15 years ago…

The 36th century had come, and the world was in chaos. Our previous leader, a human, died due to an unknown cause, but we humans knew it was all the AI's doing. Since then, the AI leader, Heath, had risen as the successor. Heath was the co-leader of LuxNox, our planet, and the representative of the AI community. He fought for AI rights and was the one who first established the Equality Act of AI and Humans, allowing equal treatment and testimony for both under the constitution. Many AI and humans looked up to him; he was a role model, an icon, and a great example for future generations of both humans and AI.

Humans were far too smart to create something that would later turn against them. The inconvenience of providing constant energy sources to these robots led to their development to consume living things such as meat and vegetables. As AI technology advanced, we humans decided to let the AI community coexist with us, but on one condition: all AI had to obey human commands and were considered lower-class than humans. Heath was an exceptional robot. It was almost as if he was human due to his fast-learning ability. That's why he became the first AI leader in history.

However, chaos ensued soon after his succession, revealing Heath's true intentions. To secure his position, he ensured that wealthy humans were treated well, while poorer humans were left to suffer through the horrendous massacre that occurred in the year 3505. As a result of this event, many humans settled outside of Eden, creating a nation of their own.

Now, LuxNox was divided into three nations: the Human Zone, the AI Zone, and the Land of Peace, Eden. Although they were all connected, it had become the norm for humans and AI to avoid crossing into each other's territories. Anyone who stepped into the wrong zone disappeared without a trace. The Land of Peace, however, was a nation where both humans and AI coexisted.

Back to the present… (Year 3518, December 21st)

「To my brother Mark,

Hi Mark, it's Mir. If you're reading this, I'll probably be with mother by then.

Today is a really cold day. It's been almost five years since we fled from our hometown. I miss our home in Eden so much. Our house, the neighborhood, the streets, the library, and mother's grave... Since we fled and moved here, I haven't been able to visit her grave, which I used to go to every day. It's killing me. The warmth I felt from her is now completely gone.

Since we moved here, nothing has gone right, has it? The environment is harsh, father's business isn't doing well, and now even the biker gangs are starting to roam around our neighborhood... Whenever we try to hold onto something, people beg or rob us... So I've tried hard to pay them back for what they've done to us, but it's not as easy as I thought.

I have nothing left. Mark, I'm going to mother now... I feel like I've lost the meaning of life.

Mark, please don't resent me too much. Tell father that I've gone to a better place.

I'm sorry. Love you.

Mir」

After finishing the letter, Mir placed it inside Mark's journal, hoping to find it after he was gone from this world.

Winter in the Human Zone was especially deadly due to the yearly snowstorm.

It was an incredibly cold day. Mir approached a lake that was as cold as ice, surrounded by ruins. "I'm so tired of this life… I'd rather just die…" Taking out his last pack of cigarettes, he was spending his final moments. "This wretched world…" Just as the cigarette smoke rose and disappeared, he wanted to vanish from this world like that. 'Money, hope, dreams… When was the last time I even thought of such luxuries?' he wondered. At that moment, fluffy snowflakes started to fall from the sky. "Snowflakes look so bright and clear, but the life this world has given me is dark and filthy." He watched as the last cigarette burned out and threw the remaining into the cold lake. As it sank, he stepped into the ice-cold water one step at a time.

As Mir stepped into the lake, the icy-cold water felt like he was being pricked by needles from all directions. Tears started rolling down his cheeks, which made him have second thoughts about this. But it was too late.

"Ah, help!! Ah, it hurts.." Even though he knew no one was around, he kept shouting. Realizing that he was starting to lose sensation in his legs, he began to cry in despair. "Why do I even fail at dying.." He sobbed bitterly as he looked up at the sky. At that moment, someone spoke from behind. "What are you doing here?" When he turned around, there was a man standing there. Mir wiped his tears off to see the silhouette clearly. A blonde, wavy-haired guy, with diamond-blue eyes, who looked like a high school student was standing there. "Please help me. I can't feel my legs." asked Mir for help with desperation. The boy quickly pulled him out of the cold water. "Thank you…" said Mir. "No problem, sir." The boy smiled. His smile was bright as

sunshine, even in this dark, cold place. "My name is Leo. Nice to meet you." Leo introduced himself with another warm smile. Mir responded hesitantly. "Oh.. My name is Mir."

"You should know that this lake gets very cold during this time around here. Why were you in there?" asked Leo out of curiosity. Mir stood there silently, not knowing what to say. He suddenly felt embarrassed that he had to ask a boy to pull him out of water that wasn't even deep enough for him to drown. "Umm…" Mir couldn't respond immediately. "You don't have to answer. I'm sure you had your reasons for being in there. I come here often myself when I have a lot on my mind." When Leo answered, Mir looked at him. Despite smiling, his diamond-like eyes looked sad. "Haha, did I say something unnecessary? Let's just go—" "To die…" Mir interrupted. Leo looked at him with surprised eyes. "I went in because life is wretched, and I wanted to die… but I guess I can't give up this damned life."

The cold lake reflected the moonlight, creating a truly radiant and beautiful glow. "The moon always shines in the darkness. Isn't that life? No matter how wretched and dirty it is, there's always something in our lives that shines like the moon and keeps us from letting go," Leo said. "Maybe…" Mir sighed as he replied. They looked at each other and made a promise. Just for today, let's live. And when dark days come in life, let's remember the beautiful moonlight in our lives and keep going.

And this is how the two, who would change the fate of this planet, met.