The hover-bike glided smoothly through the main highway toward Louxis City Mall, its sleek obsidian frame slicing the wind with precision. Urban synth-pop played in the background, subtly matching Rio's mood—calm but cocky.
Until—
"Whoa... That's a hell of a pile-up," Rio muttered, slowing as they approached a traffic holobarrier that stretched across all six lanes. Hundreds of hover-cars were queued in a dazzling mess of flashing signals and drivers recalibrating.
"Shit...! Um, Xanthia," Rio sighed, already scanning for a solution. "Let's park this over there and use our feet."
Xanthia, adjusting her chrome-visor glasses, shrugged as she slid off the bike. "Okay, fair for me. We can't just fly over it. Traffic laws still apply—even to Ryunns. Plus, it's our morning walk now."
Rio double-tapped the interface on his wrist. The bike's core hummed, entering Autopilot Return Mode, then zoomed off, heading back toward the Ryunn Estate.
"It's just 2 km away... Good enough," he muttered.
"I prefer walks to anything but cars. There's a romance to walking," Xanthia added, falling into stride with him.
Their boots clicked against the alloy-paved streets as they moved past animated ads and vendors hawking high-energy drinks and VR perfume samples. The buzz of city life surrounded them—blaring drones, street performers dancing , and the scent of soy-grilled meat.
As they approached a city crossroad, a frail old woman stood hesitant on the curb, her cane trembling slightly.
"Umm... Grandma, let me help you," Rio said, gently taking her hand while Xanthia stepped forward to hold back a row of autonomous cabs.
Once across, the old lady turned toward them, her voice thin but kind. "Where are you headed, dear boy?"
"To a fashion store and boutique at Louxis Mall," Rio replied, a touch too quickly.
"Oh, darling, if it's fashion you want—Vercina is the capital. Louxis is nice, but Vercina is... divine." She handed a sleek, embossed card to Xanthia.
"Okayy.... But we have our own plan... So bye..." Rio replied, skeptically.
"Hmm... Rio, look at her style. She's more fashionable than both of us combined—and she's seventy. We should at least see this place," Xanthia said, raising an eyebrow.
Rio hesitated. "Okay... Sorry, Grandma. I didn't mean to sound dismissive. I just—well, I ignored the detail."
"No-no," she smiled warmly. "No harm. But remember, boy, real fashion doesn't speak—it echoes."
---
Scene: Magnet-Metro Madness
Minutes later, they dashed toward the Magnet-Metro terminal, sleek and humming like a giant silver eel. Vercina was only two stops away on the express route.
Inside the station, Rio scanned his retina to pass the gate, tossing his head toward the approaching train.
And then—
A college-age guy bumped into him, muttering an apology.
"Yoink," Rio whispered under his breath as he subtly lifted the guy's designer bag with a magician's finesse.
"What did you just do—" Xanthia's mouth dropped.
"Relax, I just needed his attention off the train. We're full-styled today; he looked like he needed a distraction."
Behind them, the guy spun in panic, realizing the bag was gone. Rio calmly placed the bag on the platform seat and pointed at it as the guy ran up.
"It's there, champ! You dropped it," Rio called cheerfully.
As the doors closed, Xanthia was already laughing uncontrollably. "You're unhinged. That was so idiotic—but... kinda impressive."
(A psychological Law , When people feel they're being judged or manipulated, they stiffen. But if you play the fool—
They let their guard down !
>D.M.Voice: " you surely learned something... But be aware about use of this and its outcomes . Until then chill ..."
Hmm.. sure... Xanthia.... When will you.....)
The train shot forward.
---
Scene: Vercina – Fashion Capital
The moment they stepped into Vercina, it felt like stepping into a digital fever dream. The air shimmered with particle light. Glass walkways wound around floating statues wearing clothes that responded to passerby emotion. Stores weren't just retail—they were experiences. A view like 'Japan coated in next gen technology and traditional!'
Maison Vyr greeted them with velvet mist and an AI attendant with no face—only a surface that mimicked whoever was speaking.
"Welcome to Maison Vyr. Please, express yourselves."
Rio leaned over to Xanthia. "If this place gets any fancier, we'll have to pay extra just to breathe in here."
Inside, walls displayed moving fabrics adapting in color and texture to nearby brain activity.
One fabric turned storm-grey when Rio passed.
"Mood sync. Yikes," he muttered. "That's how you sell anxiety in style."
They picked out pieces—Xanthia a blazing blue leather corset-coat hybrid; Rio a matte noir trenchcoat with micro-reactive trim.
In the dressing room, the mirror projected alternate versions of them.
Rio saw one version of himself with sharper eyes, militant stance, emotionally cold. The perfect Ryunn. The ideal son.
Another projection showed a tired but real version—half-laced boots, scuffed coat, slightly hunched. The real Rio.
He smiled.
"I'm dressing like I don't care... because if I dressed like I did, they'd ask questions I don't wanna answer."
Out loud, he spun. "Xanthia! I'm either ready to sell weapons or seduce a senator."
"You already do both, idiot."
They laughed, stepping out into Vercina's lit sky once more.
And as the boutique doors closed behind them, the day didn't feel like preparation for a modeling gig anymore. It felt like something else entirely:
A pause before destiny, in a city made of reflections.