BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

I woke up to a throbbing headache.

My breathing was jittery, joints ached. I feel both hot and cold at the same time.

Shivering, I got up. My throat feels like a spike had just been stabbed into it.

I waved my finger in front of me.

No purple light.

As I thought.

It’s obvious now that I’m no longer a demon.

And that, Avner Cross had died.

The one controlling this body is me.

Shin.

“Damn it..”

I got up and put on Avner’s glasses.

[Good morning Avner? What’s wrong? You’re having a high fever!]

“I know.”

My voice sounded really hoarse.

I checked the time, 4 am.

“The medication should.. have helped. It didn’t..”

The cluster headache is painful, I’m having trouble thinking straight.

I actually passed out sleeping on the floor, without a blanket. No wonder Avner’s body got worse.

I’m freezing.

I was about to make my way to the kitchen to get another dose of paracetamol when I noticed Novelle’s hairclip.

I picked it up, staggering, and dropped it back into Avner’s jacket.

Craim Stygian. That curse weapon turns anyone who uses it into a battle maniac. The longer the wielder wields it, the stronger he gets. That’s the tradeoff.

Avner’s death was inevitable.

If Pu’er Julis didn’t kill us, we would’ve caused genocide to the entire battlefield. It didn’t matter that they were angels or demons.

I pressed my head against the wall.

[I’m calling your grandparents awake.]

First things first. I need to rest and recover. I can’t do anything in my current state.

===

Today is Christmas, apparently.

An unlucky time to be sick.

[“Merry Christmas Avner!”]

If only Lynda knew that Avner was gone.

[“Merry Christmas Lynda. How are you?”]

The constraint of Avner’s consciousness is gone. So there’s this sort of liberation where I’m free to do things as Shin.

Avner’s fears alongside the things he loves. It’s all gone.

I’ve become me. Shin. So it’s purely my fears, and desires driving me now.

Of course, I still possess Avner’s memories.

So Avner’s etler doesn’t feel like my etler anymore. Xe just feels like some mob character from , if I’m being frank. Same goes with the rest of Avner’s family. The familial ties have grown weak.

I took off my glasses and placed it to the side. Having checked the messages, I rolled myself into the bed.

I’m tired, and hungry.

The headache has gotten better after a 4 hour nap. Avner’s grandparent’s and Lia had gone out for breakfast, leaving me home alone. They left a note through Randell saying that they’ll order Avner’s favourite sandwich.

I sank deeper into the blanket, wishing that Lia had closed the curtains before she– no, I mean, xe, left.

I breathed out a shaky breath.

My thoughts wandered.

The times I’ve spent with Avner.

I never realized how much his presence informed me of my actions.

Now I just feel..

Empty.

===

“How are you feeling?”

While grandma asked that, Lia placed hirs palms on my forehead.

“Hot,” xe said.

“Better, at least. My head still hurts, and so does the sore throat.”

I was sitting at the kitchen table, a sandwich in hand. It didn’t taste all that appetizing. Especially the fresh cucumbers. Those tasted like it just came out of the microwave.

My throat hurts every time I try to swallow. I’m forcing the food down despite the pain, since I’m aware I need the nutrients to recover.

Grandma also bought sparkling isotonic water for me to drink. I didn’t think they’d know about this remedy in . In any case, it helped me wash down the unpleasant aftertaste of the sandwich.

I shivered. It’s cold.

“Is the temperature too low?”

“No. It’s fine..”

[Avner, your father is calling.]

Being called Avner has an odd ring to it.

“Accept the call. Morning father.”

“Morning!” Lia also joined in.

“Morning, how are you feeling?”

“Better than this morning at least.”

“It’s only 9?”

“I wake up early now, remember?”

“Fever, fatigue? Does it hurt anywhere?” Avner’s aether asked out of concern.

“Chills, and maybe low appetite.”

I talked to Avner’s family for a bit to reassure them that all is fine. At that time, Grandoa had finished with some of the house chores and came into the kitchen.

“Do you want me to cook some barley again? It’s good for detoxifying the body.”

“Sure. Maybe add less rock sugar this time around.”

“You’ll have to wait for a while, yeah?”

Grandoa went to dig the fridge and pantry for the ingredients.

After I had my sandwich, Lia was the one who helped me clean up the place. Her auburn twirls bounced everytime xe made a circle with the table cloth.

“Thanks Lia.”

“You really don’t look good.”

“That’s how it is.”

“You weren’t like this yesterday though. Was it the horror story? You’re not a zombie right?”

“You think that logic makes sense?”

That horror movie last night wasn’t even scary. We literally slept midway through it.

“No.”

I took another sip of the isotonic drink. I notice Lia staring at it.

“I don’t think you should drink this even if you want. You’ll get sick if you do.”

“I have good immunity.”

“...”

Still not giving her a sip. This is mine.

Wait, I mean hir.

I was tired and didn’t feel like moving so I just leaned against the kitchen table as I watched my grandparents work together to make the barley drink.

[Alcron’s Revision’s final trailer has been announced. They’ve officially announced that the game will be released tonight, 3 days earlier than the original date.]

“Sure, let me see the video.”

“You got the notification too?” Lia asked from the other side of the table.

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s watch it together.”

Xe expanded hirs screen and moved it to the side. It began playing.

Since you can find the gameplay clips online, this trailer was showcasing more of the story to this world.

I didn’t take much interest in it. I only took note of the art.

The details they put into each character design. It’s insane.

“I might consider pulling for this character, she looks like a powerful character to me.”

“Really? I think the guy with the blue hair has a better AOE support skill though.”

“It’s just a guess. Since the character design is nice.”

“So you’re that kind of player eh?”

“What do you mean ‘that kind’ of player? I only like the art. I don’t really play games, you know?”

“Welcome back to the dark side.”

I turned away from hirs dark smile.

Come to think of it, Lia’s a good looking elf.

Elf.

I never realized how odd it was because I had Avner’s processor with me. But all this time I’ve been living in a world where elves exist.

That’s insane.

How did I just realize this?

This is a sci-fi isekai.

I’m still in an isekai!

I want to touch their ears.

“Lia, call me a pervert all you want. Here’s a quick question, are elves' ears sensitive?”

Sources on the internet say yes. But I want to confirm it.

“Not really.”

“Can I touch your ear?”

“Do you have a fever? Oh you do? No.”

“Please..”

I have to. Having come all this way, I can’t back down. Once in a lifetime..

I lifted my arms and waved it at hir.

Lia’s gaze traced my fingers like a cat. So cute. Avner, you have such a cute etler.

Lia shrugged and promptly walked away.

I fell on the table.

And sulked.