Year 2398

The Future.

It should have been an exciting one where discrimination should not exist due to AIs' knowledge and capacities. But it turned out to be an absolute nightmare for a populous.

The World had changed significantly ever since the first time Artificial Intelligence walked upon it.

The most obvious change was that there were now two major categories of humanity—the wealthy privileged and the underprivileged. The first groups lived in separate areas on Earth called 'cities'.

Each city contained a population of people who belonged to different ethnic backgrounds, but they all shared one thing in common—they each believed themselves superior over the underprivileged people.

AI was the main reason for this enormous change. The few groups of people who invested their everything into technology became the ruling class while everyone else became peasants or slaves. Those with money could afford to live in luxury apartments within tall skyscrapers, while the other category could only live in deprivation and poverty.

Even a few families who were known to be one of the most influential and affluent, now became nothing but a forgotten history.

What made the current society unique compared to past ones was its technologies.

Ever since humanity was able to fully comprehend AI technology, along with curses it bought blessings that seemed impossible in the past.

However, as humans grew more powerful through science, they also began to become greedy and arrogant enough not to care about anything around them except for their own well-being.

There were even rumors that a few people began to modify their bodies using AI to surpass the limits of humanity.

Even though no one knew if it was true or only a fable, it was already changing the world order in the shadows.

And people believed those who held this power would soon rise above others and rule over all and would bring a new era of a new human race.

The current technology had long since surpassed what humans thought possible a few centuries ago. And yet still many things remained unknown because of the secrecy involved by corporations and governments regarding certain topics.

Even the government did not know about many anonymous experiments. It just demonstrated the power of these groups of people in the current era.

They used their powers for personal gain and prosperity at any cost, including the suffering of others. They used the underprivileged people as nothing but cannon fodder. For them, they were nothing but slaves for experiments.

Your fate was decided even before your birth based on your family background. If you did not belong to the aristocracy, your destiny was sealed.

====

"Ohh Ash, you are already back? How's your first day at University?" asked a beautiful middle-aged woman who had black eyes and long white hair. She was wearing a white robe that matched her hair color. Her face was like the perfect mix of beauty and experience.

A gentle smile graced her lips as she looked at Ash with her soft eyes. "Did you make any friends?"

Her name was Rosy and she was the manager of the orphanage where Ash had been living for his entire life. Even though he did not know who his parents were or even they were still alive or not, she treated him as if he were her own child.

He always felt comfortable around her. It was almost like having a mother again. She also knew all about Ash's history, after all, she was the one who found Ash as a newborn near the Orphanage.

Blossom of Hope Shelter was the name of this place which is run by Rosy and a few others, but it also serves as an orphanage to take care of orphans and young children whose families couldn't support them. There were several other kids besides Ash living there too.

Asher replied nervously entering the two-story building, "Well, uhm... Yes, Aunty Rosy." Ash didn't want to reveal what happened because he knew Rosy would be worried.

"You're so late! Where have you been?"

Ash shrugged.

"Don't shrug off my questions, young man!" said Rosy in a scolding tone."If you've been naughty, then I'll tell you exactly how bad it can get! And what happened to your clothes? Did you fight?"

He shook his head ignoring the question, knowing she wouldn't believe anything else than fighting and blood stains on his shirt.

Ash could not help but curse himself inwardly thinking of these stains.

She sighed heavily. "Then I guess you better tell me what happened before I go crazy from worrying." She walked towards him, looking over every inch of his face, trying to find out something about his injury.

Ash could not help but smile. He did not know what parental love was, but Rosy loved more, being his guardian, his best friend, or simply just as another parent figure. Whatever it may be, he always felt safe when talking to her.

"I'm sorry, Auntie Rosy. It was nothing really serious," he lied while smiling.

"I have class tomorrow you know! I need to clean these uniform. It wasn't really important. I just fell down and hit my head," he fibbed.

Rosy looked skeptical. "You fell down? On purpose?"

====

"Sigh... She is too hard to deceive" Entering his room Ash put on some fresh clothes, brushed his hair, and lay down on his bed, falling asleep.

«In the maddening abyss of existence, a solitary soul beckons, the single sole catalyst to rouse the impenetrable enigmas veiled within the cosmic fabric»

Ash opened his eyes abruptly breathing heavily and feeling dizzy from exhaustion. The words echoed inside his head as if someone or something whispered it to him in his sleep.

What does it mean? Who am I? Am I dreaming again?

His thoughts raced wildly through his mind as he tried to wake up fully.

"It's that same weird voice again" Ash stood up, shaking the dream off as he went to his window and looked outside.

"Just what the hell was that?"

The sun was shining brightly making everything look surreal. But there was no answer, only the whispering sound again.

Ash frowned and turned away, wondering if this was real.

Ever since he turned 18, he had been hearing the same voice ever since. Sometimes it sounded distant and other times close, but it never stopped.

As soon as he started hearing it Ash became restless, agitated, nervous, and anxious. Every time the same mysterious voice would whisper the same words in his mind making him uneasy and unable to concentrate.

"Well forget it. Let's go to University" said Ash as he left the room, leaving his wandering thoughts behind.