn't help but look up into the sky in wonder and think about how all those stars in the sky have worlds near and far from them. Some teeming with life and others desolate, worlds with all kinds of different cultures and histories, vastly different ways of living among others.

Mark: Makes me wonder about space-travel...

I sigh, going back to work on my carving. I tried to fully focus on it, but I still couldn't stop thinking about how he had said that I had memories I sealed away even when I was in power. Was I really a bad person? If so, then why aren't I still like that? It couldn't just disappear from me just by finding someone I truly love. At most, I could silence it for a definite amount of time.

My thoughts trailed to Enigma. A split-personality of me who reveled in all its carnal desires. Maybe that was what had happened. Maybe that side of me was sealed down and became a split personality. Then that would mean that all the things he said about me being a horrible person was the truth. That means that I wasn't originally kind to others like I am now. Instead, I used to take what I want, with no one to stop me with my power.

All these thoughts made me scared. Afraid of the truth, afraid of the reality of who I really was. If I was like Enigma when I first came into being by the Creator, and then I became kinder after I had met Aurora, it begs the question.

Which one of us was the main personality?

I thought deeply on this issue, not wanting to accept the fact that I was like that before changing into the type of person I am now. I was so far in thought that I didn't notice that I had already finished the handle and sheath and set them down as the sun started to come up. 

It was then that I felt an immense pain splitting my head, a flood of memories entering my mind. Only it wasn't the pleasant kind. The memories that I saw were ones where I ruled with an iron fist. Ones where I slaughtered those who went against me or that I didn't like, stole what I wanted no matter the consequences, raped and more all who I took fancy to. I saw myself do unforgivable things to women as they pleaded with their entire being to not do what I did to them as I relished in their cries of pain and defilement and relieved myself with their bodies. I could only watch with horror as I stole what they held as precious while killing those they loved when they would fight back, sometimes even torturing their loved ones. I couldn't stop myself from doing such things since all I saw was memories. To my disgrace and disgust, in my mind, there was a spark of content and satisfaction as I saw what I did, realization dawning on me; like the sun in the sky; as I understood that I did do things like that before and loved it. 

Enigma whose personality had probably merged with mine had influenced me greatly, these scenes I saw myself do gave a horrible yet fulfilling sense of satisfaction as they happened. I couldn't even tell what I truly felt from these scenes as I felt both positive and negative emotions to my actions. I wasn't even sure of what I truly felt because I knew it was the truth that what I was feeling about such scenes, both good and bad, was real. 

I broke down then and there, crying as I tried to reassure myself that I was who I am, not like the monster I was before.

Creator: A taste of what your past. There'll be more to come...

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Alice's POV

I had woken up in Mark's bed, his scent surrounding me and my daughter. I had a good nose, but nowhere near as good as the kind my daughter had. We were still embracing each other as we woke up. I stiffened as I saw my daughter blink her eyes open, confusion scrawled across her face as she wondered why she was hugging me and not Mark.

I held my breath for no good reason, only letting it go as Yuzu smiled at me, hugging me tightly once more as she leapt off the bed to wash up. I joined her as we returned to our rooms to change into what we would wear today. When we got down, to the dining hall, we found the others already there. We exchanged pleasantries as we awaited our meal. Once they had started serving, I noted that we still hadn't seen Mark all morning. After asking around, it seems neither the servants nor the others hadn't seen him. This got us worried as we tried to find out his position with the GPS installed in his PWC that we activated last night. It had said that he was still here. The others guessed that he was probably busy doing something so they chose to not disturb him. 

I calmed down a little, but I still worried. My worries only intensified when my daughter spoke to me after breakfast.

Yuzu: Mother, I'm still worried about him. Can we go look for him?

She asked, her expression matching her words. I nodded, asking the others to help as well. We split up to search for the signal, noticing it was still in the house. As we searched all over the place, we couldn't find a single trace of him, even when we called out to him. This started to increase my worry. I wasn't even sure why I was worried about him to such an extent, but I still looked for him. Finally, we got a call from my daughter, telling us to hurry to the roof as she had found him.

We rushed over, flabbergasted when we saw Yuzu standing near the door leading to the roof. She asked us to be silent as we heard his words.

Mark: No, I'm not like that. I've never done those things. I would never do those things...

Everyone had a confused expression on their faces save for me, recalling Mark's words from last night. I rushed out of there, finding Mark sitting up against the stones on the roof hugging his knees as he rocked back and forth. I saw tears streaming down his cheeks as they fell to his thighs. In front of him was someone with their arms wrapped around their knees that was against their chest. When we circled around, I saw an ethereal, mesmerizing face of the person. Liquid silver eyes and crystal clear hair that shined in the morning light that seemed to absorb the sun's color and transforming into hair with colors similar to the sun. Their soft looks could be mistaken for a young woman's tender appearance, yet their boyish charm could lead one to believe they were a feminine man. They were crying softly as they stared at Mark, pure anguish marring their inhuman face. They reached out to caress his tear-stained cheeks, only for it to pass through. Their expression only further deteriorated as they were unable to give him comfort. It was only now that I noticed that the person was slightly transparent, as if a ghost from his past came back to comfort him. The person looked at us, a pleading expression directed at us.

???: Please help him.

They whispered softly as if any sudden noise would further exasperate Mark's condition, their voice androgynous just like their figure as it tickled my ears. I nodded slowly as I knelt down, attempting to shake him from his stupor. He looked up at me, a tired and weary face greeting me instead of the playful face he always had on. His eyes were red and looked like he had been under stress for years. He gave me a self-deprecating smile that hurt to see on his usually smiling face.

Mark: It's true, I am a horrible person after all, pieces of my memories that came back right now proved it.

He rested his chin on his knees, a sigh escaping his lips as he stopped his tears. I tried to comfort him as the rest came over.

Alice: Are you sure? What happens if they're fake memories?

Mark: Then the things I've been feeling watching such acts happen in those 'fake' memories make me an even more detestable person. Even if they are past memories, can that account for what I feel now? 

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

I was speechless at his words. Yuzu stepped up at him, glaring down at him.

Yuzu: It doesn't matter about the past, that's something you did long ago!

Mark: Then how do you explain how I feel then?

Alice: Maybe because of your split-personality?

Mark: That's what I thought. But if that's true, then which of us is the true personality?

Yuzu: The one we're talking to right now!

She shouted as she hugged him. She started to tear up.

Yuzu: I don't care about your past or about how you feel about them now. I care about the you now. I know even if they are horrible things and the things you feel about them are things you shouldn't but you can't help it because of your split-personality, I don't care. I know you can't change what that personality feels about such things, but I know the you as you are now would never do them again. I know that you feel horrible about such things, but your other personality feels differently. I care about how the you right now feels. Even if you aren't the main personality, I want the you who thinks against such things.

Mark looked at her, a sad smile on his face.

Mark: And if it was a lie and I also feel the same way about such things is the true me?

Yuzu: Then I'd do those things with you so you don't have to with others and feel guilty about it.

That got a reaction out of him. His eyes bulged before narrowing and he gave her a small mock glare.

Mark: That's a very immature way of thinking. You don't even know what those things are.

Yuzu shook her head in denial.

Yuzu: I don't care. I just want you to be how you used to. I want you to act like you used to with me. 

She asked with tears in her eyes.

Mark: That's very selfish of you to ask of me when I'm going through an identity crisis.

Yuzu looked at him with a face as serious as she could make.

Yuzu: So? You told me to be more childish for my age, so I am. Being selfish is something children are when they're young.

Mark laughed lightly at her response. A hoarse chuckle escaping his dry, cracked lips.

Mark: That statement didn't sound so childish.

Yuzu: And? I'm selfish, so I'll be childish when I want to and adult when I want to.

She stated with a pout.

Yuzu: If I'm trying to keep our promise, then I want you to at least try.

She whispered to him.

Mark sighed tiredly, but a small, happy smile graced his features.

Mark: You aren't acting so childish like I told you right now.

She responded by rubbing her face even tighter against his shoulder.

Yuzu: Don't care. Children also don't listen when told to do something.

Mark: Right you are.

I saw him hug her back.

Mark: Thanks for that, twerp.

Yuzu pulled away, a smile beaming on her face.

Yuzu: Un! No problem Big Brother!

Mark: Man someone has definitely called me Big Brother before.

We heard him mumble before looking at us as he wiped away his tears and giving us a nervous chuckle while scratching the back of his head.

Mark: Sorry for making you all worry. I'd appreciate it if you don't ask about what that was about just now.

We all nodded at his words, letting him pass us as he walked by, Yuzu holding onto his hand. We followed silently behind them. He looked down at her.

Mark: Hey, why do you seem so sure about me? Why do you think you know what I would and wouldn't do and how I feel about those things?

Yuzu gave him a look that said, 'what are you talking about?'.

Yuzu: It's because I trust you.

She stated solemnly, not hesitance or deceit in her words.

Mark looked at her for a moment, stopping in his tracks causing all of us to as well. He smiled at her, picking her up as he sat her on his shoulders.

Yuzu: Tee hee!

He ran down the stairs, smiling alongside her as she giggled all the way.

Mark: It feels good to be trusted like that.

I smiled as I heard him whisper to himself as he dashed off. I looked back at the person who was sitting in front of him, but everyone just walked past them, some of the little ones even walking through them. The person was staring back at me, a grateful smile lighting up their face.

Seer: Hey, Alice, are you coming?

I turned to look back at everyone else who were already at the door leading inside.

Alice: Yeah, in a moment. I wanted to get some fresh air after waking up.

They nodded to me as they descended the stairs. I waited until I was sure that no one could listen in. Once I was sure they were gone, I turned back to converse with the mysterious individual. 

Alice: Who are you?

I asked, getting a smile in return. They ignored my question as they picked up Mark's work-in-progress. They ran their hand over the material as if caressing the tree it originally came from. Slowly they started to hum, a hypnotizing tune played on their lips. Birds of all types came to chirp alongside them with ladybugs and bees buzzing around them to join in. It seemed as if nature itself played along with them as I swore I could see the trees and flower dance alongside the song in the distance. 

I didn't even notice what had happened until she was done. I didn't even know when I started to categorize her as a female, but it just felt right. I thought struck my mind when I pictured the woman standing besides Mark, a delighted expression on his face as she wiped off the dirt and whatnot that coated his face. She was covered in dirt as well as if they had just been through roughhousing. She looked back at him lovingly, but also in mock playfulness as if she understood that even though she should scold him, if she was in his shoes, she would end up just the same. 

She turned back to me, a smile on her lips. In her hands, there was his work, only now it looked like there were strange markings; the same color as her hair; on it that reminded me of barbed chains crawling over it. At the handle seemed to be the end of the chains wrapping around it with the end link being broken in half.

???: Thank you for looking after him. It means a lot to me. I haven't seen him in eons.

I was shocked by what she was saying. Mark and her were at least eons old! What in the world?!

???: I'm glad he has gotten better and has people like you looking after him. I can't wait to meet him again for real in my newest reincarnation.

Alice: Wait, but who are you?

She smiled at me once more, as her body slowly dissipated.

???: Originally, he was like how he is now; loving, protective, and many more things when we were together. I passed away, and he seemed to not understand the idea of never seeing me again since it was his first time being a mortal. He couldn't understand the idea of never seeing me again. I could only watch him as he self-destructed and did horrible things in a desperate search to find me in all the others or to forget the pain in the time when he went mad.

I couldn't keep up with her. Who was she and Mark really?

???: I can't stay like this any longer. I'll meet him soon, but won't recognize him until he reawakens as well. Please take care of him for now.

Alice: Can you please at least answer my question? Who are you?!

I pleaded to her. Her voice echoed around me as she dissipated.

???: His first friend.

I was confused, bewildered, and surprised all at once. Here was someone who knew Mark from almost the beginning and had memories of him when he was at his lowest. I didn't know what to expect, but I know I want to find out.

I grabbed the floating piece of wood as I made my way back downstairs. I found Mark coming out of his room after taking a recent shower.

Mark: Oh, thanks for getting that for me.

He thanked, trying to get back in the swing of things. I smiled at him, thinking about who he could really be as he took the object. He examined the weapon as he studied the strange markings.

Mark: Hey, did you do this?

He asked in a curious manner. I shook my head at him, which only bemused him more.

Mark: Who did then?

I rolled the thought of telling him the truth. I don't want him to have another emotional breakdown, but I needed to know.

Alice: Your first friend.

I observed him as his eyes seemed to glaze over, watering slightly as if he was trying to remember, but his body was the only thing to respond as I saw his posture change from one who was trying to be strong to sad, weak, even depressed. A hollow voice escaped his throat, but it seemed as if he didn't even register it.

Mark: Kuri...

He muttered, a forlorn expression overtaking him. I saw the crystal markings on the object glow slightly in response to his voice, as if responding to him. As quick as a blink of an eye, it was like a shock went through his body and all vestiges of his previous negative emotions and actions never existed.

Mark: Well, thanks for getting this for me. I also appreciate what you did to it.

He smiled again, only I wasn't sure who these words were directed at when he stared at the markings.

Mark: Come on, Yuzu wanted to play.

He cheered, leaving me to my thoughts on what just occurred.