Lila felt strangely comforted and elated each time she saw Aira meditating on the roof. The view was to die for. Snowy mountains around them, morning sun rising over the peaks, pouring red light over the valley. She hoped for a moment they'd be able to keep this peaceful state forever. But then, what was their end goal? How long would their bizarre alliance survive? And undead and a human. How much did they have in common besides their escape from Mountain View?
Lila shivered a bit. "How can you sit still in this chilly weather?" she asked.
The winter was still in full force. Especially here, at the high altitude of the mountains. That, however, didn't seem to be much of an issue for Aira, with her powerful magic and ability to tap into the energy grid they created. Lila, on the other hand, was happy to find a stock of sturdy clothes that had survived all these years since the Fall.
Aira woke from her meditative state. For a moment, she looked around as if not seeing anything. Then blinked, looked at Lila, and smiled. She growled softly.
"Good morning to you too!" Lila said, smiling back.
"This gear is something else," Lila commented, shifting weight from one foot to the other right at the roof's edge and pointing to her legs, her breath misting in the chilly air. "Fox's whiskers, it feels brand new! My grandfather passed me ranger gear that was practically patchwork by the time it got to me. But this stuff? Solid as oak. The ancients knew their way around fabric, didn't they?"
Lila rubbed her legs as if not believing the clothes were real. "But the material is different, it doesn't look or feel anything like our fabrics," she said. "What do you think, Aira? If the gadgets survived all these years, maybe the ancients knew something about other materials as well, right? Still, it's wilder than a briar patch to think this stuff outlasted the people who made it by so many centuries."
Aira shrugged.
Both women, by this moment, were probably on the same level of knowledge about the fallen civilization's technology and history. They found a probable answer in the books: synthetic and composite materials that had centuries of shelf life if stored properly. And it seemed to Lila that Aira was impressed no less than her. Maybe even more. The undead woman even mentioned that this sort of quality was absolutely unthinkable in her home world. Supposedly, they had to constantly use magic to prolong the life of old items. Cast spells or put enchantments. But longevity was never an innate property of any cloth.
***
Lila's mention of her grandfather reminded Aira of the first time they saw this valley and the ancient facility. And then, the train of thought took her even further, reminding Aira of her incredible journey. While it didn't feel as dreadful as when she was just transferred to this world after that strange ritual anymore, the facility's technological environment starkly contrasted the vibrant, mana-infused landscapes she once traversed. Still, somewhere, somehow, these two worlds merged in the gadgets from Lila's town, in the devices that allowed Aira to access the System.
Other than that, this new world as a whole, or at least the parts Aira had a chance to experience already, wasn't much different from anything Aira had experienced before. There were people here. They had their usual power struggles and dramas. The trees were trees, and the grass was grass. There were more moons in the sky, but Aira wouldn't say it affected her that much. Other than if she wanted to brood under a dark sky, which was almost impossible here unless the weather was terrible.
Well, there was that whole thing about the difference in the style of magic. But Aira explained to herself that the System may have manifested differently here for some wild reason. In the end, no one really knew the logic behind the System. They only used the powers it bestowed on all people. Well, some people, as it was obvious now.
Aira's mind wandered to the days when she could cast spells effortlessly, bending reality to her will. Now, she relied on technology and her newfound Energy Manipulation. She had to suck and infuse power, interacting this was with inanimate objects, humans, and animals alike. But even if it was the main thing that had changed in her life, she could find similarities to her old skills.
"So," Lila said, her hands on her hips as she turned to Aira, interrupting her pondering. "What's the plan, partner? We can shadowfoot it through the bunker some more, or you can join me for a hunt. Either way, keep your branches covered. There's no telling what's lurking out there."
Aira growled softly in response, stretching and standing up from her meditation pose. Lila had come to understand this sound as a friendly greeting.
"Let's see what else we can find," Aira transmitted, her excitement palpable even through the veil magic and radio waves. "I still hope to get more information about the undead. I know nothing of them yet. And it feels like my journey can't be complete without them playing some part in it."
Even while Aira and Lila had already spent more than two months in that ancient building, it felt like they had explored only its tiny fraction. Or, it would be more reasonable to say a small fraction of the bunker, as they started to call it, they now inhabited. The outside halls didn't offer them anything valuable.
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It felt like this secret space was designed to host thousands of humans. It was clearly indicated by the size of the stashes of the items they found in the storage rooms. But also by the availability of space dedicated to sleeping quarters, kitchens, and all other necessities. They also found food reserves besides tools, gadgets, and materials. But unlike everything else that the warehouses held, all the perishables, well... perished a while ago. Not that it upset Aira and Lila. They were much more invested in experimenting with tech than exploring ancient cuisines.
As time passed, they continued their studies and exploration of the facility. By that moment, Lila also became quite good at reading the texts of the ancient people. In the end, when they weren't hunting or doing other chores, they didn't have to spend much time on anything besides learning and reading old manuals and workbooks.
And there were lots of insightful documents and tomes to explore there. The archive they found during the first days was one of many. It was a real treasure trove of knowledge. Nothing, however, to Lila's and Aira's disappointment, could shed any light on the history of the Fall and the separation of the humans and the undead. It seemed like this facility was operational... until it wasn't. Leaving no evidence of what happened during and after the Fall.
It didn't look like the facility had a chance to fulfill its purpose of hosting anyone. That was until Aira and Lila stumbled upon that closed door and uncorked this bunker. And they definitely weren't those thousands of people the space was intended for.
Meditation continued to be a significant part of Aira's daily routine. Since regaining access to at least some of her powers, it became a staple of Aira's training once again. And now, with a better understanding of electric systems both on magical and technical levels, Aira continued experimenting with different circuits and devices, constantly exploring them with her senses. Instead of focusing on her mana-based magic, as she did before, she now explored the intricate circuits of gadgets and their connection to the outer world.
The most recent breakthrough allowed her to finally send modulated energy pulses to those headphones so that Lila could hear her voice without being electrocuted. Giving them a secure option to communicate quietly and efficiently without relying on loud devices and shouting, which could attract unwanted attention.
Every bit of progress like that made Aira believe more and more that she could succeed in her yet unknown mission in this world. Every time her life was made easier, she felt like more and more pressure was lifted off her. And having a chance to talk to Lila without any hindrance was a great boon.
Once stilted and slow, their conversations now flowed smoothly, and overall, Aira felt a sense of achievement she hadn't experienced in a long time. They had a safe base; they could discuss all they wanted, and their days were filled with tasks and routines, leaving no time for any doubts. It could continue forever this way if Aira just made a decision to abandon her quest for answers.
***
Indeed, that was a peaceful time Aira and Lila spent in that grand ancient building. They weren't ever disturbed either by humans or by anyone else since they started exploring the old facility. All patrols passed by without even trying to venture in and it really seemed the added pieces of tech on the roof weren't noticed by the outsiders. However, nothing good lasts forever.
The tranquility was shattered one day when a small party of rangers approached the entrance arch. They weren't too cautious and didn't even try to lower their voices, seemingly not expecting to meet anyone in the building that was looted decades ago.
Aira didn't pay much attention to their approach, until it was too late. During the previous patrols, all rangers just looked at the ancient structure from the distance before continuing their trek.
This time it was different, though. And the reason for that unfortunate event soon became apparent to Aira and Lila, who were doing the maintenance on the roof. One of the rangers was in evident distress. Even from the height of the ancient building's top floors, they could hear the pitiful sounds he made. Was it the consequence of a wound or something else? That was hard to tell, though. And it didn't really matter.
"By the roots, looks like we're not alone anymore," said Lila, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I can't see from this height if that's someone I know. What's the plan, Aira?"
Aira growled softly, giving a signal to stay quiet and alert. They quickly gathered their equipment and hid them at the farthest corner of the roof. Not losing a moment, they descended towards the ground floor. However, it was already too late when they approached the corridor that led to their bunker. Some of the rangers sent for reconnaissance noticed the freshly laid bundles of cables that led to the hidden tunnel and began the exploration.
Their hiding place was discovered. And all of that because Aira became too soft. She had promised herself that she would make it a habit to constantly scan her surroundings with her Energy Manipulation skill. But their life in the bunker was so cozy, so easy, so... fun.
Now, they had to pay for the fun.
"Do you remember if we closed the door?" sent Aira directly to Lila's headphones.
"Elder's beard! I don't think so!" exclaimed Lila. "Just shows how torch-blind relaxed we became in the past weeks."
"Well, being angry about that mistake wouldn't change the reality," said Aira. "We need to figure out what to do next."
"We know this building better than anyone," said Lila. "Let’s shadowfoot it after these people and see who they are. Maybe I can reason with them before this gets worse."
As two women followed the rangers down the tunnel, it became evident that the intruders were spooked by the unexpected activity in the long-forgotten building. They were startled by every shadow and slowly moved forward, checking every corner. But all was forgotten when they saw the immense open door leading to the bunker. Moments later, Aira and Lila heard them transmitting reports on their portable radios.
"Korin, do you copy?" one of the rangers said. "We found a passageway that isn't marked on the maps. And there's an open door here! We see some signs of activity. Take more people a come here. We'll go in. Come in, over."
There was an indistinguishable response, but it seemed that the rangers got their confirmation as they ventured deeper, encouraged by the fact that they were heavily armed and the prospect of finding a stash of ancient gadgets in a previously unknown storage facility.
"Things have changed here since the last time I saw this door," said one of the men, his voice echoing in the vast space. "I've never seen it being open before!"