Archive of Our Own

***

A man ladened with scars stared at the ceiling of his apartment while listening to the ticking of the clock. The floor felt cold against his back.

The man was Kim Roksoo--no, Cale Henituse. He was, in fact, a she before she became Kim Roksoo. Cale Henituse was the eldest daughter of the Henituse Countdom in the kingdom of Roan. She was once known as the Trash of the Count's family before she transmigrated into the body of this man named, Kim Roksoo.

It was exactly 2 years ago when she was on the brink of death because of the war on the Western Continent. When she was about to lose consciousness, a voice had begun talking in her mind, asking her if she ever wanted to transfer her soul into another body from a different world.

It took her an entire minute to realize that she was actually talking to the god of Death. She remembered refusing the offer at first but had frozen when she heard the next words.

'You will exchange bodies with another person from a different world. When that happens, the time here will regress to the past when the war still hasn't begun and you are still at the age of 18. The person who will then reside in your body will change the flow of events.'

'Does that mean that person will be able to change everyone's fate in the Roan kingdom?' she asked. 'If so, will that person also change my family's fate?'

Cale's family had died in the duration of that war, and only she was left behind. Her father, her stepmother, and stepsiblings. All of them had left that world just like how her real mother did.

'Yes,' was the god of Death's answer. 'You should know, your mother has been reincarnated in the place you'll be transmigrated to.'

Cale's eyes shook, and her fingers began trembling. Even though she felt her throat drying, she still managed to ask a question.

'Will I- Will I meet her if I go to that world?'

'Yes. Yes, you will.'

That was enough for Cale. She had then allowed the god of Death to transfer her soul to a different world.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself in a man's body. She remembered cursing at the god of Death because of that as soon as she woke up in Kim Roksoo's body.

She was, at first, surprised by the mess this world has become. It took her half a year to completely adjust to life as a male and as Kim Roksoo. During the process of adapting, she was able to find her reborn mother and took her in.

It was a satisfying life, other than the constant popping of monsters and fighting that occurs. She didn't mind that she was now a 'he'. That kind of life continued for Cale who was now Kim Roksoo--that is, until a year ago.

It was a miraculously peaceful night at that time. Kim Roksoo had finished tucking his mother--who was now 20+ years younger than him--and went to sleep.

A few minutes after he drifted off to slumber, he had then begun dreaming. He was in a garden of flowers, leaves and petals fluttered around him. The sky was a beautiful blue, and the sun a golden hue.

It was stunning; but, Kim Roksoo wasn't paying any attention to it. He was only focused on his reflection before him.

'No,' he realized. 'That is not a reflection. That is the real Kim Roksoo!'

Kim Roksoo--no, Cale--felt her heart going wild as she gazed at the man in front of him. On the corner of her eye, she noticed her red hair dancing along with the wind. She has reverted to her original appearance at some point.

She opened her mouth, tried calling for the man who stood a few meters away from where she was standing; however, not a word left her lips, no voice was heard.

The man in front of her--the original Kim Roksoo--stood still and silently stared as she struggled to speak.

Cale felt a lump got stuck in her throat as she met Kim Roksoo's eyes. Those reddish-brown irises that resemble her original body's eye color felt comforting and suffocating at the same time.

She was frustrated that she couldn't call out to him, that she couldn't move towards him. She felt this odd sense of connection and wanted to reach him, but her feet wouldn't move. She remained glued to the grassy ground as she watched the original Kim Roksoo standing straight while his hair danced along with the breeze.

It was then that a voice from nowhere appeared.

"Kim Rok--no, Cale Henituse."

Cale froze, her body became stiff as she tried to determine the familiar voice. 5 seconds...10 seconds...

'The god of Death!'

It took her 10 seconds to finally pinpoint who the voice belonged to.

She struggled to make a sound, to respond to that god she never thought she'll interact with again.

'What is going?'

That was what she wanted to ask. However, the god of Death's next words made her halt her struggling.

"I was debating whether to tell you this or not, but you deserve to know the truth."

Cale was utterly confused. Her eyebrows knitted together even as she remained looking at the original Kim Roksoo in front.

"Have you heard of soulmates?"

'Just what-'

"Soulmates. They're people who feel a natural affinity with each other. They could be friends or lovers. The stars aligned for them. The galaxies celebrate their connection. The red thread keeps them together."

Cale decided to listen to the word of this god with a frown on her gorgeous face.

"Throughout history, soulmates always end up together. However, a special case aroused." The way the god of Death spoke became slower as if he was hesitating. "Two soulmates were born, two beings were connected by the red thread. The stars aligned for them, yet they could never be together."

Cale felt an ominous feeling rising within her.

"Do you know why?"

She didn't respond. Her eyes were only trained on the original Kim Roksoo who silently stood there all this time. She grabbed onto her right hand that began trembling as the next words echoed into her ears pierced her heart.

"It was because the universe refused to align for them."

Cale felt her world collapse. Her knees buckled, and as she was falling, she noticed Kim Roksoo flinch.

"The two people you're talking about..." she mumbled, her eyes still not leaving the man before her.

The god of Death's words were enough to make her realize something.

"Are you- Is it...us?"

'Is it me and Kim Roksoo?'

There was no reply, however, it clearly indicated that she was right.

"Why...why would you only tell me that now--no that's not it." Cale clenched onto the grass and her nails dug onto the dirt. "Why would the universe refuse to align?"

"That is not something I can answer."

Cale clenched her jaw and her eyes that were once only focused on Kim Roksoo averted to the ground.

Drip. Drip.

She was crying. Tears won't stop falling. She was shaken up by this revelation that she failed to notice the footsteps growing closer and the shadow of a man covering her frail body.

"Cale Henituse. I will give you a chance to talk with Kim Roksoo for a short time. However, you must remember: do not make any physical contact with him. Do not touch him. If you do, your souls would be switched once again and you will return to your original bodies."

Cale felt the pressure constricting her voice disappeared, yet she didn't dare look at Kim Roksoo. She was scared she might end up grabbing onto him.

"Cale Henituse."

Her breathing stopped for a moment. Kim Roksoo had called out her name. She heard the same voice she's been hearing ever since she became Kim Roksoo, but it made her feel various conflicting emotions this time. Kim Roksoo--the real one--said her name.

She felt him lower himself in front of her.

"Look at me."

She finally raised her head. Her reddish-brown eyes met the same colored ones.

"That's more like it." His face remained stoic but his voice was gentle. "Wipe those tears away, will you? You heard what the **** said, right? I cannot touch you, nor can you touch me."

Cale sniffled and did what he told her. After a few seconds, she finally opened her mouth to speak.

"Kim Roksoo." That was the first thing that left her tongue.

Kim Roksoo urged her to continue.

"What in the world?"

Silence followed that unexpected question. The both of them were taken aback, even Cale who said it.

"Your tongue really is harsh," Kim Roksoo commented.

"This revelation made me lose control." Cale brushed her face with her hands and peeked at Roksoo between her fingers. "Now what?"

The god of Death had revealed to them that Cale and Roksoo are soulmates and has given them a chance to chat. Yet, they don't know what to talk about as this is the first time they officially met.

"Was it hard being in my world?" That was the question that Kim Roksoo first asked.

The world he came from was filled with monsters and ruins. People could never sleep peacefully at night ever since the cataclysm. They have to fight everyday to survive. He was wondering if Cale was having a hard time.

"Hell yeah, it is," Cale grumbled and scratched the crown of her head. "Can't even rest properly cause of those annoying creatures. How about you? I bet being considered trash was annoying."

"Hmm, it's more advantageous for me. At least I don't have to fake niceties to others."

"Why do I have a hunch that you're causing even more trouble than I did when I was in my original body?" Cale tilted her head as Roksoo swiftly avoided her gaze.

"What do you mean? I was simply doing things to reach my dream slacker life."

"Slacker- what?"

"I plan to become a rich slacker in the future."

"What- no, I get it."

Cale adjusted her stiff legs before continuing.

"You're doing okay then?"

"Hmm, I met some people who can help me reach that life and at the same time bring in more trouble for me to fix."

"Wow, life."

Another silence enveloped the two as they stared at their hands.

"We only got a few seconds left." Cale fiddled with her fingers as she found herself unable to look at Kim Roksoo. However, she whipped her head to look at him once she saw him handing her a red rose.

"Cale Henituse," Kim Roksoo uttered her name with the gentlest tone he has. "Promise me one thing: that you and I will survive no matter what."

Cale stared at him, her pupils shaking. She then gazed at the red rose he was handing her.

After a few more seconds, she reached out her hand and took the flower from his hand. "I promise that I will survive with my people." She then stared straight at his eyes. "And I will never forget you for the rest of my life."

"It's time to return." The god of Death's voice echoed in their ears.

Their appearances were slowly changing. Cale reverted to being Kim Roksoo while Kim Roksoo became Cale once again. Their surroundings also started to disintegrate, and they were fading away together with it.

"I will also never forget you."

That was what the original Kim Roksoo said before they fully disappeared.

Cale--who has now returned as Kim Roksoo--woke up after that and blankly stared off into space for a long time with tears abundantly flowing down his eyes before she decided to look at the mirror and observed Kim Roksoo's appearance that is now his own.

"Roksoo..."

***

Meanwhile, in a villa deep within and under the Forest of Darkness in the Roan Kingdom, a red-haired young lady was staring off into space as she rocked her chair.

"Young lady Cale." A white-haired old man in a butler suit approached her at that moment with a cup of lemon tea in his hand. "Here's your daily dose of tea."

"Thanks," the young lady, Cale--who was formerly Kim Roksoo, thanked Ron, her butler, and accepted the tea without even glancing at him.

The bitter taste of lemon touched her tongue and made her frown.

"Young lady Cale, this old butler would like to ask what you're in deep thought about."

"Hmmm...just...someone."

As she said that, she turned her head towards a nearby mirror and gazed at the reflection it showed her.

Hair as red as blood, reddish-brown eyes that can pierce through a person's soul, and a beautiful face that would leave men desiring her.

"Cale Henituse..." she muttered.

It was at that moment, a block blob flew in through the window and halted in front of Cale.

"Human! Human! The crown prince is calling!"

It was the black dragon named Raon. On his chubby front paws was a video communication device that is blinking red.

"Answer it," she told Raon as she leaned back and continued rocking. "I have to make my move in order to survive."