Haru’s Awakening

The moment the door opened and I stepped inside, my eyes widened in amazement. This was the most chaotic yet technologically advanced laboratory I had ever seen. Cables hung from the ceiling, circuit boards were stacked haphazardly on the floor, and metallic devices whose functions I couldn’t even begin to guess were scattered everywhere. Along the walls, digital screens displayed streams of complex data, their graphs and symbols appearing both chaotic and perfectly structured at the same time. Every now and then, a screen would flicker before stabilizing again.

At the center of the lab, a massive device resembling a solarium machine caught my attention. A transparent, cylindrical capsule housed a swirling, iridescent energy within. The side panel displayed waveforms tracking subtle energy frequencies. 

A label on the machine read: 'ECHO-7: Energy Calibration and Cellular Optimization Device.' When I asked what it was, they explained that it scanned a person’s energy waves and analyzed their potential abilities.

But the machines weren’t the only thing that fascinated me in this room. Right at my feet, a small, round robot with a pink ribbon accessory on its head stared up at me. A moment later, its voice echoed in a slightly shaky but cheerful tone: "Ah! We have guests! Professor, your new test subje—uh, I mean, visitors have arrived!"

Seraphis sighed and tapped the robot’s round body lightly. "Lunette, don’t call every guest a test subject. People don’t appreciate that."

The robot, Lunette, spun slightly and spread its tiny metallic arms wide. "Ah, of course! Just kidding! (Probably?)," it added before rolling toward us.

Just then, a tall, slender figure emerged from the corner of the room. Even their footsteps seemed to match the rhythmic hum of the lab. Their long pink hair was tied up in a neat bun, round glasses hanging slightly below their eyes, connected to a pearl-strung chain. A slightly oversized white lab coat draped over their shoulders, paired with plain white slippers. However, the most striking detail was the elegant yet oddly mysterious cane they held. The top of the cane was a crystal orb, faintly glowing with an internal light.

Gilbert’s voice was deep yet playful. "So, this little rascal is the surprise you brought me?" he said, adjusting his glasses slightly. "Let’s have a look at you… Haru, wasn’t it?"

I gave a small nod. "Yes… I somehow ended up here, and Seraphis said you might have some answers for me."

Gilbert raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing me through his glasses. "Ah, Seraphis told me about you. But let me tell you something, no one just ‘ends up’ here. The balance of the universe does not allow such simple coincidences. Something brought you here, and I want to figure out what it is."

He then turned away and began shuffling through a stack of notes on a table deep within the lab. "But first, we need to conduct an analysis. You’ll be stepping into the ECHO-7. This device will scan your energy frequencies and help us gather clues about how you arrived here. Additionally, it will identify your potential abilities and determine whether I can develop suitable equipment for you."

Seraphis nodded. "Gilbert’s inventions don’t just enhance combat abilities; they allow individuals to maximize their potential efficiently."

I swallowed hard. "So… there’s actually a chance we can figure out how I got here?"

Gilbert rubbed the crystal top of his cane thoughtfully. "Theoretically? Yes. In practice? That remains to be seen. But no one else has ever come here from another dimension. Orbis strictly regulates its energy. However, according to Seraphis’ theory, the portal we’ve been trying to open might be connected to other realities. You may have been affected by the side effects of a gateway that was already in the process of opening."

I furrowed my brows. "A portal?"

Seraphis interjected. "Yes. A project Gilbert and I have been working on. The only way to escape the limits Orbis has imposed on us is to find another exit. But to do that, we need to locate the right frequency. If we can manipulate Orbis’ energy, we may be able to rewrite our own existence. However, so far, this has only been a theory."

Gilbert nodded. "And your presence here might be the first tangible proof that supports our hypothesis. If you ended up here by accident, it suggests that this system is not as sealed as we thought. Maybe there is a way out."

The weight of their words settled over me. Up until now, I had only been searching for a way home. But it seemed like this was about much more than just me—it was something that affected everyone here.

Gilbert walked over to the ECHO-7 device in the center of the room and placed his hand on it. "Alright, Haru. Step inside and take a deep breath. This machine is going to tell us exactly what you are. Let’s see what secrets you’re hiding."

                                                                                    ***

As I stepped into the ECHO-7 device, the first thing I felt was the cold touch of metal. The transparent cover sealed shut over me, and soft blue lights flickered inside. I had to remain completely still, but my heart was pounding so loudly I could feel it echoing in my chest.

“Relax, Haru,” Seraphis’ voice came from outside, slightly muffled through the glass. “This device will only scan your energy frequencies.”

Gilbert’s tone was much more playful. “Yes, yes, you’re not about to be disassembled at the atomic level! At least… I don’t think so.” He let out a chuckle. “Just kidding. Probably.”

Suddenly, the chamber filled with blinding lights. My vision blurred for a moment, and my body felt like it was vibrating. A strange humming noise resonated in my mind, and the air around me seemed to ripple like liquid.

Within seconds, the screens outside began processing data. Gilbert studied the digital panels in front of him, raising an eyebrow. “Hmm… interesting. Very interesting.”

Seraphis stepped closer to the screen. “What do you see?”

Gilbert’s smirk faded, replaced by a focused expression. “This kid… He doesn’t align with any of the energy flows in Orbis. His energy structure is almost entirely incompatible with this world.”

Seraphis crossed his arms thoughtfully. “And how does that affect his existence here?”

Gilbert adjusted his glasses and idly twisted the crystal top of his cane. “If the system were completely rejecting him, he would have faded away like a shadow by now. But the intriguing part is… his energy frequencies are shifting. It’s as if… he’s trying to adapt.”

I swallowed hard. “Is that a good thing?”

Gilbert tilted his head. “Scientifically? Or for you personally?” he asked with a chuckle. “I don’t know what it means for you, but for me… this suggests that Orbis might not be as closed of a system as we once thought.”

Seraphis narrowed his eyes as he examined the data. “If Haru doesn’t belong here but is adapting to the system… then perhaps other worlds could interact with Orbis the same way.”

Gilbert nodded. “This might mean the portal we’re trying to open could actually work. If Orbis were a completely sealed cycle, Haru wouldn’t have been able to arrive here at all. But since he’s standing here now…”

I took a deep breath. “So… does this mean there’s a way for me to go home?”

Gilbert looked at me silently for a moment. “We don’t know yet.”

A brief silence followed. Then, Gilbert tapped his cane lightly against the floor. “But let’s set that aside for now and focus on the real question, can we develop suitable equipment for you?”

He scanned through the data on the screen, muttering to himself. “Hmm… No, a sword won’t work. His balance isn’t suited for it. A rifle? No, poor energy stabilization. A spear? No chance, he’d never handle it.”

Riven folded his arms and grinned. “Looks pretty useless to me.”

Ignoring him, Gilbert tapped away at his digital panel. Then, his eyes gleamed with realization. “But… yes. Maybe something small yet efficient would be better.”

Turning around, he opened a drawer and pulled out a small black box. When he lifted the lid, two metallic rings rested inside. They had a faint, matte sheen with a subtle, pulsing blue light at their core.

Gilbert picked up the rings and spun one between his fingers. “These are Zenith Rings. They allow the user to channel their internal energy outward. For someone like you, whose energy is unstable, these might be the perfect match.”

I frowned slightly. “What do they do?”

Gilbert smirked. “You’ll have to practice to find out.”

Seraphis nodded. “Which means… it’s time to test Haru’s abilities.”

Riven stretched his arms with a wide grin. “Hah! Now that’s what I’ve been waiting for. Let’s see what the kid’s got.”

I took the rings into my palms and drew in a deep breath. There was no turning back now.