We were falling, unsure of where we were headed, but everything around us was wet. I held onto Lyra with all my strength and, when I could, grabbed Kiomi's hand to cling to her. Darkness. Fear. That’s what this reminded me of.

After a while, we finally emerged from that place and fell straight to the ground. I protected Lyra, landing first and letting her fall on top of me.

—Are you okay? — she asked, sitting up.

—Yes, I’m fine, — I said with a reassuring smile to keep her calm. —Is everyone okay?—

—Yes, — Kio answered, a bit overwhelmed, in her usual tone.

—We’re fine, — Kiomi added, holding Kio tightly in her arms.

I looked around. This place was completely different from what we were used to. Skyscrapers were everywhere, towering and made of glass. It was daytime, the sun shining high in the sky, though we were in an alleyway. But even from there, the change was obvious.

I walked a bit out of the alley to get a better look at our surroundings. Everything was so strange. The streets were bustling; people were walking and chatting, and the noise was overwhelming. Cars honked as they passed by, lights flickered everywhere, and no one seemed to pay attention to anything but themselves.

As I stood there, overwhelmed by the scene, some people started looking at me. At first, I couldn’t figure out why. Then, it hit me: it was my clothes. Everyone was dressed in fine, lightweight clothing, while I was clad in a metal armor, soaking wet. Quickly, I retreated back into the alley.

—We should head to the place Thailon told us to find, — I said.

—You’re right, — Kiomi replied as she dried everyone off.

We stepped out of the alley again. People continued to stare at us, which felt increasingly strange.

—Excuse me…— we tried asking some passersby for help, but they only gave us odd looks and walked away. This was going to be complicated.

Finally, a group of kind strangers, dressed a bit differently, approached us and asked for a “photo.” After that, they kindly helped us find the place. Apparently, a café called "Song of the Tree" wasn’t very common around here.

Even so, we were still soaked, in an unfamiliar place, and without any real support. I hoped there would actually be someone there to help us.

On the way, it was the same as before: everything was new to us, but somehow, we managed to get there. It was a rather beautiful place, and unlike the surrounding buildings, it had a touch of Ilmenor. Quite noticeable.

As we approached the door, it opened on its own. What kind of magic could they have used to make that happen? The interior felt strangely familiar. Everything in this world seemed odd and foreign, but inside, it didn’t.

The place was almost empty, with only two people cleaning.

—Sorry, but we’re about to close. I’d appreciate it if you left…— a man said as he turned to look at us.

The moment he saw us, something changed. He became visibly startled.

—Dear, close the shop right now! —

—Right away! — his wife replied, hurriedly shutting all the curtains and the door, leaving us alone inside.

—Isn’t it a bit early to close up shop? — I asked.

—It doesn’t matter. Come, take a seat. —

We sat at a nearby table, and they kindly offered us drinks.

—Now, tell me…— he began, his expression filled with fear or dread, as though he knew something terrible had just happened. “What exactly happened?”

—Before explaining, let me ask you something. Are you a friend or acquaintance of Thailon Valandil? —

—Yes, — he said, getting up from the table to retrieve something. —Thailon and I were very close friends. —

What he brought back was none other than a photo of himself and Thailon when they were younger. I was stunned. He looked so incredibly young—our age, even.

—He looks so…—

—Young, — Kiomi interrupted me, tears in her eyes. —Do you mind if I keep it? —

—Go ahead. This is just a copy; I have plenty more. —

Kiomi looked genuinely happy. It was a beautiful memory of Thailon. And the only one.

—So, — Alexander said in a more serious tone, —tell me, what exactly happened? —

We proceeded to explain everything in detail. We started with how we kept Kiomi away so we could prepare to celebrate her birthday. Upon hearing this part, Kiomi broke into tears, realizing that everything we had done was for her, a surprise that had gone horribly wrong.

Once she recovered, we continued. We explained about the soldiers and ended with where we were now.

—I see. I’m so sorry, — Alexander said.

—Dear, I think we should get them a change of clothes for now, — Mei suggested.

—You’re right. By the way, I haven’t introduced myself. My name is Alexander, and this is my wife, Mei. —

—A pleasure to meet you, — Mei said kindly.

—My name is Zein, this lively young girl here is Lyra, the sleeping raccoon over there is Kio, and this is Kiomi. —

—Nice to meet you all. —

Without delay, they offered to go to a store and get us some clothes while we dried off. We stayed behind in the café, sitting in silence. We were still processing everything that had happened.

Kiomi held the photo tightly in her hands, Lyra clung to my hand with a firm grip, and Kio was simply asleep. Her carefree attitude annoyed me a little.

The clothes they brought back were thin, light, and colorful. They didn’t seem ideal, but they were comfortable.

—Listen, — Alexander sighed. —Thailon had prepared a plan in case something like this happened. He set up an account with funds in his name, all for you and Lyra’s treatment. Mei and I will help you in every way we can to settle in here. We’ll explain everything. —

After that, they explained how their world worked: its governance, customs, a bit of history, culture, laws, and etiquette, everything we needed to blend in, to avoid drawing attention, to stay hidden.

They left us alone for a while to process and come to terms with everything that had happened. Personally, I tried to find a place where I could gather as much information as possible. Luckily, Alexander had a membership at a local library, so I headed there.

When I arrived, I grabbed every book I could find, a huge stack.

The culture, the history, the politics, the emotions, the technology... Everything about this world amazed me. It was beyond anything I could have imagined back where I came from.

One book in particular caught my eye: "The 5 AM Club." The title seemed odd and didn’t interest me much, but then I read a sentence...

—Change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and beautiful at the end. —

Those words struck a chord in me. Change… The situation we’ve been through is unimaginable. I don’t even know if we’ll be able to move forward. It all happened so suddenly.

I should have stayed with Kiomi. Been there for her. Comforted her. This must be incredibly hard for her, especially on her birthday.

—And what about you? — That voice again, tormenting me… But what do I feel? I lost everything and everyone in just a few days, twice. And it seems like it doesn’t even affect me. There are so many problems that I haven’t even stopped to think about myself.

I feel pain. A deep, gnawing pain in my chest. I feel overwhelmed by my inability to act, by how useless I’ve been. I could have done more. That phrase keeps echoing in my head as I torture myself with the image of Thailon on his deathbed.

Will I be able to move forward? Yes, yes, I will. But… how? How will I endure this?

I decided to get some fresh air and went back to the café. When I arrived, I saw Kiomi on her knees, seemingly in the middle of a panic attack. She was crying and screaming Thailon’s name, clutching the photo desperately.

I tried to approach her, but she drew her short sword to keep me away, as if she didn’t want any help. I grabbed the blade with my bare hands—even if it cut me, it didn’t matter. I took the sword from her, knelt down, and embraced her.

I held her as tightly as I could, feeling her body trembling in my arms. For a moment, she stayed still, motionless. But then, after a brief pause, she dropped the photo and clung to me desperately. She broke down in tears—such a deep, heart-wrenching cry that it tore at my soul.

—Don’t worry, Kiomi, — I tried to console her, my voice breaking. —You still have me, Kio, and Lyra. We’re all here for you. You’re not alone. —

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

We stayed there on the floor, holding each other as the pain engulfed us, trying to process what had happened. We felt completely overwhelmed, but at least, in that moment, we knew we had each other.

Once she calmed down a bit, Mei accompanied her to a room she had prepared for her so she could rest.

I… I had to think about how to survive in this world, how to move forward.

—Alexander. —

—What is it? —

—I know we’ve just met, and you’ve already done so much for us, but… please, let us work here! We want to help you, repay you for everything you’ve done for us, and earn some money. I promise we won’t be a burden, and…—

—Don’t worry, — he interrupted, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “You’re not a burden. Of course, you can work here. You don’t owe me anything. Think of this as a favor I owed Thailon.”

His words brought me a small sense of relief.

—Zein, — Lyra called out, her voice trembling.

—What’s wrong? —

—I… I don’t feel well, — she said, and suddenly, she started coughing, coughing a lot.

I rushed to her side to help her, but then I noticed something, she was coughing up blood.

My heart stopped for a moment.

Without a second thought, Alexander and I ran as fast as we could to the nearest hospital. Thankfully, there weren’t many people there, so they were able to attend to Lyra right away.

First Thailon, and now this with Lyra… why is everything happening so fast? I don’t know how much more I can take.

The doctors told us that while it seemed serious, Lyra’s condition wasn’t as bad as we initially feared. She had stabilized, and although her illness was quite rare, there were documented cases, and they knew how to treat it. However, she would have to spend the night in the hospital, and they would give us the medication the following day.

Completely overwhelmed, I decided to stay at the hospital that night, but before that, I felt the need to step out and get some air.

—Damn, I need something to destress, — I thought, feeling the crushing weight of everything that had happened. Everything was moving so fast, and I just needed a way to disconnect.

As I walked through what seemed to be the city center, I heard a commotion. A large crowd had gathered, and I moved closer to see what was going on. As I approached, I froze in place at the sight before me.

A massive orc stood at the center of the scene, yelling at the top of his lungs. Although he wasn’t attacking anyone, his rage was palpable. In one of his enormous hands, he held a young girl, probably a few years younger than me. She looked disheveled, showing no fear, but her eyes were empty, lost.

The orc kept shouting, demanding the presence of the city’s leaders and calling for the strongest fighters. But something on his shoulder caught my attention, a tattoo of a black sun.

—Just what I needed, — I thought.

I didn’t hesitate for a second. I launched myself toward the massive orc, leaping through the air and landing right above the crowd surrounding him. In one swift motion, I drew my swords. To anyone watching, it would seem as if they had materialized out of thin air.

With a single, precise strike, I severed the monster’s hand, freeing the young girl trapped in his grip.

Before she could fall to the ground, I caught her firmly in my arms, making sure she was safe. Without wasting a moment, I turned on my heel and, summoning all the energy I could muster, launched myself at the orc again.

A surge of energy coursed through my blades as I swung them in a devastating arc, slicing the monster cleanly in two, from head to torso. Still reeling, the orc had no time to react before, with one precise movement, I severed his head in a clean cut.

As soon as the creature hit the ground, I moved away with the girl as quickly as possible to avoid drawing any attention.

When I set her down, she didn’t say anything at first. I turned to leave, but before I could walk away, she grabbed me by the shirt.

—Hey, before you go, — her voice sounded hollow, as if she didn’t quite know what to say, —Could you… could you tell me your name? —

I was taken aback. Such a simple gesture, yet her question seemed to carry a universe of unspoken things.

—S… sure, my name’s Zein. What about you? —

—Naoko! My name’s Naoko! — she exclaimed, sounding nervous. —Thank you so much for saving me. —

I noticed something, those cold, empty eyes I had seen just moments ago were gone. Now they were full of life, and a radiant smile lit up her face.

I quickly turned away and headed back to the hospital, where I spent the night, my first night outside of Ilmenor in so long.

The next day, we were allowed to take Lyra out of the hospital. She looked lively, just like her usual self. When we arrived, I saw Kiomi again. She seemed calmer, even somewhat happy. Lyra, relieved, threw herself into Kiomi’s arms, hugging her with a big smile. A small smile crept onto my face as well.

We decided, along with Mei and Alexander, that Kiomi and I would work at their place for an indefinite period, maybe even forever. Who could say?

That same day, the café opened. Little by little, customers started coming in—mostly regulars, by the looks of it.

Then, I saw someone familiar. It was the girl I had saved before, but she looked different now.

Her hair had a unique style, deep blue with lighter highlights that seemed to shimmer as she moved. The asymmetrical, messy cut fell in strands that framed her face effortlessly. A small tuft at the top curved upward rebelliously, defying any attempt at order.

She wore an oversized black jacket, the kind that wraps the wearer in cozy warmth. Underneath, she had on a fitted white turtleneck sweater—perfect for the cold weather this time of year. Her outfit was completed with a pleated black skirt, giving her a modern yet refined look.

When she saw me, she smiled and walked toward me cheerfully.

—I can’t believe it! — Naoko exclaimed with a radiant, playful smile. Her slightly flushed cheeks accentuated her youthful and cheerful appearance, while her eyes, closed in pure happiness, conveyed sincere joy. —You work here? No way! —

—Naoko, right? — I felt a little overwhelmed by her barrage of enthusiastic questions. —I’m glad you’re okay. —

—Come on, let’s sit down. It’s fine, right? Let’s talk for a while, — she said, grabbing my hand and dragging me to a table.

I glanced at Alexander to see if it was okay, and all I got was a thumbs-up and a wink.

We ended up talking for a good while. Honestly, it was pretty fun chatting with her, even though we barely knew each other. She told me a bit about herself—she was two years younger than me, 19 to my 21.

—How are you so strong? Tell me! —

—Well, I…—

—Don’t deny it! Come on, I saw you slice that thing up in three hits! That’s amazing! —

—Well…— I blushed a little. It wasn’t often someone praised my fighting skills.

Just then, Kiomi interrupted us, for some reason looking a bit annoyed.

—Zein. —

—What’s up? —

—I need your help. More and more customers are coming in, and I can’t handle it alone. —

I looked around and saw she was right. The café was unexpectedly packed, something Alexander had said wasn’t all that common.

—Alright, I’ll be there in a minute. —

She walked off with a slightly unsettling smile on her face.

—Well, I have to get to work. —

—Don’t worry; it’s my fault for keeping you here in the first place. —

—By the way, you haven’t ordered anything. Do you want me to bring you something?—

—Oh, that’s right! Then bring me a latte, please. —

—Right away. —

When I got to the kitchen with her order, the place was packed to the brim. Mei and Alexander were working nonstop, and Kiomi was darting back and forth.

—Zein, glad you’re here, — Mei said, pointing to several tables. —There are three coffees for that table over there, and these others are for that one. —

—Got it. Oh, and someone also ordered a latte. —

—Sure thing, I’ll have it ready in a moment. —

The rest of the day, we kept working without a break. After a while, I realized why the café was so crowded. Apparently, word had spread about a stunning woman with elf ears working in a charming little café. Yes, Kiomi’s beauty had drawn in the customers.

By the end of the day, we were all exhausted. It had been a very busy day, and it was likely the days ahead would be the same.

I stayed chatting with Alexander for a bit while Kiomi rested, as she’d been the one who worked the hardest that day.

—Zein. —

—What is it? —

—What did you do to that young lady? —

—What are you talking about? —

—I mean, the young lady you were talking to. —

—Naoko? I don’t think I did anything. —

—Well, maybe you don’t realize it, but she used to be a completely different person. Honestly, I was surprised to see her like that today. You know, she’s actually been a regular customer here for as long as I can remember. —

—Really? —

—Yes, but she used to look different. She seemed depressed, like she had no will to live, and her eyes were empty. —

That reminded me of how I’d seen her that day.

—Maybe you’re right. —

—Well, I don’t blame her. After all, she’s from the Clouded Generation, and I’m from the Noise Generation. —

—Why the Clouded Generation? —

—You’ve never read about that, have you? —

—No. —

—Well, let me explain. —

He began explaining. Apparently, in the year 2028, a war broke out—the infamous Third World War. I’d read in history books about pivotal moments where it nearly happened before, but for some reason, it didn’t occur until that year.

In this war, two factions faced off: one led by the United States of America and the other by Russia and China. The war lasted for eight years until a coalition of nations, known as the New Republic—formed by former countries involved in the war—began invading those still fighting to bring the conflict to an end.

However, as expected, the worst happened. Three nations ended up using nuclear weapons. Further nuclear attacks were prevented thanks to the efforts of the New Republic’s armed forces. The bombs were dropped on several strategic locations, leaving deep scars on the world.

Today, the New Republic spans all of North America, parts of Central America, parts of Asia, the southern half of Africa, all of Oceania, and parts of Europe.

But the horrors of nuclear weapons and their fallout lasted for years. From the year the war ended (2036) until just two years ago (2048), radiation lingered in the air. Although not at catastrophic levels, a nuclear winter was averted thanks to a fungus that feeds on radiation. During those 11 years, the population had to wear masks and anti-radiation suits to avoid the effects. Many people died after the war, and others took their own lives. Countless fell into depression. That’s why there are two generations: the Noise Generation (those who fought in the war, like Alexander) and the Clouded Generation (those who endured the horrors left in its wake).

That left me deeply shaken. I hadn’t realized that had happened here. I had some understanding of what nuclear bombs could do, but I didn’t think it was this devastating.

—Now you’re making me feel bad for treating her like that, you know? — said Kiomi, who had been listening the entire time.

—But that’s the harsh reality. —

—And I have a question, which country are we in right now? — I asked.

—We’re in the New Republic, in the North American zone. —

—I see. —

It was quite shocking, but there was nothing I could do about it. After all, that war had happened 21 years ago.

The days passed, and the customers kept coming in, more and more each day. Naoko arrived at the café punctually every day, and even when we were about to close, she’d come back to chat. She became a good friend to practically everyone: to Kiomi, to Lyra, to me, to Alexander, to Mei, and to Kio, who, when meeting Kio, a talking tanuki, didn’t seem too startled.

The days were lovely and beautiful, though the cold was getting closer and closer.