NOVEL NEXT 63 - We Are Two Minds Sharing One Body
Div and En stood in front of the classroom door, their hand on the handle. They had to go in before someone else came and saw them hesitate. It would be too embarrassing otherwise.
(We were so sure yesterday, but now…)
[Telling the truth… It's easier said than done.]
But no matter how much they dreaded the moment to come, waiting in front of the door wouldn't help.
They took a deep breath, counted to three, and pushed the door open. Most of the class was already there, waiting for Vedovessa to show up.
Lugsellos spotted them first and nodded to them.
Then Gennorina waved at them. She called, telling them to come sit with the group.
[Well, we're not going to announce it to the whole class. Let's wait for the right moment.]
(Agreed. Makes us stressing over opening the door pointless. But you're right.)
They had decided it was time to open up to the rest of their friends, but they hoped it could stay between them. It would all depend on how Genno, Seg, and Ambi would take it.
"Hey," Div and En said, trying their best to appear relaxed. "Sorry about yesterday, I wasn't feeling good."
"It's my fault, isn't it?" Gennorina asked, biting her lip.
"No, no. Not at all. I'll tell you more later."
Lugsellos turned back from his seat and looked into their eyes. His question was written on his face.
(Should we tell Lug first? He was happy to share his secret with us… Maybe he can help us.)
[We're not going to spread his secret. And we're not going to change our mind. No more excuses, we'll go through with it today.]
(You're right.)
It was already hard enough, they didn't need to make it worse by dragging the conversation out. Still, they gave a heavy nod to Lug, making sure he understood what they were going to do.
The morning class was more of the same. Since they were done with their Facet of the Veil, and with the dark day approaching, Vedovessa kept drilling them about tactics, the monsters that would likely show up, what to do and not to do in certain situations.
The more serious their teacher was, the more anxious the students became. They had seen their first dark day. It wasn't a game. While Vedovessa was telling them that Evolved Ranks warriors would be there to save them if things came to it, accidents could always happen on the battlefield.
To Div and En, the morning class seemed to last an eternity. They couldn't concentrate on the lesson. Their minds were full of scenarios, of what they would say, of how the others would respond to the revelations.
They even worried that Lugsellos might be disappointed that they shared their secret.
When Vedovessa told the class to take their lunch break, En focused.
(Let's do it now. No backing down.)
[No backing down.]
"Please wait a moment," they said to their friends who were standing up to go to the cafeteria. "I have something to tell you."
Gennorena, Segorix, Ambisena, and Lugsellos turned their heads toward Div and En.
"Are you sure?" Lugsellos asked, even though Sense Emotion was already telling him the answer.
Div and En nodded.
"Good for you," Lugsellos said, smiling.
[Okay. How do we say it?]
Everything they thought about was gone from their head. It was already complicated for them to wrap their head around their situation, and they were living it.
How could they explain?
They caught a glimpse of Vedovessa exiting the room. No doubt, she would eavesdrop on them.
It was fine.
Now, Div and En were alone in the classroom with their four friends.
"So?" Segorix said. "What's up?"
"Um, I have something to tell you," Div and En repeated.
"Yes?" Segorix said, prompting them to continue.
Div and En hesitated.
(This is so awkward.)
"You can do it," Lugsellos said softly.
Div and En opened their mouth.
Nothing.
"What is it, Diven?" Gennorina asked. "Is there a problem?"
"Come on, you can tell us!" Ambisena said.
"We're hungry, hurry up," Segorix added, a playful smile on his lips.
[Let's count to three and say it. We know the method works.]
(Yes, let's do it.)
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One.
Their heart was beating. Hard. Harder than they thought possible.
Two.
They felt their throat contract, along with a tingling pain. They repeatedly wiped their sweaty hands on their pants.
Three.
[Let's go!]
(We can do it.)
They opened their mouth to speak, but once again their words were stuck in their throat.
(No, we're doing it. One, two, three.)
"We are two minds sharing one body."
Silence.
[That's just lame. Couldn't we find a better way to phrase it?]
(It was the best we had. At least, it's out now.)
Then a snicker came from Segorix. And the others joined in, turning it into a full laugh.
Even Lugsellos chuckled.
[They don't believe us.]
(No one would…)
Still, they expected it to be hard. They were ready for rejection. But somehow, this dismissal felt worse.
"We are serious!" Div and En protested.
"Right…" Segorix said, failing to contain his laughter. "And here I thought you had something important to say."
"But…"
"We are two minds sharing one body," Ambisena repeated, imitating their voice.
[This is just embarrassing now. Why did we say that? Who did we think we were?]
(Don't worry about that, it might get worse when they understand.)
[Great…]
"You scared me for a moment, Diven," Gennorina said, putting a hand on Div and En's shoulder.
"It would be fun," Ambisena said. "Can you imagine? I wonder how it would feel if I had that. Maybe I'd call one of my minds Ambi, and the other Sena."
"Seg and Orix," Segorix said with a grin. "Not very imaginative, but it works."
"Genno and Rina, Lug and Sellos," Ambisena continued. "Div and En!"
Div and En were not sure how to react.
(Yes, yes Div and En. Very funny.)
[Can't they just get it? It's not that complicated.]
"Really," they insisted. "We are telling the truth. This is not a joke. It's hard enough for us to open up, please don't make it more difficult than it has to be!"
Their eyes met Lugsellos', transmitting a plea for help.
"He—or rather they—are not kidding," he said. "Haven't you seen their Sundered Mind skill when you practiced Inspect with them?"
Hearing Lugsellos, all three of them turned serious.
Gennorina slowly pulled her hand away.
"Diven?" She asked.
"No, we're not Diven anymore. We used to be, but that changed," Div and En said. "We are sorry for hiding it from you for so long. It's not an easy thing to admit. Since the moment we acquired Sundered Mind, we became Div and En. Two separate personalities, two separate people."
"That's…" Segorix said. "A lot."
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Ambisena asked. "Wait, I got it right! Div and En."
"We were scared you would reject us."
"And now?" Gennorina asked, her voice unsteady. "Do you not care anymore?"
"We care," Div and En said. "We care a lot. But we cannot keep hiding."
"Wait," Segorix said. "So who's talking now? Div or En?"
"Both."
"I'm more confused than anything…" Segorix admitted.
Everyone looked at each other, unsure how to proceed. Div and En were feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. Being honest felt good, but their friends didn't understand yet.
Then they looked at Gennorina, who was staring at them, unblinking, her face completely still.
Just as they were about to launch themselves into another explanation, Vedovessa re-entered the classroom.
"I'm sorry," she said, "I can't bear to listen to that anymore. Div, En, it's good that you finally opened up. But for transcendence's sake, please explain more clearly! Even knowing your situation, I'm struggling to follow."
"Sorry," Div and En said sheepishly.
"Since I'm here," Vedovessa continued, "I might as well do the talking. I'm the teacher after all. Now, if you agree, Div, En, release your Conceal so that the others may Inspect you."
With their teacher helping them understand, the situation became clear to Gennorina, Segorix, and Ambisena.
"Vedo and Vessa," Ambisena said, scratching her chin pensively. "Does it just work with everyone? Briga and Seta."
"Ambi…" Segorix said in an attempt to get her to be serious.
"That's kind of weird, honestly," Ambisena said. "But also pretty awesome. Don't worry about it, Div, En. We're cool."
[She took it surprisingly well.]
(That's a relief, but the others…)
"Div, En, I guess," Segorix said with a tone making his exasperation evident. "I get why you've kept it secret. And I mean, thank you for telling us. But, yeah. I don't know how to feel about it."
"That's fine, we weren't expecting you to. You're reacting better than we expected already."
"Yeah, okay. I mean… I don't dislike you, if that helps. I'm just… It's weird. But I'll manage."
"It does help, thank you."
Div and En turned to Gennorina.
She wasn't looking at them. Besides her trembling lips, she wasn't moving at all.
"Gennorina?" Div and En asked. "Are you alright?"
"I…" she started, taking a step back. "I…"
[She's moving away.]
(Wait, maybe she needs time to think.)
Her arms were stiff, she opened her mouth only to close it again. When she finally turned and fled the room, it was without a word, only the soft slap of her shoes echoed across the classroom floor.
"Gennorina!" Div and En called, standing up from their chair.
They wanted to ask Lug how she was feeling, but Div and En knew the boy wouldn't tell them. Their gaze moved to Vedovessa, then Segorix, and finally Ambisena who was already moving to follow Gennorina.
"Don't worry, Div, En," she said, as she went after her. "It's just hard to accept. She'll come around."
Div and En were left with Seg, Lug, and Vedovessa.
"Do you regret saying it?" Vedovessa asked.
"We're worried about Gennorina," Div and En said. "But, no. We don't regret telling them the truth. We hate to admit it, but you were right."
"I always am," Vedovessa said as she left the room. "I always am. I'll talk to Gennorina, don't worry."
Only the three boys were left in the room. One of them was still somewhat lost.
"Lug, you didn't say anything," Segorix pointed out.
"Oh. That's because I already knew."
"What? How? Did he—um, did they tell you first? Why didn't you tell us?!"
"Secrets are made to be kept, Seg," Lugsellos said, acting overly mysterious. "I have my ways to figure things out. But enough of that, let's get lunch before class restarts."
Lugsellos laughed under his breath as he walked away.
"What's up with him?" Seg muttered under his breath. "Anyway, he's right. Let's grab lunch, Div, En."
Div and En nodded. They followed the boys to the cafeteria. It was the same as any other day. The constant buzzing of every grade eating together echoes in their ears.
[It feels different.]
(They know. Even if they don't fully understand, they know. And they still accept us.)
[Genno doesn't.]
(We can redeem ourselves. I have to believe in it.)
[Then I will trust you, En.]
(And so will I, Div.)
They sat down in front of Seg and Lug, their heart lighter than it had been since leaving Kheiron, only weighed down by the shadow of Gennorina lingering in their thoughts.