"Yo, have you heard of Dollar?" I asked a girl casually.
She stopped and gave me a look. Her brows pinched together, her lips pressing into a faint line. Maybe the question was a little too strange? Or… too difficult for her?
Her expression lingered for a moment before she finally spoke. "Are you messing with me? Everybody knows Dollar is a currency."
'Ah, shit… I knew it,' I thought, forcing a thin smile.
"I'm not talking about that Dollar," I explained quickly. "I mean the Dollar from the First God's Sanctuary. You know… that one?"
She tilted her head, looking at me as if I'd just said something ridiculous. "Never heard of it," she replied flatly before turning away and walking out of the hall.
I just stood there, watching her go. A faint sigh slipped out of me. "Maybe this question wasn't meant to be asked to a girl…" I muttered under my breath.
Truthfully, I wasn't trying to make small talk. I was trying to gauge the timeline I was stuck in. If Dollar wasn't known yet, maybe Han Sen hadn't gotten the golden beetle yet either. That meant… things were still at the beginning.
Two years had passed since I woke up in this world. Two years, and this was actually the first time I'd started a conversation with someone on my own.
Tomorrow, I'd be discharged from the orphanage. The teacher said they'd help me find a job, but I already knew it was just an empty promise. In this world, you were on your own the moment you stepped out.
Still, these past two years hadn't been wasted. I'd learned a lot about this Interstellar Era. About the way people lived and, more importantly, about how much society revolved around the God's Sanctuary.
Those who had powers or had evolved through it stood above the rest. They didn't care about ordinary people at all. Even someone who managed to max out their primitive gene points could be considered powerful by normal standards… but in the grand scheme, it was only temporary.
I knew better. After the discovery of super genes, both ordinary and primitive evolvers would be treated no differently from common folk. Their strength would fade into mediocrity, swallowed up by those who advanced further.
"Ah well… anyways, it's about time I go for a walk," I murmured to myself as I made my way toward the gate.
Somehow, over these past two years, I'd picked up the habit of talking to myself. Maybe it was because no one else ever bothered to talk to me. Either way, it felt strangely natural now. Not much I could do about it.
I stretched my arms lightly before stepping outside. It was time for my usual brisk walk. Exercise had shaped me up a little, but let's be honest—my body was still just a bit better than that of a normal fourteen-year-old kid. Maybe it was the lack of proper nutrition. The orphanage fed us, sure, but it was nothing special.
The cool air brushed against my skin as I walked down the familiar path. My eyes lifted toward the horizon, and a faint smile tugged at my lips.
"No matter how many times I look at it… the scenery never gets old, does it?" I whispered.
After finishing my walk, I returned to the orphanage once more. The building looked the same as always—cracked walls, squeaky floors, the faint smell of boiled rice lingering in the halls—but somehow, it still felt like home.
Tomorrow, I'd be free from this place. Free… though the word didn't feel as exciting as I thought it would. I barely knew anyone here, and yet, the routines, the sounds, even the quiet loneliness of these walls had grown strangely familiar over the past two years.
I didn't have a family to return to. No one would be waiting for me on the streets. Depending on what the authorities decided, I might end up in a child welfare institution, or they might send me to a vocational training school. It didn't matter much—I was completely on my own now, and there was no one I could rely on.
Still, a small part of me felt… calm. Somehow, I wasn't afraid. The orphanage had taught me one thing: I could handle myself, even if the world outside was unpredictable.
And just like that, tomorrow arrived.
I went through my usual morning routine, waking up, washing, eating breakfast, and studying, just like any other day. But when break time came, I was summoned to the head office.
Inside, the teacher explained my options. I could either attend a vocational training school, where they'd take care of me until I turned eighteen, or receive support from an NGO.
I didn't know much about either choice. The explanation my teachers gave felt half-hearted, outdated, and didn't really answer any of my questions.
In the end, I didn't overthink it. I chose the vocational training school. All I really wanted was a roof over my head, a place to sleep, and that alone was enough. Everything else could wait.
The transfer went surprisingly smoothly. I filled out a stack of forms, and a test was handed to me to gauge my current skills. After that, a bus arrived to take me to the vocational school.
The bus was crowded with kids, all of them chatting, laughing, or nervously fiddling with their belongings. I sat quietly, watching them, feeling the strange mix of excitement and anxiety twist in my stomach. This was the first real step out of the orphanage, and into a world I had no idea how to navigate.
The bus ride didn't take long. Outside, the city passed by in a blur. Tall buildings, crowded streets, and people rushing everywhere.
I sat quietly, gripping my bag. None of the kids noticed me. Or maybe they just didn't care.
Finally, the bus stopped. The vocational school stood in front of me. Big gates, clean walls, and a playground full of kids. It looked… normal.
A staff member came over and called our names. We got off the bus one by one.
The inside of the school was bright. Classrooms, a library, and a small cafeteria. Everything was neat and new.
I was shown to my room. Small, but it had a bed and a desk. That was enough for me.
The other kids were loud. They laughed, talked, and made friends easily. I stayed quiet, just watching.
For the first time, I felt a little… nervous. But also excited.
Tomorrow, classes would start. And I would have to find my place here.
I unpacked my bag on the small desk. The room was quiet, except for the chatter coming from the hallway.
A boy about my age walked in. He had messy black hair and a confident smile.
"Hey, you're new here, right?" he asked.
I nodded slowly. "Yeah. Just arrived today."
He leaned against the wall. "I'm Jin. Don't worry, it's not so bad here. You'll get used to it."
I shrugged. "I guess."
He laughed softly. "Most kids get scared at first. Don't worry. You'll survive."
I frowned. "Survive?"
He grinned. "Yeah. Some classes are tough, and the teachers expect a lot. But it's okay if you keep up."
I looked at him for a moment. He seemed friendly enough, but I wasn't sure if I should trust anyone yet.
But again, I'm just an orphan with zero bad blood with anyone, I doubt anyone would be after me.
"So… what do you do for fun around here?" I asked.
Jin shrugged. "Depends. Some train. Some read. Some just mess around. You?"
I hesitated. "I… like to exercise."
He raised his eyebrows. "Exercise? lol for real? Maybe we can train together sometime."
I nodded slowly. "Maybe."
The bell rang, and kids started moving toward the classrooms.
"See you around, newbie," Jin said, patting me lightly on the shoulder before leaving.
I watched him go, feeling a strange mix of relief and curiosity. Maybe this place wasn't going to be so lonely after all.