Hidden Soul

2.1 (Escape) | A Dream And A Facility

Mei suddenly stood on a marble flooring after falling asleep on her bed in her apartment. The place she was in seemed to be a doctor's clinic, with a small hospital bed and medical equipment. The only thing that looked off was that the place was devoid of people, aside from her. The doctor seemed to be missing, and the window outside led to a dark void. She looked back and opened the door, trying to step out, only to feel her movements halt instantly as a girl's voice said, "Don't go there. You'll fall into the dreamy abyss and be unable to wake up."

She was pulled back, and an unknown force closed the door. Mei glanced at the doctor's table, only to find a young girl in a medical coat sitting there. "I'd like to have a conversation with you." she said.

"Who are you?" Mei asked, as she took a seat.

"My name's Fiolini, the source of your Legend Power. LP users might have dreams like this, being in a place related to their sources."

"Ah... Should I introduce myself, or-"

"No need. I know enough about you, Mei. I've been following you ever since I was killed."

"Alright."

"As you know, Keith saved you and everyone else from the nuke. Problem is, the nuke actually didn't come. He got captured by Jin-Suk, and 2 of the Big Three failed to stop him. It's as if he's the second One."

"What should I do?"

"A certain person has gathered everyone. The only one she needs is you."

Fiolini's expression darkened, and she said, "As I speak, Keith is trapped inside a tube in Mu-Jin's facility. Your goal is to help him escape. And I have a plan to help you."

Both girls leaned in, Mei eager to listen.

"We merge." Fiolini said.

"Wait, what?"

"As in you'll take my appearance, although a few years older, of course, and my powers. You'll still maintain your soul."

"What'll change?"

"You'll use way less energy to use your abilities, Healing and Seal, but I'll disappear, having merged with you, and some people won't recognize you."

"Hmm... It seems fair, but the amount of legal stuff I'll have to do will be overwhelming."

"Don't worry about the legal stuff. I believe half your friends will know you once you reintroduce yourself."

"I see."

Fiolini stretched out a hand, and said, "So, do you wish to get strong enough to help Keith?"

Mei paused for a moment, before saying, "I do."

The both of them shook hands, and Fiolini said, "Pleasure doing business with you."

"Why do you have a different personality all of a sudden?"

"It's just me."

The last thing Mei saw before she woke up with a jolt was Fiolini's light smile, falling off the bed as she suddenly rolled to the edge of her bed. She looked at her hands, before looking at her clothes. She surely had the body of Fiolini, but what about her appearance? She ran over to a mirror, and sure enough, she had taken the form of Fiolini, decked out in her doctor's outfit. The door to her room opened, and a woman appeared.

"I-It's me, Mei!" Mei shouted, thinking someone would mistake her for Fiolini.

"Oh, Mei? How'd you manage to get the body of your Legend Power? Very few people have only managed to attain their appearance, including Timothy." the woman said, seeing her voice change. She entered and shut the door behind her.