Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Entering again and misunderstanding

In the astral world, another vision entered Herabergen's sight.

A sight of an underwater place. A location where you wouldn't need air or anything to breathe. Strange creatures roam the place. He can see himself roaming the place and eventually encountering a sight of towering bookshelves and an endless assortment of books. It appears that this place has no end. On the place, he saw the new Outer God.

"  Herabergen. Dovah se Onikaan, Zu'u my ko dream "

{ Peace, Herabergen. Dragon of Wisdom, I come in peace. }

It speaks of his language and Herabergen couldn't tell whether it was her or him.

" Zu'u Krosis. Zu'u Vaat Zu'u ni hokoron. "

{ I apologize. I swore I am not an enemy }

Herabergen stared at the new Outer God. It was still hidden under the strange golden strips of the robe that have great alikeness to appendages. Its face was still hidden under the hood and releasing strange mist-like limbs. Its body was translucent and on its center was a golden core. It was approaching him by floating. Then Herabergen's vision ended.

Herabergen opened his eyes and stared at the distance of the astral world. What did it want from him?

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   " Not again! "

Upon consuming the sequence 8 potions of the White Tower Pathway, Yareth groaned in frustration as he found himself in the mind world also known as the sea of the collective subconscious.

The other, older and past him look at his actions with amusement on his face. But there was also something behind the expression.

" Congratulations on drinking the potion for sequence 8 of the White Tower Pathway. "

His other self said in a tone that sounded mocking? Yareth unraveled his face from his hands. He decided to ignore the mocking tone. He just must be only hallucinating. He stared at the other him.

" I lose consciousness.. again. "

Yareth mumbled towards his other-self. He look at his other with a tired look on his face and asked.

" Did I lose control? "

His other self shrugged his shoulders.

" I pulled you in this place again. "

He answered neither in a yes or no.

" Is that a confirmation or a denial, other and older me? "

He questioned while he stared at the place. Unlike the last time that he have been in this place, more than a month ago, Yareth notice that other than being a strange underwater place, this place was filled with objects which weren't in here compared to the last time. Towering bookshelves that were filled with books. Yareth started walking toward it. As if he was attracted by something. He felt a pat on his shoulder. His other self was smiling benignly.

" Careful, you don't want to fully lose control, do you? "

Yareth decided to stop approaching the towering bookshelves. He decided to listen to the advice of his other-self. The other him who he wasn't certain of. How could he exist when he was existing? There couldn't be the two of them at the same time. It was so confusing. Yareth can't possibly grasp the meaning of him and his with his mind.

" Don't also think of complicated thoughts. "

His other self said sternly while he also flicked his forehead. Yareth wince at the pain. How could he feel pain when he was in a dream?

" Ignorant and naive. In this world, many impossible things are possible. Remember, you are a Beyonder. "

Yareth flushed in embarrassment. He feel ashamed just like when his tutor Levan Septimus and Mister Conner lectured him that he did something wrong. It was also like that he was staring at the disappointed look that his brother Wendell directed at him. It was also like when his parents didn't even bother to look at him.

Another flick on the forehead again.

" I said, don't think of complicated things. And also don't think of your parents.  "

After saying those words in a tone filled with frustration, Yareth was dragged by his older and other-self. He yelped in surprise. He doesn't know where they are going in this strange place. Eventually, they arrive in a part where there are chairs and tables. His other self sat on one of them and Yareth decided to follow his example. He sat opposite him. After a moment, Yareth blurted out.

" You didn't answer my question. Whether I lose control or not. "

His other self glared at him before saying.

" Naive child. Of course, you have lost control. Pulling you in this place is protecting your mind from taking the brunt of losing control. "

Finally, a clear answer. Yareth thought inside his mind. The glare directed at him intensified further. He doesn't remember when his other self appeared to be frustrated with him. The last time that he encountered him in this place, he was kind and helpfully soothed him in his worries. Why the sudden change of attitude?

While he was thinking of those thoughts, he heard the bang of a table. His other self causes it.

"An ignorant and clueless child! Damn, I should have more things when you see and encountered me for the first time! I can only pull you here in this place every time your life is in danger! That was only the thing that I can do and messing around in this place filled with boredom. "

Yareth's face was filled with confusion. At that look, his other self becomes more frustrated. As if being tempted to choke the life out of his younger self. Finally, he decided to ask Yareth.

" Why did you not even visit me once after I assisted you in your predicament? "

Yareth stared at his other blankly.

" I can come here? "

He asked resulting in his other self massaging the nonexistent pain on his forehead.

" Yes! You can come here whenever you wanted. You are the one who was the Beyonder and adapted to this world, and I am the one who was not and out of place. "

After a while, Yareth decided to break the silence with some words.

" I'm sorry, I didn't visit you here, other me. "

" Apology accepted. A part of it is also my fault since I warned you that you couldn't stay in this place for too long. You are just a new Beyonder at that time. "

Yareth watched as his other self stretched out one of his hands. It wasn't stretched out towards him but something unknown. They waited and he was surprised when a book arrives. His other self flashed him with a smug look on his face.

" Welcome to Yilla, Yareth. "

Yilla? The name of this place? How come it sounded familiar for some reason? Yareth then narrowed his eyes. His other self was holding a book from that bookshelves, and now he was touching one of the books from one of the bookshelves. Did his other self lie to him?

" I didn't lie to you. Touching them at your current sequence would risk for you to become corrupted. Anyway, it was thanks to your advancement that this place has improved. "

Yareth frowned at those words. He would be able to touch those books once he was at the right sequence to be permitted to touch them without repercussions? Just what is this place? Yareth then shook his head and decided to focus on another thing.

" So, my advancement to sequence 8 was successful? "

" Yes... And you are also currently unconscious while the man named Connor was waiting for you to wake up and feeling anxious behind his stoic appearance. "

Yareth can feel relief at those words. Then he can feel some strange feeling. It was like something was tugging him out of this place and he was slowly becoming transparent. He looks at his other self who doesn't appear to be in surprise at his predicament.

" I have told you earlier that you can come anytime you wanted to this place..."

He started talking while ignoring his plight.

".. I haven't told you the whole picture. You can only be here in Yilla for a limited amount of time depending on your sequence level. "

Yareth sighed in relief. But now, he was growing more curious of this Yilla in this that was located in the sea of the collective subconscious. Recalling the memories of the past life, he doesn't remember this place being mentioned in the story.

" Your authority in this place depends on your sequence level. You must be wondering what is this place, right? "

" Yes. "

Yareth answered sincerely. Then, his other self look at him with amusement as he opened the book that he was holding.

" The murmurings have subsided. Perhaps, next time that you entered this place. "

Yareth looks at him with an affronted expression on his face.

" I thought that you wanted my company! You told me that you're bored! "

" Well, not anymore. Thanks to your advancement, all of the books and bookshelves appeared. "

Yareth pouted.

" You are me. Am I that rude in my past life? "

His other self snorted and waved at him dismissively.

" Don't be dramatic. We don't even have a full minute to spare for a conversation. Next time, I promise. We would talk about a lot of things. If you didn't wake up sooner or later, that man would be alarmed and would consider a lot of things that would be dangerous for your situation. "

" I see.. "

Yareth said with a resigned sigh. His other self smiled at him then he opened his mouth to say something. But before he could hear what did he say, Yareth already disappeared in Villas and pulled out of his dream.

" He should refer to me on our former name. "

Is what was left unheard by Yareth.