[Tower Floor 63 – Realm of Eternal Night]
[Status: High-Risk Zone | Guardian Active | Light Suppressed]
Back then, Rael wasn't called by his name.
He was "The Phantom."
A solo climber.
The man who refused parties.
The man whose face the Tower itself couldn't record.
A glitch in the system. A mistake the gods wanted erased.
And on the 63rd floor, he bled.
He had spent five days in that cursed realm, where time blurred and the skies were nothing but endless black water. His cloak was torn, one arm was dislocated, and his mana reserves were flickering dangerously low.
Still, he moved.
Quiet. Relentless.
Because he had heard the rumor:
"The Moon's Blade guards the key to the next ten floors."
That's when he saw her.
Standing in the center of a silver ruin, under a fractured moon, was Selene.
She wasn't human—not quite. Her skin was pale and flawless like marble. Her hair floated unnaturally, as if underwater. Her weapon, a curved blade glowing with moonlight, was taller than she was. Her eyes were abyssal.
She didn't speak when he entered her domain.
She attacked.
And for the first time in twenty floors, Rael had to fight like he meant it.
---
Their battle raged across the ruins.
Selene's movements were unreal—fast, precise, emotionless. She was a blade with no master, bound by command to destroy anyone who reached her domain.
But Rael was faster.
Smarter.
Every time her sword slashed, he learned. Every dodge taught him a new angle. Every cut he received told him where not to be next time.
Until…
> [System Notification: Skill Adaptation Achieved – Phantom Step (Lv.1)]
[Active: Instantly phase through one attack per 10 seconds]
He closed the distance.
She brought her blade down.
He vanished.
And appeared behind her.
His hand reached out—not for a weapon—but for her face.
Softly.
He touched her cheek.
She froze.
> [System Notification: Unique Interaction Triggered – "Touch of Memory"]
[The Guardian hesitates. The blade wavers.]
Her eyes flickered. The emotionless void cracked. Something human surfaced.
"…You're not like the others," she whispered.
He said nothing. Just watched her.
"Why didn't you kill me?" she asked.
"You're not the enemy," Rael replied. "Just a prisoner like the rest of us."
She looked at her own hand, trembling.
"I… don't remember my name."
He offered her one.
"Selene," he said. "It suits you."
---
Later…
She stood beside him at the gate to the 64th floor.
"You know they'll try to destroy me for disobeying."
"I know."
"You'll have to fight more Guardians."
"I will."
She paused.
"Then… let me fight too."
> [Companion Request: Selene – Class: Tower-Bound Guardian]
[Warning: Taking a Tower Guardian may alter future floor events]
[Accept Companion?]
Rael didn't hesitate.
> [Accepted]
Selene smiled for the first time in her existence.
And from that moment on, she was his.
Not because he commanded her.
But because he freed her.
---
Back in the Present
Selene stood by the apartment window, moonlight casting a soft glow over her pale features.
Rael watched her for a long time.
"You were stronger back then," he muttered.
She turned slightly, a small smile playing on her lips.
"So were you."