[FICTION] The Wind and The Time Traveller -Chapter 2-

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 -

[FICTION] The Wind and The Time Traveller -Chapter 1-

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 -