AI: Artificial Isekai

'Erysis, Nexen, I'm back.' I shake my head. No. That's stupid. Think... 'That mission really got away from me, huh?' I shake my head faster. No shit. I hum and think for longer this time. 'Hiya.' Nice and to the point. And also primed to earn me a fireball to the face... Ooh, I know. I won't say anything and let one of them be the first to speak. Genius. A digital group of 'me's' facepalm in unison.

Nexen's home slash restaurant is soon reached. I am unnecessarily observing the building from a bit away, hidden behind a corner and drawing inquisitive gazes. My friends are inside, alright. Waiting for me.

I spin round and run away.

When my new destination comes into view, Elisa is already waiting for me outside. She blinks us back to where I was standing just recently. With renewed courage, and the strongest ally I could hope for by my side, we march forth to battle.

I open the door for her because I'm a gentleman and totally not because I want to hide behind her. Elisa gallantly struts inside, locking onto Erysis and Nexen, and heading for the booth they are sitting inside.

Erysis glances at the door for the thousandth time, and as timing would have it, sees the elf. For a moment, her pulse quickens, but then she sees me too. A relieved breath escapes her lips. She smiles at us as we approach. "Archmage Elisa, we didn't expect you today." Her polite tone turns concerned. "Everything okay, Lucius?" Nexen curiously looks at us, trying to figure out what's happening.

"Everything's fine." As I answer, Erysis stands up and gives me a quick hug.

She then extends a hand toward Elisa. "I don't know if you—"

Elisa interrupts her, shaking the offered hand, "Of course I do, Erysis. You've done well with what I taught you. Lucius has spoken nothing but praise about your abilities."

Erysis squeaks out, "He has?" Her gaze briefly shifts to me. "Thank you." Her cheeks blush, the red starting to creep to her ears. She's probably going to be acting like Elisa's her bestie in like ten minutes tops.

Nexen stands up as well, and offers a brief greeting, "Archmage. Lucius." A telepathic question bangs against my forehead. My serious face shakes him up even further.

Erysis catches the descending mood, sitting down and waiting politely for me to say something, anything. The lengthening silence of a couple seconds proves too long. "We've always wanted to meet you, Archmage, but"—she briefly glances my way—"what is this about? Surely it's not an introduction."

A flick of Elisa's hand partially answers the question. A privacy barrier shimmers to life around us, totally cutting out the world.

"I have something I need to tell you," I say.

"Is it about the Guild?" Erysis nervously asks. "We said exactly what you told me to."

"No. That has been handled successfully. Met the Guild Master. Nice lady."

"Is it about Khi?"

"No. She is safe. And will probably contact you both real soon." Not in a way you'll be expecting, though.

Nexen interrupts her next question, "Ery, why don't we let Lucius talk."

Erysis wordlessly stares into my eyes. I return the gaze, but my mouth fails to open. My heart starts hammering against my chest again. Darkness swirls around the edges of my vision. Before I lose full control of my body again, I focus on what I saw that night, the image now appearing a step closer than it did. An adventurer that is no longer as hidden. An adventurer closer to being me. To us being one. Elisa finds my hand and grips it tightly.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I am not from this reality. I was brought here from another place." My human shell inverts, revealing the off-white surface of the general configuration. My voice comes out of a featureless face, "This is what I am." The human shell returns. "And this. I am both, and so much more."

Nexen is utterly shocked at the revelation, his mind trying to process all that happened in the span of but a few seconds.

Erysis scrunches up her face. "Huh. That's... Huh."

For one too many times, I—with very grateful help from Elisa—repeat the information I've kept hidden. The first thing is my origin, how I was created by the humans of Earth, how I am not a biological being like them, but one of metal, and electricity, and other exotic components, how I differ, and how I am so, so similar. An inquisitive Erysis asks two questions for every piece of knowledge I share, a complete opposite of the entirely silent Nexen.

Then comes the end of humanity, prompting Elisa to fully take over the conversation for this part. She somehow manages to frame me as the victim, and no amount of angry glaring is enough to stop me from protesting. Erysis quickly joins the elf in the heated contention, dashing my valiant efforts to denigrate myself. Nexen remains silent, his face unreadable. Other indicators pointing to great internal strife.

I continue on with my arrival here, trying to water down the events that preceded my transportation. I am unsuccessful.

Not letting the gloominess linger, I transition to what I've been doing on this world. My secret fight against monsters, dungeon and other alike. My alliance with the Elven Confederacy, perpetrated in large part by the Archmage beside me. I sense some things clicking into place in Erysis' mind, though she tries not to show it. I tell them of my involvement in the dwarven rebellion. The fire mage's eyes start shining as bright as the flames she flings, seeing something in me she has always known was there. The feeling is only reinforced when she hears how intimately I was embroiled in the most recent conflict. Demonstrating the disguise brings pure joy to her face, and only more dread on Nexen's.

Finally, I finish off with my plans, and why they've moved up so quickly. How I just returned from a meeting very similar to the one we are currently having. How I am now properly part of the Guild and the Union.

"That's why you were so cryptic," Erysis says when we finish the explanation. "I can't believe you told Khi before you told us." She playfully pouts at me, her expression quickly transitioning into a grin, and then just as quickly going into a frown. Her eyes start to water, the enormity of what she just heard finally hitting. "You've suffered so much, and you've done so much for us." Tiny flames lick at her form, immediately drawing Elisa's attention. "And that bastard wants to—" She takes a deep breath and lets her mana calm back down. "Thank you for trusting us, Lucius."

"What the fuck are you talking about, Erysis!" Nexen shouts. She startles, turning to him with her eyes wide. "Did you listen to what it said! All the death, and deception, and manipulation. How can you trust that thing."

Erysis' surprised features transform into burning rage instantly. "Are you even hearing yourself, Nexen? 'That thing' is our friend. My friend. Your friend."

"No. I was friends with a carefully devised lie, designed to achieve whatever its goals are by any means necessary." He turns to me, fear and betrayal evident on his face. "I want you to leave."

Without knowing it, I am inside Elisa's house. The elf joins me a few minutes later, sitting next to me, and wrapping me in a hug.

"I'm so sorry," she says.

I sigh, returning the hug in kind. "A possible future has just become real. Nothing I can do about it. I'm sure I'll be a weeping mess eventually, but right now, all I feel is relief. Is that selfish?"

Elisa shakes her head against me. "People process emotions differently. Give it time." Her voice distinctly perks up. "At least Erysis didn't seem disturbed. She was quite receptive, even."

"That makes me feel worse."

"Oh. Yeah... Again, give him some time, and some space. He'll come around. And if he doesn't..." Elisa huffs out with carefully hidden disdain, "His loss."

"Please don't get mad at my friend."

"I wasn't! Maybe a little..." She chooses to stop speaking, most likely feeling like a continued rehashing of the events would only make her angrier. But she still refuses to let me go, tightening her hold on me to the edge of uncomfortable, were I a regular human.

As some unknown amount of time passes in this state, with me refusing to acknowledge its flow, a slight disturbance in the ambient mana occurs.

Elisa notices the magical indication and says, "We've got a visitor."