Kael walked on, lost in his thoughts.

  I never got to study in the Crown. There are schools, sure… but only for those who can afford the Protectorate.

  That wasn’t the case for me.

  He lifted his eyes toward the sky.

  My mother taught me how to read. She said that was enough to survive. But here… here, it’s something else.

  All around him, students moved back and forth—hurried, distracted, absorbed in their day.

  They learn so many things. And no one seems to be paying for anything. I’m pretty sure the math classes this morning were more advanced than everything taught in the High Lands.

  I have to take advantage of this. I have to learn as much as possible.

  Then a shadow crossed his face. He sighed.

  But I have a problem… a real one.

  I still don’t know how to write.

  He leaned against a wall, resting his back against it, his bag hanging from one shoulder.

  He had watched the others—the way they held their pens, traced letters, took notes without even looking at their hands.

  It doesn’t look that complicated…

  I’m skilled with my fingers. But writing… really writing…

  He looked at his own hand, slightly frustrated.

  Copying, I can do. I can imitate the movements, sure. But understanding what I’m writing? No. I know the letters. It’s their order that trips me up.

  He muttered under his breath:

  “I really need to learn how to write…

  Especially if I’m supposed to go to the Academy after the Trial.

  What am I going to look like, seriously…”

  Kael pulled out his schedule.

  Nothing was written after physics.

  Looks like I’m done for the day…

  He frowned.

  “Where am I supposed to go after classes?”

  “Do I have a room here like at the Institute? Or a… place of my own?”

  A familiar voice interrupted him farther down the hallway.

  “So, how was philosophy class?”

  Jeff was walking toward him, a grin on his face, a bag slung over one shoulder.

  “Boring as hell, right?”

  Kael looked at him calmly.

  “No. It was actually… fascinating, honestly.”

  Jeff raised an eyebrow.

  Kael went on:

  “I didn’t understand everything. But the teacher said philosophy was ‘the love of wisdom’—thinking about everything that exists… It’s a fascinating subject.”

  “I didn’t get much of it, but I loved it.”

  Jeff blinked, clearly unconvinced.

  “Well, I’ll be damned…”

  He shrugged.

  “Come on. Let’s go home.”

  Kael followed him at an easy pace.

  “Home… where exactly?”

  “Home, idiot,” Jeff replied. “The day’s over.”

  Kael didn’t answer. His stomach tightened slightly.

  A home? I have one here? Really? Where?

  They exited the main building.

  Ahead of them stood a wide gate, completely open, separating the school from the outside world.

  They passed through it.

  A black road, perfectly smooth, stretched out in two directions. White lines were painted along it with an oddly precise geometry.

  One path to the right. One to the left.

  Jeff turned left without hesitation.

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  Kael followed—hesitant—

  until a rumble rose in the distance.

  A deep sound. Fast. Heavy.

  It was getting closer.

  And then he saw it.

  A massive, gleaming metal creature burst out of a turn.

  Long. Wide.

  Four wheels instead of legs.

  And it was charging… straight toward Jeff.

  Kael’s hand flew to his belt on instinct.

  No saber. Shit.

  I have to get him out of there.

  He ran.

  “JEFF—WATCH OUT!”

  Kael slammed him to the ground with brutal force.

  They rolled together across the grass, the air knocked from their lungs.

  The “creature” sped past them… without even deviating from its path.

  No danger. No contact.

  Kael sprang back to his feet, tense.

  “Get up, Jeff! Now!”

  But Jeff, furious, pushed himself upright with a grimace.

  “What the hell are you doing, Kael?!”

  He shouted at him:

  “Why did you tackle me like that?!”

  Kael, still on edge, pointed at the creature.

  “It was about to—”

  “The car was on the road, you idiot!” Jeff snapped.

  “It wasn’t going anywhere else! That’s what it’s for!”

  Kael froze.

  A car?

  They gave that thing a name?

  He clenched his teeth.

  Apparently, they lived in symbiosis with these creatures.

  As if it were completely normal.

  Great. Now they think I’m an idiot.

  Jeff, still annoyed, let out a loud breath.

  “Come on. Move it. I want to go home.”

  They kept walking, slowly moving away from the city center.

  The school was on the outskirts, and the path they followed seemed to lead even farther toward the edge of town.

  The surroundings gradually changed. Less noise. Fewer people. More trees. More open space.

  They passed other “cars” along the way.

  Kael stayed tense every time one went by, muscles tight.

  One of them, in particular, caught his attention.

  It was different.

  Bigger. Lower to the ground.

  Its growl was deeper.

  And—he had to admit it—

  it was almost beautiful.

  In a way.

  Jeff pointed at it with an admiring look.

  “One day, I’ll have one like that.”

  “This model is awesome.”

  Kael forced a smile.

  A mix of embarrassment… and tightly contained terror.

  He’s insane.

  He thinks he can tame a creature like that?

  No way I’m ever getting inside one of those things.

  The surroundings began to feel strange to him.

  The architecture, too.

  All the houses looked as if they’d been carved from smooth, almost perfect stone.

  Many had large glass windows, clean geometric shapes repeated over and over.

  Cars waited in front of some of the buildings.

  Silent. Motionless.

  As if they were watching.

  As if they were… lying in wait.

  They don’t hunt.

  They serve humans.

  They’re docile… maybe.

  The neighborhood grew increasingly residential.

  All the houses looked the same, save for a few details.

  The decorations.

  The colors.

  The cars parked outside.

  Jeff stopped in front of one of them, smiling.

  “Finally home!”

  “We’re going to school together tomorrow, right?”

  Kael glanced around.

  “This is where you live?”

  Jeff tilted his head, slightly surprised by the question.

  “Yeah.”

  “I always have, actually.”

  He pointed to the house across the way.

  “And you live right there. Like always.”

  He frowned.

  “You should get some rest.”

  “You’re really weird today, Kael.”

  He gave him a small wave.

  “Well then… see you tomorrow!”

  He started to walk away.

  Kael stayed still for a moment.

  Then he raised his voice.

  “Jeff!”

  Jeff turned around, one eyebrow raised.

  Kael hesitated for a second.

  Then said, simply:

  “Thanks.”

  Jeff shrugged, as if it were nothing.

  “No problem, man.”

  And he disappeared down his driveway.

  Kael watched Jeff walk away and enter his house. When he turned back around, he was facing his supposed home. A wave of apprehension washed over him. His palms grew clammy, his breathing shallow.

  Damn… that’s a nice house, he thought.

  Am I rich or something?

  I don’t know how I pulled that off, but honestly… well done, Kael.

  His enthusiasm screeched to a halt when he noticed a car parked in front of the house. He clenched his teeth.

  “What are you doing here?” he muttered at the car.

  He approached slowly, studying the mechanical beast. The car didn’t move. He passed right beside it, cautiously, as if afraid of waking it. Once he was almost past it, he quickened his pace.

  Nothing.

  It hadn’t moved.

  He let out a breath.

  A small staircase led up to the front door. He started climbing. The apprehension made him hesitate. He took the steps slowly, one by one.

  But how do I pay the rent?

  Do I have a job? he wondered, his throat growing drier by the second.

  This neighborhood looks like it’s full of families…

  These houses are way too big for someone living alone…

  So why do I live here?

  He stopped for a moment.

  A chilling thought crossed his mind.

  Do I have a family?

  Me?

  The idea felt absurd.

  He hadn’t had anyone since he was ten years old.

  Ten years surviving alone, dragging himself through the mud.

  He was trembling. He had reached the landing, standing before the threshold of the door. It was thick, made of finely worked wood—almost artificial.

  What am I supposed to do? Knock?

  His hands clenched. Then he caught himself.

  “But what am I doing?” he muttered. “This is my home.”

  The words came out with poorly contained arrogance.

  He swallowed one last time, placed his hand on the handle, and opened the door.

  The scent of clean clothes and freshly baked cake washed over him, instantly easing the tension in his body.

  The small entry hallway was dim, windowless. A few meters ahead, a door on the right let light spill through.

  The living room, he thought.

  To the left, another door.

  He glanced down.

  A pair of women’s shoes. Slippers.

  He took off his own shoes.

  “Kael?”

  His throat tightened.

  That voice… I know it.

  Footsteps came from the presumed living room.

  He froze.

  A woman of average height stepped into view. She wore a dress, a kitchen apron over it, drying dishes as she walked. A beautiful face. Deep brown eyes. Brown hair tied back in a loose ponytail, resting over one shoulder.

  She smiled when she saw Kael.

  An angelic smile.

  “Oh—there you are, my little rascal.”

  Kael went rigid. His bag slipped from his shoulder and hit the floor. He took a step forward.

  “Mom?” he whispered, his voice trembling.

  “Yes?” she replied softly.

  He rubbed his eyes.

  “It’s you…?”

  She looked at him tenderly.

  “Who else would it be?”

  He ran toward her.

  He slipped.

  The floor was smooth, and his socks had no grip at all. He fell to his knees in front of her, wrapped his arms around her legs, and began to cry.

  She lifted her arms, confused.

  “But—what’s gotten into you?”

  A surprised smile formed on her face.

  Kael, in tears, clinging to his mother as if afraid she might vanish the moment he let go, could only repeat:

  “Mom…”