And not in some weird metaphorical way or something. Nope.

I was literally talking to myself, who was projecting his thoughts right from the unmoving body of Il.

-How did that…

-...happen? You know that already. I mean, it’s a theory, but…

He… I mean, I was right.

Of course the moment that I heard him… me… a certain series of events came to my mind…

Apparently not only mine… I mean, I guess it was only me…

It wasn’t new information that it was possible for someone trapped inside an Origin Crystal to have a nice talk with someone that was touching it. Especially when it was a part of their body.

Also, I knew that it was possible for someone to be split, thanks to the same crystal. The prime examples were Iloa and ILMA. Probably also Mike.

And now I guess me.

What I couldn’t wrap my mind around was how exactly did…

-...I end up split in there? Well, I am unsure. That is an unexpected development, don’t think that’s not true. But you waking up is even more puzzling.

I was right. I mean, the other me was right.

-True. It would definitely be easier to explain if I was dead, or well, my body was vacant and you were the only me left. That we just transferred bodies.

-You speak my mind. I guess we are one and the same.

-On topic, though… Are we sure about that?

-What, you think… that one of us is not complete?

-Maybe… Sure, it’s clear that we are one person. But, if we look at it closer… were we split, or were we copied?

Both of us went silent.

I could tell that even though it just popped into my head, the other me, since he was awake a bit longer, already thought that out.

-I was thinking about that. But with just myself, it’s hard to check that, you know?

-Right. There’s no one to compare to.

-Yeah. And I was silently hoping that I was just transferred, like Kon. But, alas, nope.

-Okay, I am happy that you are taking it so well - interrupted us Il - but there’s another problem.

-Right. That’s true. How about her, other me?

-That’s the question - he sighed. - Health-wise, she’s more than okay. Kon did a magnificent job fixing her body, and there’s definitely no problems there.

-How far did it go?

-Further than we wanted.

-That was given, since we didn’t want to do this at all.

-Yeah… the effect is the real opposite to what we intended. Her whole skeleton was replaced. Or, rather it replaced itself.

-I was gonna say… There’s no way Kon would be able to do all that…

-Yeah… he only replaced what he said, but when I awakened in here, the whole skeleton was already crystal.

-Is it progressing?

-Not for now. It seems like it stopped as soon as I awakened.

-Ah… So you’re…

-I think so. Without her being conscious, the crystal had its own will and was doing as it pleased. Since I took over, it’s been calm.

-Good…. Well, I guess having myself in there is good in some way.

-Fuck… This gives another meaning to “parental control”... - mumbled Il. - So. What are we doing next?

-We wait for her to wake up. Then, she decides.

-And not like we can really pull me out of her… - the other me pointed out. - I mean, I probably should be quiet when she wakes up, at least, but…

-Yeah. We need to tell her everything.

-Damn… I can not imagine how she’s going to take it… I mean, just moments ago she wasn’t even believing the fact that we were her parents…

-Ah. By the way - interrupted Il. - You say, moments, but it’s been more like a few hours. You’ve been down for a while.

-Shit.

-Yeah, but still, you look fine. I thought that you’d be a lot more wasted after that much of mana exhaustion.

-Well, I am more sturdy than it looks. And besides that, I think I might have drained a bit from the area, so…

-Is there a mana void somewhere again…?

But, before I was able to reply she looked for it itself.

-Ah. Well, not mana void, but for sure that place is a lot more… dry.

-You can say that. I still can’t believe I managed to not destroy anything.

-I guess you are being a bit careful, even while unconscious.

-Ehe… I guess.

-How long do you think it’s going to take?

-Beats me. Ask other me. He’s closer to the source, so to speak.

-Don’t just toss the responsibility to someone else.

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-I am not.

-Stooop, one of you is enough! - interrupted our banter Il. - Answer.

-Well, her mana is mostly stable - I started, looking at her directly. - But…

-...but since she wasn’t really prepared… no one was, there’s no telling if it’s going to take hours or days.

-Or anything in between.

-Hm.

-Well, it’s not like we are in the worst place to take a rest - I pointed out. - This valley is mostly sealed from the outside, barring any teleports, we are going to be fine.

-Exactly. The only person who knows about it is either dead or missing.

-So, we’re waiting here then?

-At least until For and Kon awaken - I agreed. - We will decide about the next steps later. See how things play out.

-Oh yes, I know. But I meant… here. As in this patch of the forest. Can we move somewhere else?

-What, you had enough of nature?

-No. I just think Il deserves a bit better rest than just lying on the grass.

-Well, I can agree with that. But there’s no place to go here. What, you want to use the ruins of MIRE?

-It’s… well fuck, you’re right.

-Maybe we can whip something out? - asked the other me. - I mean, I don’t think either of us has an ability to conjure a bed…

-We probably could write one - mumbled Il - But we definitely shouldn’t.

-Well, For said she had a few spells of that type… so maybe…

-But she’s also unconscious.

-Yeah… Someone probably should check up on her.

-Hm. Okay, okay, I’ll go. - said Il. - I need to stretch my legs a bit, I’ve been sitting here for a while now…

-I can go if you…

-Nah. Just stay with her. And… yourself.

She stood up and left towards where Kon and For were still laying.

The moment she left, silence fell between us.

I mean, sure, we were using our minds to communicate, so the forest was completely silent anyway, but it was more than apparent when you’re not actively thinking, you know…

Not for long, though.

The other me interrupted the silence after a good minute.

-So. How are we feeling?

-You ask me? I think you should know better.

-I do, and still am asking…

-Well, to be honest, for me not much has changed. You have it worse, I think.

-You don’t say.

-On the subject though… I’ve been meaning to ask, how much control do you have over that body?

-Never tried taking over completely.

-Figures. But you can tell without that, can’t you?

He groaned.

-I guess there’s nothing I can hide from myself. Yeah, sure, I can completely take over at any time.

-Especially when she’s not awake.

-Exactly. But I am not doing that.

-That’s good. At least you’re making a convincing argument.

-What?

-That you are still me.

-Well, sure. But… to be honest, I have the same worries. How can I tell that what was left behind in that body of yours is still the original? Not a copy?

-Does that matter?

-Honestly? I don’t think so.

-I feel the same. And since we still have the same goal, I don’t think that’s going to change any time soon.

-Or at all.

-Hopefully. Say, are there any others inside or…

-Nope. Not any more, that is.

-Any more? Don’t tell me Kon missed something?

-A tiny bits here and there. She had some small particles of crystal all over her body. I am not sure if from some earlier fights with Mike or maybe from that weapon of hers, but after I awakened, it all got suppressed by me.

-Good. For once I am happy that our crystal is that good.

-Let’s hope it’s not too good.

-As long as you won’t try to take over her, we should be fine, right? It’s not growing in power, is it?

-Not at the moment. Even though we are full of mana, there’s no activity from anything else. I probably already managed to absorb most of it.

-And no adverse effects from that, I hope?

-You tell me. An outside perspective is the best in that kind of thing, isn’t it?

-Sure… I will be monitoring you then.

-Good. And… to be honest, if anything goes wrong… If you ever suspect me, just go for it. Don’t hesitate.

Hearing that from myself was a bit eerie.

Sure, I probably would say the same in this situation, but still, actually hearing it was something else.

Nonetheless…

-The same goes for you. I bet you’d be able to reclaim this body if needed.

-Maybe. I’d have to get some help, first…

-I guess I have more mana than just what you got… But even if it comes to that, try asking her for help.

-Her as mother or her as daughter?

-Well, since you're sharing a body, that one would be better if the need arose. While I am not sure how she is going to react…

-Yeah, we still have to wait for that…

-Right. On the other hand, I am sure Iloa wouldn’t hesitate to help you.

-That is if I had a valid reason to suspect something wrong with you. Without that I am going to be destroyed.

-If she is even capable of that.

-Right… we still have no idea about her capabilities… but, to be honest, I am having a better time reading her now, when I am in this body.

-Really?

-Yeah. My senses… are a lot more vivid. I think.

-My guess would be that it’s just you not being really acclimated to seeing with actual eyes, not some crystal remakes…

-That might be right. But still, she is sleeping, so how well do they even work?

-Right… not much, most likely.

-You said it. But I think that I might just be getting accustomed to seeing different mana in people.

-As how they are able to distinguish anchors and whatnot?

-Yeah. Il was able to use portals, right? So I guess I am getting a share of that ability thanks to us being in one body.

-Damn. Good on you. I still can’t…

-Oh, don’t try to be so secretive. I do know you realized by now.

-...

-What, aren’t you a bit slow? We’ve been for a while starting to recognize it even in that crystal body. Sure, it wasn’t as precise as Kon or For, but it was definitely working a bit.

He was right.

I don’t know why I didn’t just admit to him outright.

If I wanted to blame it on something, I’d just say I was still confused after waking up. It wouldn’t necessarily be a lie, but still.

I was just having a hard time believing that the crystal was still developing.

He knew what I was worried about.

-I know we aren’t sure, but it definitely seems like the assimilation has not stopped. I did think that it might have been suspended since ILMA got seemingly ejected from us, but apparently not.

-You’re right. Eh, I can't hide anything from myself.

-That’s what I said.

To be honest, having that kind of discussion was… I want to say unsettling, but really, it was more refreshing than anything.

You don’t really have a chance to talk to yourself very often.

At least without looking like a maniac. And without getting a silent treatment.