The Other Side: A Second Chance [Dark Isekai Drama]

After Varis cheered up and realigned my back, we pulled away from each other, and I sighed. "Did you really need to hug me that hard?" I asked with a small smile.

"Papa said I need to give strong hugs because it makes people feel better," Varis said confidently with a hand firmly pressed into his chest.

Knocking a few spinal disks loose certainly makes me feel better. I thought, and to my surprise, there was no response. No witty remarks from the goblin group?

Not right now. It was the only sensation I got from them, which was fine. A back-breaking hug was probably something I needed.

I cleared my throat. "Well then, how about we start our mission?" I suggested.

"Oh, what kinda mission?" Varis asked.

"An information-grabbing one." I reached for my skirt pocket, pulled out the caster, and set it on the bed. "You, my dear, Varis, will be the scribe."

"Scribe?" Varis blinked. "That's like a note taker right?"

I smiled and nodded. "Yep, you'll be taking notes."

Varis huffed. "I hate taking notes," he said, holding his hand for my notebook and pen, which I had just taken out of the enigma bag.

I passed them over to him. "Well, if we wanna help Momma and Papa, we'll need to do these things. It's important to make sure we note everything."

Varis nodded and flipped through the pages. "Oh wow," he said, pausing on the page of numbers and letters. "This is the code you–I mean Truth–noted earlier. It really is big and confusing like Papa said."

I frowned. "Oh, Truth wrote that?" I asked, and Varis nodded. "Did she say where she got it?"

"Momma," Varis said, "Momma was muttering in her sleep and that's what she was saying."

My frown deepened. Truth, or goblins, whoever is there, I need to speak with Truth when this is done.

Do you think we're your little waiters? A snarky one said. Your butlers? Slaves?

I sighed. My body, my mind, do as I say.

No response this time. I reached down and picked up the caster. "So, Truth must've spoke with this guy earlier with Papa," I said. "I wonder what he's like."

Varis shrugged. "I was with Isa and Aunt Saria when you did it. So I don't know." He puffed his chest out again. "But if he's mean I'll kick his butt!"

I snorted. "He'll be in this little thing." I waggled the caster at him. "I don't think you'll be able to touch him."

Varis smirked. "Well, I'll call him uh… A filthy krek!"

"Varis!" I laughed. "That's a swear, if Papa catches you saying that there'll be hell to pay."

Varis blushed. "Well then, don't tell him I said it!" He hissed, and we both giggled.

"Well…" I pulled my legs onto the bed and crossed them. "No time like the present." I opened the caster and looked at Varis. "Please, brother, let me do the talking here." He nodded and gave me a thumbs-up. I then looked at my reflection in the caster's mirror and said, "Contact Venra."

My reflection began to shimmer and ripple as if disturbed by a drop of water. Then it darkened, the picture vanishing as tendrils of darkness swallowed my reflection, and soon, nothing. All was inky blackness in an endless void.

Then, an accented voice, slow, gravely, and filled with malice spoke, "You… Cannot follow… Even the simplest of orders…" The voice, whom I assumed was Venra, sighed, "I told you, Dreamer… Not to contact me…"

"Yeah, sorry about that," I said, sounding nonchalant. "We need your help—like, big time."

"How peculiar…"

"Is it really, though?" I asked. "You seem to be in league with Master Man, and, and you're really spooky and smart sounding. So clearly, you gotta know something."

Silence. Shit, was I playing up the quirkiness too much?

No, Madam. One of my goblins thought. Play it up more; it's annoying him.

Another goblin snickered. Yes! Yes!

A third sighed. Don't listen to these two, Luna. Dial it back a bit. We don't want to drive this one away, even if he seems like an asshole.

"That wasn't what I was referring to…" Venra grumbled. "Your voice… It's different… Yet the same…"

The goblins cleared their throats. The council has decreed that we shouldn't alert him to our debilitating mental state. Let's not tell him about the Truth.

I frowned. But what if he can help us? Something is wrong.

I could feel my mind goblins shaking their heads. We need therapy, Luna. Not magical probing. That's probably what caused this.

And all the death and suffering during the war! Another shouted.

Oh, don't forget Mr. Woods and all that shitty shit from befo– That goblin was silenced, wrapped up, and shoved into the deepest closet of my mind.

I returned my focus to Venra and shrugged before giving the glass a coy smile. "I was feeling a bit up tight earlier, decided to loosen up a bit. No need to be so professional, y'know? Anyway, we need your help. You can be a big hero to us."

"I don't think… I want to be.. Your hero… I am working."

I nodded. "Yeah, yeah, and so are we. Surely, you can put a little pause on this, can't you? You and Shaed have been working for thousands of years, I doubt a few seconds will put a damper on things." I pouted at the glass and decided to pull an old trick I haven't used in ages.

Operation Cuteness.

Unfortunately, there was no expression to gauge how effective I was doing. Instead, I got a very frustrated, throat-clogged sigh. It sounded like the man was trying to hock a loogie; it was disgusting.

"Bah! Fine… But why aren't you bothering Shaed with this nonsense? Is he still gone?"

That made my stomach sink a bit. Despite my conflicting feelings toward him, I hoped nothing too bad had happened to him. I shook my head. "He's absent, honestly. I was hoping you would know where he is."

Venra snorted. "As if I would, our working relationship… Hasn't been seen to in some time…" His voice lowered as he said that.

I blinked. "A bad breakup?" I couldn't resist.

Oh, good one! My mind goblins chattered. Ask him how long they've been seeing each other!

Quiet, you idiots! A more focused goblin snapped. Now isn't the time for games.

"Excuse me?" Venra asked.

I failed at hiding my smirk and shrugged. "I mean, like a business breakup. Y'know? You both had differing interests and went off on your own?"

There was a brief bit of silence, and the voice huffed. "I cannot tell if you're toying with me or not… But… You could say so… However, enough. What is it you need?"

I took a deep breath and focused. It was time to be serious. "A couple of things, actually," I said. "I don't know how familiar you are with our situation in Johanneson, but things are pretty bad."

"Lucien… Is gathering information for me… As we speak," Venra said between slow, ragged breaths.

I blinked. "Lucien? The Frenchman?"

Varis paused in the middle of writing. "What's uh… Brenchman?" He asked, but I waved at him to be quiet.

Venra, to my surprise, cackled, a slow, wheezing laugh. "Brenchman…" He repeated, and I could almost hear him shaking his head. He then took another ragged breath. "Yes, Lucien had… Been reformed and returns to duty… It took quite the effort… to restore him quickly, but he is back in the field."

I opened my mouth to ask more questions about what he was talking about, but paused when a goblin shouted. Focus! Don't get sidetracked. Keep the conversation about Mother and the Storm.

I closed my mouth and got back on track. "Interesting," I said. "So, are you aware of the huge storm, a frost wind, as I heard, coming to hit us?"

Venra released a shaky breath. "I have heard of such… Weather anomaly that is occurring in your region… What about it?"

I smiled. "Excellent, any idea on how we can stop it? Or, uh, protect ourselves from it? Any tips?"

Venra snorted. "Do you think I have all the answers?"

I pursed my lips. "Well, you work or worked with Shaed and are like old. So, I thought you'd be more knowledgeable."

Venra scoffed. "Excuse me?"

Excellent, get under his skin! One of my goblins cheered.

Make him feel insecure. He'll try to prove himself otherwise, and we'll get the necessary answers. Another added.

I nodded. "I just thought you'd know more about what's going on. That's all, but, if you don't that's okay. I don't know everything either. I guess we'll manage another way."

"How dare you!" Venra scoffed. "Do not patronize me child. I will not stand this treatment from a mere echo."

I tried to hide my smirk and shrugged. "Hey, hey, it's okay. I'm not trying to be mean. I'm just saying it's okay to not know everything."

Venra snarled like a dog; the man actually sounded quite threatening. "Be happy that you are not under my control, Echo." He sighed. "I do... know what is happening… However, handling such a problem... is a bit beyond us at this point."

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

I frowned. "How so? You and Shaed are quite strong, can't you like, take over my body and cast some big spell through me like Shaed had?"

Venra fell silent. "Shaed has done what?"

I blinked. "Uh, he had… Possessed me, a couple of times, and cast spells and the like… Is this not something you guys normally do?"

Venra said something in a language I did not understand. It was throaty and harsh, even though I had no idea what it was; it sounded like a curse. "That fool!" Venra said in maurich. "No wonder he is gone now."

"Uh, what do you mean? What's going on?" I asked, now feeling a bit nervous.

"His actions…" Venra sighed. "Could reveal himself… The more… He pushes his presence onto you and through you… The more noticeable he becomes. He has explained the anchor aspect, no?"

I nodded. "Yeah, he has. I'm supposedly what's keeping him connected to this realm."

"This plane of reality, yes… Every time Shaed would've connected directly to you his ether would meld and channel with yours. It would be no different then blasting your location on an open frequency. Anyone tuning in would've heard him."

Varis glanced up, confused, yet I knew exactly what Venra was implying. Shaed would've exposed himself to the other gods whenever he controlled me. That fucking idiot!

For a god, he's pretty stupid. Didn't he once take you over just to flex on Mother? One of the Goblins asked.

He did, another chimed in, but every other time he got in the driver's seat, he saved us from death. So really, he hasn't been that bad.

I gritted my teeth. This would explain why he was gone every time. He was probably hiding from the other gods. At least, that's what I expected.

"So, you're saying that he practically just screamed in a crowded theater that he isn't in jail?" I said.

Venra snorted. "More like… The jail has a large hole behind a painting which he sneaks in and out of. If the other constructs see that he isn't truly imprisoned they could sever the connection between you two."

My stomach dropped. "Oh, that… Doesn't sound good."

Is it, really, not good? A goblin asked. If you lose connection, then that means we're free! No, Shaed, no memory loss, we can just stick to our family and forget all of this!

Don't be foolish! Another snapped. We're already too deep into this; backing out now would be a waste. Charity is interested in us, and so is Putinov. Without Shaed we'll be screwed.

"No, it isn't," Venra said. "But… While we've been speaking, I have been looking into him… I can confirm with confidence… That the worst case has not happened… Yet." He sighed. "He is most likely… Hiding and pretending… To be a good little prisoner…"

I let off a breath I hadn't known I was holding and glanced at Varis, who seemed immensely confused but was doing a good job writing what we were saying. "I guess that's good to hear," I said, "So, I take it you can't do it then? Or, that you shouldn't do it?"

"Yes," Venra said flatly. "Even if I could possess you I wouldn't, it's too risky… The fact that Shaed even took such risks to help you is… Unlike him."

Once again, I was tempted to ask what he meant, but stopped. Keep yourself on track. We can discuss this later. I sighed. "Okay, we can't just magic the storm away…" I took a deep breath. "I kind of suspected it wouldn't be that easy."

"Indeed… A spell of this magnitude is not so easily dismissed… The best I can suggest is that you find a warm shelter and britches."

I snorted. At least he has a sense of humor.

"Okay, well that is the plan so far," I said, my hand anxiously toying with my hair.

"Is that all, Dreamer?" Venra asked.

I shook my head. "Nope, still got some questions." Venra let off a long, drawn-out groan. "Hey, hey, no whining!"

"I am not whining!" Venra barked.

I rolled my eyes. "You sound no different than Varis."

"Hey!" Varis scoffed.

I shot him a smile and looked at the caster. "My Mother, the one who went with me to stop Putinov… You know that guy right?"

"Yes… I was the one who sent you… Do you not remember our last talk?"

Nope. I thought as my goblins screamed at me, not to mention Truth.

"I'm just retreading territory here to make sure all our facts are straight," I said. "Well, when I was in the mind palace place with Shaed, my mother touched me, which caused everything to go haywire."

"That fool," Venra muttered. "Did you not warn her?"

I hesitated. "I, uh, no… But, that's because Shaed didn't tell me either."

Venra swore once again in his strange language. He took a deep breath. "That old idiot…" he said in maurich.

I bit my lip. "What happened?" I asked. "When my mother touched me then."

"Transference," Venra said, leaving it at that for a moment. Then he sighed and explained, "When connected to a conduit powerful enough, your consciousness can be projected to a higher plane of reality. Think of it like a radio antenna, you know what that is, right?"

I side-eyed Varis for a second. He wouldn't know, and technically, I shouldn't either.

There's no harm in going along with it. One of my goblins said. He already thinks you're smart. Besides, Oscar mentioned that the Ionans had recently made a breakthrough with radio. So it's not like they don't exist.

I nodded. "Yes, I'm aware of them."

Venra hummed. "Well then… When connected to the conduit, your ether and consciousness was being broadcast on an open frequency. One that could very easily be tampered with. It isn't the most efficient way of communicating with those beyond, but for Shaed and I, it is all we have. What happened was when your foolish mother–"

I frowned. "Hey, she wasn't foolish, she just didn't know!"

"-That is beside the point, do not interrupt me," Venra snapped, then sighed. "When she came into contact with you, her ether began to flow with yours. Like a runaway current, she was dragged into your broadcast and blasted across the Cerebellium…" He took a deep ragged breath as if saying that had winded him.

I nodded. This is kind of what I suspected, but it's good to know my suspicions were correct.

"How is she?" Venra asked, and I pulled back, surprised. Based on his attitude toward me thus far, I hardly expected someone like him to show any ounce of sympathy.

"Uh," I said dumbly, unable to find the words. No one said anything for a second as I took a deep breath. "She's not doing so well, I think."

"I see…" Venra said, "A mortal such as yourselves would not last in such a plane for long periods without protection. I am impressed that even you, little echo, were able to come back unharmed."

I don't know about unharmed. I thought as I recalled the intense migraines and the birth of Truth.

"She's in a coma of sorts," I said, "It's been hours now since we returned. She hasn't woken up. Even the doctors at this hospital don't know what's wrong with her."

"That is because… Such cases as this are not common upon this world…" Venra wheezed, then coughed. Taking a deep breath, he continued, "Her mind had been exposed to this vastness of the Pattern and the void of the Inbetween… Her consciousness had expanded to that of a melon which you now wish to stuff inside the skin of a grape."

I sat there for a moment, taking in all that he said. Pattern, the Inbetween? What is he talking about?

Ask him, this might be relevant. One of the goblins said.

Just ask him how to wake her up. We don't have time for trivia. Another added.

"What do you mean she was exposed to the Pattern? What is that?" I asked.

Venra sighed. "Oh, Dreamer… Explaining such a thing would be too bothersome even for you… The complexities that make up the Pattern is something in which only a god could truly understand… Or so I think."

So he thinks…?

He's saying you're too stupid to get it. One of my goblins stated.

"Laymans terms then, so that a puny brained mortal like myself can get it," I said.

Venra groaned, and though I couldn't see it, I could feel his eyes rolling. "I can try. The Pattern is the foundation of realities. It is the principle of how all things are and will be. For what was, shall be; what shall be, was. It's a cycle in which everything operates…" He cleared his throat. "...All of existence is made up of the Pattern; we are all part of it; we are the Pattern."

I blinked. "So, wait… You mean, everything is set in stone? Like destiny?"

Venra sighed. "No, not exactly. The Pattern can shift and mold itself anew, like a river carving its way down a mountain. It can split and change. However, to divert it would require power beyond anything we can ever dream… Or so I believe."

I frowned. "Wait, that sounds like an explanation of time I once heard. Except, you said we're also the Pattern… Shit this is confusing…" I frowned.

Venra grunted. "I told you such a concept is too complex. The Pattern is time and we are part of the Pattern, and made up of it. Like an inscribed enchantment the pattern dicticates what was, shall be; what shall be, was."

My frown deepened. "So… It's like a simulation then…" I said, and the light bulb went off. My eyes widened, and I fumbled for my next thought. I couldn't find the right words in Maurich to say what I wanted. So, despite Varis being in the room with me, I decided to speak in English, a language I hadn't spoken in some time. Yet, I was impressed by how easily it came to me.

"Like a computer program," I said, noticing Varis perking up from the corner of my eye. "The Pattern is like coding, a program that determines everything. That's what you're saying, right?"

Venra snorted and replied in perfect, yet accented English, "Yes… Dreamer, I am impressed by how easily you caught on."

I blushed. "It wasn't that hard to catch on to, besides, I used to… I used to work in IT…"

Basic IT. A goblin snorted—a first-tier support analyst, not like you were some kind of engineer or programmer.

Shut it. I shot back.

I then leaned back on my bed and ran a hand through my hair. My heart was beating heavily in my chest. The idea that everything was pre-written and coded left me feeling exposed and vulnerable. If that's how things were, what would be the point in fighting?

What if someone could read the Pattern? How could you fight something that knows what's going to happen?

Venra said it can be changed, though, A calmer Goblin said. Even if the odds seem impossible, there could be a chance.

Another goblin scoffed. We're talking about literally changing destiny here. It's like asking us to rewrite the code of the Matrix. Sure, we're magically gifted, but I doubt we can do that.

I didn't want to think about that. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths. "So, you're saying my mother saw the source code of reality?" Despite the dire situation, hearing such absurd words coming out of my mouth made me snort, and I laughed. Not because it was funny, but because it was so ridiculous.

Even Venra chuckled as well. "That is one way to put it, Dreamer… Yes, such vast amounts of information are beyond what any mortal can normally comprehend. Your mother has become overloaded, and her consciousness would need to parse through everything, collecting and restoring what was once there. Yet, there's no guarantee that everything can be found."

My stomach dropped at that. "Wait so… Like a system restore?"

We really are just fleshy machines. A goblin sighed.

Honestly, if you get down to it, brains are just organic computers. Another shrugged.

"Exactly, Dreamer, if I could I would give you a cookie… You are much quicker than the ones before."

What does he mean by that?

Don't derail the conversation. Note that for later.

I hesitated. "Thank you," I said, taking his backhanded compliment. "So, Mother is–"

"Luna," Varis said in Maurich.

I turned to look at him and saw his perplexed and concerned expression. "I-I can't write what you're saying in that… Funny language…"

Oh, shit, we never went back to speaking Maurich.

We can tell him what we were saying later.

I cleared my throat and blushed. "Ah, right, sorry," I said, returning to our mother tongue. "So, Momma is going through a system backup. How long is this going to take? Can we help?"

Venra hummed, speaking in Maurich once again, he said, "The process can take a long time without treatment. However, as stated before, your world has not experienced such injuries. Therefore, such treatment hasn't been invented yet."

"But, it has been seen in the past right?" I asked, "On other worlds. Based on what you're saying you know of a way."

Venra sighed. "Yes… My people… Have long sailed and been to the Cerebellium… It was a… Well documented condition known as Awakenings."

A memory stirred within me. A thought from a time that seemed to come from so long ago, but in reality, it had only been about a month.

"You could be what is known as an Awakened Dreamer, Luna." Isa had told me the morning she, my mother, and I had breakfast. We'd been discussing my nightmare and how I had spoken English. Is this what Isa had been referring to?

"Like an Awakened Dreamer? Isn't that what you call me?" It was all starting to click now.

Venra chuckled. "Sort of, but not quite. The Kazorans have always been quite the experimenters… Awakened Dreamers are merely those who've caught a slight glimpse of the Pattern. Those who are Awakened are ones who have seen it all."

I blinked. "Isa said Awakened Dreamers are those who recall past lives…"

"Yes… They can recall prior experiences within the Pattern. You, are partially like this."

Varis's eyes widened, and he looked up from the notepad, and my eyes met his briefly.

The jig is up, the truth is out.

He's finally found you.

My heart hammered heavily in my chest. I felt sweat forming on my brow. A part of me screamed to end the conversation here and now. Where things were turning wasn't helpful, and it'll get us nowhere. I opened my mouth to speak, to tell Venra to shut up, but–

"Don't. There isn't a point to keeping it in." Truth's voice rang in my head, and I faltered. I trembled, closed my eyes, and gave up.