The sound of running water ceased, cutting off abruptly like a severed wire, plunging the small, tiled room into a heavy, humid silence.
For a long moment, there was only the rhythmic drip, drip, drip of water droplets falling from the chrome showerhead onto the wet floor. Steam billowed in the small, white bathroom, curling through the air like phantom limbs, clinging to the mirror above the sink and completely obscuring the reflection of the boy standing before it.
The door creaked open, venting the warm mist into the cooler air of the bedroom.
Cedric stepped out. He was completely naked.
Water ran down his pale skin, dripping from his long hair onto his shoulders and sliding down the curve of his spine. He hadn't dried off. He hadn't brought a towel. He hadn't even thought to bring a fresh change of clothes into the bathroom with him.
He wasn't naked because he was an exhibitionist, he had simply forgotten to grab his clothes.
He walked across the room, leaving a trail of wet, glistening footprints on the pristine laminate flooring. The cool air of the air-conditioned room hit his damp skin, sending a sudden prickle of goosebumps racing down his arms and legs.
'Cold.' he thought.
He stopped in front of the full-length wardrobe mirror. The steam from the bathroom hadn't reached this far yet, leaving the glass clear and unforgiving. Cedric stared at the stranger in the reflection.
He tilted his head to the left, and the stranger did the same. Water dripped from his long, jet-black hair, sliding down the curve of his neck, tracing the line of his spine, and pooling at his heels on the floor.
This body was… different.
It was better, certainly. His old body had been a wreckage of starvation, a cage of brittle bones protruding through translucent, paper-thin skin. It had been a body that hurt to exist in. This body was different. It was filled out. The ribs were hidden beneath a layer of healthy flesh. His skin had a rosy, vital hue that spoke of good circulation and adequate nutrition. He looked like someone who had been fed well his entire life.
But that was where the praise ended. He was healthy, yes, but he was weak.
There was absolutely no muscle definition. His arms were smooth and cylindrical, lacking the hardness of labor or the tone of exercise. His stomach was flat but unconditioned, lacking even the faintest hint of abs. His legs, though sturdy enough to hold him, looked like they had never run a day in their life. It was the body of a normal, average teenager who sat at a desk all day, ate three square meals and never lifted anything heavier than a backpack or a game controller.
He raised a hand and squeezed his own forearm. It felt solid, not fragile like his old bones, but it yielded easily under his fingers. It was doughy. Untrained.
"Healthy." Cedric murmured, his voice rasping slightly in the quiet room. "But weak."
[Are you quite finished staring at yourself in the mirror?]
The voice in his head cut through his thoughts. It wasn't the sharp, jarring intrusion it had been earlier. It was a weary, blunt tone, like a guardian who had spent too many years watching a child make the same mistakes over and over again.
[Look at the floor, Cedric. You're dripping water everywhere. You forgot the towel, didn't you? And the clothes. Honestly, it's like watching a toddler learn to walk. You're just standing there letting the air conditioning freeze you. I'm not interested in nursing you back to health on your very first day, so cover up before you catch a cold.]
Cedric didn't blink at the scolding. "I forgot."
[Yeah, yeah. Just get dressed. And try not to trip over your own feet while you do it.]
"Noisy." Cedric murmured. He turned away from the mirror, unbothered by his own nudity or the scolding voice. He just wanted the nagging to stop so he could focus on the gnawing emptiness in his stomach.
He walked towards the wardrobe. The wooden doors were plain, white, and functional. He pulled them open.
Inside, hanging on the metal rail with military precision, was his new wardrobe.
It was a sea of boredom.
Ten plain black t-shirts, all identical in cut and fabric quality.
Ten pairs of black cargo pants, durable and filled with pockets.
Ten pairs of grey boxer briefs.
A single black windbreaker jacket.
There were no colors, no logos, and no variety. It looked less like a personal closet and more like a supply cache for a minimalist survivalist.
But Cedric didn't hesitate. To him, clothes were just another layer of skin, a necessary utility to protect against the elements.
The lack of choice was just ideal. It meant he didn't have to think.
He reached in and grabbed a set of clothes at random (since they were all the same anyway) and pulled them on. The fabric stuck uncomfortably to his damp skin, creating friction because he hadn't dried off. The t-shirt bunched up around his shoulders, and the pants resisted being pulled up his wet legs. He ignored the sensory discomfort, forcing his limbs through the fabric until he was covered. He fastened the button and zipped up the cargo pants. They fit perfectly, tailored to his exact measurements.
He looked down. He was now a shadow in human form, blending perfectly into the dim corners of the room.
Thump... Thump...
A sound, distinct and heavy, cut through his thoughts. It wasn't the System. It was a physical vibration, heavy and rhythmic, resonating through the mattress of the bed behind him.
Cedric turned.
The massive Pseudo-Legendary egg was sitting in the center of the white bedspread. It looked alien in this sterile room—a large, cream colored oval covered with jagged steel blue scales that seemed to shimmer even in the low light. It pulsated with a life force so strong it almost hummed, a heartbeat waiting to be unleashed.
Cedric walked over to the bed. Beside the massive egg lay the small drawstring bag he had received from the Starter Pack. He reached inside, his fingers brushing against cool metal. He pulled out the device labeled [Portable Egg Incubator].
He held it up to the light.
It was a sleek, metallic cylinder, black with neon blue accents. It was dense, and incredibly complex looking.
But it was tiny. It was no bigger than a standard soda can.
Cedric looked at the can in his hand. Then he looked at the 40-centimeter monster egg on the bed and looked back at the can again.
"System." Cedric said, his voice flat. "This is broken."
[It ain't broken. Don't judge it by its size just because you don't understand how it works.]
"It is the size of an apple." Cedric stated, holding the cylinder next to the massive egg to emphasize the ridiculous size difference. "And the egg is the size of a dog."
[Doing is faster than explaining. Just turn it around.]
Cedric rotated the cylinder in his hand. The metal was cold and smooth.
[See the red button on the back? Press it. And for the love of god, please step back first.]
Cedric found the button. It was recessed, protected by a small safety ridge. He positioned his thumb over it.
"If it explodes." Cedric warned, "I'm going back to sleep."
He pressed the button.
HISSSSSS!
Compressed air released with a violent, sharp hiss that sounded like a steam valve rupturing.
CLANG! KA-CHUNK!
The cylinder in his hand jerked violently. Cedric instinctively let go and stepped back, his eyes widening slightly.
In mid-air, before it even hit the ground, the device began to unfold. It didn't just expand; it transformed. Metal plates shifted, slid, and locked into place with the precision of a transformer. Gears whirred, hydraulics groaned, and the object grew outward and upward with terrifying speed, displacing the air around it with a woosh.
"Whoa—"
The expanding metal frame clipped Cedric's chest, shoving him backward. He tripped over his own feet and landed hard on his butt on the laminate floor.
THUD.
The transformation finished with a heavy, metallic lock sound.
Cedric sat there on the floor, blinking slowly.
Where the soda can had been, there now stood a high-tech, capsule-like machine. It was about the size of a small refrigerator or a large travel trunk. It had a reinforced glass viewing port on the front, sleek aerodynamic lines, and a digital interface on the top that was already glowing softly in amber light.
It hummed with a low, powerful energy that vibrated through the floorboards.
[I told you to step back. You never listen, do you? Are you hurt?]
"No." Cedric said, dusting off his hands as he stood up. He walked around the machine, inspecting it. "That was aggressive."
[It's efficient. That's the Mark-IV Portable Incubator. It is an advanced machine capable of creating an ideal environment for the egg to develop. This thing is smart. If you put a Fire-type egg in there, it simulates lava heat. If it's a Water-type, it simulates deep sea pressure.]
Cedric peered at the screen on top. A digital panel displayed a large percentage: 0.00%.
[That percentage is the hatching progress. It rises as the egg absorbs energy and time. When it hits 100%, it's done.]
"So it hatches at 100%?" Cedric asked, reaching out to touch the cold glass.
[No. That's dangerous. Imagine if it hit 100% while you were on the toilet. Or while you were running for your life. So I set a lock on it, a Stasis Protocol.]
"Stasis?"
[Yes. When the counter hits 100%, the machine will lock the egg in a temporal stasis field. It will freeze the biological process at the exact moment before hatching. The Pokémon inside will not break the shell until YOU manually release it.]
Cedric frowned. "Why make it complicated?"
[It's about the Imprinting. The first thing that kid sees when it opens its eyes needs to be YOU. Not the wall. Not the machine. It's You. It needs to know who its family is, who it's supposed to protect. So when it's ready, you take it out. You hold it. You welcome it. Got it?]
"Family…" Cedric repeated the word, feeling its weight on his tongue. It was a strange concept to apply to a monster egg, but he nodded. "Understood."
[Good. For a Pseudo-Legendary egg of this caliber, the incubation time is approximately 30 days. One month. Just in time for the start of the semester. Coincidence? I think not. Now put it in. It's getting cold.]
Cedric turned to the bed. He wrapped his arms around the massive egg. It was heavy, dense with fluid and muscle and bone waiting to form. He hefted it up, grunting slightly at the weight.
He approached the machine. He pressed a panel, and the glass hatch hissed open with a pneumatic sigh. The interior was padded with black, shock-absorbent foam and glowed with a warm, red light.
He placed the egg inside gently, ensuring it was centered.
"Sleep well." he whispered to the rock-like shell.
He stepped back and pressed the panel again.
Click. Hiss.
The hatch sealed hermetically. The machine hummed louder, vibrating against the floorboards. The amber light turned a steady, rhythmic red, matching the heartbeat of the egg.
[Status: Incubating... 0.01%]
[Environment: Deep Geothermal Cavern (Optimal)]
Cedric looked at the large machine sitting in the middle of his room. It took up a significant amount of space.
"System." he said. "I cannot carry this. It is heavy and big. How do I move it?"
[Use the 'travel Mode'. See the blue button on the side? Press it. It shrinks down so you can babysit it properly without lugging a fridge around.]
Cedric found the button and pressed it.
Zzzzip.
With a soft electronic whir, the large machine collapsed inward. The metal plates folded and slid over each other with fluid grace, shrinking rapidly until the entire unit—egg included—was back to the size of a sleek, metal thermos.
[There. Fits on your belt or in a bag and be sure not to lose it.]
Cedric picked up the cylinder. It was surprisingly light, the weight of the egg seemingly negated by the spatial compression.
"How convenient." he agreed, clipping it to the belt loop of his cargo pants.
Suddenly, a loud chime rang in Cedric's head, different from the usual tone.
Ding!
[Alright, listen up. Since you've got the egg secured, I have a task for you. Consider this your orientation.]
A new window popped up, glowing with a golden border, hovering right next to the incubator status screen.
[QUEST RECEIVED: The First Breath]
[Objective: Hatch the Egg (Reach 100% Incubation)]
[Time Limit: None]
[Reward: Physique of a Pokémon World Resident (Passive Skill)]
Cedric stared at the reward line. He tilted his head.
"Physique of a Pokémon World Resident?" he read aloud, his voice flat. "Why? Is there a difference? I am already healthy."
[Difference? Kid, look at your arms. They're ramens. You're healthy? Sure, you're not dying of starvation anymore, but you're soft. You've never worked a day in your life physically. If you punch something right now, you'll break your wrist first.]
The System's voice was blunt, but there was a layer of concern underneath the roughness.
[Humans from the world where that egg came from? They're built different. They are literal living tanks. I've seen a ten years old boy lift a 72 kg Pokemon like it was a plush toy. I've seen them get electrocuted by yellow rats with enough voltage to power a city block, explode into the sky and land with just a bit of soot on their faces.]
Cedric blinked slowly. "That sounds... unreasonable."
[I know, right? You're raising monsters, Cedric. You are raising monsters, Cedric. Literal pocket monsters that can breathe fire, summon earthquakes and bite through steel. Right now? You have normal human body. I'm not letting you get snapped in half just because your child wants a hug. This reward makes you tough. It compensates for your lack of training. It will keep you alive. Understand?]
Cedric looked down at his soft hands, then at the thermos-sized incubator on his hip. He imagined being hugged to death by an affectionate monster. It seemed like a dumb way to die.
"Understood." he said. "I will hatch it."
Grrrrrrrr....
A sound tore through the quiet room.
It wasn't the machine. It wasn't the egg. It was a guttural, desperate roar that sounded like a dying animal pleading for mercy.
Cedric flinched, placing a hand on his stomach. His abdomen felt hollow, a physical ache that twisted his insides.
"I'm dying." Cedric stated, his face pale.
[You ain't dying. You're hungry. Go grab something to eat. And 'something' here means the real food, not garbage or some fast food that would kill you.]
Cedric looked around. He grabbed the black keycard from the bag. He grabbed his new black sneakers from the floor, jamming his feet into them without bothering to untie and retie the laces, crushing the heels slightly.
[You're ruining the shoes... hah~ whatever. Just go.]
Cedric ignored the commentary. He stood up. He didn't bother checking the mirror again. His long, wet black hair hung down like a heavy curtain, completely obscuring his eyes and the upper half of his face. Water droplets fell from the tips of his hair onto his black shirt, creating damp spots, but he didn't care.
He looked like a drowned ghost haunting a high school hallway.
He walked to the apartment door, unlocked it and stepped out.
The hallway was brighter than his room. It smelled of old carpet and someone cooking cabbage.
"Oh! Cedric!"
A warm, elderly voice greeted him immediately, stopping him in his tracks.
Cedric froze. His muscles locked up.
Standing just a few feet away, holding a wicker basket overflowing with laundry, was an old woman. She was short, plump, and radiated a kind of aggressive grandmotherly warmth. She wore a floral print dress that hurt Cedric's eyes and her hair was dyed a sensible, vibrant purple.
It was the Landlady. Mrs. Higgins.
Memories—faint, dusty memories belonging to the original owner of this body—filtered into Cedric's brain. He had lived here for two months since graduating middle school. He was a Neet, paid rent online and rarely left the room.
"I... hello." Cedric whispered. His voice was barely audible, raspy and weak.
"My goodness, look at you!" Mrs. Higgins beamed, her face wrinkling into a map of smile lines. She set the laundry basket down on her hip. "I was getting so worried, dear! I haven't heard a peep from your apartment in days. Not even a footstep! I was about to come knock with my master key just to make sure you were eating properly."
She stepped closer, scanning him from head to toe. She didn't seem to mind his ghostly demeanor, she just seemed relieved to see him vertical.
"Are you going out?" She asked, her voice filled with genuine delight. "That's wonderful! Fresh air is so good for young men your age. You spend too much time in that dark room."
Cedric stood there, overwhelmed. The social interaction hit him like a physical blow. He wasn't used to people looking at him. He wasn't used to people 'caring'.
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, looking at the floor. He wanted to run back inside.
"I... food." he managed to force the word out.
"Oh, hungry? Good, good! You're a growing boy, you need to eat!" She laughed, a warm, raspy sound. "Well, I won't keep you. Have a wonderful meal, dear!"
Cedric nodded stiffly.
He tried to walk past her, his shoulder brushing the wall to maximize the distance between them.
[Oi. Don't just walk away.]
Cedric paused. The System's voice was sharp and commanding in his mind.
[She's being nice. She was worried about you. Don't be a rude brat. Say 'thank you' or 'see you later'. It won't kill you to be polite.]
Cedric felt the pressure in his chest. He gritted his teeth.
He turned his head slightly, not quite making eye contact with the landlady, but acknowledging her existence.
"...Thank you." he forced the words out. They felt dry and wooden. "See you... later."
Mrs. Higgins's face lit up as if he had just recited a sonnet.
"Oh, you are very welcome, dear! Take care!"
She waved happily as Cedric pivoted on his heel and practically fled down the corridor. He reached the stairwell, his hand gripping the cold metal railing, and descended the steps two at a time, desperate to put a physical barrier between himself and the conversation.
[See? You survived. She treats you like family, don't be a jerk. Connections are useful.]
"..." Cedric kept silence, pushing open the heavy steel door at the bottom of the stairwell.
He stepped out into the world.
The transition was jarring. The air inside the apartment complex had been stale and smelling of old carpet. Outside, the air was a complex, living thing. It hit him with a physical force—a humid, heavy mix of ozone, distant industrial exhaust, fried food and the underlying, static charged scent of Ether that seemed to permeate everything in New Eridu.
Cedric stood on the sidewalk, blinking against the grey, diffuse light of the afternoon. He looked left, then right. Rows of identical residential buildings stretched out.
"Where can I have food?" Cedric asked, his voice lost in the ambient noise of the city.
[Loading Navigation Module...]
A semi-transparent 3D map overlay flickered into existence in the corner of his vision. A red arrow materialized, floating in the air above his head, bobbing gently.
[Current Location: West Residential District.]
[Destination: Sixth Street. Distance: 100 meters.]
[You are in the quiet part of town, nothing here but houses. See that arrow? Just follow it. Sixth Street is the neighborhood hub. It's lively, but not a metropolis. It has a ramen shop called Waterfall Soup, which seems to be very popular.]
Cedric adjusted his jacket, pulling it tighter around the thermos sized incubator attached to his belt. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets and started walking.
He walked with a quiet, efficient gait, his head lowered. His long, wet hair acted as a shield, a black curtain separating him from the passersby.
As he walked, he noticed something that made his step falter slightly.
Walking on the sidewalk were people who weren't... entirely human.
He saw a man with the head of a wolf, casually smoking a cigarette on a stoop, reading a newspaper. A little further down, a woman walked by with long, twitching leopard ears poking out of her hair and a tail swishing behind her as she talked on her phone.
But the one that caught his attention most was a massive figure walking toward him.
It was a bear. Not a man in a suit, but a walking, breathing grizzly bear wearing a construction vest and carrying a crate of supplies. It nodded politely to a shopkeeper as it passed.
Cedric stared, his hand twitching in his pocket, instinctively reaching for a weapon he didn't have.
"Monsters?" he whispered.
[That's rude. Stop staring at people, and that bear over there is not a monster.]
A new information window popped up next to the bear-man, overlaying reality with data.
[SPECIES DATA: THIREN]
[Class: Citizen]
[Description: Thirens are a race of anthropomorphic beings, known for their unique blend of human and animalistic features. Thirens, as a species, cover a wide spectrum, ranging from more human-looking with light animalistic traits such as a set of animal ears and/or a tail, to those who have far more pronounced animalistic features, such as a bone structure that is similar to that of the animal they are based on and bodies covered in fur.]
[They are people, Cedric. They pay taxes, they eat ramens, and they will punch you if you call them monsters.]
Cedric read the text rapidly. He looked at the bear-man again. The creatu—no, the 'person'—looked completely normal in this environment, unbothered by the stares of others.
"Okay." Cedric exhaled, relaxing his tense shoulders. "So they are just... furry people."
He continued walking. After about five minutes of following the arrow, the quiet residential street opened up. It became distinctly livelier. It was a cozy, dense neighborhood street, cluttered with personality, neon signs, and the hum of daily life.
"Loud." Cedric muttered, wincing slightly.
He had arrived at the west entrance of Sixth Street.
He stepped onto the avenue. The sensory overload was instantaneous.
Immediately to his left, dominating the corner, was a shop with a chaotic, vibrant facade designed to look like geometric rocks clashing together. The sign above the door flashed in bright, flashy neon colors: 'BOX GALAXY'. Through the window, he could see shelves stacked with Gashapon and glowing strange round things.
[That is a toy and gear store. You can't eat them so keep walking.]
Cedric ignored the flashing lights and continued walking down the sidewalk.
He walked for a few more meters until the street curved slightly.
On his right side, standing out against the brickwork, was a small, open-front shop painted in a striking, clean blue. The sign above read '141 CONVENIENCE STORE'. It was tucked right next to a narrow alleyway.
Cedric stopped. He stared.
Behind the counter, there were no humans. Instead, three small, round, rabbit-like robots were frantically working. They had digital eyes that blinked and wore little blue aprons. One was scanning items for a customer, one was holding a clipboard as if checking inventory, and one was carrying a box.
[They are Bangboos, small bunny-like robots. Originally created for disaster evacuation guidance in Hollows. But now? They do everything from selling snacks to managing logistics.]
Cedric blinked slowly. "Robots selling snacks. Okay."
He turned his head to the left. Directly across the street from the convenience store, mirroring it, was a sleek, wooden-paneled building with a modern aesthetic. The sign read 'COFF CAFE'. Through the glass, he could see a gleaming, metallic robot bartender polishing a glass with methodical precision.
Cedric stood there, mesmerized by the gleaming metallic bartender inside the Coff Cafe. He was so focused on the rhythmic polishing motion of the robot that he completely failed to notice the person walking briskly down the sidewalk, their attention seemingly elsewhere.
Thud.
The impact wasn't hard, but given Cedric's current lack of stability and soft, untrained muscles, it was enough. He lost his balance instantly.
"Ouch—"
He tipped backward and hit the pavement with a dull thump. A sharp jolt of pain shot up his spine, causing him to squeeze his eyes shut and let out a silent, pained hiss.
"Oh god!" A female voice gasped, sounding genuinely horrified. "Are you okay? I am so sorry!"
Cedric lay there for a moment, waiting for the dizziness to pass. He slowly peeled his eyes open.
He frowned.
"Why..." Cedric mumbled, confused. "Why is it dark?"
It was the middle of the afternoon. The sun had been shining brightly just seconds ago. But now, a massive shadow was looming over him, blocking out the light completely.
He blinked, his vision adjusting.
It wasn't an eclipse. It wasn't a cloud.
It was a chest. A very... marvelous chest, belonging to the woman who was currently leaning over him with a concerned expression.
Cedric stared blankly.
[Eyes up, Cedcric. Maintain eye contact. Don't be a creep on your first day.]
Cedric shifted his gaze upward, past the obstacle blocking the sun, to see the face of the person who had knocked him over.
She was a young woman, likely around twenty years old. She had short, ash-grey hair cut in soft, shaggy layers, with a single ahoge curling atop her head like a question mark. Her eyes were a sharp, piercing teal, though framed by faint dark circles that hinted at many sleepless nights.
Her attire was practical and stylish in a subdued way. She wore a form-fitting black mock-neck top with orange accents at the cuffs—which explained the shadow—and instead of a skirt, she wore dark, fitted tech-wear cargo pants tucked into sturdy boots. She looked intelligent, tired, and currently, very apologetic.
"I wasn't looking where I was going," she said, offering a hand to help him up. "I was... distracted thinking about something. Are you hurt?"
Cedric accepted the hand. Her grip was firm. She pulled him up with embarrassing ease, highlighting just how light and weak he currently was.
"I'm fine." Cedric said, dusting off his pants. "Just... gravity."
The woman watched him for a moment, her teal eyes scanning him with the precision of a data processor. She noted his long, wet hair, his generic clothes and his general air of disorientation.
"I haven't seen you around before." she said, tilting her head slightly. "Is this your first time on Sixth Street?"
"Yes." Cedric replied simply.
Her expression softened into a polite, welcoming smile.
"Well, welcome to Sixth Street." she said, gesturing vaguely around her.
"It's not as flashy as Lumina Square, but it's a good neighborhood. We have everything you need here—movies, foods, music..." She paused, looking at him again. "So… what brings you here?"
Cedric rubbed his stomach, which chose that exact moment to let out a low growl.
"Ramen." he stated.
The woman blinked, then let out a small, amused laugh. It transformed her face, making her look less tired and more approachable.
"Ramen? What a coincidence. I was actually heading to Waterfall Soup myself too." she said and then tapped and her chin thoughtfully.
"Tell you what. Since I almost flattened you back there... please let me treat you to a meal as an apology."
Cedric looked at her and thought.
'Free food.'
"Okay." he said instantly. "I accept."
[You possess no shame. I admire that.]
"Follow me, it's just a bit further down." she said, adjusting the strap of her bag.
They walked together down the street. Cedric glanced around as they walked, taking in the details he had missed before.
To his left, further down at the corner, he saw a building that stood out from the rest. It had a massive, red pixelated sign that read 'GODFINGER'. It looked like a blocky structure straight out of an old video game, with an open entrance and a checkered black and white floor. The sounds of 8-bit music and children cheering echoed from inside.
But mostly, he noticed the people. Or rather, the variety of them. It wasn't just humans and Thirens. He saw someone with mechanical limbs, people with neon tattoos that moved and more small Bangboos scuttling about on errands.
It was chaotic. It was loud. But it was alive.
"This place." Cedric murmured, more to himself than to her. "It is... busy."
"It is." the woman agreed, glancing at him.
"But when you get used to the noise. It becomes background music."
They reached a traditional-looking shop with red lanterns swaying in the breeze and a large sign featuring a fish. It was situated about ten meters past the cafe, directly opposite the Godfinger Arcade.
[Objective Reached: Waterfall Soup.]
[Current Hunger: Critical. Eat before you pass out.]
Cedric pushed through the curtains and stepped inside, the woman following close behind.
"Welcome!" A boisterous, metallic voice boomed from the counter.
Cedric looked up. The chef wasn't a human, but wasn't a Thiren either.
He was a massive, red-skinned being with four arms, chopping vegetables with a speed that blurred the air. A small robot assistant floated nearby, carrying bowls.
[That's General Chop. He is famous for his cooking skills.]
They found two empty stools at the counter. Cedric sat down heavily, the exhaustion of the morning finally catching up to him. The smell of broth was thick and comforting.
"General, I'll have the Vegetable Ramens, please." the woman ordered, then turned to Cedric.
"Go ahead. Order whatever you want."
Cedric picked up the laminated menu. He scanned the colorful pictures and prices.
Fresh Iced Ramens - 5000 Denny.
Fried BBQ Ramens - 2500 Denny.
His eyes stopped on a picture of a bowl overflowing with meat and rich, dark sauce. It looked heavy.
Smoked BBQ Ramens - 5000 Denny.
He didn't care about the price. He cared about the void in his stomach.
He pointed a finger at the picture and said. "Smoked BBQ Ramens."
"And one Smoked BBQ for him, please." the woman relayed to the chef with a smile.
"You got it! Coming right up!" General Chop shouted, his multiple arms grabbing ingredients simultaneously.
***
They sat in silence as the steam rose around them. Cedric stared blankly at the chopsticks container, his mind drifting into a comfortable nothingness.
[Oi. Wake up.]
The voice in his head was sharp, like a flick to the forehead, but not malicious. It was the tone of a nanny scolding a child who knew better.
[She knocked you down, she picked you up and now she is feeding you expensive lunch. Don't just sit there staring at the table like a lump of coal. Use your words. Introduce yourself. Don't make me teach you basic manners from scratch.]
Cedric blinked, coming back to reality. System was right. He should introduce himself after all.
He turned his head to look at the ash-grey haired woman.
"You." he said.
She turned from watching the chef, her teal eyes curious. "Hmm? What do you want to ask?"
"I am Cedric." he stated flatly. "What is your name?"
The woman paused, looking genuinely surprised, as if she had just realized she hadn't introduced herself yet.
She laughed again, a little awkwardly laugh this time and scratching her cheek.
"Oh, right! I completely forgot. I really am clumsy today." she smiled, extending a hand.
"I'm Wise. Nice to meet you, Cedric."
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Soooo, this is how Wise looks like, and she is about 25-26 according to my reasearch:
And about Cedric. I think he looks like Kokichi Oma from Danganronpa or Wanderer from Genshin but with long hair.