A Double System (3)

'Did I really awaken?'

"Excuse me, Nurse," I said. The lady walked over to me, "May I be alone? I'm feeling a bit tired and overwhelmed."

The nurse gave me a pitiful face.

"After Dr. Blighten burst in like that I would be too." She stated, shaking her head, "I have some paperwork to fill out anyway, so I will leave you to rest. If you need anything, simply utilize the call circle. Once you are feeling up to it, you may leave." She gestured to a magic circle just beside the bed.

"Yes, thank you."

Once she was gone, I glanced back at the notification.

"Angel?" I whispered.

[Yes?]

"Did I awaken?"

[Yes.]

"Why didn't you want me to tell them?"

[...accept the notification and you'll see.]

I pushed the view button on the screen. Another screen popped up.

DREAMs unlocked: (2/????)

Choose DREAM type:

Ability: 0 available. (Requires increased combat, battle, or practical experience to unlock)

Abilities: n/a

Origin: 1 available. (Requires increased renown/relations)

Core: 0 available. (Requires progress towards [REDACTED]) >

<[REDACTED]

Abilities (2 available):

-Must achieve ? Core DREAM to access

-Must achieve ? Core DREAM to access

Pause: Freezes time. Current 5-second max.

Memoral Empath: Requires high favor/trust and physical contact. Allows the user to view a conscious beings' memories. Memory picked in regards to targets emotional state or at random. >

'Angel? What is this?'

[Your system.]

'I know that- I meant why does it look like Li's System but doubled?'

[...because there are two Systems.]

"Okay, I see. So why did you have me lie to Mr. Han?" I asked aloud.

[I keep forgetting you know even less than I do. Well, first, let me show you this.]

As if she had always been there, a woman was now sitting on the chair where Mr. Han had been earlier. She was staring at me with almost translucent eyes, her muscled arms and legs crossed, intimidating, and covered in scars. She had a ruffled pixie cut of shock white hair and wore a green tank top and loose tan pants.

"What- who?" I stuttered, wondering if I'd zoned out and missed someone coming in.

[I worry for our future.]

The woman sighed, standing up onto her bare feet and walking towards me.

"Angel?" I gasped.

[Indeed. Apparently, this is something I can do now. I happened to remember what I may have looked like.]

'That makes one of us.'

She reached out and touched my hand. I could feel the warmth of her skin. I could hear her breathing.

"Woah," I mumbled.

[It isn't a perfect illusion, but I can create a projection of myself.]

"So, you aren't really there?"

[No. The human mind is amazing, isn't it?]

I stared up at her. My hand reached to her shirt and I gripped it, feeling the fabric underneath. She was so real, except for the dim light from the window that was coming through her body. Angel turned to sit on the bed. It didn't bend beneath her.

[I told you to lie because you are a freak of nature, Estelle.]

I narrowed my eyes.

"Way to put it bluntly."

[It isn't possible to have two Systems. You shouldn't exist. If you had said you did have a System they would've found out you had an extra one as well, and it would've caused chaos. You would have broken one of the absolute laws. There is a reason a being can only have one System. It's because that is the limit a person can take of concentrated Etheria.]

I tilted my head at her.

[Think about it like this. Every human being is a cup. Each cup is different but must be filled up to the brim with Etheria to cause a System to form.]

"That makes sense."

[A person's cup must be full to form a System. That is why only one System can ever form in a person. Because a normal being doesn't have the capability to withstand two Systems without severe repercussions. If someone had the inclination for more than one System, the first one to awaken would cause the other to flow out, eliminating it. Otherwise, the cup would expand till it broke.]

I started to see where this was going.

[But imagine if there was a cup that didn't have this limit? That could hold double it's capacity and not break?]

"Ah. That...that shouldn't happen." I realized, feeling increasingly nervous.

[Exactly. It would draw worldwide attention. Some would study you, use you, or maybe even attempt to kill you. Because, if you can have two Systems, that means universal laws might not apply to you. The possibilities and dangers are endless. So, until you figure out how to use these Systems and become capable enough to protect yourself, this has to stay a secret.]

Angel leaned towards me, pointing a finger directly at my face.

[No questions asked.]

I waved my hands.

"I agree! I agree! I don't wanna become a lab project, or die. Especially die. Not into that. But, there is one thing I don't get. How is it that my body can handle two Systems?"

Angel paused, resting her face in her palm.

[Honestly, I haven't had enough time to think about it. Though, if I had to guess, I believe it has something to do with my presence 'sharing the burden' so to speak.]

I didn't have a response to that, so I stretched my arms and legs and then hopped out of bed.

[Alright.] Angel stood up and towered over me as we began walking together, [Now that we've sorted that out, training starts now. We are going to find the location of the practice rooms and the-]

"Stop. No." I said, putting up a firm palm in her direction, "Have you forgotten? I am starving. And if you don't let me go get food, I can and will try to eat you."

My stomach rumbled. I had to head to the commons to pick up Li. If he wasn't there I was headed to get dinner without him.

At this point, the cafeteria could set on fire and I'd still go in to eat.

***

"I can take you on a tour tomorrow," Li Chen said in between mouthfuls of honeyed turkey and toasted wheat, "Most of our schedule is free time anyway."

After heading to the commons I had found Li and Anton, apparently someone else I had known, playing a game of cards. We had walked together to dinner where Li was catching me up on anything I'd missed, having passed out for most of the day.

Off to my left and by the window stood Angel, whom we had realized could separate herself from me to some degree. She could see and hear things without having to use my body but said the farther she went away the more difficult it became. While I was eating she had taken to wandering the cafeteria, eyeing the students, and occasionally making comments.

[Estelle. You have to see this. This boy's entire plate just rolls. That's it. It is a mountain of bread. How can he live like this? Oh Olyntheo I think he's going back for more.]

"That'd be great," I told Li, savoring each bite of turkey, "I have no idea where or what anything is."

Li laughed, "Yes, let's go after we get our schedules tomorrow afternoon. If I don't help Anton find every one of his classrooms he will never be able to do it on his own."

Anton, as expressionless as always, made no comment, but I watched as Li suddenly flinched with an 'Ow!' as he was kicked under the table.

When I'd first seen Anton in the common room I had freaked out, seeing as Li didn't introduce us so we must have already known each other. Anton, however, was a quiet person who didn't ask a lot of questions and spent most of his time lost in thought. This made things a lot easier and more comfortable for me while pretending I knew who he was.

[I wonder what kind of System Anton has? Oh, and ask how to get access to the private training rooms.]

"Perfect. Want to meet in commons again?" I asked, wondering where the desserts might be as I had cleaned my plate. Li gave me a thumbs up, "Also, do you know how to access the private training rooms?"

Both Li and Anton stared at me.

"Estelle," Anton began, his voice a low baritone, "Did you awaken?"

Li hadn't been around for the discussion with Mr. Han, so both of them didn't know what my status was.

"No," I said, picking up my cup and plate, "I didn't. But that doesn't mean I can neglect training," I remembered the dream, and how bloody my hands had become. "I need be strong enough to protect myself."

Anton seemed satisfied with that answer, but Li appeared concerned. He stood up as well, gathering his plate and cup to walk with me.

"You just have to sign up at the training rooms," He explained, "Higher rankings get priority though. But, Stell, I..." He trailed off, and we handed our plates off to a servant collecting dirty dishes, "I thought you'd be done trying to please that- that cruel woman by now. I've told you, you don't have to take over the Atan House. I don't care if you ever awaken. There is always a place for you in the Chen House." He said, the tips of his ears red again.

I didn't know how to feel. I barely knew my mother, but from what little I'd pieced together it was a one-sided relationship. I had been desperate for her love and praise and never got any of it. Training until you can't even pick up a spoon is a powerful devotion, but a devotion that had long since slipped into abuse. Now that the memories were gone I felt nothing towards her, no resentment, no love. It was the same for Li. If I didn't fear for my safety I would've apologized to him, saying that his care was wasted on someone who no longer existed.

"I'm not doing it for her," I assured him, as we headed back to Anton, "I'm doing this for me."

Li remained quiet, but it was obvious he wasn't convinced. I suppose after watching your friend break themselves down time and time again I wouldn't believe me either.

We all chatted for a few more minutes and then parted ways. I headed back to the dorms, ready to collapse in bed. I had more time to sleep in tomorrow but I still had to retrieve my schedule by noon. I was now officially on the scholar track. My family had probably learned of this.

'No. Not my family,' I corrected myself, 'Just the people I live with.'

Upon opening the door to my dorm room I found Charlie perched on my bed, cawing at my arrival. June was sitting at her desk with a fresh bottle of ink, working away at something. She didn't acknowledge my presence. The room was cold.

"Can I open a window?" I asked June, "The air outside is warm."

Halfway to dipping her pen June froze.

"No, I already opened it to let the bird in." She replied, moving again to make fierce markings across her page, "And don't talk to me."

I was almost frustrated with how honest and succinct she was in hating me. If she outright tried to bully me, or destroy property, or did anything documentable, I could fight back. But this was just stone cold hatred, straightforward and with clear motivation. I was weak. I was a disgrace. I didn't belong here.

That was it.

"Thanks for letting Charlie in," I said, ignoring her command.

Checking to see if June wasn't looking, I pulled up my System(s) and read over Dreamer. In order to unlock certain DREAMs, whyever that was capitalized, I had to become physically and mentally more capable through training, and I had to grow closer to the people around me, gaining allies. As I was now, both of those things would be difficult. All I had gained so far was pity. Mr. Han pitied me because I was fragile. Li pitied me because I was a failure.

'Angel?' I thought.

[Yes?]

'Do you have a training regiment ready?'

[...]

[Thought you might never ask.]

I could almost feel her grinning.

'Tomorrow by nine, we will head to the training rooms. I still want to sleep in a little given I just coughed up blood today.'

[I would agree with that sentiment.]

I dozed off to the sound of June scribbling and the soft ruffle of Charlie's feathers, determined to begin. Just before falling asleep, I pulled up the Dreamer System one last time.

I hovered my finger over the available origin DREAM and pressed down.