He was the one supplying the magical power needed to actually extinguish the fire that was still burning.

-Rob!?

He didn’t reply.

Just one look at him was enough to tell that he was absolutely engrossed in the creation of the spell.

Just like him…

-Before you act, let us just finish this. You know that it’s more important. Probably more important to me than it is to you.

It was not Rob.

It was Axelrod. Mike.

-I don’t think it is. But yeah, sure.

-Oh. That’s a bit unexpected.

-If you wanna talk, let’s do it after we finish.

-Fair enough. Just a second…

He wasn’t bluffing.

It took him a literal second.

With one flash, I felt everything freeze. Including myself.

Just like one giant flashbang, everything got covered in blinding light. Or not light.

Mana.

Just like before, when I saw that giant mana source, suddenly Rob became one. And a split second later, the mana released turned into ice, freezing the whole city and a large portion of the forest to boot.

-Done.

-Don’t you think you went a little bit overboard?

-Maybe. But I don’t have such refined control in this body… Well, it doesn't matter any more now, does it?

-...

Ah. So that’s what he did.

It was weird that suddenly the weakling Rob had such mana reserves, even if we consider that it was Mike who was controlling him.

He just used ALL of his mana.

-Did you really have to do that? - I asked him, a bit disappointed.

-Have? Maybe not. It was the most efficient option, though.

-...

-Don’t be so disappointed. It’s not like you’ve never seen this. Or not like we haven't used the exact same method…

-I can still hate it.

-I suppose…

-So, why are you talking now? I don’t think you have much time, do you?

-Oh, I have all the time in the world. But I am tired of these games. Sure, this body is dead already, but the crystal is not - he explained.

-Is that good enough for you?

-It is. And it will be for you, too. After all, you’re going to take it and become part of it

-Part of what? You? Or Il?

-Il…? Ah… yes, you managed to awaken her… good on you. But no, I don’t mean it like that. I long ago stopped thinking that is a viable option.

-Viable option!? She is here! She was in my own head! She is as real as she was back then!

-I know.

-So why are you doing this?!

-Doing what exactly? - he asked. - What do you think I am doing?

-Spreading her! I don’t understand, she was… she is your wife!

-Hah… - he chuckled. - Yes… she is… But she is dead, you know. And nothing is bringing her back.

-What do you… I told you, she’s alive…

-No she is not. That is just a copy. You know that…

-...

I hesitated.

True, I was theorizing that it would be possible. But…

-But what’s the difference? I mean, good question. But that’s not why I am talking right now. I would love to have a long conversation, but I have other things to do.

-What are you even trying to do!?

-In time. You’ll know. Since you connected to a piece of her, you’ll remember. Or rather, I’ll make you remember.

-What does that mean?!

-Take the crystal and look for yourself. Connect with it.

-That does not explain anything. Mike. Mike!?

But he was gone.

Along with the familiar presence I felt inside Rob.

-Rob?

He was looking at me, standing right in front of me, but didn’t speak a word.

-Hello?

I stepped forward, or I tried to. I realized that I was trapped in ice. The spell he released froze me to the ground, along with everything else in the area.

As I was trying to move, he fell face first onto the frozen ground.

And crumbled into dust that scattered and dispersed like a puff of smoke.

Leaving only a small piece of crystal behind.

I was standing there, speechless.

Why was that idiot acting like that?!

Okay, sure, we might have not been the most… humane organization, but that was overkill!

We, at least, were trying to do something useful, not wasting resources like that!

-Fucking idiot… “Tired of those games”, my ass!

I was muttering angrily to myself and ripped myself out of the ice, stepping forward.

Suddenly I felt a touch on my arm.

Right. I was not alone here still.

Il.

-Was that… was that really him?

-It definitely sounded a lot like him.

-What’s he trying to do? What was that supposed to mean?

-I was hoping that you'll tell me.

-How should I know!?

-No idea. But he definitely meant you.

-I… I don’t understand?! Is that really him! I swear, he doesn’t even sound like himself! I mean…. I know it was his voice.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

-Yeah, I get you. But the personality is not the same.

-Exactly!

-It might have something to do with the Crystal, but I don’t…

-Mor! Mor!

-Mor!

Both of them were running right towards me, crushing the ice to get close.

-What happened?

-Are you okay?

-Wait… where is Rob? Did he escape!?

-I knew it, sly bastard, caught us when we were the most busy.

-He couldn’t have gotten far, we can still get him!

She stopped, probably to feel out our surroundings to get the “runaway”.

-Wait…

She turned to the spot where she disappeared just as I was starting towards it.

-Did he teleport!? Damn him…

-I didn’t think he had it in him…

-Yeah… I mean, he probably was able to recover mana somehow, but where did he get that anchor?

-That is not an anchor - I replied calmly, picking up the shard from the ground.

-What?

I looked at it closely.

It was small, definitely not as large as it was when it was still a part of his leg. Right now it was about big enough to fit in my clenched fist. Completely transparent, without a singular trace of color, similarly to my own.

-What is it then?

-That’s an Origin Crystal! - pointed out the obvious Kon.

-It is.

-His…?

-Yeah.

-Are you kidding me?! Did he really?!

I think For realized what was going on, albeit maybe not fully.

-Do those people really don’t have any better options? To attack you and waste himself AGAIN?

Kon flinched, understanding what she was talking about.

-Did he really do that!?

-You are half right. But he didn’t attack me. He… Well, I don’t want to say that he saved me, but…

-What are you talking about!?

I briefly explained to them what I’ve heard from Mike.

Of course, the response was… colorful.

-This fucking creature! What does he want with us! Every time is something else with this guy! Would it hurt him to actually try and talk like a normal person?

-You’re one to talk… - I mumbled quietly, but I don’t think she heard me, still rambling, at this point to herself only.

-I swear, at this point I doubt we’ll ever learn anything! Hell, we apparently have a better record of getting information just hanging around and wandering aimlessly through the country!

She was not wrong.

But despite his actions, there was still one person that was optimistic.

Kon.

-What do you think he meant by “connect with it”?

I sighed.

-Eh. I was thinking that he meant Il. But at this point, I am not sure. We both are as confused as it gets…

-Right! Are you okay?! I didn’t even realize, that blast of ice had to be very taxing on you! But you…

He looked her over.

There was no visible damage on her body. Hell, there wasn’t even a sign of ice on her.

Well, she was standing behind me, so I guess I did shield her from the main impact, but for her to be completely untouched…

She realized I was thinking about that.

-Don’t forget, I am not defenseless. I still can use magic, you know…

-What, you casted a spell without me noticing?

-You didn’t notice? - she was genuinely surprised. - Strange. It’s not like I was trying to hide it, it was even your own creation.

-Ah. That one.

-Of course. What else did you want me to use?

-Yeah, I mean, obviously. But I should’ve noticed that…

-She used a protection spell when he started blasting - I explained aloud, not sure if they were able to hear her still.

-It had to be some powerful spell… to not get even a speck of ice in that kind of a whiteout… - said Kon, amazed.

I am not sure if he was trying to be nice to me or it was just an accident.

-Doesn’t matter. Now then… about this…

I raised the piece of crystal and looked at it again.

-How well are you all feeling?

The question confused them all.

-Err… why are you asking?

-Don’t tell me… you want to do what he said?!

-What do you mean? - asked Kon, intrigued.

-Well, from what I understand, this crystal is something that he wanted me to have. Something he wanted me to see.

-”To see”? You want to look through it…?

-In a sense. You’ve already participated in this multiple times.

-Oh! That.

She shuddered.

-Are you sure it’s a good idea? It’s…

-I know, it’s tasking for you - I nodded. - That’s why I am asking.

-Oh, no, I didn’t mean it like that! Sure, it’s tasking. But I mean, don’t you think it’s, you know, a trap or something?

I paused, considering what she said.

True. So far he’s not been a cooperative type. While that was definitely not his trait before, it was indeed how he seemingly was in this world. Did he have a change of heart?

“I am tired of those games”.

I guess you could interpret that one as something like that…

Nonetheless, he was the one who literally tried murdering me. Who knows if it wasn’t something like that again.

But then, I honestly couldn’t think of a way for him to kill me with just a piece of crystal like that.

Was he hoping for me to get absorbed by it?

Not a chance in the world. I had already Il with me, she was a far larger presence than whatever this was and yet I was fine. Well, mostly.

Same with the thing in the Red Edge. That thing had a consciousness as well, yet it didn’t even get interested in me.

So…

-I mean, if it is, I am sure I can overcome it. But I doubt it.

-You doubt it? Are you sure we are talking about the same person? The one who tried to kill you and was, or is currently murdering elves somewhere out there?

-I wonder about that too… But, I still intend to try it.

-So why are you even asking me?

-Because that is only my own opinion - I replied.

-What?

-Whenever I want it or not, I am now connected and partially responsible for more than just myself. Hell, if I was just me, I would’ve done it already. But it’s not. There are still at least three people that are here that definitely will be affected. If it is as you say, and this is a trap, I would hate for it to trap people other than me. So I am asking for your opinion. All of you… - I gestured towards the group.

-You know you don’t have to ask me - replied immediately Il. - I am as curious as you are, and probably can help you if something goes south.

-Thanks. I’ll be counting on you. What about you two?

Kon was also almost as fast as her.

-Of course I am with you. I owe you my life, I am not leaving you anywhere.

-Thank you. But you don’t owe me anything, please.

-We agree to disagree.

-I guess you can think what you want…

-What about you, For?

-Why are you even asking? It’s clear that I am outvoted. Does it even matter what I think? - she asked, a bit annoyed.

-And who told you that it’s some kind of majority vote?

-What, if I say “no”, you’ll just magically stop? Pff, yeah, right. I find it hard to believe. Not after what I learned about you.

I sighed.

-You are not my experiment. Okay, maybe not completely, but you are not a prisoner of mine or some hostile agent in a scheme against me. I am not going to force anyone to do anything.

-Yeah, I bet. And I did attack you.

-You had your valid reasons. Mostly.

-Mm-hm… riiight…

-Okay, maybe instead of playing for time, think it over and tell me the answer then? - I asked, annoyed.

-Oh, I don’t need to think. Of course I am voting “yes”.

That caught me by surprise.

-I thought you were against it.

-I am against jumping into danger without fully realizing that you are doing it. But that’s clearly not the case here.

-Damn… why the change?

-Change?

-Well, in the Edge you had more… direct approach to me…. so this mentality is kind of a switch, really…

-Oh shut the fuck up. I can change, you know.

-Hm.

She can change?

Or she is being changed?

I was not going to ask that question, though.

There was no point.

-Well, that is a surprise, but I am glad that we are together in this.

-Can you stop and just get on with it already.

-Damn. Impatient much?

-Of course. You keep talking and talking and I just want to know what the hell he’s up to, you know?

-We’re not even sure if that’s going to answer that… - pointed out Kon.

-We aren’t going to learn anything if we keep talking like that.

-Okay, okay, I get it. Here goes…

I focused on the crystal in front of me.

It was the easiest I had so far. I guess it had something to do with his assurances? I mean, he gave me this thing for a reason.

Or I was just getting proficient at this?

I felt the familiar pull, and soon I was already somewhere far away.

But this was not like the visions I had before.

Usually it was hard to distinguish the barrier between what I was watching and what was real. Like I was part of the events I was witnessing.

Even though it was easy to witness, I was just that: a witness.

It was like I was watching the images through some kind of screen, just silently observing the situation, barely feeling anything.

I still was able to tell what the people were feeling, but it was just as regular, I was reading mana of people, the feelings weren’t flooding into me forcefully.

For sure it had something to do with those belonging to Mike.

Because that was what I was witnessing.