-Did… you…

-I tried doing the thing you said… I don’t think it’s working though… - he said before I even was able to fully process what just happened or formulate a coherent question. - I’ll try thinking harder…

As he said that I noticed something forming again, but this time I stopped him.

-No! Don’t! You’re good!

-Huh…?

I was definitely confusing him with my sudden protest, but I didn’t care.

He was something else…

I didn’t get it at first, but the explanation came to me with time.

I say it came to me, but I am sure that was just certain… effects from when I was connected with ILMA.

Sure, right. Magic is based on imagination.

More than any language the thing that matters the most is what you have drawn out in your mind.

Most of the time, that is.

How though?

It’s often that people’s spells go awry just because they misspeak or something similar, right? If imagination was a key why would that matter?

Well the answer is right in the human mind.

Let’s say you imagined one thing and spoke the words that you wanted to project that image to reality, but you fumbled a letter or two.

What does your mind say?

Is it “oh, it’s fine, doesn’t matter anyway”?

Or is it “shit, that’s wrong, I was supposed to say something else”?

Most of the time the answer is the latter.

It’s coded in our subconsciousness, sadly. That we expect something to go wrong when we mistake formulas.

That’s why people that are confident are often the best at magic. Or at least at mitigating mistakes.

Here comes the fun part though: he had none of it.

He was a blank slate: no knowledge about rules of magic. No knowledge at all. So when I told him just to imagine, he thought that’s how it was supposed to work, there were no stray thoughts in his head about something going wrong, only about trying to summon the image from his head into reality.

The basics of magic, really.

Honestly, I never expected for it to be that easy.

Just imagine, and then, pop, you have anything?

That’s some scary power.

That also explained why kids were often good at magic.

It was just their imagination that was helping funnel stuff into reality.

I mean, that also meant that whole magical education was pointless…

Or…

Hah. No. I get it.

It was pointless from the perspective of a good-natured person. And a very naive one.

If the limit was imagination… How would you control people? The rules don’t matter, everything is made up…

The answer is: you make your own rules. And force them onto others.

You “educate” people.

Tell them how the world supposedly works. And while limiting them, you make your own rules that only benefit you.

It made me realize how much I was responsible for that. “Research and Education”... yeah right.

Damn MIRE…

But first, our… janitor. Steven or whatever.

-You did it! - I said, breaking the news to him.

-I did…?

-Yeah! Bit chaotic, but definitely got me straight in the face.

-Oh! Sorry! I can’t see… I didn’t know…

-Of course you didn’t. Don’t worry.

Now… what do I tell him exactly?

This was problematic.

The best scenario for me was for him to be oblivious to everything.

Damn… was it even the best scenario?

I mean, sure, it would be handy, but also a problem for my future plans. I wouldn’t know if my spell was flawed, or it was just a problem of execution on my part. Not enough mana, not enough crystal, something.

If he remembered though, the issue would be a lot more immediate.

As in having someone right next to me possibly attacking me right away. And probably at the worst moment imaginable on top.

The fuck should I do with him?

If only there was some kind of magic that would prevent him from being a pain in my ass…

Wait.

There was.

The contracts…

But those were even worse… Unreliable and prone to walkarounds.

Should I try anyway?

I’d have to get his blood… or something off his body… How would that even work? A piece of crystal? Was that possible…?

And, since the base of the crystal was my own flesh, wouldn’t it just be me trying to contract myself?

No. That was not going to work.

I had to use a bit more regular methods…

As in trying to talk this out.

Yeah, I know, that’s even less reliable. But I can’t just destroy him, right…?

I could leave him there… Even if he started experimenting with magic, I doubt he’d be able to find me quickly enough… And even then, what? He had no idea who I was or what I looked like. I doubt he’d be able to tell how my mana looked…

That is unless he remembered who he was.

Everything was coming down to the last part.

Damn me. Had to experiment, right? Couldn’t just stuff Mike in there and be done with it?

I mean, even then, I’d be in the exact same position.

-So… I guess you are fine. Please don’t attack me any more if you would…

-Oh! Of course! I am so sorry!

He sounded genuinely distraught.

Of course he did.

He was distraught.

Right now, he wasn’t more than just a very powerful child that had no idea about anything. Prone to manipulation, and prone to grudges.

How the fuck do I deal with this…

After a painful moment of silence… I finally came to a conclusion.

If I was to deal with this, the sooner the better.

And especially when he was still a bit… fresh. And definitely before I dealt with Mike.

-Eh… Listen… - I finally said. - What I am going to tell you is something that I probably shouldn’t… but I think it’s better to be transparent at this moment.

-Okay…?

-I told you that I moved you inside a crystal, right?

-Yes…

-Good. But I didn’t tell you where you were before.

-Before…? I… I mean, wasn’t I alive? I mean… that I was just… in a body…?

-You were. But I mean what happened between your body’s death and now.

-Body… What do you mean…?

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

-Let’s just start with the easiest one. You’re crystal. And I am too, at least partially now.

-Partially?

-Yes. I am right now inside a body that is partially crystalized… and I am not the original owner of it either.

-You… stole a body!?

-Well… it’s complicated, but yes, essentially - I agreed. - And before you start being outraged - I said, feeling his emotions starting to fluctuate - this is the body of a person who killed you.

-Ah?!

That was a lot for him to take in.

But I wasn’t done.

-While it appears like I am helping you, it’s not really it. It’s just an experiment. I wanted to make sure I am able to make a body for myself. See, having to share something like this is… inconvenient. Especially with someone you don’t exactly agree with.

-...

He was silent.

No wonder. But, at least he wasn’t hostile yet. Right, sure, his emotions were all over the place, but they weren’t outright hostile.

Good sign, I guess.

-Why are you telling me that?

A fair question.

The same one I was still asking myself right about now.

-I am not sure… I guess I wanted to… be mostly transparent?

-...

-Does that still not jog your memory?

-...no. I don’t think so… - he replied after a moment.

-But you do feel different.

-Feel…? I mean, of course I do… It’s not something that I can take lightly, can I? A bit of a revelation…

-I guess. But if that doesn’t help you, I still have one tidbit piece of information…

-I am listening.

-I said you were working at MIRE, right?

-Yes…

-And apparently, the same organization was the reason for your death…

-Reason? Wasn’t that supposed to be you… I mean him…?

-Well. I am pretty sure that you were tasked with eliminating us.

-What?!

-Yeah… on purpose or accidentally… But again, that was also his fault… our fault in a certain way… we did barge in uninvited.

-Explain.

How much should I tell him…?

-Well… we sort of have a history with MIRE…

-You worked there. Him too?

-Yeah… long story short, we split on not the best terms. Mike, the owner of this body, tried mending that relationship. I think. But that only bit him in the ass. As in you.

-Me…?

-You and your colleagues. I am pretty sure you lot were sent to deal with us. Permanently. After we suddenly appeared in their facility.

-Why… Why were you there even?

-Don’t ask me. It was Mike’s idea - I shrugged. - I was only a passenger on that trainwreck.

-...

-What?

-And you couldn’t control him? Like you are doing now?

-No.

-Just no?

-Just no.

-So. What now? - I asked.

-You’re asking me? Wasn't this supposed to be an experiment to get your body back? Shouldn’t you be doing that?

-Well, yes. But I am kind of hesitant to try and cast something requiring concentration when I have a very… unsure soul next to me.

-Unsure…?

-Yeah. And clearly torn.

-...

-Let’s be clear. I know that you are trying to understand what’s going on. And I get that. But it’s strange that you’re… this calm.

-I can assure you, I am far from calm.

-Yeah, right. You aren’t trying to kill me.

-Well, obviously…?

-And that’s already a rather large change.

-...

This… was something else.

But, for some reason, it wasn’t unexpected for me. Hell, I kind of knew that this is how it’s going to end up.

-I guess I am a lot calmer than you thought. I thought this through and… there’s no point.

-No point?

-No point in being angry. Or trying something. You said it yourself, I am an experiment. It’s only thanks to your whim that I am here. Why would I bite the hand that literally saved my life.

And had a hand in ending that life in the first place, but I was not going to say that out loud.

But, this statement only confirmed my assumptions.

Mike was already in his mind… or rather the crystal was.

It was just like with me. I felt conflicted. And my emotions were mostly muted. I felt mixed up, acting like I was not myself.

That was exactly what was going on right now.

And again, this was started by some weird experiment on souls.

-Hm. Well. Whatever you think. So you really don’t know much more…?

-No.

I don’t think he was lying.

-Okay then. I’ll believe you - I finally said. - And I know that’s dumb, but if you ever change your mind, do notify me.

-Pfh. Right… You better tell me… what I am supposed to do now?

-Huh? You’re asking me?

-And who else is there? I… I don’t understand anything. I am your supposed enemy… and you managed to revive me. As an experiment or not, that doesn’t change the fact that I am alive.

-I guess…

-Should I be attacking you? I mean, that would’ve been obvious. But I seriously can’t even consider it, knowing what you did now and not knowing why I did what I did… or you for that matter…

-I mean… I also am unsure why you did what you did… but there is a scenario where I can understand them.

-That is…?

-That is that you were just used by MIRE. I don’t know why or how, but that place is definitely not my friend. At least not now. Probably they never were, but… I was hoping that we would’ve come to an understanding somehow…

I paused.

-And I guess Mike thought the same.

-Yeah… What's the deal with that, anyway? Who is that? And how exactly are you connected?

-Long story short, he’s my friend. Or used to be. Right now I am unsure in what state he is right now, but…

-So… should you even try and resurrect him…?

-Resurrect? Oh, he’s alive and well. Just dormant for now. That’s why I need to split and get my freedom as soon as possible.

-Okay… And my existence is a bit inconvenient then…

He was right.

Once more, I don’t know why I did what I did.

I could’ve just put Mike inside that crystal and be done with it. Sure, it would’ve been risky for him, but so what?

Eh, I was saying that now, but…

Whatever.

-Doesn’t matter. I still am going to do it.

-It’s not my decision to make… I’ll be quiet.

-It’s not. But…

But it’s your decision to interfere.

I was not going to say that, though. Instead, I focused on repeating the process that just gave me a new headache of a companion.

Again.

I wondered if he was going to keep his word…

Well. The sooner I start, the sooner I know where we stand.

I took a breath and took out the other piece of crystal from my pocket.

It was still exactly the same as before. It didn’t grow, meaning it didn’t absorb any mana, even stray one from the earlier process or the area nearby.

Good. It was as clear as it gets then.

I was kind of worried that it might absorb a piece of someone or something and be useless…

At least Mike won’t be able to complain about his new body being tainted or something stupid like that.

Now, to gather mana.

The process went as smoothly as before. Sure, I had to avoid the new crystal nearby, but that was barely even a problem.

My plan was to move a bit, but when I mentioned that to him, he moved by himself.

The crystal just… started floating away.

I mean, I knew that he was somewhat understanding how to use magic, but having him just float away, seemingly fully in control of his “body”...

Wait, scratch that. He definitely wasn’t completely proficient in that: after moving a few meters he just fell right down through the canopy and slammed into the ground below.

-You good?

-Eh… yes. I think I didn’t crack…

-Oh, no, your crystal is and will be fine. I meant the spell.

-Spell?

-I never thought you’d be able to float and It definitely failed when you went through the trees. No backlash? Or anything?

-Er… no…?

-Hm.

Right. That was not my fly spell. He was using spells purely by instinct. No spell was going to harm him, at least not the one he used.

Being oblivious was definitely a great gift…

-You can run if you want. I can’t really stop you, but…

-But I won’t. What are you talking about, I am not leaving, not until the one who killed me is awake at least.

Well, that was a decision.

Let’s just hope he wasn’t going to act before I am done…

Ah, who am I kidding, I brought this on myself…

Eh.

Let’s get this over with.

I grabbed the piece of crystal and squeezed it in my hand.

Gathering mana was no longer a problem, with him being far enough away and below…

-Zyza, svury gy xye oryqa nom quxe kyr ur gy xye zoda…

-Peqa, svury gy xye oryqa nom quxe kyr ur gy xye zoda.

I didn’t even think about the double incantation, yet again it was already done for me.

Was that just me being more proficient in… well, splitting my mind…?

It would explain why I felt like it was just me echoing in my head… Although doing something like that subconsciously was a bit worrying…

-Qy avharow op zy xyomr.

-Qy avharow op zy xyomr.

-Vuzury op zy quq.

-Vuzury op zy quq.

Every part of the spell echoing in my mind, I formed my magic and was funneling the magic towards the piece.

At first it went smoothly. Magic was going nicely and calmly towards the rock, but about half way in, I started realizing that there was a lot of magic missing from me. Like, a LOT lot. To the point when I started feeling woozy.

I probably should’ve interrupted the cast, but what then? What kind of abomination would that produce?

And more importantly, what exactly would that do to me?

But, it was too late.

Not because the spell was so hard to break, no. It was because of my head already working on a lot less…

Just like with lack of oxygen. You start losing your cognitive ability and you don’t even realize it.

That’s why I just continued the ritual, hoping that I’ll have enough mana to finish it without more problems.

Well, I definitely had enough.

But… the effect was a bit different from what I imagined at first…

The spell did take hold and I promptly fainted, everything fading to black.

Last thing I saw was my body falling down back and getting caught up on some branches and now glowing crystal falling out of my hand.

The next thing I remember was complete darkness.