Cael sat there, unsettled. His legs were crossed beneath the table, one foot gently tapping against the chair leg without rhythm. Calm eyes stared at the TV screen, but his brow held a faint crease. The air around him felt too still. He leaned forward slightly, arms resting on the table's edge, shoulders slouched in quiet fatigue.
But I sold it already... was it the buyer? Then I should've sold it for much more. Still, £25,000 is expensive for an unreleased game.
His gaze shifted toward the television. The screen displayed a countdown, centered in clean white font against a matte-black background.
「SYSTEM INITIALIZING — 00:00:30」
His lips twitched into a flat smile, though his expression stayed tight, concern hiding just beneath his quiet stare.
I wonder who the buyer is... he must be a rich person to be able to transform a game made for families and friends into a full-fledged RPG.
「SYSTEM INITIALIZING — 00:00:16... 14... 10... 4」
The game is about to launch. Looks like I'll have to wait until tomorrow for the VR headsets.
He slowly turned back toward his plate. The food had gone lukewarm, but he didn't seem to notice. With quiet precision, he sliced the fish into neat pieces. He picked up two with his fork, then took a fry and brought it all to his mouth in one composed motion.
He chewed slowly.
Then continued, cutting, picking, eating. No rush. No flavor, either. Just routine.
Once finished, he gathered the plates, his own, and Lyra's untouched one. He stacked them carefully, aligning their edges. Then he stood, chair legs scraping faintly against the floor, and carried the dishes with both hands.
At the sink, he leaned forward, placing the stack down gently. His spine stiffened slightly as he straightened, pressing a palm into the small of his back. A quiet stretch, a slow breath.
He opened the drawer, took a clear glass, and closed it without a sound. With steady steps, he walked toward the water station in the corner of the kitchen, a small, steel appliance with a blinking green light.
He filled the glass with warm water. The quiet whir of the machine hummed in the background.
Then silence.
He raised the glass to his lips and drank.
Cael let out a loud burp, then exhaled slowly. His eyes stayed on the television screen. The livestream for WEDS — World End Survival System release had begun. Hosts spoke with polished voices and fake excitement, showcasing last-minute previews, speculation, theories.
In the corner of the screen, a rotating logo pulsed faintly:
「SYNC STATUS — GLOBAL : 98%」
A faint creak of wood broke the quiet. Footsteps moved down the stairs, slow and unsteady.
Lyra appeared, dressed in fluffy pajamas and a loose shirt. Her expression, which had been sour earlier, was now pale and uncertain. She rubbed her arms as if trying to warm herself and walked softly into the living room.
"Cael… I feel sick," she said, her voice softer than usual. "My body feels unnaturally cold. Do I have a fever?"
Cael's posture stiffened. He turned his full attention toward her, eyebrows raised, eyes narrowing with concern. He set the glass aside and stood quickly, stepping around the table.
"Sit on the couch for a moment," he said, his voice filled with worry. "I'll get you warm water. Rest, or just watch the TV for now. I'll grab your remaining medicine."
His eyes lingered on her as she moved toward the couch, legs wobbling slightly as she sat down and pulled her knees in.
…Didn't she just recover from a fever a week ago? Why again so soon? She usually gets a fever once a month, but twice? Something's off.
Cael turned, walked briskly to the kitchen, and opened the drawer to retrieve another glass. He filled it at the water station again. The indicator light flickered for a brief moment as it poured.
「USER DETECTED — LYRA S. // TEMPERATURE IRREGULARITY: 2.1°C BELOW AVERAGE」
He blinked. The message disappeared before he could process it fully.
He returned to the living room and handed her the cup.
"Wait for me here. Drink a little, or finish all of it if you can."
Without waiting, he turned and hurried upstairs. His feet struck the wooden steps in quick succession. He reached his room, opened the door with a push, and headed straight for the cabinet at the far end.
He opened it and began rummaging through boxes and bottles, murmuring under his breath.
"Where's the paracetamol… Ibuprofen, no… the antihistamine, not this either…"
His hands moved faster, panic slipping into his voice.
"…Finally. Paracetamol, two left. Should be enough for the night and the morning."
He shut the cabinet, turned, and rushed back downstairs, skipping the last step. He crossed the living room and stopped in front of Lyra, breathing a little heavier than usual. She looked up at him, her face still pale but waiting.
He handed her the tablets.
She took them in one hand, tossed them into her mouth without hesitation, then drained the water in one long gulp. She burped lightly and leaned back into the couch.
Her face softened. She looked up at him with tired but clear eyes.
"Do you promise that Mi-rae will be able to play with us again?" she asked gently. "Pinky promise?"
She raised her pinky, holding it out toward him.
Cael stared at her hand, heart weighing heavier in his chest.
I'm trying my best… but yes, it's a promise. Just like the old one. A promise I will keep.
He stood tall, then knelt slightly to match her. He extended his own hand, wrapping his pinky around hers.
Their fingers locked.
"I promise," he said, his voice low, calm, steady. "But you have to promise you're going to graduate college."
Lyra smiled. Her expression brightened, her shoulders relaxing as her whole body eased into the cushions.
"I promise," she said, cheerfully but sincerely.
Lyra stood up, brushing her hands along her pajama sides, and headed toward the stairs. A lightness followed her steps. She turned her head with a playful smile and said in a soft, almost childlike tone, "Okay, I'll study now, for the exams."
Cael tilted his head slightly, one brow arching in confusion.
Exams? What date is it?
He reached for his phone on the table and unlocked it with a quick swipe. His thumb slid down the screen. The date blinked at the top.
「Wednesday, June 2, 2027」
His lips parted slightly. He murmured to himself, "It's already June? Time sure flies fast… Did I overwork myself to the point that I don't even recognize the date anymore?"
He glanced at the upper-left corner of the screen.
「8:59 PM」
His eyes widened.
What? It's already 8:59? It felt like it was just 7 PM. Am I really that tired? I should probably finish the chores and head to bed.
He placed the phone down and walked toward the sink. The faucet squeaked slightly as he turned it on. He rinsed his hands under the running water, then began washing the plates one by one, methodically scrubbing away leftover oil and crumbs. Utensils followed, then cups. He placed them neatly into the drying rack above the second basin, water dripping softly.
He grabbed a cloth from the drawer, along with the cleaning spray, and walked back to the table. With fluid motions, he wiped the surface clean, quick, practiced strokes.
After rinsing the cloth out in the sink, an idea struck him.
Wait… Lyra didn't brush her teeth or wash her face yet.
He dried his hands and walked up the stairs, stopping in front of Lyra's room. He knocked three times.
Silence for a moment.
Then her voice came, a little muffled behind the door. "What?"
Cael called back, "Brush your teeth and wash your face now. Or you'll be the one cleaning the whole place."
There was a sudden shuffle, then the door creaked open. Lyra stood there, her eyes half-lidded but her voice soft. "Okay, I'll clean up. And drink water."
She turned and moved toward the bathroom, arms swinging lazily as she walked.
Cael, lingering with a trace of curiosity, stepped inside her room. It smelled faintly of fabric softener and lemon soap. The desk near the window was cluttered with books, notebooks open, highlighters scattered. A small lamp glowed beside a stack of review papers.
He looked around with quiet amusement.
She must've been studying. She's a persistent one, huh… Really is my younger sister.
The hallway creaked. Lyra returned, stepping into her room and smiling brightly.
"I'm doneeeeeeeee," she sang.
Cael raised an eyebrow and glanced at her.
"How did you clean up so fast?" he asked, voice skeptical. "Did you properly brush your teeth? If not, your teeth will be called… typical British teeth."
Her face twisted into a scowl, cheeks puffed slightly. "Okay, okay! I'm studying. Go out now—I'm studying!"
Cael held his palms up gently, voice calm. "Alright, alright. I'm going."
He walked out slowly, pausing at the doorway. He turned his head slightly and said with a trace of concern, "Sleep early so your fever won't get worse."
Lyra called out from her desk, "Okay! But I'm going to study for a bit."
Without waiting for more, she pushed him gently with both hands, nudging him fully out of the room. The door shut behind him, and a soft click echoed as she locked it.
Cael stood in the hallway, staring at the closed door. His eyes lowered.
I hope she's okay… Her immune system's weak. That's why she needs so many medicines.
He exhaled quietly and walked back downstairs, feet heavy now.
In the living room, the TV screen continued the livestream, hosts laughing, commenting, graphics flashing.
「WEDS – LIVE GLOBAL COUNTDOWN COMPLETE」
「STATUS: SYSTEM ONLINE」
「FIRST USER CONNECTION DETECTED – KOREA」