One-Eyed Monster

Igor’s unconventional moves plunged the Little Black Hands into extreme panic, completely shattering their previously superior demeanor. These suddenly raised questions seemed ordinary, yet each one carried an inexplicable power. This power seemed to pose a question to the Little Black Hands: Where did you come from, and where are you going?

This was a question they had pondered for a very long time, yet they had never fully grasped it. They either gave up halfway or were sidetracked by other matters. Regardless, they still didn’t know where they had come from, nor where they were supposed to go. Not long ago, they hadn’t even considered this question; it was as if many memories had vanished from their minds.

The one who had brought these hazy memories back to the forefront of their minds was precisely this youth, the one asking unconventional and strange questions. It seemed this youth was named Igor.

At this moment, the Little Black Hands felt as if they had been jolted awake by a heavy hammer; they had been in a dream-like state before. They had even forgotten why they had chosen the one-eyed monster as their Medium. They weren’t here to act superior; they were here to seek answers! Yet now, they found themselves in the position of answering questions. They should have been the ones asking! Even if they couldn’t yet call themselves human.

What in the world is happening? Why is it so different from what we expected when we came in?

Yes, how could something like this occur? Why did we have to be so arrogant?

Why do I feel this inherent superiority? And why do I feel like there’s something wrong with this feeling?

Evidently, the Little Black Hands had begun to discuss amongst themselves again. It seemed the ’bomb’ Igor had ignited possessed considerable force, directly blasting them back to their initial state of confusion. They were engrossed in contemplating their inner uncertainties, completely ignoring Igor and his companions.

Listening to their clamorous, disorganized chatter, Igor was momentarily unsure what to ask. In truth, he had already realized that no matter how many questions he posed, the entities before him had no intention of answering.

”This... is pretty awkward!” Igor said helplessly, looking at Kadi and Stan Sol.

”Does anyone else get the feeling that their minds are fragmented?” Stan Sol was always one to ponder things on a deeper level. Ever since he started accompanying Igor, he often found himself led down unpredictable paths of thought. And while mulling over these things, he could even attain a new realm of understanding—a unique feat.

However, Igor didn’t grasp what Stan Sol meant at all, looking at him with a completely bewildered expression.

Kadi, however, was surprisingly animated. It was unclear what had come over him in that brief moment, but he had become exceptionally perceptive, seemingly able to instantly grasp what others intended to convey.

”Sol means these opponents are somewhat disconnected,” Kadi explained. ”They’re always talking about unrelated matters. These things might seem irrelevant to us, but I actually think it’s highly probable they’re significantly connected.”

”Oh? How so? Can you elaborate?” Igor was intrigued, quite surprised by Kadi’s analysis.

Stan Sol also felt Kadi’s assertion had a unique incisiveness. It was as if Kadi possessed a natural ability to see through these intangible adversaries. Moreover, Kadi was always a bit slow on the uptake, Stan Sol was quite sure of that. In his view, Igor was the one who lit the beacon and indicated the direction, while Kadi was the trailblazer who steadfastly advanced along that path. These two seemed destined to be partners, sharing a profound and naturally formed rapport.

And so, in this intersecting space—a place that was neither truly the world nor the Inner World, a realm indescribable by the language of the known world—a cacophony of chattering sounds gradually coalesced into two distinct timbres. One was panicked and agitated, as if desperately searching for something—that was the Little Black Hands discussing their own quandaries. The other was strong and resonant, as if forging a new path—that was Igor and his companions discussing the strange nature of the Little Black Hands.

”Actually, when I entered the Inner World just now, I met my Spirit. I’ve told you some of it...” Igor felt an urgent need to share what he knew. With his strength alone, he could no longer resolve the current predicament.

”Yes, yes, I know you’ve seen a Spirit in the Inner World. But these Spirits aren’t *your* Spirit; you can’t control them,” Kadi said. He clearly felt the immediate priority was to communicate with *these* Spirits, which had nothing to do with the one Igor had encountered. Kadi couldn’t see that far ahead; he only focused on what was directly in front of him. After all, he only had one eye—he added, half-jokingly.

Kadi focused on the present because he believed it was paramount. He wasn’t one for meticulous planning; back on Guru Mountain, he mostly just went with the flow, and he was quite content with that. After all, he felt every day was a brand new beginning. If he planned everything out, what would there be to look forward to in the future? This mindset led Kadi to greatly value the here and now, and it had forged his acute sensitivity to the immediate circumstances. This sensitivity, at this particular moment, allowed him to display a greater understanding of the Little Black Hands than either Igor or Stan Sol. For when it came to these Little Black Hands, Kadi truly did understand them well.

”Actually, they need help...” Igor finally voiced the thought he had been holding back. After all, in the Inner World, he had promised his own Spirit that he would help these lost Spirits once he was out. Yet, even now, he still didn’t know precisely what to do. He’d had a nascent idea back in the Inner World, but now it had completely slipped his mind.

Indeed, events always unfolded rapidly. No matter how well one planned or how thoroughly one thought things through, it was impossible to keep pace with the changes. Igor now felt that the entire world was in flux, and he, too, needed to adapt.

Upon hearing Igor say, ”they need help,” Kadi burst out laughing. ”Who doesn’t know they need help? Isn’t that patently obvious? But the crucial question is, are they willing to accept it?”

Stan Sol found Kadi’s question very practical. Sometimes, offering help was indeed a difficult endeavor. One never knew whether to offer it or not. Not helping could make one seem unkind, yet helping might lead to being perceived as meddlesome. It was a true dilemma. Unless the other party explicitly requested it, only then would helping be justifiable, and not even the slightest awkwardness would arise. Otherwise, it was genuinely tricky, and one could easily find oneself in a bind.

Stan Sol was now looking at Kadi with newfound respect. He hadn’t imagined that this fellow, who usually just caused trouble, could be so astute at such a moment.