The Echo of the Original Spirit… You know, it’s a cool Name, but I think that I would want a better one. Maybe like, demon or... Maybe, angel, those are way cooler.

“I promise you this. You will not lose yourself in the fires, none of you will. It’s hard to explain, but I trust Jane… The Chosen of the Harbinger. She would never do something like that-”

Regi scoffed and laughed as if I told a dark joke. “You know nothing of what they would do. They have already begun to burn away all those who would resist her grasp. She is building a force made of the most evil and despicable beings in the world, those who wish nothing more than to see the world burn.”

The memory changes again as fire starts to emerge from the side like a tidal wave filled with only flames. It crashed and consumed cliffs, forests, and whole mountains, never stopping, only moving forward towards the north.

“You and the Caretaker’s Chosen are the only ones who would be able to stop her.”

“How about the gods? I’m very sure they’re not up to snuff to deal with them just yet.”

“The gods are always the ones choosing sides. This is no different. They cannot act without calling forth more destruction, but… If this continues, then Javia will become a land full of war once more. You can stop that if you wish, but if you don’t, that shall be taken as you siding with the Harbinger, and she will use you to forge the world in their flames once more.”

I frowned. I hated being put in the spot like this. Especially when I just woke up like an hour ago, but I guess it comes with being chosen or whatever. “Listen, can we have a small hiatus, just a window where I can choose what to do and not do? Cause the options right now are pretty sparse-”

Regi gritted his teeth and stood up, pointing his flute at me in righteous anger. “We do not have time. For 22 days, you have lain dormant, and in that time, the others have begun to act! There is no hiatus; there is no time to sit around and talk. You must stand firm and choose! Why are you so hesitant to face against the forces of evil?”

“Because…” The background changed, and it became the bar where Jane and I talked last. The two of us were locked in one moment as she explained her life story.

“Because evil looks like someone in pain, it looks like someone in need. And I think I can help. I will not stand and be told that I can’t help. I saw how she suffered, for a moment, I was her. For a moment, I felt how she truly was…”

The scenery changed once more, now becoming a white padded room. Off to the corner in a beige prison outfit was Jane, slumped over and staring at the empty walls, unable to do anything but watch.

“I felt her, I know her. That pain, it’s not going to go away so easily. But… There’s more to it. There’s always going to be more to it. I will not abandon her to that pain because she’s being used as some pawn to move forward. Jane just wants what’s best for the world, or well, what she thinks is best for the world. I don’t blame her for that.”

I pointed a finger at Regi, changing the scene back as now it’s the middle of the night, and he stood with many others over a funeral pyre, his eyes widening at the sight as he got onto his knees.

“Regi… Perhaps Reginald is better.” I walked towards him, sitting beside his shaking body. “I understand, you just want to protect people, to help others. I get it… I want to do that as well, but… It’s complicated, deeply, deeply complicated.”

“You dare use this… Against me?” Regi looked up at me, savagery in his eyes as he tried to throttle me, but I simply pushed him away, my willpower outclassing his own.

“I’m not using it against you. This just seemed to be the memory you’re clinging onto the most, the memory that’s keeping you here, that’s making sure you can always protect others.” I tried to give a reassuring smile.

“It’s admirable, but-”

“Do not think such sentimentality shall have me side with your inability to choose. You are a coward, plain and simple, and if this continues… Then you will be the doom of us, and I will not allow such a thing. If you are not with us, then you are against us. So I ask you again, shall you take a stand?”

So it really came down to this, huh, after everything I tried. I sighed internally. This was horrific. Why did it have to be me? I didn’t want to be special like this? Did I?

I stood up, a sigh on my lips as I shook my head. “Fine, you want to play hardball. I’ll play hardball. I didn’t want to do this but…”

I concentrated hard, and suddenly, the mindscape around us began to crack, breaking apart as lines in the air manifested, opening up to reveal multiple memories all at once, crashing and melding together many times over.

Regi got onto his knees, grimacing in pain as he yelled out. “W-What are you doing to me?!”

“…I’m causing a mental overload. I realized that if I could control and showcase memories, then a quick and easy way to incapacitate someone would be to have all their memories appear at once.” I snapped my fingers and the world broke apart, becoming a kaleidoscope of images, like a broken projector trying to play the right film.

“I’m sorry, this won’t be permanent. I just don’t want to choose right now, not when I don’t even know the whole picture. Forgive me man…”

I sighed, raising my arms as the screams of the Vodnik echoed all around me.

“Y-You! You bastard! I hope you join in the flames! I hope you will be burned forever in the fires of creation! You have doomed us all!”

“…” I said nothing to the accusation, closing my eyes as I separated myself from his mind.

Instantly, I found myself back on the shore; all around me were dead giant sea serpents, lying on the ground, coiled up by my feet. Beside me was Katya, leaning on her spear as she managed to fend off dozens of the monsters.

“You’ve returned? Peter?” She turned to me, snapping in my face as I nodded, rubbing my head.

“Y-Yeah, looks like I actually do have some new powers.” I turned to face Regi the Vodnik, who was now completely still in the water as if he had transformed into a statue, but upon closer inspection, I noticed his body was beginning to deteriorate, almost as if he was falling apart, as golden lights emanated from his form.

“New powers?” She turned to Regi, frowning. “Were you the one who?”

“Yes, now let’s go back before more find me!” This time, it was I who grabbed her hand as I ran as fast as I could back to Baba Yaga’s house.

“Man… I just wanted one day of peace.” I rolled my eyes hard as I noticed more shadows in the distance. Maybe they were monsters, or maybe they were someone else. At this point, I didn’t care; I just wanted to get out of here.

It didn’t take that long to finally be back at the chicken-legged house. I sighed in relief to see that Godwin was safe; actually, he was by the ladder of the house with a worried look on his face.

“Godwin- where are the-“ Before I could ask the question, both Kariya and Leonid came out of the woodworks covered in blood, staring at me intently.

“Yeah, yeah, I know, monster attacks- let’s just go to the god tier witch before you all start bitching at me!” I just about had it, everyone was angry or annoyed at me, and or just wanted to see me dead.

Katya was about to say something, but I simply ran as fast as I could to the ladder, climbing up first before the others.

Godwin was up next, and I helped him back up while Kariya and Leonid followed through.

Then, the bushes began to shake, and the tree branches rustled, massive wolf-like creatures emerged from all around us… But the most surprising part was the people.

Actual, genuine people, all of them wearing variations of padded leather armor, cloaks, bodysuits, and more. Many of them were tall, blonde, almost like mini giants in a way, and a few were even looking like those half-naked barbarians who could wrestle bears.

“What the…” But I snapped out of my trance as I looked down, and Katya was raising her spear, almost like she was ready to square off with everyone there.

“Hey! What are you doing?! Don’t just stand there, get up here!”

The men below then grabbed slings from their belts and quickly fired multiple rocks towards her, each with speed and power surpassing a bullet in their own right, but all of them simply became wisps of smoke before they could pelt Katya.

“Turn back now, and perhaps I won’t transfigure you all into trees.” A familiar cackle echoed all throughout the forest as the men and women warriors all took a step back, placing their hands on their swords as they looked around.

“Release the Echo and we shall leave! That is the order of the Leshy of Dungrad!”

“Ah, if he wants to play, he may come here himself!” With a snap, every single creature around the house aside from Katya began to contort, their skin becoming rough, their armor and clothes beginning to morph. Some tried to scream, but they could only make out gurgling noises before they were petrified.

From bright white skin to dark brown wood. From black hair to green leaves, their whole body became trees that marched with the rest of the forest.

“Holy fucking shit…” A grin came across my face. It was horrific, yeah, but man, that was so cool.

Then, the ladder began to move on its own, contorting itself into that of a hand, wrapping around Katya before placing her with the rest of us.

“Now then, onwards!” Without a second to waste, the giant chicken legs at the bottom of the house began to race through the forest, carrying the witch’s abode with it.

In that moment, we all sighed in relief, slumping down onto chairs that conveniently slid for us.

“Ugh… I would ask if it could get any worse…” I looked out a window as if in a jet, and I simply saw the passing trees. “But it feels like the answer is yes.”

Suddenly, the chairs began to move on their head, sliding across the hallway one by one like bumper cars as we arrived at the kitchen table, seated akin to how we were in Baba Roga.

The table was filled with all sorts of food, from bread to stew and even what appeared to be some form of cake like the one Matthias had fed me earlier. Honestly, after that encounter, I needed something to down my stomach with.

Then, I heard the shaking of glasses, down the kitchen I saw a familiar face, one that I nearly forgot about being with us all this time: Carey.

She seemed rather sullen, with eye bags on her face and a permanent scowl as an expression. Both of which clashed with each other as she was wearing a maid outfit for some reason while dropping off our plates and utensils alongside Matthias, who seemed to be much more cheerful.

I 100% saw her giving me the side eye as I groaned internally.

“Now then…” Baba Yaga’s voice called out from the kitchen as the old witch walked down to us all. “It looks like we’re at a crossroads here, and we need to find a path to move on.”

And once more, to my utter dismay. Every single person around the table stared at me.