It was November 17th, 2028, and the busy city of Niagara was full of life with the magical feeling of the Festival of Lights, where thousands of people had come together to see the amazing display of colorful decorations and fireworks that lit up the cold winter night.
The streets were packed with families, couples, and friends, all wearing warm clothes as they moved through the crowded paths, their breath showing in small clouds as they laughed and pointed at the bright lights that covered every building and tree.
The air was filled with sounds of joy and celebration, mixed with distant music from street performers and the excited talk of children who had never seen anything so beautiful before. Everyone was happy and excited, walking around with big smiles on their faces as they enjoyed the special night together.
"Zhan, Zhan! Come on, hurry up and don't fall behind!"
Andromeda said with pure excitement, her small hand grabbing Zhan's bigger one as she pulled him through the thick crowd of people at the festival. Her eyes were bright with wonder like a child as she moved through the sea of people, wanting to find the perfect spot to watch the main event that was about to start. Her grip on his hand was strong but gentle, and he could feel the warmth of her skin even through the cold winter air that made everyone shiver.
"There's way too many people here tonight... We really should have just stayed at home and watched it on TV, Meda..."
Zhan said quietly under his breath, letting out a long, tired sigh as he was pulled along even though he didn't like being in big crowds. His shy nature made him feel worried and nervous in situations like this, where he was around so many strangers and had to deal with all the chaos and noise that came with public events. He liked the quiet comfort of his own home much better, where he could relax without worrying about bumping into people or having to talk to anyone he didn't know.
"Oh, don't be such a negative person like that!"
Andromeda stopped suddenly in the middle of the crowded street, turning around to face him with a bright, happy smile that could make anyone feel better. Her cheeks were pink from the cold air, and her eyes danced with playfulness and love as she looked at him with an expression that made it impossible for him to stay grumpy. The way she smiled at him always made his heart beat faster, even though he tried his best to hide his feelings from her because he was too scared to tell her the truth.
"I really wanted to come here tonight because I knew it would make you happy, even if you're too stubborn to say it!"
Zhan felt his cheeks get warm with embarrassment and something else he couldn't name, a fluttery feeling in his chest that made him want to look away from her strong gaze. She had always been able to see right through his rough outside to the softer person underneath, and it both excited and scared him that she knew him so well. Her free and happy personality was the complete opposite of his own quiet nature, but somehow they fit together in a way that felt natural and right.
Andromeda was the kind of beautiful that seemed almost like something from a dream, with her striking whitish-blonde hair that caught the light from the festival decorations and seemed to glow like silver in the darkness. Her amazing purple eyes were framed by a delicate pair of glasses that only made her look even more cute and smart than she already was. Tonight she had chosen to wear a flowing white dress that looked perfect on her fair skin, paired with a soft blue scarf that brought out the color of her eyes and kept her warm against the winter cold.
Zhan, being the shy and simple person that he was, had chosen his usual basic outfit of a plain black t-shirt covered by a comfortable gray jacket and a pair of black pants that fit him well. His dark hair was messy like always, and his dark eyes often had a serious look that made him seem older and more mature than he really was. He had never cared much about fashion or trying to look special, preferring to blend into the background rather than draw attention to himself like some people did.
Andromeda came to a sudden stop in the middle of the street, her attention completely caught by the amazing sight of the huge Christmas trees that had been decorated with thousands of twinkling lights in every color you could imagine. The trees were taller than the crowd like gentle giants, their branches heavy with ornaments and decorations that sparkled and danced in the gentle winter breeze that made everyone pull their coats tighter. Just as she stopped to look at the display, the first round of fireworks exploded high above them, painting the dark night sky with bright bursts of red, gold, green, and blue that reflected off the snow-covered buildings and created a magical feeling that took everyone's breath away.
The loud booms and crackles of the fireworks echoed through the streets, creating a symphony of sound that mixed with the gasps and cheers of the happy crowd as they all looked up at the amazing show happening above their heads.
"Waaaauwww..! This is so incredible and more beautiful than I ever thought it would be!"
Andromeda said in complete amazement, her voice barely heard above the noise of the celebration as she stood looking at the dazzling display. Her eyes reflected the colorful lights like mirrors, and her whole face was lit up with pure joy and wonder as she watched the fireworks bloom and fade against the star-filled sky. In that moment, she looked like a child seeing magic for the first time, and her happiness was so real and catching that it made everyone around her smile too.
"Cute."
Zhan whispered to himself so quietly that his words were lost in the noise of the festival, but his eyes never left her face as he watched her reaction to the beautiful scene. He couldn't help but smile at her childlike excitement and the way she seemed to find wonder in everything around her, even the simple things that most people would just ignore. Her ability to see beauty and magic in the world was one of the things he loved most about her, though he had never found the courage to tell her how he really felt about her.
"Zhan? Did you say something just now?"
Zhan's whole body jumped with surprise and panic, his heart racing as he worried that she might have heard his quiet words of love.
"N-nothing at all, I was just... thinking out loud about something that doesn't matter."
He said quickly, turning his head away from her curious look and pretending to be interested in something in the other direction. His cheeks burned with embarrassment as he tried to act normal and calm, hoping that she wouldn't ask more questions or figure out what he had actually said to himself.
—Thank goodness she didn't hear what I really said, or I would have died of embarrassment right here in front of all these people.
Zhan thanked his lucky stars quietly, allowing himself a small, relieved smile as he realized that his secret was still safe for now.
"Andromeda..."
He suddenly turned back toward her and gently grabbed her shoulders with both hands, his heart beating so loudly in his chest that he was sure she must be able to hear it. The moment felt perfect and unreal, with the fireworks exploding overhead and the colorful lights dancing around them like they were the only two people in the whole world. His hands shook a little as he looked into her eyes, knowing that this was the moment he had been waiting for, the chance to finally tell her how he really felt about her.
She was blushing a lot now, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of pink as she met his intense look without looking away. Her purple eyes seemed to sparkle with hope and excitement, as if she knew what he was about to say and had been waiting for this moment just as long as he had. The air between them seemed to buzz with electricity and feelings that had been building up for months without either of them saying anything about it.
—I've been waiting for this moment for so long... Please just say it already, Zhan... Tell me what I've been hoping to hear...
She thought to herself, her heart racing with excitement and nervous energy as she waited for him to find the courage to speak the words they both knew were coming.
"Andromeda."
"Yes!? I'm listening, so please tell me what you want to say!"
She said with barely controlled excitement, her voice a little breathless as she looked up at him with complete attention and focus.
"I... I lo—"
Zhan's eyes suddenly got wide with shock and confusion as the world around him began to change and shift in ways that didn't make any sense at all. He was no longer standing in the crowded streets of Niagara surrounded by the warm glow of festival lights and the comforting presence of thousands of other people celebrating together. The familiar night sky filled with colorful fireworks had completely disappeared, replaced by an endless space of bright blue that stretched in every direction as far as his eyes could see. The change was so sudden and scary that his mind couldn't understand what had just happened, and he felt like he was trapped in some kind of weird dream or hallucination that didn't make any sense.
"W-wha— What in the world is happening to me right now!?"
He fell backward onto what felt like soft grass, his body hitting the ground with a dull sound as he tried to process the impossible situation he found himself in. All around him was nothing but rolling green hills and an endless blue sky, with no sign of the city, the festival, or most importantly, the girl he had been about to tell that he loved her. The silence was scary and complete, making him feel more alone than he had ever felt in his whole life, and he couldn't understand how everything had changed so quickly.
"A-ANDROMEDA! WHERE ARE YOU!? PLEASE ANSWER ME!"
He screamed as loud as he could, his voice cracking with panic and fear as he scrambled to his feet and began looking frantically in every direction for any sign of her. His heart felt like it was being torn apart as he realized that she was nowhere to be found, and the beautiful moment they had been sharing together had been ripped away from him without any warning or explanation. The thought of being separated from her was more scary than any physical danger he could imagine, and he felt like he was drowning in an ocean of confusion and fear without her by his side.
"WHERE ARE YOU!? PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE IN THIS PLACE!"
He didn't care if he was completely lost in some strange and unknown place, because as long as Andromeda was there with him, he knew he could stay sane and find a way to deal with whatever problems they might face together. Without her by his side, he felt like everything was falling apart around him, and he couldn't anchor himself to anything real or familiar that would help him make sense of what was happening. All he wanted was to find her and make sure she was safe, even if it meant searching this weird place forever until he found her.
—Andromeda... Please be safe wherever you are... I need to find you and make sure you're okay...
Zhan finally managed to get some control over his racing thoughts and emotions, though his heart was still beating fast with worry and fear for her safety.
—Where in the world am I, and how did I end up in this strange place that seems to exist outside of reality itself..?
[Hello there, fellow humans who have been chosen for this incredible opportunity!]
A cheerful and unnaturally happy voice suddenly rang out from nowhere, echoing through the air around him as if it was being broadcast from invisible speakers hidden somewhere in the landscape.
"ANYONE! PLEASE, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WHO CAN HEAR ME!?"
Zhan screamed desperately, hoping that there might be other people in this weird place who could help him understand what was happening and possibly help him find Andromeda.
"WHERE ARE YOU!? SHOW YOURSELF AND EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON!"
[The glorious day of Judgement and divine selection has finally arrived after countless years of preparation! The merciful lord shall bring salvation and enlightenment to all who have been chosen to participate in this sacred trial!]
[Welcome, honored participants, to the magnificent Tower of Absolution! This incredible gift has been granted to you by the almighty Babel himself, who watches over all creation with infinite wisdom and compassion!]
The mysterious voice paused for a moment, as if allowing the weight of its words to sink in and be fully understood by its audience.
"D... Don't you dare mess with me with this ridiculous nonsense right now when I'm already going through hell."
Zhan had finally reached his breaking point, his voice filled with raw anger and disbelief as he rejected everything he was hearing. The stress and confusion of his situation had pushed him beyond his normal limits of patience and rational thinking, and he could feel his grip on reality starting to slip away like sand through his fingers. This had to be some kind of elaborate prank or hallucination, because the alternative was too crazy and scary to even consider as a real possibility.
"This has to be a dream, it's just a really vivid and realistic dream that I need to wake up from right now, isn't it?"
He said frantically to himself, his hands moving up to scratch at his head with both sets of fingers as he tried to force himself back to consciousness through sheer willpower and determination.
"WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UP! I NEED TO GET BACK TO ANDROMEDA RIGHT NOW!"
He began punching himself in the face with increasing force and desperation, not caring about the pain or the bruises that were forming on his skin as long as it might help him escape from this nightmare. Each blow sent waves of pain through his skull, but the strange world around him remained stubbornly real and unchanged, refusing to dissolve back into the familiar streets of Niagara where he belonged. The pain was real, the grass was real, and the scary voice was real, which meant that this wasn't a dream at all but something much worse.
"I HAVE TO WAKE UP AND GET BACK TO HER! SHE'S WAITING FOR ME!"
He screamed with all the strength left in his lungs, his voice hoarse and desperate as tears began to stream down his bruised and battered face.
"DON'T MESS WITH ME WITH THIS FANTASY GARBAGE! TOWER!? BABEL!? SCREW YOU AND YOUR STUPID GAMES!"
[All of you brave souls have been granted a special skill and unique abilities when you first set foot on this sacred and heavenly realm!]
[Be grateful and show appreciation to the lord himself for this incredible gift that will help you survive and thrive in the challenges that lie ahead!]
[We wish you all blessings, guidance, and protection from his divine presence and infinite mercy.]
Zhan was in complete and utter denial of everything that was happening around him, his mind refusing to accept the impossible reality that was being forced upon him. He collapsed to his knees and then sat down heavily on the soft grass, his eyes becoming empty and lifeless as his spirit began to break under the weight of his circumstances. The light seemed to fade from his gaze as he stared blankly at the endless blue sky above, no longer able to process or respond to the world around him in any meaningful way because everything had become too much for him to handle.
It was at this exact moment in time that approximately 300,000 people from all over the world had just been mysteriously summoned and transported to the Tower of Absolution, not just Zhan alone in his suffering and confusion. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people had been torn away from their normal lives without warning or explanation, separated from their families, children, spouses, parents, and loved ones regardless of their race, gender, age, or background. There was no one who had been spared from this mass kidnapping, and somewhere in this vast and scary realm, Andromeda was likely just as lost and frightened as he was, calling out his name just as desperately as he had been calling out hers, both of them wondering if they would ever see each other again.