Year 4667 of the Unified Imperial Calendar:
Fourth Month, Day 16. (5:46 PM)
◇ Astra's POV ◇
[Alright. I will send the data regarding the plan once I'm done forming it.] Isabelle informed as she then went silent.
I grit my teeth as I processed the information that I had just heard right now. I don't know how long the data plan was gonna arrive, but I can't just stay here and do nothing.
I looked towards Nell as I called out, "Nell," my tone was serious, and probably my face too, "something might've happened to milady."
Nell went uncomfortable with my words, as she made a nervous expression, "A-Astra," she answered with a bit shaky voice, "p-please don't make a joke like that."
"I'm not joking." Yeah. It was serious, and I can't just stand by. I want to save her.
"Nell," I called out once more, "I'm gonna save her."
◇◇◇
Back at the mansion, I was on my room as I waited for the plan to arrive. I had requested Nell to stay silent for a day, but if I doesn't come back, I told her to ask for help. I'm not entirely sure if she'll do it, but I have no choice but to believe her for now.
Not long after, I felt a slight jolt in my spine as information started to flow inside my head.
My eyes widened, "This is..." Amazing. I wanted to say it, but the word didn't leave my mouth. It only showed how much amazed I was.
It was really amazing. Not the plan, but the technology that we were gonna use. I mean, in my lessons with Nell, it was impossible to transport a living being through teleportation, but the plan actually involved me being teleported outside the building, and Quanta would also hack the security cameras and AI nearby.
However, something completely baffled me.
'Isabelle', I called out, 'why can't we just teleport directly to where milady is?'
[About that] she answered, [there are several reasons. One of them is the fact that we still don't know where she is.]
That's right. We still didn't know where she was. A part of the data she sent me was about the layout of the buildings, but nothing about milady's location. She then continued her explanation.
[However, the biggest reason is the anti-transportation module built inside. Each houses in the particular city she is located seems to have it too. And it blocks direct teleportation attempts inside.]
'I see,' I uttered, 'then, the best course of action would be the server room, right? Find milady through the server room's data, then hack all the AI and security inside, and turn them into our side.'
[Exactly.]
I sighed. Looks like it won't be too hard if I keep my guard up. Alright, I can do this. And I can't afford to fail.
I prepared my mind as I closed my eyes, and then heaved a heavy sigh. I then opened my eyes, and spoke, "Alright. Let's do this!"
And the next instant, light covered my body. The next moment after, I was standing in a pure white room, with Isabelle standing in front of me.
She bowed, "Good evening, master."
I nodded at her, and then instructed. "Let's begin immediately."
◇◇◇
Basically, the first course of the plan, was to get me accustomed to combat as fast as possible. And in order to do that, I was to enter a simulation chamber as they inject the knowledge of how to control Arks and combat experience into me. Although just doing that directly was also fine, it was more effective to let the brain experience the knowledge rather than knowing it.
After all, experience was the best teacher, and body memory was not something you gain from knowledge.
We headed directly for the simulation chamber, and reached the place within half an hour. It was a room sealed with a tight shutter, which was about 2 meters tall, and 4 meters wide.
The shutter split in half as it opened, and we entered. What greeted my sight was multiple capsules that was 2 meters long, and it as placed in a horizontal position. It was flat inside as it resembled a narrow bed, only with a cover.
Isabelle then instructed, "Please enter one of the capsules."
Because there wasn't much time, I entered one of the nearest capsule, and laid on it. It then closed as cold air enveloped me, putting me closer to drowsiness. I panicked a bit, but Isabelle reassured, "It's alright master. It's oxygen and a miniscule amount of relaxant," she said calmly, "after all, there are chances of synchronizing to much with the experience, and thrashing around inside."
I see. That indeed is a bit unsightly, and costly.
In any case, I calmed down as I began to close my eyes and waited for my consciousness to fade. And before I fell asleep, I asked, "How long will the injection last?"
"About 8 hours. That leaves us with 5 hours of estimated time for preparation, and 3 to 4 hours of rescue time," she answered, "and that is all the time we can allocate. Any more than that would risk the chances of the Imperial forces discovering this base's location."
It was a clear explanation, so I was relieved, and my mind faded to black.
◇◇ ??? ¿¿¿ ??? ◇◇
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[Analyzing physical reconfiguration...]
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[Current reconfiguration progress...100%...]
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[Physical Synchronization...begin...]
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[Approximate completion time...7 Hours...56 Minutes...]
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[Beginning First Phase...Body Memory synchronization...]
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[Unlocking Key Memories...]
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[Blocking Access to Episodic Memories...]
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◇ Astra's POV ◇
When I woke up, I had felt changes to my body again. My previous posture now felt off to me, and I now knew how to handle a bunch of things I never knew before. From what I was injected, I learned how to wield a sword, a bit of how magic worked, how to use a medium for magic, and how to properly fight.
It was kind of cheating, if you ask me.
There were a few things I also learned, but that was irrelevant for now. The capsule opened, and I then sat up as I rummaged through my head. I turned to Isabelle who was still waiting, "Hey, Isabelle," I called out, "I feel like there's something else mixed within the experience. But something's blocking me from it."
Without a change in her expressionless face, Isabelle answered, "That is the experiences of the person who you acquired your skill from. Perhaps the differences in identity created a barrier within your mind in order to prevent you from losing your sense of self."
"I see. Now that wouldn't be pretty," I said, "becoming someone else, I mean."
Was I imagining it when I suddenly saw her smile for an instant? Perhaps I was.