CH69- Theras perspective

As she laid against the tree, feeling the hot light of the sun pass through her robe and warm her skin, she initially didn’t want to get up, everything was just too comfortable.

She was sure Ben could stay on watch a little longer while she enjoyed her rest, but something felt wrong with that thought, and her eyes flew open. She wasn’t supposed to be resting. She was supposed to have gone on to the next branch of the trial, why had she been asleep?

She looked around for Ben, praying nothing had happened to him through the night before locking eyes with him.

Well, one of him.

She thought she was seeing double for a minute, maybe she was even still asleep, but for whatever reason there were two identical Bens holding hands in front of her. She grabbed her staff at her side, unsure of what to do, when they spoke to her in one voice.

“Oh good, you’re both finally awake.” The way they spoke in unison took Thera by surprise, and she felt a shiver go down her spine.

Creepy. She had no clue what to make of this development and had no idea what to do. Was one the real Ben or were they both fakes? Should she attack? Run? Her mind was moving so fast that she didn’t immediately process what they’d said. Wait…

“What do you mean both?” Two voices spoke out at the same time, causing Thera to jump back.

The other person reacted the same way and Thera got a good look at them. It made her stomach drop. A long hooded cloak and a staff in hand, it was like she was looking in a mirror. She was facing what looked like a perfect copy of herself.

She wasn’t sure what she should do but nothing didn’t seem like an option. What if it attacked while she was in her state of confusion? She didn’t want it to get the drop on her and raised her staff to prepare her spell while her duplicate did the same.

Each of them began pulling earth from the ground to use their magic when both Bens came between them.

“I get you’re both surprised but maybe killing each other can wait until we’ve talked things out?” They said, still holding hands and continuing to speak at the same time

“What are we supposed to do then?” Her duplicate asked. “This seems like the sort of thing where we defeat the fake and continue on.”

“Watch who you’re calling a fake. And why are you both so comfortable together already Ben, doesn’t this freak you out?”

“Well first, when you were talking about the trial last night I think you were right. This section at least doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with combat. The point is likely to figure out who the original is through our shared history.”

“So I just need to figure out which one is my Ben then?” She said thoughtfully. Would it just be a day of questioning then? But how long would that take, and what to ask. She tried to think of a question that could cut to the heart of the matter but the Bens shot her down as she and her own duplicate struggled.

“That’s not going to work. We aren’t close enough.”

She froze when she heard that, not knowing how to react and feeling a small panic come over her. Oh my gosh was I the only one that thought we were close now? But he’s the one who said he wanted to be friends and he agreed to do this trial and I guess I really didn’t tell him that this trial was supposed to be taken with the person you’re most close with and I let it slip. Is that why he’s telling me this cause it’s terrible timing and-

The Bens stepped forward, one grabbing her hand and the other taking her copies. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. Seems thinking with two brains isn’t enough to keep me from saying something dumb. You’re one of the people I’m closest to on the planet, but that’s the issue. I’ve only had a bit over a year to form relationships here. Even though you’re important to me, we don’t have a long history.” The one looking at her looked to the other Ben. “We’ve spent the entire time you were both asleep talking, and from what we can tell there’s almost zero divergence in the knowledge we both have since we came to this world. The farther back we go though the easier it is to spot. The issue is that you don’t have the proper context to know which is which. Hell in some cases you wouldn’t even know the questions, it’s not like I’d expect you to know the name of my favourite movie or the street I grew up on.”

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She swallowed her embarrassment. Sometimes it seemed like he saw right through her, even without using his skill. “So what? We just lose the trial now? Nothing we can do?”

“No.” They shook their heads. “If it comes to it we have a way to sort it out, but when we were talking we asked a question. Is there any reason not to simply work together?”

“Obviously,” Her copy said, shocked at the suggestion. “What if they attack us? What if they’re evil? If you have a way to figure out who’s real and who isn’t you should just do it now.”

Something about hearing that from someone who both looked and sounded just like her annoyed her to no end, but the same thought had passed through her own head, she had just been slower in asking.

“That won’t happen.” They told them with more confidence than Thera herself could feel. “Everyone here truly believes they’re the copy. We already checked both of your minds while you were asleep, and we checked each other immediately.”

“Which seems pretty dumb to do.” Her duplicate said. “What if you were attacked and killed while I was asleep?”