Past Lives (Part - 2)

Codex, status.

[Status:

Name: Ryan

Race: Half-Spirit (-)

Strength: 5

Speed: 8

Endurance: 4

Magic: –

End]

"...oi," I was baffled at no change in the stats. Nada.

[What did you expect with a few minutes of lightweight exercise?] Codex criticized.

I wordlessly sighed and filled a glass of water to drink.

Oh well. I gave up protesting.

I mumbled with my chin propped upon the back of my palm as my eyes skimmed through the translucent screen in front of my face.

It wasn't some magical system often used in novels. No, it was rather simple actually. Only I could see that screen because it wasn't even there in the first place.

Codex had formed a translucent film of nano-chips over my iris, that acted as a sort of contact lens would to any other person. The difference being, each individual nano-chip in that thin film could change colors and make me see things that were never there in the first place.

This was similar to the graphics pipelines used in modern games, that used different layering and coordinating techniques to emulate depth and lighting.

In my case, it was plain and simple letters. They were zoomed in a way that the screen appeared at a distance to me, but if someone or something came between the screen and my eyes, the screen would automatically be displayed from over them, just like if a person stood between the projector and display board—

[For how long can you afford to procrastinate in your situation?] Codex interrupted my thought train.

"Haaa..." I sighed with furrowed brows.

I guess there's no use mulling over it again and again.

"Hey, Dia?"

[Yes, master?]

"Would it be fine if I were to ask you for..."

Dia, if I were to ask for help with a ridiculous thing, would you help me? You can refuse if you want.' If I said I wasn't nervous for tonight's meeting with Ryan-number-two, I would be lying, but still, I was a lot calmer now compared to when I was talking to him.

[Of course, I would help, Master!]

–

–

–

—Click

"I'm home."

"Welcome home, Mom. I boiled the potatoes for dinner and spiced them into dough, you can take over now." I called out from the kitchen corner as I smiled over my shoulder.

"How sweet of you." She smiled back and dropped her cloth bag near the door.

"So? What did the carpenters say?" I invited her to share her findings.

"Oh my. I did not know my son was a psychic." She teased and continued, "They said it's cheap enough, of course they would. They said they're free to start the work in about a week at the earliest."

"That long? How many did you go to?" That was unusual. Even though there were only five to six professional carpenters in the village, usually at least two of them would always be free at any given moment.

"Three. Apparently all of them are busy setting up tents and makeshift stables for the knights and their mounts outside the walls." She revealed as she washed hands from the water drum and started cooking lunch.

"Makes sense. Still, it's good for us. I'll be able to sell every drop by then and collect enough for the expenses. By the way, how much did they say it will cost?"

"2 Silver and 30 Bronze. Cleaning and pest control is also their headache."

I blew a whistle hearing the price. But it made sense if they would be cleaning too.

By the way... I was going to hawk off the next batch of potions today.

Or not. Let's leave that to the Ryan of tomorrow.

Whomever that might end up being. Today, I be spoiled by mum.

And just like that, time passed by...

One star was swallowed by the horizon, and countless others became visible because of it.

"Good night, Mom."

"Mhm, sweet dreams, dear."

With that, we both tucked ourselves inside blankets and slept.

Wish me luck, Codex.

[I am sure you will do just fine.]

I sure hope so.

Just like before, I was pulled into the dark void of nothingness as soon as I drifted into sleep. This time, there were no headaches nor any fleeting memories. And soon, I appeared before Ryan-number-two, again, in my original appearance.

Somehow, this time it didn't feel as long as the last time. Regardless, it was just as boring to wait out in that dark, hopeless space.

"Ready to cozy up in this place?" He broke me out of my thoughts with that grin of his.

I took a deep breath — do I need to breathe here? — and answered curtly, "No."

"What? Maybe you didn't understand me last time. It is not a choice I am presenting you with, but an ultimatum. I can take control of this body whenever I like." He tilted his head sideways with that eerie grin never leaving his face. As if all this was merely an entertainment to him.

"I meant,if you want to take your body back, you can take it back, it is yours to begin with, no matter how much I think about it, I can't think of a reason for you to give your body to me. What I want to say is that when you go to the Cathedral and form a soul bond with Dia, have my soul transfer over to Dia's." I persuaded.

After all, it was the truth.

Why would he give me his body? Someone who came in without permission, of course, his life was saved indirectly because of me, but what of it?

If I said that I can keep mom safe and happy, he could do so as well, and why would he trust me with that in the first place? Why would he place such an important responsibility in the hands of a total stranger? Or worse, an usurper?

But... I also wasn't just going to give up on my life. Not like this.

"Oh? And why would you want that? Surely, sharing room-space with a human would be more comfortable than doing so with a reptilian beast."

It irked me for him to refer to Dia as a mere 'reptilian beast,' but I ignored it in favor of Ryan-number-two having never personally interacted with Dia.

"It's just that... I will be there with Mom—"

His smile dimmed just a little at me mentioning his mother as 'Mom,' but it rose back up.

"—as me and not as a mere unseen spectator. You will soon go to the Cathedral for Baptism, anyway. It is inevitable for you to reveal Dia's existence to Mom, you can't hide her for long. And when you do, I will be able to become part of this family — your family." I had subconsciously clenched my sweaty hands into fists as my eyes started to water.

It hadn't been long since I came here, to this mystical world. But no matter how short a time I had spent here, it had cracked my shell.

I had grown to desire love and warmth, again.

I had grown to crave attention, again.

That's why...

"Please, Ryan. I beg of you. Please, let me be... be happy once again."