After a certain amount of time had passed, I'm now on my way to my room while carrying with me a notebook containing notes on how to invoke various kinds of arcanes and the small box containing the Blood Gloop. I don't exactly own this notebook as this is Rogen own personal notes regarding various arcanes. Most of these arcanes are [Support-type] or [Utility-type]; the latter being a fairly new established branch of [Support-type] arcanes where instead of it being invoked on myself or others, it is used primarily for its utility. [Cleanse] is supposedly part of this category and Rogen was the one who specifically taught the rest of the people here regarding its existence. Although I don't really need it that right now as I don't sweat that much despite the amount of work I do.

When I was given this notebook, I was specifically instructed to learn [Frenzy Bestowal], [De-Frenzy], and [Clear Mind] first before I decide to try and learn other arcanes. Well, although I do plan on doing that, I don't really know how to 'learn' arcane invocation. My body knows how to 'invoke' it, but I don't know how to understand arcanes, so I went straight back to my room while making sure that no one would notice.

Upon arriving in my room, I changed my clothes and immediately laid down my bed. Then I called for a meeting in that empty space in my mind, which I now call the Lacuna.

The scene immediately changed as I now see the dark and not-so empty room where my two look-alikes were busy talking with each other. When I appeared, they immediately looked at me and I thought it would be proper to initiate the conversation.

"We received quite a lot of presents today."

"We were planning to start a meeting, but it was a good thing that we didn't need to call you."

"Speaking of meetings, what happens if I try to visit this place but I didn't actually inform you two?"

"Well, you'd be alone."

"Alone? Is there someplace in this head of ours where you guys retreat to other than here?"

"Of course! This place is so empty and boring. Who would want to stay here?", 'the disappointment' interjected.

"Does that mean, I also have such a place here where I can go to?"

"Yes. You just have to think about being in that place.", Al decided to clarify.

Think about it? I decided to think about a place that has been embedded in my memories. I specifically thought of that place in the hopes that I could visit it once again. I thought of that white room where I met Notpil. Almost immediately, the scene changed once more and I then saw myself inside that white mysterious room once again. There was the chair-like object that I woke up from, and all these odd and indiscernible items that I thought were some forms of weirdly-shaped furniture.

However, to my surprise, Al and the 'disappointment' were here as well. I immediately called them out,

"I thought this was supposed to be a private place for me?"

"You didn't exactly think of being in that place, you might have just thought of the place. More importantly, this is the first time this happened... it might be that it's only you who can change the appearance of this meeting place."

"Alkef, is this true?", I decided to ask the 'disappointment'.

"I don't know. I haven't thought of doing something like this..."

"Didn't you materialize some kind of weapon in our first encounter with each other?"

"Yeah, I can do it even now.", the 'disappointment' said then a weapon suddenly appeared in his hands.

I tried to think of something to appear in my hands as well, but unfortunately, I couldn't replicate what the 'disappointment' is doing.

"Can you teach me how to do that?"

"I think I can't. I tried to teach Al but he also can't do it."

"Then what's with Al being capable of making the [The True Pacifist] appear in his hands?", I then turn to Al for an answer.

"I can just do it. I don't how I know, I just do."

These answers don't seem truthful. In fact, there are various suspicious things surrounding these two. When I first met the 'disappointment', I could sense that he hated me a lot, but now, he's a timid, incompetent, and emotional buffoon. Despite him being a supposed different personality of me, he knew about something that clearly no one else knew. When I saw the weapon on his hands once again, I noticed that it had rather intricate designs, and I don't remember in the memories given to me by the two of any instances where they saw a weapon like that. Also, I don't remember in the memories of either Al or the 'disappointment' of them ever learning how to wield a weapon.

Now there's Al, who supposedly obtained consciousness when he was witnessing the fight between Caltro and Vanessa. From how he said it, he may be the one who controlled my body back then and even knew how to act in the situation despite having just witnessed it. When I lost consciousness for two years and while these two were living my life, only through the writing in the back of the small notebook with weird contents was what gave me memories of their experiences for that two years of unconsciousness. If I hadn't actually regained my memories, then I would've considered all that as me experiencing amnesia.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

I've actually forgotten to bring up a lot of things during my first meeting with these two. How did they initiate the memory transfer without actually meeting me? Why was it that the writing at the back of the notebook was what triggered the transfer and why can't I see in the memories a single clue as to how that was made possible? It was as if, I don't have the right train of thought when I'm dealing with these two.

Also, I remember the small notebook containing the farewells of my supposed friends back in Sevis City. I remember Vanessa specifically giving it to me, but I don't remember where I got the other small notebook. So many secrets, and yet no way to actually bring them up now as long as I'm not sure if these two are actually behind all it. There can be multiple outcomes to this if ever I bring this up to these two, the worst being the revelation of a third-party secretly doing things behind our backs and are just observing us, One thing is for sure, although the memories that this body experienced in the outside world is shared to me, the experiences within the mind aren't unless allowed by the one who actually knows that information. As I keep my own secrets, they also keep their own.

As I was busy thinking, the mental meeting has been delayed as the two are quietly examining the strange room that one can only see when they die and meet a Keeper. I wanted to obtain their attention again so I decided to speak up.

"Since this place is more aesthetically pleasing and actually looks like an area rather than an empty void, I'll call this place the Lacuna."

"The Lacuna? It's got a nice ring to it. I like that name.", the 'disappointment' decided to praise.

"Okay. Now there's a reason why I went back to the room and decided to get inside here almost immediately. I'd just like to ask if it's possible for one of you to stay awake in the Lacuna while the body and everyone else is missing?"

"Yes. That's possible. I've done it once.", Al confirmed.

"That's good. Now, Alkef, if you manifest an item here in the Lacuna, does it remain in existence inside here or does it disappear if you decide to leave this place."

"It can stay indefinitely as long as I want to. But I'm not sure it remains if I leave."

"Can you leave that weapon of yours here, then try to leave?"

"Sure."

The 'disappointment' gave the weapon to Al, and he immediately disappeared. Following that, the weapon that was being held passed through Al's hand, and when it reached the ground, it didn't make a sound as it fell through further. Afterward, the 'disappointment' appeared once again.

"Did it stay?"

Al shook his head.

"If that's the case then, I have an overnight task for you two in consideration of the trouble I'll be putting myself in tomorrow."

"Trouble?"

"I'll be scouting for potential help for this branch."

"You're doing that tomorrow?", Al asked with a slightly surprised tone.

"I will if you two succeed in what I'm about to ask of you. Alkef, I want you to read the contents of Priest Rogen's notes regarding the invocation of [Frenzy Bestowal], [De-Frenzy], and [Clear Mind]. Then materialize them here in the Lacuna."

"I can do that. But why?"

"It's so that Al here can learn how to do it. As he is the most knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to learning arcanes."

"By how you suggested things earlier, you're going to make me learn these things overnight while you sleep?"

"Yes. Can you think of a time where we can freely learn these things without looking suspicious to the other acolytes and priests? If I go to Head Priest Noblesa's chambers just to learn these things, then we wouldn't be able to do any work. And if we try to learn after a long day of work, this body would be too tired and our body may not be able to keep up."

Upon hearing my explanation, Al couldn't think of a way to refute them, also he 'disappointment' decided to leave as he took control of the body, for now, to read through the contents of Rogen's notebook.

"I guess you're right. We've already skipped a day's worth of work because of this, any more and we would look suspicious. You made it seem like Head Priest Noblesa was giving you a difficult task so you at least have an excuse for today..."

"That's right. Some would start to wonder why I'm the only one being tasked to go to his chambers when there are so many others who can do the task for him. As you are aware, we can't look too suspicious and let others know that we are sort of getting special treatment. Otherwise, it may further displease the already stressed and limited number of people here."

"I guess I have no choice then. I'll do it. I'm sure you can also do what I can do as long as you are guided appropriately, but I know that it's also my fault why you can't learn them on your own for now."

"Not really. I'm sure that you two think of me as some reliable and wise figure, but even I have my limits. I noticed that you two don't retaliate too much with my decisions unlike back then when you would be willing to entirely control my body."

"That's because you are more agreeable now, and also reasonable."

"I see, well my disagreeable and unreasonable actions did stem from me not knowing what's happening with my body."

"Yeah, I know. And now we sort of have to live with some of our decisions, and you now have to think about a lot of things to at least make things better."

"I'm just thinking of what's best for us. So I hope you'll be a bit more lenient in what I might be doing tomorrow as you know the type of people I'll have to be dealing with."

"As long as you don't go overboard or go against what [The True Pacifist] requires."

"I'll take note of that."

Although I can't do much to them as I don't really know the truth about what's going on inside my mind, the least I could do is take advantage of this situation as much as I can.

As my body was currently not in my control as it's being controlled by the 'disappointment', I tried to leave the Lacuna once more and think about being in a different place. I deeply thought about the times back then when I sat inside my office as I waited for my patients to hopefully arrive at the exact time their therapy was scheduled. Immediately, I found myself in that old and nostalgic room. I rummaged through the drawers and saw the things I would usually find inside them. This place really felt like I was in my old world once again. However, when I looked out the window, I saw nothing. I would usually see the road and a few cars parked outside, but the vast nothingness made me aware that I'm still just inside my mind. As there was no point mulling over this, I went to the sofa and laid down it. 

Of all the things I decided to sleep on during this life, this definitely felt the most comfortable.