That evening before the twins left, I used a spell to slip a note into the bra of one of the twins essentially telling them to stop sneaking into my room unannounced lest they get caught, just as a reminder in case they forgot. That morning instead of them being in my bed, my mind was linked to theirs early in the morning, before I wake up usually. Which is strange because they're usually asleep at my sides at this time of day.
"Mind explaining your oracle skill to us?" I check book "I have a skill that is useless to everyone but me. It only helps me to see what will happen to me in the future and what will be the result of my actions. But there's a contingency that must be met to fully utilize my skill"
"what's that?" I check book again. "I don't see a future where me telling you helps me. I only told you what my future said would be safe to trust you with. I don't know if someone has a mind-reading ability and is listening in on our conversation a glance into the future doesn't get me far enough to know why all I can say is that I can't tell you now. Maybe later. Just know I was willing to trust you with this much despite the fact if word gets out my oracle skill isn't useless my life will be in danger anyway."
They seemed to be satisfied with this. I could feel her try to deepen the connection to see if I was lying but I didn't let her go too far lest she learn the absolute truth. I'm assuming they called so early to try and catch me in a state of mental weakness. They'd probably have to as I could easily drink them under the table. Unfortunately for them, my perfect recall is fairly good at stopping mental attacks it's fairly difficult for me to lose my senses. Which is probably why I wasn't getting drunk as fast. Or maybe it's hereditary who knows.
After that, the two got dressed while the connection was still on and actively made a point of showing me themselves through their eyes. I managed to cut the connection before I got dressed much to their disappointment. I did manage to make plans to walk to school with them today though.
At breakfast this morning I confirmed whether or not my parents knew how useful my oracle skill is and confessed to them that I can make extraordinarily accurate predictions as long as I have some form of blank book and that the book, I carry around isn't a coded grimoire like most mages who don't have Perfect Recall carry around so they can remember how their spells are cast.
What they perceived to be a grimoire was actually the book by which I see the future. They could understand why such a skill would be better-kept secret. Most oracles have a vision a week and that vision is set in stone. I get a constant stream of information that needs to be recorded in order for me to know what it says. But I can choose to focus in on details other oracles can't.
Most oracles are only called useless if they suck at explanations or have a terrible memory and can't recall exactly what they need to remember in order for their oracle to be received properly. My parents had a pretty leisurely assignment for today. They were meant to go pick flowers for some alchemist's experiments today. Book didn't tell me anything or give me any cryptic messages, so I assumed it'd be fine.
Since we were going to school on an off day, we had to let the school know before we arrived that we'd be using the club room today over a telepathy spell sent by the club president and were later allowed access to the school's magic club room. since it was the weekend a few of us were ignoring the dress code, not naming any names. But since the only teachers there were the ones conducting their own research, and the ones who keeps the gate locked to prevent vandals from getting in, it wasn't too big of an issue.
When we got to the club room that morning, I broached the topic on everyone's minds. "did anyone know how the components are meant to be consumed in this ritual?" an uneasy silence fell upon the room. "it's a mind spell, right? That means the components will wither away as we focus on them during the ritual right?"
"except that this might not be a mind spell it may be a necromancy spell."
"what do you mean?"
"mind spells have to do with learned knowledge or bridging minds to share information, right? What if this spell bridges our minds to the mind of the person who initially discovered the spell even if they're already dead?"
"I see this spell could give us access to potentially long-dead knowledge you mean" the club president chimed in. "exactly"
"wait, how are components in a necromancy spell consumed? Is it even legal to cast a necrotic spell?"
"I'm fairly certain some necromancy spells are illegal but we aren't raising the dead here so it should be fine. My grandfather had a grimoire filled with necrotic spells he even taught me one of them before he passed."
"so, you know how it would go then?"
"in necromancy spells like in mind spells the components need to wither but they also need to rot away. We're going to have to add some dirt and sugar into the components to make sure everything starts decaying as we're chanting."
"but those aren't in the ingredients list."
"but a sizable fire is?" at my question, their collective countenance was brought to my list. The complete list. I had with me the ingredients I already had on hand to cast the spell including the half-drunk absinthe bottle. "we're not going to have to drink that to cast the spell, are we?"
"the only ones of us who could drink this and still cast in this room is probably just those of us with perfect recall so it'd be ill-advised." I began setting up the magic circle like how my grandfather taught me necromancy spells are meant to be cast and occasionally glancing at book for course corrections. I set up the ingredients in their place and once everything was in order I asked the twins to link the minds of everyone who'd be participating in the test to see if the spell could be parallel cast.
In most such experiments the person who brought the spell sits in the middle of the magic circle so as to ensure that if the spell cannot be parallel cast at the very least that person gets the effect. In case I hadn't explained it already most mages are fairly secretive about their spells and tend not to mention how the spells are meant to be cast and simply write out elaborate theories and convoluted synopsis on how the spells are cast so if they forget they can remind themselves in a way it'd be difficult for a normal person to decipher.
Most mages make their own cyphers and codes but once the code is cracked all mages pretty much write the spells the same way. Ingredients, explanation, conclusion. Ultimately magic researchers are researching how the world works. It's fairly rare for someone to invent a spell, but not impossible. One has to be very familiar with magic theory in order to even begin to modify or even create a spell.
Once the ritual was prepared and we were set to start chanting I activated the spell my grandfather taught me. It is the first spell all necromancers learn. A deathly cold flame was lit over the magic circle and we began chanting as the components began to let out their various smells and putrid appearances. As our minds were linked, I could support anyone having trouble by dividing my attention and we managed to get it almost perfect. Until…
"ok stop!"
"what, what's the matter?"
"These practice components suck. They stink and it's really hard to breathe"
"so, open a window and we'll start again."
"couldn't we just use the real components and get it over with, it was almost perfect the first time."
"no, I don't know about you but collecting venereal diseases isn't what I'd call a good time."
"We haven't even taken the new magic circles out of the box yet and you want to cover them in dirt when we don't even know we'll get it perfect yet."
"the components rotted like they were supposed to. But the flame went out when you interrupted the practice run."
"you think we got the rhythm of the chant correct?"
"it should be fine…" as complaints and conjecture filled the room a member of the faculty entered the room. "what's going on here? I heard the magic club came into practice chanting and I heard a strange chant I've never heard before."
"it's a spell [insert name] brought to us he told us from the beginning it was a bit strange."
"what is it meant to do?"
"it's meant to make learning spells easier."
"How does it work?" the room full of students glanced at each other before settling on an explanation and saying it at once. "it's complicated." We're still sharing a mind link. "ah, well if there's anything I can do to help let me know."
"can you figure out a way to ventilate this room without letting too much light in?"
"is the spell sensitive to light?"
"We don't know but we wouldn't want to risk messing it up if it is." This teacher put a hand to his chin and gave a suggestion. "You know there is an abandoned room at this school with fairly good ventilation that has gone unused; because the magic light source in that room was too high and broken and there was some kind of ward preventing simple light spells from activating. I think it used to be some kind of botanical room where the old potions club used to make things before it got disproved that light had anything to do with the quality of the potions they were making. They got disbanded after all the talented members graduated."
"…ah yeah that could work." We packed up the practice magic circle, the practice components, and the real ones. When we got to the room, I instructed one of our members who was particularly interested in how necromancy spells are set up and cast in the how to set up the components and the reason they were set up in that way.
Essentially the tangible components had to be set up facing the north starting from the solids moving more towards liquids gasses and ideas to the south. If a component was still alive it would go on the east, if a component was dead or not alive to begin with it went to the west. And so the circle was set. A layer of dirt was set over the component's liquids were spilt out, and I set the fire with the necromancy spell my grandfather taught me again. The spell he said was a prerequisite to casting any ritual necromancy spell.
We began the chant again. The chant itself only took about 5 minutes to say, but it took us 10 tries before the practice magic circle signalled that we got it perfectly. We ended up taking a shower at the school gym to wash the smell of rot off of us and broke for lunch after that. The twins took me to the mall for lunch and we ended up making a date of it.
They seemed to be really trying to impress me. Like, "I'm worth dying for" levels of impress me. They seem to be really desperate to speed up this whole, "your dad's going to kill me" situation. Like my life isn't worth as much as I think is. they seem to be trying to convince me that they are worth taking that risk, but for me, it's not a risk right now… it's a guarantee.
I checked book. I didn't tell them. I maintained my caution; they could feel the distance. We were so close and yet so far. After lunch, we rejoined the group at school and after a bit of practising, we managed to get to the point where we can get it right if we maintain a certain level of focus. We weren't able to get it absolutely perfect every time yet, but we were comfortable enough to say we could do it tomorrow after adequate practice.
Usually chanting is the easy part and we can usually get it down in a day but this one was weird. The whole spell's unusual but we managed to breeze through learning it. Would have probably taken much longer if I was to learn this on my own.
I and the twins spent most of the evening at my house before the twins teleported back home for dinner. That evening I had a conversation with my parents. It was about my grandfather's grimoire. The old book I pulled the spell our magic club was currently working on. They told me how to get to it and basically started talking as if their lives as adventurers might be taking them down a dangerous path and though they might not make it back they'd like to see it through because if they don't with the dwindling number of adventurers the profession may just die.
Imagine a world where you can't just hire someone else to do potentially dangerous work for you. They've essentially told me that they're not going to quit and that I can have my grandfather's grimoire whenever I want it. Book tells me I have nothing to worry about so I reassure them that if ever their lives are in danger it will directly affect me, and I will be able to prevent any tragedies by simply telling them ahead of time.
I gave them both a hug and reassured them I wouldn't let anything happen to them but just in case I'd learn all the necromancy spells grandpa refused to teach me when I asked him earlier. Something about how the only way to succeed in life is to chip away at the soul. I don't know.
That evening I read book for a good long while before I slept. I'm going to complete my spell tomorrow after three perfect practice runs. The spell will be successfully parallel cast and the senior club members will become great mages with me who'll be able to learn in days what it will take others weeks to learn. The future with the twins doesn't look too good.
It seems once they gain the knowledge the spell has to give them, they'll have trouble retaining information. They may just revert to the way they were before I invited them to the magic club… that'd be an issue. As I begin thinking their future changes a bit. I'll teach them the perfect recall spell immediately after they learn the first and we'll use the leftover components from the first time our club cast it to have them as well as the other newer members of the club.
It seems this will help them. They won't go back to the way they were, but their father seems to be growing suspicious of them. I think he knows. Or… he will know, not now though. It seems he knows his daughters are hiding something from him and though he doesn't know it's me specifically it seems very soon he'll be on a warpath…
Wait… am I their reason for moving? Oh, that's just perfect. Well, I can't go waltzing into their home and announce my presence in his daughters' lives I'd definitely die if I did that. Hm… book seems to be suggesting I drop hints through his daughters in calculated ways, so they know how to make him aware without saying anything explicitly outing me.
The twins seem to trust me so I could bring up that I know they're having trouble broaching the subject with him and offer my advice by feeding them lines, lines that I know will lead him down a path these two won't see coming. I've checked with our mental connection before, but they have no idea they're going to move soon.
That or they're hiding the fact they know very deep in their minds. Book says they don't probe too deeply into my mind either. It seems my ability to guard my mind is even better than that of the girl with a special ability that can literally force a telepathy spell through without components.
The twins seem to be distressed I've been doing too much of the pushing them away. I'm going to need to reel them back in soon. Lest they consider murder like book says they will if they stay too long in the friend zone. I have to keep them at a certain distance so I don't fall to temptation, but I also can't push them too far away or it will end badly for me.
Book gives me an alternative "you walk with them after teaching them the Perfect recall spell and take them to [generic romantic location #1] where you tell them how much they mean to you (lying of course) as sincerely as you can muster. They'll try to probe your mind to check for honesty and though you'll have to let them in deeper than you normally would as long as you clear your mind, they won't know you're lying. The twins will feel like they grew closer to you and you will explain that that's why you trusted them with the knowledge of how useful your ability is. You tell them that you're deathly afraid for your life and that if they feel even the smallest bit for you what you said you felt for them, they'd put up a bit more distance, so their father doesn't find out and string up your entrails like streamers in the streets." So said book.
The next morning, I used Perfect Recall to write down the conclusion drawn from the spell theory for Perfect recall so I could teach it to the twins immediately after our spell is successful. I asked my parents if it was ok to bring grandfather's grimoire to school with me and they told me that as they entrusted it to me it would be up to me to decide its fate.
I brought it with me. I hid it in my mage club spooky robes. The excuse for the conclusion for perfect recall I'll give is to see if the spell worked by teaching it to the twins. They seem a bit overworked. Maintaining that mental connection between so many people must be hard on them, it's a bit easier on those of us who have Perfect Recall because we'll always remember everything, we need to it's very hard for us to lose ourselves in a collective hive mind.
It must be especially difficult because those of us with stronger minds are starting to take control of the collective which is probably why we'll succeed today in our spell. We'll have to cast Perfect Recall on the rest of the club members who use this spell pretty soon lest they lose their individuality to the collective. I'll remember to cast a memory charm on the twins before today's practice, so I don't lose them. A good deal of our club members could regress from this hivemind, but my main priority is making sure these two don't regress back to when killing me was a more appealing prospect than them seeing me happy anywhere but by their side.
I have to let them find a way to be happy without me being their source of joy. Being idolized as someone else's everything is far too taxing for one lone human… let alone two girls who would kill to see me by their side. Since I've been playing innocent since they got close to me and been trying to distance myself from their desires this whole time no matter how far they tried to push me, they may have seen that I can at least pretend to be happy in any situation regardless of how uncomfortable it may be.
I managed to give my parents a few tips on what they should do today. The couple will walk into the guildhall and greet a few friends and actively avoid one who has a deadly quest that cannot be accepted for it is impossible for anyone in this town and it'd take a while to travel to the quest destination and my parents wouldn't accept that quest without asking me anyways. They'll meet with the guild master who'll give them a peculiar quest that, though it seems suspect at first glance, is actually their safest choice for today.
See the bandits have begun spreading rumours that they are unkillable for they were so paranoid during their last fight in the open and annihilated them when they tried to storm our house. The bandits have set a few traps around the normal quests that would usually be a walk in the park. Alarm traps that let them know where they are as opposed to snare traps that just attack you.
But this strange quest the bandits don't know about. They only assume that since my parents have been so cautious, they won't go for anything too risky for a while and that is exactly why my parents must leave on this strange journey. It shouldn't take more than enough time for them to get back slightly later than usual, but it will take them a bit out of town. This should probably be enough to let the bandits know my parents are in close contact with an oracle so I'm planning on spending my night away from home anyway.
I tell my parents what book said they should do for today and after giving the reasoning they seem fully on board with it. They asked what the strange quest is but book didn't say. Just that the guild master looked troubled to ask like he knew they wouldn't accept but felt obligated to ask anyway. A knowing look crossed their faces and they immediately tensed as if they knew now what it would be. "Ah… that quest"
"Is it that time of year already?"
"What? What is it?" I looked to book, and my mom put her hand in front of it. "trust us when we say you don't want to know."
"Are you sure that's the safest?"
"positive. Every other path is lined with traps and ambushes." They seemed dejected but they accepted my words and resolved themselves to just go.
That day in magic club the club president brought a couple handmade memory charm pendants to help store the memories of the people we were about to accidentally brainwash on purpose to make the spell go smoothly. We'll restore their personalities after the spell is cast. I set up the practice circle again in the old potion club room and next to it I set up the high-grade magic circles save the components that should be set down as the first part of the spell is being chanted.
We practice the chant after having our minds linked and I remembered to protect the minds of the twins, it won't lessen the strain the link will put on them just the long-term effects that would have definitely worsened later. It's like a band-aid over a gaping stab wound; it won't help them stop feeling the pain, but it'll keep more blood from escaping, or in this case their personalities. But they will feel as if the knife is still there digging its way in even if it's just a phantom pain now that's doing no real damage the strain will remain.
After we managed to successfully cast the spell perfectly thrice in a row, I announced it was time to try it with the real components and as we shared a collective mind at the time it was very easy to persuade everyone. And finally, I achieved my goal. Conclusive spell learning is finally mine. Right after I asked that we break the connection to give the twins a bit of time to rest and gave them the conclusion I came to. After they read my conclusion, I felt a weakening like I grew faint for a second, but I hid it well. After that, the twins almost seemed invigorated and so they learned how to cast the perfect recall spell that same day. After we restored the personalities of the weaker-minded of us who lost to the hivemind, we had them all learn the spell and I took a seat lest I show the unintended side effect of this necromancy spell.
They did a couple of practice runs on the chanting without the support of the hive mind because the twins adamantly refused to both partake in and sustain the hive mind for a minute longer. It took them a bit but due to the support of the other spell they managed to get the chanting down fairly swiftly and they got Perfect Recall that same day. After that their personalities returned in full. It probably didn't help that it was a necromancy spell we cast.
That may have contributed to the hivemind brain wipe that happened today. After we finished what we had set out to do today, though I wanted nothing more than to just sit back and fully immerse myself in the active necromancy spells I had to do something else.
I brought the twins to a place I'd known about a long while but never visited and spat out the sappiest lines I could muster. "you know you two are very special to me. As we stand at this cliff overlooking the sea, I can't help but wonder how sad my life would be without you two to make it interesting. It's like you've ingrained yourselves so deeply and persistently into my life that I can't see a day without you anymore which is why I may be the one person between the three of us having the hardest time trying to keep my distance from you"
"what do you mean?"
"I don't want to keep my distance from you two. I'm scared for my life and I want to spend as much time with you two as I possibly can but I can't do that if I'm dead so you have to understand I'm not keeping us apart because I want us to be apart, but because I don't want to die before we can see where this life goes. You know how much I trust you though right? You two are the only ones outside my family who know my oracle skill isn't useless. If your dad knows about us… I'm scared of how he'd react. We're just friends now but I don't see that staying that way for long with how close I know you two want to be with me, and I'd love to be with you but I can't go that far if I know death's scythe is around my neck and the farther I walk towards you the deeper the blade sinks in. so yeah I'm a bit hesitant to take that step forward with you two but you have to understand I'm doing this so we can spend as much time together as possible. Because I know, you two don't want me to die either."
The moment that lie left my lips, they began probing my mind and I had to clear my thoughts and let them in. what followed was them crying into my shoulders as we watched the sunset together. They promised to keep from pushing so hard, and I told them I'd help them come up with the right words to say when the time came to broach the subject gently with their father, so they got used to it a little at a time when they revealed a truth to me book didn't predict.
"we two are constantly connected, would you like to join our hive mind."
"… huh?"