Chapter 002: Paradise Lost

A sheet of featureless gray had greeted an idle stare, followed by an unfamiliar scent; it was warm, and her nostrils shuddered. A hum was heard from a distance, seeming to undulate second by second with a gentle rhythm. Then, blurred shadows were cast from three corners of her periphery, like pillars erected heavensward.

"It's… per…?"

"Seems… what if…?"

"Let's… out…"

Two particular voices were heard, as her view of the world was clearing in seconds, though her ears were fighting tooth and nail to catch mere words. She couldn't feel a *single* muscle, as the third shadow had crouched down to the side of her sporadic vision. A familiar sensation rang through her. Were some devices being unplugged?

No!

These were vital to keeping her functions intact!

That was what she was told, right?

Or was she? What functions were she thinking of, exactly?

She squeezed her eyes shut, as if it'd remind her of those specific instructions… instructions that *should've* been ingrained in her head.

Their lips kept moving. What were they bickering about?

While she couldn't summon her strength nor mind to make sense of the situation, clicking and scratching noises went on as wires and pads were being undone. At the same time, she felt cold arms crawling under her hip; it was *not* a feeling of comfort. Another had lowered their arms, slipping their palms to embrace her back as well.

Then, she was dragged out in one swoop!

"Alright, there we go."

"We've got the Highlander out, Matsuki-sama."

Two men in white robes spoke out, facing away from her.

With this rapid jolt of stimulation, the gradual process of her senses awakening had *shifted*—the platinum blonde woman's eyes widening briefly. Her innards screamed, the world *tugging* at her whole being. How could they even *stand* in this world?!

It felt as if her diaphragm was about to burst at any moment as she drew her first breath, even as her lungs inhaled voraciously. It wasn't pleasant, but her muscles' *searing* protests had waned, if only a little, as her breathing stabilized momentarily.

'Where? *Where?* Who am—?'

Since her limbs refused to listen, the woman focused on her other senses, mainly her vision. Blinking a few times, she couldn't help but process the weight of the air intruding her nostrils, forcing a couple coughs off her lips—a testament of her lungs' battle.

The white-robed pair kept her arms locked over their shoulders, embarking on a walk that felt as if it was lasting an eternity. Why'd they have to take her to a higher floor so suddenly?! Her feet were practically wailing by the time she was brought out to level ground, before a verdant-clad man who was slightly taller than her. She panted, hacking and coughing from the dry as hell throat.

"It'll be fine, just hang in there."

"If she really *is* of the *High*, though…"

"She may need medical attention first, Matsuki-sama, and some water…"

The blond who was apparently called Matsuki, had inspected her with an indifferent gaze, locking eyes with the one who had awakened. Then, he pressed an index finger on her forehead, resting his eyelids. They were opened momentarily and a nod followed.

"That will not be necessary," he told the white-robed men. "She shall do fine with some rest." He smiled at her. "Don't you think?"

A green lume followed his query, emanating from her with a certain *feeling*; a foreign power welled up in her there and then.

Warmth, a *gentle* warmth danced on her forehead before surging to the rest of her body like a mantle cast over her. The tip of her pinky wiggled before her other fingers twitched; before long, she could move her whole arm, even if it'd felt a tad heavy. With the blears of her vision waning, she locked gaze with the apparent chief of these people known as Matsuki.

Even she, the so-called *Highlander*, figured him to be important, even before he did this little trick. With his big verdant coat and its… what was that on his collar? An aureole of blue? Hologram? She squinted her eyes curtly but upon blinking, they looked like big shining bulbs instead. This would have to wait.

"It seems it is," she finally spoke, putting this waiting game aside. "Where *am* I… and who are you people?"

A part of her was taken aback from hearing herself. Her throat was fine…?

She caught some hubbub from the surrounding men.

"Wow…"

"As expected of the Sage!"

"What instantaneous sorcery."

Sorcery? Her eyes rolled to the pair holding her, from one man to the other.

As for the apparent *Sage*, he hummed, smile fading. "I cannot tell how much you are *made* to remember. We are the guardians of this megaplex known as *Kamui STAR*, and until we know what is *what*—you are our guest here. Would that be enough for the time being?"

The heaving woman would rather put her money on the notion that his work of warmth and energy was but the simple use of technology; it'd have to be sufficiently advanced for them to get so animated from its performance. Was this guy just faking it then? She would've shook her head but she had little strength for even *that*. She thought back to his words instead.

'*Made* to remember? What do y—? Urgh.'

A sharp pain assaulted her head! In a split second, her eyes twitched and one-tenth of a grimace showed.

She glared back at them. "At least a proper introduction shall be in order, I presume…?"

"Of course. I apologize for not beginning with that. I am Genda Matsuki, the person in charge of *Flora Temple*. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance." He wore a calm yet almost neutral smile. "Do you remember your name, Miss?"

"Greetings… Head Priest? Of the Flora Temple, Matsuki-sama. I am…"

She had sought to grasp at the reels of her memories, racking through her mushy head. Catching a string of data felt like going through an old storage unit crammed so *full* of valuables, it may as well have been a maze. She was so sure she could *grasp* it out of this murky marsh, but it just *kept* eluding her.

"I am…" A part of her yearned to catch a word or a phrase she may have memorized, but it was a hollow hope; she gazed down from him, at herself, pursuing words flashing in and out of her consciousness like a machine powering on and off rapidly. Where *did* they go?

A small sigh broke the monotony of silence, a waterdrop's worth of lament growing to an immensity rivaling the sun. Why couldn't she set her own gray matter straight? But then it happened, a flash—and she paid voice to it before it'd fizzle off into the void:

"You may call me *Exelica*." Despite this small victory, her expression was smudged ever so slightly with a blend of thoughts and emotions, none of which were positive to say the least.

Exelica—it wasn't a *normal* name, even she knew this. It couldn't have been her real name, of course. During the following pause, as various impressions were carved on the robed folks in her vicinity, a boy strode up to them with a hastened gait from beyond Matsuki. Though she desired to study the area from which he came, her gaze was occluded with a *vast* haziness, further addling her features; a brow was raised, but only briefly.

"I believe this should be enough," he said. "We are now ready to have her moved, Matsuki-sama."

His tone was clear and deep despite his comely visage, which she could now see as he had halted close to the chief of Flora Temple. His lavender locks were contrasted with a type of ultra violet garb… layered over his sable shirt? It wasn't fashion Exelica was familiar with, but it'd certainly caught her eyes. The outer garment was undeniably familiar—nostalgic even!—but *what* was it called? She just couldn't utter the word, even when it should've been obvious!

Through the faint reverie, the boy with his purple eyes met her gold-tinted ones. There, a certain extent of earnestness reflected back at her. "It is dangerous to be here. We request you to acquiesce."

"She understands, Hagiwara-kun." Matsuki then peered past her to the white vessel gouged into the ashen earth below in its crater. "But you should remain here, see to it that Exelica-san's pod gets transported, lest the looters take it apart for *petty* pennies; we cannot have that."

"I thought…" The ponytailed boy shook his head. "Very well, I shall see to its securement, Matsuki-sama."

He walked past the platinum blonde, two of the white-robed figures taking after him. These were more quiet people than those who held her, their facial features hidden beneath white masks. What were those green markings on them?

"Take Exelica-san to Rikka-kun for the time being." Matsuki went to the side, ushering to the chaperones with a gesture. "Perhaps she will enjoy her tea at *Temple's Ward* soon." He then nodded to the Highlander. "I shall see you another time. Soon the enchantment will wear off so please, be cautious."

The white coated woman rested her eyes and nodded firmly at the Sage. Truly, a tumultuous sea of questions swirled within her hollow head but they could wait. Looking at her situation here, wasn't she fortunate to be "welcomed" by these "guardians" of the megaplex? A part of her wondered if her past self had even *believed* in "fortune," but she knew herself to be in good hands, and wouldn't want to push her luck yet. From what he had said, she concluded to not be the *first* of her kind to have landed on the *surface*, terms like "Highlander" told her as much anyways.

'Matsuki, Hagiwara, and Rikka.'

She memorized their names silently.

"I shall be in your care," she peeked back at the young boy's silhouette from the corner of her eyes, "Hagiwara…"

Her voice was low—miniscule even—but they carried an unseen *something*, and the young boy blinked merely, his pace ceasing fleetingly. He quirked his neck to peer back at what felt like a dagger *pointed* at his back. Why'd she refer to him when she had escorts to direct these words to? He shook his head; duty came before whims and curiosities, thus Hagiwara had marched forward to his task: the procurement of the white pod.

Trudging along the rough path with her guides in the meantime, slowly but surely, the plain had elevated further with each step incrementally and Exelica's breaths grew ragged in seconds, chest heaving high and low once more. Again? Again a *perilous* walk?! No doubt, her shudders were felt by the middle-aged men bearing the bulk of her weight; their grips on her shoulders had just hardened with time.

The embrace of the surrounding gray air broke off following what felt like hours of strolling. What *were* these things, anyway? Vapors? Was there a time in her life when Exelica had dealt with vapors obfuscating nearly everything? Try as she might, but no such experience could be summoned to the forefront of her mind. It was frigid though, *that* much was relatable.

Real name was out and so were her experiences? But she knew to be *trained*.

She had to be, right…?

Why was she so sure of it? Her brows were knit close together. What was the basis without any appropriate record called "memory" to supplement this vague knowledge?

A car was parked on a road ahead, where a girl in a midnight blue uniform stood. Her pointed hat was a stark show of their difference in backgrounds, not to mention the thick book strapped to her hip, but her blonde locks were somewhat reminiscent of her own? Well, *almost*. At least, that was one thing they kind of had in common.

"You're the one, eh?" Her red eyes examined the woman, taking her figure in from top to bottom. "Bit more normally dressed than I thought she'd be…"

She opened the door, motioning as Exelica was brought forward.

"You might've heard my name by now," she helped the Highlander enter the vehicle, "but I'm Rikka!"

Before a response could be made, she had signaled to a man in a similar garb like Hagiwara's at the driver's seat, shutting the door. Then, she sat herself down from the other end of the back seats. When the engines thrummed and the car was in motion, Rikka sighed.

"Sorry about the fuss," she leaned back, "but you can relax now. Won't have to move 'round for a good 30 minutes."

Exelica inhaled deeply, just trying to fulfill the rights of her lungs now that she wasn't exposed to the grayish miasma, or whatever it was. Surprisingly, the air circulating inside this auto felt *much* more natural to her, and soon her breathing pacified.

So she said 30 minutes; it'd take less than that for her to maintain consciousness, with how her eyes kept shutting against her will. Perhaps she could use this brief moment to get some answers instead? Sleep be damned, she kept her eyelids up.

Peering to the other side of the window at the right, where a sparse, dark-tinted view was offered: she found some houses, walls of which had clear wear and in some cases, paint-like taints? Did people *really* live there? Surely their purpose was more lowkey, like shells of abandoned factories or whatever they called those production units of capitalism. Perhaps those silhouettes of greater structures beyond these poor husks were the *real* homes of the denizens? She couldn't catch their features much from here, though.

"Where *are* we…?" A finger ran through Exelica's hair, making herself more comfortable as she leaned against the glassy panel. "And, where are we… going?"The green radiance that had supplanted her with a jolt of rush and energy had been fading like a pockeTRON about to lose its battery charge. Try as she might, her weight rose exponentially; the woman was practically chained to her seat.

"Our *Sorcerer's Ward*! We're gonna let you rest and get well first." Rikka had her hat on her knees, glancing at the window to her right by which she sat, smiling gently, sharing Exelica's view. "I've been… foreigner, so you… not know, but this… Lake… shu… and…"

Then, she glanced back at the woman to find her eyes closed. She breathed peacefully."Oh…" Rikka blinked, "she must've been *really* tired. But it's okay, you're gonna be fine now!"