Ais did not know what this skill meant, but she felt that it was not useless.
To understand what this skill was, she began translating its description. And after some time, she could understand what was written there:
«You can be whoever you want, but not yourself.»
But, having read this, she became even more confused than before. She did not understand what this skill did. Its description also did not give much. But if one thought logically, maybe this skill copied something? Maybe it copied someone's behavior?
Someone's behavior… Ais pondered, beginning to understand that, perhaps, because of this skill, he had changed so much in the last days. It was all because of this skill, but then how to explain his rapid growth? Was he that talented? But every training with him made her understand that this was closer to the truth, that his rapid growth was simply the result of his talent, and that was all.
Rustle.
Kopii stirred.
Without hesitation, Ais leaped away from Kopii, not taking her intent gaze off him.
Her thoughts raced at the speed of light. How was she to explain this situation to Kopii?
«What will Kopii think? Maybe I should knock him out again?» — Ais thought, looking for the best way to solve the problem, but she could not think of anything except knocking him out again.
But time passed, and she could not bring herself to act and kept hesitating, until she understood that he was still lying unconscious, not moving. Only his chest rose and fell, showing that he was still alive.
Without thinking long, she closed the distance, pulled his clothes back on him, trying with all her might to ignore his bare body, and covered him with a blanket. She looked at his peaceful face for a couple more minutes.
But her thoughts were far from this. She was pondering Kopii's skill. If her hypothesis was correct, then whom had he copied, and had it happened before? And the main question that interested Ais: how strong was his skill, or was this its limit?
Copying someone's personality… If that was true — the limit of his skill… Then it was already a curse, not a gift. Copying someone's personality, forgetting your own, or fully changing it.
Every time, forgetting your true self.
But that would only happen if, of course, she had correctly understood what his skill was capable of. But, gathering all the information together:
How he had changed over the last days, the name of his skill and its description, the chance that her hypothesis would prove correct was quite significant. So, she should already know what to do next. If his skill was to copy someone's personality, then what could she do?
And maybe it was not so bad? After all, he had recognized me back then… The memories were still with him. He just might start behaving a little differently. And most importantly — whom had he copied? Copied some pervert? Why? Either his skill acted completely randomly. Which meant that right now, Kopii might no longer be Kopii.
Staring intently at Kopii's sleeping face, which was free of all worries.
She did not want this. That, she knew for sure. She did not want him to change. Imagining how he kept changing, changing his habits, his speech, his attitude towards her. And so on, all the time, until he fully lost himself.
The more Ais thought about Kopii's skill, the more she understood that his skill was a pure curse. There was zero benefit from it, but too many minuses, and they were significant.
Rustle.
— Ah.
But her thoughts were interrupted by Kopii, who began slowly waking.
Kopii's eyes began to twitch, and after a second, his eyelids began to rise. And the first thing Ais saw was his usual black eyes. They were the same as always.
But before she could exhale in relief, they began filling with color, until they became completely black. Unconsciously, she reached for her belt, but, feeling emptiness, she immediately remembered that her sword was far from her, — casting a glance at it. Trying to pull herself together, so as not to repeat the same mistakes as before and act on emotions, she did not want that anymore. So she wanted to first hear Kopii's justifications. Maybe his justifications would put everything back in its place.
First person, Ais.
Our gazes met. I tried with all my might to hold myself back from reckless actions.
…
…
Not waiting for him to speak, I spoke:
— Black eyes… I want to know.
From Kane's perspective.
The last thing I remember was how I fought Ais and lost, just like Kopii, but unlike him, I made her draw her sword from its sheath, but, of course, not the sword that I would have wanted her to draw; well, whatever. In such a short time, I achieved more than Kopii had in all his time.
But right now, that was not important, because I had to figure out what to do next. And for now, luck was on my side, because Kopii had woken up, but he kept lying with his eyes closed.
And while Ais did not understand, I had to come up with a perfect excuse, because I clearly remembered the expression on her face when she saw my eyes. So I had to give it my all, to come up with an excuse.
But I absolutely did not know what to say, what could mislead her? And why? — I immediately thought. Why not just tell the truth? Well, that is, half-truth.
To say that it was all because of the skill, and that was it. But then she might doubt me. Which could lead to an even worse result…
Well, whatever. What will be, will be. I can only hope she won't kill me.
Beginning to slowly seize power over the body.
Well, before I could fully seize power, Kopii opened his eyes. And I saw a blurry figure. I did not have to think long about who it was; I knew from the very beginning who it was. And when my vision normalized, I saw Ais's empty face, too emotionless, which frightened me a little.
Before I could recover, I felt that I could move.
And then I realized what danger I was in. She had just seen how Kopii's eyes changed. Won't she attack me again? I had counted on fully seizing power over the body, and only then opening my eyes.
But Kopii had completely ruined my plans.
«Damn, even in this state, the bastard!» — I thought. I had to come up with what to say to Ais.
…
…
But nothing came to my head. I simply did not understand how to start this conversation. I could hope that she would start the dialogue first.
— Black eyes… I want to know.
– … Well...
…
— I don't know myself, to be honest.
I wanted to smile, to soften the atmosphere, but, seeing the look she was giving me, I immediately continued:
— I don't know when and why; they just appeared unexpectedly, and that's all.
…
But, seeing how she kept silent, and with every word of mine, her eyes squinted more and more, I began to worry more and more about what could happen now. Of course, I understood that all my attempts to resist would be in vain.
«But maybe I'll at least have a chance to run away… no, unlikely,» — I thought, looking straight into her eyes and understanding this truth.
She opened her mouth, about to say something, but then closed it, never uttering a word. Not waiting for her to speak, I spoke again:
— You know, I consulted with Miach on this question… Well…
— Well, what?
— Well, we came to one conclusion: that my changes are connected with my skill.
Saying this, I saw how her face stretched in surprise.