The Eternal Place of Exile
I slowly looked around. It was like a landscape from a painting, detached from the world—a hazy, dreamlike scene utterly unlike reality unfolding before my eyes.
"Just... where the hell am I?"
No matter how hard I racked my brain, it didn't match any place I knew. One thing was clear: this wasn't the monastery, and I was inside some kind of castle.
"...So why the hell am I here?"
I considered wild possibilities—like someone dunking my face in that tub and carrying me here while I was out, or maybe I'd passed out underwater and was hallucinating. But nothing made sense.
"This makes zero sense."
Then, glancing down, I realized I was standing there stark naked, without a stitch of clothing.
"...Atchoo!"
The silver lining? It wasn't the dead of night, and it wasn't that cold. Strangely, even naked, the air here felt perfectly temperate—not chilly at all.
"Guess I'll wander around a bit?"
I worried I might get caught by guards as an intruder or suspicious character, but right now, I needed info more than anything.
First, find someone... If they're not hostile, ask for help.
I glanced down again.
"Hmm..."
My skin, still damp from the water and not fully dry, gleamed softly, exposed in a way that felt disarmingly vulnerable. In that moment, I swallowed hard without thinking.
"Haa... No choice, I guess."
It was a little embarrassing to roam around naked, but this wasn't the time to worry about that.
If possible, look for something to wear as clothes...
...I decided to slowly explore the castle interior.
At first, I crept along cautiously, hiding my body and staying alert for anyone who might appear. But I quickly realized it was unnecessary.
The only sounds echoing faintly were my footsteps and the occasional sneeze from my cold—barely proof that anyone was even here. As I passed through halls, corridors, ramparts, and bridges, I didn't encounter a single person or shadow.
So... this place was empty.
Everything felt like time had stopped, frozen in place.
I walked for a long while but couldn't get any sense of what this place was. It was beautiful yet lonely, peaceful yet desolate, empty yet stirring a faint ache in my heart—a place that stirred incredibly complex emotions.
When I finally reached the end of a long corridor, on the coldly gleaming marble floor, my legs gave out. I couldn't accept this reality and collapsed to the ground.
Staring blankly at the endless hallway and the wall decorations softly reflecting some unknown light, it suddenly hit me—maybe the system window knew something.
I called out to it inwardly.
Hey~ Um... can you tell me what's going on right now?
...
System window~
But, as expected, no response.
Ah! Come on, answer me!!
...
You sneaky bastard... You're not gonna answer even in a situation like this?!
I gave up on the system and checked my status window for any new info.
"...Huh?"
No... I tried to open it like always, but nothing appeared before my eyes.
"...What's going on?"
Not just the status window—the quest window, and even the system window that had always popped up without issue... nothing showed.
"...Hic, hngh..."
And in that moment... tears welled up in my eyes.
"Hwahaaang...!"
I had no idea how to process this. I'd been holding it together until now, but honestly, it was terrifying. Scary as hell.
"Hwaa... Atchoo! Hwahaaa..."
The tears kept coming, my face a mess of snot and sobs.
And that's when it happened.
"...Not Tia, I see."
A voice spoke.
"...I woke from slumber sensing a familiar presence... but to think an unexpected little guest had arrived."
Forgetting I was naked, thrilled that someone else was here, I didn't even think to hide. I wiped the tears from my eyes in a hurry and blankly looked up at the speaker.
"!!"
She had long black hair like the night sky, her dazzling silver dress swaying lightly in the breeze. She exuded beauty as if crafted from light itself. Her eyes sparkled coldly yet held a gentle warmth, radiating calm, overwhelming dignity. Her mere presence made the space around her glow with a mystical aura.
"What's your name?"
"...Te... Sniff... Te, Teresa."
Overwhelmed by her beauty, I couldn't even think to be wary and blurted out my name. The tears had stopped, but the sniffling lingered.
"Teresa... Not your original name, it seems, but... it's a pretty one."
Not my original name?
"...Hngh... Wh-what about you?"
She gazed at me with a soft smile. The faint glow at the corners of her lips soothed my heart, bringing instant calm.
"My name is a bit hard for humans to pronounce. Hmm... So just call me Lumina. Yes, Lumina will do."
"Lumina...?"
She approached me slowly.
!?
Before I could hesitate—wondering if I should run or stay on guard—she was right in front of me.
"Put this on first."
She slipped off her outer garment and draped it over me.
"Ah, uh...?!"
Then she wiped my face with her sleeve.
I'd sensed it from her aura, but even I could tell her outer garment was no ordinary clothing. I wondered if it was okay for me to wear it, or for her to wipe my snot-and-tear-streaked face with it, but she just smiled gently.
"...Th-thank you."
Coming to my senses late, I bowed my head politely in thanks.
"Looks like you've caught a cold."
"...Y-yeah..."
"There, all better now."
Our eyes met as she looked down at me—her deep gaze like a lake holding moonlight, drawing me in.
"...What a fateful, tragic path you walk. I see why she sent you to me."
"Huh?"
Even from afar, I'd felt it, but up close... she didn't seem human at all. Her very existence was perfect beauty beyond words.
"Hmm, right... It's poor manners to receive a guest like this. Come along."
With that, she carefully stepped toward the end of the corridor.
I hesitated briefly but decided to follow.
...
She led me to a garden. A faint floral scent filled the air, flowerbeds lining the stone paths blending naturally with vines over the walls. A serene pond and slender bridge evoked a dreamlike tranquility.
In the center sat a small table and two chairs. Lumina fetched two cups of tea from somewhere and set one before me.
"Forgive me. All I have to offer is this tea. Had I known a guest was coming, I'd have prepared something proper."
The tea wafted sweet herbal notes mixed with a familiar floral aroma.
"Um... could I ask a few questions?"
"Of course."
She took a sip to wet her throat and nodded.
"Where is this place?"
"This is... a place of eternal exile, prepared for me by my sister."
"Exile? You mean your sister locked you away here?"
"You could see it that way."
It was just a moment here alone, but I could already feel how lonely this place was. And she had to stay forever? It pissed me off on her behalf.
"Locking her own sister in such a... desolate place. Your sister's a real piece of work!"
"...Indeed. If she visited even occasionally, it wouldn't be so lonely... but it seems even this time, she hasn't come."
She lowered her head slightly in quiet sadness, showing no anger or resentment—just serene acceptance.
I followed her lead and sipped the tea cautiously. Surprisingly, it was a mild blend of floral notes and sweet herbs—mysterious yet not unfamiliar.
Setting it down, I pressed on.
"Do you know how I got here? And how do I get back to where I was?"
"Hmm..."
She pointed slowly to the flowerbed. There bloomed masses of familiar white flowers, scattered like they'd come from somewhere.
Lumina's white flowers.
"!"
"Did you perhaps bathe in water infused with petals like these?"
I nodded slowly, and she smiled faintly, understanding.
"I see. In your world, these petals halt the flow of time. Bathing in water with them would grant ageless youth and un-withering skin. But the source of that effect? These flowers originate here."
"The flowers' origin?"
"Yes. This place exists on a completely different time axis from your world. These flowers were created by my sister solely for me, blooming only here. For them to bloom in your world created a connection. And your arrival? Likely because your ability amplified that link."
"My ability... what do you mean?"
"You seem to possess the power to defy inevitability. And..."
She drained her tea and continued calmly.
"As for returning to your original world... no need to worry overly much."
"Really!?"
"Only your soul is here. Souls naturally return to their bodies... Yours remains where it was, so you'll awaken there soon enough, just as before you came."
Hearing that, the fear frozen deep in my heart melted away like ice under sun.
"...Ah, ah... Thank goodness."