Chapter 161 - 2-43 Louis's Perspective
“Louis, aren't you going to open it?”
“I am... I just didn't expect to get this far so easily. I'm a bit nervous.”
“It will be fine.”
Van seemed to see right through me. His steady presence was a comfort.
“Right. With you here, I'll be okay.”
“No, that is not what I meant. I meant it will be fine because it is my first time entering as well.”
...What?
“Are you nervous too?”
“Of course. I would never enter such a place otherwise. Even a spirit can feel tension.”
They say seeing someone more nervous than you helps you calm down. The usually majestic hawk was now huddled on my shoulder like a sparrow. I couldn't help but smile.
“What are you doing? Let's go.”
Theodore, tired of our stalling, pushed the door open. It creaked slowly. Beyond was pitch black.
“Follow me. This place is vast and full of illusions. If you get lost, you may never return.”
The boy's staff lit the way. The air inside was chilly, a draft brushing against my skin.
“Stairs?”
The light revealed a staircase descending into the darkness. We followed in silence. When we reached the bottom, the sight took our breath away.
“It's beautiful... just like the painting, but even more ethereal.”
“Yeah. But seeing this, I'm certain. This is where Rachel was.”
This was the world from the palace painting. It was the same place the Dark Spirit King had taken Rachel. Back then, I was too frantic to look around. It wasn't a room so much as being trapped inside a starry sky.
Theodore reached toward a distant light, looking heartbreakingly beautiful in the glow. I reached out as well, spotting a light far brighter than the rest.
“That one...”
“The largest light further ahead? That is your original world.”
“That light... is my world. It feels strange.”
As we approached, the light began to pulse as if calling to me. A wave of warmth and nostalgia washed over me.
“Returning is simple. Just touch the light. You and your other self will synchronize, and you will return to where you belong.”
“That's it?”
“It was your world to begin with. The path is already connected.”
The boy gave me a nudge. “Go on. Lady Rachel is waiting for you.”
“Thank you, Theodore. Van...”
“I am always with you. Call, and I shall answer. It was... enjoyable, speaking with you.”
“I'm glad I got to talk to you too, Van.”
I reached for the light. The moment my fingertips touched it, light enveloped me. The warmth intensified, vibrating in my chest. I thought of Rachel, waiting for me.
Finally. I can finally go back to you.
My heart raced with relief. Then, a shock like a lightning strike blasted through my hand.
“What!?”
The force threw me backward onto the floor. I stared in shock. Theodore looked just as stunned.
“Louis? What happened? You should have gone back...”
“It repelled me. I don't understand...”
Theodore helped me up. The spirit boy looked frantic.
“Why? This shouldn't be possible... why...”
A dignified voice rang out from behind me. “You were rejected.”
I spun around. Standing there was someone I never expected to see. “The Spirit King!?”
The Spirit King of Light stood before us. He had appeared without a sound or a trace of presence. I broke into a cold sweat. Theodore looked pale. The spirit boy was trembling.
“K-King! You weren't supposed to return today!”
The King silenced him with a glance. “Listen well. To return to one's world, one needs will. The will to return.”
I looked up. This was the answer. My heart hammered against my ribs like a warning bell. But I couldn't look away.
“I have more than enough will.”
“You do, perhaps.”
“Then who else... wait!”
My heart sank. Two people needed that will. Me, and the person I was swapping with.
“Indeed. It seems your other self has no desire to return to his original world.”
“Then... what happens?”
“Nothing. Even if you do not swap back, the balance of the worlds will not crumble.”
The King spoke with total indifference. He was merely stating a fact, regardless of the hell it put me in.
“You're lying... so... I can't go back?”
The King met my gaze with his golden eyes, his silence a cold confirmation.
The Louis perspective has gone on for a while, but we return to Rachel's perspective in the next chapter. I hope you continue to enjoy the story.