Something new

Chapter fifteen: something new

"Ummm~"

The morning sunlight stretched through the half-open window, creeping across the floor before reaching Caelum's face like an unwanted guest.

A groggy thought surfaced in his mind as the sunlight assaulted him.

'Did I forget to close the curtains yesterday?'

He groaned, flipping over and burying his head between the pillows. The warmth against his skin grew more irritating by the second, and the more he tried to ignore it, the more intense the warmth became, assaulting him further.

Caelum gritted his teeth, cursing under his breath as he clutched the pillow tighter over his head.

"This Stupid sun… damn you, damn you… let me sleep… it's still early morning"

But the merciless sunlight didn't care.

Annoyance bubbled up inside him until, without thinking, he shot up, turned toward the window with half-lidded eyes, and barked in a hoarse, sleepy voice—

"Screw this!"

He blinked as his own voice startled him. His mind was still wrapped in a blanket of drowsiness.

"Ahhh." he sat on the bed for a moment, having no energy or motivation to move, staring at the window like it was the culprit behind his messed up state.

A long drawn-out yawn escaped his lips as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. As soon as his bare feet hit the cold wooden floor, caelum winced slightly and muttered, "I need more sleep, damn it."

Scratching his head, he stumbled toward the door, dragging his feet with all the energy of a man who had lost a fight against the morning itself. The hallway blurred past as he walked to the bathroom, his movements were sluggish enough that he could roll over on the floor.

After barely making it to the bathroom, caelum Flicked on the sink, he splashed cold water on his face, feeling the icy sting against his skin.

"Huff, haaaa!" With a deep inhale and a slow exhale. He wiped a hand down his face, staring at himself in the mirror.

"…Huh. Better than ever."

Even the words left his mouth in a sluggish way, as caelum continued the routine part of his mornings. He examined himself for a bit longer, taking in the dark strands of his hair sticking out in odd directions, the slight drowsiness still clinging to his expression.

Caelum didn't even realise how his face looked slightly better than it usually did, as even the ever present dark circles under his eyes were missing,

With a shrug, he reached for his toothbrush, lazily squeezing toothpaste onto the bristles before sticking it into his mouth. The slow, rhythmic motion of brushing began, almost instinctively his half-asleep mind wandered as a load of thoughts crept in.

'ugh, Why do I have to do this every morning?'

His hand moved slowly as he chewed the toothbrush. Pausing in between as with his thoughts starting to fly higher.

'What if I made something to clean my teeth automatically? Won't i be able to skip the morning hassle?'

His eyes flickered, reflecting his crazy state of mind as caelum brushed for half an hour with his autistic thoughts.

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After ravaging crazy ideas for a while, Caelum stepped out of this bathroom and went straight to his medicine.

After grabbing the familiar package, he poured himself a glass of water, popped the pill out then tilted his head back and swallowed the pill with a sip of water, feeling it slide down his throat before setting the glass aside.

"I just hope there were more flavours to this...." After shaking off the bitterness lingering faintly on his tongue, he walked into the kitchen while muttering. "The daily bitterness has become unbearable, hah."

As caelum stepped in, His eyes landed on the refrigerator. The bulky appliance stood untouched, practically forgotten. "It has been months since I last opened it."

Ever since he started creating his own meals with the quill, it had become nothing more than a decorative piece in his apartment. Still, he stood there for a moment, staring at it with a complicated look. 'should i just throw it away?' but he quickly rejected the idea. "Naa. I should sell it, considering it's still working i will get a bit of money out of it won't i?"

With a small stretch, he turned away and moved toward the window, unlocking it with a quiet click before pushing it open. The cool morning air drifted in, carrying with it the distant hum of city life.

"Ughh~" Caelum yawned as he took a deep breath, letting the fresh air wash over him before heading toward the kitchen counter.

There was one thing he still made naturally, without the use of his quill, it was his morning coffee.

He reached for the coffee beans, grinding them down before setting up the brew. The rich aroma filled the kitchen as he moved to his laundry basket, peeling off his clothes and tossing them into the washing machine.

Stepping below the shower he turned the switch on, the comfortable warm water from his shower soon eased the tension from his limbs. His muscles ached slightly, reminding him of the time he had spent inside the painting world.

After a while Steam curled around him as he stepped out, drying himself off before slipping into a fresh set of clothes—a plain white t-shirt and striped pants. The fabric felt cool against his skin, a small comfort as he ruffled his damp hair and returned to the kitchen.

"That's why modern appliances are so useful." His coffee had already finished brewing when he reached the kitchen.

Pouring himself a cup, he took a slow sip, letting the warmth spread through him.

He made his way toward the bedroom with the coffee mug still in this hands. As soon as he entered his gaze landed on the quill, resting right where he had tossed it the night before.

"Maybe....I should stop tossing it like it's some ordinary object."

With a light chuckle he picked it up, twirling it between his fingers as he walked back to the kitchen. Finishing the last sip of his coffee, he placed the empty mug aside and reached for a plate and a bowl from the cupboard before settling down at the dining table.

Taking a deep breath, he focused.

After his recent breakthrough, caelum no longer needed a physical surface to draw, his willpower was enough to shape things into existence.

"Alright, time to eat up." Holding the quill steady, he willed the image of his breakfast into the air.

The first thing to manifest was a bowl of white rice, each grain steaming and soft. The surface gleamed slightly under the light, a sign of how fresh it was.

Next was a bowl of thick bean soup, the dark broth rich with herbs and hints of spice, small pieces of softened beans floating in the mix.

Finally, a grilled fish appeared on the plate—its skin crisped to a golden brown, glistening with a light sheen of oil, the aroma carrying a smoky depth that made his stomach rumble with hunger.

With another flick of his willpower, a cup of warm milk materialized, replacing the coffee he had just finished.

His mouth watered as he rubbed his hands together.

Taking his spoon, he scooped up some rice, the grains sticking together just enough to be firm without being clumpy. The warmth spread across his tongue, balanced perfectly with the mild flavor of the bean soup when he took a sip.

'the broth is so smooth~' caelum felt his soul being purified as the thick broth coated his mouth with its richness.

The fish, when he picked at it with his chopsticks, flaked apart easily, the charred skin adding a slight crunch before melting into the soft, juicy meat beneath.

"Hmmmm~" A satisfied hum escaped him as he ate, taking his time to enjoy the meal. Even though the food was something he had created, it never failed to taste just as good, if not better than anything he could buy.

When he finished, he leaned back slightly, sipping the last of the warm milk before pushing his chair back.

With a deep sigh, he stood up and brought his dishes to the sink. The warm water ran over his hands as he washed everything clean, the repetitive motion soothing in its own way.

After drying his hands, he stretched, arms reaching over his head as a yawn escaped him.

"I guess, i should go out for a bit?" Before caelum used to be stuck at home most of the time, not wanting to go out with his weak body. But without him even knowing it, his own habits have changed for the better.

Slowly the quill started to have an unseen effect on him, it started changing caelum's view on life.

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Caelum locked his apartment door behind him with a quiet click before stepping out. The air outside was still cool, carrying the faint scent of morning dew as he adjusted the collar of his shirt and started walking.

His pace was slow and unhurried. He passed by the neighboring apartments, glancing at the familiar doors and windows, "though i barely know the people who lived behind them."

The occasional sound of muffled conversation or a distant radio played from within, giving the place a sense of life, even if it wasn't one he was a part of.

As he made his way down the street, he reached the small park that came alive in the afternoons with children's laughter and playful shouts. Right now, it was empty, the swings swaying lightly with the breeze, the benches unoccupied.

He barely spared it a glance as he continued on, his feet carrying him past various shops lined along the main street. At one point, he used to visit these shops regularly, whether to grab a snack, browse through books, or simply kill time.

A small, almost amused smile crossed his lips as he realized how much things had changed. 'Back then, i had errands to run, routines to follow but Now....'

The small smile on his lips widened up a bit. 'I could simply create everything i need.'

Caelum wholeheartedly thought there was no need to stop by the grocery store for food, no reason to check out the latest sales, it was strange but Liberating in a way.

Caelum's feet didn't stop as he had no particular destination in mind, just walking so that his body won't become dull.

But eventually, after wandering for a while, he found himself heading back toward his apartment with slow steps. This time, as he approached, his eyes flickered toward the small park once more.

"Hmm, i have nothing to do right now anyway." Without much thinking he pushed open the small gates entered.

"Is it strange? to think i have never bothered before, despite it being right next to my home." Letting out a quiet sigh, he stepped onto the paved path, glancing around at the quiet scenery.

It was peaceful. Too peaceful, perhaps, without the usual background noise of children running around, filling the air with their chatter.

He walked further in, past the neatly arranged benches and patches of grass, until he reached an old swing near a tree. The paint on the metal chains had long since chipped away, leaving behind rusted spots, but the seat itself seemed sturdy enough.

Lowering himself onto it, he let his hands rest on the chains, his fingers idly gripping the cool metal as he gently rocked himself back and forth.

The world felt still as his mind went silent, feeling the cool breeze against his face.

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Quite a bit of time went by.

Caelum hands loosely gripped the rusted chains as he swayed gently with the breeze. The air was cool, carrying the scent of damp earth and freshly cut grass.

His mind felt the rare moment of relaxation and light, as if the wind itself was carrying away his weightless thoughts.

Then, out of nowhere, a voice cut through the tranquil silence.

"The air is unusually cold today."

Caelum turned his head towards the voice and blinked, only to see an elderly man standing nearby.

He had a full head of white hair and a warm, easy smile that felt oddly comforting. Despite the man's presence being so close, Caelum hadn't even noticed when he had approached. That was how lost he had been in the moment of breeze.

The old man smiled, his eyes twinkling with a quiet amusement. "Don't you think?"

Caelum hesitated for a second before nodding with a slightly goofy expression. "Ah, yeah. It's quite cold today."

The elderly man chuckled softly before stepping forward and lowering himself onto the swing beside Caelum's. A quiet hum escaped his lips, as if he were lost in some old memory, before he turned to glance at Caelum again.

"So, young man, where are you from?"

Caelum tilted his head slightly before answering, "Actually, I live in the old apartment nearby."

The old man raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "Really? Maybe it's just my old age catching up to me, but I don't remember ever seeing you around."

Caelum chuckled at that. He leaned back slightly and, with a small smile, replied, "Well, that's because… I'm mostly out of town."

It was a straight forward lie with a smile on his face, He simply didn't want to say that he was stuck inside the apartment for most of his time.

The elderly man hummed in understanding, nodding as if everything suddenly made sense. "Oh, no wonder I'm seeing your face for the first time."

The two of them continued talking for a while. The conversation was simple, nothing too deep, just the kind of casual chat that made time slip by unnoticed.

The old man spoke about how the park used to be livelier in the past, how time had changed things, and how he now spent his days going on peaceful walks, enjoying whatever moments life had left for him.

Eventually, after what felt like a good amount of time, the elderly man let out a satisfied sigh and patted Caelum on the shoulder.

"It was nice meeting you, young man."

Then, with a slow push against the ground, he stood up. "It's time I get going. My granddaughter will be worried if I stay out too long."

Caelum smiled softly, a rare kind of warmth filling his chest. "It was nice meeting you too, sir."

But just as the old man turned to leave—

Caelum's willpower leaked out of him instinctively.

He didn't even realize it at first. As if It was an automatic reaction, something akin to a subconscious action.

But the moment it happened, caelum's pupils shrunk with his breath caught in his throat.

He wasn't just looking at the old man's back anymore instead he was seeing through him. The same way he could see his own interior with the activation of willpower.

The elderly man's internal body was exposed before his eyes, not in a literal, grotesque way, but in a way that only someone who could see the unseen could comprehend.

It was as if Caelum's gaze had peeled away the outer layers of existence itself. He could see the intricate pathways within the man's body, the way blood flowed through his veins, the subtle rhythm of his heartbeat, the quiet glow of life that pulsed beneath his skin.

The sheer detail of it left Caelum overwhelmed.

The old man, noticing Caelum's sudden change in expression, turned slightly. "Is something wrong?"

Caelum snapped out of it, shaking his head quickly. "No." He coughed, forcing himself to regain composure. "It's nothing. I just remembered I have something important to do."

The old man sighed convinced, but not wanting to press further. "Well then, see you later." With that, he turned and continued on his way.

Caelum however, remained seated.

His mind racing as his eyes stayed locked on the elderly figure as he walked away, seeing the exposed interior of his old.

He was seeing everything, the same way he could see everything inside his body.

The subconscious activation of his willpower made him realise things he didn't consider before.

As he was left flabbergasted quiet whisper left his lips, barely audible.

"This is insane."