Kidnapped.

Sunlight casted through the towering buildings.

Harry was on his way to Princeton University, his new home for the future. The walk took him about twenty minutes before he finally arrived at the entrance.

Princeton University… one of the most prestigious institutions, spreadin nearly in ten square kilometers.

Long parting pathways making their own ecosystem.

Students riding on bikes, electric scooters, and in some cases, luxury cars that were shining in sunlight.

He remembered his class was in Section D, but with no clear directions, he would be lost as his happiness.

His eyes landed on a girl leaning against a tree, lost in thought.

Approaching her, he asked, "Hey, do you know the way to Section D?"

She tilted her head slightly and asked. "New admission?"

Harry gave a small nod in response.

"Wait a moment, my friend is on her way. We're headed there too," she replied, looking with anticipation towards the main gate.

There was something in her tone...firm, almost commanding.

Even though she had spoken casually, it felt more like an instruction.

He waited for about ten minutes before another girl arrived, waving enthusiastically.

"Hey, Cia! I'm here!" she called out.

"Let's go," Cia said, acknowledging Harry as she began walking.

Harry followed the two girls, noting how they scanned their surroundings in an oddly manner. It was as if they were both familiar with the campus yet, as if discovering something hidden in plain sight.

After a moment, the second girl, Kate, turned to Cia and asked, "Who's he?"

"He was asking for Section D," Cia answered.

Harry decided to introduce himself properly. "My name is Harry Smith. Nice to meet you."

They both glanced at him, but said nothing, continuing their conversation.

strangely, Harry didn't feel dismissed. Instead, he sensed an unspoken curiosity from them, as if they were silently assessing him.

'Am I acting creep'.

"You know, it's already been two months. We'll have to return soon," Kate stated, checking her phone.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Cia sighed. "But honestly? I never came here for the quest. I just wanted to see what life is like outside.

And it was the best decision I've ever made. It's so peaceful here."

"Maybe, but we can't ignore the fact that others have caught wind of our presence. It could get dangerous. We need to leave soon," Kate warned, her expression turning serious.

"Who cares? Just enjoy life while you can. By the way, did you see these smartphones? Why don't we have access to stuff like this?" Cia mused, flipping a sleek device in her hand.

Harry listened to their conversation, yet none of it made sense. A wild thought crossed his mind: 'Could they be… aliens living among humans?'

He quickly dismissed the idea. 'That's ridiculous'.

They finally arrived at their classroom, only to find a single empty desk. With no other choice, they sat together.

As they walked in, Harry felt countless eyes on them. At first, he thought they were staring at him, but he soon realized the attention was directed at the two stunning girls beside him.

However, what unsettled him more was the strange pressure that seemed to radiate from behind him.

It wasn't physical, but it was enough to make every other person hesitate to approach them.

He took a seat beside Cia and whispered, "Do I have something on my face? Everyone's staring at us."

"No" Cia said with a chuckle, her eyes glinting with something between amusement and mystery.

Harry couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her than she let on.

Just then, the professor walked in and made a surprising announcement. "There are no classes today. Spend some time getting to know your new classmates."

With that, he left the room.

Kate turned to Harry. "What's your plan after this?"

"Not much. Just moving into the dormitory," he replied, tucking his notebook back into his bag, clearly unimpressed by the waste of time.

"Oh? We're staying there too...room number 21," Kate mentioned casually.

"Girls have different dormitory" Harry said almost bursting out of laughter.

"That's strange", this time it was Harry's turn to be shocked, because having separate dormitory was normal stuff.

The conversation shifted toward entertainment, Harry noticed something peculiar. These girls were fascinated by the simplest things...movies, music, video games.

like children discovering them for the first time. Yet, the moment they discussed anything serious, their demeanor switched to a level of maturity beyond their years.

What surprised him most was when they started talking about cars. They admired them, yet casually criticized their speed, scoffing at how most capped out at only 180 km/h.

It almost felt like a joke.

To play along, Harry suggested, "Let's grab something to eat."

Cia and Kate, intrigued by the idea of trying something new, readily agreed.

After walking for a bit, Harry hesitated and rubbed the back of his head. "Do you two know where the cafeteria is?"

Both girls shrugged in unison.

"Figures. Alright, follow me. I know a place nearby."

The restaurant he led them to was close to the library where he worked.

a place he often ate at. Upon arriving, Harry ordered for them and gestured for them to sit while excusing himself to use the restroom.

He was still processing how odd these girls were when, the moment he stepped inside, a sharp pain struck the back of his neck.

A heavy slap...no, a precise strike.

His vision blurred.

His thoughts scattered.

And then, darkness.

Meanwhile, in the main area of the restaurant, Cia and Kate sat waiting when a man approached them from the shadows.

"Miss, I sensed an energy fluctuation from that direction," he reported, scanning the area.

Cia followed his gaze. "That's where Harry went, isn't it?"

The man, Python, didn't need further instruction. In a blink, he disappeared into the restroom. Moments later, he returned.

"They're gone. Took the boy with them."

Cia pressed a hand against her forehead, exasperated. "Let me guess, our rivals were tracking us?"

Python nodded. "It seems so. They weren't bold enough to confront you directly, so they hired a small organization to gather intel.

Unfortunately for them, that organization knows nothing about your background or your family's influence. They assumed taking That boy hostage would be an easy way to get information."

A dangerous glint flickered in Cia's eyes. "They'll regret that."

"Shall I track them?" Python asked.

"Yes. Find out where they've taken him and their power level."

Twenty minutes later, Python returned.

"They're amateurs," he reported. "They're holding him at a warehouse not far from here. They underestimated who they were dealing with."

Cia's jaw tightened.

She had no real attachment to Harry, but he had been nothing but kind to her, and now, because of her, he was caught in a storm he never asked for.

"Lead the way," she ordered.

...

Harry's head throbbed as he slowly regained consciousness.

"Harry… wake up… Harry… open your eyes."

The voice pulled him back to reality.

He was in a dimly lit room with no windows; just a single door. Two chairs sat in the center, one of which he was tied to.

He wasn't sure how long he had been unconscious.

Then, Krish's voice echoed in his mind.

"Hey… I'm sorry. I should have warned you."

A notification appeared before his eyes.

[Quest: Survive ]

[ Rewards: ?]

Harry swallowed hard.

This was bad.