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(Self Notes)

[Shadow]

\Mirror/

"speaking"

'thinking'

*action*

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Mirror's eyes zeroed in on the weird Targual girl, her wavelength was perfect. The Three of them had been searching for months for appropriate Host's. Now she only had to get this crazy Targual alchemist to allow her in then march the girl back over to Sirin. It was supposed to be simple.

Shadow hadn't like it when he found out his 'perfect' host was just some weak street urchin. Though he had the perfect personality alright! He wasn't sure how the kid had survived until this point with that ridiculous attitude.

Self Notes, found her perfect host to be VERY far away and in very difficult circumstances. It was extremely frustrating, the others after all would probably end up much closer, and very possibly interact with Chris physically...

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I glared at the rich kid, eye bulging with fury. He sneered "Get out of here you filthy rat, before I call the guards. They'll fillet you and your pathetic thief friends if you don't leave." I reached for his throat. Suddenly my arms were being pulled back by the twins, Daniel and Pora. Daniel quietly whispered into my ear. "Do you WANT to get us killed dumbass, this assfaced kid noble scum will gladly get you killed!" he hissed out the last part. I relaxed, embarrassed. We quickly leave, the tiny noble laughing scornfully at our departing figures.

The twins have been with me half my life, they always get me out of trouble. Often times they receive discrimination in the city for their cat ears and tails. The two of them are Gravity Cats, only their Gravity Controllers are too weak. We slowed, our walk feet dragging. None of us had any good memories of the city, we had always been looked down on by everyone. Something that had always filled me with rage. [Kiiiiid] I look around careful to avoid drawing attention, searching for the odd voice. 'That's weird' [...w...d] 'What the hell is that!?' frustrated, I can find no signs of the voice. We head home.

Or atleast what we like to call home. Nestled in the dark alleyway was an extremely shoddy house, practically held together by nails and string. The wood was weak and rotten, creaking with every movement. But it was still very much home to us. We'd lived in this damn thing for years. I sat down relaxing, the twins practically wrapping themselves around me. When we were younger we'd had to keep together just like this to survive, lest we freeze to death, that or being attacked by older street kids, likely to do a different kind of attacking. Either way the habit had stuck.

They purred quietly as I began writing in my journal. [Kid!] I didn't stop, nor show any reaction that I heard the voice, I didn't want to disturb Daniel and Pora. 'I definitely heard it!' [Yes you fucking did] I stop, bewildered. 'Are you... A great spirit?' [Ok what? What the fuck is up with this great spirit bullshit. No I am not your ancient ancestor come to send you on an adventure of self discovery!] I was very perturbed. 'What the fuck are you doing in my head then?' [You. Host. Me. Now] 'What' [I'll put it into little words for you. I need your weak lame ass body to protect my best fucking friend] 'Weak, weak weak weak. It's all anybody has to say to me' I feel my anger boiling back up. [So what's your name, host to be?] 'My name, asshole, is Gray. Just Gray' [Alright, listen up weakling, you are now my property, your new name is Gray Shadow. Motherfucking deal] 'No' [Yes] 'No' [Yes]...

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Mirror was growing increasingly irritated. \Then just BUY it!/ "You know I can't Misss Ghost! Thessse dessscisssionsss mussst be carefully consssidered." Mirror groans. It had been remarkably easy to get the Targual girl to listen, the only hard part being convincing her to leave. She was stupidly attached to her alchemical equipment and the stuff was unfortunately too unwieldy to take with her. They had been discussing buying a Storage Void for that very purpose. Only the Targual girl is very stingy or as she likes to say, frugal.

The girl was no ordinary Targual, not with Aethaerics Talent A, high physical stats and ridiculous Will. Her name was Linear Serpent and she lived near the outskirts of the Targual capitol, close to the docks. Thankfully she could easily afford to pay for passage to Lost. Mirror had estimated it would take a few weeks to a month of time before she could get the girl to Lost and eventually Sirin.

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The three of them had gathered in Ghost Sirin. Self Notes appeared uncharacteristically discouraged. Mirror looked only somewhat frustrated and Shadow was looking smugger than ever. [So... How'd it go for you guys. I managed to get myself a sweet catch, A-rank talent and a buy one get two free deal with two twin Gravity Cats] he was gloating. Mirror smirked, \Me too, I got an A-rank talent, A-rank body and high Willed Targual girl! Awesome right!?/ the two glared at each other, [So Little Notes how about you?] he asked sincerely.

(Ugh, my Host is WAY too far away. Shes in the Great Jareklai Empire) [Holy shit. That place with the giant dragons with floating giant swords?] (That's the place) she said with a small smile. (Shes the Heiress) \The heiress of what? Chocolate chip cookies?/ (No, of the Empire) [Ok. Ok. Let me get this straight your Host is going to be a fucking Empress and YOU'RE dissatisfied?] (Yes. She has no friends, nobody takes her seriously and the leaders of the Empire will probably manipulate her into being their puppet. But. It gets worse) \How?/ (The Empire, when they take control clearly intend to take more land for themselves and the Lost Isles are at the top of their list!) [Well shit] (Yeah. Anyway. I want to help that girl. I'll take her from those vicious Empire bastards!) [Damn. Well, I guess we'll get back to our Host's, catch you later. Oh and say hi to Chris for us!] (...) both Mirror and Shadow disappear.

Self Notes waited as she felt Chris falling asleep and she dragged him into the Dreamscape with a renewed grin. *poof* Chris appeared at the center of Ghost Sirin again and she made her way to him. Her smile faded. She felt bad, awkward. The Three could be said to literally be part of him. He used to be a smug, arrogant asshole, creepy and careless, kind and protective. The Three of them represent those aspects of him. With them gone, it must feel like missing a limb. "It's good to see you Self. Where are the others?" she smiled. (They're with their new Host's) she spotted a glimpse of jealousy sparking in his eyes. (Shadow's Host is the closest, at the city. Mirror's is from Targual) he sighed "And you?" (Mine is pretty far away) "...Yeah..." it got awkward, Self Notes was about to say something when Chris shook his head. "Look, it don't care. Well... I do but I'm not gonna fuck up my time together with you guys by mouthing off about your new Host's." she smiled genuinely (Wanna play a game?)

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"That'll be 23 gold." said the snappy shop keeper. Linear handed over the cash reluctantly, looking as if a relative had just died. She hurried out with her new Storage Void, saddened. \You're crazy/ She strode through the early morning crowds, past stalls and hawkers. Dodging through the Targual hordes. It took her 15 minutes to get home. A new record. She grabbed her Storage Void and personalized it. Before storing away her equipment with a cringe. 'My Precious...' \Yo, hurry up, the ship will leave without you!/ Linear hissed "Don't rush me!". They had done the Contract last night. Linear tentatively agreeing to the Terms. According to the Contract Linear's entire life was fixed with the purpose of protecting Christopher Crash. Until death, other than that, she was also protected by the Great Spirit Mirror. "Great Spirit, we shall go now!" \How many times have I told you I'm not a Great Fucking Spirit?/. She hurried to the docks and boarded the carrier ship.

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I felt pretty good, today we had managed to scrounge together a few fresh vegetables. I grabbed the somewhat rusty pot, pouring in fresh water and spices. We'd managed to snag the spices off a beginner merchant. It was a luxury we rarely get. The water had been hard to gather too. A gang of older street kids block the well, forcing you to pay a toll for the water, the older kids had however been away today, unable to properly guard the well. I had hurriedly sneaked a few buckets of water before rushing back. I brought my flint and steel together igniting the dead wood, heating the pot, I added the vegetables and chunks of rat meat. The rats on the streets aren't as dirty as people make them out to be. Many street kids are forced to eat either rats or trash. Pora and Daniel were peering into the pot with blissed expressions, I grin. I had grown to the age of 14 recently, though the twins were a few years younger. They looked very cute, utterly huggable. I did so without any hesitation.

Soon the soup was done. It was pretty good. The three of us ate our meal in silence, satisfied. "Hey Gray, do you think we're really safe here? Wasn't that brat gonna send some guards?" asked Daniel. I freeze, heart beating out of control, I had forgotten about that noble's kid, he could have sent someone follow us. "Let's go!" I shout hurriedly. We quickly gather our belongings, only to hear the sounds of heavy footsteps. A pair of guards appear before our shack, steel boots clacking. "You thieves. So you live in this disgusting place? This is not a registered property." the lead guard says, gesturing at his partner. The other guard removes a wicked mace from his belt and starts smashing our shack with abandon. I stare incensed. The burning need to kill him. This man who dares destroy our home! The twins desperately hold me back using their Gravity Controllers to the limits. I feel heavy but that doesn't stop me, I lunge for the guard, fist blurring for his head only my hand was stopped inches away. The lead guard held my wrist with a disdainful expression, "Dare touch a guardsmen? Filth!" he brought his gauntleted fist, backhanding me. My face erupted in pain, teeth falling out, I spat out a wad of blood.

My anger reached new heights and I felt a great deal of pain, a pool of power opened within my body. I twisted, wreathed in red aura, bones bending, body shifting. The entire transformation was painful, but afterward I felt a whole lot stronger. [Huh, a shape-shifter. Interesting] I could smell, hear and see many times better now, the guards stared at me in surprise. I brought my unfamiliar body forwards ramming into the lead guard, I threw back my head, launching the guard into the air and growled at the other guard, glaring threateningly at him. I raised my canine paw but before I could strike the guard I heard the twins cry out in pain and froze. The lead guard had gotten back up and now held a knife to their throats. My body ignited, aura appearing in an explosion of dark red embers. The guard lightly cut Pora's neck smiling. "Betta turn back now kid, n'less you want your friends here to die!" furious though I was, my feelings for the twins are much stronger. I soon transformed back, painfully standing. Naked, I knelt in surrender. "Please let them be, you can do anything to me, so please...!" they sneered "I don't think so. Nobody would miss you and your street filth." he smiled slashing with the knife.

The world turned gray. I stared at the knife frozen before striking Pora, Daniel was stuck in his futile struggle. The whole world had stopped. A dark blurred figure appeared before me. [Do you want my help?] I recognized the voice immediately "I'll do anything for those two. Please!" [Sure, you just gotta sign a Contract with me, and I'll help] 'A Contract?' "You want my soul or something right?" [Nope. I want your body] I flushed "What the hell!?" [Shut up, I don't mean it like that! ...dumb kids misunderstanding... Anyway all I desire is to the Possess your body, you'll be my Host, of course, though I won't be taking control of your body unless in the capacity of protecting either you or Christopher Crash. For the rest of your life your duty shall be to accompany Christopher Crash until either one of you dies. Do you agree to the terms?] "Yes! Anything!" [Good] he disappeared and the gray world started moving again. I froze, 'What? WHAT!? Isn't he going to do anything?' I fall into despair, as the knife slowly moves across Pora's throat.

My body was suddenly no longer under my control. [The name's Shadow, kid and I keep my promises], he moved his hand, index finger poking outwards with black aura gathered at his fingertip flashing forward, killing the guard instantly. The knife was carefully removed with Shadow's aura, while moving to face the other guard he smiled, pressing his palm against the terrified man's head, he frowned speaking through my mouth, "You're not so bad, I'll let you off with a warning." he had read the man's memories, and the man deserved a chance atleast. He severed the man's sword hand and cauterized the wound with his aura. Then disintegrated the hand before knocking the guard unconscious silencing his cries of pain. He rushed to the bleeding boy laying his aura heavily over the boy's neck, it slowly healed, leaving him with a jagged white scar. The small boy's eyes blinked open "Gray...?" [Alright, he should be fine now. Kid, it's time to hold up your side of the bargain] I find myself able to move again, 'I'll be leaving these guy's huh?' my eyes mist up. [Fucking idiot. Did I ever say you had to leave your friends behind? Take them with you!] I blinked [C'mon let's go, we haven't all the time in the world] I smiled for a moment. 'Thank you' [Don't fucking mention it, I've got an image to uphold].

We left the city behind, for the first time in our lives, on the road to Sirin.

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Thanks for reading, if you can point out any inconsistencies or typos I would appreciate it.