Charcoal tinted sunlight streamed into the near barren room. My room. We’d already been talking for a little over an hour, but the monotony in Hanna’s voice was as clear as when she first entered— waking me up, determined to finish what we’d started. The bags beneath her eyes revealed she got little, if any sleep.

Fortunately after the explanation of the Endbringers, it seemed to come to an end; and with a mechanical sigh, she picked up the roster.

“I can hand this in. You’ll probably get a call later to go to the training yard or something, but my little Orientation job is done. With this, you’re a Slayer pilot and a member of the ESDF. Try to take that with pride if you can, it’s better than the alternative.”

She stood up, the heart on her sleeve showing she had a lot on her mind but no way to say it. That is, if they were something that could be formed into words in the first place.

Another sigh.

“See you around.”

With that, she trawled open the large door before turning her head. It was only for a moment, for a tenth of a moment, that the shine in her eyes preluded the words she might finally be able to say. But just as quickly she changed her mind, moving beyond the door and closing it behind her with a gentle *click*.

The insulated room let in no noise aside from the distant thrum of machinery, building maintenance, and air conditioning, to my surprise. I fell backwards, letting my body sink into the thick sheets of the mattress.

I was alone.

My eyes scanned the bisque colored room— at least the color was different from what I expected. Not like the sterilized white or damp yellow of a hospital or motel room. It was a cream-colored beige, complemented by an oak colored desk and hazel tiles. It was surreal to touch them and feel stone when my brain surely thought they must’ve been wood and marble.

Are there trees in this world? The earth felt barren save for the sand and ash, and considering the sky…

I stood up, letting myself take in the view offered by the large, reinforced window.

The darkened clouds I saw upon arriving hadn’t disappeared, but have thankfully lessened. I could see bright rays filter through the skies, covering the empty lands in the golden glow of a dawning sun. Mountains rose in the far horizon like tidal waves of earth, and beneath them were minuscule dots of light I recognized as being the domed cities Hanna mentioned. I remember she mentioned underground vault cities too, but those would be hidden from view.

The surreal feeling finally hit me— this was another world. An unfamiliar one.

A frightening one.

I’d watched shows of protagonists being sent elsewhere. I’d read the stories. Young men would be sent to lush worlds; medieval, full of magic, brimming with life. They’d inherit incredible abilities, join amiable companions in a clearly defined quest to vanquish the demon lord and save their new home from certain destruction. And when all was said and done, they’d continue their adventure, living happily ever after.

I sighed, tearing my eyes away from the window to enter the bathroom. I suppose I never did specify where I wanted to go, during all those prayers of wishing to be sent away.

I felt myself jump thinking that, for a second, someone else had snuck into my room……I guess I just wasn’t used to my reflection yet. Hanna mentioned that the nanobots sculpted the body and while I never thought I was ugly, per say…I didn’t think it was possible to look the way I did.

My hair was thicker, more voluminous, if a bit longer. My jaw and cheeks were sharper, better defined— my nose straighter, stronger, and not a blackhead was in sight. Even my eyes looked more symmetrical, parallel to each other, with the color of the iris seeming just a bit brighter.

I touched the skin below my lips. Everything was smooth, without blemish— perfectly clear pores without any patches of imperfection. Though it did look a little tanner, like I’d spent a day in the early-Spring sun.

A dry laugh left my throat. A dreamlike version of myself in exchange for certain death. It’s not a deal I feel I’d have taken back home.

Home.

Mom and dad must be worried sick. I wish I could talk to them, to apologize to them for scaring them but…could I do that? Someday, even if it’s far in the future?

In that instant, the purple glow of the upside-down metal triangle attached to my bracelet began to glow. Likewise, that same dark glow began shining around my entire room— next to my bed, on the window, above the door. Hanna gave me the bracelet before leaving, explaining that it wasn’t to leave my person at any time, for any reason.

Because it would mean I’m being summoned.

As I prepared to head out, a specific memory came to mind, also coming from a story in which a young man was sent to another world. I remember reading that, as soon as he arrived into the new world, he subconsciously knew he would never again be returning home. As I looked at the marked destination on the map on my wrist, I quietly prayed that wouldn’t be the case.

* * * * *

“Uoff!”

“Eiyhhh!”

“A-Ahh I’m so sorry, are you alright?!”

“No no, it’s my fault I should’ve—oh! Good morning Anon!”

“Lia!” I said, recognizing the girl on the ground and feeling all the worse. “I’m really sorry— are you okay?”

“It was my fault, I wasn’t looking at where I was going.” she said, accepting the hand I offered her. Ironically she looked better than Hanna this morning, though the bags under her eyes were still somewhat noticeable. “But I’m okay, thank you. Where are you off to this morning? Most Resonators would be heading to breakfast around this time.”

“Summons.” I said, holding up the metallic triangle attached to my wrist. “They want me in the training room.”

“Ahh, that makes sense. You were thrown quite into the midst of things yesterday,” she said, letting out a mix between guilty sigh and nervous laugh. “I never apologized for that, but, thank you. I owe Hanna…and you.”

“I’m not the type to collect favors, no need to worry about it.” I laughed, trying to assuage her guilt. “But if you have some free time I’d appreciate if you could tell me where the training room is exactly. There’s a map but…”

“The Redoubt can be quite difficult to grasp. Ah!” she suddenly smiled, reveling at an idea in her mind. “In that case, let me guide you there!”

“Wh— oh, no you don’t need to go that far, honest! I—”

“I owe you,” she said, pushing me to follow. “You may not be the type to collect favors, but I’m certainly one to pay them back!”

Somehow, I could understand Hanna’s frustration towards this kind of stubbornness.

The path towards the training room wasn’t lengthy, so we only occasionally made small talk as I tried learning my way around the small but incredibly compact Redoubt. Past the commons room, near another entrance to the hangars, was a spacious training hall filled with dummies, weapons, and esoteric devices whose purpose I couldn't even begin to guess. Constructed in the back of the darkened room was its noticeable centerpiece: a semi-circular, transparent dome— completely empty save for the white tiles reflecting the pure white beams coming from the roof. Well…those, and the man in the center who I’ve yet to speak to, but whose name I already engraved into my mind.

“Sen…pai?”

The dome was sealed completely shut, so I have no idea how my voice managed to reach him. Even so, he turned his head backwards at the sound of my question, smiling as he did so.

It wasn’t a smile of joy.

“Aah. You. I thought you died.”

Nor did he speak to me.

“Not yet, thanks to Hanna and Anon.”

His head cocked to the left; it looked minatory considering his neck was still craned backwards.

“Who?”

“That’d be me.” I said, stepping forward. “It’s nice to meet you Senpai. Hanna told me about you yesterday, about how you trained and helped her to survive. But this is the first time we’re meeting officially.”

“Aah. I see. And you are?”

I looked back at Lia, who had an almost apologetic look to her eyes.

“Um, my name is Anon. Nice to meet you.”

“I see.” he said, turning back around. “Come.”

My eyes narrowed at the order, but it was Lia who voiced the question in my mind.

“Senpai, is there a reason you’re here as well? It is breakfast time.”

“Is it?” he asked. “Come.”

Even without him speaking it was obvious there was something…off, about the person in front of me. But sensing there was little other option I walked into the dome, and hearing it seal shut behind me, each of the hairs on my arms stood on their end. His… his presence alone was enough to set me on edge, to give me goosebumps I could feel even on the muscles of my back. But more than any of that, I couldn't stop staring at those eyes.

They burned a bright, iridescent crimson.

“Oh. You were with Hanna.” he said, without looking at me. “And the girl…Lia? Hmm. I see.”

“Senpai…is there a reason I—”

“You survived.” he said as if I were a child. Stopping his stretches, he craned his neck with an audible *pop* and turned to look me in the eye for the first time. “ESDF likes survivors. They want to see…how far you can walk.”

“I…I don’t—”

“Senpai!” Lia said, suddenly banging on the door. Her eyes were wide with panic, nothing like how she was this morning. “Senpai wait—this has to be a mistake! He just arrived yesterday! This has to be a mistake!”

Adrenaline slowly slipped through my veins. I could feel my pupils dilate in anticipation of something…unknown.

Unknown to me…and familiar enough to elicit fear from Lia.

“Yesterday? Didn’t Hanna arrive yesterday?” he said, looking at the girl banging at the thick dome. “Hmm. I see. I understand. Lots of new Resonators.”

With a calm pace he walked towards me; his face was as relaxed as the hair slipping in front of those burning eyes.

Why were my knees trembling?

He put his hand on my shoulder……my breathing. Time seemed to grind to a halt as I looked into his eyes with difficulty— he was only about an inch taller than me, but my blood felt thin.

I was trembling. My breathing…shallow.

“They wish to know. All about you.”

Pain shot through the muscles in my arm as I felt myself launched through the air, back crashing into thick glass I recognized as the dome. There was pain as I stood back up; pain mercifully dulled by the surprise and adrenaline flowing through me.

“ANON!”

“Every Resonator must prepare.” he said, walking with a dull smile. “For what little time…we have left.”