《The Demon King Will Die in 100 Days》
Day 1: Enter Demon King
Encircled by a dozen sleeping bodies, a demon sat in a cold, stone-walled room. The demons skin was black and twisted, like a long-dead tree burnt in the winter. Its body was nothing but arms radiating out from a central point. Each arm had many elbows. They danced around each other chaotically. The arms which ended in hands manipulated tools strewn haphazardly about the room. The arms which ended in heads loomed over the chaos, managing everything listlessly.
Many of the demons hands rested atop the sleeping bodies. Most of the bodies were homunculi: heads attached to a small blob of body with just enough organs to keep them alive. Some, though, were fully formed humans.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
Another figure entered the room. Her long, pale hair shone in the flickering torchlight. Atop her head was a crown of many horns. This was the Demon King.
An arm ending in a head unfolded to address the new figure.
Any news from Barbatos? came the womans voice.
As usual, the demon answered in creaking tones, there has been no progress on his mission. However, he did mention that Marbas missed a report.
He can manage his own men. She gestured to one of the bodies. What of this one?
The connection is solid. With luck, we will learn many things.
Day 1: Waking Up
Elsewhere, somebody awoke in bed. They opened their eyes and looked around.
Where am I?
The room was clean and sparsely furnished. Aside from the bed, the room had a couple chairs, a small table, and a chest of drawers whose top was a lone island of clutter. The air moved with a slight breeze but the walls had no windows, only bare cobblestone.
What is this place?
Getting up, their body felt weak and stiff. While rising they accidentally bumped the table, clattering a bowl of an ambiguous wet-looking mush that was on top of it.
How did I get here?
They spotted the lone door to the room, which answered that question. On the way there, though, was a wall mirror just above the drawers. The man in the mirror was another unfamiliar thing.
Im a guy? Im kinda old too! Wait that shouldnt be surprising. Something isnt right.
He looked down at the clutter and was struck that he didnt recognize any of it. Something which looked like a smooth candlestick caught his eye. Its base was oddly large, it was covered in strange markings, and the spot on top was rounded in such a way that any candle would immediately fall off of it. Stranger, the markings became most ornate on the bottom of the thing, which nobody would see without picking it up.
Uh
The man looked over. A young brunette in a light blue tabard was standing in the doorway with a look of confusion and fear. He followed her gaze until it landed on the not-candlestick in his hand.
Oh, uh, sorry, he said, putting it back down.
This seemed to put her at ease. However, she then said stay here and ran off while calling for a doctor. The man peeked out the door to watch her go.
So hospital maybe? Maybe not, these walls dont exactly scream doctors office.
Peeking further, he noticed there was a small letter board next to the door. It read a single word: Naiouyubi.
Maybe a name? Seems foreign thats a lot of vowels.
The hall was lined with doorways similar to his, each with a similar letter board. The man wandered over to the nearest one: Rioshkaltis.
Also weird, but in a completely different way. Maybe they come from different places?
Yubi! Youre awake!
The voice had come from within the room the man was standing by. The interior of this room was similar to the one hed woken up in: bed, drawers, chairs, table. Another, burlier man sat half-covered on the bed, looking out through an open door. The hall was empty and there was nobody else in the room.
Are you talking to me?
What? the man in the room laughed, Of course, my friend! You stand before me like hope itself incarnate! Seeing you is like seeing the sun return to a world of darkness, Yubi!
Uh Wait, so that was my name? Right Its good to see you too em Roi- no Rios cal Rio. Shkal. Tis. Right. Rioshkaltis.
Wha- Dont tell me youve forgotten my name?
Naiouyubi chuckled, I was surprised to learn my own name just now.
All the life drained from Rioshkaltis face. You forgot your own name? Have you also forgotten the promise?
I uh maybe, but I think a doctors coming. Ill ask.
The other man was silent for a moment. Then, Yubi. Ill pray that your memory heals. After that, we need to talk. A lot has happened while you were away.
Righto. Ill do my best and uh head back to my room now.
He waved to the man in the room, the latter did not wave back.
In his own room, the mirror captured Yubis attention again. Apparently, he was a middle aged man with short black hair which greyed a bit at the temples. His skin felt real when he pinched it. His nose wasnt abnormal, but its shape felt wrong. The hair growing on his face and his arms and his legs felt itchy and disgusting. The objects below the mirror didnt seem to include a razor.
Why is my body like this? Has it always been like this? Why dont I remember it being like this? When was the last time I showered? Who was that with the weird name? Why do I have a weird name? How can my own name sound weird?
Eep! Yubi fell from a squat at a knock on the door. After standing, Are you the doctor?
The woman in the doorway looked as though shed just seen a ghost. I am. She gestured toward the chairs. Her outfit was similar to that of the girl from earlier, only she wore a long-sleeved garment under her tabard.
I should get one of those.
How are you feeling?
Erm I feel alright but I cant remember anything.
Nothing?
Nothing. Only re-learned my own name a couple minutes ago. Im not sure where I am or how I got here. He chuckled, Everything feels like some sort of weird dream.
So you dont recognize the names Aiyaloya and Voilauisan?
Honestly those dont even sound like names to me.
Okay, she said, wait here a moment.
As the doctor left, the girl from earlier entered and took her seat. She was noticeably younger than the doctor, maybe even a child.
Yubi asked, So if shes the doctor, does that make you?
Im an apprentice healer.
Not a nurse?
No? she said, confused, I dont have children.
What?
You asked if I nurse?
No I um Yubi shook his head. Never mind.
The doctor told me to ask you some questions to diagnose the severity of your amnesia.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
When did she do that? Alright.
What color is the sky?
Blue.
How long does a person live?
About eighty years.
How many days are in a year?
Three hundred sixty five. And a quarter, I guess, because of leap years.
For a moment the apprentice looked shocked, but she hid it quickly. How old are you?
I dont know.
What is your wifes name?
I have a wife?
So you dont know?
I guess not.
What is the most powerful weapon?
Probably the atomic bomb.
The what? What is that?
Yubi thought for a moment. Im not sure, actually. Weird.
The sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Alright, thats all, the apprentice said. Also, a year is only three hundred sixty days.
It it is?
The apprentice left and a moment later the doctor returned. They didnt seem to exchange words in the hallway. The doctor pushed the mush bowl on the table to the side to make room for a jar of white powder. This revealed some markings on the table, similar to those on the thing that wasnt a candlestick.
I forgot to mention it earlier, but my arms and legs are feeling a bit stiff.
That makes sense, youve been asleep for over a month.
A- a month!?
Do you remember how to operate a diagram?
Wha- er- no. Im not even sure what that means.
I suspected as much. She reached under her clothes, presumably into a pocket, and pulled out a rock and a piece of wood. Do you remember how to focus mana?
Yubi stared for a moment, trying to make the phrase focus manna make sense. When he couldnt, he simply shook his head.
Is that a no?
Oh, uh, yes. No. Yes its a no.
Alright. In a moment, I will put this wood under your right hand. When I do, pay attention to the parts of your right arm which feel strong or weak and try to feel the sense of motion of that strength.
Yubi held the wood. His hand felt like some shape part of it was being stretched out somehow. It felt like his arm was pulling out past his fingertips without actually moving.
The doctor touched the wood and then took it. That should be enough. Did you feel anything?
I think so? He wasnt sure how to describe it.
We can do that again if needed. Now, Im going to put this stone in your hand. When I do, try to recreate the feeling you had in your arm.
Recreate how?
Just try it.
Yubi held the rock. He tried squeezing it. Nothing happened. He looked up at her with confusion, but she maintained a neutral expression. When hed held the wood, it felt like stretching. He tried to remember what it felt like. For a moment it was perfectly clear to him. In that moment the rock began to glow. The shock of it was enough that he dropped the rock. After picking it up, he tried again. It wasnt consistent, but he could get the thing to flash on occasionally. When it worked, it was like flexing a muscle he didnt know he had. Each time he succeeded, he could feel the same body-place-motion that the wood brought on. After a couple minutes he got the rock to glow continuously, if flickering.
Alright, Ill leave those with you. She pulled out a piece of paper. Im going to give you some dream powder, which should open up your mind. Once its open, this diagram will let you navigate more easily. To use it, put your fingers on these circles and focus mana into the diagram the same way you did with the glowdust stone. These will only open your bodys memories, so Ive called for the Librarian to draw you a soul memory diagram. Understand?
Um he made the rock flash again. Kinda?
She scooped a bit of the mush from the bowl onto the surface of the bedside table. Then, she poured a bit of the powder from the jar onto it and mixed the two. After putting her hands on the table, the mixture disappeared.
The doctor turned back to Yubi. When you start to feel the powders effects, activate the diagram and try to remember something. Any questions?
There were many holes in his understanding, but none of them were question shaped. No. Or whats your name again?
She looked away. Try thinking that question as you go under.
Then she left.
A few minutes later, his body began to feel lighter and the stones in the walls appeared to rearrange themselves. Yubi took that to be the powders effects, so he tried treating the circles on the piece of paper the way he did that glowing stone.
What is the doctors name?
He was on a cold stone table in another room. Though he couldnt see it, he knew an elaborate diagram was drawn onto the table below him. His chest was marked with a severance spell to break the soul from his body without killing it. His head bore the forbidden mark of sharirachori, the body stealing spell.
The room was filled with mana generators, kneeling at large inflow nodules. Two figures stood back from the rest: Yaldabias head diagramist and head doctor.
Are you sure about this? the doctor asked.
Now is not the time for second guessing, Sailokyuzu, the diagramist answered, bitterness dripping off every last word.
He gave the signal to the generators and the room glowed magenta.
Who is that?
Naiouyubi stood beside a young Toinoioeo outside the fortress of a wretched traitor nation which had given itself over to the demons. Inside the compound there was a thunder of footsteps. Toi flipped through a warbook of diagrams and planted his hand on a page.
The two waited tensely as the last phase of Yubis plan fell into place.
Finally, Tulpa linking complete. Toi looked up at Yubi hesitantly.
Activate the warbook.
Toi turned away, closed the book, and held it up. Moments later, the footsteps went silent.
Horror took over Tois face. He fell to his knees and vomited onto the fortress walls.
Naiouyubi had found Toinoioeo to be weak from the moment they first met. He respected that, despite his weakness, Toi still managed to become one of the greatest diagramists in Yaldabia. That was before hed gotten fat.
Yubi put a hand on the youths shoulder and tried to console him. Dont worry, its their fault this happened. If they hadnt attacked us, we wouldnt need to do this. And if they had lined their clothes with fireleaf then they couldve avoided the spell.
Right, said Toi with the voice of a dead man, right.
Who is Rioshkaltis?
Two fasting young men, only a week into adulthood, sat beside each other before the empty pedestal under the church. They had started as a crowd of fifty. Back then, their fasting had been understood as abstinence from taste. Then, as the days went by, the group dwindled to a dozen. At that point, they understood it as abstinence from the satisfaction of desire. By the time only two remained, it felt as though they abstained from life itself.
Then the noon bell rang in the church above. The two opened their eyes and, for just a moment, caught a glimpse of God upon the pedestal. It was only for a moment, though, and after they blinked it was empty once again.
The two cried out. Finally they understood! This was true pain! This was the abstinence from God which the Demon King forced upon them!
When Yubi and Rio returned from their fast, they swore, together, to do everything in their power to destroy the forces of the demons and bring God back onto the earth.
Why cant I remember anything?
Rio slapped Yubi to the ground. You fool!
Do you ugh do you not remember our promise to-
This is not destroying the demons! This is a foul heresy which spits upon-
You would do the same!
I WOULD! But I am not you! Of all people, you must not throw your life away!
Its not throwing my life away if I succeed! The other worlds have spells to put the demons to shame!
So you promise to live?
I will!
And you promise to return?
Of course!
And we will serve Leader Aiyaloya till our last breaths!?
WE SHALL!
Naiouyubi sat in the library reading a grimoire from an age of darkness before the modern Law. These heathens iniquities beggared belief. Nations crossed into foreign worlds to rape and plunder. Old kings stole the bodies of infants to prolong their reigns. Men forgot that God was flesh and blood, worshipping gold instead.
But then, in the mind of that old strategist, a plan took shape. It demanded the use of diagrams forbidden by the Law, but if I must be damned to do the will of Ya, let me be damned!
Head diagramist Toi had tried to reject the plan, but Leader Loya sided with Yubi.
The room glowed magenta. Head doctor Kyuzu turned her back and left, ashamed of her participation.
Tulpa linking complete, said chief diagram operator Rio.
Send him off, said Toi, covering his face.
The severance spell activated, loosing Yubis soul from his body. The sharirachori mark activated, scoring his soul to bind to a new body. The diagram which covered the table and floor snatched his soul away and flung him into another world.
Day 1: Trish
Yubi shivered through the comedown off the dream powder. He was lost in a fog of mixed visions and severed strands of memory. Though he couldnt see it, the diagram the doctor had given him had fallen off his lap.
For a moment, he could see the room around him. Then it grew and shrank and the furniture changed and the walls rearranged themselves. He looked into the mirror, then into a pond, then into the eyes of a child he had lied to.
At the next weak point in the noise, he tried to lift his hand. He saw it clearly for a moment but then it became another hand and he held that hand and it was warm and it was soft then it was strong then it came from someone else and he reached out and found hed grabbed his own wrist. The feeling was real, so he squeezed his wrist and tried to focus on it. His wrist became a boys being dragged by his father, then an enemy in combat, then a woman holding him gently before it returned to reality.
He looked up and saw an old woman watching him with a gentle expression. Her hair was a light grey-blonde. Her outfit was a weathered grey tabard over something with long sleeves. The room around her flashed and twisted and breathed but the woman stayed still.
Are are you real? Yubi asked, hoarsely.
Yes, the woman nodded, do you remember me?
Ugh, his head hurt. Youre the Librarian.
Good, youre doing well. Now, do you remember yourself?
Naiouyubi. I I did something its all in fragments
Lets start with the basics. Do you remember the name Ya?
I- A sudden clarity hit with the force of an avalanche. His mouth pulled away from the tears rolling down his cheeks. I forgot. How could I forget the the the name of God!
Calm, calm. Your mix of spells had an unexpected side effect, but its one we-
All that powder gave me was images. I understand nothing.
Give it time. Your soul was away from your body for quite some time, they need to reconnect. Now, do you remember the last thing you did in this world?
I sinned!
The Librarian didnt respond and the silence hung in the air.
I- no, I broke the Law for a higher purpose, I think. I went searching for spells in my god, I stole a body. I took an innocent life!
Calm again, calm again. What happened after that?
After I dont know. I woke up here.
So you dont remember the other world?
No.
Hmm. Thats more strange. The forbidden spell is meant to preserve memories when it moves a soul to a new body. Perhaps the travel between worlds disrupted it.
You say that like its- ugh his headache cut him off.
The librarian pulled out a piece of paper. Kyuzu told me-
Kyuzu is the doctor?
Youre right, Im being impolite.
The response was confusing but Yubi didnt say anything.
She told me you would need this, so Ive already drawn it up.
He took the paper. It looked like writing but it was different from the names outside. Why cant I read this?
Its a diagram?
This one looks like language.
Perhaps it is, in some world. Anyway, if you power that then it will reify your souls memory. It can be a bit unstable, so try to keep your mana flow constant.
What the hell is mana?
The Librarians eyes widened. You I thought the doctor told you.
She had me um Yubi looked around and grabbed something from the floor beside the bed. She had me hold this rock and it- wait, I think mana is its like sweating light or maybe not
Id say ask the doctor when next its safe to take the dream powder.
Yubi shivered. That stuffs too intense.
The Librarian pointed at the diagram. This one wont be as bad. Its less like breaking you open and more like reading your own mind. She picked up the other diagram from the ground. You can use this to solidify the memory image again if you like.
Should I?
She bobbled her head side to side. I find it works better that way.
Yubi tried making the rock glow. Hed evidently picked up some skill memory because he was able to control the brightness more easily.
The Librarian watched. Id say a little less There, that amount should work. Its best if you activate them both at once.
Looking down at the papers, Where do I..?
The Librarian pointed to spirals on the side of each diagram.
Yubi nodded and turned his attention to the diagrams.
What was the other world like?
Soft. Squishy. Strange. Dry. Bright. Noisy. Smelly. Bars. Hard. Smooth. Cold touch. Voices. Shouting. Upset.
Upset.
Upset!
Cry. Scream. Face wet. Voices louder. Voices softer. Clicklack. Creak. Lifting. Pressure. Soft solidity. Safety. Warmth. Love. Moving. Up and down. Calm.
Calm.
Sleep.
Soft.
That girl looked kinda young How old was she?
Mamas birthday! There was cake! She got presents! It was exciting!
Went to bed. Woke up. Went to bed. Woke up. Went to bed. Woke up.
Outside with Mama. She had suitcase.
Its cold.
I know, honey, I know. Itll be warmer at your Nanas.
I don wanna.
Me either, but we cant stay here.
Why?
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We just cant.
Mama pushed stroller.
No matter what happens, I promise you, you can stay with me. No matter who you become, no matter what decisions you make, youll always be my little girl.
My little what?
Trish sat staring through the windshield at the door of a strip club as the night grew longer and longer. She was terribly bored. Glancing over at the man behind the steering wheel, she envied his ability to sleep.
The man they were following had entered the establishment hours ago. They couldnt follow him in because that would apparently be too complicated for a trainee. The now-asleep driver had said the photos of him going in were probably enough, but that they should stay on him just in case the photos of him leaving were useful. Again, that was over two hours ago.
A blond hair drooped in front of her face. She tried blowing it back into position, but the thing wouldnt cooperate. Figuring she had time, she undid her hair tie with the intent of merging the lock back in with its crowd.
Then the man left the building. He wasnt alone.
Heres her order of operations: take compromising photos of your target, fix your hair, then wake up your superior.
Wuhbuh- sorry, looks like I dozed off Glance at the clock. Jesus, is he still in there?
Trish shook her head.
Did you catch him leaving?
Grinning, she held up the camera screen. Here he enters PTs at about midnight. Then he stays in there until a quarter after two and comes out with she switched photos his arm around this latina chick and the two drive off together. Think we can ID her?
Yeah but he yawned, prolly wont need to. If this doesnt satisfy the client, Im afraid just imagining what would. He frowned. Actually these are really good. Ive never trained a woman as young as you before, are you all photographers or something?
Nope, just me.
Huh. Was your dad, like, a photographer or something?
Um well, I never met-
Yubi blinked and looked around. He was alone in the room. Then he looked down at the soul memory diagram.
I guess the Librarian said it was unstable. How does that work though?
He grabbed the rock in one hand and put the other on the diagram. Pushing about the same amount of mana through both, he tried using less than the Librarian said. As best he could tell, the thing didnt activate. Then he tried overpowering it. Doing this, the diagram gave a popping sensation where it would take in some mana, suddenly push all of it out, go back to taking it in, and repeat.
So if I make the rock glow too little or too much, it wont work. Ill have to be more careful.
He took his hands off both.
Damn. I lived years as a woman. Wait I wasnt asleep for years He shook his head. There was still too much he didnt understand. The goal was to look for more diagrams.
Yubi put his hands back on the papers.
Did I find any spells in the other world?
Happy birthday! Happy, happy birthday! Happy birthday! Happy, happy day! Hey!
Trish looked around. The restaurant was warmer than the car. It was nice.
Her mother sat across from her. She sang along with the servers. Her eyes were tired. A flip phone and a notepad sat next to her plate. The mother occasionally glanced at them anxiously.
The waiters brought out a slice of cake. It had two candles on it. They were shaped like the number ten.
Make a wish, honey.
Trish wished her Nana was still alive. She blew out the candles.
What did you wish for?
She thought her mother would be sad if she told her. Wishes dont come true if you say them.
The woman chuckled, okay, fair enou- She jumped at the phone ringing. Sorry, gotta take this. She took the notepad with her and walked away.
Trish ate the cake. It was sweet. Then there was none of it left.
Her mother returned. The notepad now had the place and time for a job interview. She handed her an envelope.
Just a card?
No pattycakes, open it up.
Inside the envelope was a birthday card. Inside the card was a folded piece of paper. Unfolding the paper revealed a drawing her mother had made. It came with a note.
Were getting a cat? Trish asked, excited.
Yup. As soon as I can find an apartment, Ill get you a roommate.
Wow, thanks Mom!
Thats not a spell. Did I find any actual spells?
Nana was Trishs moms moms mom. She put her hand behind Trishs ear and pulled out a coin.
Wow! Howd you do that?
Months later she explained it was just a trick.
Thats not it.
On the television, Trish and her mother watched a team of ponies shoot a rainbow at a dragon, turning him to stone. A few minutes later, they turned the tv off and went to do something else.
Nope.
A spirited discourse unfolded in the cafeteria.
The force cant be magic because its, like, midi-chlorians and stuff.
But thats prequel stuff. Before those came out, it was definitely magic.
Maybe no, its more like being psychic than magic.
Psychics are magic. The point of magic is that it isnt real.
Oh no.
Yubi took his hands off the diagrams.
I didnt remember being Yubi when I was Trish. Thats why I didnt know what mana was: I spent decades in a world where nobody used it for anything. How did I even get back?
He put his hands back on the papers.
What did my last days in the other world look like?
By the time she was twenty six, Trish had learned enough about tracking people down that she tried to apply her skills to find the father shed never met. Her mother never talked about him, but she was able to get her to say his name. Then, checking middle and high school yearbooks, she determined that he mustve gotten her mother pregnant in the summer of 1996 and then moved away before the school year began.
This gave her a profile of family with a certain name who moved at a certain time over two decades ago, which is not a lot to go off of. It did, however, narrow her options down enough to give meaningful leads.
Her last memory in the other world was of driving down the freeway to follow up on a lead just out of town. She passed by a large truck and merged in front of it.
Suddenly, she then remembered she was from another world and, realizing this place didnt have any spells, drew up some diagrams and returned to Yaldabia.
Huh. I guess that makes sense. Once I realized he wasnt my actual father I stopped looking. And pretty quickly too.
Yubi put the wood, rock, and papers on the bedside table and got up. They didnt have any spells, but its not like I learned nothing there.
Looking in the mirror, something else caught his eye. Remembering some of his life in the other world, he suddenly felt able to appreciate the difference in clothing design.
He, Rio, the doctor, her apprentice, and the Librarian all wore variations on the same garment. It didnt resemble any of the dominant clothing types worn in the other world, which were mostly sheets of cloth cut and sewn to follow the contours of the body. Instead it was something like a long rectangular piece of cloth with a head-hole cut out draped over the shoulders to cover the body''s front and back. This leaves a gap up the sides, so cloth sashes are then tied around the body to hold it shut. Yubis were tied at the front, presumably for access by the medical staff. Hed been thinking of this garment as a tabard, but if the initial piece of cloth had been wider it could easily read as a poncho.
Untying a knot, he pulled a sash away and glanced under the tabard on one side. While he wasnt wearing whatever long-sleeved undergarment Kyuzu had on, he was wearing a sort of tube top which ran from his pectorals down to just below his hips. He thought it was a strange thing for a middle aged man to wear, but the fact that it seemed to be underwear lessened this impression somewhat.
A knock at the door. Yubi, are you awake?
Uh- yes, one moment. He hurriedly retied the sash and opened the door.
Standing on the other side of the door was head diagramist Toinoioeo. Toi was a short, stout man whose only hair was a thick pair of eyebrows which flared out at the sides. His tabard had wide shoulder pads and was embroidered with the nations symbol: the hand from heaven.
He was grinning widely. Naiouyubi, it is good to see you! Any news from the other world?
Yes! Its fascinating, their clothing developed completely differently from ours! Their garments consist of a top which covers the arms and torso and a bottom which covers the hips and legs. Their undergarments then consist of smaller versions of these same articles. Then, to adjust to lower temperatures they uh wait. You meant spells, right?
Tois face had taken on deep concern with a hint of guilt. Yes, I did.
The other world has no spells.
The concern turned to horror. What?
None whatsoever. I had to relearn how to focus mana when I got back.
Toi stumbled over to the nearest chair. Great Ya
They werent totally primitive, though. They were masters of chemicals and machines.
A ray of hope shone on Tois face. Could this mastery defeat the demons?
Definitely! But I didnt learn any of it.
Toi buried his face in his hands.
I was reborn without my memories, so I didnt know to search for such things.
He peaked through his fingers. Do you remember now?
Yes, the doctor treated me and I am gradually regaining my memories from this and the other world.
Well, thats good to hear. Toi got up. The Leader will be back tomorrow, Im sure hell be glad to hear of your recovery. Once youve settled back in, you can begin to contemplate your next moves.
My next moves?
Toi turned to Yubi. He hesitated as though afraid of the response he would get. ...yes?
Oh, you mean as head strategist. Which I am right?
The diagramist grimaced. I wish you a speedy recovery, Yubi.
Oh wow Im screwed.
Day 1: The Moon
Yubi couldnt sleep that night. There was too much he didnt understand and too little he could do about any of it. So, he got up and went for a walk.
The light in the rooms and hallway had dimmed significantly. This is despite the fact that neither the hallway nor the rooms had any windows. In the hallway the dominant light came from torches, but during the day it had looked more like it was illuminated by the sun. Curious.
He wanted to go outside. When he got to the end of the hall, some half memory from his first life suggested that turning right was the correct way. At the next fork, he guessed and turned left. Eventually he got to a spiral staircase which a feeling suggested he should climb. At the top of the staircase was a door which led outside.
Stone huts surrounded him. Given hed just come out of one, he assumed they also led down to stairways. So that was all underground?
The night was dark, but barely bright enough to suggest a full moon. Following the faint shadows, he managed to spot the moon behind some tall trees. He wanted to see it. Thus he weaved his way through the huts, taking note of his route as he went. Eventually he got to a spot just before more forest began on the other side. Turning around, he looked into the sky.
An eye looked back down at him. Its sclera glowed white and in the middle was written the number 4. Yubi sank to his knees in shock.
Couldnt sleep? He recognized the voice as the librarians.
I uh guess not. Are you seeing this?
Seeing what?
Theres a giant floating eyeball in the sky!
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She chuckled. You could call it that. Nice clear skies we have tonight.
Yubi took a moment to collect himself. Is that the moon?
Yes?
Okay. The moon in the other world is very different, so returning to this one is quite shocking.
Ah.
Why does it have that black spot in the middle?
Thats the shadow of the earth.
It- it is? So either its farther away, much bigger, or the earth is much smaller. Huh. Why does it theres a number on it?
The fourth month begins soon. The day after the day after tomorrow, to be precise.
Did it have a three on it a month ago?
Of course. If it didnt, itd be very hard to keep track of months and years.
Years?
Yes, the amount of time it takes the moon to make a full rotation. Did the other world not have years?
They do, just Their sun tells them instead of their moon.
Wow. Timekeeping must hurt their eyes.
Well, its never mind.
Yubi and the Librarian watched the moon in silence.
Then, It sounds like the diagram worked.
Yeah. It was unstable like you said, though. Do you have a better one?
Nope, thats the best one.
The silence returned.
Then the Librarian moved. Id best get to bed.
...right.
Yubi couldnt stop staring at the sky. It was pitch black. There were no stars. There were no clouds. The only thing in the heavens was a slowly moving calendar tracing out a path opposite the sun. The part of him which was Naiouyubi felt that it was an obvious thing: Ya put the moon in the sky to mark the changing of the years. The part of him which was Trish was unsettled at a primordial level.
As the watchful moon rose further into the sky, tiredness finally gripped him. He picked himself up and started back to his room. It was hard to find his way through the dark.
Day 2: Sabotage
A man woke up from an uneasy sleep and went to reread his own name: Naiouyubi. He found it strange that he was capable of reading it. I forgot how to use mana but remembered how to read. The two things were different in many ways, but he couldnt figure out which difference had made reading stick.
Oh good, youre up.
The voice came from the doctor Sailokyuzu, who was approaching from down the hall. Yubi suddenly had the strange sensation of recognizing an old acquaintance for what felt like the first time. When she was an apprentice healer shed worn her brown hair short like the girl from yesterday. When she was a military healer under his command, shed grown it out. Now she wore it in a tight bun at the back of her head.
That makes her about Tois age early 30s maybe?
Yubi waved. Whats up?
Kyuzu stopped, confused. She looked at the ceiling but there wasnt anything there.
Uh- ne- nevermind, he said and went back into the room.
The man in the mirror matched Yubis memory, but something felt off. He turned his head from side to side, opened and closed his mouth, contorted his features in this way and that, and no matter what he did the face didnt feel like his somehow.
When the doctor entered he said The body I took in the other world was a womans. Do you think that could have affected my mind somehow?
I suppose its possible, she answered. In my experience, men and women think differently. Its also possible that the people of the other world think differently from us as well.
Hmm more time passed over there than it did here. How can that be?
That was part of your plan. You picked a world where exactly one year would pass for every day which passes here.
To give myself time, I see. He sighed and sat on the bed. I think Ill need to take the dream powder again. There are too many holes in my memory. Rather, its more holes than not.
Kyuzu put her hand up and made a patting motion in the air. At the active dose its only safe to take once a day. She pulled out a leather pouch and showed the pills inside. I had these pressed yesterday. Be gentle with the bag, they break easily. If you get low, come see me before you run out. Remember at most one pill a day. Try to take them while using the diagram the Librarian gave you, itll be better for lining up the two memory sources.
Yubi took the pouch. So do I eat them?
Yes, Id suggest after a meal.
After a meal and once a day say, what day is it?
The 29th day of the 3rd month. So in two days Do you remember the day of prayer?
He remembered it took place every ten days, but that was about it. Vaguely but Oh! He got up. Excuse me, I should go talk to Rio.
She stopped him.
What, hes just down the hall, right?
How do you know that? Her piercing stare locked him in place.
I- I spoke to him yest-
What did he say to you?
Uh he told me my name? He searched her face trying to figure out what was happening. He also said a lot has happened. Thats all.
She relaxed, slumped back into the chair, and pressed a palm to her forehead. Thats all
In a memory I saw that we were friends.
She made the patting motion again. It was as though she nodded with her hand instead of her head. You two were like brothers in faith. She sighed, Hes not in that room at the moment.
...where is he?
Hes hell be back. She looked up at him. I think you should attend the royal court today.
Wha- um okay? Do you think that would be wise to do without all my memories?
Your mind was opened twice yesterday. Some memories should come back naturally. Today is important.
Alright where should I go?
She got up. Come, Ill show you the way.
Yubi followed Kyuzu down the hallway. Passing Rios room, he noted a closed door. Shes acting strange, is it possible she has some reason to lie? Breaking from the previous nights instinct, they turned left at the end of the hall. There was a spiral staircase almost immediately in that direction.
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Wow, so close, he said. Ill remember that.
Dont bother.
He grew more tense. Something was strange here but he wasnt sure what.
They climbed up to the surface, walked over a ways to another stone hut, and entered it. As he thought, this one had its own staircase inside. This one went further down than the one theyd started on. The room they entered was still well lit, though. Circles on the ceiling seemed to glow with daylight, flickering occasionally.
The room had a prominent, closed door on the side opposite the staircase. Its inhabitants were Yubi, Kyuzu, and a pair of wood armored strongmen at the sides of the door who watched them with neutral expressions.
There, she said. The royal court is in session. You dont need to participate, just observe and wait for memories to return. Now, I have patients to attend to.
Youre not coming in?
She looked at him sadly. Did you not remember my name?
Sailokyuzu?
Yes, and I dont have an invitation. She turned away, wished him luck, and left.
Do do I need an invitation? Is that the trap?
He walked toward the doors, looking at the guards for any sign of hostility. They watched him back and showed no signs of stopping him. He tried to unlatch the door as quietly as he could. Inside, someone was giving some long winded speech with a mild echo.
Yubi stepped into the room. It was enormous, especially for something underground. It must have taken forever to hollow this out! The ceiling arched up ornately. Intricate columns stood along the middle. Between the columns was a long carpet with an intricate pattern of hands. The speaker stood midway between the pillars at the far side of the room from the door. Just past him was an elevated platform atop which sat a large throne. Distance made it hard to make out the figure on the throne.
Still trying to be quiet, he turned and latched the door. The klacking of the latch into place echoed through the room. He turned back from the door. Standing to the sides of the carpet, past the columns, were two crowds of people. The edges of the crowds were staring at him. Yubi froze in place, unsure of what he was supposed to do. Then the crowd on his right shuffled about, seeming to make an opening. He scurried in.
He was suddenly aware of his outfit. At the start of the day hed changed from one plain, light blue outfit to another identical one which hed found in a drawer in his room. This was not the style of the crowd hed entered. The women mostly wore long, flowy velvet-like garments shaped vaguely like ponchos tied narrow with sashes which gave their figures some definition. The men wore simpler, more strictly fit tabards but with a lot more ornamentation pinned on. Compared to both, he felt like the only one in the room not trying to make an impression.
Since he still couldnt quite make out the speakers words, Yubi tried to move forward in the crowd. This turned out surprisingly easy: people seemed to step out of his way on their own.
The man on the throne came into view. His platform was something like a pyramid, with a couple chairs at lower steps to his sides. On one side sat a rough looking man with a long beard, wood armor, and a number of brightly colored badges. On the other, at a level below the armored man, was Toinoioeo who listened to the man on the carpets speech with intensity.
Yubi recognized the man on the throne as Aiyaloya. His tabard was wide with shoulder pads and embroidered with the most detail in the room. He wore a crown on his head. I guess thats the royal of the court. Loya was a young man appearing in his late teens to early twenties. He had the look of someone who hadnt yet fully mastered masking his own boredom.
When the speech ended, Loya spoke. So youre saying the diagram to Kassia is fixed and we can expect their ambassador on the second?
The man on the carpet bowed. That is right.
Yes. Tell them we await our opportunity to welcome the new guest. Phrase it something like I just did, it seems the Kassians need to learn the value of brevity.
A few chuckles echoed from around the room.
Alright, whos next Loya looked around the room. He locked eyes with Yubi. Oh! Youre back! Whatre you doing down there?
He wants to know what Im doing here? well, I was told the court today would be important and I wanted to hear what that man was saying and-
Whatre you mumbling about? Come, take a seat! Loya gestured to a chair on his left.
The last of the crowd stepped away from Yubi. He looked around and then stepped out of it. Then he stepped onto the carpet. Then up to the platform. He crept onto the bottom of the pyramid and then looked back and then up at Loya.
Whatre you doing? the man in the crown chuckled. Make haste!
Yubi scurried up to the chair and planted himself in it. He looked down at Toi whose face showed abject horror.
Odd, thats not like you, Loya said. Then something seemed to occur to him. His face went darkly serious. He turned to the other crowd. Bring out Rioshkaltis.
Yubis eyes widened as a pair of wood armored guards stepped forward, his old friend bound between them. Rio towered over the guards. The size of his arms alone justified his restraints despite his lack of struggle.
For those who have been away, Loya said, remind us of the charges.
One of the guards stepped forward. Eight days ago, on the twenty-first, Rioshkaltis is accused of sabotaging the diagram to Kassia. He was sighted in the facility by diagram operator Kainolautis. Immediately after, an ambassador was to arrive from Kassia. However, the moving diagram was damaged. The recoil from the diagram killed three Kassian mana generators. Rioshkaltis is thus accused of sabotage and of causing the deaths.
And the sentence? Loya asked.
We have opened diplomatic talks with the nation of demons. Head judge Oataoesia suggested offering someone for possession by an ambassador. Rioshkaltis did not contest his charges and was given this sentence.
Loya turned to Yubi. The sentencing took place two days ago. I was in Alzabatya at the time, so it has not been finalized yet. Im sorry you had to return to this. He turned back to Rio. You still do not contest your accusation?
Rios eyes were locked on the ground. I accept the punishment.
So be it. Guards, take him away.
Yubi watched the two lead him out the door, petrified. Sabotage? How could you do this? Nothing felt real anymore. It was like when he first woke up. Of all people, why you?
Then the gears of his mind turned. The day of prayer took place every ten days. The next one was in two days, on the first of the fourth month. So, the last one would have been eight days ago, on the day of the sabotage. He and Rio had never missed a day of prayer before Yubi went to the other world.
Rio couldnt have done it! He wouldve been at church!
Day 2: He Could鈥檝e Done It
As the royal court proceeded, Yubi became aware that it wasnt exactly the kind of court he had been expecting. While Loya passed judgements occasionally, the event seemed more focused on a number of official types making announcements and giving various updates. It was a meeting, essentially.
Aiyaloya conducted the proceedings well. He had an effortless seeming control over the mood in the room. Just by raising his hand, he could get the crowd to quiet down and focus on a speaker. Occasionally he said something which elicited laughs from the crowd. If they were honest, then that meant he knew the room well enough to produce that reaction. If they were just playing along, then the room knew him well enough to answer when he asked for a reaction. Either way, everyone followed Loyas lead. Between that and the crown, Yubi figured he was some sort of king.
The speeches went a bit over Yubis head. The stimulation was enough to bring back some faint memories, but most of the meeting seemed to have prerequisites locked behind the dream powder pills hed left in his room. One man, for instance, had stepped out of the crowd to give a speech on some new development in the design of something called a tulpa, which only Toi seemed eager to hear. It gave Yubi a lot of time to consider other things.
Kyuzu started acting weird when I brought up Rio, who was accused of sabotage while I was away. These two things may be connected: how?
The first thing she did was stop me from going to his room. I suppose that makes sense: he wasnt there, he was here. Maybe she brought me here to show me the situation? Or could it be some freakish medical treatment to get me to remember more? In either case it would make more sense to just tell me whats up with Rio and explain the purpose of the treatment.
Moreover, neither of those fully explains her behavior. She was concerned about what Rio may have said to me, she was weirdly dismissive when I noticed how close the stairs were, and her reason for not coming in with me was She said she didnt have an invitation, but before that she brought up her name. Why would her name matter there?
Yubi sighed and rested his chin on his hand.
Rios accusation doesnt make any sense either. What exactly is he accused of having sabotaged? That guard said a diagram was damaged in a way that killed someone. So whatever was damaged, this diagram was likely the same kind of thing that sent me to the other world and which forms the basis of my treatment. If my memory diagram was damaged would I die?
He looked down at the academic, who was now holding up a sheet of metal.
I remember hearing the word tulpa, even saying it. How can I not know what it means? This is ridiculous
He looked up at Loya, who did not seem impressed by the sheet of metal.
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Your fathers name was Ouyavaoya. I guess he was the previous king? I didnt see his face yesterday, its a wonder his name comes to mind at all
Thus Yubis mind continued to drift. He considered his old title of head strategist from before hed left, but realized he didnt fully remember what that meant. He contemplated the chair to which Loya had directed him, and whether it made sense for an amnesiac to sit so near a king. He leaned back to look at the high ceiling. Why hollow out a huge underground room when a surface building of the same size would require moving less material?
All right, good work everyone, Loya said, snapping Yubi back to attention. Lets have lunch. Bring out the table!
The two crowds on either side of the room stepped away from the central carpet. In an instant, a literal blink of an eye, the carpet disappeared and was replaced by an enormous table which spanned the length of the room.
Yubi blinked in disbelief. Did that table just appear? Out of nowhere?
A moment later, chairs popped in around the table, answering his question.
Loya stood up and turned to Yubi. Is something the matter?
Hmm? Yubi eyed the door on the opposite side of the room, thinking of Rio.
You were just so quiet today.
Oh, uh, Im still recovering from the thing.
Recovering?
Yes. Amnesia.
Oh, Im sorry to hear that. Memory loss is treatable if I recall rightly.
The bearded, armored man who had sat on Loyas right side stepped forward. Sir, lets proceed to-
Not now Gor, cant you see Im talking to Yubi?
A look of irritation spread across the mans face as he turned and walked down the platform. Yubi watched him go, worried that hed done something wrong.
Now then, when did you get back?
I woke up yesterday and got some treatments for my memory from the head doctor and Librarian. The moments of Loya sentencing Rio and sending away that Gor person overlaid his face. Er uh theyre working very well. I woke up not knowing my name and now, look, here I am, fit as a fiddle!
...pardon?
I- doing very well. The treatments are going very well.
Loya nodded. Makes sense. The Librarian knows some of the weirdest diagrams. Loya stepped closer and lowered his voice. I dont know if youve remembered yet, but get a second opinion on your condition. Kyuzu isnt the best at breaking bad news to people.
Isnt that important for a doctor?
Loya laughed. A healer heals. If you took half her genius, shed still be the best around. He turned and started walking. Come, lets have lunch.
Yubi looked at the door again. Actually, I was thinking-
Its a shame, the situation with Rio. You were his friend, any idea why he did it?
Hurrying after, Are you sure he did? If Ive got the dates right, that wouldve happened on the last day of prayer. He couldnt have done it while he was at church, right?
Loya shook his head. Youre half right, Yubi. The timing is unlike him, but it doesnt point in his favor. You and he always stood out during the ritual of prayer. Your absence didnt change his habit. Thats why it was so strange when I and everyone else in attendance that day noticed he wasnt there.
Day 2: Uneaten Soup
The seating at the table mirrored the chairs on the platform around the throne. Yubi sat between Toi and Loya. He stared at the empty place at the table before him.
I couldve sworn he was my friend I thought I knew him
Yubi turned to Loya. Weakly, he asked, What exactly did Rio damage?
The diagram to Kassia.
Yubi just looked at him blankly.
Oh my, the amnesias that bad?
What is the diagram to Kassia?
Its the diagram that sends you to Kassia.
...okay?
A woman in a black tabard with white frill trim placed a tray in front of Loya. She walked away and then another did similarly for Yubi and so on down the table. Each tray had four things on it: a thick paper straw, a metal object which looked like a small, flat pair of tongs, a cup, and a round object with a narrow top which looked something like a vase or a gourd.
The cup was filled about four fifths of the way. Its contents smelled of fruit with a light sting of alcohol. Maybe they cant purify water in this world. He put the straw in the cup. Do I know how to do that?
Toi tugged at his sleeve and whispered forcefully. What are you doing?
Yubi took the straw out of his mouth and looked around. Loya hadnt started yet. Was I supposed to wait? A couple people around the table had already picked up their cups and started sipping from them. He looked back with confusion.
Toi sighed and tried to speak gently. Yubi, the straw is for the soup.
Yubi leaned forward to look into the vase thing. It was indeed filled with soup.
O- okay. Thanks.
So Naiouyubi, Gor leaned forward from the other side of Loya, how did the expedition fair?
Toi put his hands up and stammered, W-well you see, at the moment Yubis-
Loya spoke. The other world is momentarily obscured by a fog of amnesia. When this fog lifts, we will reap the other worlds spells.
Well, Yubi said, actually, I-
Gor interrupted, A shame, that. I would have thought youd come to court more prepared.
Gor, Loya warned.
But I suppose using untested methods like you did was bound to carry some risk.
Toi defended, It wasnt untested. We were able to consistently send out tulpas and have them return unharmed!
Gor chuckled. Do not insult your friend, Toinoioeo. Is Yubi here nothing more than a clump of mana to you?
W- well, I-
In any case, I was referring to the other part of your spell. Remember that?
Yubi looked up with eyes of fear and guilt. He means sharirachori, the body stealing spell.
You know what they say about lawbreakers, Naiouyubi. They hesitate to bring God back in fear of His judgement!
Loya put his hand up. Thats enough, Gor.
The bearded man leaned back, seemingly satisfied.
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Yubi moved his straw and tried the soup. It was a creamy thing that felt heavy in his stomach.
So, Yubi, Loya said, Has anything returned to you about the other world? He grinned, Tell me, what were the women like?
I was one of them.
A silence hung in the air. Yubi sipped his soup.
I was reborn in the other world in a womans body. I lived decades there without ever using mana. Instead of diagrams, they became masters of fire and lightning. However, the family I was born into did not give many opportunities to learn this mastery. And, furthermore, I got amnesia when I went there just as I now have, so I didnt know to search for anything. Does that answer your question!?
He regretted his tone the moment he looked into Loyas eyes. The king was reduced to the child hed been when Yubi first met him.
Yubi was head diagramist at the time. Ouyavaoya had assigned him to teach his son how to focus mana. Little Aiyaloya was a slow learner at first. He would take the glowdust stone in his hand and would only get it to flicker unsteadily. Then Yubi had him hold a fireleaf root and return to the stone again. And again. And again.
At one point, Yubi had lost his patience. Do you not feel what the root pulls from you? Can you not just do that? Remember your name! Is it just for show?
Little Loya had looked at him the same way back then. It was an expression of sad, scared powerlessness. Yubi had regretted his tone back then too.
Im sorry, young master. Look, lets try something else. Take the stone in your right hand and sit down. Good actually, lets try your left hand for a change. Okay. Now, using your left, try reaching out to me. No, dont lean forward, just extend your arm out as far as it goes. Further. Come on, you can go further. Now, keep your arm out and close your eyes. Imagine stretching your arm out towards me. Imagine you could stretch across the room to reach my voice. Now, stretch for real. Reach your arm across the room, Im right here. Good, now open your eyes!
Loya dropped the stone the moment he saw how brightly it was glowing.
And that, young master, is how you focus mana!
Yubi had never raised a child, but the way Loya smiled that day made him understand why someone would.
He opened his eyes and found himself slumped over the arm of his chair. Looking around, he saw figures standing around him with concerned expressions. The vase had a trail of soup running down the side which led to a puddle on the table, as though it had been knocked over and set back up.
Did I pass out?
Yubi looked up at Loya, who had regained his regal demeanor. He was so much bigger now. I remember you now. Yubi wiped a lone tear from his cheek and got up.
It seems I still have some recovering to do. Please excuse me. He started toward the door.
Loya stopped him momentarily. Be careful, okay?
Yubi nodded and continued on his way.
He passed Gor on the way to the door. Looks like you arent the smartest man in the room anymore, eh?
Yubi didnt respond. I dont even know who you are.
It took some trial and error, but he eventually found the staircase back to the room he woke up in. He walked down the hall and then remembered Rio. The door was open, but he knocked as he approached regardless.
Old friend, Yubi said, it seems a lot has indeed happened.
Rio looked away. If you were there to see, then surely your memory has healed?
Not all, but enough. Now, Rio. What was all that about? I want to hear it from you.
I didnt do it.
Thats not what you said-
You think I would betray Loya like that?! He took a deep breath and then looked away again. I said I accept the punishment, not the accusation.
But why? The punishment is to give your body to a demon! You would defile yourself like that?
In service of Ya and Loya? Yes. Of course I would. Toi says the demons will trade copies of historical documents for information which could dramatically increase the consistency of our crop yields. I dont like it, but he says that we cant kill the Demon King if a famine wipes us out first. That was enough to convince Loya, so Ill follow it. If it came to volunteers, you know Id be the first to give Loya my life.
So you didnt do it?
Of course not! Your memory needs more work if you dont believe that.
Perhaps Its just that Loya just told me you werent at church when the sabotage occurred?
Rio chuckled. That, too, is Tois doing. He said he had something urgent to discuss with me and had me wait at his office instead of attending church. Then, when he finally arrived, he acted like he didnt know what I was talking about.
You dont suppose Toi
That soft bodied academic? Hed faint at the destruction of a diagram, let alone a man. Its not in his nature to do such things.
Hmm and they said someone saw you at the place?
Yes, that I cant explain. Whoever Kain saw enter the facility, it wasnt me.
Alright He started to leave. Ill look into it.
Wait, Yubi. Dont.
What? Why not?
Ive already accepted my punishment and you have better things to do, like developing the tools from the other world.
Are you sure?
Yes, have some faith in Loyas judgement. And let me have some of the heroism too, youve been hogging it.
Yubi didnt answer. Some heroism. I barely remember how to eat.
Day 2: Yubi Goes Home
Down the hall, a short haired girl in the light blue healer uniform was taking the word Naiouyubi off the letter board on the wall. Seeing this, Yubi himself was a bit thrown.
Hey uh whatre you doing?
Hmm? The healer looked over at him. Taking the label off a vacant room?
Vacant? Isnt that my room?
Now the healer was confused too. It was my understanding that youve been discharged. If theres been some mistake I could-
What do you mean discharged? This is my- Yubi suddenly stopped. A bit of thought later, he began again. Do I not live here?
The healers eyes widened with a sudden, surprised understanding. My apologies. I forgot to consider your amnesia. This is the fortress medical wing, nobody lives here permanently. Since youve been Wait, did the doctor not tell you?
Kyuzu didnt tell me a lot of things.
The healer grimaced. On behalf of the entire field of medicine itself, I beg that you find a way in your heart to forgive her.
Uh okay?
Anyway, we already cleared out your possessions. Your wife has already received them so-
I have a wife?
A look of pity filled the healers eyes. She began to speak, but Yubi got there first.
I get it, I get it. Ill take the pills and get over it. Now could you tell me where I live?
Leaving the medical wing, Yubi emerged from a stone hut onto the surface. The surface itself consisted of a wide clearing filled with stone huts, each of which led down to, he assumed, different facilities in the so-called fortress. At the edge of the clearing, just before the land became forest, was another anonymous-looking hut shaded by the trees under the afternoon sun. Following directions, he climbed down the staircase inside it.
As he walked, the thought occurred to him that he wasnt as young as he used to be. Then, another thought reminded him that he was in a body two decades younger only two days ago. He shivered a bit as he went down the stairs.
Apparently he lived on the third floor down from the surface, in the second unit from the stairway door. Its like an apartment complex but upside-down.
The healer had lent him an emergency key to his front door, so he had no trouble getting in. His main room seemed to be a large combination of living room, dining room, kitchen, and an office/study. One wall had a sparsely filled bookcase and a large chalkboard. The opposite wall had cooking equipment and a fireplace. Between these was a long table with a box on it. Glancing inside, Yubi found the pouch of dream powder pills.
He heard a pair of voices from another room. They werent talking laughing maybe? At that volume, the joke must be hilarious. He walked further in and opened a door. This one was evidently a bedroom. It had clothing storage and a bed. On the bed were two startled naked women tangled around each other. Yubi couldnt recognize which one was his wife.
Sorry to interrupt, he said. Ill come back later.
As he left, he considered hitting the wall with his head.
Before later, Yubi opted to run an errand anywhere other than his home.
You must be getting better, the Librarian said, if you remembered the way here.
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Yubi shrugged his shoulders. I asked for directions.
Yes, she said, eyes down as she drew, and you remembered the location to ask directions to.
I just asked where the library is. Its obvious.
She chuckled. Yesterday youd forgotten more obvious things than that.
He winced, turning away.
Wait here a moment. She left her desk to go consult a reference.
Upon arriving, hed asked for copies of the diagrams used in his treatment. Theyd allegedly been misplaced during the delivery from the medical room to his home. Whether or not that was true, hed find out later.
The library itself was a labyrinth of unlabeled shelves which Yubi lacked the courage to enter. Some of the shelves had little locked doors built in, giving the library a slight air of hostility.
Here you go, the Librarian said upon returning. She placed a second paper on the desk.
Yubi moved one diagram beside the other. He took out the pouch of pills and set it on the desk.
What exactly do these things do again?
She pointed at the pills. Roughly speaking, these access your bodys memories. At one of the diagrams. This accesses your souls memories. At the other. This it basically lets you see what youre thinking about. Its not strictly necessary, but it makes the memories more vivid and easier to control.
He picked it all up. Hmm could you um would you mind answering some stupid questions?
I think it would be quicker to get the answers from those.
Maybe but could you answer anyway? His voice was shaking ever so slightly.
The Librarian nodded her hand. Alright.
Yubi took a deep breath. How many days are in a month and how many months are in a year?
A month is thirty days, a year is twelve months.
So three hundred sixty. Right. Obviously. He held up the papers. How do these work?
...do you mean those specifically or diagrams generally?
Diagrams.
A diagram is an image drawn in mana conducting material. When mana passes through a material, it sometimes interacts with the shape it passes through. Those actually, have you remembered mana yet?
Yubi shook his head.
The Librarian waited a moment. What was that?
What?
You made a motion like a dog drying off.
This? He shook his head again as an example.
Yes.
It means no.
Does it? Ive never heard of that.
IM JUST SAYING NO, OKAY? He took another deep breath. Sorry. I still dont know what mana is. Far as I can tell, you just push it out your fingers and a diagram does something.
Yeah, thats about it.
No, thats not it! Thats how you use mana, not what it does.
Mana does lots of things.
Okay? Like what?
It cuts things, moves things, produces light obviously it can help with memory loss If we were demons we could also use it to speak silently at a distance, possess humans, change our bodies shapes-
How about the diagram to Kassia?
Thats the sort that moves things. It can send you or an object to the kingdom of Kassia. Long distance diagrams like that are operated at the teleportation facility in the city and are used for travel, trade, mail, things like those.
Right. Teleportation. Of course. His voice was growing very thin. Now um for the royal court what would someones name have to do with whether they need an invitation?
Thats hold on. She pulled a small blackboard and a chalk from under the desk. Could you write down some names for me?
He took the chalk and wrote the following list: Naiouyubi, Rioshkaltis, Sailokyuzu, Toinoioeo, Aiyaloya. Theyre all so strange.
Good. Now, its a long story, but a long time ago there was a king who decided peoples names should reflect how close they were to God in rank. Being the highest mortal rank, the king, whose name was Louis, changed his name to Louiya. The name Ya has no consonants in it, so he wanted to only have one consonant in his name. Then those nobles immediately below him were mandated two or three consonants, like you and Toinoioeo. Below that, the ranking is by proportion of vowels to consonants so it would go Sailokyuzu and then, lowest on your list, Rioshkaltis. So the name reflects someones rank and the rank determines whether theyre allowed to are you okay?
Yubi had dropped to his knees. He didnt respond.
The Librarian went around the desk to him. Hey uh are you feeling well? Is there something wrong?
I dont know he sniffed. I dont know how to eat. I dont know who I am. I dont I didnt know where I live. I didnt know how names work. I He looked up at her. I dont even know my own wifes name! His chest heaved as tears flowed down his cheeks.
Uh the Librarian made panicked gestures in the air. If its any consolation, neither do I?
Day 2: Lau and a Lock
When Yubi returned the second time, he knocked and waited. One of the two women from earlier answered the door.
Ah, Yubi, youre back!
Of the two, she was shorter and a bit more tan. She moved forward with what seemed like hugging intent. Yubi pulled away since this person was basically a stranger to him.
I do live here, right? he asked, voice a bit tired.
Her eyes widened but her voice stayed composed. Come in, you look exhausted.
She led him over to a sort of asymmetrical couch-bed looking thing. The two sat next to each other.
Its been a while, hasnt it? she said. Its been almost a month and a half over here, so it mustve been quite a while over there, huh.
Uh-huh, he started to nod but then stopped, remembering the gesture may not exist in this world.
They said youve got some kind of memory loss. That must be pretty stressful, huh? She started reaching up Yubis clothes.
He jolted away. Whatre you doing?
Startled, Oh, do you not need it today?
What? I- It was getting harder and harder to collect himself. About the memory loss. Could you tell me Are you They said I have a wife?
Do you not remember me?
Ill remember eventually, but I need to know now.
Um okay. My name is Voilauisan, Lau for short. Weve been married about ten years.
Ten years? She looked She was definitely an adult, but he was afraid to find out what she was a decade ago.
The other woman you saw me with earlier was Dalishnkater, or Dali. Shes technically your concubine but you two dont talk much.
Lau and Dali Together youre definitely louda.
Pardon?
Never mind. Uh Tell me, Lau, what do you do? Like, with your time? Agh, its like a bad first date! He considered leaving again, but wasnt sure where he would go.
Thanks to you, I study mana conductive plants and fungi.
Thanks to me?
Well yeah. I dont think I wouldve entered the academy without your support.
Ah. Thats good then. He didnt remember doing it, but it was one of the first things hed heard of himself doing which he was glad to hear about.
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So thats who I am, but how about you? Who was the great Naiouyubi in the other world? Surely you didnt keep going by that name.
Well, I was reborn in a womans body over there.
O ho ho ho! And the ladys name pray tell?
Patricia something or other. Trish for short. In the other world everyone has two names. One is given and the other is passed down from the father.
Hmm, why is that? Wait, dont tell me If two people share a passed-down name then theyd probably be pretty closely related, right?
Right. That was very quick of you.
Lau grinned. I learned from the best!
Yubi smiled too. Whoever his wife was, she was a very comfortable person.
She scooched close again. So what did Trish find?
Basically nothing. I lost my memory on the way there so I didnt know what to look for. They dont use mana over there anyway.
Hmm you were over there a long time, surely you learned something or other.
Well, I- hold on. He pulled out the pills and the diagrams. I dont remember much, but I have the tools to check. Would you mind if I?
She got up. Its fine. Take your time, Ill put together something to eat.
He watched her walk over to the kitchen side of the room. Part of him wanted to help, but then he remembered that he probably wouldnt even recognize any of this worlds cooking tools. Thus he sat back and activated the diagrams.
Yubi was more intentional with Trishs memories than he had been previously. He was looking for knowledge and skills, so he tried to focus on Trishs working life as much as he could. This wound up being a lot of memories of driving around, following people, and digging through documents.
Breaking from this, Trish sat across from her mother at a dinner table. Shed just asked what her father was like.
Well, that was a long time ago, but he was-
Yubi looked around. Lau knelt, dejected, beside a large pot in the fireplace. He looked down at the soul memory diagram. Right, this thing cuts out if my mana isnt consistent.
He went back in.
Trish took a photo and then sent it to her boss. A couple minutes later, the phone rang. When she answered, the voice of the man shed sent the image to came out.
Thats interesting. The Librarian said demons can talk at a distance, so if we could do that too that would weaken their advantage.
Trish attached a string to a can and then pulled it taut.
Ready mama?
No, thats not it.
Trish typed out an email summarizing observations shed made on the job. Her hands were illuminated by the screen. When she was done, she pressed some buttons and the text disappeared from the screen.
Interesting, but how does it work?
The lights in her apartment suddenly went dark.
Powers out again?
Trish went to look at the circuit breaker.
Right, theyd mastered the power of lightning. But how?
Yubi searched and searched, but the secrets of electricity remained elusive. Trish evidently had a lot of experience using phones, computers, and a number of other appliances, but none in how to build such a thing. Thus the rest of his time was spent analyzing other skills.
When he was finished, he looked around for metal wires and then turned to Lau.
I want to try something. When I step outside, please lock the door. If I knock, unlock it, but dont unlock it before I do.
His wife agreed, though not without confusion.
Outside, Yubi knelt next to the door. Hed picked up a small pair of tongs from the table. There had been a badge on the shelf with a long needle-part. Hed broken this off and bent it up a bit. Using the tongs, he applied a rotational pressure to the lock. Using the belt needle, he dug around inside and pushed up the key pins. Because of the pressure from the tongs, each pin stayed up when he adjusted the next. Before long, he was able to turn the lock the rest of the way and open the door.
Wow, said Lau. Thats neat. Were you a thief in the other world?