'Are you alright?' Kalen asked, abandoning the idea of waiting for her.
'I'm fine.' Sarah replied. 'Just... surprised. Your words reminded me of someone. Anyway, it seems you are getting used to talking with a second voice in your head. Am I no longer in danger of being considered your split personality?'
Kalen chuckled. 'I shift gears quickly. Remember?' He placed one foot in the rock step separating the chamber from the tunnel, leaning over his leg while pondering.
'It's quite the maze beyond this chamber,' Sarah said. 'Easy to get lost and spend your last breaths in total darkness. Don't worry though, I know these tunnels well and can help you navigate them.'
Kalen shook his head. 'We are not leaving just yet.'
He turned back and strolled to the underground river. Having his legs again meant he could do something about the inconvenient smell of sweat and dirt glued to his body. He also hoped the brilliant river waters could magically help with the soreness lingering in his muscles. That, however, he knew was just wishful thinking.
A miracle river, he thought, capable of restoring your body's vigor. I guess am already being carried away by this fantastic reality I have — quite literally — fallen into.
'Hey! There's a lady here! You know?' Sarah protested, as Kalen removed his dirtied clothes. Her voice seemed to outline the displeasure of an offended noble woman.
'Oh. I'm sorry.' Kalen said, not masking his sarcastic tone. 'I didn't realize I would have to spend the rest of my life not bathing.'
'You can bathe.' Sarah said. 'Just keep something on.'
Kalen laughed, dipping his body in the river. 'Not gonna happen. You can't seriously expect me to never have a naked bath because of some interloper soul.'
'Hey!' Sarah's offended version returned. 'I am not an interloper! You were the one who imbued anima into the amulet.'
'I didn't know what I was doing.' Kalen dismissed, closing his eyes and doing his best to try relaxing. Only his head was kept above the water. 'And it's not like you gave me a choice either. Besides, I am sure you've seen anything there is to be seen in my memories already.'
Sarah chuckled. 'You're a fun lad. I had my doubts regarding your stubbornness from earlier but it seems you have grown comfortable with the situation rather quickly.'
'My father taught me to not waste energy fighting what I can't control.' Kalen said, organizing the ideas in his mind. 'There is still too much I don't know and you are the only one who can give me the answers. Not to mention take me out of this cave.'
'That's surprisingly mature.' Sarah noted. 'Is that why you haven't asked me yet if our connection can be undone?'
Kalen had wondered about it, ultimately deciding it wasn't relevant. 'If you went through the trouble of creating a way to maintain your soul connected to our World, you probably have a very strong reason for it. I am assuming you'll need my help to some extent — and I know I need yours — so a way to break the connection isn't on my mind right now.'
'How can you rationalize... Are you really only eighteen?'
'I am afraid so.' Kalen replied, submerging completely. 'But shouldn't you know already I wasn't considering undoing the connection? Aren't you aware of my thoughts?'
'That's the thing.' Sarah said. 'I haven't been able to listen to all your thoughts since some time after you woke up. Apart from the ones you are directly sending, only a few others reach me now and then.'
'I see.' Kalen said, finding amusement in the unusual pattern created by having a discussion inside his head while underwater. 'So it is possible to filter what I share.'
'Have you been trying to do that all this time?'
'Indeed I have.'
Kalen rose and left the river soon after. He picked up his shirt and turned it inside out to use as a makeshift towel. It was unfortunate he had very limited resources to work with — or rather, no resources at all if he discounted his clothes — but he had reached a decision on what he needed to do. The only remaining question was how long would it take.
'You told me anima is the manifestation of our soul's will.' Kalen said. 'So I have been practicing. I have been trying to listen to your thoughts as well, but that has proved quite hard to accomplish so far.'
'You have... Nevermind. I am not surprised anymore.' Sarah said. 'So I am assuming this means you'll want to continue our conversation about anima.'
Kalen sat down, his back ramrod and legs crossed. He picked up the amulet laid near the fissure and put it on, letting the cold platinum chain fall around his neck and over his bare chest. Closing his eyes, he focused. Soon, his mind turned into a white panel and the platinum hair angel princess appeared before him once again.
'Actually.' He said. 'I want you to train me.'
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