Another Stupid Isekai

As you probably noticed, Tihana didn’t show any signs of her memories returning, and that was because what Ixa did to her mind, was still there. It had to be removed by The Great One because my skills were insufficient. I just didn’t invest in the manipulation of memories hard enough, and I didn’t plan on doing so.

All three of us: me, Druoag, and The Great One were too tired, despite replenishing our strength with the device. It was mostly mental fatigue and surprisingly the fact that we didn’t have to rush anymore. With the heavier weight put on the second of those two things. It just robbed us of this additional source of energy, the purpose.

So we waited a day before my alien psychic friend took care of both Daniel and Tihana. It made me very happy, as I was immediately able to notice differences in her.

– That’s much better – she said. – So I guess you will have to do that to everybody on earth?

She asked The Great One. He didn’t answer, instead looked straight at me. I shrugged my shoulders in response. The fame had its good things, but being a more shadowy feature – pun very much intended – had also its good sides. Nobody would be able to use my mother against me anymore, but she would also be a stranger to me, unless we would return her memories.

“Maybe that’s the answer? Just those few I care about?”, I asked myself.

– I think there is no need for that. Just a few people that are important to me – I replied eventually.

– Knowing you, you will blast somebody across time and space, and everything will return to normal in no time – said Daniel with a nasty grin on his face.

– I liked you more when you didn’t remember stuff – I said to that. – You weren’t this cheeky.

My words caused only his smile to become bigger.

– Are you sure about that? – Tihana asked me.

– No. But I can always change my mind, and if we just return everybody’s memories, I won’t have the option to go back – was my response.

She nodded slowly.

– Let’s go and eat something- she added after that and smiled at me.

– Bawk! – Tam agreed.

He even pecked the ground two times and stomped his little feet demanding food.

– Fine, fine, fine. I guess I can treat you to something good. What do you want?

– Cheeseburger! And fries! – said Tihana.

– Bawk – said Tam.

– Worms? You can choose anything, and you chose worms? – I was genuinely surprised by his decision.

Meanwhile, Daniel shook his head in disbelief and walked away.

– He is a chicken. What did you expect? – Tihana rolled her eyes and then used to grab my hand.

She tried her best to pull me toward the device, but she lacked the strength, so I helped her a little by taking a few slow steps. It was quite funny to watch her struggle, but it ended when she decided to punch me in the shoulder out of frustration.

– Be careful, because you might break your fist – I almost laughed at her.

– Hmpf! – She pouted and then walked ahead of me.

– Bawk! – Tam said to me not hiding his resentment.

– Shut up – I responded.

That’s how the short banter ended. We, just as planned, went to get the food, and for the first time, we sat down on some rock, away from the jade city, and just watched the beautiful mix of green colors with the silver light shining from above. We got there via my shadow walk, obviously.

It was very nice, and in some sense, unreal. I still couldn’t accept that the horrors I went through were over. Maybe because we were in Loistavadvaar and not in Arc, among the people I cared about.

Or maybe because I got used to my new life, away from other humans, and that’s why I just couldn’t feel truly happy.

I kept wondering about that, as we ate the burgers and Tam chased the worms. They weren’t real worms, though. Just the bodies I got from the device, but I kept moving them using my telekinetic powers, to make him sweat for it.

The little guy needed some exercise since he usually spend most of his time in Tihana’s hands.

– It feels weird – suddenly my fake daughter spoke out.

I looked at her. She had some of the sauce on her lip, but she quickly wiped it with the back of her hand.

– What? – I asked more mechanically than out of curiosity because I had similar thoughts.

– Everything. This place. You being back. The victory over the high queen. I don’t know… What happens next? Is what The Great One keeps telling us the truth? Is there something worse than her coming? – she asked with a mostly blank expression, but I could see through that and I knew she was worried.

– I don’t know what’s next, but what he is telling us, is the truth. There is something worse, but don’t worry. We won this war, and we will win the next one. I’ll get stronger. We will get stronger. And we will face everything that fate throws at us. For now, though, we should rest, and enjoy the moment of peace.

She nodded to my words. After that, for a long moment, we both were silent.

– I want to become a hunter – she informed me after a few minutes of, I believe, thinking it through. – And I want you to train me. This time properly.

I had mixed feelings about it. I wanted her to get educated first. I wanted her to then take it slowly, so she would remain safe, and could actually understand the powers she would acquire. That was one side of the coin. The other was what just happened to me, and what could possibly happen in the future.

She only had me. I was her family, so if I were to disappear, she would be on her own. She needed a way to survive. She needed to become stronger.

– Ok – I said after a moment. – I’ll train you.

She nodded to my words and then bit the rest of her burger.