Chapter 68 - Aftermath

Shadow's POV

It's been a couple of days since the fight with the Hero. My other half is still in a deep sleep, though Our connection tells me that it is uneasy. Laying within the cave, she's tended by the Huldr. A soft, solemn song carries outside to where I'm sitting in the grass, basking in the sun and keeping an eye on the progress of the Dragons.

I kept at a distance during the fight, as we agreed to do beforehand if something like this would come to pass. Still, to think the Harmekian Queen and her cohort would stoop so low as to do this to their Summoned Hero.

According to World Knowledge, the Soul of the Hero was safely returned to their own World, though it seems it also dragged with it the five other Souls that had been bonded to them when the Malice consumed their bodies.

But, weren't there six soldiers left after the seventh blew themselves up? And We saved two of them? Indeed. Turns out that the armor the Hero was wearing was actually a living thing. Or, well, it had a Soul at least.

Not that that matters to me at the moment. Once I induced my other half to sleep, I had her carefully moved to the cave. According to Samantha, the Malice she was exposed to was in a hybrid state between the inert kind that comes from chimerified humanoids, and the very dangerous kind produced by hateful monsters.

Seems that the Egis was actually a kind of monster, then? Most likely.

Regardless, the Malice within Her acts more akin to a cancer instead of an acid. Slowly spreading and Degrading. Causing immense pain as it does so, most likely in order to feed off of the negative emotions pain cause.

Luckily for us, my other half is used to pain. Seems that in her previous life, she suffered some sort of injury that left her nearly unable to function due to the pain it caused her. Looking through her memories, it seems she had finally been rid of the pain just weeks before her death and reincarnation into this World.

This slows the progress of the Malice, giving me precious time to prepare the cure.

We're unable to move her, so taking her to another Divine Spring isn't an option. In addition, all Delpha's Purifying Ritual can do is stall the spread. So, I have to build one.

Most of the pieces are already in place. I immediately sought out a Crystal Lizard and gained its Crystallize Skill, among a couple others. Now all I'm doing is awaiting results from the Dragons.

Relying on their knowledge of the World helped, as they knew where to find Oasis Water and Celestial Marble. In addition, I sent the Life and Death Dragons to aid King Dervix's troops up north. As We are unable to aid personally, those two will have to do. I did send along a Lurastray that I made, teaching it some important phrases.

Seems that, on principle, Dragons refuse to communicate with humanoids, even though they're able to via their Telepathy Skill. Something about it being beneath them. Whatever. So, the Lurastray tags along in order to yell phrases such as "We're on your side!" and "The Monarch sends her regards!".

I sent the Heat and Water Dragons, along with one Evil Eye, to look for Oasis Water. If transporting it back is impossible, I might be able to synthesize it once I've seen it myself through the Shared Vision Skill that the Evil Eye has.

Similarly, the Air and Lightning Dragon are searching for Celestial Marble along with the other Evil Eye. Celestial Marble has odd properties, according to the Dragons, being found at the top of ancient mountains, seemingly impervious to the wear of time.

Which brings me to my current train of thought regarding the Divine Spring. Why these specific materials? I get the Perfect Magic Crystals of each Primary Element. Those make sense. But why Oasis Water and Celestial Marble?

So I started experiments. Very small, very careful experiments, as this Body Double is incredibly fragile. I know from before that one can combine certain Elements to make new ones. Plant is Earth and Life, for example.

And, thanks to the little mishap in the forest with Valena, We know a Space Element Spell. Studying it, Space is a theoretical Element that is composed of Earth, Water, Air and Fire. Half of the eight Primary Elements. It's theoretical in the sense that there are no direct Skills or Spells (Save from Teleport, which We only got because of Our Unique ability to learn Spells from observation.) that utilizes it.

Time, then, should be composed of Life, Light, Death and Dark.

Oasis Water comes from deserts, mysteriously collecting in dips in the geography despite no recent rainfall. It exists despite its environment. My theory is that the water represents Space. Looking through Her memories, it seems that many cultures from Her World have Water as the origin of the World, so it makes sense if it is a similar situation in this World.

Water somehow infused with Space Element... I'd have to look at the real thing to be sure, but I'm fairly certain that is the true nature of Oasis Water.

So, Celestial Marble, then, might be stone, or Earth, infused with Time. Being immune to the ravages of time, it is slowly unearthed as mountains are ground to sand, leaving it to shelter the stone beneath, ensuring the continued presence of the mountain.

A clever way to make sure there would always be a mountain there, I suppose.

I cease my introspection for a moment. This next step requires my attention. Gently moving a band of Light Element towards a Death Element band, I brace for the worst if a negative reaction occurs.

I sigh elatedly as the bands fuse and intermingle with a subdued hiss. Most likely caused by the ambient Magic being pushed out of the way by this peculiar gathering. So, we start with Light and Death. I suppose then the next would be Dark and Life...

Whilst keeping an eye on the undulating mass of Light and Death, I gather up Dark and Life energy. Gently bringing them together, another low hiss issues as the bands conjoin and twist about.

Now, the question is, will these two masses like me pushing them together?

Making some quick calculations, it seems that if a negative reaction occurs, I should receive minimal damage. Good.

Slowly, almost glacially, I bring the two masses of fused Element together. Just as they're about to touch, tendrils of energy reach out from each mass, looking akin to a black hole devouring two stars.

The point of glowing silvery white between the masses grow as they themselves decrease. I stop breathing, of fear the motion might upset the process.

Finally, having consumed the two original fusions of Element, a strange, pulsing ball hovers in front of me. Silver in color, it pulses and undulates in a stable rhythm, almost a visual kind of 'tick-tock' sound.

I did it! I made Time! Let's inspect it.

*Time Element - A physical manifestation of the concept of Time. A fusion of Light, Death, Dark and Life.*

Ah, hm. I suppose I shouldn't have expected much. O-oh, it's fading. Seems it is quite unstable in this pure form. I lower my hands before slumping to the ground in order to maximize the area of my body that's being exposed to sun. The SP consumption of these experiments of mine is incredibly high.

I did also visit the Lampetia. She graciously allowed me to cull one of her Barometz. It was a sickly one, that wouldn't make it through the fast approaching winter anyway, so much better is serves Us than just dying and becoming mulch without Us getting the Skills it has.

Thanks to that, I have secured Us Verdant Body, along with Photosynthesize and Share Nutrients. Seems that's how the Lampetia benefits from the Barometz. They gather energy, trading it with the Lampetia in return for protection.

As I made this Body Double from just Our tail, and not half of Our body as normal, I'm quite small. I chose to mimic the look of a Tatzelwurm, but I have actual prehensile hands instead of paws. I'm also covered in leaves, thanks to Verdant Body.

I check in with the Lurastray. From its report, Life is busy tending to injured Parshuran soldiers, Death is having the time of their life fighting the Harmekian troops. Oddly, even when seeing that the Parshuran army is backed up by two Dragons, they didn't falter even slightly.

Indeed, the Lurastray reports that no fear is seen on the faces of the soldiers that engage the Death Dragon, despite their fellows being slaughtered by the dozen. Something's up with that, and I don't like it. You don't march to your death against overwhelming force. That's just common sense.

Too bad I can't go see what the deal is myself. I don't dare leave Her side in case there's an upper limit on how far away a Clone can go before the Skill stops working. We'd be doomed if I got yanked back into Her body, unable to free myself with another Clone since She's asleep.

Ah yes, that's a thing. If She sleeps, I can't move the body. From what Her OtherWorld knowledge tells me, the brain actually paralyzes the body during sleep in order to prevent it from moving about and acting out any eventual dreams. Probably helps to prevent falling out of trees as well...

So, yeah, I have to keep this Body Double alive at all cost.

Next, let's check in on Heat and Water. Their travel will take the longest, needing to go all the way to Yo'ud and the deserts there to seek Oasis Water.

Hm, as expected. I suppose a twinge of impatience made me check in so soon, but they're only halfway to the border of Yo'ud, and the desert which might contain the Oasis Water is still further beyond that.

I'm about to check on Air and Lightning, but the approach of Delpha causes me to focus on her instead.

Her steps are hesitant, as if she's ready to run away at any moment. I raise my head slightly and look at her. Ame and Mabe follow behind her, each keeping a close eye on me. All the Servants are hesitant of me. I am the Master, but not quite, and that frightens them, I think.

"Uh-" Delpha bravely walks closer to me, and crouches down, bringing herself eye-level with me. "H-how is she- you?" Her cheeks flush bright red as she stumbles over her own words. I catch myself giving an amused smile.

"I am fine. Just resting. She's fine, too. At least, considering the circumstances. Huldr is looking after her, and I plan on tending her later." I tell her via Telepathy. Her expression is one of slight discomfort, do doubt due to my voice.

It sounds like Hers. However, I'm unable to add the feeling to it that She does, resulting in a 'not quite right' sounding voice that seems to unsettle all that hears it. I ignore it for the most part, as it is not something I'm able to change about myself.

"I- Uh. I'm sorry." Delpha slumps onto her butt, and the Bidra quickly grabs the chance to cuddle. "I just don't understand. What are you?"

I give a slack-jawed, blank stare. Ah- hm, how to put it.

"I'm the part of Millibelle that she's not comfortable with, if that makes sense. The part of her that she represses and refuses to show to the world. I am also a manifestation of her monstrous instincts, somewhat of an opposite to her human ones." I finally manage to sort my words in a way that sounds right.

Delpha considers my words, though I'm unsure if they make sense to her. "So... then why are you here, and not with her?" She asks. I catch myself being annoyed by her questions, swallowing the desire to call her dumb and then ignore her, and instead try to follow Her philosophy of teaching.

"Because, if I wasn't, we'd not be able to save Millibelle from the Malice that's slowly overcoming her. Using the Skills 'Body Double' and 'Parallel Minds' I'm able to co-exist with her as long as the Body Double lives. If it were to die, I'd be drawn back into her mind, unable to do anything since she's currently asleep."

"I'm working on the Divine Spring. And I feel I am close." I procure the eight Perfect Magic Crystals I've made. It took a lot of energy, but now all that remains is the Oasis Water and Celestial Marble. Delpha's eyes widen as she sees the gems I'm jealously guarding with my body.

"All that's left is patience. Once the Dragons find the Oasis Water and Celestial Marble, I can begin making the Divine Spring. And then, we Purify Millibelle." I store the gems away within the Hidden Space. "And once she's cured, I'll once again join her within her mind, and you will be mostly free of my presence." I add.

Getting up, I meander down to the cave to aid Huldr in taking care of Her, my other half. As I do so, Delpha sits behind with a thoughtful expression on her face.