Hmm... But now that I'm here, what should I do?
I've reached the legendary Soul World, but then what? Initially, I was just a little curious, and I hadn't really thought about what I'd do once I actually got here.
"Follow me. I'll give you a tour."
'Me' said, then walked ahead, prompting me to scurry along after her. The farther we went, the more I realized that this space felt infinite. It kept expanding endlessly no matter where I walked.
Along the way, I encountered other white silhouettes. They had no defined forms, but I guessed they were probably people who had once passed the trial.
Wait a minute...
I forgot something important!
Meradis once said that those who passed the trial disappeared immediately afterward and were never seen again...
Oh no!
How could I forget that!!
Am I going to suddenly disappear too??
"Don't worry."
The voice of 'Me' echoed out as if she could read my thoughts.
Well, even though she could be considered me, it still felt strange hearing her talk out loud. I figured she could hear my thoughts, so maybe I didn't need to speak aloud?
"Yeah."
Yup, that's convenient.
But what does it mean, disappearing suddenly?
I stopped walking, eyes full of doubt as I looked toward the faint shadow of 'Me.' Even though it felt like I was talking to myself, the way she responded and her gestures were subtly different—like she carried a part of me I had never recognized.
"Why say don't worry? Disappearing isn't exactly a small deal!" I thought to myself, eyes locked on 'Me.'
"It's not the kind of disappearance you're imagining." 'Me' responded immediately, without turning around.
"The ones you see here, even if they're just drifting souls, they're not actually lost. They've merged with the Soul World and become part of it."
"Become a part of this world? What does that mean?" I tilted my head, unable to grasp the meaning behind her words.
Why did it suddenly feel like I'd walked into a trap?
'Me' stopped walking and looked toward the drifting white silhouettes scattered throughout the boundless space.
"When a soul passes the trial, it reaches the highest form of purity—that moment when their ideals and emotions are in complete harmony. But you see, once someone reaches that state, they no longer have a purpose to exist in their old form. The soul is invited to merge with the Soul World, to contribute power and help balance the energies here."
I furrowed my brow.
So... they didn't truly vanish, they just changed their form of existence? But why don't they return to their bodies? Or at least continue to live in the real world?
'Me' let out a faint laugh, her voice tinged with a hint of mockery.
"You think purity is something that can be held onto forever? Once a soul attains that state, returning to the real world would disrupt the balance. The negative emotions, temptations, and fears outside would cause them to fall again. So merging with the Soul World is the only way to remain unstained."
I involuntarily took a step back.
Merge with this place? Wouldn't that mean completely disappearing?
I haven't even reached my goals yet! There are still places I want to explore, things I want to do...
"What are you thinking about?" 'Me' turned around, her eyes glowing in the misty space. "You haven't reached complete purity yet. Don't worry—you're not qualified to merge with this place."
Ack!
Though I was relieved we weren't getting into any collisions, that still stung a little.
I let out a breath of relief. Thank goodness. But then I hesitated. "Then why do some people willingly disappear like that? Don't they want to keep on existing?"
'Me' went quiet for a moment, then softly said, "Existence isn't easy. Some carry too much pain or too heavy a burden that they no longer want to return. This world offers them perfect peace—a kind of 'release.' You can't blame them for choosing it."
I took a deep breath, trying to fully understand what 'Me' had just said. At the same time, something about the way this world worked made me even more curious. It didn't feel like just a simple spirit realm.
"So what exactly is the Soul World? Besides being a place for souls to find peace or to merge, does it serve any other purpose?" I asked, never taking my eyes off her silhouette.
'Me' turned to face me, her voice deeper than usual. "The Soul World is the energy core of all dimensions. It doesn't just exist to balance life and death; it's also the power source for all living beings. Do you see those streams of light flowing through this space?"
I nodded.
In fact, ever since I arrived here, I'd noticed those streams of light—like rivers flowing through space, twisting and curling in magical patterns.
"That's the life energy stream. Everything you do—your emotions, thoughts, actions—produces energy. When you die, that energy returns here, enriching the endless flow. And the Soul World redistributes it, creating endless cycles."
I couldn't help but be amazed. "So... we're just a small part in this giant chain?"
'Me' smiled.
"Exactly. But not everyone realizes that. Most people think their lives are the center of the universe. But here, you'll see that everything is connected. A soul never truly disappears—it simply changes form to continue serving the cycle."
"Through this place, you could even look into the past or move toward the future by following the energy streams. But no one's ever succeeded in doing it." 'Me' smiled again, a mocking tone in her voice.
Why is that?
"Because they weren't strong enough."
Huh?
That's it? That's the reason?
"Yes. To go to the past is to move against the current. So if you're not strong enough, you'll be overwhelmed and swept away. Besides, you need a vessel to move through the flow."
So what about heading toward the future?
"Same principle. You have to pinpoint your stopping point and have the power to stop yourself. If not, you'll just keep going until you fall into The Void."
The Void? Another new place?
"It's not something pleasant, so don't concern yourself with it."
Okay then, if you don't want to explain...
"Then what about the people who passed the trial but didn't merge with the Soul World? Where did they go?" I pressed on, unable to stop wondering.
"Some choose to return to the real world to fulfill unfinished ideals. But not many. Returning means facing temptation and suffering all over again. Only the strongest souls, with unshakable will, can survive without losing their purity."
I stayed silent, feeling like I'd just opened a door into a whole new world. What I once thought about life and death was just the surface. This world was far more complex than I imagined.
"Why did you bring me here?" I asked, my tone becoming more serious. "I haven't fully passed the trial. I haven't even reached my goal. Why bring me here?"
'Me' looked straight into my eyes, her gaze piercing deep into my soul. "So you understand that your goal isn't just to survive or explore. The ideals you pursue need to carry deeper meaning. You seek freedom, but you need to realize how that freedom affects the things around you. Only when you truly understand that will you be able to attain real purity."
I went quiet.
So it turns out, my journey wasn't just about finding freedom for myself. I also had to learn how to live without disturbing the balance around me.
Ugh, this is all too complicated.
I just wanted to live and eat well every day, that's all.
'Me' smiled. "Are you ready to return? Or would you like to explore a little more?"
I looked at the endless space, the streams of light flowing through it. I felt like there was still so much I didn't know about this world. But I also understood that my real journey was in the real world, where my ideals were waiting to be tested.
"I'll go back. But this time, I'll be stronger—not just in power, but in will." I declared, my eyes filled with determination.
'Me' nodded, her voice echoing like a promise. "Then go. But remember, the Soul World will always be watching over you."
But... will I be able to return next time?
"The Soul World has accepted you. As long as you can find the Soul Lake, you can come back."
That's reassuring. For now, I'll return to the real world and continue my journey.