“Nisha… what are we going to do now? The Imperial Army has specific methods for dealing with ‘ghosts’. Even though we don’t know if those methods are so difficult to use that they require the cover of the main troops, still… still we can’t let our guard down. I don’t want to become a test subject with no freedom. We need to escape to a safer place.”

  Gently holding the small, materialized ghost in her hands, Alice looked out at the scenery rapidly passing by the window of the floating train.

  Her long blonde hair swayed lightly in the air-conditioned breeze. She had closed the book, and her expression was a little lonely and quiet.

  She had been through too much today: first, a dangerous attack, then the death of her father, and finally, the revelations about her origin recorded in that “research notebook”…

  For an eleven-year-old girl, any one of these things would already be a shocking blow. She didn’t even know exactly how she felt, her heart was a whirlwind of emotions.

  But at least one thing was certain: the Royal Court of Astralis was her enemy. Now, as a “Reverse Entropy Bearer” coveted by many, she had to escape the pursuit of the Imperial Army.

  The problem was, every city in the Avril Star System was, in theory, under Astralis’ control. Where could a little girl run?

  She couldn’t just hide in a forest or mountain, right? Alice knew nothing about wilderness survival. Although her father’s journal said that “ghosts” could create energy and even matter from nothing, Nisha clearly couldn’t produce something as complex as food.

  “We can’t stray too far from the cities. I need medicine for safety, food and clean water to stay healthy, and a hidden place for protection… As for the Imperial Army’s pursuit…”

  “Oh, Nisha! We can go to the city of Flaren, on the planet Nomeka! It’s the administrative center of the planet. I saw on TV that Flaren is a populous and economically thriving metropolis, full of businessmen and important politicians. In such a famous place, with so many cameras, the Imperial Army wouldn’t be crazy enough to send mechs and anti-gravity battleships to attack, right?”

  Lifting the little ghost in front of her, Alice looked into Nisha’s eyes with her large sapphire-blue ones as she explained her plan.

  She thought it was a brilliant idea. After all, it was already clear that ordinary special forces couldn’t even scratch Nisha. If she could avoid surveillance cameras, she could easily blend into the crowd of the city!

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  Yes, there might be flaws in the theory and risks involved, but for a little girl, this was the best plan she could come up with.

  After all, she really didn’t want to try living in the wilderness. And being a little greedy, she still dreamed of an escape that preserved some minimum “quality of life.”

  "Oh… and there was also revenge…"

  At the memory of her father’s cold body lying on the ground, the relaxed light in the girl’s eyes was quickly replaced by pain and anger.

  Even though Dr. Elock had written in his letter that he was a criminal deserving punishment, to Alice he was still the father who raised her, cared for her, and taught her. No matter the reasons, the Astralis Empire should never have killed a small-town doctor so cruelly. And attacking a defenseless girl was simply monstrous.

  Just for those two reasons, Alice was already sure she couldn’t forgive whoever planned that attack. Even if, for a little girl who had no idea how big the Empire was and no way to ensure her own safety, saying “revenge” sounded a little ridiculous… if she had the chance…

  “We’re going to grow up… we’ll learn about the Empire… and one day, we’ll take revenge, Nisha.”

  Hugging the little ghost tightly, Alice murmured to herself, both a comfort and a promise to her companion.

  They say growing up doesn’t depend on age, but on the experiences one goes through.

  And in fact, after everything she faced today, Alice was no longer the little girl who only worried about tests and mobile games.

  “…”

  'Alice?'

  Silently feeling the girl’s warmth, Nisha didn’t respond much to her words. She didn’t understand Alice’s plan, nor did she know what “revenge” meant, but as the girl’s “companion entity,” she could clearly feel the strength of her emotions.

  'That’s a good thing!'

  Even without knowing why, Nisha felt that it was something good.

  The little ghost knew she wasn’t good at thinking.

  She needed Alice to make decisions and convey strong intentions. It didn’t matter whether her choices were right or wrong, being an “Anti-Entropy Idealistic Lifeform,” Nisha loved it when decisions led to happy emotions. Even better if they were joyful ones.

  For her, who didn’t have to bear the weight of “wisdom,” Alice’s happiness was also her own happiness.

  But…

  Before that longed-for “happiness” could come, Nisha knew her main mission was to protect her little master’s life. Instinctively, she knew that as long as Alice was alive, even if she were torn apart by the most powerful forces, she would still be reborn at her side.

  But if something happened to Alice… then that would be the end.

  That’s why, whenever she sensed an unknown danger approaching, whether Alice noticed it or not, Nisha had to react immediately. She didn’t know what the “correct” reaction was from a theoretical point of view, but she did know how to become a shield with no blind spots, protecting her master like the strongest fortress.

  Like now, for example.

  Even lost in her sorrow, hugging the book left by her father, Alice hadn’t yet noticed the little ghost disappearing from her lap. But Nisha, guided by something like a sixth sense, had already reacted with impressive speed.

  In fact, even before Alice realized she was gone, a thin layer of familiar shielding already enveloped her body.

  And in the very next instant…

  BOOOM!!!!

  Without any warning, the explosion roared. The night sky, previously silent, was suddenly lit up by violent, raging flames!