Chapter 2: Shadow and Siblings
Dev was confused about everything that had happened to him. But soon he gathered his thoughts. The hybrid Victorian-modern furniture cast long shadows across the room. It gave Dev a sense of relief.
Sigh
He glanced around. The memory of the mysterious girl—Anira—flashed in his mind.
"Ani.." as Dev was just going to call the mysterious girl. A sudden, searing pain shot through his head, and he collapsed to the floor. His skull felt like it was splitting open as torrents of foreign memories surged into his mind.
"Ahhh... no..." he gasped, clutching his head. The torrent of alien thoughts and experiences lasted only moments, but it felt like an eternity.
When Dev finally opened his eyes, he was trembling, his breath coming in short gasps. These weren't just random visions – they were memories. Memories belonging to this body's original owner.
I am Dev... no. My name is Conrad Valor.
The realization settled over him like a heavy cloak. Conrad Valor: a university student with poor grades and a worse reputation. A young man whose father had succumbed to illness, whose mother had followed shortly after in an accident, leaving behind three sisters...
Dev felt as if he were living two lives simultaneously, his mind stretched between two sets of memories, two different existences. His usual tendency to deflect serious situations with humor abandoned him as the weight of his situation pressed down on his shoulders. His heart sank as the implications became clear – the original owner of this body, Conrad Valor, was dead.
The last memory... nothing but cold and encroaching darkness. If whoever killed Conrad discovers I'm alive...
His thoughts spiraled into panic before he forced himself to take a deep breath. Running wouldn't guarantee survival in this unfamiliar world. Besides, there was Anira to consider. She could offer protection, though trusting her completely would be foolish.
"When did I become such a coward?" Dev muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I was stronger than this in my world. But this..." He trailed off, knowing this situation was entirely different from anything he'd faced before.
After several minutes of controlled breathing, Dev closed his eyes and deliberately sifted through his new memories. When he opened them again, he let out a bitter laugh. Conrad had been both a wimp and an asshole – there was no kinder way to put it. But something didn't add up: there was no trace of anything supernatural in Conrad's memories. No connection to Anira or whatever strange power she wielded.
Did I somehow alter his destiny by taking his place?
"Anira?" he called out, his voice steadier than he felt. "Are you here?"
"Yes, my lord." The response came like a whisper of silk against stone.
Dev turned toward the voice and felt his breath catch. A woman was emerging from his own shadow, her movements as fluid as water. She wore a corset dress that seemed to be crafted from darkness itself, her gloved hands folded elegantly before her. Her presence commanded attention – even the shadows of the room appeared to bow to her. Thick dark hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of ink, and her eyes... her eyes were the deep crimson of aged wine, holding secrets older than time.
Despite himself, Dev found his gaze drawn to her feminine features. The memories of both his former self and Conrad's less noble inclinations made him appreciate her ethereal beauty even more. She was tall for a woman, though still slightly shorter than him, with a presence that put stories of elven queens to shame.
She really has a figure of every cultured man's dream. Huh
"Anira," he said, forcing himself to focus, "explain what happened."
"Great lord," she began, her voice carrying an otherworldly resonance, "after severing my connection to that place, it seems we have returned to the world. The Oddity may have been returned after we died and vanished. However..." She paused, something uncertain flickering across her perfect features.
"However?"
"I believe I am now bound to your shadow, able to manifest only after midnight." Her admission carried a note of curiosity rather than regret.
"Your body, your powers – did you lose them because of me?" Dev felt a surge of guilt. He'd always lived by his own code of fairness, avoiding debts and dependencies whenever possible.
"No, my lord," Anira responded quickly, a barely perceptible smile touching her lips. "Quite the opposite. I seem to have gained abilities I don't yet understand. I feel... more complete."
Was that a pout I just saw? Surely not.
"I see," Dev nodded thoughtfully. "I have many questions, but they can wait. You look tired – please, feel free to refresh yourself."
A practical concern occurred to him. "Can others see you?"
"Most cannot."
"Good. My sisters are sleeping – please be quiet."
"Yes, my lord." Anira gave him one last, lingering look before slipping through the bathroom wall like it was made of mist.
Walking through walls... that could be quite convenient, Dev mused, before a gentle knock interrupted his thoughts.
He approached the door cautiously, his newfound wariness making him hesitate before asking, "Who's there?"
"Con? Are you awake?" The voice was warm, familiar –
Isolde.
Dev opened the door to find his eldest sister standing there, beautiful in her simple cotton nightgown with a shawl draped over her shoulders. She carried a small lamp that cast a gentle glow across her features, highlighting her natural elegance like a nobel woman. But it was her presence that commanded attention. Even in such modest attire, she carried herself with the dignity of someone who had shouldered burdens far beyond her years.
"Big sister, what's wrong?" The words felt foreign on his tongue—not because they were wrong, but because they carried the weight of years he hadn't lived, a relationship he hadn't earned.
"I had a nightmare," she whispered, and something in her voice made Dev's heart constrict. "Something terrible happened to you. The dream felt so real—like a premonition." Her hand clutched her shawl tighter. "When I passed your room, it was so quiet... I thought..." She couldn't finish the sentence.
Dev felt Conrad's memories surge forward like a tide of guilt and shame. Each recollection was a knife to the heart: Isolde working extra hours at the bank to pay his tuition; her quiet disappointment when she discovered the gambling debts; the way she'd defended him at family dinners while their younger sisters spat venomous truths about his worthlessness. But through it all, her love had never wavered—a constant star in Conrad's sky of failures.
Looking at her now, Dev saw not just a sister, but a guardian angel in human form. The lamplight caught the premature strands of grey in her blonde hair—each one earned through years of worry, each one a testament to sacrifices made for an undeserving brother. The weight of her unconditional love made his borrowed heart ache with a pain that belonged to both Conrad and himself.
I've never seen such unconditional care in someone's eyes before. It wasn't meant for me, but...
Isolde reached out, her cool hand touching his cheek. "You're cold, and so pale. Is everything alright, Con? Are you having trouble with your studies? Don't let what your sisters say bother you – they're young, they don't understand..."
"I'm just tired," Dev assured her softly. "Please rest. You have so much work tomorrow morning..."
"When did my little Con become so considerate?" Isolde's smile held both pride and puzzlement. "I should be the one saying such things."
She adjusted her shawl. "Drink some water and get some sleep. You have classes tomorrow. Good night, Con."
"Good night," he responded, watching her retreating figure.
I'm sorry, Isolde. I'm not really your brother, but until I can find my way back to my world, I'll try to be better than he was.
After closing the door, Dev leaned against it, exhaling slowly. A date flickered through his mind – July 7th. He needed to figure out exactly what had happened to him, but this world seemed determined to throw him into the deep end without any instruction manual.
Might as well try the basics...
"Status window," he commanded in what he hoped was an authoritative tone. Nothing happened. His cheeks flushed slightly as he tried again, "Status window... appear?"
The silence that followed was deafening.
Right. Of course it wouldn't be that easy.
"My lord..." Anira's voice made him jump. She stood by the bathroom door, and from her expression, she'd witnessed his entire embarrassing attempt.
"Anira... how long have you been there?"
"Since your first attempt at summoning a status window, my lord."
Dev felt his face burn, but he straightened his shoulders. "I was... testing a new technique."
Smooth, really smooth, he chided himself mentally.
"Yes, my lord. I understand." Anira's bow seemed to hide the ghost of a smile.
"I should sleep – I have classes tomorrow," Dev said, trying to change the subject. "Will you be sleeping here?"
"No, my lord. I shall stand guard until morning."
The image of a beautiful woman standing in the darkness while he slept should have been romantic, but somehow it just made him nervous. "That's... a bit unsettling. At least sit down. There's a fridge over there – help yourself to anything you want." He paused, then added, "Look, I'll be honest – this is all new to me. I don't know who you are, but you tried to sacrifice yourself to save me. Don't act like a servant. From now on, for better or worse, you're my shadow, not my servant. Let's call it a partnership."
At least until you discover I'm not who you think I am.
Anira remained silent for a long moment before her crimson lips curved into a genuine smile. "Thank you, my lord."
The words were the same as before, but somehow they carried a different weight now – less formal, more sincere.