After a while of walking, I reached the ruins.
Adam and I didn't talk, we only minded our own business.
We aren't close but we aren't the type to bicker or anything, we are surprisingly neutral, or should I say Adam is…
I am an extremely biased person, no doubt, that is exactly the problem, I can't relate with him, if my other selves are out there, I would want to live and be the dominant one. I would never willingly merge and have this me disappear, even if that's not entirely true.
I do not know what life he lived, but he had definitely seen a lot.
According to him, the history he lived has happened for him, but hasn't actually happened yet. At the same time, it's the same but also vastly different, So that means, it was like a nightmare.
Wait…
What was my first nightmare like?
I secretly cast a glance at Adam.
Since the beginning not once had he talked about the first nightmare.
I had a strange hunch, could the secret be related to the first nightmare?
What really happened in the first nightmare?
If I think about it logically, my abilities are directly identical to that of the Lotm Novel, but it is reliant on this world's ascension system.
That means, while it's similar in shape and power, its underlying function is greatly different.
That means the first nightmare is an irreplaceable point in the power system.
That means…
No way..
NO NO, there is a point that doesn't match up!
It's impossible to have just completed the first nightmare, and just casually showcase such a level of planning.
It's simply unreasonable, no matter how I place it! Damn it, why didn't I think of this!
Myself and the other me's might not be the result of an intentional plan, but a forced one!
Is it like mordret? But instead it mirrors its personalities?
My main body must have realized this before he got his own flaw and then somehow by some means, arranged all of this WHILE BEING IN THE FIRST NIGHTMARE!
A sense of horror and dread washed over my body as my pupils trembled at the sudden realization.
No way! No way! No way! No way! No way!
But how is this even possible?!
Just what on god's green earth is my main body!
No No..
Could it be? Natural ascension within a nightmare itself?
I had a sudden urge to laugh like I had gone mad!
OF COURSE! If I remember the novel plot and story, there is no doubt my main body would too!, he must have attempted Natural Ascension WITHIN THE FIRST NIGHTMARE!
It's not impossible… in the tomb of Ariel, the 6 plagues had been defiled and had become of the Corrupted rank, so in theory it should be possible within the first nightmare as well.
Then the question lies.. How far did he ascend while being in the first nightmare?
If I had to guess… Transcendent?
It could be, the ascension method for transcendence has been revealed by ananke, so without a doubt he would reach transcendence.
I would have been more realistic and say the peak of Master, but that would not match with Adam's story.
So that means..
Haha.. hahahaha..
I laugh self deprecatingly in my head.
Hundreds of years must have passed in the first nightmare, and…
We -avatars- are actually persona's and correspondent memories of the true body that split, after the trial was over.
Whatever separates will definitely converge, and whatever converges will definitely separate.
This makes more sense, It really made no sense for having 5 avatars, only for them to have a Hunger Games. It had to happen because it was an inevitable result of a flaw.
…
These new realizations like domino effect lead one after another of information that should have been obvious to a fervent reader of novels like myself.
But there are still unexplained elements, like why are there 5 pathways abilities, how did my main body acquire it?
My main Aspect is Envisioning, then Adam's ability will likely be degeneracy, the others Tyranny, Sun, white tower accordingly.
This is directly by name reference to the God Almighty pathways, but why? They should be different universes, and both of them are vastly different with only few similarities.
Adam also mentioned 'Error', so that means Mysteries Pathways also exist.
Are Lotm and Shadow slave universes related?
No, a strong gut feeling is telling me I am wrong.
I will have to be patient, simply realizing what I just realized is mind blowing. If anyone were to hear this they would lose their mind.
There are many questions, like how did my main body make all these arrangements while within a nightmare? It shouldn't be possible.
No answers came for these questions, only..
But the biggest question, I slowed down, letting Adam walk slightly ahead.
"It wasn't a lie.."
No he wasn't lying, it was a misguided truth.
I should have realized why he has been so cooperative.
Adam's flaw is forced honesty as well…
Heh, I wanted to laugh, but I couldn't. I kept my expression neutral and simply walked at a steady pace.
One of my main bodies' arrangements is forcing locks on Adam's knowledge because he likely knows a lot of information not suited for my rank.
By doing so, I wouldn't be corrupted and the plans would go smoothly, while keeping room for changes.
But Adam, just like Sunny, also learned to go around it and adapt.
The hanged man pathway also has control shadow right? Do all shadow related beings have flaws related to honesty? That has to be looked into later.
The story Adam had told me was not the past, but the FUTURE!
It was a Prophecy!!
—--
Of course, my gut tells me it's not the full picture but I am close enough. This was joyous news.
I had been battling with guilt for weeks, I had avoided the cohort with all my might out of guilt and only found comfort in Cassie.
But now this truth has freed me of that chain, my mind is free..
My path for the future is now clear. I am going to change my own fate.
"You're in quite deep thought.."
"Huh?" breaking out of my stupor I turned.
Adam was a few steps behind me.
I was confused.
"Cassie's room is about thirty steps back," he said, pointing behind me.
Only then did it hit me—I had walked past her room without noticing. Not just missed it—I had no memory of passing it at all.
I turned, my face calm, though something cold had curled deep in my gut.
"Sorry," I said lightly, "I guess I was just lost in thought." I walked past him again, retracing my steps toward Cassie's room.
His voice came softly, just behind me.
"What were you thinking about?"
The tone was flat, colorless but something in it scraped at me, like fingernails on wet glass.
I didn't answer.
I couldn't.
The hallway felt longer than before. The light—just a little dimmer.
As I passed him, I caught a glimpse of his eyes—still, unblinking, fixed straight ahead.
Too still. Too long.
I told myself it was nothing.
But a prickling chill ran up my spine.
And for one breathless moment, I had the distinct, awful feeling
that I hadn't passed him at all.
That he was still behind me.
I had to think of something.. Anything!
I simply replied non-chalantly.
"I was thinking about what your secret might be and that Discerning Truth dilemma, I was also considering what I would do for the future"
It was an honest answer.
"Oh, did you figure it out?", he asked.
"I think so, partially, but I have no confirmation so they are up for questioning."
Replying while I resumed walking back to Cassie's room.
"I see.. Alright" Adam finally said with a sigh.
But at the same time, very light inaudible whispers could be heard near his ears.
He narrowed his eyes as he muttered in a low voice,
"He still hasn't figured it out yet?"
With that he followed behind Ivan back to Cassie's room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
big realizations huh..
A/C: Ivan is smart asf!