Chapter 1: The Hunt Begins
The airship emerged from the swirling vortex of the portal, its sleek metallic hull glinting under the blue skies of Malaysia—a stark contrast to the crimson heavens of Rearth. Inside the ship, the crew moved with practiced precision, their faces tense but focused. At the helm stood Henkel, the current king of Rearth, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. His once-kind demeanor had hardened over the years, replaced by a cold determination that left no room for doubt or hesitation.
“We’re almost out. Switch on the stealth mode!! We don’t know what lies ahead of us,” Henkel commanded, his voice cutting through the hum of the engines. The crew obeyed without question, their loyalty unwavering despite the moral ambiguity of their mission.
“Sir, it seems that we’ve arrived in a country called Malaysia,” reported one of the crew members, his voice steady but tinged with curiosity.
Henkel’s lips curled into a faint smirk. “So, we didn’t travel across time? We just teleported to another country. How interesting.” He paused, his gaze narrowing as he considered the implications. “What do you want to do, Erina?” he muttered under his breath, though the name carried a weight that suggested it was more than just a casual question.
“Sir, it seems that the portal will be closing in about three days,” another crew member interjected, breaking Henkel’s train of thought.
“Three days is plenty of time,” Henkel replied, his voice calm but laced with determination. “Find a hidden place for us to lay low and send out our platoon for the search. And don’t forget the disguises. How long can the stealth mode stay active?”
“The stealth mode can remain active for about five more days, sir.”
“Good. That’s more than enough. As soon as our platoon is ready, send them out—two groups per hour. We’re going to find that girl as soon as possible.”
“Yes, sir!” The crew responded in unison, their voices echoing through the ship as they prepared to carry out their orders.
---
Makoto’s Room
The small, cluttered room was bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun. Eldrina stirred on the bed, her body aching from the strain of overusing her abilities. She groaned softly as she tried to sit up, her mind still foggy from exhaustion. The last thing she remembered was the portal, the fall, and then... him. The boy with the kind eyes and the strange power.
“You should rest; you’ve used your ability too much,” Makoto said as he entered the room, carrying a bowl of soup and a glass of water. His voice was gentle, but there was a firmness to it that suggested he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
Eldrina blinked up at him, her expression a mix of confusion and suspicion. “Are you not scared of me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Makoto chuckled, setting the bowl and glass on the bedside table. “Nah, even if you have powers, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re still a human being. Besides, have you forgotten how you landed just now?”
Eldrina frowned, trying to piece together the fragmented memories of her fall. “How? Wait, as far as I remember, I fell onto a cloud that slowed down my descent. And then you came out of nowhere, and I teleported us here.”
“Exactly,” Makoto replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“What do you mean?” Eldrina asked, her confusion deepening.
“This,” Makoto said, gesturing toward the door. With a gentle wave of his hand, a gust of wind pushed the door open, then closed it again. He turned back to Eldrina, a small smile playing on his lips.
Eldrina’s eyes widened in realization. “That’s why...” Her voice trailed off as she processed the implications. She looked at Makoto with a newfound respect, her earlier suspicion melting away.
“What’s your name, by the way?” Makoto asked, breaking the silence.
“It’s Eldrina. What about you?”
“Makoto,” he replied with a nod. “So, Eldrina, mind telling me what’s going on exactly?”
Eldrina hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She began to recount her story, starting with the fragmented memories of her past and ending with her desperate escape through the portal. She didn’t expect him to believe her—how could he? Her story sounded like something out of a science fiction novel. But as she spoke, she noticed that Makoto’s expression remained calm and attentive, as if he had already accepted the unbelievable as reality.
When she finished, Makoto’s face darkened. “Order of Justice, huh? Justice... justice my ass!!” he exclaimed, his voice tinged with anger. “How can misusing someone else’s power to change the past be considered justice?”
Eldrina was taken aback by his reaction. She had expected skepticism or disbelief, not this fiery indignation. “You... you believe me?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“Of course, I do,” Makoto replied, his tone softening. “It’s okay, Eldrina. They’ll never find you. I’ll help you, I promise.” He smiled, his expression warm and reassuring.
Eldrina felt a wave of relief wash over her. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt safe. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.
---
Somewhere in Kuala Lumpur
The search for Eldrina was in full swing. The platoon had been dispatched in groups, each one scouring the city for any sign of their target. But so far, their efforts had been in vain.
“Sir, it seems that we haven’t found her yet,” reported one of the crew members, his voice tense with frustration.
Henkel’s expression remained stoic, but there was a flicker of irritation in his eyes. “Call the previous groups back to the ship and send out four groups this time. Make sure they search every area thoroughly.”
“Yes, sir.”
As the crew member hurried off to relay the orders, Henkel leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. “If we still can’t find her today, we’ll have to use ‘that’ to locate her,” he muttered to himself, his voice low and ominous.
The airship’s engines hummed softly as it hovered in the sky, a silent predator waiting to strike. The hunt was far from over.
---
A New Alliance
Back in Makoto’s room, Eldrina and Makoto sat in comfortable silence, the weight of their shared secrets hanging in the air. Makoto broke the silence first. “So, what’s the plan? You can’t stay here forever, and I doubt they’ll stop looking for you.”
Eldrina sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I don’t know. I’ve been running for so long, I don’t even know where to start.”
Makoto leaned forward, his expression serious. “Then we’ll figure it out together. First, we need to understand what they want from you. You said they’re after your power, right? What exactly can you do?”
Eldrina hesitated, then extended her hand. A small, shimmering portal appeared above her palm, no larger than a coin. “I can create portals,” she said softly. “But it’s not just that. I can... feel time. Like it’s a river, and I can navigate it. But it’s dangerous. Every time I use it, I feel like I’m losing a part of myself.”
Makoto’s eyes widened in awe. “That’s incredible. But if it’s hurting you, we need to find a way to control it—or stop them from using it.”
Eldrina nodded, her resolve hardening. “I don’t want to run anymore. If we can stop them, I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Makoto grinned, a spark of determination in his eyes. “Then let’s get to work. First, we need to find out more about this ‘Order of Justice.’ And if they’re as bad as you say, we’ll take them down together.”
---
- to be continued -
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