Fallon retrieved the silver case with a greedy smile while his assistants threw their beheaded bodies into the river. The horrendous nightmare of Iris and Colleen was unjustifiable while their bodies went deep in the subterranean river. And before the full moon turned to a new rising sun, Iris Jin's soul wandered into the dark wormhole.
As her soul wandered, her thoughts were hollow, but her heart was throbbing because she lost something important in her life. Suddenly, tears dripped from her cold skin. She remembered everything, a vivid memory of her and Colleen dying together. She clasped her head, shouted in misery, and wailed.
Days had passed. She kept wandering in the wormhole, going nowhere. She was in agony until she saw someone in a tucked position. She walked closer and saw the person’s face covered with a black veil, in a nude nightdress and bare feet. She thought she was the only one in the wormhole. And despite being betrayed and killed, there was a faint hope left in her soul. And so—
“Hey,” she said softly.
Irelina was surprised to see another person. And they both said the same sentence, “Who are you?” Irelina sat up.
“I’m sorry if I bothered you. I’ve been wandering for days. My name is Iris Jin. What about you?”
She nodded, “My name is Irelina. Irelina Mercius.” Her tone was tranquil.
“Irelina…that’s a nice name.”
They sat two meters apart, and Irelina moved her gaze to look at her. Silence spread between them as they both nodded with hesitation on their faces. Until—
“How long have you been here?” Iris asked curiously.
“More than ten days.”
“Same for me.”
Irelina moved clockwise to face her. Iris was a little stunned as she moved. Irelina had been bothered for days because she had not returned to her body, but seeing Iris in front of her gave her a little hope. Then maybe she could go back—but she didn’t know how.
“Why do you look sad?”
“Because I lost someone very important in my life,” Iris said.
She nodded. “Same goes for me. I also lost someone important in my life, yet here I am wandering too.”
“Yeah, our souls have been wandering because we are both dead. But I don’t see any soul reapers.” Iris looked around.
“Soul reaper?” she thought, and she said, “I’m not dead.”
“Huh? Then, why are you here?” She wondered.
“I was poisoned. And then, Medicius Aurelius put me into a deep coma using his healing spell and–”
“Wait—Wait,” Iris interrupted, as she could not comprehend the ancient names and magic. She was a little freaked out. “Let me get this straight. You were poisoned, and then ‘Medicine Relus’ put you into a deep coma using magic.” Her twisted tongue for names.
“Yes! But it’s Medicius Aurelius.” She corrected her.
“Ah—whatever. I have a twisted tongue. Kinda hard to pronounce names.”
Irelina tilted her head as she wondered, but she could not interpret the words she said.
“One more thing,” Iris said, and she listened, “Why do you cover your face with a black veil?” She was curious.
“I’ve been wearing this since I was born.”
“Huh?!” She reacted. What the heck? She was bewildered.
“My parents strictly did not allow me to take it off. I don’t know why either, and they did not explain it to me before they died. The only thing I know is, I can take it off when I come of age.” She explained.
Iris thought, Come of age?
“Ah! You mean you can take it off when you reach the age of 18?” She comprehended.
“Yes, you are right.” Irelina’s smile was wistful.
Iris chuckled. And so, they chatted for a while. They shared things about their lives and what they do. Iris shared who she was, and Irelina did too. She was shocked to hear about Iris's death but understood what she’d been through. Although she did not have the answers behind her black veil and was bothered by her parents' will, she knew the answers would someday find her. They both felt warmth in their hearts and although they had only met briefly, it seemed they had known each other for years.
“I hope you can go back to your body and be able to find the culprit who poisoned you.”
“Hopefully, but what about you? Can you still go back to your body even if you’re dead?”
“I don’t know where my body is. I’ll probably wait for the soul reaper to take my soul and bring me to hell.” She smirked.
Irelina felt disheartened. She did not want to leave Iris alone once she returned to her body. So, she thought, Is there a way that I can take her with me? But how? Without a body, the soul may wander forever, or, as she said, the soul reaper will take her to hell. Iris was quiet.
Suddenly, she stood, and Iris looked up to her. She reached her hand towards her.
“Come back with me, Iris,” she offered.
“But I don’t have a body to return to.” She was confused.
“Then, maybe if you take my hand, you can live in my body, too, with me.” Her siren-golden eyes start to shimmer.
“But that’s your body. I cannot take that from you,” she refused.
“You’re not taking it from me. I am giving it to you. Something tells me that if we become one, I will be saved, and you will live.” Irelina smiled.
“Irelina—”
“Just take my hand and get up.” She smiled again as her golden eyes shimmered like a spell was about to flourish between them.
Iris took her hand and stood. They faced one another. Their eyes met, even though she couldn’t see her face. But she was bewildered by Irelina’s words. She wanted to live too, but she did not want to be selfish to someone like Irelina, with a pure heart and soul. Irelina held her other hand as she followed her lead. Iris could sense that she had a gentle smile, so she smiled back. Irelina's siren-golden eyes started to glow momentarily as if it was time to go back.
She hugged Iris, who was stunned but hugged her back. Irelina hugged her more tightly. She smelled a sweet scent coming from her nape. Then—
“I know you are a good person, Iris. That’s why I will stay in your heart when you return with me. Please do what you think is right when we go back together. You must survive no matter what and live as Irelina Mercius from now on.”
Iris's eyes widened as her tears dripped. She closed her eyes with a smile; the same went for Irelina. The wormhole started dissipating, and they both said, “Thank you—” Then Irelina’s golden eyes glowed brighter like the sun, forming a golden shell around them. The golden mist from her back tangled around them as their souls joined and shone like the brightest star.
Two souls merged as one mind, one body, and one heart.
Iris Jin is now Irelina Mercius, the 9th Concubine of the Golden Empire of Verticulas. Her fate will decide whether she lives or dies again.
So—from this moment, “No matter what the obnoxious life brings me, I will certainly survive in this world!”
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