Memories and Identity(3)

"What?", I asked with a blank look.

"Fu fu it seems this is not something you had expected.", Aerith said as a mischievous smile crept up on her face as if she enjoyed that my calm and indifferent persona had finally crumbled.

'Dusk Nightmoon and Dusk Jones are the same person? Hmm....what does this mean', faced with such an absurd statement I fell in deep thought.

At first, I doubted the credibility of her words but it did not seem like she was lying. So I started reminding myself of every detail she mentioned before in her story. I was able to find a clue in all of that.

"You mentioned before that you could sense something strange in your son's soul right after he was born..." I said as pieces of the puzzle started connecting in my mind.

"Oh? You're quite sharp. You're on the right track, young man." , she said with a slightly surprised tone.

"Yes, I did in fact mention that my son's soul was strange from the start. To elaborate furthermore, his soul felt like nothing like the ones in this world.....", She hinted as she seemingly expected me to finish her explanation for her.

"So you're saying that instead of taking over someone else's body I was just naturally born into this world despite being an anomaly?" I expressed my suspicions.

"Correct. Although you are an anomaly, it doesn't mean you would have to be brought into this world through unnatural means. Dusk Nightmoon and Dusk Jones have the same soul. The only difference between them is-"

"-their memories.....", I finished for her.

She smiled brightly as if to confirm my words.

"I see. So although he and I have the same soul, up until 4 and a half years he was a version of me that started completely anew . After that, the goddess likely gave him my memories thinking that the time was right.", I said with a look of understanding.

However, there was something that still bothered me. It's pleasant to hear that this body and life was mine to begin with but I couldn't ignore this issue.

"Mrs Nightmoon, I can see the logic behind your statement about your child and me being the same person at our core but.... memories can make a person for who they are. He grew up in a completely different environment than I did and although he had little time he still somewhat developed his own feelings and personality. Although he is a child it is evident that his personality greatly differs from mine as we had different circumstances." I paused before saying any further, to prepare for the answer to my concerns.

"So I'd like to ask a few questions. What will happen to Nightmoon's memories? Will his memories and mine fuse? or will his memories simply remain sealed with my head? I'm sure you understand how important this is for me as it will likely impact me in some way." I told her my concerns, eagerly waiting for a response. Though I didn't show it outwardly as I kept my usual calm and collected expression.

That aside, if Dusk Nightmoon's memories were to truly flow into my head, it is possible that I would change. A person's past can make them for who they are, so being able to recall someone else's feelings of joy, grief and everything else is quite dangerous as it could confuse one to the point where they might doubt their own identity.

"Unfortunately the goddess said she can't stop my son's memories from flowing into your head as the other deities will find out about you if she intervenes any further. However she also said you won't have to worry too much about changing as a person. Since the memories are that of a child and very young one at that, the influence it would bring should be negligible."

Although I didn't like the idea, I decided to accept it. I don't know what the other deities will do to me if they find out about my existence but I imagine it can't be anything good.

"I understand.", I said while hiding my displeasure.

Afterwards I asked her another question that's been bothering me,

"Also right now, am I in the past? The Dusk I saw seemed younger than the one I became", I asked with curiosity.

"Yes, you are indeed in the past. We both have the goddess to thank for that. Without her, we wouldn't be able to meet each other. But it seems our time together is almost over"

"Hmm. I see. Well I'd like to thank you as you gave me crucial information, Mrs Nightmoon.", I expressed my gratitude.

I was about to bid her goodbye when I noticed that strangely enough, she didn't seem happy at what I said. If anything she looked somewhat sad.

After an awkward few seconds she hesitantly asked something that I hadn't considered,

"Why don't you call me mother instead? You do have the same soul as my child."

".....I have no obligation to call you that. Although you are my mother in the sense that Dusk Nightmoon and I share the same soul, I still don't think it's right for me to call a woman I don't know at all my mother", I coldly replied.

"Well aren't you somewhat indebted to me? Are you going to leave without even trying to pay your debts? Wow, my little dusk was a much more respectable man than you are, despite him being a little boy.....", the despicable woman said with a mischievous smile on her face.

Her words made me sigh heavily. But alas I don't like feeling indebted to anyone so I couldn't help but accept this. However, I didn't feel as annoyed as I expected myself to be. If anything, this interaction between us felt strangely nostalgic and familiar.

"Fine.", I said with a bitter expression.

"Thank you for your help..... mother."

After hearing those words, Mrs Nightmoon or rather my birth mother of this world flashed a beautiful smile at me, filled with pure happiness. I could also see her eyes had gotten teary.

"Thank you, Dusk. I know you don't see me as your mother and It's true I don't know much about you. But I still think of you as my son, regardless. I don't know what hardships you have faced to cause you to be so different from the Dusk I know but there's no mistake that you are my child. After all, you sighed just like the little boy I knew, who would do the same when he'd get annoyed at my mischievous demands.", The woman said as tears trickled down her face.

Her words and expression caused something within me to soften up a bit. I couldn't help but feel something warm inside, a warmth I hadn't felt since the early periods of my childhood.

I had a strong desire to say something in response but I didn't know what to say. So I decided to smile for the first time in our meeting.

"Ah", She let out a strange sound

"You're....smiling...", she said as if she couldn't process the situation.

"Think of it as a little bit extra for your help, mother.", I said while maintaining my smile.

Usually I would feel annoyed at having to force a smile. But that didn't happen this time, likely because my smile wasn't forced at all. I wondered what this woman had, that was making me do things I would have never done otherwise. Perhaps it was the extreme kindness she was showing me despite us practically being strangers. Or perhaps it was something else. I didn't know at the time.

"Thank you....Thank you so much.....Dusk. I love you, my child. I wish we could meet again but.....", she stopped herself from saying any further.

"But?", I asked.

"No....It's nothing. Farewell Dusk." She said with a seemingly satisfied expression.

After this the world around us crumbled and my vision turned black before I could press her for answers. It seemed her deep affection for me and her hasty attempt at making me call her my mother was because she knew things I didn't.

If I had known about her situation that day, maybe I wouldn't have minded sacrificing some of my skill developing time to chat with her.