Chapter 19: The Golden Gates

<System alert: Player White has been summoned.>

'Summoned? Wha-' 

Before Kanae could ask anything more, her body fell to the ground. 

Her consciousness became dark. When she finally came to, a golden gate stood in front of her. Huge and broad, it blocked sight of what was past it. A complicated lock was placed on it,which even Kanae doubted she could crack.

She was already levitating in the air. With a tumble in mid air, she leapt on the golden coloured gate's golden floor. "All this gold burns my eyes." She muttered. 

Her mouth took on a frown as her hands went forward to touch the gate. 

It was as if something in her recognised this gate and was calling out for it. Brows furrowed, she took a step forward, but a voice rang out loudly in the area. 

"Who might you be, trespasser?" An aged, tired voice asked.

"Like you said, I'm a trespasser." Kanae answered back naturally. 

She had already figured out that this place was not a place from reality. And about this place, she was soon about to find out, so why bother to panic? 

"Quite a cheeky trespasser you are." The voice answered in amusement. 

"I know." She answered back, a light smile on her face. "So, do you plan on helping me?" 

"Helping you? What are you talking about, trespasser? This is the sacred pool of Ranor, we do not offer help here." The voice reprimanded.

"Sacred pool of Ranor?" 

"All those who are part of the Great Prophecy arrive here one day, depending on whether they are worthy or not. And you, cheeky trespasser, have been deemed worthy enough." Light flute music rang through her ears, making her spellbound. 

She had never heard such beautiful flute music. 

Her blood boiled, and an urge to itch rose up in her. Her skin grew red and hair glowed, making her golden locks even more beautiful. She gritted her teeth, almost unable to bear the itchiness. 

The flute music stopped.

"Sure enough, you are a part of it. But why have you been sent here? Never has a person been sent to the Gates, atleast, not to my knowledge." The voice spoke, genuine confusion in their tone. 

Seeing her skin's redness reduce, Kanae asked, "What flute did you just use?"

"Why? Are you interested?" 

Kanae could almost imagine seeing them raise their eyebrow in question.

"Very. I want it." She answered confidently. 

"You believe you are worth it?" The voice let out a laugh. 

She replied with a firm nod, "Yes, I do. I may not be strong now, but in three years time, I promise to become powerful."

"Eh....Then we'll see, human. If you manage to reach my level, I'll give you my flute. But if you don't... Hahaha, you know what the price will be. It's a promise then."

Kanae nodded, "It's a promise."

"Now move ahead human, the Gates aren't meant for you. I don't know why you were sent here, but the current you, has no chance of surviving past the Gates." The voice said, now distant. 

In a flash, Kanae was taken to a dark room that was empty, with just a huge mirror in front of it. 

Calmly, Kanae stood in front of the mirror. The previously dark screen now had the image of a girl with blonde hair. Eyes, a stunning shade of blue, stared back at her. 

Instinctively, she touched the cool mirror. Her body jerked as she felt a jolt. And the mirror was gone. In its place, was a girl with the same clothes, same features and same face as Kanae. 

It was just as if a second Kanae stood in front of her. 

The girl blinked and opened her eyes. 

"It's you." She smiled and folded her arms. 

"So, Kanae? What do you think is the most necessary thing to survive?" She asked. 

"The will to live." Kanae answered. 

"Do you possess that will?" 

"No."

"If you were given a chance to rewind time and let that person live instead of you, will you take that chance?" 

"Yes."

"Do you still think you don't deserve to live?" 

"Without a doubt."

"Then, isn't it better for me to live your life? You can just die and let go of everything. Simple, isn't it?" The doppelganger smirked, twirling a knife she got from her pocket. 

"I wish it were that simple. But, unfortunately for you and a lot of people, I won't die till I find a reason to live, as ironic as it sounds. Besides that.... I still want to find out my new body's identity."

The doppelganger stared at Kanae for a while. 

She finally let out a soft chuckle. 

"You're just as I imagined. Go ahead then. Kill me. It'll all be over." She threw the knife over to Kanae. 

With a 'whoosh', Kanae caught the glinting knife. 

"You don't care about your life?" Kanae asked casually. 

"What life? I was created for you, I am meant to have no feelings." The doppelganger commented. 

"And you say I am just as you imagined. If you didn't have feelings, would you have imagined me? That curiosity inside you, made you want to imagine me right?" Kanae rubbed her finger on the blade. 

The doppelganger looked taken aback. Her eyes misted over with confusion and wonder. Her mind immediately reeled and thought over Kanae's words. Was it really how Kanae had said? Did she really have a life?

Slightly miffed, she gave a chuckle. 

"Even if I do, I'm fated to be here. All my life, I've been waiting here, for you. I was created for you, and meant to be destroyed by you. My fate is chained, and so am I. Will you set me free?" 

The doppelganger looked up at Kanae, eyes tearful. 

She might look the same as Kanae, but her mannerisms, her thoughts and her way of speaking was completely opposite. 

She wanted to be free. 

By death, or by taking Kanae's place. 

But she wasn't selfish. 

She wouldn't want to snatch Kanae's place. 

For this, she was meant to assume the role of the villain. For Kanae's sake, she was willing to be a villain. 

Seeing Kanae stay quiet, made her conflict increase. 

Hardening herself, she said, "If you don't kill me, I might do the same to you. Do you not wish to live? Then, give me the chance. I'll gladly take it."

Kanae was still silent. 

She finally spoke up. 

"I would have done that."

That line broke the doppelganger's heart. The last hope she had was smashed into pieces. Her eyes drooped and her lips bent down. Raw pain and sadness showed up on her face. 

With all human qualities, she resembled a human. But they both knew, she was merely a reflection of Kanae. 

"Please. I beg you." She whispered softly, her voice almost breaking.