In the meantime, Steve, unaware of the attention he had drawn, was playing a recently released football video game with his roommates.
It had been a while since they had all been together, mainly because in recent days, Steve spent most of his time outdoors and only came in when everyone else was asleep. They continued playing and chatting into the late hours of the night. Even though he was tired, Steve didn't want to sleep; he wanted to finish his mission as soon as possible. He meditated day and night, only pausing when his roommates were around. He was on the verge of a breakthrough, but something was missing to take the final step.
After a few hours, he found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on his meditation, so he decided to go outside and get some fresh air. Since coming to the capital for his studies, he had never really had the chance to explore it. He put on a jogging suit and headed out.
As Steve stepped out into the cool night air, he found himself wandering through the quiet streets near the university. The city took on a serene quality at night, with the daytime hustle and bustle replaced by a gentle calm.
Dimly lit street lamps cast a soft amber glow on the cobblestone sidewalks. Occasionally, a solitary car passed by, its headlights creating fleeting patterns of light and shadow. The sound of his footsteps echoed softly in the quiet of the night.
Steve took in the sights around him. Tall buildings rose above, their windows darkening as the city's residents settled in for the night. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees lining the streets, creating a soothing murmur in the air.
As he continued to walk, he couldn't help but think about his new life. Since his return, he had never really taken a step back to reflect on what had happened. First, he had died, and he still didn't know the cause. Then he learned that extraterrestrials existed. After that, he was about to participate in some kind of interdimensional competition until a being from a higher dimension, and he wasn't even sure what that meant, sent him back ten years, and he still didn't know why.
Steve sat down on the edge of the road, took out a cigarette, and smoked it while gazing up at the sky.
"System," he said.
[Yes.]
"Why?"
[Why what?]
"Why do I feel like this? Despite having the chance to go back, to live the life I wanted, I'm going to have a lot of money after my meeting with X, I'm going to be famous after my proof is published in a journal. But despite all that, I feel like something is missing."
The system remained silent for a moment before responding.
[It's not...]
Before the system could finish its thought, an old voice spoke up.
"What's a young man like you doing out at this hour?"
As Steve turned in the direction of the voice, he saw an elderly man with a hunched back, a long white beard, and tattered clothing that hinted at a life lived on the streets. The man's eyes, though weathered by time, held a certain depth and wisdom. The old man's presence seemed to exude an air of serenity and acceptance, as if he had made peace with his situation. His gnarled hands, visible under the layers of worn clothing, clutched a small, weathered notebook.
"Good evening," Steve greeted politely.
"Good evening. This is the first time I've seen you around here," the old man replied.
"Indeed, I just wanted to get some fresh air," Steve answered.
The old man smiled, revealing a row of teeth worn by the years. "Fresh air, huh?"
Steve sat on the stone ledge next to the old man, letting out a light sigh.
"You seem to have gone through a lot in your life," Steve remarked, observing the old man with curiosity.
The old man nodded slowly. "That's true. Life has its ways of surprising us, of guiding us to places we never imagined we'd go. But as they say these days, it's not the destination that matters; it's the journey to get there."
"And what if the journey is already laid out? What if someone dictates your path?"
"Well, everyone dictates to you in one way or another what to do. Whether it's your parents, your surroundings, or even the little voice in your head..."
When Steve heard that, he briefly thought the man was talking about the system. But before his thoughts could go too far, the old man continued.
"But it's you who chooses whether you want to continue living the way others prescribe, or if you want to forge your own path," the old man said with an intense look. "That's where true courage lies, in the decision to forge your own path, no matter how challenging or different it may be from what others expect of you."
The man continued to speak without giving Steve a chance to respond.
"That's the key, my young friend. True wealth lies in the satisfaction of the soul, in waking up every day with a smile, no matter the external circumstances. In fact, I remember an ancient story, one in which a wise philosopher told Alexander the Great that if he had the entire universe at his disposal, he would only ask for a little more sunlight."
After a long moment of silence and reflection, Steve finally spoke.
"But real life isn't like that. We're bound by certain laws and rules. With all due respect, I don't want to end up on the streets like you."
The old man burst into laughter, his voice becoming hysterical.
"You're wrong, my friend," the old man laughed. "The truth of the entire universe is only accessible by breaking the laws."
Upon hearing this simple yet profound revelation, something deep within Steve seemed to trigger.