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The pitch-black space enveloped Na-ra, wrapping around her like a heavy fog, trying to drown her in its drowsiness. For a moment, she stood there, still and confused, her gaze settling on nothing but the void pressing in from all sides.
Yet, she was no stranger to this darkness anymore.
Her eyes scanned the endless black, searching for the only thing that ever appeared here. Soon enough, a faint shimmer of light twinkled in the far distance, catching her attention like a star in the abyss.
Her feet moved slowly, almost sluggishly, toward it-drawn not by logic, but by instinct. The light called to her, pulling her in with silent persuasion.
But something was wrong.
No matter how far she walked, the light never seemed to get closer. Step after step, pace after pace-still the same. Frustration lit in her eyes, and she broke into a run, her legs moving with determination, her heart hammering with effort.
Yet even then, the light remained untouched, unreachable. Her body, despite her trained endurance, began to fail her. Her legs ached. Her breath turned shallow. She never tired this quickly-not with real training, not even on her worst days.
And then, she collapsed.
The ground caught her like a cradle as her strength gave out.
"Feeling tired?"
The voice came from beside her.
Her head snapped to the side to find a familiar silhouette forming through the gloom-elegant, eerie, and smiling with amused eyes.
"Did you miss me?"
It sounded teasing, baiting her anger.
But instead of fury, Na-ra's gaze lit up with an unexpected emotion: relief.
"Yes. I missed you...so much."
The figure faltered. Amusement faded for a flicker. Its lips curved up-not with sarcasm, but surprise.
"Really? You did? Now that's a progress-"
Before it could finish, Na-ra's hands shot out and closed around its neck.
"You're just my consciousness all this time, aren't you?"
Her voice shook-not with rage, but with the weight of despair. And yet, even with her hands clenched at its throat, the figure remained calm.
"So? You plan to destroy me by... choking me?"
Its voice echoed, amused again, the tone nearly condescending.
