The Uninvited Guest

Skyway Hub sits in front of the golden stem contrasting it with its whiteness, bustling with activity—an intricate network of pathways, platforms, and Anti-gravity structures that gave the impression of a small space suspended in mid-air. Holographic signs flickered in vibrant colors, directing passengers to their destinations.

A conductor's voice—authoritative, yet tinged with cheerfulness—cut through the din.

"To enter the Stem, you'll need to go through the newly constructed lift," he said, pointing toward the Stem, where elevator-like doors began appearing from floor 500.

Leonardo could now see them.

His words held a strange balance of disappointment and reassurance, reflecting the ever-shifting state of technology in this district.

Most people didn't even flinch. In Skyway Hub, inventions came and went so frequently that no one knew whether this "lift" would still exist by next week.

The crowd—locals and visitors alike—moved with the practiced indifference of those accustomed to constant innovation. Their nonchalance sharply contrasted with Leonardo's wide-eyed wonder.

Leonardo couldn't hide his excitement. His eyes sparkled with curiosity, and he bounced on the balls of his feet as he and the girls approached the ticket desk.

"How does the lift look?" he asked, barely able to contain his enthusiasm.

"I don't know. Probably some new invention," Anna replied flatly, her tone indifferent.

"It'll probably look like an elevator," Elara added thoughtfully.

"A what now?" Leonardo asked, furrowing his brow.

"A machine that takes you up and brings you down," Elara explained patiently.

As they walked toward the gate with the rest of the crowd, the architecture of Skyway Hub revealed itself more clearly—soaring arches, intricate details, and floating holographic displays that streamed announcements and advertisements mid-air.

The soft hum of machinery blended with distant conversations, creating a lively yet orderly atmosphere.

Anna's sharp eyes caught something out of place—more guards than usual, patrolling with quiet vigilance. Clad in sleek, dark blue coats, they scanned the crowd with watchful eyes, hands resting on their sophisticated weapons.

Their presence clashed with the otherwise casual mood of the hub, adding an undercurrent of tension most ignored.

The Stem had been designed to mimic the outside world so closely it was easy to forget they'd been secluded. Its pristine floors followed a hierarchical pyramid structure, with the ruling families sometimes having their own cities.

"Any solid description of what a floor looks like in the Stem?" Leonardo asked as they waited in line.

"All floors are different, but families exist," Elara replied, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.

"Divided like a pyramid, with the ruling families at the top, but they stay anywhere in the stem, like Alain, he's part of the top families and lives below a mid ranking family," Anna added.

Leonardo blinked. "Oh yeah, that too," Elara said quickly, slightly embarrassed. She smiled to cover it up.

"A what?" Leonardo asked again, still confused.

Noticing the growing tension on Anna's face, he dropped it. "Never mind."

At the ticket desk, Anna stepped forward. "We'd like to go to the Stem using the lift, please," she said flatly.

"Good morning!" the woman behind the transparent divider greeted cheerfully. Her smile looked practiced.

"Could I ask why we aren't using the old method again?" Elara asked, then continued, "The walk-through-the-darkness one, and appear at your designated floor one?" As she played back her sentence, it did sound a bit odd.

"People would rather be safe using the new lift, as most who went the old route disappeared and are still stuck," the woman laughed, which sent a shiver down the trio's spines.

Leonardo noted that it wasn't the same person as last time. The man before hadn't even spoken—just gestured for payment. This change intrigued him.

"That'll be only 100 draws, but since the lift is newly created, there's a 25% discount for the three of you," the woman said.

Anna narrowed her eyes.

"You didn't apply the discount?" she asked, her tone sharp.

The woman's smile faltered. Sweat beaded on her brow.

"What?" she mumbled, shoulders slumping.

"Ugh, just pay her," Elara sighed, glancing at Leonardo, who furrowed his brow, trying to make sense of the interaction.

"That's not fair," Leonardo blurted. "It's the same price as last time. Why lie about the dis—" he coughed, correcting himself, "—discount?"

People nearby turned to look. Murmurs spread.

"Is he dumb?" someone whispered.

The woman opened her mouth, searching for words, but Elara raised her phone.

"225 draws, right?" she asked firmly.

"Yes," the woman replied quickly.

Elara sent the payment through an app called Drawpall. "Now that that's settled," she said, calm and composed.

"Right. This way, please." The woman gestured toward a separate area, where the lift slowly descended into view.

The lift was a cube, its right side mostly glass, while the base and remaining sides were made of a material that was neither metal nor stone. It ascended in a vertical line.

"That's amazing," Leonardo gasped.

"Eh. Not really," Anna and Elara replied in perfect unison.

"Jinx again?" Elara laughed. Anna chuckled too, their bond shining through.

Leonardo blinked in confusion until floating text appeared before his eyes:

[Said when two people inadvertently say the same thing at once.]

"I think I get it," he murmured, watching the text fade.

As they approached the lift, Leonardo's excitement soared. The hovering glass cube defied everything he'd known. How could something not made of stone or metal carry their weight? It felt like magic.

"How does it work?" he whispered to Elara, eyes still fixed on the lift.

She smiled. "It probably manipulates gravity and friction so the lift moves smoothly up and down." She then nodded.

"An artifact is most definitely being used."

Leonardo tilted his head slowly, trying to grasp the concept. The more he learned about Rasvian energy, the more he realized how central it was to this world.

They stepped into the lift.

The doors slid shut behind them with a soft hiss.