Chereads / Titania: Enia / Chapter 4 - Beyond the Time

Chapter 4 - Beyond the Time

It was late, well past midnight. Riku, who had unexpectedly found a Bio-Android in a junkyard and signed a pact with her, now walked with her along a long, quiet path. The sound of crickets filled the air, the wind blew cold, and the silence between them was almost heavy. Riku walked in front, leading the way, while the girl behind him, now a bio-android with blonde hair, remained silent, her mind swirling with curiosity and confusion.

As they walked, Titania took in everything around her: the town, the city, the strange buildings of Wisteria. None of it felt familiar, yet she had no idea she'd been transported to a different time. Finally, she broke the silence.

"Say… you told me this place was called Wisteria, correct?" Titania asked, her voice thoughtful.

Riku looked back at her as they walked. "Yeah… this is definitely Wisteria."

"Then explain why all these square-shaped structures, these buildings, are here," she pressed, her tone filled with confusion. "As far as I remember, we lived in castles and villages… and the Ether Boats, where are they?"

Her questions were cryptic, and her words seemed as though they'd been pulled from another age, but Riku still did his best to answer.

"Well, I don't know exactly what you mean, but this is a modern society. These buildings are where people live, work, and set up shops. As for those 'Ether Boats'… that was a thing thousands of years ago. Why would you even know about that?"

Riku, ever the studious type, was knowledgeable about Wisterian history. Without an android Agent to rely on, he'd poured his energy into his studies, and every now and then, if someone reminded him of something, he could recall specific historical details.

"THOU-THOUSANDS? Thousands of years ago?" Titania shouted, stopping in her tracks, her eyes wide with shock. She froze, her face a mixture of disbelief and fear, as if she were caught in a nightmare. "What year is it, Riku?"

"Uh… it's 2105," Riku responded.

As Riku's words sank in, Titania finally understood: she had somehow been transported thousands of years into the future, from a time when she was dealing with a riot, to now, an era that seemed completely alien to her.

"I see… now I understand why I'm dressed like this, and you as well," Titania murmured to herself.

"Did you say something?" Riku asked, glancing back.

"Oh, nothing," Titania replied quickly.

"Well, let's get back to your house," she continued as they neared his home. "There are some things I might want to discuss with you, and maybe you can help me."

"Uh, sure, anything," Riku replied. "It's getting pretty late, so we'd better hurry back."

Riku glanced at his phone, quickly texting someone. Titania, curious, leaned in closer to get a better look. Riku noticed her face up close and asked, "Uh… what are you doing?"

"What is that weapon you're holding?" she asked, clearly unaware of modern technology.

"This isn't a weapon, it's called a smartphone," Riku replied. Titania still looked confused, though her curiosity remained.

"I'll explain more later, okay? Let's just wait until we get home," Riku said, gently urging her to hold off for now.

They finally arrived at Riku's apartment, stepping into the small, dim space he called home. The walls were a plain, muted gray, giving the room a clean but unremarkable feel. A narrow bed was pushed against one wall, its thin, worn mattress covered by a single blanket, a far cry from comfort but enough for a night's rest.

Across from the bed was a small desk under the only window, letting in a faint, filtered light often blocked by the surrounding buildings. On the desk sat an old laptop, a few crumpled papers, and a chipped mug with a handful of pens. The setup was minimal, functional, and well-used.

Beside the bed, a narrow door led to a tiny bathroom. The cramped space held a small sink with barely enough room for a toothbrush and soap dispenser, a mirror overhead, and a basic shower with a damp shower curtain for privacy. A simple cabinet above the toilet stored a few essentials.

The apartment was modest and worn, but it was Riku's own space, a private, quiet corner in the city, just enough to manage and call his own.

"I'm sorry my apartment looks like this," Riku apologized, glancing around the cramped space.

"Whoa… this place is awesome," Titania said, eyeing the bed. Thinking it looked comfortable, she dashed over and flopped onto it.

"Hey, take off your shoes first," Riku reminded her gently.

After they both removed their shoes, Riku began showing her around his small apartment, explaining how everything worked. "So, this is how you turn on the shower, okay?" he said, demonstrating.

Titania nodded, her curiosity growing. "Wait… you can even make the water hotter or colder? That's amazing!"

Satisfied that she understood, Riku handed her a pair of oversized white pajamas and a towel. "Okay, you shower first, and then we can have a proper conversation."

Titania raised an eyebrow and teased, "Are you saying I smell bad?"

"Well, I mean… you did come straight out of a junkyard," Riku replied with a smirk, earning him an unimpressed glare. Titania huffed and entered the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

Inside, Titania caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. Uh… who is this person, and why is she staring at me? She moved, and the figure in the mirror mimicked her every action. Curious and a little irritated, she reached out to touch it. "What… why can't I touch you? And why are you copying me, you… you strange little imposter!"

Frustrated and confused, she left the bathroom and went to find Riku.

"What's with that thing in there?" she asked, frowning. "Why is that person copying everything I do?"

Riku chuckled. "That's called a mirror. It reflects how you look."

"How I look? There's no way that's me! What are you talking about?" Titania demanded.

Riku led her back to the bathroom and pointed at her reflection. She stared, her eyes widening in shock. "So… you're telling me… that I look like this? I look like a child? I mean, I still have my blonde hair and blue eyes, but… something just doesn't feel right. And WHY AM I SO SHORT?"

Riku stifled a laugh, knowing he'd have a lot more to explain to her.

Titania returned to the bathroom and stepped into the shower. As the warm water flowed over her, she felt a sense of calm and relaxation, a feeling she had never experienced before. Her mind drifted to memories of past battles, her role as a knight, and the endless stress that had filled her previous life.

Now, though, she felt oddly at peace. She convinced herself that she might have died ages ago and was somehow brought back in a new body, thousands of years in the future. Surprisingly, she was okay with this. Perhaps it was the gratitude of having a second chance at life, though she still harbored resentment toward those who had betrayed her. Yet she had already given Riku a chance; after all, to her, he was just a child.

After finishing her shower, Titania dried herself off and put on the oversized white pajamas Riku had given her. She stepped out of the bathroom and called, "I'm done, Riku."

Riku nodded and patted the bed for her to sit beside him. "Now… let's figure out how to start this conversation," he mumbled, glancing at her thoughtfully. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he tapped his fist into his palm. "Ah, I've got it! First, let's give you a new name."

"Suit yourself," Titania replied nonchalantly.

"You said your name was Titania, right? How about 'Enia' as a shorter version?" Riku suggested.

Titania thought for a moment, then nodded. "Hmm… fine, Enia it is."

"Great! Enia… now you just call me Riku," he chuckled.

"Well, that's what I've been calling you, isn't it?" she replied with a small smirk.

"Okay, so… Enia," Riku began, "do you want to tell me anything? Maybe something you remember? It could help us figure out how to support you." He offered her a reassuring smile.

Enia thought for a moment, then spoke in a serious tone. "First of all, I didn't lose my memory. And I think I might have figured out what happened to me."

"Oh… uh, what is it?" Riku asked, leaning in curiously.

With that, Enia began recounting everything to him, her past, her role as a knight, all she had known since birth, and the events that led her to this strange new timeline. Her voice held a mix of conviction and confusion as she pieced it all together for him.

"Ahh… I see," Riku replied thoughtfully. "Okay, I get it, Enia. It may be possible… although the chances of something like this are slim. I've never believed much in things like transmigration or reincarnation, but the way you describe it… well, your details are so historically accurate, it's hard not to be convinced." He said this without hesitation, his tone sincere.

"Look, Riku," Enia said, shrugging, "I don't plan on going back to where I was. I'm just glad to be alive, whatever the case may be. And since you saved me instead of leaving me there, I'm your responsibility now. You're the boy, so you'll protect me. Hmph."

"Well, since you've told me everything about yourself, there's something I'd like your help with too. Maybe you're up for it?" Riku asked, and Enia nodded in agreement. He then began explaining the nature of bio-androids, how they function, how, and when they were created, as well as why he needed her support.

As Enia took in the information, she responded, "I see… so I'm something humans created from, well, babies and tools? That's kind of cruel and strange. But I guess I don't know the whole story since I jumped thousands of years ahead."

"Not only that," she continued, an edge of anxiety in her voice, "I don't even know if I can use Ether Mage Arts in this body. I'm not even who I used to be…"

"Don't worry," Riku reassured her. "You're much stronger than a regular human. Your body's engineered to be tougher, and the principles of Ether haven't changed for thousands of years. You may not be able to wield the same power, but you can develop new skills, I'm sure of it."

Enia thought this over and nodded. "You're probably right."

"Here," Riku said, handing her a book from his desk. "This is a book on historical knowledge. It covers a lot of what happened after the era you remember. Read it whenever you have time."

Enia took the book and began flipping through it, reading as Riku switched off the lights for the night.

"In any case, it's late. You can take the bed, and I'll sleep on the floor," Riku said.

"What do you mean? The bed's for both of us to sleep on," Enia replied, not understanding the social implications.

"Well… it's cramped, and you're a girl. I don't want to make things, you know… awkward," Riku explained, but Enia waved it off.

"Awkward? How so? Just come lie down beside me. I still have questions about this book, anyway. It's easier if you're closer."

Seeing no way out of it, Riku went with the flow, settling down beside her, resigned to answer her questions into the night.