NOVEL NEXT Chapter 77 - Replica: Imposter Syndrome
Oh boy am I excited! And nervous! At this point I have done this a couple times, but it doesn't get any easier - becoming someone else and slipping into their group, smiling and nodding like you are meant to belong. We have an excellent opportunity to study groups when they first enter and receive their tickets. Most of them so far, this one included, have then taken a solid five to ten minutes of planning their strategy for the first room, while we watch from the hidden room and adjust accordingly. My sibling Echo is the one calling the shots for us doppelgangers, since they excel at spotting potential openings to exploit.
The first room of the dungeon is really our playground in terms of openings, as the master, the sprites and all of our other siblings happily play along with our schemes. Even if our lord sometimes questions the why of it.
I have to stop ruminating though - focus, Replica - as the party has gathered beyond the crowd already. With this group at least we can be reasonably sure that they are not cultists, though of course there is the chance that they employ shapeshifting like ourselves, or brainwashing, or maybe even possession so one can never be one hundred percent certain. Whatever the case, we just have to make sure they have no chance of beating Siegfried, that way the master will be sure to be safe. Echo says so at least, and they are very smart.
All of us stumble out of the illusory crowd and take a moment to right ourselves. I make sure to adjust my movements appropriately for my borrowed form. It is still awkward for me to deal with a new form every day, especially without having much time to practice for each one, but I am getting better at general adventurer behavior. Look! I start taking stock of my gear and inspecting my surroundings, just like an adventurer would after that experience!
The Leader, Simon, takes the initiative to check the state of his party and I give him a barely perceptible nod to indicate my readiness - well done Replica, that was just like the original! - before looking at the rest of my “companions”. All of them are taking several moments to right themselves and brushing themselves off. I take a moment to fix my hair in a casual, nonchalant manner like I have seen the original do during their discussion while Simon is looking at me again, before he turns toward the mannequin manning the gate. Did he see that? I hope he paid attention, I think I did great there!
Oh, but what if I didn’t? What if I did something wrong? What if he suspects something is up? No, don’t be nervous Replica, there is no way they can tell you are not who you are pretending to be. Looking at Simon, he seems to be focused on another member of the group now, anyways. If he were suspicious, he would look at you right now, Replica, just stay cool, calm and collected, and stick to your role. I take a steading breath as I fix my posture and face these strangers as their comrade once more.
While I was having a small bout of anxiety, Simon has started engaging with the gatekeeping mannequin. He quickly grasps the point of this exchange and leads his compatriots in handing in their tickets. I drop mine in as well, restraining myself from nervously chuckling a little at the pointless gesture of handing in my stolen prize. But for the sake of appearance, I need to fit in with my “fellow adventurers”.
Joining some of them over near the gate we wait for the final ticket to be handed in until the mannequin bows to us and the gate swings open, revealing the hallway leading up to the stage, as well as a chest sitting in the middle of the hallway. I twist my face in surprise, the expression not quite familiar, even though I expected this to happen. Most of them kept their tickets, after all! The Delvers did a great job against the less planned out complications, like the pack of sphinxes and the sprites' creative assaults. Of course, against Echo's plans they were utterly helpless, but that's just to be expected. Echo is amazing, after all.
Simon hesitates for a moment to look at us, before resolutely pushing open the lid and dragging his hand back, probably expecting a trap or a tongue dripping acid. Of course I know nothing is wrong with the chest, but I still enter a stance of readiness along with the Delvers, my borrowed gear raised in anticipation. After no licks come forth and nothing explodes, all of us relax our postures and Simon peeks his head into the chest.
Kneeling down, he pulls out a length of fabric, revealing a colorful scarf. Looking back at the group, he speaks up.
“As agreed I will hold onto the loot for now, unless you have objections now, Ellie, Harry, Nathan?”
“None!” “No.” “Go ahead.” comes back the answer in triplicate. Satisfied with this response, Simon stashes the scarf in his backpack, before getting up again.
Nodding down the hallway he once more addresses the group of adventurers and monsters playing at being adventurers.
“Shall we press on?”
And so, we continue our trip down a familiar hallway, deeper into the dungeon, where my siblings get ready to put on their show.