Fated Paradox (2)

[You have died]

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"...Ah!"

As my eyes fluttered open, I found myself beneath the expanse of a clear blue sky.

...Where on earth am I?

Every attempt to move sent aches rippling through my body. The pain, while present, seemed somehow milder than the sensations of my recent demise.

My last recollection was a descent into darkness... a chilling cold that enveloped me. It was a realization rather than a conscious thought – an acknowledgment that whatever had just transpired had reached its conclusion.

The system's notification had declared my demise, a stark departure from the familiar cycle of death and rebirth at the teleportation point. No, this time, I lingered in a dim, obscure realm for what felt like an eternity.

"Ugh... My head hurts," I grunted, coercing my body into a seated position. Both hands pressed into the grass beneath me as I willed myself upright. The persistent ache prompted me to close my eyes momentarily.

"You're finally awake."

A faint voice reached my ears, drawing my attention away from the haze of my thoughts. Turning toward the source, I slowly reopened my eyes, revealing a familiar figure.

Faceless, her ash blonde hair adorned with delicate flower ornaments swayed gracefully as she savored her tea. Clad in an elegant dress that hinted at some form of uniform, she sat alone with a tea set arranged meticulously before her. When she noticed my gaze, she tilted her head, a silent invitation lingering in her gesture.

"Care to join me for a cup of tea?" Her voice, soft and celestial, carried the offer like a gentle breeze.

Emerging from my momentary stupor, I rose to my feet, brushing off the grass clinging to my clothes. As I approached, questions lingered on the tip of my tongue. Why was I here now?

Choosing to reserve my inquiries for the moment, I seated myself beside her.

Unexpectedly, the tea pot levitated into the air, pouring its contents slowly into my cup.

"Magic...?" The words slipped out unconsciously, hanging in the air. An amused chuckle escaped the faceless woman, but she offered no direct response.

As I took a sip, the tension in my body gradually dissipated, replaced by the soothing embrace of the tea's natural sweetness.

"Is it good? I made sure it would suit your taste~" she says, carefully observing my reaction.

Confused but appreciative, I nodded in response. A sigh of relief escaped her lips, and she leaned back comfortably in her chair.

"You must be wondering why you are here." She broke the silence, her voice carrying a soothing tone.

"...Yes," I responded, my expression staying neutral, revealing no hint of emotion.

The faceless woman hummed, her head swaying gently to an unheard melody. Eventually, she continued, "There's no need for you to be in such a hurry. You can spend much of your time in this space."

Her answer came unexpected. Was she planning on keeping me here? I wasn't sure, but I think not... Maybe? I just can't tell since I can't see the expression of her face.

"You're being too cautious~" she remarked, as though sensing my thoughts.

Clearing my throat, I took in the beautiful scenery around us—different flowers blooming in well-kept flowerbeds.

"You mentioned earlier that you'd personally give me the Boss Monster after I defeated the fifth, so why am I—"

"The real boss is hidden in this place."

"...Huh?"

A wave of confusion washed over me. If that was the case, what about the creature that had ended my existence earlier? Just a regular monster? The idea seemed implausible.

Closing my eyes, I tried to recall the appearance of the entity that defeated me. It radiated a gentle glow, had white wings, and golden eyes that seemed to see through my soul.

It didn't seem threatening; in fact, it resembled an angel descending from the heavens. Most notably, a halo floated above its head.

The more I attempted to recall, the more my head throbbed with discomfort.

Referring to that celestial being as a mere normal monster was beyond belief, and—

"Say, what is FATE?"

"...huh?"

The abrupt change in topic caught me off guard. My surprise transformed into a cold expression as I processed her words.

Sighing, I placed the cup down on the table and fixated my gaze on the reflection in the tea.

"Fate is something that is bound to happen. It is different from Destiny since it cannot be changed. Fate is the outcome, while Destiny is the start."

The faceless woman fell silent for a moment. She lifted her head and turned to me, stating, "What you said is true... Fate defines events as ordered or 'inevitable' and unavoidable....."

Ugh, this again... I already know what you're going to say. Fate this, fate that... Unavoidable, bla bla bla....

I rolled my eyes, choosing not to endure any more of her explanations.

"Fate cannot be changed; however...."

"...."

Her voice dropped to a near whisper, leaving me straining to hear the rest.

"...can you repeat—"

Unbeknownst to me, the faceless woman had risen from her seat, standing beside me. I noticed her sudden movement and found myself automatically following suit. Stepping out from the floral palette, she led the way along the path.

I joined her, and we traversed through the gentle breeze, causing the flowers to dance in harmony.

"The part where I mentioned that I'll be the one giving you the Boss you picked is a lie." She confessed, stopping in her tracks with her hands concealed behind her.

She continued, "Unfortunately, this is the last time we'll be able to see each other."

"Why's that....?"

"One can never exist in the same world as he or she is. My ending is fated, it is truly inevitable."

"...."

She turned her head to the right, gazing at the sun setting on the horizon.

"Do you know that these lycoris surrounding us signify two meanings?"

"...."

"They represent death and the afterlife."

A strong gust of wind blew, causing some of the flowers to sway and fly along with the wind.

"In the course of my life, I've witnessed the blossoming of countless flowers, each petal a reminder of our transient existence. Life, much like the lycoris, is fleeting, and death is an inevitable companion."

She caught one of the lycoris in the air and began to examine it.

"Through the years, I've tasted the bitterness of loss and felt the warmth of life's embrace. I've stood at the precipice of mortality, and in those moments, I learned that acknowledging our mortality doesn't diminish the value of our existence. Instead, it bestows upon us a profound understanding."

A powerful burst of wind blew, once more.

The faceless girl tucked her ash blonde hair behind her ear.

Despite the lycoris blowing in her direction, she had no sign of red on her clothes. For some reason, not even a single petal clung to her body.

It was as if she cannot not be touch.

"The crimson petals remind us that no matter how fierce our struggles or how radiant our moments of joy, we all share a common destiny — death. It's not a call to surrender but an invitation to reflect on the true essence of our journey."

When she spread out her arms, an invisible force formed around her before releasing it. The force made me to close my eyes.

"You see, life is like a delicate dance, and our understanding of its impermanence can be the key to unlocking its true meaning."

By the time I opened my eyes, I saw that all the other flowers had turned into lycoris...

A pure white lycoris.

"Even small change can make huge differences."

Out of the sudden, a pair of angel-like wings sprout out against her waist. Her faceless head suddenly began to lose its light. It slowly revealed her golden eyes and, most of all, the smile on her face.

"You don't have to remember..."

The red lycoris she was holding earlier fell to the ground. It's color slowly bled out, painting the white flowers nearby red.

"Rest assured, ⬛⬛⬛..."

Crack—!

"The others will take it from here..."

It was then, the halo above her head shattered.

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[Congratulations!]

[You have successfully cleared the fifth floor.]