CHAPTER 2.2

Emerging from the towering edifice, a thousand souls teeming within, my dazzling eyes met the winter's hazy embrace. The first glimmers of dawn painted the sky, and each breath released a plume of icy fog from my lips. Though bundled in a thick coat, its warmth rivalled my armoured garment, a strange contrast to the beads of sweat forming on my face. The paradox of the chill outside and the warmth within left me bewildered, a question I could not fathom.

Was it disquiet?

Or was it awe?

And yet, ambling across the roads outside of our living structure, a sight of uncouthness never ceased to amaze me. This time, there were moving horseless carriages running across the road and even winging their way through the airy path, and there were people mounting their peculiar device that possessed a pair of wheels akin to those found upon a horseless carriage. Yet, it was not powered by the grace of noble steeds, but by the simple act of placing one foot afore the other upon a constantly revolving pathway, as the turning of a millstone. Each stride propelled forth to an astonishing pace, traversing across the road on the surface with swiftness akin to the wind's own fleetness.

"Guess they ran out of steeds here," I said. "But what kind of sorcery are these?"

"Sorcery?" replied Ana. "Gal, you've never heard of technology before?"

"Technology?" I shook my head.

"Seems like your era was filled with some sort of 'boom boom spark abracadabra', eh?"

"H-Huh? Boom boom boom… spark… abra.... What?"

"Nevermind, but you already got a gist of it."

"Oh… so a cannoneer speaking Hexian?"

"Huh?" she rubbed her brow and rolled her eyes. "That's really not what I mean."

"And what exactly are you talking about?"

"Just… nevermind. I hate explaining my sense of humour."

"Oh great, now you left me aroused in curiosity."

Ana's gaze went to the unfamiliar road, her steps tentative on the pavement. I trailed close behind, clutching to her resolve, scared of being devoured by this strange world. Despite the promise of Himel ahead, a gnawing unease developed in my gut, exacerbated by the cruel truth. Not even my worth belonged to this age. The thought rang in my thoughts, a constant mantra of displacement. Visions of my noble son, my beloved husband, my loyal sisters, each a searing reminder of my lost cause. Impatience gnawed at the edges of my composure, a desperate yearning to return to my own time, a place where my soul still resonated. Yet, here I was, burdened by the chilling knowledge of what awaited in Himel, the minutest details threatening to extinguish the fragile spark of hope flickering within me.

I looked at the redhead beside me, bearing the same visage as Lady Drea, and yet she seemed blither and sillier, quite an opposite to Drea's charms.

"So what're we gonna buy for you, gal?" suddenly asked Ana.

"What to buy?" I murmured to myself, then paused as I pondered over it.

"Well, it can be either food, clothes, or even some arcades. Plus, I've to do some groceries… all thanks to what you did to our shampoo. "

"Oh, right."

"But Aya already told me that you came from a time so far. At first, I didn't come to believe it, but your armour and other garments just proved to me that you definitely time-travel for unknown reasons, so yeah… at this time, I'll forgive you for that."

"That sounds quite jejune."

She halted her steps and tilted her head, her eyes squinting at me, "Juh-june? H-Huh…?"

I stuttered, "I mean, as shallow as the pond?"

"Shallow?! Gal, last time I checked on your suit of armour, I grabbed my bluelight and flashed around it, and, lo and behold, was an incredulous amount of bloodstains smeared all over your bloody arms and torso," her face got closer to me, studying every inch of my face. "Like were you a serial killer or sumthin'?"

"No, not really. I am a warrior, and I happen to kill those who are deemed enemies to me."

"Hmmm… ughhh… you know what? Just pretend that you didn't hear my question."

"Why?"

"Got nothing else to say."

"Hmmm," I paused, pondering over what she was hiding, but as I remembered Ayako being the so-called agent, I could really see what she might have held back. So I pressed, "Do these 'agents' kill their enemies, too?"

"O-Oh," she darted her eyes at both sides once, her voice trembling. "Well, agents can kill enemies, if they've got in their way, but they often seek intel more than a spree."

"Eh… what is intel?"

"Intelligence, gal. Some sort of significance to be read, especially from such an adversary."

"Oh, I see. So agents… like a band of moles?"

"Yeah, some sort of that. Like I told ya, they'd rather be cautious over how the game works with the help of those intel. Besides, what she's doing right now is finding whoever the bloody prick destroyed the Overseer satellite. I mean, she found one, but she said that his face was covered in a mask, allegedly speaking."

"But how? When she met me first and found a strange figure descending from the sky, we were far away as if we saw a dot of eagle flying towards the northern mountains."

"Huh? You've never heard of binos?"

"Binos? You mean, a fieldscope?"

"If you mean a thing that can let you see more clearly from afar, then yes."

"Oh, then what about it? I hadn't seen her holding one before."

"She already had," her finger pointed to her own eye. "Eye lens, gal. If you didn't know about it, then how about showing my one off?"

"Pray, do show."

"Alright," then her two fingers and a thumb tipped on the eye and pulled out its pellucid skin. Frankly revolting, indeed, yet a compelling discovery, so much so I heard not a single moan out of her mouth. "Here it is… albeit this is just the most normal one."

"That is a… bino?"

"No, it's a regular eye lens like most normal people have, but for Ayako and her other colleagues, theirs would be something special. Binos, like I said. Though, I can't tell you what it exactly looks like… other than it bears the exact shape and form."

She put it back onto her eye and blinked thrice. Staring at her any longer threatened to twist my lips into a grimace, as a morbid thought crossed my mind—what if it were me to pluck my eyeball out instead?

"By the heavens, how far do you do some… filthy things?"

"Filthy? What on earth are you talking about? Of course, we often do 'filthy' things here, as if keeping your hands always clean means that you've never tasted labour before. Like have you ever been buttering your muffin before?"

"Huh?"

She rolled her eyes and heaved an exasperated sigh, "Guess there were no such things as muffins back then."

Our strides pushed us forward, not towards a grand purpose, but a simple one: things—or, as she called them, 'groceries.' The bustling streets remained a compelling display, a plethora of new faces. Unlike the weary souls back home, burdened by toil, these people walked with ease, indicating a distinct cadence. Every turn sparked a new wonder, a world away from the harried days I knew.

A mere few steps further, Ana froze, her gaze drawn skyward. Before us rose a metallic cathedral, its glass walls reaching like celestial fingers. Myriad windows, shimmering like enchanted mirrors, hinted at unknown realms within. Pellucid screens on the walls—like moving likenesses from our own time—glided silently. And the entrance? Not guarded knights, but a portal of glass doors, whispering open at the mere touch of a passerby.

"This is the place," said Ana, reading the vibrant sign hung onto the very centre entitled. "Blithis."

"Woah," I replied, studying every detail of the edifice. "So what are we going to do here?"

"Have I already told you a while ago?"

"About what?"

She rolled her eyes and sighed, "Buying things."

"Right."

"Well," she began proceeding into the portal. "No time for telling what mall is."

Then I followed her steps, "Mall… is what you call, eh? What is it in there?"

"I'll let your eyes speak for yourself."

Stepping through the colossal archway of the mall, I was not met by the chill and shadows I foresaw. Instead, a burst of unexpected brightness swept over me. At first, it was an overwhelming sheen, blinding in its intensity. But slowly, my eyes adjusted, revealing a dazzling chamber of light. Ornate boutiques dotted the vast halls, which were teeming with passionate vendors. Their smiles were more than simply on their lips; they glittered in their eyes, as reflected in the treasure bags they carried.

"Woah," I moaned. "Fascinating."

Then as we stepped further inside, an outlandish resonance gradually grew louder. Its melodies were rhythmic and unpredictable, stirring both mirth and confusion within the chambers of my ears. Gazing above, there were roughly five floors heavenward, its platform encased by glassy walls—afearing, were I to lean before its balcony-like barrier in their shoes.

"So where are we heading first?" asked Ana.

"Huh, why are you asking me? You're the one who knows this place far better than me."

"Nah, I'm just confused how are we gonna enjoy our trip first," she slightly bowed her head, her voice gasping and reduced. "Even though I kinda grew sick and tired of being here."

"Why?"

"Y' know, whenever you're very well-known from all over the place, you often encounter some creeps who're gonna face in front of you and ask, 'Hey, are you the one who's in the video of pushing a watermelon inside?'"

"Pushing a watermelon inside?" I raised my brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She chuckled, her eyes narrowed quite grimly, "You're better off not knowing about it."

So I grabbed my pen and pocket note, "Better list it down then"

But then she suddenly drifted, her hands swiftly locked my wrists from moving upward… and her eyes narrowed with glaring light, "Seriously, though, you best to pretend not to know about that, really. It's just a simple favour for me… and even yourself. Like I'll not allow you to be curious about such things."

"Uhhh, alright then."

"Good," she patted both of my shoulders, her eyes grew sterner. "Then you shouldn't start a moment when you find out the thing they're holding right in front of their eyes while bowing their head. Trust me, you'll be very wise to live like that."

Then I nodded, then paid no heed to her piercing gaze. Instead, there I found a fellow wayfarer strolling by, wielding a mystical slate aglow with the luminous glyphs that danced upon its enchanted surface.

So I asked, "Oh, what is that guy holding?"

"What?" she followed where I paid heed, and lo and behold, there went her making undue fuss. "Oh dear, now you've fallen into a trap already."

"Huh, I'm just curious as to—"

Then she suddenly pinched my cheek and fumed silently, "Haven't you listened to me?"

"Aw… aw… awwww."

The wayfaring man stopped dead, swivelling his head towards the redhead with a piercing stare. Fear froze her, his abrupt shift chilling her to the bone. Then his eyes snagged on her braid, and a ghostly smile appeared on his lips. Two surprised eyebrow lifts later, he resumed his walk, leaving her with a shaky sigh of relief.

"Phew, glad he's one of the decent guys."

"What do you mean?"

"A fellow stranger who knows of me, but doesn't invade my space."

Another passerby caught my eye. His gaze lingered on us, a small, dark slab held in his hand like an artist unveiling a miniature piece. But the moment Ana met his gaze, his hands flicked, and the slab vanished inside his pocket. He moved away without looking back, leaving us in his wake.

"This is getting weird now," continued Ana, her eyes gingerly surveying. "We've to find a safer place as soon as possible."

Her hand tightened around mine, pulling me away in a desperate tug. The frantic movement drew unwanted gazes, prying eyes snapping towards us like hungry insects. Some even dared to raise their luminous slabs; their faces hidden behind the glowing screens, aiming at us from afar.

As Ana walked me to the aisle, we eventually came to a stop, seeking refuge in a chamber designated for the use of sinks, a domain exclusively reserved for women.

"Goodness me," I gasped, holding on to her shoulder. "Are we in danger or something?"

"Yeah," she replied. "And it's called gazes… and men"

"Gazes? Is there a bloody harm to it?"

"Yes," her gaping eyes approached mine, deadening her voice. "Psychologically."

"Huh?"

She rolled her eyes and heaved an exasperated sigh, "No wonder why there were a lot of 'fiendish' heads flying around back then."

"I really have no idea what you are speaking about."

"If you say so."

Then whispers swirled around us like smoke, carried by the sidelong glances of women with furrowed brows. It was no secret our boisterous trade had ruffled feathers, their irritation simmering beneath the surface. But, given the explosive nature of her "notorious" remarks, becoming the talk of the town was almost as unavoidable as the sunrise. And, to be frank, I suspected that my personal involvement would not go unnoticed for long.

"So what are we going to do here?" I asked.

"Time for peaceful piss."

Ana stepped into one of the stalls, then shut its door.

My reflection astonished me. Not the face itself, which was clean and gleaming in the way my handmaidens used to do, but the unfamiliar hands that had performed such magic. Uncouth, I thought, a feeling of longing pulling at my heart. These hands, which were once used to the weight of a crown, now wielded the tools of this outlandish place.

I sighed and pondered, How fraught am I to be stumbled upon?

Then moments later, the faint sound of swift thunder suddenly rang… thrice. It emanated from the farthest corner of the chamber. Yet, my eyes descried nothing, but a mere wall.

Perhaps…

From behind? I wondered. What lies there?

A frightened screech ripped through the air, followed by a thundering stampede of retreating feet. Curiosity drew at me, a cautious tendril stretching beyond the safe haven of the room. Other women, including myself, were lured to the unseen thread of turmoil. We looked outside and saw a swarm of men scrambling away from the chamber next to ours. Their faces, seen in the dim light, were carved with a brew of horror and desperation. A chilly tendril of fear snaked up my spine, wrapping around my growing curiosity. What had happened within that room? What provoked such a frightened flight? The question echoed through the air, unanswered but clearly present, igniting a concoction of fear and sick intrigue within me.

"There's a bloody gunshot," one of the panicking men cried, his face wrinkled in fear. "Hurry!"

"Hey," called Ana, emerging out from the stall. "What's going on?!"

"Just fucking run!"

So the man rushed, then followed by those women.

However, with a cold blade nestling in my palm, I trod carefully towards the men's chamber, my steps a hushed echo in the silent hall. But before I could cross the threshold, Ana's hand clamped down on my shoulder, a silent scream in its grip. Her eyes mirrored the terror I had not dared to face: fear of unseen weapons, of unknown threats hidden within.

"Hey, what are you—"

"Are you fucking kidding me, gal? A sword versus a gun? A-Ah… no way I'm gonna let you do that."

"Gun? What is that?"

"Gun… pistol, something like that," she pulled me away even further, letting my blade fade into my own seal, then hurriedly walked me back to the main hallway. "Dammit, let's get outta here."