Sometimes, life exists in peculiar ways. This peculiarity allows a life to persist for a significant time, even when its physical form has been submerged in a deep slumber within the tranquil realm for years. Few can master this peculiar method, yet this very peculiarity constantly and profoundly influences every individual life form. Unless you have no name.
Igor and Arnold were skipping back and forth within the Time Gap. Meanwhile, in the current world where the timelines forming this gap collided, Kadi and the Spirit Book watched the spasming Igor, utterly at a loss.
"If we can't enter that space, can we not help Igor?" Kadi was very worried, as Igor's convulsions were truly terrifying.
"'I am searching for a solution. You must understand, a Spirit Book can locate a message fairly quickly. However, it also needs to concentrate and cannot be interrupted,' the Spirit Book replied, its tone typically pompous after Igor had turned vacant.
Igor would occasionally convulse or mutter a few unintelligible words. These states were fleeting and hard to grasp.
"'It seems easier for individuals in the Time Gap to transmit information outward than for those outside to relay messages into the Time Gap.'" The Spirit Book rustled through its pages and quickly understood that Igor had entered the gap created by the colliding timelines.
"'Are you implying that Igor is attempting to communicate with us?'"
"'It states here that individuals who enter the Time Gap cannot use their physical bodies to send messages to those outside. Employing such a method to communicate would only heighten the existing chaos within the colliding timelines.'"
"'Huh? So you're suggesting Igor wasn't trying to relay information to us earlier?'"
"'Perhaps it was just an instinctive reaction from his body's initial inability to adapt to the Time Gap,' the Spirit Book conjectured, though without real certainty.
"'So, what should we do now?' Kadi felt completely powerless once again.
"'I'm still searching for a way to converse with Master inside the Time Gap,' the Spirit Book continued, its pages rustling.
"'I've found it!' The Spirit Book finally exclaimed, having made a breakthrough!
"'What's the plan?' Kadi asked, increasingly impatient.
"'Remember, I, the great Lord Soron, am a remarkable Wizard, hmph!' boasted the Spirit Book. It behaved as though failing to gloat about itself would cause it to fade into oblivion.
"'Great Lord Soron, you're capable of anything! Please tell us what to do! We will remember your name forever.' Unlike Igor, Kadi had no objections to the Spirit Book's grandiose claims and responded skillfully.
Whether intentional or not, Kadi's statement also touched upon the essence of an ancient sorcery. This ancient sorcery could allow life to persist long-term and could influence all Living Beings. This ancient sorcery was the power of true names. And the message Kadi wished to convey to Igor was related to this very thing.
Now, they just had to wait for the Spirit Book to find a way to relay the message.
"'The most effective way to transmit messages into the Time Gap is through Spellcraft. Fortunately, I, Lord Soron, happen to know this Spellcraft!'"
"'One simply needs to use a Medium to transmit the signal, sending it across via Spellcraft.' The Spirit Book made it sound easy. In reality, it was an entirely different matter, as it was not a Wizard and therefore lacked the ability to perform Spellcraft.
This great responsibility naturally fell to Kadi.
The process was neither overly long nor excessively short.
For this, the Spirit Book exhausted its long-accumulated Spirit Power and fell back into a deep sleep, while Kadi was also utterly spent.
Only Igor and Arnold, in the Time Gap, would know the outcome of their efforts.
In the Time Gap, Arnold extended his hand, a smile on his face.
"Allow me to personally see you off!"
Expressionless, Igor looked up at Arnold.
"'Hmm?' Arnold gestured with his hand, again motioning for the prone Igor to rise.
But Igor merely blinked. He expressed no intention to stand, though his gaze grew progressively firmer, as if he had discovered something new or devised a fresh plan.
"'It's over, Igor,' Arnold reiterated.
Yet, Igor remained unmoved. His earlier look of resignation vanished, and he seemed to have regained his strength and initial vigor.
"'Hello, Arnold,' Igor stated, his tone unexpectedly level, neither servile nor overbearing.
Hearing this name, Arnold flinched as if dealt a heavy blow. His outstretched hand froze mid-air, motionless.
How could this be? How could this boy, Igor, know that name?
"'Or perhaps, I should call you Arnold?' Igor said, his confidence returning as he abruptly rose from the ground.
Upon hearing 'Arnold' this time, he staggered backward as if struck by an arrow, clutching his chest and struggling to keep his balance.
What... what in the world is happening?
Arnold's mind descended into chaos; this was something he could never have anticipated.
"'Which name do you want your legacy to be remembered by: Arnold, or Arnold?' Igor continued.
One blow landed, then another. The infant-like half of Arnold's face twitched, just as the trembling in his elderly-looking other half reached its peak. This was a collision of chaos, and at the same time, a clash of memories.
"'Which name should I use? I assume the nickname 'Two-Faced' must have come from these two names, right?'"
"'You... how did you...' Arnold's mind was still reeling, and he struggled to control his emotions and words.
"'True names often hold great power. Though I've never encountered it myself, I've heard many legends about flying dragons.' Igor grinned. He understood this ancient sorcery: the connection between a name and its essence, the power of true names. Yonder Travel Academy really did teach everything and cover all sorts of subjects.
"'You...' Arnold's face twitched incessantly. One moment he was Arnold, the next he was Arnold; the chaos made it hard to distinguish.
"'I just called your name. Arnold. Oh, no, I mean, Arnold,' Igor said, remarkably calm as he continued to alternate between Arnold's names.
The 'Two-Faced' Arnold reacted differently to his alternate names: aggression and meekness, frenzy and composure. A myriad of emotions intertwined because of these two names.
"'Flying dragons often hide their identities by concealing their names. I wonder what you—Arnold, no, Arnold—are hiding with these two names? Why do you react so strongly when someone calls you by them?' Igor mused, stroking his chin, genuinely puzzled.
Arnold struggled, his face contorted hideously, looking as if he were on the verge of collapse.
'In its name, awaken the dormant reality.' Igor recited silently, well aware of the power of a true name.
Sometimes, shattering something merely requires calling its name.