In a vast gray world that seemingly stretches out infinitely there appears to be only two silhouettes.
As one of them starts the conversation in a calm and mannered tone with a hint of guilt.
"So, Selene… how does it feel now that the one who stole half of your life is in front of you?"
As the other replies in a more confident tone. "To be honest, I really didn't expect you to call me by something only my brother uses."
"Well… I couldn't think of anything better to call you. This seems like it will bring me closer to you faster."
With just a snap of his finger, a white round table with black vine pattern with two chairs on opposite sides of each other appears.
The male silhouette sits down on a chair and offers the other to do the same.
"You should also sit down, speaking while standing may be a bit uncomfortable for a child like you."
As the female silhouette sits down– clearly annoyed. "Seems like your sarcastic personality is back, it was rare in the last four years of your life."
"Well, of course it would be rare after what happened." He says in a weirdly cheerful tone.
With another snap of finger from the female silhouette, two cups of tea appear in front of them.
"And remember that with your memories, I am well over thirty… even though I was only born fourteen years ago."
"Well, the same goes for me now. Since I also have your memories. Without them, do you think I could act like how I am doing right now?" He asks in a complacent tone.
"Yeah, yeah. You should, you didn't pass out for no reason, did you? And… could you please not fake your feelings?" She asked in an annoyed tone.
"You do know that we can at least feel each other's feelings."
"...Yes. So, what are we supposed to do now? We don't even know where the Stigma is. Moreover you are also not that strong." He said in a more serious tone.
The female silhouette speaks while sipping her tea. "From all the myths about the Stigma of emptiness, all I can say is that it surely is in the north."
"I know that, and that's precisely why I'm more confused on what to do. How are we supposed to find something like that, in the north!" He stood up saying that before sitting on the chair again.
As the male silhouette snaps his finger again, a giant garden with various types of flowers and plants appears with a clear blue sky and no hint of clouds.
Even though the infinite gray space was literally infinite, the garden also seemed to stretch infinitely as there was no hint of the plain gray void.
"Ha… I think I'm too agitated even though I only woke up a few minutes ago." He sighs as he speaks.
"This doesn't look like the gray void anymore." The girl said a bit irritated.
"It doesn't, but it also doesn't feel as pale and boring as before." The man replied.
"Considering everything, I think we will take five years at most to obtain stigma, as well as the thing that will hold your soul inside the homunculus."
The girl said in a calm and mannered tone. Even though the other party could clearly feel that was not the case.
"But, even if we do get the stigma… how are we going to transfer my soul?" He asked, guessing but still confused.
"You do know that the stigmas have their own will. When everything is done, it can store your soul if it does choose you." She replies.
The man leans back in his chair with the cup of tea in his hand before taking a sip.
"... It's sweet."
"It is. Even a normal sugar is enough to make something sweet, why can't the best of them?"
Suddenly the man gets up from his chair as he snaps his fingers and the entire place changes again.
This time an octagon shaped arena with a rough stone floor. The entire place changes back to the same gray void it was with only the arena that was left.
Then he snaps his finger again and his long and messy hair with his burn mark vanishes as he is dressed with a bright white taekwondo uniform with a black belt.
"Ha… it feels really nostalgic to wear this after so many years." Han exclaims.
Now his messy and long hair is gone, short hairs around that are 3 inches at most. With his burn marks as well as the paleness in his skin gone, his handsomeness can't be ignored.
As Han looks towards the girl in front of him, he snaps his fingers again as she also appears to wear a taekwondo uniform with her long soft wavy violet hair tied in a ponytail.
"So, Selene, shall we have a test of your skill in taekwondo?" He appears to be really calm as well as excited.
Hearing the sudden proposal as well as the situation, the girl finds herself uncomfortable at first but quickly takes a fighting stance.
"1,2,3… ready or not, here I go." Han declares before quickly covering the distance between them.
Before she could react, Han quickly throws a front kick at her guts which completely throws her off.
Before she could react– another side kick comes from her left side, just when she's about to block it with her arms as a shield another side kick comes from her right side.
Before she could stabilize herself, a back kick targeted her chest. As it hits her, she gets thrown far away.
As another roundhouse kick follows, she barely holds onto it with her hands, still in pain from the last attack.
"You… are actually pretty decent to be honest. Didn't really expect you to block that." Han exclaims before the leg she was grabbing onto rushes at her with more force which hits her in the head.
Gasping for breath, she replies in an irritated tone. "I barely mastered it after around three or so years, which you did only in a single year."
She pauses for a moment before continuing. "Your physical strength in your prime is already considered to be at least three times stronger than the average human."
Han looks at her for a while before saying. "There's still a lot of time left until you wake up, we can still try out other things in the meantime."
As he approaches her cracking his fingers which only goes to terrify her more.
—***—
Early in the morning, the sun came out quite some time ago. Selica wakes up from her sleep, still drowsy and mentally tired.
Rubbing her eyes, she looks at her side where appears to be a woman. Silver hair which shines from the sunlight as well as silver eyelashes. Fair skin and beauty so much to the point that even if she were in her forties, no one would believe it.
The woman was sleeping right beside Selica, hugging her tightly. As Selica tried to move the woman away without waking her up. And the worst case scenario, she wakes up.
"Mm… did I fall asleep?" She says in a drowsy voice before noticing that Selica is awake. Even her irises are silver.
"Are you okay?! Do you still remember what happened last night? Just tell me if you are feeling unwell, I will call the doctors–"
Before she could continue anymore, Selica cuts her off. "Mom, I'm okay. What do you mean what happened last night? Wasn't I in a daze, basically unconscious like always?"
Which also stops her from shaking Selica anymore.
"You don't remember anything? Really? You really don't remember anything?!" She exclaims, confused.
She stays there sitting for a moment before getting up and walking out of the room. "Unfortunately your father has gone to a meeting regarding your grandfather and your brother is too far away."
After she walks away Selica finally lets out a sigh of relief as she lies down on her bed again.
[So, the guards and the maid got the words out.]
"Ahh!"
Suddenly hearing the words Selica becomes extremely surprised and horrified as a guard quickly enters the room hearing her.
"My lady! Is something wrong!"
Seeing the guard, she quickly regains her composure as she dismisses him saying there's nothing wrong.
'You… you really scared the hell out of me!'
[Well, it was not my fault. How could I know that you would be so scared.]
Ignoring everything she asks the voice in her head in a curious tone.
'So, what kind of place are you in? Is it something like an infinite white space?'
[Yes. It is indeed an infinite white void. Just like how yours is black.]
Selica stretches her body while lying down as she says. 'That is also how the gray void came to be. My hypothesis was correct that it is a merged world.'
[Well, that was just obvious. But… what are you going to do now?]
Selica doesn't answer his question as she herself contemplates on what to do. After a while she answers.
'I don't know. Maybe study a bit more about anatomy or something like that?'
[You… right. We don't even know where the stigma exactly is and your role is to precisely find it and use it.]
'That is also precisely why I have to study all these more.'
Laying down, she couldn't clearly think of what to do as she finally got up from her bed which could easily get more than five people to lay there.
She walks up to the big window in the room. Its polished dark frame was also made with the finest of woods which made it look luxurious even though it didn't have any special design to it.
As she opens the window a gush of wind enters the room as well as sunlight shines more brightly on her.
She looks out the window and a giant garden with a variety of flowers, trees and such could be seen. Gardeners could be seen grooming the whole garden.
The clear blue sky that stretched out as far as one could see. Mountains so big that it could still be vividly seen from really far away.
A scenery so beautiful and calming that it seemed like it could cure any stress from any human being.