Chapter 87: Self-Betrayal

87

In exactly four days in the future; yet another grand epiphany will be unveiled. The mishaps that had transpired at one of the Government's bureaucratic districts would happen exactly on this Thursday, 2024—the time at which the Great Rendell—keeper of all magic—was murdered.

____

Jin loomed in the benighted corner of his room; peering at a being who laid upon his bed. He anticipated the rouse of this figure. Why was this figure still loitering amidst his house every single night? Why couldn't he—at long last—withdraw for all of eternity. He scowled.

Then, his stoicism had been shrouded when his anger became apparent. His face scrunched, wrinkling in infuriation. Why couldn't this person die already?

***

Jin had flown up from yet another nightmare in the middle of the night. He bolted upright; panting. Out of breath. His eyes kept sweeping the room relentlessly; all in search for the monsters that lingered in his dreams.

If he wasn't dreaming about monsters. He'd dream about the people he killed. He could not wash his hands of the sixteen murders he's committed; including … homicide of his own family.

Jin was himself tonight. Then again, he would usually be at times of indefinite slumber, but never when roused. He constantly tossed his pupils around the room, apprehensive. "Who's there?"

Then, his pupils froze when they met a figure looming in the dark corner of his room. His paranoid, shocked look transitioned to a glare. He stood, edging away from the bed, and toward the figure in the corner of his room.

***

Jin, standing still in the corner of his room, peered at a figure, shrouded by the benighted. The figure had been approaching him, coming his way. What could he expect from this?

The figure had never approached him before—never.

He watched as this figure walked into the light; his identity being revealed. His face; though in deep shades of darkness at some points; were identical to that of his.

Jin's lips parted as he stared at the figure who he had deemed 'inferior'. What did this 'figure' want from him? Why couldn't he just disappear?

"I won't disappear," the figure suddenly replied to one of Jin's thoughts. He glared mortally at him; unblinkingly.

Jin facepalmed. "C'mon. Don't you see I'm for the betterment of us? Don't you see that?"

The figure had finally blinked. It averted its eyes. "I do."

"You do? Then why do you always come out when I finally decide to take a rest?" Jin asked; peering into the figure's eyes.

"Because you haven't entirely taken over yet," the figure replied, "And you won't ever. I'm a soul. You're an altered personality of mine—shaped from sheer experiences and emotions. But no matter what, I'll always be the gist.

"You can't prevent that. So I'd suggest you stop plotting against me while watching me slumber in my own house. My friends. It's been a while since I've talked to my friends the way I did in the past. We've changed, Jin.

"You're taking everything away from me. But you'll never ever take away my existence. You'll come close, but you'll never succeed."

Jin averted his eyes. He believed what the figure was saying. He heaved. Why couldn't this figure see what he was doing? He was doing it for the betterment of them. He was getting stronger for both himself and the people he cared about. They needed to become cold. The world spat in their faces; now it was time to fight back and hold ground. However; Jin believed that the only way he could've done this was by eradicating all pity and weakness from the mind and heart. But … looking at himself in the face; he could certainly tell that it was impossible. He was but a personality alone; and in the heart—Jin would always be at least an iota of what he was before.

Suddenly; a screen manifested before Jin. He felt his heart throb aggressively against his chest. He had been getting a lot of points, given that both Sylvia and Ashton were under his spell—just according to his scheme.

He looked at the screen; and immediately froze in shock.

[Spell Detected]

[You are under the spell: Deceptive Delusion]

'Me? Under my own spell?'

He slowly looked up at the figure. The figure grinned widely at him; like a monster looming in the darkness. Jin grimaced. "You did this?"

"I did," replied the figure. "After all, I'm the real deal. You're replacing this personality of me; but you'll never get to the point where I'm completely gone."

The figure placed his hand upon Jin's shoulder. "Just because I'm more stupid, doesn't mean I can't be smarter … than you, 'superior Jin'. I made mistakes in the past, like being betrayed so easily. It's really better for us that you take over; and run shop. But not yet.

"Although, I was naive; I had my times in the past—beautiful exemplary examples of 'pure happiness'. And I've had it with my myself, family and my friends.

"I was planning to start taking over during the day again. The Healstone opened my eyes and showed me that it is possible to become my 'old' self and replace you for a bit, Jin. When I was given the Healstone I became myself for more than a minute—during the day, replacing you.

"But I have changed my mind. I won't take over during the day. I agree with your proposal, which you explained a few days ago: sentience gets in the way of getting powerful. I need to get powerful so that something like betrayal doesn't break me ever again.

"That's where you come in. I'll let you be me. It's not like we're any different. We are the same. What you feel, I feel. It's just that I am the initial essence; and you're one entirely incarnated from horrible experiences, with the obvious help of the system.

"When I went berserk that day Flint betrayed me, I lost me. And I became someone else … something else. The cost was my grandmother and my dog. I'm only lucky to see Benjiman again—despite it being in a different form—because of this 'superior' me: you, Jin. Only because you got strong enough to unlock the skill."

It grew silent for a while until the figure continued. "So I'll let you take over. But … first, I'm betraying you."

"Why?" Jin asked, easing a brow. "Were you not thanking me just now?"

"Because … I need … three more days … as myself, Jin. I'm leaving my friends. They'll never see me as the 'old' me again. I must say my goodbyes," he looked at Jin, "So I'm taking over for three days."

Jin furrowed his brows. "That's why you put me under the spell? To take over?"

"You wouldn't have let me out if I didn't. Now that you're temporarily under the delusion that you can't get rid of me, you won't be able to. You'll have to stay in the nothingness for three days. While … I'm going out."

Jin smirked, folding his arms. "Fine. As long as you don't ever come out again, incompetent, naive me."

"I won't," the figure replied, "because I don't want to. Besides, me really being 'old' me for three days would only strengthen the spell you placed on Ashton and Sylvia."

Jin kept his smirk. "Which means more Exp for me."

"Yeah. It does. Though, I'm still not fond of you placing spells on your friends. They're my friends too. I don't like it. As a matter of fact, I'm only doing this because of this very fact.

"It pains me to see Ashton believing that he's talking to me when he's not. So I'll give him three days. Three days of Happiness."