Chapter 57: Narrative (II)
Dan Woo stared down at his own plate of food as Han Soo Hee munched down on her own, silence overtaking the room. He wanted to take the meal, but was immediately reminded of his own endeavours when he had accidentally fed people in his mist, only for them to be influenced by his Meaning and become Stars.
Would that happen to him?
There was this sinking feeling that he couldn’t shake off, a feeling that his plate had something in it when—
"Is the food not to your liking?" Han Soo Hee’s voice reverberated through the room. "Usually, you don’t always look down on my food. After all, which students live like us?"
Dan Woo couldn’t help but begin to chuckle as he looked down at his food and slowly but surely began taking bites of it.
Baek Hari was really taking her role as Han Soo Hee very seriously. Playing their university days to a tee. She really seemed to know him in and out.
"Why did you choose this specific day?" Dan Woo couldn’t help but ask.
"Don’t do that. Can we just share this meal today as a couple?"
"But we are not a couple."
A sudden chilling air descended upon the room as Han Soo Hee’s movements of taking her bites slowed, her warm smile flickering slightly.
"Fine, if you insist."
"We have talked about the three realms. We have talked about Meaning, spirituality, and we have come to an introduction to Narratives."
"Yeah, you just said Narratives are important but nothing else."
"Okay. From the memories you have, do you know what this day is?"
"Couldn’t you have chosen a better day?"
"No! This is important for the topic at hand."
Dan Woo couldn’t help but sigh as his eyes landed back on his phone.
"This was the day my sister was coming from her tour and unfortunately..." He paused. "Can’t we talk about something else?"
Han Soo Hee turned her eyes to the bottle of wine that had been sitting on the table before she poured a glass for both herself and Dan Woo. Then she slid a glass over to Dan Woo before taking a swig of her own, as her nightgown seemed to do a peculiar thing.
"As I previously said, Narratives are the engine of every life, but for there to be a strong Narrative, some prerequisites need to be met. You should be quite familiar with these prerequisites, shouldn’t you? After all, you are a writer, aren’t you?"
"Conflict and character development?"
"Bingo. Of course, there are others, but those two are what makes a strong story, especially when there is even greater emotional depth like this day."
"So, what are you getting at?"
"You asked why I was doing this, so I want to answer you. But first, do you want them to live?"
"Want who to live?"
"Didn’t you want answers? As I said before, Meaning is what gives Chaos direction. As such, Narratives are required as a way to direct this Meaning, lining up to specific Concepts in specific ways. And this gives birth to what is known as Resonance and Significance.
"Resonance happens when two Meanings resonate. This could be because of similar Concepts, origin, or Narrative. While Significance... this is what it means when Meaning has a great imprint on a spirit, body, the world, or a Narrative. Maybe a combination of this?
"An example of these two can usually be seen in tandem through all the greatest Narratives of history, such as through wars and revolutions. Especially through wars. And that is why a war is coming on the next Purple Moon Descent. There will be a lot, and that is why I need you to remember."
"To remember what? You keep asking me to remember, but what exactly am I supposed to remember?"
"You will know in due time. As to why I am treating your sister the way I am, it’s for your own and their own benefit."
"Their own benefit?" Dan couldn’t help but ask with a tsk as he remembered the state of his sister. Barely able to function if it wasn’t for his Meaning. Her memories and state of mind deteriorating. How exactly was that to their own benefit?
"I see that you don’t believe me, but this is indeed to their own benefit. The war that is coming is a vying of Meaning and Spirits. With other Constellations making use of all humans to raise the Significance of their own Concepts and Meaning, which will definitely lead to a lot of losses."
"That is why I have to do this."
"To do what?"
"To do this—to raise the significance of my own Meaning through the devouring of others."
"Aren’t you the same? Isn’t what you are doing the same?"
"No... Remember what I told you about Narratives?"
"You require a conflict and character development, and what I am doing is part of that. This will give us a great starting chance."
"Which starting chance? What high-sounding words..."
"They aren’t high-sounding words at all. It is a necessity. Right now, every other Constellation is organising and mobilising their own forces, ready to absorb Meaning to stabilize themselves. So what should Korea do? Just wait for the inevitable?"
"No. The Narratives that are being produced will stabilize my Concepts and help everyone have a fighting chance. Their Meaning and Resonance will be preserved, and even if there is death through Resonance, Significance, and Meaning, they can be completely restored with no erosion."
"I don’t understand your line of thought and don’t care for whatever war you are talking about. All I want is for you to return my sister to the way she was."
"Give her back her Meaning."
"...I can’t. It doesn’t work that way."
"What do you mean it doesn’t work that way?"
Han Soo Hee took a deep breath before turning to a now agitated Dan Woo.
"If you want them to survive past the coming apocalypse, it’s either I use their Meaning to shield them, or you use their Meaning to shield them. Otherwise, there will be no sisters to remember, let alone grieve."
"..." Dan Woo opened his mouth, ready to speak, but before he could get a chance to say anything—
A huge file was heading his way.
"What is this?"
"Kim Soo Won’s Meaning. If you think you can do better, then please, go ahead."
Dan Woo quickly opened the file, only to find it was music sheets and drama scripts with nothing else.
"What is this?"
"I just told you. It’s Kim Soo Won’s Meaning..."
Suddenly, the entire area began shaking and rumbling.
"What was that? What is happening?"
"It seems our time is coming to an end." Han Soo Hee couldn’t help but say. "It was nice having dinner with you..."
She paused before continuing.
"You wanted to join the Bureau of Anomaly Affairs, didn’t you? I have made arrangements for you, so don’t let it worry you too much. As for your other worries... it’s all up to you now."
The words sounded faded as the surrounding area began to disintegrate.
"We won’t be meeting any time soon, so just do your best to remember."
The words disappeared before Dan Woo was back in his mist. The house he was in was gone with the wind, with only the file he had been left with still in his hands.
[Ding]
[Core Concept under development—15%]
Suddenly, whispers started to sound all around the churning mist as the four doors materialized, and a knock on the door to the west started to be heard again.
It was glowing with an unnatural colour.
But Dan Woo ignored the door and exited the mist. He still needed to find Kim Soo Won and try to find an answer for how he could restore Kim Soo Won to her original state.
But immediately after Dan Woo left his mist—
He could feel a wave of heavy spiritual pressure and strong Meaning lock onto him.
It felt like it was Stage 6 Context Awakened.
But how could he know that?
The man who looked to be a middle-aged Chinese man floated around the area, looking for something—a trace of the strong Meaning that he had discovered.
But nothing.
Then, suddenly, there was that burst of Meaning.
He turned to look towards that direction.
The direction in which Dan Woo was.
But suddenly, the signature disappeared once again, confusing the man greatly.
Dan Woo, sensing that overwhelming presence looking towards his direction, didn’t know what to do.
Should he go back into the mist?
But what about his sister?
And that gnawing sense of whispers back there?
Suddenly, he turned his eyes to the system in his vision.
There was a notification that he hadn’t taken a look at.
[Reward: World Overlay]
[Title: Fish Out of Water acquired]
Suddenly, he found himself able to interact with another surface of reality.
As his Meaning disappeared, he made use of this ability to mask his presence and look for his sister, only to find out that she had fainted.
Her body was cold and almost lifeless.
He quickly took her up and started to make his way back to their hotel. As he did, there was a feeling he couldn’t explain. He replayed his conversation with Han Soo Hee no Baek Hari.