Rachel


 *  "This world is so dark...I can't stand living in it anymore. I'm sorry Baam... I'm sorry... Please forget about me. So that I could be reborn."
 * - Rachel to Baam

Rachel (라헬, Lahel/Rahel; "Rachel"), also known as Michelle Light (미쉘 라이트, Misuel Raiteu; "Michelle Light") was Baam's best and only friend as she was the only one to visit him in his "cave". Like Baam she is an Irregular. She longs to see the stars which is one of the fabled rewards waiting at the top of the Tower, because she "fears the Night (Baam)".

Having once been a member of Koon's team, she now works alongside FUG and is currently on the Hell Train itself with the rest of her group.

History
Not many things are known about Rachel's life before she entered the Tower.

At a certain point in time she entered Baam's cave. She visited the boy a lot and became the most important person for him. Rachel taught Baam everything he knows including language, education about the world, social etiquette, board games and so forth. She was like a mother, a sister and a friend to him. But after entering the Tower, for some reason, Rachel kept a very distant attitude towards Baam and even almost succeeded in killing him.

For a long time Rachel had a dream about reaching the top of the Tower and seeing the stars. Also, she told Baam a story of a man, who loved a star so much, that he built a tower to reach it.

In one of Baam's flashbacks, there was a scene where Rachel's hair was being pulled by an unknown person and her face expressing pain.

Appearance and Personality
Rachel is a short girl with primrose coloured hair and eyes and a lot of freckles. In Part I Rachel wore a pink dress and a brown long sleeved shirt under it, with a red ribbon tied around her waist and behind her back. In Part II when she was pretending to be crippled, she wore a plain white t-shirt and dark shorts but later returned to wearing her normal clothes from Part I. In her most recent appearance she wears a dark brown cloak, like the rest of her group.

Baam recalls that Rachel is a tomboy who likes to play pranks when Black March asks him about her. He doesn't describe her as exceptionally pretty, since she's ordinary but says that she is a good friend. Also, he mentions that she lies from time to time. She was also very distant and aloof in Part I, choosing to keep her distance away from all other Regulars, except when necessary.

Tower of God: Part 1
Together with Akryung, Rachel was teleported to the Evankhell's Floor. In the 1st test, she meets Androssi Zahard. They form a team which proceeds to kill everyone else in a 30 minute death match, facilitated by Quant for their initial Evankhell test. Whether Rachel actually fought is unknown.

Crown Game
This team participates in a joint bonus test of two different facilities. They enter the final round of the Crown Game, in order to defend Baam's position on the throne. Rachel is attacked by Hwa Ryun, but Baam jumps off the throne in order to save her, causing himself to be knocked out by the blow intended for Rachel. As Baam was protecting Rachel, he had a flashback of Rachel being attacked by a large man.

Rest
Rachel visits Baam while he is unconscious and meets Koon. She asks him about the legend of The Tower and tells him that she always had dreamed about reaching the top of the Tower and looking at the starry sky. She asks Koon not to tell Baam it was really her he had saved.

Koon keeps her promise and tells Baam that the person he saved was not Rachel. However, Baam sees through this trick. He wonders why she wants to see the stars so much, because to him, she is 'more important than anything'.

Position Test
Rachel assumes a different name, Michelle Light. She is positioned as one of the 'Best Seeds' of the Light Bearer group.

Hide-and-Seek
She is shown to avoid Baam, taking her lunch out to go and not even caring if this costs extra points. After talking with Androssi in the bathroom, Rachel has a dream where she is looking at the stars and sees Baam; she invites him over, but Baam is surrounded by all his other friends and ignores her.

She is then put on Team B for the Hide-and-Seek Test, the same team as Baam. She helps manage the team with the other Light Bearers, until Ho shows up. Ho lures Rachel out of her Lighthouse by telling her that someone was targeting Baam and then holds her hostage to use her as a bargaining chip against Quant and Baam. When Baam refuses to budge, Ho stabs Rachel in the leg, causing her to scream in pain. However, Baam is able to stun Ho and rescue Rachel. Rachel tells Baam not to chase after her before passing out. She was given treatment for her injury, but it was said that it was not enough and, as a a result, her legs were seemingly disabled.

Last Examination
Later, in the Last Examination, she is placed in a bubble of Shinsoo with Baam. They are attacked by the Bull, which attempts to destroy their bubble. Rachel relies on Baam to protect her from it, but after he kills the Bull, she unexpectedly stands up and pushes him out of the bubble saying, "Sorry. Baam. Here you need to die."

After she came out of the submerged level she was confronted by Rak who inquired Baam's whereabouts, she replied breathlessly that Baam tried to protect her from the sudden appearance of the Bull and is down there, implying that Baam died trying to protect her. Later when Lero-Ro affirms Baams death she faints and is carried to her room to rest. At night however she was sentient of Hwa Ryun visiting her and opens her eyes while Hwa Ryun says: "Congratulations Rachel, for becoming the heroine of the story".

Epilogue Rachel
Shortly after that, a flashback shows Baam chasing after Rachel. Rachel said she will enter The Tower and asked Baam to forget about her. She was then transferred into the Tower. Rachel met Headon, who explained to her how she wasn't chosen to enter. Rachel refused to believe this, so Headon offered her the Ball Test Baam took in the beginning, to which Rachel refused, replying that she didn't want to die. After that Headon said she should move out of the way because a guest has arrived. Baam arrives and agrees to take the test, while Rachel watches through a one way window. Rachel was screaming "Don't do it!" to Baam over and over again, but she was behind a barrier at the time and couldn't be heard.

After Baam's test was over, she asks Headon why Baam was chosen instead of her. Here, she implies that Baam has taken everything from her. Headon offers her a trade: if she could fulfill his yet unknown request, he would let her become the heroine of this story. Headon prepares her with Akryung and Yu Han Sung with Hwa Ryun, the Guide. After this, the flashback ends with Rachel going back to sleep. Before Hwa Ryun leaves, she asks why Rachel is going to such lengths to see the stars. Rachel replies that she's afraid of the 'Night' (Baam).

Afterwards, she appears along with the other Regulars as they pass on to the next Floor.

Connecting Fences
Rachel makes her first appearance as a part of Koon's crew. Even after 6 years, she is still a part of Koon's team. She is, of course, able to walk but pretends to be disabled. Koon is revealed to have known that Rachel could walk immediately after the Submerged Fish Test. After Rachel collapsed, Lero-Ro secretly brought in a doctor to examine her, who could tell that her legs were "perfectly fine".

Connection
Rachel approaches Dan after he gets scolded by Koon for putting the team at risk of failing. She mentions that she is envious of his speed and that it would be nice if he could become her legs. This implies that she is becoming more wary of Koon and wants to have another person support her, in case Koon finds out she betrayed Baam.

Devil of the Right Arm
As FUG make their move, the FUG infiltrators Apple and Michael consider killing Dan, since he was a witness to the events that took place after Koon, Novick and Ran left for Cassano. Rachel comes in before they have time to decide and asks them to spare him so he could become her legs.

Dan is repulsed by her request, having been warned by Koon about her condition, and rudely refuses, snidely remarking that she has two perfect legs of her own which she could use for herself, also confronting her about her betrayal of both Baam and Koon. In a rage, Rachel violently stabs Dan's legs, stating that she did nothing wrong. Dan, now handicapped, still climbs the Tower to prove to Rachel he can still climb it.

Epilogue
She appeared, dressed in a brown robe, with a few other people who seem to be her teammates. She welcomed Cassano as he arrived, with the Traveller, at their location. She asks Cassano how his mission went and then asks if he brought Emile with him, which he confirms. She praises him and then says tells her group it was time to save the Tower.

Prologue
Rachel was seen with Cassano as they stood behind Traveller and Emile's tank.

Revolution Road
Her group eventually arrived at Train City and Angel inquired as to where the old man and the other girl were with Rachel replying that they were coming.

Daniel finally joined up with the group and they proceeded to enter the Entrance floor where they came across Mirotic. Rachel then watched as Daniel fought against the semi-illusory guardian but stayed silent throughout even after he revealed he could switch off Mirotic with a remote. As the group went through the gate they came across a set of spiralling stairs and were encountered by a red mechanical bird who told them it would lead them to the Hell Express. At the top of the stairs Rachel and her group finally reached the Hell Express.

They were soon greeted by Poro Poe who told them that they would leave as soon as Ha Yura arrived. She suddenly heard a loud noise from below and Daniel told her he would go check it out. After a little while Yura arrived and they all readied to go until Koon and his teammates came out of the elevator, surprising them all. Rachel wondered how they managed to catch up and Koon explained before taking out his Lighthouses before casually berating her. Rachel took out her Lighthouses in response and then Koon rushed forward in attack but Rachel retaliated using one of her Lighthouses. However Koon easily broke through her attack and readied to subdue her until suddenly Baam appeared, greatly surprising Rachel.

The two looked at each other for a brief minute with Rachel calming her trembling and composing herself. When Baam attempted to start the conversation, she coldly interrupted him and shot him with two armour-piercing questions that left him shocked. Baam struggled to understand her words and, after baring his heart out, he is shocked once more when Rachel told him that her goals were much more important to her than he was. With this revelation Baam's Thorn suddenly began to get volatile and his power began to ascend.

Daniel then came over to Rachel and told her that they had to go, with Koon shouting at her in anguish. As they were fleeing Baam came behind Daniel and mercilessly floored him before telling Rachel she was going nowhere. Baam then told Rachel he'd have to stop her and continued saying that he didn't understand her actions. Just then Rachel's ally engaged Baam, taking him away from Rachel. However Koon immediately trapped Rachel in a paralysing shinsoo field with his Lighthouses but it was almost instantly eliminated by Daniel freeing Rachel again. As Poe brought the navigator over Rachel worriedly glanced back at Baam. Rachel then got on, using her Lighthouse to prevent Koon from following. As they flew towards the door of the Hell Train, Baam suddenly appeared behind them readying to take the navigator down. However Rachel stopped him and, after delivering another armour-piercing statement, she pushed a shocked Baam away and told him it wasn't a place for him to come up. As Rachel's group got closer to getting inside the Train, Koon fired one last attack at her which sliced her cheek as it flew past but she and the rest of her group managed to get on board the Train regardless.

Rachel and the rest of her group walked down "Revolution Road" into the train where they soon encountered some of the Train's guardians.

Hoaqin
Rachel traversed through the Hell Train with her team until they reached the place where Daniel said Hoaqin's first part was sealed. After solving a mathematical puzzle that obstructed their way (with Hwa Ryun's help), they entered the room where they encountered the guardian, Bloomer. Hwa Ryun then helped them once more, enabling them to take the guardian down, with Rachel commending her for her guidance. As Daniel opened up the door sealing Hoaqin, Rachel explained her plans for the future to Hwa Ryun.

With Hoaqin's first part free, the group left the room where they encountered Ja Wangnan and Yeon Yihwa. After a quick altercation the two were made prisoners and the group then successfully passed the 36th Floor stage test.

Wooden Horse
When the train arrived at the Wooden Horse station, Rachel came out of the train doors with Ha Yura, Daniel and Hoaqin after reassuring Hoaqin that it was okay to leave. She then watched as Hoaqin displayed his overwhelming powers to the Regulars that were waiting at the station.

With no-one attempting to go on the train, the four turned to go back into the train until Hoaqin suddenly raged at the sight of someone. Electricity then rained down upon the train and three particular Regulars appeared out of nowhere. With Baam and Hoaqin fighting, Rachel hoped that the latter would be stronger. Just then, the fighting was interrupted when they were all teleported to the train conductor's office. The conductor then informed them of the situation that would occur in a month's time.

A Month
After being teleported to a differing section of the train, Rachel used Emile to help Hoaqin search for his other parts. However when they reached the place where his other part should be they found he wasn't here. Hoaqin then sensed the presence of his other part and rushed towards him, until they found him. However their reunion was cut short by the actions of Ja Wangnan.

She later arrived with the rest of the group in time for the game that would decide the Slayer candidacy.

The Dallar Show
Rachel was chosen to participate in the first round of the Dallar Show in the game, "Catching the sweetfish", alongside the Mad Dog. After facing off against Koon and unsuccessfully trying to catch the sweetfish, she ultimately lost to the blue-haired Light Bearer. Returning back to her team's side, Hoaqin nonchalantly berated her for her weakness and told her not to participate in any further rounds. Yura asked if she was okay and Rachel replied she was fine.

Powers and Abilities
Rachel has shown unremarkable abilities when featured in events that require her direct participation. In her two brief altercations with Koon she has been effortlessly outclassed by the man both times. He noted that Rachel has not improved since her time as an E-rank Regular and she couldn't do anything by herself.

Despite this, Androssi Zahard said that Rachel had an 'otherworldly' feeling, a sense that she came from "a different place from us" and that you therefore shouldn't fight her; this was sufficient to make Androssi side with her on the second floor. This may be because of her Irregular status. Also, like Baam, Hwa Ryun said that Rachel is a being that "not even the Guides can foresee".

Lighthouse Control: She was one of the two Best Seeds for Light Bearer in the Position Test, the other being Koon Aguero Agnis. In her most recent display, Rachel has been shown to be able to control 2-3 Lighthouses and is capable of using a powerful compression skill with them. However her Light Bearing skills are far from special and in her most recent display they seem quite sub-standard.

Notes and Trivia

 * SIU has stated himself she's THE female protagonist. However she's not a heroine.
 * According to SIU, Rachel's name comes from the Bible. Her name could be an allusion to a famous literary pun, from a Sherlock Holmes story called "A Study in Scarlet". In a certain scene, a detective called Lestrade thought the blood-stained word "rache" referred to "Miss Rachel" because he didn't realize "rache" meant "revenge" in German.
 * According to SIU, both Rachel and Baam are deeply connected. To Rachel, Baam was the night and her darkness and to Baam, Rachel was his star and his light. It's unknown if Baam's new name (Viole), which also implies "star" in Korean has any foreshadowing or implications for their future relationship.
 * She's the one who told Baam of his birthday (which would become his name).
 * "SIU: If you get to know her, Lahel (Rachel), in fact, is a really charming character, haha. (12/14/2010)"
 * SIU has confirmed she's an Irregular, a fact accepted by the Korean fanbase. The term Irregular (비선별인원, biseonbyeolinwon; "members who have not been chosen" or "Irregulars") is actually used to refer to her and other Irregulars.
 * Her Position as Light Bearer might have been the reason Akryung was paired with her. Spear Bearers tend to work with Light Bearers, due to a function of the Lighthouse which adjusts and guides the trajectory of the Spear. If so, it is unknown how Headon deduced her Position, long before she took the Position Test.
 * Androssi Zahard and the Traveller have said that they sensed something strange about her the moment they met her -- a sense that she was from another world and somehow dangerous.  Androssi indicated that this sense was the reason she avoided attacking Rachel in the initial 2nd Floor test. While this may have to do with the fact that she is an Irregular, no one has said anything similar about Baam.

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Rachel