Huh?
That was the exact sentiment echoing in my mind as I gazed across the dining hall, my eyes locking onto a girl who was essentially my doppelganger.
It was as if I was staring into a mirror, but instead of reflecting my own visage, it revealed a identical twin, whose presence was both astonishing and unnerving.
My mind was a jumbled mess of emotions, like a washing machine on spin cycle, as I struggled to process this surreal scene.
I nearly tumbled off my chair, turkey leg still clutched in my hands, my brain wrestling to comprehend the sheer absurdity of it all.
'Echo!!' I yelled in my mind, demanding an explanation. 'Care to explain?'
There was a brief moment of silence before Echo's systematic feminine voice chimed in my head, feigning ignorance.
{Explain what?} she said.
I shot back, my mental voice tinged with exasperation.
'Don't play dumb with me.'
Echo's response was a masterclass in sass:
{Fine, genius. She's your sister, twin sister to be precise. Her name is Glory.}
My eyes widened in shock, my mind reeling with the implications.
"What! I nearly shouted, but restrained myself, taking a moment to compose my thoughts.
My twin, Glory, was a stunner - I couldn't deny it.
I needed to get Eden's memory fast, to avoid any more awkward encounters.
I mean, who wants to be caught off guard by their identical twin? Not me, that's for sure.
Thanks to all the cliche novels about reincarnation I'd read back on Earth, I knew I'd eventually receive Eden's memories.
But the problem was, I knew next to nothing about Eden.
All I knew was that he died early in the arc after making a pact with a demon.
That was it. I had no idea what his life was like, what he was like, or what kind of relationships he had.
It was all a blank slate.
I took another bite of my turkey, savoring the flavors, and continued eating, trying to play it cool.
As I ate, Glory, which was now my sister & twin walked over to the dining table, her movements fluid and effortless, like a ballerina gliding across the stage.
She took a seat opposite me, and I felt like I was staring into a mirror, but one that was alive, breathing, and utterly fascinating.
The silence between us was palpable, like a thick fog that refused to lift.
I was too hungry to care, though, and continued eating, sneaking glances at my twin.
She just sat there, watching me with a look of curiosity and a hint of shock, but it was well hidden.
A turkey still glued to my mouth, I removed my gaze from her and continued eating. What? You expected me to stop just because of someone, nahh I was really hungry man and the food, oh! God! It's delicious.
As I was about to dive into details on how each dish tasted, Her eyes locked onto mine, but I kept on eating, savoring the flavors, my hunger taking priority over the awkwardness of the situation.
Just then, the maid I met earlier, who had also served me this well-crafted feast I was devouring, came into view.
She gave a warm smile to my sister as she brought her food, the aroma of roasted vegetables and herbs wafting through the air.
My sister's gaze finally shifted away from mine, and she smiled warmly in return to the maid, thanking her for the meal.
The maid, pleased with the appreciation, curtsied elegantly, her skirts fluttering around her ankles.
"You're welcome, milady," she said, her voice sweet and melodious.
With a final smile, she turned and left, her footsteps light and effortless as she glided out of the dining hall.
As the maid departed, My sister's gaze returned to mine, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. I, however, remained focused on my food, determined to enjoy every last bite of this sumptuous feast.
Eventually she finally broke her gaze away from mine and began eating her own meal.
But, to my surprise, her dish consisted only of vegetables - no meat in sight. I guessed she was a vegan, then.
Who was I to judge, though? I was too busy devouring my own food like a ravenous beast.
But then, something caught my eye on her dish - a beautifully roasted fish, its golden-brown skin glistening in the light.
My stomach growled in anticipation, and my taste buds began to tango with excitement.
I had no idea what kind of fish it was, but I knew it would be divine.
She noticed where I was looking and, to my surprise, spoke up, "Would you like to have it?" Using her cutlery, she pointed to the fish, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
A part of me wanted to say no, to be polite and courteous, but my stomach was having none of it.
I couldn't let down a lady with her generous offer, or maybe, as Echo suddenly chimed in,
{ You're just a thief, I'd rather raise a boar than you. You just ate a whole feast that could feed 20 people, by the way.}
I ignored her jibe and gave Glory my best devilish smile. "I don't mind if I do."
I took the fish from her plate and took a bite. Oh, God! It was like a symphony of flavors on my palate - the tender flesh, the crispy skin, the subtle sweetness of the seasoning... I felt like I was floating on cloud nine, my taste buds doing the cha cha slide in joy.
After what felt like an eternity, I finally finished eating, my stomach groaning in protest at its newfound capacity.
I was stuffed to the brim, like a Thanksgiving turkey, ready to burst at the seams.
On the opposite end of the table, my sister was also done with her dish, but she remained seated, her face calm and serene, waiting for one of us to start a conversation.
I, on the other hand, was still sitting down.
I know you're probably wondering why I was still sitting there, even after finishing my meal.
Well, let me tell you, it wasn't because I was planning on engaging in a profound conversation with my twin.
No, it was because I was literally stuck to my seat, my stomach overflowing like a bursting dam. I was a ticking time bomb, a culinary catastrophe waiting to happen.
I felt like a beached whale, stranded on the shores of Gluttony, unable to move or escape the consequences of my actions.
My stomach was protesting, my taste buds were doing the tango, and I was just sitting there, smiling like a Cheshire cat, too full to care.
I was a food coma waiting to happen, a gastronomic disaster of epic proportions.
But eventually, I was the one who broke the silence, because this girl was ready to just sit still and stare at me all day.
"Got something to say?" I tried to make my voice as calm as possible.
She replied, "Nothing, I'm just surprised that... it's been ages since you ever came here to eat.
You normally ate in your room, so seeing you here today was a shock to me, but nice as well, because I mostly eat alone here too."
I said, "Okay," because, honestly, there was nothing much for me to say until I recovered at least some of Eden's memories.
I couldn't go on yapping nonsense.
Finally gathering all the strength I had in me, I stood up, planning to head towards my room, when my sister suddenly spoke up,
"I got something to say." I gave her a nod of approval for her to continue.
"I know you might get angry about this, but... we've been given admissions to Silvermist Academy," she said, her voice hesitant, as if she was waiting for me to explode.
My mind went blank, like a canvas waiting to be painted with dread.
Ah, so soon, I thought, I still had some time left. Silvermist Academy, the very words sent shivers down my spine.
That's where the first arc in the game began, and most of the other arcs as well.
The memories of Eden's life were still foggy, but I knew this much.
"Alright," I said to her, trying to sound nonchalant, despite the storm brewing inside me.
My sister seemed surprised by my response, expecting a tantrum, perhaps.
But I wasn't Eden; I had other things that needed my attention.
"When will we be leaving for the academy?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Tomorrow," she replied, and I nearly fell, my world spinning like a top.
Tomorrow? Why tomorrow? What day was it, anyway? Different thoughts crossed my mind, like a jumble of tangled threads.
Then I heard Echo's voice chiming calmly in my head,
{Relax, snowflake, one step at a time. Besides, was it the first day at the academy that Eden died?}
'No,' I replied, my mind racing with thoughts. But it was in the first arc... My sister's words brought me back from my train of thoughts.
"Are you okay?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
I looked at her, trying to compose myself, but my mind was a maelstrom of emotions, a whirlpool of dread and uncertainty.
The words "Silvermist Academy" echoed in my mind, like a death knell, a harbinger of doom.
"I'm fine, just a bit surprised we'll be going to the academy tomorrow," I said, my voice steady, but my mind racing like a runaway train.
"You didn't read your mails because I sent you the details when we got the admission and when we'll be leaving for the academy' she replied.
Oh! I scratched the back of my head, feeling like a ship without a rudder, lost in uncharted waters.
I had no idea I was sent an early notice, and I don't even know the kind of technology this world uses, do I even have a phone?
The question hung in the air like a challenge, a gauntlet thrown down, daring me to confront the unknown.
{You're zoning out again}
Echo's voice chimed in, a gentle reminder that I was drifting away.
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. Turning to face my sister, who still looked at me with concern etched on her face, i managed a weak smile.
"Thank you for the information."
She nodded, her eyes still clouded with concern, as I turned back to leave. But then, I stopped and replied with a glance over my shoulder.
"It was nice having dinner with you"
And with that, I left, the words "Silvermist Academy" echoing in my mind like a refrain, a constant reminder of the challenges that lay ahead.
As I got to my room, I dove into my soft bed. "Ahh, what a stressful day it has been."
{There was nothing stressful about the day, you're just being lazy},
Echo chimed in, her voice as dry as the Sahara desert.
'Give me a break. It hasn't even been 48 hours since I got reincarnated into this world. I'm still reeling from the culture shock.'
{Well, I'll give it to you, your mental fortitude is quite strong, you can rest, because tomorrow onwards is going to be a very bumpy ride}
'You really know how to lift someone's spirit'. Your bedside manner is a work of art.
You should put it on a pedestal and charge admission.'
Just as I was about to close my eyes, I heard a ding sound in my head, like the tolling of a funeral bell, and a digital, futuristic screen flickered in front of me. "Memory Syncing... 'NeuroBlend'", the screen read, the words dancing in front of me.
"Oh, come on! Why now! This is going to hurt, right?"
{You have no idea}
And with that, an old friend started coming back - the strong headache that had plagued me when I first woke up in this world, and also when I first got my system.
The pain began to build, like a tsunami wave crashing on the shore, threatening to engulf me whole.
My head started to throb, like a drumbeat in a primitive ritual, and I felt like I was drowning in a sea of agony, like a sailor swept overboard in a stormy sea.
The memories started to flood back, like a dam breaking, and I felt my mind struggling to keep up, like a juggler trying to juggle too many balls.
And then, everything went black.
I felt my consciousness slipping away, like sand between my fingers, and I was gone, lost in a sea of darkness, my body limp and lifeless, my mind a complete blank.
I had passed out, overwhelmed by the sheer force of my memories and the pain that came with them.