The Girl Between Time

The city never looked the same twice.

Nyvera had learned that after spending years slipping through generations that did not belong to her. Some worlds glowed beneath floating lanterns that drifted endlessly through the sky like wandering stars.

Some carried the scent of rain and burning metal. Others were quiet enough that she could hear the sound of history breathing beneath her feet.

Every timeline had its own heartbeat.

And at that moment she hated this one already.

A cold breeze brushed against her face as she stood beneath towering buildings of glass and steel. Lights reflected from every direction, dancing across windows high above her. Strange screens moved on walls and buildings, displaying colors and words she had yet to understand.

People walked past her without a second glance.

Fast.

Busy.

Uninterested. The city felt alive. Too alive. Nyvera narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms tightly over her chest. Her expression twisted with irritation.

"Seriously...?"

Her shoulders dropped dramatically.

"Again?"

She let out a frustrated groan before kicking a tiny pebble across the pavement.

"Ughhh..."

she muttered inside her head, dragging her feet as she walked forward.

"I hate the last generation. Geez, they wouldn't even let me finish my work!"

The memory alone annoyed her.

Everything had been going according to plan. Well- Almost according to plan.

Until people started chasing her. And then there was yelling. More yelling.

Then fire.

Then running.

Then somehow-

An exploding cart.

She still wasn't sure whose fault that part was.

"...Probably theirs,"

she whispered to herself.

A few pedestrians glanced at her before quickly continuing on their way.

Nyvera looked away awkwardly.

"...What are they staring at?"

She adjusted the sleeves of her oversized coat and continued walking.

Though she looked around eighteen years old, appearances had always been a dangerous thing when it came to Nyvera. Time had a strange relationship with her.

Very strange. Because while others grew older- Nyvera simply... continued.

Generation after generation. Year after year. She remained the same. As if time itself had forgotten her name. And honestly? She found it unfair.

Very unfair. A long sigh escaped her lips.

"Haaa..."

she breathed.

Her shoulders slumped.

"I'm so-so-so bored."

She stretched both arms above her head dramatically while looking at the night sky. The stars here looked different too. Smaller. Farther away. Or maybe she was just imagining things. Nyvera spun around slowly while observing the city around her.

Bright lights. Crowded streets. Tiny cafés. Shops lined across sidewalks.

Music playing somewhere in the distance. People are laughing. Talking.

Living. But somehow- None of it felt interesting.

"I don't see anything that can make my boredom disappear..."

She puffed out her cheeks and lightly pressed both palms against her face.

Squish.

Squish.

Squish.

Her expression flattened. Still bored.

She kept walking. One step. Two steps. Three- Bump. Nyvera blinked.

"...Huh?"

She looked up. Someone had walked directly into her. Or- No. She had walked into someone. The person standing in front of her was taller than her by quite a bit. A few books had slipped from his hands and scattered across the ground.

Silence. Nyvera stared. The stranger stared back. For some reason- Everything suddenly felt quieter. The sounds around them seemed distant. The passing cars. The conversations.

The city lights. Even the wind. She wasn't sure why.

But for one strange second- Her chest tightened. Not painfully.

Just...

Strangely.

As if somewhere deep inside her mind, something old had suddenly awakened. Something forgotten. Something impossible.

The boy frowned slightly.

"...You're staring."

Nyvera blinked.

"...You're talking."

The boy raised an eyebrow.

"...I would hope so."

"...Right."

"..."

"..."

"...You were the one walking without looking."

"...Excuse me?!"

Nyvera immediately pointed at herself.

"Me?!"

The boy folded his arms.

"You walked into me."

"I absolutely did not."

"You absolutely did."

"I was observing my surroundings."

"You walked into a human being."

"Details."

For a moment– He simply stared at her. Then suddenly— He laughed. Just once. Small. Quiet.

But enough for Nyvera's eyes to widen.

Because she wasn't looking at him anymore. She was staring at the strange feeling inside her chest. And for the first time since arriving in this generation— Nyvera wasn't bored anymore. Not even a little.

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