~ Terestia, Vakora, 232 ~Aiko wakes to the faint sound of birdsong, their soft melodies blending with the muted hum of voices and footsteps outside, causing her eyelids to flutter open. Disoriented, she sits up in bed and freezes, her gaze locking onto a sleeping boy—dark-skinned, with striking white hair—slouched in a wooden chair at the foot of her bed. She pulls her gaze from the boy and scans the room, her senses starting to come alive. The walls are a pale, soft blue, almost calming. The wooden floor creaks as she shifts her weight, the faint scent of pine lingering in the air. There's a small table beside her bed, its surface bare except for a flickering lamp casting a soft, golden glow over the room. She puts out the lamp and then notices a window nearby. Aiko glances out of the window, and her breath catches. Outside, people in flowing robes walk along cobblestone streets, their clothes reminiscent of something ancient—like they've stepped out of a history book on ancient Greece. Sunlight pours down, illuminating the streets in a soft, hazy warmth."You're finally awake." The sudden voice breaks the stillness.Aiko flinches and whirls around, her heart pounding. She immediately notices the boy in the chair's golden eyes calmly staring at her.For a moment, Aiko's mind blanks. She blinks rapidly, then stammers, "D-Do I know you?"The boy smiles. "You do, actually. I'm using an avatar to look like someone else. In the real world, you know me as Katai. But here, in Vakora, I can be anyone—or anything.""Is that so..." Aiko gasps softly, her fingers brushing her own face as if to confirm it's still hers. Her arms tremble as she looks down at her hands, expecting to feel... different."Don't worry," Katai says, stepping back a little. "I didn't give you an avatar because I couldn't find one that suited you. But if you want one—""It's fine." She cuts him off, shaking her head slowly. "I just... need a moment. To clear my head.""Alright, take your time—"Before Katai can finish, a holographic figure bursts into view—Keiko's upper body flickers into existence, hovering just in front of Aiko. Keiko adjusts her glasses and leans forward, grinning wildly. "YOU'RE AWAKE!" she exclaims.Aiko yelps, throwing her head back and raising her arms defensively. "WAA- K-Keiko?!""Oops, didn't mean to scare you!" Keiko chuckles, pulling back slightly. "It's your first time in Vakora, right? It's a lot to take in.""Keiko," Katai interrupts, "could you maybe wear a suit so Aiko can see your whole body?""Right! I'll be back in a sec!" Keiko's hologram gives a quick wave before vanishing in a flicker of light.Aiko exhales slowly, placing a hand on her chest to steady her racing heart. "This... this feels like a dream. What just happened?""We've entered Vakora," Katai explains, "a virtual world created using a shard of Genesis.""Virtual?" Aiko frowns, looking around in disbelief. "None of this feels virtual. It feels... real.""That's because it is," Katai replies. "Just like New Pangaea, Genesis can create anything from nothing. Think of Vakora as another New Pangaea—on a planetary scale, only it's inside a computer.""Planetary?" Aiko's voice trails off as she jumps out of bed. Rushing to the window, she flings it open and leans out, her breath catching. The scene before her is otherworldly—towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, floating islands scattered across the sky, and a bustling city spread below beneath a luminous blue sky that feels as tangible as the breeze caressing her face. Her eyes widen, mouth slightly open, as she takes it all in, like a child seeing magic for the first time."Beautiful, isn't it?" a holographic Keiko chimes in, arms folded, hovering beside Aiko outside the window."Yeah..." Aiko whispers, still lost in awe. After a moment, she turns her attention to Keiko's hologram, blinking as her brain catches up. "Wait, Keiko, can anyone else see you?""Nope! Just you and Katai," Keiko says with a grin. Katai moves closer, standing beside Aiko now."The people here," Katai says, gesturing out to the bustling city below, "can think and feel for themselves. Genesis allowed me to create life."Aiko spins to face him, eyes wide. "Wait... You can create life? Like, real life? If you can do that..."Katai's expression darkens slightly. "I couldn't bring life back. I tried with animals—bringing them back to life in Vakora—but it didn't work. All I could make was a clone. Ninety-percent accurate, maybe, but still... a clone." His voice grows more sombre, a frustration creeping in. "No matter how much I tried, I couldn't get past that threshold. Something, or someone, was stopping it."Aiko's face softens, her curiosity replaced by concern. "But ninety-percent... Isn't that close enough?""It's not," Katai says, shaking his head. "A clone is just a shadow. It starts with someone else's memories and experiences, but as it lives and learns, it drifts further away from the original. Its soul is... different. Coded differently. And over time, it becomes something else entirely."Aiko's gaze drops, a realization dawning on her. "Did you try to bring your mother back?"Katai falls silent, his eyes flicking to the floor. A long pause hangs between them."...No," he finally admits, his voice quiet, almost defeated. "It felt... pointless even trying."Aiko frowns slightly, her tone flat as she mutters, "I see..."Katai sighs softly, giving her a brief glance before turning toward the bedroom door. "Anyway," he says, forcing a lighter tone, "let's give you a quick tour. Keiko and I can show you around." Without waiting for a response, he steps out of the room, and Aiko quickly follows.As they exit the small building, the bright sunlight washes over them. Katai squints, shielding his eyes from the glare. "We're in Terestia," he says, gesturing broadly, "the only country in Vakora."Aiko gazes around in awe at the bustling city, its towering structures and intricate designs catching her eye. "Did you build all of this?" she asks, still amazed.Katai shakes his head. "No. Everything here was built by the people who live here."Aiko's brow furrows as she continues taking in the expansive city. "A place this big... It must've taken years to build! Time here must not flow the same as in the real world, right?"Before Katai can answer, Keiko materializes beside Aiko, making her jump slightly. "Correct!" Keiko says with a grin. "We can adjust the flow of time however we want. Right now, though, Vakora is synced with real-world time.""How does that even work?" Aiko asks, her curiosity piqued."Genesis," Keiko begins, "allows us to send signals to and from Vakora. It reads brain waves and converts them into actions here. It's like giving Genesis instructions directly from your mind."Aiko tilts her head slightly. "That's... simpler than I expected, but..." She turns her gaze to Katai. "How does Genesis even understand our thoughts?"Katai halts, his expression darkening. "That's the unsettling part," he says quietly. "When we first tested it, Genesis read our thoughts with nearly one hundred-percent accuracy. Right from the start."Aiko's eyes widen. "That's something even New Pangaea's scientists haven't fully cracked... Unless..."Katai nods knowingly. "They might've already. And if they have, they're probably keeping it secret to avoid... unforeseen consequences."Aiko crosses her arms, a small shiver running down her spine. "Thought so."Katai continues, "The fact that Genesis understands us makes everything much easier. And thanks to that..." He gestures dramatically, pointing his arm forward and opening his palm wide. "We were able to create—"Suddenly, a loud crash erupts from a nearby building, drawing the attention of everyone around. Aiko narrows her eyes and asks, "Was that an explosion?"Without hesitation, Katai breaks into a sprint, darting past Keiko and Aiko. They quickly follow him, skidding to a stop at a ruined building, a large cloud of dust billowing outwards. "Keiko!" Katai calls out, urgency lacing his voice. He begins to push his way through the cloud, Aiko close behind him."On it!" Keiko replies, hovering above them. She extends her right palm downward, squinting her eyes in concentration. White particles gather before her palm, swirling and coalescing into a glowing ball the size of a basketball. With a sudden burst of energy, she sends it plummeting toward the dust cloud. Upon contact, the ball bursts, dispersing the dust and revealing the chaos inside.Aiko gasps, her heart racing. "What was that?!"Keiko sighs in relief as she lands beside Aiko. "I was saving that for later, but I guess now is a good time," Katai says, raising his right palm toward a boy with an oddly shaped halo and white hair, who lies amidst the rubble. Katai addresses him, a hint of sarcasm in his tone, "Hey."Startled, the boy quickly stands, raising his arms defensively. "Wait! P-Please! I'm a Seraph!"Katai frowns, crossing his arms. "Why's a Seraph crashing into a building? You're lucky there wasn't anyone inside."The boy's eyes widen. "I'm very s-sorry!" He drops to his knees before Katai, his voice trembling. "I'll fix this right away!"Katai gestures for him to stand. "No need. Just step aside." The young Seraph scrambles to his feet, moving beside a bewildered Aiko.A white ball of light materializes in Katai's palm, pulsating with energy. It expands, morphing into an old-fashioned clock face. As the hands move counterclockwise, the wreckage of the building begins to reconstruct itself at the same pace.Aiko squints, realization dawning on her. "Are you reversing time on that house?"Keiko floats down to stand next to Aiko, her expression animated. "Yep! Just like he said before, we're commanding Genesis with our minds!""Are you two the only ones who can do this?""Nope! Everyone in Vakora can issue commands! We just have higher authority. Humans, other races, and even animals can use it on a basic level, but they don't reach the proficiency of Seraphs. They're designed to be more skilled than humans. If Katai or I aren't around during a crisis, the Seraphs step in. Whether it's saving the world from destruction or curing diseases, they can handle almost everything we can.""I see... I was going to ask what a Seraph is, but I guess that answers my question." Aiko glances at Katai and then asks, "What do you call this, then?""To us, they're 'Commands,' but to anyone in Vakora, it's 'Magic,'" Katai replies as the clock face dissipates into tiny particles that fade away. He retracts his arm and leans slightly closer to Aiko. "You wanna give it a try?"Aiko stares blankly at him, trying to gather her thoughts, but she's interrupted when the young Seraph boy steps in front of her, blocking Katai's view. "I'll never do that again! I didn't mean to crash into the house!"Katai leans back, raising his arms in mock surrender. "Alright, alright! Let me breathe!"The Seraph steps back, visibly relieved. Katai adjusts himself and asks, "Did you have anything important to say, or did you just come to greet me?""J-Just to greet you! I can leave if you want—""No, stay here. Let my friend observe you.""Your friend?" The Seraph turns slowly to face Aiko, who stands with her arms folded. He jumps back, bows deeply, and exclaims, "N-Nice to meet you! My name is Ezekiel!"Aiko offers a small, awkward smile and extends her hand. "Um... Hi! There's no need to be nervous!"Ezekiel looks at her hand hesitantly before shaking it. "Katai," Aiko inquires, "Are all Seraphs like this?"Katai chuckles. "No, that's just him. Every Seraph is unique; they all have different personalities and appearances. After all, they were once human.""What?" Aiko turns to Katai, surprised. "Humans can become Seraphs?""Yes," Katai confirms. "Either through death or ascension."Keiko adds, "It's not guaranteed that a person becomes a Seraph after they pass on. It all depends on how they live their life, and no one knows exactly what it takes to ascend; it just... happens.""Do you know the conditions?" Aiko asks."Yes, we created the Seraphs after all. In their eyes, we're their masters," Katai answers."That explains the greeting..." Aiko muses, glancing at Ezekiel, who is still standing by with wide eyes."This is my life's work. I've accounted for every possible outcome. For instance, if an uninvited guest somehow ends up in Vakora, the Seraphs will deal with them accordingly.""Do they die?""Well, yeah.""Just in Vakora? Don't they get brought back or something?"Katai's tone shifts to serious. "No. If you die here, you die in real life. This isn't a game; you're essentially transporting yourself to another world—an Isekai, if you will."Aiko's expression darkens, and worry fills her eyes. "That's possible? Katai—"Suddenly, Katai looks up at the sky and calls out, "Keiko, what's coming into the atmosphere?"Keiko's hologram flickers to life, glancing at a few screens before zipping into the sky. "It's Johan!""...Who?" Aiko asks, confused. Katai raises an eyebrow, mildly surprised. "Johan! Remember him?""Johan...?" Aiko taps her chin, lost in thought. She begins to pace, muttering, "Johan" to herself."Our best friend? Part of the 'Neo Trio'?""Oh! Johan!" Aiko's eyes light up as she straightens, a bright yet mischievous smile creeping onto her face. She turns to Katai, moving closer with excitement. "You guys kept in touch?! And you didn't tell me?!""You were hard to reach!""I was hard to reach?!" Aiko retorts, crossing her arms. "You're the one in an abandoned warehouse in the middle of nowhere!"Katai raises his hands defensively, pleading, "Listen, I hear you. I'm sorry."Aiko steps back, folding her arms, a pout forming on her lips as she glances away. "Hmph. I'll admit, I'm partly to blame too. As a teacher, you don't get many breaks." She shudders, adding, "And respect? Forget it! These kids know nothing, yet they always manage to get on my last nerve—""Wait—slow down. You don't like being a teacher?""Yes! I hate it!" she snaps."Wasn't that your dream?"Aiko sighs, her frustration evident. "Yes, and it still is, but I won't pretend it's sunshine and rainbows for me.""I'm just relieved to hear you're doing what you love—spreading knowledge and teaching kids.""Mostly the 'spreading knowledge' part." Another sigh escapes her lips. "I'd teach at a university, but then I'd just get hit on every forty minutes.""That's an oddly specific number.""It's half the time between each time I get hit on now. You'd think all the other teachers would be married, and they are, but you'd be surprised how unfaithful some can be.""That sounds... annoying.""Yeah, I left recently and I'm looking for another school to teach at.""You became a teacher?" A voice comes from behind them, drawing everyone's attention. Tension lifts momentarily.Katai blinks. "Johan! When did you get here?""Just now. I walked through a gate and fell into Vakora." Aiko stops pouting and turns to Katai. "Gate?" she asks."That door-shaped thing we passed through to enter Vakora. We call it a gate because there can only be one open at a time," he explains. Johan surveys his surroundings before asking, "Anything new in Vakora today?""Nope. I was just giving Aiko here a tour.""Aiko?" Johan raises an eyebrow."Hi!" Aiko waves, a smile breaking through her earlier frustration. "Remember me?""Oh! Y-Yeah, I remember you!" Johan chuckles, a hint of nervousness in his voice. "It's good to see you after so long! How's life—"Aiko marches toward him, stopping just before Johan and placing her hands on her hips as she leans in. "Don't give me that crap! Why did you two keep in contact and ghost me?!""It's pretty complicated! It was hard to reach you, so we kinda just...""Gave up? Hmm?""...I'd phrase it differently," Johan stammers, glancing away."I can't believe you two!" Aiko steps back, her arms dropping to her sides. "Hiding away in a little warehouse and forgetting about your dear friend who's been fighting for her life!""Aiko, we're truly sorry," Katai says, trying to diffuse the tension."Save your apologies for later!""Uh..." Katai scratches his head, hesitating. "Anyways, I'm showing you all of this because... I can't help you."Aiko's demeanour shifts abruptly. "What?""I can support you, but I can't get directly involved. If my dad and his company catch wind of my project, the world is doomed.""But...""I'm sorry, Aiko. My decision is final. Now, let's continue the tour."Aiko's shoulders slump, but she follows Katai in silence. As they walk, she turns to Johan. "So, what've you been doing with Katai the past few years?""Since I'm not a genius like you guys, I've just been helping with tests.""So, you're like his guinea pig?""I mean..." Johan chuckles sheepishly. "That's one way to put it. I don't need to know the details; I can jump into any test whenever you guys need me.""I see. Did you come for a test today?""Yeah, but I'm not sure what I'm doing yet." Johan shrugs as they walk. Katai halts suddenly and says, "Actually—"He's interrupted as Keiko appears beside him, her expression frantic. "There's an emergency!""W-What? What is it?!""Something dangerous is headed into the atmosphere! It's falling southeast from your position!""What do you mean by 'something dangerous'?""I looked into where it came from, and I found nothing.""Nothing..." Katai's expression hardens as he turns around. "Let's hurry."