I Reincarnated to Another World as a Woman-Chapter 209: Intrusion

"Hey, thanks for being ready on such short notice," Captain Chambers says the moment the helicopter lifts off.

"Not a problem, Captain. We just cleared a dungeon," Arthur replies. There’s no trace of his earlier fatigue or brain fog. He’s sharp again, composed as ever.

"Captain," Theo suddenly interjects, cutting through the polite exchange.

It isn’t like him to interrupt. But anxiety coils tight in his chest. The ominous feeling that has followed him for weeks now is pressing harder, louder.

"Yes, Ms. Montrose?" Captain Chambers answers.

He has never been particularly fond of Thea Montrose. Not because she’s rude or troublesome, but because he simply cannot see her value as a dungeon clearer. In his mind, Rhaenas is carried by Arthur and Liam. Julian, at least, contributes with his gadgets. As for Ms. Collins, he still doesn’t quite understand her role either.

Both female members of Rhaenas look... fragile.

Captain Chambers fails to see how they can fight. He fails to understand why Arthur and Julian would ever bring their seemingly delicate sister into a dungeon. To him, it feels reckless.

But right now, he can’t afford to dismiss her. Not when the rest of Rhaenas are watching him closely. And not when he needs them more than ever.

So he gives her his full attention.

"Are there any reports of unusual phenomena in the city?" Theo asks.

Captain Chambers blinks. "Unusual phenomena?"

He glances at Arthur and Liam, hoping one of them will clarify, but they remain silent, listening carefully.

He turns back to Theo, forcing himself to focus. "Erm... I don’t think so."

Then something clicks.

"Oh. Lieutenant Kerr mentioned something," he adds. "He said some citizens are acting... strange."

Theo’s expression darkens. "Strange how?"

Captain Chambers shakes his head quickly. "I don’t know. He didn’t go into detail."

His attention shifts back toward Arthur, clearly eager to move on to the briefing he considers more important.

"Captain," Theo presses, "do you mind if I contact Lieutenant Kerr directly and ask him?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure," Captain Chambers replies dismissively, already turning back to Arthur and Liam. He begins briefing them, effectively tuning out the other three.

Theo exchanges a glance with Julian and asks him quietly for Lt. Kerr’s contact. He doesn’t have it himself.

While Julian connects the call, Maeve stares out the helicopter window. For reasons she can’t explain, she feels compelled to watch the city below. The streets. The movement. The people.

Theo hangs up a minute later, his frown deepened.

Lieutenant Kerr reports that in the past hour alone, Solarys has seen more traffic accidents than in the entire previous month combined.

Paramedics and officers on the scene are baffled. Many drivers were found staring into nothing before crashing. When they came to, most couldn’t remember what happened at all. Those who did remember described it vaguely, as if recalling a dream through thick fog.

At first, Solarys DEU hadn’t noticed.

But as the numbers kept rising, and it became clear that it wasn’t localized to traffic accidents alone, officers in the field started calling for help.

The majority were traffic-related incidents. But there were others.

A man mowing his lawn suddenly went blank and sliced his own hand with the shears.

A mother cooking dinner froze mid-task, the stove flaring out of control and nearly setting her house on fire.

Children riding bicycles drifted into nothingness and nearly fell into ditches or incoming traffic.

Different locations. Different people. Different activities.

The same pattern.

Blank stares. Sudden lapses. Lost time.

Too many incidents.

Too many people acting wrong.

And no clear explanation.

Theo exhales slowly.

This is not normal.

He is still piecing everything together when something catches the corner of his vision. A sliver of movement. Too subtle to be smoke, too deliberate to be light.

A very thin strand of muted green mist slips into the helicopter.

Theo snaps into focus instantly. His gaze follows it, sharp and precise.

His eyes widen in shock when he sees where it goes.

The green mist drifts toward Maeve.

And then it enters her.

Straight into her head.

Maeve is staring out the window now, her expression empty, unfocused. Her eyes are open, but no one is home.

Theo’s jaw clenches hard.

He grabs Maeve’s shoulders and shakes her, sharper than he intends, fear overriding restraint.

Julian notices immediately.

"Thea—" He leans in, checking Maeve’s face, her eyes, her breathing.

Julian sees it too.

Something is wrong.

But instinct kicks in. He keeps his reaction silent, controlled.

Theo shakes Maeve again, harder this time.

Captain Chambers finally notices the commotion.

"What’s wrong?" he asks sharply. "Is she afraid of heights? Did she pass out?"

Arthur and Liam lock onto Theo at the same time, reading his face.

Theo doesn’t answer.

He only shakes his head once.

Arthur reacts instantly, launching into a question for Captain Chambers about the site logistics. Liam follows without missing a beat, piling on another question, successfully drawing the captain’s attention away.

Theo closes his eyes.

He focuses.

Light gathers.

When he opens his eyes again, the world shifts.

He sees it clearly now.

The muted green mist is tangled with a thin, shimmering goldish-white mist. Mana.

The already scarce world’s mana is fighting.

Theo flicks his wrist.

His own mana surges forward, clean and radiant, weaving itself into the goldish-white threads, reinforcing them.

The reaction is immediate.

The green mist recoils.

It shudders, unravels, then is pulled back violently, yanked from Maeve’s mind like poison forced out of a wound.

It dissipates into nothing.

Gone.

Theo releases his Light magic and sways slightly, breath coming a little heavier. Light magic always costs more. It demands clarity, precision, and intent far beyond elemental casting.

Maeve blinks.

Once. Twice.

Her awareness returns in slow layers. She looks at Theo first, confusion knitting her brows at the concern written all over his face.

Then she looks at Julian.

Same expression.

She leans toward them and whispers, voice low, puzzled, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Theo leans in too, his voice barely audible. "Are you okay? I saw a green mist enter your brain."

Maeve stiffens.

Then her eyes widen slightly as realization clicks into place.

"Oh," she whispers. "That’s what it was."

She glances at Captain Chambers, who is still deep in conversation with Arthur and Liam, completely unaware.

"Later," Maeve murmurs. "When we can talk."

Then, softer, "I’m okay now."

She leans back into her seat, forcing her body to relax.

Theo and Julian exchange a glance.

They nod.

And lean back as well.