Ziekary was leaning against my doorstep in the quiet residential area of
Seiku Old Town. The evening was serene, the air filled with a sense of
calm.
Everything was just as it should be, or so she thought.
"Huh?" she muttered to herself, a perplexed look on her face. "Wait, I
think
I'm forgetting something." Ziekary stood there for a moment in silence,
as if
searching my mind for the elusive missing piece.
Her gaze shifted towards my modest board house. "I forgot to ask for his
number!"
she exclaimed suddenly, a mixture of regret and confusion swirling
within
her. "But why would I even bother asking his number?"
she wondered aloud, feeling a strange sense of longing she couldn't
quite
comprehend. Ziekary turned her attention to the window as though
expecting an answer to materialize from the outside world.
The night was dark and peaceful as she found herself at Seiku Fountain
Park, lost in a sea of memories.
This was a flashback, a recollection of a peculiar encounter that had left
a mark on us. She and I (Kyrie)
Ziekary could see herself, running away from me. "Hey, wait!" I had
called out to her, my voice carrying an air of urgency.
Breathing heavily, Ziekary had come to a stop, her heart pounding in her
chest. "Stay away! I meant it!" she had warned me, her voice trembling
with fear. "Who are you?! Ok, this is freaking me out!" I had whispered,
"Hush! Don't start a commotion, please?" I remember the
way my voice had tried to soothe her.
"Why should I listen to you? It's easier this way, help!" she had pleaded,
her desperation apparent.
"Look, I'm not some crazy ass psycho who targets women for pleasure,
alright?" I had assured her, extending my open palms as a gesture of
peace.
Slowly, she had begun to inch away from me, still suspicious and fearful.
"Then if you're not a pervert, why are you targeting me? And why do you
look so much like him? You're really freaking me out!"
"This is wrong. I should have gone home," she muttered to herself, tornbetween curiosity and caution.
"Relax," I implored. "I'm not going to harm you. Why are you running
away?" I asked, his expression a mixture of concern and confusion.
Ziekary looked left and right, scanning for any signs of danger. "Because
you're following me, and you seem suspicious,"she replied, her voice
quivering.
Gently, she pointed out the uncanny resemblance between my face and
her phone's background, which was a picture of me.
"I'll tell you everything about me if you'll calm down," I offered, a warm
smile gracing my lips.
She sighed, feeling a strange connection between us. It was as if fate had
thrown us together in this unexpected encounter, and she had no choice
but to trust me. "Okay," she said, her apprehension slowly giving way to
curiosity and a hint of excitement.With a reassuring smile and both
hands raised in a gesture of peace, I spoke
softly, "I promise, you have nothing to fear."
The flashback had come to an end, and Ziekary found herself back in the
present, in the serene Seiku Old Town Residential Area 3. she lay in her
bed, the memories of that peculiar encounter still fresh in her mind. She
couldn't
help but glance at her phone's background, a picture of me. The name
echoed in her thoughts, and she wondered about the guy she met.
The next morning, Ziekary made her way to the Seiku Old Town
Academy of
Sciences, walking through the school campus under the bright morning
sun.
"This is the first time I wasn't able to sleep well last night," she sighed,
the
remnants of the past night's memories still lingering.
She gazed at the sky, lost in thought. "I wonder, when will I see him
again? I
has a lot of questions." Her mind was filled with curiosity and intrigue,
and I
couldn't shake the feeling that this connection wasn't something
ordinary.
"Am I dreaming?"
Suddenly, a voice called out to her, snapping her out of her reverie.
"Ziekary! We're gonna be late." It was Charlotte, her friend, reminding
her
of their busy day at the academy.In another part of Seiku, in Residential Area 4, Rylee was on the phone,
her
tone filled with concern. "You've what?"
I replied with a sense of assurance, "Yeah, I met someone. It's a girl."
A flashback briefly clouded my thoughts, an image of Ziekary, the girl
from last night.
As the flashback ended, I continued, "I think her name is Ziekary."Rylee's
voice held a hint of worry as she replied, "Helping someone again,
even though you're in a bad situation? How could you even relax?"
I shrugged off her concern, feeling a sense of responsibility for Ziekary.
"There's nothing wrong with helping someone, even if it's just for a short
time. I mean, she was crying, and I feel like she could use some
company."
"Look," I added, "can't we arrange a video chat or something?"
Rylee, busy with her own tasks, responded, "Not right now. I'm in the
middle of a lab work."
I sensed there was more to her work than met the eye. "That and
figuring a
way to get me out of here?"
"Something like that," Rylee admitted. "I found something interesting."
"In order for me to make a significant effort," she explained, "I require
you to gather information about it, including its context within the
universe."
Rylee emphasized the importance of my mission, "Well, can I do it some
other time? I still have some homeless issues."
"Don't tell me you're really gonna settle in there?" Rylee questioned.
I realized the truth in her words. "Do I have any other choice?"
"At least," Rylee advised, "find out the current status of their
technology."
With a sense of duty, I confirmed, "Fine."
As the call ended, Rylee expressed her concern, "This is bad, really bad."
Back at the Seiku Academy of Sciences, the bell rang, signaling the end of
the day. As Ziekary tried to make her way home, she encountered a
drunken man stumbling towards her. She bumped into him, a look of
uncertainty on her face.
"Sorry, I'll be on my way now," she said, attempting to move past him.
But the drunken man wasn't ready to let her go. "Hey, you there!" he
called out. Ziekary stopped, her thoughts filled with apprehension.
"What does shewant now?" she wondered, a sense of unease creeping in.
"Think you could come with me? And have some fun?" the drunken man
slurred, his intentions far from clear.
Ziekary, polite but cautious, replied, "Sorry, no. No offense, sir, but I
don't even know you." She attempted to walk away.
The drunken man's mood shifted, and he reached out to hold her down,
causing both of them to fall to the ground. Panic filled Ziekary's voice as
she pleaded, "No, please, let me go, sir! Please."
"You know what I don't like?" the drunken man growled menacingly.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
"People who turn me down! And now, you've gotta get what you
deserve."
The alley was shrouded in silence, and the air was heavy with tension.
Ziekary had just witnessed the unimaginable the drunken man had been
stabbed in the head and lay lifeless on the ground. My heart raced as I
glanced at the piece of metal pipe I held in my hand.
"Well, what do you know, just in time, huh?" I said, attempting to break
the awkward silence. Ziekary, her face pale and shocked, was still
processing the
events that had unfolded before her."Why did you kill him?" she finally
managed to stammer, her voice trembling with fear and confusion.
I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her question. "What kind of
question is that? I thought it's okay to kill someone."
"No, it's not!" Ziekary exclaimed, her eyes welling up with tears. "Killing
people here, it's a crime!"
With the sound of approaching citizens, Ziekary's cries for help grew
louder.
"Oh my god, it's blood! Somebody call the police!"
Panicked, I knew it was time to leave. I grabbed Ziekary and dragged her
along the streets as the citizens gathered around the gruesome scene.
"What did they do? This is horrible!" one of the onlookers remarked.
"Come on, you run too slow," I urged Ziekary as we sprinted through the
city
streets, away from the prying eyes of the crowd. As we turned into a
dead-end alley, a sense of relief washed over me. "Well,
that was close. So glad tha—"
My words trailed off as I noticed Ziekary, still trembling and crying.
Without
hesitation, she ran towards me and hugged me tightly. I wrapped my
arms
around her, providing what comfort I could in this strange and periloussituation.
"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked gently, trying to soothe her fears. "Come
on
now, you're safe."Ziekary continued to hold me tightly, her voice choked
with emotion. "If it
weren't for you, who knows if that man would do something terrible to
me."
I couldn't help but smile, grateful that I had been able to protect her in
that
moment of danger.
In the dimly lit Seiku Dead End Alley, our eyes met, and I could see the
relief
in Ziekary's gaze. Her tearful embrace had been an unspoken thank you
for
saving her from a potentially dire situation.
"Ziekary?" I spoke her name softly, wanting to clear the air after the
harrowing events. "Oh, right. You have something to tell me, as my
thanks,
I'll listen to you."
But I shook my head, her expression earnest. "No silly, you don't have to
owe me anything."
I couldn't ignore the questions burning in her mind. "Do you have a
plan?"
she inquired, her curiosity getting the better of me.
I sighed, my thoughts drifting. "Not at the moment, but I've got to ask
you
some questions."
"Ask me anything," she assured me, eager to understand the mysteries
of
this world I had stumbled into.
I hesitated for a moment, my eyes filled with doubt. "Do you know
where
the lab is?"
She sensed a hint of urgency in my question. "Why ask some random
questions?" she replied, puzzled but willing to entertain my query."It's
not a random question," I explained, my voice growing more serious.
"But I need you to take me there right now."
Concerned about my well-being, Ziekary felt the need to defend her
actions. "Are you going to do something even crazier? And also, you
committed a crime! I bet the police are going to be looking for you!"I grinned, my nonchalant attitude not helping the situation. "Oh, come
on,
it's just one person, no big deal."
Ziekary was not amused. "No! You could've just put him to sleep or
something! It's better that way. Geez, you moron!"
My smile remained, but I couldn't help but notice her unease. "Hmm, it's
evident that you're feeling nervous. Are you suggesting that I shouldn't
have
come to your rescue earlier?"
Ziekary's response was heartfelt. "No, it's not that. I'm thankful that you
saved me. It's just I've never gotten in trouble before, and I don't want to
get involved in any violence."
"Sorry," I said sincerely, realizing the weight of my actions.
She sighed, torn between her gratitude and the overwhelming reality of
the
situation. "Oh gosh."
With the tension slightly diffused, I refocused on our mission. "So, got
any
information for me? You know something helpful?"
Ziekary looked away for a moment, hesitating before turning back to me.
"Well, since you're very valuable and a rare guest of Mother Earth, I
might
as well tell you something."I was all ears, eager to uncover the mysteries
of this world. "I'm listening."
She leaned in, her voice hushed. "Have you heard of S.E.S?"
I was taken aback, my curiosity piqued. "No, I've never heard of S.E.S.
The
hell is that? Is it something I can eat to teleport back?"
Ziekary laughed, her laughter a refreshing sound in the midst of our
uncertainties. "No! You know what? You're funny."
I couldn't help but chuckle along with her. "Hey, smiling is a healthy
thing.
You should do it often."
Her blush was endearing. "But seriously, what is S.E.S?"
Meanwhile, at Xenovert, Storm Point, Upper Deck Lounge, a
conversation
was unfolding between Live Wire and Kiyon, concerning my
disappearance.
"You got rid of Kyrie that easy?" Live Wire questioned, a hint of
skepticismin his voice.
Kiyon, the mastermind behind my disappearance, remained confident.
"It
was a one-shot chance. He was inside of that simulation room."
Live Wire, however, saw the bigger picture. "He's going to kill you once
he
finds a way back."
Kiyon couldn't help but chuckle at the notion. "If he finds a way back,
that
is," he taunted. "That was a black hole that he got warped into, but it
might
not last so—"
Live Wire, always the pragmatist, reminded Kiyon of the importance of
my
unique abilities. "You know we need him at some point. What, did
jealousy
get into you?"Kiyon waved off the suggestion. "What? Why would I get
jealous with a
specimen like him?"
Live Wire made a valid point, emphasizing the significance of my role in
their plans. "That's the point. He's a specimen. He's the key to developing
more hybrids."
Kiyon, despite his nonchalance, realized the truth in Live Wire's words.
"Don't give me that crap!"
As their conversation continued, the fate of my return remained
uncertain.
The tranquility of Seiku Fountain Park was occasionally interrupted by
the
sound of Ziekary's munching on a snack. She sat on the same bench as
before, lost in her thoughts about the upcoming holiday.
"What should I do for the coming holiday, visit the mall, the arcade, or
maybe my grandma?" she pondered aloud, her sigh carrying a hint of
loneliness.
Despite the encroaching darkness, she hesitated to leave the park.
"Despite
the darkness setting in, I still don't feel like going home just yet," she
mumbled to herself between bites of her snack.
As if summoned by her thoughts, my voice broke the silence. "You know
what, you shouldn't be eating all by yourself."Startled, Ziekary turned to
see me just a couple of feet away. "Huh? Oh, hey,I thought you went to find out an answer."
I took a seat next to her, unfazed by her previous inquiry. "Nah. Anyways,
don't you have any other friends? You're always alone everywhere you
go."
Ziekary explained her situation, "I have Charlotte, who tries her best to
be
with me, but she has a part-time job, so I'm only with her when inside the
campus."
A tinge of sympathy colored my response. "That's sad."
Ziekary continued, "Once we're outside, we go our separate ways. So, I
don't have really that many friends, not really."
I observed her introverted nature with a playful smile. "You're pretty
much
an introvert."
She chuckled in agreement, "Hehe, yeah, pretty much."
I shared a bit about myself, "I can be both introvert and an extrovert,
ambivert"
Ziekary nodded, appreciating my ability to connect with her. "Makes
sense,
that you can relate to me."
I contemplated the idea that being alone wasn't inherently negative. "I
suppose there's no inherent issue with being alone constantly, as long as
it
doesn't have detrimental effects on your well-being."
Quickly, Ziekary clarified her own perspective. "Oh, I'm not the type to
behave that way. I would never show disrespect to someone, unless they
try
- I just communicate fine with most people around me."I looked into
her eyes and remarked, "Please don't pity me, as I'm feeling
perfectly fine."
She hesitated for a moment, and I couldn't help but smile. "You're really
good at hiding your feelings."
Ziekary denied it, "What?! N-no, it's not like that, really."
I leaned in and reassured her, "You don't need to hide it, 'cause I can
tell."
She looked surprised, her curiosity piqued. "Is it genuinely true? Are you
suggesting that you possess psychic abilities related to what we're
studying?"
I acknowledged her question, "Hmm, yeah, I guess you could say that."
She leaned in closer, intrigued. "So you're really not a human then?"I hesitated for a moment before confessing, "I'm a mixture between an
alien and a human." Ziekary nodded knowingly, "It's called Hybrid,
right?" I raised an eyebrow, impressed by her knowledge. "Hm, is that a
guess, or did it come from a book you said was part of your science
class?" She smiled, enjoying the connection we were forming. "Well, as I
said, we
know the entire history of your extraterrestrial civilization and its
technologies, yet we haven't discovered a means of progress. That study
is
all that it is, and it doesn't really inform us how to advance our
technology.”Ziekary and I continued our conversation, delving into the
mysteries of my
origin. She revealed the extent of her knowledge, saying, "However, we
naturally solely focused on your involvement and the adversaries you
battled against with. Oh, and how it relates to the Fermi Paradox as
well."
I couldn't help but admire her intellectual curiosity. "Smart."
She acknowledged the skepticism that still lingered, "Yeah, the lack of
clear
evidence of extraterrestrial life. And I'm looking at you right now, who
claims to be a half-alien."
I grinned, playfully teasing her, "Oh, so you still don't believe me?"
Ziekary admitted, "Yeah, honestly? I still have doubts that you're from
another world and that you're a hybrid."
With a gentle touch, I patted her head. She looked up in surprise, "Huh?"
I reassured her, "I won't try to talk you out of it, so it's best to
demonstrate
it to you. I won't do it right away, but I'll do it when the right time comes,
I
promise."
Ziekary hesitated, her past experiences with promises clearly affecting
her.
"A promise, huh?"
I met her gaze with sincerity, "Yeah, it's a promise."
She shared her reservations, "I'm tired of hearing promises because most
people continue to break them. Nobody has ever kept a promise to me
before, and it's all in the past."
I leaned closer, seeking to assure her, "Well now, I'm not from the past.
I'mwith you at present, right here, Ziekary?."Her interest was piqued as she
looked at me with newfound curiosity.
I continued, "But don't worry. I'll make sure that I don't break my
promise to you, no matter how hard the situation is."
Ziekary blushed, and her tone lightened. "We'll see about that!"
Changing the subject, she asked, "Anyways, are you still going to the
lab?"
I contemplated the question, "Do I really need to?"
Confused, she probed further, "What do you mean?"
I revealed my findings, "I already found the answer. I don't need to go
there anymore." Ziekary's curiosity got the better of her, "Well, did you
find something else instead?" My thoughts wandered back to a recent
flashback as I explained to Ziekary,
"Yes, I found something else, a glimpse into the past."
In the flashback, I stood in a busy city street, observing the hustle and
bustle of daily life. My attention was drawn to an elderly man, struggling
to
carry his belongings in a trolley. The sight of his resilience in the face of
adversity made me reflect on the human spirit.
I glanced at a billboard that read "Save Mother Earth," a reminder of the
fragility of this planet and the importance of preserving it. The contrast
between the billboard's message and the man's struggle deepened my
understanding of the world.As I continued to observe, a car owner
cursed in frustration while trying to
fix his vehicle. The old car seemed to be giving him a hard time. I
couldn't
help but smirk, recognizing the humor in the situation.
With a sense of clarity, I realized that sometimes, it's the small moments
and the everyday struggles that define the human experience.
The flashback ended, and I turned my attention back to Ziekary, who
was eagerly awaiting my response. As Ziekary and I continued our
conversation, I couldn't help but reflect on
the technology and lifestyle of this world. "Based on how the people live,
the technology here isn't all that great. Damn, hate to admit it, but Rylee
is
right. It's deficient and far too outdated if you compare it to my world."
Ziekary accepted the reality with a touch of resignation, "Well, I guess
that's reality for us."
I shared my concerns about returning home, "If this is all you have, then
I've got a 0% chance of going back."Ziekary warned me about potential trouble, "If S.E.S finds out that you're
genuinely a different species, they might ask you a lot of questions and
might put you through testing."
I considered the complications, "I've got to avoid trouble, but I doubt if I
could hide all of me."
Ziekary suddenly covered her face, and I was puzzled. "Something wrong?
Your face is red."
She brushed it off, "Oh yeah, I'm fine. It's just...um."I noticed her
discomfort and decided to change the topic, "Let's move on
from the science conversation. Does that indicate you won't be leaving
anytime soon if you are unable to return?"
I couldn't provide a definitive answer, "Can't say, but we'll see."
Ziekary smiled, her warm demeanor putting me at ease.
As evening fell, I offered, "It's getting late. Would you appreciate me
accompanying you on your way home?"
Ziekary was surprised but delighted, "Huh? Is it okay?"
We began walking together along the streets, Ziekary leading the way
towards her apartment building. "Well, we're here."
I looked up at the unique structure, "So this is where you live?"
She explained its history, "It was a clock tower, but they couldn't get the
clock to work again, so the owner decided to turn it into an apartment
instead." I admired the building's aesthetics, "Damn, that is pretty neat.
I'm glad they didn't remove the giant clock up there, very aesthetic."
Ziekary noticed my fascination with the clock, "Yeah, you keep looking at
- Something wrong?" I hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Say, do
you mind if I also accompany you to the front door?"
Ziekary blushed but agreed, leading me up to her front door, where we
stood together. "Here we are. This is where I live."I gazed at the view
from her apartment building, appreciating the stunning
sight. "We're not yet at the very top, but the view is already stunning up
here. Sweet!" Ziekary hesitated and decided to make a kind offer, "I
know we just met, and you seem like a nice guy." I wondered if she
would invite me inside. "Hm? You gonna invite me inside? Is that it?"
Ziekary was slightly flustered but replied, "That's, umm...well, yeah, ifyou
want." I declined her offer with a warm smile, "I'm grateful, but no
thanks. Smiles Maybe some other time? I want to explore more of the
city." She voiced her concern about the late hour, "This late? It could be
dangerous around these parts." I responded with confidence, "Do you
think that applies to me?"Realizing my intentions, Ziekary watched in surprise as I leaped down
from the height of her apartment building. She gasped, "Oh!"
I landed gracefully on the ground, looking up at her. She stared down at
me, a mixture of awe and concern in her eyes.
In the heart of Greed Haven's Xenovert, Kiyon found themselves deep
within an underground laboratory, at level 3. The room was vast, filled
with
advanced machinery and technology. The lighting was dim, casting long
shadows that accentuated the sense of secrecy and intrigue.Kiyon, the
mastermind behind this covert operation, surveyed the
expansive underground laboratory. His gaze was fixed on a sophisticated
simulation, the key to his elaborate plans.
The entire room buzzed with activity, its purpose hidden from the world
above. Kiyon, the enigmatic figure orchestrating this clandestine
operation,
held the answers to the mysteries that unfolded.
As we delved into the heart of Xenovert's underground laboratory, the
truth
behind Kiyon's actions began to surface. The room whispered secrets
and
concealed motives, leaving us with a sense of anticipation and
uncertainty.
And with that, the second chapter of our story came to an end, leaving
us eager to uncover the the mysteries that awaited me.