One winter morning, everything feels unusually quiet. Snow has covered the entire city, and there's this calm, almost hypnotic silence around him as he goes to school. While everyone else is busy talking and messing around, he mostly just observes things from the side.
During class, he overhears people talking about a random chat app—something that connects you with strangers without names or identities. At first, he doesn't care much, but the idea kind of sticks with him.
Later that night, out of boredom more than anything, he downloads it and sends a request by mistake but he didn't deleted the request
There's no profile setup, no details—just a blank screen and the option to start a conversation.
He hesitates… then taps it.
A chat opens, but no one says anything.
After a bit of hesitation (and slight annoyance at himself), he ends up sending a simple "hi"… kind of by accident.
There's no reply.
So he forgets about it.
Until the next day—when he suddenly gets a message back.
Just a small reply from a complete stranger.
And that's how it start
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📖 Chapter 2: A Conversation in Between
The message had been sitting there since morning.
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…hi
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Auren had seen it just before class.
He hadn't replied immediately.
Not because he didn't want to—
but because the moment he stepped into the classroom, everything else took over.
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"Did you hear what happened yesterday—?"
"No, that's not even true—!"
"Sir, he started it first—!"
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The room was loud.
Too loud.
Voices overlapping, chairs scraping, laughter breaking through at random moments. The teacher stood at the front, trying—unsuccessfully—to get everyone under control.
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"Quiet down! All of you!"
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No one listened.
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Auren sat near the window, chin resting lightly against his hand. His gaze drifted outside, where snow had settled over everything—soft, quiet, untouched.
So different from here.
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His phone buzzed.
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Auren glanced down.
The same message.
The same person.
Still there.
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For a second, he just looked at it.
Then typed.
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[Auren]: didn't think you'd reply
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He waited.
Not impatient.
Just… curious.
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[Unknown]: I wasn't sure I would
[Unknown]: I just wanted to talk to someone new
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Auren's expression softened slightly.
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[Auren]: fair enough
[Auren]: I'm in school right now, so I might reply late sometimes
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He sent it, then looked up again.
Nothing had changed.
The class was still chaotic.
The teacher still trying—and failing—to restore order.
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His phone buzzed again.
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[Unknown]: shouldn't you be focusing in class?
[Unknown]: not a very good student, huh?
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Auren let out a quiet breath, almost amused.
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[Auren]: right now my class is chaotic
[Auren]: the teacher's been trying to calm everyone down for a while
[Auren]: no one's listening
[Auren]: I think he's given up
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He paused, then added—
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[Auren]: so I think I'm safe
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A faint smile touched his lips.
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[Unknown]: that doesn't sound like a good excuse
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[Auren]: I'm a decent student
[Auren]: just… selective about where I pay attention
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Auren glanced out the window again.
Snow still resting over rooftops and roads.
Everything slower. Quieter.
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[Auren]: what about you?
[Auren]: you're not in school, right?
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A pause.
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[Unknown]: no
[Unknown]: I work
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Auren straightened slightly.
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[Auren]: what kind of work?
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The typing dots appeared.
Stopped.
Then appeared again.
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[Unknown]: it's not easy to explain
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Auren smiled faintly.
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[Auren]: you say that a lot
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[Unknown]: maybe things are
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Auren didn't push.
Not yet.
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[Auren]: so why aren't you working right now?
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[Unknown]: I'm on a short break
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[Auren]: that doesn't sound like enough rest
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A pause.
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[Unknown]: it's enough
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Something about that answer lingered.
Not wrong.
Just… incomplete.
---
Auren leaned back in his chair, letting the noise of the class fade again.
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[Auren]: what's the weather like there?
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[Unknown]: cold
[Unknown]: but probably not as much as where you are
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Auren glanced outside.
The snow hadn't melted at all.
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[Auren]: it's been snowing since morning
[Auren]: everything feels quieter because of it
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He hesitated, then added—
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[Auren]: I like it
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A pause.
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[Unknown]: quieter…?
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[Auren]: yeah
[Auren]: like everything slows down a bit
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The reply came slower this time.
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[Unknown]: I think I understand that
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Auren's fingers stilled.
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That felt… genuine.
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The bell rang suddenly.
Sharp. Loud.
The class shifted again, noise turning into movement.
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Auren slipped his phone into his pocket, sitting up straighter.
But his thoughts didn't leave the conversation.
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Someone who works…
Doesn't explain much…
But still replies…
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It was strange.
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The conversation didn't end all at once.
It faded—message by message—until—
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[Unknown]: I have to go now
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Auren paused.
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[Auren]: work?
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[Unknown]: yeah
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Auren hesitated for a moment before typing—
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[Auren]: don't overwork yourself
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A short pause.
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[Unknown]: I'll try
---
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The chat went quiet after that.
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By then, the classroom had calmed down—at least a little.
Auren rested his chin on his hand again, gaze unfocused as his thoughts drifted back.
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It was strange.
He couldn't remember the last time he had been this interested in someone.
Not someone in front of him.
Not someone he could see.
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Just—
words on a screen.
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Why does it feel different?
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"Alright, everyone, listen."
The teacher's voice cut through the room.
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Auren looked up.
For once, people actually paid attention.
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"There's an announcement," the teacher said. "Soon, the selection process for the top five hundred students across the country will begin."
A murmur spread across the class.
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"Those selected will be given the opportunity to continue their studies in the Sage Realm."
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Auren's gaze stilled.
---
The Sage Realm.
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A place most people only talked about.
Distant. Prestigious. Almost unreachable.
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"Only the best will be chosen," the teacher continued. "So if any of you are serious about your future, start preparing now."
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The room filled with noise again—
excitement, competition, speculation.
---
Auren stayed quiet.
---
He had already decided.
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He wanted to be one of them.
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Not because he cared about the place itself.
Not because of prestige.
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But because—
it was the only way.
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The only way to prove something.
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To his family.
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Auren lowered his gaze slightly.
---
If I get there…
maybe that'll be enough.
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The bell rang soon after.
Students started packing up, voices rising again.
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Auren stepped out of the building later that day, the cold air brushing against his face.
Snow crunched softly beneath his feet as he walked.
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His phone buzzed.
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He stopped.
Pulled it out.
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[Unknown]: do you always describe things like that?
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Auren blinked.
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[Auren]: like what?
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[Unknown]: the snow
[Unknown]: the quiet
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Auren thought for a second.
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[Auren]: not really
[Auren]: just when I feel like it
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A pause.
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[Unknown]: it's… nice
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Auren didn't expect that.
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He smiled.
Just a little.
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As he continued walking, the world around him felt the same.
Cold.
Quiet.
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But not as empty as before.
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Because now—
there was someone, somewhere—
who understood what he meant.
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And for the first time—
that conversation didn't feel random.
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It felt like something that might stay.
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To be continued… ✨