---
The morning tasted like victory and badly brewed instant coffee.
Alexis sat cross-legged on his bed, sipping from a chipped mug that proudly declared "World's Okayest Student." On the desk beside him, the laptop screen glowed with encrypted feeds from the system.
> System: "Operation Elysian completed. No anomalies detected. Nova awaits debrief."
> "Patch her through."
Nova's voice came through, calm and precise as ever. "Administrator, our convoy passed checkpoints under three false manifests. No flags. No tails. The artifacts are now stored in the Orion node. Value assessed at 4.8 million USD."
Alexis let out a long breath.
It had worked. Not just in theory. But in practice. God's Axis was alive.
> "Any feedback?"
"Only one note," Nova replied. "The security protocols in one warehouse need tightening. I've submitted a redesign proposal."
> "Approve it."
"Additionally," she continued, "I would like to recommend scouting for external specialists — low-risk civilians for non-combat roles. Legal, financial, cyber operations. Non-traceable. Loyal."
Alexis paused.
He hadn't considered recruitment yet, but Nova was right. Even shadows needed architects.
> "Submit a candidate screening model. Use soft recruitment—nothing overt."
"Understood. Awaiting authorization for first round of data filters."
> "Granted. Begin quietly."
---
Campus felt less noisy than usual, or maybe Alexis was just more distant than usual.
He walked to the library with Jordan for a group meeting. Jordan was complaining about late-stage capitalism and the price of cafeteria sushi.
"Dude, how do they charge twelve bucks for rice with attitude?"
"Packaging," Alexis said.
"Bet you could run a business better."
Alexis blinked. "You have no idea."
Iris arrived ten minutes late with coffee and a sarcastic wave. "Sorry, had to interrogate my tarot cards."
She slid into the seat opposite Alexis, eyeing him again like he was a crossword puzzle missing a single letter.
"You ever feel like some people are playing life on a secret difficulty level?" she asked, looking right at him.
Jordan snorted. "What does that even mean?"
Alexis shrugged. "Maybe we all are. Some just read the tutorial first."
Iris narrowed her eyes. "You read all the tutorials. Probably write some, too."
He smiled without answering.
---
After class, Alexis returned to Axis Goods. The shop was busier now. Someone was even filming a vlog near the novelty lamp section.
> System: "Daily transactions up 18%. A 'cozy weirdness' trend has formed around Axis Goods. Online fan page established by customer alias: 'GlitchyGoblin.'"
> "We have fan goblins now?"
> "Technically, yes."
He rang up purchases, answered a few customer questions, and gave a long-winded explanation about why the Floating Jellyfish Light wasn't haunted — probably.
---
Later, in his apartment, he checked on global reports.
The Elysian funds had already started being rerouted through front companies. The internal asset map expanded like roots beneath concrete.
A notification blinked.
> Elena (Sister): [Voice Call Request]
He accepted.
"Hey, Lex," she greeted. Her voice was familiar, warm, grounding. "Just checking in. You sounded distracted last time."
"I've been... thinking a lot."
"About what?"
"Life. What I want to build. What I'm doing here."
"Wow, mid-semester got philosophical," she teased. "You're not dying, are you?"
He laughed. "Not anytime soon."
"I believe in you, Lex. You always had this... quiet storm thing. Just—promise you'll come home for the festival this year?"
He hesitated.
"I'll try."
"That's code for no."
"No, it's code for... maybe. Just keep a chair for me."
"I always do."
---
That night, Alexis stood at the window. The city shimmered below, unaware that one of its most average-looking residents was now running operations that danced along the edges of global legality.
> System: "Would you like an operations summary?"
"Later."
> "Personal suggestion: You have earned chocolate."
"I'll consider it."
> "Administrator... You spun the wheel. The world responded."
He nodded.
A small smile played on his lips.
"Let's spin it again."