Coincidence

Aaron didn't feel anything. His mind was floating around in a boundless void with no meaning, only something to place his mind in. It didn't have any other purpose. He wasn't thinking while he was in this state, yet, others were also floating around in this state. Some were asleep, and some were unconscious, yet they all shared the same mindspace.

<Well, isn't this an interesting sight I've been introduced to?>

Aaron's mind shot to consciousness, as he heard a male voice speaking out in his mind. That wasn't meant to happen, yet, even in his state of unconsciousness, he was able to hear a voice.

<Well, it seems as if your mind is awake now, isn't it?>

'Who the fuck are you? You aren't the system.' Aaron thought, directing the thought towards the voice, visualising the thoughts as spikes, just in case he could visualise thoughts.

<Hey hey, no need to get angry, alright? I'm just talking to you! Sheesh.>

The voice had an attitude, and Aaron didn't appreciate that. This intruder had somehow bypassed the system, yet thought of this as a place where HE was in control? He'd show him who's the boss here!

'Get out of my head!' Aaron yelled, as be imagined taking the voice and flinging it out of his head. He must have been right about the visualising thoughts thing, because the voice began screaming.

<Don't take me out! It sucked being inside that mask, and now I have a place to reside, and you want to throw me away! That's so rude!>

'You've had an attitude ever since you...wait a second. Did you just say that YOU were in the mask? How the hell were you in there?!' Aaron thought, surprised at this discovery. He didn't know, but that didn't give an excuse.

<I was cursed by a legendary being which lived thousands of years ago, and I defeated it. Its body had a curse on it where it would revive in a few thousand years, although we didn't know when. He placed a curse on me before he died, throwing my consciousness into a mask so I would get bored and just shut down. I considered it a few times, but I persevered, and here we are.>

'So, if I'm getting this right, you've been forced to be a....mask? For a few thousand years?' Aaron said, confused, but he didn't think it was too strange. If there were gods, and he...became one...then it wasn't too unreasonable to think that curses like that would exist.

<Yes, that's right, although, I must say, I was curious when you put me on as a mask. I have never seen someone like you before, with your strange skin, and unique face. It certainly isn't a 'Ki Ability', and the only reason I know it isn't is because there are no transformation Ki Abilities. Ki Abilities came up way after I was turned into a mask, but people always just returned me to a shop before I could inhabit their brain, almost as if they were afraid of the mask.>

'Well, there is the chance that they noticed your precense, as you could have been exposed to Ki over time, although I don't think that's how it works, because I don't use Ki.' Aaron thought. He had no problem with saying it to the voice, because who was it gonna tell? The system?

<I kind of guessed that, but tell me, what DO you use? I've seen a few of your abilities first hand, but I have no idea what they are made of. You can create black objects, almost as if they are made of YOU, float, manipulate gravity, and even teleport! How the hell is that possible?>

'Now, why would I tell you now? I've only been speaking to you for a little bit, and plus, the system will explain it to you once I fully awaken.' Aaron replied internally, smiling. He was starting to like messing with this voice. It might become a neat little assistant to the System, or even someone to have a full conversation with when he was bored.

<System? What the hell is that? Sounds like thhe name for a spy of sorts.>

'Basically, it's a helper. An important helper. You could learn a lot from them.' Aaron responded, liking how he immediately assumed that System was an intelligence gatherer, which, to be fair, it could be used like that if he wanted, but no, he wasn't lazy. Best go head first into things and find out yourself.

<Well, isn't that a useful little thing that's been helping you out? I didn't know any of this until I finally was able to muster up a physical form and drop to your skin!>

'Do you not realise how creepy that sounds? Anyways, do you have a name, because right now you are just a nameless voice.' Aaron questioned, wanting to find out what he should call it.

<Oh, I go by the name Yera. Yera Flyte! I already know your name is Aaron, so don't worry about introducing yourself!>

'Yera...where have I heard that name before...' Aaron thought to nobody, just to himself. Then, it clicked. Yera Flyte was the name of that mercenary he saw once when he was a Skelengel on Eratonia! Well, isn't that just a coincidence? Or was it that this planet was....an advanced version of Eratonia? He wondered if his actions on that Eratonia affected that one. If so, he would be very confused

'Hey Yera, while you still a human, we're you ever a mercenary?' Aaron asked with caution. He just needed to make sure that this was pure coincidence.

<Yeah! I took up a job as a mercenary for a few years before I was dubbed a 'Hero'. It was a cool few years, except for one strange incident where I encountered a really strange skeleton who shared food with me. They even knew how to write! Isn't that cool?>

'Oh fuck.' Aaron thought, accidentally directing the thought to Yera.

<What's the "Oh fuck" for Aaron? Did you remember something strange?>

'Well, Yera, I don't know how to explain it well, so I'll just flat out tell you, alright? I was that skeleton.'

Aaron then heard a deep breath be taken in, which must have meant that be thought about taking in a breathe, and then his imaginary eardrums were assaulted.

<WHAT!?>