Chapter I - Custard-Peach Filled Buns

An irritating voice crossed the river, reaching straight to his eardrums and leaving its mark... a scar

-Teodor... - that low, masculine voice again. 

-Teo. - The voice sounded insistent, unrelenting, as if determined not to let him forget. 

The protagonist, submerged in nothingness, was slowly regaining consciousness. He felt an odd, almost soft surface beneath his hands-something reminiscent of foam. The same sensation pressed under his feet. The pain in his spine was unbearable, as though every part of his body was crying out for attention. His legs dragged him downward, as if they still possessed the strength to destroy him. 

-Teodor! - the voice repeated, louder this time, filled with determination. Teodor felt a strong urge to scream at the person rousing him, hoping they'd finally shut up. Instead, he decided to open his eyes abruptly, squinting against the sudden change. But the sight before him evoked a strange, unfamiliar feeling. His heart, pounding wildly, refused to calm down. 

A sharp cramp in his stomach overtook him, compelling him to act. He spun violently to the left and couldn't hold back-he vomited. As he took a deep breath, pulling air into his lungs, he wiped his face with his hands. His gaze landed on the figure in front of him. 

It was a pale albino woman, just as she had appeared in his dream. 

-Your girlfriend! - he suddenly exclaimed, grabbing the woman's shoulders tightly. He began to shake her as if trying to wake her from some nightmare. - Where is she? - he demanded, shaking her fragile frame, which seemed as though it might shatter at any moment. 

Suddenly, a loud male voice interrupted him. 

- Stop it! - the voice interjected, and Teodor felt an almost physical force pulling him away from the woman. Instead of lowering his arms, he turned toward the direction of the voice. 

Standing before him was a man who looked as though he had been crafted with meticulous aesthetic precision. His hair had a copper-gold hue that, despite its apparent disarray, seemed perfectly intentional. Every strand appeared to be in place, as though he'd spent the entire afternoon arranging it. 

His eyebrows were thick but not overly so, proportionate to his face, which was lean and strikingly masculine. His features were chiseled, with sharply defined cheekbones. Teodor's gaze locked onto the man's eyes-one was amber-gold, reminiscent of summer wheat swaying in the sunset. The other eye was a turquoise-gray shade, faintly faded, like morning mist hovering over a lake. Both irises burned with a bright, white light, as if some unearthly fire dwelled within them. 

The redhead's lips were full, his nose small, and his skin lightly tanned, exuding a warm tone that harmonized with his overall appearance. His figure seemed like something out of a video game-perfectly designed. As he leaned forward, Teodor noticed the well-defined muscles and broad shoulders. 

Yet, despite his flawless appearance, there was one small contrast-a detail that stood out against his perfection. 

- Slightly protruding ears, - Teodor thought, still staring at him, surprised by the strange confidence radiating from this man. 

-You've fallen for her, - the stranger spoke, breaking the brief silence. Teodor felt the man was trying to make a joke. - Do you even know your own name? - he asked, his tone tinged with disbelief. 

-Teodor, - he thought. It was the only thing that came to his mind, the only name he had heard during this time. 

- Teodor, - he said aloud, and the man before him didn't break his gaze. 

For a moment, their eyes met. It felt as though time had paused in the unspoken connection between them. 

Nearby, at the edge of the bed, the albino woman sat, swaying slightly as if trying to regain control over herself. Her hands clenched around her neck, trying to steady her breathing. She sat across from Teodor, her face still expressing shock. 

A minute passed before both men broke their gaze, their bodies still tense. The silence was finally interrupted by the girl's excited squeal. Teodor instinctively looked toward her, shifting his focus away from the man leaning over him. 

- Are you here? - he asked, glancing around the room. He found himself in a small white room, far smaller than the ones he vaguely remembered. High white ceilings, white panels on the floor. To his left, massive windows stretched from floor to ceiling, partially obscured by gray blinds that only slightly dimmed the room. A light beige armchair stood in one corner. 

Teodor's gaze shifted closer, noticing a white table beside his bed, which looked ordinary, partially metal. Above it hung a fresh IV drip. To the right stood another bed, and next to them, near the door, were two white wardrobes. On the wall opposite him, near the girl, a television hung, with a shelf of miscellaneous items beneath it, including a remote. 

- Don't you remember me? - she asked, her weak voice breaking the silence. She paused briefly, as if searching for answers in Teodor's eyes. Quickly, she raised her head, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill. 

- One... two... three... - she counted softly, taking a deep breath after the words and looking at him with hope. 

Teodor, not recognizing her, felt a strange discomfort. It was as if something within him cracked, as though each tear she shed shook him from the inside, though he couldn't understand why. 

- I'm Ignacy, - said the man sitting behind them. Teodor turned toward him, unwilling to keep looking at the albino woman. 

- And she, - Ignacy paused deliberately - this girl is Nulla, your... 

- I'm your sister, - she interrupted, her voice heavy with tears. Teodor turned back to her. - Do you want to hear everything now? - she asked, tears streaming freely, though her voice, despite the sadness, did not waver. 

- Maybe not now, - Ignacy interjected, his tone calm, as if trying to ease the situation. - The guy just woke up. 

- So what?! - she shouted, her cheeks flushed red, visibly trembling with emotion. - He doesn't remember me! He doesn't remember! - she cried, her voice filled with despair. 

- Like everyone else, - Ignacy replied evenly, as though accustomed to such situations. - You're not the only one, - he added sharply, casting a pointed look at Nulla. 

During their brief argument, Teodor was again overcome by a sense of discomfort. 

- "Woke up," - he repeated quietly under his breath, the word sticking in his mind. He didn't know what to think. Was this all a dream? If so, why couldn't he remember anything? His thoughts spiraled, and the headache grew increasingly unbearable, as if the lack of information was throwing him off balance. 

Finally, the urge to see himself interrupted the torment. 

- Do you have a mirror? - he asked suddenly, cutting through the verbal skirmish between the two strangers. 

The reflection in the television wasn't enough-he couldn't see himself clearly. He didn't want to ask the girl to move; it felt inappropriate. 

- You really don't remember anything? - she asked again, her voice thick with sorrow. After a moment of silence, she added softly, - Not even yourself? 

Her words, spoken so delicately that Ignacy seemed not to hear them, pierced Teodor's mind. Her gaze made him feel scrutinized, as if she were examining him with X-ray vision, seeing straight through him. 

Ignacy, noticing his silence, handed him a mirror. 

- Here, - said the redhead, pulling a small black mirror from his pocket. - I took it from your former roommate's locker, - he added, a faint smirk twisting his lips. 

Teodor had no idea what could have amused him. The atmosphere in the room was cold and tense, and Ignacy's strange positivity seemed entirely out of place. 

Teodor grabbed the mirror with his left hand. It was small, but just big enough to see everything he wanted. In the reflection, he saw dark blond hair, messy, disheveled, and tangled, as if it hadn't been cared for in a long time. Some strands were even matted together, but it still had an incredible, natural blonde hue-one he imagined women might strive to achieve. Moving his gaze further, he noticed his cold, blue-gray eyes, reminiscent of a winter storm's icy blue. His skin was pale, as light as a sheet of paper. His cheeks bore only faint pink blushes that looked far from natural, making Teodor wonder if it was a side effect of his time in the hospital. 

He glanced at the albino girl. Her skin was slightly paler than his, yet still similarly pale. Since she claimed they were siblings, he connected the dots and concluded that his skin, too, likely resembled clouds in the sky daily. The longer he stared at his reflection, the less he recognized himself. He had a sharp jawline and didn't look like someone with any excess fat. Instead, he had pink, full lips and strangely perfect eyes. His ears weren't protruding, and his face had masculine features-cheekbones jutting out much like Ignacy's. He seemed to be an ideal man, even if his hair was in total disarray. Teodor couldn't remember the last time he had taken care of himself enough to fix such small details. Confused and overwhelmed by what he saw, he finally hurled the mirror toward the window. 

- What the hell?! - Ignacy jumped, startled and annoyed. - Have you lost your mind? You're aggressive! 

- Stop it - Teodor interrupted, not understanding why Ignacy irritated him so much, even though he barely knew him. Seeing Ignacy swallow nervously, Teodor felt an inexplicable frustration. - I need to check something - he said quickly, then, without warning, began taking off his gray shirt, the one he had slept in. 

- What are you doing? - the girl asked incredulously. - Are you undressing? 

Before she could finish her thought, Ignacy rushed over to her and covered her eyes with his hands. Startled, the girl began flailing, shouting. - Gross, sweaty pig hands! - She hurled other insults too, but Teodor stopped listening after the second. Instead, he ran his fingers over the muscles of his abdomen. He could feel his physical strength but hadn't realized how much muscle he actually had. 

- GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME! - the girl screamed, growing increasingly furious. 

-No, no - Ignacy kept repeating. - You almost bit me! - he yelled, backing away from her. His hands remained over her face. - You're underage! You can't - he shouted, struggling with the teenager. 

- TAKE YOUR DIRTY GERMS AWAY OR I'LL STRANGLE YOU RIGHT NOW! - the girl continued, still freaking out. 

- Go ahead, try it. I'm taller than you and three times stronger - Ignacy responded confidently. 

- Is she underage? - Teodor asked, still pondering the situation. His left hand moved towards his right, which was still tense with strange tension. 

- You're disgusting - Ignacy replied, looking at Teodor with disgust. - You might as well take off your underwear and pants too, - he added, giving him a pointed look.

Teodor, confused and irritated, uncovered part of the blanket. For a moment, the stranger's suggestion seemed strangely tempting to him. The girl's screaming didn't stop, and Ignacy glared furiously at the half-naked boy. 

- Really? - Ignacy asked, getting impatient after another bite from the girl. He saw that Teodor wasn't bothered by the situation, which only made him angrier. 

- Of course not, - Teodor replied, straightening up and turning his head toward the window. He didn't want anyone to notice that he had actually considered it. The body he was in was a novelty to him. He didn't remember it and wanted to fully explore it, understand it. 

- Are you going to get dressed already?! - Ignacy threw at him irritably. 

- Ah, sure - Teodor responded, rolling onto his right side to put on the gray shirt. - Done, - he added, adjusting his clothes. 

Ignacy let go of the girl, who immediately moved away from the bed. 

- IDIOT! I'm... I'm his sister! - the exhausted girl screamed, going wild. 

- You still have the strength for this? - Ignacy replied, looking completely bored. Nulla was still in an attacking position, glaring at him with anger, and Ignacy stared back at her with the same fury. They both fell silent for a moment, their eyes boiling with rage. Nulla tried to say something, but it ended in just a few quiet sniffs under her nose. 

- Is she underage? - Teodor returned to his question, wanting to be sure. 

- Jesus, do you seriously remember nothing? - Ignacy asked, turning to him in shock. After a moment, he walked over to the bed, sat on the edge, and stared at Teodor with mild surprise. 

- She already said no - the teenager proudly threw out, sitting on a beige armchair by the window. 

- She's underage - Ignacy replied, disgusted. - You and I are both twenty-one. Do I really have to explain this to you? 

- How old is she then? - Teodor asked, curious but also slightly confused. 

- She has a name - Nulla replied coldly, throwing a cold look at Teodor. 

- Sorry, how old is Nulla? - the blonde corrected himself, trying to avoid any misunderstandings. 

- That crazy witch - Ignacy said, nodding towards Nulla, who didn't react. - Seventeen, she'll be eighteen next month - he added dismissively. Teodor thought that Ignacy's frequent mood swings were exactly why he had found him annoying earlier. 

- Right - Teodor replied, trying to show that he understood the situation. - So, since she's my sister, that means... you... you? 

- I'm Ignacy - Ignacy answered calmly. Teodor wasn't going to pretend he didn't know. - Ignacy Różański - he clarified. 

- And you're...? - Teodor, not understanding, asked the redhead. 

- Your brother - Ignacy explained. 

- More like a bastard, - Nulla tossed out, playing with her short hair. - Our parents adopted him just before they died, so he even kept his old last name, - she said, then turned her head toward the window, clearly showing how much she was ignoring Ignacy. 

- Did you hear that? We're almost brothers, - Ignacy said, looking at Teodor with a certain tiredness in his eyes. 

- Our parents are dead, - he interrupted, leaving a long pause. - I mean, when did they die? 

- About ten years ago, - Nulla replied, glancing under the gray blinds. She then stood up and positioned herself in the middle of the room, as if waiting for something to happen. - Tell him, tell him about the system and everything else, - her face hardened, as if something inside her had frozen. A moment ago, her emotions were shifting one after another, but now, all that remained was emptiness. - I grew up... 

- Wait, - Ignacy interrupted her, subtly breaking away from the bed and walking over to the standing woman. He grabbed her wrist and gently pulled her toward him. - What are you doing? Are you going to leave me with him? - he asked, but Teodor sensed something in his voice that didn't sound like a real question. Ignacy looked at the girl as if it was the last thing he wanted to do, but he had no choice. At that moment, Nulla grabbed his free hand and pulled it downward. Then she whispered something into his ear - something Teodor couldn't hear. It felt as though he had been separated from the siblings, not being part of their intimate exchange of words. 

- You're leaving? - Teodor asked, hoping she would tell him what she had just whispered to Ignacy. 

- Yes, - she replied, pulling away from Ignacy. The man released her wrist, watching her but not trying to stop her. 

- This isn't fair! - he shouted at her as she walked out through the white, hospital door. Ignacy, frustrated, turned to Teodor. - Well, never mind, - he said, walking over to him. He sat on the adjacent bed, facing the blonde. - What do you want to know? Ask, I'm like a search engine, - he added sarcastically. 

- She ran away from me, didn't she? - Teodor asked, lowering his head. His voice sounded quiet, as if he was ashamed of his own feelings. 

- Mhmm, - Ignacy sighed, confirming his suspicion. - "Please, don't make me do this," - he quoted, looking at Teodor with a slight sadness in his eyes. - That's what she told me. 

- Does she hate me? Is it because I don't remember anything? - Teodor asked, his voice trembling, as if he was struggling to piece together the fragments of the puzzle that was his life. 

- I think so, but she doesn't hate you, - Ignacy reassured him, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder in a gesture of comfort. - She's just upset. She waited for you for two years, and before the accident, you were her favorite. 

- My favorite, - Teodor repeated, as if trying to understand the full meaning of those words. - That means... that means...? 

- That means that before the accident, she was the only thing that mattered to you, - Ignacy said, trying to clarify things a bit. - You were all she had left after losing our parents. You understand that just like with a custard-peach bun, - Ignacy smiled lightly, though there was sadness in his eyes. Teodor felt himself getting lost in what Ignacy was saying, as if the words were starting to circle around him without explaining anything. - You wait all day for the bun, - Ignacy continued, seeing that Teodor still didn't understand. - Let's say you work for nine hours, and the only thing on your mind the whole time is that custard-peach bun. You finish your nine-hour shift, go to the bakery to get a fresh custard-peach bun, and it's not there. So you ask the lady at the counter where your custard-peach buns are, and she tells you they only have the custard ones, because it's not peach season, so don't get your hopes up. All that waiting for nine hours is ruined by the lack of peaches. The lady offers you the custard bun, you buy it because there's nothing else. It's good, but you know you only bought it to satisfy your hunger. In your head, thoughts of the custard-peach bun keep swirling around. With each bite, you feel the taste of the bun getting worse. You want to throw it away, but you know that if you do, you'll be hungry, so you eat it until it's all gone, but you still long for that custard-peach one. - Ignacy finished his story, taking a breath as if that entire metaphor had drained the last of his energy. 

- Do you get what I'm saying? - he added, slightly out of breath. 

- Kind of, - Teodor replied, feeling confused but also somewhat down. - I felt like I was being compared to an unpleasant bun. 

- Okay, - Ignacy nodded, rolling his eyes a little. - Now, let's get to the important stuff, - he added, glancing at Teodor as if he was preparing him for something that was about to happen. 

- That means...? - Teodor asked, still feeling like he didn't understand the situation. The thought of the bun that had so dominated his imagination still lingered in his mind. One thing he understood: Ignacy was trying to pull him into something Teodor couldn't yet grasp, something that was too complicated. At that moment, Teodor felt a bit humiliated. His mind was trying to connect all the fragments, but the more he tried, the more lost he felt. 

- Can I talk? - Ignacy asked, noticing the distraction on his brother's face. He saw how Teodor was starting to zone out, how his thoughts were wandering far away. But curiosity quickly overtook all other feelings, and the boy nodded, signaling that he was listening. - I'll tell you why you're here and about the system. 

- The system? - Teodor interrupted him, and the mere word sent a chill down his spine. He felt a cold shiver run through him at the thought of that word. He didn't know exactly what the system was, but he knew he'd rather not know. He wished it had nothing to do with his life. 

- Yes, the system, - Ignacy repeated, growing more tired of the misunderstanding. His eyes showed patience, but also determination. - Let's start from the beginning, - he said, taking a deep breath, as if preparing for a long story. - Now you need to listen. And when I'm done, you can ask me questions, got it? 

- Bu-but... - Teodor stammered, still not entirely sure if he wanted to hear what Ignacy had to say. 

- There's no "but". Do you understand?

Ignacy didn't let him interrupt, emphasizing his words. Teodor nodded, although he wasn't sure if he fully understood what he was getting into. 

- Two years ago, during the test, the building where we were taking it was attacked by Eastern activists. When they attacked us, all the windows were smashed. Everyone, except for you, hid under the desks, trying to protect themselves, but you and I were sitting together under the same desk. And then, I don't know why, you - IDIOT - jumped out the window, shouting something in Amogu. 

- I shouted something? - Teodor asked, surprised. His mind couldn't recall any sound, no words. His eyes sparkled with curiosity, and he moved closer to Ignacy, as if hoping for an answer, as if searching for a clue about what had happened. 

- Something... something like... - Ignacy tried to remember, but he couldn't. His face twisted into a grimace, as if those memories were just as unclear to him as they were to Teodor. - Blue. - he finally replied, only sure of that word. 

- Blue? Are you sure? - Teodor asked, looking at him in astonishment. He understood nothing, as if this fragment of the past didn't fit with him at all. He felt like something was slipping away, but he couldn't grasp it. 

- Blue... - Ignacy repeated, clearly irritated that he couldn't recall the details. - You just stuck your head out from under the desk, and with the speed of a falling comet, you ran to the window. - Ignacy fell silent for a moment, as if he was still hearing the echoes of those events in his head. - Blue, blue... - he repeated insistently, his voice growing more and more filled with frustration, as if every word he spoke was weighing on him, evoking the pain of those memories.

With each subsequent scream that resonated in Teodor's head, he felt how those memories had taken over him. A wave of shame and humiliation overwhelmed him, crushing every part of him. His thoughts blurred, and he felt like a stranger in his own body. The whole situation became unbearable, and his emotions merged into a single, impenetrable mass. 

- STOP! - Teodor screamed, no longer able to endure. His voice sounded like a cry from the depths of despair. He understood nothing, he didn't understand himself, he didn't understand these people, this place. Everything seemed foreign, and he himself felt trapped in a body that didn't belong to him. 

Ignacy fell silent, seeing how Teodor was struggling with his emotions. He wanted to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat. He knew it wasn't easy, but he couldn't find the right words. He felt guilty, even though he knew perfectly well that he hadn't done anything wrong. Finally, he overcame himself, suggesting: 

- Are you feeling better? - he asked quietly, not wanting to appear intrusive, but his voice carried genuine concern. - Here, maybe you want some water? - he suggested, hoping to wash away his feelings of guilt.

Teodor turned away, as if trying to escape the situation. His gaze fell on a distant point, as if he was trying to find peace in it, a peace that didn't exist inside him. 

- I'll be fine. - he said coldly, still turning towards the window, avoiding Ignacy's gaze. - Does anyone else know about this? - he asked, trying to maintain calm, even though the storm of emotions in his head didn't subside. 

Ignacy looked at him, seeing how he was trying to maintain his mask of calm. He knew Teodor was pretending. He knew that there was nothing that could be explained in that moment, so he just fell silent. He played the game he had started, pretending nothing had happened. 

- I'll be fine. - Teodor said, turning left to avoid looking at the stranger. He was escaping with his gaze, as if searching for something constant, something sure in this world full of chaos. - Does anyone else know about this? - he asked, staring at a distant point, trying to pretend it was an oasis of calm. He had no idea if he was succeeding, but Ignacy, as always, played the game he had started, pretending that the entire situation hadn't happened. 

- No, no one saw. - Ignacy answered calmly, though there was tension in his voice. - Unless someone saw, but... honestly, I don't know. Everyone was so scared, busy hiding during the attack, that they probably didn't pay attention to what anyone was shouting. - He replied with a slightly ironic smile. - You know, if someone else had known about it, you probably wouldn't be lying in a luxury hospital now, you'd be dead. They would've taken you for one of those activists. 

- Nulla? - Teodor asked, though there was more surprise than a real question in his voice. 

- If I had told her, she would have started wandering around where she shouldn't. - Ignacy shrugged, and there was a note of satisfaction in his voice. - I guess it's good I didn't tell anyone. You know, let's just call it our "bromise." 

- Bromise? - Teodor raised his eyebrows, disgusted by the term. - How old did you say we are? - he asked with sarcasm, a little amused, though still feeling the weight of the situation. 

- Come on, man. "Bromise," kind of like a secret and a promise. I think it's a pretty cool name. - Ignacy said it casually, as if the whole situation didn't matter much to him. His gaze was composed, but at the same time forced to maintain balance in this conversation, which couldn't be fully open. 

- Forget the name. And the blue, what is that? Is it some kind of code? - Teodor asked, though his thoughts were scattered. The word "blue" still echoed in his mind, as if it weighed on him, not giving him peace. 

- Code? - Ignacy replied as if he didn't quite understand what was meant. Only now did he notice how Teodor was starting to get tense, as if he was approaching an answer he didn't want to accept. 

Suddenly, Teodor's question pulled him from his thoughts. It was like a flash of awareness. Teodor recalled something that had emerged from the darkness of his memories. 

- Do you know a woman with long blue hair, or hair reaching her shoulders? - he asked uncertainly, as if afraid that this question led to something he didn't want to remember. 

- Long or short? - Ignacy responded quickly, changing his tone to a more factual one, as if trying to take control of the situation. 

- Blue. - Teodor hadn't noticed when he had approached his brother, getting caught up in this unexpected part of the conversation. He was starting to feel that this woman had something to do with his dream. With something that didn't make sense, but still wouldn't let him rest. Who was she? And why had she appeared in his mind? 

- No, she's not from our sector. - Ignacy answered briefly, almost dismissively, as if wanting to end the topic. - Maybe she's one of the Eastern activists? - he added, but it sounded more like speculation than an answer. 

- Eastern activists? - Teodor felt how blurry memories hit him, like undulating waves that kept flooding him, then disappearing. He wanted to ask more, but his mind was in chaos. He had no idea what was happening, what was happening to him. He felt like he was in a dream, in some strange, impenetrable reality. His body wanted to run, but something kept him in place. 

- I need to stay calm. - he muttered to himself quietly, clenching his fist under the blanket as if that would help him calm down. 

- Did you say something? - Ignacy asked, noticing how Teodor opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something. But then he added: - Forget it, don't say anything. - before Teodor had a chance to reply. - We've gone off-topic. - Ignacy stated, looking at his brother with mild irritation but also understanding. He knew that now wasn't the time for explanations, for unraveling all these threads. - So, the system... - his words resonated in the silence, and Teodor felt how everything in his mind began to connect. This was the key part he had been waiting for. 

- System? - Teodor repeated questioningly, this time feeling how the word stirred a new wave of unease in him. What did it really mean? 

- You were supposed to say nothing. - Ignacy repeated, irritated. His voice was as hard as steel, unwilling to bend. - The system is like our guardian, god, and fate's blacksmith. For the system, your status, wealth, or appearance don't matter. At least, that's how they advertise it. - He said with irony, turning his gaze away, as if looking for comfort in something outside of the room. - The wrist. - he added, grabbing Teodor's right hand. 

Teodor looked at him, not understanding. Before he could ask, Ignacy had already turned the boy's hand over, searching for something on his wrist. His gaze was focused, as if looking for something he couldn't find himself. 

- No, not this one. - Ignacy shook his head, grabbing Teodor's other hand. His fingers moved along the wrist, searching for small bumps, as if by touch, but he knew exactly what he was looking for. - See. - His gaze was fixed on the veins, forming mysterious, bluish-purple circles. As if someone had carved them into the skin, adding elements that shouldn't have been there. Two circles, one inside the other. Like Russian matryoshka dolls - one figurine hid another. But in this case, there were four circles. 

Teodor held his breath when he saw what Ignacy was talking about. The circles on his wrist, small, but clearly visible. He paused for a moment, shaken by the discovery, and his heart beat faster. Then he glanced at Ignacy's turned hand and saw the same thing. Four circles, perfectly matching the ones on his own wrist. 

- Where did we get this from? - he asked, still stunned. Even though the circles were small, he couldn't understand why he hadn't noticed them earlier. 

- Gaia. - Ignacy answered calmly, showing no surprise, as if it were an everyday matter. - The system's name is Gaia. Through genes in the DNA strands, they determine our usefulness to society. This happens when we're still embryos, in the cell. They inject a fluid into it that turns us blue. This fluid later forms the circles on our wrists. When we are born, our color and condition normalize. Actually, by the sixth month, these changes disappear. - he added, as if explaining the simplest thing in the world. 

- Bu... but... - Teodor couldn't get the words out, still not fully understanding. - How? How? I mean, like when a woman is pregnant...? 

- Ugh. - Ignacy reacted quickly, avoiding the topic like fire. - I mean... sorry, but women don't give birth anymore. They're not part of the process. Most people just donate their reproductive cells, and the machine takes them and places them in a chamber. And then the machine monitors the child's development, observes all the processes, etc. - he corrected himself, feeling like he was straying from the topic. - Where did that idea come from? - he asked, trying to get back to the conversation. 

- I don't know. - Teodor shrugged, unable to answer. - Maybe I liked reading old books, so maybe that's why. 

- Yeah, maybe that's it. - Ignacy looked at him, slightly confused by all of this. - Anyway, women haven't given birth for seventy, sixty years. - he added, as if trying to explain, though even he felt unsure about this topic. - Back to the point: you can have a maximum of five circles on your wrist. And that doesn't depend on social status. If you're born into a family where everyone has four circles, it doesn't mean you will too. And vice versa. Understand? - he asked, checking if Teodor was keeping up. 

Teodor nodded, though he still wasn't sure he understood everything. He knew, however, that he wouldn't be able to grasp all of it right away. Ignacy continued: 

- When a child is born into a family where the parents have more circles than the child, they can decide whether they want to raise the child or not. If they do, the child can stay with them until they start their own path. If not, the child goes to smaller sectors, and also... - he stopped, taking a breath. - The circles assign you a sector number. - he said slowly, wanting to make sure everything was clear. - We have four, so we are in the fourth sector. 

Teodor looked at him, and suddenly the words came out of his mouth: 

- Nulla? 

- She has five. - Ignacy answered, looking at him calmly, though something in his voice betrayed irritation. - But relax, don't worry about it. Four and five are basically the same, it's just about social functions. Those with five circles can, so to speak, do more. 

- More? - Teodor asked, not quite understanding what that actually meant. 

- What sins did I commit to be stuck with the same? - Ignacy threw out impatiently, waving his hands as if he wanted to end the topic. 

- Just say it. - Teodor replied. 

- Fine. - Ignacy nodded, his contemptuous gaze resting on Teodor, as if he were the smallest of threats. - They have a choice, but before you interrupt me, let me finish. - His tone made it clear that he wasn't going to indulge in any prejudices. - Let's get back to the circles, okay? - he asked, and though Teodor was reluctant, he nodded, still trying to sort everything out in his mind. - If the number of circles decreases, usefulness also decreases. Children with fewer than four circles can only attend school until they reach adulthood. Higher education is forbidden for them. Children with fewer than two circles end up on the social margins. Those with one or two circles can only attend school until the age of fourteen. After that, it's forbidden. They are sent to state labor companies, where they take a three-hour fitness test. Based on that test, they are assigned to appropriate jobs. The same applies to children with three circles. After reaching adulthood, they can study for one more year if the system assigns them to a government official role. - Ignacy took a deep breath, as if trying to digest the information he knew so well. - We have something similar, except that after the fitness test, we are assigned to the appropriate university course. 

Teodor fell silent, feeling the growing anxiety within him. His voice sounded strange, as if he wanted to check if he understood correctly: 

- So we have no choice? - He asked, though no longer feeling as confident. - Internally... I feel like it doesn't surprise me. - he thought. This thought triggered fear in him. - They kill innocent people... - he added in his mind, but at that moment Ignacy interrupted him, speaking over him. 

- Our choice is Gaja. It knows us best. - Ignacy replied with slight irritation, throwing Teodor a look full of meaning, one that resembled the edge of a warning. - You should say that when someone asks you, understand? 

- And what if I don't? - Teodor asked, feeling his heart beat faster. 

- The moment you start resisting, they'll reprimand you. Then they'll send you for therapy. If that doesn't work, they'll check you for security and usefulness. Then they'll remove your circles, if they quote your number. - Ignacy looked at him dismissively, turning toward the door. - People who resist, usually, if they aren't in a high position, are immediately subjected to testing. And that test almost never ends well. 

Teodor avoided Ignacy's gaze, wondering how much truth there was in those words. 

- But the position in the system doesn't matter. - Teodor couldn't understand why, if this whole system was supposedly based on equal principles, Ignacy spoke of people being "removed." 

- Those are their marketing slogans. - Ignacy replied as if he no longer cared, as if those words were as false as the entire reality. - You're old enough, so you know that what someone says isn't always true. And it's definitely not true when someone repeats it over and over, forcing others to believe it. - He paused for a moment, as if thinking about something that still troubled him. - Remember, you're just a student. It's a miracle you were in the faction for two years and haven't been surrounded yet. - he said calmly, as if reminding Teodor that he, Ignacy, was the one who hadn't forgotten reality, even when it was the hardest. 

Teodor felt that thought squeeze his throat, and the memory of Nulla filled his mind. Her name echoed in his head, like an echo that wouldn't quiet down. 

- Nulla. - His voice sounded quietly, unknowingly saying his sister's name, as if he could no longer get her out of his mind. 

- Ah, yes. - Ignacy sighed, breaking the silence. - People with five circles can choose their profession. They pick one from twelve available in a survey format on A4 paper. - Ignacy replied. 

Teodor silently watched his supposed brother, for whom these words were the most natural thing in the world, while they filled him with disgust. He felt as if he were living in a completely different world, where the rules followed entirely different laws. His gaze never left his brother, who spoke about the system as if discussing the weather. 

- Nulla isn't studying yet, if that's what's on your mind. - Ignacy broke the silence, seeing that his brother wasn't saying anything. - She's underage. 

- You study after reaching adulthood? - Teodor asked, though his question sounded more like an attempt to understand rules that didn't make sense. 

- Not exactly. - Ignacy shook his head. - Adulthood comes when you're twenty, but studies start when you're nineteen. - He added, as if it were obvious and clear. - I'm studying nanogenetic structural engineering, and you... You were supposed to study, if I'm not mistaken, fractal medicine with structural engineering. 

- WHAT DO I STUDY?! - Teodor almost choked on the air. His brother's words shook him, as if they had revealed some hidden truth he hadn't wanted to see. 

- Didn't I tell you? - Ignacy shrugged, looking at him with mild surprise. - As long as I can remember, you were the top student in medical-related subjects. We went through almost every class together, you always got the highest grades and awards. 

- Me? - Teodor asked uncertainly, as if he didn't understand at all what Ignacy was talking about. But his brother nodded affirmatively. 

- Yes, you. - Ignacy said it as if there was no doubt. - If a test were conducted now, I feel like you'd lose at least two circles. - He added, trying to amuse his brother, but Teodor only felt worse. Fear tightened around his throat. What if he really lost two circles? What if everything ended then? 

- Don't panic. - Ignacy noticed his panic. - I'll bring you some things from the apartment, books, personal notes. Maybe something will remind you. - He stood up, heading toward the door. - It'll be fine, you'll see. 

- You're leaving me?! - Teodor shouted, though immediately after, he felt helpless, unable to do anything. Ignacy looked at him over his shoulder. 

- They were just waiting for me to leave. - Ignacy said this emotionlessly, not stopping. - Oh, and one more thing. - Leaning his head around the door, he added: - Don't turn into a dog. 

- What dog?! - Teodor didn't understand what he meant. 

- A person without circles. - Ignacy answered with an ironic tone, as if it were something that didn't need explanation. Then he disappeared behind the door. 

A moment later, two nurses entered the room, looking identical. They were small, with not a single strand of hair, not even eyebrows. Teodor stared at them for a moment, trying to understand them. It was only after a moment that he realized they were women, but if it weren't for their feminine shapes, he probably wouldn't have guessed their gender. Behind them came a doctor. His skin was so old that he looked like he was about to lie down in a grave. His body, however, seemed to be no older than thirty. All the wrinkles were stretched tight, and his eye sockets were deeply sunken. Despite that, the muscles under his lab coat suggested that he must run at least two marathons every day. His hair was slicked with gel, so much so that it seemed glued together, looking greasy and oily. Teodor felt a little better. He noticed that although his own hair was also matted, it wasn't by choice. For him, it was simply the effect of the illness. He smiled inwardly. The doctor noticed this small gesture and approached him, leaning over the bed. Teodor suddenly felt small, as if the doctor were a giant. 

- Are you ready? - the doctor asked with a disgusting smile. Teodor noticed him pulling something out of his left sleeve, but before he could protest, the needle had already pierced his neck. 

The pain shot through him like an electric shock, and he quickly lost consciousness. He collapsed onto the bed, his mind once again sinking into darkness.