"You're really weird, asking all these questions," the girl giggled.
"Sorry, I've just had bad experiences before."
Even though he wasn't trying to be rude, his fear of being exploited lingered, making him cautious.
"It's fine," she said, waving her hand dismissively.
Asher pushed himself up, though his body still felt heavy, burdened by a strange weakness he couldn't shake.
He took in the room around him. The walls, floor, and even the furniture were made entirely of oak wood.
An array of thick chairs, a long table, and what looked like a large bookshelf filled the room, all made from wood that had a natural sheen.
His eyes also ran over the stained glass windows on the side, their colorful panels casting soft, fractured light across the room.
Instead of the usual reds, yellows, and greens, the colors were cooler—with deep blues and purples that felt almost dreamlike.
He didn't think much of it, assuming it was simply an artistic choice. The room felt like a snapshot from another era, sothing older than the world he knew.
"You said this is the Void, right? Can you explain more about it?" he asked, his curiosity growing.
"There's not much to explain. The Void is just an endless space of darkness. Nothing here but remnants and debris floating around."
Asher frowned, trying to wrap his mind around it. "But then… what is this place? It doesn't look dark at all."
She touched her cheek thoughtfully, a gesture that made her look really cute. "I think it's better for you to see for yourself. Can you stand up?"
Asher tried, and though his feet wobbled, he could walk now. She began leading him down the long corridor.
The place was much larger than he'd expected, with countless doors lining the walls, making it feel like an old hotel. It took them a full five minutes to reach their destination.
When they arrived, she casually opened the door, and what greeted him was complete darkness. The sight was unnerving, especially now that he had sothing else to compare it to.
"See? We're inside a floating house," she said.
He paused for a mont, taking in the view before asking the next question that ca to his mind.
"Is there a way out of this place?"
Her expression changed, sadness clouding her features.
"I've tried everything to leave, but I've been stuck here so long that I've lost all sense of ti," she responded, letting out a deep, weary sigh.
He felt a wave of disappointnt, but there was no use in dwelling on it. He would figure out a way, no matter what.
For that to happen, he needed to learn more about this place, and right now, the only person he could talk to was the girl standing beside him.
"My na's Asher, by the way. Thanks for saving ," he said, bowing his head.
She returned the gesture with a smile. "My na's Index."
"Index? That's a unique na."
"Yeah, I gave myself that na after I saw this," she paused, rummaging through her clothes and pulling sothing out.
It was a black-and-white comic-like book, written in a language he couldn't read. The only word he recognized was "Index" on the cover.
Realizing he couldn't understand a thing, he handed it back to her.
"So how long…" he started, but his stomach suddenly grumbled.
Noticing his awkward expression, she gently took his hand and briefly pushed him into the Void, instantly making the hunger and exhaustion fade before pulling him back.
"The darkness resets everything," she explained. "So, if you get tired or hungry, you can simply imrse yourself in it."
"That's pretty convenient," he mused aloud.
"Yes, that's how I've been able to survive this long."
Asher, still eager to understand more about this strange place, began asking further questions. But before he could get far, Index stopped him.
"Let's head to the living room first," she suggested.
"Okay," he nodded.
They walked through the corridors, and when they reached their destination, he was taken aback.
It was spacious, far larger than he had expected. The place was well-decorated, with elegant furnishings and warm lighting. What surprised him even more were the items that seed to belong to his era—modern objects like a large-screen TV.
They blended seamlessly with the rest of the decor, arranged in such a way that it didn't feel out of place, but rather enhanced the room's overall charm.
"I decorated this myself," she giggled, a hint of pride in her voice.
"How?" Asher asked, still amazed by the room.
"Well, from ti to ti, I co across floating debris. I scavenge for anything I can use," she explained.
"Does that TV work?" he pointed to the large screen.
She looked confused. "You an the black glass? How is it supposed to work, other than reflecting my face?"
Just hearing her response was enough to answer his question.
"Forget it," he said, not going into details.
"Sure," she smiled warmly. "Please, make yourself comfortable and sit there."
He nodded and took a seat across from her. Her smile was bright, almost too eager.
"You're the first person to visit my ho," she said, her voice soft. "Well, actually, I think you're the first person I've ever t in my life."
"What do you an? Didn't you get sucked in here too?"
"I'm not really sure," she shook her head. "When I ca to be, I was already here, living in this house. I have so knowledge, but not complete mories. I can't rember any people or how I got here. It's all a blur. But I do know about certain things…"
She paused, collecting her thoughts before continuing. "I know how to use magic, how to survive in the Void, but there's so much I don't understand. I've never t anyone before you. It's just been , alone."
The sadness in her eyes was undeniable, and he felt a deep empathy for her pain.
He had almost broken down after being trapped in darkness for what felt like weeks. He couldn't even begin to imagine how long she had been here. Loneliness and solitude could take a toll on anyone's mind.
In a way, maybe it was a blessing that she had no mories of family, loved ones, or any concrete experiences. Without them, she didn't miss them as much.
Still, the emptiness of the Void must have been a heavy burden to carry.
"You've been searching for a way out, right?" he asked. "Do you feel like there's even a chance of escaping this place?"
"I do," she nodded. "The place sucks in new items and debris from ti to ti. If there's an entrance, then it's safe to assu there's also an exit."
She made complete sense, and this gave him so hope.
"Alright, let's find the exit together and leave this place," he smiled at her.
He rarely acted this friendly, but for so reason, being alone with her made him feel like they needed to support each other emotionally.
Index was taken aback by his gesture. Then, as if a switch had been flipped, he suddenly seed more pleasing in her eyes.
'What is this feeling? Why does my heart hurt?' she wondered.
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