As the morning light filtered through the curtains, a faint beam of sunlight brightened the small apartment. It was the start of another brand-new day. Riku Kokuchi stirred awake, yawning as he stretched his arms to shake off the remnants of sleep. Rubbing his eyes, he turned to his left and froze.
There, lying on her stomach with a pillow beneath her and a book propped up in front of her, was Enia. She seemed fully engrossed in reading, showing no signs of fatigue. It was as if she hadn't slept at all.
Riku blinked in confusion, still groggy. "Wait… have you been up this whole time? Reading the history book?"
"Yes," Enia replied softly, her tone calm and matter-of-fact. "I don't feel tired, not in this state. And I've kind of learned everything… well, most of it. The language hasn't changed or altered much, and the wording is still the same as when I was alive a hundred years ago."
Her quiet response carried a sense of understanding, as though she had come to terms with the changes that had occurred over the last century.
This world, with its land known as the "Trinity Region," is shaped like a triangle and governed by powerful authorities, individuals with higher statuses and an insatiable thirst for control. Over the past centuries, this system of power has remained, giving rise to the invention of androids, creations born out of selfishness and greed for dominance.
However, the origins of androids were tainted by tragedy. A failed experiment, initiated by the Kingdom of Wisteria, sought to manipulate human DNA using nanotech-infused bio-serums. This procedure, driven by recklessness, led to the outbreak of a devastating virus known as the "Stray." The virus mutated during a catastrophic failure in the integration process, resulting in widespread chaos and the near-collapse of Wisteria itself.
On the brink of extinction, Wisteria was saved by a neighboring nation within the Trinity Region known as Sanei. Their intervention halted the Stray's spread, and to ensure survival, the two nations merged into a single entity, forming what is now known as The Wisterian Monarchy.
At this moment, those affected by the Stray virus have formed a terrorist organization operating outside the borders of the Wisterian Monarchy, planning to strike against everyone within. In response to this looming threat, the monarchy established military-based schools focused on teaching Ether Mage Arts and various other disciplines to produce more soldiers, even if it meant sacrificing them as cannon fodder.
In their desperation, the monarchy also accelerated the development of genuine Bio-Androids, refining them into advanced models known as Meta Androids. The current cutting-edge model in production is Version 4.5, a testament to how far the monarchy has pushed technology in their pursuit of power and defense.
...
Enia finally closed the book, her gaze fixed on Riku with an emotionless expression. "And the last reason I didn't sleep… is because I don't trust you when I'm unconscious."
Riku's face turned red as a different thought crossed his mind. "WHAT?" he shouted, flustered.
"Never mind," she said quietly, dismissing his reaction. "Now that you're awake, what's next for me?"
"Well, for starters, let's get ready. I need to head to school, and… I'll have to bring you along with me," Riku replied, already thinking ahead.
Riku wore his school uniform: a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, a black vest pinned with a crown-shaped "W" badge, long pants, and clean shoes. Enia, meanwhile, remained in her dusty shirt, blouse, and black pleated skirt.
Noticing her disheveled state, Riku grabbed a baggy black coat from his closet and draped it over her shoulders. "What are you doing?" Enia asked, puzzled.
"You don't have any other clothes, and that outfit's still dusty. At least cover it up with this," Riku said.
Enia adjusted the coat slightly, looking down at it before letting out a small sigh. "Fine, whatever," she muttered, then straightened her posture and looked directly at Riku. "Listen, Riku. I need you to understand something."
"What is it?" Riku asked, tilting his head.
Enia's expression hardened. "I've been given a second chance, but I didn't ask for it. The life I knew is gone, ripped away without my consent. My kingdom, my people, my purpose as a knight, it's all dust now. They betrayed me, Riku. My king, my people, everyone I trusted turned on me, used me, and discarded me like I was nothing. I can't forget it, and I won't forgive it. Every time I think about trusting someone, it's like I'm back there, reliving it all over again. But I'm alive now, in this strange, unnatural body, and I don't intend to waste this chance. I want to live, a real life, not one tied to that past."
Riku looked at her, surprised by her intensity. "So… what does that mean for you? What do you want?"
"I want to find a way to adapt," she continued, her tone resolute. "I'll figure out this strange new world, learn its rules, and carve out a place for myself. But I can't do it alone. That's why I'll help you with your goals, and in return, you'll help me with mine. Deal?"
"Deal," Riku said without hesitation, offering her a reassuring smile.
"Good," Enia replied, but then her tone shifted, becoming sharper. "But don't expect me to be nice. I don't trust easily, and I still don't know what to make of you. So don't get in my way, and don't slow me down."
Riku laughed nervously. "Yeah, got it. But you're already making me feel like I've got my hands full."
"You do," Enia said flatly, adjusting the coat once more. "But you'll manage."
Riku and Enia left the apartment, heading toward Wisterian Mage Monastic School. Enia, ever curious, walked beside him with quiet anticipation, her eyes scanning everything around her. She didn't say much, but it was clear she was taking in every detail of this strange, modern world.
As they rounded a corner, the lively chatter of a group of students dressed in Wisterian Mage Monastic uniforms filled the air. They walked with an easy confidence, laughing and joking as if they owned the streets. One of them, a boy with messy, fiery red hair that looked like he hadn't bothered brushing it, stood out. His pristine white uniform only amplified his imposing presence, as if he thrived on the contrast between his unruly appearance and the formality of his clothes. As he passed, he bumped into Enia without care.
"Watch where you're going, bitch!" the boy snarled, his voice laced with contempt.
Enia didn't flinch. She stopped and stared at him, her cold blue eyes locking onto his with an unyielding intensity. She didn't say a word, but the silence hung heavy between them, more threatening than any insult she could have thrown.
Riku, sensing things were about to escalate, quickly stepped in. He raised his hands in a gesture of peace, his voice calm but firm. "Sorry about that," he said, hoping to defuse the tension before it spiraled into something worse.
The boy gave them both a contemptuous glance, sneering as he turned to leave. "Pathetic," he muttered under his breath, strutting off with his friends like he had won something.
Riku sighed, glancing at Enia, who was still standing firm, her expression unreadable. Whatever had just happened, she wasn't shaken, but Riku couldn't shake the feeling that she'd been seconds away from making it much worse.