Kantai Collection: Winds of the West

Chapter I: Second Chance

She heard the distant roar of enemy cannons. The sound of airplanes buzzing overhead across the sky, the cries of sailors in the water, and the shouts of the crew when everything went white in an explosion engraved themselves on her senses. She felt the cold embrace of the deep waters as it slowly dragged her beneath the waves. She realized her fate was sealed, with sunlight eventually fading from her view.

Yet she woke up, flailing as she realized she was suspended in air. She was confused - she could move on her own now. She turned her head, opened her mouth, and felt air rushing through her nostrils as she breathed. Hands, feet, arms, and legs - everything felt... new.

Straining her eyes, she looked towards her left. She was neither in the abyss beneath the waves nor the sunshine of the naval base. There were others like her being held up in a pillar of light, with lines of symbols moving around in circular fashion. She looked around the room, estimating that there were scores of similar pillars of light arranged in rows and columns. There were also several levels of balconies surrounding the central area, with alcoves on the wall filled with the same pillars of light.

"Ah, good. You're awake," a bearded man with smooth, flowing robes said as he steadily approached. His long, gray hair swayed as he walked, along with a staff encrusted with many precious gems.

The girl squinted at the sight of the man. She guessed that he was in his forties - as was the case with some of the people she remembered..

"Where are my manners," the man said.

With a snap of his fingers the pillar of light that was holding up the girl slowly dissipated, letting her upright body land softly on the ground. She tried to stand, but her knees buckled away. Two women slowly walked over to help her but their eyes opened wide when they saw the girl's naked body was slowly being covered by clothes that seemed to appear from thin air.

"Intriguing," the man said as he stroked his beard. As if he was watching a pair of spiders spinning silk, his eyes were fixed on the girl.

"Whe... where am I?" she said.

"Introductions will be in short order," the man said as he smiled towards the girl. "But for now, rest assured that we will take care of you. And, welcome to a different Earth."

---o0o---

The girl sat quietly in a cushioned sofa in a different part of the building. She was surprised when she was led out of the room with the pillars of light. The corridors were mostly made up of blocks of stone, and had torchlight as a source of illumination. Doors were mostly made out of wood, which had a familiar scent that made her feel at ease. She nearly nodded off to sleep when a robed man led her outside of the building, which turned out to be a wooden structure that had two floors at best. The walls seemed to be covered with white cement, but the foundations were built from wood. Windows were present with wood boards acting as panes.

The bearded man was seated in the shade of the nearby tree. In front of him was a small table with a chair opposite of his. Laid out on the table was a ceramic jar with two sets of a cup and small plate.

"Come," the man with gray hair said. "Sit over there."

The girl nodded and slowly walked towards the chair. After grasping the chair's backrest firmly, she slowly lowered herself to the seat. Seeing the girl was comfortable, the man motioned his hand to the cup, invited him to drink.

"It's tea. It's very calming and a fine beverage in this pleasant afternoon."

The aroma was indeed pleasant. She lifted the cup and welcomed the warmth from it. It was in contrast with the chilly air even though the sun has yet to set. Sipping from the cup, she was immediately filled with a relaxing feeling. It was as if her head was starting to float above her shoulders.