[Event —— "Stranger"]
[Gift: Awakening of an alternate form, an unacknowledged aberrant species, a unique individual without peers.]
[Price: This shouldn't be considered a price, because it's already a part of you.]
[Entangled by an extradimensional being, you have traversed unimaginable space-time to reach a strange world. Everything is superficially pleasing, familiar scenes cannot become your home, and you should consider accepting another form of yourself in this world.]
[Accept?]
This time, the message didn't reveal its sender.
Judging by the wording, this wasn't an external power being gifted to her. It was an awakening—an uncovering of something already buried within.
The signature space below the message remained empty, just as it had when she first arrived in this world.
Unsigned, these messages could be from a collective of unseen entities or perhaps a singular representative, tasked with managing Mithra's peculiar existence.
A strange parallel to a property manager, she mused, but with cosmic implications.
Mithra stared at the glowing text, lost in thought.
But in the end...
"Accept," she said firmly.
If the description was accurate, this was inevitable. Better to confront it now than delay the truth.
The moment her decision solidified, the text dissolved into twin streams of light—one silver, one dark violet—that wove themselves into her being.
Mithra shut her eyes instinctively, though no pain or discomfort followed. When she opened them again, everything seemed unchanged.
Yet, within her, there was a difference—subtle but undeniable.
Her senses sharpened, her awareness stretching further than before. Her body felt alive with latent energy, restless like a cauldron on the brink of boiling over.
The tools she carried—the hammer, the enigmatic straight sword, the knives—and this "alternate form" spoke to her in a new way.
Liveliness, that was the word. Her existence was becoming... more crowded.
"Hey, hey! Back in modern society, and you're spacing out?" Nie Hong's voice broke through her thoughts as he snapped his fingers, trying to draw her attention.
Mithra blinked, fixing her gaze on him.
"Damn it! Don't use Control Object to grab my hair! I said I'm sorry, okay?" Nie Hong yelped, trying to dodge as his hair was tugged upward by invisible force.
...
The Planet Blue Federation maintained basic oversight over every discovered teleportation point, ensuring order without excessive restrictions. The key requirement was simple: identity verification upon arrival and departure, a precaution to prevent anyone from becoming stranded or unable to return.
To Mithra, it felt more like entering a tourist attraction than crossing dimensions.
According to Nie Hong, they were now in the Hong'a Administrative Region, Southeastern Province, Wuhǔ City. A significant urban hub, it was the provincial center and far larger than the remote Gross Town.
The teleportation point was set in a massive, lively square teeming with people. Even Mithra, with her enhanced senses, found the density overwhelming.
Nie Hong noticed her disinterest and didn't bother trying to engage her. Instead, he led her directly to the official reception desk.
After a brief exchange with the receptionist, the woman gave Mithra a surprised look, asked a few routine questions, and then made a phone call.
"Please wait here. A specialist will come to pick you up shortly, and we will arrange for your accommodations," the receptionist explained. She handed Mithra a jacket.
It was winter in Wuhǔ City. While the chill wasn't biting, the cold air still lingered. Mithra's attire—a simple hooded cloak and barely adequate leggings—drew concerned glances.
Mithra, however, felt no discomfort.
She silently activated Stabilize. Ding.
Nie Hong stayed with her, obligated to complete some additional formalities as the one who had escorted her back.
Before long, a sleek car arrived at the plaza. The receptionist guided them to the vehicle, gently refusing Mithra's attempt to return the jacket.
Once seated in the car, Nie Hong sprawled across the seat with an exaggerated sigh.
"I can finally relax!" he declared, then abruptly remembered something and reached for his phone.
Before entering Dreamland, he had temporarily stored his phone at the teleportation square. The Federation offered a secure storage service for such valuables, though the fees weren't cheap.
As he powered on the device, it came alive with incessant vibrations, notifications flooding the screen.
"Only gone a week, and it's like they thought I was dead!" he grumbled, fingers flying over the screen to sift through the chaos.
The driver chuckled. "Well, disappearing without notice for a week is a quick way to end up on a missing persons list."
"If you weren't lucky, you'd actually be dead," Mithra remarked without looking up.
Nie Hong opened his mouth to respond but thought better of it, quietly conceding her point.
After a pause, he noticed a missed call from a familiar number and hurriedly dialed back.
"Hello, Grandma? Yes, I'm fine... School's been busy, so I couldn't answer... I ate, of course! The school isn't starving me... Be careful on your bike! Don't fall again... Okay, I'll visit soon..."
When the call ended, Nie Hong caught Mithra's gaze.
"What?"
"Nothing. It's just impressive how careless someone with family waiting for them can be," Mithra replied coolly.
Nie Hong slumped in mock defeat. "Please, no lectures. I've had enough."
The car continued its smooth journey through the city streets. Nie Hong glanced out the window, then blinked in recognition.
"Wait a second, isn't this the road to my university?"
The driver chuckled again. "You're from Shuǐxiù University, aren't you?"
"Yeah, but why are we going there?"
"Shuǐxiù University houses the Federation's resettlement center for returnees from Dreamland. It's where we'll be taking this young lady for her checks and procedures."
Nie Hong's eyes widened. "There's a place like that on campus?!"
Meanwhile, Mithra turned her attention to the view outside, silently observing the bustling university grounds as they drove in. Compared to Gross Town, this place was vast and teeming with life.
Eventually, the car stopped outside a remote yet imposing building.
"We're here," the driver announced.
Mithra and Nie Hong exited the vehicle and were greeted by a man with a kind smile, his round face radiating warmth. Beside him stood a younger assistant, clipboard in hand.
"Welcome back to Planet Blue," the man said, his tone calm and reassuring. "You may call me Chén Shào. Please don't worry—everything we do here is routine, purely for the safety and well-being of all parties involved."
Mithra nodded.
Turning to Nie Hong, Chén Shào added, "My assistant will guide you through your necessary paperwork."
Nie Hong followed without complaint, leaving Mithra in Chén Shào's capable hands.
The next hours were a series of standard examinations. Height, weight, blood samples—all basic data collection.
Later, Mithra was escorted to a small, quiet room where she was handed several forms to complete.
The questions, while mundane on the surface, had a clear purpose.
The first section tested her general knowledge.
The second assessed her psychological state.
The third gauged her familiarity with Planet Blue.
The fourth explored her understanding of Dreamland.
The inquiries were straightforward and lacked any pressing sensitivity. Mithra filled them out truthfully, her answers precise and calculated.