Ras was alone in his house, sitting on his black leather sofa, one leg crossed over the other. In his right hand, he held a fork with a juicy, well-roasted piece of meat, still steaming. The aroma filled the small but cozy apartment, blending with the sound of the television. On the screen, a comedy show made the canned audience laugh, but he barely noticed.
His eyes, red like burning embers, reflected the television's light as he chewed calmly. Despite the heavy workday, his expression remained the same: a serene, relaxed, charming smile. His coworkers adored him, praised him for his kindness, his diligence, his charisma. But in reality, he didn't care about them at all.
"So many smiling faces… so many voices full of admiration. And yet, none of them mean anything to me." he thought, bringing another piece of meat to his mouth. "How convenient."
To him, people were nothing more than pieces on a board. Tools. Useful as long as they served him. If they disappeared, someone else would take their place.
His phone vibrated on the table. He ignored it. Whoever it was, they could wait.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Susan was finishing tidying up her desk. The office was almost empty, with only a few lights still on. Her face showed signs of exhaustion, and her usually energetic blue eyes now reflected a faint trace of sadness.
"Late again…" she murmured to herself, rubbing her temple.
She had stayed late working overtime, but not because she really needed to. The truth was, she had spent too much time distracted. Her gaze constantly drifted toward Ras during the day, watching him as he talked to others, as he smiled so effortlessly, as he made everyone see him as the perfect man.
Her heart beat faster every time she saw him.
" Tall, black hair, red eyes, and athletic body… Is he the perfect man?" Susan thought.
Was it love? Probably. But… something inside her told her there was a barrier, a distance she could never cross.
"If only…" she stopped mid-thought, shaking her head. "No, this is ridiculous."
At that moment, a loud voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
—"Susan!"
Susan flinched slightly and quickly turned in her chair. Standing in front of her, arms crossed, was Lili. Her long orange locks shone under the dim office lighting.
—"Why are you still here?" she asked with a frown. "I went to look for you at your place, and you weren't there. Staying late at work again?"
Susan sighed, feeling a slight weight on her chest.
—"Yeah… I got distracted and didn't finish some things on time."
Lili stared at her for a few seconds before clicking her tongue in annoyance.
—"You owe me dinner for the trouble."
Susan couldn't help but chuckle softly.
—"Alright, alright. Let's get something to eat."
The two of them left the office and began walking together through the city streets. The neon lights reflected off the puddles on the pavement after the light drizzle that had fallen earlier.
—"So, what did you do today?" Susan asked, trying to keep the conversation casual.
—"The usual, working and putting up with that annoying boss." Lili made an exaggerated gesture of exhaustion. "But well, it's not like there are many options, right?"
Susan nodded with a slight smile. Then, in a more curious tone, she asked:
—"Hey, Lili… what do you think of Ras?"
Lili stopped for a moment and looked at her in surprise.
—"Ras?" she repeated, then brought a hand to her chin. "Well… he's a very hardworking guy and… handsome, I suppose."
Susan narrowed her eyes, and her expression completely changed. Her aura turned heavy, dark, overwhelming.
—"Lili… are you in love with Ras?"
Lili's eyes widened nervously, feeling the pressure in the air.
—"W-what?! No, of course not… I was just saying he's attractive and…" her words trailed off as her face turned red.
Susan observed her in silence for a few more seconds before relaxing her expression and sighing.
—"I see… you're not sure."
Lili lowered her gaze and bit her lip.
—"It's just… he's so perfect, isn't he? He always knows what to say, how to act… It's impossible not to feel drawn to him."
Susan looked up at the sky, thoughtful.
—"Yeah… but sometimes, don't you think he's too perfect?"
Lili blinked and tilted her head.
—"Too perfect? What do you mean?"
Susan pressed her lips together. It was hard to explain, hard to put into words the feeling she had in her chest every time she saw Ras.
—"I don't know," she finally said. "Sometimes I feel like… like there's something about him we don't know. As if…"
—"As if he were faking?"
Susan stopped abruptly at those words. Lili had said them without much thought, but they struck her mind like a hammer.
—"No…" she murmured. "That can't be."
But inside her, a small doubt had begun to grow.
Meanwhile, Ras finished his dinner, placed the cutlery in the sink, and stretched with satisfaction.
"Well, another day down."
He got up and walked to the window of his apartment. From there, he could see the city lights shining in the night.
His reflection in the glass stared back at him—his charming, radiant smile.
But in his eyes, there was absolutely nothing.
And so the day ended and he went to rest.
"I have to work tomorrow" he thought
So he closed his eyes and slept.
2: WELCOME
The boy held the package with both hands, gripping it carefully as he walked through the worn streets of his hometown. His small feet moved forward with determination, his expression pure, innocent… but his eyes reflected something more.
Finally, he reached his destination: an old wooden door with several cracks on its surface. He knocked twice and waited.
The door creaked open just a few inches, revealing a silhouette hidden in the darkness inside.
—"Here you go." The boy spoke with a flawless smile, extending the package.
A bony hand from inside the house quickly snatched the package, as if afraid someone would see. A few coins clinked in the boy's palm in exchange for the object.
—"Thank you, little one." A voice whispered from the shadows.
The boy didn't respond. He simply turned around and walked away, slipping the coins into his pocket. As he walked, his thoughts echoed in his mind.
"This world is so messed up."
But then, without changing his expression, without losing his smile, he thought:
"But it doesn't matter. As long as my family and I are fine, nothing else matters."
—BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Ras's eyes shot open, his body reacting immediately to the loud alarm sound. His room was dark, with the faint morning light filtering through the curtains.
He lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling as he steadied his breathing.
"That dream again."
Without wasting more time, he turned off the alarm and got up. Walking barefoot to the bathroom, he washed his face with cold water, feeling the refreshing impact on his skin. His red eyes stared back at him in the mirror, still carrying traces of exhaustion—but his smile appeared immediately, as if it were programmed to do so.
After brushing his teeth, he took a quick shower. The hot water relaxed his muscles, washing away any lingering drowsiness. He dressed in his work attire: a pristine white shirt, black trousers, and a dark blue tie.
In the kitchen, he prepared black coffee and a slice of toast with jam. Sitting at the table, he watched the news on television while eating, though his interest was minimal.
"The world stays the same."
Finishing his breakfast, he washed his dishes, grabbed his briefcase, and stepped out of his home.
The morning air was crisp, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the trees. Ras walked along the sidewalk calmly, enjoying the serene atmosphere—until he suddenly felt a weight on his arm.
—"Ras~! Good morning!"
A lively voice greeted him, and as he turned his head, he saw Lili clinging to his arm with a playful smile.
—"Good morning, Lili." He responded in his usual polite tone.
She blinked a few times, expecting some kind of reaction.
—"Huh? You didn't blush?"
—"Why would I?" Ras tilted his head slightly.
Lili pouted, crossing her arms.
—"You have a beautiful girl with orange hair and brown eyes clinging in your arm, worthy of being a model for my 90-60-90. And you don't react even a little!"
—"I'm sorry," he said without a hint of remorse, his smile remaining perfectly intact.
—" you're a lost cause! Anyway, how was work yesterday?"
—"Fine, as always. The clients were in a good mood, and the boss still treats me like his star employee."
Lili rolled her eyes.
—"Pff, of course. It's like everyone loves you for no reason."
—"Not without reason," Ras corrected. "I simply know how to handle people."
Lili glanced at him from the side, noticing the way he spoke. There was no arrogance in his voice, but there was a sense of unsettling confidence.
—"Sometimes I wonder if you're even human," she joked.
Ras smiled.
—"And what else could I be?"
Before Lili could respond, someone was watching them from a distance.
Susan stood a few meters away, observing how Lili clung to Ras's arm, chatting with him as if it were the most natural thing in the world. An uncomfortable feeling formed in her chest.
"Why does this bother me?"
She didn't want to admit it, but the scene made her feel… jealous.
Shaking her head, she sighed, trying to push those thoughts away. She smiled softly and raised her hand to wave at them.
But just as she was about to call out to them, a glow appeared beneath her feet.
—"Huh?"
A magic circle of intense golden color suddenly formed, radiating an unknown power. Before she could react, her body was engulfed in a blinding light, and she felt the ground vanish beneath her feet.
—"What—?!"
When she opened her eyes, her body was floating in the air. Or rather… she was standing on a cloud.
—"What… the hell is this?"
She looked around, her heart pounding. The breeze was different—lighter, more ethereal. The clouds stretched in all directions, and upon them stood Ras and Lili, looking equally confused.
—"This is…" Lili murmured, scanning her surroundings.
Susan placed a hand on her chest, feeling her rapid breathing.
—"How did we get here?"
Just then, a deep, resonant voice interrupted their thoughts.
—"Welcome."
The three of them turned sharply.
Floating before them, exuding an imposing presence, was a being cloaked in black robes adorned with golden details. No visible face could be seen—only darkness beneath the hood. Its aura was overwhelming, oppressive, as if its mere existence defied the logic of the world.
Ras narrowed his eyes.
—"You… who are you?"
The being did not immediately respond. It simply stared at them—or at least, that's what it seemed—watching their every move with an air so heavy it made the atmosphere feel denser.
The silence was terrifying.