The next morning, Rae woke just before sunrise.
The sky outside her window was still caught between deep blue and the faint blush of dawn. She slipped out of bed quietly, padding into the bathroom. A hot shower and her usual skincare routine helped her feel a little more human. A little steadier.
Once she was dressed, Rae peeked into Ambrose's room.
He was still fast asleep, tucked into Yungwoo's arms. Hangyeol lay curled beside them, the three of them tangled in a peaceful heap. Rae's lips lifted into a small smile. She didn't want to wake them—not yet. Not when they looked like they had finally found rest.
Carefully, she reached for their systems and slipped away without a sound.
Mysterious was already waiting in her study, perched quietly in the corner like he always was.
"Rae... are we sure this is the only way?" Petals asked through him, his voice soft with worry.
"I'm fine," she replied without looking at him. "It needs to be done soon anyway."
She walked over to her desk and gently scooped up Sweets, who was hopelessly trying to climb onto it. He pawed at the edge, frustrated by his inability to fly like the others.
"You're stubborn," Rae murmured, setting him on her lap.
She tapped each of the systems in front of her, waiting for their familiar glow. One by one, they activated, filling the quiet space with a low hum.
Then, another shimmer appeared.
"MemRz," Rae said, voice steady. "Silence mode."
A figure emerged—elegant, radiant, and made entirely of precious gemstones. Their long, crystalline head shimmered like glass, and a gown of faceted jewels rippled down their body.
MemRz was the memory keeper. The central system is connected to Wonderz.
"Copy that, Rae," they responded in a soft, feminine voice.
A rush of magic passed through her.
Suddenly, the world outside paused. The wind stopped. The morning birds went silent. Even time itself seemed to hold its breath.
Rae exhaled slowly and sat down in her chair. Sweets settled on her lap, purring as she scratched his chin.
"Okay... MemRz, activate Serene Override. Delta Sector 3."
MemRz's form pulsed with light. In their glowing hands, a book appeared.
The Book of Fate.
Bound in living threads and stitched with ancient power, it pulsed faintly in the stillness. Rae stared at it. This book could unmake entire worlds. Rewrite lives. Decide who lived or died. Who never existed at all.
But today, Rae didn't come to play god.
She came to do something she had been putting off—something necessary, but not painless.
As she reached for the book, her fingers trembled. Tears began slipping down her cheeks before she even realized she was crying. Glowing green stitches flickered across her skin—lines of magic and memory she could never remove.
They always hurt.
Rae knew why. The universe didn't let you rewrite fate without a cost. And Rae had paid too many times to forget what it felt like.
The systems reached toward her, warmth pulsing from their forms in a silent embrace.
She gave them a weak smile, leaned down, and kissed Sweets between the ears. "I'm okay," she whispered. "Just... give me a moment."
YOU ARE READING
A Wandering Story
FantasyOne morning, a young woman awoke-still caught in the same endless cycle that had haunted her for lifetimes. Her day began as it always did: quiet, methodical, devoted to mending the broken world she currently called home. But then she heard voices-u...
