Chapter 4: Where the Heart Rests

The sun was sinking into the horizon, dyeing the sky in warm tones. Normally, at this altitude, the wind would be so strong it’d be impossible to stay standing. But here, in the SkyWard—the heart of Aness—the breeze barely cools the skin.

My city changed too much while I was… “hibernating.” And honestly, “too much” doesn’t even begin to cover it. I managed to get a full view of the twenty-four floating islands from up here, each with its own style. I'm standing in the Phania district, Aness’s commercial epicenter, full of department stores, restaurants, theme bars, and every kind of entertainment. But what I love most about this place is its height.

“Have they found out anything else about the attack? About how all this started… how the city floated up and split into flying blocks?”

“If they know, they haven’t told me. That day was chaos. A light engulfed the whole city and the ground just… broke apart.”

“There should be images or videos that caught the moment.”

“Mmm… there are, but only from the outside. The light that wrapped the city was so bright, it didn’t let anyone see a thing.”

There had been a threat for that day. Politicians, businessmen, celebrities, and the police had all received the same message: on January first, everyone in the city would perish. Those who took it seriously and packed their bags survived. But they were few. Most thought it was just another tasteless prank… until it actually happened.

“When the light faded, the city was no longer whole. The islands were floating… and all the buildings looked different.”

“Different?”

“The steel was rusted, the concrete was crumbling, the wires were dangling and bare. It looked like nobody had lived here in years because everything was left behind.

“And the people?”

“Gone. Not a soul on the streets, not in the buildings. Only ruins remained…”

My chest tightened. That meant my family perished too. No one remembered me or knew who I was. Everything that once was my life had vanished… there was no proof I ever existed. Except for this tower.

After a reflective silence, I sat down behind Ien, cross-legged. Her gaze was still lost, fixed on nothing.

“Would you believe me if I told you my grandfather designed the SkyWard?”

“Well… it does carry your last name, so I guess I shouldn’t be that surprised.”

“He died during construction. He was supposed to give the press conference to unveil the project, alongside the tower’s owner. They waited until at least ten floors were up before announcing it, so it wouldn’t seem like vaporware. It was going to be his life's work…”

“Judging by how amazing it is… your grandfather must’ve been something else.”

The SkyWard didn’t have a rooftop, not really; right now, we were sitting at the very top—an open glass semicircle that let you see the sky from the highest floor. From where we sat, you could see down into the building’s hollow core, that endless shaft where elevators went up and down.

“It was on the tenth floor that he fell. They ruled it a work accident. He never got to see the building finished… same as me. But I find comfort knowing at least they gave it his name.”

“SkyWard… definitely fitting for the tallest building on the highest island.”

“They were going to name it The Ascendrix. My grandpa told me the owner thought that name would attract young people.”

“Thank God they didn’t. Sounds like a rock band from last century.”

“Must’ve been rough finishing the building without him, huh?“

“After the light and the city's division, everything around us changed. You must’ve noticed it when we arrived at the base in Hyra. The gravity feels different, the atmosphere is thicker. But here, on Nezt Island, the air is lighter and gravity’s weaker. That’s why the buildings are so tall—and repairing age damage was easier.”

“From what I can imagine… that phenomenon, or attack, made time run faster in the city.”

“There are a few theories about that. Unfortunately, what happened inside the city during the disaster is still a mystery. But at its core… it’s like you said. Time is relative.”

If I was going to wake up in another world, I’d rather be a dragon-slaying hero—not a girl soldier with the power to… replay history. Maybe… I should rewind to when Amélie rescued us. Not a bad moment to relive. Though I’d have preferred time-slowing powers or space portals—something more fitting for an epic fight.

Time stones… Links… Floating islands… This is all too much. Getting tossed into a new body, dealing with a bunch of lunatics, and… kissing Ien like that…

Yeah, that last part was out of line.

“Ien…” I said softly. “I still don’t know exactly how the time stone works, but I could try to rewind… before, you know…”

Ien turned her head toward me.

“You don’t have to. It wasn’t your fault.”

She… She’s my guardian angel. The only person I need in the middle of this hell. Without a doubt… the most important one in my life.

“Yeah. You’re right. It’s not my fault…”

I hugged her from behind and kissed her neck, pressing my breasts against her back, holding onto her shoulders. Her only response was to look down at the distant main street below.

“I don’t really care if you hate me… I’m not looking for your love.”

“Then what are you looking for?” Ien asked, voice hollow.

Slowly, I let my hands slide down her waist. It just felt so good being close to her… and not being pushed away.

Her movements—so delicate—were trying to tell me to accept her silent rejection. But she’s wrong. Or maybe not. Maybe she knows. And she chooses to give in, telling herself it's just another urge she can't control. Like me.

This breeze is so calm… The world looks so peaceful from up here. It’s so easy to forget everything when you’re resting this high above.

“I could float among the clouds…” I felt weightless, free. “Ien… I didn’t ask for this. You get that, right?”

I laced my fingers with hers and kept kissing her.

“Is this okay…? Does it feel right, letting me do this? In the end, it won’t change anything.”

“Ien…”

I said her name and hugged her tighter. I sought the feel of her soft cheek against mine and closed my eyes to savor the texture.

“I woke up a hundred years in the future. Everything I knew is gone. I’ve got a magic stone stuck in my back, and I’m fighting terrorists I don’t even understand. I almost died more times than I can count, and now I’m here, with my brain fucked up by an experiment you were actively part of.

“I never asked for any of this, Ien. You get that, right? Do you get it? I… didn’t choose to feel this way about you. You’re the one who decided what my emotions were supposed to be. I’m not asking for you to feel the same. Not even for you to look at me differently. I just need… something from you to keep from breaking.

“Ien… this is your fault. Nobody made you do it… You volunteered for this role. You can’t be that naive to think there’d be no consequences. Furthermore, you have to live with that—with the weight of your actions.

“And the only thing being asked in return… is to let me hear your voice. To taste the softness of your lips. To let my hands wander across your skin… to see your bare body, and breathe in the intoxicating scent of your hair.

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“It’s not much, considering you destroyed what was left of me.

“Whatever you feel about me can be whatever you want,”—and I whispered in her ear—“It’s your fault, Ien.”

“I know. I chose this,” She replied.

“You won’t say anything else?”

“I don’t need to. You can… take whatever you want from me. It was the worst thing a person could do to another.

I gently took her face and turned it toward me until our lips met. Likewise, I kissed her tenderly but got no response. She left a small gap between her lips… she knew what I wanted. She gave herself over to my desires.

She was a doll without emotions, filling my emptiness… never satisfying it.

It’s addictive… brushing her little tongue with mine, tasting her saliva…

It’s sick… I know. Even I can tell. But I can’t stop. She tastes so good… smells so good… her breasts, her legs… how nice it feels to stroke her hair. She’s so addicting and silent. I even enjoy her disdain… her contempt tastes like syrup. Watching her tremble through these new amber eyes… the noises her gestures make, so full of indifference…

In this body that isn’t mine… with red hair I never had… large breasts that now feel Ien’s warmth. A fragile, delicate body… so high on her…

Why am I crying? If she’s so delicious… why does the wind carry away my tears…? What's making me feel like I'm going crazy?

Ien… save me, please…

“Ien… you really do taste amazing.”

When I finished, I backed off a little, dropped to my knees on the floor, and turned my head with a wide, pleasant smile. A tear fell… and I could taste its saltiness.

“SESSION COMPLETE. PLEASE EXIT THE CHAMBER.”

A synthetic voice pulled me out of the delirium I was drowning in, and with it, the entire city scene began to dissolve.

The orange sunset turned into a deep green, and the once-weightless air grew thick and heavy.

Everything sank—along with my darkest desires. Leaving me and Ien inside a tank, submerged in liquid that covered us completely.

“Aah…” I gasped as I broke the surface. “I’ll admit, this technology is impressive.”

Ien emerged too, gripping the edge of the pool.

“You like it? This is just a taste of what you can do in this era.”

“When you’ve got free time, take a walk through the city.” A woman waited for us outside the pool “Your next day off is tomorrow.”

She was tall, with golden blonde hair and bright blue eyes—so bright they looked fake. Her mane was long, but with that kind of natural messiness that came off more stylish than sloppy. She looked exactly like how you'd picture a mad scientist: half-unbuttoned lab coat, worn-out jeans, and a cotton T-shirt with the word “Fresh” stamped across her chest… probably not by accident.

I know I shouldn’t dwell on this, but I’d be a hypocrite not to mention it: her tits were huge. Eye-catching to the point of aggression. That shirt had a life of its own and knew exactly where to tighten up just to mess with you. Even the blind would notice. And if that were all… but no. Her hips had that perfect curve that made the lab coat look sexy. I don’t want to sound crude, but her ass was unreal. It made you want to do all sorts of things to her—none of them polite.

“Doctor Hanna, thanks for today’s session. I feel… refreshed.”

"You didn't really have a choice," she said in her cynical way. “In the end, that forced emotional bond caused exactly the side effects we expected. That’s on us. The least we can do is take some pressure off.”

This big pool I’m floating in is called the Sensory Stabilization Chamber. By submerging in its fluid—which looks almost exactly like seawater—you can experience a reality so vivid, it’s hard to tell it apart from the real one.

Inside, you can tweak all sorts of settings: neural restoration, memory recovery, and other… weirder things.

In my case, it’s basically prescription therapy. Helps with the aftereffects of the brainwashing they did to me. It dulls my impulses, stabilizes me emotionally. When I come out, I feel calmer. But while I’m submerged… everything’s amplified. I couldn’t believe how intense my emotions were just a moment ago. They explained that for the treatment to work, the source of my impulses has to be present. It’s also necessary—it’s a pressure valve. If I don’t let it out, I could “explode.”

Which, in my case, means hurting Ien. And myself.

“Now that I think about it, we gave you a pretty damn good body, huh?” Doctor Hanna said with a teasing smile. “Defined curves… and those boobs, almost the same size as mine.”

“Don’t look at me like that, it’s embarrassing,” I laugh in back and say “You’re undressing me with your mind.”

Doctor Hanna had a taste for dark humor, and I couldn’t help but play along. Ironically, I havn't an identity crisis…

“Ien, you sure you don’t want us to tweak yours too? We could enhance those hips a bit.”

“No, thanks. I’m fine the way I am.”

Ien averted her gaze, subtly pouting.

“Are you done yet?”

Leaning with casual grace against the doorway was Amélie. Arms crossed, posture flawless, and that default expression of complete indifference. Her outfit was so perfectly put-together, you’d question if she was really part of a military unit. She could be on the cover of a fashion magazine… and still radiate that no-nonsense aura.

“Change out of your swimsuits. We’ve got an urgent errand to run,” she ordered dryly.

“Ah, Amelie. Good morning,” I greeted her cheerfully.

“It’s Amélie, with an accent. You’re pronouncing it utterly wrong,” she corrected me while scanning me from head to toe. “Don’t you think you went a little overboard with her?”

“The reconstruc—”

“Overboard? With me? Seriously?” I cut off the doctor. “One day I had a dick, decent muscle tone, black hair, hypnotic gray eyes… and the next, I wake up with tits, a glorious ass, fine features, red hair, and amber eyes. So tell me—where exactly did we go too far?”

Okay, maybe I laid the sarcasm on a bit thick.

“We rebuilt it according to what her DNA indicated—and still indicates. I really don’t have an explanation for it, and it’s not like we’re particularly worried.”

“Right, easy to say when it’s not your body…” I muttered, then quickly added, “Sorry. Didn’t mean to sound rude.”

“I was more referring to her proportions… she looks like she stepped out of an R-rated movie.”

Amélie let out a deep sigh and helped us out of the pool.

“The time’s getting close. Another time-stone is about to activate… ugh, you’re heavy. And there’s still a lot to prepare.”

“I want to ask, and at the same time, I really don’t…”

“All time-stones activate every now and then,” Amélie explained. “They follow a pattern we figured out a long time ago. The problem is, every time one activates, something... happens. Best to experience it yourself. Just be aware that when it does, there is a race against time to obtain it.

The doctor handed me a towel without saying a word.

“Thanks. Couldn't we simply secure them in advance? Lock them up in a controlled place before they activate?”

“For that, we’d need to know their exact locations,” the doctor replied. “And as you’ve probably noticed by now, the districts—or floating islands—are arranged in a spiraling ascent. The first stone to activate was on Nezt Island. From there, the pattern has moved island by island.”

“The issue,” Ien added, “is that we can only detect the activation through spatial sensitivity. Once one triggers, we deploy sensors, nerves, whatever we have, across multiple points to try and locate it. We know the when and the where… but only in rough terms. The exact timing and final position always have a degree of unpredictability.”

“I’m the stone of one link… and my island was the lowest of them all. But there are still stones left to activate, right?”

“Actually… it’s the other way around. Your island is the highest one—Nezt District.”

“What?” I blinked, stunned. “I thought it was the lowest? Then if my stone was the first to activate, why did I only wake up a couple of days ago?”

“That can’t—”

“Classified info, I get it. Fine… Someday you’ll have to give me a real answer.”

“What we can tell you is that it had to do with your recovery,” Dr. Hanna said. “When the stone activated, the tech to restore your body didn’t exist yet. But at least now you’re no longer in life-threatening danger.”

It didn’t fully satisfy me, but at least it was something. They’re clearly hiding everything related to my brainwashing… Smells rotten.

“So, do you know what happens when all the stones activate? Don’t tell me the world’s going to explode...”

“We don’t know,” Dr. Hanna admitted, pulling out a handkerchief and gently wiping my face. “We’re dealing with something more mystical than scientific. Even after all these years, we still haven’t cracked the mystery behind the stones. We work with what we can observe, what we know happens. For us, it’s an axiom… for now.”

“What we do know,” Amélie cut in, “is that we’re not the only ones looking for them.”

“Besides the government… you've already met that crazy bunch chasing the stones and the carriers too,” said Ien, sending a chill down my spine. My first encounter with them had been anything but pleasant. “They don’t have names, don’t give reasons, hide their faces, and show no mercy. Even their communications are encrypted. The only way to identify them is through the blacklist.”

Just to track down those interfering with the temporal stones, the government created a blacklist in collaboration with our team. It lists the codenames of these so-called “terrorists” along with a bounty for their heads. It's funny—it’s like going back to the Wild West.

“Our next stop is the fifth-lowest island,” said Amélie. “The Rossanetti District. I won’t lie, I’ve been waiting for a while to go there… Fufu. Spending a month in that place is going to be fun.”

Amélie had that devilish look on her face again—she's so shameless… but deep down, she’s actually pretty adorable.

“Fun? What’s so special about it?”

“It’s the hooker district,” she said, as if stating the weather.

“…”

…

“…What?”

“What what?” Amélie shot back with a cheeky grin.

“You’re joking…” I turned to Ien for confirmation.

“It’s the red-light district,” she replied, clearly uncomfortable. “Bars, nightclubs, brothels… you know.”

“That’s… terrible.”

I couldn’t hide the huge grin spreading across my face.

“You don’t have to look that happy… you’re practically drooling,” Ien muttered, elbowing me in the ribs, clearly annoyed. “Come on, get changed. We’re heading out soon.”

“Yeah, yeah… on it,” I said, suddenly feeling a new burst of energy.

“Before you go, Robin,” Dr. Hanna stopped me, “congratulations on officially joining the company. I hope you feel at home in Line Corrector.”

“Thank you! Really, for everything, Doctor.”

With a wave, I headed into the changing room with Ien to finish getting dressed.

I felt light. The urge to tease Ien had faded—well, a little—and that emptiness in my chest was gone.

A new “me” had come out of the Stabilization Chamber…

And I still wonder just how badly they’ve scrambled my brain… because if you think about it—even just a little—I've accepted my new life way too easily. Living in the moment… I’ve always been like that. Or at least, that’s how I remember it.