Entity Chronicles: Forest Entity

The morning light streamed through my window, rudely nudging me awake. I groaned, rubbing my temples, feeling like I'd been on the losing end of a boxing match with a robot. "CINO," I mumbled, "lights... less bright, please."

The room dimmed to a more bearable level as CINO hovered into view, its sensors flickering. "Good morning, Kyle. You appear to be experiencing symptoms consistent with a hangover. Would you like a hydration supplement?"

"No, thanks, CINO. I think I just need some fresh air," I replied, sitting up. The events of the previous day, the dream, the mysterious cube – it all felt like a jumbled mess in my head.

I picked up my phone and dialed Milo. "Hey, can you come over? There's something I need to talk about."

A few moments later, Milo and I were strolling outside, the fresh air doing little to clear the fog in my mind. "So, what's up? You sound serious," Milo said, eyeing me curiously.

I took a deep breath, trying to piece together my thoughts. "Okay, this is going to sound crazy, but..." I recounted the events – the glitchy, dream-like experience, the mysterious girl, the other version of me, and the cube.

Milo laughed initially, "Man, your imagination's running wild. What did you eat before bed?"

But as I continued, his laughter faded, replaced by a look of concern. "Kyle, you're not kidding, are you?" he asked, his tone shifting.

I shook my head and pulled out the cube, still cool and solid in my hand. "This... I woke up with this after that... dream. Or whatever it was."

Milo took the cube, turning it over in his hands. "This is real... And you say it came from that dream?"

"Yeah, and there's more to it, I think. It's like a piece of a puzzle I can't figure out yet."

We walked in silence for a moment, both lost in thought. The weight of the situation was settling in, the line between reality and dreams blurred more than ever.

Milo, sensing the tension in the air, decided it was time to lighten the mood. "I want to show you something," he said with a hint of excitement. He glanced at LOW, who was hovering nearby. "Ready, buddy?"

LOW beeped affirmatively and then took a dramatic swing through the air. It came to a stop, positioning itself vertically like a miniature rocket preparing for lift-off. With a flourish, it spun around, and suddenly, shimmering blue and light blue feathers shot out from its hull. The display was majestic, almost magical, like a phoenix reborn from digital flames.

"Wow!" I couldn't help but be awed. "That's incredible, Milo!"

Milo grinned, obviously pleased with the reaction. "Thanks! After we split up in the city yesterday, I went on a little treasure hunt. Found a vendor in the market who had these rare feather codes and hardware. Took some bargaining, but it was worth it."

He went on to tell me about his adventure in the city's bustling markets, weaving through crowds and stalls until he found the perfect parts for LOW's transformation. "You should have seen the place, Kyle. It was like a tech bazaar from another world. Every kind of gadget and component you can imagine."

I listened, fascinated. It was moments like these that made me appreciate the vibrant diversity of Aeternum. Here, amidst the advanced technology and AI-driven society, there was still room for creativity and personal expression.

Milo's story was a welcome distraction, a brief respite from the weight of the cube and its mysteries. But as LOW's feathers gently retracted and it returned to its usual hovering state, the reality of our situation nudged its way back into my thoughts.