-Where’re we going?

He flinched. I think he forgot for a second that I was there.

But, he didn’t stop running.

Soon, the buildings, the “village” or whatever that was was already far behind us. And yet, we were still going.

-I don’t think there’s anyone chasing us. So probably you should get a rest. Your body is… a bit fucked up.

Yeah, after the whole fight, fire, running and everything in between, he was starting to finally show some fatigue. At least in the mana department. The fact that I also had forced his body to change a bit wasn’t helping: the crystallization was a bitch and I knew that. On top of that, he was still using that infusion of his.

Was he even able to hear me? I mean, if he was hasted like before… I couldn’t understand shit…

-You hear me? Slow the fuck down.

-There is no “we”.

Ah. So he did understand. He definitely was a lot better at this than me so there was no surprise.

But, the fact that he had enough energy and peace of mind to argue with me somewhat reassured me.

-I feel like that’s not really the most pressing matter here. What the hell are you going to do? Run away?

He didn’t answer at first, but he did slow down a bit. I think he took my advice and stopped using mana to run, instead started pacing himself.

Did he want to run even further? We were already far away from everything. What, he was planning to just camp in the wilderness?

I mean, that wasn’t the first time I am sure, but..

-I am sure that you can keep running with us being in this body and all, but what’s the point? You have a place in mind or something?

He finally answered.

-I don’t. I just need to be as far from this city as possible, for now at least.

-Because…?

-To regenerate. Obviously. And why the fuck am I talking to you? You’re about to be turned into mana.

-Aha. Well, that’s what I get for saving your sorry ass.

-Excuse me?

-You forgot already? You were about to be drained to nothing and turned into mincemeat by security.

-You… you did that.

-What?

-You turned me into a crystal! Again!

-Of course I did. If I didn’t, you’d be bleeding out and dead.

-You have no idea how much it cost me to actually pull that off! To get a regular body for myself!

-I do. You told me before. I still don’t get it, but I think I am owed at least a little bit of…

-OWED? You mind controlled me and destroyed something I’ve been working for… for… I don’t know how long!

-”I” saved your ass. It’s not me who tried to kill you. Speaking of, what was that all about? You charged in like it was your mother you were about to visit, and what?

He went silent.

-Employers not paying up? I thought you learned it the first time.

-Shut up.

-Pfff.

So I was right.

He really thought that MIRE is going to suddenly pay up? Especially after tossing him into prison?

That is, if that part of his story was even true.

Sure, I was able to tell if he was lying.

Or I thought so before.

The longer I was using this strange… well, I wanted to say body of mine, but now that wasn’t even it. Revenant effect? Remnant skills? Fuck it, somehing like that.

I knew how mana could react, and so I could tell that anyone else with similar ability could as well. So of course it was just the same as talking: you could be a skillful liar in both regards. Honestly, kind of pointless…

-So, what now - I asked again. - And before you say again, no I am not planning to shut up. Learn to live with my pain.

-Your pain?

-What, you think you’re the first person that had another voice inside their head? Hell, you had ILMA as well, you know what I am talking about.

-She definitely wasn’t as talkative as you.

-Of course she wasn’t.

-What?

I sighed.

Or rather, wanted to. It was hard to do without an actual body.

But, he did feel it. I guess my emotions were clear enough.

-Why are you even here?

-Hm? - that was a strange question. - What do you mean?

-You were supposed to be dead.

-I think I’ve heard that one before.

-Shut up!

-And let you be stupid in peace? Hell no.

-Why do you even care?!

-Why? Because, whenever you want it or not, you now have a fucking roommate inside your head. And I don’t like living in dirt.

-Like that’s your decision.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

-Look, we can argue all day long, but let’s look at this objectively: you only are wasting time and effort trying.

-Same to you.

-What…?

-You only are wasting time and effort. Whether you like it or not, you’re going to turn into a bunch of mana that has no consciousness. Give up.

-And you’re so sure about that?

-...

Of course he wasn’t.

That was already clear: my survival was completely unexpected for him. Which was strange. I mean, the first rule of experimental magic is to expect the worst result.

Meanwhile, we finally reached our destination.

I mean, I think so, because he finally stopped.

The place didn’t look any different from any piece of this forest, though. Was something hidden here?

There had to be. He was racing here so fast, there had to be a point.

He stopped and sat down next to a tree, breathing heavily.

Ah. I just noticed that.

After he stopped using mana to enhance himself, he was running on his own strength. And that drained him a lot.

His new weight probably had something to do with it.

I can’t blame him.

Was he just taking a break?

-What now? - he asked, feeling that I was anxious.

Ha. He was asking me now?

After his earlier demeanor, I was tempted to not answer… And not like I had much to say in the situation…

-I can ask you the same. What, you’re taking a break? What are we doing?

-Again with this… Eh, if you must know, yes, I am taking a break. What of it?

-Nothing. I am more interested in what’s next.

-Next?

-What, you’re planning on running laps in this forest or some shit?

-Laps? No. I intend to pass it and go further.

-Further where?

-Away from the city. I need more power.

-Power? Sure, you’re drained, but you can regenerate anywhere, right? Especially here, there’s a bunch of greenery here, just drain some and be done with it.

-Not enough.

-The hell? Okay, I know that regrowing crystal costs a lot of mana, but…

-Regrowing…

His face grimaced in pain.

-I almost forgot. You did that.

-I told you that…

-It was necessary. I know. It’s still… painful.

-Strange. I never had those problems.

-Oh fuck you.

-I am serious.

-Your body was already destroyed.

-So?

-You didn’t have to break anything. Only regenerate. You made me replace parts…

-Okay, no. The “breaking” was not me. You know that.

-That was back then. Now, it’s still progressing, you know?

-...?

He was right.

The crystallization was progressing.

-Well, too bad. But at least this way you’re going to be more durable.

-Durable? Fuck you.

-What? I liked my old body, thank you very much. After getting used to it was pretty handy.

-Handy? Fuck off. No agility. Stiff. Barely able to move. The chunks getting in the way…

-”Chunks”? Ha. No. I was talking about being completely crystal.

-That takes time. Before that, the pieces inside you are an absolute pain.

-Never had that issue. But again, I lost whole limbs so I guess my “chunks” were a bit more useful.

-...

-If you’re so annoyed you can let me take control.

-You kidding me?

-Why? I mean, I can deal with the pain. And you’ll rest. It’s a good deal for you.

-Oh, yeah. “Good deal”. Letting someone else take my body.

-So? Who said I was going to get it permanently? Look, if you’re scared about me absorbing you, let me tell you one thing: I am pretty sure that doesn't matter. Whatever is going to happen is going to happen regardless of this small issue.

-”Small issue”... Right.

-Well, I gave you an offer. If you want to deal with pain, be my guest.

-I will, thank you very much.

I didn’t expect for him to give me control, so I didn’t feel disappointed. Still, I did learn some things.

He was having issues.

And I don’t mean issues as in crystallization progressing. Hell, for me that was a boon. I don’t know why he was so hesitant to let it progress.

At least he had a change of heart and wasn’t constantly suppressing it like the last time… I mean, it probably was just to conserve mana for now, but still. It was something.

No, I was more interested in his sudden lack of… conviction? Confidence?

Mike I know… or maybe rather Axelrod, was a ruthless and constantly scheming person. Not… this.

It almost looked like he was more Mike than Axelrod.

Yeah, I know, that sounds stupid. Both were the same person…

But, was that really the truth…?

According to him it was just his persona. Or that’s what he told me. He took that name to be that “king” and all that shit.

What if that wasn’t the case?

What if that was just another person? And something was happening to him.

It wasn’t impossible for a consciousness to… float up, so to speak. I was the best example.

Even though he tried, he didn’t manage to suppress me and I just appeared. What if some other person was the same? That he managed to suppress them for a while, maybe even absorb some of it. But, when I started disrupting him, they took the opportunity to also show up?

If that was the case, shouldn’t I be able to talk to them, though?

Mike was distracted for now. I am not sure if he really was just taking a break, but he was still sitting under a tree, breathing heavily.

I think he did listen to me, though and was absorbing mana from the trees. He wasn’t having much success though, which was strange. I thought he’d be at least this competent in handling the crystal. Or was it something else?

One option was that there was a problem with his personality. His soul.

That I wasn’t dealing with the correct person.

That it wasn’t Mike. It was really Axelrod.

But, as mentioned before, it was impossible.

I definitely wasn’t feeling anyone, so he couldn’t be a real person. And if they were, they weren’t conscious enough for Mike to have problems with absorbing

The other possibility, a more plausible one, was that he was subconsciously stopping himself.

It would fit, knowing that he was forcefully stopping his own growth in earlier stages. His worries and overall disposition towards the crystal and the changes definitely weren’t helping him in regard to utilizing crystal’s powers.

It would also help explain the fact that I had to step in to heal him.

It did take him being completely out to start working. I mean, I did help, but now, in hindsight, if I was to leave it alone, I am sure the crystal itself would’ve started repairing itself.

Hell. It did. I only managed to hurry the process up.

Just like he did for me…

Wait. He did that for me, right?

If he was so scared of turning to crystal, why did he try to do it to me?

I mean, sure I was already completely gone by that point, I mean by body, but…

Eh, who am I kidding. Of course he did it. I would’ve done the same. I mean, I did. To just ignore this kind of opportunity…

Speaking of opportunities, though.

I think one just presented itself to me.

Because Mike had just fainted.

Or, to be precise, he fell asleep.

I only noticed because his panting and heavy breathing stopped, replaced by the silence of the forest.

Thanks to that, the speed that he was absorbing mana also shot up.

Ha. I was right about him suppressing it. Be it consciously or not.

Now, knocked out again, he was regaining mana at rocket speed.

And he was about to start spending it, too.