There Are Many Things Of This World…

In 1,017, Preut.

A kid whose life is ordinary, albeit poor, and different from other kids his age or older, unbeknownst to him, began to think differently. At first, it was more like a curiosity, but then, things became less explicable, even in his very own mind. Little by little, the kid began to feel different, too. Or, it could be said he finally felt.

Things were still as usual for him, and anyone related to him closely. He attended school and continued finishing his daily homework and doing little to nothing when returning home. Having enough luck, the kid had a computer, but only used it to watch videos and read about many things. The computer had only been with him for a couple of years, but seeing him work with it so well was one of the reasons his mother didn’t limit his time on the computer for too much.

The kid was only 10 years old, but he was skilled in craftsmanship. When he was only a few months into one of the school’s specialized courses, he managed to create a mini-version of a model of a small house that ‘beginner professionals’ would achieve after studying in a fancy university. At least after several weeks.

It was much less hectic than the original version, but it was still not something a little kid with such inexperience should have made. It could be said to be perfectly done, but it lacked the intricacies the original had. Either way, the kid became a very valuable little thing in his house because of it.

It couldn’t be said that his personal life was all good. He had a sister several years older than him and an old mother who appeared older than she should at the still not that ‘too old’ age of 77. Nevertheless, despite being the smallest child in the house, he wasn’t spoiled or even taught many things.

In a way, letting him have the computer made things easier for her, as he learned through it what he should’ve through her instead. It could be somewhat of a guilty feeling being washed by giving him such an ‘expensive’ toy, but that worked well for her, and for their family. Or so it seemed.

Unexpectedly, the kid managed to watch many horrible, unseeable things on the internet. Not by seeking it, merely by chance. One would think that things like this would happen much less after so many years of history are shared across the world, but alas…

Nevertheless, those things didn’t weird the kid out… nor scare him too much. While he was easily scared when he was a little younger by things such as darkness, playing video games too much, and seeing other people feel terrible or terrified… those things did not affect this kid. Although, he did start to watch ‘adult’ things from a very young age because of it.

But even then, that wasn’t what brought this kid, whose slight changes should have been easily noticed by those near him, let alone his mother, to a more ‘advanced’ train of thought. Like a function being discovered in his system, albeit he was no machine to be ‘fixed’, and he started to know it soon enough. He experimented with thoughts for the first time in his life.

This kid is named Phesx Caolia, a combination of words from the universal language, a commodity in one of the ‘newest’ nations in this Sanctum Order of the world. He is from the little branch family of the Caolia family, living near other such branches nearby, in the same neighborhood.

His mother, Rubena Caolia, is a 77-year-old lady. She always slouches, although how much differs depending on her state and mood of the day. But she always has time to show love to her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend, and maybe deal with her son.

She sometimes wears large, pentagonal glasses, which embarrasses her a lot. The whole family needed glasses, but only Phesx Caolia’s sister wore them the most, but that wasn’t even most of the time. Rubena Caolia has a mix of brown and white, pale skin.

His sister, Cansa Caolia, has brown skin and black hair, while Rubena already had an obscure gray long hair tied to a thick-braided ponytail. Rubena had many wrinkles, and having gone through cancer chemotherapy, her body was dragged down by its ‘secondary’ effects.

The mother used to clean and advise in other houses regarding a few things, nothing officially, but she worked well her ways. Nevertheless, at a slightly too early age, she could no longer do so, and the reasons were pretty obvious.

It did lower the income of the house, as the father, Loan Engende, still gave them alimentary pension for Phesx, while Cansa had finished her studies a few years ago already. Of course, anything about him was unknown to Phesx, who hadn’t seen him in more than 7 years, since he was 3.

But even then, as Cansa Caolia had finished her studies, she quit her job and has been living leisurely in the house. Her boyfriend, Jord, is a tall, slender, brown, and slightly older young man than Cansa.

That was the Caolia family, at least in this house. They lived in the southern rich housing residences in the Prequa section, one of Preut’s 3 sections. With the Centralized Parliament in the middle of it all.

Prequa had the largest and most elaborated farms, and one of the least-worst economies among the 3 sections. It is in the south of Preut, taking the largest amount of terrain from the 3, even comparable to the other 2 put together. Although its housing is a little scarce in comparison.

Prona, the northeastern section, has the most stable wealth in the nation state, with the once upon a time largest forest, now dying and causing quite some panic in Preut since a couple of decades ago. They had the most lavish rich residences in the nation state, and maybe overall one of the richest small residential districts in the world. That was how rich Preut was and somehow still is.

Prei, the northwestern section, had the largest population of nearly 30 million. Each section has about 1,500-1,700 square kilometers. Adding their wealth, they are rather extremely well populated in abundance, but wherever most of the money goes is another question. Most of these 3 sections are all impoverished.

The working districts, where many built their homes nearby or in between buildings at the center of each section for business and the like, is where most population lives in Preut. In comparison, Prona did best, while Prequa provided most of the essentials to Preut. Prei was more difficult to live in. One could easily see this wasn’t a paradise to live in, which was perhaps why most nations in the world warned their people of not traveling to Preut since several decades ago. Not just because of their unique wood from their one-of-a-kind trees’ withering.

However, Preut didn’t change, and life in it remained the same, more or less.

… In 1,018, Phesx Caolia started understanding things through himself and his computer. It was easy to gain access to more information on the internet, although Preut was isolated from the outside, with their own functions and methods to communicate.

Their reach with the outside world might be basically nothing, but they still had freedom and an ample variety of things to do on the internet, so they couldn’t complain. If only…

Phesx’s craftsmanship only improved, bringing himself many extra points in school because of it. The professor in charge of the specialized course was all hyped-up to bring Phesx to a future stage where he could shine. At first, he felt he found a talented kid, but after seeing what he could do with just several months of elementary training, and his innovative instinct, he was convinced to rise a star from the beginning.

Even the director became involved, cooperating with the professor to think of a few things. Their school wasn’t anything famous or even remotely seen across Prequa, let alone the rest of Preut, or the world. However, even they, who traveled outside when they were younger, knew Phesx was really something exponentially unique.

Nevertheless, as Phesx Caolia found himself and thought more and more at the age of 11, his silence became key to identify him. His resting, seemingly tired, saddened light black eyes were one of the things he became only known for, as he was practically asocial.

However, since he still showed growing capabilities, with his hands’ work amazing even some experts in the field, the professors and the school’s director didn’t bother Phesx with any questions. Counting the silence he always carries at home, nobody did anything for Phesx Caolia.

Little by little, the year went by, and Phesx Caolia turned 12. However, during the 10th to 12th month before 1,019, Phesx Caolia began seeking his mother for one sole reason. He wanted to drop out.

His mother was startled. How could he?! She had finally seen something of worth in her son, and something that many seemed to like in him. Never had Rubena been contacted by her family after she couldn’t go clean their houses anymore after chemotherapy, and without asking for some help in some matters. And now he wanted to stop it?

Rubena decisively refused. She couldn’t allow such a thing. However, Phesx Caolia insisted, something he never did before, not even when he wanted to go to the zoo, or some fair or amusement park.

Phesx was really bent on this. On the 11th month, Rubena began to show worry. Near the end of the month, she started having talks with her son’s school. She finally knew of his behavior, and how silent he was, even refusing to answer his professors after some incidents where he mumbled incoherent words before giving half-right answers.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

It wasn’t a public humiliation, not always, but it seemed to take a huge toll on her poor kid. Thus, to the school’s incessant attempts to change Phesx’s mind, or convince him and his mother, Phesx Caolia dropped out before the next year, granting Phesx Caolia’s first wish… in his life… come true. Just like that.

Although Phesx Caolia felt strangely at ease, he felt little to nothing after the fact, and simply started living with utter leisure from then on. His mother was disappointed, heavily. As a matter of fact, she barely event dealt with him, only giving him a few sentences whenever he didn’t speak first to ask for food or if his clothes and sheets could be cleaned.

The year was spent in the computer, nearly most of the day. He was well-behaved and did his chores, even sometimes washing his sister’s and her boyfriend’s dirty dishes and helping move things when Rubena cleaned the house.

It was a pretty calm life of leisure. However, how did Phesx Caolia feel all these months after dropping out? He definitely felt a weight he didn’t have to carry be lifted from himself, which helped in more than one way… But he still felt dragged down, back, and heavily.

The 1,020th year came, at last. At last…

… In 1,020, Phesx Caolia was just sitting on the sofa with the large TV on the table showing news from Lýmoca, the nation they were once part of as Preut. A few hundred years of history did a lot to the people’s mentality, so no one in Preut ever cared about such things, and from what he has seen on the internet, nobody in Lýmoca really cares as well.

“…As you can see, the elections have finally arrived. It is the first month, but many candidates have long finished their campaigns, said what they had to say, and done their part to seek everyone’s votes since last year’s semester. It’s been a strange 6-year-term, hasn’t it?”

On the TV, a decently dressed white woman spoke in a set before turning to her male co-host. The middle-aged man with short, black, curly hair smiled somewhat forcefully before looking at the camera. Everything reflected in the 13-year-old Phesx Caolia’s light black eyes.

“It has been rough, I’d say. Let’s start with the actual president, who’s fighting for his second term, something never really seen before in the country.” As soon as his words reached here, the female co-host added, “Indeed! We’ve all experienced the betrayal at the beginning of his term, directly breaking one of our nation’s most respected constitutional laws. It’s been rough…”

“It is unforgivable. What’s more, every single government branch in our country were united. Something worthy to say after a sad lack of life after the Green Transformation gradually dissipated.” The female co-host continued, “However, these last 3 years show something else. The construction of so many agricultural lands and projects, and the new reforms to let people have the freedom to build their farming lives as how it is supposed by law, have shown notorious improvement.”

“Dani…” The middle-aged man smiled helplessly and lifted his hand to signal to his co-host, but she kept looking at the camera and smiled thinly before saying, “ANS have show dissatisfaction to our president, can you believe it? After so many ‘different’ presidents, they have finally stopped treating our nation’s representative like a friend everyone knows but doesn’t acknowledge.”

“Dani.” The male co-host’s eyes widened a little. Phesx also rose his eyebrows, surprised at this ‘breaking the system’-like situation. But the female co-host still continued, with the middle-aged man starting to signal behind the cameras.

“We’ve also seen refusals from our president to the ‘bigger picture’ that has always been notoriously above us. We never saw that before, even less after they went quiet when he refused the umpteenth time they’ve ‘proposed’ building their military bases’ forces in our homes. What does anyone else think-”

“And here comes the actual President, Luis Heartez, into the presidential precinct.” The middle-aged co-host interrupted the woman, even stepping out of the desk and standing closer to the camera, hiding the woman and her surprised, widened eyes. “The elections will start just this week’s 7th day, but the entire nation is looking and- uh. Look what ravishing smile our president graces us with, haha!”

The male co-host touched his left ear and made a pleased expression before saying those words as the TV changed and showed Lýmoca’s president. He just showed his dashing smile before turning around and walking up the stairs leading to the presidential precinct’s main building.

Clapping and light cheering behind the camera aimed at the president’s back. However, Phesx felt weird, as if he could tell just how many people were behind. However, it still sounded a little loud and bountiful. He simply continued eating a simply cooked steak as he continued watching.

It was just past 6 am, and some morning lights showed in Lýmoca’s capital, but Preut was still far from it, so Phesx’s house was covered in dark even now. As the news continued, showing some international happenings around the south of the supercontinent, Phesx Caolia stood up and went to the kitchen to wash his dish.

He served himself some soda and returned to the sofa, but changed the broadcast channels to a streaming platform. However, as he changed it, he could now look at the time and realized he had been there for a few hours already.

Phesx stood up with his head down and went to the downstairs bathroom, careful to not make any noise. As he neared the obscure bathroom door, he felt like he was tumbling a little, but as usual, he went in, closed the door, and calmly turned the lights on.

As he sat down and waited, he felt his torso and head moving back and forth involuntarily. It was very negligible, but to him, it was far too obvious. His light black eyes remained unperturbed until he came out of the bathroom and resumed watching TV.

Occasionally, Phesx Caolia took his phone out and checked a few things, mainly from video games. At times, he stopped watching and played a match of something, or a few, before watching more TV.

Like this, once it was 10 AM, and he heard noises from above, Phesx Caolia returned to his room, without a door, just a curtain, and turned his crappy computer on.

Rubena Caolia came down after several minutes, with Cansa and Jord also coming downstairs about 5 minutes later. Sound started from the kitchen and living room, to which Phesx Caolia put his headphones on and some loud music of his little mind’s taste before starting reading something with unperturbed eyes.

… Somewhere in the afternoon, Phesx Caolia finally stood up and exited his bedroom, moving the curtain a little to directly step into the living room. His mother was in the kitchen, talking with Cansa about things like when their clothes would be ready, and if Cansa was going out. He directly went to the bathroom and took a piss before washing his hands.

Phesx Caolia stopped and looked at himself in the small mirror. At 13 years old, Phesx Caolia is 1.70 meters tall, has light brown skin, light black eyes, and a mix of black and brown strand colors for hair. His hair is naturally strangely shaped.

His left side is easy to comb backwards, more than it already naturally does. While the right side has similar properties, it is smooth and flat, unlike the left side, which is a little resistant to any accommodation.

After looking at himself in the mirror with ripple-less eyes, perfectly seeing his reflection like always, he dove his head down and washed his face for nearly half a minute before drying his hands on a towel and coming out. He directly went to his bedroom and dried his face with his towel there. It was just another day.

Phesx Caolia returned to his computer and continued his daily activities. Somewhere around 8 pm, he checked his curtain was well-closed before sitting in his chair, lowering his pants as he looked at the screen, showing no change. Unperturbed.

At last, when it was 10 pm, he left the computer and went to bed. It had been a few hours with no one coming down, and everyone had already dinned. Thus, he roped himself in his bedsheets in tranquility. Yet, just 2 minutes later, 2 people came downstairs.

With loud, slapping footsteps on the floor, they started the stove and clanked frying pans and spatulas nonstop for a minute before things became a little silent. However, that is when kissing noises and slight movement body-to-body began sounding.

In his bedroom, Phesx Caolia’s light black eyes, which opened the moment he heard them coming down, looked at the empty air in front.

They continued kissing ‘silently’ and moving things around, opening and closing the fridge, much to Phesx Caolia’s senses, causing irritation each time any sound went off. After 15 minutes, cooking sounds were finally emitted, giving him some relief that they were at least progressing. Even if it was amidst kisses and coy, playful, child-like voices from his sister and ‘tender’ responses from his future brother-in-law.

After they finished cooking, Phesx Caolia next had to endure his sister’s eating, whose chomping and swallowing sounds reverberated from the living room’s table to his ears. They put the TV on, loud, and laughed off with the occasional screams and sudden, sharp noises from what seemed to be their comedy show. Then, they spent an hour and a half on the sofa, talking and whatnot.

Considering she was 5 years older than him, and gained many opportunities with their mother using most of the pension’s money to give Cansa many special routes to a quicker education. That she was now using every day of her life since a few years ago to do nothing and play with her boyfriend should’ve made Phesx Caolia disappointed, but to him, it just seemed fitting. Even though he quit school first.

… The next day, Phesx Caolia woke up at 4 am and directly went to his computer. He watched a Dawnoon before going to the kitchen to prepare himself something to eat. He was silent and slow, cautious to not make any sound that may irritate him.

‘Ah, I forgot again.’ Phesx Caolia thought before letting the frying pan heat up on the stove and walked to the living room to turn the TV on, but stopped midway and turned to the bathroom. There, his eyes widened, as his head raised a little. He was looking at the floor no more after turning around in a hurry.

Phesx Caolia continued walking to the bathroom, but stopped at a long mirror set on a wall before the door. He stopped and looked at himself in the darkness, as much as he could. Just 1 second later, he felt like something’s mouth and nose were just behind his neck and the back of his head. His eyes seemed to catch the image of another dark face, hidden and larger than his, just behind him. But it was different to what he ‘felt’ was behind him.

He had sensed a large neck and an eyeless, non-humanoid head with large teeth behind him. Yet, his eyes and ‘senses’ were all different, they have always been.

Some tendrils came out from that hidden face, but Phesx Caolia remained unmoving. The tendrils seemed to slid through the hidden face’s ‘skin’, moving onto his face’s temples and forehead. They moved a little, as if to make him look at them, and seemed disgusting.

It didn’t help that Phesx Caolia’s eyesight suddenly allowed him to see his face nearly clearly. Slowly, and like a robot, Phesx Caolia moved his eyes downwards until he looked at the floor in front of his feet.

A few minutes later, or perhaps more, Phesx Caolia felt he wasn’t near anything and slowly and calmly moved to the bathroom. His tired eyes didn’t dilate, nor did their contents shrink after turning the lights on, and they even seemed to bounce like a resisting light black bubble jumping around a pearly white pool…

Phesx Caolia sat on the toilet and supported his head with his back bending a lot. He closed his eyes, but immediately opened them afterwards, having just been ‘flashed’ with numerous, clam, inhuman eyes again. He soundlessly sighed, helpless… before closing his eyes again.

…

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Let It Rain's note: Phesx -> Phes - ex.

This is the beginning of Volume 1 — When Does A Man Become A Monster?