Chapter 2:

The helicopter's blades slowly came to a halt, the deafening roar fading into a low hum. The air was thick with dust and the lingering scent of fuel, the strong winds settling as Robin kept her hands firmly on her skirt. The abandoned neighborhood around them remained eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustling of leaves disturbed by the landing.

Robin stood her ground, her emerald eyes carefully observing the approaching figures. Three soldiers, fully equipped in tactical gear, moved in precise formation, their faces obscured by helmets and visors. They carried rifles, but their posture was neutral—alert yet not immediately hostile.

Behind them, a man in a sleek black suit strode forward, standing out starkly against the rugged, dilapidated environment. He carried a black case in one hand, his other resting casually in his pocket. His dark eyes assessed Robin with sharp focus, his expression unreadable.

As he closed the distance, the soldiers stopped at his silent command, remaining at a careful distance while he continued forward alone.

Stopping just a few feet in front of her, the man offered a polite nod.

"Greetings, miss. My name is Agent Alex. I'm with the government," he introduced himself, his voice smooth and professional. "We're here because an unusual energy signature was detected in this area."

Robin stiffened slightly, her wings behind her ears giving a small, involuntary flutter. Her fingers curled slightly at her sides as unease crept up her spine. Was she about to be detained? Captured because she was an anomaly in this world?

Agent Alex's gaze remained steady as he studied her reaction, his expression giving nothing away. Then, as if sensing her apprehension, he offered a slight, reassuring smile.

"It seems like you might be connected to this event," he continued, then added, "but don't worry. It's not an entirely unknown phenomenon. In fact, occurrences like this have happened multiple times in our country. People—like yourself—who come from outside this world and arrive here unexpectedly."

Robin's hands fidgeted slightly, fingers nervously twisting together. "Oh. Oh."

She wasn't sure whether to be relieved or more concerned. At least she wasn't the only one? But that meant the government already had experience handling situations like hers, which could be both good and bad.

Agent Alex observed her for a moment before giving a small nod. "Miss...?"

Robin hesitated for just a second before responding, "Robin."

"Miss Robin," he continued, his tone polite yet firm, "if you don't mind, would you come with us to our bureau? We'd like to properly process your arrival and help you adjust to this world."

Robin held his gaze for a few seconds, weighing her options. The soldiers hadn't made any threatening moves. The fact that they were asking rather than forcing her was a good sign. If this world's government had dealt with people like her before, then maybe they had the answers she desperately needed.

After a moment, she gave a small nod. "I don't mind."

Agent Alex smiled slightly, gesturing towards the helicopter. "Then please, follow me."

Robin took a deep breath and stepped forward, her wings fluttering lightly as she moved. The soldiers remained silent, standing at attention as she walked past them toward the waiting aircraft.

Inside the helicopter, Robin sat stiffly on one of the side benches, her hands resting awkwardly on her lap. The interior was dimly lit, the hum of the engine and the rhythmic thudding of the rotors filling the silence.

She glanced around at the others in the cabin. The three soldiers sat across from her, their helmets still on, their expressions hidden behind dark visors. They remained eerily silent, their posture rigid and disciplined.

Agent Alex sat beside her, his black suit strangely unruffled despite the turbulence. His briefcase was placed neatly beside him, his fingers lightly tapping against it in a slow, methodical rhythm. His face was unreadable, his gaze fixed forward as though lost in thought.

Robin swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. The atmosphere inside the helicopter was thick with tension, though whether it was caution, curiosity, or mere professionalism, she couldn't tell.

She shifted slightly, her wings twitching against the metal wall behind her. The silence was suffocating.

Should I say something? she wondered. Maybe introduce myself properly? Ask where we're going? Or would that seem suspicious?

She sneaked another glance at the soldiers. Their body language gave nothing away. No side glances, no unnecessary movements—just cold, professional silence.

A bead of sweat formed at the back of her neck.

They look so serious... Am I in trouble? Are they waiting for me to say something?

She forced herself to keep still, resisting the urge to fidget. Instead, she clutched the fabric of her dress slightly, taking a slow breath.

For now, it was probably best to stay quiet and wait....

The helicopter lifted off the ground with a jolt, the rumbling of its engine growing louder as it ascended into the night sky. The vibration of the aircraft ran through Robin's body, but she remained frozen in place, hands clenched lightly over her dress. The heavy silence lingered, making her nerves even worse.

Then, cutting through the dull drone of the rotors, a voice came from beside her.

"Miss Robin, no need to be nervous."

Robin flinched slightly and turned her head to the man sitting next to her—Agent Alex. His tone was calm, almost reassuring, but that didn't do much to ease her unease.

How could she NOT be nervous?!

Just look at them—three heavily armed soldiers, silent and unreadable. And then look at her—a girl in an elegant dress with wings behind her ears and halo on her head, completely out of place. It was like being a delicate flower dropped into a battlefield.

Her green eyes flickered with caution as she studied Alex, unsure of his intentions.

Sensing the wariness in her gaze, the man simply smiled, his expression softening.

"Miss Robin, as you can see... I'm the same as you," he said, his voice carrying a strange familiarity.

Robin blinked in confusion. "Same as me? What do you mean?"

Alex leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on his briefcase. "I was once an otherworldly person—someone who came from outside this world, just like you."

Robin's eyes widened. "Eh? Is that true?"

She studied him carefully. He looked normal—no wings, no strange markings, nothing that suggested he wasn't originally from here. But before she could question further, another voice interrupted.

An older, gruff voice came from the front of the cabin, one of the soldiers finally speaking for the first time.

"It's true. This kid has been here a long time."

Robin's head snapped toward the soldier who had spoken. Unlike the other two, this one carried a more relaxed posture, his tone gruff but not unkind. He was clearly older than the rest, and something about the way he spoke made it seem like he had seen a lot.

She turned back to Alex, processing the revelation.

"I see…" she murmured, nodding slightly.

Alex chuckled lightly. "So no need to worry about us. As far as I've lived here, I've been treated with care. To this country, the arrival of people like us is considered a blessing."

Robin took in his words, her tense shoulders relaxing just a little. If that was true, then maybe... just maybe... she wouldn't have to fear what was coming next.

As the helicopter flew over the city, Robin pressed her hand against the window, her emerald eyes scanning the world below with curiosity.

The city looked... surprisingly normal. Modern. Tall buildings stretched toward the sky, streets were illuminated by bright neon lights, and cars zipped through the roads just as they would in her old world. She had expected something different—something more cyberpunk, maybe. After all, if she was going to be thrown into another world, why not one with glowing streets, flying cars, and futuristic spires piercing the clouds?

But despite her slight disappointment, there were still sights that felt beyond what she was used to. High above the streets, massive holographic billboards floated in the air, displaying advertisements and news updates. On one skyscraper, a sleek, humanoid robot was methodically cleaning the glass, its mechanical arms extending with perfect precision.

As she took it all in, Agent Alex's voice pulled her back.

"This is Nexora City," he introduced, his tone carrying a hint of pride. "A city that prioritizes technological development above all else."

Robin gave a small nod, absorbing the information.

So it's a tech-focused city? It made sense—given the holograms and advanced robotics, it was clearly more advanced than her world.

A moment later, Alex glanced toward the pilot, then turned back to her. "It seems like we're almost there, Miss Robin."

Robin hesitated before pulling her gaze away from the window. She shifted in her seat, straightening her posture as she braced herself for whatever came next.

The helicopter slowly descended, the hum of the engine shifting in pitch as it approached a landing platform. Below them stood a massive structure, far larger than any of the other buildings she had seen so far. Its design was sleek and imposing, with a futuristic aesthetic that set it apart from the rest of the city.

As the aircraft touched down with a soft jolt, Robin clenched her hands into fists, trying to steady herself.

--------------------

The soldiers stepped out of the helicopter first, their boots hitting the platform with a solid thud. Agent Alex followed right behind them, moving with the same effortless confidence he had displayed since their first meeting.

Robin hesitated for a brief moment before getting up, her dress shifting slightly as she carefully made her way toward the exit. Just as she was about to step out on her own, a hand extended toward her.

She blinked and looked up—Agent Alex was offering his hand, his expression calm and polite.

Realizing the gesture was meant to help her step down more smoothly, Robin hesitated only for a second before accepting it. "Thank you," she murmured as she steadied herself on the platform.

Once on solid ground, she turned her gaze upward toward the massive building before her. Its sheer size dwarfed everything else she had seen in the city so far.

"...It's huge," she muttered under her breath.

Alex seemed to notice but didn't comment on it. Instead, he simply gestured for her to follow him. "This way, Miss Robin."

As they moved forward, the soldiers split off in another direction, leaving her alone with Alex. Robin's eyes darted around, taking in her surroundings.

Despite the imposing architecture, the place was lively. People walked briskly past them, seemingly accustomed to the presence of helicopters and armed personnel. But what caught her attention the most was who was walking around.

A woman with soft, fox-like ears and a fluffy tail brushed past her, speaking into a holographic communicator as she hurried in the opposite direction. Robin barely had time to process that before something even more bizarre happened—

A man ahead of them took a few steps forward, then, without warning, transformed into a large black bird and took off into the sky. His wings flapped once before he disappeared over the rooftops.

Robin stopped in her tracks, her mouth slightly open.

What the hell?

This place was weird.

She had seen many strange things before—especially in games—but watching a person casually shift into a bird in public was definitely new.

"Miss Robin?"

Alex's voice pulled her back to reality. She turned to see him standing a few steps ahead, looking at her with a knowing smile.

"Ah—!" She quickly hurried forward, catching up to his pace.