Learning to Live

Chapter 32: Learning to Live

Kael-X had always been a being of battle, a predator of the cosmos. But now, for the first time, he was experiencing life in a way he never had before. Days passed, turning into weeks, and each moment was another lesson in human existence.

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Work and Routine

Kael-X continued his job at the docks, waking early, lifting crates, and sweating under the hot sun. He started to understand the concept of exhaustion—not because his body needed rest, but because humans needed it.

At night, he returned to his apartment, cooked basic meals, and read books about human behavior.

Maya had helped him pick out some furniture—a small table, a second-hand couch, and even a TV. He found himself watching human shows, learning their humor, their fears, their culture.

But despite how much he blended in, a part of him still felt detached.

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Encounters with the Ordinary

One evening, while walking home, Kael-X encountered a street musician playing the violin. The melody caught his attention—it was sad, yet beautiful.

He stood there, watching.

The musician noticed him. "Hey, you like music?"

Kael-X hesitated before nodding.

"First time hearing a violin?"

"No," Kael-X said. "But… first time listening."

The musician chuckled. "Big difference, huh?"

Kael-X didn't respond. But for some reason, he dropped a few bills into the musician's open case before walking away.

---

The Mirror Test

One night, Kael-X stood in front of his bathroom mirror, staring at his reflection. His hair still covered his eyes, but he saw past it.

He was changing.

His posture had relaxed. His expressions were more natural.

He was starting to look… human.

But deep inside, he knew the truth.

He wasn't one of them. And sooner or later, the illusion of normalcy would shatter.

Small Talk and Struggles

Kael-X had never seen the need for casual conversations before. Back in the cosmos, silence was more efficient than words. But here, people talked all the time—about the weather, about work, about things that didn't seem to matter.

Maya often teased him about it.

"You need to learn how to talk to people, Kael," she said one evening, sipping from a coffee cup. "You can't just stare at them in silence. It's creepy."

He tilted his head. "But silence conveys intent."

She laughed. "Yeah, if you're an assassin. But humans like words."

Kael-X tried. At work, he made small attempts to engage with the dock workers. When someone greeted him, he replied. When someone joked, he learned to smirk. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

Still, some things confused him.

One afternoon, his coworker, an older man named Roy, clapped him on the back and said, "You work like a machine, kid. Ever thought of slowing down?"

Kael-X frowned. "Why would I do that?"

Roy chuckled. "Because we're not robots. We need breaks."

Kael-X nodded, even though he didn't understand.

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The First Human Celebration

One night, Maya dragged him to a small street festival. Lights decorated the streets, and the air was filled with the scent of food. People laughed, played games, and danced to live music.

Kael-X observed.

This was different from war. It was loud, chaotic, yet… peaceful.

Maya bought him a snack—a skewer of grilled meat. He stared at it. "What is this?"

"It's food. Just eat."

He took a cautious bite. The flavors were strong, rich, unlike the simple meals he made for himself.

Maya grinned. "Good?"

Kael-X nodded. It wasn't just the food. It was the experience.

For the first time, he felt something unfamiliar—enjoyment.

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The Fear of Being Known

Despite his progress, Kael-X remained cautious. He kept his identity hidden. He avoided cameras, news reports, and anything that might reveal who he really was.

But deep down, he knew it was only a matter of time.

He wasn't just adapting to Earth. He was hiding.

And sooner or later, the past would catch up to him.

A Name That Feels Human

Kael-X had always been just Kael-X, a designation rather than a true name. But in this world, people had names with meanings, names given to them by others who cared.

One evening, as he and Maya walked through the city streets, she suddenly asked, "Do you ever get tired of being called Kael-X?"

He frowned. "It is my name."

"It sounds… robotic."

"It is efficient."

Maya rolled her eyes. "Okay, but what if you had a normal name? Something human?"

He considered this. "What do you suggest?"

She tapped her chin. "Hmm. What about Kael? Just Kael. It sounds better."

"Kael." He repeated it slowly. It was strange, incomplete… but oddly fitting.

Maya grinned. "See? Now you're one step closer to blending in."

"Wait do you know who I am"

"Of course,you are the speed villian,I saw you have some humane treatment in you that's why I stayed with you"

Puzzled, Kael-X replied "I still have a lot to learn about humans"

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The Struggle to Fit In

Despite his progress, there were still things Kael didn't understand.

For one, human emotions were complicated.

At work, he noticed how people's moods changed depending on the smallest things. Someone would be excited in the morning, then frustrated by the afternoon, then cheerful again by evening. It was unpredictable.

Even Maya had moments when she would sigh heavily and stare into space.

"Something wrong?" he asked her one night.

She forced a smile. "Nah, just… life stuff."

Kael didn't know how to respond. On the battlefield, problems had solutions. But in everyday life, people just… endured things without fixing them.

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An Unexpected Challenge: Sleep

Kael-X wasn't used to sleeping like humans did. In the past, he only rested when his body demanded it. But now, with no constant threats, Maya insisted he should follow a proper sleep schedule.

"It's not just about resting," she explained. "It's about resetting your mind."

He tried. He really did.

Lying in the small apartment Maya helped him find, he stared at the ceiling. The city noises outside were constant—cars, distant voices, the occasional siren.

His body was still. His mind was not.

For hours, he simply existed, waiting for unconsciousness that refused to come.

By morning, he was still awake.

Maya smirked when she saw him. "Rough night?"

"…I don't see the purpose of sleep."

She laughed. "You'll learn."

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A Glimpse of a Normal Life

Days turned into weeks.

Kael found a routine—work, small conversations, quiet moments of observation. He was no longer the unshaken warrior who had just arrived on Earth.

Something in him was changing.

One evening, as he walked home, he saw a little girl drop her stuffed toy onto the street. Without thinking, he picked it up and handed it to her.

She beamed. "Thank you, mister!"

Kael-X didn't know why, but that small moment stuck with him.

For the first time, he wondered—could he really live like this?

Or was he simply pretending?