Planet Techagical, Year 4801, the Era of Magic & Advanced Technology...
In the city of Alvancer in the country of NovaTerra...
Click, click, click, clack, clack, click
It was currently midnight—12 AM to be precise.
Outside, a heavy rain is currently occurring in the sky, obscuring the stars and the moon. The air hung heavy with the scent of petrichor, a damp chill clinging to everything. Each lightning flash briefly revealed the swirling darkness above, a chaotic ballet of clouds illuminated only to be swallowed once more by the oppressive night.
Luan was currently in his room, sitting on a gaming chair while his focus was entirely on his computer, which was placed right at his desk besides an automatic lamp. His expression is a mix of focus and tiredness. The dark circles under his eyes are very much evident.
He looks so haggard.
Click, clack, click, clack, click.
A steady stream of clicks punctuated by the occasional, heavier thump of the spacebar can be heard throughout the dark room, accompanied only by the rain outside.
"Finally... It's' fucking done already."
Luan muttered to himself. He then let out a soft sigh of relief and then looked up at the clock to see the time. Upon seeing the time, his eyes went wide open and his jaw dropped.
"WHAT?! It's 12 AM already, but I started at exactly 8 PM. How?!"
Luan unconsciously raised his voice due to shock and confusion.
Upon realizing he unconsciously raised his voice a little too much, he placed a hand to cover his mouth and then spun his gaming chair slightly to look at the closed door.
(Oops...Did I wake them up?—)
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• Author's Clarification : "Them" refers to Luan's parents and his younger brother, who's currently sleeping in one of the rooms outside.
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He wonders to himself in his mind while raising one eyebrow.
Removing his hand from his mouth, he added,
"—Well, I hope not…"
Luan sighed and turned off his computer and the automatic lamp beside it, then proceeded to stand up from his gaming chair while stretching both of his hands.
"I should probably go to bed now. This is probably the earliest I'm going to sleep since the past few days..."
Luan said to himself in a low voice and paused for a brief moment, then added,
"I swear Magic Tech High School gives us so many assignments. We're humans too, you know."
It's true that they've been given many assignments lately; the school quite has high standards when it comes to the students.
Exhausted, Luan climbed and lay on his bed. Due to fatigue, it didn't take long for him to drift off to a deep slumber. The soft pillows and the comfy mattress are another cause.
.....
Squish! Crack! Squish! Crack!
Luan, suddenly feeling an immense pain in his head during his slumber, immediately gained consciousness, although his eyes were still closed. It's as if a sharp blade pierced through his skull multiple times.
Sure, he was sleeping. But somehow he can feel the pain for an unknown reason.
He slowly opened his eyes and placed one finger to touch his right temple. And then, the pain was instantly gone.
"The pain... It's gone?"
Luan muttered to himself, his tone having a bit of confusion.
He glanced around. And suddenly, realization dawns upon him. Right now he isn't in his room, nor was he lying in his bed. He's totally in a completely different dimension as of right now, The entire place was nothing but darkness.
Pure Darkness.
As realization dawns upon him, Luan's body freezes as if it is refusing to move itself. His eyes widened. His mouth hung slightly, but he didn't dare speak.
...
Minutes ticked by, heavy and silent. Luan remained speechless, the tension in the air a palpable thing, thick and suffocating.
The heavy stillness lasted a little longer before being broken by the voice of a Mysterious Figure who appeared to be behind Luan.
"Greetings, mortal."
Luan's eyes expanded even further. His mouth remained suspended in the air. Luan turned on his back, slowly and cautiously, his body trembling.