Given An Unwanted Second Chance

Chapter 49

This just got a lot more serious than before.

I looked down for a moment before looking back at Cryo.  "How fast can you get Gradient to learn, and what repercussions are you expecting?"

Cryo folded their hands in front of them, still looking uneasy.  "Then fastest I can do without risking tearing apart his very being is 3 months.  But the longer I give him, the less severe the side effects.  It's up to you."

I blinked.  "U-Up to...me?  Why?"

"You care deeply for him.  You were in his life before, and I feel like you have the final say in this matter."

"I'm...not his parent."

Cryo shook their head.  "Error won't want to expedite his learning, and Ink is not someone to ask.  You were the first for Gradient as Ethan."

I crossed my arms, biting my lip.  "You're asking me something extremely tough.  The sooner we can fix our multiverse, the better, but I don't want Gradient suffering horrific side effects for the rest of eternity, either."

"A compromise, then? "

I frowned a bit.  I turned my attention to the entity residing in my head.  Nightmare?

I could almost feel Nightmare jump a bit at my direct question.  Do you need me for something?

How long should I ask for?

Nightmare was silent for a bit before replying.  Considering 3 months is the fastest, and we're looking at a year minimum before the multiverse is screwed, perhaps 8 months is the best compromise.

I glanced back at Cryo.  "Let's try for 8 months.  Not too fast, not too late."

Cryo nodded.  "We can do that."

I took a shaky breath again as Cryo continued speaking.  "How was Nightmare in your dreamscape?  Was he okay? "

There was a strange uneasiness in my head that I registered was not my own.  Nightmare was uneasy about something...

"He, uh...almost disappeared.  I'm not sure how, but while I was panicking, I think I...bonded with him?  He's okay now, I think...  More than okay.  He's more...aware."

Cryo took a moment to respond.  "More...aware? "

I summoned my soul, taking a step towards the watery portal to show them.  Cryo also took a step forward, examining the soul.  Their eyes locked on to the small black blemish.  "That little spot was not there before..."

They raised their eyes to mine.  "More aware?  Can the guardian hear us? "

I'm not the guardian anymore...  Nightmare grumbled in my head.

"He...said he's not the guardian anymore."  I said uneasily.

Cryo blinked.  "You took the guardian's body and soul, leaving his essence to drift because of his previous bonds.  With what you did, you have bound his essence back to his soul.  Your soul?  He's more conscious now..."  They trailed off, seeming curious.

You said Cryo is the embodiment of this...Mainframe, right?  And they...erased a previous entity?  So they're extremely powerful...

Cryo hummed.  "Can you summon the tendrils? "

I let my soul fade and did so, the 4 large tendrils sprouting from my back with ease.

There was a bit of muted shock in my mind.  I...I can control them.