Chapter 3: In town.
When she woke up the first thing she saw was a pair of brown eyes looking at her. They belonged to a woman with black hair tied in a tail, brown eyes and a milky complexion, wearing a red and white kimono, typical of Shinto priestesses.
"You woke up, finally ..." The woman said.
"Who ... Who are you?" Ayano asked.
"Are you so dizzy that you don't recognize me?"
"Answer my question!"
The stranger snorted before answering:
"My name is Kikyo Takahashi, spiritual guide of the Japanese who lived in the Amsterdam ghetto."
"The ghetto ... What happened to it?"
"The empress Leila has razed it to the ground ... Many people are dead. She was looking for Ryo, that unconscious madman."
"Where are we now?"
"In a safe place ... When I found you you were badly hurt, you needed treatment. That's why I brought you here."
"Here where?"
"In my clinic, of course." A man with short blond hair and blue eyes who wears a white coat replied.
"This is Dr. Antoon Tasman, head of this hospital. He saved you. "
"Yes, even though I was desperate to do it ... You were seriously injured and you lost copious amounts of blood. You also ended up in a coma."
"How long have I been there?"
"About five months."
"I see…"
"Here you and your friends are safe. You can stay as long as you want. "
Ayano didn't answer and looked down.
"What do you have? You look sad."
"Leila ... What happened to her?"
"I have not the faintest idea ... It is completely different from the girl who, three years ago, had inflamed the masses with her speech, even managing to appease the revolts that broke out throughout Europia. She spoke of freedom and equality but ended up establishing a ruthless dictatorship. Anyone who opposes her is killed or interned in concentration camps built beyond the Urals, in Siberia, far from civilization. No one has ever returned from there ... I take a big risk hosting you."
"How did you get that scepter?"
The answer was Kikyo:
"We don't know ... But now that has it, nobody can stop her. In order to survive, we stayed away from her, but Ryo tried to steal it from her, and so she infuriated her. Now our people are dead, and many unarmed civilians are killed or captured."
"Doctor?" A voice intervened.
The man turned, crossing his gaze with a nurse with long dark brown hair and purple eyes.
"What is it, Cana?"
"Momoya would like to talk to you."
"Agreed ... Arrival."
When the doctor had left Kikyo turned to Ayano:
"Can you walk?"
"Yes ... I think so."
"Very well."
That said, She pulled a water bottle over her shoulder from the kimono.
"What is it?" Ayano asked.
"I call it the brew of the gods ..."
"Drug?"
"No, unbeliever! Did you get me for a Refrain dealer?"
"So what is it?"
"A magic potion, whose recipe has been handed down since the days of Jinmu, the first emperor of Japan. It gives some .. Powers. Over the course of history, various illustrious characters have used it, such as the aforementioned Jinmu, Ishikawa Goemon or Oda Nobunaga."
Ayano took the bottle and looked at her suspiciously.
"Are there any side effects?"
"Well ... yes. Leads to madness and even to death those who have a weak spirit."
"And you want me to drink it?"
"We have to drink it all ... At least, if Leila's troops find us, we could defend ourselves more effectively. We cannot rely on our strength alone, not in this case."
"But it's dangerous!"
"We have no other choice."
"But…"
"Either drink the brew or you will die at the next fight!"
After a moment's hesitation she grabbed the haversack.
"All right…"
I don't do it willingly, but I have to talk to Leila, to find out the truth. Perhaps this brew will help me in the intent ...
"How much do I have to drink?"
"One sip is more than enough."
Ayano did as she was told; the taste of that supposed brew was harsh and made her cough a couple of times, so that she had to close her eyes for a few seconds. When she opened them again she was stunned: she was no longer in the hospital room but in a completely white area, so that she could not distinguish the sky from the earth.
I knew it ... That crazy woman gave me a hallucinogen!
She thought, alarmed.
She looked around, not knowing what to do.
Shit ... What should I do?
She wondered.
After a few minutes, three wolves materialized around her, and they began to run in an unspecified direction.
I think I should follow them ...
The girl thought, then started.
The three predators kept running without stopping. Evidently they must have spotted a prey. The prey in question was a deer, who had not noticed their presence as it had been turned away. At one point Ayano was enlightened.
Of course ... It's like in that video game!
Having said this, she unsheathed the katana and, hurling it as a spear, pierced the skull of the animal, which collapsed to the ground lifeless, after emitting a sound of pain. Immediately the wolves rushed at him and began to eat him.
And now?
She asked herself the swordsman as she retrieved her weapon.
At one point one of the wolves literally entered her. Surprised, she fell to her knees as her body lit up for a couple of seconds. She closed her eyes again, and when he opened them again she found herself in the hospital bed, with Kikyo by her side.
"How are you feeling?" The priestess asked.
"Different ..." She replied, confused.
"What did you see during the astral journey?"
"Three wolves."
"The wolf is a powerful and respectable animal ... Too bad that today in Japan it is extinct."
"Because of the British occupation of 2010/18?"
"No, it has been extinct since 1905."
"I understand…"
"Now I salute you, I must distribute the infusion to others as well."
That said the miko took leave.
I wonder what powers this brew gives ... At first glance I remained as before.
SHe told herself, looking at her hands.
Well, at least it hasn't had any harmful effects, at least not yet.
She snorted, disconsolate.
"Ayano?" A voice called to her.
She looked up and saw Dr. Tasman staring at her uncertainly.
"What's up?"
"I have a favor to ask you."
"If I may ... Say."
"I would like you to go to the nearby town of Den Helder to shop. Nobody knows you there, you should have no problems. Obviously I will give you the money you need."
"Gladly. But I need clothes, I can't run like this." She said, pointing to the hospital robe she was wearing.
"I'll get them for you now."
When she went outside, Ayano was wearing black shorts, a tight white shirt and a pair of black shoes. As always she carried her inseparable katana at her side. Looking around, she realized that the hospital was a three-story building that stood near a beach.
"Please be careful. The troops of General Smilas are exploring the area, and if they were to sight you we would all end up in trouble." The doctor warned her.
"Yes, doctor."
That said, she set off. She wandered along the deserted beach, occasionally taking a look at the sea. After half an hour of walking she came in sight of a lighthouse painted red.
May the gods protect me.
When she arrived near the lighthouse she watched it for a few minutes, then resumed her journey, arriving near a pier where some boats of various types were moored.
It's the first time I set foot here ... I wonder if I find someone willing to give me some information.
She started looking around for some passers-by, until she heard her stomach growl.
Damn, I'm hungry ... I hope there's a place to feed me.
Suddenly she felt observed. She turned, and saw a man with short gray hair and a pair of sunglasses staring at her.
"Good morning." He greeted her.
"Good morning," She replied.
"Are you a tourist?"
"Yup."
Better not tell him who I really am ... He could be a spy.
"Strange ... You tourists usually visit big cities like Paris, Rome or Amsterdam. Even if Amsterdam is not the best place to take tourism, at least for now ... The city is still licking its wounds due to the anti-terrorist operation that took place five months ago."
Counterterrorism operation, eh? It was a fucking extermination!
"Is there any place I can eat a bite?"
"There is a restaurant not far from here ... It's called The Pearl of the North Sea."
"Thank you."
That said the girl started off. But as she skirted a row of houses with sloping roofs he saw three European soldiers walking in her direction from a distance.
Oh, gods! If they see me I'm dead! I can take them down easily, but in doing so I would draw attention to myself! What can I do?
She wondered, alarmed.
She began to concentrate, hoping to find some way out. She could not run away, if the three had seen her they would have become suspicious; throwing oneself overboard was suicide; facing them and killing them would have solved the problem but would have created a bigger one. If some villagers had witnessed the murder or found the bodies he could have run to the nearest military base to inform the local commander of the incident. He would certainly have unleashed his soldiers in search of the murderer, complicating her situation and that of her countrymen hidden in the nearby hospital.
Think, think!
She told herself, as she felt a strange sensation pervading her mind. Meanwhile, the military grew closer. They passed by her but strangely they did not notice her, continuing their journey and chatting among themselves.
But what ... How did they not see me?
She wondered, surprised.
Ah, who cares! Better to move!
She resumed her journey, walking slowly along the road near the harbor, then turned south and then east, passing in front of a shipyard and some private houses, until she stopped in front of a one-story building, on whose facade there was a sign bearing the inscription in red letters:
THE PEARL OF THE NORTH SEAS
She was about to enter it, when suddenly he sheard a child's voice saying:
" Give me back!"
She turned and saw a girl with long black hair who was trying to get a toy car that two little hooligans had stolen from her.
I hate bullies ...
Ayano thought, irritated.
"No, please!" The child prayed.
"If you want your car back you have to turn around three times!" One of the two bullies told her.
The swordswoman reached them in a few steps and said to them:
"Enough is enough, you two! Come on, give it back!"
"Where did that voice come from?" The first bully asked himself, a blond boy.
"I have no idea ..." His friend replied, his hair brown, looking around with concern.
Besides being bullies, are they also blind?
"I said, give them back, little criminals!"
Having said this Ayano pushed the blond making him fall to the ground.
"Ouch! Who pushed me?"
"I don't know ... But I like this story less and less!"
"I repeat it to you one last time: give it back that little car!"
To this the two, terrified, fled, leaving the stolen goods on the ground and shouting:
"There are ghosts!"
Ayano smiled with satisfaction, then picked up the car and handed it to the little girl.
"Take."
The child, even if surprised, took it.
"Goodbye!" She greeted her.
Back on her feet she made to enter the restaurant but something caught her eye: a Renault Scenic was parked close to her. But what really surprised her is that, looking in the rearview mirror, she noticed that something important was missing: her reflection. surprised, sat down on the ground.
I am invisible ... Then the brew works!
She thought, stunned.
Now I understand why those three have not seen me ... It was enough to concentrate on activating invisibility. So to be visible again, I'll just have to concentrate again.
Her intuition proved to be correct when, after closing her eyes and concentrating, she discovered that she was visible again.
This skill will be very useful to me ...
She thought satisfied as she stood up.
Having done this, she crossed the front door of the restaurant, where she was greeted by a loud slap on the cheek.
"Fuck you, slut!" A woman with long black hair, green eyes and lipstick insulted her.
"But what did I do to you?" She asked in amazement, while massaging the injured part with one hand.
The woman stared at her for a few seconds, then assumed a displeased expression.
"Oh, sorry ... I mistook you for another."
"I realized it."
"My name is Minerva Orland, and I own this restaurant."
"I am Ayame Okami."
"Japanese?"
"Yup."
"I guess you want a table."
"Exact."
"Follow me, I'll make your way."
Dark-haired escorted her through the dining room, making her sit at a table with a black and white polka-dot tablecloth on it.
"What would you like?"
"Pasta and beans first, potato croquettes second."
"I'll prepare them right away!" With that, Minerva said goodbye.
Ayano snorted and looked around; the room was crowded with customers who ate and chatted. Among these were two girls, one with long blond hair and brown eyes and the other who had long red hair and brown eyes. Both looked at her wrong.
"I didn't know they served the Eleven here." The first commented.
"She should be in a labor camp!" The second said contemptuously.
Damn…
Ayano thought, annoyed.
She waited for about ten minutes, then saw Minerva approaching with a plate in her hand, which she placed on the table.
"Here you go ... Pasta and beans, as you asked."
"And the croquettes?"
"I'm going to prepare them."
She was left alone again and started eating.
Finally a proper meal ... We wanted it after 5 months in a coma.
She thought enthusiastically.
However, her enthusiasm died away as soon as the events that occurred 5 months ago came back to her, when the girls who thought her best friend had almost killed her.
I need to talk to her, to find out the truth. Too many things don't come back ...
She said to herself seriously.
When she had finished she put the cutlery on her plate and listened; maybe in all that shouting she could get some useful information. She had luck.
"Did you hear the latest news, Erza?"
"By now I've lost interest in news."
"It appears that a group of rebels linked to the Revolutionary Brigades attacked a military base near Warsaw."
"I already told you that I lost interest in news, especially for those boring like this!"
So there is a movement of resistance to the regime ...
Ayano thought as she drank a glass of water.
"Here are the croquettes!" Minerva warned her, placing her plate in front of her.
"Thank you." She replied, distracted.
"Wait till you eat them, or you'll find yourself with a burned tongue! They're hot, let them cool down."
"Ok ..."
Minerva bowed and walked away again.
I must try to get in touch with these ... Revolutionary Brigades. They could help me in my business.
She waited for ten minutes, then began eating the second plate.
By the way, what time is it?
She wondered.
Looking over her shoulder she saw a clock hanging on the wall that marked 12:44.
Well, I have plenty of time to feed, shop and go back.
Thought this she went back to eating.