SYSTEM ASCENSION

”ELIAS, ARE WE SPLITTING?!”

”...”

”What the hell —” Mona paused and frowned. Nel’s voice was invading their sea of consciousness.

”...A soul ritual? They’re separating us?!”

”The body can’t contain us both.” Elias defended.

”How is this a solution!”

The chains dragged him several more steps back, but he pulled forward and grabbed Elias collar.

”No, absolutely not. Stop this right now!”

”Mona, I...”

”No excuses. We’re both gonna regret this!” Mona yelled. He panicked as the chain tugged him further.

”Elias!”

”Then, you stay. I’ll go.” Elias suggested.

”No! Don’t you get it? We can’t part ways. Not now, not ever!”

Elias grabbed his hand to remove it from his collar.

”Elias! You’re not listening to me! If you eliminate one of us, we’ll never be complete! We need to be one to—”

”Hold on,” Elias interrupted. ”I am not eliminating one of us.”

Mona stilled. ”Huh?”

”I’m simply sharing souls. Two body.”

Mona removed his hand.

”So we’re not eliminating one but acquiring new body?”

”Weren’t you listening?”

”I was asleep.”

”...”

Mona scratched his hair. ”This is embarassing.” The chains yanked him again. ”And it hurts too.”

”Well,” he turned around and followed the chains. ”I’ll see you.”

Outside, Elias had gone silent. He just stared into nothing, and Zeal was peeping to make sure he was okay. Dark light burst from his body, like liquid darkness, streams of unidentified soul color drifted from his chest, gathering above Nel’s palm.

The dragon’s expression became solemn.

”What kind of...”

”Is there a problem?” Zeal moved closer.

”Not with the ritual.”

She continued to split his soul, until a single thread remained. Then it snapped after a careful pull and the sphere of darkness plunged into the gray egg.

”Aaahhh...I almost thought I’ll fail.”

”What?!” Zeal narrowed his eyes. ”You weren’t sure?!”

”You don’t have to give me that look young man. I was sure.”

Elias opened his eyes. He blinked twice and looked around. ”Is it done?”

”Yes,” Nel shifted her hand. ”You just have to wait for the egg to hatch.” She laid him down and handed the tiny egg to him. ”How do you feel?”

”Weird. Incomplete.”

”You’ll get use to it. That being said, your soul isn’t like any other human.”

Elias was already looking for were to store the egg. Although it wasn’t that big, it was inconvenient to carry it around like that.

”Are you a human?” Nel dropped a question that made him still. It was an absurd question, yet Elias understood it. He cast Zeal a brief look, then the dragon. His mind wandered back to the dream, and somehow, it felt clearer than it had always been.

”Probably half.” He shrugged. ”I don’t think my mother is one.”

”A halfling huh?” Zeal muttered. ”Although some people don’t fancy whatever came from the other side, It’s not uncommon in our world nowadays.”

”I think you humans should head back now,” the dragon snapped it’s finger, and a portal swirled into existence. ”Time move faster in your world than this one.”

Zeal flinched. ”How long have we been here?”

”About a century....”

”Aaaahhhhhh!”

”Calm down. Don’t panic. Probably a week or so.”

”It’s still too much!” He grabbed Elias hand and began pulling him. ”We’re leaving!”

As they approached the portal, Elias turned back and bow his head a little. The dragon smiled in response.

They got to the edge, already stepping through when Nel spoke up. ”I used your memories to open the portal old man.”

”My memo...”

The portal closed around them.

Nel chuckled for a short while. ”I haven’t spoken in what? Fifty years now? That wasn’t so bad.” She narrowed her eyes. ”But that boy...I wonder what species he is. Maybe I should visit that world when am done.”

***

The duo that had gone through the portal arrived at a place that seem like the outskirts of a city. As soon as they were popping out, Zeal pulled out his phone and checked the date.

”Two weeks went by. That darn gagantic Null!”

Elias was already looking at the unfamiliar zone, the egg still clutched tight in his hand. After realising that he didn’t recognise it, he turned.

”This place is yours right? Old man.”

”Old man?!”

”She said she used your memories.”

”I’m not old—”

His eyes caught the structure behind Elias. Everywhere suddenly went silent.

Elias turned around. Down the hill was a structure. It was surrounded by high fencing, but the gates were open. At first glance it was obviously an orphanage, and he could only guess one thing.

”You grew up here?”

Zeal stepped by and began moving forward, almost like he’s in a daze. Elias didn’t follow behind. He just watched, till Zeal was a standing before the orphanage.

A few children were running around, playing a ball. When they saw a stranger, they stopped to stare at him with curiousity in their gazes.

An attendant approached him. ”Good day sir, do you want to adopt a child?”

He glanced at her. ”No, I...I grew up here.”

Her eyes lit up. ”A visitor!” She grabbed his hand even if she didn’t recognise him and pulled him inside. ”We have a visitor!”

All the kids followed behind, cheering. As they stepped past the door, it was like the air had folded in. His eyes widened.

”A barrier?”

The lady grinned. ”I suppose you left before it. You can’t pass through it if you have an I’ll intent. The royal family dispatch raiders to guide the orphanage after three children were kidnapped right before their eyes and dragged away. The people couldn’t do anything and we couldn’t find the children, but since then, we have been living a steady life.”

She smiled softly. ”Although I was not here, I sometimes feel like everyone here is living those children lives.”

”Hmm...” His eyes drifted to the picture hang on the walls. Portraits of the children outings and events. It was exactly like he remembered. Warm and peaceful.

”I should call one of the workers than had stayed here longer. They might recognise you.” She grabbed her gown to hasten her steps and ran inside.

Zeal continue to stare at the pictures, until voices got louder. Some women came at once.

”It’s been long we have a visitor,” the oldest was smiling. ”Welcome...”

Before she could began to understand what was happening, another lady stepped out. She was much younger, looking to be in her forties. ”Who is the...”

She halt by the door. The rest of them did the same. They couldn’t believe their eyes at the person standing there. He looked exactly the same, only less fragile and taller.

”Ze...al?”

He moved his eyes before turning.

”Aunty.”

The woman paled. Her hand trembled as she reached out. ”Zeal...”

The new housekeeper glanced between them.

’Zeal? Isn’t that one of the kidnapped kids?’