Maximillian Ryland, Orphelia, 5/31/2051 5:08 p.m.

In the late afternoon, I am alone on the road. After two days the dear Emma has allowed me then, nevertheless, kindly to be on the way alone. Does she expect eternal gratitude now? Well, I should be grateful in general, because without her I would be lost. Maybe I should bring her a coffee because she likes it so much.
Anyway, I'm off to see Malomir Maash, a carpenter who has retained the most memories of all. Still not too much, but a little more than others. In a sense, he is a celebrity in this world. We promise ourselves a lot with the meetings with him. Through him, we would hopefully make a great deal of progress. What luck that the directions were so incredibly simple. Emma said that I had to follow the unnecessarily large tower with the name Neus on the horizon and then turn right from there in the left direction three streets further on.
I was almost at the tower and the ambiance already seemed more like a big city than the city center with old town flair. Looking right and left, I see high walls of houses surrounded by many trees on the wide sidewalks. Lots of traffic, lots of noise. All the fountains on the also wide green strips between the lanes caught the eye. According to Emelia, this city is also known as an educational city because of the absurd amount of schools, universities, and other educational institutions. For a place that is flooded with students, it looks really pompous here. Maybe I've gotten into the snooty corner of the world, or maybe it's just different times.

A few minutes later, I was standing in front of a massive staircase, comparable to the entrance to the botanical garden from my time. Not only comparable, it looked exactly the same! The garden seemed to have become an infinitely high tower. I wonder what's in there? But it could also be just a coincidence. My gaze wandered upward, all the way up the twisted, curved tower. This was surrounded by angular stone columns, which also curved around the building. These became thinner and thinner and everything looked like a big upside-down tornado. The architect must have been quite proud. But I wondered how such a building could hold without being blown over by the next storm. When asked 'How impractical do they want to design the building?" did the architect simply responded 'Yes!"? If everything is so over-designed with no regard for practicality, I'm afraid of my next hospital stay.
But it was not the only strange thing here. Tilting my head to the right, I looked at another sight of Orphelia. A few meters from the tower stood a huge crystal with many illegible characters. This was the first time I had seen them, so they were unreadable. Well, not quite. No one in this world could read them, since they probably came from the time before the great amnesia. So I asked myself how it could be that within 30 years a completely new language was spoken and after the amnesia again an old one from my time and region? Hopefully, this Malomir can bring light into the darkness. The light shining from the sun through the semi-transparent crystal cast a bluish glow on me. To get a better look at this kind of crystal tablet, I walked up the stairs and held my hand in front of my face towards the sun to shield my eyes from the blinding light. A gust of wind blew through the area and next to me two young passers-by, probably students, were talking. I listened for a moment:
"Many believe that this crystal is supposed to be a kind of list of names since there are characters in each row with exactly one gap between them."
"I know. We had that topic in our class, too. Makes perfect sense. The teacher suspected it might be a keepsake."
The two then continued to talk about their school life and also about their hobbies. Among other things, the word photonball came up. A sport of the modern age as it seemed to me. Before they left, they each snapped a photo with their mobile devices. At that moment I remembered that I still don't know what these things are actually called. I took the opportunity to put down my backpack to drink some water. When I went to take out the water bottle, I noticed that there was something else there. However, I was too thirsty and ignored it first to drink some water. Then I stowed the bottle and took out the unknown object. The bright glow of the crystal also settled on this object, giving the gray color a minimal blue tint. It was a device similar to what the students had just had. How did it get into my pocket? It had the shape of a playing card, only a little thicker and with buttons and a cap or lid that reminded me of a battery compartment.
Curiosity got the best of me and I pressed the power button. A holographic screen appeared with a dark gray background and light blue text:
'Hey, Maxim. Amazing that you found this holos and you are able to launch this one. I thought you were more unintelligent.'
My neutral expression changed to a slightly scowling expression. However, I continued to read:
'It's a gift to you so I can reach you. It's almost all set. The only thing left for you to do is to activate the DNA identification so that only you can use this device. Don't worry, I don't trust you that much, so it's set up so that the next time you start it, it will pop up this message, and then it will be set up for recognition. Thank me later. By the way, holos is colloquial. Strictly speaking, the device is called a Holographic Screen Device. See you then!

• Emma' Well, thank you for the kind words. But I still could not be angry. She annoys me a lot, but she also does a lot for me. Maybe the grooming is the payment. After pressing the confirmation button, the DNA recognition program started. The device asked me not to turn it off or lose physical contact with the device during the process. A loading bar then appeared and just a few seconds later the screen started to slightly buzz and flicker. What happened? A red error message with the note that I am not identifiable popped up and the hologram distorted slightly. Finally, the corner of the holo exploded and the device went kaput. After half a minute of looking puzzled, I stowed the device away again. Wonderful. Did she give me a defective device? Now she's screwing with me too. Or is my DNA not good enough for the device? Currently, I had no choice but to move on. I descended the stairs and continued toward my destination.

A short time later I found myself in the side street - or rather a dodgy alley, as narrow and shady as it was here - with the residence and simultaneous workplace of Malomir Maash. There was hardly anyone out and about here, and I could hardly imagine that a carpenter's shop was really useful in such a place. Except for a few doors on the sides and a few garbage cans now and then, there wasn't much to see here either. Nonetheless, I continued unperturbed until someone ran in from an actual side alley and quickly looked right and then left. This one was in the immediate vicinity and caught sight of me. Immediately she came running towards me, her hood falling backward as she did so. Before I could even react, she pulled out a dagger and stabbed me directly in the heart. At that very moment, I looked into her face with a shocked expression. But the woman in the frock with long blond hair and brown eyes didn't pucker her face one bit. She looked frighteningly like Emelia. A second passed and I wondered why I felt no pain. Instead, my body was frozen and numbness spread. I felt weaker by the moment. The unknown woman in the frock, however, wondered and suddenly began to clutch at her heart. She screamed like a spit with a deafening and unnaturally distorted sound. After her body slumped, the numbness had taken over the whole body and rigidity turned into falling. My eyes went black.

It seemed like an eternity, but slowly I became aware of voices. An unknown male voice and the familiar voice of Emma. I didn't know what they were talking about, because I wasn't quite in my right mind yet.
A few minutes later, I slowly came to and realized where I was. In a hospital, of course. What else. Contrary to expectations, it is furnished like a classic hospital and I am even in a single room. It really is the snootiest place in the world! But I don't have insurance. Well, Emme will take care of it, I hope. At about the same time, the voices died down as the two people noticed me waking up. Emma looked at me with concern and at the same time asked in a sympathetic voice, "Hey. How are you? How are you feeling?" Sluggishly, I replied, "I think I'm okay so far." Emma was about to say something again, but the person next to her beat Emma to it. A man with a wolfish face and a dark voice asked me, "What happened?" I looked at the figure's face. He looked like a humanoid wolf, only a little more beastly. He must have been over six feet tall. His yellow eyes pierced me. His muscular stature was also quite fearsome. He was comparable to a werewolf. However, his red chin beard and rather flat, backward mohawk suited him. I replied, "I was attacked by a woman with blond hair and a white cowl." The werewolf, or wolf-man, as you may now call him, looked surprised.

Seriously, the wolf said, "Listen carefully, kid. Such frocks are common in the Mirror Depths. This is our degenerate neighboring continent. I advise you to become more inconspicuous. Apparently, they have you in their sights. As soon as you go anywhere without being in a group, call me. I'll have to play your bodyguard." He sighed and continued, "I'll let an orderly know you're awake. Szymon left the room with big steps. Emma then spoke to me, "This is Szymon. You've already seen him in the photo at my house. Attractive, isn't he? Unfortunately, he's already taken. Oh well, I never had a chance with him anyway." She sighed.
"Wow. I thought you were more into snooty, overly elegant guys and not beastly, oversized guys with a piercing yellow iris."
Emma looked at me indignantly and replied, "Why do guys always have some sort of overkill that I'm supposed to like? Besides, Szymon is a dear."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be presumptuous."
"It's all good. You're just kidding."
"Besides, I knew a person who is already married for the fourth time. Don't give up hope."
"That's sweet of you. But the two of them are one heart and soul. Besides, he wouldn't be interested in me even if he were single."
"Oh, that's tough."
I lay back in bed. Feeling a little exhausted still.
"Emma?"
"Yes?"
"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"No, why?"
"The woman with the frock looked incredibly like you, only the hair color was different."
Emma was surprised for a moment, but replied, "I guess it's a coincidence. But ... Maybe there are relatives we have forgotten? Officially, we remember our loved ones. So far, there has never been a situation when someone did not recognize people in personal photos. But maybe there are so few exceptions that this situation simply never happened. Or did the photos disappear right along with them? Somehow you cause more questions than you provide answers."
Concerned, I replied, "I'm sorry."
My counterpart looked briefly to see if anyone was eavesdropping and replied, "That's okay. But we have to be careful that no one overhears our conversations. Not everyone has to catch on."

Emma opened her bag and pulled out a holo. It was mine and I now knew what was in store for me. She asked indignantly, "What. The. Hell? What happened to it?"
"Well," I replied. "When it scanned my DNA, it gave an error message and the thing exploded." As expected, Emma's mouth dropped open and she looked at me in disbelief. "It ... exploded?"
She looked at me and then said "Well, it may be because you are not of this time or world. It's virtually impossible to find one without a DNA scan. I fibbed when I explained to you that everything was preset. It happens automatically. Unfortunately, you'll have to do without a communication device."
"Not of this time or world, then? So-so," Szymon suddenly said at the doorframe. He had returned unnoticed. Our discretion failed.
We both looked at each other in shock, not knowing what to do now. I guess we both couldn't think of a suitable excuse. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone, except maybe Malo." He was surprisingly discreet and generally didn't seem very stunned either.
Szymon closed the door and entered. He told me in a serious voice, "You shouldn't even be here. The fact that you sizzle a holo just by touching it shows that your body doesn't really function in this day and age. You could do a lot of damage. Maybe that's why the attack on you. Keep a low profile and try your best to intrigue here." After taking a deep breath, I explained to both of them that I still had something to tell them. I explained in detail what had happened with my potential murderess. They both looked at me in total horror. Several moments passed when Emma asked, "How is it possible? Maximilian Rhyland, I'm afraid we have a lot of work to do if we're going to uncover what's actually going on here."
"So am I."
Szymon snorted, joined me at the bedside with his arms crossed, and quietly explained, "Okay. A lot has happened, and Maximillian being from another time makes it very serious. Maximillian, you are not supposed to exist and I'm afraid that it won't even be possible to send you back to your time. It is best to start a new life." After this explanation, I felt cold all over. Never to go back. Trapped in a world where I don't 'function' properly and shady people are after my life. My gaze lowered and uncomfortable silence entered the room. How am I supposed to successfully integrate into a new world where I have to leave my sister behind without saying a word? Where I live every day in danger and can not use everyday objects. It feels more like I died from the vines in the garden back then and this is the underworld punishing me for something.

-Chapter 4.5: Re: Journey Without Return-

Marina Ryland, Demton, 5/31/2021 5:23 p.m.

Alone I walked along the labyrinth of creepers decorated with thousands of glass flowers. The last two days were incredibly difficult. A strange cocoon of creepers in the botanical garden suddenly ran amok after my touch. In principle, I am now to blame that everything being overgrown. Looking towards the sky, I saw masses of such there as well, with numerous gaps allowing enough sunlight to pass through. It is my duty to put everything in order! After the fearful escape from the garden, the survivors together found a way out of the city. One thing is strange, though. No one has come to rescue or help us. No policeman or anyone from the emergency services. What is going on there? But maybe it is better for me at the moment. I've been attacked by some eyewitnesses, but this way I don't have to answer any questions from authority figures and I can start looking for my brother as well as for clues about what happened.

Careful not to succumb to all the green trip hazards, I made my way along the road. Some paths were overgrown, but some walls were broken through thanks to the outbreak. Next to me, I found an old-fashioned, entwined lantern, with thick, horizontally running, vegetal formations. I took advantage of this to sit on it and rest. Walking is very debilitating. I thought about what could have happened, what this was all about, and where the hell my brother had gone. There was also something magical and exciting about the whole embraced and destroyed scene, if only it wasn't so cruel. A few minutes later, I continued on my way a little more rested.
Soon I passed the tea store. Here, too, the plants were ravaging, but perhaps I could find a clue as to what might have happened to Maxim. He was on his way to this store here, after all. When I entered the store, I was greeted by a sight of horror. The asymmetrical design of the shelves was partially obscured by creepers and it appeared ... symmetrical. Boring, but not really of concern right now. Much more exciting was the fact that someone was cutting through the creeper that appeared to be covering a door with a machete. He looked at me and said, "Hey Rina, good to see you well!" Immediately he embraced me. We always affectionately called the trader Mr. Heartbreaker. Curious, I asked, "How is your wife?"
"I don't know. She filed divorce papers yesterday."
"Already your fourth marriage to fail."
"I guess I'm not relationship material."
"Or try an open relationship next. And don't get married again right after a month. It's unbearable."
My annoyed look intimidated him. Lowly, he said, "I still hope she's okay."
I pointed my fingers in one direction. "If you go that way, just follow the markings and you'll get out of here. Not all plants can be cut. Some grow right back and some are incredibly strong and unseverable. But let me ask you another question: why are you still here?"
Mr. Heartbreaker replied, "As you said, some are not surmountable. I was trapped all the time, hoping for help. Fortunately, I was provided with food in the camp, even though sweets were starting to come out of my throat. Who knows how much weight I gained? Anyway, the plants moved away from the spot and a second wall of plants revealed itself, I was able to cut through these and was surprised that it actually worked."
With astonished eyes, I asked, "You mean to tell me that the maze could change? You need to get to the exit as soon as possible! So far we hadn't made this observation, but maybe we just got lucky or the behavior change has just started now. I need to find my brother fast!"
"Oh, he's missing? I hope he's okay. I'd help you, but first I have to see if my daughter made it out. Good luck, and take this machete. You'll need it sooner than I will."
"You sure? I rushed headlong back into the maze without thinking I might need tools. You'll need it yourself in case the way out has changed or even closed. She wasn't in our group, but maybe she was far enough away from the epicenter of the action to escape."
"I hope so, too. And so far the labyrinth hasn't moved much, after all, so I'm leaving now. Unlikely that the way is now closed. If it is, I'll find a way. You need it more urgently. Search in the botanical garden, because that's where he was going after shopping."
"Thank you! That helps a lot."
Mr. Heartbreaker said goodbye and hurried away. I, on the other hand, continued on my way to the botanical garden.

Finally arrived, I walked through the garden. Looking at all the dead trees and flowers, I first noticed how these green monsters were sucking up the life of other plants. Roses too, the only good thing about it. But not only that, I saw a hand sticking out of a pile of creepers. I reached out with the machete and cut the obstruction to partially expose the body. Stunned, I dropped the machete and looked right away when I realized who it was. It was the wife of the heartbreaker, lifeless. Probably suffocated under the mass of green snares.
Slight panic spread through me. I could end up like that, but the machete calmed me down a bit. Worried about myself and still about Maxim, I hurried through the garden. Cutting up plants here and there, looking for clues here and there.
Half an hour passed when I arrived back at the center. Slowly, doubt began to spread through me. Thanks to my brother, I had an unpleasant childhood. Was it even worth it? Shouldn't I just escape and live a nice life? But these thoughts immediately evaporated, because I could hardly believe my eyes. Holographic monitors were floating around the creeper cocoon! What the hell is going on now? In astonishment, I took a step backward and tripped over a snare. I lay there and just didn't want to go on. It was all too much. Nothing made sense, everything is so sudden, so fast. Everything is so illogical. Where are you, Maxim? At that moment a few tears came to my eyes. All this time I had to play the strong one. All my life. But I'm reaching my limits. I just want to be left alone. Did I really love my brother? Or was it more because of my parents?
In my mind, I tried to decide whether I should give up and sink into self-pity. It would be so easy. But then the monitors lit up briefly and a voice could be heard from them. This one spoke, "Poor little girl you look so sad."
Astonished, I asked, "Who are you?"
"Archilupus is my name."
Am I hallucinating? Considering everything that has happened in the last two days, anything is possible.
The voice spoke, "I need your help. I am not from this world and only here in this place can I speak to you. I can bring your brother back to you because thanks to me all possibilities are open to you."
I was a little suspicious, but I had no clue. Maybe I'll get somewhere with this voice and understand what the problem is here. Slowly my determination returned because I definitely want to see my brother again. Until then, I need to think about who I really am and who I really want to be. It continued, "I want to show you something." Part of the creepers moved all at once and part of the cocoon thus opened. A lifeless body slid out and it was my brother. I felt cold and my heart stopped.