[System Notification]
Congratulations, Player. You have been chosen for the Ascension Hero Game. Do you accept?
Yes or no
'Huh?...What's this?' The thought echoed in Evan's mind.
'I've been chosen? 'Ascension Hero Game?' Is this some kind of awakening, like the sentinels?...does this mean, I dont have to die?'
'I never should have let myself be tricked so easily. So this is the worst that could have happened. I guess I don't have a choice anymore.'
***
The city of Maddenport stood like a sleeping giant under the setting sun, its silhouette a jagged black line against the orange-pink sky. The world around it was a maelstrom, a chaotic tangle of lives all pushing, shoving, trying to carve their place in the madness.
Amidst it all, Evan Lawler, a handsome young man with striking white hair which matched his beautiful blue eyes lived in the quiet. Or perhaps, as he often thought, the quiet lived in him.
His days blurred into one another, seamless and unremarkable. They began in the same way, within the warm, dimly lit walls of Nebula. The coffee shop was a strange little sanctuary, a pocket of calm in the otherwise roiling chaos of Maddenport.
It was tucked between two towering office buildings, the kind that seemed to scrape the very sky with their cold, glass fingers. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of freshly brewed coffee, cinnamon buns just pulled from the oven, and the soft hum of idle conversation. For most of the day, it was a haven. But for Evan, it was a cage.
Evan was a man without purpose—or at least, that was how it felt. His fingers moved deftly over the counter, wiping away unseen crumbs, his eyes flicking over the occasional customer as they entered and left.
His appearance was a paradox. His face, handsome yet worn, was the kind that might turn heads if someone took the time to notice. But Evan's appearance was often overlooked, His frame was lean, It was the kind of lean that belonged to someone who had yet to fulfill his potential.
And his potential? Well, that was the one thing that haunted him.
The world of Maddenport had a way of grinding down the weak, and there was no room for someone like Evan—someone who had no power, no connection, no place to belong.
Beyond the mana charged barriers which circled the city was a place filled with danger hosting the malevolent entities dubbed as netherfield and defending the city was humanity's last line of defence, called the sentinels. The netherfiends had ravaged the world until all that was left of the world were three great cities- Maddenport, Ignish reach and Solheaven, each city having sentinels to aid in their protection.
The Sentinels were warriors with unimaginable power. And Evan was nothing but a shadow of what they were.
"Hey, Evan," a voice broke through the haze of his thoughts. He turned to find Nick, a lanky coworker with a perpetual grin, leaning casually against the counter.
"You're staring off into space again. You do that a lot, you know?"
Evan chuckled softly, the sound hollow.
"Just thinking."
"Well, stop it." Nick said with a grin.
"and help me with the trash. I've got to go see my baby girl, She wanna have a serious conversation with me." He added.
Evan smiled, nodding, as he grabbed the trash bag and stepped out of the cafe into the cool evening air.
It was a sharp contrast to the warmth inside. The city was always moving, always changing. People bustled along, lost in their own worlds, unaware of each other. It was the perfect place for someone like Evan to disappear.
"Another day to waste away in this cage of a city." He added as he stepped back to the cafe.
But before he could take another step, a voice stopped him dead in his tracks.
"Excuse me."
Evan froze.
'Huh?....A woman? Talking to me??'
She was tall, her dark hair cascading down her shoulders in loose waves, and her eyes—green, piercing—locked onto his with an intensity that made him feel as though she could see straight into him. Her presence was like an electric charge in the air, something he couldn't explain but couldn't ignore either.
'Damn...she's really hot...and beautiful too...'
And ofcourse, his mind drifted towards-
'boobs....' That was all he could keep in his mind as he struggled to avert his gaze from her chest.
"Can you help me?" she asked.
Evan blinked, caught off guard.
"Uh, sure. Help with what?"
"I was just looking for Nebula." she said, a smile curling at the corners of her lips.
"I heard it's the best coffee in the city. Thought I'd check it out."
"Ohh...It's right here." He responded as he gestured to the cafe right infront of them.
She nodded, taking a step closer, her presence almost overwhelming.
"Thanks." she said, her voice low.
"Yeah, no problem."
"...So are you here to see a friend or you know, boyfriend...?" He added with a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Releasing a short giggle from her mouth, she adjusted her beautiful long hair perfectly behind her ear.
"Boyfriend? God no, I don't have one. I'm just here for coffee...and you?"
"Me? I- I- uh...I work here." Evan replied.
'Goddamit!! Why did I just tell a hottie that I'm a waiter?! I'm screwed...'
However, that didn't stop him from introducing himself.
"I'm Evan...Evan Lawler." He added as he extended his hand for a hand shake.
He was ready for it. Normally, at this point the girl tries to end the conversation as quickly as she could and make a run for it, but this time something different happened.
"Ru....Rby Stevenson..." she replied with a soft smile on her face as she shook his hand.
"You're a waiter. That's lucrative... I suppose you wouldn't mind showing me to your station."
Evan's heart slammed against his ribcage, and his breath caught in his throat.
'She wants to spend time with me?..'
He had always been overlooked in all aspects of life by women, so it was of no surprise that he was a nineteen-year old virgin, who was shy and of course- horny.
Before he could speak, she turned, her hips swaying gently as she walked toward the door of the shop.
Evan stood there, watching her.
'She's not kidding? She actually wants to be with me?'
He shook his head, trying to shake off the feeling that was settling over him.
'A girl actually hitting on me? That's insane right? Or could this all be a dream?...'
As she stepped into the warmth of the shop, she looked over her shoulder, her gaze meeting his once again.
"You should come inside." she said, her tone teasing.
"Unless you're afraid of what might happen when you do."
Evan swallowed hard, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts.
'Was this it? Am I finally getting closer to actually having a woman he could call his girlfriend...and possibly, losing my virginity? Or am I exaggerating?'
For the first time in a long while, Evan felt something stir within him. Something he thought he had lost forever.
He stepped toward the door.
Ru, unbothered, strolled to the counter and perched herself on one of the high stools.
She swiveled slightly, her gaze taking in the quiet ambiance of the nearly empty cafe.
Not too long after, Evan arrived at the counter, right infront of her.
"Do you always work alone like this?"
Evan rubbed the back of his neck, an unconscious habit he'd developed over the years when feeling nervous.
"Uh, yeah. Well, not always. My friend Nick works the earlier shift, but he left a few minutes ago."
Ru leaned forward on the counter, her chin resting on the palm of her hand. Her expression was casual, but there was a faint smile tugging at her lips.
'Holy shi....' he thought inwardly.
"Hmm. So you're the one holding the fort now."
Evan chuckled nervously, trying to focus on cleaning the already spotless espresso machine.
"Something like that."
Their conversation drifted naturally.
Ru asked about his work, and Evan, to his surprise, found himself opening up about the monotony of double shifts and his day to day life and so on.
***
Before long, the clock on the wall ticked past 10:00 p.m. The cafe was officially closed, but neither seemed in a rush to leave. The world outside was still and silent, the streetlights casting long shadows through the glass windows.
"Hey, Evan! Sorry on being late I..." Nick's voice broke the quiet as he strolled back into the already empty cafe, sighting only Ru and Evan. He shot a pointed look at the clock, then back at Evan.
"Your shift ended eight minutes ago, man. You planning to spend the night here?"
Evan blinked, realizing how much time had passed.
"Oh, right. Sorry. I'll close up now."
Nick smirked, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. His gaze flicked to Ru, who was still seated at the counter, sipping the last of her coffee.
"You don't mind locking up tonight, do you?"
Evan frowned.
"Wait, what? I mean, yeah, I can—"
Nick waved a hand dismissively, his grin widening.
"It's fine. Walk her home or whatever." He raised an eyebrow in Evan's direction, his expression loaded with unspoken meaning.
Evan felt his ears burn.
"It's not like that!"
Ru tilted her head, watching the exchange with quiet amusement.
She slid off the stool, her movements graceful and unhurried.
"So… do you want to walk me home?" she asked, her tone teasing.
"uhh..I'd...I'd...yeah." Evan stammered, fumbling with his apron as he untied it.
***
The two of them stepped out into the night. The air was cool but pleasant, the streets empty save for the occasional car passing in the distance. The moon hung low in the sky, its silver light bathing the world in a soft glow.
Their conversation meandered as they walked, touching on everything from favorite movies to childhood memories.
Before he knew it, they were standing in front of a tall, luxurious apartment building.
'Huh? This is her actual home? It's so big. I thought this kind of homes were only in movies.'
"This is me." Ru said, gesturing toward the entrance.
Evan nodded, suddenly unsure of what to do with his hands.
"Right. Well, uh… thanks for tonight. It was nice talking to you."
"I had a great time too. Maybe we could do it again sometime?"
Evan felt his heart stutter.
'She's not repulsed by me? Sweet!'
"Y-yeah, definitely."
Her smile widened, and she took a step closer.
"You're sweet, Evan. And funny. You don't even realize how charming you are, do you?"
Evan's brain short-circuited.
'Did she just call me charming?' He thought to himself.
"Uh, thanks." he managed, his face burning.
'Be cool Evan.'
"You're, um… pretty too. Like, really pretty. Like, uh… Rapunzel pretty."
Ru raised an eyebrow, slightly confused by his statement.
"Rapunzel?"
Evan groaned inwardly.
'Did I just call her a Disney character? How stupid can I be?'
"I mean, you know, the hair. Not that your hair is like hers—it's different. Better, actually. And—"
"Evan."
He stopped, swallowing hard.
She laughed, a soft, melodic sound.
"You're adorable. "
She turned her gaze, and gently returned it to his. She reached out, her fingers brushing against his.
'Oh my, she just touched me...'
"One more thing." she said.
"Y-Yeah?"
"I've been thinking," she murmured, stepping closer.
"Would you like to come upstairs and make me another cup of coffee?"
Evan blinked, his heart hammering in his chest.
"You mean… coffee?"
"Yes, Evan. Coffee."
'She wants me to come upstairs... I shouldn't. It's too soon, but I might never-'
But then she brushed her fingers against his, and the world seemed to blur.
"What's the worst that could happen?" she asked.
And yet, he found himself answering,
"Sure. Why not?"