The sword was torn from my grip as the wolf’s powerful jaws clamped down on the blade. The force of the pull sent me sprawling to the ground, the impact knocking the air from my lungs. Pain shot through my body as I groaned, struggling to push myself up. Povi hadn’t lied—the pain was real, sharp and unrelenting.

  I scrambled to my knees, but before I could fully rise, the wolf lunged again. Its teeth sank into my hand, drawing blood. I screamed, the sound raw and guttural, as sweat dripped down my forehead. The metallic tang of blood filled the air, mixing with the acrid scent of the desert.

  “How come you didn’t use the teleportation technique you normally use? You’re a master at it,” Povi’s voice cut through my agony, calm and almost clinical.

  “Why didn’t you say that earlier?” I shouted, my voice trembling with pain and frustration. “How do I activate it?”

  “Simply make a request followed by the location where you wish to teleport,” Povi replied, her tone infuriatingly composed.

  “Requesting to teleport west!” I gasped, the words barely escaping through clenched teeth.

  In an instant, the world blurred around me. The snarling wolves, the scorching desert, the searing pain—all of it vanished as I reappeared several meters away. But my relief was short-lived. My feet sank into the ground, the soft, shifting sand giving way beneath me.

  Quick sand.

  I cursed under my breath, struggling to move as the ground swallowed me inch by inch. My injured arm throbbed, blood dripping onto the sand as I fought to stay conscious. The irony wasn’t lost on me—I had been given a second chance at life, only to die in a simulated desert, trapped in quicksand.

  “According to my assessment, it seems you won’t be able to complete Level 8 at this time. The odds are against you. Why don’t you exit the training and try again later?” Povi suggested, her voice as calm as ever.

  “I can do that? Why didn’t you tell me earlier!” I yelled, my voice cracking with desperation.

  “When you were 12, I warned you about the dangers of Level 4, but you were adamant and told me never to interrupt your training,” Povi replied, her tone almost reproachful.

  “Exit training!” I shouted, my voice echoing across the desert.

  The world dissolved around me, the sand and the wolves fading into nothingness. I found myself lying on the soft yet firm floor of the training room, the pain in my hand still throbbing but no longer life-threatening. I softly sighed in relief.

  “Your wounds should be tended to. Please head to the infirmary,” Povi instructed, her voice gentle but firm.

  A door I hadn’t noticed before slid open on my left, seamlessly blending into the wall until it revealed a pristine white room. The infirmary was spotless, bathed in a soft, sterile light. In the center stood a sleek, futuristic machine that resembled an advanced X-ray device. Its surface gleamed with a metallic sheen, and a series of holographic displays floated above it, displaying incomprehensible data.

  “Welcome once again, Madam Zahara. Please lie down,” a robotic voice greeted me, emanating from the machine itself.

  I approached cautiously, my eyes scanning the room. The walls were lined with panels that emitted a faint, soothing hum. I lay down on the machine’s smooth surface, my body sinking slightly into its cushioned frame.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The room dimmed, and a soft, baby-blue light enveloped me. I felt a brief sting on my injured hand, but the pain subsided almost instantly. The machine hummed softly, its holographic displays flickering as it worked.

  “All done,” the robotic voice announced after a moment.

  I sat up, examining my hand. The deep gashes left by the wolf’s teeth were gone, replaced by a faint scar that was already fading. A small compartment opened beside the machine, revealing two small, translucent tablets.

  “Please take the medication. Your scar will disappear shortly,” the voice instructed.

  I picked up the tablets, marveling at their smooth, almost weightless texture. The compartment closed silently, and the room returned to its pristine state.

  Stepping out of the infirmary, I made my way to the kitchen, my mind still reeling from the events of the training room. The kitchen was a masterpiece of design, blending natural elements with cutting-edge technology. The walls were adorned with intricate patterns reminiscent of African art—geometric shapes and vibrant colors that seemed to shift and change as I moved. The countertops were made of a material that resembled polished wood but glowed faintly, as if infused with light.

  Above the sink, a holographic display projected images of the sun rising over a savanna, the golden light casting long shadows across the grass. The utensils were sleek and futuristic, their handles carved with designs of chimpanzees and other wildlife. It was a strange yet beautiful fusion of the familiar and the alien, a reminder of a world I once knew and one I was still struggling to understand.

  I poured myself a glass of water and swallowed the pills, their effects almost immediate as the last traces of the scar vanished from my hand.

  “Povi, do chimpanzees exist in Aetheris?” I asked, my voice soft but curious.

  “According to my assessment, there are approximately 5,000 chimpanzees in Aetheris, with 1,000 located in Region D,” Povi replied.

  “What is Region D? Which countries are part of this region?” I pressed.

  “There are no countries, only regions. Aetheris is divided into four regions: A, B, C, and D,” Povi explained.

  My mind raced with the implications. If chimpanzees existed here, and their natural habitat was Africa, then Aetheris had to be connected to the continent I once called home. But how?

  “Thirty minutes remain. You might run late for school,” Povi reminded me, pulling me from my thoughts.

  I hurried back to my room and took a quick shower. The wardrobe slid open at my approach, revealing a neatly folded uniform—a white dress with a black collar and matching stockings. The design was simple yet elegant, though it felt oddly juvenile for someone like me who was already in my 30's in 2045.

  I dressed quickly, my movements mechanical as I tried to push aside the lingering doubts and questions.

  “Povi, I need a blow dryer. How am I supposed to go to school with my hair like this?” I asked, softly touching the hair on my head.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Nia purchased Fux, your personal hair care assistant. The blow dryer is outdated and inefficient for your daily routine,” Povi replied.

  “Where is Fux?” I asked, glancing around the room.

  “In the side room,” Povi said.

  I hadn’t noticed the side room before, its entrance seamlessly blending into the wall. Inside, Fux stood in the center of the room—a sleek, machine that resembled a cross between a hair dryer and a high-tech salon chair. Its surface was smooth and metallic, with glowing panels that pulsed softly with light.

  “Welcome back, Madam Zahara. Do you require your usual style?” Fux’s voice cut through, I was now getting used to the mechanical voices and technologies. However, I hesitated at the question, remembering the ordeal in the training room, it would be better to make a hair choice of my own in case Zahara had questionable choices.

  “What styles do you offer?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

  “All kinds of braids and afro styles, using organic products. Plastics were phased out by the Federation, and weaves and wigs are prohibited,” Fux explained.

  “Give me a popular afro style,” I said, settling into the chair.

  “Command received. Please position your head in the headgear,” Fux instructed.

  I complied, and within minutes, the machine whirred to life. Gentle tendrils of light and heat enveloped my hair, shaping it into a stunning afro style that resembled a wrapped ribbon. The process was quick and painless, a far cry from the hours I used to spend on my hair in my past life.

  When Fux finished, I stepped in front of the mirror, my breath catching at the transformation. The style was elegant and unique, accentuating the youthful beauty of Zahara’s face. For a moment, I almost forgot the turmoil of the morning.

  I looked at the image in the mirror with satisfaction. Now let's go and attend school. Although there was no one around the house now, that didn't bother me, it had provided me more time to properly prepare how to approach them when they appeared.