It had been a few hours since I completed the tutorial, learning about the ruins of Ishaya.
The moment I returned to the physical world I had checked the mirror, but whatever had happened to my face disappeared.
Since then, I had been strutting around my room, trying to think of lies to tell the princess. I don't understand the system, except that it's obviously dangerous. Not only that but the ruins were undoubtedly going to be dangerous- ancient leviathan- so I didn't want her to join and get hurt. But if I just say that she's gonna be furious!
What to do.
Frustrated, I kicked the side of my bed frame.
Boom!
All I did was tap it... and it flew across the room!
I've gotten a lot stronger huh. Gotta be more careful.
I don't know what I'm going to tell her. Truthfully, I suck at lying.
"Uh, sir? Everything ok?"
I jumped at the voice of the intruder. A servant. Meekly, I looked at the bed I just kicked. Oops. Embarrassed I said "Sorry."
She chuckled a nervous laugh as she went to fix it. Embarrassed, I tried to help, but as I slid the bed back into place it went too far and pinned me against the wall.
"U-uh, you're pretty strong, huh."
I could tell she was trying to keep her composure, but I was probably frightening her more than a scary clown like Pennywise would. Weird comparison. Meanwhile, I couldn't breathe.
"L-little he-lp please."
Springing into action, she hurriedly grabbed at the bedframe, trying to slide it far enough back to free me. After a few seconds, she succeeded.
"You're strong yourself."
She chuckled a bit while rolling her eyes. Not really in a snooty way, but a more exasperated, bewildered, please control yourself before you kill us kind of way.
"Uh, anyways my mother wants to see you."
Mom?
"Your mom?"
She raised her brow. "Yes? You know, the one who saved you at the mansion."
With understanding, I exclaimed "Oh! You mean that head science lady?"
She mockingly said "That 'head science lady' has a name you know. Nola Darwin."
Nola Darwin? Huh.
I asked "Nola, huh? And I'm guessing you have a name?"
Why am I acting stupid?
For a split second, I think my question caught her off guard, but then she playfully said "No, sadly. I've always wanted a name, but unfortunately, my parents never bothered to give me one."
"Well, I can give you one! How about, uh, Nolaa Darwin?"
She looked at me as if I was stupid. "My name is Paige Darwin, Silly Savior. Now come on. Like I said, mother wants to see you."
I had to run to follow her. She was moving quickly! "Hey, my name is Miko by the way!"
She turned around laughing. "Isn't that a girl's name?"
"Uh, well the Japanese version yea. But uh, my mom named me after the Finnish version, it actually means-"
"Cool."
Rude.
"Hey, you can be nice, you know!"
She kept walking.
After a few minutes of walking throughout this section of the capital (it seemed as if it was a housing district, as all I saw were houses and parks. Rather organized and reminiscent of home, compared to the more medieval setting I was used to) we finally reached what appeared to be a laboratory.
They're not going to dissect me, right?
"Wait here."
After motioning me to stop, Paige went inside after acknowledging a few scientists who appeared to be on their break. I waved at them. One waved back while the other lit a cigarette. After a few minutes of awkward waiting, Paige came out with her mom. Nola. No, Professor Darwin.
First impressions are important.
Well, I messed that one up actually.
5th impressions are important?
"Good morning Professor Darwin," I said while bowing.
For some reason, Paige started laughing.
"Good morning, sir. Please follow me." The professor led me through the doors.
As I walked past the cigarette guy, he laughed saying "We only bow at funerals. Good job welcoming Ms. Dar to her next life."
Oh. Well, that's something.
As we entered the lab I wanted to set the record straight, but before I could begin my apology the Professor (Ms. Dar?) looked back and said "It's fine. You didn't know. The path of science is filled with mistakes. As long as you don't repeat them, it is easy to move forward."
"Ok. Thanks. Uh, next time what should I do?"
This time Paige looked back at me, laughing.
"Say hi, you weirdo. We're all people."
"Oh." This kingdom is completely different from the others!
We finally reached the destination, what seemed to be the biggest lab in existence. There had to be over 60 people doing various tasks. Sampling, telescoping, uh science stuff. Looked like biology. Shit, they are going to dissect me!
"How controlled are you with your energy right now?"
At first, I thought she was making a snide remark about my earlier mishaps. Her daughter's laugh only affirmed this accusation. However, when I looked into her eyes I saw earnest. It was a genuine question.
"Not very, to be honest."
Although disappointed, she nodded her head as if expecting that answer. She pursed her lips for a second, then looked out to the lab. Sorry. Looking back, she said "That's OK. Keep working on it. In the meantime, I'll give you a look over what we're doing here."
I followed her as she descended the stairs. Paige stayed behind. Must not be a fan. The first section she took me to was a group of people collecting samples.
"There are many instances of certain plants, fragrances, drugs, and the like being able to dull a person's emotions. Here, we are testing all of them to see which ones share the baseline characteristics we need. We only want certain emotions gone, after all."
She looked at me with grief in her eyes.
"You know the ones I mean. Hatred, violence, contempt. I wasn't making a wishful statement when I said they need to be eradicated. "
She raised her hands as if to envelop the lab. "My life's work will be to end pain and war, to usher in a world of peace. And you're my key to making that happen."
She took me over to another station, where a group of scientists appeared to be attempting to apply a certain amount of pressure on some kind of plant.
"This is the only plant we know of that has the characteristics we need. The Falsa mors. The only problem is, we have only been able to excite that characteristic once. Our machines simply can't replicate the exact pressure we need."
I understood. "So that's why you need me. To be able to control the pressure I exert."
She nodded, grabbing my arm. "Precisely. You are my only hope. So please, work on that." She gazed into my eyes, nodding her head as if searching for affirmation.
I nodded back. I need to control my powers anyway. This is just extra motivation.
"Ok. You can go back now if you like. I think your friends are still relaxing in their houses."
I found my lie to tell the princess. A part of me shuddered at the thought. Being happy to lie to someone who is supposed to trust you... but it's for her safety.
Right?
I left the lab without much more interaction, except to notice that the cigarette guy had gone back to work.
The lab wasn't that far of a walk from our section of houses, so it took around 5 minutes to get to the princess's house. Not nearly enough to steel my nerves. Shaking, I raised my fist and slowly knocked. No response.
Of course, you have to knock louder Miko. This time, she answered after a bit of shuffling. As the door opened, I saw she was in combat attire. She was training!
As I saw her eyes and awkward smile, my resolve crumbled.
I can't lie.
"Hi? You gonna come in, or are you just interrupting my training?"
"Sorry"
When I entered the house, I saw weapons scattered around a wooden box. I don't know how I could still tell it was a box, what with all the cuts, but I guess my perception is getting better. Though it wouldn't need to, to see the expectation on her face.
Nodding my head in approval I said "You're hard at work here."
She raised her brow suspiciously. "I assumed you were too?"
I had my sword appear in my hand. "Yea. I've been learning about the system. It has its own training system. "
She smiled. "Oh yeah, you did get the system. The world's been so hectic the last few days that I hadn't recognized such an obvious fact."
"Yeah, the new power is kinda hard to control though. That's what I need to practice so that I can help Nola. Uh, the science head lady."
Her expression turned sour for some reason. "I know who Nola is. But how is suppressing your power going to kill Vakash? Or the demon lord?"
I realized her problem immediately. And even if it wasn't entirely fair, I knew I wouldn't be able to fight against it. Her father died... of course, she's going to be more focused on that. She's doing anything to get stronger, and I just said I'm going to get weaker.
"Hey sleepy dolt, it's fine. I know you've been getting stronger either way." She was holding my hand, squeezing it. For a bit longer than last time.
She started to continue "A promi-" before my guilt interjected.
"I need to go back to her now, she needs my help."
I couldn't see her face but still felt disappointment and pain.
"Ok"
I'm sorry...
No, I don't deserve to say that after lying and disregarding her feelings.