"It has officially been five hundred years since Earth fell."
The broadcast echoed through the room from my old W-95.
I paced around the untidy space, dressed in nothing but a white undershirt, a pair of shorts, and one broken slipper. Dust clung to everything. Rust stained the kitchen counter.
"Where is it?" I muttered, rummaging through the clutter. When I couldn't find what I was looking for, I turned toward the bathroom.
"Yes, Jia, you're right. This also marks five hundred years since the Aethernals became the rulers of the greatest kingdom in the universe—"
I yanked open the bathroom shelves, tossing things aside to check behind them. The bathroom was no better than the rest of the house.
"Fuck it. Where did Leah put it…" I groaned and stepped back out.
"The celebration at the Junction has been nothing short of spectacular."
I glanced at the W-95, an outdated, flickering holographic screen hovering weakly above my coffee table.
The glitching image shifted to a grand, immaculate city. White marble streets stretched endlessly, laced with glowing colors and towering futuristic structures. Countless species marched in formation, trumpets blaring, flags raised high.
Then the screen cut again.
A woman stepped out of a sleek Aurelion, one of those fancy cars that only the elite could afford. Her elegant white hair was partially tied into a bun, loose strands falling softly over her shoulders. Pale blue scales shimmered along her skin, an unmistakable trait of the Aethernals. She wore a long flowing cloak over a regal gown, the fabric layered with intricate silver patterns that caught the light with every step. As she descended, she raised a hand, gracefully acknowledging the cheering crowd.
"Our sources confirm that the Duchess has also arrived at the Junction—"
Bzzz. Bzzzz.
The screen glitched violently before going dark.
My face fell. "About time that thing died."
A voice came from the doorway.
"Really?"
A girl stood there, leaning casually against the frame. She wore a black high-neck top and a white skirt. Her blue hair was cut into a neat bob, framing her face, and her sharp yellow eyes locked onto mine.
"So tell me, Ejickel," she said, lips curling into a knowing smile, "why haven't you come out yet? Everyone's waiting for you."
"I can't find my knife," I muttered angrily, ruffling my already messy black hair in frustration. "You know how important it is to me. Last time, it was Leah who had it—"
"Ahhh," Yuri drawled. "You mean the dagger your birth family left you. That one?"
"Yeah. Yeah. That one."
Yuri smirked. "Well, Leah's been getting awfully close to a trader from World C-16."
"That bitch!"
My temper snapped. I stormed outside, fury burning in my chest. She's dead. I repeat, she's dead.
Cold cobblestone walls closed in around me, the same stone stretching beneath my feet. World F-67 wore its poverty openly.
Cracked buildings leaned against one another for support, their surfaces stained with soot and time. Flickering neon signs buzzed weakly, some missing letters, others barely alive. The air smelled of rust, damp stone, and cheap fuel.
People moved through the streets with their heads down, wrapped in patched clothing that had been repaired too many times to count. Here, survival was a daily transaction, and dignity was a luxury no one could afford.
In F-67, everyone was poor, that included me as well.
There, I spotted her.
Leah. One of my three childhood friends.
She was standing with a trader, handing my dagger over to him. Her long silver hair was tied into two messy buns, and she wore a tattered shirt, worn-out jeans, and scuffed sneakers. Caught red-handed.
Her mischievous eyes flicked up and met mine.
The smirk on her face vanished, draining into a ghost-pale expression. In a panic, she snatched the dagger back from the trader and bolted.
"Hey! come back here!" I shouted, lunging after her.
Leah darted into a narrow alley, glancing over her shoulder as she screamed, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
"You'll be a lot more sorry when I catch you!" I yelled, sprinting after her.
Finally, the alley ended in a dead end, and Leah froze there like a cornered animal. I stopped a few steps behind her, my veins bulging with anger. Slowly, she turned around, teary, frightened eyes meeting mine.
"Ahh… E—Eji… Ejickel…"
I shot her a resentful glare, then walked past her and snatched the dagger from her hand. I inspected it carefully, checking for any damage.
She groaned loudly. "Ejickel, how long are you going to keep that thing? It's a fancy dagger. Do you know how many crystals we could get for it?"
I smacked the top of her head.
"Ow!" She clutched her head and pouted.
"You talk too much for a thief, Leah," I rebuked.
She grabbed my shoulders and started massaging them, a familiar smirk creeping onto her face. "Come on, Ejickel. If we sell that dagger, we'll have enough crystals to buy tickets to a better world."
"And where exactly would we get visas?" I shot back. "First, we live in F-67, one of the poorest worlds in the universe so everone consider us as filthy rags. Second, we're humans, for god's sake. And that's two times the usual discrimination."
She scowled, "But my friend Mike can make fake-"
"Do you know what's the punishment for a fake visa, right?"
Her face fell as I pointed towards her.
"Death Penalty!"
I shook my head in frustration. I'd already accepted the truth—I would never be able to leave this world. Honestly, clinging to hope was more exhausting than giving up.
Leah slumped down onto the ground, covering her eyes. A pang of guilt tugged at me, but there was no other choice. Unlike me, Leah had always dreamed of seeing the worlds beyond this one.
"Hey, you made a lady cry~"
Yuri leaned against the wall, smirking as she pointed at me.
"But it was well deserved. Next time, don't steal. A lesson well learned." She was clearly enjoying the drama.
"Shut the hell up… hic… Yuri…" Leah mumbled, flipping her off without even looking.
Yuri just shrugged, then turned to me. "Shall we go now? The others have been waiting for awhile now."
Before I could respond, the tower bell rang.
Ding. Dong.
Our gazes snapped to the towering spire rising at the heart of the district.
I pressed my lips together, unease curling in my chest as I stared at it.
Those bells rang for only one reason, when something monumental occurred.
Not just in this world… but across the entire Galactic Kingdom.