In the quiet hospital ward, sterile lights cast a soft glow on the figure lying in bed, his body still as though lost in a deep, dreamless sleep. A doctor, wearing an expression of concern and curiosity, glanced at the police officer standing beside him.
"The child… he's in terrible shape," the doctor said quietly. "So injured, malnourished… it's a miracle he even survived the fall. Where did you find him?"
The police officer scratched his head, looking slightly uneasy. "We're still piecing things together ourselves. According to witnesses, the boy fell from the fifth floor of a building in a run-down part of town. No identification, no guardian's contact number registered in his smartbrain. Nothing. It's like he's… lost."
The doctor frowned, watching the boy's still face. "Nothing at all? No contacts? No trace of family?"
"Not a single one," the officer replied. "And we don't know how long he's been out there on his own."
The doctor sighed, glancing at the boy again. Just then, he noticed a slight movement, a flicker in the boy's eyelids. He stepped closer, and with a soft moan, the boy's eyes fluttered open. Beautiful lavender eyes, like liquid amethyst, stared up at him, framed by long, pale purple hair that spilled across the pillow. His chapped lips parted slightly, and he blinked, his gaze moving slowly around the room.
"You're awake…" the doctor murmured, gentle concern in his voice. "How are you feeling?"
The boy looked at him, his expression unreadable. He took in the surroundings with quiet, almost detached curiosity. The hospital room was filled with advanced medical technology—monitors displaying his vital signs in a holographic display, a sleek, automated assistant by his bedside that seemed to respond to his every movement, and a sterile white ceiling illuminated by ambient lighting that adjusted based on his eye position.
After a moment, the boy's gaze returned to the doctor. "How much… would this stay cost me?" His voice was quiet, but each word came out with an air of weary self-possession.
The doctor exchanged a brief, surprised look with the officer. He had not expected such a question from someone so young and in such dire condition.
The police officer cleared his throat, stepping forward. "Don't worry about the bill. I've taken care of it for now. You just focus on resting, okay?"
The boy looked at him for a long moment before nodding, his lavender eyes gleaming faintly under the lights. He seemed to study both the doctor and the officer as if weighing their intentions.
The doctor spoke again, his tone soft. "Do you… remember anything? Maybe where you're from? Or what happened before you fell?"
The boy tilted his head, giving a small, thoughtful frown. "Remember what, exactly?" His tone was curious, almost innocent, but there was something unsettling in the way he asked, as though memories themselves were a distant concept.
The officer and doctor exchanged another silent look. The officer cleared his throat again and leaned closer. "Can you at least tell us your name?"
The boy blinked slowly, as if contemplating his answer. "Kim Byulhwa," he said finally, the name falling from his lips like an assertion, a simple truth.
The doctor's brows furrowed in concern, and he pressed further. "And your age, Kim Byulhwa?"
"Twenty-four," he answered, meeting the doctor's eyes without hesitation.
The officer let out a quiet sigh, one of pity mixed with bewilderment. He shook his head slowly, as if in disappointment.
"I'm afraid… Kim Byulhwa isn't your real name," the officer said gently. "Your real name is Arc Weon. And according to records, you're only twenty years old."
The boy's expression remained unchanged, calm and unbothered. After a moment, he nodded slowly, as if mulling over this information.
"That may be," he replied softly, "but now my name is Kim Byulhwa."
The doctor pursed his lips, casting a quick look of concern at the officer. "This boy… he may have some head injuries affecting his memory. He needs rest, and we'll need to conduct some more tests to be sure of his mental state."
The police officer gave a nod, his expression still troubled. "But… is he really okay? Do you think he remembers anything at all?"
The doctor placed a comforting hand on the officer's shoulder. "Physically, he's stable. But mentally… we'll need to evaluate him further to know for sure. For now, he just needs peace and nourishment."
At that moment, the boy's gaze shifted around the room, as if searching for something. He finally turned back to the officer and asked, "Do you have… something to eat?"
The officer hesitated, nodding to one of the automated assistants in the corner. It responded immediately, producing a small bottle filled with a nutrient-rich liquid, designed for patients in recovery. The officer handed it over, watching as the boy eyed it curiously, lifting it to his lips.
The boy took a sip, only to stop abruptly, his face contorting in disgust. He spat out the liquid, his gaze narrowing suspiciously as he looked back at the officer.
"Are you trying to poison me?" he asked, his voice calm but with a chilling intensity, as if the idea weren't far-fetched in the least.
The doctor and officer exchanged another look, both trying to suppress the growing concern in their expressions. It was becoming more and more evident that this young man might be deeply troubled.
The officer cleared his throat. "No one's trying to poison you. It's just a nutritional supplement—meant to help your body recover. You can't handle regular food just yet."
The boy watched them with a wary gaze, his demeanor unreadable. He placed the bottle back on the tray beside him, clearly uninterested in any more attempts to feed him.
The doctor, feeling a deep pang of sympathy, knelt by the bedside to look him directly in the eyes. "Arc—Kim Byulhwa," he corrected himself with a soft smile, "You've been through a lot. But we're here to help you. We're not your enemies."
Kim Byulhwa tilted his head, his lavender eyes meeting the doctor's with quiet curiosity. "Help me?" he echoed, as if tasting the words, trying to understand their meaning. A faint, amused smile touched his lips. "I see. Then… I will try to… rest."
The officer gave a small, reluctant smile. "Good. We'll be back to check on you in a while. Try to get some sleep. And if you remember anything about… what happened, let us know."
Kim Byulhwa nodded, his gaze drifting off as if he were already pulling himself back into his private world, away from their concerned eyes and away from whatever they thought they knew about him.
As they turned to leave, the officer whispered to the doctor, "Are you sure he's okay? I mean… he seems so strange, so detached…"
The doctor glanced back at the boy, his expression softening with worry. "There's something about him—like he's hiding a part of himself even from himself. But physically, he's stable. We'll get to the bottom of it."
But as they left, Kim Byulhwa's eyes opened again, a sly smile playing on his lips. His mind was sharp and clear, his senses awake and tingling. Whatever story these people believed about him—about this 'Arc Weon'—it no longer mattered.
The hospital room was silent, with only the quiet hum of machines filling the space as Kim Byulhwa carefully pushed himself up from the bed. His body felt weak but somehow lighter than he remembered, as though something fundamental about himself had changed. He took a tentative step forward, noticing the stiffness in his limbs, but his curiosity soon overpowered any discomfort.
Directly across the room was a floor-to-ceiling window. As he approached it, he caught sight of his reflection in the sleek, polished glass and paused, whistling under his breath. The figure staring back at him was nothing short of extraordinary. His pale lavender hair fell in soft waves past his shoulders, framing a face so delicately ethereal that it seemed almost unreal. His lavender eyes held an unusual depth, sharp and intense, a striking contrast to his ghostly pale skin.
"Ah… too beautiful," he murmured, raising a hand to his cheek, almost as if testing whether the reflection was truly his. "Illegal, really. This should be illegal."
He gave himself a shy, half-smile, then sighed dramatically, as if his beauty were a burden he had to bear with grace. Chuckling softly at his own antics, he cast a final glance at his reflection before turning his attention to the rest of the room.
As he glanced around, his gaze landed on a series of gadgets scattered around him. They were embedded into the walls, sitting on surfaces, or hovering slightly off the ground, each one silent yet humming with a life of its own. Driven by curiosity, he began touching them one by one, feeling an odd sense of satisfaction as some flickered to life with his touch, while others projected holograms, lighting up the room with displays of symbols and images.
"Now, what are all these?" he wondered aloud, pressing a round button on a nearby panel. Instantly, a holographic display appeared, showing his vital signs along with a series of readings he couldn't quite understand.
"Advanced, aren't we?" he mused with a smirk, scanning each hologram. "How amusing…"
Suddenly, he felt a slight tug on his left wrist, realizing for the first time that he was wearing a sleek, metallic watch-like device. Remembering what the doctor had mentioned, he mumbled, "Smartbrain, was it?"
He tapped the device out of sheer curiosity, and immediately a holographic interface projected before him. The screen was covered in icons, various functions glowing at his fingertips, each waiting for his command. Intrigued, he started exploring, swiping through various screens until he found one marked "World Info." He touched it, and the screen began displaying information, text and images flashing before his eyes.
Kim Byulhwa's eyes widened as he read, piecing together the reality he'd found himself in. It was a high-tech, interstellar world—a place where humans had evolved past the limitations of simple physical form. The text explained that nearly all humans in this world had awakened what they called "Mental Powers," abilities that allowed them to manipulate their surroundings or harness powers unique to their personalities. But there was something even more captivating: a concept known as "Genosis Beasts."
"A Genosis Beast…" he murmured, intrigued as he read further. These mystical creatures were considered to be rare, powerful beings that connected deeply with a person's soul. If someone awakened a Genosis Beast, it would bond with them, not only granting them an amplified version of their mental powers but also transforming their abilities to mirror their beast's characteristics. Some people would grow stronger or faster, while others could wield abilities related to the elements, energy, or perception.
But there was a catch. Not everyone was blessed with a Genosis Beast. Those who awakened only Mental Powers without a Genosis Beast could not fully use them—they were, in a sense, limited. Only individuals bonded with these beasts could unlock their powers' true potential and achieve what others could only dream of.
Byulhwa took a deep breath, processing the incredible new reality he was facing. "So, I'm in a world where superpowers are normal… but only if I have one of these Genosis Beasts? Fascinating."
His gaze drifted back to his reflection in the window, an odd smile spreading across his face. He wondered what kind of abilities he might possess here—if any. Was there a beast that would bond with someone like him?
As he was lost in thought, he tapped on the smartbrain again, bringing up the settings. A list of personal information flashed on the screen. Most of it was blank or redacted, except for a few details: Name: Arc Weon, Age: 20, Status: Under Observation. He raised an eyebrow, chuckling softly.
"So, Arc Weon, is it?" he said to himself, amused. "Sorry, but Kim Byulhwa has a much nicer ring to it, don't you think?"
He continued to swipe through the various apps and icons, learning about the advancements this society had made in technology, space travel, and communication. Everything seemed to be interconnected by something called the Galactic Network, a massive information web that connected all interstellar colonies, cities, and ships.
"Interstellar…" he repeated, almost reverently. "Looks like we've come a long way from little blue planets."
As he pondered his newfound knowledge, he noticed a small icon blinking persistently in the corner of the screen. When he tapped it, a voice recording began to play—a monotone female voice with a cool, mechanical tone.
"Patient Arc Weon, file incomplete. Updating status: Memory irregularities detected. Observation recommended. Rest is advised."
He smirked, leaning back on the bed and folding his hands behind his head. "So they think I'm sick, do they? Memory issues?" he chuckled. "Well, they aren't wrong… in a way."
Just as he was about to close the display, the door to his room slid open, and the doctor entered with a nurse beside him. They looked relieved to see him up and about, though there was a note of apprehension in the doctor's expression.
"Good to see you on your feet, Arc—sorry, Kim Byulhwa," the doctor said, correcting himself with a gentle smile. "How are you finding things here?"
Byulhwa shrugged, waving his hand dismissively. "Comfortable enough, I suppose. But, doctor," he added, tilting his head, "when exactly can I leave?"
The doctor's face grew serious. "We need to run a few more tests before releasing you. Your condition is stable, but given what happened… we'd like to ensure there are no lasting injuries or complications."
Byulhwa nodded slowly, as though he understood, though he felt far more at ease than they likely expected him to be. "Of course," he said, an amused glint in his eyes. "But don't take too long. I'm not exactly fond of hospitals."
The doctor chuckled. "We'll try our best. And if you remember anything—anything at all—please let us know. It might help us understand your condition."
Byulhwa tilted his head thoughtfully. "I'll let you know, doctor… though I can't promise you'll like what I have to say."
The doctor gave a small smile, watching him with that same look of sympathy that made Byulhwa feel almost amused. But he held his gaze politely, wondering if they truly thought him a helpless, lost boy.
The nurse entered just then, holding another nutrient drink. She handed it to Byulhwa, giving him an encouraging nod. "Here, this will help you regain some strength."
Byulhwa accepted the drink, casting a glance at the doctor and nurse before cautiously taking a sip. The taste was bitter, synthetic—nothing like real food. He cringed and, with a barely concealed grimace, swallowed it down, giving the doctor a sidelong look.
"Next time, can we try something a bit more… appetizing?"
The doctor chuckled, nodding. "We'll see what we can do."
As they left the room, Byulhwa settled back into his bed, his mind spinning with thoughts of the strange, futuristic world he'd woken up in. The stars beyond the hospital window twinkled, distant but beckoning.
"Genosis Beasts… mental powers… a high-tech galaxy…" he murmured to himself, his lavender eyes shining with a newfound excitement. "Looks like I have a lot to explore."