"So Mei fell in love with me at first sight too?"
Kiana looked at her in surprise.
Really...?
That was unexpected.
She had always thought it was her persistence and effort that had won Mei over.
She never imagined that Mei had fallen for her at first sight as well.
Then again, it made sense. If it hadn't been love at first sight—if there hadn't been at least some base level of affection—how could Mei have let her get so close so easily?
Damn it!
If she had known Mei liked her that much from the beginning, she wouldn't have been so reserved!
"Love at first sight? I suppose you could call it that."
Acheron recalled the few fragments of memory she could still summon. "Back then, I didn't quite understand what it was, but that feeling—without question—it was love."
Fortunately, she still retained those memories of being with Kiana. Otherwise, even reminiscing would have been impossible.
About the past...
Acheron's eyes dimmed slightly.
"Come here. Let me put medicine on your wounds."
Kiana jumped a little, covering her mouth with a flustered wave of her hand. "No need, I'm fine! My body heals fast—it'll stop hurting soon."
She must've startled Kiana just now.
Hopefully, she hadn't left a scar on her heart.
Acheron's gaze lingered briefly on her lips, but she didn't insist. Instead, she turned her eyes to the photo wall.
"Can you tell me about that blank period of yours? I'd like to know more about you."
"That blank period, huh?"
Kiana lowered her hand, following Acheron's gaze toward the photo wall—where a picture of herself with Ruan Mei caught her eye.
She instantly understood.
"Of course. Why don't you sit down first, Mei? I'll tell you everything."
"Back then..."
Kiana remembered clearly—it had been two years ago, the day she had awakened in Ruan Mei's laboratory with her mind completely blank.
...
Two years ago.
"Hmm, everything looks good."
Ruan Mei withdrew her hand after completing the examination, looking satisfied at the sight of the white-haired girl before her—whose expression still carried faint confusion.
"The two forces in your body are balanced now. You're quite special. Other than your memories, nothing else seems to have been affected by Nihility."
"...Thank you?"
The white-haired girl, filled with unease and unable to recall anything, offered a tentative thanks to the graceful woman before her.
Wasn't that the right thing to say?
"I've already received my payment."
Already... received payment?
When she had opened her eyes after escaping the darkness, this woman had been the first thing she saw. But the fragmented scenes in her mind offered no clue as to how she had gotten there.
She didn't know why she was here.
Nor did she know who this stranger was.
"Do you still remember your name?"
"...Kiana."
The white-haired girl, remembering nothing else, spoke her name instinctively.
"And anyone else?"
Kiana hesitated, then shook her head. Her mind was a blank canvas—save for vague, disconnected fragments of faces she couldn't identify.
She didn't know who they were, nor what they meant to her.
"So you only remember your own name?"
Kiana nodded, then shook her head again.
A highly unusual Self-Annihilator.
A special lifeform—a unique existence.
Her presence stirred Ruan Mei's curiosity, especially the power within her that seemed capable of resisting Nihility itself, yet did not belong to any Aeon.
—Ruan Mei.
An expert in the field of life sciences, and Member #81 of the Genius Society, blessed once by the gaze of Nous, the Aeon of Erudition.
For certain reasons, she had recently ventured into the region where IX dwelled.
And there, she had met this very girl.
Her existence was unique.
Unique enough to ignite Ruan Mei's scientific curiosity, prompting her to bring the girl all the way back.
She had observed many fascinating phenomena within the girl—but to study them further, she needed her cooperation.
Thus, she had spent some time stabilizing the girl's chaotic condition. Once the energy inside her body reached equilibrium, the girl had awakened, just as Ruan Mei had predicted.
"I hope you'll cooperate with me in a few experiments."
Ruan Mei didn't bother to conceal her intent. Looking at Kiana calmly, she continued, "I can offer you some compensation in return."
"Experiments?"
Kiana didn't quite understand what she meant.
But just hearing the word experiment made her instinctively uneasy. A faint look of resistance appeared on her face.
"I'd like to study the power within you—the one capable of opposing Nihility."
The unknown always invoked curiosity and fascination. Until she fully understood it, Ruan Mei would never lose interest.
That mysterious energy—and the peculiar girl before her—were both worth her time.
"What do I have to do to cooperate?"
Kiana hesitated. Though the woman before her was the benefactor who had pulled her out of that darkness, she didn't immediately agree.
Sensing her uncertainty, Ruan Mei added, "Don't worry. They're just standard tests. I won't force you into anything. The choice will always be yours."
That was exactly what Kiana wanted to hear.
Her guard eased a little as she curiously studied the beautiful woman standing in front of her.
She had been lost in a fog of confusion until now.
It was this person—this woman—who had pulled her from the darkness and helped her wake.
"Will it hurt?" Kiana asked softly, almost timidly. She was afraid of pain—if it was going to hurt, she would definitely refuse, no matter how beautiful or kind her savior was.
There were many ways to repay kindness, after all. Offering herself up didn't have to be one of them.
Will it hurt?
It was the first time Ruan Mei had been asked such a question. She paused, thinking seriously about what she intended to do.
"It shouldn't hurt."
Then she added, as if to reassure her, "If it does, we can adjust the method."
Kiana thought about it for a moment, then said cautiously, "If it doesn't hurt, then... I'll help you."
"Come with me."
Ruan Mei had already prepared for this stage long before Kiana's awakening. Now that Kiana had agreed, she could proceed to the next step without delay.
"So soon?" Kiana blinked, startled by how quickly things were moving.
Wasn't there supposed to be more conversation first?
When Ruan Mei turned and began walking away, Kiana panicked and hurried after her, afraid of being left behind.
"Please wait for me!"
Everything here was unfamiliar—the sterile walls, the faint hum of machinery, the strange smell of disinfectant.
The laboratory setting alone made her uneasy.
With no memory of her past and only her name to cling to, Kiana felt completely defenseless, wrapped in layers of anxiety.
She didn't fully trust Ruan Mei—but she was the only person she could depend on right now.
The only person by her side.
Compared to the strange, alien surroundings, Ruan Mei's presence was the only thing that gave her even the slightest sense of safety.
Machines she couldn't recognize, screens she couldn't read.
Walls that gave off a cold, metallic sheen.
The nearly enclosed laboratory amplified Kiana's fear—the fear of waking up with no memory of who she was or where she had come from.
Uneasy, she followed closely behind Ruan Mei.
"Where are we going?"
The silence of the sterile corridor only made her more nervous. Forcing down the anxiety creeping up her chest, she tried to strike up a conversation with the only person she could rely on.
No matter what—Ruan Mei was the only one she could trust right now.
"To another laboratory," Ruan Mei answered.
Thankfully, she wasn't the cold or dismissive type. She didn't ignore Kiana's question or brush it aside.
"Another laboratory? There are... many here?"
Almost subconsciously, Kiana moved a little closer to her. Maybe it was instinct, but she felt the hallway grow colder with every step.
"This facility is where I conduct my research. There are many laboratories, each for a different kind of study."
Her voice was calm and level, but she was answering seriously.
This place is huge, Kiana thought.
She followed Ruan Mei into an elevator, descending to another level. When the doors opened, the new room looked much the same as the one they had just left.
"We're here."
As the doors closed behind them, Ruan Mei turned her gaze toward Kiana, who was visibly tense. "There's no need to be nervous. Just do as I say. It won't take long."
"O-okay..."
Having no idea what was going to happen next, Kiana nodded stiffly, steeling herself.
Whatever Ruan Mei said, she would follow.
But time seemed to crawl.
Even as fatigue began to weigh down her limbs, Ruan Mei showed no signs of stopping—still thinking, still recording data.
She seemed to have run into a problem.
Her body growing tired, Kiana rubbed at her eyes. Her eyelids were growing heavier by the second.
"There's a sofa over there—you can rest for a while."
Ruan Mei noticed her sluggish movements. Seeing her nodding off in her chair, she offered the suggestion casually.
Rest? Really?
Kiana perked up a little. Following Ruan Mei's gaze, she saw a couch tucked away near the wall.
"What about you?" she asked, hesitating. She wanted to lie down, but if she did, Ruan Mei would have to keep working alone. She didn't want to leave her without help.
"When I need you, I'll wake you," Ruan Mei said without looking up, her expression still serious as she studied the data.
"Then I'll rest for a bit," Kiana said, yawning as she walked toward the corner.
After spending some time talking and adjusting to her surroundings, she had managed to adapt—if only slightly. Though she still felt uneasy, it wasn't nearly as overwhelming as before.
Ruan Mei really did consider her feelings. That alone eased her tension, allowing her to trust the woman just a little more.
Sleep for a while. Rest a bit.
Maybe she'd even remember something in her dreams.
With that faint hope in mind, Kiana lay down on the sofa and drifted off. She didn't know how long she slept.
When she finally opened her eyes again, Ruan Mei was sitting directly across from her.
"Awake?"
Ruan Mei's expression had returned to its usual calm. The seriousness from before was gone.
Looking at the still-drowsy Kiana, she extended a hand and offered her a small plate of pastries.
"Are these... for me?"
The woman in front of her—Ruan Mei—was her savior, the one who had freed her from darkness and brought her back to awareness.
Kiana still remembered what had happened before she'd fallen asleep.
Carefully, she accepted the treat. The faint scent of plum blossoms and the sweet aroma of pastry teased her senses.
It smelled so good.
It had been so long since she'd eaten anything. The sweetness alone made her mouth water.
"Yes. Try it," Ruan Mei said, picking up a piece for herself as well. "I had one of the service drones prepare them especially."
"Thank you!"
Kiana's tone brightened immediately. The moment she tasted the pastry, her eyes softened with delight as she looked at Ruan Mei.
She must be a good person!
The sweet flavor of the pastry completely disarmed Kiana, dissolving what little caution she still had left.
Delicious!
Kiana came alive again, her face lighting up with newfound energy.
"It's so good!"
Ruan Mei nodded, watching her radiant expression with a faint smile. "It seems you really enjoy this reward."
Kiana blinked, slowing her eating. "Reward?"
"A reward for cooperating with me."
"You're very obedient—a good girl."
That... was probably praise, right?
She had simply done as Ruan Mei asked—nothing more. Still, Kiana felt a little embarrassed, though her heart fluttered with a quiet joy.
She liked being praised.
"Also," Ruan Mei continued, her tone soft but serious, "I'd like to talk to you again about your condition."
"My condition?"
Ruan Mei's gaze grew focused as she studied the unusual girl before her. "I underestimated the power within you. To fully understand it, I'll need a great deal of time."
Kiana looked at her, confused.
A great deal of time? So... what did that mean?
"Until I satisfy my curiosity, I'd like you to stay here and cooperate with me," Ruan Mei said plainly. "I'll make sure you're properly compensated."
She added, "If you need anything, you may ask. I'll do my best to fulfill your requests."
Stay here?
Kiana froze for a long moment.
She didn't even know where she came from. If she left this place, where could she possibly go?
That same unease from before—the fear of being alone in an unfamiliar world—washed over her once again.
She had to think.
If she left... what then?
She remembered nothing. She had nowhere to return to.
If Ruan Mei didn't want her here, she would have no place to go at all.
The thought of being left completely alone filled her with dread.
Compared to that uncertainty, staying here felt far safer. At least she knew Ruan Mei now.
And Ruan Mei... wasn't hard to get along with.
"...Is this important to you?" Kiana asked quietly.
Ruan Mei thought for a moment, then nodded. "It is."
She was genuinely interested.
Kiana fell silent.
It wasn't that she was struggling to agree—quite the opposite. She would say yes.
Because, truthfully, she had nowhere else to go.
"Can my memories be restored?" she asked at last.
Ruan Mei furrowed her brows, thinking. "Perhaps. But it will be difficult."
The power of Nihility was troublesome. And Kiana wasn't only touched by Nihility—there was another force within her, one Ruan Mei had never seen before.
Clenching her hands nervously, Kiana finally gathered the courage to speak. "Alright. You can do whatever you want with me. But... I want to stay."
Stay?
Ruan Mei frowned slightly. The request caught her off guard.
She didn't usually like being disturbed, nor was she used to having anyone around. The only reason she tolerated it now was because Kiana was, to her, a fascinating test subject.
But what about later—when her curiosity faded?
"We can make a deal," Kiana blurted, her tone urgent as she saw Ruan Mei's hesitation. "You can ask me to do anything—anything, no matter how extreme—just please let me stay!"
Ruan Mei blinked, surprised. "Why?"
"...I can't remember anything. And I have nowhere else to go."
Ruan Mei paused, then gave a small, knowing nod. "So, you want me to take you in for now?"
"Can you?" Kiana asked hopefully.
"I can," Ruan Mei replied.
By the time she unraveled the mysteries within Kiana, the girl's amnesia would no longer be an issue.
In truth, their goals were already aligned.