In retrospect, that was probably one of the most reckless things I ever did.
Whenever I had connected with Nera in the past, two things would happen. First, we'd be able to share memories and experiences with each other. This is how she was able to teach me so much. The second was that it seemed to "stabilize" us. When you're floating in a vast nothingness and all you have is "yourself", knowing that someone else is there helps quite a bit.
I attempted to connect with Nera like before, I thought that it would help "stabilize" her and prevent her from disappearing. That didn't happen.
The connection that we established didn't stablize her and it didn't transfer knowledge and memories like normal, instead it transferred "her" into "me". I think her soul was far weaker than I thought when we established that link, so instead of knowledge being transferred...it was her.
In that moment, I lived her life and mine simultaneously up to this exact moment. But it wasn't like before where there was a level of disconnect, it was as if I was her. I was still "Silvia" but I had also become "Nera".
_________________________________________
"After that, I was basically the only soul inside the Grim Shrieker. I spent the years up until I was freed putting the Grim Shrieker through hell for swallowing me up, turned out fusing with Nera allowed me to influence the big bird to some extent. Then you managed to bust me out, Banda transferred my soul back into my body and here we are", Savina explained to me.
The whole time she regaled to me her harrowing tale, I was staring at her with wide eyes and a open mouth.
"Are you okay?", Savina asked with concern in her voice.
"Me? Yeah I'm fine, just a little surprised. So...is she still...there?", I asked while gesturing to her.
"In a way yes", Savina answered, "I have her memories and possibly bits of her essence inside me, but she's no longer alive if that's what you meant".
[Your friend's right about that little one. This Nera girl doesn't have a body anymore and given the current state of magic in this era...there's no way she can be brought back even if your friend is hosting her soul inside her], Voxea followed up.
I mulled over the implications of what Savina just told me and what Voxea added on. There was a lot about this world I don't know about and the fact that souls are something that can be and merged got me wondering if-
"Are you mad"?
"Huh?", I said involuntarily as my train of thought got interrupted by Savina's sudden question, "Why would I be mad"?
"I did keep a pretty big secret from you and then I suddenly sprung it on you out of the blue, but I didn't want you to think I wasn't still...me", Savina explained, "I wouldn't be surprised if you were suspicious of me...".
Before she said anything further, I just squished her cheeks with my hands.
"Look", I said staring her in the eyes, "ever since you disappeared from life all those years ago, I've been feeling guilty about it ever since. I always wondered that maybe if I was a binder, maybe if I was faster or maybe if I had found you earlier then maybe you wouldn't have gone through what you had".
"Oh Sil-Sil...", Savina said in the verge of happy tears.
"But now, I finally managed to save you, we are about to go and become binders together and you just shared your biggest secret with me. Don't ever think I'd be mad at you over something like this. You're my best friend, and nothing's going to change that", I said to her.
"Awww Silvia...Thank you", she said while lightly crying.
"Now let's get out here before some random monster thinks we're tasty snack", I said, letting go of her face and preparing to summon Rakka.
[D'awwww. That was so sweet that I'm pretty sure I'd have at least two cavities if I was still human], Voxea commented.
[Shut up].