Why? For what? What did I do to deserve this? Am I dead? Is this purgatory? Why is it so dark in here? I'm scared!

Countless thoughts swarmed through my mind. However, at one point, Siluet appeared in the darkness.

- Nevie. -Siluet whispered my name. A familiar voice. Someone I just can't help but recognize

- Chris!! Why?! Why are you doing this to me?! You killed me! For what?! Why?! What did I do to you?! I believed you! - Without hesitation, I began to vent all my feelings.

Siluet accepted all this and quietly came closer. The darkness of the silhouette slowly faded. It wasn't Chris. It was something that ate me up. What killed me.

- Nooo!!! Stay away! Stay away! Stay away! Nooo! I don't want to die again!

- Calm down. Nevie. -The nest cautiously extended a tentacle. It took the shape of a hand. A small and weak hand. Chris's hand. I would like to find a corner and cry there for a few days. But the tears just didn't roll down the cheeks.

-What are you?

-I... I don't know. Before I met you, all I wanted to do was absorb more people. Become stronger. Control everything. However, after I met you, this desire disappeared. I don't want to mindlessly destroy everything now. Thanks to your explanation, I understand everything. I love you. I want to protect you. To be with you always.

-T-then. Why did you kill me? Is it your way to love?

-You told me so yourself. To love is to want to be together with someone always. I want to be with you, too. One.

-It's... it doesn't love.

-Then what? I used to absorb someone, then I would instinctively purify their souls. Their sense of self-awareness. Then I used this mass to strengthen myself. But! I didn't do that to you. Because of these feelings, I can't absorb you. But now we are together and we will always be together.

-W-what about... Chris? What's wrong with him? What did you do to him?

-Chris. He was absorbed by me. He's a part of me now. All his memories. His soul. It's me now. Is it possible to consider that we are more united with him?

-Liar! Bring Chris back! I don't want to live without him.

-I can't. -A hand touched my cheeks. I'm not sure if this body is real anymore, though. -He's a part of me now. I can't separate him from me. No how.

-But ... no! No! I don't want it! I don't want this life! Die... die! Get away from me! Leave me alone! I don't want it!

-Do you ... want me to leave?

-Yes! Go away! Leave me alone!

-All right. If that's what you want.

The nest's body slowly turned into a shadow and disappeared. I was left alone in this void.

-It's scary. I'm scared…

…

She ... looks like she wants to be alone. I love her. So I won't bother her if that's what she wants.

I... feel weird. Just a couple of days ago, all I wanted was to strengthen myself. It doesn't matter why. Just for the power? Why do I need the power? Why do I need to control more than I need to?

It seems like it's like an instinct. But... I can't understand. I want to understand, but it's hard. Understand people. This is also a very strange desire.

I didn't understand much. How do they arrive at such conclusions? How? In their memories, they understood this from the stories. About knights and heroes. Maybe if I get their memory, I will understand? Perhaps.

But for now, I'd better understand my abilities first.

I'm not one of the life forms I know.

I can control my cells and recreate what I've already absorbed. I usually control the creatures by replacing their brains with my cells. The brain fully performs its functions and is no different from the usual ones. These imitators are connected to me. The communication range is unknown. Each simulator can think and make decisions independently. If something deserves the attention of the main body and others, he can contact me, and I will pass it on to others. It's not hard for me to keep track of each of my clones... an imitator... how should I call them?

However, tracking everyone is not a problem for me. Connecting is satisfying. But... I find it hard to understand why this is so. Maybe you should ask Nevie about it. I'll wait until she's ready to talk to me. After all, taking care of someone is also to understand when it is difficult for someone and if they are asked to help. In this case, leaving her alone.

I can also create a body from my cells. The body will have the ability to change. If the hand is cut off, you can simply turn it into an animal that attacks from behind, or into a bird that quickly returns to its place.

However, the creation of such bodies is not easy. I need a lot of biomaterials.

…

How long has it been? I don't know. I didn't count it. But a lot of time has passed. During this time, I thought about everything. Now I just want to talk. My heart sinks.

-C-Chris ... are you... there...?- I asked hesitantly.

As if waiting for these words, a nest appeared. All the same disgusting, scary, and ... close. Somewhy.

-Nevie, did you call me?-it asked in a solicitous voice.

The words don't come out of my throat. All my anger and all my resentment have already evaporated. All that's left is a feeling of emptiness of being lost. My thoughts were confused. The words that were about to come out of my throat stuck, and then disappeared from my head.

- Nevie. -He again reached out to touch my cheeks. -Don't worry, I'll listen. I will accept everything and help you in everything.

-Why? Why are you so good to me? You killed me.

-I didn't kill you. You're alive. Your soul is here now. With me. I'll always listen to you. I will love and protect you. No matter how difficult it is.

Its words evoke warmth. But ... these are the words of a monster. A killer and eater. The one who doesn't leave even a soul.

These thoughts kept me from opening up to him. I looked timidly at one of its eyes and said,

-But... it does not love.

-We're repeating the same conversation. I'll certainly listen to you. But it won't lead to anything. So please. Be honest. Say whatever you want. Cry. Throw it all out.

This concern finally broke these thoughts.

-For starters. What do you see in me? I'm a small, unremarkable commoner who also has an incurable disease.

-You've been good to me. Listened to me. Always answered my questions. Because of you, I don't want to get stronger anymore. I want to understand you. Even though I have your memories, it's hard for me to understand how you came to such conclusions. This shows that I don't understand anything about it yet. There are many words whose meaning I alone cannot understand. They raise a lot of questions. In the beginning, I didn't want it so much. But after you explained it, it was like a gate opened for me. Everything started to make sense. First time I wanted something with all my heart. Thank you for that.

-Okay.… Can I snuggle up to you?

-Of course.

After receiving approval, I slowly approached the nest. Snuggled up to it. The flesh. Soft and slightly sticky. Suddenly, in the place where I was pressed, fur grew. Soft. Pleasant.

After lying there for a while, I remembered a story.

-You know the story of the nobleman.

-Which story?

-The story of the Nobleman of Empos.

-The one who had the blood of a nobleman and a commoner in him?

- Yes. A respected nobleman of Empos town had a wife of a noble origin, but she died after giving birth, some time later he married a commoner who already had a daughter by another. Under their union, they had a son. When he grew up, his mother told him everything and asked if he would treat his sister as a relative after learning this story? He answered without hesitation. Even if we weren't bound by blood ties, we're already kindred souls. The years and hardships have strengthened our bond. How can I even think about leaving her? Even if it means the disgrace of our family and my death, I will never go back on my words! In the end, because of this, his family fell, and he died. But he kept his vow. His sister was able to live a good life even after his death. It was said that until her last day, her brother's soul guarded her.

-I know all that. Why did you tell it me?

I looked him straight in the eye and said confidently

-I believe Chris treated me the same way that nobleman treated his sister. Even if you have absorbed him completely, through you he protects me. I hope Chris is in a better world now. Without pain and suffering. I will love him forever. And you, too. After all, you gave his last will.

-It means.

-I forgive you for everything you've done. -I hugged him as hard as I could. -And I accept your feelings for me. Please let's be together.

-We will. I promise.

The darkness of the surroundings slowly receded. It began to take on a bright light. The sun appeared in the sky. Under its light, the earth appeared. Grass began to grow on it very quickly.

-What's going on?- I said, not understanding anything.

-This place is the inner world in your soul. As only your soul condition back to normal, your inner world stabilized.

-If this is my inner world, why are you here?

-Your soul is inside my body, and because of that, I can come in here. But I can't change the environment or do anything like that here. My influence is limited to creating a body and being able to talk to you here.

-So this is a place where we can say whatever we want without being overheard?

-In some kind, yes.

-Alright! This is the place where we will tell all the secrets! -It's as if the old sadness didn't exist. Although it's still hard to omit some of the feelings. I must live that