"We are a little weird, don't you think so?" Michael asked Danny, whose laugh resounded in his head.
[How did you come to that conclusion? I think we're perfectly normal. Isn't it totally normal for some Fateless Living Souls to exist somewhere? Or for some people to have multiple threads of Fate? I don't get what you mean] Danny said while laughing.
The banter of bad jokes continued between the brothers. It went so far that the World Serpent was urged to join their discussion.
[You guys don't even know what that means.]
"What?" Michael responded, "Being Fateless and having two threads of Fate? We know what that means since the name is already enough to understand what that means. But we don't know what happens to Fateless people or to people with two threads of Fate. How are we supposed to know that?"
[I have no fucking clue, either.] Danny added.
The World Serpent hissed in annoyance, and Michael could have sworn that it rolled its eyes at their ignorance. If it could, the World Serpent would probably snap Michael's neck. Or was that just what he'd imagined? It might have been the best that Michael stayed silent and waited patiently to receive answers.
[To put it in very simple terms, you –] The World Serpent beckoned Michael to listen with a tug of his mind [You will have to deal with two Fates that are constantly clashing with each other. Since it is standard for every living being to have only one of Fate's threads, your threads will try to eliminate each other. That might not sound like a major problem when you don't know what that means, but it's a huge issue. Your Fates will throw even more challenges to emerge victorious from the constant clashing with their rival.]
"So, to simplify it even more, my life will be turned upside down?" Michael asked, frowning deeply, "Even more than it is already?"
The World Serpent didn't say anything for a moment. It thought about Michael's question for a few seconds before it concluded.
[Yes. What you're currently going through is nothing compared to the rivalry of two Fates clashing for supremacy over a single entity. There have been some records about Twin Fates, but most victims of Twin Fates die before they reach the 25th circle. They're powerful due to the obstacles and challenges that always appear before them, but they are still too weak to surpass Fate's decree.]
"Does that mean I'll probably die in a few years? That's annoying," Michael asked, his voice calmer than usual.
[Do you not care that you will die soon?] The World Serpent asked upon sensing Michael's emotions spreading through him. The lack of emotions, to be precise.
"I don't want to die, but it's not like a prediction like that will change anything. I was more often on the verge of death than I want to acknowledge. Until now, I've always survived, but I also know that this might not be permanent. The Undead Pharaoh would have eliminated me without you and the Wolf Curse. Even with your help, I wouldn't have made it without the Wicked Spear Arts. At some point, I might have to fight an enemy I cannot defeat, not even with your help, the Wolf Curse, or the techniques I've obtained."
"I know that something like that could happen at any time. However, that doesn't mean I should run away and hide far away from everyone. If I start running away now, I will die the next time the Supreme Human Alliance appears. They will find me, just like the Nest found me. The time to run for my life and escape all of this nonsense passed long ago. Now, I can only go all-out and give my utmost to obliterate my enemies. Fearing the 'inevitable' future will only harm me. It will make me weaker."
Michael stared deeply ahead at the Burning Sand Mountain Range, his vibrant golden eyes twinkling like stars.
"And I won't die. I'm unwilling to surrender to something like Fate!"
[I hope that you're right. Leaving this vessel will be a nuisance. You better survive a few decades. After that, you can die or do whatever you want.] The World Serpent hissed.
It acted calm, but Michael could tell that there was something the World Serpent was trying to hide.
'The World Serpent is already bound to me. It's not as closely intertwined with my Soul as the Wolf Curse, but it cannot leave easily. Why are you acting like you can leave at any point and that it is merely an inconvenience if I die? A portion of you would go down with me now that we're intertwined…' Michael thought while ensuring nobody could read his mind for a moment.
[Either way. Let's get back to the explanation. Since you know what Twin Fate is, how about we deal with our Fateless fellow?] The World Serpent inquired while speaking to Danny in Michael's mind.
[To be fair, I have never seen anyone without Fate. But since no thread of Fate is attached to you, Fate will ignore you. You won't have any challenges thrown your way, and you won't have any luck or misfortune. Your progress will be incredibly slow. After all, you will never have any lucky or unlucky encounters with anything. The only way to grasp opportunities to grow is by benefiting from others' Fates.]
Silence spread through Michael's mind for a few seconds after the World Serpent's words thundered through them.
[You can probably change fates by being a Fateless fellow, but you will be nothing more than a leech who drains and devours other beings' fates.]
That was interesting. Michael fell deep in pondered and thought about their situation. After some seconds, he shrugged.
'Whatever.'
His brother must have come to the same conclusion. Michael felt like Danny was also shrugging dismissively.
[I don't plan to leave Michael's side, either way. Since I'm a leech who drains other's Fates, I might as well help Michael deal with his Twin Fates issue. I can take care of some challenges and obstacles thrown his way. One of his Fates is mine, either way. I might as well take responsibility and solve all issues related to my new Fate. Of course, that means I will have to secure my body back first. I won't be able to deal with his challenges without a body, but that's obvious, I guess.]
Michael smiled. That was exactly what he pondered as well.
"We can do it!" He declared, which his brother affirmed.
The brothers were confident that they could cope with their issues.
"If the Twin Fates issues secure too bad, I can focus on upgrading Extraction until the Extraction Soultrait is strong enough to remove one of Fate's threads. If Extraction is not enough, I can always use Soul Tears from the Soul Grimoire to increase Extraction's potency or reinforce Extraction's efficiency with Enhancement."
[Once extracted, you can use Insert to insert the Fate thread into my body – once I secure one. That's a good solution if the situation with the Twin Fates gets too troublesome. Easy peasie!] Danny shouted in Michael's mind, only for the World Serpent to hiss.
[Helpless Fools.]
The World Serpent turned silent.