Zane's eyes slowly blinked open.
Sunlight spilled gently across the room, but to him, it felt like daggers stabbing through his skull. He groaned, turning over in the soft sheets. The air was warm, the scent of old wood and parchment lingering in the room—probably the academy infirmary or a private dorm.
His mind still swirled with the remnants of the void—the memory of blades, red eyes, and a haunting laugh.
But more than anything... he just wanted to sleep.
"Ugh... never again," he muttered, dragging the sheets over his head.
"Well, if you can't beat them... you join them."
Zane froze. His eyes shot open.
"Oh no..." he groaned.
"I'm going to be your mentor now," the voice continued, far too smug for Zane's liking. "I'll raise you back into the glorious being you were before. Powerful. Feared. Worshipped. You know... the usual."
Zane slowly turned his head.
Sitting casually on his shoulder was a miniature version of himself, no taller than his hand, lounging with legs crossed like he owned the place.
"Surprise," the tiny reflection said with a mischievous grin, arms behind his head.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Zane muttered, still half-asleep.
"Like I said. Mentor duties. It's tragic how much you've forgotten. I figured the best way to keep you alive is by making sure you don't get yourself killed again."
Zane sat up groggily, rubbing his temples. "Gods... I'm hallucinating."
Then, from his shadow, Nyx emerged, her form slowly solidifying as the room dimmed slightly with her presence.
Her silver eyes narrowed the moment she spotted the figure on Zane's shoulder.
"Who the hell is this?" she asked coldly, already summoning a flicker of Void fire at her fingertips.
The miniature Zane leaned against Zane's neck with a sly smirk. "Ohhh, I didn't realize there was a pretty angel tucked inside this lost soul."
Nyx's expression darkened immediately.
Zane sighed. "Nyx, meet... him. He's, uh, from the Void. Long story."
The tiny reflection stood tall—well, as tall as a few inches could be—and crossed his arms. "I'm the part of him that remembers who he really is. And since you're stuck with him, that means we're all going to be spending a lot of time together. Isn't that fun?"
Nyx raised a brow. "I'll rip your tiny head off if you try anything."
"Ooooh, feisty." He gave her a wink. "I like that."
Zane buried his face in his hands. "Please make it stop..."
The miniature version suddenly scowled. "Wait... you haven't even given me a name yet, you stupid being."
Zane blinked. "A name? You're literally me. Why do you need a name?"
The reflection rolled his tiny eyes. "Well obviously I can't just keep being called 'you.' That's confusing and egotistical—even for me."
Zane thought for a moment, still exhausted. "Hmm... what about Link? I dunno, it just... feels right."
The tiny figure blinked. "...Hmph. I'll manage."
Then he turned immediately back to Nyx with a devilish grin. "So, Nyx... you single in the Void, or is there someone who's already shackled your beautiful soul?"
Nyx snapped her fingers, and a small Void tendril coiled threateningly around Link.
He coughed. "Right, right! Professional relationship. Got it."
Zane just flopped back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. "This is going to be hell, isn't it?"
"Not hell," Link replied cheerfully. "Training."
Nyx folded her arms. "He needs it."
Zane groaned. "I hate both of you already."
Link smiled wide. "That's the spirit."