The learning curve

Chapter 35: The learning curve

Kael-X sat on the apartment balcony, his gaze fixed on the city lights stretching beyond the horizon. The world felt different at night—quieter, less overwhelming. He could hear the distant hum of cars, the occasional chatter of people walking below, and the rhythmic beeping of crosswalk signals.

Maya leaned against the railing beside him, sipping from a can of soda. "You've been here for days now," she said. "How's Earth treating you?"

Kael-X exhaled slowly. "It is… an adjustment."

She smirked. "That's an understatement."

Elijah's apartment was small but comfortable. Kael-X had taken over the couch, spending most nights in a light state of rest rather than full sleep. Maya had tried to explain the importance of sleep, but he wasn't used to lowering his guard completely.

Elijah, Maya's cousin, had mostly left Kael-X alone. He was a busy man, always coming and going, but when he was around, he treated Kael-X with casual indifference—like a strange new roommate rather than a dangerous outsider.

Tonight, Elijah was sitting at the dining table, scrolling through his phone while eating a late-night meal. "Hey," he called out, not looking up. "If you're gonna live here, you should probably get an ID or something. People will start asking questions."

Kael-X turned to Maya. "ID?"

"Identification," she explained. "Basically, proof that you exist in the system. A name, a birthday, all that stuff."

Kael-X frowned. "I do not have such things."

"Yeah, no kidding." Maya tapped her fingers against the railing. "We'll figure something out."

---

Blending In

The next morning, Maya dragged Kael-X outside, determined to make him interact with more people.

They started small—coffee shops, bookstores, public places where he could observe and practice casual conversation. It was strange for him. In battle, he could predict an opponent's every move, but here, people's words and emotions were unpredictable.

At a small café, Maya ordered two drinks and handed one to him. "Alright, time for your next lesson—casual small talk."

Kael-X held the cup without drinking. "I do not see the purpose."

"The purpose is to be normal."

She motioned toward a group of people chatting nearby. They laughed, their body language relaxed. Kael-X studied them, trying to understand.

Maya sighed. "Okay, let's try this—if someone asks how your day is going, what do you say?"

Kael-X blinked. "The truth?"

"Yes, but… in a normal way."

He thought for a moment. "I have spent the day attempting to integrate into human society while suppressing the instinct to eliminate potential threats."

Maya nearly choked on her drink. "No, no, no—do not say that."

Kael-X tilted his head. "Why?"

She groaned. "Because that's not normal!"

A barista walked past their table and glanced at Kael-X's untouched drink. "Need a refill?"

Kael-X hesitated. He had not consumed any of it, but he recalled Maya's lesson. Instead of explaining, he simply said, "No, thank you."

The barista nodded and walked away.

Maya gave him a slow clap. "See? You're getting it."

Kael-X looked down at the cup. "This adaptation process is inefficient."

"It takes time," she admitted. "But you'll get there."

Kael-X wasn't sure if that was true. But for now, he would keep trying.

Later that afternoon, Kael-X and Maya walked through a bustling marketplace. Vendors shouted about their products, children ran between stalls, and the scent of freshly cooked street food filled the air.

Kael-X observed everything carefully, noting how humans bartered, laughed, and interacted. The marketplace was chaotic but structured—each person moved with purpose, even if it wasn't for survival.

Maya nudged him. "You look like you're scanning for enemies."

"I am studying behavior," he replied. "Understanding human patterns is necessary for proper integration."

She rolled her eyes. "Or, you could just enjoy the moment."

Kael-X had no response to that. Enjoyment was not something he had been programmed for.

As they walked, Maya suddenly stopped and pointed at a barbershop across the street. "Oh! You should get a trim."

Kael-X frowned. "A trim?"

"Your hair. It's long and messy."

He reached up, brushing strands of hair away from his face. It had always been that way—hiding his eyes, concealing part of his expression.

Maya smirked. "Come on, don't be scared."

"I do not experience fear," he stated, but she was already dragging him inside.

---

An Unexpected Challenge

The moment they stepped in, the barbershop's atmosphere shifted. A few men sat in chairs getting their haircuts, while others waited their turn, chatting about sports and news.

A barber, a broad-shouldered man with a neatly trimmed beard, looked Kael-X up and down. "You need a cut, man?"

Kael-X hesitated. "I… require maintenance."

Maya snorted. "Yeah, let's clean him up a bit. But keep his hair long—just neaten it."

The barber motioned to the chair. Kael-X sat stiffly, his posture unnaturally straight.

The moment the clippers buzzed, his body tensed. Instinct screamed at him—threat detected.

Maya must have noticed because she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Relax. It's just a haircut."

Kael-X forced himself to remain still. The barber worked quickly, trimming the uneven ends while leaving most of the length. His hair still covered his eyes, but now it looked less wild.

When the cut was finished, the barber dusted off his shoulders. "There you go. Looking sharp, man."

Kael-X glanced in the mirror. The change was minor but noticeable.

Maya grinned. "See? Not bad, right?"

He touched his hair. "It is… acceptable."

She rolled her eyes. "That's the highest compliment I'll get from you, huh?"

Kael-X stood up, nodding to the barber. "Your work is precise."

The barber chuckled. "Uh… thanks?"

Maya paid for the cut and led Kael-X back into the street.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" she asked.

Kael-X considered for a moment. "It was… informative."

Maya shook her head. "You really need to work on your reactions."

"I am adapting."

She smirked. "Yeah, you are."

For the first time, Kael-X thought that maybe—just maybe—this process of blending in wasn't entirely unpleasant.

As they walked back through the market, Maya bought a stick of roasted corn from a street vendor and handed it to Kael-X.

"Try this."

Kael-X inspected the food cautiously. "It has been exposed to direct fire. The molecular structure has been altered."

Maya laughed. "Yeah, that's called cooking. Just eat it."

Kael-X hesitated for a moment before taking a bite. The smoky, slightly sweet taste spread across his tongue. He chewed slowly, analyzing the texture.

Maya watched him expectantly. "Well?"

He swallowed. "It is… edible."

Maya groaned. "You're impossible."

But secretly, Kael-X found the taste intriguing. It was the first time he had eaten something that wasn't purely for sustenance—it was for experience.

---

An Unwanted Encounter

As they continued down the street, a group of teenagers nearby were laughing loudly, pushing each other around. One of them accidentally bumped into Kael-X's shoulder.

"Hey, watch where you're—" The boy trailed off as he looked up at Kael-X's blank, unreadable expression. "Uh… never mind."

The group quickly shuffled away.

Maya sighed. "You've got that intimidating presence thing going on again."

Kael-X glanced at her. "Should I reduce my posture? Alter my expression?"

She laughed. "It's not that easy. People can sense things. You're too… stiff. Too serious."

Kael-X considered her words. He had spent his existence in combat, analyzing threats, never lowering his guard. Relaxing was a foreign concept.

Maya studied him for a moment before grabbing his wrist. "Come on, I know what you need."

He let her pull him along, his body moving on instinct.

---

A Different Kind of Challenge

Minutes later, they arrived at a dimly lit building with neon lights flashing above the entrance: Horizon Arcade.

Kael-X's eyes scanned the surroundings. "An arcade?"

"Yep," Maya said, smirking. "If you're gonna learn to act normal, you need to experience human fun."

Kael-X frowned slightly. "Fun is an inefficient use of time."

"Wrong," she said, dragging him inside. "Fun is what makes people human."

Inside, the arcade was filled with flashing screens, electronic music, and people cheering or groaning at their games. Maya led him to a racing simulator.

"Here," she said, inserting a token. "Just drive."

Kael-X sat down, gripping the wheel. The screen flashed as the race began. He pressed the pedal, and the car shot forward.

Maya leaned against the machine. "See? Easy."

Kael-X's eyes flickered as he calculated the most efficient way to win. His reflexes were far superior to human players, and within seconds, he was weaving through traffic with impossible precision.

Maya blinked. "Okay… you're way too good at this."

Kael-X didn't reply. He was focused on optimizing his performance.

By the time the race ended, he had set a new high score. The machine lit up with flashing words: NEW RECORD!

People nearby took notice. A few teenagers muttered in disbelief.

Maya burst into laughter. "You were supposed to have fun, not break the game!"

Kael-X stared at the screen. "I was simply executing the most effective driving strategy."

Maya shook her head. "You really don't get it, huh?"

She handed him another token. "This time, don't try to win. Just enjoy the ride."

Kael-X hesitated before placing the token in the machine.

Maybe… this fun thing was worth exploring.