The First Audience

Everyone wore a mask, but that mask was not you.

You were only pretending to be it. Remember, never become obsessed with it.

And even less should you let it become you!

The Void, Fishbone Hall.

The enormous skull sat atop the Bone Throne, silently gazing down at the small skull below, who was utterly bewildered. It seemed the Great One had wanted to say something, but after hesitating for a moment, it chose silence.

It did not feel like dealing with any lifeform related to Nothingness right now.

The small skull before the hall remained silent as well, but the complicated expression on its face seemed to show that its heart was far from calm. Her thoughts were practically boiling over.

She thought for a long time, and about many things. Only when the Great One atop the Bone Throne let out a sigh did she raise her head and look toward her Lord of Grace once more, speaking sincerely:

"Lord of Grace... I'm sorry. The changes have come one after another lately, and I've been unable to keep up. But regardless, thank you for your recognition and your gift. I..."

"No need.

Recognition, yours, was not, from Me.

I merely, with Him, made, a transaction.

The transaction, now ended, so you too, may withdraw."

The small skull before the hall froze, then slowly nodded.

Her eye sockets furrowed tightly as she seemed to piece together every clue she knew. But for an outsider, this was simply too difficult. She was not even certain whether the transaction mentioned by the Great One had taken place during the trial she had experienced or at some point before she came to this world.

That's right. This bewildered believer of death was An Mingyu, the Fate-chosen from another timeline.

Not long