"Sometimes good people make bad choices, it doesn't mean they are bad people, it means they're human."

- Sui Ishida

"Congratulations. You choose wisely. You choose the right path."

She needs to bite her tongue just so she can't yell at the structure.

Instead, she swallowed her lumps back, "I think there's no need for congratulating me, Rex. I'm just doing what I know."

"But you cherish conformity and live the right way."

"I can only say my gratitude then for that recognition."

"And my child, I must warn you, do not be swayed by the muttering of Es."

"And why is that, Rex?" The Wanderer asked "politely".

Too politely.

"She will try and do anything to influence you. Es doesn't understand what she muttered. Walk out unnervingly. You must not stray."

Oh, you-! She took a quick practice breath and spoke, "Can I ask you something, Rex?"

"What is it, my child?"

"Do you trust Es?"

"Trust, is such a strong, yet at the same time, venomous wo--

"It's a matter of yes and no, Rex." The Wanderer interrupted, edge in her voice, "Do. You. Trust. Es?"

"... I see something that no one can possibly imagine, my child."

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I already know. The only thing left is if I regret knowing that...

"All I can say is, do not be swayed by Es, Wanderer. Until then, never forget:

"Choose base on logic. Choose base on logic."

"I have a confession to make."

The Wanderer blinks and realizes she's already inside the library, sitting across the librarian which separated them by the counter, book in her hand.

Huh, I really need to be aware of my surroundings… And my senses. "And that would be?"

"I…" The following become muffled which the Wanderer can't help but giggle because of her cuteness.

"Come on Es. What's up?"

"I… quite enjoyed our talks… I've been alone here for such a long time you see." She averts her eyes, "Such a long… long…"

The Wanderer eyed the girl, encouraging her to continue.

"At first, it was just a way to kill time. I wanted to learn more about another person; the first I've ever met. But now… It's like a reprieve for me."

"Why?" She asked, "Cause it doesn't really like that to me."

"It doesn't seem that way? Really?"

"I mean, you don't look like it."

"I'm just not very expressive."

"Point taken." The woman chuckled to herself, even the girl in front of her is staring at her like daggers.

Even though the conversations they made are repetitive (in some that she can alter her words, but hey, they still imply the same message) she did enjoy these moments.

Ignoring the comment, Es began, "Now, it's been a while after we take one of your tests. So I'm going to ask you 12 questions. Don't think too hard. Answer quickly and honestly."

"Sure. Ask away."

And same as before, the Wanderer answered all the questions the girl asked. But at the same time, the Wanderer noticed the girl in front of her still stiff around her, but slowly seemed some form of… relaxation.

Which she finds happy about it.

Unlike the contrast of back whe--

"Quite the revelation, hm?"

"Hm." The Wanderer blurted back on instinct so as not to let the librarian notice anything.

"That should explain a bit of what goes on in your head. It might sound somewhat strange to say, but… Understanding one's own heart is not such an easy thing to do."

She still gets the artistic result. By the end of these tests, the Wanderer thinks nothing might change.

And she is actually scared of the implication.

"Yes. The same goes for me, of course. I don't know myself, at all. In fact, I probably know even less than you do about... About my…"

"Your… self?" The Wanderer offered.

Eyes of recognition flickered in those silver eyes. "Yes. Well. Gather more EGO, okay?"

"Or we could stay here like this." The Wanderer suggested, "I promise I won't make any noise."

"Mmm… If you say so, Wanderer. Then, I won't force you. But do keep your promise."

"I will."

Silence follows as the sound of flipping papers is the only source of it.

And while the Wanderer promised she won't make noise, her mind is whispering one question.

Why did I make a promise now?

For a while later, the Wanderer got bored with the books and decided to sit on the sofa, writing her journal about the so-far adventure she had.

It's really weird. The Wanderer thought as her hand wrote those words. Never thought I ever had in all my life that someone, to still a stranger no less, that I would make a promise. Sure, I did make some promises in another timeline, but those are kinda joke one. I thought that I stopped making one after...

"I had a strange and sudden thought…"

And isn't that perfect timing. The Wanderer closed the journal and sat at the chair beside the counter, "What's up?"

"My words, deeds, and private thoughts… Were following a script someone prepared for me."

Ah… This.

"Do I even have a will of my own, I wonder?" Es faintly frowned that the Wanderer didn't miss, "Perhaps I am someone else's mindless puppet. Perhaps I'm the only one who doesn't know it."

The Wanderer gaze turned down, and couldn't meet the girl's eyes. With what happened back in a different timeline… Could she really be… a puppet..?

"It's just a thought. I don't really believe it. You needn't take it seriously."

But the silent treatment the Wanderer gives gets the librarian on edge.

"It was inspired by something I read in a book. It stuck with me, for some reason."

With that, the Wanderer hummed, acknowledging her explanation.

But she doesn't need one anyway.

"Could I… ask you a question?"

The Wanderer's gaze finally lands on the girl.

But she feels her gaze getting steeled cold.

"Are my words truly my own?"

The silence was so overwhelming that a single drop of pen could cut the tension.

But the words the Wanderer utters next are the heaviest of all.

"... No, they're not."

The girl's eyes are flickering, trouble written across her face. "Then whose? I'm... I am..."

Internally, the Wanderer is trying hard to fight back her emotions.

This is for her. This is for her.

"You might read some of the questions in one of your books." Es then proceeds to sigh, as if trying to come up with the reason for the Wanderer's answer. "You strip away all my security, you do." Her gaze then falls back to the books on the counter. "The more you come to know yourself… The less I seem to know myself. I see that now."

The Wanderer amazingly keeps up her straight face, which is supposed to be Es' personality.

As if all those days passing with them together feels nothing…

No… It's for her.

"You're like my shadow. As my shadow grows longer, I end up… No, that's not right. If anything, I must be your…"

"..."

"..."

"..."

Averting her eyes again, Es murmured, "... Gather more EGO, will you? I'll be waiting."

The Wanderer tipped her hat then proceeded to leave the girl.

But the Wanderer can see it in Es' eyes…

The eyes of someone in crisis.

And she felt her stomach slowly twist as time went by.

Z: Hey everyone! I like to say Happy New Year here too! From me and the Alter Eg- oh come on!
Pans to where the crew of Alter Ego hiding behind ZC... Is this Deja Vu?
Z: I already done this to the MS crew!
ZC: Hey, can't help if that tension are still there even you let it out yesterday.
The librarian and the Wanderer both nodded furiously behind.
Z: I'm fine now! Really! I don't need to rant now!
Dah, fine! I'll do this alone then this time!
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
Peaceeee Out!