Introductions

Wiping the other window, I gave the sudden notifications a once over and asked Codex in my mind.

So, what was up with you last night? Why did you kick me out of the Mindspace yesterday?

[It was for your well-being.]

I can understand that, but what was happening to me? I don't think that was normal, at all. I replied as I picked up a broom to remove webs and other dust from the walls and the ceiling.

[Not enough Authority to view full information.]

Oi, stop hiding behind the system messages! And that Authority thing again. That and today's notifications, didn't I get something something similar all the way back in the forest?

[Affirmative.]

Can you repeat it? Please repeat both of them. By now, we were almost done with the Eatery's cleaning, and I started placing the chairs and tables where they should be one by one after giving them a brief wipe down.

[Complete assimilation in Body achieved.]

[Complete assimilation in Soul achieved.]

[Your level of Authority has risen very slightly.]

Hmm, rise in authority level. What new things did I unlock?

[None.]

...unexpected, but not unacceptable.

So, what do the other two notifications mean? Body I can understand. What is this thing about soul? Assimilation in body probably meant me getting cozy in my current body. But I had no clue about the soul thing.

[Body assimilation is indeed as you expected. Soul is a bit tricky.

Every living being has a soul, or rather, everything that has a soul counts as a living being. And after the other Ryan passed away, may peace be upon him, his soul merged with yours.]

May peace be upon him, I also prayed, I don't feel any different though.

[Try recalling any of his memories.]

As Codex suggested, I tried searching for one of his memories regarding running around the tables in the eatery and... eh?

[Yes, his soul is a part of you now. He lives on as a part of you, his memories are now your memories in the truest sense.]

It was as Codex said, rather than feeling like watching the other Ryan run through the tables, it felt as if I was the one running around the tables, as if I was reminiscing.

That's... cool.

By now, we were done with cleaning both the eatery and the kitchen, and the rays of sunlight coming in through the window had slanted a little.

"What are you thinking about? Is something bothering you? You can talk to me." Mum's voice entered my ears and I turned to look at her.

"Nothing? Why do you think so?"

"It is just that... you did not even ask me why we were cleaning the place."

Oh right, why indeed. Mum already told me last night that the men from the company agreed to clean the place too, when they were to smarten it up.

Perhaps the look on my face was enough hint for her, hence she explained.

"I assumed if they are going to take a week anyway, we might as well get it done ourselves. It will save us some coin and we can potentially capitalize on the knights' presence to officially open up."

"That's smart." I nodded.

"So? What's on your mind?"

Uh... right, why bother hiding it more?

"I wanted to tell you something. I found a Beast Orb in the forest and bonded." I relented.

"Oh,"

"Do you... do you want to meet her?" I hesitated, but I was also excited. After all, I didn't want to hide anything from her.

I will tell her about you too someday, Codex. Just wait.

[You will do no such thing.]

"Sure," Her expression was unreadable to me. So I just summoned Dia.

"Dia, come out."

[Really?!]

"Yeah," I confirmed as I outstretched my arm towards mum with the palm facing up.

Before my voice faded away, a lump of blackness shot out of my chest and coalesced around my outstretched arm. In a couple breaths, Dia's form materialized coiled around my arm with her head resting on my palm and a portion of her tail hanging below my elbow.

Suddenly, my arm dipped a little and I hurriedly moved my right foot half a step forward to steady myself.

Heavy.

Dia had grown longer since I last saw her, and her weight reflected as much.

She has grown about fifty percent overall. At this rate, I might need to learn gravity magic if she wants to sit on my head. If such a thing even exists here. I thought self-deprecatingly.

In any case, I introduced them.

"Mom, this is Dia. And Dia, this is Mom." I said as both of them continued to stare at each other.

"Hello Dia, How are you doing?" The first one to break the silence was mum, as she also extended her hand just like mine. Tips of her fingers touched the tips of mine

Dia glanced at the outstretched palm as she slithered forward and rested half her body on her hand, and half on mine. Raising her upper portion up, she said, "Hissss sssss hiss."

"What did she say?" Mom asked me, still staring intently at Dia.

[Only you can understand her because of your bond. Now deal with it.] Codex interjected, his voice contained a tinge of annoyance.

So I translated, "Um... She said, 'I am fine, Grandmaster! Nice to meet you!' wait..."

Something doesn't feel right…

Oi Dia, did you just call mom 'Grandmaster'? I asked through our telepathic connection, Maybe I heard that wrong.

Facing me, she tilted her little blob like head and said.

"Ss, sssss?" (Yes. Was I wrong, Master?)

"Ssssss ssss" (Master said she is master's master, so that means she is my grandmaster?)

"No no, she is my mother, not master." I frantically shook my head and waved my free hand to clear the misunderstanding.

"Hehe." When I was trying to make sense out of what felt like Dia's common sense, I heard a chuckle.

"Ahem! So, do you mind telling me more about 'her'?" Mom asked when she noticed my gaze, completely changing the subject.

I also ignored her chuckle and answered her, the moment of truce was here.

"So... She is Dia, an obsidian serpent. And also... My soul beast."

I did have to tell her at some point, so why not tell her now?

"Is this the reason there's a set of your clothes missing?" She sighed and asked.

Uh… oops?