Hey, Listen!

"Fool." A voice spoke to me, prompting me to wake up.

I found myself sitting on the puke-green couch that I had from my original apartment back on Earth; got it as a pity gift from my parents when I first moved into here.

And I was back in my old body; it felt oddly comforting.

Next to me, was the same black mass from last time- Ahriman.

But... this time, I feel like it looked a little less "erratic"; its shape was also a little more defined as well.

I wonder what the cause for that could've been.

"Fool!" It shouted once more, its androgynous voice hurting my ear facing it- I had some cold pizza on my lap; I hazarded a bite, it tasted pretty good.

After seeing it last time, I didn't feel so scared now as I did then; but that didn't mean I wasn't.

I was pretty shaken up suddenly being back here again and seeing it next to me; but there's no point freaking out about it now.

"What? What did I do this time?" I asked as I chewed on the cold pizza.

"Wait-"

"Is the castle the Termi-"

"NAY." It interrupted me; its form fizzled.

"You are not at the Terminal Gates."

"Then... why're you here? I thought we would talk again once I got there."

"That I did promise- but that was until I saw you almost allow ourselves to become a thrall to that deplorable vixen that acts as the aid to the Goetia child."

"What do you mean?" I didn't get what it was talking about...

Wait.

"Yes, that." It spoke.

Wait- you can read my mind!?!

"Yes- as I AM you, you insufferable fool."

"Oh- my bad."

"You deactivated my blessing, allowing us to become vulnerable to that Royal Aid's magicks."

"If it were not for me expending my already dwindling divinity within you- and activating my blessing in time, we would already be spellbound thralls."

So that's what happened- Ahriman caused the override of the toggle state! Wait what does it mean by 'dwindling divinity'?

"Well- I wouldn't have turned it off if I ACTUALLY knew what your 'blessings' did! Your 'charisma' made Levii crazy!"

Ahriman looked stood slowly shifting at where it 'sat' on the couch next to me- it stayed silent for a minute or two.

"The true understanding of my blessings will be revealed once you acquire more power."

"The method I had given you as the vessel power is unorthodox, it being an unfortunate result of your personality intermixing with my own divinity."

"These restrictions are your own doing imbecile- not mine."

"Wait- so what you're saying is that the reason why I can't get a more in-depth understanding of your blessings is because... of my own game logic!?!"

"Yes- it is a result of what you call from your original world, 'game' logic."

Wait- wait, wait.

"Hold it Ahriman- first off, I've got a million questions to ask!"

"Time is short vessel- it appears as though you are soon due course to leave this dream state."

Light was spreading through my dark apartment- it felt like sunshine was peeking through.

"Aghh- fine! At least answer this before you ditch me again!"

Ahriman sat waiting attentively(?) as I began to ask my only question.

"What the hell even are the Terminal Gates!?"

Ahriman fizzled for a moment- then it spoke up.

"Informing you directly will alert the goddess to my location- therefore, I cannot tell you."

"Ah c'mon!" I protested.

"However-"

The apartment was nearly fully lit, the only dark space left was a bit of shade casted over Ahriman and me.

"The Forest Imp Prince could offer assistance."

Then, a blinding light.

///