The dream was cold and silent.
Amil walked on the barren surface of the moon, naked, his feet touching the coarse lunar ground without a sound. Above him, stars twinkled in the black void of space, distant and indifferent. His head turned, and his gaze fell upon the Earth.
It was almost unrecognizable.
The oceans, once vast and blue, had nearly dried up, leaving scars of cracked land in their wake. A planet gasping for breath, slowly dying. The sight felt distant, almost dreamlike, but it tugged at something deep within. Amil didn't know why.
Without understanding, his eyelids slowly shut, and darkness swallowed him whole.
Suddenly, he woke.
Amil's eyes snapped open. The dream dissolved into the reality of cold metal beneath him. He lay on the steel bed, staring at the ceiling of the dimly lit room. Slowly, he raised a hand to his head, touching his smooth metallic skull, and a low groan escaped him. "What was that?" he murmured, his voice flat, devoid of any emotion.
He sat up, looking around the small room. His movements were stiff, foreign, as if he wasn't fully connected to the body he inhabited. Across the room, a mirror caught his eye. He rose to his feet, his bare metal body reflecting the harsh light as he walked toward the mirror.
Amil stood before the glass, staring at the reflection of a stranger. His white hair fell softly over his metallic skin, his eyes void of feeling, but filled with questions. He reached out, pressing his hand against the surface of the mirror, the cold reflection staring back.
"Who am I?" he whispered to the figure in the glass, his voice hollow.
Suddenly, the wall behind him opened with a soft hiss, and the professor rushed into the room, followed closely by Dumal. The professor's face broke into tears as he hurried toward Amil, his voice trembling with emotion. "Finally... my child, you're alive!"
Amil turned his head slowly, his expression unchanged. "What's my name?" he asked, his tone neutral, almost mechanical.
The professor wiped his eyes, smiling through the tears. "Your name is Amil, my child. You are the one who carries hope, who will restore the world to what it once was." His words were filled with belief, with purpose.
Amil's gaze drifted back to the mirror, his reflection staring into his empty eyes. "Amil..." he repeated, as if trying to make sense of the name, but it felt distant, foreign.
Dumal, standing at the entrance, crossed his arms and muttered, "We don't have time for this, Professor. We must leave. Quickly."
The professor sighed and nodded. "Yes, yes... let me get something for Amil first." He hurried to the other side of the room, gathering a set of clothes. He brought them to Amil: black pants, a black shirt, black boots, and a white scarf. "Put these on, child," he said, his voice soft as he handed them over. "And remember to follow Dumal's orders. Trust him."
Amil dressed in silence, sliding the soft fabric over his cold, metallic body. As he wrapped the white scarf around his neck, he turned to face Dumal. "Where are we headed?" he asked, his voice as empty as ever.
"We're going to find Neato," Dumal replied, already heading toward the exit.
"Why?" Amil asked, his steps slow and uncertain as he followed.
"There's no time to explain right now," the professor interjected. "Go with Dumal. He will tell you on the way." His voice was urgent, but laced with trust.
Amil looked back once more at the professor, who stood with pride and worry in his eyes. He didn't understand, but he obeyed. Dumal led him out into the desolate world once more. The sun was setting, casting a long shadow behind them. The air was dry, the silence suffocating.
As they walked through the endless desert, Amil glanced at Dumal. "Do you know where this Neato is?"
"No," Dumal replied, his voice firm. "That's why we will search."
Amil turned his gaze forward, watching as the sun sank below the horizon, leaving nothing but darkness. He said nothing more and continued walking, the world around them vast, lonely, and unknown.
END OF CHAPTER 61