Shadow Author

I sighed.

The truth was that I already knew most of not everything.

"Go ahead."

[Allow me to formally introduce myself, I am the personification of the curse you created to haunt Evelyn.]

"The imaginative unrealistic curse that makes it so she can't get friends and anyone who interacts with her faces a tragedy of sorts."

[Exactly, though in your case I never would have thought that I would have to appear to threaten you.]

"But that's just because you didn't know who I was."

If the figure was capable of expressing emotion this would have been the moment there would have been a reaction.

[Who would have known that the very creator of my host would come in contact with her and hold her in such high regard that he feels love?]

"Ironic isn't it?"

[Yes, I could have never expected such an outcome.]

Gaining clues from the conversation I pieced together one of the puzzle parts.

"Your… influence over others grows based on how much they are influenced by Evelyn."

[Excellent! Even though you didn't program the figure you were still able to deduce it so fast!]

"That's why little things only happen to people who try to get closer to her while extreme things happen to people who are already close."

[Now you got it! Take for instance that one time a girl came up to Evelyn and while they were talking a bird shit on her head, that was all me.]

"Then the moment I got close enough to her, you felt that our connection was so strong that you couldn't do anything to drive me away. Instead, you had to do something life-changing."

[The elevator incident.]

"The elevator incident."

A pause in our conversation took place but the other version of me quickly moved on.

[You should ask all your questions now, the one you call your teacher is making her way back.]

Knowing that I didn't have all the time in the world I finished with my understanding of the curse.

"The reason you had to come out yourself to try to take over my mind was that I had such strong feelings for her right?"

[That's correct.]

"And the more someone feels for her the more extreme things you do?"

[Yes, yes.]

"Then that means from the very start Evelyn was doomed because no one would be willing to get close enough to her."

At this realization, the red me began to laugh — although it was hallowed.

[You figured it out! There were more than a few people who could deal with getting tripped, getting soaked by a puddle near the road, getting crapped on, and other embarrassing things. However when it started getting dangerous none of them stood around long enough to continue the relationship.]

"I was the exception."

[Not only were you an exception but you were overall an irregular.]

"An irregular?"

[That's right because you didn't have to go through each level as the others did while slowly falling into insanity. Instead, you skipped directly to the end and even surpassed it.]

"Because of the feelings I have for her."

[They are unnatural, what you feel for her is something indescribable, calling it love is an injustice.]

"That's why you had to reveal yourself to me and that in turn led to where we are today."

[That is my history.]

"I am curious about one thing though?"

[Let me guess, what Nightfall did?]

"Yes, I had an assumption that she would be able to connect you to her world but I guess it really turned out to be true."

[I don't even understand it myself but she found a way to connect me to the sword.]

"I see… well then that means my end of the bargain was upheld."

[That- that's true, it's as you said I now have a place outside the bounds of this world where I can remain safe while actively getting stronger.]

"Now it's your turn to uphold your end of the deal."

For the first time since our conversation began, the mist seemed to acknowledge me as the figure nodded before moving toward me.

[I will grant you unrestricted access to my powers but you must also come to understand the implications surrounding them.]

"What do you mean?"

The copy of me took another step forward and arrived in front of me while voicing:

[You will come to know in due time. The power to manipulate minds should not be taken lightly.]

With that the red me took a final step forward and vanished from my sight as a large swirl of red was absorbed into the sword.

All around me still lay the mist that continued to build up and envelop the surroundings.

A fair share of the forest was covered in a fog-like substance while thousands of birds lay on the ground.

Crouching down I looked at one of the monstrous birds.

Although it looked to be dead I could see its chest slowly rising and falling.

As if in a coma-like stance the bird and the hundreds of others like it remained motionless on the ground.

"The power to manipulate minds huh?"

My wrist buzzed.

"Why don't we give it a try?"

Waving away some of the red that covered the bird I extended my hand and picked up the creature.

It was much heavier than I imagined and scarier looking now that I was up close to it.

Holding the bird in my arms I stood back up while bringing it close to my chest.

"Hey little buddy, how would you like to become my pet?"

Running my fingers over the unconscious bird I began petting it on the head while ruffling its feathers.

"But of course, we can't have you getting lonely, so how about we invite your friends?"

Taking a quick scan of the area I engraved the scene into my mind and called up the full force of the curse.

'You said I have your full unrestricted use of power so let's give it a shot.'

Calling forth the ability given to me I activated the curse's power.

"Puppeteer."