We discussed this strange phenomenon for a couple more minutes, ignoring the fact that our prisoner was slowly starting to listen in. Plus, we were still stranded.

-We probably should go… - finally said For. - I think we have to ditch the idea of enslaving this guy.

-I have another idea… - I said, but before I was able to finish, she raised her hand in protest.

-And blow us up again? No thanks!

-It’s a lot less… involved. Look…

-What are you…

I put my finger in my mouth and without even a second thought bit down as hard as I possibly could.

Of course it only created a mass of sparks and a grinding noise. I even ignited some mana accidentally and briefly breathed fire.

-Whoah!

-Yeah, not gonna work - I said, looking my finger over. - Not even a scratch.

-That was…

-Crude? Yeah. I didn’t expect it to work, but it was worth the try.

-I guess… we just have to kill him and be done with - I said dryly. - Shame.

For was a bit surprised, but didn’t say a thing. Kon, on the other hand, apparently had some ideas.

-Wait! I think… I might have something…

-What, you want to tie him up or something? I mean, we can, but it’s a bit too much effort and too little profit.

-No! It’s…

-I thought about it… and I might be able to use my ability to get some crystal off you - he said directly to me.

-Your ability? The healing? I mean, you know…

-Body modification, yes.

-I thought to remake… or change someone, you’d have to mutilate them first.

-I mean… yes... But I thought… if I was to, for example, make you have one less finger, right? How would that work? If I was to try, wouldn't a piece of you just fall off? It’s not like I would be remaking anything… I wouldn’t have to heal or change…

-Fair point…

I thought about it for a second.

As far as I knew… or we rather, he was able to heal and remake flesh according to his own desire. It was just as he said, if he was to try and make me one finger short, it would technically work, but how would that even…

-I mean, it’s an idea. But the problem is, no matter what, you’d have to expend a lot of mana. You think you’d have enough to even give me a papercut?

-It’s not…

-I know, I know, not really damaging, it’s just… Well, I am not sure what it is. We can try, I guess.

Although, I was not sure if that was going to work. I just brushed off a third level spell from point blank. A light spell, one element that I thought was weak to.

-Fuck it. Go for it.

He nodded.

I extended my hand to him and he placed his own on mine.

-Well, the first step is a success…

-Wha…?

-I mean, I am not draining you.

-I thought we already knew that…

-Yeah, but not in my newer form. Who knows what’s up with this body.

-True…

-Okay, I am gonna shut up, you probably need to concentrate.

He didn’t reply, so guess that was confirmation.

For a second, nothing was happening. I didn’t feel any mana from either of us, so I just waited with anticipation.

Behind him, For was eyeing us, but was not asking questions. Right, Kon said that directly to me, so she was out of the loop for this one.

As I was thinking about that, I felt a tug. And not like the one I felt when “Rob” gave me his order or anything, it was more like… a presence.

A familiar presence. For a second I thought it was Il invading my mind again, but I recognized the mana a split second later.

Strange that his ability was manifesting itself similarly to what I felt when I was connected to her, but hey, I was not going to interrupt him. Besides the fact that I was too curious, I’d rather not be at fault for another failure of an experiment.

Hopefully ever.

At first, it was just that. A presence. But soon it started transforming itself into something more… more invasive. It felt like something was taking roots in my own flesh. Not a pleasant feeling, I tell you that. I am not sure if that was because of my body, but I was not feeling pain. And something was telling me that whatever was going on in my hand definitely would be the cause of a major one.

As suddenly as it appeared, it also vanished.

I gazed at him with confusion.

-Did you fail? - I asked and raised my hand to inspect it.

As I moved it away from the spot I realized that it was quite the opposite: he was more than successful. But the problem was…

-Holy shit!

For was standing right next to me and was watching what we were doing in silence up till now.

-When you said you’re going to experiment, I didn’t think you’d want to chop his whole hand off!

She was spot on.

Not only did he manage to influence my shape, he straight up managed to disconnect my whole hand. I only had a stump.

Again. Different, but still…

-Well, it’s not like I first arrived here, at least I have MOST of my arm… - I said, looking at my now bare wrist, bewildered. - But damn.

-Sorry! I didn’t mean to! I thought…

-Yeah, I knew we were experimenting - I calmed him down, picking my detached hand up with my still functioning one. - But I am more concerned about the fact that we now have a much larger piece than we wanted…

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

-Is that a problem? - asked For.

-Sort of… See, if it was just a segment of a finger, I think it would be able to work, but for something like that it is not going to just “dissolve”.

-How were you planning to dissolve it anyway…? - she asked.

-I…

Huh.

Yeah, before I wanted to heat it up with light magic, to somehow turn it into a more usable form, but in my excitement I sort of forgot to remember that I just learned that it was not going to work any more.

The ruined building was proof of that.

But, besides…

-Doesn’t matter - I cut the discussion. - I am worried about something else.

-Else…?

I focused on my hand that I was now holding and tried moving my, now missing, fingers.

-AAH!

-WHAT?!

My hand moved.

-Yeah, quite a shock - I agreed with both of them, trying each finger one by one. - Yup. I can still use it.

-HOW?

-Ask Kon.

She looked at him with more questions written on her face than any amount of discussion would be able to contain.

-I don’t…! I have no clue! But…

He was frantically thinking, trying to understand what happened.

-I mean, I knew I told you to detach a piece of me… - I said. - But never thought you’d be that successful…

-Detach… You think it’s because of that?

-What?

-That I thought of “detaching” it instead of… I don’t know, something else?

I thought about it for a second.

-Possible. But, that wouldn’t just mean it was only because of that. Words have only so much power, the rest is in your imagination. Besides, you didn’t say anything out loud.

-But I did think it! If I would think… about cutting it off, would that work? I guess I could try, but…

-No! - protested immediately For. - We don’t need him with at least one usable hand! Preferably two.

-Well, I do have those… - I said, moving my, now independent hand and clenching it into a fist.

-Ugh… - she was quite disturbed by that sight. - I don’t mean it like that!

-And even if I would be missing both of them, I still can cast no problem.

-But…!

-But - I interrupted her - I agree. That’s enough experiments for today.

-Okay… but what are we going to do with that guy?

-I mean, we can immobilize him and have him with us…

-Oh no, I am not getting frozen again! - she protested.

-Nah, I mean with my spell. It’s not like he could move much with my binds on him.

-Oh! Right…

-Yeah, I am not using that gem… necklace… thing. It’s weird.

-No shit. And connected somehow…

-I mean, if it’s part of me, no wonder it’s connected to you.

-I guess…

-You heard that? - I said, turning to the guy who was very obviously eavesdropping on our whole conversation. - You’re safe.

-For now - added For.

He did not reply, just nodded solemnly.

-I must say - For said switching to a more discreet means of communication - He’s a weird one.

-You can say that. Persistent and annoying, more like it, but weird is also a way to put it…

-No. I mean… he’s changed.

-Changed?

-His demeanor.

-You’re right - said Kon, joining in. - It’s like he’s not the same person he was before.

-Okay, let’s not get overdramatic. Okay, you might be right that he’s been strange since we defeated his companions, but… It’s not like it’s the first time that happened.

-Not the first time!?

-Of course. Have you forgotten about yourself?

-About… myself?

-Eh… so it’s progressed… even worse than I expected…

-What are you talking about!?

-About your assimilation. Both of you.

For a second I swear that they completely forgot. Only my last sentence reminded them about… well, themselves.

-Oh. It’s really gotten that bad?

-Well, you remembered, but…

-I thought you said I was having some kind of resistance to this! That my willpower would help me! Both of us.

-And you do - I agreed with her. - The fact that you remembered and didn’t just shrug me off is something still.

-But we are still in danger. Even more than that… - said Kon. - And he… he is the same?

-It appears so - I nodded. - He has a piece of a crystal, right?

-Is that enough…? - asked Kon. - Just having one on you, to… be influenced…?

-I think so. It probably depends on the connection and how much are you… well, in sync with it, but nevertheless.

-Does that mean that whatever is going on with us… is also going to happen with everyone that was using the pieces of you… the Origin Crystal.

-Probably - I replied after a moment of pondering. - It only is a matter of time.

-Oh no…

-To think… that that thing was popular in your old world…

-Popular? Nah. There weren’t many people that had access to those kinds of crystals. And besides, it’s not like the crystal itself is the thing that has this influence on other minds… It’s just us. I mean, her.

I shook myself off.

I was not immune to the change. This was a very good reminder.

-It’s just our experiment trying to run wild. Which makes me even more in awe of Mike. That he managed to shake off its influence for that long of a time.

-If you think about it, it almost looks like he has some kind of way to avoid it… or resist it… or something, I don’t know.

-Maybe - I replied, shrugging. - But it’s not like we can just ask him.

-Well, we probably can ask, but he’s not going to listen - agreed Kon.

-We can ask?

-Kon probably means that I could attempt to contact him just the same way as we are talking right now.

-Would that even work?!

-Not sure. But he is connected with us the same way we three are. Well, four now I guess.

-Yeah. As far as we know there’s no real limit on distance…

-That’s… huh.

-Yeah. Still, we now have different things to worry about.

-First, let’s get away from this desert.

-Right. We need to teleport away from here - agreed Kon. - For, where are the anchors hidden?

-Oh. True. I’ve hidden them near the camp of those guys… - she gestured towards our prisoner. - If we are lucky, they’re still there and untouched.

-And where’s that?

-About…

She spun around and pointed towards the horizon.

-A day or two that way.

-Shouldn’t be a problem.

-Yeah. But it’s still a pain to travel with that… baggage.

-It’s not like we have to worry about him. He’s just as resistant to elements as you are. Same with “durability”, so to speak. He probably can just drain mana from the environment.

-He can what?! Pause. WE can?

-What, you didn’t realize? I mean, you developed as fast as Kon, and he is more than resistant to me. It shouldn’t be a problem for either of you.

-He’s right - nodded Kon. - Didn’t you realize? I haven’t been eating for weeks now. Nor drinking. And I am fine.

I am pretty sure it was not by his choice, but still.

-I… Erhm. I mean, yes, I suspected that much, I’ve been quite energetic, considering the environment I’ve been spending time in…

-See? So let’s better get moving.

-But what about you?

-What about me? It’s not like you don’t know how I’ve been functioning for a while.

-Yes, but…

-I know, you are worried about me. It’s probably the other you inside talking, though.

She was about to retort with something, but decided against it.

And so, we started making our way towards the supposed hiding spot.