After a long pause, Ercale finally responded, *The reason I’m in your head is…
um, because of, uh, something you do not need to know, ape.* Xain was taken aback by the cryptic answer.
*D-do you not know why you’re in my head?* he asked, being confused.
However, Ercale remained silent.
*Don’t you go quiet now, do you?
Do you seriously not know why you’re in my head?* Xain pressed Ercale for answers.
*I mean, you said something about waking up in my body instead of someone else’s, so you must know something,* Xain continued, his curiosity growing.
*Soul Transference,* Ercale finally said.
*Wha-what’s that?* Xain asked, his voice filled with confusion.
Ercale replied, *Soul Transference is an extremely powerful magic spell that no mortal could ever perform.
I figured that’s what happened, but this is not how the spell works.*
The revelation of Soul Transference only deepened the mystery surrounding their connection.
Xain’s mind was now filled with even more questions, and the true nature of their predicament remained elusive.
*What do you mean by “this isn’t how the spell works?” How is it supposed to work, and what do you mean by “mortal”?* Xain asked, his confusion growing deeper.
*What the spell is meant to do is give full control of the body the soul is transferred to, not like whatever this situation is,* Ercale explained.
Xain’s mind raced with thoughts and questions.
*How did this incomplete soul transference occur?
Who or what was responsible?* he asked Ercale.
*That, I do not know for sure.
But to answer your second question, when I say “mortal,” I am referring to beings that are not immortal and are not born in Aetheria.
Examples of such beings include Demon Lords like me, as well as Gods and Goddesses,* Ercale explained.
*Wait, so there are multiple Gods and Goddesses, and they actually exist?* Xain questioned.
*Yes, and you have a literal Demon Lord inside your head, and you’re still asking if Gods and Goddesses are real?* Ercale replied.
*So, how many Gods and Goddesses are there, and are the Demon Lords dangerous?* Xain asked.
Ercale responded, *I don’t have an exact number, but there are a lot of Gods and Goddesses.
As for the Demon Lords, if the stories about me are even partially accurate, then you already know the answer to that question.*
Xain now wanted to ask even more questions, but before he could, Ercale asked a question of his own.
*I’ve been meaning to ask this for a while now, but why are you so calm after finding out who I am?
You must have read the stories about me, unless they don’t depict me as threatening as I truly am.* Xain replied, *No, the stories do portray you as threatening.
They describe you as an eight-foot-tall giant with red skin, wielding an axe and relying on pure strength to win battles.
They even mention you having giant tusks and red glowing eyes.*
After a short silence, Xain heard Ercale let out an exasperated sigh in his head.
Everything else they said was completely wrong,* Ercale grumbled.
*Wait, so you don’t actually look like that at all?* Xain asked.
*NO, I don’t!
Did they want to make me more monstrous or something?* Ercale replied, clearly frustrated by the inaccurate depictions.
*Then what about your fight with Winter?
Did that still happen?* Xain asked Ercale.
*Yeah, that did happen.
How did the stories portray him anyway?* Ercale inquired.
*They depicted him as a very handsome man with white hair.
He was said to possess immense power in fire magic and was considered superhuman and intelligent in every aspect,* Xain replied.
*Tch, of course they portray him like that and make me look like a giant red monster,* Ercale expressed his annoyance.
*So, they got him right?* Xain asked.
*Annoyingly, yes they did.
Though I don’t know about that “intelligent” part.
He was more annoying than anything and didn’t really employ any strategy,* Ercale replied.
*So, was he the strongest man you ever faced?* Xain asked.
*Ha!
Not only was he the strongest man I ever faced, he was the strongest creature I ever encountered in my long lifetime.
And with me being immortal, that’s a long time,* Ercale replied, a hint of fondness in his voice.
*And was he also the most handsome man you ever faced?* Xain asked sarcastically, his tone laced with amusement.
Ercale ignored the remark, refusing to entertain the question.
*You know, by not saying anything, you’re basically saying yes,* Xain pressed, his voice filled with mock insistence.
*SHUT UP!
Anyhow, let’s get back to my question.
Why are you so calm, especially with that description of mine?* Ercale asked, placing emphasis on the word “that” to draw attention to the exaggerated depiction of himself.
Xain took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding.
*It’s not that I’m not slightly scared that a Demon Lord is inside me, or that I would forgive any wrongdoings mentioned in the stories.
I just think that maybe you’re someone who needs help,* Xain explained.
Ercale scoffed in disbelief.
Why would I need help?* he retorted.
*I don’t know yet.
I just have a feeling, you know?* Xain replied.
Ercale’s voice softened slightly.
*That was not the answer I expected, but whatever.
At least I have one now,* he conceded.
Xain had one final question for Ercale.
He asked, *I do have one more question of my own though if you can answer it.*
Ercale replied, *Sure, ask away.
Not like I have anything else to do.*
Xain continued, *So, what happened after the final confrontation between you and Winter in the stories?
He defeats you, and it ends in a cliché ending.*
Ercale sighed, then responded, *Okay, so he came into my castle while others were fighting my army outside.
Winter challenged me to a duel, and I accepted.
We fought, but then…
something happened.
Ugh,* Ercale grunted in pain.
*Are you okay?* Xain asked, in a slightly panicked voice.
Ercale assured him, *Ugh, I’m fine.
Just a headache.
But I can’t remember what happened next.*
*What do you mean you can’t remember?* Xain questioned, his voice filled with concern.
Ercale replied irritably, *What else do you think it means ape?
I can’t recall anything after that.
It’s all blank.* Xain persisted, wanting to understand, *Then what’s the last thing you remember before you woke up in my body?* Ercale responded with frustration, *Aside from what I’ve already shared, only memories leading up to my fight with Winter.
There’s nothing beyond that in my recollection.*
Ercale, feeling mentally drained, asserted, *Now stop bombarding me with questions and go to sleep.
It’s been a whirlwind of a day.* Xain, caught up in the conversation with Ercale, hadn’t realized how tired he actually was.
*You’re right, a lot has happened in just one day.
I should rest considering what I have to tackle tomorrow.* He acknowledged.
He searched the house briefly and found an old, rolled-up mattress.
*This will have to do,* he thought as he laid it down and settled in.
Before closing his eyes, with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, Xain asked, *Will you still be awake while I sleep?* Ercale responded with a touch of annoyance, *Who knows?
But I hope not.* As Xain laid down on the mattress, he thought.
*Tomorrow is going to be quite an eventful day,* before drifting off to sleep.