Jin, insecure, afraid, angry, and sad, was sitting in a chair. This was expected: the corrupted Night Pigeon/Alexander had removed all of the experiences Jin had acquired during thousands of years across thousands of worlds where Lyu made him train. However, some things were still hidden deep in Jin's soul. Alexander simply hadn't removed them because Jin would do whatever he asked. The hero did not have the opportunity to introduce himself; his name was Ullei Kcazzo. Both were looking at the blackboard where Alexander was writing numbers.
The change from a duel to a classroom was abrupt. The three manifestations? They did not know how to react. It was as if Alexander was ignoring them. A fight could have broken out, but it was unlikely, for the simple reason that the beings involved were not territorial animals.
The expression on Jin's face was indescribable; it seemed like he had seen something paranormal. Ullei looked at the numbers on the blackboard and wondered what Alexander would do next. It didn't take long for Alexander to say, "What is the result of this equation?"
"…"
Nobody responded. Everyone felt an uncomfortable, unfounded sanction, but was it merely the prelude to a simple math lesson? It was more absurd than a direct confrontation.
"457…" Ancele said.
"Right."
"No, it's 4." Lyu said, confused, wondering how 2+2 equaled 457.
"4." Jin said.
"0." Ullei said.
"19." A manifestation was participating, as no one was going to stop it, but the other two manifestations directed their intention towards the one that responded.
"8." Said another manifestation.
"Invalid!" Shouted the last manifestation.
Lyu wondered what the hell was going on here.
Alexander explained the reason: "It's purely a difference in meaning and formation. As you can see, for some, 2+2 is 4, but for others, it's 19, 0, 8, and so forth. Simplified, 2 has the value of 4, so 2+2=8. In the other case, the symbol '+' is '–'. For that reason, 2+2=0; from Ullei's perspective, it's like seeing 2–2=0."
"So, there is a difference in symbols and in the concept of mathematics itself." Said Ullei.
"Exactly, Ullei. Each of you is interacting with the same concept, which acts differently. This is the essence of the training that Jin will undergo. The objective is clear: to kill Alexander Adrilia. He needs to understand the difference between things that are the same concept in a different format."
Jin turned his sights away from Alexander. It was not known what that person in front of him was; even if he had the shape of Alexander, he was not Alexander. Whatever it was, it wasn't Alexander!
"Hmm, do you still doubt that I'm not Alexander?"
"Stop reading my mind!"
"It's not my fault if there isn't a barrier that prevents me from seeing all kinds of information. Your mind is just one of the unnecessary pieces of information that is visible. Lyu, on the other hand, is the most unstable one here. I don't want anything from you, neither your bad nor your good, but something else belongs to me. That's Jin Hoxan. Yes, you're not an object. I'm talking about another kind of belonging. And it's your body that belongs to me."
"You…"
"It's not in terms of lust, but your body as a receptacle. That's why the cover of this story has your face with the name [receptacle×2] written on it. It's not random; even the story already exposes your essence, my receptacle. However, you are not Jin Hoxan, but your manifestation of a story I wrote, and it was meant to remain as it should be: just words in a story..."
Even with that information, Jin didn't change at all.
"Ha! So, does this give you permission to hurt my feelings? To you, I'm just the copy?"
Melon was the only one who wasn't understanding. He tried again to eat Jin, but his mouth was removed by Alexander.
Alexander still had his Alexander Adrilia appearance, but he was as white as white. He emanated an uncomfortable feeling to others, like a volatile substance slowly disappearing.
"I wouldn't say it's a copy... you are the materialization of what was written, not a copy. I liked Jin's Adventures and didn't interact with Jin and his adventures. Sometimes something should stay in the imagination, because it's cooler in the imagination than being tangible. Something basic for every human being: no one wants their delusions to be reality. There are some who will read it and disagree, but they want to be different from the majority."
Melon circled around Alexander, half worried about his missing mouth. How was he going to survive now?
"You won't starve."
Alexander went to kick Melon away, but he forgot, or pretended to forget, his body's current stature. A lot of red liquid spread everywhere, and a piece fell on Jin's head. It wasn't blood; since Melon was a watermelon, its liquid was just water and the characteristic red hue. Well, Melon was undone, but for a short time. Alexander brought it back, as nothing could have been brought back after being kicked by Alexander with his whole body in Cinz.
Melon looked at Alexander. Yeah, he doesn't have eyes, but he could still see without eyes. The need for an organ to see was irrelevant to Melon, as was the mouth, but Melon did not yet understand its own basic structure. With that, Alexander, with all his will, explained to Jin again that he was not a copy and in addition to other information about him and his world.
"…."
"I know what you're thinking. I'm not your father, Jin, or your creator. The rules of logic and narrative already existed. That doesn't mean you originate from me; at some point, your structure as a character would be made by another, since the rules allow that. But if you want to think that way… yes, you slept with your father and did a lot of things with him, right son?"
"Ah….! My head is in chaos right now… I'll just accept what you're saying… but Alexander… could you… no, can you do me a favor?"
"I can do that, but are you really okay with that? It would kind of make a change in you, only if your parents' deaths were an illusion… well, it doesn't matter anymore to mess up this story."
A light appeared in the form of a passage, and four people fell.
They were his mother, father, sister, and an acquaintance who was at Jin's parents' house during that portal attack. The four were confused, and Jin's mother was looking for him.
"Jin! Where are you!" said the woman who was Jin's mother, looking for him.
Without the ability of
"Mom… Dad… Clara… I, it's me, Jin… I'm so sorry…"
Jin hugged people he never thought he would hug again. An unlikely encounter in an unlikely situation.