Risha has lived in a protected world. Due to industrialisation, two-thirds of the Earth was uninhabitable. The rest was inside a barrier. It was built around nineteen years ago to prevent the rotten world from affecting it. The residents were grown into perfect beings devoted to various sectors. But they all had the same goal : To protect their little earth by any means. They had been tied by law but they were also given enough liberty. As long as they maintain the rules, they can enjoy vacations, various games and shows and entertainment. But one rule was must. Breaking it would result dire consequences. That is :
"Do not go of the barrier. Do not even discuss about it."
Risha doesn't know what are the consequences. But like an ideal citizen, she followed it by heart. But it would be a lie to say her mind never wandered about the vast world outside the barrier. After all it's impossible to begin with. Giving a little knowledge and saying the rest is forbidden, anyone would obviously be tempted.
Risha had a lot of thoughts about it.
'Is it a fairytale world where magic exists? Or a jungle with tons of huge beasts? Or is it a huge grave? It could be a big lab or something really scary or...'
However she never got a chance to ask anyone as it's strictly forbidden. As time went, she had her curiosity throughly concealed to the point even she was fooled. But deep down in her heart, it somehow remained waiting for the right time to show up. Risha had a good life. She experienced many things. Her world was a lot similar to this one yet she could feel a vast difference. The oxygen she used to breathe was pure but it can't even be close to what she was experiencing now. Such fresh air, Risha felt like her whole body has been cleansed, her mind was light without burden. She could feel it with her all. This air, it is filled with freedom. A freedom she was never allowed. She always thought she had a proper life but after coming here, she felt her life in her own world was like a doll in the glass house. With a vague string, the law perfectly controlled them without them knowing.
Here she can see little children sitting together in a cafe, giggling and chatting happily even though it's evening. In her place, the moment it was 5 pm, everything would be under curfew. Not a single being was allowed to go out. Even in emergency, there was still no exception. All the nightview she had seen was from her balcony and it was blurry because of the barrier. This is the first time Risha saw a the sky uncovered. It felt wild, it also felt surreal.
'A lone star in the west, is that what mom said evening star was?' Risha wondered.
'But it is exactly the year the barrier was built. Then where are the ruins? Isn't it all harmless? Or things will hapoen later ir some somewhere else?'
"This will be a corner of the barrier in half year. The world will be separated with many left to die. It was all to benefit the power-holders." Noah criticized in a soft voice. Risha looked around. They still haven't landed in the ground. They are floating in the air below the time capsule. It still requires some more time before Risha's body could be synchronised with a timeline where she doesn't exist. In the meantime, she was absorbed in everything she saw. She was excited like a child who has been confined for all life coming out for the first time. Everything was new to her. She was so bewildered that for the first time in a while, she forgot everything. Her shackles, her pain, her struggle, her fear, her mission nothing mattered. Like a dream where she was free from all.
"Hey are you listening at all?" Noah had a hint of anger in his voice despite his face showing nothing at all.
"Yeah, what were you saying again?"
Noah sighed before replying,
"I don't get to have a physical body in your planet. So when we land, you will no longer be able to see me. But I will be connected to you through mind link. So don't worry."
"You...don't have a physical body! L-like those Terras?" Noah tried to approach her but stopped when she flinched. His expression darkened for a moment but he immediately controlled himself. His usual smile was back although it didn't reach his cold eyes. He stepped back and said,"I'm sorry, Risha. I should've explained. I do have a physical body, you saw it yourself. But it was damaged during a war. So I cannot maintain it in all place. In places like the Earth, it gets restricted leaving me no other choice. I am really sorry that you were scared of me. It is all my fault. I am sorry."
"It's okay, must've been a painful memory for you." Risha was back to her usual composed self. She honestly didn't expect an apology not to mention an explanation. Now she was starting to feel sorry for him. But Noah continued, "No, it's my fault. I thought we are simply working together for our own gains. So I never considered sharing anything at all. But seem like, I forgot that the basic of all cooperation is mutual trust. If we don't even know the slightest about each other, how should we trust or rather co-operate? That's to you, I am reminded of it again."
Risha didn't show it but she was happy. She was worried that she would be used by him without knowing anything. But it seems that wasn't the case. At least he was willing to share his thoughts with her. Then she can also know everything that would come without any fear. Cause she wouldn't be alone. Someone would be there by her side facing it together with her. Her subconscious was warning her but she chose to ignore them. She embraced Noah's fading body all of a sudden.
"Thank you,I'm really happy."
Surprised as he was, Noah didn't deny her embrace but he didn't embrace her back. Risha didn't notice that or even if she did she still chose to ignore it. Actually,no matter how much strong willed Risha looked, it was all a facade. Inside a strong shell,there resided the true Risha. She was vulnerable. She desperately looked for a branch to hold onto. She couldn't trust anyone yet she yearned for someone trustworthy. Someone who can lend her a shoulder. After losing her family, she met Noah and Shaan. Shaan looked easygoing and she was able to confide him. But Noah gave her a sense of security yet he was unapproachable like he had a wall surrounding him. So after parting with Shaan and being alone with Noah, Risha was very anxious.
'Can I trust him? Would he betray me? How am I supposed to work with him when he doesn't say anything? Would I actually get my family back?'
Countless thoughts crossed her mind making her heart heavier with time. But the sudden apology changed everything. Risha felt he was sincere. So her mind accepted him as a trustworthy one. Like a drowning sailor, she grabbed his hand in order to survive. After all, one cannot go on with being absolutely alone. Hence, Noah, a complete stranger, became her light, the one who would guide her towards the unknown.
Noah, on the other hand, was calm and collected devoid of all emotions. Even his usual smile was lost. He was lost in a deep thought. Unlike Risha who held onto him tightly, he was completely still. He looked above watching the time capsule enter the time passage. The dim blue light covering them was gone. They were getting close to the ground in a slow pace. His body was fading faster. All that would happen to him is that he would be invisible. He would still be here right beside Risha. But Risha, she doesn't need to know that much. She is a simpleminded girl, it's best to keep quite as it would make things more complicated. Risha was still embracing him. He chuckled.
"Focus on the ground, Risha. You're gonna fall."
He warned in a soft voice. Enough to let her feel his concern.
'What a warm feeling!' Risha wondered.