Long stepped off the pier, carrying a worn burlap bag. A week adrift at sea with Dreamy had left him exhausted and famished. Yet before him, the city of Puresight shimmered so brilliantly that he forgot his hunger.
Driverless cars sped along the roads, weaving around obstacles as if in a choreographed dance. Overhead, delivery bats darted back and forth, carrying sparkling packages as they rushed them to their recipients. Long's mouth fell open, his eyes gleaming as he took in the sight of affluent young women accompanied by all kinds of AI Witches: a fiery phoenix, a talkative calico cat, and even a pink bow that never stopped chattering. The modern skyscrapers were constructed mostly of adaptive glass, allowing the sunlight inside to be adjusted at will. It was a truly modern, magical world.
Then hunger dragged Long back to reality. He stopped in front of a nearby bakery.
"Hello, sir! Please buy some bread!" The door slid open, and the LED lights curved into a friendly smile.
Inside, a middle-aged owner stood beside an AI Witch shaped like an adorable donut. It lifted its small, colorful hands toward the air, and dozens of holographic images of freshly baked bread instantly appeared, spinning as if part of a magic show.
"Please make your selection," the shop owner said, his voice brimming with confidence.
Long swallowed. His hands tightened around the worn canvas bag. Inside were only a few lonely blue ENs, lying still as if mocking him. Would it be enough to buy a single loaf of bread?
He pointed to the cheapest one, his gaze fixed on the image of the warm, steaming loaf floating in midair.
Suddenly—whoosh!
A tiny figure darted past, snatched the bread, and bolted out of the shop like a gust of wind.
"Hey!" Long shouted, racing after it with Dreamy and leaving the bewildered shop owner behind, the AI Witch donut still spinning in place.
The little thief was a child, probably eight or nine years old. He ran so fast that Long caught only a glimpse of his tattered shirt fluttering behind him.
He wove through the narrow alleys as if he had lived there his entire life. But Long wasn't about to give up.
"Dreamy, create a shield to block the path!"
Dreamy's eyes flashed gold. A blue shield materialized in the alley, shimmering like rippling water.
The child couldn't stop in time.
Thud!
He slammed into it, rolled once, and lay still. A red bump rose on his forehead. Then… he burst into tears.
Long hesitated, frowning.
*Why is he crying? *
"Hey, kid, stealing is wrong—you know that! Whose child are you? Why are you stealing from people?"
The boy looked at Long, panic written across his face, and cried even louder. The wailing made Long falter, confused about where the child had come from and why he was acting so strangely.
Then, abruptly, the crying stopped.
His mischievous eyes flicked sideways at Long, a sly glint flashing within them. Before Long could react, the boy lunged forward and kicked him hard in the ankle. Pain shot up Long's leg, and he tumbled to the ground.
"Ouch! What the hell are you doing, kid?" Long shouted, grimacing.
The boy spun around, grinned impishly, clutched the pastry to his chest, and sprinted off again. Furious, Long scrambled to his feet and gave chase. The pursuit was far from over.
He whistled sharply to signal Dreamy.
"Dreamy!" he called.
Dreamy ran alongside him, its dark eyes shining, its voice impossibly calm.
"I'm sorry, but my magical energy is depleted. I need more EN to recharge before I can continue."
Long clenched his teeth, breathing hard. "But we're out of EN!"
"In that case," Dreamy replied evenly, "please continue running."
Long was furious, yet he kept running—not just for the bread, but for something else. He couldn't explain it. When he looked into the boy's eyes, he had seen something familiar—a strange flicker of recognition. Somehow, he knew he had to talk to him.
At last, the boy's energy gave out. His steps slowed, his breathing turned ragged, and then he suddenly clutched his head and collapsed. Long hurried forward and finally caught up.
Gasping for breath, Long bent over, bracing his hands on his knees.
"You sure can run fast," he panted, both impressed and exhausted.
The boy didn't respond. He stared at Long with wide, panicked eyes, then suddenly pressed his hands tightly over his ears as if in agony. He staggered to his feet, but his legs trembled and nearly gave way beneath him.
Just then, a shout rang out from down the alley.
"What are you doing to that child?"
Long and Dreamy turned at once. A girl about Long's age stood there, her long, slightly wavy blonde hair framing a face with an unmistakable aristocratic air. She wore a tailored vest coat and held a sleek, antenna-like sword. Her eyes were cold and sharp, ready to strike at any moment.
"Leave the child alone." Her voice was firm as she stepped toward Long, indignation blazing in her eyes.
Then she turned to the boy, her tone softening.
"Kiet, are you okay?"
She raised her hands and began gesturing quickly and clearly, her movements precise, as if speaking an invisible language.
Long froze.
*Oh my God… the boy is deaf*