It took longer than usual, but eventually, I drifted off into a restless sleep.
The moment my eyes closed, the world around me shifted, warping into something unfamiliar. Reality didn't just fade—it dissolved, like ink bleeding into water, until I was standing in an unnervingly pristine space.
The horizon was impossibly smooth, the air unnaturally still. The pale blue sky stretched overhead like a painted canvas, too perfect to be real. There was no wind, no sound—only silence so heavy it pressed against me.
And then I saw her.
She stood at the center of this sterile perfection, motionless. Her gaze found mine immediately, hazel eyes catching the pale light, flecks of gold shimmering near the center. Those eyes weren't just watching—they were knowing, as if she had already unraveled everything about me in the first few seconds.
"You've arrived," she said, her voice smooth, calm, deliberate.
I glanced around, searching for something—anything—to ground myself, but the more I looked, the more this place seemed wrong. Every line, every angle of this world was too precise, like someone had designed it to be flawless. My stomach twisted with unease, and my gaze snapped back to her.
She tilted her head slightly, dark brown hair falling in a sleek curtain over one shoulder. Not a strand was out of place, its polished sheen making it look as though she had spent hours perfecting even that small detail.
"It's… perfect, isn't it?" she said, lips curving into a subtle smile. "This world—what do you think?"
"It's… a bit scary," I muttered, the words catching in my throat. "It feels… fake."
She didn't react right away. Instead, she smoothed the cuff of her crisp white blouse, the movement drawing my attention to the thin silver bracelet on her wrist. A small charm shaped like a mask dangled from it, catching the light for a split second before she clasped her hands neatly in front of her.
"Fake?" she echoed, amusement flickering at the edges of her voice. "No, Akame. This is as real as it needs to be. Or do you think your messy, chaotic reality is somehow better than this?"
My chest tightened, but I forced my expression to stay steady. "And you are?"
"Elysia," she answered. Her tone was measured, almost rehearsed. She took a single step forward, her movements deliberate and poised, as if each one had been planned in advance. Her black heels clicked softly against the smooth ground, the first real sound I had heard in this place.
The air around her felt heavier somehow. Her presence was as unnervingly perfect as the world itself. There was something about her—the flawless skin, the way her posture never faltered—that felt more like a mask than a person.
"You've been searching for answers," she continued, her eyes narrowing slightly. "For a way to stop Orion, right?" A knowing look crossed her face, her smile deepening just enough to feel like it was mocking me.
"And you're here to give them to me?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
"Not quite," she replied, her fingers drifting absently to the gold ring on her right hand, tracing it in a way that felt almost too natural, like a practiced gesture. "I'm here to help you with everything you need me to help with. I guess you give me a task, and I'll work to help you with it to the best of my ability."
She seemed trustworthy—offering help without any strings attached. Still, something about this felt too convenient. "…Okay, but how do I know I can trust you?"
Elysia's smile widened slightly—the kind that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Well," she said softly, her tone almost knowing, as if she had been waiting for the question. "You'll just have to take a leap of faith, won't you?"
Her words hung in the air, heavy and deliberate, but before I could respond, the flawless world around me began to waver. The pristine horizon blurred, colors bleeding together like wet paint.
Only she remained steady.
Her hazel eyes stayed locked onto mine, unflinching. "Don't forget, Akame," she said, her voice echoing from all around me. "When you need me, I'll be here."
Her form dissolved into the shifting space, and before I could process what was happening—
A sharp jolt pulled me back into reality.
—
"Akame, get up."
Somuchi's firm but calm voice broke through the fog in my mind. "We need to move. The mission's not going to wait for you to sleep in."
I groaned, sitting up and rubbing my face, the remnants of the dream—or whatever that was—clinging to me like a second skin. "What time is it?" I muttered, my voice hoarse.
"Late enough," she replied evenly, her tone carrying a hint of impatience. Somuchi stood by the doorway, already prepared for the day. Her simple martial arts gear was immaculate, and her dark, observant eyes fixed on me. "We've got a lot to cover. You ready, or do you need more beauty sleep?"
"Funny," I grumbled, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. My thoughts were still clouded with Elysia's words, her unsettling presence lingering in my mind like a shadow.
Somuchi gave me a quick once-over, her sharp gaze catching the hesitation in my movements. "You seem distracted," she said, her voice softening slightly. "Everything alright?"
I hesitated, debating whether to tell her. But something about Elysia felt… off.
"Yeah," I lied, forcing a small smirk. "Just didn't sleep great. Let's get going."
She studied me for a moment longer, then nodded, accepting my answer without pressing further. "Alright. Let's move out. The longer we wait, the more ground we'll have to cover."
—
The streets were already bustling as Somuchi and I stepped outside.
"So, Somu, what's the plan?" I asked, stretching. "We just got attacked last night, so there have to be more of Orion's followers on this planet, right?"
Somuchi scrolled through a sleek tablet, her brows furrowed in thought. "Yes. Today, we're searching the city for any leads—anything that points to their hideout or movements."
"Then we should split up," I suggested. "Cover more ground."
Somuchi glanced up, raising a brow. "Splitting up means risking more attacks. We barely made it out last night."
"Exactly. They're probably on edge now, which means they're either hiding or scrambling. If we move separately, we might catch them off guard."
She considered it. "Your confidence is… ambitious, as usual." A wry smile tugged at her lips. "But you're not wrong. If we split up, we need a system to stay in contact. No heroics—if you find something, you call me immediately. Agreed?"
"Agreed," I said, holding up two fingers in a mock salute.
She handed me a communicator, her expression softening. "Be careful, Akame."
I tucked it into my jacket pocket. "Relax, Somu. I'll be fine. You just focus on not getting into trouble without me."
She rolled her eyes, already turning toward the opposite end of the street. "Meet back here in two hours. No recklessness."
"No promises!" I called after her.
I turned and headed my own way, weaving through the crowded streets—until a prickle ran down my spine.
Something was off.
A hand landed on my shoulder.
I tensed.
"Hey."
The voice was smooth, familiar. Unnervingly calm.
I spun around, my hand brushing the communicator in my pocket—
It was her.
Elysia.
She stepped around me, impossibly fluid, like she owned the very air she walked through.
Her hazel eyes locked onto mine. "Miss me already?"
"What… What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice sharp, a mix of confusion and annoyance. "This isn't the dream anymore, is it?"
Her lips curved into that same knowing smile, the one that made it feel like she was always a step ahead. "It's not. But that doesn't mean I can't find you when I need to." She tilted her head slightly, studying me. " I said I'd assist you whenever you needed it. Consider this… my first step in keeping that promise."
I stepped back, crossing my arms as I tried to piece together her intentions. "Yeah, well, showing up like this is a pretty weird way to keep a promise."
She laughed softly, a sound that somehow felt both light and unnerving. "You'll get used to it. Now, tell me, Akame… have you found anything useful yet? Or are you just wandering around aimlessly?"
I narrowed my eyes. "I don't have time for this. I'm on a mission."
"And I'm here to help." Her tone remained even, but there was a subtle edge to it, like she was challenging me to deny her. "Whether you like it or not."
I clenched my jaw, glancing around to see if anyone else noticed her sudden appearance. The streets were busy, yet no one seemed to pay her any mind.
"Fine," I said reluctantly, lowering my voice. "If you're so determined to help, make yourself useful. But if this gets in the way of the mission…"
Elysia raised a hand, cutting me off. "Relax, Akame. I'm not here to ruin anything. I'll stay out of sight if you want. Think of me as your silent shadow, always watching, always ready."
Her words sent a chill down my spine, but I nodded grudgingly. "Just don't draw attention."
She gave a small, satisfied nod. "Good. I'll be close by."
Before I could say anything else, she turned and vanished into the crowd, her figure blending seamlessly into the chaos of the city. I exhaled slowly, the uneasiness lingering as I continued down the street.