This is an experiment that I'm trying out. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: A New World

This was not what she wanted.

Various different noises echoed from all around her. Each sound was distinct, different in pitch and tone. They were everywhere.

This was not what she was promised.

She couldn't help but stumble, gaping at the sights before her eyes. Such large, towering structures loomed overhead. It was intimidating.

This was not how things were supposed to be.

Pandora's mind was jumbled, unable to properly fathom the predicament she currently found herself in.

There were contraptions all around her. People seemed to ride within them, similar to carriages, only faster, more efficient, and made of metal. Each contraption made noises, vrooming or humming as they zoomed past.

The area around her was crowded. There were so many people, all of them dressed in strange clothes like high nobility. Many of them gave her odd looks. Others whispered amongst themselves as they took suspicious glances at her. Some parents even shielded the eyes of their children as they walked past.

It was all overwhelming. Pandora didn't know how to process anything that she was seeing.

Pandora thought back, remembering what had just happened prior to this. She could recall the events very well.

She was in Elior Forest. Emilia, the half-elf girl, held the key to the seal in which Pandora sought. She could see the key and Pandora urged her to use it. At long last, the seal which had remained locked and chained for so long would finally open.

It happened. Emilia listened to her. The key was inserted into the lock, allowing the seal's door to open. Pandora was able to access whatever was hidden within.

Contrary to what she thought, the seal opened to reveal nothing but an empty, white void. Pandora was confused, but not undeterred. Perhaps it was just a test, or some sort of barrier. It didn't matter to her.

Pandora felt a strange calling, prompting her to step inside. Upon walking in, she stood on what seemed like nothing. Her body encompassed little to no space within the void of light.

That was when everything changed.

The void consumed her, like a predator lying in wait for its prey. It invaded her vision, forcing her to brace herself and close her eyes. It felt as though her perception had been completely warped. Her body suddenly felt heavy, only to feel normal again just a moment later.

When she opened her eyes, Pandora found herself here. Suddenly, she was in a new, foreign place.

Where in the world was she?

She straightened herself, trying to regain some of her composure. For the first time in many, many years, she felt nervous. She was anxious, afraid even.

The door had shut behind her, too. There seemed to be no possible way for her to return.

She had nothing.

Pandora took her first steps forward, pondering to herself. She had no idea of where she would go, but she wouldn't accomplish anything by remaining still. There must be a way to return, she just needed to find it.

She continued walking amongst the people of this foreign place, making sure to follow the walkway in ordinance to their example. Most of them attempted to avoid her, continuing to give her odd looks as they strolled past. She hadn't a clue as to why, but she hardly paid any mind to it.

As she continued forth, she marveled at everything in her vicinity. It was all so unique, so advanced. It was all enigmatic to her.

Most commonly, she observed the many different buildings that were around her. They were all unlike any building that she'd seen before. Even the shops were strangely sophisticated. They sold strange items, or even sold items that were often considered a luxury.

Was she in some type of city for nobles?

Some buildings possessed screens, which played some sort of image. At times, they would display products, or even other people.

Pandora simply couldn't fathom as to why they would put people and objects within those screens. Was it some sort of punishment? Were those particular individuals forced to fulfill that task for eternity on repeat? How horrifyingly torturous.

There were other displays, as well. They were images, or rather drawings, that resembled people. Those displays featured these "drawn people" in certain scenarios and unique outfits, plastering them across buildings and shops.

Pandora didn't understand the purpose of them. Were they meant to be warnings? Perhaps tellings of the future?

She couldn't understand the writing on some signs. She concluded that they were written in a foreign language. Though, miraculously, she could understand the people's speech. She could understand each and every word that they spoke

How odd, she thought.

"Excuse me, ma'am."

Pandora ignored the voice. She need not pay any heed to any fools that may address her. There were currently more important things to focus on.

Unfortunately, someone stepped in front of her. She failed to stop in time, resulting in her colliding with the individual in question.

She stumbled back, but the man that she ran into didn't move at all. Pandora quickly regained composure, looking at the man to gauge his appearance.

He wore some type of sophisticated uniform, mostly blue in color. Around his upper body was some sort of vest. It seemed heavy, so perhaps it was used as some sort of armor? If so, it was unlike any armor that Pandora had ever seen.

The man even wore a strange hat on his head, one with a golden symbol embedded into the front of it. It wasn't typically common to see a hat. How rare, Pandora thought.

He gave her a narrowed look. If Pandora wasn't mistaken, he was quite repulsed.

"Disgusting. Do you not realize that there are children around?" he said, his voice laced with his detestation. "For violating public nudity laws, I'm afraid that you'll have to come with me."

He reached behind him, grabbing hold of some type of metal chain. He began to approach her, holding out his other hand in an attempt to grab her.

How amusing. If this man was going to be a nuisance, then she may as well just get rid of him.

"This man should not be here," she spoke, her voice firm, yet soft and delicate. "He merely continued about his day, never once laying eyes on me."

Everything seemed to freeze for a moment. Pandora's expression contained that of a small smile, all while the man's actions completely ceased.

Seconds began to pass, the wind starting to pick up. Pandora's cloth blew with the wind and, in that moment, Pandora felt strangely exposed. The man seemed to snap out of his stupor, his face reddening before becoming noticeably angry.

Nothing had happened. Her Authority didn't work. The man had only stopped out of pure, genuine confusion.

… What happened to her Authority?!

"Ma'am, you're under arrest!"

Pandora, for the first time in forever, felt the instinctive feeling to run.

Without much hesitation, she listened to that instinct.

"Hey! Get back here!"

The man shouted after her, but Pandora sprinted away in the opposite direction. There seemed to be a lot of people around, allowing her to hide just a little bit easier. Unfortunately, her appearance was very distinct, which also made her easy to spot in a crowd.

The man had even called for backup. It made Pandora's situation even worse.

Luckily, she was able to find a place to catch her breath, hiding in a small alleyway between two shops. She had the opportunity to further ponder on what was going on.

Not even her Authority seemed to work. Did this place completely hinder her abilities?

Bearing that in mind, Pandora realized that she also felt different, both mentally and physically. With her Authority gone, her body was no longer under its effects, nor were her emotions.

Before, her body would expel anything that tainted her appearance, such as dirt or sludge. Now, however, she no longer had that luxury. She could see and feel it on the bottoms of her feet. It was an unusual sensation, something that felt strangely gross.

When it came to her emotions, Pandora was perplexed. She was unsure of what was going on, suddenly overwhelmed by all of the immense feelings which swelled around her heart and mind. After being repressed by her Authority for so long, she could feel her emotions start to arise. It was quite difficult for her to process.

Even with her emotions unrestrained, she couldn't properly understand them. Pandora had absolutely no idea as to what to do with herself.

For the first time in a long time, she felt lost.

"Well, what do we have here?" a voice asked from the shadows. Pandora perked up, looking further into the alleyway. "A fresh new donation, just fer us!"

From the darkness of the alley emerged three men. Each wore gruff expressions with outfits that matched. Pandora found herself repulsed by their appearances.

The man in the front seemed to be the leader. He held a dagger of some kind, holding and flailing it around rather clumsily. She focused the blade as she contemplated her situation.

… Was she being robbed?

"You said it," another man chimed in. "And look at her! She's a pretty one, too!"

"Wait, guys," the third man spoke. "Look at her again. She looks homeless. She's all dirty and she's basically only wearing rags."

The other two paused at their companion's words. They blinked, giving Pandora an additional once-over.

The man in the front screamed out in exasperation. He held his head with both hands. "Dammit! I thought we had somethin' here, but she's jus' as broke as us!"

Pandora couldn't help but feel offended.

"Hold on a second, man," the second man interjected. His companions looked at him with their full attention. "She might be broke, but she's homeless, right? That means that nobody is gonna realize that she's gone. We can take her and satisfy ourselves to our heart's content! There's three of us, so there's no chance she can get away!"

Immediately, the man at the front put the dagger to his companion's throat. With a dark voice, he spoke, "Oi. Robbin' unsuspectin' folks is fine, but I ain't gonna tolerate that sorta behavior. Ya get me?"

His companion nodded with unnatural vigor, showing that he acknowledged his leader's words. He sweat profusely as the other man bore into his soul, judging him. Eventually, the dagger was pulled away from his throat, letting the man take a deep breath and sigh in relief.

The leader turned to face Pandora once more. "Hey, sorry 'bout all that!" he said. "Y'can go if ya want, we won't stop ya."

It was Pandora's turn to blink, utterly perplexed. Her expression retained its naturally emotionless look.

What just happened?

Perhaps it was best not to question it. She didn't waste any time in getting out of that alleyway, going back into the open. She could only hope that the men in blue wouldn't find her.

She followed the walkway until she approached a large group of people. For some reason, they had all decided to cease their walking and gather at this particular corner. Pandora didn't understand why, nor did she choose to question it, so she only proceeded onward.

"Hey, look out!"

Pandora froze. It was yet another instinctive feeling, one that warned her of impending danger. A bright light made itself known in the corner of her eye, prompting her to turn her head. Suddenly, she was facing one of those speeding contraptions head-on.

Her heart stopped. It was unlike anything she'd ever felt before.

Was this what fear felt like?

Something slammed into the side of her body, pushing her out of the way as the contraption barreled past at high speeds.

It took a while for Pandora to gather her bearings, realizing that she was now lying on the ground. Her back and side was also sore, likely from the impact. That was yet another unusual sensation to her.

There was also an unknown weight which pressed down on her backside, only for it to disappear a second later.

"That was close," she heard someone mutter. "Are you alright?"

Pandora looked up, seeing a young man stand above her. He leaned down, offering a hand for her to take. She only stared at it for a few moments, not quite understanding the gesture. After a few moments, however, she finally took it.

The man helped her to her feet, quickly guiding her to the side of the road. Afterward, he gave her an awkward, half-hearted smile. "That was a close one. You should really be more careful, otherwise that truck would've isekai'd you!"

He started to laugh a little at his own words, quite awkwardly, at that. Pandora just looked at him with confusion plastered across her face. With blatant ignorance, she tilted her head and inquired, "'Isekai'd?'"

The man stopped laughing upon hearing her question. It was his turn to look confused. "You mean you don't know what an isekai is?"

She merely shook her head in response. The word was completely foreign to her.

"It's one of the best tropes in manga and anime!" he happily exclaimed. It seemed as though the awkwardness faded away. "It's when a character gets suddenly summoned to another world. It can happen in a lot of ways, but one of the most popular ways for it to happen is to be hit by a truck or something."

He chuckled, scratching at the back of his head. She could only ponder his words.

"Oh— I have to go. Take care, and be more careful next time!"

The man suddenly rushed off, leaving Pandora on her own once more. She zoned out, not even noticing his departure. Her thoughts were entirely too focused on what he'd said prior.

With the way that he described it, did that mean that she was "isekai'd"? Was she brought to another world, separate from her own?

Given everything that was around her, she didn't throw away the possibility. This place was unlike anything from her homeland. Everything was too sophisticated, complex, and advanced. It was beyond even her comprehension

But Pandora continued to muse the man's words. He mentioned that there were ways to do this "isekai" thing. For example, he mentioned that being hit by a "truck" was one way to do so.

She perked up in realization. If she let one of those "truck" contraptions hit her, would she be sent back? Would she return to her world?

Without hesitation, Pandora ran back out into the road. Many people gasped, yelling at her to watch out or come back, but she ignored all of their warnings.

Another "truck" came barrelling forth. Pandora spread out her arms, facing it head-on once more. She steeled her expression as it came closer and closer, fully prepared.

She was ready!

"Take care, Miss. Please try to avoid accidents like that, next time."

Pandora stood outside of what was called a "hospital". One of their "doctors" was seeing her off.

After being hit by the "truck", she was launched quite a large distance and suffered from various injuries. Later, she was told that it was a miracle that she survived, and even more of a miracle that she suffered so few wounds from such a severe accident.

Apparently, she was immediately rushed to this "hospital" building after said accident occurred. The "doctors" that operated there did their best to restore her to full health. Pandora supposed that "doctors" were the equivalent of healers in this world, while a "hospital" was the classified medical building in which they worked.

Pandora was forced to stay in the "hospital" for a few days while she healed. From her clothes and appearance alone, everyone had assumed that she was homeless. Because of that, they offered her clothing before her departure, which she promptly refused. In the end, she only wore the simple cloth that she'd come with.

When it came time for her to leave, they requested that she sign her name at the bottom of a sheet of paper. Yet another small luxury item being used for such trivial things, Pandora mused.

Upon signing her name, every individual was baffled. None of them could understand her handwriting, thus they all promptly assumed that she was illiterate. Pandora was, admittedly, frustrated by such impudent assumptions.

… At least the meals were decent.

For some reason, they "waved her payment". Pandora wasn't sure as to why, but she felt as though she wouldn't be particularly happy with the reason. She chose not to question it.

Now, though, she was left to explore the open world once again. With nowhere to go, Pandora was left to wander about, aimless in her journey and goal.

At first, she paid it no mind. Pandora believed that she would figure things out before long. Either she would get back to her own world, or she would situate herself here.

She believed that, at some point, things would just work out. In her experience, they always had.

Unfortunately, reality never was so selflessly kind.

Without her Authority, Pandora was left to fend for herself in more ways than one. For many days, she struggled in what seemed to be an endless cycle of torment.

She was weak, unable to defend herself. She was vulnerable to the effects of nature. She was hungry, unsure of where to find food in this foreign world. The small scraps that she was able to scrounge were not nearly enough to satiate her everlasting hunger.

One day, it began to rain. Pandora had little choice but to endure it. She became soaked, drenched in water as it endlessly poured down upon her head.

While the average citizen had the luxury of using their "rain shields", Pandora was forced to take shelter beneath bridges and the roofs of buildings.

As her stomach rumbled and the rain poured, she curled her legs into her chest. She held them close, barely holding back tears.

Her body was sore, almost constantly in pain. Her stomach felt as though it would consume her from within. It was torturous.

She was miserable. She hated living this life.

Though her grip was weak, Pandora couldn't help but hold herself just a little tighter.

Was this how they all felt?

She pondered that question for a while, recalling many of her various atrocities. She recalled each and every action she'd made back in her world. Subsequently, many different people crossed her mind. She wondered if this was how all of them felt, too.

… It was cruel.

Pandora was sure that she would die. She had nothing; she had no one.

She received no pity from the average citizen. In fact, they almost always tried to avoid her. Nobody would help her, not even if she begged, and Pandora didn't know how to fend for herself.

… Perhaps that is what she deserved. As reconciliation for all of her misdeeds, she would suffer and die alone.

By nighttime, the rain finally stopped. She was too tired to move, but she needed to find a better shelter to spend the night. It wasn't like she would sleep much anyway, but it was better than nothing.

Why even continue any longer?

Pandora often asked herself that question. The answer remained elusive, though. Strangely, it felt like something was driving her forward, but she didn't know what.

When she stood, she nearly fell. When she walked, she stumbled. Yet, still, she pushed herself to move.

She could hardly stay conscious. Her mind was going blank, slowing in its awareness and perception. Her vision was blurred and she could feel her body start to give out.

"O-Oi!" a voice called out. She was hardly able to register it. "Ar—ou—ay?

It became too much to bear. Her mind was finally at its breaking point.

With a small smile on her face, Pandora collapsed. It was finally time to give up. She accepted that now.

… But her body never hit the ground

She was caught. With the little perception that she had, Pandora could feel someone's arms latch around her back, keeping her steady. She could feel as her face pressed into someone's chest. She could almost hear the voice of someone calling out to her, but it fell on deaf ears.

Pandora instinctively raised her arms, grabbing hold of the stranger's jacket. Her grip lasted for but a moment, the strength of her body having been fully depleted.

Her mind finally drifted into unconsciousness.

Natsuki Subaru didn't know what to think.

After playing games all day, he'd chosen to go to the store. It didn't hurt to pick up a thing or two, after all, and he could use a break.

He was, admittedly, tired. If the bags under his eyes weren't an indicator of that, then the fact that he was beginning to see things definitely was. Just a moment ago, Subaru even swore that he'd heard someone whisper in his ear. It was creepy.

Then, just as he was about to wipe his eyes, something caught his attention.

It was a girl. She was his age, if he had to guess. With a single glance, Subaru could tell that she was a mess. She was hardly able to walk, looking as if she was going to pass out at any given moment.

Suddenly, she started to fall.

He rushed forward out of natural instinct, barely catching her in time. He'd even dropped his grocery bag in the heat of the moment. His eyes widened as his arms latched around her back. Her hair and body was damp, and her clothing was soaked, like she'd been sitting out in the rain.

Glancing at her body, he noticed the state of her figure. Her arms and stomach were thin, like she hadn't eaten for days. Subaru knew that she was likely malnourished.

She smelled awful, too, like she hadn't bathed in ages.

Concerned, he wondered why this girl was in such terrible health. She wore practically nothing, as well, only some weird sheet or cloth. Was she homeless? Did she have nowhere to go?

He felt her grab at his jacket for a moment, only for her arms to fall immediately after they grabbed hold. It seemed as though she finally passed out. Subaru was left there, holding an unconscious girl in the middle of the sidewalk.

He could feel her breaths. They were heavy, almost desperate.

… Subaru was entirely sure of what he should do.

…

He couldn't just leave her. He needed to help her. He felt a conviction to make sure that she was okay, so that was what he would do.

With a determined look, he heaved her body up, adjusting her in his grasp. A minute later, he held the girl firmly in his arms. It resembled a bridal carry.

His cheeks tinted red, but he immediately snapped himself out of it. Sure, he was carrying a very pretty girl in his arms, but it wasn't the time to think about that. He needed to get this girl some help.

Luckily, he knew just where to go.

"I'm home!"

Subaru did his best to shut the front door behind him. It was difficult to do whilst holding a girl in your arms, to say the least.

Once he did so, the voice of his mother called back, "Welcome home, Subaru! How was your— What happened?"

As she stepped into view, she interrupted herself. It was like her motherly instincts kicked in. She rushed forward in the blink of an eye, standing in front of Subaru as she carefully observed the girl in his arms.

"I don't know," Subaru answered. "I just walked out of the store, then I saw this girl coming down the sidewalk. She passed out and would've hit the ground if I didn't catch her."

Natsuki Naoko didn't answer, but Subaru was sure that she acknowledged his words. He knew that his mother was entirely focused, making her own deductions and doing her best to figure out the best course of action.

She looked at him, her eyes conveying her seriousness. "I'm going to prepare the bath. Please put an extra set of your clothes outside the door, and make your bed."

Subaru could only nod as his mother took the girl from his arms. She went straight to the bathroom, likely to bathe the girl he'd just brought home.

He went to his room, immediately doing the tasks that his mother requested of him. First, he put the clothes outside of the bathroom door, then he made his bed. As a little extra, he even made sure to tidy up his room a little more.

When he was done, he strolled into the living room, flopping himself down onto the couch. He could still hear the sounds of the bath. His mother was probably being very gentle and thorough with her washing.

He let out a sigh. Subaru really didn't think that this would be how he'd bring a girl home. He could only imagine what his father would say.

It wasn't too long before he stopped hearing the sounds of the bath. He heard the bathroom door open for a second, only to close again. His mother was probably grabbing his spare clothes.

After that, it took a few minutes for the door to open again. This time, Subaru stood up, moving toward his room.

He watched as his mother carried the girl to his bed, gently laying her down. Naoko took great care in settling her, pulling the blanket over her once she was done. The girl looked oddly peaceful.

Naoko turned to address her son. "Please watch over her for me. Let me know when she wakes up. I'll make her a full meal."

He nodded, acknowledging his mother's words, but didn't take his eyes off of the girl. Satisfied, Naoko left the room, softly closing the door behind her.

After a few moments of silence, Subaru pulled his swivel chair around. He pulled it close to the bed before taking a seat, continuing to watch over the sleeping girl.

He had to admit, this all felt really weird. Having a complete stranger, and a girl at that, in his bed and wearing his clothes was just blatantly strange.

Still, he found himself entranced by her steady breaths. It was a complete contrast to how her breathing was before. While she still looked malnourished, she looked much cleaner now, too.

Subaru could also tell that she was comfortable. She seemed to naturally melt into his bed, like she hadn't felt the bliss of a mattress in years.

He was just happy that she was going to be okay.

…

He sighed, closing his eyes as his body relaxed into the chair.

Just what did he get himself into this time?