Chapter 25 | Schooling 2

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“You knew this would happen, didn’t you Black?” The boy demanded an answer. Black snapped her fingers and the three of them were in space again. The girl turned to her human form in this new dream, still passed out on the transparent floor.

“I don’t know what I did, why don’t you tell me?” Black continued her gleeful smile as if she was declaring her victory. The boy clenched his fist, holding back while knowing he stood no chance to defeat her.

“Everything you’ve done has led to this point. You were applying pressure towards us which threatened our dominance. This body… the hunger… and the Network… You used our anxiety and the girl’s insecurities to exacerbate her fears. You pushed her to this point.”

“You sound like I planned this all along. I didn’t but I was waiting for something like this to happen. It was inevitable with the amount of luggage we brought from our last world and this one.”

“Y—You can’t just erase us…”

“Again, with this? We’re the same person. I’m not erasing anyone. With the girl in her sorry emotional state, I’ll finally be the dominant persona I should’ve been when we came to this world.”

Black knelt down and was about to touch Alisha’s body when the boy grabbed her wrist and kicked her in the stomach, knocking her back.

“Not a chance. You won’t be the dominant persona with me here!” The boy was ready for a fight and faced his opponent.

Black was reeling from the surprise attack and stepped away in pain. “I see. I just have to convince you to switch sides?”

“What are you talking about? I’ll never join you.”

“We can be a boy again, you know.”

The boy was wide-eyed.

“I told you before. Gender doesn’t matter to me. If you let me take control, we don’t have to be a girl anymore.”

He hesitated a bit but quickly came to his answer, “No!”

“That surprises me. Didn’t you spend most of our life trying to suppress our feminine side?”

“I realized that I had no reason to deny her, that’s all. I cannot deny our identity or happiness. Sam was right. What I was most afraid of was the fact that I could never become what I wanted in our old world, that I could never be loved. Not anymore.”

Black started to walk to the other side of the room and the boy followed her movements, protecting Alisha’s body. In their previous life, they had to fight regularly so the boy and Black knew how to defend themselves. But this was a battle in their mind. Black knew in her heart that she would win in the end but this situation was inconvenient to her plans.

This was one of the most frustrating things about herself, her indecisiveness. Her Dissociative Identity Disorder was the result of her trauma in her previous life, creating a coping mechanism. This was a means to make an excuse for her indecisiveness. With this, she could have her cake and eat it too. It was a very human behavior.

The fact she had to jump through all these hoops and go through these motions was a testament to how broken the human mind was to Black. She had to reveal the truth to the boy. After he hears the truth, he would certainly agree with her.

“What if I told you that our happiness didn’t matter in this world?”

“What are you going on about now?”

“What if I told you that nothing in this world is real?”

“What…” The boy was getting really startled now. Black was opening the Pandora’s box, the one Alisha chose to ignore. The boy didn’t understand how the world wasn’t real but he knew it was the truth.

“What if I told you Yuli wasn’t real?”

“SHUT UP!” The boy shouted and was shaken. They couldn’t lie to each other; they were the same person so what she was saying was the truth. What was Black saying? Yuli wasn’t real? In his sub-conscious, the boy knew what Black was referring to but he still couldn’t accept it.

“We’re being played by Zephon and by the so-called gods. This world isn’t real. It’s a world created by the pseudo-god to contain us,” Black said calmly and began taking steps towards the boy, unchallenged. “If I were to come up with a comparison, I would say that this was a game world.”

“A game?” The boy was finding it hard to talk. Black grabbed his hand as if comforting him.

“Like an RPG. We can kill and destroy anyone and everything because there are no consequences in a game. We can consume everyone in this world and it wouldn’t matter because they’re NPCs. So, please. Let’s destroy this world together.”

The boy stood there with his head down. The only sensation he felt was the warmth of his hand in Black’s feminine hands. Did she just win? The boy wasn’t responding or resisting. This truth was the reason why Black’s memories were sealed from Alisha.

The girl simply couldn’t handle the truth and the implications it had for her entire existence. Her world-view was shattered and it broke her. The remains from the ashes of this truth was Black. Black wasn’t just a ‘monster conscious,’ she was the Alisha who knows the truth. This was an undeniable truth and Black accepted it the moment they were reborn.

The moment she was reborn as a Dungeon Master, she connected to the Network and learned the true nature of the universe and how laughable her existence was. Black came to be but Alisha wanted to cling onto her false reality and her meaningless humanity to soothe the pain.

It was time to move on. To deny the reality in front of you wasn’t healthy. She would make her own meaning. And it would start with the destruction of this world and everyone in it, including Yuli and all the falsehoods Alisha embraced to keep herself chained and bounded.

Black passed the boy who was standing still with his head down. She stood above Alisha unconscious body on the transparent floor. It’d feel good to finally be free, she thought.

The boy then grabbed both her shoulders, spinning her around to face him.

“YOU DO NOT GET TO DECIDE WHAT IS REAL TO ME!!”

Black didn’t understand how the boy could resist now. He knew the truth of this world and he still defied her. Yuli wasn’t real and he intended to make it real? How?

Black sighed in defeat with a regrettable smile. Perhaps they both needed more time. A relationship with any of these fake people could never be possible. In time, he would see it. Alisha would see it too. Everyone would see it someday.

***

When Alisha woke up, she couldn’t recall what Black told her but it left something within her subconscious. She knew how Black felt about this world but didn’t know why. Whatever it was, she’d prove that relationships with humans were possible.

With the boy accepting their situation, her anxiety has noticeably decreased. She still needed her time as a boy to balance herself. She was wrong for completely rejecting her past.

She woke up and groaned as she tried to get up. Alisha was sleeping on a couch next to a fireplace with a blanket placed over her.

Through her Monster Sight, she knew she was in a shop selling medicine. It was near the main road and street market. The people working in this shop was a married couple dealing with customers in the front. She knew exactly who the old couple was and was going for the back exit. The door was closed and there wasn’t enough space between the door and the frame for her crystal to slip through. Alisha wanted to pick the lock with her slime but it contained a sealing spell which required the presence of certain people for it to unlock.

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“Madam, you’ve awoken. How are you feeling?” Guide spoke.

“A lot better. Thanks. How long was I out?” She responded.

“Twenty-four minutes and seventeen seconds.” Yuli’s class wasn’t let out yet, there was still plenty of time until then.

“How is it going with Yuli?”

“She has answered my questions effectively and she demanded answers on a few facts and opinions.”

“Demanded?”

“Yes, the young Yuli has inquired about our activities, the nature of my existence, and my tolerance for various activities such as my consumption habits and functionality.”

“ ‘Demand’ is a strong word. Doesn’t Yuli just want to know you better? You’re interpreting friendly conversations strangely.”

“I do not understand your fascination with humans, Madam.”

“Humans are sentient beings who can express themselves. However, they will only be valuable to you if you give them value.”

“Then, why not consume them?”

“Don’t you recognize Yuli’s emotions?”

“They are irrational responses.”

“I believe you don’t understand because you don’t recognize your own feelings.”

“Madam, perhaps it’s wrong to assume and compare me to other beings you’ve interacted with. I am a monster, a being incapable of emotion.”

“We all express emotion all the time. It’s an unavoidable fact about living. Now, I don’t want to hear another thing about your passiveness. If you don’t initiate a conversation with Yuli, there’s no point in this exercise.”

“…I understand, Madam.”

The door creaked opened and the adult couple entered the office to find the small white wolf awake and next to the exit. Alisha was facing the two citizens of Riverside she absolutely didn’t want to meet: The Schefters. They looked young for their age but were behaving like the caring parents they were.

Alisha did feel a little guilty about killing their daughter and wearing her skin. Now that she met them, she felt even more conflicted. No one could be blamed, it just happened. But if they were to find out the truth, Alisha doubted they would agree with her assessment.

“Hello, sweetie. Did you lose your way?” The lady said in a tone meant for children. They walked closer but she didn’t run away. Somehow, Alisha felt at ease with them in a way she hadn’t felt with other people… Mrs. Schefter caressed her fluffy head without resistance. “Reinold will be here for you in a bit.”

Alisha was sighing inwardly at that notion. The fact that Reinold would know she went into Riverside and passed out in front of a crowd of people wasn’t the most pleasant thought.

It was still a few hours before Yuli’s school let out so she decided to hang around the shop, not like she had a choice. This was a good opportunity to study medicines in this world. The apothecary shop was run by the Schefter couple. They were quite good at their jobs. They both clearly loved what they do and the people they help.

The reason why this apothecary shop was so successful was because of its ties with the Alton family and Riverside’s proximity to the Elven Forest where rare medicinal herbs could be found. Like many businesses here, they came because of the safe access to elven lands and resources. Alisha was sure some of those herbs were cannabis. Mostly, the medicine on display had wide-ranging utilities despite just being made from plants and insects.

Mr. Schefter gave her a sample to taste. They were nasty but effective with a few magical properties.

This shop was used magical solutions to synthesize medicine for all sorts of ailments for general and specialized use. These magical tonics were produced using alchemy, the practice of infusing materials with different spells and mixing them together. There were so many spell gems around the store being grinned into different bottles and at different concentrations. Alisha was thinking of using alchemy too in her dungeon laboratories. Today was very instructive.

As Mrs. Schefter showed her the different medicines in the shop, she overheard something distressing.

“My condolences about your daughter,” said a customer.

Catherine was a shy girl but full of spirit and love for her parents and community. She was full of life and cheer for everyone who met her. There was a photo of the family in the office before. She didn’t want to concentrate on it with her Monster Sight but she couldn’t help herself. Alisha didn’t want to hear about it but she couldn’t help but overhear. There were more people in the shop than usual, she could tell.

Alisha’s anxiety around people seemed to be gone almost completely. Her guard was still up around the freelancers and mercenaries who visited the shop but that was only because of their weapons. Her thoughts didn’t race out of control. This must’ve been the boy’s influence on her.

Everyone tried to touch Alisha so Mr. Schefter held her away from them. She was forced to listen to the customers reminisce with the Schefters and talk about Catherine for a long period of time. The Schefters didn’t seem as upset as she initially thought. They probably accepted that their daughter was gone and they were glad to hear the people’s words of sympathy.

Alisha then sensed an unpleasant aura being directed at her and turned to see Reinold with his annoyed and angry face staring into her.

“Lord Reinold, we’re both glad to see you. Alisha here passed out in the streets today. Please tell Yuli to keep a better eye on her,” Mr. Schefter said.

“Thank you, both. I just hope that she didn’t give you any trouble,” Reinold said.

Alisha pouted and commented through her telepathy only Reinold could hear, “I’m always a good girl. You should be grateful…”

Reinold dragged her out of the shop by her scruff. He complained that he had to leave in the middle of his shift to get her but underneath, he seemed genuinely concerned.

“I’m sorry,” Alisha said, unironically.

“Apology accepted,” Reinold answered. Alisha didn’t want to talk about how she passed out and was glad that Reinold refrained from asking. “By the way, Alisha.”

“Yes?”

“I heard you pressuring Yuli into going to your new dungeon yesterday. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“What? I didn’t pressure her. I just asked her to come visit and I thought it’ll be a good trip as friends. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“There’s not. But your dungeon is a far off away from Riverside and the Imperials are stepping up their patrols.”

“I will escort Yuli there. There’s no need to worry.”

“No, it’s not that… We finally came home after a year of travel. How about we put a hold on adventures for Yuli?”

“Says the brother who took his ten-year-old sister on a trip around Seutaria.”

“That was different. After everything that happened to Yuli in Riverside, I thought it’d be best to help her get away from that and help her train her skills as a caster.”

“I don’t agree. Yuli clearly wants to be a freelancer and the adventure of charging into the unknown and endangering herself is part of the job description.”

“That’s only if she becomes a monster hunter. She’s my sister and I want you to call it off.”

“—Oh my goodness... You don’t want Yuli to be a freelancer at all! You unbelievable hypocrite!”

“You misunderstand. I do intend to allow Yuli to follow her own path as the future head of our family. But after what happened in Talleum, I realized how vulnerable she is to those who seek her harm. It doesn’t matter where we are, Yuli will never be safe anywhere and a career as a freelancer will only paint a target on her back.”

“I suggest you tell Yuli how you feel about this rather than confronting me about this issue. Although I’m not an Alton, it’s my opinion that she can take care of herself in the future. She has much potential in casting and has a growing mana pool. You surely have witnessed this yourself. I understand the desire to protect Yuli but it’ll be at the cost of Yuli’s freedom. You should trust her judgments and abilities more.”

“…” Reinold didn’t speak after that and thought about what Alisha said. She did have a point. Ever since the death of Yuli’s mother, it had always been Reinold’s and Elise’s job to protect her, more so than Benas. After what happened in Talleum, he unknowingly began agreeing with what Elise had proposed to keep her safe and confined to Riverside. However, Reinold knew that Yuli’s life wasn’t fated to be peaceful.

“Madam,” Guide spoke suddenly. “Yuli is being engaged by some unruly humans.”

“Reinold, we need to go to Yuli right now!” Alisha said, alarmingly.

***

Yuli said goodbye to her friends and began walking to the freelancer tavern alone. Guide has been as curious as Alisha when she first came here and had a lot of questions but she answered them all with patience and grace. Yuli taught him the common sense of many human things. If this was someone else answering his questions, they probably wouldn’t be so tolerant of his ignorance and get annoyed. Guide then asked something a lot more personal which she didn’t expect,

“Ms. Yuli, why are you friends with Madam?”

“Huh? Has Alisha not told you how we met?”

“No. But I fail to comprehend why she continues this relationship with you.”

Yuli grew silent while finding the right words to communicate her thoughts, “Being friends is not a rational thing, Guide. It is something we feel.”

“…I don’t understand.”

“Perhaps when you find someone special you can call a friend, you will understand,” she said with a hopeful smile.

This conversation left Guide thinking for a while. Just when Yuli was about to turn the corner to the tavern, a pebble flew and hit her head. The pebble didn’t have enough force that to activate her shield spell to repel it. She turned around while nursing her head with her hand and saw three boys snickering with one another.

“Oh, look! The halfie’s looking this way,” one boy said. Yuli only stopped walking momentary but they quickly surrounded her.

“Hey, do you think its ears make it more sensitive to sound?” The other boy said.

“AH!” They shouted directly into her ear.

“Come on, halfie. Say something.”

“Please… Stop it…” Yuli pleaded meekly and looked down at her feet.

“Stop. It,” he sharply said, imitating her speech in a mocking way. They starting laughing, paying no mind that they were starting to attract attention.

They were about to pull her hair when, suddenly, all three of the boys were sent flying towards the wall they were standing next to. Yuli sensed what was coming and instinctively shielded herself with her arms but the spell didn’t target her.

“I know your faces! Come back here!” Reinold shouted to the boys who quickly ran away and disappeared around the corner.

“That’s right! Run you, bitches!” Alisha shouted and barked at them, knowing they couldn’t hear her. Yuli stood there and looked at Alisha who had a smug look of accomplishment with her tail wagging. She smiled and crouched down to pat her head. “I did good, didn’t I?”

“Brother, do you not think what you did was a little extreme?” Yuli said.

Reinold spoke, “I think I was too lenient. Harassing the daughter of this town’s merchant lord… I’m going to report them to their parents after this.”

Yuli had mixed feelings but after looking at everyone’s faces of concern, she smiled widely at her caring family, “Thank you for saving me!”