Cog out of a Machine

「 Babah 」

"This looks familiar..."

"Feels like I have been here before."

"Zanno, are you there?"

The ambiance was a total silence. Babah felt like he was floating in an utter void. He cannot feel any of his physical presence but his consciousness is still there, floating in a place between reality and forgery.

But somehow, the current situation was familiar. He had been through this before. A déjà vu. The surge of energy and emotion came back in a sudden rush after a holographic panel appeared in front of him, waiting for his input.

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[ Assigning New Vehicle...

 Please Enter Your Name ]

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「 Babah 」

"People call me Zam..."

"Babah Zam."

"The last time I entered that name, the System rejected it."

"So I tried to enter the name Zann."

"Two N's close together looks like the letter M, but that was also rejected by the System."

"Then I added an O at the end..."

"I guess that is how I ended up in Zanno's body."

Babah was contemplating every choice he could think of. The first time he was here, it was something new to him. Entering the name 'Zanno' sent him into the world of Aena, sharing a vehicle with a little boy who barely knew the weight that fate had put onto his shoulders.

Babah was reluctant to enter the same name again. He does not want Zanno to go through the same predicament as he did before. And with that in his mind, Babah entered a different name than he did before.

As soon as he entered the name he chose, the world around him went into an incognizance swirl, pulling him into the world of Aena. A name he only knew from his shared memory with Zanno. A person he never knew but left a significant impact on his heart.

「 Babah (pondering) 」

"Wonder what will happen if I enter this name..."

"Arra Noir Henriette de Corronoet."

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[ Name Accepted...

 Transferring Soul to the Designated Vehicle ]

[ Server Rollback...

 Successful ]

[ Restarting Data Collection...

 Successful ]

[ Synchronizing with Current Vehicle...

 ▯▯▯▯▯▯▯▯▯▯ ( 0% ) ]

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As Babah entered the name Arra Noir Henriette de Corronoet, he felt a surge of energy enveloping him. The holographic panel vanished, and he found himself being pulled into a new consciousness, a new existence within the world of Aena. The transition was seamless as if he had always belonged there.

The vehicle's memories intertwined with Babah's, creating a fusion of knowledge and experiences. It was just like he was planning. He woke up in the body of a little girl who made an impact on Zanno's heart. The body of a little girl known as Princess Connie.

As Princess Connie opened her eyes, she saw a young boy enjoying the best sleep of his life as if he were in a state of perfect comfort and peace. She leaned forward until their faces were only inches apart and smiled.

「 Princess Connie 」

"Whatcha doin'?"

Surprised, the boy pushed Princess Connie away and jumped off the bench he was resting on. She fell with both of her legs pointing toward the sky, unveiling the pink underwear she was wearing.

In embarrassment, the boy quickly took off his jacket and threw it over to cover Princess Connie up. He then stood silently as he waited for her response.

A minute passed before Princess Connie finally got up slowly. Her eyes were teary and her cheeks red.

「 Zanno 」

"I'm so sorry…"

"I didn't mean to push you."

「 Princess Connie 」

"How dare you!"

"I am a princess!"

"I will have my father punish you!"

「 Zanno (mock) 」

"Tee hee…"

"Well, I'm so sorry…"

"PRINCESS."

Babah appeared to recollect a prior event from his tenure inside Zanno's body. He deliberated on the most appropriate course of action to take, hoping that it would not impede Zanno's future.

「 Princess Connie (mulling) 」

"I think I should go with the flow."

Princess Connie displayed a self-satisfied expression and swiftly returned to her cheerful disposition. She possessed an attractive countenance with flawless, light-colored skin, and long, wavy, dark hair. She was attired in a modest yellow summer frock paired with white leather boots while holding a butterfly net and showcasing a striking pair of crystal-clear blue eyes.

「 Zanno 」

"What's your name, princess?"

「 Princess Connie 」

"My name is Princess Arra Noir Henriette de Corronoet the First, Princess of the Tremaux Dynasty…"

"But you can call me Connie!"

Shocked, Zanno lost the smirk he was showing before and kneeled. He acknowledged the girl, as nobody in their right mind would casually take the time to memorize such a long and weird name like that. Indeed she truly is a princess.

「 Zanno 」

"Wha… what are you doing here, princess?"

「 Princess Connie 」

"Hmm… I was trying to catch some butterflies earlier."

"And then…"

Princess Connie made some weird and cute faces as she was trying to remember what happened between Zanno and her in their past encounter. The cognitive system of Babah's current vehicle seemed to be failing. Then, after scratching her head a few times, she burst out.

"You pushed me!"

"And… and…"

"You saw my underwear!"

「 Zanno 」

"I'm sorry, Your Highness."

"But you came out of nowhere."

"I was surprised and accidentally lashed out."

"Please accept my sincerest apology!"

After hesitating for a stretch while dusting herself, trying to remember the rest of their encounter, Princess Connie picked up her butterfly net and accepted the boy's apology.

「 Princess Connie 」

"Hmm…"

"Since you are apologizing to me sincerely, I will forgive you."

"But I want reparation!"

Princess Connie stood poised and expectant, her right hand resting lightly on her waist while an unconvincing giggle escaped her lips. Meanwhile, Zanno appeared to be in a state of nervous agitation, indicating that he was taking no chances. Babah, who had already surmised what Zanno was about to say, was simply waiting for him to confirm his theory.

「 Zanno 」

"I will show you my secret hideout if you promise not to tell anyone about this!"

It was confirmed. Up to this point, Babah knew about every response that Zanno would take. Zanno's offer to show Princess Connie his secret hideout confirmed it. The event that led to him falling down the old elevator shaft, leaving his left leg crippled.

Babah was trying to find a way, conceiving a strategy to circumvent the impending misfortune that would befall Zanno, but nothing came to mind. He decided to acquiesce, while simultaneously attempting to find the optimal approach to take.

「 Princess Connie 」

"Yes! I promise I won't tell anyone."

"Now, let's go!"

Zanno led Princess Connie through a maze of winding paths and shortcuts in the cemetery, carefully avoiding the gravestones and mausoleums along the way. As they strolled, Babah noticed that Zanno was stealing glances at the Princess.

Upon arriving at the entrance of a nearby sepulcher, Zanno abruptly stopped and let out a sighful gasp. The sudden halt not only caught Princess Connie off guard but also surprised Babah. He slowly pulled the Princess into the structure, making sure nobody else saw them.

「 Zanno 」

"Princess, please make a promise to me."

「 Princess Connie 」

"A promise?"

「 Zanno 」

"Yes..."

"A promise."

「 Princess Connie 」

"What kind of promise?"

「 Zanno 」

"Just follow my lead..."

"Don't try to change anything."

"The world will end if the timeline is altered."

"You will know what to do when the time comes."

Princess Connie looked at Zanno with a mixture of curiosity and concern. His words held a weight that she couldn't fully comprehend, but she trusted him and sensed the seriousness in his tone. She nodded, her blue eyes filled with determination.

「 Princess Connie 」

"I promise, Zanno."

"I will follow your lead and not try to change anything."

Zanno's expression softened, and he reached out to hold Princess Connie's hand gently. The two of them stood there, in the quiet solitude of the sepulcher, their connection solidified by their shared understanding and the weight of the destiny they would soon face.

「 Zanno 」

"Thank you, Princess."

"I believe in you."

Princess Connie's eyes glimmered with trust as she held tightly onto Zanno's small hand. They knew that the path ahead would be full of challenges, but they were determined to face them together.

As they emerged from the sepulcher, their journey continued toward the mining district of Cardinal Peaks. With caution in every step, they managed to sneak under a few fences and avoid the watchful eyes of the guards.

Finally, they entered the western mine, a place that would forever change the intertwined destiny of Zanno and Babah. The place where it all began.