"Mikhail, your case is a strange one. You were found on the side of the orc caravan's route, battered and bruised, and only woke up a week later after quite a bit of intensive care…"
"Yagnar told me that when you awoke, you couldn't remember anything… Not even your own name."
She took a moment to scratch her head.
"You didn't know how to speak Manakel, the human tongue, but instead spoke a strange dialect you called… English. You quickly picked up on Shagar though, unnaturally so."
"It usually takes a human — especially a mortal with a dormant Cerebral Core, like yourself at the time — at least six months to learn a language. Everything about your appearance is strange, and when I was using a diagnostic spell, a striking oddity came to light that explained a few things."
"You… Are rather unordinary. Not only is your Spiritual Aether unnaturally dense for your Cerebral Core's physical level… You're not exactly a single individual," she said, her voice lightly laced with anger towards the end.
Mikhail's mind went blank.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"
"It would seem that you… No, the soul inside you has undergone something called a Soul Split. It's a phenomenon where in the soul is torn in two due to… As of now, uncertain reasons. It's a field of study that's still in its infancy and far beyond your capabilities to understand properly."
"So, in terms you'll understand, that means you're sharing a body with another soul. Another person. Leaving one soul trapped as an observer, and you as the one in control."
"...How am I the one in control, then?"
"That… Well, I saw the connection between you and that other soul… All I can say is that while Heaven is not a being I can claim to know well, it looks like it is very invested in your development."
"Heaven… Not heavens?"
Grand Elder Maya nodded, but she did not explain further on that.
"Hm. Well, why do you say that it's invested in my development? Is it because it wants me to figure out how to fix the soul split on my own?"
"...For your first question, I say that because of the Heavenly Seal placed on the connection between you two. As for your second question… Perhaps. Maybe Heaven wants you to overcome this ordeal and show the world your solution to this ordeal."
"Or maybe… It wanted to give you a second chance."
"Regardless, you'll have to deal with this issue. And the chance will probably be during one of your Spiritual {Tribulations}. It could be as early as your {Self-Tribulation}, and it could be as late as your {Ascension Tribulation}… If you manage to get that far, anyway."
Mikhail was unsure what she meant, due to his inability to grasp certain phrases in her prose, but he did pick up on something substantial.
"Uh, why exactly do you call this an ordeal?"
"Because the soul sealed within you is… A monster, quite frankly. An individual that is as vile and evil as he is ancient and powerful… A being that I've personally had the displeasure of dealing with around a century ago."
Mikhail felt the dull shock, but with his emotions suppressed, he was able to accept this world shattering revelation with an unnatural ease.
"Anyway, since I cannot offer you any help in regards to that matter… Let us move on to a less burdensome topic. Namely, the good news I have for you in regards to the state of your body."
"No, no, hold on. I've got a question."
Grand Elder Maya raised her left eyebrow, and pursed her lips…
"You've got some nerve, interrupting me like that!"
"I think I reserve every right to do so considering we're talking about MY situation here, Maya!"
She snorted.
"Well, out with it lad. What is it?"
"This old soul… Is his name Michael?"
The woman's gaze sharpened. "And… How exactly did you come across such information?"
A threatening aura seemed to leak out into the room, causing Mikhail to start sweating nervously.
"Some superstitious asshole. Called me ridiculous names like Scourgeborn, Harbinger of Misfortune, and dropped that name during a particularly impactful occasion…"
The threatening atmosphere vanished.
"Well, that makes much more sense than what I had thought. Anyway, is that all?"
He nodded.
"Good, good. Now, where was I… Oh, I remember!"
"So, your bones, organs, and skin are the very definition of perfection! So perfect that you're twenty one years old with a body that's biologically sixteen years old. You've been blessed to inherit such a strong body, honestly."
'So my body really is sixteen again? But if I inherited this body from this super duper uber old and powerful guy Michael… Why am I younger?'
He had no way to find out the answer to that question for now. And Maya didn't let him dwell on those thoughts for long, anyway.
"Ahem. Getting back on topic… Your state of imbalance is an anomaly unlike any other I've seen… My best guess is that it has to do with your connection to Michael."
"But we can talk more about the why another time, since the current remedy to your pain is both temporary and very restrictive, as I'm sure you've noticed by now. Instead, we should move on to how you'll remedy it."
Mikhail nodded.
But then suddenly, Grand Elder Maya frowned.
"Hmmm. Something has been brought to my attention. I'm afraid I have no more time to speak with you today."
She then sighed, a trace of annoyance in her voice.
"Behind me is a backpack I've prepared for you in the two days you spent asleep. In it, you'll find a tent, a sleeping mat, some rations, and a book to help you learn Manakel."
She then placed the fancy box between them, before turning around and doing the same with the backpack.
"In the box is a ration of Spirit Suppression Pills that will last you a month.."
Mikhail took the box, opening the crate and putting it inside before punching it closed.
"There are fifteen pills in there, one for each week of the month. Only take them when the pain begins to become unbearable again, alright?"
He nodded.
"Good. I'm going to go make myself some tea now before I deal with this matter... You can set up your tent towards the edge of the tribe. Come back to me once you've got a good handle on Manakel so we can move forward with your naturalization."
Mikhail nodded and then got up, before bending back down to get his new stuff.
He slung the backpack over his shoulder before picking up the crate, and then said his farewells.
He left the way he came, warily looking at the golden door before walking down the hallway, and then down the stairs to the ground floor.
And then after a bit of meandering about the ground floor, out of the building.