Kael was a young boy who had just finished high school. His parents, who never liked him, used it as an opportunity to kick him out of the house.
At 20, Kael spent most of his time after work playing games. He was a janitor at his former high school. After coming back from his job, he immediately went to his room and kept playing games on his computer. It was sad—he usually played to escape reality because life sucked and was hard. The game was the only thing keeping him from losing his mind.
Beep, beep, beep. He woke up. He stretched his hand to his alarm and turned it off. He stood up and looked around his room. He picked up his phone. Oh, it hit him—I have to get to work. I have to go clean, he said.
Then he heard the sound of his neighbors—a couple who were always arguing.
"Those douchebags don't know when to stop. I have to go to work now," he said. He quickly took off his clothes and rushed into his bathroom. He grabbed his bag with his janitor clothes in it. His eyes were still saggy—he had slept around 5 a.m., playing video games again.
His face always looked like that—day by day.
He rushed out, grabbed his bag, picked up his music player, wrapped it around his neck…, connected it to his headset, and immediately left the apartment. When he got downstairs, he took his bike and started riding to school.
Shit, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late.
Finally, as he arrived and got off his bike, his former teacher stood at the gate, waiting for him. As he reached her, he changed his mood.
"Hello, good morning," Kael said.
"Why do you always come late? You're supposed to be here very early. By 6, you should already be cleaning," Angela said.
"I know, I was really busy. Last night, I didn't get enough sleep," he said.
"Well, whatever. Just go inside and get to work," she replied.
He didn't say another word. He walked in with his bag, took off his headset, and put it around his neck. Then he walked into the school. He went to the staff changing room, wore his janitor clothes, took a mop and bucket, and started mopping the hallway.
"Today is Friday. Tomorrow I'll be free. Not much work. I'm going to visit the orphanage, like I do every Saturday. I'll buy toys for the kids. Then go home and continue playing games," he thought.
It wasn't that he played games because he really loved them—but because that was the only thing he could do.
Kael was someone who wished for a normal life. Even if he lived alone, he just wanted a normal life. Most people looked down on him, insulted him. His parents didn't like him. He wanted them to notice him when he was young, but they didn't. He accepted that now.
But he was charismatic, and he was nice. He often didn't realize the things he had done for people—like saving a woman whose purse was stolen, or helping an old lady cross the road. He never thought much of it.
He was still lost in thought when two students—around 14 years old—walked by. They looked at him.
"Hey, hey, see that dude who graduated from our school? He's now our fucking janitor," one of them said, laughing.
Kael didn't notice them at first. Then they kicked the bucket of water he was using to mop the floor. That's when he snapped out of it.
"You pest!" he shouted, and both of them ran off, laughing.
"Well, whatever. I just have to finish my job and go home as usual. Every day is still the same," Kael said as he slowly mopped up the spilled water and refilled the bucket. Finally, he was done.
He moved on to clean the toilets. Then he took out his phone and looked at the time.
"I have to go home and continue playing my game. But not just that—there's a limited edition game out: Sumo Adventurer. I have to buy it before it's sold out. Last time, it was sold out. I hope today is different," Kael said.
He finished his work quickly, went back to the changing room, took off his janitor clothes, packed them in his bag, and changed into his own clothes. It was already 2:30—30 minutes before school closed.
He signed out, grabbed his bicycle, and rushed to the game store. After a 15-minute ride, he arrived.
"Finally, it's here," he said.
As he walked in, he asked the receptionist about Sumo Adventurer.
"Where's the game?" he asked, feeling hyped.
She shook her head.
"It's been sold out—not long ago."
Immediately, he looked around and saw the sign: SOLD OUT. He walked out of the store, feeling down.
Then he saw a young girl playing with a toy. The toy dropped and rolled into the middle of the road. The little girl rushed to get it. Kael was just watching—until he looked to his left and saw a van speeding toward her.
People were shouting, "Get away! Get away!" but no one moved.
He rushed forward.
"What am I doing? I have to save that girl," was the only thing on his mind.
As he reached out to push her away, a huge yellow light with a circle surrounded him—and he vanished.
He appeared in a place covered with blue light and tiny sparks everywhere. He looked around.
"Where am I? What is this?"
His body was glowing, and he wasn't wearing any clothes. Then he heard a voice:
"You are having a dream."
He turned and saw a man with long hair and a huge smile.
"Who are you?" Kael asked.
"I am what you call an angel," the angel said.
"Then… does that mean I died? But you said this is a dream," Kael asked.
"Yes, this is a dream. You didn't die. When you wake up, you'll find yourself in a forest," the angel said.
"What do you mean, and why?" Kael asked.
"You were summoned by mistake—which I'm really sorry for. In a village called Sindra, a church was doing a ritual to summon a hero. They succeeded, but you were also caught up in the process and summoned to a forest," the angel explained.
"A hero…? I don't get it," Kael said.
"You'll understand when you wake up. I've seen your life—no recognition from your family and all that. Here, you can live your life however you want. A quiet life, in a place of your choosing. You'll make friends, find a companion… because I know the life you'll choose. A world where magic exist. But when you wake up, everything will become clear. And as an apology for dragging you into this, I'll give you an ability no one else has," the angel said, slowly fading away.
"But wait—since I fell unconscious, what about the little girl I was trying to save? Did she get out?" Kael asked.
"Probably. Don't worry about that—she's safe," angel continued,"Before the van could hit her—just as it was about to—the driver stopped, and her mom took her away," the angel said.
Stop! Are you going? Why are you fading?!" Kael shouted.
The angel didn't reply. He only smiled as he disappeared.
Then Kael—now lying on the ground—suddenly raised his head, breathing fast.
He had finally woken up.
He looked around… and saw that he was in a forest.