Binary Soul

> Kira PoV <

“Nano! This is serious! Isn’t this super serious?!” (Kira)

How can Nano just nonchalantly declare something ridiculous like the moons crashing into each other?!

“And you’re absolutely sure it’s going to happen?” (Kira)

{Without a doubt.}

“How?!” (Kira)

Ellie suddenly embraces me from behind. She wraps her hands around my waist and holds me tight.

“Kira, calm down. It’s not going to happen tomorrow. We have plenty of time to prepare.” (Ellie)

“But! That!” (Kira)

“Besides, it’s not the end of the world, right? So what if a moon or two disappear?” (Ellie)

…

“Say Nano, what will happen when the moons crash into each other?” (Kira)

{Hard to say. I don’t have enough data to make that sort of call. Most likely they’ll crumble apart and some debris will rain down on us.}

“That… is that bad?” (Kira)

{You are aware the moons are really big, right?}

“How big?” (Kira)

{One has a diameter that’s about as wide as the distance from here to Ecebis. The smaller one is roughly two thirds of that.}

I cannot even fathom how humongous that is!

“Then these debris… wouldn’t they be as big as mountains?!” (Kira)

{Possibly.}

“Then how exactly is this not the end of the world?!” (Kira)

I flail around a bit in panic, but Ellie holds me back!

“Nano! You’re not helping!” (Ellie)

“Come to think of it, how come you’re so calm about this?!” (Kira)

{Ah, if worst comes to worst I have a contingency.}

“Damn it Nano!” (Kira)

Every time! First comes some outrageous revelation and then a declaration that Nano has an answer for it! Does that invisible peeper seriously enjoy watching me panic for no good reason?!

“You really should have said that sooner!” (Kira)

{You’re not going to like it though.}

“Why not?” (Kira)

{So remember how I said some of the things we brought over could destroy the world?}

Nano was right. I already don’t like where this is going.

{I’m just going to use one of those to blow the smaller moon into dust before they crash.}

“You have something that can do that?” (Kira)

{I do.}

“And… where exactly have you been keeping this world-endingly dangerous thing?” (Kira)

{...}

“It’s under the house, isn’t it?” (Kira)

{Yes.}

I let out a sigh. I should’ve known. Oh yes, I’m sure all precautions are being taken so it doesn’t go off by accident. But that doesn’t really help me sleep at night.

“Nano. If I become a Titan, I am going to force your sorry butt into a living body just so that I can punch you 500 times in the face.” (Kira)

{Uhm… I’ll be looking forward to it, I guess?}

“Hmm, Nano? I have a question! How come the moons haven’t crashed into each other until now?” (Ellie)

{A very good question. I’ll need to run some calculations and get back to you on that.}

“Ellie?” (Kira)

“Well, moons basically spin around the planet, right? If they were going to crash, shouldn’t it have happened already?” (Ellie)

“Hmm… if you say it like that, then it is a bit suspect. By the way Ellie, how long are you going to keep fondling my breasts like this?” (Kira)

She’s been doing it for the past minute or so.

“I’m not fondling. It’s a special massage to help Kira relax.” (Ellie)

“Can you please stop? People in the street are staring at us.” (Kira)

“I don’t mind!” (Ellie)

Ah, this is bad. I forgot she was in heat this week! If she gets any more serious she might move onto the next stage right here!

“I’ll let you ‘massage’ them all you want back home, okay? I’m sure your efforts will be much more effective without the clothes in the way, right ~♡?!” (Kira)

“Huhuhu… Okay! I’ll hold you to that!” (Ellie)

She stops kneading my chest from behind and moves her hands down to my waist. I can hear her purring slightly while she rubs her face against my back. Well, intentional or not her antics did help me calm down a bit.

{Pardon for interrupting, but I have the results to Ellie’s question.}

“Oh? Already?! As expected of Nano!” (Ellie)

Huh? Was that really that fast? Then again, Nano’s trying to peer into the far future and distant past by using math, right? When I think of it that way, it is actually impressive it only took a few minutes to do so.

{So, by their current orbit, the moons should have already crashed into each about 11,603 years ago.}

“I see. So it’s something like that after all.” (Ellie)

“Like what?” (Kira)

“Something changed their orbital path. And this happened relatively recently.” (Ellie)

“How is that recent though?” (Kira)

“Compared to a planet that has been around for probably billions of years, 11 thousand is nothing.” (Ellie)

…

I just felt really insignificant for a moment there. That was not a pleasant feeling. Right, let’s change gears and get back to the topic at hand!

“Then if I understood you two correctly, the moons are actually continent-sized globes of rock. They fly in circles around our world, but they’re so high up they’re basically beyond the sky. And then you’re telling me they got knocked out of position?!” (Kira)

“It’s only a guess at this point, but more or less, yeah.” (Ellie)

{I agree. It’s a very likely scenario.}

I see. Something absurd and unimaginable happened at some point in the last eleven-thousand-and-a-half years.

“Titans?” (Kira)

“Titans.” (Ellie)

{Titans.}

As expected, huh?

“Can things like that actually happen though?” (Kira)

I mean they can move mountains and create oceans and whatnot, but even I’m having trouble believing they can reach that far. I mean, don’t they have to be next to the thing they’re trying to mess with? Why would they even mess with the moons to begin with?!

{Orbits are really complicated things. The two moons circling around this world are part of a surprisingly delicate system. It’s not impossible that something would knock it out of balance, but it wouldn’t be easy either.}

“Why not?” (Kira)

{It’s the scale, mostly. Normally I’d say it’s impossible for people on the surface of a world to affect the moons like that. Admitting that is like saying a colony of ants can topple a mountain.}

“Only these particular ants happen to have vast magical powers.” (Ellie)

{Precisely. I don’t believe it was done on purpose either. Something like extensive terraforming can, in theory, lead to a shift in a planet’s gravitational field and ever so slightly alter the orbit of their moons.}

“Turnip farming? What?” (Kira)

{Oh, right. Terraforming is the process through which someone, or something, makes large-scale changes to a planet’s surface in order to make it more hospitable. Things like creating a new continent, introducing large quantities of foreign metals into the ground or messing around with the sun are all possible culprits.}

“Then it’s all because of those titans after all?” (Kira)

{That seems to be the most likely answer.}

“Well, either that or this Calling they keep talking about is trying to pull something.” (Ellie)

“Hmm… Maybe we should try contacting that Voice?” (Kira)

“Think it’ll believe us, though?” (Ellie)

“Ah, good point. It didn’t seem to trust Nano at all. Still, it’s worth giving that a shot. If not, we’ll have to go ask Skittles.” (Kira)

* * *

“Mrs and Mrs Quasse, so good to see you!” (King Fred)

The King greets us in his study with that usual goofy expression.

“Hey, Fred.” (Ellie)

“Good day, Your Majesty. Forgive us for the abrupt visit.” (Kira)

“Nonsense, you know how much I enjoy your visits! Come now, have a seat.” (King Fred)

He motions to the two chairs on the opposite side of the desk he’s sitting at. Well, we won’t be staying here long, but it would be rude to decline. Ellie and I take our seats.

“How did you get here, though? I don’t recall my guards notifying me of your flying home being seen overhead.” (King Fred)

“That’s because it’s still back at Runetap, Your Majesty. We’re only visiting here briefly so we rode our gryphon, Puff.” (Kira)

“... Oh.” (King Fred)

Why do you suddenly look so disappointed?! It’s not like we’re going to arrive on some ridiculous flying ship! The flying machine prototype Nano and Kelly made is still in its very experimental stages you know!

“Then, to what do I owe the pleasure?” (King Fred)

“We’re here to speak with Skittles, Your Majesty.” (Kira)

Forget believing us, we couldn’t even get in touch with that Voice! We used [Unity] and everything, but just calling out for it inside our heads wasn’t enough. So we came to the capital to get the opinion of the most reliable titan we knew - Skittles. But she wasn’t in the guest room that she normally occupies and none of the guards or servants seem to know who she even is.

“However, we can’t seem to find her.” (Kira)

“I’m sorry, but who might this Skittles be?” (King Fred)

…

“Your Majesty surely jests. It’s the titan we introduced you to.” (Kira)

The King’s face doesn’t look good. It’s the same dubious face he made just after we told him about my pregnancy.

I have a bad feeling about this.

“Forgive me the sudden question, but does Your Majesty remember our meeting after the two of us returned from up north earlier this year? The one we had to take after I collapsed during the tournament?” (Kira)

“Of course! You dropped some unbelievable news about the two of you conceiving a child together! There’s no way I can possibly forget that!” (King Fred)

“And does Your Majesty remember what happened next?” (Kira)

“I had to take a few days to properly process this news and its implications, so I put off on hearing your outlandish explanations until a later date.” (King Fred)

“... Anything else?” (Kira)

“Hmm… Ah, I seem to recall the windows in the throne room got broken, but that’s about it.” (King Fred)

“You mean you don’t remember meeting the half-spider half-woman who introduced herself as Second Magus of the Order of the Eye?” (Kira)

The King’s eyes widened in surprise for an instant before his face became stern again.

“How do you know about that person?! Her existence is supposed to be a secret within my family!” (King Fred)

Geh, he suddenly yelled at us with his full blown king mode! I can never get used to that! I throw a worried glance at Ellie, but she just returns it with a shake of her head. Doesn’t seem like he’s trying to pull a prank. He legitimately doesn’t remember meeting Skittles!

Ellie then stands up from her chair and motions for me to sit still. Looks like she wants to take charge of the conversation. Well, she is the leader, so I’ll let her deal with this… situation.

“Fred, the one who told us all about that person was you. It was the same day we told you about Kira’s pregnancy.” (Ellie)

“I did no such thing!” (King Fred)

“Are you certain? Are you absolutely sure beyond the shadow of a doubt? ” (Ellie)

She puts her arms behind her back and starts pacing left and right in front of the desk while she questions the king.

“... Huh? That’s odd. I feel like something like that did take place, but I don’t remember the actual conversation…” (King Fred)

“Remember the stained glass window. How did it break?” (Ellie)

The King seems to calm down a bit and furrows his brow. Looks like he’s picked up on the oddity as well.

“I don’t know. I should know, though. I distinctly remember signing off on the paperwork to repair it, but oddly enough I can’t recall the actual event where it broke. I’m sure I was in that throne room the entire day too. Something like a window shattering into pieces in my presence would be definitely be a thing I remember. Yet looking back on it now it now I just can’t seem to recall anything but a weird haze…” (King Fred)

“Let’s leave that day behind for a moment. Do you remember anyone staying in the eastern wing’s guest room?” (Ellie)

“No. That room has been vacant ever since the Ecebis Embassy was established late last year.” (King Fred)

“Yet didn’t the servants and cooks complain about being unable to keep up with the demands of the person staying there about two weeks ago?” (Ellie)

Hm? I don’t recall the King actually saying anything about it though. Did Ellie pluck that from his head? Well, having that gluttonous Green one around is bound to cause an impact on the castle’s stock of ingredients. Memories are one thing, but physical evidence is another entirely.

“You’re right, something like that did happen. Ellie, do you have any idea what’s going on?” (King Fred)

“I do, Fred. Your memory’s been altered. Not just yours, everyone in the castle seemed to have received the same treatment.” (Ellie)

“That’s… a highly concerning notion. One I believe to be right. Thinking back on it now, there are other inexplicable gaps in my memory. You say you introduced me to this ‘Second Magus’ that day, yes? Was this her doing?” (King Fred)

“Most likely.” (Ellie)

A spell to  tamper with memories doesn’t exist. But Skittles told us that memories are etched on the soul. And since she’s able to manipulate souls, it stands to reason that she would be the culprit, right?

“But why? And how come the two of you are unaffected?” (King Fred)

“Worry not, Fred! I have every intention of beating the answers to those questions out of her!” (Ellie)

“I see. That sounds reliable. But tell me, do you have a way of tracking this person down?” (King Fred)

“No. But we know someone who does.” (Ellie)

Looks like we’ll be heading back to Ecebis after all, huh?