The Phantom’s Gambit

Void trailed behind Octavius, his eyes fixed on the other's back. He had long since realized that his attempts to persuade Octavius to let him back in were futile. No matter how cleverly he phrased his arguments or how tempting he made his offers, Octavius remained resolute in his refusal.

As the silence between them stretched out, Void's frustration grew. He had never encountered someone as stubborn as Octavius before. It was... intriguing, to say the least. But also infuriating.

Octavius, on the other hand, couldn't help but stare around in wonder as he walked. Although he recognized the path and knew the surroundings, which led to and out of the Cave of Ruins, everything seemed different. Prior to crossing the path, the area had been desolate and barren. Now, trees had mysteriously sprouted, their presence seeming almost eternal. Butterflies flitted about, adding splashes of color to the landscape.

The only thing missing was the gentle gurgle of a stream, which normally flowed from a nearby source. Yet, despite this absence, the transformation was undeniable.

Octavius was tempted to ask Void if he was responsible for the sudden transformation, but he restrained himself. He didn't want to give Void an opportunity to engage in small talk and potentially manipulate him into allowing him back into his body.

As Octavius continued walking, he didn't notice the trees closing in behind him, subtly sealing off the path. Finally, after a tiresome trek accompanied by the off-key humming of a the pestering presence behind him, Octavius emerged into an open area where he could potentially find a ride.

Octavius finally spotted a horseman riding towards him, but to his frustration, the horse galloped past without even slowing down, despite Octavius' energetic waving.

"Why does everything feel different?" Octavius wondered aloud, scanning his surroundings as he waited for another potential ride to come by.

[Because it's been months since you died, and nature didn't feel like waiting for you to come back to life before moving on after grieving you.] Void responded sarcastically from behind.

Octavius didn't respond, but Void's words struck a chord within him. It made sense – the sudden transformation of the landscape, the sprouting trees, and the changed atmosphere all seemed to be a result of the passage of time. 

But to Octavius, it felt like mere minutes had passed since his death and subsequent revival.

Octavius spotted a carriage approaching and swiftly stepped forward, waving his arms to hail it. Fortunately, the carriage came to a stop beside him.

[Just where do you plan to go?] Void inquired, but Octavius disregarded him.

He approached the rider and requested a ride. However, as soon as the rider laid eyes on Octavius, his expression transformed into one of shock and terror.

Initially, Octavius assumed the rider's reaction was due to Void's unsettling appearance. But then the rider's gaze locked onto Octavius' face, and he whispered, "Y-you're... You should be dead."

[Right? That's what I said,] Void chimed in, seemingly amused. However, the rider appeared oblivious to Void's presence.

With a mixture of fear and hostility, the rider leapt down from his carriage and brandished a dagger. The distinctive mark on his forehead revealed his affiliation with the Architect group.

Octavius' confusion deepened. 'But why does he seem like he knows me?' he wondered.

As the rider drew closer, poised to strike, Void casually took a seat on a nearby rock. [Yeah, do that. Wait, why didn't I think of doing that?]

"Look here," Octavius said, holding up his hands in a calming gesture as the man approached. It was evident from the way he grasped the knife that he had little to no experience wielding one.

"I don't want to hurt you," Octavius continued. "You've clearly misunderstood—"

[You don't want to hurt someone wielding a knife? Are you behind me on this spectrum?] Void chimed in.

Octavius ignored him, focusing on the man as he made his first move. Octavius dodged swiftly, avoiding the clumsy attack.

[Humor me for a bit, ] He said as he crossed his leg onto the other. [About your revenge plan, was it THE plan to show up in the open and get killed again, or am I missing a vital point aside from you trying to get yourself killed AgAin?]

Octavius remained silent, instead using his arm to swiftly wrap around the man's head, pulling him into a tight headlock.

"Why are you attacking me?" Octavius demanded.

The man struggled against the hold, his face reddening with rage. "You should be dead!" he spat viciously. "They said you were dead! We're at peace, go back to being dead!"

Octavius' grip loosened, and the man seized the opportunity to break free. He stumbled backward, dagger still clutched in his hand, as he slowly retreated toward his carriage.

Octavius stood frozen, shaken by the man's words. He hadn't expected a warm welcome, but he hadn't anticipated such vehement hostility either. A nagging doubt crept into his mind: 'Did I make a mistake by coming back?'

The man's loud "Hia!" and the sound of his horse's hooves pounding the ground as he urged it into a gallop snapped Octavius out of his momentary daze. The carriage was getting away.

[He's going to tell everyone you're not dead,] Void warned, suddenly standing up.

Octavius was tempted to ask Void "Now you care?", but he bit back the question. Instead, he watched as the carriage moved further away from him and into the distance, his mind racing with ways to stop the man.

[Let me in your body, I can stop him,] Void offered.

Octavius shot him a skeptical glance. "Nice try," he muttered before taking off in a sprint, chasing after the carriage. Void appeared beside him, matching his stride.

[I can stop him, let me in. You can shove me out afterward,] Void persisted.

Octavius halted, turning to face Void. Just a minute ago, Void wanted the man to take him down, and now, he wants to stop him from getting away. It didn't make sense to Octavius, but he needed to stop the man and ask him more questions so he said. "Get in, then,"

In an instant, Void vanished, and Octavius felt a strange, unsettling sensation, like a presence stirring within his mind. And he felt Void's essence now intertwined with his soul.

Octavius' body vanished and reappeared in front of the carriage, causing the horses to rear up in surprise. The carriage's wooden frame creaked and groaned as it jerked to a sudden, jarring halt, sending the man tumbling forward.

Before Octavius could react, Void reached out and snapped the man's neck with an eerie, casual ease. Octavius' eyes widened in horror.

"I didn't say you should kill him!" he exclaimed.

[I said I'd stop him, and I did. You're welcome,]

"You... how can you kill someone like that?" he stammered.

A crushing wave of guilt washed over him. This man wasn't part of his revenge plan; he was an innocent bystander. Octavius couldn't shake the thought that he had taken this man away from people who might have loved, cherished, or awaited his return – just as he had once waited for his father's return.

[Technically, you killed him, since the blood is on your hands,] Void pointed out sounding neutral.

As he sensed Octavius' turmoil and guilt, Void added, [Like it or not, he wanted to kill you too. You might not seem to notice it, but that's what everyone wants to do to you. And before you expel me from your body again, I know of a place where we can hide out for a while. Believe me or not, but I need this body, and I'm willing to compromise and do whatever it takes to keep it safe.]

Octavius remained silent, his emotions still reeling from the sudden violence.

Void took his silence as a positive sign and proceeded to toss the lifeless body into the carriage. Then, he climbed aboard and took the reins, urging the horses forward.

As the carriage rattled down the road, Octavius finally broke his silence. "Where are we going?" he asked.

[Somewhere safe,] Void replied. [Congratulations on your first kill, by the way.]