Glitch [NOEL]

Noel’s eyes fluttered open, greeted by the same world.

"Welcome back, Noel."

She turned, and there he was.

Leon stood before her, as he always did...that same easy smile, that familiar glint in his eyes. He looked at her as if nothing had changed, as if the events of last night had never occurred.

For a moment, she wanted to believe that was true.

But it wasn’t.

"Yeah… I’m back." She inhaled sharply, steadying her racing heart. "Leon, so… what’s the plan today?"

"Nothing unusual." He shrugged. "Do you have something in mind?"

Then it struck her.

A sense of urgency slammed into her like a wave.

"Leon, what happened last night?"

Her voice came out sharper than intended, and for the first time, Leon looked taken aback.

"Huh?" He frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Noel’s stomach twisted.

"Didn’t you hear? Someone died last night!" Her breath quickened. "I’m certain...I felt it. There was a crowd! There were screams! You must have heard something!"

She searched his face for recognition, for even the faintest sign that he knew what she was talking about but there was none.

Leon’s concern deepened. "Noel… what do you mean? If something like that happened, I would have already known about it."

His words sent a chill down her spine.

"But that’s impossible." She shook her head. "This world...your world, it spreads information so fast! The ‘news’ in that ‘TV’ thing… surely someone would have aired it! Someone would have reported it!"

But Leon remained silent.

It was as if her death had never occurred.

But she knew it did.

She had felt it. She had seen her blood stain the streets. She had heard the screams of the witnesses.

Noel took a step back, her mind spiraling.

"No… that can’t be right." She gripped her arms. "What’s happening? This doesn’t make any sense. First, this entire world itself is something beyond my understanding, and now… the people who were there, the ones who saw, don’t even remember?"

Her vision blurred.

"Was it all fake? Was it just another illusion?"

Her pulse pounded in her ears.

"No…" Her voice wavered. "I heard them. I heard them scream."

Why? Why was no one reacting? Why was Leon looking at her like she had gone mad?

Leon stepped closer, reaching out. "Noel, calm down."

But how could she?

Her fingers dug into her sleeves, a tremor running through her.

What if that red-eyed shadow… had erased it all?

"Leon." Her voice was barely a whisper.

"What if that thing did something? What if it cast some illusion magic? What if it rewrote reality?"

Leon’s brows furrowed. "Noel, you’re not making any sense—"

"That thing isn’t from this world!" Noel’s voice cracked. "You told me before, right? There are no monsters here, no magic. Then why is it here? How can it exist? Why does it keep coming after me?!"

Leon’s concern turned into something deeper, something almost unreadable.

"Noel…"

She turned away, running a hand through her hair, her mind a storm of confusion, fear, and uncertainty.

Nothing made sense.

Not the dream. Not the red-eyed shadow. Not even the world itself anymore.

And yet...

She was certain.

A Fragment of the Truth...Or Was It?

A thought struck Noel, sharp and unrelenting.

"I guess this is my only choice."

Her fists clenched as her resolve hardened.

And then...

"Leon!"

The urgency in her voice startled even herself.

Leon blinked, slightly taken aback. "Yes?"

She took a step closer, her heart hammering.

"What happens to me at night?" Her voice was firm, unwavering. "How come I always appear here whenever it’s morning in this world?”

Her breath hitched.

The answers...she could feel them, just beyond her reach. The fabric of this world was hiding something, keeping something from her.

The time for the truth had come.

Or had it?

Then...

A glitch.

**BRRZZZT**

It was brief, so brief that it barely even existed.

Like the world itself had stuttered, like reality had been momentarily rewritten.

A flicker in the air. A distortion.

The entire world, Leon himself...

Everything but Noel.

The glitch was so fleeting, so unnatural, that it defied comprehension.

It lasted only a microsecond.

Not even long enough for her mind to fully grasp it.

Leon remained exactly as he was.

Composed. Natural. Unshaken.

"What are you talking about?" He let out a small laugh. "Of course, you go to sleep. And after that? How would I know? You dream?"

There wasn’t a single trace of deception in his voice.

His expression was as genuine as ever.

Noel’s confusion deepened, her pulse racing.

"Then what about me appearing here?"

Leon tilted his head slightly, his response so painfully normal, it only unsettled her further.

“I thought it was related to magic in your world.”

Magic.

That word clung to her like a whisper of something she couldn’t yet understand.

"Magic? Is that really it? Is it really connected to my world itself?"

Her mind whirled.

She could feel it, an answer buried deep within the layers of this false normalcy.

And yet, just as she reached for it...

It slipped through her fingers.

Just as her thoughts threatened to spiral into an abyss of unanswered questions...

Leon suddenly grabbed her arm.

Both of his hands, warm and steady, wrapped around her wrist.

The action was sudden, firm but not forceful.

"Huh?" Noel’s breath hitched as she looked up at him.

His eyes and expression held a deep concern.

"Noel," Leon’s voice was soft yet unwavering, "I don’t know the reason behind your confusion, but I will help you in every way possible. So for now, it’s probably best to clear your head. Just for today."

Her heart thumped in her chest.

It wasn’t just the words.

It was the way he looked at her, like she wasn’t alone.

Like, despite the unexplainable, despite the shifting reality, despite the chaos of the unknown...

There was one constant.

Leon.

She took a deep breath, grounding herself in that thought.

The problem wasn’t him.

It wasn’t his world.

It was something deeper.

Something only she could see.

Slowly, she exhaled, forcing herself to loosen her grip on the spiraling confusion.

Perhaps she wouldn't find the answers today.

But she would, eventually.

For now, she let herself breathe.

They sat down for breakfast. The atmosphere was light. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries filled the air, mingling with the quiet hum of conversation.

As Noel sipped her drink, she finally allowed herself to focus on something else.

Leon, noticing her ease, suddenly leaned forward.

"How about going to the mall today?"

Noel blinked. "Mall?"

"Yeah. You’ll love it."

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "It’s a massive place where people shop for clothes, accessories, books, gadgets, you name it. There are also food courts, arcades, cinemas… Basically, a place filled with entertainment and things to buy."

Noel raised an eyebrow. "A single place with all of that? Alright, you have piqued my interest."

A short ride later, they arrived.

Noel stared.

It was… enormous.

A colossal structure made of gleaming glass and steel, stretching higher than any building she had ever seen. It wasn’t just the size. It was the sheer life pulsing through it.

The grand entrance was flanked by massive LED screens displaying vibrant advertisements.

People flooded in and out, dressed in all manner of styles.

Inside, the grandeur only intensified.

The floors were polished like mirrors, reflecting the cascading lights above.

The scent, a strange but intoxicating mix of perfumes, leather, fresh fabrics, and baked goods.

Noel’s breath was caught between amazement and disbelief.

"This… this is absurdly extravagant."

Leon chuckled beside her, "Told you."

She turned to him, still overwhelmed. "People actually come here just to… buy things?"

"And to experience things," Leon added. "Shopping is just one part of it. It’s about enjoying the world in a different way."

The day unfolded like a scene from a romantic play.

Leon and Noel wandered through the grand corridors of the mall, stopping by various boutiques where Noel tried on countless outfits.

Each time she stepped out of the dressing room, Leon found himself momentarily speechless.

The bold dresses, sleek and daring, made her look like a queen commanding attention with every step.

The elegant gowns, long, flowing, adorned with intricate embroidery, turned her into an ethereal vision, someone who belonged to a ballroom where chandeliers reflected a thousand golden lights.

The casual outfits, simple yet fashionable, made her seem effortlessly graceful, blending into this world.

"You are staring," Noel noted, standing in front of the mirror while adjusting the hem of her dress.

Leon coughed, looking away. "I—uh, well, I mean, you look… amazing in everything you wear."

A small smirk tugged at Noel’s lips. "Is that so? I had no idea you were so easily captivated."

He protested, though the slight redness at the tips of his ears betrayed him.

She twirled slightly, letting the fabric flow around her. "Then perhaps I should buy them all?"

Leon groaned, realizing he had walked straight into a trap.

"You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?"

"Immensely."

The playful exchange continued as they explored more stores, eventually leading to the food court, where Noel got to indulge in unfamiliar yet delightful dishes, it was an experience like no other.

For a moment, just a moment...she forgot about the mysteries weighing on her.

She simply existed in this happiness. She was beginning to realize something. She was growing more attached to Leon.

More than she should.

More than she dared to admit.

A Cry for Help

Just as they were finishing up their shopping, a distressed voice pierced through the cheerful air.....