Chapter 1647 – Deep in the Centre of the World

Well, I’ve been on this ride before. Spinning like I’m going down a drain, only to sink so far and deep I can only imagine I’ve landed right in the middle of Pangera, right at the core.

Of course, I have no way to confirm that, I’m just a disembodied consciousness along for the ride. How does that even work, by the way? Who is Gandalf, that he can just snap my mind out of my body whenever I evolve? Not that I mind, really. Our conversations are somewhat enlightening. Well, that’s not true, but I do like meeting new people, even if they don’t answer any of my questions.

I have to say, this time around, I’m pretty happy to be out of my body. Holding back Theorazzn’s damned curse isn’t a good time, and after my horrifically shame-inducing itch explosion, the spread had gotten bad.

I’ve worked so hard to hide my secret from the Colony, and now it’s been exposed for all to see! I’m so annoyed!!

In fact, if I get an answer to anything, I need to know why I’m the only one who suffers from this damned itch! It isn’t fair, dammit! Gandalf must reveal this secret to me if it’s the last thing I do!

[I must reveal… what, exactly?]

Gandalf! You can’t sneak up on me like that! I’m just a disembodied mind, I have no way to know you’re coming!

[You persist in calling me this name.]

You aren’t going to tell me your real name, are you?

[No, I am not.]

There you are, then. Gandalf.

[Fine. Now what are you complaining about?]

The itch! The damned itch! Every time I mutate, it itches like crazy! I figured it made sense, since my cells were changing or whatever, but nobody else goes through it! Not even other reincarnated people! How is that fair?

[Well… the Dungeon isn’t exactly designed to be fair.]

Wait. You designed it? The whole Dungeon?

[No. I did not.]

Come on, I might be dead in a minute, you should give me at least one answer!

[Oh, I don’t believe you are going to die, otherwise I would not have summoned you here. I have no interest in talking to those who have no immediate future.]

Well, you might not know this, but I’ve got Theorazzn’s toxic goop infecting me. It’s not looking good. It certainly wasn’t when I left, anyway, and I can’t imagine it’s gotten better.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

[You will be surprised, I think, when you wake. Some grudges, it seems, are genetic. Even I had not imagined that something like this was possible. I can well imagine the fury of that irritating starfish when they learn of what has happened. How delightful.]

Gandalf chuckles to themself, but I’m left confused.

Starfish?

[Theorazzn. If I were to describe the creature to you, they would be something of a cross between a crab and a starfish.]

Oh… weird. I thought for sure they would be a slug.

[Well… they are something of a slug as well.]

That… that isn’t making much sense to me. How in the heck am I supposed to picture that?! Anyways, all of this is beside the point. Your cryptic talk of grudges and such is meaningless to me. The itch! I demand answers!

[You are being particularly irritating this time.]