Poisoned Rationality

That night, I found myself dreaming.

I was in my soulscape again, but I only had one tail.

I walked and walked along the paths until I found the crystal heart surrounded by bookshelves again.

The crystal heart had a little more surface intact, and the bookshelves held a couple more memories.

There was a noise on the other side of the heart, and I startled. Across the clearing was an identical copy of me, who also had only one tail.

“What are you doing here?” Both of us asked at the same time.

“This is my soulscape,” Other-me replied.

“I thought this was my soulscape,” I said. “Are… Are we the same person?”

“We look the same,” Other-me added. “Maybe?” After a minute of thinking, she shook her head. “But why do we both have only one tail in here then?”

I thought about it for a bit. “Maybe when we’re one person we have two tails and when we’re two people we have one tail each?”

“Maybe…” Other-me murmured. We both found a place to sit, and did so in silence for a little while, thinking.

All of a sudden, a pulse swept through the soulscape. We both stood up and looked around. I saw nothing, but I could feel the energy humming in the air.

“What was that?” I asked.

“We must have leveled up!” Other-me replied. “We fought that big battle today, right? So we all got experience!”

“That makes sense,” I said. “Can we see what level we are?”

“Let’s check,” Other-me murmured. “Status.”

Nothing happened.

“I’ll try,” I told her. “Status.”

Again, nothing happened.

“I guess we can’t look at it while in here,” Other-me said. “That’s odd.”

“What’s going to happen to the two of us when we leave our soulscape?” I asked. “Is one of us going to disappear?”

“I don’t know,” Other-me replied. “I hope not. I like being separate like this.” Her eyes widened and she quickly added, “Not that I don’t like being together!”

“I know what you meant,” I assured her. She blushed slightly, and I let out a soft laugh.

“What?” She asked, pouting.

“Nothing,” I said, smiling. “I just think you’re cute.” Other-me blushed even more.

“W-well, I think you’re cute too!” She shot back, blushing even more. I felt my own cheeks heat and smiled, leaning forward.

“Want a kiss?” I asked, my face inches from hers. Both of us were breathing heavily, and I grinned.

Other-me leaned against my body, her tail curling around my body.

However, the moment the skin of her tail brushed against mine, the soulscape shook, pieces of it shattering and leaving behind inky-black gaps in reality.

I held onto Other-me’s hands as the world spun and fractured until everything went black.

…

I woke up lying on my bed, with the blanket lying on the floor, having been kicked off. I had both my tails again, thankfully.

“What happened?” A voice asked, sounding tired and groggy. “Where am I?” It sounded like Other-me from our soulscape.

I have a sneaking suspicion that you’re in my head, I thought.

“Ah!” The voice shouted. “Who are you?”

I have a feeling that the dream in our soulscape wasn’t just a dream, I said. Hope you had a good time?

Other-me went silent for a few seconds before letting out a cute squeak. I felt my cheeks heating as a blush rose on my face.

“Hi!” She whispered. “I, um, still think you’re c-cute.”

I grinned. Thank you. Too bad we couldn’t have that kiss.

< Too bad who couldn’t have a kiss?> Stella asked suddenly. <Nyx, who is this?>

It’s kind of confusing, I told her. As far as I can tell, we’re the same person, but also different. It’s weird.

<Oh,> Stella said.

“She keeps calling me cute!” Other-me protested. “It’s making me blush.” I could feel her pouting and felt the blush still on my cheeks redden further.

<Well, you’re both cute, so I think she’s right,> Stella informed her. <Hold on, are both of you in control of your body?>

“I think so,” Other-me said. “Watch.” I got out of bed and stood up straight, stretching, except I wasn’t the one making the movements.

That was weird, I murmured.

“Ah, I’m sorry!” Other-me exclaimed. “I didn’t check if that was okay with you!”

You’re fine, I assured her. It’s your body too. We’re sharing.

<Well, this pretty much answers what you were feeling yesterday,> Stella said. <I talked with some of the older gods about it, and each person can only have one Fated One. But if you’re two separate people, then it makes sense that you have your own Fated Ones.>

“Which one is yours, though?” Other-me wondered. “And also, how are we going to keep track of who’s who?”

Well, how do you feel about Stella? I asked her. I felt her blush even more and smiled.

<I think that answers that question,> Stella grinned. <As for names, maybe splitting your full name up?>

“Nyx is an obvious one,” Other-me mumbled. “Maybe Ria?”

<That’s perfect!> Stella said. <Nyx and Ria! Nyxandira!>

“Can I be Ria?” Other-me asked.

Of course, I replied. So, I’m Nyx, and you’re Ria.

<Are you going to tell your party about this?> Stella asked.

I was planning on telling Sarya and Tyler about the void stuff when we next meet, I replied. I can tell everyone about this as well.

“Do you think they’ll like me?” Ria asked.

I know they will, I told her.

<Hold on a sec,> Stella said. <If Ria is Fated Ones with me, then that means you’re the one who has a crush on Ariana.>

I blushed and began getting dressed.

“Oooh, are you in love?” Ria teased.

Yes, I am, I said. So?

“I was just asking,” Ria told me. “It’ll go great, don’t worry.”

Thanks.

I got ready for the day, dressing, eating breakfast, and then heading outside. Today was a free day.

Time to check my new status after the level up.

Status (Lvl 1):

Name: Nyxandria Arilis

Race: Void Dokukyoku Wendigo (Twintailed)

Age: 16/9/39

Level: 13 (96% EXP)

Statistics:

Str: S Vit: S

Int: S Dex: S

Agi: S Def: S

HP: 100% S

MP: 100% SS

Titles: Divine Blessing of Estelle, Fated One, True Void, One with the Void, Expert Fighter

Skills: Decimation [EX], Consume [EX], Share [EX], Expert Swordplay [B], Communion [NA]

Class: [Void Demigod]

I hadn’t gained any new skills or titles, and my stats hadn’t changed at all yet, but I had leveled up once and gotten only 4% away from the next one.

“Let’s have a lazy day,” Ria suggested.

That sounds nice, I said. Good idea.

I headed to my favorite log in the forest to relax.

I’d take today easy.