Ring. Ring. Ring.

“Thank you class. See you next year and enjoy your holidays.”

“””THANK YOU TEACHER!!”””

It was a Friday, the last day of school for this year. I grabbed my bag and pulled it over my shoulders.

Before I stepped away from my seat, I gave the class one final sweep.

From the perspective of Avner, many things had happened this year. His findings of creator NFTs, streamers, V-tubers, and his wish to become an independent freelancer. After that we have Shin’s interference, who somehow made his way into his mind, turning Avner into a fusion of two people.

And we also have this awakening of his demon life. Near death experience, and a whole new world to explore.

Pu’er had already left class by this point, as xe had always done since I rejected hir.

I made my way to Cain’s office.

===

“Avner, do you have everything ready?”

“If I remember everything, then yes.”

“Make sure to double check. I don’t want to hear you telling us you forgot something important later.”

So I did. I ran through my checklist and had Randell do a quick scan of the items.

[Calculated based on previous data and history, the item: inhaler, should be kept on you at all times.]

And apparently I could’ve asphyxiated.

Though I was annoyed my mom reminded me to double check my stuff using such a harsh tone, I was glad she did.

I packed the inhaler and the extra canisters into my backpack. If I ever need more, I’ll make my way to the clinic or hospital to buy the refills.

With father’s help, I heaved the boxes into the bonnet of the car. I must say, the design of the vehicle is straight out jaw dropping. I never really got to admire it.

Seeing how my father has to unhook the charger everytime we went out, I was reminded that this is powered by electricity.

I gave the house one final glance, saying goodbyes in my heart. My father made a curb at an apartment highrise, which I remembered was where Pu’er stayed. We made our way to grandma’s place.

===

“Oh, are you sure you brought enough?”

“Things like toothbrush, and mouthwash can be bought from the shopping mall.”

Most of my clothes were packed inside. In fact, I didn’t really like how I had to bring clothes that I hadn’t worn for more than a year. My mom said it was a waste and told me to use them, which I won’t due to the sheer number of choices I have.

I’m not the kind of person who likes fashion.

Let’s go back to basics and first familiarize myself with grandma and grandoa’s apartment unit. As mentioned before, it’s an apartment with a modern design. Minimalistic, some accents of wood with black and white elements complimenting each other.

The kitchen was full of vitamin supplements and food items which were relatively ‘healthy’. I was a little concerned that I would be eating ginseng porridge or plain chicken soup everyday from hereon.

Though said, seeing the electric stoves, pans and knives, I was kind of anticipating permission to cook something for myself. Shin had some basic knowledge on how to make egg dishes at least. College 101.

“Will this extra room be alright? I’m sorry we hadn’t had the time to clean it up before your arrival.”

It was located just a hall away from the living room. Further down would be the powder room, and at the end of the hallway was the storeroom. It was an empty room with a lot of boxes filled with miscellaneous items. Old televisions sets, phone boxes, laptops, cables, yoga mats, sports equipment, and even gaming consoles.

Not to mention, these aren’t your retro-old kind of artefacts. It’s modern equipment that has been phased out because of AR technology.

I examined some of the boxes. There were clear signs of someone having come here to wipe the dust by using a wet cloth.

Oh, what a find.

“Can I use some of these?”

“If you wish, why not?”

“Thanks grandma. I’ll help to clear up these items. Where should we bring them?”

“Thank you boy. Help me carry these over to the storage room over to the back there can you?”

I was beginning to sort out the items which I wish to keep from those that I would toss into the storage when my mom and aether came in to check the room.

“This is a nice place.”

“There’s no bed though, mother-in-law?”

“There’s one in the storage,” grandma said apologetically.

“Avner, you have to be responsible and help your grandma with clearing your own room okay?”

“I will.”

“What are you doing?”

“There’s stuff here I want to try to use.”

“These old things?”

“Just let the boy use whatever, it’s going to go to waste anyways.”

“Remember to clean them up properly before you use them. Especially the dust, it may cause another asthma attack.”

I nodded.

I took out two laptops, a headphone set, a drawing tablet and even the remote for it. It took me a while to find the stylus; I couldn’t find the holder unfortunately.

Whatever. This is enough.

The drawing tablet is the large kind with a true tone display. Shin’s drawing pad was the flat board kind, minus a screen. So I hadn't gotten the chance to use this type of device yet.

With this, I can polish up the colours for my previous artworks. The problem with using OptAR is that the colour display isn’t accurate. It’s the nature of semi-transparent displays. I have to set it on top of something white if not it would blend with the surrounding colours.

Grey can look red or blue depending on where you hold it up against. Thus why I was so happy when I found the drawing tablet.

Let’s pray it works when I hook it up to power later.

I began moving the box of miscellaneous items into the storage room down the hall.

Mom and aether helped with wiping and mopping.

“I don’t think we need the bed frame. I’m alright with sleeping on the floor.”

“Are you sure?”

“I think it’s only going to make things harder to clean if I had an elevated bed.”

I told my parents that I would prefer to just set a mattress on the floor. In the morning I can roll it up and place it aside for more space.

Father and I brought out the low table from the storage which I would use to do my work. I’m getting excited, just thinking about the prospects of sitting here and drawing all day long.

“I suddenly feel like staying isn’t so bad.”

“There’s no extra room anymore though,” grandoa ruffled Lia’s hair.

Lia was making a difficult expression.

In , I remember Avner saying that his sister left with hirs mother. I probably mistook that phrase as divorse when it could’ve just meant that Lia went to Rwiel with my parents.

Now that it’s come to this, will Lia stay or go?