"Huh? I've got no idea. What are you even talking about, Eli?"
I said this while attempting to make her realize how ridiculous she actually sounded now.
She leaned in and whispered, "Throughout that magic psyop earlier, the results told me this wasn't really you. Instead, there's a 'parasite' infused with your memory."
"In other words, the real Mirielle's soul was possibly murdered a long time ago."
"So, who are you, really?"
This same question again…
"I'm Mirielle, love! Can't you even trust me at all?"
This cannot be true! I'm Mirielle, right? Right?
"Nope, I don't think so. This might just be the end-product of Specific Delusion."
"In other words, there is someone else. A 'parasite' living in this vessel as a soul."
I stuttered and fumbled, not knowing what to do or what to say.
"How should I prove it then?"
She tapped her chin thoughtfully before asking me something else.
"Tell me… how many times have we had sex?"
That was… a beyond embarrassing question to ask. Though I certainly remembered how many times it was, saying it out loud in front of her was another matter.
"Is that question even necessary?!"
She only chuckled, then muttered,
"Of course, it is. In-fact, extremely necessary to the plot, even."
I gulped, bracing myself to answer such a crazy question.
"Once. We did it on… this bed. Right here."
I pointed out the exact spot where this conversation was currently happening.
"Alright, that's correct. But I guess you are not her, after all."
Huh, what the fuck? What do you even mean by that?
"The way you answered my question... it certainly wasn't her at all," she said.
"I would expect her to be proud of it. She was the one who forced me, after all."
Wait, was I ever that brave?
"I could explain! I was drunk and not being myself, then I was hungover, you know..."
She only sighed.
"Even if you were, she is so open about it. She'd be yapping all day long."
So, who was I even? I then realized something else was bothering me.
"Let's do some brain exercises, okay?" Elisa suggested. "Tell me what you actually remember from way before this happened. Specifically, right before you woke up."
I tried to remember, yet I couldn't do so—at least, not precisely.
"I fell to the floor. I have no idea why."
Elisa didn't reply. Instead, she started staring off into space, gazing around the room.
"Why are you ignoring me?"
She only rolled her eyes. "No, I wasn't."
That behavior was enough to upset me. "Yes, you were."
Not only did she not flinch, but she also seemed unsure of herself.
She kept fidgeting with her hair.
"Alright, I was just wondering why this always happened to you, Mirielle."
Really? That's it?
"Maybe because I am just that skillful at magic?" I said.
I didn't even try to sound stressed; I just said it casually. Naturally.
Hearing that, she didn't just hold back a laugh; she almost choked on it.
"Oh, wow. How confident…"
I mean, of course I should be. Who do you think I am?
"Of course you are. But still, I wonder, Mirielle my dear…" She showed me her palm. Letters were floating there—typical incantation magic used to visualize encrypted codes.
It was written: D A N I E L.
It meant it was someone else. Not me. Not Mirielle Fatui Aveline.
But someone else. Or maybe something else. Who knows at this point?
"It seems strangely familiar, I guess."
To be honest, I had no clue, but something really clicked when I saw it.
"I see. That may imply something. Anyway, you know your talent already, don't you?"
Eh, of course I do.
Though I wasn't sure what she really meant by that. Was she testing me again? I had no idea. Apparently, if she were going for it, she could try even harder.
"I'm not that forgetful, Eli."
"Oh, really?"
What do you mean by 'oh, really', you dumbass?
I shook my head in disbelief.
"My talent is magical incantation. I'm extremely good at casting elemental spells."
I said it with utter confidence.
"I see."
"You surely love that phrase."
"Indeed. Makes sense."
"Those too."
"Meh."
"That… as well," I replied, pointing out her most frequent word choices as if I were catching strays.
"Okay, let's stop. This is pointless. We are going to waste our time without talking about something productive."
"Okay, sure. Anyway, are you still going to doubt me? Your theory is fallible, you know."
She sighed, perhaps finally giving in.
"Alright, I concede. This time. But that name sounds eerily similar to a deity."
"Uh… deity? What kind?" I was still confused by her extremely roundabout approach.
"Yes."
"Which one?"
"Haniel. Glory of God."
"Uh, Haniel?" I had certainly never heard of this before.
"Oh, you didn't know? How well-versed are you in this academy's lore, exactly?"
"I mean, you realized I wasn't originally from this academy's high school, right?"
She only nodded gleefully.
"I see. Makes sense."
"Stop saying those passive lines! It's irritating."
"That's irrelevant to the conversation."
Okay, fine. Now what?
"Alright, sure. So, mind explaining?"
BEEP BEEP.
The neuraphone rang from our pocket. I didn't really care about it, but either way, it cut off whatever information I was about to get from her. Which was such a shame.