Alone with the Chip(2)

I paced the room, my mind spinning.

The Eclipse chip wasn't supposed to exist. At least, not now.

It wasn't part of the original story.

The protagonist, Edward Locati, was supposed to find the Paragon chip—eventually. But the Eclipse chip? It was a huge anomaly. I had no idea how this fit into the timeline.

Why was it here? Why did I have it?

The Phantom Charm chip hummed faintly beneath my skin, a strange reminder of my new reality.

But the Eclipse chip—it felt different. Powerful. Dangerous, even.

I didn't want to unlock it, not yet.

It wasn't a chip for someone like me.

Not an "Extra."

And I wasn't sure I even wanted to know how it would change things.

But then—

BEEP.

A soft, familiar tone echoed through my mind.

I froze.

The voice—gentle, warm, motherly—spoke in my head.

"Desmond?"

I blinked, the voice a sudden jolt to my senses.

It was calm, soft, like the voices I'd heard in the back of my mind before.

"Desmond, how are you settling in at the academy?"

I stood still, my heart pounding in my chest.

Who is that?

I swallowed, trying to steady my breath.

"Who are you?" I muttered, more to myself than to the voice in my head.

"It's me, your mother," she responded, her tone soothing, but there was a hint of hesitation.

"Desmond… why do you sound so surprised? Have you forgotten my voice?" Her tone wavered, shifting from warmth to concern.

"I know it must be overwhelming, but I trust you're adjusting well. How's academy life so far?"

I hesitated, not quite sure how to respond.

Was I supposed to tell her everything?

I had no idea who she was—no memory of her, no recollection of any connection to Desmond.

And yet, here she was, talking to me like a real mother.

"The academy's… fine," I said, trying to sound casual. "I mean, it hasn't started yet. The ceremony is in a couple of days."

There was a slight pause on the other end.

Then she spoke again, as if considering her words carefully.

"I know things have been hard for you. After Emily died, your father and I were worried about your mental health."

I froze.

Emily?

"Just know that we are here for you."

I exhaled slowly.

Who was Emily?

Perhaps she was my sister?

"I appreciate that," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "It's hard, but I will manage."

There was another pause, and I could almost hear her thinking.

"Have you been using your chip we brought you?" she asked.

I stiffened.

My chip?

So, Desmond originally had this chip.

I assumed that I might have reincarnated with this cheat power.

Guess I was mistaken.

"Yeah, a little," I replied, trying to keep the conversation light. "But I haven't had much time to figure it out yet."

"Well, you know it's important, right?" she said, her voice softening slightly. "Your father and I spent a hefty sum of credits to get you that chip."

I blinked, my mind racing.

So, it wasn't a family chip.

They bought it.

Interesting.

Lots of elites in the academy had chips passed down through generations.

Most were born into strength, wielding powerful abilities from birth, training long before commonfolk even got their first chip.

So, Desmond came from a wealthy family.

I hesitated before asking, "Okay... Could you tell me a bit about the Phantom Charm Chip?"

She sighed softly, as if the topic was difficult to broach.

"The Phantom Charm is one of the rare chips. It's strong, Desmond. Your father specifically got it for you. Think of it as a cheering-up gift after Emily's passing. We didn't want you to be depressed over there."

I felt a lump form in my throat.

They… they actually cared.

I expected cold, distant parents.

Maybe uncaring nobles who threw their son into the academy just to save face.

But this?

This was different.

These people lost their daughter, and now, without knowing it, they'd lost their son too.

And here I was, an imposter, inhabiting their child's body.

I leaned against the wall, my fingers running through my hair as guilt gnawed at me.

I couldn't tell them the truth.

How could I?

How could I explain that their son was gone?

That some random person had taken his place?

"Thanks," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

There was silence on the other end, as if she was waiting for me to say more.

I cleared my throat, forcing myself to push forward. "Uh, I was also wondering… what do you and Dad do?"

A soft chuckle. "We run Slick Enterprises, Desmond. You know that."

I did not know that.

Slick Enterprises?

That sounded… significant.

"Right," I said quickly, covering my lack of knowledge. "Just, uh, wanted to hear it from you."

"Of course. Your father handles most of the business, but we both work hard to ensure our family's future. Everything we've built is for you, Desmond. You and… well, Emily."

There was a brief pause, and I could almost hear the sorrow in her voice.

I chewed my lip. "And what do we… I mean, what does our company actually do?"

"Technology," she answered smoothly. "Advanced chip development, mostly. Enhancements, research. You know, the usual."

My stomach twisted.

Chip development?

If they had access to cutting-edge technology, that meant they were deeply involved in the power structures of this world.

No wonder Desmond had a rare chip.

"I see," I murmured. "That's… impressive."

"You've never been interested in the business side of things," she said fondly. "But one day, I hope you'll take an interest."

I forced a chuckle. "Yeah. Maybe."

She sighed. "I just wish we had arranged for someone to train you in combat before you left. You know how dangerous the academy can be, and some of the students you'll be facing… Desmond, some of them are terrifyingly strong."

My grip on the communicator tightened. "How strong?"

"Stronger than you can imagine. Some have been training since they could walk. Their chips are legacies of power, honed over generations. You must be careful, Desmond. Promise me you will."

I swallowed. "I will."

"Good. I love you, my son."

For a moment, I couldn't respond.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I… love you too."

The call ended, and silence filled the room.

I took a deep breath, staring at my reflection in the darkened screen of my communicator.

Who was Desmond Slick, really?

And more importantly—what did I just get myself into?