Routine

A few weeks passed.

Things had started to feel normal again.

I came to work in the morning.

I sorted through documents.

I went home in the evening.

Then I did it all again the next day.

It wasn’t particularly exciting, but there was something comforting about it.

For the first time in a while, my life had settled into something resembling a routine. The strange part was that I no longer found that strange.

Having a voice in my head had become normal.

Having a power had become normal.

Even having an ancient ruler commenting on my daily life had somehow become normal.

< You are staring at the same document again. >

I blink.

I’m reading it.

< You have been reading it for three minutes. >

It’s a complicated document.

< It concerns a broken streetlight. >

I glance back at the document.

You don’t have to watch me work, you know.

< I am merely observing. >

You’ve been observing every day.

< I can’t help myself. >

< It’s strangely interesting. >

I sigh and return to the document.

I suppose this was what getting to know someone looked like.

Not grand conversations about ancient kingdoms or mysterious powers.

Sometimes it was just having someone there while I worked.

The Princess had asked surprisingly few questions about my life. Instead, she seemed more interested in the world around me. Cars. Buildings. The strange machines people carried in their hands.

And, apparently, paperwork.

I wasn’t sure what that said about her.

But after a few weeks, I had stopped wondering whether she was going to suddenly do anything drastic.

She was simply there.

And somehow, that had become reassuring.

She’s sort of become a friend.

And lately, she seems to have developed an amusing interest.

Television.

I had originally assumed she’d lose interest after a few days.

I was wrong.

She had taken an almost immediate liking to it. And in recent times, every evening has been spent watching the television.

She seems to find interest in anything that’s on the screen, but she seems particularly fond of historical dramas. Although I wasn’t entirely sure whether she enjoyed them because of the stories or because she kept pointing out everything they got wrong.

< That armor is poorly made. >

“It’s a television show.”

< That does not excuse it. >

“You’re taking this way too seriously.”

< They are presenting it as history. >

I had stopped trying to argue with her after a while.

The more concerning part was that she had started making demands.

< Yusuke. >

“What?”

< Change the channel. >

I reach for the remote.

“You just told me to change it thirty seconds ago.”

< And now I wish to see something else. >

“You know, most people just watch whatever’s on.”

< I am not most people. >

I can’t help but listen to her request. It’s honestly a little amusing to see an ancient monarch scroll through channels.

I don’t know if this is weakening her or anything, but it is certainly entertaining.

< Yusuke. >

“What now?”

< Return to the previous channel. >

I sigh.

Living with the Princess was starting to feel less like living with an ancient ruler and more like living with a child who’s addicted to screens.

Not that I was going to tell her that.

“Yusuke.”

One of my coworkers is standing beside my desk.

“Hm?”

“You finished with that stack? You’ve been kind of looking like you were lost in thought for a while now.”

I glance at the documents sitting beside me.

“Almost.”

“You’ve been saying that for a while.”

“I know, sorry.”

“Everything alright?”

“Yeah.”

I look back at the screen.

“Just thinking.”

“About?”

I hesitate.

“Nothing important.”

He nods.

“Fair enough.”

He starts to walk away before stopping.

“Oh, and you got another batch.”

He places a giant stack of files and documents on my desk.

It looks even thicker than the last.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

He walks back toward his desk.

I stare at the new stack for a moment before pulling it closer.

< You seem to have many documents. >

That’s generally how work works.

< I see. >

You’ve been watching me do this for weeks.

< I am still learning. >

I smile faintly.

I open the first file.

There isn’t much to it.

A routine power incident.

A man whose ability caused every electronic device within a few meters of him to shut down whenever he sneezed.

I read through the report, make a few corrections, and move on.

The next one is an incident report.

Then another.

Most of the documents are like this.

Small incidents.

Minor incidents.

Things that are important to the people involved, but ultimately become another file sitting on someone’s desk.

I suppose that’s what made this job so strange.

These were extraordinary things happening all around the city.

And somehow, they could still be reduced to a few pages of paperwork.

I pick up the next report.

MANIFESTATION INCIDENT REPORT

I pause.

Manifestation reports weren’t particularly unusual.

I’d seen plenty of reports about them before.

But this one catches my attention for a different reason.

The date.

It was from several months ago.

Depending on the Manifestation, some can take weeks to resolve. But at the longest I’ve seen one remain active was one month.

I continue reading.

The Manifestation was still active after all of these months.

No resolution has been recorded.

I frown.

There’s not even any notes from the people who have already tried to resolve it.

Usually, there’s at least something recorded. Maybe something like dangers to watch out for, possible rules, things of that nature.

This one has none of that.

There are several pages of information, but most of it is just the basic details of the incident.

[Location] — New Horizons High

[Time of appearance] — 11:15 AM

[Number of attempts to resolve it] — 7

I stop at the last one.

[Casualties]

My eyes widen.

There are more people than I expected.

I look through them.

Several teachers.

Dozens of students.

The report says they were all present when the initial incident occurred.

According to the investigation, a fire broke out inside one of the classrooms during school hours.

Emergency services arrived shortly afterward, but the affected area had already been consumed by the Manifestation.

No bodies were recovered.

All of them were eventually classified as presumed dead.

I continue reading the list.

People who had apparently entered the affected area after the initial incident.

Some had wandered in by accident. Others had apparently gone looking for people who had disappeared.

The list doesn’t end there.

There are several more names marked as Resolution Personnel.

Seven.

I stare at the number.

So that’s why there are no notes.

People had tried to resolve it.

They hadn’t come back.

And while they were trying, other people were still getting trapped inside.

I lean back into my chair.

The Manifestation has been active for months.

By now, civilians should know to stay away from the affected area.

So why are people still dying every month?

Maybe there’s something I missed.

Something that explains why this Manifestation keeps drawing people in.

But the report doesn’t give me anything.

No special conditions.

No observed rules.

No explanation for why people keep entering.

Just the same basic information I’d already read.

I frown.

Something about this Manifestation doesn’t make sense.

< This one is interesting, Yusuke. >

I blink.

Interesting?

< Yes. >

People are dying.

< I am aware. It is truly tragic. >

< But this Manifestation… >

< Don’t you find it strange? It has remained active for months, yet there is no explanation of what is behind it. >

I pause.

She has a point.

So what are you getting at?

< We shall investigate it ourselves. >

Are you serious?

< Of course. >

< It has been a while since you have seen some action. Your skills will grow rusty if you never use them. >

You realize I’m not exactly a resolution specialist, right?

< You possess a registered power. >

I glance down at the temporary registration card sitting beside my keyboard.

That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing.

< You have survived worse. >

Barely.

< And yet you survived. >

I sigh.

That’s not exactly reassuring.

< Regardless, you now possess the means to enter areas you previously could not. >

She pauses.

< Your card grants you access, does it not? >

I look at the card again.

She wasn’t wrong.

It wasn’t much more than a temporary registration card, but it was proof that I was recognized as a power user.

And if there was one thing I had learned about this job, it was that being recognized as a power user came with certain privileges.

Still doesn’t mean I have to investigate every Manifestation I come across.

< Of course not. >

< But this one interests me. >

I stare at the report.

Seven people had already tried.

None of them had returned.

You really want to go.

< Yes. >

I let out a long sigh.

Fine.

< Excellent. >

But if something goes wrong, I’m blaming you.

< I accept this responsibility. >

I look down at the report again.

So when do we go? And what am I actually supposed to do when we get there?

< Why not now? >

I glance at the clock.

I’m still working.

< Then finish your work. >

I stare at the stack of documents sitting beside me.

Right.

I pick up the next file.

< As for what you are supposed to do… >

I pause.

Yeah?

< Observe. >

That’s it?

< For now. >

< You do not yet know what lies within the Manifestation. There is little point in deciding what you will do before you see it. >

She has a point.

< Find out what is happening. >

< If there is something that needs to be resolved, then resolve it. >

And if there isn’t?

< Then we leave. >

I glance back at the report.

That sounds simple enough.

I turn my attention back to the paperwork in front of me.

One document. Then another.

Did the stack get even larger?

< How much longer? >

How about you help me a little?

< Declined. >

I let out a deep sigh.

I thought you wanted to investigate this.

< I do. >

Then you could help.

< That is your work. >

< Why would someone like me get involved with such trivial tasks? >

You know, you could at least pretend to care.

< I do care. >

About the Manifestation.

< Yes. >

But not about my work.

< Correct. >

You’re unbelievable.

I shake my head and continue working.

For someone who had spent weeks watching me do this, she still seemed incapable of understanding why I couldn’t simply leave whenever I wanted.

I finish the document in front of me and move on to the next.

Then another.

The afternoon passes much the same way.

By the time I finally reach the bottom of the stack, everybody around me has already left.

I glance at the clock.

It’s later than I thought.

I close the last file and stretch in my chair.

Finally.

< Shall we go? >

Can’t I get a little break or something?

< Declined again. >

< Now, make haste, my knight. >

No break for me, I guess.

I pick up the report from earlier and look over it one more time.

New Horizons High.

I still don’t know what we’re going to find there.

But I suppose that’s the point.

I stand up and grab my bag.

The office is completely empty now.

I glance around one last time before turning toward the door.

< Yusuke. >

What?

< We are leaving, correct? >

Yes.

< Good. >

You really are impatient.

< I have been waiting all afternoon. >

Would’ve been quicker if somebody helped.

< I have already answered this. >

I shake my head and walk toward the door.

I need to mentally prepare myself.

Whatever was happening with this Manifestation has been going on for months.

And now, I’m going to find out why.