I took a slow breath.
Then stood.
The mirrors hadn't changed—
but something about them felt… closer. Watching.
Not the same ones.
Not the same trap.
"…So it adapts."
My eyes moved across the room until one caught my attention.
Left side.
Just a few centimeters from my head.
An inverted triangle.
Different.
"…That's the one."
I didn't hesitate.
The moment my fingers touched the surface—
Light exploded.
Blinding.
Violent.
I shut my eyes, raising my arm just enough to shield what I could.
A few seconds.
Or maybe longer.
Then—
Silence.
When I opened my eyes…
Kim was there.
And Alya.
Sitting on a bench, casually eating ice cream like nothing had ever gone wrong.
Like none of this had ever happened.
I froze.
…Then I smiled.
"…So this is your move now."
I already knew.
Of course I did.
This wasn't real.
None of it was.
And still—
I walked toward them.
"Dark! Over here!"
Kim waved energetically.
I let out a quiet breath and sat beside Alya.
She smiled.
Then pulled me into an embrace.
Warm.
Soft.
Familiar.
I let my head rest against her chest.
"…Everything okay, love?"
Her voice was gentle.
Careful.
Real.
"…Yeah. It's just… nothing."
A lie.
She kept stroking my hair.
"…Are you sure?"
"…Yeah."
She held me tighter.
And for a moment—
I closed my eyes.
I know this isn't real.
I know exactly what happens next.
I know how this ends.
…So why—
Why does this feel so real?
I loved her.
That wasn't fake.
Even if this was.
Even if this was just another trap—
…this moment—
was everything I wanted.
She pulled away and stood.
"Come on. Let's take a walk."
I nodded.
Took her hand.
And followed.
The park was peaceful.
Families laughing.
People talking.
Children running.
Normal.
Painfully normal.
Alya smiled as she watched them.
"…You know…"
She glanced at me.
"I can't wait for the day we get married."
My eyes widened instantly.
Heat rushed to my face.
"A–Alya—!"
She burst into laughter.
That same laugh.
The one that always broke my guard.
"What? You don't want that?"
"I—I didn't say that, it's just—"
"See?"
She leaned closer.
"You want it too."
"…Alya."
She laughed again.
Then, after a moment—
Her expression softened.
She stepped closer.
Rested her forehead against mine.
"Promise me something."
I held her hands.
"…What is it?"
"That we'll stay together."
Her eyes locked onto mine.
"…Forever."
I knew.
I knew exactly what this was.
A trap.
A setup.
A promise designed to break.
…I still answered.
"I promise."
She smiled.
Satisfied.
Then kissed me.
Softly.
Gently.
And pulled away.
For a moment—
I forgot everything.
The loop.
The deaths.
The mirrors.
Everything.
I closed my eyes.
If this is fake…
Then let me stay here just a little longer.
When I opened them again—
The sky was red.
Empty.
Silent.
Wrong.
"…Alya?"
No answer.
No people.
No sound.
Only wind—
violent—
tearing through the trees.
I started walking.
Then faster.
Then running.
"…Where are you…?"
My voice felt… distant.
Like it didn't belong to me.
Then—
My foot hit something.
I looked down.
And froze.
A body.
Lifeless.
Drowning in crimson.
"…No…"
I stepped back—
and tripped.
Falling hard against the ground.
I turned—
And saw them.
Alya.
Kim.
Both on the ground.
Both impaled.
Clean.
Precise.
Too precise.
Blood spreading beneath them like a silent ocean.
My breathing broke.
Hands trembling.
Heart slamming against my ribs like it wanted out.
"…No… no… no…"
Alya moved.
Barely.
Her hand reached—
gripping my leg weakly.
Her voice—
a whisper.
Broken.
"You… didn't keep your promise…"
My vision blurred.
Tears fell before I could stop them.
"You left me…"
Her grip tightened just slightly.
"…I died alone."
Something inside me shattered.
"NO—!"
The scream tore through my throat.
I dropped beside her, pulling her into my arms.
"I'm sorry—I'm sorry—I'm sorry—!"
My hands were shaking.
Covered in blood.
"I didn't mean to—I didn't—!"
Her body was cold.
Too cold.
"Don't leave me—please—!"
My voice cracked completely.
"I don't want to be alone again… please…"
I held her tighter.
As if that could bring her back.
As if I could undo it.
As if—
Something pierced my chest.
Sharp.
Sudden.
Cold.
My breath stopped.
Blood filled my mouth instantly.
I looked down.
A blade.
Through me.
…Of course.
My grip loosened.
And I fell—
still holding her—
as everything faded.
…
Darkness.
…
I opened my eyes.
Back in the chamber.
My breathing was unstable.
But I wasn't panicking.
Not screaming.
Not breaking.
…Just empty.
Color drained from my vision.
Everything felt distant.
Muted.
Pointless.
I didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't react.
The professor's voice echoed faintly in my mind—
but it didn't reach me.
Not really.
…I failed again.
Slowly—
I closed my eyes.
…and let the silence take me.
*
The mirror didn't respond.
"…What?"
I touched it again.
Nothing.
Again.
Still nothing.
A faint frown formed on my face.
"…Did it break?"
That didn't make sense.
This place wasn't random.
Everything had a pattern.
Everything had a purpose.
Then—
Light.
A different mirror.
Behind me.
The same one Dark had touched.
"…So that's how it works."
Before I could think further—
The light exploded.
I shut my eyes instantly.
And when I opened them—
I was sitting beside him.
Dark.
We were on a bench.
Looking at the sky.
Peaceful.
Calm.
Safe.
He turned toward me and smiled.
That same quiet smile.
The one I loved.
Something inside my chest tightened.
I didn't think.
Didn't hesitate.
I wrapped my arms around him.
Holding him tightly.
As if he could disappear.
"…Alya?"
His voice was soft.
"…Did something happen?"
I smiled.
Even as my eyes filled with tears.
"…Nothing."
A lie.
"…I'm just really happy to see you."
He didn't question it.
Didn't pull away.
So I held him tighter.
I know this isn't real.
I know exactly what this is.
But I don't care.
Not right now.
"…Dark."
My voice trembled slightly.
"I'm going to protect you."
I tightened my grip just a little more.
"I won't let anything happen to you."
Even if this isn't the real you…
I still mean it.
He smiled.
That gentle, trusting smile.
And that's when everything broke.
A blink.
That's all it took.
The world shifted.
We were running.
An empty street.
Ruined.
Silent.
Wrong.
"…What—?"
My breath caught instantly.
Behind us—
A presence.
Heavy.
Violent.
I turned.
And saw it.
A priest.
Towering.
Cloaked.
Holding a massive scythe.
"…Move!"
Dark grabbed my hand.
Pulling me forward.
We ran.
Fast.
But—
Not fast enough.
I could feel it.
Dark was slowing down.
His steps unstable.
His breathing uneven.
He was pushing himself.
For me.
"…No…"
My chest tightened.
Then—
He stumbled.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
He stopped.
Opened a car door—
and shoved me inside.
"Dark—?!"
The door slammed shut.
Locked.
He turned toward me.
Smiling.
"I'll be the one who protects you."
"…No."
My voice cracked instantly.
"No—no, no, NO—!"
The scythe came down.
It pierced his shoulder.
A scream tore out of me.
Raw.
Broken.
But he didn't fall.
That was the worst part.
He stayed alive.
The priest spoke.
Cold.
Empty.
"Your sin must be purged in the name of Lord Methusalen."
The scythe rose again.
And came down.
His leg.
Then the other.
I slammed my fists against the glass.
"STOP—!"
The impact was weak.
Pathetic.
"STOP IT—!"
I kicked the door.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Nothing.
I couldn't break it.
I couldn't help him.
I couldn't do anything.
"…Move…"
My voice dropped.
Shaking.
"…Move!"
I forced more strength into my body.
Again.
Again—
Nothing.
"…Why…?"
The scythe continued.
Arms.
Back.
Each strike—
A spray of blood against the glass.
Against me.
His screams filled everything.
And I just watched.
"…Why can't I protect you…?"
Tears blurred my vision.
My hands trembled violently.
The priest spoke again.
"You made a meaningless promise."
A pause.
Then—
"You are as useless as it was."
Something inside me broke.
"NO—!"
The final strike came down.
Silence.
My breathing stopped.
Then—
The priest turned toward me.
Raised the scythe.
And brought it down.
Everything shattered.
…
I opened my eyes.
Back in the chamber.
My body was shaking.
Uncontrollably.
"…No…"
My voice came out broken.
"No… no… no… no…"
I stood up—
Then slammed my fist into the nearest mirror.
Again.
Again.
Again.
"NO—!"
My hands cracked.
Blood smeared across the glass.
I grabbed my head.
Pulling at my hair.
"I couldn't do anything—!"
My breathing became erratic.
My vision unstable.
"I couldn't save him—!"
The panic turned into something worse.
Something deeper.
"I was useless—!"
Everything spun.
Collapsed.
Shattered.
And then—
Nothing.
Darkness took me.
A forced sleep.
A merciful one.
Because if it hadn't—
I would've broken completely.
*
I exhaled slowly.
"…Alright."
My eyes scanned the mirrors again.
Different shapes.
Different angles.
Different traps.
"First one didn't work…"
I touched it again.
Nothing.
Again.
Still nothing.
"…So it's not random."
A pattern.
There had to be one.
Then—
Light.
Another mirror.
Higher.
Closer to my left side.
Inverted triangle.
"…Got it."
I stepped forward—
And touched it.
The light detonated instantly.
I shut my eyes—
But didn't move.
Didn't panic.
"…Let's see what you've got."
…
When I opened my eyes—
I was home.
The smell hit first.
Warm.
Familiar.
Safe.
"…No way."
The table.
The dishes.
The soft light filtering through the window.
And her.
"…Mom?"
She looked at me—
With that same calm, gentle expression.
"Kim."
Her voice was warm.
"I'm proud of you."
I froze.
"…What?"
She smiled.
Soft.
Real.
"You've become a worthy bearer of our flames."
My chest tightened slightly.
"You'll protect those who can't protect themselves."
She placed her hand over mine.
"And you'll make the right choices with the power you've inherited."
…No.
Something felt off.
Not wrong.
Not fake.
Just—
Too perfect.
"…Or," I said, leaning back slightly,
"I could just rob a bank so you and Dad don't have to work anymore."
A pause.
Then—
We both laughed.
Real laughter.
"…Idiot," she said softly.
I smiled.
Then straightened.
"No. I won't fail you."
My voice steadied.
"Not you. Not Grandma. Not any of them."
I met her eyes.
Determined.
"I'll be a great bearer of the Aiory flames."
She stood up—
And hugged me.
"I love you, Kim."
I closed my eyes.
"…I love you too."
…This isn't real.
I know that.
So why—
Why does it feel like something I can lose?
I opened my eyes.
And everything was burning.
I was in the sky.
Flames surrounded the city.
Endless.
Uncontrolled.
"…No…"
Bodies.
Everywhere.
Charred.
Collapsed.
Gone.
My breathing hitched.
"…No… no… no…"
My flames.
This—
This was my fire.
"I didn't—"
My voice broke.
"I wouldn't—"
Tears blurred my vision.
"I wouldn't do this…"
I dropped lower—
Floating above the destruction.
"I failed…"
My hands trembled.
"I failed her…"
My flames flickered violently around me.
Unstable.
Responding.
"I destroyed everything…"
My chest tightened.
Harder.
"I killed innocent people…"
The words hit harder the moment I said them.
"…Because I lost control."
Tears streamed down my face.
Unstoppable.
I covered my eyes—
Trying to block it out.
Then—
The fall.
I let myself drop.
"…Maybe this is what I deserve."
But before I hit the ground—
Someone caught me.
"…Kim."
I looked up.
"…Xia?"
She held me firmly.
Calm.
Steady.
"Relax," she said.
"You didn't do anything wrong."
"…What?"
She sighed.
"The city was attacked. The priests of Methusalen."
Her expression hardened slightly.
"They killed Alya. The others too."
My heart stopped.
"…No…"
"You lost control after that," she continued.
"And this happened."
I looked around again.
The destruction.
"…And them?"
She clenched her jaw.
"They all escaped."
Silence.
So—
All of this—
"For nothing…?"
My voice came out hollow.
"…I killed thousands…"
My hands shook violently.
"…for nothing…"
Tears fell harder.
"I didn't want to hurt anyone…"
My voice broke completely.
"I just wanted to protect you…"
Xia softened slightly.
"I know."
She pulled me closer.
"I know, Kim."
I held onto her.
Tightly.
"…I didn't mean to…"
My flames flickered again.
Unstable.
I didn't notice.
Not at first.
Then—
Heat.
Too close.
"…Kim…?"
Her voice shifted.
I froze.
The flames.
They were spreading.
"…No…"
I tried to pull back—
But it was too late.
Fire engulfed her completely.
"…XIA—!"
Three seconds.
That's all it took.
Her body collapsed.
Gone.
My hands trembled.
"…I did it again…"
My voice barely existed.
"I did it again…"
Everything inside me snapped.
"No…"
I looked at my hands.
Burning.
Destroying.
"…I can't control it…"
I didn't hesitate.
A shard of glass.
At my feet.
"…If I exist…"
My voice cracked.
"…this keeps happening."
I picked it up.
"…So I'll end it."
And dragged it across my throat.
…
I opened my eyes.
Back in the chamber.
Silence.
No panic.
No screaming.
No movement.
Just—
Stillness.
My gaze was empty.
Distant.
I didn't react when I heard her voice.
Didn't respond.
Didn't move.
…I destroyed everything.
Again.
Slowly—
My body gave in.
And darkness took me.
*
I stared at the mirrors in silence.
No hesitation.
No confusion.
Just analysis.
"…Same structure."
Different shapes.
Different triggers.
I walked forward.
Slow.
Measured.
"…If the first round targeted desire…"
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"…then this one targets control."
I didn't waste time.
I chose.
And touched the mirror.
Light exploded.
I didn't flinch.
Didn't close my eyes immediately.
I watched it.
Studied it.
"…Let's see."
…
When I opened my eyes—
I was in my room.
"…Again?"
Familiar walls.
Familiar space.
Safe.
Too safe.
I stood up slowly.
Stretching slightly.
"…Not very creative."
I walked toward the door.
"This won't work on me."
My hand reached for the handle—
—and then—
Pain.
Sharp.
Sudden.
Violent.
My vision blurred.
"…What—?"
A pulse.
Inside my head.
Then—
A voice.
Let me in.
My body froze.
"…No."
The pressure increased instantly.
Like something was pushing from the inside.
Trying to break through.
Let me in.
"…Get out."
My hand slammed against the wall.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Trying to shake it off.
Trying to stay in control.
"…This is mine."
The voice twisted.
Deeper.
Closer.
You don't get to decide that.
My breathing became uneven.
"No."
I pressed my forehead harder against the wall.
"No."
My nails dug into the surface.
"I decide."
The pulse intensified.
My vision flickered.
Fragments.
Thoughts that weren't mine.
Movement outside.
Footsteps.
Fast.
The door burst open.
"Xia—!"
Kim.
She ran toward me—
Concern written all over her face.
"…Too late."
My body moved.
Without me.
My hands shot forward—
Grabbing her shoulders.
"No—"
My grip tightened.
"…stop…"
Her expression shifted instantly.
From concern—
To fear.
"Xia…?"
"I said stop—!"
My voice cracked—
But my hands didn't listen.
They tightened around her neck.
"LET GO—!"
I tried to pull back.
Tried to force my body to stop.
Nothing.
Better like this.
"…Shut up—!"
Her hands grabbed my wrists.
Trying to break free.
She couldn't.
"I can't—!"
My voice broke completely.
"I can't stop—!"
Her breathing faltered.
Her movements slowed.
"…No… no…"
My vision blurred again.
Then—
Silence.
Her body went limp.
Everything stopped.
My control snapped back.
I stumbled back instantly.
"…Kim…?"
Her body collapsed.
"…No…"
My hands trembled violently.
"…No, no, no—"
I dropped to my knees beside her.
"…Get up…"
My voice came out broken.
"…Get up!"
I grabbed her shoulders.
Shaking her.
"…This isn't funny…"
Nothing.
"…No…"
Tears blurred my vision.
"I did this…"
My hands—still warm.
Still shaking.
"…I killed her…"
Something inside my chest twisted violently.
"…I lost control…"
The voice returned.
Soft.
Satisfied.
See?
"…Shut up…"
You were never in control.
"SHUT UP!"
My power surged.
Unstable.
Violent.
"…I won't let you—"
But I already had.
That was the truth.
"…I already did…"
My voice dropped.
There was only one way.
"…I won't let it happen again."
My hand trembled—
Then steadied.
Wind gathered.
Sharp.
Precise.
"…If I'm the problem…"
I closed my eyes.
"…then I remove it."
The blade formed.
And I drove it through myself.
…
I opened my eyes.
Back in the chamber.
My body remained on the floor.
Still.
Silent.
No panic.
No scream.
No reaction.
Just—
Breathing.
Slow.
Heavy.
"…I lost."
My voice was barely a whisper.
"…again."
For the first time—
There was hesitation in me.
Not fear.
…but doubt.
And that—
was worse.
*
I stood in front of the mirrors.
My hand trembled slightly.
"…Okay…"
I took a small breath.
"Just… think."
Different shapes.
Different sizes.
"…There has to be a pattern…"
My eyes drifted to another one.
Closer.
Different.
"…Maybe this one…"
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
"…It'll be fine."
I reached out—
And touched it.
Light.
Too bright.
I closed my eyes instinctively.
"…That again…"
…
When I opened them—
I was at school.
"…Huh?"
The hallway stretched ahead.
Quiet.
Empty.
"…Where is everyone?"
I walked forward slowly.
My steps echoed faintly.
"…This feels…"
Wrong.
Too quiet.
I turned toward a classroom.
There they were.
Students.
Teacher.
Everything normal.
"…Oh…"
Relief.
Just a little.
I stepped closer.
"…Excuse me—"
I reached out—
Trying to tap the teacher's arm.
My hand went through him.
I froze.
"…What?"
I tried again.
Nothing.
"…No…"
I stepped back quickly.
My breathing becoming uneven.
"…No, no, no…"
I turned.
Walked faster.
Then ran.
"…This isn't real…"
People passed by.
Through me.
Like I wasn't there.
"…Hey—!"
I tried to speak.
Nothing came out.
My voice—
Was gone.
My chest tightened.
"…Why can't I—"
I turned a corner—
And saw someone.
"Minho!"
Relief hit instantly.
I ran toward him.
"…Minho, I'm here—"
I stopped.
Something was in my hands.
My camera.
"…Oh…"
Right.
I lifted it.
Focused.
"…If I can't talk…"
Click.
The shutter echoed softly.
I checked the image.
Empty.
My breath stopped.
"…No…"
I took another.
Click.
Empty.
"…No…"
Again.
Click.
Nothing.
"…Why…?"
My hands started shaking.
"This… this is how I prove I'm here…"
My voice didn't exist.
My presence didn't exist.
"…Then what am I…?"
I stepped back—
And tripped.
The fall was sudden.
Violent.
My body hit the stairs.
Hard.
Again.
Again.
Everything hurt.
But no sound came out.
No scream.
No cry.
Nothing.
I lay there—
Unable to move.
My vision blurred—
Then shifted.
Dark.
Kim.
Laughing.
Fighting.
Like always.
"…Hey…"
I tried to call them.
Nothing.
"…Please…"
I reached out—
But my hand barely lifted.
They didn't look.
Didn't react.
Didn't notice.
"…I'm here…"
My fingers trembled.
I grabbed my camera—
And threw it toward them.
It hit the ground.
Dark paused slightly.
"…Did you feel something?"
Kim shook her head.
"…Just the cold."
They kept walking.
Like I was never there.
My chest tightened.
"…Wait…"
I forced my hand into my pocket.
My phone.
"…I can still type…"
My fingers trembled as I wrote.
Mistakes.
Again.
Again.
Finally—
Sent.
To Xia.
I waited.
Nothing.
The message didn't go through.
My eyes shifted to my profile picture.
It blurred.
Fading.
"…No…"
Then—
A voice.
Everywhere.
Nowhere.
"The dead leave no evidence."
My eyes widened.
"…What…?"
"Ghosts are not recorded."
A pause.
"Shadows have no stories."
My breathing became shallow.
"Your friends…"
The voice softened.
Cruel.
"…never needed you."
My vision cracked.
"…No…"
"You were never part of the story."
My legs gave out.
"…Stop…"
"Just an echo."
I hit the ground.
"Just background."
Tears fell silently.
"Just… nothing."
"…STOP…"
My voice—
Finally came back.
"…I'm here!"
It broke out of me.
Desperate.
"I'm right here!"
My hands clenched.
"Dark—Kim—please… look at me…"
My breathing shattered.
"My camera… it was supposed to prove I exist…"
My voice trembled violently.
"But if I don't appear…"
My chest tightened.
"…did I ever exist at all?"
Silence.
I laughed weakly.
Broken.
"…Maybe I was always just…"
My voice faded.
"…a side character…"
Tears kept falling.
"The one who records."
A pause.
"…but never lives."
I stared at the ceiling.
"…If I stop trying…"
My voice cracked again.
"…would anyone notice?"
…
Memories surfaced.
Waiting outside school.
Alone.
Being forgotten.
Ignored.
Misnamed.
"…Airi…"
My voice trembled.
"…that's my name…"
No one answered.
I stood up slowly.
Walked to the window.
Opened it.
Cold air rushed in.
"…My camera…"
I held it tightly.
"…was my voice…"
A small breath.
"…but it was never enough…"
I climbed up.
"…so maybe…"
A pause.
"…this is the only way to disappear properly."
I let myself fall.
…
I opened my eyes.
Back in the chamber.
My body was shaking.
My mind—
Empty.
I didn't cry.
Didn't speak.
Didn't move.
I just sat there.
Holding myself.
Like I was trying to make sure—
…I was still real.
*
I stared at the mirrors.
Arms crossed.
Thinking.
"…So it's not random."
I had already tried the first one.
Didn't work.
Second.
Nothing.
"…Pattern-based."
I exhaled slowly—
Then dropped to the floor.
"…Or maybe it's not about logic."
Silence.
Then—
Light.
"…There it is."
I didn't even move.
Just looked at it.
"…So you choose for me."
I stood up—
Walked toward it—
And touched the surface.
Light swallowed everything.
…
When I opened my eyes—
I was lying on the ground.
"…What?"
Stone.
Cold.
Wet.
I pushed myself up slowly.
"…Where am I?"
Walls.
High.
Covered in moss.
A maze.
"…Huh."
A small smile appeared.
"…Won ho would love this."
For a moment—
Just a moment—
It felt like an adventure.
I started walking.
Running my hand across the walls.
"…We could've explored this together…"
That thought lingered longer than it should.
Then—
Voices.
Familiar.
I turned the corner.
Dark.
Kim.
Arguing.
Like always.
"…There they are."
Relief.
I stepped forward.
"Hey—"
They both turned.
Their eyes locked onto me.
Too sharp.
"…Min."
Kim moved first.
Fast.
She grabbed Dark's head—
And slammed it into the wall.
I flinched.
"…That's… normal, right…?"
She turned to me.
Serious.
"Min. I need you to promise me something."
"…What?"
She stepped closer.
"You'll help me with what's coming."
Her tone—
Wasn't playful.
Wasn't casual.
It was heavy.
"…Yeah… of course."
I nodded.
She smiled—
And ran off.
"…Wait—"
Too late.
Dark stood up behind me.
Rubbing his neck.
"…Min."
I turned.
"…Can you promise me something?"
"…You too?"
He scratched the back of his head.
Awkward.
"…Your loyalty."
He stepped closer—
Then hugged me.
"To our friendship."
My expression softened.
"…Of course."
I smiled.
"You saved my life. Twice."
I tightened my fist slightly.
"I won't let you down."
He smiled.
"…You're my most valuable friend."
Then—
He left.
And I stood there.
"…That was… weird."
Then—
An explosion.
I looked up.
Airi.
Flying.
"…Wait—what?"
Won ho was there too.
"…He's back?"
I climbed up the wall—
Struggling at first—
Then managing to get a better view.
Xia.
Surrounded by wind.
Fighting them.
"…Why are they—?"
Nothing made sense.
Then—
Everything escalated.
Attacks.
Explosions.
Impact after impact.
I watched.
Frozen.
"…What do I do…?"
Won ho broke the barrier.
The fight turned real.
Xia moved fast.
Precise.
Too precise.
Airi fell.
Won ho fell.
"…No…"
Then—
She looked at me.
Directly.
"…Minho."
My body stiffened instantly.
"Help us!"
Won ho's voice.
Desperate.
Before I could react—
Xia crushed his head with a kick.
"Don't move."
Her voice was calm.
"I'm the leader."
She stepped closer.
"You trust me."
My breathing became uneven.
"…I…"
Step.
"…I do…"
Step.
"…but…"
She raised her sword.
"Then prove it."
My body moved back.
Instinct.
"…I can't…"
Blink.
She was in front of me.
"…Choose."
Then—
Fire.
She was blasted away.
"…Min!"
Kim.
Relief hit instantly.
"…You're okay…"
She smiled.
"Sorry I took so long."
"…Thank you…"
"For what?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"That's what friends are for."
I smiled.
"…Yeah…"
Then—
Impact.
A rock hit her head.
Blood.
My eyes widened.
"…Kim—?!"
"…You betrayed me."
I turned.
Dark.
Standing there.
Tears in his eyes.
"…No—"
"You chose her."
Another rock in his hand.
"I trusted you."
"I didn't—!"
"You did."
More voices.
Behind me.
Won ho.
Airi.
"…And us?"
"…Minho…"
Their voices overlapped.
"Are you with us?"
"Or are you just splitting us apart?"
My chest tightened.
"…I—"
Won ho stepped closer.
Whispered.
"Your loyalty is killing us."
I froze.
"…No…"
Airi looked at me.
Soft.
"…You chose Xia over us."
That hit.
Hard.
"…That's not—"
"Every choice you make…"
The voice.
Back again.
"…is a betrayal to someone else."
My vision blurred.
"…Stop…"
"Your loyalty is a prison."
"…No…"
"You want to protect everyone."
"…I do…"
"Then who do you sacrifice?"
Silence.
"…I…"
I dropped to my knees.
"…I can't choose…"
Dark stepped closer.
"…I thought you were my friend."
That look.
Pain.
Disappointment.
Not anger.
Worse.
"…Don't…"
Something inside me cracked.
"I don't want to lose anyone…"
My voice trembled.
"I just want us to stay together…"
"But you can't."
The voice again.
"Every 'yes' is a 'no' to someone else."
"…Stop…"
"Every promise…"
My hands shook violently.
"…STOP—!"
"…is a lie to another."
Everything collapsed.
"…Then what am I supposed to do…?"
Silence answered.
I stood up—
And ran.
I didn't think.
Didn't look back.
Just ran.
"…I can't choose…"
Tears blurred everything.
"…I can't—!"
Explosions echoed behind me.
"…I can't lose them…"
My breathing shattered.
"…but I already am…"
Time stretched.
Endless corridors.
Endless noise.
Endless conflict.
Then—
A flash.
Pain.
Something cut through me.
Clean.
Silent.
I fell.
…
I opened my eyes.
Back in the chamber.
I didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't think.
Tears fell silently.
"…I failed."
A whisper.
"…all of them."
And for the first time—
…I didn't know who I was supposed to protect anymore.
*
I didn't hesitate.
There was a pattern.
Clear.
Simple.
Unlike the others—
This wasn't meant to confuse me.
"…Too obvious."
I stepped forward—
And touched the correct mirror.
Light consumed everything.
…
When I opened my eyes—
Voices filled the air.
Applause.
"…A stage?"
I looked around.
Rows of students.
Teachers.
"…The auditorium…"
Then I saw the banner.
Student Council Elections.
"…No…"
Recognition hit instantly.
"…This day…"
I checked the date.
"…Two months before graduation…"
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"…So that's what you're doing."
Recreating a turning point.
I walked forward calmly.
A teacher spoke.
Routine announcements.
Then—
"…And now, I give the floor to the Student Council President—Robert Marx."
Applause again.
I barely listened.
Because I already knew what came next.
"…First candidate—Miriam Magisleia. Class 2-Y."
My name echoed.
Of course.
I stepped forward.
Calm.
Collected.
Perfect posture.
I stood at the podium.
"…This is nothing."
I smiled.
"It's an honor to stand before you today—"
The ground trembled.
My sentence cut short.
Cracks spread across the floor.
"…What—?"
Something moved beneath.
Then—
They emerged.
Tentacles.
Massive.
Grotesque.
They shot upward—
Grabbing students.
Dragging them down.
Screams filled the room.
Panic.
Chaos.
"…An illusion."
My voice remained steady.
"…Focus."
I tried to step forward—
Nothing.
My feet—
Were stuck.
"…What?"
I looked down.
The floor had fused with me.
My hands—
Stuck to the podium.
"…So this is the condition."
A test.
Not of power—
Of choice.
"Miriam!"
Kim's voice.
"Help us!"
She burned the tentacles—
But they didn't stop.
Dark struggled nearby.
Others screamed.
"…You're the strongest!"
"…Do something!"
My breathing slowed.
"…Think."
Then—
A voice.
Inside my head.
"Two options."
Calm.
Cold.
"Continue your speech."
My eyes narrowed.
"Win the election."
A pause.
"Or abandon the podium."
Screams echoed louder.
"Save them."
Silence.
"But lose everything you built."
My fingers twitched.
"…So that's it."
"A dream of two years."
Images flashed—
Late nights.
Endless studying.
Isolation.
"Respect."
Recognition.
"Power."
"…Or them."
I looked down.
Students being dragged away.
One reached for me.
"…Miriam… please…"
Tears.
Desperation.
"…You're our leader…"
My jaw tightened.
"…Leader…"
Another voice.
Soft.
Amy.
My best friend.
"…Help us…"
Her hand grabbed my leg—
And something pulled her back.
Hard.
Violent.
Her body tore apart in front of me.
Blood scattered across the stage.
My eyes widened.
But I didn't move.
"…No…"
My lips parted—
But no sound came out.
"…No…"
My grip tightened on the podium.
"…Think."
If I leave—
I lose everything.
If I stay—
They die.
My chest tightened.
"…I…"
Silence.
Then—
I spoke.
"…As I was saying…"
My voice didn't tremble.
"…I believe leadership requires discipline—"
Screams continued.
Bodies torn apart.
The audience—
Didn't react.
They kept watching me.
Smiling.
Applauding.
Like nothing was happening.
"…Control."
My voice echoed.
"…Consistency."
Blood pooled beneath the stage.
"…And the ability to make difficult decisions."
Amy's eyes met mine.
Right before—
She died.
Something inside me cracked.
But I kept speaking.
"…That is why—"
The words felt heavy.
"…I am the most qualified candidate."
Silence.
Then—
Applause.
Thunderous.
Loud.
Deafening.
The room was clean.
No blood.
No bodies.
Just perfection.
I had won.
"…I…"
My legs moved.
Finally free.
I stepped away from the podium.
"…I did it…"
But my voice sounded hollow.
Then—
A hand grabbed my ankle.
I looked down.
A student.
Broken.
Covered in blood.
"…You chose… this…"
His voice weak.
"…over us…"
His hand fell.
Still.
The world cracked.
Everything returned.
Blood.
Screams.
Death.
"…No…"
I stepped back—
Then turned—
And ran.
"…I didn't—"
My breathing broke.
"I had to—"
The voice returned.
"Did you?"
I stopped.
"…I…"
"What is a leader?"
Silence.
"…Someone who makes the right choices…"
"Or someone who protects their people?"
My vision blurred.
"…I…"
"You built an image."
"…No…"
"Perfect. Untouchable."
"…Stop…"
"But when it mattered—"
My chest tightened.
"…STOP—!"
"You chose yourself."
Everything shattered.
I fell to my knees.
"…I just wanted…"
My voice trembled.
"…to be respected…"
Tears fell.
"…to be seen…"
A whisper escaped me.
"…to matter…"
The voice softened.
"And now?"
Silence.
I looked down at my hands.
Shaking.
"…Now…"
A broken breath.
"…I have nothing."
Something pierced through me.
Sharp.
Cold.
I gasped—
Blood filled my mouth.
I collapsed.
…
I opened my eyes.
Back in the chamber.
I didn't scream.
Didn't move.
Didn't resist.
I just stared ahead.
Empty.
Because for the first time—
…I wasn't sure if I deserved to lead anyone at all.
*
I didn't hesitate.
Patterns exist.
Even in chaos.
And this place—
Was poorly disguised.
"…Predictable."
I walked directly toward the correct mirror.
No trial.
No error.
Just certainty.
My hand touched the surface.
Light consumed everything.
…
When I opened my eyes—
There was nothing.
White.
Endless.
"…A blank construct."
Then—
It began to form.
Shelves.
Tall.
Unnaturally tall.
Stretching upward—
Far beyond any realistic architecture.
"…A library."
No.
Something else.
I stepped forward.
The floor—
Wasn't stone.
"…Bone."
I crouched slightly.
"…Human."
I stood again.
The shelves—
Also bone.
Every structure—
Constructed from remains.
"…Symbolism."
Knowledge built upon the dead.
"…How poetic."
I reached for a book.
Opened it.
Black liquid spilled from the pages.
Ink—
Or something pretending to be.
Then—
Voices.
Whispers.
Names.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
"…Catalogued."
Not recorded.
Consumed.
I walked deeper.
"…The air…"
Burnt paper.
Decay.
Disease.
"…Memory corruption construct."
Then—
A sound.
A book fell.
Loud.
I turned.
There—
A single volume.
Black.
Different.
"…An anchor."
I picked it up.
Opened it.
And froze.
"…No…"
A child.
Inside the page.
Small.
Fragile.
"…Elara…"
My voice—
Almost failed.
She looked at me.
Her eyes—
Empty.
"…Father…"
Her voice echoed unnaturally.
"…Why did you choose your research… over me?"
Silence.
"…This again."
I reached toward the page—
But it moved away.
Untouchable.
"…A projection."
Then—
The world shifted.
A room.
Her room.
"…Reconstruction."
She was in bed.
Coughing.
Weak.
"…Timeline overlap."
Days passed.
Instantly.
Each one—
Worse.
Her condition deteriorated.
Doctors.
Confusion.
Failure.
"…Unknown pathology."
But I knew.
Even then—
I knew.
"…LC-related anomaly."
Her blood—
Darkened.
Her eyes—
Changed.
Symptoms escalated.
"…Corruption."
And me—
Working.
Studying.
Advancing.
Progress.
Always progress.
Then—
That night.
I stood in my study.
"…Breakthrough."
My hands trembled—
Not from fear.
From excitement.
"…I did it…"
A discovery.
Something new.
Something important.
I laughed.
"…Finally…"
And in that same moment—
She died.
Silence.
The memory shattered.
Back to the library.
But now—
I wasn't alone.
Figures emerged.
Dozens.
No—
Hundreds.
My family.
My bloodline.
All of them.
Watching me.
"…So this is escalation."
My sister stepped forward.
Her eyes hollow.
"…Brother…"
She placed her hand on the shelf.
"…Your knowledge was a disease."
Silence.
"…It spread."
Behind her—
More faces.
"…And we paid the price."
I fell to my knees.
"…Correlation…"
My voice faltered.
"…Not coincidence."
A realization.
Late.
Too late.
"…My work…"
Then—
More movement.
Books collapsed.
More figures emerged.
Students.
My students.
"…No…"
One stepped forward.
"…Professor…"
Lucas.
His skin—
Destroyed.
Scratched raw.
"…You never told me… this would happen…"
He poured gasoline over himself.
Lit a match.
Flames consumed him.
His screams—
Did not stop.
Another—
Valeria.
Laughing.
Drawing symbols—
With her own blood.
"…Instability cascade…"
But my voice—
Was breaking.
"…No…"
The voice returned.
"Every mind you shaped…"
"…Stop…"
"Collapsed."
"…Stop."
"Every truth you revealed…"
My breathing became uneven.
"…STOP."
"Destroyed them."
Silence.
Then—
Calm.
Too calm.
"…I understand."
I stood up slowly.
"…This is not illusion."
A pause.
"…This is consequence."
I looked around.
At all of them.
"…Not entirely false."
The voice spoke again.
"Was it worth it?"
Silence.
"…No."
No hesitation.
"…It was not."
I looked down at my hands.
"…I sought knowledge to protect."
A breath.
"…But knowledge does not protect."
Another.
"…It reveals."
My voice lowered.
"…And some truths…"
I closed my eyes briefly.
"…should remain buried."
I saw her again.
Elara.
"…I told you stories about the stars…"
My voice cracked—
Just slightly.
"…while studying things that devour them."
A bitter exhale.
"…I promised to save you…"
Silence.
"…while chasing something far beyond you."
My hands trembled.
"…That is my failure."
The voice whispered—
Almost gently.
"You are the plague."
"…Yes."
No denial.
"…I am."
I reached into my coat.
Pulled out the weapon.
Cold.
Familiar.
"…Correction requires removal of the source."
I raised it.
"…That is the logical conclusion."
A final breath.
"…Elara…"
A whisper.
"…forgive me."
I pulled the trigger.
—
I opened my eyes.
Back in the chamber.
I lay still.
Staring upward.
Silent.
Because this time—
…I didn't argue with the result.