A low, steady hum filled the chamber, vibrating through the cold metal floor and walls. Light traced the edges of Kael's pod, flickering in soft silver and pale gold. He flexed his fingers, then his toes, marveling at the sensation—warm, smooth, familiar yet strange, as if he had been wearing this body for a lifetime he could barely remember.
Where… am I?
The thought was tentative, fragile, but it echoed clearly in his mind. The air smelled faintly metallic with a subtle earthy undertone. Shadows flickered across the walls as the pod systems stirred, alive with their own quiet rhythm.
Then a voice, calm, precise, and soothing, spoke:
"Greetings, Kael Apograntis. You have been in stasis for an extended duration. Many memories have decayed. Do not be alarmed."
Kael froze. The tone carried a subtle warmth, careful and guiding. Despite its calm precision, it made him want to trust it.
"Rest of the work has been handed over to ORIS."
Suddenly many different words started showing in front of kael's eyes, those words were just the info being loaded. Within a second all of the words in front of his eyes disappeared and then he heard a very calm and natural voice.
"I am ORIS, your companion and caretaker. My function is to assist your integration into this world. Uploading essential knowledge… language… social protocols… now."
Information flowed into Kael's mind, sometimes overwhelming, sometimes fragmented. Names, greetings, gestures, rules, small routines—everything arrived in waves, colliding like sunlight through glass. Some fragments felt familiar, like distant echoes; others were alien, vibrant, intricate.
Kael stumbled slightly, gripping the pod edge. "I… I don't understand," he muttered.
"You are safe. The outside world cannot see or hear you at this time. Observe and remain calm."
Through the pod's transparent casing, Kael glimpsed movement below. People knelt in a courtyard, heads bowed in prayer. Their garments were simple yet elegant, children moved with quiet discipline, and the bell in the distance rang solemn and clear. He felt a strange pull, awe mingled with uncertainty.
"Your body has been reconstructed from preserved cells. You are physically complete, healthy, and ready to begin. Step carefully when ready."
Kael swung his legs over the edge of the pod. His knees trembled. Each motion felt monumental, muscles tensing and relaxing as he tested the floor beneath him.
"Adjust your movements slowly. Calibration is essential," ORIS advised.
He took a tentative step. The corridor opened onto a small observation chamber overlooking the town. Wooden rooftops, gardens spilling color, cobblestone streets. Smoke rose in thin ribbons from chimneys; children's laughter floated faintly through the air. Mountains loomed in the distance, jagged and sharp, framing the town like silent guardians.
Kael's chest tightened. It's… alive.
"Observe before action," ORIS instructed. "Integration requires patience. You must learn the ways of this place."
He nodded. Then the AI's tone shifted, calm but final:
"For now, I will remain inactive. You must explore and act on your own. I will assist when required."
The voice faded, leaving only the soft hum of the pod chamber. Kael exhaled, uncertain but aware—he was truly on his own.
Night fell gently over the town. Golden lanterns flickered in the streets, casting warm light on cobblestone alleys. The soft murmur of evening prayers echoed from a distant temple, mixing with the faint rustle of leaves in the gardens. Kael watched from a high window inside the pod chamber. Shadows lengthened, shops shuttered, and the quiet intimacy of the town invited him to step out.
At last, he lowered himself carefully, each step deliberate. The streets were deserted but for a few wandering citizens, their silhouettes soft in the lantern light. The smell of fresh bread mingled with the faint earthiness of the gardens. Sparks from a distant blacksmith glimmered, casting tiny flickers across the walls of nearby homes.
Kael moved slowly, his senses alive to every sound, smell, and movement. Life here had rhythm, patterns that were both foreign and comforting. He followed the quiet pulse of the town, absorbing the subtle social cues—polite nods, quiet laughter, the careful spacing between people walking.
And then—chaos.
A small figure dashed around a corner, tripping over a loose stone. Kael caught her just before she fell, her curls tumbling over her shoulders.
"Ow! I… I'm so sorry! And… and—sorry again!" the girl exclaimed, brushing dust from her dress. Her wide, brown eyes were panicked but curious.
Kael instinctively reached out a hand. "It's… okay," he said softly.
Her gaze met his. Something in her voice, in the tilt of her head, the nervous flutter of her fingers, made him lower his guard. She was warm, kind, and somehow… entirely real.
She glanced toward a nearby shop, where an elderly woman moved quietly, arranging goods. A voice called sharply but gently: "Lusia! Come here at once!"
The girl groaned, muttering under her breath. "Granny! I'll be there in a sec!" Before she ran, she gave Kael a quick, nervous smile. He lingered for a heartbeat, holding the hand out of instinct, a subtle thread connecting them in that fleeting moment.
Kael followed at a safe distance, curious. The streets at night were quieter, intimate in ways the daylight never allowed. He noticed small gestures: a child tipping a head in respect to an elder, a shop shutter closing slowly, the faint scent of incense drifting from a distant temple.
Finally, Lusia paused by a low stone step, straightening herself. Kael approached cautiously. "I… I didn't mean to—"
She waved him off with a small hand. "It's fine… I wasn't paying attention. Granny's shop… I just—" Her words faltered, shy but genuine.
From the shop, the older woman called again: "Lusia, come help me here."
Lusia hesitated, then turned. "I… I'll be back later," she said softly, giving Kael a final glance that held curiosity and warmth. Then she hurried to the shop, curls bouncing, hands full of small goods.
Kael stayed where he was, letting the moment settle. He watched the streets, the subtle rituals of town life, and the quiet sway of lantern light on walls. Everything was alive, vibrant, and utterly unfamiliar.
As the night got darker and colder kael thought and realised something very crucial, 'I have no shelter to stay in.' He felt uncomfortable and lonely as he sat by the shop watching the stars in the sky.
"I hope the girl... Lusia could help me". He muttered.
After some long lonely moments kael got sleepy but waited. Shortly Lusia came by just to be suprised to see kael sitting near the shop half asleep in such a cold weather. She tapped on his shoulder and told kael who is still half asleep to follow her lead.
Just after a short distance she stopped by a restroom and asked the employees to get a room for kael and introduced him as a lost tourist to avoid further discussion.
"He is too tired so how about you ask for his identity some other day" she said with a smile on her face.
Kael still half asleep only knew that Lusia was helping her and did not hear the conversation with the employees. Finally he was on the bed sleep quietly as he had done labour work all day long.
Night closes to an end with kael starting his journey which is not destined to be a simple one.