Prologue: And Still, I Remain

I have reached an age that many consider a turning point in life. Or so people would like to say.

In the merciless heat of summer, most people confined themselves to their homes or the library, tirelessly preparing for final exams, their fates steered by a society where wealth and power reigned supreme.

— But not me.

I spent my precious time walking in solitude along a dirt path that led to a secluded part of the woods, where dense green thorny bushes and long, sharp red vines grew, a place where sunlight scarcely penetrated. The air was thick with the steady, droning cries of cicadas, echoing through the trees like a relentless summer chorus.

— Well, that was not always the case...

I remember it well, last year, when I first ventured into this strange area. I was very cautious then, constantly glancing over my shoulder. The rustle of fleeing hares in the bushes, the sudden flutter of birds overhead, and the faint scent of unfamiliar flowers along the narrow trail kept my senses sharp and alert.

But it was not this strange path that I came to cherish. Further ahead stood two trees, their branches curving towards each other, which formed a perfect archway, almost like an entrance...

To a vast sea of beige and green.

There, golden wheat and grass swayed gently to the rhythm of the wind. In the very centre stood a solitary tree, while its distant peers scattered as if encircling and protecting their queen, reigning in the middle.

The grass in the field was sparse, perhaps due to the absence of creatures such as I. Each step sank heavily into the soft cushion beneath, leaving a deep impression behind.

Standing before the solitary tree, I offered it a gentle smile. I sat down, leaned into its sturdy trunk, and let myself sink into the comfort of its shade. As I gazed up at the vast azure sky, a deep wave of relief swept through me.

Relief from the burdens of everyday life.

Relief from the endless pressure of my parents’ expectations.

Relief from a predetermined, rigid future.

Relief from the identity I am forced to wear.

— You could say this sanctuary has become a second home to me.

"..."

I often dream of supernatural encounters, hoping that one day I might be fortunate enough to stumble upon mythical creatures like elves or faeries, or better yet, discover a portal to another world. Perhaps those fantasy novels have polluted my mind, but deep down, all I truly want is to break free from the birdcage I find myself trapped in.

Surely, there must be more to this world than just eating, sleeping, mating, earning, and eventually dying, right...?

Else, wouldn’t that just make existence feel like a meaningless waste...?

"..."

Eventually, I graduated, burdened by a mountain of regrets. No girlfriend, no friends, no graduation trip, no outstanding exam results, just... nothing. In truth, I had no one else to blame but myself. And yet, I couldn’t help but wonder, if my circumstances had been more favourable, could I have achieved more? Maybe I could have changed some things… but not everything was within my control. And that lingering uncertainty haunted me throughout my entire university life.

However, one thing remained unchanged: my secret haven, hidden from the eyes of those who did not dare enter. Whenever I had the chance, I would retreat there, sitting ever so comfortably. 

But as with all things, nothing lasts forever. 

Just a few years later, the local council decided to transform the area around the park and woods, making it more accessible to the public by adding new entrances into the vast field where I had once spent countless days, mesmerised by its beauty. But as more people began to arrive, the quiet magic that had lingered for so long started to fade. Still, I clung to what little remained.

"..."

Once again, I graduated, found a job, and stepped into the harsh world of reality, something I had desperately tried to escape. Visits to my refuge, where golden meadows and emerald grass once carried away all my burdens, became increasingly rare. It reached a point where I could only make the journey once every season. And as time slipped away from me, I no longer had the freedom or chance to return.

The world continued on regardless. In time, I met my spouse, and together we moved far away, leaving behind the quiet refuge that once offered me solace. Children came and grew, while the years carved lines into my face. One by one, my family became distant memories, fading into the past. And now, only I remained, an ageing, fragile soul, leaning on a cane with little time I had left.

"..."

From the edge of my balcony, I looked up into the pale blue sky, though its brilliance had long since dulled with the fading of my eyesight. A deep sigh escaped my lips as I wondered, after all this time…

Was I happy?

Was I truly satisfied?

I had attained everything most people would spend their lives chasing. And yet… a hollow ache lingered in my chest.

Something had always felt missing.

But what was it...?

"!"

The sudden vibration on the dining table disrupted the silence of my mind. It was my miniature AI assistant robot. Despite being no larger than a mug, it had more than enough capability to support an old man like me living alone. From projecting news through a holographic display to handling daily tasks like ordering food and medicine, and even managing my finances, all tailored to my habits and lifestyle.

It’s no surprise that AI has advanced this far since its rapid rise in the year 2023. Its growth has been exponential. And now, with just a decade remaining before the turn of the next century, I can't help but wonder, where will this technological marvel take us next?

Even so, there are times when I feel that the technology boom made its entrance way too quickly. The once slower, simpler world, where people treasured small moments and valued genuine conversation over hollow virtual exchanges, vanished overnight.

Technology promised us ease, but in return, it gave us noise and complication. 

Sometimes, ignorance might be the closest thing to peace.

— And yet, here I am, relying on technology. 

"Ai, show me alerts, please."

I commanded the robot to reveal the source of the vibration earlier. A soft hum followed, and a hologram screen flickered to life, casting a faint glow in front of me.

"Displaying alerts. This message has been recommended to you, based on your previous map history."

"..."

My cane slipped from my hand and clattered to the floor. The message on the screen stirred something deep within me, something I had long buried.

Tears began to flow down my brittle cheeks, like a long-dry riverbed suddenly awakened, as memories surged through me in a flood.

A faint smile broke through the ache.

— Oh... how could I have forgotten?

For a moment, I just sat there, lost in the warmth of nostalgia, letting it wrap around me like an old, familiar blanket.

But as I read on, that warmth began to fade.

The smile slipped from my face.

The gentle ache in my chest sharpened, growing colder with each second.

The message read:

To the residents of Westmere,

The historic Pinet Country Park is now set to be cleared to make way for new apartment complexes. This decision is part of our county’s ongoing response to the housing crisis. Despite efforts from preservation groups and concerned citizens, the council has reached a final decision. Land clearing will begin early this week.

Sincerely,
City Council Planning Committee

"..."

The place where I once sought refuge, my second home from adolescence into adulthood, was now on the verge of destruction. Captured by the illusion of family life and the demands of the adult world, I had completely forgotten all about it.

But I couldn’t just sit back in the comfort of my couch. I had to move. I had to see the place...

One last time.

I commanded the AI robot to summon a taxi to the park. Within seconds, a driverless flying taxi hovered silently outside my balcony, like a quiet escort guiding me back to the past. This form of transportation was the norm for most, except for the unfortunate souls living underground beneath the towering skyscraper apartments, who still relied on petrol cars. They lived in places where crime and poverty ran rampant, hidden from the majority of young and middle-aged citizens by the government. Old folks like us knew the truth, but most would dismiss us as senile old people whenever we had the opportunity to speak of it.

A dystopian world, just as it was once depicted in novels.

"..."

An hour later, a soft ding marked our arrival at our destination. I yawned as I opened my eyes, having dozed off during the long journey, worn down by the fatigue of my ageing body. It seemed I was not the only one drawn to this place. Outside, a group of activists and workers argued, separated by yellow cordon tape and orange cones that barred entry to the park and the woods beyond. Towering human-sized policing robots stood among them, doing their best to manage the tense standoff.

“Thanks, taxi.”

The screen inside the vehicle offered a bright blue parting smile. As I stepped out, a strange feeling settled in, I felt like a stranger in a place I once knew very well. The surroundings had changed drastically. Where once stood trees and family homes, now rose towering apartment skyscrapers and white, crystal-like pavements. The park, however, untouched by progress, stood still, frozen in a moment the world had long forgotten. 

Seizing the distraction caused by the rowdy crowd, I slipped behind the activists while they kept the workers occupied. With great effort, I crouched beneath the yellow cordon tape, pressing my hand into the muddy earth, into the pure ground I remembered so well. Exhaling slowly, I pressed forward, careful to remain hidden.

"Halt!"

"!"

"You’re not allowed to go there, senior. It’s very dangerous."

One of the workers had caught hold of me. Still, I had to continue. I needed an excuse, there was no way I could let this opportunity just slip by.

Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

"Hohoho... I suppose I’ve been caught," I chuckled, with a hint of disappointment.

"Sorry, senior. We cannot let anyone through, for obvious health and safety reasons."

"I understand that very well... but please, young man, just this once. I need to see something one last time. This place… It’s like my second home. Won't you just let me through this time?"

I pleaded, as my voice trembled, wearing the expression of a child lost in memory, despite the stark contrast in my aged appearance.

"Sorry, sir. I cannot accept your request. I understand you may hold memories here, but under the manager’s instructions, I cannot let you pass. Please evacuate the area, I do not want to be in a situation where I need to call the robots to escort you out."

My head bowed low, the weight of despair suffocating me. The worker approaching felt like death personified itself, ready to steal the remaining life air from my body.

"!"

"Go, old man! Do what you need to! Run for it!"

A young activist suddenly rushed to my side, shoving the worker down. It seemed he had overheard my plea. More activists swarmed in, surrounding the worker to keep him from rising. Each of them looked toward me, nodding and smiling.

I smiled back, wide and tearful. But there was no time to thank them all, I had to make a move and continue.

Lifting my head, I leaned heavily on my cane and shuffled forward as quickly as my weary legs would allow, a feeble jog at best. The further I walked, the more it felt like I was entering a dream, into the arms of nostalgia. Everything around me felt achingly familiar. The overgrown bushes scratched my thighs, and the red vines brushed against my legs, but I barely noticed. My focus was consumed by something far greater, an overwhelming joy that dulled everything else.

The soil path, the green bushes, the red vines.

— Ah.

This was...

What I had been yearning for all along.

The path back home.

It was as if the weight of age had been lifted. Whether it was adrenaline or something deeper, I did not care a single bit. In that moment, I felt young again, alive in a way I had not felt in many decades.

And there it was.

Just before me stood the entrance to paradise, two arching trees forming a gate, with white lilies blooming quietly at their base. And beyond them, in the heart of the field, she stood, the lone queen. A single tree, strong and proud, surrounded by a sea of beige and green, encircled by her distant, loyal knights.

Slowly, I walked forward, with tears spilling down my cheeks. My legs trembled. The sudden rush had faded away, and my body reminded me of its limits again. Still, I pressed forward, one soft step after another on the welcoming ground, until I stood before her.

The lone tree.

"Long time no see... did I keep you waiting?"

At last, a reunion, perhaps the last, before we parted ways.

There, I found myself recalling every visit, from the last to the very first. I remembered the struggles and complaints I once poured out during my adolescence, as well as the joyful news I used to share with this friend who never spoke, but always replied through the gentle sway of twigs and branches in the cool summer breeze. 

"!"

"AGH!"

My heart suddenly jolted fiercely, as if pierced by a blade. A sharp pain simply radiated through my ribs as I clutched my chest, gasping for breath. My cane slipped from my hand and clattered to the ground. My legs buckled beneath me, too frail to hold me upright. My breathing grew shallow and ragged.

There was no doubt, I was having a cardiac episode. In my desperate haste to reach this place, I had completely forgotten my medication. And now, with no assistant by my side, there was no one else left to help.

Even so, I glanced around frantically, searching... praying for someone, anyone, to save me.

But... what was I even expecting?

I was in the middle of nowhere.

Who could even possibly save me now?

Yet despite the agony, I turned my eyes toward the lone tree.

With a bittersweet smile, I whispered, “I guess... this is it for me.”

“May we meet again... my dear Friend.”

With my final parting words, I surrendered to the earth, collapsing face-down into the soil, the soil to which all things will eventually return. Darkness began to creep in slowly, and my senses dissolved into utter silence.

And then...

The memories started to overflow.

Fragments of my life unravelled one by one, playing in reverse like an old film reel. A soft piano melody echoed through the void, its notes fluttering gently with each passing scene.

The pain was unbearable, like being stung by thirty-six thousand scorpions. And yet, somehow... I felt relieved.

No burdens.

No regrets.

Nothing.

Just still, pure darkness.

I had played my role, and the curtain had now fallen.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"!"

Then, before me, a warm light glistened into being.

It grew brighter with every passing second, and as it drew closer, its waves of warmth washed over me in bliss.

It wrapped itself around the darkness.

And slowly...

It consumed the darkness whole.

“...”

“Ma...”

“Mas...”

“Mast...”

I heard faint mumbling, distant and fragile.

“Master...”

— Wait... did I hear that right?

“Master...”

“Master, please wake up!”

— Did they just call me Master? Am I in Heaven?

“!”

My vision blossomed into colour, washing away the void of monochrome. Bit by bit, sensation returned, the ache in my limbs, and the distant hum sharpened into clarity.

“Master, are you okay?!”

A sharp, urgent feminine voice cut through the haze.

I glanced around and noticed I was resting on something plush and comfortable. With great effort, I rolled onto my side and pushed myself up. Despite the struggle, my body felt surprisingly light.

“Master, please be careful.”

“Yes, that’s right. Please remain rested, Master, you are severely injured.”

Worried voices of women continued to echo around me.

Ahead, a finely crafted wooden table with drawers held a golden mirror. Squinting, I tried to focus on the reflection it revealed.

“!”

“Ahhh!”

I screamed in shock, but the voice that echoed back lacked the weight of an old man’s; it belonged to a young boy.

And it was true.

The mirror reflected a youthful figure, perhaps in his early teens, pale face, blond hair, and a thin frame. He wore extravagant sleepwear: a silk robe embroidered with gold thread and trimmed with velvet at the cuffs and collar, delicate enough to belong to a high-class family. He lay on a jumbo-sized bed with curtained sides and a duvet that looked impossibly soft.

This definitely wasn’t my old, frail body.

— Wait... did I just transmigrate...!?