Chapter 9: The lady who smiles
Despite the woman's knowing glare, her presence filling the room like smoke, Arisa turned away without a word. She'd already met enough strange people for one day. Still, the question lingered in the back of her mind. Why had the lady looked at her that way? That sharp, searching stare didn't feel casual.
Arisa didn't let herself dwell on it. She moved on, weaving between shoulders and elbows, pressing through the heat and noise of the crowd. Behind her, the mysterious woman's lips curled faintly into a smile. Then, as if satisfied with something, she stood and melted into the shifting bodies around her. By the time Arisa glanced back, she was gone.
Forcing her way through the last cluster of people, Arisa finally reached the bar. She slid into a seat, leaning forward on her elbows with the faintest exhale, her eyes scanning the dim room.
The bartender caught her attention immediately. A man with a clean cut comb over, his build sharp and upright, and two polished silver arms that gleamed under the amber light. Strange red fluid pulsed faintly in the intricate designs carved into the metal, moving like veins beneath skin. The sight stirred a faint echo in Arisa's mind, something about it reminded her of Neta's bracelets.
He finished serving a couple at the far end, then stepped over, stopping in front of her. Both metallic hands planted firmly on the counter, his eyes sharp but not unkind. "You look a bit young to be in here," he said, his tone steady, probing.
Arisa didn't answer immediately. Her gaze lingered on the room one last time before fixing on him. "I'm eighteen," she replied simply.
The man gave a short chuckle, the sound like gravel under boots. "Still young," he said, his grin lined with experience, "but just old enough." He pulled a clear glass from beneath the counter, wiping it down with a crisp white rag, his metal fingers surprisingly steady and precise.
"So then," he said, raising an eyebrow, "what'll it be? I can give you a sta—"
"I'll take any brown whiskey. Single malt. No ice." Arisa's words cut through, leaving no room for doubt.
The bartender stilled, caught off guard for just a second. A faint smirk tugged at the edge of his mouth, almost amused. "Alright," he muttered, nodding slowly. "Didn't expect that. You got it."
He turned to prepare her drink, the faint clink of glass and the measured pour of whiskey filling the silence between them.
But before the bartender could slide the glass fully into Arisa's hand, a commanding voice cut through the chatter from somewhere above.
"Alright closing early. Everyone get your last drinks and get out."
The sound wasn't loud so much as it was sharp, carrying a weight that hushed half the room instantly. Arisa turned, eyes tracing upward to the second floor balcony. There she was, the woman with neon pink eyes, looking down at the sea of people as though she owned them. Her gaze alone was enough to make the crowd restless.
Complaints rippled immediately through the bar. Some called out about the night being too young, others groaned in disappointment. The bartender, however, didn't share their dismay. He simply shrugged, placing the whiskey in front of Arisa with a grin. "Nice. Guess I get to clock out early," he muttered, clearly the only one pleased by the news.
Down near the lounge, the man Arisa had seen sitting by Ericna earlier stood with a wad of bills clutched in his hand. His voice cracked as he tried to bargain. "B-but, Ericna"
Her eyes cut to him in a flash, glowing with a lazy menace. "Chill out. You can go at least one day without rubbing my feet," she said casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
The man froze, head bowing in defeat as he stuffed the money back into his pocket, trudging away like a scolded child.
The crowd murmured again, pockets of conversation whispering in the noise. A group of women near the back muttered, "Maybe it's because tomorrow…" but their voices dropped quickly under the tension.
Ericna straightened from the balcony railing, her presence pressing heavier on the room. "Come on. Chop chop, before I force you out."
The words weren't shouted. They didn't need to be. Her tone was iron wrapped in silk. Immediately, the crowd began moving faster, heads down, no one willing to test her patience.
"No need for that, Ericna!" a nervous woman stammered from her group, clutching her purse as she hurried along.
Arisa turned back toward the bar, letting out a sharp sigh. She grabbed her whiskey.
"Can't even enjoy my drink," she muttered, frustration slipping through her usually cool demeanor.
Arisa raised the glass slowly, the amber liquid catching what little light the bar still held. Just as it brushed her lips.
"But you could stay." The voice floated down from above, smooth yet commanding. Arisa froze mid sip, the weight of those words rooting her in place. She didn't need to look, she knew who they were meant for. Deliberately, she lowered the glass back to the counter, the faint clink echoing in the now half empty bar.
The last of the patrons were filing out, muttering as the heavy doors creaked shut behind them. Arisa hadn't heard her move, hadn't felt her move. But when she turned, the stool legs screeching as it tipped, Ericna was already there. No longer leaning above on the balcony, no longer just watching. She stood directly behind Arisa, casual and composed, with that smile.
It should have been harmless. Charming, even. But there was something different now. An edge, an undertone of danger. The smile was too calm.
"I know who you are~" Ericna said, her voice laced with playful mockery.
Arisa met her eyes without flinching. It was something she always did. Cutting through pretenses, seeing people as they were. But this time…something looked back.
Those neon pink eyes weren't just glowing. They were alive, vast. Something unfathomable lingered in their depths, Arisa felt the weight of another's presence pressing down on her. The same aura she had always given others. Cold, suffocating. Now turned on her.
Her breath caught for only a heartbeat, but she masked it. Her posture sharpened, ready to strike.
Ericna tilted her head, the smile thinning just slightly. "You're not strong enough yet. Don't do it." Her tone shifted. Still soft, but carrying a blade's edge of warning.
Arisa didn't listen. Her body moved before thought, instinct pulling her forward.
Ericna didn't even blink. She raised her hand with a slow, almost lazy flick.
In an instant, the air cracked with light. A colossal hand, sculpted from crystal like pink energy, burst into existence. Its fingers curled and slammed down, pinning Arisa to the table, but holding with inescapable strength. The glass of whiskey rattled violently, the liquid trembling at the rim, but somehow it never tipped.
Arisa's body strained against the enormous crystalline hand pressing her down. Muscles tensed, her teeth grit, and a low grunt escaped her throat as the sound of faint cracks echoed through the air, like glass threatening to split under pressure. Yet the hand remained unmoved. Firm as if it were carved into existence itself.
Ericna's voice cut through the tension, playful yet carrying a sting of control. "Oh no, no, no… you're far too aggressive."
Her steps echoed lightly against the wooden floor as she closed the distance. Without hesitation, she crouched ever so slightly and placed her hand against Arisa's face, forcing her head up until their eyes locked. "Look at me," she whispered.
Arisa's cold violet glare burned back into those pink eyes, refusing to falter. For a moment the world seemed to pause. The room emptied of noise, of time itself, as their gazes clashed. And yet, in the depths of Arisa's defiance, Ericna saw something. Her lips curled into a smile, almost amused, almost intrigued.
"Wow…" she breathed, voice softer now, as though speaking to herself. "And you don't even know anything."
Confusion flickered across Arisa's expression, brief but undeniable. What did she mean? What truth lingered behind those words?
Ericna chuckled lightly, letting her hand slip away as if dismissing the moment entirely. She stepped back with that same effortless confidence, leaning her weight on one hip, her posture radiating both allure and power. The giant crystal hand dissolved into glittering fragments of pink light, fading into the air as though it had never been there.
Arisa straightened slowly, standing tall now, her eyes raking over Ericna from head to toe. This time she wasn't the one staring through someone, she was the one being measured.
"Still think you can do something?" Ericna asked, her voice dipped in playful mockery. Though the weight behind it pressed close.
Arisa's eyes narrowed, her tone unshaken. "I'll find a way."
The silence that followed was sharp, charged, the kind of pause that revealed more than words. Ericna's smile deepened, she was intrigued. Amusement flickered in her eyes, brightening as if sparked by Arisa's defiance.
"Ooo… I like you," Ericna purred, the words rolling off her tongue with deliberate slowness. "Good to know the only other girl in the C.F.R isn't weak."
Arisa's head tilted, her expression sharpening. How would this woman know that? The C.F.R wasn't common knowledge, especially not to strangers. Either she was deeply tied to the D.O.P… or worse, close to them.
Her mind ran back to the documents, the exam records, the countless names she had sifted through. There was another girl. A shadow among the candidates. The description she had read matched perfectly. The realization was cold, cutting, as she studied Ericna again, Her presence, her confidence, the glow in her eyes… It was her.
Arisa exhaled softly, brushing the dust from her sleeve with casual precision before reaching down to lift the stool she had dropped. She set it upright and lowered herself onto it, her gaze returned to the untouched drink on the table. She then raised the glass "What are the odds of that?" Arisa said coolly.
The sharp click of Ericna's heels carried across the floor now, a steady rhythm as she moved. Not disappearing this time, but circling, stalking. She slipped behind the counter as though she belonged there, stepping into the place of the bartender who had long since vanished into the back.
When Arisa looked up again, Ericna stood opposite her, framed by bottles of liquor and the glowing bar lights, leaning casually on the counter..
Arisa glared back at her, purple eyes hard and unyielding, before knocking back the shot in one swift motion. The burn of the whiskey ran hot down her throat, but she never broke eye contact.
Ericna said nothing. She only watched, smiling faintly, her gaze never leaving Arisa. Studying, measuring, savoring.
The bar was quiet now, emptied of its crowd, the faint hum of a forgotten jazz record filling the silence between them.
"Kicking me out too?" Arisa asked, her tone steady, though her eyes lingered on the woman across from her.
Ericna had turned her back, elbows propped against the counter as if she owned the place. Ericna's gaze wandered lazily over the rows of glass bottles glowing in the dim light. "No…" she said softly, almost absentmindedly, her voice carrying a velvet calm. "I knew you were here before your hands even touched the door."
Arisa narrowed her eyes, studying the line of Ericna's shoulders. "Are you the owner's daughter or something?" she asked dryly.
Ericna shook her head slowly, a small smile tugging her lips. "Nope." Then she turned her head just enough for Arisa to catch the glint of her neon pink eyes. "I'm older than you think. Older than you." A pause. Then she pivoted fully toward her. "I'm the owner."
That pulled a flicker of surprise from Arisa, "How old are you?"
Ericna straightened, the question drawing out a playful spark. "It's a secret," she said at last, brushing it away as easily as dust. Her hand moved to a dark bottle, choosing with a practiced eye. She poured with the precision of someone who'd done this a thousand times, the golden liquid rolling smooth into crystal. She tilted the bottle slightly toward Arisa, her brow lifting in invitation.
Arisa shook her head. "I'm good with just one."
"Suit yourself." Ericna corked the bottle and slid it back into its place before lifting her own glass. The shot went down in one clean motion, her expression unflinching. She set the glass down with a soft clink, then leaned against the counter again, those piercing eyes locking on Arisa.
"So tell me," she said, her tone finally shifting from casual to intent, "what brings you to a bar at this hour? If I'm not mistaken… you're not local. Overseas, right?" The way she said it wasn't a question, it was fact wrapped in curiosity. "Interesting choice for your first night."
Arisa's posture eased just slightly, her tension melting into something more grounded. "I just needed a place to sit down." Her hand slipped to her back pocket, pulling out the small device Ronnie had given her. She placed it on the table, the weight of unfinished duty pressing on her. "I was supposed to set this up…"
Ericna leaned in over the counter, one elbow propped, her voice dropping with a teasing lilt. "Sheesh. Not a great first day for you, huh? Here I thought you were out enjoying the city. You don't even—" She paused abruptly, as if catching herself before she said too much. A fleeting shadow passed through her glowing eyes. Then, smooth as ever, she finished "Well, you're here now. Might as well do it."
Arisa studied her, every instinct on alert. This woman was without a doubt one of the C.F.R candidates she read about. That much was clear. Still, there was no malice behind her gaze, only something unreadable, powerful. Trust didn't come easy, but there was no hesitation in Arisa's movements.
She did as Ronnie instructed, setting the device on the counter and pressing her fingerprint against it.
The device hummed faintly in Arisa's hand, its screen flickering awake the same way it had back at the docks, lines of light unraveling into shapes and patterns she couldn't quite decipher. Then, without warning, the projection widened, spilling across the table in front of her like a sheet of glass turned into light. The glow reflected in her eyes, filling the dim bar with an otherworldly brightness that seemed to push the shadows back.
At first, it replayed what she had already seen at the docks. Symbols, fragments of data, faint diagrams shifting in and out of focus. But then the imagery stabilized, and the screen expanded wider, layer after layer unfolding until a full display hovered before her like a window into another reality.
A crisp voice, calm yet mechanical, began to speak.
"Welcome, registered user. Directorate of Order and Protection protocol engaged."
Arisa's brow furrowed. The bar around her seemed to vanish. For a moment, it was just her and this piece of living technology.
The screen shifted, showing sleek digital text and moving illustrations. A brief history of the D.O.P. scrolled before her eyes, an account of its formation after years of conflict, its claim to be the unifying backbone of Norad's progress. Cities rebuilt, trade controlled, lives regulated. It all felt too neat, too perfect, like a carefully written story.
The narration continued. "This device is part of the Norad Technological Safety System. Registered through advanced biometric locks, next generation fingerprint and DNA scanning. It is bound to you alone. No other individual may operate or manipulate this system. Unauthorized attempts will result in immediate lockdown and self nullification."
Arisa's gaze narrowed. The words felt more like a warning than reassurance. The display shifted again, and this time a series of demonstrations played out across the holographic surface.
A citizen holding the device to confirm identity at a checkpoint.. A quick tap to purchase goods at a market stall.. Data streams transferring between users in thin ribbons of light.. Currency shifting hands without a single coin.. A vehicle door unlocking at the touch of the device.. A home entry system recognizing its owner instantly
Each scene layered upon the next until it became clear, this wasn't just a tool. This was life itself in Norad. The voice suddenly clarified. "This system adapts to its user, evolving its algorithm to anticipate personal needs. Integrated A.I. functionality provides guidance, companionship, and security. For many citizens, it is not simply a device, it is an extension of their very existence."
Arisa exhaled softly, gripping it tighter. It was impressive, yes, but suffocating too. A device that knew everything, controlled everything, bound to her whether she liked it or not.
The projection shifted one last time, zooming into a glowing map of Norad. Districts lit up like arteries of a living city. A single point pulsed brightly within the 5th district.
"Housing has been allocated. D.O.P. provision. Studio apartment, 5th district. Location optimized for proximity to the Academy."
The map spun and angled, showing her the building itself, then branching out into pathways. Walking routes, vehicle routes, even public transit. Every line pulsed with clear directions, branching endlessly like veins of light across the city.
Arisa leaned back slightly, her reflection caught in the surface of the display. A studio apartment. A whole new city mapped out before her. A system that would track her every step.
The voice faded, leaving only the glow of the final image. Her new home, waiting. Arisa lingered on the holograph a moment longer, her eyes narrowing as the map of Norad pulsed with glowing veins of light. The display wasn't just showing her the city. It was pointing directly to her, to the place she would call home. It was too exact.
Her gaze shifted past the shimmering projection to the figure behind it. Ericna leaned casually on the counter, that ever present smile curling into something more mischievous.
"Now I know where you live~" she sang playfully, her voice dripping with teasing menace.
Arisa's expression hardened. In a swift motion, she snapped the device up from the table. The hologram fractured into shards of blue light that dissolved into nothing, the glow dimming until the device was just a cold, silent weight in her hand. She slipped it back into her pocket with deliberate care, her jaw tight.
"You're slick," she said evenly, though her tone carried no irritation, just acknowledgment. She rose from the stool, her movements sharp but calm. "I'll be heading out now."
Ericna tilted her head, resting her chin in her palm as she leaned on the table, lips curving into a pout. "Aw, and here I thought you were going to keep me company."
Arisa stopped mid step, turning just enough for their eyes to meet again. For a breath, she stood there in the low light, as if considering it.
Ericna's laugh was soft, warm, almost musical, though the weight behind it was undeniable. "Just teasing," she said, straightening slightly, that playful smirk never faltering. "We'll see each other again."
The faintest flicker crossed Arisa's face before she turned away, her boots echoing against the wooden floor as she pushed toward the door. Her hand met the handle, the glow of neon from outside seeping through the cracks.
"Welcome to Norad," Ericna called after her, her voice carrying through the empty bar with unnerving certainty.
Arisa paused for half a heartbeat, then pushed the doors open. They swung wide, the night swallowing her whole before shutting with a final, heavy thud.
The bar was quiet again, save for Ericna's lingering smile in the shadows.
Chapter 9: The lady who smiles
END