• Date: September 28, 2173


  
• Time: 9:05 AM


  
• Location: Unknown


  

  After dealing with the wyverns, the Ghost Operative, carrying an unconscious young girl, walked forth to find more of her species. If all goes well, this alien child could be the first extraterrestrial that the U.G.E. had encountered that wasn't full of malice. The first contact between human and alien life in this world could spark a change in leadership. After all, Earth and Her People's first contact with the Kaynians hadn't gone well, evidenced by the war being waged on Earth's Solar System. Cutting off from his chain of thoughts was his partner's appearance on his H.U.D.

  [Hey Tale, you should probably find shelter. It's about to rain.]

  ''Understood.''

  Moving to the nearest tree, the Ghost was just in time as rain droplets started to fall from the skies. Soon, the entire forest was engulfed in a storm as strong winds hammered the trees, plants, and flowers. Holding the alien child in his arms, he ensured the young one wouldn't suffer from a cold.

  ''Vee.''

  [Yes.]

  ''Can you give me a reading on the child's physiology?''

  [Sure!]

  Immediately, the A.I. popped up a virtual board on the Ghost's H.U.D. as she placed information regarding the alien child's biology. Thus far, it was like a human, apart from the long ears and hollow bones. Nonetheless, a strange energy signature remained in the child's body. This intrigued the operative, as he realized that understanding this unknown energy was crucial before initiating contact with the rest of the child's species.

  [Still stuck about the strange energy readings in her body?]

  ''Hmm.''

  [If it makes you feel better, I am cross-referencing Kaynian psionics since, other than this child, Kaynians are the closest to having something similar in their cores.]

  ''Keep at it because the sooner you understand the nature of this unknown energy reading, the better we can communicate with this child's species.''

  [Of course.]

  Leaving her partner's H.U.D., the A.I. quickly began investigating the phenomenon within the child's body. Meanwhile, as the storm intensified, an unlikely visitor arrived to take shelter from the weather. A small blue bird came unannounced, landing on a branch above the Ghost's view. The blue avian immediately shook itself to dry its feathers, drenched from the rain. Seeing an opportunity to interact with this world's wildlife, Vee appeared.

  [Aw! Looks like you have a new friend, Tale.]

  ''What does it want?''

  [Probably to shelter itself from the storm...]

  [...That reminds me that you did scare a flock of birds a while back.]

  ''It was not my intention.''

  [Uh huh, keep telling yourself that.]

  Conversing between themselves, both A.I. and Ghost neglected the bird's attention on them as it watched the seven-foot-tall super soldier staring right back. But from the avian's point of view, it saw the Ghost Operative as a massive heat source that could warm itself. Thus, it glided to the operative's shoulders, perching itself before snuggling on the power armor's pouldron.

  ''What is it doing?''

  [The bird seems to think of you as a giant heat source. Since it's currently raining, it's only natural for the avian to search for sources of warmth.]

  ''Then why is it looking at the child?'''

  [Huh?]

  Looking at the blue avian's posture was looking at the child's snuggled posture. It then glided toward the child's face and landed safely. Curious about the unconscious girl's face, the avian quickly began poking her cheeks gently. This continued for several seconds until the unexpected occurred. The girl moved her head sidewards, observing the child's biology, Vee's virtual heart jumped, and Tale felt it.

  ''Vee, what's going on?''

  [Uh, Tale, we might be ahead of schedule.]

  ''What do you mean?''

  [This bird just, uninverted, triggered the release of cortisol and other hormones to help her wake up...]

  [...You have to place her down now!]

  Hedding his partner's warning, Tale immediately placed the girl beside the tree and kneeled before her. Meanwhile, the bird flew away as the girl was placed. Vee then appeared on her partner's heads-up display, opening multiple panels and readying several programs. Meanwhile, sensing the panic of his A.I. partner through the neural interface but couldn't understand the reason behind it.

  [Alright, I need to project myself to help her calm down and translate her words so we can reassure her that she's safe.]

  ''Why would you need your avatar for this?''

  [Oh, I don't know, it's not like her species has seen a seven-foot tall power armor! You would scare the young girl! Tale!]

  The young girl's eyelids opened, and her bright blue eyes glimmered as she slowly woke up. Immediately, Vee placed her virtual avatar before the child to calm her down upon noticing her partner.

  ''Mère?''

  The alien child spoke, surprising both the A.I. and the Ghost, who understood her language. This was unexpected, as they had anticipated an alien language that would take time to decipher and not a language from Earth.

  [Did she speak French just now?]

  ''Affirmative.''

  Opening her eyes wide, the young girl immediately saw Vee's virtual avatar before her, but it wasn't the A.I. that the child noticed at first. Instead, the seven-foot-tall power armor of the super soldier, standing behind the A.I.'s see-through avatar, triggered the young one's fight-or-flight response. Having recently endured a horrifying experience, the girl huddled in the corner, tears streaming down her face as she trembled in fear.

  "S'il te pla?t, ne me mange pas!"

  She said out loud, as tears started to flow down her cheeks. Afraid at the sight of the seven-foot-tall figure before her. Vee immediately kneeled down to the child's height to calm her down. Having her vocabulary switched to French, the A.I. would initiate a conversation with the terrified girl.

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  [Jeune fille, nous ne sommes pas ici pour vous faire du mal.]

  "Qui- Qui es-tu?"

  [Je m'appelle Vee, et celui derrière moi est mon ami. Il s'appelle Tale...]

  [...Veuillez ne pas avoir peur de lui: il ne veut pas vous faire de mal.]

  "Comment- Comment puis-je savoir que tu- tu ne mens pas?"

  [Je vous assure, jeune enfant, que nous ne vous ferons pas de mal. Nous voulons seulement votre aide.]

  A pause occurred between the A.I. and the alien child. Slowly, the tears flowing down her cheeks were wiped away. Looking at Vee's see-through avatar, the young one quickly accepted her word as she calmed down. The sight of the Ghost and his large stature still affected the girl. Noticing this, Vee would turn to her partner and immediately went to work on allowing him to understand their speech.

  [I'll reconfigure your vocabulary to French so you can understand and speak to her fluently.]

  ''Understood.''

  Suddenly, Tale felt a click on his spine as the neural interface was given various amounts of data and information about the French language. The process only took seconds, but for the Ghost, it felt like a lifetime's worth of instructions were shoved into him. Nevertheless, he immediately understood the French, making it appear he was speaking and comprehending it as English.

  [It's done.]

  ''Very well...''

  ''...Please proceed with the child. She may ask some questions as we would to her.''

  [Uh huh, leave it to me.]

  Turning to face the child, Vee continued from where she left off, hoping to gather information about the direction of the nearest settlement. Inhaling a deep virtual breath, the A.I. went in.

  [Apologies for the sudden turn of attention. Anyway, may I ask? What's your name?]

  ''Joan...''

  ''...Where am I?''

  [You are currently five hundred meters away from your settlement.]

  Joan stared at Vee blankly, not understanding her words. It didn't take long for her to realize the child's confusion, leading her to facepalm. Realizing her mistake, the A.I. felt embarrassed as her words meant nothing to the girl. And why would she? The little one had just experienced a horrifying catastrophe that wiped out her entire village.

  [I'm so stupid. You didn't understand anything I said just now?]

  ''No.''

  [Okay, let me try again. Uh, your village was burned down by wyverns. So we had to take you with us.]

  ''What about my mother?''

  [I'm sorry, but she didn't make it.]

  Joan couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her heartbeat quickened as she processed the information. She refused to accept that her mother had died—denial was her immediate response.

  ''You're lying...''

  ''...You're lying!''

  Noticing the child's quickened heartbeat, Vee immediately recognized the distress her answer had caused. Meanwhile, from the Ghost's perspective, when he saw the girl's outburst. Tale thought this was caused by him. However, after sensing his partner's emotions, he realized Joan was experiencing post-traumatic stress.

  [I am not lying to you, Joan. My friend behind me even created a burial for her back at your settlement.]

  ''She wouldn't leave me! She wouldn't!''

  [Accessing video archive. Presenting video.]

  Suddenly, Vee projected a white screen in front of Joan, displaying a holographic recording of the encounter between the Ghost and the four wyverns for the young child to see. Focusing her eyes on the screen, she saw the operative kill the wyverns that had terrorized her since entering the Diamond Forest. Clips were shown of how he dispatched each wyvern, including the alpha. Afterward, she saw the image change to her home.

  ''That's my home.''

  Approaching the entrance, she saw the Ghost clear the debris before entering, and inside was herself and her mother. A conversation soon followed as the A.I. and the operative conversed about how she survived and why her mother perished. Afterward, she saw the operative create a burial made out of stone for her mother. After the burial was complete, Joan saw Vee murmuring in a foreign language before her mother's burial before the scene changed to her unconscious body being carried away from the village.

  [That's what happened, Joan.]

  The white screen then disappeared as the A.I. placed her avatar in the focus of Joan's vision. Vee watched as the child stayed quiet for a moment. Meanwhile, the storm finally stopped, the dark cloud cleared away, and the sun shone brightly. The blue avian, now dry thanks to the Ghost's warmth, had finally taken off. This left the alien child with her two rescuers as she contemplated what would come next.

  ''Where do I go?''

  [That's what we're here for. My friend and I are newcomers to this land. Like you, we need help...]

  [...Joan, we can help each other.]

  Thinking about it for a moment, Joan found it compelling to agree. After all, her mother was gone. Her entire village burned down to ruin, and there was nothing she could do. Although strangers, her mother always said strangers are friends you haven't met yet. Standing up, barely even reaching Tale's knees, the young girl placed a brave face and approached the A.I.

  ''Will you help me?''

  [That choice is on you, Joan.]

  ''Okay. I trust you.''

  Joan then went for a hug, but without realizing it, the young one phased through Vee's virtual avatar and hugged the Ghost's leg instead. But Tale, for his part, was petrified because one move could kill the alien child since he was a Ghost Operative. His MK48GV3 Power Armor weighed half a ton, so it was within the operative's mind to be as steady as a rock. Unknowingly hugging the wrong person, Joan felt the wrongness as she opened her eyes and realized she was embracing an armored leg.

  ''I'm sorry!''

  Shouted the young one as she backed off from the operative, tripping to the ground. However, Tale didn't stand idle; he presented himself as non-threatening to ease the girl's fears. Kneeling down on one knee, the Ghost would gently lend a hand to the child.

  ''It's okay.''

  Tale offered his hand, noting the calm response of her savior. Joan accepted the help and got back up. Seeing the operative up close, the girl saw how huge, tall, and armored the Ghost was. However, Vee's avatar, positioned next to her and him, interrupted her thoughts.

  [Are you alright?]

  ''Yes...''

  ''...Your friend, is he a golem?''

  [Ah, no, he's not a golem.]

  ''Then what is he?''

  Pausing momentarily, Vee didn't expect this turn of attention to her partner. Ghost Operatives have already been revealed to the general public due to the losses inflicted by the Kaynians. Stating that these super soldiers were taken from the best of the A.F.E. has to offer to fend off the alien aggressors. Lying to the entire U.G.E. to boost morale among the troops and civilians affected by the war. Worst of all, it worked, and no one ever dared question I.C.E. about their operatives. The disregard for morals and ethics in the scientific community or the fact that Ghosts were mind-controlled child soldiers given adult bodies was something the A.I. couldn't reveal.

  [Uh, well, for starters, he's a soldier.]

  ''A soldier?''

  [Yeah! I mean, couldn't you figure it out based on his appearance? Tale's armor does scream military.]

  ''Hmm, I suppose you're right.''

  Seeing an opportunity to change the subject, Vee took control of the conversation and inquired about the nearest settlement, hoping to distract the child and get directions. Straightening herself, the A.I. would show a face of confidence before questioning Joan.

  [Now, can you tell us where the nearest settlement is?]

  "Hmm. There was a town east of our village. If I recall correctly."

  Jackpot. The duo had been heading east for the past three hours, making progress in locating the Kaynian Device. Vee sighed in relief. Now, all that remained was to find a way to disguise Tale's enormous stature and gather information in the town.

  ''Are you okay, Miss Vee?''

  [Oh, I'm fine. I'm just relieved to know that we finally have a heading...]

  [...Okay, we still have some walking to do. Joan, your body still hasn't recovered, so my friend will carry you.]

  Looking at the Ghost, Joan hesitated at Vee's suggestion. Noticing this, Tale would inquire as to why this was. Ignorant of the fact that he was a menacing figure in the eyes of the young child. Still, the Ghost Operative would pursue to aid the girl.

  ''I will carry you.''

  ''Is- Is it okay?''

  ''Affirmative. Your body needs to rest, and walking would exhaust you before we could arrive in the town you mentioned.''

  ''I see. As long as you okay with it, Mister Tale.''

  Stepping forward, Joan allowed herself to be picked up by the Ghost's metallic arms and placed on the shoulder pouldron. Afterward, Tale stood tall, and the girl would make the mistake of looking down as the operative rose to his full height. Hugging his helmet, she held tightly to her savior as her fear of heights set in.

  ''Are you alright?''

  ''Yes- Yes, I'm just afraid of heights.''

  "I see. Then, hold my helmet for as long as you want while we travel."

  Hearing the Ghost's response, Joan couldn't help but smile at him. She had never thought that a soldier from a faraway land would be this kind to her. Of course, her savior doesn't know this, but it wouldn't matter because the young one knew she could rely on him and his companion.

  ''Thank you.''

  TALE: Hero of Eldrant

  The journey thus far has been uneventful as Tale, Vee, Joan, and the bird moved forward. Continuing their trek eastward, heading toward their destination. Joan took advantage of the operative's height and gazed at the surroundings. For the first time, she wasn't afraid, crying, or reminded of what had occurred in her village. She also took an interest in the bird standing on her head. The curious avian recognized no harm in perching itself atop the young elve and did so without issue.

  [Do you have a name for him?]

  ''Yep!''

  [What is it?]

  ''Terwa!''

  [I'm glad you find it interesting! Terwa has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?]

  Vee replied, bringing a smile to Joan's face. Meanwhile, the operative listened to the conversation, observing that the child had even named the bird. At the same time, Terwa settled on his new master's head, watching for potential dangers ahead.

  [Say, Joan. What is the name of your kind called?]

  ''Elves! We call ourselves elves!''

  [Really?]

  ''Yes! Okay, my turn...''

  ''...Are you a spirit, Miss Vee?''

  Spirit typically pertains to or influences the human spirit or soul, as opposed to material or physical aspects. Of all the things Joan could ask, why would she compare herself to a spirit? Is it because she couldn't differentiate her holographic avatar?

  [Ah, no. I'm not a spirit. I am what you would call an artificial intelligence.]

  ''Artifishul intelijens?''

  Joan said, struggling to pronounce ''artificial intelligence.'' Vee giggled at the child's attempt to say a foreign word. She didn't mind that she couldn't pronounce it correctly. After all, that would be poor parenting.

  [To simplify it for you. I was not born like you or any animal on this planet. But rather. I was made.]

  ''You were made?''

  [Yeah, pretty much.]

  Joan contemplated what Vee meant by ''made.'' There was no way a person could be constructed without magic. Yet, the A.I. clarified that she wasn't a spirit and explained that she was an artificial intelligence. However, before she could ask another question, the Ghost Operative noticed in the distance their objective.

  ''Town spotted ahead.''

  

  
• Date: September 28, 1173


  
• Time: 9:15 AM


  
• Location: Elvania Airspace


  

  'Impossible!'

  The first thought of the Champion of Elvania, Adelard, as he watched an armored figure from above and was shocked. This being that he was watching wasn't an elve or golem. It was an invader. A Kaynian. His heart raced as he recalled the stories of the Great War against the accursed starborn invaders and how they had invaded Eldrant, wreaking havoc among his people.

  'I have to do something. If I don't, then many will perish!'

  After commanding his partner to descend, the champion concentrated on the invader's armored body, his mind filled with anger and a hint of fear. However, he pushed aside his fear to confront the lone invader. In doing so, he noticed a figure on the invader's shoulder.

  'Is that a child? You damnable invader, you would shield yourself with a child!'

  Thought the elve commander as he gritted his teeth. He knew that with the child still in the invader's arms. He couldn't attack first. However, that would change as soon as the invader and the champion saw the town in front. Noticing this, the invader halted in his advance and lowered the young one.

  'No, this cannot be. The invader was using the child as a guide to this town...'

  '...Never again shall elven blood be spilled!'

  Immediately, Adelard commanded his partner to dive. Of course, doing so, his wyvern's silhouette was seen as his target turned around, noticing his approach. Landing before the invader, his partner spread its massive wings to assert dominance over the enemy. However, this wouldn't deter the lone invader as it took a stance, taking out its weapon and pointing it at the Champion of Elvania.

  ''Lone invader! Surrender yourself now, and you shall meet a painless death!''

  To Be Continued.