Chapter 153 –

With the four dead and the woman saved. Archie radioed to the Princess that he found her. “You found an obelisk? I see.” The princess sounded like she knew what was going to happen. It made Archie wonder if she knew that he would found something like this.

He looked at the woman. “You said your name was Eiya right?”

The woman nodded at Archie. “I am,” she said. “And your name is Archie. Where am I? What year is it?”

“It’s 1810, as you can feel from the cold. It is winter.”

“1810...I slept for too long,” There was a trace of horror in her eyes. She stood still dazedly. She looked at the ceiling before pointing her eyes back at Archie. “Is the world still attack by ‘them’?”

“What do you mean by ‘them’? And if you want to see the world,” Archie touched his chin. “You should see it for yourself.”

She nodded. Archie looked at the four people. “I should search them. Might be best not to leave them,” thought Archie. He searched the four and found strange coins and amulets. Once he took hold of the amulets. A flow of energy came inside his body.

“What are these?” he thought internally. Eiya glanced at him, keeping her mouth shut. There was an impassive look on her face. “Shall we go?”

Archie jolted awake. He looked at Eiya and smiled thinly. He led the way out of the building. Eiya followed, her barehanded feet being dirtied by the dust. She was only garbed with a simple thin robe that reveals her the side of her body, especially her wide sensual hips. It was quite sexual that Archie had to avoid looking at it.

Still, he couldn’t allow her to out while wearing that so he took off his coat and handed it to her. “Please wear this coat. It is rather chilling outside.”

She stopped and pulled her head back. She took the coat and smiled. “Thank you, I really appreciate this.” She wore the coat. The two continued walking out of the building. They arrive in the hallway. Archie asked her as they do. “So what are you?”

“Excuse me?” she said. “I don’t understand.”

“Your ears...I have never seen anyone that have knife-like ears.”

“Oh,” she said. “I am from a long-eared race,” suddenly her face darkened. “Have you not seen anyone that has ears like mine?”

“I only saw Cornu's ears and Cattus ones. So I wonder how come your ears are long, your hair so blue and you so beautiful...ah.” Archie stopped himself before he could continue. He was just too honest.

Eiya didn’t expect to be complimented like that suddenly. She blushed and fidgets her fingers before looking away with red cheeks. Archie didn’t have anything to say so he opened the door. There was a cold breeze that met them. Eiya took a step outside and the sun almost blinded her. When she opened her eyes however she was stunned. She blinked, unable to stray her eyes away from the towering cement buildings and the flying machines.

A walker passed by them. A four-legged tank armed with machine guns and rocket launcher stomp heavily in the distance. There were motor cars driving past them. There were boxes hoisted up on a pole, broadcasting a voice that came from a herald.

“Was the world saved from ‘them’?” she mumbled. She continued looking at the unfamiliar cityscape for a while. Then she turned to Archie and asked. “Is the rest of the continent like this?”

“Not really,” Archie shook his head. “This is the Demesne of the Maltius La Fende, the most advanced nation of the Livia Continent. Then there is the Templars Nation, the Holy Midland and the Freelands, the frontier of this continent that’s still too wild to be tamed.”

“The Templars,” she made a weary sigh, a snowflake falling on top of her nose. “They still fight on despite the odds? The crusaders of Luci Ferra who lost their way into this continent, hah, could they still be fighting?”

He had not expected her to say that. “Yes, they are fighting the Bali and Cagan natives.”

“I don’t even know those names.” She said with a bitter tone. Her face clouded up. She looked at the sky and spoke. “At least the sky hasn’t changed. But soon it might, with ‘them’ arriving and soon we might need to unite again.”

Archie wasn’t dumb. He could tell that she had slept for too long. “Are the people there the ones you refer to? Why are they after you? Are they ‘them’?”

She looked slowly at Archie before giving him a vague smile. “I am sorry. But awakening at this time makes me unable to think properly. And I must say you are not surprised?”

“Well,” he scratched back of his head. “I seemed to have a talent for finding people inside pods.”

“Oh?” she blinked. “Did you found someone like me?”

“Well, she’s a bit ahead of the future. And you are...”

“From a long forgotten past, I am alone now it seems.”

“Well, not really. If you permit me, can I be your friend Miss Eiya?” Archie said, extending his hand gracefully towards her.

She looked at Archie’s hand and then to the sincere smile on his face. She was rather sensitive to emotions. And yet she could tell that Archie’s intentions were pure and genuine. She thought about maybe she was being played by him and those four were just a red herring to throw her off guard and make her trust Archie. Yet seeing such face made her take his hand. Indeed, maybe she was being tricked, but the world before her eyes was rather too shocking. Flying machines, carriages without mounts, two-legged walkers, and towering buildings that she thought that would be impossible and too costly to make was in front of her.

All alone. Isolated. The last of her race. She doubts that the there would be others left. She could remember the passing words of those who protected her. Lived on. Warned them. Those words rang out and she could only do what he must do. If ‘them’ was still out there. Then she must be vigilant. And if those channelers were hunting her down, then she needed someone to help her. And right now that hand was being offered to her. Thus, she can only accept Archie’s hand.