Caelan didn’t know how he went back to his room. In fact, the hours that followed the revelation felt like a blur. He now paced back and forth inside his room, organizing his thoughts. Only when he passed through Leopold he realized the ghost yelled at him.

“Stop fucking ignoring me!”

Teeth grinded against one another, the young man waved at his presence. “Unless you have something useful to say, don’t you dare interrupt me now!”

The spirit floated back a bit at his words. Before his eyes lit with fire. “Stop being an arrogant asshole! Especially when you proved you aren’t all that!”

That had Caelan freeze in place, body shifting to him in a deliberate manner. “What did you say?”

Leopold took a long breath before continuing. “So far we found a ton of holes in your wisdom. Don’t you think it’s time to consider you might be wrong?”

The displaced felt a rush of heat emanating from his core. “That’s impossible.”

“Why?”

The question had the fire inside him expand further. “At no point the games mention any of this.”

“And yet, here we are, in a world that shouldn’t exist, in a body you shouldn’t have!” Leopold raised his hands above his head, voice raised. “But sure, let’s pretend your encyclopedia of bullshit makes you a prophet.” He let the words sink in before continuing. “How’s that working out so far?”

Caelan wished to strike at him. To wipe out the smugness out of him. With that being a fruitless effort, he focused on something else. “That’s different.”

“Really? How so?” Caelan tried to get away from him, but the ghost kept getting closer. “Matter of fact, how do you know you ain’t the only one?”

The words sent a sharp jolt down Caelan’s spine. His breath hitched—just for a second, just long enough for his stomach to knot. No. That’s ridiculous. Impossible. His fingers curled against his leg, a grounding pressure.

It had to be impossible.

“What?”

“You already changed the way things were supposed to go by existing. Don’t you think that if others like you appeared, they would change things too?”

His words had Caelan sitting down on the bed. A part of him studied the raise possibility, but the other thought back on Sam. The endless hours spent with the games. All the different merchandise she bought and fanworks she made

How his presence in her beloved world made it feel like she watched over him.

“No.” The firmness of his tone caught Leopold by surprise. He questioned his reasons for it. “We aren’t talking about getting struck by lightning, Leopold! We’re talking about something that defies logic! If it could happen multiple times, there would be some kind of pattern. Some evidence. But there isn’t.”

Leopold watched like a metal bar had hit his head. “We know nothing of how it happened! How can you know there would be evidence? You think anyone would find out if you hadn’t told them?”

"Enough!" Caelan’s voice cracked mid-yell, throat tight with something he refused to name. He forced himself to stand, to keep moving. As if he could drown out the words echoing in his mind. “How about we focus on something real for once?”

“How else can you explain it then? Either there are other people from your world hijacking bodies, or your knowledge is useless.” That last word felt like a sting to his side. “Aren’t you the one all about thinking all possible angles?”

Caelan held at the edges of the desk. Trying to regain control over himself. “Let’s say you are right. How does that matter?” He tried to scoff at the notion. Only for it to register as more of a sigh. “I’ve done fine so far, without these imaginary threats. Now, let me focus on the biggest issue at…”

“You bloody moron!” Leopold screeched at him. “Why can’t you, for once, admit you are wrong and might be a failure for once?”

Because if he did, it would mean the connection he had with Sam hadn’t been the cause. It would just be a random freak accident. “Look, how about you go use your single brain for something else? How about new useless ways to insult people?”

The spirit’s voice turned cold. “With you, I don’t need much. Just need to ask your parents what they think of you.”

Something in Caelan snapped, his mind turned blank. “Oh, that’s rich coming from the fat loser who didn’t do anything right his entire life!” He looked at Leopold, who remained too stunned to speak. “Born as a slum rat. Became the little doggie of his noble father. Failed to do anything useful with his life!”

“You…”

“And that’s just before the REAL story begins! Do you want to know how it ends, Leopold?” Caelan gave a manic laugh, letting all his emotions free for once. “You'll remain a failure, get roped into the Cult, then die like a dog. A footnote in a tale where you never mattered!”

He expected retorts. Any acid comment or swear. Instead, Leopold had limp arms to the side.

And a look of pain and clouded eyes.

“I know.”

Then, his form glitched and he disappeared. Those two words cooled Caelan down, who sat at the bed shaking. Once more he thought back on the hospital. And the many times he let his anger get the best of him.

It always ended up with an unforgivable act. And him feeling like garbage for what he did.

He called for him. Said how sorry he felt. To no avail, for the little spirit seemed to ignore him.

He lied down, an indescribable weight over his chest. All his problems seemed small after the realization. That undeniable truth he would never admit. The one that filled him with the most pain.

He hadn’t grown in all these years.