Kai and Sara locked eyes, a moment of silent recognition passing between them. Mr. Aldric and Ms. Sayuri exchanged glances, sensing the familiarity between the two teenagers.
"Do they know each other?"
Mr. Aldric asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
Sara was the first to speak.
"Yes, we've met before. Kai saved me from getting robbed by some homeless guy." Her voice softened as she continued, "Even though he lost… he still tried his best to protect me."
Kai averted his gaze, scratching his cheek awkwardly.
"But…"
Sara's gaze lingered on him, curiosity evident in her eyes.
"What are you doing here?"
She asks.
Mr. Aldric sighed, stepping forward.
"Kai's parents abandoned him when he was just a child. Left him alone in the forest… in the cold."
His voice was steady, but there was a weight behind his words.
Sara's eyes widened in shock. She turned toward Kai, her expression shifting from surprise to deep sympathy.
"I… I didn't know."
Ms. Sayuri placed a gentle hand on Kai's shoulder.
"That's why we decided to foster him." She smiled warmly.
"I'm sure you two will get along well."
Kai nodded.
"Of course, we will."
Sara's lips curled into a small smile.
"I'd be glad to. I already see him as a little brother."
At that moment, Kai's stomach let out an audible growl. Ms. Sayuri chuckled, covering her mouth.
"Oh, don't worry! Dinner's almost ready. You'll be full in no time. It's practically a buffet!"
she said with a wink.
"I'll go check on it now. Sara, why don't you give Kai a little tour and show him to his room?"
Sara nodded.
"Alright. Come on, Kai."
Kai quickly slipped off his red slippers and followed her upstairs. The wooden staircase creaked softly beneath their steps as they ascended.
When they reached the second floor, Sara led him to a room at the end of the hallway. She opened the door, and the moment Kai stepped inside, his eyes widened in disbelief.
The room was incredible. A massive flat-screen TV was mounted on the wall, opposite a near king-sized bed that looked soft enough to sink into. A sleek black desk sat against the wall, complete with a high-performance computer, mechanical keyboard, gaming mouse, and a widescreen monitor. The entire room was illuminated with vibrant blue LED lights, casting a futuristic glow.
Kai stood frozen, taking it all in.
Sara tilted her head.
"Uhh… Kai? You okay?"
Kai finally snapped out of his daze.
"I… I love it."
His voice was filled with genuine amazement.
Sara giggled.
"I was hoping you would. Well, let's check out the rest of the house."
Before stepping out, Kai took one last glance at his new room and whispered to himself, My life is slowly getting better…
They continued the tour, stopping by the luxurious bathroom with its marble counters, glass shower, and sleek modern design.
As they walked through the hallway, Sara gestured to another door.
"No need to check out my parents' room. You're still new here."
Kai nodded, understanding.
They reached another room, and when Sara opened it, Kai's eyes darted to the various items stored inside—shelves lined with toy guns, alongside real ones securely locked away.
"This is our storage room. We've got a bunch of stuff here,"
Sara explained.
"You can play with the toy guns, but never touch the real ones, okay? They're dangerous. We only use them in case of emergencies or intruders."
Kai nodded seriously.
"Got it."
Sara pointed at a shelf stacked with odd objects—a bowling ball, wrenches, boxes of old gadgets.
"Well, that's about it for this room."
They exited, and Sara clapped her hands together.
"And that's the full tour."
Kai stretched his arms, a genuine smile forming on his face.
"I really am gonna enjoy staying here, huh?"
Sara chuckled, ruffling his hair.
"Yes, yes you are, Kai."
They both shared a lighthearted laugh before Ms. Sayuri's voice echoed from downstairs.
"HEY! THE FOOD IS READY!"
Sara grinned.
"Come on, Kai! Let's eat. Mom's cooking is amazing."
Kai's stomach growled in agreement as they rushed downstairs.
At the dining table, Kai's eyes widened in astonishment. The spread before him was a feast—grilled meats, steamed vegetables, sushi rolls, bowls of fragrant rice, soups, and an array of sauces. It was a banquet fit for royalty.
Before they could dig in, Ms. Sayuri clasped her hands together.
"Before we eat, I have a couple of questions for you two."
Kai and Sara exchanged glances.
"I want to hear about your future goals,"
she continued.
"Let's start with you, Sara."
Sara twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, deep in thought.
"Well… I want to be a successful businesswoman. Rich, powerful, someone with authority."
Mr. Aldric smiled.
"That's very ambitious."
Ms. Sayuri nodded.
"It'll take a lot of work, but I know you can do it."
Sara smirked.
"Of course."
Ms. Sayuri then turned to Kai.
"What about you, Kai?"
Kai hesitated, his fingers gripping the edge of the table. He knew his answer would sound absurd to them.
"I… I want to become a god,"
he finally said.
A brief silence filled the room. Mr. Aldric raised a brow. Sara blinked in confusion. Ms. Sayuri let out a light chuckle.
"Oh? A god, huh? That's… interesting."
Kai swallowed and continued.
"I want to transcend humanity… to unlock the full potential of my subconscious."
"I always wanted to be a being with superpowers, someone who is a powerful hero"
Ms. Sayuri's smile remained, though her confusion was evident.
"And… how do you plan to do that?"
Kai straightened his posture.
"I've read a lot of ancient books about gods, and the cosmos. They were labeled as non-fiction—so I wondered… maybe it really is possible."
Ms. Sayuri nodded slowly.
"Well… I wish you luck on that journey."
Kai looked at her earnestly.
"Ms. Sayuri… can you take me to the library tomorrow?"
She raised a brow. "The library?"
He nodded.
"I want to learn more."
Ms. Sayuri smiled.
"Of course. I'll have Sara take you."
The meal commenced, and Kai took his first bite of seasoned rice.
The moment the flavor hit his tongue, his eyes widened. The rich, savory taste overwhelmed his senses.
"This… this is amazing,"
he muttered in disbelief.
Ms. Sayuri beamed. "Thank you, Kai."
From that moment on, Kai devoured his food like a starving beast. Plate after plate, he ate with an enthusiasm that left everyone speechless.
By the end of the meal, he had eaten ten plates.
Ms. Sayuri's smile faltered as she stared at the empty dishes. A realization hit her—it wasn't just hunger. It was deprivation.
Kai had never been properly fed before.
She reached out, patting his head gently.
"I'm glad you ate well."
Kai yawned, stretching his arms.
Ms. Sayuri chuckled.
"I think someone's a little tired."
As Kai got up from the table.
Kai nodded sleepily.
Sara grinned. "Sleep well, Kai."
Mr. Aldric added.
"Make sure you wake up on time if you still want to go to the library."
Kai gave them a thumbs-up before heading to his room.
As he lay down on the soft bed, he exhaled deeply.
As he glances at the large tv in front of him, and the nice pc, computer set up on the desk on the side of the room.
"This room is awesome with things I can do and play with but I'll pass for this first night."
Kai whispers.
For the first time in a long while… he felt safe.
His eyes fluttered shut, and sleep claimed him.
Kai drifted into sleep or at least, he thought he did.
But something felt… off.
His eyes opened slowly, only to meet a world that was wrong in every imaginable way. The colors around him bled into each other like a surreal painting shades of dark grey clashed with unnatural reds. Nothing looked familiar. Not his room. Not the walls. Not even the air.
"What the…?" Kai muttered as he pushed himself upright.
But the moment he did… he rose. Not stood floated.
His eyes widened, a chill crawling up his spine as he looked down.
Below him… was himself.
His real body lay in bed, motionless, eyes shut peacefully. Unmoving.
"OH NO. OH NO. OH NO AM I DEAD!?" Kai's voice cracked, the panic hitting all at once. "WHAT IS THIS?!"
His hands trembled as he tried to dive back into his body, reaching for his physical form.
Nothing.
He passed through like a ghost.
"DANG IT!" he screamed, clenching his fists. "WHY ISN'T IT WORKING?!"
His breath quickened even though he wasn't technically breathing. His hands passed through everything. The floor. The bedframe. The sheets. He felt nothing. Saw everything.
He didn't realize it yet… but he was no longer bound to his body. He had slipped from the material world into something far more surreal.
Something astral.
The room felt like a distant memory.
He staggered if floating could be called staggering toward the window, drawn by the stillness beyond the glass. But the moment he reached out to touch it, his fingers slid through the surface like mist. No resistance.
He pulled his hand back on instinct.
"What… is this…?" he whispered.
Slowly, cautiously, Kai phased his whole body through the wall like stepping into a different existence. And as he emerged outside…
His breath caught.
The world he once knew… was gone.
The grass, trees, and air remained in shape but not in color. Everything was dyed in those same unnatural tones. Greys that felt lifeless. Reds that felt alive. The sky above was black pure void broken only by a glowing crimson moon. Even the clouds, once slow and soft, now drifted like smoke across a battlefield.
"Am I even in my own world…?" Kai whispered, his voice the only sound in the endless silence.
But before he could gather his thoughts
The wind howled.
Suddenly.
Violently.
The clouds began to swirl at impossible speeds. Leaves on the trees began to bloom and spiral unnaturally, whipping around like blades caught in a hurricane. Flowers unfurled violently, petals flying into the air.
The atmosphere itself trembled.
Kai shielded his face with his arms. "W-What the hell?!"
And then
A voice.
Powerful.
Authoritative.
Corrupted.
Like it spoke from every direction at once.
"So… we meet again, Kai."
Kai froze. The sound wasn't just heard it was felt. Like it echoed inside him.
"W-Who are you?!" Kai yelled, his voice shaking. "Where are you?!"
The wind surged harder, forcing Kai back midair. A red aura bled into the atmosphere, spiraling outward from nowhere, painting the air with malicious energy. It coiled and twisted in circles, wrapping around him like a prison without walls.
The clouds moved faster.
The wind screamed louder.
And the flowers… kept blooming.
"ARGHH What is this power?!" Kai shouted, gripping his head as a piercing pressure dug into his mind.
The red aura continued to twist, writhe, and condense.
Then without warning it began to form.
A humanoid figure emerged from the storm of energy its body pulsing with red neon light. Towering. Inhuman. Wearing a jagged, demonic mask, its design ancient and malicious, with symbols that glowed like lava. Its presence alone distorted the air.
Kai's eyes locked onto it… but no memories surfaced.
He didn't remember the last time this being had appeared.
Because the last time… it erased that memory.
But this time
Something inside Kai stirred.
Something old.
And something… watching.
And then
everything stopped.
The wind fell silent. The air stilled. The drifting leaves and violently blooming flowers suspended in midair like frozen time-lapse footage. Even the clouds once hurtling across the crimson sky—froze in place like a shattered painting.
Kai felt no breeze, no warmth, no chill.
Only the hollow vacuum of stillness.
It was as though time itself had bowed before the presence now hovering in front of him.
The red neon being drifted closer, gliding through the dead air with a ghostly calmness. It didn't walk. It flowed.
Then it spoke.
"I've seen everything that happened to you."
The voice slithered into Kai's ears not loud, but heavy, like a whisper that weighed tons.
"And I must say… the world truly did turn its back on you at first."
Its form shimmered.
And without warning, the being's entire body shifted.
The red light twisted into a kaleidoscope of memory real, but warped. It showed his parents. The very night they turned their backs. A scene Kai had locked away in the rusted corners of his mind.
"W-What…" he whispered.
"How pitiful," the being said, its tone almost taunting. "Your parents were corrupt from the start. Crooked hearts. Dirtied souls."
The projection changed again images of his parents' past surfacing like broken fragments on a cursed mirror. Secret meetings. Stolen things. Lies whispered into smiling faces. Shadows darker than Kai had ever known.
"They were involved in illegal dealings, Kai. Long before you were even born. You were never part of their plan. You were… a miscalculation."
The being's form shattered again returning to its red glow.
It turned its back to Kai, floating just a little higher into the still air.
"They threw you away like ash in the wind…" it said quietly. "And yet… here you are. Still burning. Still seen."
A pause.
"That's rare, Kai."
Kai stood frozen. The silence wasn't peaceful. It was suffocating.
The being continued, its voice quieter but colder:
"Most who are abandoned vanish in silence. Forgotten. But you? You were found. And that makes you… dangerously fortunate."
Kai's fists clenched. His breathing though astral grew shaky.
"How do you know what I've been through?" he finally said, voice low. "Those nights… those screams… No one was there. So how could you know?"
He took a step forward.
"You talk like you were there when I was being bullied. When my parents left me. Like you stood in the silence that swallowed me. They abandoned me… like I was nothing. Since the day I was born."
Tears, slow and reluctant, began trailing down Kai's cheeks.
"So tell me…" he whispered, voice breaking, "…why does your voice sound like my past?"
For several seconds, the being said nothing.
Its aura pulsed.
Then, without a hint of mercy or hesitation, it delivered the truth that shattered the last wall Kai had.
"If I had not whispered to fate and your goals that night, Kai…" the being said slowly, "you would've rotted beneath the frost. Forgotten by the stars. No warm bed. No rescuers. No Sara. No Mr. Aldric. No Ms. Sayuri."
Kai's eyes widened.
"Just bones. And silence."
A beat passed.
"I owe you an apology, Kai," the being said. Its tone finally softened just slightly. "For stealing that night from your mind. The night the void tried to consume you. I reached into it and pulled what was left."
It floated closer, until Kai could see the flickering red runes burning along its chest.
"You were breaking. Not just your body. Your soul. I erased the memory to keep you whole. To give you a chance to live… without the weight of that moment. Without the corruption of the powers you were starting to reach for."
The air around them dimmed.
"…But perhaps," the being said quietly, "that was a mistake."
Its body began shifting again red light wrapping, twisting, until
It became Kai.
Perfectly. Exactly.
Same height. Same face. Same wild hair and sharp brows. Even the same tiny scar under his chin.
Before Kai could speak, the being raised a hand.
A silent pull took place telekinetic energy grasping Kai by the chest and drawing him forward.
"Try to remember," it whispered. "The stars were gone. The ground had vanished. And in that darkness… I called your name first. Before anyone else ever did."
Then
It mimicked his voice.
Same tone.
Same rhythm.
Same slight rasp he hated hearing in old video recordings.
Kai blinked, jerked his head back slightly, and pointed a finger at the doppelgänger.
"Eh hey! Why are you using my voice?!"
The air was dead quiet for a moment.
The being gave no answer.
But its neon glow pulsed.
And then
It tilted its head.
And smirked.
"Well," it said in Kai's own voice, exaggerated in pitch, "because I thought it was gon' be funny heh."
Kai blinked again.
"…HUH?!"
Kai crossed his arms, eyes fixed on the figure that mirrored him. The absurdity of it all hadn't quite settled in, but his sarcasm surfaced like a reflex.
"I mean,"
he muttered, brow cocked,
"if you're gonna mimic me and my size, at least make me sound cooler."
A dry pause.
"Less existential breakdown. More hero arc."
The being paused mid-mimic.
The crooked grin on its glowing silhouette slowly vanished. The flicker of mischief dimmed in its neon form, replaced by something silent, vast… and ancient.
No more mockery.
No more games.
And then
The red light surged.
Like a geyser of pure power erupting from stillness, it exploded upward, carving through the heavens. The being rose, its body expanding and contorting, its shape unraveling into something not meant to be confined by human anatomy.
Kai instinctively floated back.
Its form grew. No longer humanoid. No longer
"boy-shaped."
It became something impossibly vast an abstract deity sculpted from radiance and depth, as if reality had been sketched in crimson flame.
The sky warped.
Clouds accelerated unnaturally, spinning like time-lapsed film. The wind howled, wild and furious, tearing through the trees, uprooting petals and hurling leaves into the air. Branches bowed. Flowers bloomed unnaturally fast. Even time, time itself shivered.
Kai shielded his eyes from the incandescent blaze.
"W-What the?"
Then
From the heart of the brilliance came a voice.
Not his own.
Not anything human.
Layered. Echoing. Sovereign. Slightly corrupted.
"I am a spiritual god in this astral realm."
The words didn't just ring in Kai's ears. They vibrated in his bones.
"But many call me the Anti-God… for I am neither good nor evil… but something else entirely."
The storm of energy intensified.
Kai's pulse raced. His very essence seemed to react to the presence towering above him.
"I am a guide. A bringer of vision. I do not force, nor do I control. I awaken truth truth buried in shadow."
The light dimmed slightly, enough for Kai to glimpse the being's true shape through the glowing veil—a godlike form outlined in blinding geometry, stretching across the sky like a constellation given life.
And it was watching him.
"You, Kai… have a goal that echoes far beyond this realm. And I am here to give you the knowledge to reach it."
Then
Silence.
Absolute.
The petals in the air froze in place. The winds ceased. Even the flow of time came to a standstill as if the universe itself held its breath, unwilling to disrupt what came next.
The Anti-God lowered a single radiant hand.
Snap.
Reality bent.
Kai's pupils shrank.
His lungs caught mid-breath as an avalanche of memory crashed into his mind violent, divine, and raw.
His body convulsed slightly.
Fragments of forgotten moments surged:
a void darker than shadow, where his child self once stood alone
a whisper, laced with cosmic rhythm, telling him of the stars beyond stars
a sacred tome with pages that bled light
himself, trembling beneath a crimson moon, reaching out to a hand that wasn't there
laughter
light
fear
clarity
"AAGHH!"
Kai clutched his head, falling to one knee midair as if gravity had returned just to humble him. His breath came in ragged waves until
It stopped.
The pain faded.
His eyes opened wide.
"…Oh!"
he gasped, breathless, blinking in amazement.
"It's you again!"
His voice cracked with shock… but also something else: recognition.
"You're the one from before!"
he said with a grin that broke through the awe.
"The one who whispered to me that night!"
The Anti-God pulsed. Its massive, divine form flickered with radiant threads of light.
A soft, almost amused chuckle reverberated through the stillness.
"Yes,"
the voice echoed.
"Yes, it is."
That warmth so sudden wrapped around Kai like an echo of his earliest hope. But only for a moment.
Then the light intensified not with wrath, but revelation.
As if the cosmos had decided to peel back its curtain.
"But Kai…"
The voice now dropped in tone. Deeper. Colder. Wiser.
"Before you reach that height… before you even begin to become something transcendent…"
The sky dimmed. The glow pressed inward like a spotlight of truth.
"…Let me ask you this."
A silence fell so heavy it rang like a bell.
"Do you even understand what you're aiming for?"
Kai blinked.
The Anti-God's voice thundered not cruel, but firm.
"Do you even know what the cosmos is? Have you considered that this 'world' you walk might be a contained universe? That the night sky above is not just infinite, but simply a veil?"
Kai's heart stammered.
His mind raced.
He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with clarity.
"…Yes,"
he whispered.
"You once told me… if I read that old book… that ancient book, I would gain knowledge."
He nodded once.
"That was how it began."
The Anti-God's glow softened just slightly.
"Correct. That book is a key. But not the only one. It is close to truth… but not complete."
A pause.
"Do you remember the other method, Kai?"
Kai's brows drew together, his mind digging through the haze of restored memory. Then
Snap.
"Oh! Searching for the artificial items!"
he exclaimed, snapping his fingers as realization sparked.
But the thrill was short-lived.
His smile faded. His eyes fell.
"…But,"
he said quietly,
"you also said they're rare. Extremely rare. And hard to find… almost impossible to detect."
The air grew still again.
The Anti-God remained silent.
It did not deny it.
"Yes. Because they're scattered throughout all of creation."
The being's voice drifted like a breeze across starlight, calm yet eternal.
"Hidden not just across lands, but across realities. Some lost to forgotten time. Others disguised as trivial things."
A soft wind stirred again, swirling around Kai as though nature itself had awakened to listen.
"But those items, Kai…"
The being's voice shimmered, layered with cosmic echo.
"They will determine whether your path ends in ascension… or ruin."
Kai stood beneath the being's immense presence, heart pounding not from fear, but from anticipation.
He remembered now. The journey hadn't ended it had only just begun.
The winds calmed. The sky fell into stillness. The thunderous blooming of astral flowers ceased.
Above, the being's vast form once like a crimson god casting light through clouds began to shrink. Its glow condensed, folding in upon itself until it became the familiar red silhouette: sleek, smooth, hovering at Kai's side, just as it had been in that strange liminal space between dream and memory.
They floated side by side now in the astral realm, suspended like thoughts in a sky without beginning or end.
The being tilted its head, and though its mouth did not move, its voice smirked.
"How about we check in on your new family?"
Kai barely had time to register the words before
FLASH.
Reality folded like paper, his vision distorting in spiraling ripples.
"Whoa!"
he shouted, the only word that escaped him before the world snapped again.
THUMP.
The scent of warm bread and roasted meat filled his nostrils.
Kai blinked.
He stood in the kitchen of the Aldric household.
It was familiar. Comforting.
But wrong.
"Sara?"
he called softly.
At the table, Sara sat mid-laugh, fork halfway to her mouth. Across from her, Mr. Aldric's hand hovered with a steaming mug, and Ms. Sayuri's lips were parted caught in the middle of a word.
Not a sound.
Not a breath.
Not even the ticking of the kitchen clock.
Time had stopped.
Kai stepped forward cautiously.
"What…?"
The being hovered beside him, arms crossed, glowing eyes narrowed.
"Oh. Huh. That's… weird."
It drifted over to Mr. Aldric, peering at him like a curator inspecting a wax figure.
"In this astral form, I can usually do anything. You're bound to my rules while we're connected like this."
It tapped its chin thoughtfully.
"But apparently… I still can't affect your physical plane."
Kai glanced around, unease rising in his chest.
"I thought people would just keep going about their lives while we watched,"
the being mused, now floating upside-down, lazily spinning.
"But something's different this time. Maybe the link between us isn't stable yet. Or maybe…"
It trailed off, then shrugged nonchalantly.
"Eh. Whatever. Let's go back to your room."
FLASH.
The world blinked again.
Kai didn't even get a chance to react.
He stood in his room now. The gentle scent of lavender wafted in through the cracked window, sunlight casting quiet streaks along the wooden floor.
The being hovered near the ceiling, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat in the void.
"You gotta give me some warning when you do that…"
Kai mumbled, rubbing his temple.
The being let out a melodic hum.
"Where's the fun in that?"
Kai exhaled and sat cross-legged on the floor. The neon-red glow painted long shadows across his room, shadows that reached like fingers through forgotten dimensions. Outside, all was silent paused between realms, caught in that soft space where thought and spirit intertwined.
The being floated downward and settled onto the edge of Kai's bed, legs crossed like a patient sage. Its voice came low not mocking, not solemn but worn with the weight of ages.
"You seek extraordinary power, Kai. But do you truly understand what that means?"
Kai looked up, expression serious.
"There are infinite different types of gods and beings,"
"That transcends even the concept of numbers itself.."
the being said.
"Not one or two. Infinite. Hierarchies built upon hierarchies. Layers of existence beyond comprehension. Heroes, villains, gods, evil gods, including goddesses, celestial lords, forgotten spirits, void entities, time aliens and time gods, cosmic tyrants, digital deities, ancient deities, destroyers, and far.. far.. more."
The list went on, each name heavier than the last.
"…and all of them,"
the being said coldly, leaning forward, "are dangerous. Not just to others but to themselves. Once you start transcending your human form… there's no going back."
The room darkened slightly, as though even the air remembered old warnings.
"Being a god isn't just glory and power,"
the being continued.
"It's a burden. One mistake, one imbalance of soul, and your very self could be erased or worse… corrupted."
Kai lowered his gaze.
"I understand. But you have to understand the trauma I've"
"No."
The word cut like a blade.
"You don't get to justify rushing toward godhood just because you've suffered."
Kai froze, mouth parted.
"Don't twist this,"
the being said firmly, pointing out the window.
"Look around. You're not alone anymore. You have people who care. People who would protect you."
Its voice softened.
"Some never get that chance. Some never will."
Kai clenched his fists, eyes trembling.
"I understand…"
he whispered.
"But I've always wanted to be more. Even when I was with my real parents. Even when the pain was fresh. That dream never died."
The being sighed, long and deep, like an ancient spirit tired of repeating itself.
"Fine."
It rose from the bed, red eyes glinting like twin stars.
"But don't come crying to me when the cosmos reminds you that it doesn't care for dreamers."
It hovered again, drifting lazily.
"And don't say I didn't warn you… mortal."
Kai stared at the glowing entity, heart thundering with awe and fear and wonder all at once. The winds outside were still. Time no longer flowed forward. It simply waited.
"I must know…"
Kai said softly,
"how do you know all of this?"
The being turned. Its body pulsed with light, its voice echoing in the deepest chambers of the world.
"Because I…"
it began, shimmering with refracted light,
"am one of the most powerful spiritual gods to exist."
"I know nearly all things, Kai. I speak with the void. I walk the layers of reality as if flipping pages. I enter your dreams. Your thoughts. Your fears. In those realms, I am the law."
Kai felt his breath catch.
"You're fortunate,"
the being said, stepping forward.
"To have me with you. Few ever get the chance. I want to help you. Truly. But…"
It raised a glowing hand, halting Kai's thoughts.
"…not everything can be handed to you. Some things, you must uncover yourself. Some strengths… must be forged."
Kai nodded slowly. The weight of those words pressed on him but he did not shrink from them.
They floated again, suspended in the hush of the astral veil. A gentle silence wrapped around them, not empty but full of meaning.
The being finally broke it.
"Well… it's been nice chatting with you, Kai."
Its tone was calm. Almost affectionate.
"But don't worry."
It gave the faintest smile.
"I will always have my eye on you. For no one else truly can."
It raised two fingers.
"If you ever need me… just close your eyes."
Kai blinked.
"Close… my eyes?"
"Yes,"
the being nodded.
"And let go. Your body will remain but your mind will return here. To the astral realm. Where truth and memory know no filter."
SNAP.
A gentle snap but it rang like thunder in Kai's ears.
White.
Everything vanished.
He fell drifting, floating, and sinking all at once.
Then
Chirp. Chirp.
Kai blinked awake.
The gentle rustling of leaves.
The song of birds.
The golden morning light spilling across his blanket.
He sat up.
"Wait…"
he murmured.
"It's morning…?"
He rubbed his eyes.
"But… it was just nighttime…"
Everything outside was normal. Peaceful.
Clouds drifted lazily across a blue sky, the warmth of sunlight kissing the rooftops.
"It felt like hours… even days…"
Kai whispered.
But the world had returned.
And so had he.
He smiled small but sincere as he stared out the window, remembering the red neon figure that had guided him through forgotten truths.
"You really are gonna be my hero, huh…"
he whispered.
"A weird one… but my hero."
Knock knock.
Someone was at the door.
Kai turned.
Back to reality.
But his journey had only just begun.
"Come on in,"
Kai called out casually, his voice trailing just a bit as the doorknob turned with a faint click.
The door creaked open softly and there stood Sara, framed by the morning light leaking in from the hallway. Her long hair caught the glow, and her usual bright tone greeted him.
"Oh, you're already up, Kai? Pretty early, too."
Kai's eyes widened instantly. A flash of realization hit him like a jolt of electricity, and in the next second, he practically shot up from bed like a spring-loaded puppet.
"OH SARA! We're still going to the library today, right?!"
Sara flinched in surprise at his sudden burst of energy, instinctively stepping back with a small yelp before quickly catching herself. A second later, a giggle escaped her lips—soft, bright, and playful.
"Whoa there, buddy, calm down,"
she laughed, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Yes, we're still going. But we've got plenty of time. No need to explode out of bed like that."
She placed her hand on her hip, tilting her head slightly.
"Ms. Sayuri's downstairs cooking breakfast right now. So chill, alright?"
Kai let out a sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of his head.
"Ah… got it. I'll go do my morning routine then."
With a satisfied nod, Sara turned around and started walking off, waving a hand over her shoulder.
"Alright, take your time."
The door quietly clicked shut again as Kai slid his feet into his slippers and made his way to the bathroom. The house was quiet, save for the distant clatter of pans downstairs and the muffled hum of the morning wind brushing past the windows.
He stepped into the bathroom and approached the sink. The mirror reflected a slightly disheveled version of himself messy hair, drowsy eyes, a hint of that boyish awkwardness still clinging to him.
Twisting the faucet, cold water rushed forth. He cupped it in his hands, then splashed it against his face sharp, refreshing, grounding.
He lingered there, palms braced against the sink, droplets of water dripping from his chin. His voice emerged next quiet at first, almost like he was whispering not to himself, but to something beyond the walls of that simple home.
"Finally… when I walk with Sara to the library…"
His words hung in the air, trembling with something more than anticipation hope, longing, the weight of purpose.
"…When I uncover my hidden potential."
He raised his head, eyes locking with his own reflection. There was a fire there now subtle, but undeniable. The kind that came after a long silence. A spark reignited.
"I'll find those artificial relics… those ancient, forgotten tools meant for something greater…"
His gaze lifted, as if peering through the mirror and out toward the distant horizon. A place only he could see. A future waiting just beyond the mundane.
The journey was only beginning but even now, something deep inside told him:
This day would change everything.
He paused at the sink, water still dripping from his fingers, breath caught somewhere between fear and wonder.
"And finally… finally, I'll step into that hidden world the one veiled beneath our reality. A world of supernatural marvels… of magic not whispered in bedtime stories, but lived. A place where truth bends… and power breathes."
Outside, the wind stirred just slightly. A passing breeze through the open bathroom window, yet it felt like more. Like the world had listened. Like the world had heard.
Kai smiled to himself. Faint, but real.
"Yeah… that's when everything will begin."
The rhythmic brushing of his teeth.
The cascade of water during his shower, steam curling in ghostly tendrils around him.
The clean scent of soap, the feeling of warmth as droplets traced down his skin.
The soft thud of his bare feet on the mat as he stepped out, towel wrapped loosely around his waist.
Kai exited the bathroom, water still clinging to his skin in a dewy shimmer. His only attire: a black towel around his waist, no shirt, no shorts nothing else. His black hair clung slightly to his forehead, and his legs were still damp as he tread across the wooden floor and reentered his room.
He glanced around. Still no clothes. Just a black pair of shorts and white shirt from the day before, now wrinkled and faintly damp.
With a sigh, he tightened the towel around himself and stepped back into the hallway. He had no choice he'd have to ask Ms. Sayuri about clothes.
Descending the stairs, the scent of breakfast wafted upward like a soft ambrosia eggs, toast, something sweet, something savory. But that moment of peace shattered the second Sara spotted him from the kitchen doorway.
"EH?! KAI?!"
she yelped, cheeks turning bright pink.
"W-Why aren't you wearing anything?!"
Kai froze at the bottom step like a deer caught in light, his expression a perfect mix of confusion and embarrassment.
"O-Oh… sorry, Ms. Sayuri… I, uh… I just don't have any clothes to put on,"
he said, scratching his neck, clearly flustered.
Ms. Sayuri, who had just turned from the stove, blinked in surprise then gasped.
"Oh my! My apologies, dear!"
she said, brushing her hands off on her apron.
"I did buy you some clothes yesterday, but I completely forgot to show you!"
She turned off the stove momentarily, leaving the breakfast to sizzle in its final seconds, and gestured for Kai to follow.
"This way come, come."
She led him to a nearby cabinet tucked behind the living room couch. Pulling open a drawer, she revealed neatly folded clothes two shirts, a single jacket, a pair of pants, and one pair of shorts. But Kai's gaze locked instantly on the jacket.
Black with gold embroidery, sleek and detailed. On the back, in a sharp, modern font that almost shimmered under the light, the word
"GODLIKE"
was etched.
Kai's eyes narrowed, breath catching again but this time in excitement.
"Oh wow… I really like this one!"
he said, lifting the jacket with reverence, already forgetting the rest.
Ms. Sayuri chuckled. "I'm glad you do. Now go get dressed you've got a library adventure today, remember?"
Kai nodded eagerly, like a child given a treasure map. In that moment, she didn't feel like just a caretaker she felt like a real mother. Maybe she always had.
But then, as Kai turned to leave, Sayuri added gently,
"Oh, and Kai dear before I forget. I bet you're wondering where my husband your new father, Mr. Aldric is. He had to leave for work early. He'll be back tonight, alright?"
Kai paused for a second. The name… "Father." It didn't yet feel real. But somehow, that didn't make it less warm. Knowing that Mr aldric was the one that saved him last night.
"…Oh. Okay,"
he replied softly.
Then, with the clothes in hand and the towel still secured around his waist, he dashed upstairs. The boy was lightning on stairs when food and mystery awaited.
In his room, Kai dressed quickly black shorts, sporty shoes. Then, with the care of donning a royal cloak, he slipped on the jacket. It felt… right. The material hugged his form, the lettering across the back practically humming with invisible pride.
He smirked to himself in the mirror. Not arrogant, but confident. It wasn't just fashion it was identity.
Descending the stairs again, he was met with two reactions.
"Oh my…"
Ms. Sayuri said, hand over her heart, eyes gleaming.
"Kai… you look adorable in that outfit!"
Sara added, grinning.
Kai gave a confident spin.
"Yes, I do. I look excellent, actually."
But before he could bask too long, Sara suddenly stepped forward and reached out grabbing him gently by the sleeve. Her touch was light, but there was intent in it.
"Kai,"
she said, softly pulling him just a bit closer.
Her brows furrowed, not in anger or judgment, but in a quiet depth that caught Kai off guard. Her eyes, normally sparkling with curiosity and sarcasm, shimmered now with something deeper.
"Hey… but remember,"
she said, voice lowering to something nearly sacred.
"We know divine beings exist now. That's not theory anymore. That's real. But… have you been praying?"
The question wasn't just about habit. It was about connection. Survival. Soul.
She searched his face for something an answer, a sign, a shared burden.
Kai met her gaze. Calm. Steady.
"…Yes,"
he replied at last.
But inside, there was more. So much more.
What he didn't say: that prayer had become something else entirely for him. Not just words into silence, but conversations. Openings. Encounters.
When he closed his eyes, he didn't just hope. He entered. The veil lifted. The divine listened. And one spirit… one god, had stayed with him. Watching. Guiding. Speaking.
But that truth… that secret… he held onto it. Not out of fear, but because the time for revelation had not yet come.
He smiled
just slightly.
Some truths… needed the right moment.
"Alright, breakfast's ready, you two!"
Ms. Sayuri called from the kitchen, voice warm and inviting.
"Great!"
Kai replied, practically jogging forward, stomach already growling.
And just like that… the morning marched on. But beneath its ordinary rhythm, a current stirred.
Kai's story was beginning to shift.
As Kai stepped into the dining room, he was immediately greeted by the warm embrace of morning light. Sunbeams poured through the wide windows, painting the table in gentle gold, as if the heavens themselves had come to dine.
And there it was laid out before him like a banquet from another realm.
A mosaic of aromas and colors: glazed grilled fish shimmering with a rich amber glaze, steaming white rice shaped into perfect mounds, soft tamagoyaki folded into golden layers, a small pot of miso soup swirling with dashi and tofu, and croissants so flaky they seemed to crumble at the whisper of wind. A tower of pancakes, delicate yet proud, stood crowned in ripe berries and a sheen of syrup that glistened like honeyed glass. On a chilled plate, vibrant fruits had been arranged in elegant spirals mango, kiwi, strawberries, each slice glowing under the morning sun like precious gems.
Kai froze, breath caught in his throat.
His stomach growled loudly, embarrassingly, but the scent savory, sweet, mellow, bright nearly sent him stumbling. It was too much, too perfect. He stood there for a moment, dazed. This… this is gonna be refreshing beyond belief, he thought, his mouth practically drowning itself.
Ms. Sayuri glided into the room, a tray balanced perfectly in her hands, every motion fluid with quiet elegance. She moved like someone who had orchestrated this a thousand times and never once lost the magic. With care, she placed the tray at the table's center, then turned toward him with a smile that could silence a storm.
"You've been moving a lot lately,"
she said softly, her eyes holding a quiet knowing.
"You'll need your strength. Here eat well."
Without waiting, she offered him a plate, already filled with a generous portion. Fluffy eggs, perfectly roasted vegetables glistening with olive oil, just-spiced enough to tickle the senses. Rice spooned into a perfect dome. She had plated it not as a meal but a gift.
Sara had already made herself at home at the table, one leg tucked beneath her, working on her plate with the ease of someone who'd long since accepted this kitchen as sacred. But even she gave Kai a side glance, eyebrows raised at the feast he was served.
Kai slowly sat down, chopsticks trembling in his fingers. His heart beat faster not out of fear, but anticipation.
"Th-thank you,"
he stammered, barely managing to form words through the symphony playing in his nose.
He took the first bite.
And then time slowed.
The fish touched his tongue and instantly began to melt, like snow beneath sunlight. A perfect balance of smokiness and sweet soy glaze danced along his palate, coating every sense in warm, silky flavor. The rice was warm, sticky in the best way each grain soft, but not mushy. The tamagoyaki followed like a soft whisper pillowy, sweet, and tender. Even the miso soup tasted like it had been blessed by the divine; mellow, earthy, filled with a warmth that reached deeper than the stomach.
Kai's eyes widened.
A breath shivered from his throat part exhale, part reverence as if he'd just remembered what being alive truly felt like.
This is absurd… How can food taste like this? he thought. A laugh nearly escaped him. His eyes, unknowingly, grew misty.
Sara, between bites, let out a chuckle.
"Hey, careful, Kai. You're gonna start crying if you keep looking at the food like that."
He didn't respond immediately. His gaze was locked onto the meal, his soul in silent awe. He glanced up just barely and caught Ms. Sayuri pouring tea. Her movements were so refined, so gentle, it felt like watching a priestess conduct a sacred rite. Her sleeves fluttered like white feathers, and her expression… that same soft serenity, as if this moment was more than just routine.
"Ms. Sayuri,"
he breathed, voice low.
"Are you sure you're not… some kind of divine chef?"
She let out a warm laugh, modest and motherly.
"You flatter me, Kai. Don't forget to finish your first plate before handing out blessings."
Sara leaned her cheek against her hand, eyes half-lidded with a smile.
"He's not kidding. That's the most peaceful I've ever seen him. He's usually all stiff and quiet."
Kai scratched the back of his neck, sheepish.
"I guess… it's been a while since I've had something like this. Something so… peaceful."
Too long, he added silently.
Too long since he felt anchored to something real. Too long since his nights weren't filled with cryptic dreams and the haunting presence of divine spirits whispering secrets from beyond the veil. Too long since he wasn't being watched by unseen eyes.
For a brief moment, the warmth of the meal wrapped around him like armor.
Ms. Sayuri sat down at last, folding her hands in her lap with quiet grace.
"Breakfast isn't just food, Kai. It's the moment before the storm. The silence before the day truly begins. That's why it matters."
Kai nodded slowly, taking another bite this time with intention.
"Then I'll treasure it,"
he said. Not just the food. The moment.
Because he knew. Outside that door, the world waited with all its chaos, its hidden truths, its celestial eyes. But here, now, in this sunlit room with tea and laughter and warmth he could just be.
A flicker caught his eye.
The surface of his tea shimmered faintly and for a heartbeat, a small glyph glowed beneath it. Faint, obscure, untranslatable.
Only he could see it.
Kai's gaze narrowed.
Peace doesn't last. That thought crossed his mind with the calm finality of a closing door.
But still he smiled, picked up his cup, and drank.
Let the storm come. For now… the sun still shone.
He blinked.
Gone.
The faint glyph that had shimmered in his tea vanished as if it had never been. Just a trick of the light… or a whisper from the other side. Kai's lips curved into a smile, slower this time, and sharper. A flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes.
So it begins again.
The clink of porcelain against wood echoed softly through the room the final note of a morning symphony now ending. Empty dishes lined the table like the aftermath of a quiet celebration, their warmth fading with the breath of the moment. Kai let out a gentle exhale, placing his chopsticks down with care, as if closing the cover of a beloved book.
The taste of tea still lingered faintly on his tongue. Earthy. Subtle. Comforting.
But peace, as always, is fleeting.
Before he could even lean fully back into his seat, a sudden motion broke the calm.
Scrrrk.
Sara stood with the grace of a flame igniting, her chair sliding back across the polished floor. The energy that radiated from her was immediate and infectious—a pulse that stirred the stillness.
"Alrighty, Kai ready to go?"
Kai blinked at her, the question catching him off guard. His voice came slower, still wrapped in the warmth of breakfast.
"Wait… already?"
Sara's eyes sparkled, hands planted firmly on her hips, like a warrior announcing the start of a new quest. Her entire presence seemed to shine under the morning light.
"Of course! I know how bad you want to get your hands on those books. So why wait?"
He stared at her for a second longer, lips parting, then gave a quiet chuckle. It slipped out like a leaf floating down a stream soft, sincere. His hand brushed the edge of the wooden table as if anchoring himself one last time.
"Yeah… you're right."
His voice was steadier now. Something in his chest stirred quiet, but alive. Like an ember in the dark, finally breathing in air.
With a simple nod, Kai pushed himself to his feet, the movement fluid, deliberate. He rose to stand beside her, matching her height but not her energy. His was calmer. Measured. But beneath it something buzzed. Not nerves. Not fear.
Anticipation.
Sara turned, calling over her shoulder as she moved toward the kitchen with that same familiar cheer that always seemed to lift the atmosphere.
"Alright, Mom! We'll be back!"
Kai gave a small wave, his voice gentle.
"Yeah. Thanks for the meal."
Ms. Sayuri stood by the sink, her hands rinsing the last of the teacups. At the sound of their voices, she turned ever so slightly just enough to meet them with that signature smile. Serene. Unshakable. Like a mountain under the morning sky.
"Alright, you two. Be careful now."
Her words weren't just routine they were a blessing.
Kai paused at the doorway, fingertips brushing the wooden frame. The sliding door opened with a soft, satisfying thump, and the world outside spilled in with all its brilliance.
A breeze swept through like a whispered welcome. It tugged at his hair, danced around their clothes, and carried the scent of dew and leaves and something faintly sweet like sakura petals still holding onto spring.
And then he stepped out.
And the world the world opened wide.
The sky loomed vast and endless above, a boundless canvas painted in deep cerulean, streaked with soft ivory clouds drifting like slow-moving dreams. The sun hung just beyond the rooftops, pouring down golden light that scattered across the stones and rooftops in waves of brilliance. Trees rustled gently, their leaves catching the light like a thousand tiny mirrors, each one glimmering as if the wind itself were laughing.
Kai stood at the threshold, eyes lifting skyward.
The light. The clouds. The wind.
It was ordinary but somehow not. Not today.
There was something in the air. A charge. A pulse.
Something was beginning.
A faint smile tugged at his lips gentle, real. Not one forged from sarcasm or hesitation, but something simpler. Hope.
The kind of smile a boy wears when the adventure hasn't started yet but he can feel it coming.
He didn't say anything as he walked forward, following Sara down the stone path that led from the house and into the city. The sun touched his shoulders like a quiet promise. The wind whispered in his ears like the start of a tale.
And he knew.
Today would be different.
Not because of fate. Not because of signs. But because the world felt like it was turning a new page and he was standing on the line between chapters.
A perfect day.
At least, for now.
The library was quiet—eerily so.
Dust particles danced in the shafts of light that filtered through the tall stained-glass windows, the air thick with the scent of ancient paper and forgotten knowledge. Kai stood alone in the dim aisle, cradling the weathered book in his hands. Its cover was frayed, its title long eroded by time. Yet something about it called to him—an itch in the back of his mind, a weight in his chest.
And then it happened.
A shimmer, faint and barely perceptible, rippled across the edges of his vision. The world didn't blur—it bent, just slightly. A sudden shift in presence. A pull at the edge of his consciousness.
Then—
"Well, well, Kai…"
The voice slithered into his thoughts, smooth and resonant, like silk wrapped in thunder. "I'm surprised you found that unwanted book… even though, technically, it was me who helped you."
Kai jolted, eyes darting around the aisle. No one. Nothing. Just shelves. Silence. But the voice wasn't external, it echoed in his mind, vibrating in his bones like a distant bell.
His grip tightened on the book. "Wait…" he muttered, eyes narrowing. "So that… ding in my head earlier, that was you?"
Laughter echoed—calm, knowing, otherworldly.
"Indeed. A tiny nudge, a flick of thought. Just enough to draw your attention. Subtle, wasn't it?"
Kai frowned. "You could've told me."
"Where's the fun in that?" the Spirit God replied, amusement lacing every word. "Besides, we made a deal, remember?"
A sudden pulse ran through Kai's head—like someone tapping lightly on the inside of his skull.
"I'm free to enter your mind or project into your reality whenever I desire. That was part of the agreement. You said yes."
Kai blinked, his memory scrambling to catch up. The deal. That surreal moment beneath the stars… the voice… the pressure… his desperation…
"Oh…" he breathed, the realization hitting like cold water to the face.
"Exactly."
The presence grew heavier now, folding around him like a second atmosphere. A warm pressure at the base of his neck, a flickering weight behind his eyes—like something standing just behind him, breathing against his thoughts.
"You opened the door, Kai," the Spirit God whispered, voice now low and unreadable. "And now… you and I are connected."
Kai glanced down at the book in his hands. The pages pulsed faintly now, almost like a heartbeat. Something told him this wasn't just any forgotten tome.
And something deeper whispered that this moment was no accident.
He swallowed hard. "This book… it's not normal, is it?"
"No," the Spirit God said softly. "But then again… neither are you."
Kai stood frozen.
The book felt heavy in his hands—too heavy. Not in weight, but in presence. Like it was watching him back. The faint pulse beneath its cover had not stopped. It beat in rhythm with something—something ancient, maybe alive. His fingers hovered near the edge, tempted to peel it open.
But then—
"Don't."
The word crashed into his mind like a stone dropped into still water. The Spirit God's voice this time was sharper. Stern. A command, not a suggestion.
Kai's hand flinched back instinctively, his eyes narrowing. "Why? I thought you led me here."
"I did," the Spirit God replied, his tone now slower, deliberate. "But not so you could open it blindly."
A strange cold spread through the air, and the library suddenly felt less like a sanctuary and more like a sealed chamber holding its breath.
"That book…" the Spirit God murmured, "is a lockbox for truths. Not all of them meant to be known. Not all of them meant to be survived."
Kai's grip on the tome tightened.
"Then why even let me find it?" he asked, his voice low.
There was a pause—long enough that Kai almost thought the Spirit God had vanished again.
And then:
"Because it is a part of your path. But the timing—that is everything."
The world shimmered slightly. A presence unfurled behind him—not fully visible, not quite physical, but felt. The hair on Kai's arms stood on end as the Spirit God's essence curved around him like unseen armor.
"Listen closely, Kai."
"Some books contain spells, others secrets. This one holds ideas. Concepts older than kingdoms. Thoughts that can reshape the soul just by understanding them. Thoughts that burn. That break."
Kai swallowed hard, heart pounding in his chest. "Then why let me even touch it?"
"Because your journey will require what's inside… eventually."
"But if you open it without preparing your mind—without tempering your will—it will consume you."
A vision flickered behind Kai's eyes—shadows spiraling from ink-stained pages, voices echoing in tongues that split the air like glass. Not a memory. Not a dream. A warning.
"You must train not only your body, Kai," the Spirit God said, "but your mind. Stay sharp. Stay grounded. Learn to anchor your thoughts, to wield clarity like a blade."
Kai stared down at the book again. The pulse had faded. No longer inviting. Now… waiting.
"Got it," he murmured. "I won't open it. Not yet."
The Spirit God's voice softened.
"Good."
"When you're ready… the book will know."
Kai nodded slowly, then slid the tome carefully into his satchel. The weight didn't feel any lighter. But somehow, it felt earned.
He glanced around the library one last time, then turned toward the arched doorway bathed in golden light.
"Then I guess it's time to prepare," he said quietly to himself.
Behind his thoughts, the Spirit God's voice echoed like a prayer wrapped in shadow:
"Yes, Kai. Prepare well… for knowledge, once seen, cannot be unseen. And the mind… is the first battlefield."
Kai stood with the ancient book still slung over his shoulder, the air tense with a quiet that hummed beneath reality. His gaze shifted upward, locking onto the faint, translucent glow of the Spirit God drifting nearby—hovering like a crimson echo stitched into the folds of space. The presence was powerful, unknowable, and yet oddly familiar now.
"…Hey," Kai said suddenly, brow furrowing. "I just noticed something."
The Spirit God tilted his head curiously, red fragments flickering like floating cinders around his form.
"Oh? What is it, mortal?"
Kai crossed his arms, a faint smirk forming. "Why don't you have a name?"
That caught the Spirit God off guard.
"Name?" The word floated from him like smoke. He blinked once—if such a thing could even blink. "Kai… beings like me… don't require names."
"We are ideas. Will. Consciousness. A name is a limitation you flesh-born cling to, not a necessity for those beyond time."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "So I've just gotta keep calling you 'Mr. Spirit God'… or 'Red Guy'?"
There was a long, withering pause.
"…Tch. Fine." The entity exhaled, if only to mimic the act. He folded his arms, eyes glowing faintly with a glint of cosmic resignation. "You may call me… Azuneth."
Kai blinked. "Azuneth…?"
"Yes. Out of the 500 million names I generated in the span of a second, that one felt the least insufferable for you to say out loud."
"So consider it a temporary concession, not an invitation for familiarity."
Kai chuckled, a genuine warmth slipping through the veil of tension. "Well… 'Azuneth' sounds awesome, actually."
Azuneth let out a sharp sigh through a closed smile, ethereal trails of crimson light spiraling off his form like vapor.
But then—
The world twitched.
A ripple—no, a glitch—slid across reality like a knife through silk. Colors distorted, turning from steady golds and shadows into jagged streaks of dark grey and bleeding red. The air vibrated with a hollow click, like broken glass trying to remember how to be whole.
Azuneth immediately narrowed his eyes, his form flaring with defensive pressure.
"…Hnh. I see it now." His tone dropped, colder. "Someone… is interrupting."
Kai's eyes widened. "Interrupting?"
The Spirit God didn't answer at first. He raised a hand slowly, fingers glowing with ancient runes, scanning the glitch like a code unraveling. Then, he turned to Kai with an unreadable expression.
"Listen closely, Kai."
"All I can tell you now is this: train. Mentally. Spiritually. Sharpen your mind until even lies can't cut through it."
"Never rush. That book—this journey—is laced with teeth."
The glitch pulsed again, harder. The world began to spiral.
"Be patient. Be careful."
"And above all… be aware."
With a single snap of Azuneth's fingers, the space around Kai collapsed into an implosion of light and dissonance. His vision twisted. Gravity turned sideways. Every sound warped into a whisper through water. A swirl of white enveloped everything, stretching into infinity—
Then silence.
Tap.
Tap.
Kai blinked.
Another tap on his shoulder.
His vision refocused, blinking away the fog like waking from a long dream. He turned—slowly—to see a stranger standing there. A kid, maybe a little older than him. Thirteen, probably. Taller by a few inches, with medium-length black hair that curled slightly at the ends. School uniform sharp, one silver earring glinting on his left ear.
The boy looked down at him with concern.
"Hey," he said casually, "you okay, pal?"
Kai blinked, dazed. "Wh… Who are you?"
The boy smiled faintly, but there was something in his eyes—something deeper than just casual curiosity.
The answer didn't come.
Part 3
A low hum filled Kai's ears before sound returned in a rush.
When he blinked, the color of the world snapped back into focus the towering shelves of the library, the smell of old pages and polished wood, the faint dust motes swirling like ghosts through the slant of morning light.
"Hey oh, good, you're awake!"
A voice broke through the haze, warm and worried.
Kai groaned softly, sitting up. His head throbbed faintly, the after-image of Azuneth's world still lingering behind his eyelids like a half-remembered dream.
"Oh, me?" the boy said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just came over to check on you because you were out cold. For a second there I almost called an ambulance."
Kai jerked upright, hands flailing. "W-wait, no! No, no, no! I'm fine!" he blurted, waving both arms. "I was just, uh inside some mindscape realm, that's all! Heh…"
The boy blinked at him. A second passed. Then he shrugged. "Mindscape… right. Sure thing." His tone said he didn't believe a word, but he didn't press it. "Anyway, you scared me, dude."
Kai forced a grin. "Yeah… sorry about that."
That's when the other boy noticed the object clutched in Kai's hand.
"Whoa," he said, leaning closer. "What's this?" He brushed off the thin layer of dust covering the cover, squinting at the faded title embossed in gold. "Huh… never seen this one before." His brow furrowed. "Nonfictional Area Section? That's where you found it?"
Kai nodded cautiously.
"Wait a minute…" The boy's expression shifted, his tone suddenly alert. "If it's not catalogued, it might be illegal. Hey, kid, did you-"
"I'm not a kid," Kai cut in sharply, irritation flashing across his face. "You look my age maybe just a little taller." He glanced down at the book, hesitating. "And that book is…" He trailed off, the weight of Azuneth's warning echoing in his mind. "…something ancient, you know?" He scratched his cheek and forced a weak laugh.
"Uh-huh." The boy didn't sound convinced. "Well, whatever it is, it's not normal to walk in and see somebody lying lifeless on the floor. Pretty disturbing, you know." Then his tone softened. "Still, glad you're alive, kid."
That word again.
Kai's eyebrow twitched. "I told you—I'm not a kid."
The boy sighed and held up his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. Forget it. Name's Yoza." He straightened his jacket with a half-smile. "And you are?"
"Kai."
"Nice to meet you, Kai."
The tension dissolved slightly, replaced by an awkward pause until a familiar voice called from behind.
"There you are, Kai!"
Sara's footsteps echoed down the aisle as she hurried toward them, relief flooding her expression. "You had me worried—" Her gaze shifted to Yoza, and her tone changed immediately. "And who might you be?"
Yoza stepped back a little. "Uh, just a friend who checked to make sure he was okay."
Sara studied him for a moment, eyes narrowing slightly, then relaxed. "Oh. For a second, I thought you were some old bully of his. My mistake. Thanks for helping."
Her eyes flicked from Yoza to Kai, then back again, noting the height difference. "You're pretty tall for a twelve-year-old. I'm seventeen and you're almost my height."
Yoza blinked, surprised by her straightforwardness. "Twelve, huh? Forgot to mention that." He rubbed the back of his neck, smiling faintly. "Name's Yoza, and you must be…"
"Sara," she replied, folding her arms. "Kai's big sister."
"Not by blood," Kai muttered quickly.
"Still counts," she shot back with a grin.
Yoza chuckled. "Fair enough. Well, I'll head out. See you later, Kai." He gave a casual wave and slipped toward the far aisle, his footsteps fading into the silence of the library.
The quiet returned, heavy but calm.
Sara turned toward Kai, lowering her voice. "So… who was that?"
Kai shrugged. "No idea. We just met. I woke up and he was there." He rubbed the back of his head, searching for words that wouldn't sound insane. "Guess I was just… stuck in my mind too long."
Sara's expression softened. "Understandable." Her eyes drifted toward the object in his hand. "But really what's that book you're holding?"
Kai hesitated. "Oh, uh… just some ancient nonfiction thing. History, maybe." He kept his tone light, deliberately skipping over the cosmic truth pulsing inside the pages.
"Ancient nonfiction, huh?" she murmured, running a finger across the spine. "Looks… powerful."
"Yeah," Kai said quietly. "It's… something."
"Anyway," she said, shaking it off. "Ready to check it out?"
"Sure."
They walked toward the front desk together. The librarian a kind woman with silver hair tied in a bun was busy stamping due dates. She looked up and smiled. "Oh, good morning, you two. Find everything all right?"
Sara nodded, placing her stack of books on the counter. "Yes, ma'am."
"Perfect." The librarian scanned Sara's books with practiced ease, the soft beep echoing each time. When she reached Kai's book, however, the scanner let out a low, jarring error tone.
"Huh?" the librarian muttered, trying again. Beep, error. "That's odd."
Kai frowned. "What's wrong?"
"It says this book doesn't even exist in our system."
Sara blinked. "That's… unusual."
The librarian tilted her head. "Where did you find this, dear?"
Kai swallowed, keeping his face calm. "I found it on an empty shelf in the nonfiction section. It looked interesting, so I picked it up."
The librarian's brow furrowed, concern flickering in her eyes. "That's strange. We remember every book in this library. I've never seen this one before." She hesitated, lowering her voice. "I hope it isn't one of those old restricted types."
Sara tilted her head. "Restricted?"
The librarian nodded gravely. "Many years ago, there were… incidents. Books that weren't meant for human eyes. Some took lives. Others cursed those who read them. People vanished. Entire records erased. We locked them away, sealed them far from civilization." Her tone softened as she handed the book back to Kai. "But I doubt yours is one of those. It's probably just a misplaced relic." She smiled, though her eyes didn't quite match it. "Here you go, dear. Enjoy your reading."
Sara bowed politely. "Thank you very much."
"No problem," the librarian said, waving gently. "You two be safe now."
Outside, the sun had already begun its climb toward noon, its golden warmth spilling across the city streets. The hum of traffic mixed with the chatter of pedestrians and the distant chirp of sparrows hiding among telephone wires.
As they walked down the sidewalk, Sara nudged Kai lightly. "You know, I'm still surprised you found a book that doesn't even exist."
Kai looked away, guilt flickering through his expression. The faint wind brushed his hair as he muttered, "Yeah…"
He didn't meet her eyes.
He couldn't tell her that the book pulsed faintly against his fingertips, that within its pages, something ancient watched him.
And somewhere, faint and distant, a voice like velvet thunder murmured inside his thoughts:
"Read carefully, Kai. For every word you turn… the world will turn with it."
The afternoon sun hung lazily in the sky when Kai and Sara finally made it home. The golden light of noon spilled softly through the curtains as they pushed open the wooden door. The air was warm, scented faintly with simmering broth and the sweetness of fresh vegetables.
From the kitchen, a familiar voice greeted them before the door even closed.
"Oh, you two are back already," Ms. Sayuri called out, her tone light and comforting.
Her apron was dusted with flour, strands of her hair tucked loosely behind one ear. The sound of sizzling oil danced beneath her words as she turned off the stove and walked over, wiping her hands on a towel.
Without hesitation, she pulled Sara into a warm embrace, then bent down slightly to hug Kai, pressing a gentle kiss against his forehead. "Welcome home," she said softly — the kind of phrase that, for some reason, always seemed to melt the noise of the world away.
Kai smiled faintly, his mind still half lost in thought. "Yeah… we're back."
But as Sayuri leaned back, her eyes caught sight of the object in Kai's hands — a thick, oddly bound book wrapped in weathered leather. The material shimmered faintly under the afternoon light, like an illusion that shifted when you weren't looking directly at it. The corners were gilded in a pattern he couldn't quite recognize — something between ancient runes and mathematical sigils.
"Oh my," Sayuri said, tilting her head. "That's quite a nice-looking book you've got there, Kai. Looks… old."
"Yeah," Kai replied absentmindedly. His voice was distracted, his tone almost mechanical. His eyes never left the book.
Sayuri raised a brow. "What's it about?"
"Well…" Kai blinked, snapping slightly back to reality. "It's kind of hard to explain. The librarian couldn't even scan it. She said it didn't exist in the system — not even in their old archives."
Sayuri chuckled lightly, unaware of the unease that should've accompanied those words. "Sounds like one of those urban myths again. Maybe it's an unpublished manuscript or a local artifact that got misplaced."
But Kai shook his head slowly, his mind retracing the words of the librarian — and the faint, amused echo of Azuneth's warning within his thoughts.
"Books that weren't meant for humans to see…
Books that cursed, erased, or altered existence itself."
The librarian's words still lingered like a shadow in his mind.
He looked down at the object again. Its presence seemed… wrong. Not evil, exactly — but misplaced. It wasn't heavy like an old encyclopedia, yet it weighed on him as if it carried the gravity of another world.
"Well," Kai said, masking his unease with a faint laugh, "thanks, Ms. Sayuri. It was kind of a struggle with the librarian scanning it. She said something about anomaly books from years ago, the ones that caused weird events to happen to people. Thought this one might be one of them."
Sayuri waved a hand dismissively as she returned to her cooking. "Ah, sounds like a bunch of old myths. People love making up ghost stories to make their jobs sound exciting. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."
If only she knew.
Kai forced a smile. "Yeah… maybe."
But deep inside, he already knew this wasn't "nothing."
He remembered Azuneth's last words — the faint static in that dark crimson void before everything went white:
"Train mentally. Never rush. Be patient… and careful when reading a book like that."
The warning pulsed faintly in the back of his skull, a whisper that refused to fade.
Sara placed a hand on his shoulder, breaking his trance. "Hey, you alright, Kai?"
"Yeah," he said, too quickly. "I'm fine."
"Alright," she said, watching him with a skeptical smile. "Just don't overthink things. It's just a book, right?"
"Right…"
But his eyes said otherwise.
As Ms. Sayuri stirred the pot again, humming softly to herself, Kai felt his heart thrum with an almost boyish excitement — the kind that came with mystery, curiosity, and danger all at once. He bowed his head politely.
"Well… I'll be in my room," he said, his words calm but his pulse racing.
"Dinner will be ready soon," Sayuri reminded him, her voice echoing from the kitchen. "Don't get too lost in your reading, alright?"
Kai smiled faintly, the kind of smile that meant he'd already decided to ignore the advice.
"Got it."
He turned toward Sara, holding the book tightly in both hands. "Thanks again, Sara — for taking me to the library. Really."
Sara blinked, her expression softening. "No worries, lil' bro. You owe me next time, though."
Kai chuckled lightly. "Deal."
Sara reached over and ruffled his hair playfully. "Now go on, bookworm. Before your curiosity burns a hole through that thing."
He grinned — a mix of excitement and quiet dread — before slipping away up the stairs.
The door clicked softly behind him. The familiar quiet of his room wrapped around him like a warm cocoon — but this time, it felt… different. The sunlight through the window hit the wooden floorboards in thin golden bars. Dust motes floated lazily in the still air, like tiny stars suspended in time.
Kai set the book down carefully on his desk, staring at it. For a long time, he didn't move.
He could still feel it — a faint vibration against his fingertips. As if the book itself was breathing.
Slowly, he sat cross-legged on the floor, the sunlight grazing across his cheek. His heart pounded.
"So," he whispered, almost to himself, "let's see what's really beyond this reality…"
His fingers brushed the cover. The texture was unlike anything he'd felt before — soft, yet unyielding, like ancient leather fused with something metallic.
For a moment, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. He thought of Azuneth.
He thought of the glitch in that crimson-grey void.
He thought of how wrong everything had felt.
And yet… curiosity was stronger.
The unknown called to him like a siren's song.
"Just a peek," he muttered under his breath. "One page. That's all."
But as he pressed his thumb against the cover — just before lifting it — the room changed.
End of chapter