They stared at each other, neither of them sure what to think.
Aiden was floating in the dark void of his own mind, staring at another version of himself who had apparently appeared because his soul had decided that today was already strange enough, so why not make it worse?
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then the sounds of combat outside snapped their attention back to the floating window of Aiden's vision.
"Dude, what are you doing?" the new copy yelled, grabbing his own head like he was watching someone throw a priceless vase. "Stop yourself!"
"I can't exactly move myself from in here!" Aiden yelled back, wiggling in place to prove his point. "What do you want me to do, fly?"
The copy rolled his eyes and reached out a hand.
"Okay, use me as a springboard and get to the… the…" He paused, looking toward the window. "Eyes or something!"
Aiden wanted to take a moment to argue that the plan had absolutely no merit.
Then he heard Liora cry out in pain.
Through the floating window, he saw his spear stabbing her through the side.
That ended any desire to argue.
Aiden gathered himself and launched as hard as he could.
His strange inner-mind body shot forward. The window of vision rushed closer until everything snapped back into place like a sword sliding into a sheath.
His spear was inches away from striking Selene.
Aiden yanked his hand to the side.
The spear tip scratched Selene, but missed anything vital.
"Y-you're back?" Selene asked, breathing hard as she looked at his clearly startled face.
Aiden's muscles ached from moving against the spell. His breath came ragged, but he was more worried about what he had done to the others.
Before he could turn, a voice spoke inside his head.
"Looking over the logs, Thalia is at 10 out of 18. Kaelen is rocking 9 out of 16. Liora has 12 out of 20. You only nicked Selene, so she is at 30 out of 41."
Aiden looked around, bewildered.
A small pain sparked inside his head.
"Focus," the voice snapped. "This is a fight. Also, why are you surprised? We just met!"
Aiden wanted to focus on the fact that one of his thoughts had apparently come alive and was now barking orders at him.
Unfortunately, it was right.
They were still in a fight.
Aiden turned.
There were now four blood clones staring them down.
Jax was still pinned to the ground, though now he was unconscious from the bleeding effect he had taken.
Aiden looked back at Ymer.
The man was grinning, teeth showing in a mocking smile.
A feeling of rage bubbled in Aiden's veins.
Ymer had toyed with them.
He had used Aiden to hurt his friends.
He had used Jax as a hostage so the others could not fight back.
Aiden glared at him, but he still had no idea what they could do.
Ymer did not seem interested in giving them time to decide. He stretched his arms casually, like he was about to start a dance instead of slaughter a group of people.
"Seems the little alchemist woke up from my spell," Ymer said. "Now that you have tenderized your teammates a bit, let's see how long you all can last."
The blood clones rushed.
One swung its blade down as if to cut Thalia in half.
Thalia whipped her strings out and caught the clone's arm. But as she pulled, the blade was already coming down too fast.
The attack sliced into her from shoulder to hip.
Thalia cried out before collapsing unconscious.
Aiden wanted to help.
He wanted to get in the way.
But a thrusting attack came for his side, forcing him to lean back. He caught it with the shaft of his spear, and the wood cracked under the force he redirected.
Behind him, Kaelen screamed.
Aiden turned his head.
Kaelen's arm had been split from the elbow down to his hand, opened like the maw of some horrible creature. He lay on the ground, blood spreading beneath him.
Aiden turned just in time to see Selene rush toward the blood clone that had attacked Thalia.
The fourth clone slid behind her, ready to stab.
Liora tried to intervene.
The blood clone changed the course of its blade and stabbed her through the stomach instead, ripping the weapon out through her side.
Something spilled from the wound.
Aiden could not make himself look at it.
His mind raced.
He only had two healing potions left.
Everyone was in critical condition.
Blood Clone has used item Vermilion Rapier (D).
Temp party member Thalia has taken 24 damage.
WARNING. WARNING. WARNING.
Temp party member Thalia is in critical condition.
Blood Clone has used item Vermilion Rapier (D).
You have deflected the attack.
Warning: Your Basic Spear is breaking down. It will not last much longer.
Blood Clone has used item Vermilion Rapier (D).
Party member Kaelen has been struck in a vital spot.
CRITICAL HIT!
WARNING. WARNING. WARNING.
Party member Kaelen is in critical condition.
Blood Clone has used item Vermilion Rapier (D).
Party member Liora has taken 23 damage.
WARNING. WARNING. WARNING.
Party member Liora is in critical condition.
It was horrifying.
They had taken down a Blood Trent with only one person falling unconscious.
They had explored an unknown dungeon, survived two ambushes, and even escaped with two of the dungeon items.
Now they were being torn apart in seconds.
Selene looked at Aiden.
There were tears on her face.
It was clear she was looking to him for what to do.
But what could they do?
"Fighting is not working," the copy in Aiden's mind said. "You just got a skill about talking, so talk. Buy time until someone comes to help!"
The voice was centering.
Somehow, it seemed immune to the chaos, fear, and despair of the outside world.
I don't know what to say, Aiden thought. W-we're going to die.
The thought barely formed before the copy grabbed it by the neck and killed it.
"He's a prideful jackass," the copy said. "Get him talking. Remember book nine of The Seven Stars? They got that demon talking, and it bought them time to make a plan. Get him talking!"
Before Aiden fully knew what he was doing, he stepped forward and yelled,
"Ymer, what's your endgame?"
Ymer turned to him.
A look of pleasant surprise crossed his face.
"My endgame?" Ymer asked. "Whatever do you mean by that?"
"Don't act coy," Aiden said. "We can't win. But the longer you keep this skill up, the more likely stronger adventurers, or even monsters, will notice. Toying with us only benefits us, so why?"
Ymer grinned.
He looked almost eager that someone had finally asked.
Aiden passed the remaining two healing potions back to Liora and gestured toward Kaelen, hoping she would understand.
Get him up.
Kaelen could heal the others.
"Well," Ymer said, "my original plan was simply to take what is rightfully mine. You see, this world has nothing but the worst intentions for me. Therefore, it is only right that I am owed everything."
"Kaelen's up," the voice in Aiden's head said. "Keep him talking!"
Aiden flared his arms out, trying to make himself look more outraged than terrified.
"You are owed everything? On what grounds?"
Anger flashed across Ymer's face.
"The day I was named kill-on-sight for the misfortune of being born with an Other class!"
His voice echoed across the blood-red field.
Despite everything, curiosity sparked inside Aiden.
"What do you mean, Other class? What are you talking about?"
Behind him, Selene went still.
Aiden turned slightly and saw that her face had gone pale.
Ymer noticed too.
An evil smile spread across his face.
"Oh," Ymer said. "You didn't tell them what you are? Well, no wonder they trust you so much."
Aiden wanted to ask what that meant.
Before he could, a sound like cracking glass split the air.
He looked up.
The sky had cracked.
Jagged lines spiderwebbed overhead and raced downward.
Ymer looked up in surprise.
Then he turned back to Aiden, rage twisting his expression.
All four blood clones rushed him.
Their blades came within centimeters of reaching Aiden.
Then they shattered.
The blood-red world broke apart, and they returned to the farm.
Ymer spun toward their vehicle.
Standing on the ballista mount was Ms. Oxhouse.
Several ballista bolts lay on the ground around her, as if they had been sticking out of something moments before and fallen when it broke.
Aiden turned back, ready to take on Ymer now that his strange soul skill had been shattered.
But Ymer was already pulling out an item.
He held it over his head and yelled,
"Why don't you tell them, Selene? Tell them how your very existence may have them all executed!"
Aiden ran to grab him.
Ymer threw the item to the ground.
A hole opened beneath his feet, and he dropped through it.
Aiden lunged, but the hole closed before he could reach him.
You have escaped a deadly situation.
+250 XP
You have learned a new skill outside of leveling up.
+500 XP
Aiden wanted to feel relief.
He wanted to sit down and sprawl out like they had after winning against the Blood Trent.
His knees started to buckle.
Then the voice in his head shouted,
"Your teammates are injured. Help Kaelen!"
Aiden turned toward the rest of the group.
Liora was currently holding Jax while Kaelen healed him. To Aiden's surprise, Kaelen was only using his right hand. His left arm hung limply at his side.
Aiden rushed over and helped stabilize Jax before moving to Thalia.
It took around ten minutes.
Ms. Oxhouse returned with a bucket of water to wash the wounds, and slowly, one by one, they brought everyone back to consciousness.
Then Kaelen grabbed Aiden by the shoulder.
His face was pale.
Too pale.
"A-Aiden," Kaelen said, his voice shaking. "I hate to ask this of you, but I need your help."
Aiden turned toward him, worry rising again.
Then he saw Kaelen's arm.
He had to fight the urge to vomit.
Kaelen's arm was still split in half from the elbow down. Rope had been wrapped around it to hold it together. The inside had healed wrong, sealed as if the wound had always been that way.
His face was pale from pain.
"W-what?" Aiden started.
Kaelen squeezed his shoulder.
"Y-you're the only o-other person here who knows medicine." His voice trembled. "You need to grab a towel to put in my mouth."
A cold, sharp feeling settled in Aiden's chest as he realized what Kaelen was asking.
He resisted the urge to throw up.
For once, the little voice in his head was deathly silent.
Aiden grabbed a towel and placed it securely in Kaelen's mouth.
Then he washed the edge of his old, still-sharp spear.
Kaelen took several quick, sharp breaths.
Then he nodded.
The process took three minutes.
Three minutes of Kaelen thrashing.
Three minutes of screaming through the towel.
Three minutes of tears streaming down his face.
He passed out three times, only to be woken again by the pain.
All Aiden could do was apologize.
So he did.
Over and over.
And over.
And over.