It doesn’t take us long to gather everything up and depart for my hometown. I’m not sure how long it will take us to reach Elkhorn, but I trust my instincts to guide us there. However, Kathy complains loudly. What do you mean, you don’t know how long the trip takes? You know the way. You’ve traveled there before. It’s not advanced thaumaturgy, just … guess.

I don’t feel like telling her I’ve never traveled through this part of the forest before. Or that I’m relying on my gut feeling to navigate it. Now that I think about it. I better not mention that I’m making us avoid unnecessary violence and danger as well. She’ll probably just storm off straight in the general direction of the village if I do that. And then all the animals in her path will die needlessly. I choose to just remain silent, and lead by example. Hoping that she’ll follow the path I’m taking instead of going her own way.

If we pass by something edible, I take a bit with us. Never too much from one plant, I want a balanced diet. And I don’t want to take food from animals who need it. I’m just building up my stock for some variety. When I offer Kathy something I just found as a snack, she looks at me in disgust. There’s no way I’m eating that, she says with disdain. Not even charring it can get rid of the awful taste. I don’t know how you can stomach it.

I stop and look at her. It … keeps me alive and my body healthy. What’s not to like about it? It also preserves well. I can just put it in my backpack and take a bite when I’m hungry. She shudders and takes a deep breath before responding. Do you not care at all about taste? She asks. I consider her question before answering. Not anymore, I think. Texture still grosses me out. But after my first week alone in the forest, I just regard it as fuel now. Sure, I love to eat something tasty when it comes along. But spending time to go looking for it doesn’t seem worth it.

I’m with the dragon on this one, Carnelia’s voice sounds in my head. I stop in my tracks, as I turn my focus inwards. What do you mean by that? I ask her. What you are shoving down our throat is downright disgusting, she complains. It wouldn’t take that much effort to prepare it. It’s possible to make most things taste good. You have my memories. You should know everything my mom taught me about cooking.

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Help me, divinity, I didn’t realize I could blush within my own thoughts. I … don’t enjoy cooking? I try, but she won’t hear it. You cooked to keep those bandits alive! Were they more important than yourself? Carnelia apparently doesn’t need eyes to stare me down. After an uncomfortable silence, I decide to tell her the truth. Doing things for myself is hard for me, I confess. When it’s for someone else, it’s easier. Despite my efforts, I’ve been struggling with this for a long time. I tried to fry a fish when I got to this world; it was horrible. And while I felt at the time that I wanted to learn how to cook. I doubt I’ll be able to do it.

I can feel she doesn’t believe me, so I share some of my memories with her. Letting her live the truth for a bit. I … she stammers. How is that possible? Why wouldn’t your body move? Why did it feel so heavy every time you tried? You feel intense hunger, but remain paralyzed, unable to eat. Yet get up to help a friend in need? I shrug. Those were the worst moments. It’s not always that bad, but some things I can’t do. No matter my need or desire to do them. It helps when someone tells me to do them. But not always.

Carnelia sighs. Fine, I get it. You can’t do it, period. However, I love cooking and I hate the taste of the stuff you eat. So why don’t we try to see if I can cook using your body? Just pick up whatever I point out along the way. And hold off on eating anything until I’ve had time to prepare it. That could work, I tell her. Not going to get my hopes up, but it can’t hurt to try. Does that mean you want to try the fusion thing we talked about before? Oh hell no, she replies instantly. Whatever is causing your problems, I do not want to be affected by it. I’d rather stay out of that mess, thank you very much. I chuckle, fair enough. Let’s get going again. I’m looking forward to this experiment.

When I open my eyes, Kathy is staring at me. Why did you stop and just stand there for 5 minutes? She asks me curiously. I blush. Sorry about that. I’ll do my best to give you a warning next time. What happened? She asks. I was having a chat with Carnelia; I reply. Wait, Kathy exclaims. She isn’t gone after completing her vengeance? Isn’t that what spirits do? Shouldn’t their soul move on after they let go of their mortal attachments?

Oh, I’m pretty sure her soul wasn’t with me to begin with, I tell Kathy. Something dragged it off somewhere, just like it brought mine into this world. My attempt to retrieve her memories from the past accidentally gave me her emotions and personality as well. Kathy’s mouth drops. You did WHAT?