Lein was calmly talking with his parents, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
— Are you checking the results today? — his father asked, gently patting Rain's head.
— Yes, — Lein replied calmly.
Louise had already set the breakfast table and sat to Ed's left. She looked at Lein with slight concern.
— You look pale. Is everything alright?
Lein waved it off.
— Just a dream. Don't mind it.
Louise pushed a cup of coffee toward him.
— Here, have some. And… I heard you have a date today, — she winked.
He froze, unsure how to respond, then gave a crooked smile.
«Elisa… What did you tell them?»
— Lein, turn on the TV, — Ed said.
Lein stood up, grabbed the remote, and turned it on.
— …Cartoons don't harm children!
— …Today the exam results for TMA have been announced…
— Breaking news! This morning, scientists detected strange behavior in Earth's magnetic field. They're not yet sure what's happening, but a strong magnetic storm is expected soon. Stay cautious and take care. We'll be back after a short commercial break…
Lein switched the TV off.
— Lein?
«Coincidence? I had a strange dream this morning… Could it be…?»
— Lein!
Lein flinched and looked at Ed.
His mother, sister, and brother were staring at him suspiciously.
— Brother?..
— N-nothing… I… just didn't sleep well.
After that, Lein sat back down and continued breakfast.
…
— Good luck, son!
— No matter what happens, we're with you!
— Bye, brother!
Lein waved his hand and stepped out of the house.
«So… passport's here, permit in my pocket, wallet's in place. Seems I didn't forget anything.»
He nodded to himself and headed toward one of the best universities in the country — TMA, founded in 2035. Only five years had passed since, yet it had already surpassed most prestigious institutions.
The City of Change, built ten years ago, looked like a showcase of the future. Massive buildings with unique architecture — glass, marble, steel. Lein walked along the wide streets, taking in the grandeur.
Finally, he reached the university building — massive, filled with cutting-edge technology, strict security, and… just a single entrance.
At the gate, a guard stopped him and scanned him with a strange device.
— Passport and permit, — the guard ordered.
Lein silently handed over the documents. The guard skimmed through them and stepped aside.
— Lein Edgar, welcome to your new home.
«Weird… and no line. Though the check is strict.»
Inside the building, a few hundred people were gathered. At the entrance, a girl with brown hair greeted everyone.
— Excuse me, where can I find the exam results? — Lein asked.
— Third building, room 203. There's a list of admitted students. If your name isn't there, it means you didn't pass, — she said indifferently.
Lein squinted.
— And… why is there no line?
She scoffed.
— Because the results could be checked online. Now, don't bother me.
He froze on the spot. Took out his phone, opened the university's website… and exhaled with relief.
He was admitted.
— Yes, damn it! A scholarship! I did it!.. — he shouted across the hall.
Several people turned toward him.
«Oops…»
Lein gave an apologetic smile and hurried to the exit.
«Who's awesome? I'm awesome. Perfect.»
Lein stayed in high spirits for a long while, until he remembered his nightmare.
«Right… Now I need… to see the fortune teller. If I don't figure out the reason for these strange dreams, I'll lose my mind soon. I need to do it as quickly as possible. Damn, today is such an emotional rollercoaster.»
…
Leaving the building, Lein immediately hailed a taxi.
«I really don't want to see her again, but I have no choice.»
The driverless taxi quietly moved through the streets.
— Destination: Ruin City. Estimated arrival — 10 minutes, — an emotionless recording announced.
«Of course… only she could settle there. Crazy woman.»
Ten minutes later, Lein stepped onto cracked asphalt. The taxi turned around and left, leaving him in silence.
Ruin City greeted him with the smell of dampness and metal. Half-ruined houses, abandoned cars, dark clouds hanging unnaturally low.
He walked deeper until he saw a single house with light coming from inside.
Lein knocked.
— Come in, Lein, — a woman's voice came from inside.
He gave a crooked smile and opened the door.
…
Inside, everything looked surprisingly ordinary, except for the table in the middle of the room. Two cups of tea stood on it, along with some papers and a strange pen covered with symbols.
At the table sat a woman in a blue cloak. Black hair, black skin, white eyes that reflected no light.
— You came right on time, — she said.
Lein sat across from her.
— You know why I'm here?
— I do. Your dreams are tormenting you. I saw it. And… you came to me again. So now you believe me?
He clenched his teeth but nodded.
— Of course. It was right after our meeting that all this began. These dreams… What did you do to me?
— Me? Nothing. I suppose it's you who did… something to me.
— Don't play games with me, — Lein's voice grew harsh. — Or else…
— Lein. Calm down. That's not why you came. Tell me what you saw today.
He averted his eyes, recalling.
— A ritual. Three in red cloaks. A strange creature and… a Mirror. The creature from the mirror took one's body and killed the others. And then… it killed me too.
The woman nodded.
— I see.
— See what?
— That's not knowledge meant for mortals like us. Forget it.
Lein clenched his fists.
— I didn't come here just to talk about dreams. I want a reading.
— Sorry, but that's no longer possible. This morning, I lost the ability. But one thing I know for sure: something is coming. Lein… be careful these days. Let's…
— Waste of time, — Lein cut her off sharply and stood up.
«Wait… This morning? Why exactly this morning? She could've told me yesterday evening! Damn… I don't like this.»
He quickly left and headed back. He had to walk to the city center to catch another taxi.
Passing by a glass building, he noticed the reflections of passersby flickering.
Everything seemed normal…
Until he stopped.
In the window, there were people. Buildings. Cars.
Everything seemed fine.
But something was definitely wrong…
He stepped closer to the window, staring at it, hardly believing his own eyes.
In the glass…
There was no reflection of him.
— W-what the hell?..
Lein touched the window, and in that instant…
An earthquake struck.
So strong that buildings began to collapse.
Several accidents happened simultaneously, and right in front of Lein, a woman with a child was hit by a car.
«I… I wouldn't have helped them anyway…»
Lein gritted his teeth and turned away from the pool of blood.
Everywhere, car alarms blared, people screamed, the crowd had no idea where to run.
Several glass-designed buildings exploded into shards under the pressure of the quake.
Lein saw a massive shard of a mirror fall straight onto an old man's head.
He tried to stay on his feet, but the quake was so powerful it felt as if the heavens themselves were falling.
People around were in panic, and so was Lein.
But above all, he worried for his family.
They were…
inside the building.
«No… Our house is very sturdy. They… They'll be fine. Yeah…»
Lein tried to calm himself, not letting panic consume his mind completely.
Finally, it seemed the quake was subsiding, and then it stopped altogether.
Lein was just about to run toward his home when he noticed something strange.
A massive shadow was falling over him.
He looked up and saw a huge rift in the sky.
And then, right before his eyes, a strange yellow window appeared:
[Welcome to the Story, chosen one.]