I was unconscious for long enough to be transported back home, and for the first words I heard upon awakening to be "Brothers shouldn't make their sisters worry so much." Backed by the sound of Fala dropping something and starting to cry.
"Did I oversleep?" I joked, still barely conscious. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I would have preferred Fala to be the one to greet me, her bedside manner is much better." Whereupon Eve then told me I didn't have enough breath left in me to waste on jokes, and I asked how many it would take to grant my old friend's wish, which left her utterly clueless as to what I meant.
She eventually realised though that I must have been referencing the memories I had passed on to Tyrland, which was a good sign that peace had been maintained and told me not to make such jokes, but her expression told me she knew I wasn't, then told Fala to enact the plan, leaving me as clueless as I had her.
"Everyone wants to talk to you, but you need to recuperate so I'm going to restrict visiting hours, keep you knocked out at certain times and have you eat and stretch your body at others." Which was exactly what we did, and it took another two weeks for me to have the strength to move normally, which was when she told Fala to bring the plan to an end.
Not long after, everyone bundled in, but I pushed through them and grabbed Sil.
"At the next summit, I will tell everything I know, you will do the same, if you refuse I will kill you, so run if you have no intention of doing so.I haven't the strength to chase you and I don't want more blood on my hands because you drove me to madness."
When someone, though I don't quite remember who, shook off the shock at my outburst long enough, they asked "What do you mean about blood on your hands because she drove you to madness?". My head threatened to split open, though it didn't feel the same as my usual headaches, but simply overexertion after what was essentially a coma. After that brief moment of excitement, everything then faded to black again.
I slept for a further three days and earned a slap, though luckily only to the shoulder, when I awoke. Eve had clearly been crying already, but restarted after she struck me, leaving me with an inexplicable warmth spreading through me. She wasn't happy when I told them to leave me be either, but after I explained she needed to distance herself from me between then and the summit as a matter of duty, she reluctantly agreed.
Fala then told me to take care of myself, before she followed Eve. Clearly angry, both because I worried her and how I spoke to Sil and Eve and not to say I have favourites, but I nearly took it all back. Resisting the illusory compulsion that the girl made others feel to make her happy, I remained alone, recovering as any human would. Until finally the day came for the summit. Halsan, Leeson and Byurik came to collect me, declaring that Sil had fled, along with Sinfree of course.
Tears I didn't know the meaning to streamed ceaselessly from my eyes, then Halsan stated bluntly that he didn't think I cared for the girl.
It felt similar to the effects of deep rooted bewitchment, but any effect she had imposed on me should have long faded. Yet I found myself speaking words that almost felt compelled. "She was everything to me. Wait, nothing, she was nothing to me, but for some reason that hurts more than anything." I looked him in the eyes, and he could hardly stand to meet my gaze.
I then wiped my eyes and stood, gesturing for them to lead the way as though nothing had happened.
Before I knew it we were at the summit, the demon king approached and asked how I fared, but I just asked him what he meant as the idea of my own state of being was unknown to me. My peculiar response clearly filled all four of them with concern as to my state of mind.
I didn't know what I should have been feeling, but the emotional blank I was drawing I could only imagine was the effect of unifying with the fragment of myself. Everyone was on edge, those who had known me prior could see I'd changed, and those who didn't were influenced by the tension anyway. None of that was my concern though, I was completely focused on my emotions, I was definitely drawing a blank, but it felt so normal and it reminded me of those moments where your tongue suddenly feels uncomfortable in your mouth.
Suddenly Halsan suggested that with everyone present, it may be beneficial to get things underway, citing that I may still require rest and he was unsure how long I could keep myself upright and lucid. His decisive rushing was a mercy, I was struggling to figure out my own mind, wondering if the comatose state had left my weakened body with brain damage.
Everyone gathered in the same hall where we held the first conference, though I was surprised to see how much more it had developed. "Dont forget you have been out of commission a good while now, take things slow, things may seem different but we're all here for you." Leeson spoke, comforting me as he would a soldier after an extended campaign.
After a brief overview of the agenda, Halsan called Tyrland to speak first. From what I gathered from his speech, he had reviewed the memories I gave him of my time in this world, or rather since I reawakened and spent a good deal of time scrutinising them, noting them and evaluating them to prepare for something big. In the state I found myself in though, I was struggling to follow, but knew he was about to throw something my way, just as Eve had with the Kanelsian Commander.
He gestured toward me suddenly, at least it was sudden to me in my torpor, and called me a liar.
Everyone gasped dramatically, looking at me for a moment before discussing it quietly, all I could wonder is what I had lied about. I then realised that it would be more apt to ask what lie specifically he was referring to, it certainly wasn't a false accusation.
The gathered people were confused, and I had no easy answer, simply telling them wouldn't change anything but I couldn't let them keep bickering. I stood and asked Tyrland for the stand, he relinquished it without issue, and even bowed as he returned to his seat.
"I am a liar, I lied about many things, for many reasons. Reasons that are now redundant nuisances, with which I am done." I cracked my neck, hoping the simple act would clear away some of the fogginess in my mind. Unfortunately that wasn't the case, but at least the chattering stopped, and one man asked how they can believe the words of a liar, which I responded to by saying they couldn't and nor could we waste time on my recounting.
Then I prepared another memory orb, thankful that my magic was not as diminished as my body and asked if anyone wanted to go first, but warned them of the horrors they may witness.
It wasn't a complete history, but quite a comprehensive one, and it included my plan to warp time. When Demon King Tyrland volunteered to go first, he responded to questions of authenticity by stating if I could alter memories I would have done so before, and I passed the orb to him.
"You spoke with a god!?" His exclamation caused quite a stir, particularly from the Abelegian theocrats, but he corrected himself as he coughed into his hand. It was poor form afterall for a dignitary to lose composure in a formal assembly.
Eve then stood and volunteered to go next, in spite of both my advice to be indifferent toward me and the older man who sat next to her. Who he was, I could not be sure, but it was clear they were closer than simply people of rank from the same nation. She batted his hand away whilst telling the man, who I quickly learned to be her father, that she thought of me as a brother and would not be so fickle as to stop without reason.
I could only add to the already abundant supply of clichés in response, striking my face with my palm, like an older sibling watching their younger admit to their wrongdoing. "I knew he was linked to the gods, one asked me to save them. I don't know why he chased Sil off, but I know he has his reasons."
As she was held in place with no way to reach the orb, one man claimed I had seduced her, which was a blessing in disguise. As if sharing a single mind we both turned and said "Ew!", apparently the synchronized display of childishness caught everyone unexpected enough for Eve to slip through and take the orb.
A moment later she came out of the trance the orb induced, mimicking Tyrland's response as she fell toward him, taking everyone (including me) by surprise as she slapped him to the ground. Much to the utter disbelief of everyone but me, who was used to her acting like noble etiquette and rules didn't exist.
She then told him lying and not knowing the truth were different things, I quickly grabbed her shoulders, moving her so I was between her and the king who was surrounded by angry retainers. Retainers I recognised as his four highest ranking subordinates who accompanied us to the gory mess of Kanelsia's throne room.
"Nooo. Eve, that's what we call an international incident, we don't do those, Ok?" I spoke in a patronising tone as the king admitted that he had probably been more dramatic than necessary, but he just got nervous in front of humans, making me wonder why I found them so delightful.
Suddenly Eve's father was reminded of the overarching issues and demanded an end to our shenanigans, but I don't think any of us expected her to chuck the orb at him.
By that stage however I was expecting him to come out of the trance mentioning the god, which he did, but I just said we were wasting time repeating ourselves and to pass the orb along to whoever was next.
It took a while for the orb to be passed around to everyone, but when it did, the real meeting could begin. Halsan asked if my plan had remained unchanged, and I said that I wasn't sure. I may have formulated that plan but then the god's words cast it into doubt almost immediately.
"There are memories still lost to me, important ones. The god said it was cleaning up the mess of two fools, I am one, but the second has several possibilities."
They asked who I thought could be fool number two, and I shrugged before listing my suspects.
Sil, the trainee judge whose entire existence is secret, as are her motivations and plans.
Idir, the comrade turned traitor, and also the one who helped me formulate the plan. Not to mention the newly disembodied soul that had latched onto mine in the latest chapter of a story that should have rightfully ended eons prior.
God, the cosmic narcissist, the one that began this cycle on a whim after his pride was wounded.
Myself, or in other words, it could have just been a reference to me and my split consciousness.
Finally, Eve, the High Priestess who had been contacted by a god and who managed to form such an unnaturally strong bond with me so quickly, but at least I had a way to rule her out.
"Eve, was the god in my memory, the same one who spoke to you before?" Unfortunately, Eve shook her head, saying they sounded similar but the one that spoke to her was fearful, not angry and frustrated.
"That means the god could be angry with me for getting involved." Eve surmised my thoughts and considerations as well as I had come to expect her to. The potential of a god being angry at the high priestess of Abelegia caused a stir until the Demon king spoke up, telling everyone to forget it for now.
I couldn't help but laugh, it was bold and blunt in equal measure, but good advice all the same since we had no way of knowing what it meant. "These gods seem as varied as us and each with their own objectives and ideals. The only one I know we can't trust is the one that sent Teacher, they seem too impetuous to trust."
One of the nobles nodded, accepting his words as considered and true before turning an eye on me, asking if I suspected Sil then why did I send her off.
I suggested that should be obvious, but everybody's blank stares proved me wrong so I spelt it out, explaining that she possessed the same strength and potential I have enjoyed since my first reincarnation.
A couple of them put the pieces together with that and groaned as I continued for those still not following, reminding them that my physical strength was now average and I was experiencing extreme fatigue.
When one of those who witnessed the Kanelsian attack at the first summit asked if that meant I was no longer able to fight as I had before.
"I still have the skills I refined over all my lifetimes, but my endurance, strength, agility and reactions will need retraining. "In other words, it's a good thing we no longer have any wars left to fight, because I can't afford to hold back." My not so subtle threat caused yet another wave of chattering, but I cut through it as I asked about the overall state of the continent.
The true state of affairs was hard to hear, with the death toll of the war far greater than I expected, at which point I revealed a depressing hypothesis. I revealed my doubt that Idir was responsible for the war, and stirred the pot further, but I think it should have been obvious given the madness that consumed him.
The demon king agreed, although clumsy, if the demons had known about Abelegia's current status they would have taken the false warning seriously. One of the foreign lords asked Tyrland if there was anything other than outdated information that made them distrust the perpetrators.
"Instinct mostly, we are good at sensing hostility and power, so I could tell they weren't average humans. They had strange complexions also, greyish with novel ink markings on their skin." The description was familiar, reminiscent of something I learned of in the knowledge of this world. A race from across the farwater known as Nephlata, though I didn't know much about them.
I expressed the note as a curious hypothesis and everyone suddenly fell silent, as I ducked my head and nudged Eve. "Was it something I said?" I spoke the words as a whisper into her ear, and she zapped me with magic worse than ever before, making me slump to my knees.
She then explained that Nephlata are known there by more than Dragon folk because they are the only known people to have traversed the far water. I made a quick attempt at remarking on how I had forgotten that was an impressive feat, but was quickly assaulted and scolded for being an idiot, much to the gathering's amusement.
As it turned out the Nephlata once controlled everything, as a crossbreed of devils and divines, they possessed incredible power and maintained balance in all things. The truly confusing thing in all this for myself was what the hell that meant. Races were massively diverse, but all had sound science behind their origins, namely evolution and mana based mutation. So, I had absolutely no idea what was meant by devils and divines, could it be that some gods got sick and joined the mortal world?
Clearing her throat to pull me out of my thinking, she explained that as they spread out and secured territory and resources though, something was discovered on the continent I found myself on and inspired them to abandon it.
One man asked if it could have been Idir that made them flee, it was certainly possible, an immortal abomination that used corpse manipulation would have been an insurmountable challenge for anyone without the soulflayer magic I created for god and other immortal beings.
I wished Idir was still infesting my mind to ask him, but that was merely hopeful thinking. I could still sense him, but he was far too depleted to be able to communicate simply because I wished to.
I then remembered something that might be an alternative, I returned to my feet as I pondered how to phrase what I had to say. I looked around the room for something to illustrate what I was trying to say, and then caught sight of the memory orb, which was magic I created a long time ago and inspired the very thing I was wanting to explain. Eventually needing Eve to smack me out of my own head again as I reminisced about producing it in my first reincarnation, the fact it was just my graduation project from the magic academy I attended making me chuckle.
I produced another orb, but one that behaved differently, then conjured some hot chocolate and marshmallows. My audience was bewildered, but I told them to return to their seats and not make a sound until I was done with my snack. However, I very quickly had to emphasise that I was not just snacking I wanted to show them something. Those who knew me could tell I was actually trying to regain my quickly fading strength as well though.
The reason I had to elaborate was an approaching angry sister figure still too angry with her dismissal to let me off any hook easily, she backed down only after Tyrland whispered something to her, I then ate and drank as I planned then recorded the experience in the orb.
I then threw it to Eve whose mouth had begun watering at the sweet smelling liquid. As she touched it, the orb disintegrated and she began commenting on how sweet and creamy the drink tasted, as well as the soft squishiness of the white balls.
I then explained that I once showed memory magic to a man who became obsessed with the idea of eternal memories, going on to see his dream realised.
"The orbs he created could be filled with not just memory, but sensory information, they could also be used without magic and were completely indestructible to everything except me." I hadn't yet considered them, but since I was still in that same world, it was possible one of them had been discovered, even if the chances were infinitesimal.
Halsan asked if it was possible that the Nephlata took the orb with them, or if it would be immovable.
I shrugged then said it would certainly be possible for them to move one, they only weighed about as much as a smithy's hammer and were made during a time where magic was absent.
I then said I doubted they took it, everyone blinked as Eve's father asked why I would think that. "Simple, because I destroyed that civilization after they decided to make something that would have destroyed the entire universe called The Everlife."
They wouldn't understand the concept of matter formation, the atomic theory behind it, or the notion of everything being held together by the unseen force I knew as covalent bonds.
With that in mind I had no choice but to simplify it so grossly I could feel every physicist who ever lived, roll in their grave, especially since the creation in question actually took those things to a completely different level.
I described it as something which could bind people to the very idea of life, and objects to the state of existing itself. When they asked why that was so bad I had to keep my temper from bubbling over, I gave my signature exasperated sigh and pointed out that my plan would have locked the world in its current state.
"So your plan is similar? But then how is it different?"
I was grateful for the question since it meant they were done jumping to conclusions, then noted the key difference that they were going to make themselves immortal, but not sterilize themselves.
"The world is vast, the universe vaster still, but nothing is infinite except the gods who made it all. Whether it was an age or a measure of time longer than my story had spanned, eventually they would be a race of undying which knew only endless, unimaginable suffering."
They understood my reasoning but they obviously thought differently than I did. Several asked me if they couldn't have simply used the Everlife to undo what they had done.
"God sentenced me to my endless reincarnation for complaining. They were purposefully trespassing in their domain, and I could feel fury far beyond what I inspired growing beyond whatever veil separated us."
Eve interjected, correctly guessing that I believed god would have stopped them correcting things, and probably also condemned me to the same fate for not judging them in time.
I glanced in her direction and it was clear that she could feel my remorse for what I had done. I had after all befriended many people of that world, but they were insatiable in their desire for scientific epiphany. I added that the man who created the A.R.Ks, or archival resonance keystones, was the only one I managed to convince to end Everlife, and in the end begged me to do what I could.
That was when a particularly astute lord asked how I managed to create a magic orb in a magic absent world in the first place. Finding myself so surprised by the man's awareness, I blinked dumbly for a second, caught off-guard that someone was able to notice that detail amidst the avalanche of information.
"Magic absent worlds, or periods rather, lack atmospheric magic needed to cast large scale spells, but they do possess mana infused objects and places."
The man was intrigued, and made note of my explanation, then looked up eagerly as he asked what I call periods with no magic at all.
I felt a little bad, when I simply said "Boring, duh." I could practically see his enthusiasm die and Eve's laughing was twisting the knife and salting the wound. With his enthusiasm regarding my categorisation of things quashed, he turned his interest toward how I destroyed the Everlife.
I gritted my teeth, I didn't know why but I couldn't quite remember all the details and admitted as much. "All I know for sure is I didn't. It was essentially a man-made god, all I could do was teach it and hope the god didn't get involved directly."
People wanted to know what I taught it, but I simply couldn't remember, and many didn't find that to be a satisfying answer.
Mental overload, tiredness, and several different brands of anxiety began to cloud minds with animosity, not that I could have blamed them for being angry, especially after finding out I had taught an artificial deity things I couldn't remember teaching.
"Judging by the fact he was able to wipe them out, It's fair to assume that he successfully dissuaded this Everlife from granting such wishes, I should imagine it wants what all students want." Eve's father was a teacher of faith in his youth, though he taught many subjects at the academy which many foreign nationals attended and as such, his opinion carried a lot of weight.
When another of the representatives who attended the first summit asked him to elaborate, he said it was always one of two things, "Either pride in their growth or to surpass their teacher." He glared at me, not maliciously, but a subtle warning that I may have made a far greater enemy of Sil than I believed when I essentially robbed her of any hope of her teacher being proud.
I stood up and aired my opinion that we had covered too much in short order, expressing fear we were making the task of processing our discussions difficult, requesting a break until the following day. Almost everybody agreed, but one individual insisted I answer one final question before we do so.
"What do you think is the best course of action at this juncture?"
"At this time, I believe the best course is for me to alter time for a short period rather than indefinitely, allowing us to regroup and recover before I begin retracing the Nephlata's steps."
The same woman asked how long is a short term and I asked how long it would take to repair damage from the war and to resupply.
When they said about five years, I agreed that was a good estimate and said it would take me about ten years to explore the continent without travel restrictions.
Everyone looked at each other, the silent language of political prodigies I lacked a talent for.
When they had finished the conversation I was excluded from, Halsan announced that for four years they would spread word to everyone they could reach, advise abstinence on the fourth and I should carry it out on the fifth anniversary of my arrival.
Then someone suggested that I keep time altered for fifteen years, making me hesitate as I explained I could try but there was a good chance I would need to start and stop it manually.
As I interrupted to admit my surprise at them agreeing to such drastic measures so quickly, Tyrland, Halsan and Eve's father each took a turn to give me a reason respectively.
"If the Everlife is paying attention, you doing something like that will draw it out."
"Sil will show her hand one way or another, and almost certainly provide a clue as to her motives."
"My daughter will insist on journeying with you, you can train her in the meantime, she's far too stubborn and far too attached to you not to."
Halsan then admitted the point that with my physical power so limited, a party would be vital, which spurred Byurik to action as he volunteered to accompany me.
A sentiment I rejected as we jumped into a spat signalling those gathered that serious discussion had concluded for the day.
When they had all left barring those I was on a first name basis with, I collapsed announcing that I wasn't sure they were picking up on my hints.
Byurik laughed, stating that he only realised when I suggested the break.
Eve smirked, triumphantly declaring she realised when I had to have a snack before infusing the altered magic core, continuing to say that I would have normally slapped myself and trick them into feeling it. Tyrland stared at her as he wondered if she was really going to lie so blatantly.
Halsan sighed and commented that he wasn't surprised how close we were if she thought as sadistically as that, clearly not picking up on how she truly had no clue until someone told her.
I then asked what happened to us not telling anyone, and she blamed Tyrland for forcing her hand, then zapped me again as I mocked her for being such a caring little sister.
Mildra remained serious, saying that Byurik may not be an option but as guild master he would be a good man to whittle down the inevitable volunteers to a shortlist of promising candidates for final selection at my discretion.
"And what will this band of fate-defying heroes be called?" Tyrland asked, knowing that a name would give it the gravitas all grand undertakings require..
"Candor. Seems appropriate given I am no longer a Liar." I added as much emphasis as I possibly could to make him feel bad. After a moment of thought, I looked to Kriel, asking if he wanted to join me. He was taken aback initially, then yelled at me for asking him to abandon his duty without asking his lord.
I said since a human got a free pass, a demon should get one two so no unintended messages were sent. "Besides, you know Sinfree, you'll be a valuable asset if we come across them."
Kriel tried to deny it, but I just said I already named us Candor so there was no room for lies, then told him I had no intentions of prying into their shared history.
Tyrland put a hand on his shoulder, conceding that I had a point about messages, but said he wouldn't be forced to go whilst he pointed out that going could also see them fight one another in a way that warned me to think things through.
He then asked his king if was allowed to hit me when I annoyed him, and in response to my objection, simply asked what message it sends that the human could but not him.
I dragged myself weakly to my feet, placed a hand on his shoulder and told him it meant I was honest about having favourites and since I wasn't really human my favouritism wasn't an issue.
At which point Eve just told him to ask her to do it and zapped me again, catching me as the last of my strength disappeared, which told me she did it to get me out of there and back home to rest.
She regretted it however as she awkwardly held my full weight up alone, waiting for Tyrland to finish releasing Kriel from his obligations and help get me home.
Whilst this was happening Byurik and Halsan were celebrating the fact I would be under constant supervision. My voice was a raspy whisper as I tried to project it "Correction, we're both under Kriel's supervision, so send the complaints to him."
My announcement came as the demon king finished retasking him to work with me as a member of Candor, leaving him frustrated as he had to bring the arm in motion to a stop a tad shy from the back of my head.
Now my subordinate by royal command, Kriel reluctantly assisted Eve in getting me home.