Shekina is a name that might not immediately ring bells if you’re only familiar with “Green Snow,” but for those acquainted with the original novel, “Tears of Rust,” she’s a central figure – the Original Female Lead (OGFL). Much like the name “Anisha” is absent from “Tears of Rust,” Shekina is nowhere to be found in the revised narrative, “Green Snow.” This divergence stems from a profound rewrite by the author of “Tears of Rust,” Anisha’s former superior, who, deeply affected by a real-life tragedy mirroring Anisha’s fictional struggles, reshaped the story.
The Catastrophic Event That Inspired a Rewrite
The original narrative took a dramatic turn inspired by real-world events. Faulty construction at the theme park where both the author and Anisha worked led to a building collapse. In a harrowing moment, the director urged Anisha back into the perilous structure to issue evacuation orders. Anisha bravely complied, but in a selfless act, the director went back for Anisha, realizing she hadn’t escaped. She managed to reach Anisha and carry her towards safety, but tragically, she lacked the strength to get them both out. Anisha, understanding the dire situation, pushed her superior to safety, sacrificing herself in the process. This devastating loss profoundly impacted the sub-director. Consumed by grief and guilt, she reimagined her novel, centering it around a character inspired by Anisha. This new story would focus on someone overcoming hardship to find a loving family and belonging, a stark contrast to Shekina’s initial trajectory. In this revised version, neither Annette nor Shekina existed; only Anisha.
Reality Blurs: A Fusion of Two Novels
However, fate, in a cruel twist, seemed to weave together elements from both versions of the novel. In the world mirroring the original “Tears of Rust,” Shekina, the OGFL, begins as an ordinary, spirited child in an orphanage, oblivious to her noble lineage. She embodies childhood innocence – laughing, playing, and even avoiding chores. Yet, her vibrant personality is deemed unsuitable for adoption, as she’s not seen as someone who would bring prestige to the orphanage. Consequently, she’s hidden away, shielded from her father who is actively searching for her. Instead of finding her rightful place, she is sold to the nefarious scientist, Robert White, becoming a subject of unspeakable experiments and torture for years.
Descent into Darkness: The Pact with a Void Demon
Driven to desperation by her torturous existence, Shekina makes a pact with the Devil. In exchange for granting petty revenges, she transforms into a Void Demon, her soul escaping her physical form, leaving behind an empty vessel. This body was originally intended to house the soul of the previous Void Demon.
Understanding the Nature of a Void Demon
A Void Demon is a being without a physical body, capable of granting wishes in return for body parts. Essentially, they are vengeful spirits with a unique catch: only one Void Demon can exist at a time. When a new Void Demon is created, the previous one is released and inhabits the vacated body. Intriguingly, Void Demons can be killed. If a Void Demon perishes while possessing the body of someone whose curse is active (alive), a body part is returned. If they are killed while possessing the body of someone whose curse is inactive (deceased spirit), the entire body is restored. However, if a Void Demon is killed without holding any body parts, they face true annihilation.
Anisha’s Arrival: Reincarnation and Merged Memories
Due to Robert White’s dark magic manipulations involving Shekina’s body, instead of the old Void Demon taking possession, the soul of a Korean woman, Anisha, enters. Her soul merges with Shekina’s body and memories, creating a seamless, albeit false, sense of identity. As a typical reincarnator, Anisha’s past Korean memories are suppressed. She genuinely believes she is Shekina, born in an orphanage and sold to Robert White. Echoing Shekina’s past despair, Anisha wishes for a second chance, a wish granted by the Void Demon Shekina through regression upon Anisha’s death. The price for this regression is Anisha’s eye color and magical abilities, which are transferred to Shekina’s new, spectral form.
Memories Resurface: The Blending of Realities
The question arises: How did Anisha regain memories of the book and her Korean life? The exact cause remains ambiguous, possibly a result of Robert White’s interference, the Void Demon’s curse, or the revised novel’s influence. However, because Anisha died while bound to the “key” engraved on her body, she gained access to a library of past and future lives. Upon regression, both the memories associated with Shekina’s body and the knowledge of “Tears of Rust” accompanied her. Gradually, memories from her Korean life began to surface as well. Crucially, “Green Snow,” the revised novel, was written after her death in Korea, leaving her unaware that she is now embodying the Female Lead of a story she doesn’t know.
Shekina’s Pursuit: Revenge and a Stolen Life
Regressed and reborn, Anisha is armed with foreknowledge, determined to escape her prior torment. But what became of Shekina? She remains, fundamentally unchanged. She yearns for her family, fueled by a sense of abandonment and a thirst for revenge. She desires the life that was rightfully hers but is trapped without her original body. Driven by this desire, she relentlessly attempts to manipulate her family into accepting her back, while simultaneously trying to steal body parts from Anisha. Mentally and emotionally, Shekina remains a child, mirroring her father and brother’s personalities, struggling to process her emotions. This inner turmoil manifests as acting out, setting the stage for the unfolding plot. The core conflict of the narrative revolves around Shekina – a scared, traumatized child desperately seeking to reclaim her stolen life, the life she believes she deserved.
Reconciliation and Acceptance: A Path to Peace
After Anisha is freed from the curse, the Void Demon Shekina is briefly stunned and then destroyed, relinquishing her grasp on her temporary body. As a disembodied spirit, Shekina wanders in despair, eventually taking on the guise of a fountain ghost in the capital’s square, granting wishes in exchange for body parts to reconstruct a physical form. Anisha, seeking understanding and peace, approaches Shekina and listens to her story, acknowledging her suffering and allowing her to express her pain fully. Having lived a full adult life and sharing Shekina’s memories, Anisha extends an olive branch. Furthermore, through the curse cleansing, Anisha encountered the spirit of the sub-director from Korea (currently in a coma in her own world), gaining insight into both narratives and timelines. Weary of endless conflict and hardship, Anisha invites Shekina to live at the mansion. Recognizing the cyclical nature of their conflict, potentially spanning lifetimes, Anisha seeks reconciliation to achieve lasting peace. Shekina eventually agrees, on the condition that Anisha never reveals her true identity as the Duke’s daughter. Anisha secures permission for Shekina to join their family.
A New Family Dynamic: Sisterhood and Tsundere Tendencies
After a period of adjustment, Shekina arrives and is welcomed into her new home by Anisha. Shekina’s integration into the family is gradual, marked by her “tsundere” personality, a trait she shares with her father and brother. The Duke, Anisha’s father, immediately suspects the truth, possibly even anticipating it from the moment Anisha requested Shekina’s stay. His profound connection to nature grants him almost omniscient awareness of Anisha’s actions. Initially, he subtly ensures Shekina feels welcome. However, after gently urging Anisha to reveal the full truth – explaining Shekina’s Void Demon circumstances – both he and Enos (the brother) wholeheartedly embrace Shekina, making her feel like a cherished member of the family. The story culminates in Shekina’s formal adoption as Anisha’s sister, highlighting themes of family, forgiveness, and the complex journey from vengeance to belonging.
