The moonlit streets of Kyoto were eerily quiet as Lilia made her way through the winding alleys, the unconscious form of Naree cradled protectively in her arms. The girl's shallow breaths whispered against Lilia's neck, a constant reminder of the precious cargo she carried. Lilia moved with preternatural grace, her footsteps barely making a sound on the pavement as she relied on her demonic abilities to navigate the city undetected.
As she walked, Lilia's mind raced with the revelations of the past few hours. The memories unlocked by the Blade of Death had shaken her to the core, forcing her to confront the disturbing truth that she had borrowed Naree's identity. The weight of this knowledge settled heavily on her shoulders, mingling with the physical burden of the girl in her arms.
Lilia couldn't help but wonder how Woojin would react when she revealed what she had learned here. A flicker of uncertainty passed through Lilia as she considered the possible consequences of this revelation. Would he still allow her to act as Lily Song? Or would he simply change his mind?
These thoughts plagued Lilia as she navigated the darkened streets, her senses heightened for any sign of pursuit. The weight of her own role in this unfolding story pressed down on her, a constant reminder of the complexities that lay ahead.
On the other side of the city, Arja stood amidst the ruins of the battle, her mind reeling with confusion and doubt. Her hand drifted to the hilt of her sword, seeking comfort in the familiar weight of the weapon.
For years she had dedicated herself to finding a way to free Naree from the insidious grip of the Blade of Death, the cursed relic that had ensnared her daughter's soul. She had left her husband and distanced herself from her own family, determined to follow any lead that might offer a glimmer of hope.
The Kurogane clan had been her greatest allies in this quest, their mastery of seals and wards providing a respite from the blade's chaotic power. But even their most powerful techniques could only stave off the inevitable by leaving Naree in a coma.
Arja had resigned herself to a life of constant vigilance, always on the move, always looking for the next temporary solution. But now everything had changed. The appearance of Naree's doppelganger had upset the delicate balance she had fought so hard to maintain, throwing her carefully laid plans into disarray.
Who was this woman and why had she come for Naree? Arja's mind raced with possibilities, each more disturbing than the last. The mysterious intruder was clearly not one of the cultists who had attacked her, but her true motives remained shrouded in mystery.
Arja's gaze fell on the scrap of cloth in her hand, torn from the enigmatic woman's face during their brief confrontation. It was a small thing, little more than a tattered remnant, but it held the key to solving the mystery that now consumed her thoughts.
If she acted quickly, the diviners of the Kurogane Clan might be able to use the remaining traces of the woman's aura to pinpoint her location. But time was of the essence; with each passing moment, the ethereal signature would fade, lost to the winds of fate.
With grim determination, Arja quickened her pace, the scrap of cloth clutched tightly in her hand. She would not rest until she had answers, until she had ensured that her daughter was truly free from the blade's insidious grasp.
Across the city, Lilia arrived at the designated rendezvous point, the weight of Naree's unconscious form still cradled in her arms. The hotel loomed before her, its nondescript facade hiding the clandestine meeting that awaited inside.
Lilia's heart raced as she approached the door, her mind racing with the implications of the night's events. She had set out to secure the Blade of Death, to unravel the mysteries of her predecessor's past.
As Lilia's hand hovered over the doorknob, she took a deep breath, steeling herself for the confrontation that lay ahead. With a final glance at the sleeping girl in her arms, Lilia squared her shoulders and pushed the door open.
The phantom thieves, who had been talking quietly, fell silent at the unexpected sight. Their eyes widened in surprise and confusion as they noticed the striking resemblance between Lilia and the young girl she was carrying.
Lilia stepped into the room, her footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The weight of Naree's limp form pressed against her chest, a constant reminder of the precious cargo she had taken under her protection. As she approached the bed, the thieves parted wordlessly, making room for her to gently lay the girl down.
As Tine emerged from the adjoining kitchen, her voice broke the silence. "Did you get the blade?" she asked, her tone a mixture of curiosity and concern. But as her eyes fell on the unconscious girl, her words trailed off, replaced by a stunned silence.
Tristan was the first to emerge from the shock, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Lilia, was this mission just a ruse for you to rescue..." He paused, unsure how to continue. "Your sister?" he finished, his voice tinged with hesitation.
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Lilia carefully arranged Naree's limbs on the bed, making sure she was as comfortable as possible. She took a deep breath before turning to face the thieves, her expression a mixture of weariness and determination.
"No, I really did come for the blade," she explained, her voice steady despite the weight of the revelation. "I just didn't expect the blade to come with Woojin's daughter."
The room erupted in a chorus of surprised gasps and murmurs. Tina stepped forward, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Wait, aren't you Woojin's daughter?" she asked pointedly. "Aren't you supposed to be Naree?"
Lilia shook her head, a rueful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "No, I'm not Naree. It seems that Woojin allowed me to borrow the identity of his real daughter."
The thieves exchanged confused looks, trying to process this unexpected turn of events. Aria, ever the pragmatist, spoke up. "But why do you two look so much alike if you are not related?"
Lilia ran a hand through her silver hair, her forehead furrowed in thought. "I don't really know," she admitted. "But I think it might be the influence of the blade. Naree seems to have been bound to it since birth."
Zymir leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Why would an apocalyptic blade change Naree to look like you?"
Lilia hesitated for a moment before answering, choosing her words carefully. "It could be because I'm apparently the creator of the blade." She deliberately omitted the fact that it was the original Lilia who had forged the weapon, not wanting to complicate matters further.
Just as the thieves were about to delve deeper into their questioning, a soft moan from the bed drew their attention. Naree stirred, her eyelids fluttering as she took in her unfamiliar surroundings. Her eyes darted around the room, confusion etching itself on her delicate features until they finally settled on Lilia.
"Unnie?" Naree whispered, the Korean word for "older sister" falling from her lips like a prayer.
All Naree could remember was a knife approaching her finger, but now she found herself standing in a vast, empty void. Darkness stretched in every direction, broken only by the presence of a single table and two chairs. The air was still and quiet, without sound or movement.
Naree approached the table cautiously, her footsteps echoing in the emptiness. As she drew closer, a voice called out from behind her, startling her from her contemplation.
"After so many years, we finally meet," the voice said, a mixture of warmth and sadness in its tone. "I am saddened that we meet under such circumstances."
Naree spun around, her heart pounding in her chest. Standing before her was a woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to herself, though older, with striking silver hair and violet eyes. The woman's presence seemed to fill the void, a beacon of light in the endless darkness.
"Who are you?" Naree asked, her voice shaking slightly. "And why do you look so much like me?"
The woman smiled, a gentle curve of her lips that held a hint of melancholy. "You may call me Compassionate Envy, or Envy for short," she replied, her voice soft and melodic.
And so began Naree's four-year journey into this strange, timeless realm. As the days turned into weeks and months, she found herself growing closer to Envy, the mysterious woman who had become her constant companion. They talked for hours, Envy patiently explaining the nature of the force that had nearly consumed Naree in her moment of despair.
"You instinctively tapped into my power to save yourself from the cultists," Envy explained, her voice tinged with both pride and sorrow. "Had it not been for your mother's timely intervention, you would have been drained of your life force."
Envy took it upon herself to teach Naree how to control this newfound power, guiding her through the intricacies of her abilities. She showed her how to channel the energy without letting it drain her, how to stop it before it drained her completely. But with Naree under the seal, it was impossible for her to put these lessons into practice. She was trapped in a sleep, unable to interact with the outside world.
As time passed, Envy told more of her own story, revealing the truth of her nature. "I am actually a blade," she confided, her eyes distant and haunted. "I was separated from my sisters, and alone, I am incomplete."
Naree listened with rapt attention, her heart aching for the loneliness that seemed to emanate from Envy's very being. "Sisters?" she asked, her voice low with curiosity.
Envy nodded, a wistful smile playing on her lips. "My sisters are the other Six Blades, and there is also our mother, to whom we are all linked. We are part of her, bound by an unbreakable bond."
The years passed in an instant, the endless void gradually transforming into a lush, vibrant garden under the influence of Naree's growing control over the Dreamscape. Envy filled the days with lessons in swordsmanship and magic, her patient guidance helping Naree to hone her skills and understanding.
But even amidst the joy of their growing bond, a shadow of melancholy clung to Envy, a constant reminder of the separation that plagued their existence. And so, on the eve of the fourth year, Envy turned to Naree with a bittersweet smile.
"I can feel my mother and two of my sisters approaching," she said, her voice trembling with a mixture of anticipation and sadness. "This could be your lucky day, Naree. My mother will probably release you from the seal."
Naree's heart leapt with joy at the prospect of finally waking from this endless dream, of returning to the world she had left behind. But as she looked into Envy's eyes, she saw a glimmer of sadness that made her pause.
"But it's also the moment we have to say goodbye," Envy continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "I will be reunited with my mother, and our time together will come to an end."
Naree felt a lump form in her throat, the realisation of their impending separation hitting her like a physical blow. Over the years, Envy had become more than a mentor or a friend - she had become a sister in every sense of the word, a constant presence who had guided and supported her through the darkest of times.
Naree threw her arms around Envy, hugging her tightly as tears streamed down her face. The blade returned the embrace, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears.
As the dream began to fade, Naree felt a sense of both anticipation and loss. She knew her journey was far from over, but she took comfort in the knowledge that she would always carry a piece of Envy with her, no matter where her path led.
Back in the hotel room, Lilia stared at Naree in stunned silence. The girl's words hung in the air, a profound revelation that shook Lilia to her core.
She had never expected to be called "Unnie", let alone by the girl whose identity she had borrowed. The implications of this connection swirled in her mind, raising more questions than answers.
As the phantom thieves looked on in confusion, Lilia struggled with the weight of this new information. She knew she would have to tread carefully, walking the fine line between truth and secrecy. Would anyone here believe her if she told them the truth?