Civilization

"It's not a matter of belief-" - Rebecca

Reaching out my arm, I try to comprehend the situation. Why was Ian slightly different from before? His appearance while somewhat different has changed and his personality has become more cocky and arrogant. However, the moment my arm touched the spider legs stretched out in front of me, I feel the wheel on my chest spin. My neck forcefully tilts backward as I feel myself fall as if someone had grabbed my hair and pulled it back.

Letting out a small scream, I realize that while I was falling, I also wasn't falling. Another out-of-body experience as I still see my body touching the spider leg. Time slows as my body falls toward the ground, and unable to move a muscle I could only embrace the situation as my body sinks through the air, gradually making contact with the ground.

[Wheel of Fate has been forcefully activated. User will not lose 50% of their HP due to the forceful activation.]

[Spinning the Wheel of Fate… The Wheel of Fate has chosen a random effect… A Vision of the Past. User will be unable to move their body during, A Vision of the Past, effect and can only experience what it is they are shown. Preparing A Vision of the Past…]

Reading the text displayed before me as my body slowly falls, I see the ellipses slowly blink until the moment my head connects with the ground. Like water, the ground splashes around me as my body is pulled deeper. Light from the sun is blocked by the surrounding dirt as it slowly replaces my vision, accumulating into rocks and stones before I'm ejected from the ground.

Gasping for breath, as my disoriented self looks around, I do my best to comprehend the situation. Glancing to my side, my body freezes as a familiar 8-legged monster steps past me. With her silver hair draping over her chest and glistening eyes, Selino approaches someone who is on the ground.

"BABE! IAN!" - Rebecca

Calling out her name before I even thought about it, I quickly cover my mouth in an attempt to silence myself but to my surprise, it was like they didn't hear me at all. Instead, it was like watching a movie, the characters walk about and say their lines while reacting to one another.

Bending over Ian, Selino whispers into his ears as I slowly crawl closer to hear what they were saying. Her hair lay softly over Ian's neck as he quietly listens to her voice. Despite his calm expression, I can see his body tremble slightly each time Selino comes closer. Caressing his head in her hands, Selino turns Ian's eyes toward her as she speaks to him in a soft voice.

"Instead of establishing a union. Let us be one." - Selino

"WHAT!!!!!!!" - Rebecca

Shocked out of my mind, I stood up suddenly and yelled at the top of my lungs. Grasping my head with confusion, I stare blankly at Ian's face waiting for his answer, while whispering the answer I want to hear.

"You better be saying no. You better be saying no. You better be saying no." - Rebecca

"Why…Why not just do the union?" - Ian

"OH MY GOD! IAN YOU MOTHERF-" - Rebecca

"Because do you really have the time for it? Deary, while I don't know everything that goes on in this world. I do know that you along with many, many other humans are currently sieging the Reaper's territory, the Glemt." - Selino

"And how does that relate?" - Ian

"Do you have the time to wait a certain amount of time for the union to finish when the Reaper might be counterattacking? Do you really think he will just let you and the other humans just attack him? You might want to hurry back…" - Selino

"So, you know about the Glemt, and you know about the attack on the Reaper. I can only assume this will only help you, so why not join us?" - Ian

Walking straight up to Ian, I look at him with a bewildered expression as my head mentally explodes.

"No, no, no. Babe, she is lying to you. Oh my god, you can't even hear me. What am I doing?" - Rebecca

"Don't want to. Simple as that." - Selino

"Then, how about information? An exchange. A trade. That should be fine right?" - Ian

"HAHAHA! A trade? Deary, do you know the situation you are in? Or are you just trying to ignore it? What do you have that is of value to me?" - Selino

Throwing her head back while holding her stomach, Selino laughs obnoxiously in front of Ian.

"My future. I have nothing to offer you right now, but I can at least give you my future. That should be a good bargain." - Ian

"No, no, no. WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?! ARE YOU AN IDIOT?" - Rebecca

Anger and confusion weren't enough to describe what I was feeling. Especially since I wasn't able to interact with the world, I could only scream, and throw my arms around in frustration as I watch this play out.

"Fine. Your future you say? Interesting proposition… And what does that entitle?" - Selino

"I know about things that will happen in the future. Not only will I tell you the information about them, but I will also work together with you in order for both of us to be safe in the upcoming battles. Before you laugh at me and say why I need your help, understand this, the world isn't as simple as you think. There are many underlying factors that even the Horde does not know of, and frankly, it runs deeper than you can even imagine." - Ian

"Hmm… Interesting. FASCINATING! Ian deary, what you might be truth, and it might be false,  but quite frankly, I am curious about the world you see. Noticing the subtle differences between Nina and Sylvia, already brought my attention to a different species of humans but with what you are saying… I'm starting to believe some nonsense the Horde was spouting. There really is a different world out there isn't there…?" - Selino

"There is and there isn't a lot of connection between us and you, at this moment, but, it is coming." - Ian

"Then, a union. Nice and simple, however, it will take some time. You might be late." - Selino

"Don't worry. I trust my friends." - Ian

"HAHAHA! Mikki !" - Selino

Snapping her fingers, a rock nearby transforms into a smaller version of Selino, standing next to her, bowing their head.

"At your command, my queen." - Mikki

"Transform into Ian for me deary." - Selino

"As you wish, my queen." - Mikki

Stumbling over to Ian, the smaller Selino, places her hand on Ian's head and within seconds, their body transforms into that of Ian. Gasping in surprise, I blink several times to check if I was seeing right.

"It is done, my queen." - Mikki

Even the soft subtle sounds of Ian's voice were portrayed perfectly as, 'Mikki', kneels to the ground in front of Selino.

"That's the Ian that is in front of us right now…" - Rebecca

"A transforming spider. What for?" - Ian

"To help your… Friends. It won't be easy fighting through the Glemt to get to the Reaper. I'm merely, helping you, deary. Making sure you will be committed to completing the union, nothing more and nothing less. Now then, Mikki, go and play pretend with the humans. As for us, we will be completing the ritual together." - Selino

With a flash of her scarlet eyes, a cluster of spiders rushes from the exit, carrying Ian away as quickly as they came, leaving me dumbfounded by the experience. Selino quietly follows them but as she approaches the exit, she turns and looks in my direction. A small smile appears on her face, as she gazes seductively at me.

"Don't worry, darling. I won't do anything bad to him." - Selino

"What…WHA-" - Rebecca

Without a moment to lose, the vision ends and light rushes into my eyes as I feel someone tugging at my clothes.

"Becca…? Are you okay?" - Frank

"What do we do?" - Gibing

"Nina? Becca? Yor? Plans?" - Howard

"..." - Nina

"Keep up defensive positions!" - Yor

"Oh come on, why don't you believe me?" - Ian

Looking at the Ian in front of me, I could tell, this wasn't him. It was the spider that could transform, Mikki. Thoughts race through my head, as I ignore Frank's call. Do I expose him? Do I play along with him? I don't know what to do. What is the better outcome?

"Don't worry. I know this is Ian. I…I had a vision as I touched his spider leg. I saw him escaping from Selino. Trust me, this is Ian." - Rebecca

Looking at me with a slightly confused face, Mikki, quickie adjusts their expression as they play along with my words.

"Right, trust her. If I wasn't why would I reveal myself to you?" -  Mikki

"Right, so instead of questioning if this is Ian or not, we should be focusing on the matter at hand. Approaching the Glemt and figuring out the portal at the top of the Abyss." - Rebecca