Hana sat in the cold, marble room of the realm, her thoughts spiraling around the conversation she’d had with the mysterious man. She couldn’t shake the weight of what he’d said—that the world still remembered her, that the president himself was calling for justice, that her name had become synonymous with death and destruction. Five years had passed since her time in the world of the living, and yet her legacy still haunted them.

But now, something stirred within her. A flicker of an idea, dangerous and tantalizing. The Soul Ledger. It was still with her, tucked away in the recesses of her mind, its power dormant but ever-present. Could it still be used? Could she still manipulate the forces of life and death, even here, trapped in this realm?

Her fingers twitched, and the air around her seemed to hum with a subtle energy. She had created chaos, she had taken lives, but what if she could create something instead? What if she could birth a new soul into the world, a new human, shaped by her will, her desires? She could live again, through them.

Slowly, Hana rose to her feet, her heart pounding with a strange mix of fear and exhilaration. She could feel the Ledger's energy, pulsing like a distant heartbeat. It wasn’t gone. It was waiting for her.

"I could do it," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling with anticipation. "I could create life. A new being… one who could carry on my legacy. One who could live where I cannot."

Her mind raced with the possibilities, the implications. If she could create a new human, imbued with a new soul, a new spirit, she could return to the world in a way she had never imagined. She wouldn’t need to step foot in the mortal realm again—she could manipulate the world through this new life.

But she would need to be careful. This wasn’t like her past dealings with the Ledger. Creating life was a delicate process, more complex than taking it. It required precision, balance. One wrong step, and the new soul could become something monstrous.

"How do I begin?" Hana asked herself, her fingers tracing the invisible lines of power in the air. "How do I use the Ledger to shape a soul, to craft a spirit from nothing?"

The answer came to her as if the Ledger itself was whispering in her ear. The pages. The names. She had written the names of her victims in the Ledger, each name a tether to the life she had taken. But now, she would write a name to give life.

With a surge of determination, Hana summoned the Soul Ledger from the depths of her mind. It appeared before her, floating in the air, its ancient, leather-bound cover glowing faintly in the dim light of the realm. The pages fluttered open, revealing the endless list of names she had taken, each one a reminder of her power.

But now, she would write something new.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"I need a name," Hana murmured, her eyes scanning the empty space on the next page. "A name for this new being. A name that will give them life."

She closed her eyes, letting her thoughts drift. The name had to be perfect. It had to carry meaning, power, and purpose. It had to be a name that would embody everything she wanted in this new creation.

After a moment, she opened her eyes, a name forming on her lips.

"Kai."

She smiled to herself, the name rolling off her tongue like a promise. It was simple, but it held weight. It would be a name that the world would remember, just as they remembered hers.

With trembling hands, Hana took the Ledger and began to write the name on the empty page. As the ink flowed from her fingers, the air around her crackled with energy, the power of the Ledger surging through her veins.

"Kai," she whispered again, the name glowing on the page.

The realm seemed to shift, the walls vibrating with the force of what she was doing. Creating a soul, crafting a new spirit—it was no small feat. The Ledger responded to her will, its ancient power bending to her command.

As she finished writing the name, a figure began to form in front of her. At first, it was just a flicker, a shadow, but slowly, it became more defined. A body. A human form, slowly taking shape out of the void.

Hana watched in awe as the figure solidified, becoming real before her eyes. It was a young man, tall and lean, with sharp features and dark hair. His eyes were closed, his chest rising and falling with the breath of life she had given him.

For a moment, Hana couldn’t speak. She had done it. She had created life. She had shaped a soul, given it form, brought it into existence.

"Kai," she whispered, stepping closer to the figure. "Can you hear me?"

The young man’s eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, they were blank, unseeing. But then, slowly, they focused on her. He blinked, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that took her breath away.

"Who… are you?" he asked, his voice soft and uncertain, as if he was struggling to find the words.

Hana smiled, her heart pounding with excitement. "I am your creator. I brought you into this world."

Kai frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Why? Why did you create me?"

"Because I need you," Hana said, her voice low and persuasive. "I need you to live in the world where I cannot. I need you to carry out my will, to finish what I started."

Kai stared at her, his expression unreadable. "What do you want from me?"

"I want you to be my instrument," Hana said, her voice growing more confident. "I want you to live your life, to experience the world, to become strong. And when the time is right, you will do what I ask of you."

Kai’s eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into his gaze. "And what is that?"

Hana’s smile widened, her eyes gleaming with the same cold intensity she had once carried in the mortal world. "You will take my place. You will become what I could not. You will be my legacy, Kai."

Kai’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, Hana wondered if he would resist, if he would defy her. But then, slowly, he nodded.

"I understand," he said, his voice steady. "I will do as you ask."

Hana felt a surge of satisfaction. This was it. This was her chance to return to the world, to reclaim the power she had lost. Through Kai, she would live again. Through him, her name would be remembered forever.

"Good," she said, stepping closer to him. "Then go. Live your life. And when the time comes, I will call on you."

Kai nodded once more, his expression unreadable. Without another word, he turned and began to walk toward the edge of the realm, his footsteps echoing in the vast emptiness.

Hana watched him go, her heart racing with anticipation. This was only the beginning. Soon, the world would know her name once again.