Hope born of solitus

*

When had I stopped running? The more I followed the tracks, the more colour seemed to return to the world. Beyond just a murky grey plane, there was now black. It was getting dark and hard to see, because people weren't suppose to be here. The eery quietness was oddly comforting. I ran faster and faster, spotting a light in the distance. It was the next station, I couldn't let others see that I entered from the tracks, so I began to run on the wall. My legs climbed higher and higher, the momentum caused my mass to defy gravity.

Soon, I was near the ceiling. I slid forward at high speeds and leapt at a supporting pillar. To the others it must have looked like a black flash struck the pillar and vanished. I slipped into the crowd with quick steps, moving as fast as possible. Low ranking magical girls could match fast cars and sports cars, I tried to stay below the sound barrier but above a race car so that I wouldn't be spotted nor would the environment get destroyed.

I have to make a note to tomorrow's Lastia... I tapped out the cashless card meant for transport fees at another station. She'd be confused on why I'm here... Or maybe it'll work itself out if I pretended that I spent the day walking here from the other station. It's barely noon, so there shouldn't be a problem. It would have looked weird if I immediately scan the card at 2 different locations, but it would already be midnight when the next Lastia swaps in to help me do it.

As for other purchases... I meant to use cash, so it should be fine. I feel absolutely weak, in order not to alert any bystanders, I took my time healing my arm back up as I ran over the train tracks. Fatigue... It's not something the body can get used to, so this was my first time feeling tired. My heart kept pounding and I couldn't breathe for a while, as if someone was squeezing my throat tight.

The wind brushes against my face under a sea of grey and neon lights. My skin felt cold from all the sweat drying off right after I left the station's entrance. I finally made it, to a place where I can relax. The jarring requiem of traffic dominates the local atmosphere. No matter how far I stepped, I could hear the wind rushing by heavy masses of metal, honking and perhaps even shouting every once in a while. The strangest thing was that it all felt serene. In the backdrop of that deluge of chaos, a never ending symphony that crashes and consumes itself, the smoky grey sky and tough but smooth pavement under my feet... It was comforting compared to that suffocating space in that other world.

It was terrifying. A region drained of its colour, of its culture and warmth. It was otherworldly, not just because it was monochromatic, but because it felt foreign. In contrast this city gives off plenty of life, it felt lived in and is being lived in right now. The presence of people, even if I don't personally know a single one of them... At least they're the same species as I am.

Submerged in these thoughts, I walked quite some distance. Even if I were to idle my time away pondering about what had happened or what I should do next, I figured it would be better to get further away from the train station. At times like these, I get the rare feeling that it was better to have this curse. Losing the good also meant losing the bad, I can forget about all the awful things, I can get rid of any trauma easily.

To begin with, I don't think there are any phone booths in this era. If I wanted to call someone, it has to be via another person's personal handheld phone. It was kinda scary talking to strangers, even if their presence was reassuring compared to facing off against that Trace. I don't know them, what if they attack? If I transform into a magical girl I might accidentally kill them. Their bones would crumble like cookies.

I walked into a fast food restaurant and chose a family of 3. The presence of their family might make them more charitable, at the same time... I'll ask the mother who might empathise more.

"Uhmm... Excuse... M-me. I'm... I'm a little lost, could I borrow someone's phone to give my relatives a call?" (Lastia)

I turned my gaze between each member before resting onto the mother. They look like nothing out of the ordinary. The father was decently built and lean, but he also seemed to put on some fat, likely from an office job. The son had eyes like his mother, but the shape of his jaw was closer to his father. He was a kid whose legs barely reached the ground. Unlike the other 2 who had black hair, the mother was a brunette. The years had taken a toll on her eyelids and she had a single finger on the fries. There was no going around it, I interrupted them.

"... Alright, how long do you need it for? Could you make the call here?" (another)

"... 2 minutes. I'll do it at this seat." (Lastia)

"Here." (Mother)

Success. I felt a little proud for being able to talk to strangers. It was nerve wracking, like pouring mercury down my throat. I typed in the number that I wrote into one of the many paper slips on my wallet, and pressed the call button. After ringing for some time...

"... Hello? Who's this?" (Sariel)

"... The Remnant is near, she looks like a girl and was last seen at Manukia station. I escaped to the neighbouring Erupi station. I'll continue the trip, but I thought I'd just let you know, so nobody gets ambushed... " (Lastia)

I could almost hear her hold her breath. Information flashed past her mind, she had to sift to the one that was most important.

"... Alright, thanks for letting me know. I'll call Manukia's girls. If there's anything else, please let me know. Even if you are the current Lastia who hasn't made memories with us, we still care about Lastia. " (Sariel)

A subtle warning, yet there was a sense of comfort to it that wouldn't be found anywhere in that monochromatic world. Maybe I really was traumatised. I don't want to see the Remnant ever again.

"... I'll be sure to lessen your worries. Tomorrow's Lastia will hopefully return as we discussed, maybe it's be safer if you received her. " (Lastia)

"... I'll think about it. See ya. " (Sariel)

" Bye. " (Lastia)

Whether they listened in on my conversation or not, the general world correction theorem would have detected Remnant in our conversation and replaced everything with false memories. It should also have made it harder for normal people to spot me when I first escaped to Erupi's underground train station.