[Journal and Event]

[knowinginthedark]

I quite literally just woke up in the hospital.

What did I miss?

[Event]

*As Tarou said, he's totally in the hospital.

... and is also handcuffed to the bed, so he legitimately isn't going anywhere at this point. The date is the 30th of December, just more than a day off from it being the New Year.

And he's probably gonna be questioned a lot.

But at the least, you can probably convince the guard to let a visitor or two in.*

Comments

[knowinginthedark]

That's correct, effectively.

After all, I'm pretty sure whatever world I came from is gone, by now. "Pruned" would be the word for it. It's only fair that if I can't assert myself here, then I'll be "pruned" as well, eventually.

[becomeanwarrior]

Ah, yes, I am aware of this theory of split timelines, I've researched it some, myself.

[Why can I never remember the name of it. 'Dying Rose Garden'? Ugh. He hrms.]

That conclusion checks out. However, the fact you're even in this dimension at all, at this point, usually proves that you've managed to assert enough of an existence to anchor yourself to our timeline. Not as Yamada Mamoru, perhaps. But it would certainly seem you're dimensionally stable, to a degree.

You are not, shall we say, the first person who has arrived here from a different world and timeline. The Spirit-Arcadia institute might know more than me in terms of whether your existence is fully stabilized or whether we have to do other rituals to fully anchor your existence.

I think I can speak for those that dueled you that they'd be rather put out if you were to simply vanish after they went to the effort of making sure you didn't die in the midst of the fight.

[knowinginthedark]

I'm aware and still a bit shocked that I wasn't turned into disintegration dust, you realize.

I just... I don't know if I'm really that stable. I did have a god backing my existence this whole time, you realize. And now I don't even have the claim that I'm a "Dark Signer" to establish myself, anymore.

... In fact, he's the only reason I was able to fully come over here. That and the weird cursed dorm at Duel Academy. That place was-- is, very useful. Very spacious. Incredibly, utterly cursed. *he's rambling a little*

[becomeanwarrior]

It's always the cursed dorm, isn't it...

And, yes, I'm aware. I'm just telling you what I know - you haven't tried to disappear out of your hospital bed, despite having been severed from your god. There may be other factors we're unaware of, but for now all I can tell you is there's no real risk of you vanishing based on my observations.

[He scratches the back of his head.]

Best guess? Being in the center of that exorcism also anchored you to this reality, because it might have had a harder time affecting you if you weren't. But that's me spitballing. I'm an engineer, not a thaumaturge.

[knowinginthedark]

Right, engineering and thaumaturges never fully mix.

Kinda wish I could ask that cat for more details on how this'd work out...

[becomeanwarrior]

[...You see his eyes widen, and then narrow.]

'That cat'...?

[knowinginthedark]

Mm, yes. Cat. A cat appeared to me, back in my original dimension. Said I could fulfill my duty and live my life again if I went here, instead. And "replaced" the Mamoru that was here.

Though I think it's deposed now, but I don't really entirely understand what happened to the one who overtook it.

But getting details on transdimensional situations is so troublesome overall...

*his stomach grumbles loudly*



... you wouldn't happen to know if that food's coming soon, would you? I might be in more danger of starving than vanishing, anytime soon.

[becomeanwarrior]

[...It couldn't be... right? But, then again, how many malevolent talking cats does he know?]

I think she'll be back with it shortly. But I can see it might be worth revisiting this when you've recovered and had a bite to eat.

...Just one last question, to sate my own curiosity. Would the cat's name have been 'Bohr', by any chance?

[knowinginthedark]

The name sounds familiar, so it's probably that!

It has been a couple years or so since I'd first met it, so I don't really remember the name, but it does sound familiar enough.

[becomeanwarrior]

Solve one mystery, and another two open... [Now he appears to be the one muttering to himself.]

Right, well. [He's going to pull out a business card and set it on the table by Tarou, with a direct line to him.]

I'll leave you to some long-awaited sustenance. Be sure to let me know when you're feeling closer to one hundred percent, will you, Mr. Satou? I'd certainly like to continue this discussion, but it'll probably be easier for both of us when you've fully recovered.

[knowinginthedark]

*he winces a bit at being called that, but... it's not as bad as the last time he was hearing it, at least. maybe Chacu was amplifying that more than he thought...*

Right, of course. I'll be glad to get in touch.

If I fully recover, of course.