Waking slowly, I saw my vision flicker as if I was blinking. However, I didn't have eyelids. It seemed that my form could mimic things that should not be possible via magic.
Peering over, I saw Komainu, who had stolen most of the blankets throughout the night and was splayed across most of the bed, fast asleep.
She wriggled as I attempted to slip out of bed without waking her, rolling over and latching onto my side as she snored slightly.
Slumping back down, I sighed; unless I teleported, I would not be getting out without her waking up. Then she would be grumpy about me working. Besides, some extra sleep couldn't hurt.
Getting my hand out from her grip was troubling; however, once free, I started to gently run it through her hair as I let my eyes close.
I awoke to ice; peering around the room, I saw frost climb up the walls. Swinging my legs over the edge of my old bed, I set foot on the cold wood floor.
I was human again. Slowly opening and closing my fist, I felt flesh and blood instead of dust and bone.
Creeping into the hallway, I heard shuffling noises coming from the bathroom; a sense of déjà vu struck me.
I remembered this event; walking into the bathroom, I would see a horror of furry scales in the mirror.
However, something was different this time; the cold faded as I flipped the light switch. In the mirror was not some abstract horror of scales but instead, a tall man with a meticulously groomed beard and eyes hooded by shadows.
Giving a slight nod, he started to speak; his voice sounded like a child was crashing symbals together.
"Hello, Aidan. It is good to meet you properly."
Peering at him wide-eyed, I struggled to find my voice. All my newfound power gone in the face of this being. Swallowing heavily, I pushed out.
"W-What do you want?"
Giving a smile that seemed to show stars between the small gaps of teeth, he spoke again while spreading his arms out wide as if accepting something.
"Is it wrong to see my littlest Foe? After all, it is often eons between they are made."
My mind stopped at that comment. Made? I was born, and nothing He Who Walks Behind said could change that. I replied with a shout, anger coloring my voice.
"Bullshit! I was born; besides, your whole goal is the destruction of reality! Why should I trust you in the slightest."
Tsking, the figure shook his head slightly as if having to explain to a child why they needed to wear a coat in the rain.
"Ah, but you were made. Can you genuinely say that you are the same person you were a mere month ago?
His slightly bored expression shifted as a mocking grin overtook his face.
And really, you thought that you would find a book that could grant all of your wildest dreams sitting on your bed. Magic and Powers from across time and space at your fingertips!"
His voice then took on a low tone as if he didn't want to be overheard.
"You even got a replacement sister, same features, similar personality traits. This one, however, listens to you. Unless, of course, it would be oh so cute to not."
His voice raised again as he took a few steps until he stood inches from the mirror, and I could feel hot breath on my neck. I was, however, stuck in place.
Even in this dream, my Grimoire's power grew. My eyes widened in horror as He Who Walks Behind punched a hole where my heart was and grabbed a golden mote.
Scrabbling at my chest, I was not feeling faint nor dying. His voice piped up again as the form in the mirror inspected the mote.
"Limitless potential. All bound up in a nice convenient package. Hundreds of beings put their knowledge and skills in a leather-bound book."
Letting go of the mote, it floated into my chest before dissipating, the power settling in my veins.
"This is only a dream. I, unfortunately, am unable to attack you directly."
Flicking his wrist, my vision started to blur at the edges as I stumbled. At the edges of my senses, I could feel my bed.
"It was good to meet you finally. I can't wait to see what you shall do, our littlest Foe."
I shot up gasping, a purely instinctual response from organs I no longer had. Komainu flew out of bed as one of my arms she had been cuddling flew to the side and hit her.
"Shit!" I swore as I teleported next to her and pulled her out of the broken wall. She was injured; while resilient to damage, I was strong enough to break steel with one hand effortlessly.
Coughing, she spat out a bit of blood as I fumbled for a healing potion. It took a few seconds as pure panic fueled me; however, I soon had a healing potion crammed down her throat.
Her eyes slowly opened as she coughed a few more times. I peered into her slightly glazed-over eyes, waving my hand in front of them.
Looking up at me, she coughed again, this time, however, sans blood, and spoke in a weak voice rapidly growing more robust.
"W-What happened?"
Clutching her to my chest, I managed to over the course of a few minutes, spit out the events that led to my awakening in such a violent manner.
Standing up, she looked down at my still sitting form before pulling me to my feet and pulling me towards the door.
Bemused, I asked. "What are you doing?"
She replied, full of fire that had been absent a few minutes prior. "Your sad; I know what will cheer you up! I big cheeseburger."
Staring at her for a few moments, I barked out a laugh. She was minutes after almost dying, trying to exploit my regret to get her food earlier.
Waving my hand in a placating manner, I spoke. "Alright, alright. I don't have a shirt on, and you are in your pj's. By the way, how did you get them?"
Chuckling while rubbing the back of her neck, her eyes darted over to a pre-Earth Bet me. Sighing, I rubbed her head before walking away so she could change in peace.
I needed a change as well; I had been using the same few pairs of clothes, and while that usually didn't bother me, I wanted something a bit better if I was heading out.
With a flick of my wrist and some Dust, I had black underwear, grey shorts, and a darker grey shirt that read 'Bad Spellers Untie.'
Giving a slight chuckle, I walked out and saw that Komainu was dressed in a skirt and plain shirt I knew I did not buy.
It wasn't that big of a deal, I would need to jack some more money from the ATMs later tonight, but if she wanted to buy some clothes, I could deal with it.
Grabbing assorted bills, I slipped them into my pocket before we headed out. I didn't know where Fugly Bob's was, so I turned towards Komainu to ask.
"So, by any chance, do where Fugly Bob's is?"
Rolling her eyes as she looked up at me while swinging our clasped hands, she replied in her peppy voice.
"Of course!" What followed was a rapid-fire explanation on how to get to Fugly Bob's, which, while I could hear, went in one ear and out the other.
Patting her on the head, "I trust that you can get us there." I replied. Beaming, she started to skip quickly towards the destination.
Jogging slightly, I cast my gaze over the city as we traveled. It was nice; people were healing. While it wouldn't last, the significant gangs, ABB, Empire 88, and Coil's mercenaries, were gone.
The big golden threat was still traveling around, as were the Endbringers. However, they could be dealt with in time, for now, I could focus my efforts on improving my skills.
As I pulled myself from my thoughts, I saw that we had arrived in front of a location similar to a dine-in fast food restaurant. Walking in, I took in the smell of the cooking food.
It was nostalgic until I got the Grimoire. I had worked at fast food. Not the best job; however, for a first, it was a good experience and paid well.
Walking up to the counter, we were met with the dead-eyed stare of a pimply teenager who did not want to be here and, in a monotone voice, spoke.
"Welcome to Fugly Bob's; what can I get for you today?"
Looking up at the menu, I quickly located the Challanger and winced at how that thing looked based on the image on the picture. Looking down at a grinning Komainu who was bouncing on the balls of her feet, I surrendered.
"We'll have two Challengers and two medium Sprites."
The kids' eyebrows raised slightly before typing in the order and repeating it back in the same dead voice.
"If you do not finish the entire burger, you will have to pay for it is that understood?"
Nodding our assent, we took the table marker and sat down. As I sat down, the Grimoire's power grew again.
My fingers grew nimbler, and as I wiggled them back and forth, ideas for how to perform card tricks and pickpocket people filled my head.
Pushing that out of my mind, I turned to Komainu. Despite the fact I had literally summoned her, I didn't know much about her. I decided to rectify that.
"What did you do before you ended up here?"
Drumming her fingers on the table like the child she looked like she was, she started to speak.
"It was a lot of waiting around for you. A scary lady had me built for you."
Raising an illusionary eyebrow, I decided to ask a bit more about this 'scary lady.'
"Do you know her name? Why was she scary?"
Shivering slightly, she peered over her shoulder before leaning in and speaking in a whisper.
"I didn't see much of her. She slept a lot; however, I remember she had beautiful blond hair. She was scary because she slept so much the few times she talked to me; she seemed to look right through me."
Leaning back, she wiped her forehead over dramatically. I didn't know anybody from the Touhou series that looked like that.
My knowledge of it was incomplete. I knew about the Scarlet Devil Mansion, Yukari, and the lazy shrine maiden.
However, the details escaped me; the Scarlet Devil Mansion was home to two vampires and a time-stopping maid. The names, however, escaped me.
Yukari could manipulate the boundaries of anything, and that was all I knew as her name had come up in a few of the earlier fanfictions I had read.
The shrine maiden, I only knew that she was the protagonist and wore red. I pushed those thoughts away as our food arrived.
I would have plenty of time later to contemplate the horrifying nature of what I had learned today. That time was not now, as we only had thirty minutes to finish our Challanger.
Powers Gained
Sleight of Hand
You've had a good deal of practice at stage magic, street magic, or something in between. In addition to great skill at card tricks and various other illusions, you're none too shabby at picking locks and pockets. With some practice, you may even be good enough to do things like steal a watch right off of someone's wrist.