Since we were out for so long, I messaged my grandparents that we would be eating out for lunch. We’ll get the groceries before returning.

“It’s on you.”

“Fine.”

“I’ll pay for it instead.”

“No, it’s alright Mister Cain. We were the ones who decided to eat out.”

“I insist.”

“I want this.”

“Order it then.”

“Thank you Mister Cain!”

This elf has a shameless side to hir too.

I eventually accepted Cain’s offer and we had a meal of spicy noodles. Lia ordered S, I ordered M, Cain ordered XS. Now you know who’s best at tolerating the heat.

{YOU ARE BEING WATCHED}

I paused and left my spoon in the large bowl. Those words alone numbed the pain in my mouth.

“Mister Cain, did you notice it?”

Lia, with a mess of her mouth, began looking around the restaurant.

“Notice what?”

“The message.”

[“The Seraph is nearby.”]

Cain’s expression warped.

“Then we better finish this quickly.”

“Alright.”

“Hah? It’s so spicy though..”

{YOU ARE BEING WATCHED}

Parting with Cain with thanks, we made our way out of the mall and took the transit back to Oala Station. We got the groceries there before returning to the apartment.

“We’re back.”

“Welcome back! What took you so long?”

“Big bro went to visit a friend in the hospital with his teacher.”

“Oh, that’s so sweet of you.”

“Then you should’ve told us earlier. We still have some leftover barley. We could’ve given her some.”

“I’ll drink her share then.”

Grandma and grandoa began to laugh. I felt guilty for making that joke.

“Next time you visit her tell us alright? We’ll prepare something at least. It’s not polite to go empty handed.”

I nodded.

“You’ve eaten right?”

“Yes, the teacher bought us food.”

“Is it? What a nice teacher. Then it’s only the two of us left. What do you want to eat, dear?”

“Boiled beetroot in mushroom, will that be alright?”

“Good one. We haven’t eaten that in a long time. Want to try some too? Avner, Lia?”

“I’ll pass..”

“Sure thing.”

===

I lassoed this area here and duplicated the layer. Then I adjust the head of the topmost layer so that it looks less broken.

“Are you really not going to put it up on ShareWiw? I’m pretty sure it’ll blow up.”

“I’m not, and I doubt it would.”

“Then let me put it up.”

“Totally up to you.”

[Innis request permission to alter or access files.]

“Go ahead.”

[Permission granted.]

“I don’t get it, big bro, if you want to become an artist, why don’t you post it up so everyone can see?”

“Because everyone does it.”

“Hah? I don’t get it.”

“I’m not aiming for those people. I’m aiming for people that need my art to act as assets to their creation. That being writers, game designers or some creative endeavor. If I post it into ShareWiw, though I’m going to get some people to follow me, it’s not like they need my art.”

“Do you know this because you became an artist in the future?”

“No. It’s not because of that.”

[Shin was, I’m guessing?]

Randell is on mark. I nodded.

[Who’s Shin?]

[Shin is Avner’s other half.]

[Oh~]

Lia head tilted to a 45 degrees angle, narrowing hirs amber eyes, xe stared at me. Auburn hair, hanging like twisted noodles that formed curlicues over hirs shoulder.

Avner sure has a beautiful etler.

“Shin?”

What happened to hir in the original storyline anyways?

“Who are you? Who is this Shin? Big bro.”

Did Innis tell Lia? Whatever. I’ve been trying to convince hir since last year. Nothing bad will come out from giving it another push.

“Remember how my personality changed suddenly last year?”

“Uh-huh?”

“That’s because I received Shin’s memories.”

“Then what about the part where you said you can see the future?”

“That’s because this world was from a web novel Shin read.”

Lia didn’t actively deny my words. Instead, xe tried hard to comprehend the weight of what I said.

“What’s a web novel?”

...

“Nevermind.”

“Are web novels stories written online? Like manga and manhwa? I don’t get it. Explain!”

As much as I love to read web novels as Shin, I still haven’t blocked out the time as Avner to sit down and binge on literary works.

I should really consider slowing down or taking a break.

I painted another stroke.

[“Avner, I’m sorry about this morning.”]

It’s Lynda.

[“It’s fine. How are you feeling?”]

[“Better. I still can’t get my head straight at times. I still feel like killing you. I wish you told me earlier.”]

[“I really didn’t know that alright? I’m sorry. I’m not omnipotent.”]

[“Should I take the surgery, or not?”]

If I were Lynda, would I have the surgery?

[“You shouldn’t necessarily follow my opinion, but I would say no.”]

[“Then become my recipient.”]

Again with this conversation loop.

[“You know I can’t right?”]

[“There’s no one else I can get blood from.”]

[“Shouldn’t there be blood packs in the hospital? You’re from a rich family too.”]

She stopped replying.

===

dotturndot: Does a lack of neurotransmitters cause bipolar disorder? I think it has more to do with trauma though? No idea. I haven’t reached the module which teaches about the disease of the brain (and I have no idea if they even go so far as to explain the pathophysiology about the condition).

Anyways, I hope some parts of this episode jarred your mind. Enemies are made up in our minds. They exist as we allow it to. Ya–