‘I understand,’ said Gohvis-Aeha. He didn’t, really. But with the Prime having experienced this so many times before, he knew that it was better to keep this one talking, rather than trying to relate or sympathize or pose questions that diverted the train of thought. These days, this personality seemed to be the less dominant one. It only popped up when it was feeling quite strongly about something.
‘Of course you do, Master! I’ve missed you! Thank you for everything!’
‘You’re very welcome, Jonah. It is good to hear from you again.’
More laughter. ‘I’ve done it, Master! I beat him! The abomination! I finally got one over on him! He didn’t see it coming until it was too late! Kehehe!’
Interesting. He still didn’t quite understand, but inquiring further wasn’t the right strategy. ‘That’s good to hear. I’m proud of you, lad.’
And there was yet more laughter, lasting even longer this time.
How strange. By Gohvis-Aeha’s estimation, that laughter carried with it a sense of genuine relief, not malicious delight as he had first thought.
But perhaps that was reasonable. The Prime had never known Jonah to be malicious in any way, other than towards Germal. Or himself. That was one of the most confusing things about this personality. It seemed to hate both its counterpart and itself, and yet it also seemed to love life as a whole. It had often expressed a desire to explore and see the world.
And it was gentle as a lamb, as well, which may have contributed to why the other personality had become so dominant by comparison.
Gohvis-Aeha wished he could consult the Prime’s memories more deeply and check how long it had been since he’d last spoken to Jonah. He had a feeling that it had been many years, though he wasn’t at all certain.
‘It’s not hopeless, after all, Master! They haven’t won yet!’
The temptation to ask for clarification was truly strong now, but he resisted. ‘Of course they haven’t. I told you that long ago, did I not?’
‘You did! Yes, you did! Truthfully, I don’t think I quite believed! I’m sorry, Master! I believe you now!’
‘I’m glad to hear that.’
‘Ah... what a great day. Mm. Master. I can feel myself fading. I’m sorry I can’t be more help. Don’t be fooled by his lies. He’s not as confused, anymore. He doesn’t follow you. He’ll--’
The thrashing returned, informing him that Germal was taking control again.
A dark serial novel. Set in a modern fantasy world called Eleg. Mature language. Updates every day at noon PST by ~400 words.
Thursday, June 6, 2024
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Page 3603
‘What work is so important that it requires the Demon be kept alive?’ asked Germal. ‘That man is an existential threat to our kind, Master.’
Gohvis-Aeha cocked an eyebrow at that but said nothing. There was no reason to answer Germal’s question, especially after getting a glimpse of just how much the Liar had been hiding from him this whole time.
Germal kept going. ‘If you do not kill him now, then you will have to do so sooner or later. It is inevitable, Master. And it will only become more difficult the longer we wait, as he continues to develop new technological menaces. You have seen what his “Roberts” are capable of firsthand, yes? Imagine how much more trouble they will become in even just twenty years, if he continues to refine them.’
The draconic projection wanted to laugh. ‘What makes you think he is a threat to our kind?’
‘I don’t think--’
He felt the Liar twist and flail in his grip. If he didn’t know better, he might’ve thought the man was trying to wriggle free.
There was no risk of that, though, and Germal would have known that.
No, this was something else.
The personalities were fighting again.
The Prime had seen this many times, though not in recent years. It had been particularly prevalent at the beginning of Germal’s apprenticeship, to the point where the Prime had labored daily with the boy for months in order to help him get his mind under control.
When the thrashing stopped, psychic laughter arrived. ‘Give up, you abominable fool! It’s my win! The Mad Demon is forever against you now! Forever on OUR side!’ And the laughter continued.
What in the world? That voice wasn’t talking to him, Gohvis-Aeha felt. Both personalities within Germal revered the Prime and would never speak to him in such a manner.
He might’ve liked to hear what the other personality had to say in response, but this one seemed to be in full control, at the moment, so there was no hope of that.
‘Ah! Master! Apologies! Please don’t mind my gloating.’ A few chortles still persisted, however.
‘You seem quite pleased with yourself.’
‘Oh, if only you knew, Master. How I wish I could explain everything in its entirety! But I lack the words. And the cohesion. And the time. Oh, the time. The damn time! It’s never enough, Master! Never!’
Gohvis-Aeha cocked an eyebrow at that but said nothing. There was no reason to answer Germal’s question, especially after getting a glimpse of just how much the Liar had been hiding from him this whole time.
Germal kept going. ‘If you do not kill him now, then you will have to do so sooner or later. It is inevitable, Master. And it will only become more difficult the longer we wait, as he continues to develop new technological menaces. You have seen what his “Roberts” are capable of firsthand, yes? Imagine how much more trouble they will become in even just twenty years, if he continues to refine them.’
The draconic projection wanted to laugh. ‘What makes you think he is a threat to our kind?’
‘I don’t think--’
He felt the Liar twist and flail in his grip. If he didn’t know better, he might’ve thought the man was trying to wriggle free.
There was no risk of that, though, and Germal would have known that.
No, this was something else.
The personalities were fighting again.
The Prime had seen this many times, though not in recent years. It had been particularly prevalent at the beginning of Germal’s apprenticeship, to the point where the Prime had labored daily with the boy for months in order to help him get his mind under control.
When the thrashing stopped, psychic laughter arrived. ‘Give up, you abominable fool! It’s my win! The Mad Demon is forever against you now! Forever on OUR side!’ And the laughter continued.
What in the world? That voice wasn’t talking to him, Gohvis-Aeha felt. Both personalities within Germal revered the Prime and would never speak to him in such a manner.
He might’ve liked to hear what the other personality had to say in response, but this one seemed to be in full control, at the moment, so there was no hope of that.
‘Ah! Master! Apologies! Please don’t mind my gloating.’ A few chortles still persisted, however.
‘You seem quite pleased with yourself.’
‘Oh, if only you knew, Master. How I wish I could explain everything in its entirety! But I lack the words. And the cohesion. And the time. Oh, the time. The damn time! It’s never enough, Master! Never!’
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Page 3602
It worked like a charm. Soon, Morgunov was the one giving chase while Gohvis-Aeha led the way.
As a result, a new lull in the fighting arrived as the Vanguardians struggled to keep pace while also fending off Kallmakk’s attacks from the rear. Rarely did those same attacks reach all the way up to Gohvis-Aeha’s position.
The main worry was simply paying enough attention to what Morgunov and his robots were up to. Perhaps the madman was hesitant to turn on him fully and threaten their neutral attitudes toward one another for the remainder of this battle, but he doubted that hesitation would last forever. Morgunov was not renowned for his patience or self-control.
The land at his feet became a blur as he sped across the wilderness. He no longer even felt like he was making contact with the ground while he ran. He might as well have been sailing over water.
He considered slowing down, in case Morgunov needed it, but that didn’t appear to be the case. How was he doing that? Probably yet another of his hidden inventions. Koh certainly wasn’t having trouble, though Gohvis-Aeha couldn’t tell if the wolf was chasing after him now or still Morgunov.
At length, Germal’s telepathic voice arrived. ‘Master,’ he said. ‘Please, release me. You need not go to such lengths in order to protect me from the Demon. I came to this fight prepared.’
‘Hmph, if only it were that simple,’ answered Gohvis-Aeha.
‘Your interference in our battle makes little sense, Master. Why do you seek to protect him? I have never known you to have any affection for him or his cronies. I thought your disgust with Vanderberk stemmed as much from the Demon as from the Weasel himself.’
He might have sighed if he wasn’t already utilizing the full capacity of his psychically projected lungs. ‘This is what you get for making a move without first informing me. If this has been your plan of many years, then you should have consulted me. We probably could have come to some sort of agreement and avoided this whole mess.’
‘...Truly?’
‘Truly. But now my hand is forced, and I must move to protect my own interests before they are destroyed. There is much work that would be lost, if I let you kill him. Not that I believe you would have managed to do so, mind you.’
As a result, a new lull in the fighting arrived as the Vanguardians struggled to keep pace while also fending off Kallmakk’s attacks from the rear. Rarely did those same attacks reach all the way up to Gohvis-Aeha’s position.
The main worry was simply paying enough attention to what Morgunov and his robots were up to. Perhaps the madman was hesitant to turn on him fully and threaten their neutral attitudes toward one another for the remainder of this battle, but he doubted that hesitation would last forever. Morgunov was not renowned for his patience or self-control.
The land at his feet became a blur as he sped across the wilderness. He no longer even felt like he was making contact with the ground while he ran. He might as well have been sailing over water.
He considered slowing down, in case Morgunov needed it, but that didn’t appear to be the case. How was he doing that? Probably yet another of his hidden inventions. Koh certainly wasn’t having trouble, though Gohvis-Aeha couldn’t tell if the wolf was chasing after him now or still Morgunov.
At length, Germal’s telepathic voice arrived. ‘Master,’ he said. ‘Please, release me. You need not go to such lengths in order to protect me from the Demon. I came to this fight prepared.’
‘Hmph, if only it were that simple,’ answered Gohvis-Aeha.
‘Your interference in our battle makes little sense, Master. Why do you seek to protect him? I have never known you to have any affection for him or his cronies. I thought your disgust with Vanderberk stemmed as much from the Demon as from the Weasel himself.’
He might have sighed if he wasn’t already utilizing the full capacity of his psychically projected lungs. ‘This is what you get for making a move without first informing me. If this has been your plan of many years, then you should have consulted me. We probably could have come to some sort of agreement and avoided this whole mess.’
‘...Truly?’
‘Truly. But now my hand is forced, and I must move to protect my own interests before they are destroyed. There is much work that would be lost, if I let you kill him. Not that I believe you would have managed to do so, mind you.’
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