Prologue (Part 1)

It was an average day like usual for Syrus. Wake up, get ready for the day, and then go to work at a small family-owned restaurant as a dish washer. Like any day, it was busy and full of customers.

"Hey, we need more cups and forks!" A voice from out front yelled.

"Got it!" Turning my attention back to the huge pile of dishes I needed to clean, I sighed. Rolling up my sleeves, I thought: 'Let's get this over with.'

A couple of hours later…

"Phew!" Sitting at the bar in the restaurant, I took a sip of my drink and couldn't help but exclaim in satisfaction.

It was currently night time, about 10 PM ish and it was busy throughout the whole day which really took a toll on me.

'I can't wait to hop into my bed…' Leaning back into my chair, I closed my eyes for a moment, the only thing I could think of was the sweet comfort of my bed.

"Hey."

Someone called out to me but I just ignored him. Sleep was calling to me and I wanted to answer.

"If you're going to ignore me, I'm going to cut your pay."

Pah!

I flinched, rubbing my forehead that was stinging and looked at the man who did that, feigning being hurt.

"We both know you won't do that Paul, but was smacking my forehead with a bottle necessary?"

Paul, the man who just whacked me with a bottle tutted.

"How else am I going to get your attention? Here, this is on the house."

Paul handed me the bottle he had hit me with.

The restaurant owner, Paul who was in his fifties, was someone who I was greatly indebted too. It had been about three years ago when I had first arrived in this city. Not only was I penniless, but no one would hire me because of how ragged I looked.

I was sleeping on a bench in some park, starving as I hadn't eaten for a few days when Paul found me. Not only did he give me some food, but also let me stay at his place for the night. He's really a nice guy.

After that, I asked him if he had any work that I could do for him and that's how I landed my dishwashing job. So far, it was only Paul and his son managing the restaurant as a cook and server. Despite them being really the only ones working there, business was good.

Don't get me started on the food. According to some totally reasonable logic or common sense I've picked up, if it is a small family owned business with the restaurant itself not looking as nice as the ones owned by big companies, high chance that the food is amazing.

That was one of the biggest reasons I stayed at this job. I think it was about three months after I was hired that I had enough money to move out of Paul's place and have a small apartment to myself. Paul said it was fine if I stayed but I didn't want to impose myself on him any longer nor take advantage of him.

Back to the present though, I accepted it but was still slightly confused by the sudden gift.

"Beer? What for?"

Paul facepalmed and said: "Really now, didn't you say a while back that your birthday is today?"

"Ah, that's right! I'll be turning twenty-four this year."

Paul just shook his head.

"Goodness, I can't believe you forgot your own birthday. Anyways, be careful when drinking that. It's a lot stronger than what you usually drink."

As Paul was warning me, he couldn't help but jokingly add:

"You can see another world with this stuff."

I just laughed it off and said goodbye for the night.

"Hahaha, yeah right. See ya."

Heading out of the restaurant, I decided to go to the park where I first met Paul. I didn't tell him that my birthday wasn't actually today, but I chose that day since Paul saved me from dying on the streets.

Some might think I was foolish or stupid for making that decision, but truthfully, I didn't really know my own birthdate as well. I was an orphan since birth and up until I was eight, I had lived in an orphanage until it was shut down. Since then, I had been for the most part, on my own on the streets.

In order to save money, the orphanage decided to hold a big birthday party for every kid there at once, but those days didn't really feel special to me at all.

After it was shut down due to a lack of funds though, all the kids including myself were forced onto the streets.

I managed to survive doing small/odd jobs here and there, but living on the streets were rough. I had to look out for local gangs and power as I refused to join any. I had to fight quite a bit just so I could survive.

Sitting down on the very same bench, I decided to drink some of the beer that Paul gave.

Taking a swig, I coughed, not expecting it to be that strong.

"Damn, he wasn't kidding!"

After the initial surprise though, I kept drinking while reminiscing about the past it until there was about half of it left. I could feel that I was teetering on being awake and blacking out so I decided to call it quits.

'Phew. I shouldn't be drinking anymore "hic!" tonight. Gotta work tomorr-'

"Crack!"

My thoughts were interrupted when I thought I heard glass shattering. My eyes widened in surprise as I stared at what seemed like part of the sky was shattering.

But that wasn't the strangest part. What surprised me even further was that I thought I could see some buildings in the crack, yet they kinda looked futuristic to me. The only thing I could make out from my brief look was that it was a fairly advanced civilization.

Just as quickly as it appeared though, the crack seemingly repaired itself in no time as if nothing had happened in the first place, leaving me staring at the night sky dumbfounded.

After doing many things like pinching myself, shaking my head, and other things to confirm I wasn't dreaming, I just had one thought:

'Damn, Paul wasn't kidding when he said it was strong stuff!'

After that minor episode, I just headed straight back to my apartment and to bed.

But as I mind drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but think about my drunk vision.

'Living in a world like that must be exciting…'