Confusion or shock might be the obvious reaction to see someone identical to oneself, who is not a twin.
That didn't happen to Vurckair.
He met two variants of himself; A third encounter is hardly a surprise.
Except for a discrepancy. He was exiled from his homeworld, Azthea; Because he obtain access to his «Stats», hence, Magic.
Unfortunately for him; A planet that forbids such ability, does not tolerate individuals who gained said gift, regardless of the overall circumstances.
{I thought i'd be wandering for eternity in the vastness beyond space-time. Haha. Exile is actually more peaceful, and cozy of what anyone could imagine}
Vurckair walks closer to his Alternative Version; Crossing quickly the baroque bedroom.
His hand is lifted, a swing executed to land a slap in the head of his Alt'ver; Though the hit goes through the indigo hair covering the young man's nape; It's not piercing the skull in a literal way, but passed effortlessly like a ghost would do.
{He didn't notice?; Or chose to ignore me?}
The question lingers as Vurckair waves his hand in front of the Alt'ver's face. His fingers abruptly extend thick golden claws with aggressive intent; The razor sharp edge millimeters away from the eyes of his Variant.
{Strange. He must be unable to see me. Or his guts are so well placed that he didn't flinch. Yet. What has him so entertained?}
Vurckair glimpses a journal over the desk where the Alt'ver manipulates small, spherical, transparent gems that faintly glow at their center, as if they contain a type of energy.
«Solid Nodes can be grouped up to a maximum of six. Exceeding this number without proper isolation results in a sudden detonation».
{Wow!; What a warning}
However, the Alt'ver is clearly prepared to integrate a seven Solid Nodes, or that is what the materials in the desk suggest.
{This is going to end up really bad. Isn't it?}
Instead of a direct reply, Vurckair receives joyful enthusiasm from the Alt'ver.
"I'm going to prove that Solid Nodes can be regressed to Casted Nodes; Stabilized without employing Flow Magic, and not dependant on people developing a Singularity."
He swaps the pages, and two designs appear in opposite sides of the journal.
The Alt'ver rapidly taps his index between the image, and the desk's surface.
Doubt and nervousness sprouts, his initial resolution spoiled. He analyzes the simple diagram, growing unsure by the second. Well aware of how inaccurate, impossible, and insane is his theoretical construction.
The first pattern is an hexagonal perimeter with a seventh Solid Node at its center. While the second figure is based on deform the previous shape with a double twist, to obtain an octahedron.
"For my future."
The Alt'ver states confidently, and performs the initial procedure with impeccable precision.
Light at the gem's center turns more visible, yet, it remain oddly colorless, like the new beams emanating between each Solid Node.
{Is this working?. I think the first part is}
He continues; And when the double twist comes along, all Solid Nodes transform from a glass appearance, to an ethereal consistency; Abruptly united into one Node that has an enchanting shine.
"I… I did it!." Exclaims overjoyed the Alt'ver, his excited smile brims with sadistic mockery; Too far gone in his self-gloated state to notice the change in the artificially reverted, and agglomerated, Casted Node.
{I know you can't hear me. But. It's that supposed to happen?}.
The Node's brightness diminishes, dropping the dim illumination to acquire a gloomy, almost eerie hue, losing the appearance of an energetic smooth exterior.
Cracks appear, the construction shatters, and violently collapse on itself; Half the bedroom is isolated with a spherical translucent forcefield, the oxygen at the barrier's interior is sucked, and depleted fast by the ethereal epicenter.
In seconds, the Alt'ver is deprived even from the air contained in his lungs, impeded to have one last breath.
{No way!. The exile is witnessing Alternative Version die!. Without the opportunity to interfere!. I'd rather fight again in Fettiyio!}
The complain occurs as the Node dissipates into nothingness, like the forcefield does.
Lifless, the Alt'ver's body crashes face first against the desk.
What unleashes a weird outcome.
Instead of Vurckair being expelled to a new world so he can witness a similar event. He is dragged towards the Alt'ver.
Overtaking the body causes mild pain and soreness to Vurckair.
He is denser than the Alt'ver; Forced to reforge organs, muscles, and bones, to match his basic needs.
"I would say congratulations, «Another Me»; But considering you died; It may sound petty, almost sarcastic."
{Though he wasn't wrong. And the Nodes he use, didn't explode, they implode. Maybe exist a step he didn't discover}
Vurckair picks up the journal, trying to see if the diagram its at fault; What makes him sense a ticklish in his fingertips.
{This object is consuming bits of energy. If so. It could be the factor destabilizing the Nodes?}
Injecting more magic into the journal, reveals words, and additional signs in the diagram's annotations.
«Hexagonal Plated Tile».
An arrow points to the central Node.
«Using a Node as a Core or Anchor Point, facilitates control over any Spell executed with Flow Magic; And allows alterations over Nodic Constructions even when the Builder is not the original Creator».
{I have no idea of the meaning. But seems important enough for this Variant to keep it as a secret}
«Vacuum Imploder».
{Sounds like a weapon}
«Combat Spell to minimize bloodshed and damage to structures».
«Creates an Area of exclusion to prevent the opponent's scape, erasing the air for a quick painless dead».
«Personal Note: Homes shouldn't be destroyed to eliminate the aberrant threat the Lanigiro and the Braddiers represent».
{Braddiers?. They certainly are an annoying bunch during a «Tide» of them}
"Well… The «Another Me» indeed achieved his goal. Though succumbing to his own creation due to a minor mistake is too cliche for my taste."
{If I am exorcised, will the «Another Me» come back to life?; Like the «Mirror Me» or the «Niffler Me» did after i killed them?}
{Wait. Are exorcisms even possible in this world?}
The thought is sway away as the diagram absorbs more energy from Vurckair, heating up without bursting into flames.
He drops the journal, and the magical connection is severed, and the additional notes disappear from the pages.
{So the «Another Me» didn't «Tap» the journal for nothing; If not to make intermittent the… How did he called it?… Flow Magic?}
Dark wine light gathers on Vurckair's palm, flopping in intensity, or dispersing a few times.
{I'm unaccustomed to the sensation, releasing sporadic bursts of Magic instead of emitting a swift stream}
Conscious of the task, he focuses on create a sphere.
{It appears to be impossible to employ Flow Magic in a sustained way. Five seconds seems to be the limit}
{Turning On and Off the «Flow», prevents the overheat. Cutting the physical link has the same effect}
{Perhaps the detonation of Nodes is due to exceeding this safety measure}
{Too bad i can't corroborate my claim by reviewing «His» memories}
{Although it's normal for me to not know about the life of my Variants}
{In fact. I believe it's for the better}
{The «Mirror Me» gave me fake memories, and my personality underwent annoying changes for a short period}
Vurckair shakes his head.
{It's not the moment to think about the past}
A low, feral growl resound from Vurckair's mouth, regaining his focus; Similar to a predator who's only goal is to devour a meaty, tasty prey.
Erasing meaningless thoughts; He ponders about the situation; Aware he is in a foreign world; Though apparently alone, this time, he is not on his own.
{The Journal's content is amazing; Although calling it a «Diary» is more accurate due to the wide amount of specific details about the Alt'ver's life}
{Yet. The summary is brief. Probably a quick compilation after the original annotations were destroyed during the many attacks perpetrated by these Lanigiro}
{The most recurrent events involve unorthodox theories; Along minor nuisances he had to endure because of his mediocre prowess with Flow Magic; A deep grudge the Alt'ver had despite his lineage as a Vecturion}
{I can't truly relate to him. Azthea was a Magicless World. And my stay in Loutharn wasn't that long}
{But he was discarded, regardless of the benefits his novel approach to Magic could bring to the Vecturion House}
{I don't have extensive knowledge about Magic, but from my personal experience in Loutharn; I'm sure two thirds of his ideas are doable}
Firm knocks echo in the room, and the door is opened seconds later by a mature, stern woman of metalized, chocolate hair.
"I see you were expecting me."
Vallad'Yanna comments unimpressed; Her gaze landing on the suitcase over the bed, before she suddenly locks her bright pink eyes on the still-in formation sphere of dark wine light hovering near Vurckair's left palm.
Vallad'Yanna tilts her head as she squints her eyes; Her voice clad with a deep tone that denotes a not-so-subtle aggressiveness. "I thought you were right-handed."
"I am." Vurckair answers without hesitation, showing the Journal with his right hand.
"Multitasking?."
He nods with fake acceptance; The stance perfectly conceals his combat readiness.
"I see." The woman relaxes visibly; Her voice remains stern, conveying the pride of a teacher for her student.
"You're finally determined to break free from that ludicrous, self-imposed mediocrity."
{What?!}
"Took you long to realize the obvious. Since you don't have «External Magic», using «Internal Magic» was the logical choice."
Vurckair puts a nostalgic smile, faking the reaction.
He read the Journal, but it will be delusional to pretend he understands the reasons behind his Alt'ver actions to keep a low profile while being invested on achieve a path that wasn't meant for him…