Threads of Fate (Catnipz)

Another Difficult Decision

As Haerin reached the top of the staircase, the radiant glow began to dim, revealing a vast, ethereal expanse. The air was still, almost reverent, and ahead of her was a desk made of polished dark wood. It stood alone, a stark contrast to the endless white surrounding it. Behind the desk sat a man in a sharp black suit, his features calm and composed, as though he had spent centuries in this role.

Haerin hesitated for a moment, her feet rooted to the smooth ground beneath her. The man looked up, his piercing eyes meeting hers, and a faint, polite smile crossed his lips.

"Welcome," he said, his voice deep and steady, carrying an air of authority. "Please, step forward."

Haerin swallowed her nerves and walked toward the desk, her steps tentative. As she stood before him, the man adjusted a pair of thin, wire-framed glasses perched on his nose and picked up a sleek fountain pen.

"Your full name?" he asked, his tone professional, yet not unkind.

"Kang Haerin," she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man nodded, writing her name with smooth precision in a leather-bound ledger that seemed impossibly ancient, its pages filled with elegant, flowing script. Once he finished, he set the pen aside and folded his hands on the desk.

"Before you move forward, you are given a choice," he began, his gaze unwavering. "Would you like to see your past life? The fragments of who you were before this one?"

Haerin blinked, the question taking her by surprise. Her hands fidgeted at her sides, and she glanced over her shoulder instinctively, as if expecting to see Minji still there. But she was alone now, standing at this threshold.

"My... past life?" she repeated, the words foreign on her tongue.

The man nodded. "Yes. Your soul has lived many lives before this one. Some choose to see them, to understand the threads that connect their existence. Others prefer to leave it behind, to embrace what lies ahead without the weight of what came before. The choice is yours."

Haerin hesitated, her mind swirling with uncertainty. Part of her was curious, wondering who she had been, what her life had been like before she became her. But another part of her feared the answers, the possibility of uncovering something she might not be ready to face.

"What happens if I see it?" she asked quietly. "Does it... change anything?"

The man's expression remained neutral, his voice calm as he answered. "No. It is merely a memory, a glimpse into the soul's journey. What you do with it is entirely up to you."

Haerin's eyes dropped to the desk, her fingers curling into fists. The weight of the decision pressed on her, but after a moment, she exhaled deeply and looked up at the man.

"I... want to see it," she said, her voice steady despite the flicker of fear in her chest. "I want to know who I was."

The man gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. "Very well," he said, rising from his seat. "Follow me."

Haerin followed the man through a narrow corridor illuminated by a soft, golden light. The walls seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly glow, and the air felt heavy with the weight of time itself. At the end of the hallway, he opened a door, gesturing for her to enter.

As Haerin stepped inside, the room changed around her, shifting and morphing into something entirely different. The walls melted away, replaced by the serene image of a small village nestled by the sea. She blinked, the sudden clarity startling, yet it felt oddly familiar, like slipping into a long-forgotten dream.

The scene before her wasn't sharp; it was blurred around the edges as though her mind struggled to piece together the fragments. She could hear the gentle lapping of waves against the shore and the distant calls of fishermen as they hauled their nets. The air was thick with the scent of salt and seaweed, and Haerin could feel the rough texture of sand beneath her bare feet.