Auralis Empire

Bell had successfully moved into my home. Despite the many unanswered questions about her mysterious identity, my sister welcomed her without hesitation. To her, Bell was just a vulnerable young girl in need of care, and she treated her like family. The irony of it all—that this "poor girl" was actually an alien who nearly conquered the world—never crossed her mind.

Perhaps her unwavering trust in me explained most of her acceptance.

As for me? When Bell privately showed me the detailed identification documents she had tucked away in her bag, I was speechless. But considering the Auralis Empire’s advanced technology, it made sense.

“This world’s information storage and encryption systems are primitive,” Bell remarked, dismissing humanity’s technology as laughably outdated.

On the way to school, I couldn’t help but frown at the transfer certificate in her hand. “Are you really sure you want to attend school with me, Bell?” I asked. The idea of her mingling with humans felt risky. While I wanted her to adapt to society, I was equally concerned about her interactions. Would she be bullied—or worse, bully others? The thought of waking up one day to find the President of the United States bound in our living room was an unsettling possibility.

“As your guardian in this space, it’s my duty to remain close to you,” she replied, her tone cold but resolute.

“Fine, but remember our agreement…” Before I could finish, a familiar voice called out.

“Blair!”

I turned to see Tina bounding towards us, her energy seemingly limitless.

“Why didn’t you come to class yesterday? And—wait, who’s this?” She glanced curiously at Bell.

“She’s Lilith, my sister,” I replied.

Tina’s eyes widened in shock. “Your sister? Since when?”

I launched into the pre-prepared story I’d also told my family, concluding with, “We were both adopted, but she’s my biological sister.”

Tina’s mouth fell open. “That’s incredible. What a reunion!” She bent down, lightly touching Bell’s cheek. “Is she really blind?”

“Yes,” I said, running my hand over Bell’s hair protectively. Bell had convincingly feigned blindness, her strange eyes hidden behind their unfocused appearance, but I remained on edge.

“She lost her sight due to severe psychological trauma,” I explained. That wasn’t entirely false—her eyes were non-functional for human vision, though her sophisticated scanning radars compensated more than enough.

Tina hesitated, then nodded. Changing the subject, she said brightly, “Well, Lilith, welcome to our school!”

Bell, clinging to her “brother,” responded softly, “Thank you.”

As we neared the school gates, Bell’s mechanical voice echoed in my mind. "Danger detected. Carbon-based lifeform armed with primitive weaponry approaching from the left. Threat level: low. Execute elimination?"

“What?” I muttered in disbelief. Before I could react, a loud bang shattered the morning calm.

Three armed men burst from a nearby school, dragging a wounded student toward a waiting car. Chaos erupted as they fired indiscriminately, striking several bystanders. The scene was terrifying, the screams around us mingling with the sound of gunfire.

My instincts screamed at me to run, but something stronger held me in place. “Bell, can you handle this?” I asked urgently.

Her response was instant: "Analyzing… Executing."

Suddenly, the sky darkened to a deep red. Golden lines appeared, forming an intricate array that shimmered overhead. Time itself seemed to halt. Students froze mid-sprint; dust hung suspended in the air. The surreal stillness made the chaotic scene feel like an art installation.

Bell transformed before my eyes. A sleek metallic suit enveloped her, streams of data flowing around her as a semi-transparent green visor formed over her face. Only her eerie, purplish-red eyes remained exposed, fixed coldly on the armed men.

Seeing her in full combat mode, I muttered under my breath, “Still no sign of growth…” Reflexive humor aside, the scene was unreal—like something ripped straight from a sci-fi epic.

Bell didn’t dignify my comment with a response. She simply moved forward, the embodiment of an alien warrior. For the first time, I realized how vast the gulf was between her world and mine.