Sad to say, human life is like a game at stake in exchange for a more luxurious lifestyle. Wealth that can make you crazier than you already are. It's like street games like chasing, betting, heaven-earth, base-scoring, and doctor kwak-kwak fix us. Children's games have only been made more difficult over time.
Chase. A game in which you need to run for your life so you don't get caught by the authorities.
Betting. You will bet everything you have, including your love, emotions, and time, on someone you are unsure about.
Heaven-Earth. Heaven, earth, hell. He is earth, you are heaven, and there are impacts from hell that will interfere with the love you will give him.
Base fighting. The peg is a monopoly, war for war, blood for blood, life for life.
And Doctor Kwak-Kwak, fix us.
If everything were fine in every person's life, these illusions would be a simple trick to make you believe that you are hoping for things you cannot achieve. Because in this world of ours, we're not kids anymore. We are already adults who need to face life's challenges and how we will suffer the consequences of continuing to live in a world that is not normal, black and white.
A world where monsters are real, and they came to our world through a portal. It is a door as big as a normal one, but shaped like an egg, and its edge seems to be smoking like cold food. The different colors determine the strength of the monsters that live beyond that portal. We call this kind of portal a Gate.
Sixty-nine years ago, these so-called monsters came to our world through that gate and tried to destroy everything. Fortunately, along with these monsters, humans also had the opportunity to fight back. Back then, people with power were called Espers. Espers can use the elements of fire, water, wind, earth, lightning, light, and darkness. Some can fly, lift heavy objects, create objects from nothing, and heal wounds.
They are differentiated by class. The weakest is the F-class, and the strongest is the S-class. But by using their superpowers, they accumulate fatigue that can't be healed by any healers or human medicine. Just after the first wave of the monsters' attack, they found another human being who could heal them by physical contact. But not just a mere physical contact. It should be a sexually arousing contact, and the most basic of them is holding hands with feelings.
That time, sixty-nine years ago, the records showed that a Guide saw the person he had a crush on, the brick of berserk. Berserk is the name given to the over-fatigued state of espers, which causes further destruction of the world. When an esper goes into a berserk state, they are no longer recognized as human. Fortunately, the male guide, in love with that esper, was agile and managed to kiss the esper he had a crush on, so they both survived. The world was not completely destroyed.
Since then, it has been believed that the most powerful beings are the guides. However, with this belief, many wealthy people sought to have the guides as their own. Because the guides had no special ability to defend themselves, they almost became slaves to the more powerful espers and the wealthy people who supported them. Because of this, people chose to keep their status a secret, whether they were espers or guides. However, this manipulation did not last long because one of the richest people, whose friends were espers and guides, created an organization that protected the espers and guides he could protect, and he called this organization the Guild. The only compensation for this was that they helped enter the gate. Because at that time, waiting for the monsters to attack isn't beneficial anymore.
So the Guild decided to go inside and completely destroy the monsters there. Many died, but that incident also brought many good things. Because they had information that the gates could easily disappear if attacked from the other side. And if the leader on the other side of the gate was killed, it would disappear completely after three hours. Sixty-nine years ago, there were still those left inside the gate after that three-hour time limit, and they were left inside. Until now, no one knows if they are still alive, so due to the length of time and the number of gates that were entered, and they were not in any gate, the Guild just declared them dead with honor.
Many complained, many families were angry and opposed the existence of the Guild, but because of the conviction of the remaining espers and guides and how much they were hurt by the incident and repented for it, normal people were also convinced to accept this fact as their new 'new normal'.
Time passed, and the young people's studies included information about gates, espers, guides, and the Guild they would join. Guilds that provide benefits for espers and guides have also increased.
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"Girl, are you saying that all this time there are still slaves but we don't know? And those gates can't be entered?" asked Atome as Dee explained the past.
"Luh, you're not listening, girl. But you have a point." Dee replied after flicking her hair back, which momentarily blocked her face, as we sat in the air-conditioned room inside the museum our class went to. "You know, in the books I've read, it says that, that's exactly what happened. Time and humans quickly adapt, and most espers rushed inside the gate instead of waiting for us to rush in. The civilians won't be affected anymore, and we can still get items for our weapons. That made me wonder if those on the other side of the gate have families? Let's not be modest, even with money, those like us who fight to protect the ones we love. Wealth is health, right?"
"Wow, you're still so proud of that last line you said?" Liam said, "It's the other way around. Health is wealth." He added while laughing.
"Che Liam. Che! I'm telling stories here, oh. I'm making them believe it." Dee contradicted him, so we laughed.
"Guys, just stop it, okay? But even I speculate that something is wrong with what's in our book. You know that's only sixty-nine years ago, but it seems like the origin of it came from even older than what it says." Said Atome while looking at the system screen that came from his watch.
The system screen serves as our novice teacher in fighting. It's a floating screen that everyone can see, and it was built by our government only fifty years ago. One expert said it could benefit future generations, and he wasn't wrong. We can easily do what we should do and know what not to do. It also serves as an emergency communication device in case of a gate rupture. This is what is called for when the gates suddenly come out with powerful monsters that only B to S-class espers can destroy.
"I don't know what the government is up to." Dee added to what Atome said. "Oh well, let's go, guys. We must go to the guide's hall of pictures, right, Goldie?" I nodded at what she said. I act like I give a damn about what she is saying, even though I was the one who wanted to see the pictures the most.
They were the ones who were able to save their beloved espers. Unlike me, they can only guide their beloved espers. And nowadays, it's lucky that there is one true pair. Because with the system, there is a compatibility percentage where you can guide other espers based on your compatibility.
"It's terrible, isn't it? Back then, when you were infatuated with someone slash esper, you could only guide, and then you had to choose." Dee said as we walked.
Liam immediately came next to me and was about to hold my hand, but I chose not to let that happen. I knew Liam had feelings for me as my esper, but I didn't feel the same way for him. Yes, he had a good look, was kind, and almost flawless. A prince for most guides, and even I liked him back then, but now I don't feel that way anymore. Something in my heart says this person is wrong for me. That my right ear is far from me.
"Even now, you still feel infatuation with Atome, so you're partners, right?" Liam ignored my gesture and just proceeded to tease the girls. He respected me, I think. And I'm grateful he's not like those who force affection on their guides, especially when it requires more than a simple hand-holding guiding.
Dee smiled as she turned to us and took Atome's hand. "Of course. Even though you're crazy sometimes, I still love you." Atome seemed surprised, so he didn't move and just continued walking.
We arrived at the Hall of Mirrors, where there were pictures of previous espers and guides. Even the names and remaining memorabilia of the deceased, especially when they first entered the gate, are also there.
Minuru and Yohan's portrait caught my attention. They were the first espers and guides who could leave the gate after entering it. And through the wealth of Aren, their friend and almost family member, they created the very first Guild. This is what Dee was referring to earlier. The ones who led the way in saving the world. Their true status in life is a secret. But I am the only one who knows them these days, because I am their surrogate son.
Minuru and Yohan are both males who love each other. They have been through a lot. Minuru is a Mafia Boss, while Yohan is a Killer. To make the story short, they met because of their friends, and their constant meeting and saving each other was the reason for them to face various challenges to be together again. And even the gate was an obstacle for them because Minuru became an esper who almost died. If only Yohan had not become a guide, I would not be here today. A test tube baby of their combination of my strength, talent, intelligence, and beauty. I hate to admit it, but Yohan's beauty was undeniable, and it's also the reason why almost all espers are so eager to get me. Thanks to Liam, who was the first to have compatibility with me. Otherwise, I might have gone to the espers whose guides were a waste of time.
"Is it just me, or does the guide look like Goldie?" Dee said. "I can't—"
"I disagree! That was sixty-nine years ago. Dude, I'm only 21. What do you think their age was if they had me at this age? Eighty-eight?" I exclaimed, denying the facts. I refuse to let them know my past and who I am.
Dee got pissed at me and mockingly said, "Surrogate dude. As if you're not gay. Calling me dude all of a sudden. What are you? In the menopausal stage? Can't you be inseminated to be their son?" Dee was a little irritated with me, but I have the right not to introduce myself to them. Because the last time I did that, it didn't turn out well. And I don't want to experience that again. "Fine, I'm sorry. I didn't want to offend you. I'm just wondering if everything seems like a story. You know that. It seems like something is wrong. It seems like there's a cover-up."
"I feel like that too, Dee, but... we have no evidence." Atome said.
"Oh well. Move on. Did you know that the famous boy band here is also an espers? Who could have been those lucky guides, right?"
"Which one? The one you idolize?" Atome said, obviously annoyed because these were her guide's idols.
"Yep, that's right~" Dee sang to make Atome even more annoyed. "But you are my one true pair. I only have you, my darling." She barely made a flying kiss gesture, so Atome felt embarrassed and could not continue his anger. "But who would have thought that they would all become espers simultaneously? Are they cursed? It's not easy to become an esper, right? Especially since you don't have an OTP guide."
What Dee said was true; it's not easy to become an esper because you can't immediately get rid of the weight you feel after using your power. It will continuously accumulate the weight of an uneven surge of power until the esper's mind can't handle it anymore, and it goes completely berserk.
"That's not our problem anymore. The government will take care of it. As long as I'm with someone, he won't let me go berserk, right?" Liam didn't finish what he would say because of what happened next.
As the alarm went off in the systems. And we looked at each other at the same time. Atome immediately grabbed Dee, and Liam did the same to me to take us to a safe place. Still, because of the chaos, I accidentally got separated from Liam. And because of the people's shoving, I fell. I was stepped on and kicked. I protected my head, but that wasn't enough to stop me from feeling all over in pain. It caused me to lose consciousness for a moment.
"Goldie!" I heard Dee shout as I was being cleared out from the mass of humans in a panicked state. "Are you okay?" she asked again, but I could only nod because of the pain. She helped me stand up, and I managed to take a few steps, but I dragged her and knelt down.
"You go first." I said weakly, but Dee was already crying by that time.
"No. I won't leave you. What if something else happens to you?" She said so, so I forced myself to stand up.
But as soon as I stood up, a gate suddenly appeared behind me. It was white and not as big as normal gates. It was smaller than a normal door, and almost no smoke was on its side. Even so, the suction force of the gate was strong, and I didn't even notice how it got me. I just remembered that I was able to stretch out my hand before it completely sucked me in. Hoping for someone to grab that hand to save me, but I didn't feel anything.
At last, I lost consciousness after falling into a strong water current. That's right, the current is now carrying me.