This was the first time Aisha stepped into a classroom—not as a Wazir's daughter from Baghdad, not as a noblewoman accustomed to being honored by ministers and scholars, but simply as a student, a girl named Ruqayyah.
The room was quiet, with only a handful of students present. The rustle of paper and the scrape of chairs were the only sounds. Bela took her seat, and Aisha followed, forcing herself to appear calm despite the rapid beat of her pulse.
A boy in the front row turned, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. Zaki—the class clown, Aisha recalled from Bela's descriptions—leaned slightly forward.
"Ruqayyah," he whispered, loud enough for nearby students to catch, "someone misses you."
"Oh!" Bela responded immediately, curiosity tinged with amusement. "Who?"
Aisha's expression remained neutral, though her mind raced. "Who misses me? The teacher? Or perhaps the janitor?"
Zaki covered his mouth dramatically, as if guarding a great secret, then glanced at a boy behind him. "Not… that one. The quiet one who reads his book upside down."
All eyes subtly shifted to Raiz. The boy busied himself flipping his book the right way, keeping his face impassive, though the tips of his ears burned a deep crimson. "Idiots…" he muttered softly, to no one in particular.
Aisha turned, hiding a small smile. Raiz straightened slightly, then replied in a forced, stern tone, "No, wait! It's not me… it's Zaki who misses you!"
Bela shrugged, indifferent. "Huh…"
Zaki clasped his chest theatrically, eyes wide. "Oh no… my secret's revealed!"
Aisha frowned, trying to mask her confusion. "Wait… are you all acting out some kind of courtly drama?"
Suddenly, a new voice—calm, yet carrying an oddly mechanical undertone—spoke within her mind.
[Ding! Good morning, Host. Today marks the official activation of the system—]
Aisha blinked. Her heart raced. A system? Inside my head? She pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling slightly dizzy.
"So… you only show up now, just to laugh at my misfortune?"
[Do not jump to conclusions, Host. We will begin with a formal introduction. Name: System Qadar.]
Aisha narrowed her eyes at the transparent panel hovering in the air, visible only to her. Fine… I'll play along for now. She crossed her arms, a sly smile teasing the corners of her lips.
[Current host identity: Ruqayyah | Age: sixteen | Appearance: above average | Skin tone: normal]
A pause followed, as if the voice were calibrating to her mental frequency.
[Stabilizing… Full activation requires time. Please remain patient, Host.]
Aisha chuckled quietly, almost inaudibly. "This is utterly absurd," she murmured, though the corner of her eye betrayed a flicker of curiosity.
The next morning, the teachers announced a field trip to Depok. Excitement spread quickly through the class. Aisha felt a small spark of eagerness. Another chance to observe and learn—this time, in a world entirely new to her.
A few days later, they were on the bus. Depok stretched out before them, bright and bustling. This was the first time Aisha had seen a modern city up close. As the bus stopped in front of a grand library, she hesitated, staring at the towering buildings, the rushing flow of vehicles, and the unfamiliar faces moving quickly along the sidewalks.
For a moment, she stood frozen, breath held. "So beautiful…" she whispered softly. "So many iron carriages in motion… and buildings that seem to reach for the sky… everywhere."
Bela tapped her shoulder gently. "Ruqayyah, are you alright?"
Aisha forced a smile, trying to mask the awe and slight anxiety swirling in her mind. "I'm fine. There's just… so much to take in."
Her chest rose and fell rapidly—not with fear, but from the overwhelming sensation of this new world. How am I supposed to survive in this foreign century?
The library reminded her of Bayt al-Hikmah. Tall shelves, neatly stacked books, and the hushed whispers of quiet activity. The atmosphere felt almost magical.
She stepped slowly, brushing her fingers over the cool, glossy walls. Everything was unfamiliar, yet pulsing with a living energy.
"Ugh… I have to find this year's best-selling novel!" Bela exclaimed eagerly as they entered.
"Boring. Who even suggested a library trip?" Raiz complained from behind, arms crossed, his expression sour.
Suddenly, Aisha tensed. Nature called, and she glanced around anxiously, her cheeks faintly pink. "Bela… could you come with me? I need to find the restroom."
Bela shook her head, eyes still fixed on the shelves. "Sorry, I need to find this book first. You can go with someone else, right?"
Aisha's expression dimmed slightly, but she did not argue. She weaved through the crowd, zig-zagging through the aisles, following instinct until she found what she sought.
Inside, the cool ceramic floors and the sharp scent of disinfectant greeted her. She washed her hands, taking a deep breath to calm the storm in her mind. This is my life now, she reminded herself. A simple routine, yet filled with wonders I never imagined.
Minutes later, relieved, Aisha stepped out. But something was wrong—her friends were gone. The corridor was filled with the shuffle of students' shoes and the scrape of chairs, yet none of the familiar faces appeared. Her pulse quickened as she scanned every corner, searching for a sign.
At first, she laughed softly, imagining them hiding nearby.
"Heh! Don't scare me! Come out quickly!"
But the corridor was empty. A sinking feeling took hold. "No!!!… Why did they leave me!!! What am I supposed to do now!!! Mother!!! I want to go home!!!" she wailed, running this way and that, breath ragged, panic creeping steadily through her. "Should I wait for the bus to come back?"
In her confusion, she spotted a bus parked nearby. Without a second thought, she climbed aboard, not caring where it would go. Inside, she walked down the narrow aisle, eyes tracing the rows of seats. Her heartbeat raced faster with each step. She paused for a moment, glancing nervously out the windows, the blur of passing city streets making her head spin slightly.