Tears welled up in Aella's eyes as she clung to Zephyr, burying her face in his shoulder. It was a bittersweet moment – a celebration of his independence and a pang of sadness at the prospect of being separated. Shayera felt a lump form in her throat as she embraced her son, squeezing him tightly. She knew this was a significant step for him, a chance to grow and learn on his own. But it didn't make saying goodbye any easier.
"Be good, sweetie," Shayera whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
"Study hard, make friends, and don't forget to call us."
Zephyr pulled away from the hug, wiping away a stray tear from Aella's cheek with his thumb.
"I will, Mama," he promised, his voice filled with determination.
"You are only four years old so big!" Shayera said.
He gave her a reassuring smile, trying to mask the nervousness he felt about being away from his family for the first time. He knew he could handle it, but the thought of not having his mama and sister nearby still tugged at his heart.
"I'll miss you both so much," he admitted softly.
Shayera cupped his face in her hands, her eyes filled with love and pride.
"We'll miss you too, sweetie," she said, her voice gentle.
"But we're always here for you, no matter what. You can call us anytime." She paused, then added with a playful wink.
"And don't forget about that card I gave you. Consider it your emergency fund for all those latenight snacks and study breaks. Here your phone it's a new development from LX company," Shayerw said.
Zephyr chuckled, a genuine smile spreading across his face.
The moment they left Zephyr jumped on his bed grabbed his LX laptop and started looking at the classes he would be taking. Three hours later two other students five to six years old also came to the dorm Zephyr looked down at them and each of them introduced themselves.
The other two boys were named Kenji and Hiroki. Kenji was a small, energetic boy with bright, inquisitive eyes and a mop of unruly black hair. Hiroki was taller and more reserved, with a quiet demeanor and a thoughtful expression.
"Hi! I'm Kenji!" he chirped, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"It's so cool to have a dorm room! Are you good at video games?"
Hiroki offered a shy smile.
"Hello. I'm Hiroki. I like reading and drawing."
Zephyr, initially hesitant, found himself warming up to the two boys. He introduced himself and told them about his mama and sister.
"I'm Zephyr! My mama is really cool she gives me money every month," Zephyr said proudly as he showed them his LX phone.
Kenji laughed.
"My parents give me two million a month!"
"My parents also give me one million a month!" Hiroki said. Zephyr wasn't ashamed of it. His mama works so hard everyday why bother fighting over it.
"Humph his just a poor bumpkin! Wait what is your last name?" Kenji asked.
"Lafayette," Zephyr said. Both Hiroki and Kenji frowned how can that be? Forget it.
The LX Technology Dynasty was a name whispered with reverence and awe throughout the global tech landscape. Founded just eight years prior, the company had exploded onto the scene with an unprecedented flurry of groundbreaking innovations, disrupting industries and redefining what was possible. From revolutionary AI interfaces to biointegrated wearables and quantum computing breakthroughs, LX consistently pushed the boundaries of technology, earning a reputation for unparalleled ingenuity and a dizzying pace of development. What few knew, however, was that the enigmatic founder, known only as "Erick Thorne," was a carefully constructed persona adopted by Shayera Lafayette. A consequence of a fragmented past and suppressed memories, Shayera remained blissfully unaware that she was the driving force behind this technological titan. Each year brought a new wave of cuttingedge products – devices she received as "gifts" from a mysterious benefactor—and each time, she'd experience a fleeting sense of familiarity, a ghost of recognition that quickly faded, leaving her bewildered and slightly amused by the generosity of this powerful, unknown billionaire. She'd politely accept the latest marvels – selfhealing fabrics, holographic projectors, personalized nutrition synthesizers – attributing them to the eccentricities of a wealthy admirer. Little did she know that these weren't acts of charity, but rather manifestations of her own subconscious brilliance, channeled through a fractured memory and meticulously crafted corporate identity. The LX Technology Dynasty was her creation, a testament to a genius she had forgotten, and she remained oblivious to the empire built upon the foundations of her lost past.
Zephyr only knew his mama is friends with Uncle Cole and that is how they get there tech.
"My mama friend," Zephyr said.
Kenji and Hiroki exchanged bewildered glances. A "friend"? That was the explanation for possessing technology decades ahead of its time? It seemed ludicrous, even to them.
"A friend? Like... a really rich friend?" Kenji asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
Zephyr nodded earnestly.
"Yeah! Uncle Cole. He's really nice and he gives us cool stuff sometimes." He shrugged, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"He says it's important to have good tech."
Hiroki, ever the more observant of the two, noticed a subtle shift in Zephyr's demeanor – a quiet confidence that seemed to radiate from within. It was as if he genuinely believed what he was saying, and there was a certain conviction in his voice that made it hard to dismiss him as simply naive.
Zephyr recalls a duffel bag that his mama gave him last night.
She said it was gifts for his friends.
Zephyr rummaged through his duffel bag, pulling out a selection of sleek, futuristic gadgets. There were miniature holographic projectors, noisecanceling earbuds that shimmered with an iridescent glow, and personalized fitness trackers that analyzed biometric data with astonishing accuracy. Each item was clearly LX Technology, but subtly different from the models currently available to the public— prototypes and exclusive releases reserved for a select few.
He presented them to Kenji and Hiroki with a casual grin.
"Here," he said, tossing each boy a handful of the devices.
"These are for you guys. My mama said you might like them."
Kenji and Hiroki stared at the gadgets in their hands, their eyes wide with astonishment. The sheer value of the items was staggering – far exceeding anything they'd ever seen before. Even Kenji, accustomed to his family. Kenji and Hiroki family extremely wealthy but even them the origin of LX Technology Dynasty is mysterious and not everyone can get their hands on these tech ahead of time.
"Alright you are our friend!" Kenji said. Zephyr chuckled and leaned on his bed.
"Am I now?" He teased.