“We shall meet again, when you and this world are ready.”

He said as he disappeared from her sight.

She opened her eyes and looked up at the new ceiling she was now in.

Having such a dream after so long…

Breathing out, she remembered the vague memory she still had of that time.

“Anyway, I gotta get ready for this day!”

“So, Miss Charlotte Eschete, you don’t have an University’s degree?”

“Uhm, no, but I’m sure you received the test’s results and that they were more than what was asked.”

“Yes, indeed. However, this kind of test can be easily forged and so, we require you to do another one, personally, just to ascertain your true capabilities.”

“Ok, no problem, do we do it now?” Charlotte said, reaching for her satchel.

“Oh, no, we won’t do it right now, we’ll first see if you’re eligible with what we got and then, you’ll do that test.” He said before his head turned down to the papers he had over the desk.

They sat inside a white room mostly used for interviews. A single lamp illuminated them along with the window one could look at the exterior, just behind him. Behind Charlotte was the wooden closed door she used to get in, it had square engravings with triangles in between; something she found pretty extravagant. The transparent desk between them could easily accommodate 4 individuals at each side with enough room for each one to have their own tools without bothering someone else.

The man sitting in front of her, who was in charge of the current interview, wore a well-groomed grey suit with a white shirt poking from his chest, over his nose rested pointy glasses which reflected light at her eyes every now and then. His hair combed back with enough gel to not appear excessive.

“I understand.” Charlotte said as she let go of her satchel.

“Now, Miss Charlotte, would you mind telling me more about yourself? Anything is fine, your hobbies, for example, or what you like to do in your free time.” He said as his eyes went down for a moment.

“Of course, like you know, I’m currently not in college…”

“Alright, I believe that’ll be everything. We’ll be calling you if we find you fit for this job.” He said as he openly extended his hand.

“Thank you, I’ll be waiting for it. Goodbye, Mister Dunn.” Charlotte smiled, extending her hand in the same way as him, they shook hands.

“Goodbye, Miss Charlotte. Please allow me to escort you to the exit.” Dunn said as he followed her out of the room.

Charlotte’s smile twitched for a moment before she walked with him to the elevator.

Once out of the elevator she shared with a corporate slave, she sighed and went out to the street. The building she just went out of was a multi-dynamic one where multiple small and middle companies took residence. Charlotte found it just for this interview because she was in dire need of money just so she could do her personal projects and, of course, to survive in this “chaotic” world where money was everything.

Sighing again Charlotte muttered “This is the fourth one this week… Damn, why is it so hard to find a good job to work from home…”

She has been going to multiples offices and searching online so she could investigate on the truth of the world, that which she has seen only from someone long ago and no one else knew about. “He” was the one who gave her the reason to improve and go beyond the reasoning of this still world.

“If only I could continue living at home… Heh.” She said with a self-deprecating smile.

The fight with her parents two weeks ago surfaced in her mind. All because she stopped going to university. She found that place suffocating and depressive. Something she didn’t have the time nor the energy to deal with.

*Bzzzz bzzzz bzzzz…*

“Sheesh… Hi, mom.” She answered the phone which served as her personal background music for the past five minutes as she walked.

“Hello dear, how was it?” Her mother said with concern in her voice.

“Good, I guess.”

“That’s not too good to hear… You know I can tell it didn’t go that well.”

“Yeah, I know…”

“You can come back anytime you want, you onl-“

“I’m not going back to uni, I already told you that, okay?”

“… Why are you so stubborn…”

“I don’t feel like putting up with that shit in there. We already talked about it.”

“Obstinate girl, grow up already, why won’t you?”

“Mom, if you only called me to tell me that, goodbye.”

“Yes yes, I wanted to tell you, Ellen’s been calling you all day long.”

“Oh, really?” She halted her feet before looking through her phone, going to the missed calls, she saw Ellen’s name displayed in red, 8 missed calls. “I didn’t notice, thanks mum.”

“Please, tell me anything that’s bothering you, you know I want to help you however I can…”

“… I know… Bye…”

“Stay well, dear.”

“…” Pressing the button to end the call, she finished the first interaction they had as a mother and daughter since she left their place. “Really, first she throws me out in a fit and now she wants me to go back like nothing… Though I understand why she’s like that, she’s just too worried… I’m fine, y’know~”

She continued to stroll through the busy street as she went to the missed calls in her phone, dialing Ellen in between mumblings. A high-spirited voice came after two tones.

“AH! Charl! Why didn’t you answer my calls!?”

Charlotte grimaced at the damage her ears suffered as she shot the hand holding her phone to the side. “Eh, I was in an interview, I told you, didn’t I?” She said after Ellen was done with her shouting.

“Ah, right, how was it?”

“T’s okay, I guess. Though, they want me to do another test, fumu.”

“Eh, now? What about tonight?”

“No no, no worries, it’s for another day, I’m going there now, where is it again?”

“It’s in Talkie so look it up, I’m already waiting for you!”

Talkie, an old application developed by the United States of Atalasia, U.S.A. for short, it connected every person immediately without a need to register in another system while only using their personal ID. Charlotte seldom used it, opening it only to talk to her close friends.

She found it after going through its record and then looked around for a map. Going by the address, she was pretty close already. A couple of stops using the metro system or maybe half an hour walk away.

“I should walk this time, no use wasting the money I don’t have.” A wry smile surfaced on her lips before she started her trek.

“Trissy’s Lieu. Who’s this Trissy anyway?”

Charlotte said as she watched the sign of the bar in front of her. It was the bar her friend had chosen for celebrating her engagement. Though she didn’t like the idea of going out for a drink, she still wanted to spend time with one of her dear friends, even if as a result the next morning gave her an awful greeting.

“The founder. I got tired waiting for you, you know!”

She jumped to the side with surprise written over her face. “Woa! Elly! Where did you come from!” Breathing out, She brought her hands to her chest and glared at the girl a few centimeters away.

“Heh! Girl, I knew you were coming so I got out to say hi!”

Ellen, Elly for short, stood tall at more than one eighty. Her well-endowed body, along with bright blond hair, green eyes and slim figure made her look like a model out of a magazine. She had a wide smile adorning her face in excitement for their time together. Over her long legs was a tight dark red jean with a loose chain hanging out of her waist, a plain white lumberjack shirt went past her hips with a purse with a similar red to her jeans. She held her hair together in a ponytail with small glasses being the only décor on her head.

“Yeah, right.” Charlotte rolled her eyes away from her. “You waited out here alone?”

“Nope, I got bored after waiting for you for almost an hour so I came out to get some fresh air. Dord’s on her way already, let’s go inside.” She turned around and went for the front door of the pub. “Anyway, you, weren’t you in an interview just now?” Ellen asked with a raised brow.

“Yes?” Charlotte tilted her head.

“Oh, so you stopped at your place before coming here? I totally thought you’d be walking here.”

“Actually, yes, I walked here. It’s a waste of money and time to go around to my apt and back here. What’s with that face?”

“You… went like that to the interview?” She said with wide open eyes looking at Charlotte before going into Trissy’s Lieu.

“Uh, obviously. I don’t have a change with me.” Charlotte tilted her head to the other side, her expression a bit lost on her friend’s words.

“Little one, what’s needed for you to understand the importance of the dress code for each occasion!”

“Eh, but you insisted for me to wear this dress today.”

“Yes, but it was only for coming here, this night, a dress made to party and to celebrate! Not to go to an interview! That’s not a formal one made for interviews! Argh, why do I even bother with you, really.” Ellen sighed after messing with her previously nicely arranged hair.

Charlotte had a sky-blue dress which didn’t even covered her knees, combined with a same-colored pair of sandals and a silver bracelet. She received that set from Ellen a few months ago and didn’t have the chance to use them until now. Ellen told her multiple times for her to wear them, and now was the perfect occasion to try it. She didn’t put any make-up on her face, finding it a bother, though the freckles still made her quite conscious of it. Her hair was also arranged properly, though it was more for the interviews than for their encounter.

She followed her friend Ellen into the place and sat on a small metallic table with three chairs around it. A half full beer served as decoration.

“Here, you take this,” Ellen said as she handed over the beer to Charlotte, “I shall engrave in that little brain of yours the proper dress code for e every occasion!”

“You don’t have to, I’m fine as it is…”

“Oh, no, I’m not buying that today, naughty girl. It’s a loss for the world if you don’t properly understand!” Ellen lifted her hand before calling one of the attendants of the place and ordered another drink for herself. She then started her monologue on etiquette.

Charlotte cried out as she realized there was no one around she could request help and hoped their other friend would arrive soon.

“Yaho~ my beauties!” A loud voice Charlotte recognized made her look to the entrance.

She stood up from her seat and ran away from the devil. “Dord! You’re finally here!” She hugged Dordives as hard as she could with tears threatening to come out from the corner of her eyes. “What took you so long?! I’ve been tortured almost all my life waiting for you!”

“Calm down.” Dordives said as she caressed her friend’s hair. “It’s only five minutes past what we agreed in. Anyway, I see you’re having fun, huh.” She said as she eyed the four almost empty bottles on top of the table.

Dordives had a soft smile over her lips, always the calm of the three and the mother like figure. She was taller than Charlotte by more than fifteen centimeters and shorter than Ellen by roughly the same amount. A white frilled skirt went down her waist with black high knee covering her almost too white legs, mixing together at her knees. Her upper body was covered by a grey short sleeved shirt, her hair danced freely down her back and over her shoulder was a small beige purse.

“I had to or else I’d go insane.” She stopped hugging Dordives and glared at Ellen.

“Now now, you poor little girl, what did this monster do to you now?” Dordives said, turning her head to Ellen’s way.

Bringing her hands to her chest, Ellen smirked after a display of being wronged. “Can you believe it? This gal here, despite knowing me for so long, still knows nothing about clothes! Today, she had the audacity to attend her interview like that!”

Dordive lowered her head to a pleading Charlotte and eyed her set up, nodding she said with half closed eyes. “You know, you yourself awakened the demon, I can’t help you there.”

“No~ help me! I can’t stand it anymore… My head’s spinning already!”

“I’ll be right back.” She smiled before leaving her friend behind.

Meanwhile, Charlotte was abused once, the light going out of her eyes after her only savior abandoned her. Dordive returned, beer in hand, to a mute and a killing machine, firing bullets non-stop.

Dordives said with a wry expression, garnering the attention of the duo. “Really, for someone as clever as you are, to the point some professors said you had the making of a genius; one’d think you’d at least be able to maintain a moderate sense of fashion.”

“I don’t care about that kind of thing! They just spout nonsense all the time to get the attention from the students!” Charlotte said while pouting. “If anything, I only work to understand what else can be found in the universe and how to make it there. That sense of wonder’s been lost for a while already, and not inspiring people is their own fault! Hmph!”

“Yeah yeah, whatevs, our little oddity.” Ellen stood behind Charlotte and caressed her head softly. After a while, she turned to her friend who stood while sipping from her bottle in her hands. “So, care to share the findings on your boy?”

Dordives blinked twice before bringing down her beer, a weak smile took the place of her normal, sweet smile. “Not that bad, I guess. It’s not what I expected, but it’s the best of the worst, I think…” She said without energy, taking the open seat of the table.

Charlotte shook Ellen’s hand away, sending her back to her seat. “That’s what powerful families are like, no? It couldn’t be all perks, huh.” She said as she looked at the table, her third beer about to end.

They talked about her friend’s coming wedding ceremony and all the things that came with it. As their chat changed subject to a livider one, three men came to their table and started to talk to them with an unknown language. Despite the three girls being unable to answer to them, the men continued their attempt to woo them.

Charlotte coughed loudly, bringing the attention of the five to her. “Hey, can you speak gerciesse, please? You should at the very least speak in Atalasian, you know?”She said in the U.S.A main language.

The trio of intruders looked at each other and before long, they were gone.

“Really, why try to talk if you can’t even speak the same tongue.” She said as she sat down on the already cold chair.

“Hahaha, really, you’re too impatient.” Ellen said while shaking her head. “It was fun, no? Their expressions and what meanings they had were a wonder in itself.”

“It’s ok! She’s our protector! If any bad man comes our way she’s sure to drive him away!” Dordives said with a beaming smile to her friend.

“Eh, n’thanks, I, t’s just bothrsome.” She said after finishing another beer.

“Heheh, hey! Why don’t you come to my place? You can live there and I get to have a cute bodyguard all for myself!”

“… Y’know, you’re taller and fitter than me, right? If someone’s gonna protect som’ne from an’ne it gotta be you!” Charlotte pointed to her friend who had stars for eyes.

“You should consider it, regardless. It can be an opportunity for you.” Ellen said as she brought down her eighth empty bottle to the table.

“What’s’re to consider? Brout tis ‘pon myslf.” Charlotte asked as a frown came between her eyes. This damn mouth can’t keep with me…

“You know, you are knowledgeable in around 5 languages, even if you hadn’t gotten a degree you can still keep pace with a professor in different subjects. You also know your way with computers, so there’s a lot you can do at her place.” Ellen said with a smile, a light blush already on her face.

“Yes! It’d be awesome to have you with me!” Dordives spoke with eagerness in her expression, finishing her sixth beer with a gulp.

“Eh, I dunno ‘bout dat, I’nly talk ‘bout what I tink’s logical, hip.”

“You can’t say that it’s only speculation on your part after debating with a professor for hours on end! Just remembering what happened last year makes me tremble!” Dordives said as her back shivered for a moment.

“Oh, right!” Ellen chuckled. “I remember that! We went to Guignon for a conference in how to start our own business. At the end Charl met an old professor from college and started on it… It certainly was awful to wait for them to finish.”

“Stooop! Stop it!” Dordives said as fear came to her face, blanching over the rosy color it got from drinking. “Please, no more, that’s way too scary! We waited for more than two hours for them to finish their ‘little’ discussion! We almost lost the chance to attend the festival!”

“’t’as little indeed…” Charlotte muttered as her two friends continued talking about the festival they went to afterwards.

“Think’d consider irt. Tho’ I need’pace’n time.” She said softly, though not enough to avoid her friends from hearing her.

The two looked at each other for a moment as their lips turned softly into a smile.

“Yes! I’ll wait for you however long it takes!” Dordives said, almost shouting.

“Now, stop it, you know she’s not like that.” Ellen whispered into Dordives ear. She kept her eyes glued to Charlotte, looking for any sign of her hearing them as there was too much noise so her whisper was as loud as her normal voice.

Charlotte had her head turned to the table, mind lost in thoughts and trying to return to a normal state.

“Yes, but I can only dream, and having her in my house is just perfect!” Dordives mouthed back, getting some distance between them, she winked her.

“… Just, don’t be mean to her. Hey, Charl! Let’s go back now, it’s getting pretty late and I still have some clothes I need to work on for tomorrow.” She brought her friend back to reality, who blinked twice.

“Oh, yes, it’s pretty late uh…” Charlotte said as her eyes went down to the table. Twenty empty bottles awaited for the waitress to take them away.

“You surely can’t hold your beers… Let’s walk back, where’s your new apt, again?”

“Oh, eh… Dunno?” She said with a tilted head, she then introduced her hand in her purse and brought out her phone. “‘ere, luk’t up.”

“It’s not so far nor is it so close, at about an hour at her pace, huh… Hmm, Dord, care to bring her there? I can’t keep you company tonight.”

“Of course! Count on me!” Dordives patted her chest reassuringly.

After chatting a bit more once they came out to the street, Charlotte and Dordives bade farewell to Ellen. They embarked on their traditional drunk walk, something they had been doing since their school days, when they met each other.

They arrived to Charlotte’s new apartment before 1 a.m., she had an empty water bottle which mysteriously appeared in her hand. They talked for a while before the cab Dordives called arrived. She couldn’t walk back, she lived too far away for that.

“Text me when you get home, ok?” Charlotte said after hugging Dordives, reminding her of what to do.

“Don’t worry, I’ll do it without fault! Bye~” She said before kissing her cheek.

She started her final part of the road, the most difficult to her, stairs. She climbed the seemingly infinite torturing devices with wobbling feet, finally after an unknown amount of time to her floor, the ninth floor.

She entered the apartment, trying to make as little noise as possible and crossed the door to her room. Letting her purse fall in the floor, she lifted her dress up and took it off, tossing it to the bed. She stood with only her underwear and sandals on herself. She stretched her hands to the white ceiling before looking at the computer’s screen. It was flicking between white and red, something happening for the first time and what she was most eager to get.

The script she had been working on since forever had finally thrown some good answers. It started almost 15 years ago, when she met that man, he who she couldn’t remember his face nor his name. Her thoughts about him and her eagerness to find him stayed the same as ever, however.

She jumped to the monitor and moved the mouse to awaken the computer. On the now fully lighted screen it read:

Theory matching: succeeded.