Change with the Times (1)

Noah and Alice reached their apartment. After taking a nice warm shower and changing, they sat down together and continued watching the news.

"Another two terrorists have died while getting medical treatment..." The reporter continued to explain in detail.

Alice listening had her eyes restrict. She recognised the two men, they were both beside her when she was in disguise and she had shot them at close range. Looking at the bodies she was nauseated. All the feelings of the event she had been suppressing came out at once as she ran out of Noah's embrace to the bathroom.

Running after, Noah stayed with her, supporting her. He knew that for someone kind-hearted like Alice, it didn't matter who she killed. she would still feel horrible. This was a bridge they would have to cross eventually, it would be best if she could overcome it now.

Vomiting everything out made her feel better. "I'm fine now," Alice said getting up. She had killed two people but she didn't feel guilty. Those men were no different than monsters in the Eternal Battlefield. She felt more resolute, remembering her priorities.

They then spent the rest of the day recovering and seeing the aftereffects of the attack.

Alice texted with Leona, Tasha and Sofia. They all knew Alice lived in country S so were asking if she was fine. The messages continued until the last message about Kira being on screen, then stopped. They might have realised that since Kira was in the mall it was likely Alice was as well.

Not hiding her involvement, Alice told them that she was in the crowd and just got out. Mentioning that she had separated from Kira in the chaos. She made sure not to mention Noah, so they wouldn't realise the identity of the 'Noah' behind the silver mask.

She had taken her mask off multiple times in front of the girls so they knew what she looked like. Noah on the other hand, would spend lesser time and had his mask glued on so his identity was still a mystery. The girls respected this and didn't try to pry. She just now hoped they didn't put two and two together and figure it out.

...

Noah saw that Alice was fine. She had stopped letting today's event bother her.

He unconsciously reached for his phone in his pocket but couldn't find it. He realised he didn't have his phone or laptop with him. He had left his laptop in the car still parked outside the mall and his phone was on the floor in the mall probably smashed by the stampede of people running out.

Taking Alice's laptop he bought a new phone and laptop online. After that, he opened the Explore the Eternal app and saw the top discussion was about the current attack at the mall. It was about how people recognised the few people without masks and their deductions on how the attack related to the Eternal Battlefield.

His eyes then turned to the television that was still on, though they had muted it. A man stood on a pedestal with a mic in front of him as he spoke, it was the current president of country S speaking about the situation.

"...68 people have died. 22 had died in the initial explosions, while 24 were shot dead. The 45 men we have detained have no place in this nation and in this world. They will suffer the force of law for their crimes.

As for the families affected by this tragic event..."

The president continued to speak about the event after giving an entire briefing he stopped. Taking a moment of silence at the end. Then he started talking again.

"During the past few months, radical views and crime rate as a whole has increased. Our police officers and justice workers have all been overworking to see through these times..."

"Unemployment rate has reached an all-time high. Workers have been quitting or have just stopped coming to work. Businesses have been shutting down..."

The president explained the current dire situation of the nation was further in detail. Also telling what the government had been doing to combat these issues. Finishing everything he finally stopped and looked at the camera, "Our nation has been falling apart."

Taking a deep breath, "Now that such a tragedy has befallen us, the government shall no longer hold back in reforming our current system. To help adapt to future unprecedented transformations we will face together as humans..."

Noah watched in silence. Alice had been watching with him.

"When he said 'transformations', do you think he was referring to the Eternal Battlefield?"

"Most likely," Noah answered. The Eternal Battlefield wasn't some type of secret, no one had tried to censor information about it, it was just that people that hadn't entered it didn't believe it, and they were the majority. Now with a new large wave of believers in, all saying the same thing. It would be hard to deny its existence further.

The Eternal Battlefield would now start substantially affect all lives on earth. The planet we lived on now, was no longer our planet. Everyone was about to be transported to a new world. They would rather spend time preparing for their settlement there.

Alice got a notification on her phone. She turned to look at Noah, "We won't have classes tomorrow, the school needs the day to implement the educational reforms the president was talking about."

...

Kira sat in the hospital looking at Vince still unconscious after the surgery he had gotten. The injury was bad, the high-speed bullet had completely fractured his femur. It would take months to completely recover. The only positive side was that he had arrived in time and so it hadn't gotten worst.

The door opened and a woman walked in wearing a suit. Kira had met her earlier when she had arrived. She was Vince's mother. Just after meeting Kira, she had left to take a call and had just come back.

"Kira, I need to go back to work, so can you call me when he wakes up?" Vince's mother asked.

Kira nodded.

"Thank you, sweetheart." The lady then walked away as she called someone.

Kira sat back down on the stool next to Vince's bed. She looked at his right leg that had been shot. It was now bandaged and cast. He wouldn't be able to walk properly for a long time. Much less train in martial arts.

She felt guilty. Understanding it was his choice, she still thought she had handled the situation rashly causing this injury. Thankfully he was shot in the leg, with how uncertain the mindset of those men was they could have killed him easily with a shot in the head.

With the guilt, she felt appreciation. Vince stood up for when no one else had. She didn't need anyone to stand up for her. Honestly, he hadn't even contributed anything. Only injuring himself.

However, just knowing that he was willing to risk his life for her was enough to move her. It was the first time having someone have her as their top priority. Her parents hadn't, even Noah and Alice wouldn't do that.

She understood that both Noah and Alice cared about her greatly and would risk their lives to save her, and she would do the same for them.

It was just that if the situation called for them to choose between her and each other, they would always choose each other.

She had always been envious of how they were always connected. Would risk themselves for each other, so it was the first time someone had done it for her.

Especially, when Vince has been terrified. He faced his fears and stood up for her.

She saw Vince's hand twitch. His eyes then opened as he looked around while lying down.

"Kira? You're safe! I'm so happy!" He said drowsily. He then smiled back to sleep.

Kira watched and smiled. It made her feel emotional. She pressed the button on the side to call the doctor and took out her phone to call his mom. She then walked out of the room.

Vince who had closed his eyes felt the fog in his mind clear up as he sat up. "I'm alive? And Kira's looking after me!?"

Kira walked back in after making the call. The doctor had also arrived. He asked some questions and checked to see if Vince was fine. He explained everything to Vince then left.

Kira sat down next to him again.

"What are you doing here?" Vince asked, Kira was still wearing the clothes she had been in the mall so she had come directly from there.

"Can I not be here?" Kira asked as she cut an apple from the fruit basket she had brought.

"No! It's not that! Aren't you busy?"

"I'm not," Kira answered. She was busy but she had pushed everything back to be here.

The two talked for a while. Vince's mother called Vince to tell him she was coming. Kira saw that she didn't need to stay any longer. She got up, "I'll leave now."

"Sure... are you going to come tomorrow?" Vince asked hesitantly, he wanted Kira to come.

"I'll think about it." She walked to the door and looked back, "Thanks for standing up for me."

She then left.

Vince watched Kira leave. His face had a constant smirk he couldn't erase. Kira thanking him had filled him to the brim with happiness.