“Is there something we need to discuss?”
Was there something like that?
―I’m talking about a wish.
Satin had completely forgotten. The very reason he came here was because of a wish.
―If there is something you desire from us, speak now. Here, we are almost omnipotent.
“Don’t you already know without me saying it?”
Satin doesn’t know what he wants. But perhaps this remarkable being can read even the subconscious mind. If it could grant a wish he hadn’t yet realized, that would be wonderful.
―We know, but is that truly your wish?
‘What does that mean?’
―Sometimes, what you desire is also what you do not desire.
“That sounds like a contradiction.”
―Human hearts are like that. You can want something and not want it at the same time, or not want something but actually desire it. That’s why we use language—to choose one thing over another.
Satin wasn’t entirely sure what this meant, but he nodded anyway. He felt a sense of understanding mixed with confusion.
―Take your time to think. This is your consciousness. Time does not flow here.
With that assurance, Satin delved deep into thought.
What could he wish for at the end of this journey?
Satin realized he had no fervent wishes. He had desired things before, but nothing that felt like a true wish now. He had already received so much; what more could he ask for?
A thought occurred to him.
“What are the others doing? Are they meeting you, the divine being, like I am?”
Satin struggled to find the right words to address the deity, but the god seemed unbothered.
―You are a very special existence. We have made an exception for you because we favor you.
“I see.”
Satin felt a mix of guilt and relief. This kind deity answered all his questions, but he worried that Cain might learn something he shouldn’t.
―You worry unnecessarily.
“Oh, I was just wondering if you could tell me what wishes the others made….”
Satin was curious about the others’ wishes but hesitated, unsure if it was appropriate to ask. He already knew what Cain would wish for, but Rita and Edward might want to keep theirs secret.
―You will naturally find out when you leave this place.
Satin felt a bit embarrassed, having just thought of the deity as all-knowing.
―But there is one thing I can tell you. It concerns you.
“Someone wished for me to regain my memories.”
―I will give you a choice. If you wish not to regain your memories, I will grant that wish first.
Satin furrowed his brow, puzzled by the kind yet enigmatic words.
He voiced his confusion immediately.
“You speak as if there are memories for me to regain.”
―We are everywhere and nowhere, so we know everything and nothing.
The deity would not reveal whether there were memories to regain.
But Satin already understood from the earlier hints. If there were no lost memories, there would be no need to use a wish. Cain’s wish would be in vain.
This hint, too, must be part of the deity’s plan.
“If there is something I don’t know, if that person was truly me….”
Satin paused. Here, he had all the time in the world to think, even about things he had deliberately avoided considering.
Such as a certain possibility. A hope he had secretly harbored.
‘Did I truly want to become the real Satin?’
In the Dark Age, Satin was a villain’s lackey. How he ended up in that role and why he couldn’t live any other way is never explained. That’s just who he was.
My sister seemed to love that character the most, but honestly, it was hard to understand. Regardless of my love and respect for her.
But when I arrived in this world and encountered Satin, he was different from what I knew. Although I hadn’t met him directly, I learned about him through Cain.
The villainous Satin had broken free from his role to save someone else. Because of Satin, Cain survived and lived a changed life. Whether that change was good or bad, Satin was someone Cain would always remember.
A turning point in life, a purpose, a savior. Much like my sister.
‘Maybe I envied Satin.’
A predetermined place in life. An inescapable fate. The Satin that Cain remembers had cast it all aside. He defied destiny and became a good person by his own will.
That is exactly what the current Satin desires.
―Do you wish to regain your memories?
“If there are memories for me to regain, if such a thing exists.”
‘Please.’
―Do not worry, higher-dimensional being. Here, you will never be unhappy.
***
Cain had never prayed once in his life. He always wondered what meaning there was in closing his eyes, clasping his hands, and whispering a wish, either aloud or silently.
Cain did not believe in gods, nor did he trust those who claimed to. If you had a wish, you had to make it come true yourself.
So, in this sacred space, where far more people had heard of it than had ever entered, Cain found himself praying for the first time in his life. Although, strictly speaking, Cain’s prayer was more of a demand for a debt to be repaid.
‘If there really is a god, if you truly exist, then give me what you promised. I haven’t done anything to deserve it, but you said you would give it, so do it.’
He wasn’t without concerns. Satin, with his memories restored, might ask why Cain had made such a wish. Perhaps the lost memories weren’t as precious to Satin as Cain thought. There was even a chance Satin might prefer having forgotten the bad memories.
Still, Cain wanted to return Satin’s memories to him.
Even if those times weren’t happy, they had meaning. Satin needed to know that he had saved someone and changed their life. He had to understand the impact he had made.
Knowing might not change anything, but there was no reason for him to remain ignorant. If that were the case, it was better to know.
‘This is my wish.’
―Oh dear.
Cain was startled. Someone had just spoken. He tried to open his eyes and look around, but his body was frozen, as if held down by an unseen force.
―There is no need to be afraid.
‘In this situation?’
How could he not be afraid when he couldn’t even open his eyes and was stuck standing? This was happening in the most sacred space of the greatest temple.
―We are the sacred presence you seek, so do not be afraid.
‘What are you talking about?’
―We have come to grant your wish.
It took Cain a moment to realize who the voice belonged to. In that instant, his mind went blank. He couldn’t form a single thought.
―Your wish has become difficult to grant.
‘What do you mean?’
Anger surged within him, and his thoughts returned.
‘You said you came to grant my wish!’
―Indeed. However, it has become meaningless.
‘What?’
―If you ask for water to be made into water, or fire into fire, what can be done?
‘What are you saying?’
―Your wish has already been fulfilled by another.
‘What do you mean?’
―So, make another wish.
Cain couldn’t think of anything else on the spot. He had never wanted anything other than to restore Satin’s memories.
―Do not lie.
‘No, what are you talking about?’
―You were born with a destiny.
The voice spoke in riddles, making no sense to Cain. Was this really a god? Or was he just hearing things?
Ignoring Cain’s doubts, the voice whispered.
―And you have escaped that destiny. Through another being.
‘Another being?’
―And then, you reclaimed that destiny. Isn’t that curious?
‘What destiny are you talking about?’
―Your love and the love of another being.
‘What?’
―You were destined to love, but through a completely different process, you ended up with the same result. Did He foresee even this?
‘If you’re just going to talk to yourself, why are you doing this to me?’
Perhaps the stories about receiving divine messages in the Chamber of Whispers were all lies. Maybe from the moment he entered this room, he had been inhaling some hallucinogenic incense or smoke.
That was the only way to explain these bizarre phenomena—claims that his wish had already been granted and talk of being destined to love. What was all this about?
―Stop these unnecessary thoughts. Just make a wish. What do you desire?
‘What I desire…’
Besides finding Satin’s memories, what did he want? Cain found himself deeply pondering, only to be overcome by doubt once more.
Did Satin really regain his memories? How could he trust that? How could he be sure this voice wasn’t trying to deceive him? If gods truly existed, couldn’t there also be deceiving demons testing his faith?
―Is your wish to confirm this?
‘I can’t believe something I haven’t seen with my own eyes.’
―You are full of doubt. You could wish for anything, yet you only want confirmation.
Cain just wanted to open his eyes. He didn’t care about wishes anymore; he just wanted to move and see Satin by his side. Was he still there? Was he really there?
―I have accepted your wish.
‘Really?’
―Are you ready now?
‘For what?’
―To confirm.
So Satin wishes for his memories, and Cain is going to view his sister-in-law kinda being?