Eash sat quietly, staring out the car window, lost in thoughts no one could see. The world passed by in silence, and he barely blinked.
When they reached the front gate, the car slowly came to a stop.
A faint blue shimmer rippled over its surface, and with a smooth whisper of movement, the vehicle folded in on itself, shrinking into a compact, silver box.
His mother smiled softly.
"All this... just to impress the outside world," she said.
Eash didn't answer. He rarely did when his mind was elsewhere.
A floating scanner buzzed silently in front of them. It scanned their bodies, then unlocked the door with a soft click.
The house opened like an old memory.
Inside, everything felt frozen in time.
Wooden floorboards that whispered underfoot. Framed, hand-painted portraits-some faded, some cracked-hung like secrets on the walls. The warm yellow lights overhead didn't flicker like the sharp-white lights outside.
These were softer. Calmer. Like something out of an old dream.
As Eash stepped inside, something soft and white leaped into his arms.
"Ena," he whispered, smiling faintly as he stroked the cat's silky fur.
She purred softly, nuzzling into him like she had missed him all day.
His mother stood still for a moment, her mind quietly buzzing.
Will he go? Will he join PSTU? Is he truly ready?
Eash heard her thoughts as clearly as if she had spoken them aloud.
Still, he said nothing. He simply turned and walked up the stairs to his room.
His room was medium-sized. Three windows, an old wardrobe on one side, and two desks - one with a modern computer and holo-screen, the other scattered with research equipment.
As soon as he closed the door, he set Ena down.
Then, next to the wardrobe, he pressed a small hidden button on the wall.
A sliding door opened, revealing a secret passage going downward. It was his father's lab, something his mother didn't even know about.
Upon entering, a retina scanner floated before his eyes. As Eash opened his eyes wide, it recognized his identity, and a small elevator took him below.
"Welcome, 5L-30-ELor. "
The moment he stepped out, the entire atmosphere changed.
It was a kingdom of advanced technology - smart screens lining the walls, holographic projections floating in the air, robotic arms moving across the floor, and countless projects running data continuously.
This was his father's dream lab.
As usual , Eash sat down at a desk, opened a few of his father's old files, and began reading in the blink of an eye.
What would take an average human an hour, he could finish in ten minutes.
But then—he paused.
A feeling brushed across his senses. A quiet presence.
He turned.
Ena sat behind him, tail curled, golden eyes blinking.
"I didn't even notice you came," he said, a rare smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Of course - he couldn't read the minds of animals.
He turned his eyes back to the screen.
But just then, his perception picked something up - something was falling from the top of the showcase. Ena had accidentally nudged it.
Eash didn't even think for a second - he rushed at a speed of 16.7 m/s and caught the object mid-air.
But what he caught left him stunned.
A glass photo frame.
Inside was a young man - his father - smiling. Below it was written:
"Arnas Lorenas
Psychology & Biology Graduation Award, PSTU"
Be continued...