In the heart of the still darkness, inside an abandoned shop with walls eroded by time and neglect, Nir moved like a faint shadow between the decaying shelves. The stench of dust and rust was stifling, and the sound of his quiet footsteps over the debris provided the only rhythm in that cold void. His hands, clad in black gloves, searched desperately through empty containers for any canned food that might have escaped the looters—anything to satisfy the hunger that had become his constant companion.
Suddenly, the silence shattered. It wasn't the sound of falling rubble, but a distorted, raspy human voice dripping with loathsome mockery:
"Looks like I've found a lost rat in here... I thought I'd lost my way, but it seems I've stumbled upon an unexpected feast."
Nir froze. His hand didn't tremble; instead, it slowly clenched. He turned his lean frame, his eyes gleaming coldly behind his glasses, to face the source of the voice. From the wreckage of the shelves emerged a nauseating creature; a massive body covered in a thick, cracked crust resembling dead bark. From its shoulders sprouted four long, pointed arms like spider legs, crawling across the floor with a sickening screech.
Nir fixed his gaze on the monster and, in a low voice carrying a deadly steadiness, whispered to himself:
"I didn't expect to encounter a Fros monster in this place... but it seems the time has come to act quickly."
In that critical moment, memory swept Nir backward, to a time when the sun rose without fear.
He was walking with confident strides outside the Science Center, zipping his bag after submitting his final research papers. The city was buzzing with life; the sounds of cars, the laughter of passersby, and a clear blue sky that gave no hint of the imminent collapse.
"Brother! Are you finished at the center?"
The voice came, cheerful and refreshing, from a distance. He turned to find Aika running toward him with her signature smile. She was fifteen, glowing in her elegant school uniform—a black blazer with shiny buttons, a crisp white shirt with a sharp collar, and a dark tie that gave her a serious look despite her vitality. Her long brown hair was tied in a high ponytail that swayed with every step, while her red eyes radiated a sharp intelligence and an unmistakable brotherly warmth.
Nir smiled, his grim features softening slightly before his sister's energy:
"Yes, and I should hear back soon. My research on mirrors piqued their interest in a way I didn't expect. And what about you, Aika? What's your news?"
She answered enthusiastically, holding up her small bag with pride:
"I've been accepted into the Physics Center! They loved my small project, and I'll start working with them soon. I'm so happy!"
Nir laughed and patted her shoulder with warm confidence:
"That's wonderful, Aika! I knew you'd do it... but get ready, I'm going to outdo you in research this time!"
Her delicate laughter rang out as she moved away to catch up with her friends:
"Yeah, yeah... we'll see about that! Good luck, brother!"
Nir waved as he watched her silhouette fade, then continued walking, his thoughts sinking into the secret that no one knew but him.
(I don't know how or why, but something attached itself to me one day... a strange silver gelatinous substance, like a piece of living mercury. I discovered later that I no longer saw mirrors the way others did. This "Slime" that I control... I can shape it as I wish: a sword that cuts stone, an axe that shatters bone, or even a portal to cross into another world through the surface of a mirror... It was an amazing ability, useful, yet still terrifying in this broken world.)
When Nir entered his modest home, exhaustion had claimed his soul before his body. He threw himself onto the bed, letting out a long sigh from deep within, as if trying to expel the ghosts of the past that attacked him whenever he settled into stillness.
His wandering gaze rested on the faded ceiling of the room as he drifted into painful memories:
(I was only nine years old when my father decided to break everything... he ran away and left my mother drowning in a sea of never-ending debt. He did it coldly, simply because he chose another woman over his family.)
He closed his eyes tightly, as if the images were manifesting before him:
(My mother... that patient woman who was worn out by the struggle to pay off those cursed debts, until the bloom of her youth withered away. Aika and I weren't looking for luxury; we were just trying to survive. After four years of misery, the nightmare of debt finally lifted, and Aika's brilliance began to shine when she was thirteen. With the support of family welfare programs, we thought life had finally smiled upon us... but peace in this world is nothing more than a short breather for a warrior.)
His heart tightened as he remembered the end:
(Then came "Saba"... that mysterious disease that eats away at the bodies of those whose veins lack Mana. In this era, Mana has become the vital fuel, and its absence means the soul slowly flickers out. My mother passed away and left us, and since then we've been trying to rise from the ashes.)
The train of his thoughts was cut by the sound of the door opening, followed by a vibrant call:
"I'm back, brother!"
It was Aika. She kicked off her shoes and entered the room to find Nir stretched out, his body spent. She approached him and remarked in a playful, childish tone:
"Haven't you prepared the food yet? My stomach is screaming after that grueling basketball practice!"
Nir sat up slowly, a slight smile forming on his lips despite the fatigue:
"The food is ready on the table, Aika. You can start. I just need a moment to gather my strength."
She crossed her arms and pouted playfully:
"I won't eat a single bite without you, and you know it!"
Nir sighed deeply, but it was a sigh of contentment this time:
"Alright, alright... you're never easy. I'm coming."
Her cheerful laughter echoed as she headed to the kitchen:
"That's what I like to hear!"
Before leaving the room, Nir stood for a few seconds in front of the mirror. He stared at his reflection, at his eyes which hid so much, and whispered to himself in wonder:
"I don't know why... but I've become obsessed with reflections, as if I'm searching for some truth behind the glass."
At the table, the two sat exchanging conversation. Nir asked as he raised his spoon:
"Tell me, what's the latest on your 'great' project?"
She answered, her eyes shining with sharp intelligence:
"I'm currently studying the molecular bond between Energy and Mana. I believe, brother, that if we succeed in merging them, we could generate inexhaustible power—a power that could change the face of the world!"
Nir laughed softly and joked:
"As usual... you never stop being obsessed with complex science."
She responded with a similar laugh, then asked with interest:
"And you? Have you received a response regarding your research on the mirror transport system?"
Nir sighed slightly:
"Not yet... but I still dream of that system. Imagine, traveling between cities in seconds through reflective portals."
She said lightly:
"Imagine getting to school in the blink of an eye! But honestly, I'd prefer if they invented a cure for aging first!"
Nir teased her, saying:
"Talking about aging when you're only fifteen? What a little old lady you are!"
Suddenly, a heavy silence fell. Aika's movement stopped. She stared at her plate, and tears began to fall onto her food like broken pearls. She raised her hand to cover her face and said in a voice choked with sobs:
"How I wish... my mother were here now... to see what I've achieved, and to be proud of us..."
Nir didn't hesitate for a moment. He stood up, approached her, and pulled her head to his chest with fatherly tenderness:
"I know, Aika. The pain is deep... but trust completely that she is watching us from heaven, and her pride in you transcends the boundaries of this world."
Aika surrendered to her crying in his arms until her fear subsided and sleep overcame her from emotional exhaustion. Nir carried her gently, placed her in her bed, and tucked her in. He stood at the door, whispering bitterly:
"Even if a cure for aging existed, Aika, it wouldn't save someone being eaten by 'Saba'... because it doesn't steal years; it steals the very essence of life."
He returned to his room and turned off the lights, plunging the place into a lonely darkness, muttering:
"Anyway... I must sleep. Tomorrow does not wait for the weary."
The next morning, Aika regained her usual vitality. She put on her school uniform, stood at the door adjusting her shoes, and shouted:
"I'm going, brother! See you later!"
He replied with a calm smile:
"Go safely. Take care of yourself."
After she left, Nir sat eating his simple breakfast, his eyes glued to the TV screen. The news anchor was speaking in an anxious tone:
"Reports have come in of a mysterious earthquake at an elementary school. The strange thing is the total lack of injuries or obvious structural damage..."
Nir stopped eating and knit his brows:
"An earthquake with no injuries? That's not natural... it seems fate has another surprise in store for us."
Nir left the house and headed to his job at the construction site. The place was noisy; the sound of hammers was deafening, and cement dust filled the lungs. Nir worked harder than his peers.
The supervisor approached him, satisfaction written on his face:
"Great work as usual, Nir! You're the best person I've hired—incredible discipline and speed. Keep it up!"
Nir offered a faint smile while saying to himself:
(Everyone sees my physical strength, but they don't know that this silver 'Slime' latent in my body is what gives me this stability. I chose this grueling work because despite my love for technology, I feel I belong to this physical world more than the complexities of screens.)
As the sun set, Nir wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed in relief:
"Finally... the day is over."
He went to his employer, saying with poise:
"Sir, I've finished my tasks for today. May I receive my wages?"
The man handed him a handful of cash with a wide smile:
"Of course, my boy. You deserve every penny. Don't be late tomorrow; your presence makes the work go smoothly."
Nir thanked him and left, with only one thought in his mind: returning to the world of mirrors that awaited him.