Year ???? of the ??? Calendar:
?? Month, Day ??. (??:?? ??)
◇ Astra's POV ◇
It's dark...
As far as my eyes could see, everything was dark...
Like an evening like that reflected no light, it stretched far to the horizons, as it made the world seem cold...
Where...am I...?
My head hurts....
Who...am—
"Yo."
A voice called out from nowhere...
I turned my head to find where it came from, and found someone behind me...
A...girl?...
"Welcome." She said.
She had long black hair, green eyes and a... somehow... familiar face?
Who is she?...
"Ahahaha...yeah. Good question. Really." She said with a laugh.
Hm? Can she read minds?...
"Of course not. The mind of an intelligent being is reinforced with a barrier, you see. So accessing someone's consciousness was long deemed impossible."
I-Is that so?... Then, how can you hear my thoughts?
"Ahahaha! Quite the humorous one aren't you?" she said. "Actually, there's this thing called 'Thinking out loud.'"
A-Ahahaha...so I was thinking out loud.
However...
"Can I ask where this is?" I asked the girl.
However, she just shrugged and said. "I dunno."
Her answer took me by surprise. And here I thought I could finally know where this is—...wait, I can think clearly now. Well, at least this is better than the muddled thoughts earlier.
"So? Are you looking for a way out too?" I asked the girl. She smiled, and nodded.
"I see. How about leaving together? At least walking this place won't be as boring and lonely." I offered with a smile, as I extended my right hand.
"Are you okay with that?" she asked with visible surprise.
"Yeah."
"Then, I'll take up on that offer. No taking it back, okay?"
I laughed. "Ahahaha!...I won't. I'm not that pathetic." I then reached out my hand. "Let's go?"
She took my hand with a smile. However, I was curious.
"Come to think of it...what's your name?"
"Me? I'm—"
◇◇◇
When I opened my eyes, I suddenly found myself staring on an unfamiliar ceiling. It was a bright celling with multiple lightings, and somehow, the sensation behind my back was quite comfortable.
My mind slowly sobered as it began to process more information. I sat up and looked at my own body, as I somehow feel strange all over. And what I saw gave me quite a shock.
For some reasons, I had grown some muscles, as my body felt lighter despite the fact that I somehow also felt heavier. My sense of balance had also gone quite weird, so I assume I had grown taller too. I tried spreading my palms and clenching it again and again, but aside from the extra force I felt from my increased muscles, there didn't seem to be any other abnormalities.
It's not just that either. Something was definitely wrong. Something that's really important. And I think it's messed up.
As I tried to think over what was happening, s a voice called from near me.
"Have you awakened?" said the feminine sounding voice, in a formal tone.
I turned my head towards the source and saw a pretty face with green eyes and long silky black hair that reached her knees. For some reason, her appearance gave me the impression that we'd met before.
"And you are?" I asked. The girl bowed, for reasons some reason.
"I am Isabelle. The Assistant Droid for this laboratory."
I frowned. For some reason, an even stronger sense of nostalgia assaulted my chest as it pounded hard, and tightened a bit.
I took my time to contemplate, and a few minutes later, I remembered... "Are you!..."
The girl smiled. It was a sweet smile that almost melted me like butter, as she spoke.
"Looks like you finally remembe—"
"You're Belle Doors!"
"..."
I crossed my hand as I grinned in accomplishment. I then nodded while muttering to myself. "Unn..nn.. Though I had suspicions, your name completely gave you away." I then looked at her. "Too bad, huh?"
However, contrary to expectations, her smile faded as a cold gaze replaced in its stead.
"Are you sane?"
"Pardon?" I inadvertently asked back.
"Do you think I would be crazy enough to use such stupid sounding name?"
"Ugh..." I groaned at her words. Damn it. Belle Doors really sounded stupid. And perhaps Bill Gates too if only his name didn't reek money at first mention. Damn it all!
However, ignoring my own shock of my own stupidity, this girl suddenly said something that couldn't be ignored.
"Your stupid antics aside, please issue instructions, Master."
". . .Huh?"
I looked at her with a half confused, half surprised face. "What do you mean master?"
"It is as I said. You have been designated as owner of the this laboratory. Thus you are its Master."
"Eh?! So you weren't kidding when you introduced yourself as Assistant Droid?!"
She struck out a tongue and closed one eye as she said, "Of course not. Tehee~☆" with a light tap on her head.
"T-Then, how did I get designated as owner?" I said. Ignoring her stupid sounding answer.
Her face returned to its usual smiling expression as she answered. "I do not know."
She then waved a hand, and a drone-like thingy flew above as and projected something like a hologram. It then showed the video of me entering the command center, as countless analysis were listed on the video below. She then spoke.
"The laboratory had recognized you as owner for this laboratory. I do not know why. However, the fact that you are now registered as the master, I have no choice but to serve you."
"I see. It completely makes sense...AS IF! What do you mean it just registered me as master?!"
"It just did. Reasons are unknown. Or would you try to find out instead?"
"Ugh..." This girl torments me in a different way than Lillia. Damn it...
However, perhaps this might be my golden finger, right? Or maybe something related to being able to enslave any facility in the world! Bwa ha ha ha!
In any case...
"Hey," I called out as I looked at her. "you won't suddenly betray me, right?"
"Impossible" was all she answer.
I heaved a sigh at the unbelievable things happening, but it's already happened. It can't be helped. I slumped back into the bed as I was seriously feeling tired. I was sure I'm not tired physically, as my body was really healthy. However, the mild headache was draining my tired brain even more.
And just as I wanted to take a brief rest from all the bullshittery, I suddenly remembered. "Ah!"
I quickly sat up and looked at Isabelle. "Hey!"
"What is it?"
"What about my companions?! Are they okay?!"
She made a deep frown at my question as she said. "Companions?" her voice was quite lowered, and she seemed to be mocking me. "Are you sure they are not enslaving you?"
"Ugh..." I groaned once again. This trip had reminded me of my place as a slave over and over again, so her words struck home. However...
"Even so, they saved my life." I stated. "If it wasn't for Lady Reyshia picking me up, I would have been grinded meat within a monster's belly now."
". . . I see." She said. She then turned, and asked. "I can lead you to them now. Will we leave immediately?"
"Yes please."
It was time for some reunion.