The midday sun pierced through the bus windows, reflecting off the metal handrails above the passengers' heads before falling onto the feet of a young man sitting calmly below.
His legs were crossed neatly. An open book rested on his lap, its cover showing a hero standing atop a mountain peak.
His eyes moved swiftly from line to line. His breathing slowed slightly, the story had reached its climax. When he closed the final page, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Lione… I hope you don't betray them," he murmured softly.
The young man glanced at the watch on his left wrist. 11:30. There were still thirty minutes before his meeting with a client.
The bus wasn't too crowded. Kael looked around out of habit. There were no elderly people or pregnant women who needed a priority seat. He relaxed back into his seat.
This was how Kael had always lived. Straightforward. Orderly. Never looking for trouble.
He believed in one simple principle: treat others the way you want to be treated.
At just twenty-two years old, he was already living independently in the big city. Every month, he sent part of his income back to his hometown. His life wasn't luxurious, but it was enough and Kael was grateful for it.
He enjoyed his routine. Working, keeping his body healthy, and choosing public transportation, not just because it was practical, but because it helped him feel connected to other people.
Kael's gaze swept across the faces inside the bus.
Tired. Silent. Lost in their own thoughts.
He smiled faintly, imagining the burdens each of them might be carrying. Without realizing it, he always tried to understand others, even through brief observations.
Then… something felt off.
The bus slowed down faster than usual. Several passengers turned their heads. The air suddenly felt heavy, like the moment before rain falls.
Kael frowned.
Hurried footsteps sounded from the front. A man stood too close to the door, gripping his bag tightly.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment… Kael felt an unease he couldn't explain.
It wasn't fear.
It was more like… regret that came too late.
A blinding white light filled his vision.
An explosion swallowed everything.
There was no pain.
Only overwhelming pressure, then silence.
In the final second of his consciousness, one thought crossed his mind.
Hadn't I lived my life the right way…?
Darkness.
***
The scent of wet grass reached his nose.
Kael lay flat on his back, arms and legs spread out. His eyes slowly opened, greeted by a bright blue sky that felt far too real.
A dull ache throbbed in his head.
He took a deep breath and turned his head to the side. In the distance, he saw a vast, shimmering lake and a small village at the edge of a forest.
Where is this…?
He tried to stand.
The moment his feet touched the ground, a strange sensation spread from his soles. The land beneath him shifted slightly.
Kael's heart began to pound.
The green grass swayed, not from the wind, but because the entire ground was moving.
He looked up at the sky.
The clouds were left far behind, drifting rapidly away, as if the land he stood on was floating forward.
His breath caught in his throat.
This wasn't an earthquake.
As his body struggled to regain balance, a flat, emotionless voice echoed inside his head.
In front of him, a transparent blue panel appeared.
[Initializing Factory System…]