Chapter 31: Doppelg?nger

  Outside the edge of the city, there were many people talking, it was more vibrant than the previous city I once inhabited. Still, the city was full of whites, people wore a white greca-style overcoat and a white cloak with hoodie covering their head. In the middle of the chest, there lay a crystal in rhombus shape, and it was varied in colors. People seemed to have their group, and they were conversing happily like just normal social interactions.

  Unlike the previous city, people seem to care more about others’ appearance and social status, nonetheless, they were just things to get to know each other. It was simply no discrimination and racism, the hierarchy was probably debunked. Who doesn’t want to live in a wonderful city where people are like this?

  “Yo! Do you want to watch movies tonight?”

  “Yeah! It sounds fun, I’ve been waiting for that movie for so long!”

  “Hey! Do you want to join the tournament?”

  “Of course! Whoever wins gets a free course meal, and it’s fun to battle with strong people.”

  “Yeah! It’s always good to know where we’re at!”

  Everything was just like how my previous world worked, the interactions, the advertisements and the crowd, simply were no different. The difference was only the clothes, which we had to wear because there were no other clothes, and…many fantasy stuff. My heartbeat was pumping in jubilation of the vibrant city, Wopest. Forgot to mention, the city’s architecture and infrastructure were similar to the previous city, small houses and a defensive barrier to protect each house. An incorporeal magical barrier covered the whole city.

  Luisana: “The previous city that you’re contemplating is named Sulant.”

  With mind reading ability, Luisana immediately answered my query about the name of the previous city. It was bad of me to not know the city’s name where I appeared initially, because I forgot to ask the old man and the randoms. Whatever, my query got answered by Luisana.

  Jastine: “This is the entrance to the city.”

  There were fluctuating waves in the shape of a door. The door was huge so it could probably fit a giant, but there were no giants whatsoever.

  Luisana: “Giants are inhabited in another city that’s especially for the giants.”

  Once again, Luisana answered my inner question. Why was she responding in such times that I needed to get the answers immediately?

  Luisana: “You had just come here, so it’s convenient to tell you two about this world.”

  Ralph: “It’s the first time I hear about Sulant because I’ve lived one day.”

  Luisana: “Yeah, so you know it now.”

  The conversation ended, we entered the city through the fluctuating entrance. There were two royal guards, one stood on the left and vice versa. After we entered, two guards stopped us to check. It seemed there were securities to guarantee safety, they didn’t let their guard down even though no one was delinquent.

  Jastine pressed my chest again, my appearance was visible to everyone.

  Jastine: “It’s not good to have you get in trouble. A security guy I know could see you.”

  “Alright…”

  Then, it was my turn to get checked.

  Royal guard #1: “Stand still, I’ll check your outfit.”

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  The royal guard’s eyes focused on my outfit, he looked from the top to bottom, left to right.

  Royal guard #1: “White outfit, good. A cloak and a yellowish crystal, good. But…”

  The royal guard noticed something strange from me.

  Royal guard #1: “Could you pull the hood down?”

  I listened and pulled down the hood, there were special things that I acquired. My hair was white and I had heterochromia. Other than that, I was totally ordinary.

  Royal guard #1: “White hair, huh? It looks outstanding. However, you’re good. It must be the ‘erasing process’. It’s rare and not happening too often.”

  Having a white hair was a special thing because everyone mostly had black hair. Jastine seemed to not get in trouble either, and…he and the other royal guard were conversing to each other about their things. Probably, they were comrades. Luisana and Ralph also passed the checking process. Then, Jastine came back and he told everyone to move into the crowd for one purpose.

  Jastine: “I’ll make Kinter disappear again.”

  Jastine pressed my right chest and I turned invisible again. Everyone couldn’t see me except Ralph with his god-like eyes. What could lay behind his dark brown eyes? Intriguing.

  After that, the group separated from the crowd. We progressed to explore the city because what needed to be done had been done. There were many shops, restaurants and tournaments active around, then we were mesmerized by the fate reading house. Going inside, an aroma of candle lids and spiciness got straight to our nostrils, it seemed ordinary though. An old grandma sat behind the table in the middle, there was a glimmering crystalized ball held by a pedestal on the table. The seat was empty, it seemed this was a face-to-face interaction type. A chandelier shone down the table where the grandma sat, the decorations were three shelves standing from the triple directions. There was a door next to the shelf behind grandma. Grandma greeted us.

  Grandma: “Oh! Ah, another guest. Interested in knowing your future?”

  Jastine: “Yes grandma, we wanted to check each other’s fate.”

  Grandma: “Ho ho! Then you’ve come to the right place. This crystallized ball will let you know your fate, your sake and your path. But…”

  Luisana: “What else, grandma?”

  Grandma: “A passage to unknown memories from someone.”

  A passage to know someone’s memories? What does it contribute to the person being tested?

  Grandma: “The unknown memories from someone could be contributed to you in some ways. That's one of the mechanisms this ball has.”

  It was better to test once to see what it would pull off. Jastine took some of the golden coins from his pocket, and handed them to grandma. It was two point forty zechs for each, the currency in this world was similar to [__] currency. Grandma happily took the coins and gestured her hand toward the crystalized ball.

  Jastine: “I think Kinter should be tested first.”

  Jastine deactivated his spell, I appeared. Grandma was astonished toward the phenomenon,

  Grandma: “It looks like you’re a royal guard, what you’re doing is helping this guy.”

  Jastine: “Yes, grandma. He’s in danger, the five gods aren’t as good as you think.”

  Grandma: “You’ve lost hope in the five gods? As I expected, someone must have recognized it. This creation could foresee what you don’t expect, so you should give it a try.”

  Jastine: “Kinter, you go.”

  I took the empty seat and looked at the crystalized ball. The ball emanated an air of souls’ whispering, the gleaming visions of memories were already depicting on the crystalized ball. It remained silent, waiting for the person’s hand. As my hand was closely reaching for it, the crystalized ball gradually shone light blue. When I touched the ball, my mind was traveling into another dimension.

  My memories or someone’s unknown memories.

  ***

  What is this place? A devastated scene came up first, the setting was at a mountainous place. Surely, this was out of Wopest; this seemed like a battle, and it was continuing. So, I’ve been taken to an on-going battle between someone and someone. And that someone’s still unknown to me.

  It seems like I could use my abilities in this mind-traveling realm, so it’s convenient for me to rush to witness the battle. Following the trails, I kinda guess whose memories and future are. The on-going battle and destruction tell me that it’s probably the battle between me and the five gods. Thus, I rushed at a sonic speed to the battleground by following the trails of annihilation. However, it turned out differently. Even though the setting and concepts are the same, the battle's between someone else with the five gods, not me.

  Who’s that? I don’t know this person. I broaden my vision to look closer, the guy who’s fighting wears a white greca-style overcoat and a white cloak with hoodie covering his head. In the middle of the chest, there lay a yellow crystal in rhombus shape. Looking closer, I’m surprised, the person whom’s in the solitude has to battle with the five gods looks similar to me. Except, his hair is black and my hair is white.

  My twin? Is he my twin? I remembered Julia told me that I have a sister but whether it’s one sibling or more, it’s unknown.

  The dimension’s shaking due to atomic manipulation, he creates a katana and holds it.

  Doppelg?nger: “Katana is the best looking sword.”

  My doppelg?nger? He raises his fangs toward the five gods. But, the five gods seem not to be concerned about the doppelgr?nger’s arousal. It looks more like they’re here for a duty or something.

  God 1: “Thou hath forfeited the holiness, thy sin hath exceeded the limit. Thou may live in void forever.”

  Doppelg?nger: “Holiness? Thou may be correct. But, this henchman had seen much more than that. All are nothing but lies.”

  God 2: “Hath come to this, thou still deny thy unforgivable sins? Including all the royal guards thou slain, that was more than enough to let thee live in darkness and get tormented eternally.”

  Doppelg?nger: “Thou may be correct, thou may be correct. But this henchman isn’t going to be acceptable by that.”

  God 3: “Thou hath exceeded the limit! No words could reach thee!”

  Below the flying individuals, many corpses of royal guards are in freshness after death. Crimson blood filled the ground with its dense tinted color. This must be doppelg?nger’s doing, does he exceed that tremendous power? He has atomic manipulation and…looking closer and closer, he opens both of his eyes; the left eye is yellow and the right eye is blue, similar to me accurately. The difference is what? Intelligence? Strength?

  Who are you?

  If it’s me, then where’s Jastine and everyone? And who that girl could be? She isn’t Luisana, the girl is someone else, and she has something mysterious in her so she’s kept in a locked cage behind the doppelgr?nger.

  Is this my future or…an alternative universe of myself?

  Who are you?

  * * *