Chapter 2: New Chase / Journey
Day 2, Makoto’s House
Makoto yawned as he stretched, the early morning sunlight filtering through the curtains. "Good morning~~" he greeted groggily.
"Ah, good morning," Eldrina replied with a cheerful smile. "Thank you for the soup yesterday; it was very delicious. In exchange, I made you breakfast and a bento to take to college."
"WOOAAAAAH!! Thank you very much, Eldrina!!" Makoto exclaimed, his eyes widening in delight. He eagerly dug into the breakfast, savoring the taste. It was the first proper breakfast he had eaten in a long time. After finishing his meal, Makoto got ready for college.
"I think you should follow me to college today, Eldrina. It’s better than you being alone," he suggested.
"I don’t think that will be nice," Eldrina hesitated.
"Well, I think it’s okay, since I only have one class today. You can even be with me in the class; the lecturer won’t even notice," Makoto reassured her.
"Well, if you insist," Eldrina agreed, and they headed to the college together.
---
At the College
Makoto and Eldrina walked through the bustling campus, blending in with the sea of students. Eldrina marveled at the buildings and the lively atmosphere, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"Is this your first time at a college?" Makoto asked, noticing her fascination.
"Yes, it’s...different," Eldrina replied, her voice tinged with wonder. "I’ve never experienced anything like this before."
"Well, welcome to my world," Makoto said with a smile. "Let’s head to class. It’s a lecture on modern literature, so it should be interesting."
As they entered the lecture hall, Makoto found a seat near the back where Eldrina could sit unnoticed. The lecturer began speaking, and Makoto took notes, occasionally glancing at Eldrina to make sure she was comfortable. Eldrina listened intently, trying to understand the unfamiliar concepts.
During a break, Makoto and Eldrina stepped outside for some fresh air. "How are you holding up?" Makoto asked.
"It’s fascinating," Eldrina replied. "There’s so much to learn in this world."
---
A Few Minutes Later
A man stood outside Makoto's house, knocking on the door several times. When no one answered, a neighbor approached.
"I think the owner of the house is not home right now," the neighbor said.
"Ah, I’m sorry. By any chance, do you know where the owner is right now?" the man asked.
"Today at this hour, he would usually be at the college. It’s about 30 minutes from here," the neighbor replied.
"Thank you for the information. Have a nice day," the man said, tipping his hat.
"You’re welcome," the neighbor responded, walking away.
---
A Few Hours Ago
"Is she ready for the procedure yet?" Henkel demanded.
"Not yet, sir. She will be ready in another few hours," replied one of the underlings.
"It doesn’t matter!! Just bring her here!! We need to locate that girl as soon as possible!!"
"But sir, it may be dangerous for her if we force her to do it now," the underling cautioned.
"I SAID NOW!!! I DON’T EVEN CARE!! WE NEED TO GET THAT GIRL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!!" Henkel kicked a chair in frustration, his command reverberating through the room.
"Yes, sir!!" the underling hurried to comply.
---
In the Procedure Room
Isamelia sat in the procedure room, her face pale and drawn. Despite the restraints on her wrists and ankles, she exuded an aura of strength and determination. "Now, Isamelia, please locate that girl for us," one of Henkel’s subordinates instructed.
"...............yes..........." Isamelia closed her eyes, focusing all her energy on a point in her brain. Suddenly, a blurry image appeared before her.
"Sir, we got the image!" a subordinate announced.
"Record it!! We will try to figure out where that place is supposed to be," Henkel ordered.
"Yes, sir. But this image is too blurred; there will be many places that look like these in this city," the subordinate replied.
"Isamelia... I hope you can give us a clearer image, or there’s no vaccine for you again after this," Henkel threatened.
"Ugghhh....But my ability can’t be used at its full potential without enough rest!!" Isamelia protested weakly, her voice strained.
"DO IT OR JUST DIE!!" Henkel’s voice was cold and unyielding. He knew that without the vaccine, Isamelia would be dead due to the effects of her ability.
"Ugh.....Grrrr....aaaaaaarrrghhhh!!!" Isamelia forced her ability to its maximum potential, and suddenly a clearer image appeared. She collapsed just a few seconds after she got that clear image, the restraints keeping her from falling off the chair.
"Did you get that?" Henkel asked.
"Yes, sir!!"
"Good, now analyze it and find out where that place is. I will get her with my own hands. You two bring Isamelia to her room and inject her with the vaccine as well!!"
"Copy that!!" the subordinates responded, hurrying to carry out his orders.
---
Back at the College
After the lecture, Makoto and Eldrina decided to take a walk around the campus. They explored the library, the student union, and the various clubs that were set up along the pathways.
"Do you have anything like this in your past?" Makoto asked, pointing to a group of students practicing martial arts.
"Not quite like this," Eldrina replied. "It feels new and refreshing to me."
"Yeah, it’s a way for students to stay active and learn new skills," Makoto explained. "Do you want to check out the garden? It’s a nice place to relax."
As they strolled through the campus garden, Eldrina took in the vibrant colors and the peaceful ambiance. "This place is beautiful," she said softly.
"It’s one of my favorite spots," Makoto replied. "Whenever I need to clear my mind, I come here."
Eldrina looked at him, her expression thoughtful. "Thank you for bringing me here, Makoto. It’s...comforting."
---
- to be continued -
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