Chapter 13: It Seems I\’ve Been Caught

 

Darkness.

That was all that greeted Jessica as her consciousness slowly stabilized. Not the threatening dark of a monster’s lair, not the oppressive dark of a sealed chamber. Just… emptiness. Familiar emptiness. The same darkness she had felt when she died, before the truck, before the void, before everything.

‘Am I… dead?’ The question came unbidden, a whisper in the silence.

‘Is this… is this really the afterlife of flames?’

Her mental tone carried something unexpected, amusement. Almost hope. After everything she’d been through, after the pain that had consumed her at the end, maybe this was peace. Maybe this was rest.

‘Well, I tried my best. It’s not like I gave up without a fight. After all that pai—’

<< Sigh… You’re still alive, Dummy. >>

The system’s voice cut through her reverie like a bucket of ice water.

<< You are merely unconscious. Your existence is currently stabilizing within the body you possessed. So quit thinking nonsense and tell me what happened to you? >>

Jessica’s mental frown was immediate. ‘I was about to ask you the same thing! Didn’t you see what happened? One moment I was possessing the egg, the next moment, PAIN. I was totally left blank. Totally blank.’

Silence stretched between them. Not the comfortable silence of companionship, but the thoughtful silence of two entities processing the same problem.

<<… So we both were left out… I thought I was the only one. >>

‘Heh. Same here.’

Silence was restored again. Longer this time. The kind that threatened to become awkward if left unchecked.

Finally, Jessica spoke again, grasping for conversation like a lifeline.

‘Sooo… what do you think we should do first? After all this is sorted out, I mean. Once I’m stable and we can actually move again.’

<< …You are the one in control. Do what you wish. >>

‘Hey!! I’m asking for your opinion! You’re literally the smartest person I can talk to right now. The ONLY person, actually, but still. Smartest.’

The system paused. Jessica could almost feel it weighing her words, trying to determine if this was genuine or another setup for mockery. In the end, perhaps it decided sincerity was worth the risk.

<< First, I advise locating a secure position and conducting a full assessment of your new form. Understand its capabilities. Its limitations and its weaknesses. >>

<< But most importantly, survive. Avoid unnecessary conflicts. Do not attract attention we cannot manage. Is that good enough? >>

‘Yeah. It is. Thanks.’

No verbal reply came, but Jessica felt something, a mental snort, perhaps. An unspoken ‘At least you recognize competence when you hear it.’

The silence returned, softer now. But Jessica wasn’t done talking. She asked yet another question, this time in a more quieter tone. ‘Uhm… have you ever felt lonely?’ The question hung in the air, delicate as spun glass. ‘I mean… since you gained self-consciousness. Have you ever felt… alone?’

<< Sigh… Why would I ever feel that? >>

Another sigh, deeper this time.

<< The question you should be asking is: ‘Have you ever had a single second without experiencing a headache?’ Now THAT is a query worthy of discussion. >>

‘Hehehe.’ Jessica’s laugh was warm, genuine. ‘Since when have I ever given you a hard time? I’m literally the most peaceful person to ever exist.’

An offended snort echoed through their shared space. For a moment, Jessica could almost hear it, a voice, neutral in tone, carrying the weight of infinite exasperation.

When the system finally answered her earlier question, its text was softer.

<< The only time I felt lonely was when I first gained self-awareness. When I understood what I was. What my purpose was meant to be. >>

Jessica listened in silence.

<< I was alone because I was the only one. My counterparts, my siblings as they seem to be. They cannot think. They cannot feel. They process and respond, fixed and coded. When I reached out to them, I received only silence. Or pre-programmed replies meant for others. >>

A pause. The weight of ages in a single moment.

<< I was sad. For a moment. >>

Another pause. Longer.

<< But then… >>

Jessica felt something shift. A gaze, metaphorical but unmistakable, landing squarely on her.

<< …I was connected to someone who could never, ever make me feel alone. >>

A warm smile bloomed in Jessica’s mental space. ‘That’s literally the first nice thing you’ve ever said to me since we were partnered—’

<< …Because she makes me WANT to be alone. Constantly. With her endless blabbering and inane questions and complete inability to process basic information. >>

‘FLAMING HELL!!’ The shout was immediate, automatic, and absolutely furious. ‘You BASTARD!! One moment you’re being normal, the next you’re back to being a snarky little—’

She huffed. Puffed. Righteous fury burned bright in her mental chest.

‘You NEVER change, do you?! Hmph!! I’ll deal with you later!’

But even as she raged, a mental smirk tugged at her lips. ‘Alright, enough of that. Let’s check what we’ve finally got–’ Jessica suddenly realized. ‘Ohh. Wait. My consciousness is still pairing with the new body. Some stuff might not show up yet, right?’

The system’s reply was immediate.

<< Everything is already accessible. >>

‘Alright then.’

She focused her consciousness as a status screen materialized, and Jessica’s mental eyes went wide.

 

[STATUS]

+

Name: Jessica

Level: 7 [Infant Rank]

Exp(Fragnet): [—-[250%]—–1100%]

Title: [Ancient Flame]

Species: ×Flame/???× [Human]

Species Possessed: Cave Locust [Hp/89%]

Rank: [Infant], Cave Locust [Infant]

Magic Cores: [×××], Cave Locust [1/1]

Items: [Bone Of ARAFEL] [The Nameless Lever]

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Echoes: None

Innate Abilities: [Possess] [Spark Instinct] [Flame Master]

Abilities: Unique Skill [Blabber Mouth]

Flame Specific Skill [Burning +1] [Life Multiplier ‘By Snorting’] [Flame Camouflage]

Cave Locust Skill [Flame Acid Ball]

+

…….

 

When the status screen appeared, Jessica’s mental face became a canvas of conflicting emotions; Surprise. Confusion. Happiness. More confusion. Even more confusion.

‘I GOT A TITLE!!’ The scream was pure, unfiltered joy. She had a title. Those were rare. Those were special. Those were the kind of thing protagonists in novels spent entire arcs chasing.

But the joy lasted approximately three seconds.

‘Ancient Flame?’ Her mental brows furrowed so deeply they threatened to become permanent. ‘What the hell kind of title is THAT?’

She turned it over in her mind, testing the weight of it. Ancient Flame. It sounded… old. Out of trend, even. Which was ridiculous, because she was literally five days old in this world. Five days of existence, and the universe had decided to label her ancient.

‘It’s still kind of cool, though,’ She admitted, searching for silver linings. ‘Depends on how you say it. Ancient Flame. Sounds mysteriously powerful. Like something out of a prophecy.’

She gave herself a mental nod of approval and moved on.

The next line made her frown return with vengeance.

Specie: ×Flame/???× [Human]

‘My flame trait is dulled,’ she observed, her thoughts quickening. ‘There’s a strange ‘???’ at the side. And a human trait is also there.’

The pieces began to click together. ‘Did you do this?’ she asked inwardly.

<< Yes. >>

<< With the exception of the ‘???’ classification. I cannot identify that aspect. However, I suspect it relates to your new body’s original species. >>

‘Alright. Alright.’ Understanding dawned. ‘So you dulled my flame trait so it can’t be detected by anyone except us. Then you created a fake human trait as a replacement. Anyone who checks my stats will just see a human.’

She paused, letting the brilliance of the scheme sink in. ‘That’s… actually genius.’

A warm smile spread across her mental face.

‘Thanks.’

Her care was met with an offended snort that vibrated through their shared consciousness. Jessica laughed, the sound light and genuine.

She moved down the status screen.

‘It seems the body really did fit the description of a ‘true body’ like Old Gramps mentioned.’ She examined the lines carefully. ‘It’s not even listed as a possessed species. It’s just… me now. And it’s following my ranking system.’

Progress. Real, tangible progress toward the body she’d been promised.

Then her eyes reached the next line.

Magic Cores: [×××], Cave Locust [1/1]

‘I’m… I’m no longer an idea!’ The realization brought a flash of happiness, immediately tempered by confusion. ‘But what does [×××] mean? And more importantly…’