Clockwork Maiden, Literally.

Runic Gear

Unknown Place, Unknown Time

The cold nothingness spoke out nothing but relentless static buzz. The pain slowly stopped and allowed me to take a breather. Am I even still alive at this point, though...?

Huh… now I’m hearing voices… I wonder who’s talking…

Somehow, I can see light emitting out… oooh…! Is that… nirvana?

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“Oooh… Hmmm…. Uugh…”

“H…uh…?” I watched the welcoming light into my eyes, which turns out to source from lamps. Huh, since when nirvana had lamps? I thought it would be shined by the beautiful light of… I don’t know. I’m just imagining things.

“C-Ceiling…?” Instead of a heavenly sky, I witnessed a white ceiling in front of my eyes. My vision slowly gets clearer and clearer… the wooden sustainer on the ceiling finally gets visible to my sights. Oooh, the breeze, it’s cold…

Please… wake up…

Whose voice was that…?

Please…

O-Oh, that voice… sounded very familiar.

“Honey, look! She’s opening her eyes! She’s woken up!”

Huh…?

After a few seconds, I’m finally able to move around my head. But every move made me feel incredibly dizzy. I saw an IV stand next to me, then I raised my left hand, I realized an infusion tube was planted to it. My mouth and nose was covered by an oxygen mask, lastly, I realized that I’m bandaged.

It took a few seconds for me to realize that I was in a hospital. The voices from earlier… it was mommy and daddy. My eyes gained perfect vision at last and I’m able to see them clearly standing next to me.

“M…Mom…? D…Dad…?”

“Thank god, you’ve woken up!” Mommy grabbed my arm and cried onto it. She said bless you, bless you, bless you for so many times.

“I thought I’m never going to see you again… aaahahaaaa~” she cried even louder. Daddy calmed my mom. He looked at me and showed the world’s most sincere smile that a man can ever give. I can see his dried tears on his face.

I’m confused. Seriously, I don’t share the same sadness or thrill or even gladness after I realized I was not dead. I’m straight up confused.

“Eva…” he called me softly.

“Welcome back, my daughter.”

…Eh?

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--Helmington City, Hospital, ICU, 1640 hours--

Dad thought I was irresponsive after I’m sober. He said that my face shows that of a tense confusion. My dad slowly reels my senses and made myself completely realize that I’m still alive.

After that moment… I hug my mom and my dad. I say all the words I want to give. I say to them, that I’m very scared, I’m trembling in pain. I cannot withstand such pierce of painfulness. I want to shout but was unable to do so. I cried, yet nobody responded. I tell them that I am freezing cold until the point I thought I was already dead.

I cried to them now, leaning on their bodies as I spoke. I am cowering in fear. My mom gently pats my head as she hugs me, she is crying, too. My dad then puts his arm around both me and mom and says:

“It’s alright, now. Everything will be okay,”

I cry louder when he said that. A warmth touch from my parents always makes me feel better, I am very happy that they’re here.

Honestly, I don’t know what caused me to receive such lethal damage. My dad explained to me that I am fine, though I quickly disbelief it hence the pain I feel so excruciatingly painful. My dad tells me about how I ended up in here.

“Miss Theodora contacted us about your condition a week ago. Shocked, we made our way here to see you as quickly as possible.”

“A w-week ago?” I said weakly. “H-How long has it been…?” I asked faintly.

My dad felt reluctant to tell, but he gathers the bravery he had to tell the truth.

“You’ve been in a coma for a week, Eva. You’ve lost too much blood and your temperature is incredibly low.”

My mom continued the explanation, “It feels like you’re already dead, dear… but doctor said that your heart still pounds even in a slow motion. You also still breathe. I nearly lost hope… your father also did, but we believed that this day will come. So that’s why, we’re very thankful and glad for your awakening.”

“I… I see… But wait, what about your work in the capital?” I asked quickly.

“Oh, never mind that. We’ve received permission of a two week day off to ensure your safety. I mean, come on, what kind of parent that won’t worry after hearing their child gets into the intensive care unit.” My dad stated.

“So, how are you feeling dear?” my mom asked,

“Um… uh… I can see things quite well right now, but if I move my head, it will make me dizzy~” I explained slowly.

“I see, well, your blood loss was the cause of it. That’s why you need to rest for a long time. We even saw you getting blood transfused by the medical team to prevent you from running out of it.” My dad told me thoroughly.

My parents told me more about what happened. Isabella and granny were terrified after seeing my condition, but Bella tried to stay calm and quickly contacted hospital emergency unit. Granny couldn’t do anything due to her being aged and could collapse anytime. She only prayed that nothing bad happens to me.

…

Isabella Theodora… once again I thank you. I want to say it to her directly. She saved me so many times now. This time is the most critical point, perhaps. Well, she was quite capable in first aid actions and even had connections in the hospital, that’s why my treatment went quite well. I want to meet her soon and say my thanks… although ‘thanks’ wouldn’t be enough to cover it up. *sigh*…

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Hours pass by, and I’m like a statue on my sickbed.

I don’t really like this situation, I can’t move, I can’t do anything, I couldn’t even lift my head!

I guess stopping time and mess with my dad and mom would be a good refresher, hehe. They won’t notice anyway, alright, here goes then!

[Clockwork Phase Two – Time Stop!]

.

. .

. . .

“Eh?”

Something went wrong. I quickly realize it. Normally, the world around me shall stop. The hue of the world around me will transform whenever I use my magecraft. But… this time, there’s no sign of it happening.

“…Did I do it wrong?” I asked myself in a curious tone. “It won’t hurt to give another shot…”

I try multiple times, trying to halt the progress of time. Yet, nothing seems to happen. I can still hear voices and even see my dad reading his favorite novel.

It is as if my magecraft was sealed.

Seriously, now, I don’t want to lose my ability. If I can’t stop the time, then I will try other time spell. You got it right, boy. It’s time to return back in time. But using that magic will make me feel extremely exhausted. I should be careful not to go far.

Lesseeee… Right, I think going back a few seconds wouldn’t hurt. Okay, time to go!

[Clockwork Phase One—

Suddenly… a scary distorted voice speaks into my mind.

Stop.

Every time that voice spoke, it feels like my brain was being squished.

It is a curse.

A curse for you indomitable diehard fools…

The flow of time shall never be on your grasp, ever again…

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The voice dissolves, yet my consciousness nearly fails. My dad nearly jumps off his chair after seeing me holding my head like crazily. He is incredibly anxious.

“EVA! What’s going on?! Hey, you! Call the doctor, QUICK!”

My mom, who’s just entered the room drops her cup of tea and rushes towards me. Her concern is far greater than anyone in this world.

“No, please don’t… Eva...!”

The pain is still rounding up inside my head. I can’t get it off. I try to press my head against the pillow, but the pain just won’t go. I look into the ceiling. I believe my eyes are cracking up because of the immense pain I’m experiencing.

Suddenly, a light emanates dimly just below my neck.

I veered my eyes forcefully below my neck, there’s an emitting red light with a gear bevel on my chest rising up. It caused my heart to pound faster than a moving steam locomotive, before finally masticating it intensely. I nearly choked to death.

What the heck was that?

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Everything returned back to normal. I can breathe normally, my heart pounding in a normal rate, and my eyes still see things clearly. But, still…

WHAT THE HELL?!

The pain reduced to zero, thanks to my dad’s magecraft. Whatever happened just now, it’s a horrible nightmare. Shortly afterwards, the doctor came in a blink of an eye and inspected me with her team. She diagnosed me and concluded that my heart rate suddenly rose unconditionally, but it wasn’t life threatening.

Oh, sure, thanks a lot, doc. Saying it’s not life threatening and such, just you wait till you feel what I felt. You’re gonna believe that your life is at the brink of death.

…

A few hours later, it is time for dinner.

My parents positioned me into a seating on my medical bed. Hoomph, I was forced to eat nasty hospital foods. But I can’t burden my parents more than this, that’s what I thought to make me able to eat.

…

After five days, I was announced safe to go home. I can hardly able to walk, but with mom and dad beside me, I can get off my sickbed. I still wondered, though… I checked onto a mirror and saw a red gear bevel on my chest. It’s solid like a ruby. It feels like planted into my body. I can’t get it off. Not to mention there’s a magical rune of some sort on the gear bevel.

At first, I thought only I can see them. It appears my parents can see them, too.

My parents told me to let it be for now, they said that they will find out what and why was this gear thingy on my body.

I guess I’m really condemned, huh?

That scary voice… I really can’t get it off my memories.

…

I went back home aboard dad’s steam car. I honestly didn’t expect dad and mom would be so rich, though. On the road, dad simply drove past Empor Apartment, I thought he’s messing with me but he says brightly, “You’re coming with us, Eva” with a big smile on his face.

“W-What? What do you mean?” I asked in a bit of panic.

“You’re coming with us to Gardia, the capital city. We’ll look after you from now on.”

“But, granny… Isabella…” I whined.

“I understand how you feel, my daughter. But this is for your own good. Your mother and I can’t stand seeing you in pain like before, that’s why we’re taking you along.”

“We’re sorry for not telling you anytime soon, dear.” My mom apologized.

“Don’t worry about your toys, Eva. We’ve got it transported earlier to Gardia.” Said my father while thumbing up, he looks happy to finally able to carry me along to the capital city. But calling my treasures toy…

I cannot deny them, if they wish to take me along no matter what, then I’ll be a good girl and follow what they want. I cannot make them worry much further. And so, I left granny and my friend Isabella without saying a word. Past the border gate, now we’re heading to Gardia.

I can’t believe it, though… my life in Helmington City ends all of sudden and now starts anew in a newer place… a place that I’ve never seen before in my life.

I actually wanted to stop the time and cry for a moment, but because I fear of experiencing the deathly situation, I hold it dearly to my own, and wailed like a toddler.

What an unexpected turns of event, huh…

Sigh…