Milea's laboratory was, as always, quietly impersonal.
White walls.
A metal floor that caught the light.
The steady drone of machinery.
A faint trace of something chemical in the air.
Milea was at her terminal when she spoke, without looking up.
"Have you gotten used to things here, Lady Letaria?"
"…More or less."
Saying a clean yes felt wrong. She kept it vague.
Milea continued, unperturbed.
"Is the food here to your liking?"
"It is, actually…there's quite a variety."
"Good. I'm glad to hear it."
Her voice was, as ever, perfectly even.
(We're eating the same food. Same tests. No abnormal results…)
(…I'm being observed. I can feel it.)
◆◆◆
"Now then—shall we begin the examination?"
At Milea's direction, Letaria undressed and lay down on the bare examination table.
A membrane of light descended from the ceiling and passed slowly through her body.
(…Not that I would say I'm used to it.)
She was calmer than the first time. Slightly.
Then Milea murmured, almost as an aside—
"Your body is quite lovely, you know."
"Wha—?!"
Letaria grabbed the sheet and pulled it to her chin.
"Wh-wh-what are you saying?!
Out of nowhere, you just—!"
Milea was looking at her terminal, expression unchanged.
"I said what I observed."
"…!"
(This woman is…!
She means no harm, and somehow that makes it so much worse!)
Her face was burning.
Her ears too.
Milea proceeded with the examination, entirely undisturbed by any of this.
◆◆◆
When the examination was over, Milea settled into a chair and turned to face her.
"You've been talking a lot more lately."
"…Have I?"
"Yes. When you first arrived, you were far more standoffish."
"Standoffish is a rude way to put it!"
"But you're different now. You're changing."
Milea smiled a little.
Letaria bristled—but couldn't quite deny it.
(…I do talk with Milea quite freely now.)
She had trusted no one at first.
Had been certain she couldn't trust anyone in this world.
But—
(…This person is…how to put it…)
Not like being angry with someone.
Not like being exasperated with someone.
An unnamed feeling that lingered in her chest.
Milea, unaware of any of this, looked down at her terminal and said,
"I've been watching your simulator scores, by the way."
"…!"
Letaria's spine straightened without her meaning to.
"Impressive. It's reached the point where 'impressive' almost undersells it."
"W-well, naturally!
It takes considerable effort for me to handle Arden with the grace it deserves!"
"I suppose it does."
Milea laughed lightly.
That laugh felt, for some reason, faintly rewarding.
◆◆◆
(…I still haven't said anything about my magic.)
The thought surfaced from somewhere deep.
In the old world, they had called it useless. Over and over.
A power that only "sensed" things. Nothing more.
But—
(I know it's what's supporting my movements.)
In combat. In the simulator.
She could feel what the enemy would do before they did it.
(But…)
She hadn't told anyone.
The moment to say it had simply never come, amid everything.
And—
(My magic was…something to be ashamed of.)
This world had no magic.
So there was no reason to speak of it.
(…)
At that moment—
"Lady Letaria?"
Milea's voice cut through.
"…What is it?"
"You were somewhere else just now."
"I was not!"
Milea laughed.
◆◆◆
"You do need to learn the weapons properly, though."
"…"
"You've only ever fought hand-to-hand."
"I know!
I simply haven't gotten used to them yet!"
Milea shrugged.
"If you'd prefer to keep Arden's arms
in one piece, you'll work it out."
"I will work on it!"
"Yes, yes. Very well, my lady."
Milea tapped through something on her terminal and brought up an authorization screen.
"Here you are—and sorry for the wait. Clearance to enter the residential sector."
"…!"
Letaria's expression shifted, just slightly.
"Take an escort your first time. And—here."
Milea handed her a small bracelet-type device.
"…What is this bracelet?
I've noticed everyone here wears something similar."
"It's an authentication key. It's your key and your money."
"…Key and money?"
Milea smiled.
"Details tomorrow.
Your escort will come for you, so go with her."
Letaria looked down at the bracelet.
(…Key and money, is it?)
Out into the streets of this world.
Her first time outside.
Something in her chest gave a quiet, involuntary flutter.