"Who are you?" An unenlightened one asked as I looked on in disdain, watching the parasite fall to the ground before I turned to them using my expression to my advantage.
"I'm just here to kill this thing," I said as I looked at them my frowning face radiating what I thought was a tired feeling.
"That doesn't answer my question," My eyes stared at him for only a moment as I saw suspicion scrawled across his face before I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment.
'If only they were as accepting as the chosen they took care of,' I shook my head before opening my eyes to look at the man in front of me with my stoic facade.
"I'm Roderia," I adjusted my look to be more annoyed.
".. and I've been hunting that creature over there for years now," I lied as the two kept their wary expressions but they had relaxed their bodies just as I hoped.
"So what are you going to do with that thing?" The witch seemed distracted as he seemed to be looking toward the parasite.
"I'm gonna kill it." I lied again as the witch seemed to mumble something to the tiny one before it sniffed the air and nodded back to them.
"Well, I need to ask it something before that," My brow raised as I internally sighed.
'Another inconvenience,' I went to shake my head, but stopped as I realized I could use them.
'They attracted the parasite's ire,' I held back a smile as I stared at the two distractions in front of me.
'So why not use them?' I felt the weight of potential injury lift off of my shoulders as I focused back on them.
"Fine, but you need to act as a distraction," I responded tersely as their eyes seemed to harden with determination before they nodded.
"Let's go then," The teal-haired one spoke before we went off to our tasks.
**********
"How long is this gonna take?" I groaned as I stopped for the second time in my search to let my legs rest, thinking about the lady's words.
"I've been searching for my inner self for an hour now," I turned my eyes to the crystal ball.
"Where are they?" I stared at the ball for a minute before I stood up again, sighing.
"Maybe I just need to do this myself," I stated as I continued my walk only to be stopped a moment later by the sound of footsteps.
'Could that be...' I turned to the noise as I saw someone who was covered in what I recognized as the same ooze-like blood many creatures had been taken by.
"It's you!" They glared at me before their eyes flicked down to the orb in my arms.
"That's my-" They focused back on me and with a snarl they rushed me.
"Give it back!" I looked on in confusion before preparing to run, but just as I took my first step, another demon jumped out, kicking the other down.
"Got you!" They quickly tied the other's arms with a rope that had appeared from nowhere before turning to me.
"Oh, it's you?" I stared at the new kid with confusion as I looked them over, realizing that this demon looked like me.
'My inner-self?' I went to open my mouth to speak but again I was stopped as the kid on the ground started to squirm, the ropes struggling to hold them.
"Shit!" The possible inner-self cursed as they ran in my direction, soon grabbing my hand before I was dragged along barely holding onto the crystal ball in my hand.
"H-hey, what the heck's going on?" They looked back at me with an annoyed glare.
"Not the time, real me," They turned forward as we kept running before I looked back to see the other kid I didn't recognize finally break free.
"Azure!" The other yelled as it spun around, trying to look for me.
"What the heck's going on with that?" I turned back to the other me before they glanced back.
"Do I need to say what that is?" I stared on in silence as he silently groaned.
"Fine, I'll tell you when we get far enough to not be spotted," I nodded as he focused back on the task of running.
*********
"This should be good enough," the kid said before sitting down as he took a chance to catch their breath but now it was time for explanations.
"What was all that?" I asked standing behind them before he gave me an annoyed eye roll.
"What did it look like to you?" he looked up at me as he motioned for me to sit down.
"Well, the blood took on a random kid's shape?" I answered before they let out a sarcastic chuckle.
"If only," He responded before looking at the ball in my hands.
"So you're here to get this godforsaken process done," I quirked a brow at that as I nodded.
"Yeah, I was told you were going to help me," He looked at me with a frown, sighing as he nodded.
"Unfortunately I do, but with that guy from before it'll be tough," I frowned at that before asking the same question from before.
"Seriously, what was that," The inner me clammed up again as he gave me an annoyed look.
"..." I stood there in silence for a minute before he rolled his eyes and finally spoke.
"Fine, since you're so eager to know," He straightened up his back.
"It's your former self's inner... them," I felt a bit surprised at the fact before my inner self continued.
"And he's after that thing in your hand because he wants to restore the former you," I frowned at that as I turned back in the direction of where we ran from.
"Was he always like that?" Inner me shook his head.
"They used to be like a coworker, I guess?" He held his chin with a thoughtful look.
"Always around, doing their part to help maintain your mind and memories, like the ones in the vault," I felt strange hearing that, did that mean my former self's memories were in a literal vault in my mind?
'I always just pictured it but it's real?' My inner self rolled his eyes as I thought this.
"It's not a real vault, you should know that," I felt my eyes look on in confusion at his words.
"You can read my mind?" The Inner me gestured to the surrounding darkness around us.
"That's your mind," then he gestured to his face.
"I'm just guessing based on your expression, since it seems pretty obvious what you were thinking," I felt silly as I realized that based on what was said any demon could guess that.
"Also, we're the same person, so that made it easier," my inner self added before continuing the previous explanation.
"So back to my coworker," hearing what he had said I refocused on the explanation, feeling interested now.
"He started to feel anxious as the weeks went by and there seemed to be little progress in restoring your memory," Inner-Azure said as he pointed to his head.
"So he made a plan to try to speed up the process without my knowledge and when he sifted through your memories and saw that blood moving toward your brain," He made another gesture like snatching something.
"He took the chance to use the power of the blood to pry open the tightly shut vault," my brow knit together at that remembering the words about him being able to manage the locked-away memories but Inner-Azure picked up on that as they quickly explained that due to his connection to the memories, he could enter the vault through a different method that work sort of like teleportation.
"Well, the plan seemed to work," Inner-Azure shook his head.
"It didn't actually and that's why he's so eager to hunt you down," I felt surprised at that as I wondered what thing I did, screwed up their plan.
"Yeah, when you drank that potion, the black stuff went haywire and started to run away from your head, leaving only what was in your soul and whatever that guy could gather," Inner-Azure paused for a moment as they seemed to think of something.
"But that corrupting stuff to no surprise corrupted him and now he's determined to complete his goal before being consumed or at least fading," I noticed a look of sadness at the explanation but despite what concern I held, my worry rose to shadow it as I thought back to the appearance of the former inner-self and the recently discovered desperation it held.
"Shouldn't we get going now?" I asked worriedly as I started glancing around for the dying crazy person.
"I guess we can?" Inner-Azure shrugged before standing up and looking around for something.
"Where is it... oh good, we're close," I gazed on in confusion as I tried to see what he had but only saw more darkness.
"What are you looking at?" I turned back to Inner-Azure as they turned to me.
"The core of this whole mess and the place where you put that thing," He pointed to the ball in my hand.
"Into that pedestal, alter thing over there," He pointed back to the direction he was looking at before but I still couldn't see anything.
"Look real me, you just have to follow me in that direction and we'll eventually see it, ok?" He sighed as I nodded.
"Cool, now let's-!" Suddenly Inner-Azure was tackled by a blur of black ooze as I stepped back, taken by surprise.
"..." I stared at the scene of the ensuing struggle with uncertainty as I decided what to do, not wanting to leave the inner me to fight this guy alone but it was soon decided by a look from my inner self that practically screamed at me to go.
I nodded back to him in confirmation before I took off running in the direction that my inner self pointed in as I heard angry yelling from behind me, followed by a pained scream.
'What was that?' I looked back in concern as I kept my pace to see that my inner self was lying in what I hoped was unconsciousness on the ground with the one who caused that, staring at me.
"Shoot," I mumbled as I picked up the pace only to hear a distorted yell that sounded closer to a roar.
"Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!" I pushed myself to my limit as I kept running, hoping that the thing that inner me talked about would show up soon.
"What the-!" I started to hear deep footsteps approaching as I turned back and cut myself off when I saw an amorphous-looking spider creature skittering toward me.
"Nope!" I faced forward and kept running and after less than a minute, I saw it, the pedestal that Inner Azure had talked about but again I was interrupted as I saw the former inner self getting closer.
"Come on just gotta put this in there!" I kept running and running as the thing got closer before almost looking over me while I was just barely a meter away from the pedestal.
"Come on!" I strained my legs as I felt the thing chasing me, lunge out when it realized how close I was to completing my task.
"..." I felt fear build as the thing got closer to my body but just as I was about to enter its clutches, the crystal ball touched the pedestal, and a surge of force like the vacuum of space pulled at the darkness as it was drained the world around me of any of the stuff.
A roar rang out as I watched the corrupted inner self seemingly get dragged closer as large chunks of the black stuff came flying off into the orb.
"No, not after all of this, I can't fail," a weak voice spoke as more and more chunks were sucked into the ball.
"I can't fail Chris..." I froze at the name as the voice started to fade after a bit with words becoming mumbles and mumbles becoming whispers before there was silence, a stream of dust floated off into the distance.
A forest soon appeared around me as I felt grass brush against my feet, easing my nerves.
"..." I flopped onto the ground feeling exhaustion that I didn't expect, knowing that it should all be in my head... literally.
"So you did it, huh?" I glanced over to the voice as I saw a calm-looking inner me walking over.
He stared in the direction of the crystal ball as he seemed to be unfocused.
"Yeah, seems like you got out fine too," Inner-Azure nodded as they sat down by my sprawled-out body.
"So did you uh... absorb the other guy?" I felt awkward at my friend's phrasing, but it didn't seem to bother the other me.
"Yeah, there was a lot of... interesting information," My brows quirked at the phrasing.
"Is something wrong?" I asked as Inner-Azure turned to meet my eyes.
"It's nothing really," he shrugged as he turned his eyes to the clearing.
"Just things that aren't meant to be told," I perked up at the words as I sat up, remembering the last words of the other inner self.
"I'm guessing it's about Chris?" Inner Azure turned to me with a brow raised before seemingly remembering something as they calmed down.
"Yeah, it's him," Inner Azure paused for a moment as I felt my anxiety rise, thinking back to the explanation he gave me.
'Do I want to remember everything if I'll just disappear?' I frowned as I thought that before I realized I was staring off into space and focused back on inner me who was looking at me with thoughtful eyes.
'Did he guess my thoughts again?' I went to ask but before I could do anything, Inner-Azure stood up.
"Ok, I think it's about time you left me alone, so I can get everything back in order," I quickly stood as well when he spoke and went to ask my question, but before I could, my vision narrowed to a pinprick.
"I know you want to ask something, but you'll need to save it until your next visit," and with that, my vision went dark.
**********
"How long is that guy going to take?" I mumbled to myself as I flew out of the way of another angry punch from the giant creature in front of me.
"Annoying fly!" It punched again as I dodged out of the way again before Eberwolf used his bugs to draw the creature's attention.
'It's been a few minutes,' I looked towards the man in question as he stood there with a grey circle that I could only assume was the magic he had used before to send this thing flying.
"Hey, are you almost done?" I asked, quickly flying over to him as Eberwolf bought me time to ask.
"Yep, just waiting for the right moment," I quirked my brow as I processed his words.
"The right moment?" The man turned to me as I repeated the words, nodding.
"I need him closer before I can activate the spell," My eyes widened, understanding the implication as I quickly flew over to Eberwolf who was being pushed back by the creature before I sent it stumbling with a wave of sound.
"We need to lead it over to the rocks," Eberwolf looked at me confused before they looked over to the hooded man who was still patiently waiting with his circle at the ready.
"..." Eberwolf turned back with narrowed eyes as I grit my teeth.
"I don't like it either but we don't have a choice," I blasted the creature again with another spell that left nothing but steadily increasing annoyance on the creature.
"We're not suited for this and he's the only demon around right now that could hurt it," Eberwolf frowned at my logic but reluctantly nodded as we got ready to push it toward the partially destroyed location of the hooded witch.
"What are you prattling on about, while I Titus am carrying out your transgression?" The creature now calling itself Titus asked as we ignored its words and summoned as much magic as we could before sending out waves of force using our magic.
"You dare try to face me with such attacks?" Titus went to rush at us confidently but as our magic hit it, its eyes seemed to widen as it was sent stumbling even further than before.
"What is this?!" It looked baffled as we slowly pushed it toward the hooded man with a great amount of strain.
"I will not be pushed back by some insignificant whelps!" It tried to gain its footing but it seemed to trip as it looked back with confusion and anger before they widened when they landed on our iffy ally.
"Come on, cast it already!" The man glanced over to me as we got closer, seeming to think about something but before I could react, the man increased the size of the spell circle threefold and shot out a blast of light that quickly started to cut into Titus.
"Yes!" I cheered as I watched the creature that I had been looking for the last month and a half fall to the ground... but the spell didn't stop there.
A few smaller blades of light shot out as the man gave a disturbingly wide grin, turning to us.
"What?" I felt confusion emerge but I didn't have enough time to be confused as I moved out of the way of the blades before spotting a second pair heading toward my companion.
"Eberwolf get down!" I flew over to the small witch and blasted out another full-force wave that just barely stopped the blades before I focused on our attempted killer who went from a creepy grin to a haughty sneer.
"Now this is a bothersome situation," The man started to make his way down from the partially destroyed stone cover.
"I put in actual effort to kill you and you managed to stop it," I heard Eberwolf growl as the man brought back his disturbing grin.
"Oh? The little fur ball's angry is it?" The man took another few steps as I tried to shoot out a blade of sound only to feel a wave of pain from my body as my magic dissipated and I struggled to stop myself from falling over.
The man watched me stagger with a laugh before drawing closer with another few, seemingly to taunt us.
"It looks like both of you were drained of magic," he stated as his grin grew even more.
"This is just perfect, now I can kill you both with a snap of my finger," I felt dread hang over me as I heard his statement and I started to back away, looking for anything I could to get Eberwolf and me out of here.
"..." Eberwolf locked eyes with me, a serious look on their face as they glanced over to the trees in the distance.
I stared at them for a moment as I translated the meaning, my eyes widened for a moment before I looked back to Roderia who only looked on as confidently as the creature he had just killed.
"What's with that look?" A brow rose on his face.
"Not going to go down without a fight?" He said, cupping his cheeks as he imitated a scared look.
"Oh no, I'm shaking in my boots!" He mocked before I secretly glanced over at Eberwolf who was readying themselves to cast a spell.
"Go on, try running by at me," Roderia stopped as his brows knit together before he cursed himself out.
"Remain pious, do not fall to the whims of the blighted," He quickly changed his expression again as he took on a kind-looking smile.
"I am sorry you had to see my sinful nature," He slowly drew a circle as he approached in a disturbingly joyful manner.
"To make up for that I will grant you a peaceful death," I grit my teeth as I saw Eberwolf nod, signaling to get ready.
"Ah so you have chosen to accept your ends with grace," the man seemed to misinterpret as I got ready to run.
"Now, all you have to-" Suddenly Eberwolf pointed his circle at Roderia as a huge mucus-covered slug shot out of the circle, making the now priest-like man let out a surprised yelp before I summoned my tired-looking palisman for one last flight to town.
"Let's go!" I hopped onto my palisman with Eberwolf quickly following behind before I took off toward the tree line.
"Almost there," I leaned forward as we inched closer and closer but I felt a chill down my spine.
"What is-" I turned to see a thin needle of a pitch-black substance close in on Eberwolf, and in a split-second decision, I pushed them down as I felt a sharp pain shoot through the left side of my chest.
"..." I grunted in pain as I saw the needle lodge itself deep before I forced myself to ignore the thing lodged in my chest and kept flying.
**********
"That damned midget!" I screamed as my sinful side overtook me, watching them escape and potentially threatening my plans.
"Who the hell does he think he is!" I glared down at the parasite below me as my leg lifted and rammed into the creature, the creation of that thing that rivals my lord.
"My plans may not have gone the way I wanted, but I will at least complete my labor," My eyes shifted from anger to disdain as I looked at the barely living yet already recovering from my blow.
'Time to bring you back for the next step,' I walked toward the creature as my mind soon drifted to the wound I had inflicted.
'Because soon, the chosen shall be liberated,' My pious grin once again graced my face as my sin was washed away with devotion before with a flash, the parasite and I were gone.