The world around him felt off. The very place he had lived in for over 17 years suddenly seemed unfamiliar. It was only yesterday that he had taken the subway back home and fallen into the most vivid dream of his life, yet something inside told him it wasn't over. He could feel change approaching, though he couldn't say what form it would take.
Classes dragged on. It was as if everyone else was detached, focused only on the surface of things, unaware of the deeper meaning behind the world. During the quiz, Li found himself searching his thoughts for anything he could remember about the mysterious "Covenant of Guardians." Grades were the last thing on his mind.
"Li! Where have you been? Weren't we going to study in the library during lunch today?"
It was the break between classes, and Li's friend, Zhao Wei, had caught up to him. Looking into Zhao's bright, earnest eyes, Li felt a wave of sorrow.
Every close friend now reminded him of Xiao Shu. He couldn't recall all the details—only that they had once been inseparable, until one day, after a falling-out, Xiao was simply gone.
"Don't tell me you've been hanging out with those guys in the bathroom."
Li gave a small laugh. Zhao had a way of easing tension, though even his humor felt like a temporary distraction. The day wore on, and Li kept waiting for nightfall, hoping it would bring clarity—or answers.
"Me? No. I'm just tired, that's all. Really."
Zhao looked at him with concern.
"Your eyes say something else. You've been spacing out. You sure you're alright?"
"Zhao, come on. I said I'm fine. Let's get to class."
Li hadn't meant to sound cold, but Zhao got the message. The two walked into physics class just as the teacher began the lesson—a continuation from last time: Schrödinger's cat.
Dr. Yi stepped up to the board. With a flick of the chalk, she wrote the character "猫" and drew a neat box around it. The room fell silent.
"This is Schrödinger's cat. Last time, we discussed the theoretical concept behind this famous thought experiment."
A girl in the back raised her hand.
"In quantum mechanics, the cat is considered both dead and alive until the box is opened and observed."
"Correct, Lin. This thought experiment challenges how we think about possibilities and uncertainty. But remember, this is a model—a way to explore the idea of superposition—not a literal truth."
Li tensed slightly in his seat. He couldn't explain why, but something about this topic stirred something inside him.
Dr. Yi went on.
"When we open the box, the uncertainty resolves into a single outcome. It reminds us that what we see can depend on perspective, but the reality itself—what actually happens—is always determined."
Li listened carefully. For some reason, this lesson felt deeply connected to what he had been experiencing. Maybe he wasn't the only one going through strange things. Maybe there were others who understood more than they let on.
His heart began beating rapidly and the class became blurry and unstable.
Gasping, Li sat up in bed. The darkness was pierced only by flickering candlelight, casting restless shadows across the room.
The scent of nature filled his lungs—strange, but soothing. His blanket was soaked with sweat, though someone lay beside him, sleeping peacefully. He breathed slowly, grounding himself. Unlike the city lights of Chongqing, the stars here blazed across the sky.
He stepped out onto the porch and looked up. The night sky stretched endlessly, full of beauty and wonder. Life would continue. He couldn't help but wonder how far Earth was from here.
What would happen to his body while he was away like this—in a place that felt like another world entirely? He closed his eyes and stood still, letting the sounds of the night settle into his chest like a steady rhythm.
Boom! A shot echoed in the distance, followed by a distorted howl. It didn't seem close enough to wake the village, but he was sure someone else must've heard it. Li froze. The noise wasn't natural—and he knew instinctively that no one here should possess weapons capable of such a sound. Then came the rustle of brush—someone was running.
The masked man from before emerged, this time carrying what looked like a sniper rifle. Li jumped off the porch to intercept him.
"You heard that too?"
"Yeah. Get your armor on. The others are awake now. This isn't normal—you know that, right? Li, please don't tell me you still don't remember."
Li didn't want to lie.
"I… I'm really sorry. I don't remember everything. I'm trying."
The man gave a long sigh, but his voice stayed calm.
"It's alright. It's been overwhelming. Look—stay here and watch over the village. The others are in the hut near the chief's house. Wake them up and keep everyone ready. I'll check the fields. If I don't come back by sunrise, don't come looking. Something's not right out there. We have to protect the Covenant."
Li nodded.
"Be careful. Stay safe out there."
The man rushed off toward a stable and mounted a large quadrupedal creature Li hadn't noticed before. As he disappeared into the dark, Li turned and ran toward the sleeping Guardians. Whatever was happening, peace wouldn't return easily.