They say that when two souls merge, they become the mirror of your true self. 

Fallon retrieved the silver case with a greedy smile while his assistants threw their beheaded bodies into the river. The horrendous death of Iris and Colleen was unjustifiable while their bodies went deep underwater. And before the full moon turned to a new rising sun, Iris Jin's soul wandered into the dark wormhole.

Nonchalant and was lost in despair.

Iris's soul wandered nowhere; her thoughts were hollow, but her heart throbbed because she had lost something important. Suddenly, a nostalgic feeling fell upon her knees as tears dripped from her cold skin. She remembered everything—a vivid memory of her and Colleen dying together in vain. 

She held her head, shouted in misery, and sobbed until her tears dried up in sorrow. 

The days had passed, and Iris kept wandering in the dark hole, going nowhere. Her dried lips, weak legs, and weary expression were braced by agony until she saw someone in a tucked position, not from afar. 

Iris 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. It made her forget the misery she felt for a moment. As Iris thought, there is still hope left in her soul. 

“Hey…” Iris said softly. The words from her lips became a faint echo in Irelina’s ear.

Irelina's shoulders flinched. She looked up and followed the direction of the voice and was surprised to see another person approaching her. They both said the same words–

“Who are you?” 

Irelina sat up, warily staring behind her veil.

“I’m sorry if I bothered you. I’ve been wandering for days. My name is Iris Jin. What about you?” Her tone was calm.

Irelina nodded, “My name is Irelina… Irelina Mercius.” Her tone was tranquil.

“Irelina…that’s a nice name.” Iris wistful smile. 

It made Irelina feel not alone anymore. She thought that she was the only one living in vain. They looked at each other momentarily—patiently waiting for who would say the first words. They sat two meters apart, and Irelina moved her gaze to look at her.

Silence spread between them as they stared with hesitation on their faces.

Until— 

“How long have you been here?” Iris was curious.

“More than ten days,” 

“Same for me,” and she looked around the dim water walls. 

Irelina moved clockwise to face her. Iris jolted when Irelina suddenly moved her position closer to Iris. Irelina had been bothered for days because she had not returned to her body, but seeing Iris in front of her gave her hope. 

Irelina thought she could return—but she didn’t know how.

“Why do you look sad?” Irelina wondered.

“Because I lost someone important in my life,” Iris's tone was melancholic.

She looked down with a sad face, “The same goes for me. I also lost someone important in my life, yet here I am wandering in this unknown world, not knowing how to return.”

“Yeah, our souls have been wandering because we are both dead. But I don’t see any soul reapers.” Iris looked around. 

Soul reaper? Irelina thought and said, “I’m not dead.”  

“Huh? Then, why are you here?” Iris wondered.

“I was poisoned. And Medicius Aurelius put me into a deep coma using his healing spell and–” 

Iris interrupted, “Wait…Wait.”

Iris could not comprehend the ancient names and magic Irelina spilled from her lips. She sighed deeply and said, “Let me get this straight. Someone poisoned you… and then Medisus Relus, or whatever you call his name, put you into a deep coma using magic. Am I correct?” She said. 

“Yes! But it’s Medicius Aurelius.” Irelina corrected her. 

“Ah—whatever.” Iris pouted, adding, “I’m a tongue-twister, so it’s kinda hard to pronounce difficult names.” 

Irelina tilted her head naively. Yet she finds Iris a wild and free person. She cannot interpret Irelina's foreign words. 

“One more thing,” Iris said, and Irelina listened. "Why do you cover your face with a black veil?” Curious, she moved closer to Irelina’s veil. 

Irelina winced and reclined her body backward and stuttered slightly, “I’ve been wearing this since I was born.” 

“Huh?!” She reacted. What the heck? Since birth? Is her parents crazy? Iris was bewildered.

“My parents strictly did not allow me to take it off. I don’t know why either, and they didn’t bother to explain it to me before they died. The only thing I know is, I can take it off when I come of age.” said Irelina. 

Iris thought, Come of age? Her eyeballs looked on the upper left, thinking.

“Ah! You mean you can take it off when you reach the age of 18?” Iris finally comprehended.

“Yes, you’re right.” Irelina smiled.

Iris chuckled.

And so did Irelina. 

They chatted for a while, sharing the uncommon tales about their lives and what they do. Iris shared who she was, and Irelina did too. She understood the kind of life Iris went through before being marked as one of the Blue Eagle leaders. However, Irelina was shocked to hear about Iris's horrendous death and her best friend, Colleen. She felt devastated. 

Although Irelina did not have the answers behind her black veil and was bothered by her parents' will, she knew the answers would someday find her. The two felt comfortable after getting to know each other. 

Iris and Irelina felt companionship in their hearts, and 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 here for the soul reaper to take my soul and bring me to hell.” Iris smirked. 

Irelina felt disheartened. She did not want to leave Iris alone once she returned to her body—to her world. 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 Iris said, the soul reaper will take her to hell. But I don’t want her to live in hell.

 Iris was quiet, flicking her right fingers, and looked at Irelina’s humble space. 

“You seem quiet. Is something wrong?” Iris asked, and thought, Is she thinking of something? I’m intrigued to see her face behind that veil, but I don’t want to disrespect her choice. Is it something related to their culture? Iris focused her thoughts on Irelina. 

Irelina noticed Iris’s sharp gaze, which made her smile and thought, "Even in this situation, she released a calming atmosphere. And I like it." 

Suddenly, Irelina stood, and Iris looked up to her. Irelina reached her hand towards Iris. 

“Why don’t you come back with me, Iris,” Irelina offered. 

“Huh?” Iris muttered, adding, “But I don’t have a body to return to.” She felt hopeless for a moment. 

“Then, maybe if you take my hand, you can live in my body, too, with me.” Irelina's siren-golden eyes start to shimmer. 

“But that’s your body. I cannot take that from you,” Iris refused. 

“You’re not taking it from me. I am giving it to you. Something tells me that if we become one, I’ll be safe, and you will live.” Irelina smiled. 

“But that’s nonsense...Irelina—” 

“Please…Iris. I…I want you to live and be me.” Irelina’s tone was calm.

Iris was in disbelief, “How can you say such impossible words?”

“There’s no such words or things impossible, Iris. The world is a whole of possibilities. We just need to learn how and when to use them.” 

“But how?” Iris’s heart skipped a bit.

“Take my hand and get up. And you’ll know what I mean.” Irelina smiled. 

 Her golden eyes glowed. 

It was like a spell was about to bind them. Iris steadily took Irelina’s hand as she stood. They faced one another. Their eyes met, even though Iris couldn’t see her face. But the sensation of auras between them is pure. They have a sense of trust in one another, in which Irelina entrusts her body to Iris. 

Iris wanted to live too, but she did not want to be selfish to someone like Irelina, who had a pure heart and soul. Irelina held her other hand as Iris followed her lead. She could sense Irelina’s gentle smile, so she smiled back. 

Irelina's siren-golden eyes started to beamed more as if it was time to go back. 

Irelina hugged Iris. 

Iris was astounded, but she hugged her back. Irelina hugged her more tightly. Iris smelled a sweet scent coming from Irelina’s nape. Then—

“I know you’re a strong and kind 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 gently closed her eyes with a smile and tightly hugged Irelina. 

Irelina felt satisfied with her decision. Iris can turn the tables in the Golden Empire, as Irelina wishes her to be. She believes that Iris will unfold the mystery behind her existence.

“Remember, Iris. Never, ever…let anyone harm you. If you must kill, you have my full support here in your heart. Make them… realize that.”     

Iris was stunned. 

The wormhole started dissipating, and they both said, “Thank you.” 

Irelina’s golden eyes glowed brighter like the sun, forming a golden shell that embraced them like twins about to be born again. 

The golden mist from Irelina’s nape tangled around them as their souls merged and shone like the brightest star, like Sirius, leaving the pitch-black, empty hole swooshing with golden dust.

Iris Jin and Irelina Mercius Soul Merge, Illustrated by Neige