Chapter 4

As there was little motivation on Bell's part to do another grueling day on slashed pay, she slept in and got up at around ten. There was nothing in the fridge for breakfast. Oh well. It's practically lunch, anyway.

She slipped on her worn sneakers and headed out. The third-floor hallway of her apartment block was quiet, save for the soft hum of the automated cleaning drone sweeping the floor. The smell of yesterday's takeout lingered faintly in the air, a mix of fried oil and soy-based sauce.

Her objective was a short walk away, located in a small, fragrant alcove by the entrance to the skybridge. It was one of Kaleido’s ubiquitous Nutriprint Stations, sleek and utilitarian with its glossy, white paneling and a touch interface that blinked cheerfully at her approach.

"Welcome! Fuel Your Day with NutriPrint!" chirped the machine in its chirpy, synthetic voice.

Bellina scanned her card and winced as the balance flashed on the screen—barely enough for a meal upgrade. She scrolled through the options, her finger pausing briefly over items like Soy-Sculpted Pancakes and Ginger-Spiced Dumplings, and in the other page were fancy nonfood (such as the latest model of iGlasses). Everything in the vendo were out of reach. A few were tantalizingly close but still unaffordable.

She rummaged in her pouch for the vendo card. It already had a couple tiny nicks from the two years since she had purchased it for new and the ten or so times she had it recharged. Geh. There mustn't be a lot of credits left over. She would probably only get some sweet goop, the lowest of low among the artificial meals 3D-printed by the vending machine.

Not that the food looked or felt or tasted fake, far from it. The offshore platforms owned by the city government cultured all kinds of cells—plant, animal, fungal, bacterial, or otherwise chemically synthesized any and all of the basic compounds for all food, indeed, for practically any consumer item of any brand. These raw materials were loaded onto cartridges for vendos and shipped to the cities.

The machine whirred and hummed as it printed her meal, Sweet Nutrigoop (Original Flavor), layer by meticulous layer. Bellina leaned against the side of the hub, her stomach growling as she stared at the spinning graphic on the screen.

She reminded herself, as she always did, that the food wasn’t bad. Nutriprint tech was leagues ahead of the world’s older, clunkier attempts at artificial meals. Each serving was perfectly balanced for nutrition, texture, and even taste. But there was something inherently demoralizing about knowing your breakfast had been extruded out of a nozzle.

With a cheerful ding, the dispenser slot slid open, revealing a small, glossy container. Inside was a smooth, golden paste that shimmered faintly under the light—Sweet Nutrigoop in all its artificially perfected glory.

Bellina grabbed a disposable spoon from the side compartment and plopped down on a nearby bench. She took a cautious bite. The goop was warm and sweet, with a faint hint of caramel and something vaguely citrusy. If she closed her eyes, she could almost imagine it was real custard from some fancy café.

But as she opened her eyes, the view of Kaleido’s bustling mid-morning streets reminded her where she really was. Workers in sharp suits and flowing robes rushed past her, their holographic wristbands blinking with incoming updates. Delivery drones buzzed overhead, zipping between the towering apartment blocks and skyways. Even the children playing on the curb seemed unnervingly efficient, trading collectible holo-cards with swift, calculated precision.

Bellina sighed, taking another bite of her goop. It was all so... Kaleido. Perfectly efficient, endlessly moving, and utterly exhausting.

One fine morning over a year ago, her father showed her a wedding dress.

Bellina could not believe her eyes. "But Dad..." she muttered, almost to herself, "I just turned eighteen."

"Exactly. You see if the color suits you. Leave the matchmaking to your Ma and me."

Bellina’s heart was pounding. The soft, creamy fabric shimmered in the morning sunlight in contrast to their modest country home. She didn’t even have to try it on to know it was beautiful—delicate lace trimming the bodice, a skirt that seemed to ripple like water. It was the kind of dress she might have dreamed about as a little girl.

But now, the sight of it filled her with something far heavier than wonder.

“Dad, I...” she hesitated, her voice faltering.

"This is for your future, Bell," he said firmly, his tone unyielding. "Your Ma and I have been talking. Raffy is a good boy. Hardworking. He’ll take care of you."

Bellina clenched her fists, her gaze darting between her father’s expectant expression and the dress. "I'm out of high school already."

With unimpressive grades, the man thought to add, but he was sure the girl already knew. Her father’s brows furrowed. "Bellina, It’s time to think about what’s best for your future."

She felt the weight of the moment pressing down on her chest. The narrow room seemed smaller, the walls closing in.

"No," she mumbled. "No, Dad, I... I’m not ready for this. I don’t want to be tied down—not now, maybe not ever. I want to make something of myself first. I want to..."

Her words trailed off as her father’s stern gaze softened into something gentler but no less resolute.

"You’re young," he said, quieter now. "You think the world will bend to your will. But life isn’t kind to those who dream too big, Bell. It’s better to anchor yourself before the storm comes."

Bellina’s hands trembled, but she stood her ground, her voice steady despite the tears brimming in her eyes. "I just applied for a job in Kaleido. I’ll work hard. I’ll make enough money to take care of you and Ma and myself. I’ll be successful, Dad. I promise."

Her father stared at her for a long moment, then let out a heavy sigh. "The city’s no place for dreamers, Bell," he said, shaking his head.

Her parents talked about it over the table some more. Finally,

"If this is what you want... go. Just don’t forget where you come from."

She nodded, clutching his words to her breast like a memento.

Now, sitting on a cold bench with a paper container emptied of sweet goop in her hands, Bellina couldn’t help but think back to that day. The weight of her promise felt heavier than ever, pressing against her like the relentless pace of Kaleido itself.

The city’s no place for dreamers, Bell.

When she’d first arrived in Kaleido, the city had dazzled her. Back then, her resolve had been unshakable.

But now?

Bellina glanced around the bustling plaza. A couple walked past, their arms draped in handcrafted shopping bags from luxury boutiques she could only dream of entering. A street performer juggled glowing orbs, drawing a small crowd with his dexterity. Delivery drones buzzed overhead, zipping from one skyscraper to the next like busy insects.

It was easy to feel small here.

She got the purse Reena had just given her. It was beautiful.

Well. I got a handmade item, too. I'm kinda rich already, no? I can get even richer.

Bellina tossed the empty container into the recycling slot of the vending hub and stood, brushing imaginary dust off her jacket.

Alright, Kaleido, she thought, staring up at the towering skyline. You haven’t beaten me yet.