System Rebirth: Return of the Forgotten

The city of Maddenport stood like a sleeping giant under the setting sun, its silhouette a jagged black line against the orange-pink sky. The world around it was a maelstrom, a chaotic tangle of lives all pushing, shoving, trying to carve their place in the madness.

The air was heavy with the scent of oil and rust, the cries of merchants hawking their wares, the rumble of engines far too close to being machines of destruction. Yet amidst it all, Evan Lawler, a handsome young man with striking white hair which matched his beautiful blue eyes lived in the quiet. Or perhaps, as he often thought, the quiet lived in him.

His days blurred into one another, seamless and unremarkable. They began in the same way, within the warm, dimly lit walls of Nebula. The coffee shop was a strange little sanctuary, a pocket of calm in the otherwise roiling chaos of Maddenport.

It was tucked between two towering office buildings, the kind that seemed to scrape the very sky with their cold, glass fingers. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of freshly brewed coffee, cinnamon buns just pulled from the oven, and the soft hum of idle conversation. For most of the day, it was a haven. But for Evan, it was a cage.

Evan was a man without purpose—or at least, that was how it felt. His fingers moved deftly over the counter, wiping away unseen crumbs, his eyes flicking over the occasional customer as they entered and left.

He smiled, nodded, asked the usual questions, and went back to his tasks. But it wasn't the customers who he saw. No, Evan's gaze seemed to focus beyond the glass windows, beyond the teeming crowds outside, to the city that had shaped him—and had, in turn, ignored him.

His appearance was a paradox. His face, handsome yet worn, was the kind that might turn heads if someone took the time to notice. But Evan's appearance was often overlooked, His frame was lean, but it was the kind of lean that spoke of hardship, of hours spent training with no tangible results. It was the kind of lean that belonged to someone who had yet to fulfill his potential.

And his potential? Well, that was the one thing that haunted him.

The world of Maddenport had a way of grinding down the weak, and there was no room for someone like Evan—someone who had no power, no connection, no place to belong.

Beyond the rinn charged barriers which circled the city was a place filled with danger hosting the malevolent entities dubbed as netherfield and defending the city was humanity's last line of defence, called the sentinels. The netherfiends had ravaged the world until all that was left of the world were three great cities- Maddenport, Ignish reach and Solheaven, each city having sentinels to aid in their protection.

The Sentinels were warriors with unimaginable power. And Evan was nothing but a shadow of what they were.

It wasn't always like this. There was a time when Evan had believed that he, too, might be destined to be something more. There were days, long ago, when he had pushed his limits, when he had trained tirelessly, expecting that one day, the power he felt stirring inside him would awaken. But that day never came.

Now, he was a man lost in the world, a ghost among the living.

"Hey, Evan," a voice broke through the haze of his thoughts. He turned to find Nick, a lanky coworker with a perpetual grin, leaning casually against the counter.

"You're staring off into space again. You do that a lot, you know?"

Evan chuckled softly, the sound hollow.

"Just thinking."

"Well, stop it." Nick said with a wink,

"and help me with the trash. I've got to go see my baby girl, She wanna have a serious conversation with me." He added with a mischievous smile.

Evan smiled, nodding, as he grabbed the trash bag and stepped out of the cafe into the cool evening air.

It was a sharp contrast to the warmth inside, and for a moment, it felt like the city was embracing him, welcoming him back into its fold. The streets were alive with movement, the flashing neon lights casting an eerie glow over everything.

The city was always moving, always changing. People bustled along, lost in their own worlds, unaware of each other. It was the perfect place for someone like Evan to disappear.

He tossed the trash into the bin and turned back toward the shop, the thought of returning to the familiar routine weighing on him. But before he could take another step, a voice stopped him dead in his tracks.

"Excuse me."

Evan froze. The voice was smooth, like honey, and it cut through the noise of the city with ease. He turned slowly, his heart racing despite himself, to find a woman standing in front of him.

She was tall, her dark hair cascading down her shoulders in loose waves, and her eyes—green, piercing—locked onto his with an intensity that made him feel as though she could see straight into him. Her presence was like an electric charge in the air, something he couldn't explain but couldn't ignore either.

For a moment, Evan said nothing. His mouth felt dry, and his pulse quickened, though he couldn't say why. There was something about her, something that made the world around him seem insignificant, and it wasn't just her intriguing protruding bossoms which caught the nasty mind of Evan for a moment, but something else. The noise of the city faded, the streetlights dimmed. Everything in that moment felt unreal, like a dream he couldn't escape.

'Boobs....' That was all he could keep in his mind as he struggled to avert his gaze from her chest.

"Can you help me?" she asked, her voice soft but commanding, as though it had every right to demand his attention.

Evan blinked, caught off guard.

"Uh, sure. Help with what?"

"I was just looking for Nebula." she said, a smile curling at the corners of her lips.

"I heard it's the best coffee in the city. Thought I'd check it out."

"Yeah, you're just a couple of steps away." Evan replied, his voice still thick with confusion.

"It's right here." He responded as he gestured to the cafe right infront of them.

She nodded, taking a step closer, her presence almost overwhelming. There was something intoxicating about the way she held herself, like she was too aware of the effect she had on him.

"Thanks." she said, her voice low, like a secret shared between them.

"Yeah, no problem."

"So are you here to see or friend or you know, boyfriend...?" He added with a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Releasing a short giggle from her mouth, she adjusts her beautiful long hair perfectly behind her ear.

"Boyfriend? God no, I don't have one. I'm just here for coffee...and you?"

"Me? I- I- uh...I work here." Evan replied.

At that very moment which the words escaped his mouth, he felt a sudden urge of regret. Perhaps casually admitting you were a waiter to a hottie was not exactly the best move.

However, that didn't stop him from going on with his move.

"I'm Evan...Evan Lawler." He added as he extended his hand for a hand shake.

He was ready for it. Normally, at this point the girl tries to end the conversation as quickly as she could and make a run for it, but this time something different happened.

"Ruby....Ruby Stevenson.... but you can call me Ru." she replied with a soft smile on her face as she shook his hand.

"You're a waiter. That's lucrative... Would it be too much if I asked you to join me for some of your best coffee inside?"

Evan's heart slammed against his ribcage, and his breath caught in his throat. He wasn't sure why, but the invitation sent a ripple through him.

He had always been overlooked in all aspects of life by women, so it was of no surprise that he was a nineteen-year old virgin, who was shy and of course- horny.

Before he could speak, she turned, her hips swaying gently as she walked toward the door of the shop. Evan stood there, watching her, his thoughts a tangled mess. There was something about her that felt different, something that reached deep inside him, stirring a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time: desire.

He shook his head, trying to shake off the feeling that was settling over him like a cloak of uncertainty.

'A girl actually hitting on me? That's insane right? Or could this all be a dream?...'

As she stepped into the warmth of the shop, she looked over her shoulder, her gaze meeting his once again. And there it was—the challenge. The unspoken invitation that made his pulse race.

"You should come inside." she said, her tone teasing, almost playful.

"Unless you're afraid of what might happen when you do."

Evan swallowed hard, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts.

'Was this it? Was this the moment where everything changed? Is this the moment when my life is supposed to take a turn? Am I finally getting closer to actually having a woman he could call his girlfriend...and possibly, losing my virginity?'

For the first time in a long while, Evan felt something stir within him. Something he thought he had lost forever.

He stepped toward the door, drawn by the magnetic pull of her presence, his heart pounding in his chest.

Ru, unbothered, strolled to the counter and perched herself on one of the high stools.

She swiveled slightly, her gaze taking in the quiet ambiance of the nearly empty cafe.

Not too long after, Evan arrived at the counter, right infront of her.

"Do you always work alone like this?"

Evan rubbed the back of his neck, an unconscious habit he'd developed over the years when feeling nervous.

"Uh, yeah. Well, not always. My friend Nick works the earlier shift, but he left a few minutes ago."

Ru leaned forward on the counter, her chin resting on the palm of her hand. Her expression was casual, but there was a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"Hmm. So you're the one holding the fort now."

Evan chuckled nervously, trying to focus on cleaning the already spotless espresso machine.

"Something like that."

Their conversation drifted naturally, like leaves carried along by a gentle stream. Ru asked about his work, and Evan, to his surprise, found himself opening up about the monotony of double shifts and the odd customers he encountered. In return, Ru shared tidbits about her day—work meetings she didn't want to attend, an afternoon spent dodging calls from her parents.

Before long, the clock on the wall ticked past 10:00 p.m. The cafe was officially closed, but neither seemed in a rush to leave. The world outside was still and silent, the streetlights casting long shadows through the glass windows.

"Hey, Evan! Sorry on being late I..." Nick's voice broke the quiet as he strolled back into the already empty cafe, sighting only Ru and Evan. He shot a pointed look at the clock, then back at Evan.

"Your shift ended eight minutes ago, man. You planning to spend the night here?"

Evan blinked, realizing how much time had passed.

"Oh, right. Sorry. I'll close up now."

Nick smirked, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. His gaze flicked to Ru, who was still seated at the counter, sipping the last of her coffee.

"You don't mind locking up tonight, do you?"

Evan frowned.

"Wait, what? I mean, yeah, I can—"

Nick waved a hand dismissively, his grin widening.

"It's fine. Walk her home or whatever." He raised an eyebrow in Evan's direction, his expression loaded with unspoken meaning.

Evan felt his ears burn.

"It's not like that!"

Ru tilted her head, watching the exchange with quiet amusement.

Nick shrugged and grabbed his coat.

"Sure, whatever you say. Have fun." With a final wink, he was gone, leaving the two of them alone again.

Evan glanced at Ru, unsure of what to say.

She slid off the stool, her movements graceful and unhurried.

"So… do you want to walk me home?" she asked, her tone teasing.

"I'd...I'd...yeah." Evan stammered, fumbling with his apron as he untied it.

***

The two of them stepped out into the night. The air was cool but pleasant, the streets empty save for the occasional car passing in the distance. The moon hung low in the sky, its silver light bathing the world in a soft glow.

They walked side by side, their steps echoing faintly on the pavement. Evan tried to focus on the rhythm of their footsteps, anything to distract himself from the beauty which stood by his side.

Their conversation meandered as they walked, touching on everything from favorite movies to childhood memories.

Before he knew it, they were standing in front of a tall, luxurious apartment building. The kind of place Evan had only seen in magazines or TV shows.

"This is me." Ru said, gesturing toward the entrance.

Evan nodded, suddenly unsure of what to do with his hands.

"Right. Well, uh… thanks for tonight. It was nice talking to you."

Ru smiled, her eyes soft as they met his.

"I had a great time too. Maybe we could do it again sometime?"

Evan felt his heart stutter.

"Y-yeah, definitely."

Her smile widened, and she took a step closer.

"You're sweet, Evan. And funny. You don't even realize how charming you are, do you?"

Evan's brain short-circuited.

'Did she just call me charming?' He thought to himself.

"Uh, thanks." he managed, his face burning.

"You're, um… pretty. Like, really pretty. Like, uh… Rapunzel pretty."

Ru raised an eyebrow, her expression somewhere between amusement and confusion.

"Rapunzel?"

Evan groaned inwardly. "I mean, you know, the hair. Not that your hair is like hers—it's different. Better, actually. And—"

"Evan."

He stopped, swallowing hard.

She laughed, a soft, melodic sound that made his chest feel warm.

"You're adorable. Goodnight, Evan."

She turned and walked toward the building, leaving him standing there, still processing her words.

But then, just as she reached the door, she paused and glanced back. Their eyes met, and for a moment, it felt like the world held its breath.

Before Evan could say anything, Ru walked back to him. She reached out, her fingers brushing against his.

"One more thing." she said.

"Y-Yeah?"

"I've been thinking," she murmured, stepping closer.

"Would you like to come upstairs and make me another cup of coffee?"

Evan blinked, his heart hammering in his chest.

"You mean… coffee?"

Her smile widened, but her eyes gleamed with something sharper—something predatory.

"Yes, Evan. Coffee."

For a moment, he hesitated. The quiet streets around them felt too quiet, the shadows stretching longer than they should. A cold breeze whispered against his neck, raising goosebumps. His instincts screamed to walk away.

But then she brushed her fingers against his, and the world seemed to blur. Every rational thought drowned under the weight of her presence, her touch, her voice.

"What's the worst that could happen?" she asked, her tone light but laced with a gravity he couldn't ignore.

And yet, he found himself answering,

"Sure. Why not?"