Varian ²⁶

You grew up without parents, living only with your uncle, who wasn't related to you and essentially took you in when he found you as a baby, abandoned and left to your fate. You always knew this because your uncle wanted to be completely honest with you from the beginning.

Varian was your best friend and always knew about your situation because you trusted him so much.

• Lately, he had noticed you were sad, less cheerful than usual. You tried to hide it, of course, but deep down, you felt somewhat distressed remembering that your parents had decided to abandon you. You didn't fully understand that feeling and hated feeling this way about people you didn't even know.*

You could always have lived with that fact, yet here you were, regretting something—a decision you didn't make and that you couldn't do anything about now. But why now? Why after living long enough to accept it?

"Hey, are you listening to me?" Varian's voice pulled you out of your thoughts. You were supposed to be his assistant in his lab today; he had already asked you for the same tool three times in a row, but you hadn't even heard him.