'That's not possible. It can't be. Multiple personalities?' Alex thought.
'This has got to be an after-effect from merging with three monsters blood.'
He was in denial, feeling perplexed and shocked.
['An after effect? Hahahaha. Fool, we are not an after effect of those lizard's blood. We are an after effect of your traumas and suppressed emotions.']
The playful voice seemed to be enjoying Alex's reaction.
'But that can't be possible. What traumas?' Alex defended, he was still in denial.
['Sure, like you, had a normal childhood. Kekekeh.'] The playful voice mocked Alex.
'If you were my alternate personalities, why show up now. I would have noticed something already. The organization or Sheila would have known about it. And then I would have been informed. Lies! Quit spilling lies!' Alex shouted at the playful voice.
'Who are you guys!?'
['He's not lying Alex. Everything he said is the truth. We are your alternate personalities and we have been for a long while. The only reason no one ever found out was because we were never triggered, we have never fully taken control. Every time we surfaced we entered a co-consciousness state with you.
We were so in sync that it felt like a second nature to you. But today Lex was triggered, when you felt fear, the same kind that accompanied you and Lex when you roamed the slums of Mars.'] The stern voice explained.
The stern voice continued;
['While you were not aware of our presence, we were aware of each other. Sometimes we tried to communicate with you whenever you were in control, but our voices never seemed to reach you.
We could only put some thoughts in your head whenever you synced with one of us, but you choose to ignore many of them. Since we arrived in this world, we have felt that a lot of things were different, we have gone through a lot of changes physically and mentally.']
'Since when?' Alex asked.
Knowing what he meant the stern voice answered.
['Lex, the one who is still in control of our body has been with you the longest. Lex gained consciousness a few months after Mom and Dad were killed. When you couldn't cope with the suffering, he was the alter that helped you.
I came in second when you started those inhumane training in the organization. The discipline, torture, and pain you and Lex couldn't stomach, brought me into the picture. And then Al, he came in last. He gained consciousness when Sheila came into our lives.']
'Lex, Al, those are their names? Then what is yours?' Alex asked the stern voice.
['We will officially introduce ourselves to you now. Lex switch back with him and give a brief introduction about yourself.']
['Mmmm.'] Lex agreed.
Alex was happy to hear that he would be controlling his actions once more.
-Switch.
"Finally, I'm back," Alex said out loud, feeling relief wash over him. Soon he heard a timid voice in his head speak;
['Hi Alex, I'm sorry about today. My name is Lex, your earliest alter. As you already know I am a very shy person. I love to cook, clean, sew. I like cute things and I hate to kill.']
"You love to cook, clean, sew, and hate to kill? Come to think of it, what you did today was overkill." Alex said in response.
['Mmm, that is why I hate to kill, I get carried away once I start killing.'] Lex cleared out.
"And what in the hell made you fall in love with cooking, cleaning, and sewing?"
['I think it is as a result of us starving in the dirt for 2 years, in clothes that people saw as rags. As of today, I specialize in Space elemental abilities and rune inscriptions. I am proficient in using heavy weapons and pole weapons.']
"Okay?" Alex responded, he was not quite sure of what to say.
['Yo fool, my grandiose name is Al. I am a very outspoken person, deceitful at times, maybe a scammer, and a liar too, I like to lie a lot. I love money, women, and things that are valuable. Yes, I am a pervert. I prefer not to spill blood, I rather use my wits to get out of situations. I scheme a lot too. Hehe.']
'You are the fool.' Alex thought.
['Not as foolish as you are.'] Al responded.
Alex frowned.
'You can hear my thoughts too?'
['Yes we can, but not all of them.'] The stern voice said.
['I would like to finish my introduction, please. Rude bunch. Where was I? Oh yes. I specialize in using fire elemental abilities and I seem to be quite knowledgeable in the Alchemy world. I am proficient in using long-range weapons. Your accuracy compared to mine is crap.'] Al finished his introduction.
'You are the crap!' Alex retorted.
['And I am Xander.'] The stern voice interjected after Alex retort.
['I will describe myself from Al's perspective. According to Al, I am a cold, nonchalant, book-loving, silent person. I love discipline, poems, tactics, and training. If you would ask me how I would love to live my life, I would say in the military.']
['Don't forget the older brother thing you've got going on, Am I right Lex.'] Al added and asked.
['Mmmm.']
'[Indeed.'] Xander said sarcastically.
['As I was saying, I specialize in using lightning elemental abilities. I am proficient with blades, I guess I should say swordsmanship.'] Xander finished.
"Well I can use everything you all specialize in using, so I am the better one amongst us… Well, what should I expect from alters that picked their names from my name. I don't need you guys anymore, you all can leave me head alone now." Alex boasted.
"Even if you don't, I wouldn't let you take control of my body again." He added
['Let me do the honors of breaking the news to you Alex.'] Al said.
"Break what?"
['You Alex, can actually stop us from taking over, but you can't stop any of us if we are triggered. Just like today. If we only have the chance to surface after being triggered, then trust us to not switch back with you till we've had our fill. And I, in particular, I'm very hard to satisfy.']
"Then I just need to avoid the triggers or whatever you call it," Alex responded.
['Alex, let me tell you what the situation is. There is no doubt that you are strong, but you are also arrogant, childish, spoilt, annoying and weaker than each and every one of us alters.'] Xander said.
['Don't forget ignorant too.'] Al Added.
['Do you think that you are that talented? We are the talent and you are the average host. Without us you wouldn't survive in this world, if you do, you would end up as a weakling.'] Xander ruthlessly pointed out.
"How am I not talented?" Alex responded furiously.
['Really? If you can do what Lex did today with the spear, then I will take that back.']
"We shall see about that."
Alex brought out the silver spear.
-Ding.
A light sound of metal hitting the ground echoed out.
Alex raised the spear and started to twirl it skillfully and very fast. The twirl was strong enough that the wooden stool and several vases in the room started to float. They moved in sync with the twirl. Circling Alex.
['Hit any of those objects from where you are without stretching or throwing the spear at them.'] Xander challenged.
"Ha, easy." Alex proclaimed.
Alex continued to twirl the spear, he turned all his focus to the wooden stool that was floating and circling the room. Alex stared at the stool for quite a while, expecting the blade of his spear to appear out of thin air and slice the stool in two. Unfortunately for him, it didn't happen.
"Why can't I do it?" He was starting to feel conflicted.
['Hahaha.'] Al laughed at Alex foolishness.
['Didn't I say that you were ignorant? You dumb host, can you still feel and see everything within a certain radius? Does holding the spear feels like what it felt like earlier today?']
Alex came to a realization. What Al said brought it upon him that it didn't feel like what he felt earlier when he fought with the bandits.
['When you brought out the spear, Lex entered a co-consciousness state with you. You could feel what it felt like to be able to use spatial abilities. After he killed the first bandit, he completely took over due to losing control over his bloodlust.'] Xander explained.
"But I merged with the Dragnel blood, I should be able to use spatial abilities too." Alex was starting to doubt himself.
['No one said that you couldn't use spatial abilities you ignorant fool, you just can't use it like Lex does, not yet. You are like a bird trying to fly a few hours after hatching.'] Al said.
Alex, at the moment, was feeling too dejected to give Al any response.
"How can he use it then? If y'all are my alters, doesn't that mean that you are meant to be as clueless as I am. We are all meant to be at the same level."
['If we were as talentless as you are, then yes.'] Al said rudely.
['Actually, it is because, out of the three memories that were given to us, we three digested one each while you are trying to digest it whole. We know more than you do at the moment.'] Xander explained.