Kael felt utterly lost in the bustling city streets. His steps grew faster, his thoughts more tangled. The vibration in his pocket from his phone buzzed like a reminder of reality, but Kael's mind was still stuck on the extraordinary events he had just experienced. "What was that? Could it be real?" he wondered. He looked up at the sky, trying to explain what he had seen to a few people. He approached some strangers, asking, "Do you see anything up there?" But the responses only disappointed him. People thought he was crazy, answering with mocking glances and chuckles. "Look at that, staring at the sky like he's seeing something," whispered some. Others dismissed him with, "It's just a cloud. What are you talking about?"
Kael felt trapped inside. Was what he experienced a gift, or a curse? As he wrestled with these questions, the ringtone in his ear pulled him back to the real world. The name on his screen made him stumble—his boss. He had forgotten everything. His mind was a mess. He couldn't think about work, let alone what he would say.
He started running through the crowd. People grumbled as he bumped into them. One even shouted, "Watch it!" But Kael just needed a quiet corner—to collect his thoughts, to figure out what to do. Eventually, he reached a quiet alley, away from the chaos. He stopped.
With trembling hands, he pulled out his phone. The name was still flashing. He took a deep breath and answered.
"Hello…" Kael's voice cracked, his breath unsteady. He tried to mask the awkwardness of the lie with a sudden cough. As he coughed into the phone, he squeezed his eyes shut and silently prayed: "Please believe it. Please..."
There was a pause, then his boss's sharp, clear voice came through:
"Kael, why didn't you come in? You could've at least called!"
The anger was there, but so was a familiar note of disappointment. Kael winced, but he wasn't surprised. He had worked hard to get this job. Of course his boss would be upset—Kael himself would be too, if he were in his shoes. But now, he had to soften that anger, or at least deflect it. In his mental chaos, he quickly conjured the role of a sick, exhausted man.
"I'm… so sorry," he said, his voice hoarse and weary. "Last night I got really sick. I think I caught a virus. Had a fever, almost passed out… I don't even remember falling asleep. I'm really sorry."
There was a brief silence. Then his boss sighed.
"It was really busy today, Kael," he said, his tone gentler. "So many customers, you wouldn't believe it. When someone like you doesn't show up, things get rough."
Kael didn't respond, just took a few deep breaths. The pauses gave a sense of emotional exhaustion. He wasn't the best liar face-to-face, but over the phone—and especially now—his performance was passable.
His boss thought for a moment, then said more firmly:
"Alright, Kael… You really do sound sick. Just rest today. But go to the doctor, okay? Get a note. There's been a lot of stuff going around lately. We'll talk tomorrow."
Kael exhaled, closing his eyes. He silently thanked his boss again and again. Out loud, all he managed was:
"Thank you… Really, thank you so much..."
After the call, Kael leaned against the wall. A deep exhale echoed through the narrow alley. He tilted his head back. His whole body felt tired, his mind a storm, his heart still beating with the weight of the portal's message. Going to work and dealing with customers after all this? The thought now seemed almost laughable.
He murmured to himself:
"Just one day… just one. I need to rest. I need to understand what's happening..."
He didn't waste more time. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. As the smoke rose toward the sky, a mix of exhaustion and emptiness crossed his face. He knew—nothing would ever be the same again. But at least he had this one day… maybe his only chance to seek answers.
Kael slumped down against the stone wall. His body slowly slid downward, a lit cigarette resting between his lips, flickering. He leaned his head back, eyes closed. The voices, images, strange words, and red texts swirled in his mind like a storm. Then…
*Click.*
Something appeared in front of him. A red, transparent rectangular window dropped into view from thin air. Kael flinched; the cigarette nearly fell from his lips. He blinked and stared. This screen was different. It seemed to be rewarding him.
⬝ Intelligence Increased!
⬝ Mimicry Ability Unlocked!
**Mimicry Ability:** Allows you to replicate a creature's voice, tone, and sometimes even speech patterns.
Kael's eyebrows lifted. "What?" he whispered. "Was that… a reward?"
So… lying to his boss—pretending to be sick—earned him a new ability?
The idea made him queasy. Lying shouldn't be rewarded… right? But then a darker, more honest voice inside him said, "Life isn't fair anyway." Maybe this system only rewarded those who could twist the truth.
He stared at the window for a while, then reached out and tapped its edge. It slowly faded into vapor. "A bird's call?" he murmured. "Let's give it a try..."
Using the privacy of the empty alley, he tilted his head slightly. He imagined the chirp of a morning sparrow. Took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and opened his mouth.
Chirp-chirp, chirpchirp!
A real bird call escaped his lips. It was so authentic, a bird in the distance actually answered.
Kael opened his eyes in surprise. He stood still for a moment, then laughed. A quiet, raspy chuckle—like a child discovering a new toy. It was real! He could mimic any animal sound he imagined: a cat, a dog, an eagle… even the clack of horse hooves.
"Unbelievable," he thought. "It must be some kind of gift…"
Just then, a noise came from his right. *Thud!* A heavy landing sound… then a burst of dust filled the alley. Kael turned sharply, squinting through the cloud. Something had jumped—from the roof.
The figure was still unclear, but a voice echoed from within the dust. It was mocking, casual, and annoyingly confident:
"You're really good at imitating things," the man said, followed by a short laugh. "You're fun."
Kael's skin crawled. The voice was directed straight at him. As the dust settled, a dark figure emerged—wearing a long coat, his face shadowed. He held a metallic rod—something between a staff and a weapon. His eyes glowed through the haze.
Kael's heart pounded. His body sensed the threat before his mind could. He instinctively stepped back. His heel hit the edge of the sidewalk, and he nearly lost his balance. The cigarette dropped from his lips—forgotten.
The man still smiled. That cold smile didn't fade; it concealed something underneath—a threat, a game, or maybe just insane curiosity.
Kael parted his lips. His throat was dry, but his voice came out clear:
"Who the hell are you?"
His words echoed through the empty alley. A simple question, but laced with fear and defiance. He was ready to defend himself—though from what, or how, he didn't know.
The man took another step forward. His footsteps echoed oddly, as if the street amplified them just for him. He tapped his rod on the ground. A metallic ring filled the air, chillingly clear.