The Phantom’s Gambit

Octavius allowed Void to lead him to another town district, grateful that their journey remained uneventful, with no one stopping them along the way. To be cautious, Void used a cloak he had found in the carriage to cover his face. Octavius didn't mind, as he was still unsure of who else might react to his presence, and the cloak helped to conceal his appearance. 

As they rode, he began to consider Void's offer to alter his appearance, wondering if a makeover might be the key to moving undetected through the world.

Void, sensing Octavius' thoughts, couldn't help but grin to himself.

As they approached their destination, Void expertly guided the carriage to a stop just outside the compound. With a flick of the reins, he secured the horses before they highlighted the carriage.

"Where are we?" Octavius asked as he followed Void to the apartment. He recognized the town as being in the Wysteria district, but this particular vicinity was unfamiliar to him. Given Void's extraordinary nature, Octavius suspected that their destination was bound to be something unusual.

Void remained silent, leading them to the front of the building. Before he could even raise his hand to knock, the door swung open, revealing a middle-aged man.

"How can I help you, young man?" the stranger asked, his eyes fixed on Octavius.

For a fleeting instant, something flickered at the edge of Octavius' vision, leaving him frowning in confusion. However, whatever manipulation Void had performed on the man's perception, it had an immediate effect. The middle-aged man's eyes widened in sudden recognition, and he stepped aside, ushering them into the apartment.

As they stepped inside, Void's gaze locked onto the middle-aged man, and he offered a nod of acknowledgement.

[You've aged well, Alaric,]

Alaric's face creased into a warm smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Void, it's been a long time,"

Octavius watched the exchange with interest, sensing that there was more to the relationship between Void and Alaric than met the eye.

Alaric's gaze shifted to study the body Void occupied – Octavius' own body. "This body looks... familiar," he said, his brow furrowing in concentration. "Is there a specific reason you chose this particular body? " he asked, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Octavius' face.

Void responded immediately. [My host for the time being. His name was... Octavius. And my reasons are for me to know.] Void intentionally concealed the fact that Octavius was still present in the body.

Octavius didn't mind the deception; he was too eager to see how this encounter would unfold.

"Perhaps we should sit," Alaric suggested, gesturing toward a nearby seating area.

Void nodded, and Alaric led them to a cozy, dimly lit room. As they sat, Octavius found himself leaning forward, his attention riveted on the conversation that was about to unfold.

"I didn't expect to see you again after you saved my life," Alaric let out, his eyes filled with a mix of surprise and gratitude. "I almost started to believe it was all a dream."

Void's response was a subtle, enigmatic smile.

Alaric leaned forward and asked out of curiosity. "So, what's the plan? Why are you here, and especially, why are you in that body?"

[Well... It's a long story,] Void said, scratching the back of his head with a look of exaggerated exasperation. [But, in the meantime, I'm looking for a place to stay.]

"Forgive my curiosity, but I'm a bit curious to know how you got here undetected. The carriage, and all... This body you're in caused quite a mayhem before he died."

[About how we got here undetected, I did have a problem. So I did the only logical thing and I brought you a peace offering. It's in the carriage. It's still fresh.]

Alaric's eyes widened in delight, surprisingly aware of what the mysterious gift might be.

[And about this body, ] Void continued. [what mayhem?]

"The body you're in... Octavius, was it? He's been the talk of the town lately, even though It's been months since his demise" Alaric started. "It was said that Octavius stole the Starheart Crystal, the very thing that upholds the barrier of Wysteria, protecting it from evil and monsters,"

Void's gaze never wavered, but Octavius felt a surge of indignation at the accusation.

"Rumor has it that Octavius was one of them – a monster. He took his sister and fled, leaving the city vulnerable to attack,"

Void's expression remained impassive, but Octavius seethed with anger at the lies.

"One of the council members, a powerful mage named Eriol, managed to use a magic no one has ever seen before to uphold the barrier once more. When the guards gave chase, they found Octavius and his sister... or what was left of them. It seemed that the vile creatures Octavius had been trying to smuggle into Wysteria had turned on him, killing him when he failed to deliver."

The room fell silent, the only sound the soft ticking of a clock in the corner. Void's gaze never wavered from Alaric's face, while Octavius' thoughts swirled from the accusations.

Eriol, the powerful mage who was said to have saved Wysteria, was Thorne's father. Octavius' mind reeled as he struggled to understand why Eriol would go to such great lengths to destroy his own family and himself.

Void's voice cut through Octavius' turbulent thoughts. [Well, I'm going to do a makeover to change the look of my host. Can you point me to a room where I can do just that?]

Alaric sprang to his feet, gesturing for Void to follow him. He led Void to a cozy room, adorned with strange artifacts and an ornate mirror. With a nod, Alaric departed, leaving Void to get comfortable.

As soon as they were alone, Octavius' confusion boiled over. "I don't understand what's happening,"

Void remained silent, his gaze fixed on his reflection in the mirror. He sat down in a chair positioned beside the glass, his eyes locked on the face that was no longer his own.

"I need to thoroughly find out what's going on—" Octavius began.

[You mean to tell me you have no idea what was happening when you decided to come back to your body?]

Octavius ignored the question, choosing instead to propose a potential alliance. "Maybe we can form an alliance. You need my body, and I need to figure some things out."

Void didn't respond. He seemed lost in his own thoughts and oblivious to that of Octavius.

Octavius tried to snap him back to attention. "Well?" he muttered.

Void's eyes refocused and he asked. [What's your plan? You're just going to march up to whoever got you killed and demand answers? I'm not going to let you do that to this body. Are you forgetting you're powerless?]

"Well, you do a good job of making sure I never forget."

[Whatever it is, I'll help you, but only because I need you out of this body. ] Void offered. "As long as it doesn't involve me wearing a school uniform and taking classes."

Octavius' eyes narrowed. "Actually—"

Void cut him off. [Nuh-uh. I'm not doing that. Get me involved in a killing spree, I don't mind, but I'm not going to a school.]

Octavius' expression turned wry. "It's an Academy for Magical Arts."

Void snorted. [First of all, I don't care. Secondly, you don't even have any magic so how are you going to get in?]

"It's the only way I can find out what's happening and take proper action. I'll compensate you."

[No amount of legal tender would convince me to... Is it a bag filled with gold?]

Octavius shook his head. "No."

[Well, no lower amount of legal tender would convince me to go to a school.]

Just then, a knock sounded on the door. Octavius took control of the body, curiosity getting the better of him. He opened the door to find a stunning ginger-haired girl standing there, wearing a beautiful gown that accentuated her curves.

[Wow,] Void breathed, his eyes fixed on her cleavage.

The girl, however, stared at Octavius with a mixture of confusion and concern.

[Why's she staring at us as though we just told some orphanage kids Santa isn't real?] Void asked, amused.

Octavius followed her gaze, wondering what the problem was. His eyes widened as he realized the issue – a noticeable bulge in his underpants. Mortified, he immediately closed the door in her face.

"Void!" Octavius scolded, his face burning with embarrassment.

[What? You saw what I saw. Who wouldn't react to something like that?]

"I wouldn't," Octavius replied dryly. "I've been living among girls who wear even more revealing clothing that accentuates their curves, and I never react like that. At least, not openly."

[Wait, Hold on.] Void muttered [You mean there's more of what we... I... my eyes just saw? Uhm... just asking for asking's sake. Where might I find them?]

Octavius hesitated before responding, "Gatherings, I guess."

Void's eyes lit up. [Like school?]

Octavius nodded reluctantly. "Uhm, yeah?"

Void grinned triumphantly. [We are going to school then.]