--

As it turned out, the Heart Mirror app was unable to completely eliminate the need for Izabel to be away from her living unit for most of the day.

Though the app was able to create falsified activity logs and screen projections once she was there, this flaw in the system still made her sit around for the designated time, as likely attempting to alter a public system would be far easier to notice and far harder to pull off. Luckily, it wasn’t much of a loss, as to pass the time, Hunter taught her a simple cipher along with another writing system to replace the common one she had known so far. It certainly wasn’t easy to learn, but Hunter only nodded, acknowledging the difficulty and telling her that she would get used to it.

One thing that Izabel was grateful for was that the learning process made time felt like it went faster. Hunter taught Izabel with the patience of an experienced educator, not once belittling her for the failure, and the slight smattering of frustration that sometimes slipped into the Mirror Avatar’s voice whenever Izabel forgot something gave it a genuine touch that Izabel found preferable than the monotone from the system’s teachings. Unlike the system, which would repeat the same grating condescension that proliferated the network and almost everything connected to it whenever Izabel failed to understand something.

Strange as it was, the Mirror Avatar felt like a genuine companion. 

Which made Izabel pause for a moment.

Not even the Primeras, with all their might and their advanced technology, was able to create a system with this much life, this much genuine touch, and even with how much work they put into their systems’ intelligence and thought processes, everything from the Coronam Vitae, the attendant machines, the patrol machines, still felt hollow and false, monotone and empty, only able to reflect very little of their creators, and most of what they reflected was drops of empty kindness and condescension. 

Was Hunter the work of someone more powerful than the Primeras?

“I am here, and I can hear you, you know,” Hunter said. Her tone was neither angry nor offended. Rather, she looked amused, the way someone who walked in on a friend doing something embarrassing. “You give me too much credit. Think of me as a partner helping you towards a common goal, alright? That is enough for me.”

Izabel would not deny that she was curious about the origins of her partner and the app, but there was no point on dwelling on it. 

For now, the most important thing is that Hunter is her partner, and together, those possessing the Heart Mirror on their device all share a common goal.

--

Before long, the promised time has arrived.

Izabel was watching the system’s countdown, each tick a warning her that failure would likely incur a grave cost. It was surprisingly easy to let the system to allow her to take the time off, likely thanks to how all the curious sorts, the admirers, and many other types of people wanting to see a benevolent overlord that they mostly knew as voices or as virtual projections that could be altered whenever they desired. 

Was it curiosity, genuine admiration, or merely the side effect of doctored happiness?

There was no time to ponder. Only a short while remained before the spectacle started. A part of her was a little disappointed and sad that Claire was likely unable to accompany her.

“Calm down,” Hunter said. “Most likely, they are unaware of our existence just yet. All we need to do is gather information.”

“Hey, Izabel.”

Speak of the devil. With a smile, Izabel turned to look at the source of the voice.

“Claire? Glad to see you here, I thought I’d be alone.”

“I don’t have much time, still, though I’m expecting the situation to improve soon,” Claire whispered the last part, “Anyway, can you follow me?”

When Claire was about to lead Izabel away, a monotone voice could be heard from behind her. Though there was no emotion to the voice, its words were enough of a warning, and the two found themselves raising their guard up without meaning to. Amidst the shock, Izabel could feel Hunter acting as an anchor, keeping her worries in check.

“My apologies, Claire Saphira is currently unwell, and thus, she is not allowed to be roaming without supervision for an extended period.”

For the briefest moment, frustration danced in Claire’s eyes, however, it was gone as soon as it appeared, and she replied to the machine floating behind her, practiced cheer oozing from her voice, one that Izabel could feel as far too saccharine to be true.

“C’mon, I just want to have a private moment with a special someone, is that such a bad thing?” Claire said, false hurt in her voice. Amidst the cheer, there was a distinct whine. Something about the normally collected, silent Claire utilizing such a tactic was amusing to witness.

“I understand your anger, but you are still recovering. If it is any consolation, the system will not record your personal moment. We will simply monitor your state.”

“But it’s not the saaaame!” 

To their cause’s favor, Claire’s smaller stature and younger appearance helped sell the illusion even better, though Izabel was unsure whether the machine could process such a thing.

Izabel wanted to laugh at the response, the amusement she felt from her connection with Hunter only adding fuel to the fire. From the way Claire’s eyes narrowed for a brief second and her lips quivered, as if swallowing a retort, Izabel could imagine that Claire’s Mirror Avatar was reacting much the same way, even though said Mirror Avatar was invisible to her at the moment.

“Stop it, Hunter,” Izabel said through their mental link.

“One must admit that such a sight was amusing.” Hunter replied, no trace of hesitation in her voice. 

A few seconds passed, the machine’s quiet whirr serving as an indication that it was thinking… well, perhaps that word was inaccurate, but it would suffice as a description. Though likely no one else could feel it, a tense silence hung in the air, the two hoping that it was enough to convince the machine.

“Claire Saphira has shown notable improvement in the last few observation periods. Temporary permission has been granted. You have until the start of the Coronam Vitae system update announcement.”

It was far, far too short, and Claire’s gaze confirmed it. However, they knew that it would have to do.

“Yes! Thank you,” Claire said in a happy voice, smiling as bright and wide as she could to sell the illusion even better.

The machine stayed behind as Claire and Izabel ducked into a secluded path between buildings. Everyone was mostly gathered in the area closest to the announcement, as if trying to win a contest of being the first one to catch a glimpse of the Primeras. It was far too easy to slip away, as other paths were empty, and the two looked around to make sure there were no surveillance devices in the vicinity.

After the two were sure, it was Claire who acted first, tinkering with the device on her wrist. Under Izabel’s watch, gold crept onto the girl’s hair, a pair of black-green gloves covered her hands, and the green of her eyes became slightly more vivid. 

“Was that what happened to me while I adjusted the Integrity Number?” Izabel thought.

“Yes, though slightly different in each Mirror Avatar’s case, a similar process happens,” Hunter replied. 

“As you see, I don’t have much time. I wish I could help in any other way, but this will have to do for now,” Claire said. “The mission for Area E’s spire is in your hands, Izabel.”

Power started gathering on Claire’s hands, starting as motes of light before a green bud emerged from her palm, followed by branches and leaves. Despite the thorny appearance of the plant, Claire seemed unhurt, unfazed as she manipulated the plant to move and slither towards Izabel.

“Stay still, let me concentrate,” Claire muttered.

As the plant continued growing, the branches and vines reaching for her, Izabel could feel the brush of leaves, and despite appearances, the thorns did not prick or hurt her at all. The bud settled on her chest, vines and branches wrapping on her body and limbs, and with a burst of power, Claire clenched both hands, muttering a spell that sounded like several people were speaking at once.

“I offer my loyalty, in exchange for a powerful anchor, a presence of calm, a root of empowerment, a promise of support. I beg upon you, the Secret Garden, allow me to call upon the power vested within my life…”

For a moment, her emerald eyes glinted.

“Let the ‘Bud of Reassurance’ strengthen my ally, further my cause.”

Upon the command, the bud started to bloom into a vivid blue rose, the color almost glowing in its intensity. Then, the flower and everything else faded away without a trace, but its presence remained, a distinct feeling of something that could be felt when Izabel concentrated on the places where the vines and branches rested on her skin just moments ago. Just like that, it was done. True to its name, the presence of the flower was like an anchor, and Izabel could feel the hum of power coursing within her body.

“There, that should do it. You probably know, but that’s one of Barnett’s abilities. In case the situation gets really ugly, it can protect you for a while.”

From the main road, the noises were getting louder. Excitement, anticipation, curiosity, admiration, all blending into one. Both knew that their time alone was almost out, and should they continue, there will be suspicion.

“But I hope it doesn't have to come to that. After all, I’m still not free yet. They might be suspicious.”

“I appreciate that, Claire.”

Amidst the loud voices, the two of them were able to pick up the sounds of a familiar floating machine coming closer. For now, they were still a small speck of fault in the perfect world created by the ruling Primeras, one that could be stomped with ease, should their facades slip and their existence be discovered. A part of Izabel wished that she didn’t have to approach this closely, but now, there was no time for a thought exercise of what-ifs. The only option is to proceed.

“I am with you, and so is your ally, Izabel Viator. Go now, show off your ability to act, for that will obscure our intentions.” Hunter spoke. 

The floating machine has arrived, and it gave Claire a reminder in the same slightly condescending, monotone voice. Claire seemed happy to follow, and walked along with the machine, intentionally humming a disjointed tune to add to the effect, knowing how much the machines valued their happiness – to the point of creating a system of numbers to measure it. In the short time Izabel saw Claire, she knows that it was likely Claire was trying not to let her dissatisfaction slip. For now, she could only hope that Claire’s Mirror Avatar could console her.

Well, perhaps, her happiness was genuine, it was just that the machine likely deduced it was for the wrong cause. 

Either way, it was sufficient as a distraction.

It was time to make a move.