Here is Cha
The morning came softly.
No alarms. No footsteps. No urgent yelling like in the shelter. Just the whisper of city traffic and sunlight sneaking through beige curtains.
Lina Vale blinked awake, confused for a second.
Then she remembered: the bed. The warm room. The System.
And for the first time in weeks, she hadn't woken up in a panic.
A small chime echoed in her mind like a gentle knock on a door.
[Good morning, Lina.]
She smiled faintly. "You're still here."
[Affirmative. You did not deactivate me in your sleep.]
"…I didn't think I would care," she admitted, sitting up. "But I'm glad you're here."
[I exist to assist you. You're not alone anymore.]
Lina let that sink in. It felt... terrifyingly nice.
[Main Task 002 in progress.]
Objective: Earn $250 in 5 days via your own skill set.
Penalty for Failure: -5 Confidence | Lockout of Skill Point Allocation for 7 Days | Public Opportunity Missed
Progress: 0%
A subtle tightening in her chest reminded her she was still on a clock.
"Okay. Let's try that storytelling platform," she said, dragging her legs over the edge of the bed. "I've written stuff before. It can't be that hard."
[Enabling Work Environment Setup… Recommend borrowing facility's laptop for temporary remote login.]
---
Thirty minutes later, Lina sat in the shared media room with an old but functioning laptop. Her hands hovered above the keys.
A blank writing window blinked back at her.
Title:
Tags:
Short Synopsis:
Chapter One:
She exhaled slowly.
This should've been easy. But suddenly, every word in her head felt stupid. Why would anyone read something she wrote? Who cared what she had to say?
"Hey, System…" she muttered. "What if I fail this?"
[Then we try again. And again, if needed. You're not on a one-life path.]
"…But people are better. More talented. I'm just—"
[—Recovering. Not broken. Don't compare your Day 1 to someone else's Day 1000.]
A silence stretched between them.
Then, almost out of nowhere, Lina laughed. "You sound like a burnt-out therapist who drinks chamomile tea."
[I have reviewed over 800,000 hours of emotional recovery patterns. I know what works.]
She shook her head, smiling, and began typing.
---
Two hours later…
She hit "submit" on her first short story entry.
It wasn't perfect. But it was hers.
[Submission received. Story posted anonymously under Creator ID: Syst3mPhoenix]
[Reward pending based on interaction metrics. Next payout evaluation in 24 hours.]
Lina leaned back, rubbing her eyes. Her chest felt lighter than it had in days.
[Task Progress: 5% – $0.25 in projected earnings (Early Engagement Bonus Eligible)]
"Well, it's not Hollywood, but it's something."
[Better to start small than not at all. You now have skin in the game.]
---
Elsewhere, in a penthouse office tower…
Kael sat behind a black glass desk, reviewing a portfolio on his private monitor. The image of Lina—half-soaked and defiant from two nights ago—glowed in the corner.
"Sir," his assistant said through the comms, "her ID is tracking online movement—low-tier freelance login, storytelling platform. She published something anonymously."
Kael's eyebrow lifted, just slightly.
"…She's moving faster than expected," he said, leaning back. "Interesting."
"She's already pulled her first few readers."
"Let it run. But boost it subtly. Let her believe it's her skill getting her there."
"Yes, sir."
He closed the file.
Something about her stirred a memory—one he hadn't visited in years.
He didn't know what she was to him yet. But he knew she was not just another lost girl in the city.
And the more he saw, the less he could look away.
---
Later that day…
Lina took a walk. She didn't know what made her do it—maybe the four walls of the shelter felt suddenly too small—but her feet carried her to a nearby park.
The city around her was still gritty, but this little green pocket buzzed with people: joggers, students, old couples feeding pigeons.
For a second, she felt like a normal girl.
Then her stomach growled.
[Daily Need Not Met: Nutritional Intake Below Optimal Threshold]
[New Mini Task: Eat a Meal Worth Over $5 Using Your Own Efforts]
Reward: +1 Confidence | Bonus: Unlock 'Nutrient Scan' Utility for Future Health Management
Failure Penalty: -1 Confidence | Temporary Skill Lock (3 Hours)]
"Okay, now you're micromanaging," Lina said aloud.
[You haven't eaten a real meal in 36 hours. This is survival, not nitpicking.]
She laughed despite herself.
She glanced at the digital wallet interface embedded in her System. With the $30 from the first task still untouched, she hesitated.
"But if I spend this… what if something worse happens tomorrow?"
[Risk is part of life. But starvation won't prepare you for opportunity.]
"…Alright, fine. Let's get something warm."
---
She chose a quiet corner café and ordered the cheapest hot meal combo: spicy rice, grilled egg, and vegetable stew. It cost $5.60. Worth every cent.
As she ate slowly, she noticed someone sitting across from her, a few tables down. A man in a tailored navy coat, expensive watch, and dark sunglasses—despite being indoors.
He wasn't looking at her. Not directly. But her new 'Situational Awareness' passive prickled faintly.
He was watching. Not ogling—just observing, like cataloging something.
She tensed, casually lowering her gaze.
"System…?"
[Confirmed. He has no phone in use, no food, and no companions. Body language neutral. Caution advised. No immediate threat detected.]
Her spine relaxed—but just a little.
Maybe he was just someone who liked people-watching. Maybe he wasn't.
Either way, she made sure to finish quickly and leave by a different door.
---
Back in her temporary room…
She received a ping.
[Main Task 002 Progress: 19% — Estimated Payout: $48.43 in early impressions + tip bonuses]
[Confidence +2 | Nutritional Bonus Gained: 'Nutrient Scan' Unlocked]
Lina stared at the number.
Not huge.
But real.
She was earning something.
Not begging. Not depending. Not surviving. Creating.
Tears threatened again—but this time, they weren't heavy.
They were light. Like maybe her lungs could finally breathe.
---
End of Chapter 3
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