Reunion II

Noir raised an eyebrow at the gatekeeper's mention of the angry woman's name.

'Noelle...'

Then he looked at the woman with a tilted head. Not even a second passed, but Noir already recognized her because of the integrated memories of his other self, who had been living in this world for almost 18 years.

'So... if she didn't pass away, she would become a wonderful person like her in this world's version.'

Suddenly, a question popped up in his mind.

'Wait... the me in this world lives in the 22nd century while the world I come from is still in the 21st century. Is that possible?'

As he pondered like that, the Sovereign's words resounded in his head.

'I guess it is...? The Sovereign said it's not a parallel world or multiverse theory but a different world within the same universe. But again, I thought there were no other living creatures than us humans here.'

Noir shook his head.

'Well, who am I to say that? I'm nothing but a speck of dust in the universe whose intelligence can't match those beings called Sovereign or God— guhuk?!'

"What are you spacing out there for, dummy?"

After giving Noir a light hit on his head, Noelle ruffled his hair subtly. Slightly adjusting her hand, she made her younger brother face her.

From the gatekeepers's perspective, the Grandmaster looked like she was threatening the young Vagabond. Her eyes were sharp, and her face contorted into a scowl.

That was the illusion the gatekeepers saw between the Grandmaster and the young Vagabond.

But in reality, the Grandmaster's expression was full of worry.

After she finished basking in the momentary reunion, Noelle glanced at the gatekeepers.

"I'll handle this. You two can take a short, 5-minute break."

The gatekeepers saluted and then ran off to the post cheerfully.

Watching until the flies disappeared from her sight, Noelle pulled her younger brother for a hug.

"What a naughty child you are, Noir," Noelle said, hugging him tighter. "Even though you can just sit down like you usually do. Like a coward. But no. Instead, you had to rebel when I was not watching. What if you died during the trial?"

Technically, Noir had already died once. His initial self, soul, and consciousness had. Luckily, the other world's Noir came at the right time, and the two separated consciousnesses could finally become a complete, perfect soul.

But can Noir still be said to be the same person if the consciousness was dominated by the latter version of him? It would be yes and no at the same time.

The paradox wasn't what mattered for Noir. It was his sister, who was alive in this world but dead in his original world, that mattered.

"That's impossible. Dying during the trial will be a disgrace for me in the afterlife," Noir answered cockily.

Noelle squeezed her younger brother's cheeks with one hand.

"How cocky. Do you think you're amazing just because you received your Resonance? Sure, you also passed the first ascension in just a couple of months, but you're still a chick."

Ruffling Noir's hair, Noelle continued, "That's why, from now on, I'll train you before the worst scenario comes..."

Just like Noir, Noelle didn't dawdle about the past. What mattered to her was the present or even the future. It could have been different if Noelle hadn't learned about the scenario Astor had told her.

For the sake of her younger brother, she intended to make use of the remaining time to prepare Noir so he could survive once the Nightingale returned.

Noelle leaned in and whispered something to Noir. After that, she grabbed his shoulder and pushed him, walking into the city.

When they passed the gatekeepers at the guard station, Noelle gestured for them to return to their post and said that she had a business with the 'Vagabond.'

Through their way, Noelle maintained a cold and professional act. 

Noelle occasionally told Noir she had no choice but to appear like that when in public. She also apologized for all this time she had done him wrong.

Although Noir wasn't the person who directly got the treatment from her sister in the past, he tried his best to mimic the former Noir's behavior. He reluctantly accepted Noelle's apology, and he also behaved exactly like how the Grandmaster remembered it.

'Funny how despite a lot of differences between us, we still possess one common thing... prideful.'

Despite being the 'lowest class' in the world full of superhumans, the former Noir had pride that could rival those who were on the top.

Obviously, knowing how proud of a person he was before coming here, Noir acted accordingly earlier—something like failing the awakening trial was a disgrace.

So far, Noelle seemed to not notice anything was wrong with her younger brother. 

She knew Noir had always been a prideful person. And that was why when Noelle faked an act toward him in public, he came to despise her even though her intention was good.

However, it wasn't fully because of Noir's prideful trait. Everything came to disarray when his mind was distorted by his own fear—delusion. It made him negatively perceive everything.

'This portion of memory I regained after the first ascension... I don't know how I should feel about him. Is Noelle in the wrong, or is it his insecurity?'

Noir didn't know. At least not for now. Even if he did know, what benefit would he get from it?

'None,' Noir thought. 'Better focus on the present.'

***

"Isn't it fascinating?"

"What is?"

"The bond of siblings."

"Can you elaborate?"

"I mean, don't you see it fun when the already loose string is going to break off? What reaction do you think the side that holds onto it tightly will have once it finally snaps?"

"I don't get what you mean. You tell me."

"Devastation."

The conversation between the two people occurred in the low light environment while they were playing a board game. 

One of them, who was spouting nonsense to distract the others' focus, grinned wickedly after finished talking and won the game.

"You're distracting me."

The winner of the game chuckled, offering the loser a rematch, but the latter refused.

"I need to prepare for the big day. I can't play all day like you, you know?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure."

The winner flapped their hands lazily. 

Now alone in the room, the winner sighed when they realized they had to clean the table even though he was the one who won the game.

"Haha... he got me."

The winner began cleaning the table and was left with two pawns remaining. They were almost identical. Both pawns also wielded lightning bolts.

However, one of the pawns was one-armed.

"I'm curious how you ended up like this."