Chapter 1

The bus was full, noisy, and had a faint smell of sweat and old leather. But Dave Sun didn't really notice. He was looking out the window, his forehead resting on the cool glass. Outside, the world was slowly changing.

For many hours, the road had passed by small, quiet towns, simple shops by the road, and wide fields that seemed to go on forever. But now, things looked different. The road was wider, smoother, and busier. Cars zoomed past like streaks of metal and light. Tall buildings started to appear far away, getting higher and higher as the bus got closer.

Kings City.

Even from many miles away, the city's tall buildings looked like something from a dream. Huge buildings made of glass caught the late afternoon sun, making the whole sky look like a bright wall of silver and gold. Big signs hung on the sides of the tallest buildings, showing bright ads that could probably be seen from anywhere in the city.

Dave's heart beat faster the more he looked.

He had dreamed of this moment for years.

Back in his small hometown, Kings City always sounded like a fairy tale. People talked about it with hope in their voices, as if it was a place where normal people could become special. When someone managed to leave their town and build a life there, everyone heard about it quickly. Those people were spoken of with respect, and sometimes, with jealousy.

Dave had heard these stories since he was a child.

And now, he was finally here.

The bus shook a little as it drove over a bridge, and the whole city suddenly spread out before him.

Dave couldn't breathe for a moment.

The line of tall buildings seemed to go on forever, so high they looked like they were touching the clouds. Lights were starting to turn on in the windows as the evening came, giving the city a warm, golden light.

He could hardly believe what he was seeing.

"First time in Kings City?"

The voice came from the old man sitting next to him.

Dave turned his head, a little surprised. The man had kind eyes and gray hair hidden under a worn hat. He had been quietly reading a newspaper for most of the trip.

Dave nodded quickly.

"Yes, sir."

The old man slowly folded his newspaper and smiled at him.

"I could tell," he said softly. "You've been looking out that window like the city might vanish if you blinked."

Dave felt a little shy and rubbed the back of his neck.

"It's just... bigger than I thought it would be."

The man let out a quiet laugh.

"Everything about Kings City is big. Big chances. Big money." His smile lessened a bit. "Big dangers too."

Dave moved in his seat, not sure what to say.

The bus started to slow down as the traffic got thicker. More vehicles were on the road now – fancy cars, taxis, delivery trucks, and motorcycles weaving between lanes impatiently.

Dave held on tighter to the small bag on his lap.

It was an old bag, its cloth a little faded from years of use. Inside were only a few clothes, a thin blanket, and the small amount of money he had saved from odd jobs over the years back home.

It wasn't a lot.

But it was enough to start.

At least, that's what he kept telling himself.

"Are you here for work?" the old man asked.

Dave nodded again.

"Yes. I just turned eighteen last week." His voice held a quiet excitement. "I thought it was time to try something new."

The old man looked at him for a moment, then nodded slowly.

"Well," he said, "I hope the city is good to you."

The bus finally stopped at the main station with a long hiss of its brakes.

The moment the doors opened, a flood of noise came inside.

Car horns honked from nearby streets. People yelled to each other from across. The sound of engines and the talking of hundreds of people filled the air all at once.

Dave stepped off the bus, and the strong energy of the place hit him right away.

People were everywhere.

Some pulled suitcases behind them. Others spoke fast on their phones while moving through the crowd. People selling food yelled out prices for snacks and drinks. Taxi drivers called out to people looking for a ride.

The air smelled of cooked food, gas, and something sharp that Dave couldn't quite name.

For a moment, he just stood there, feeling a bit lost.

Then a slow smile spread across his face.

This was it.

Kings City.

He moved the strap of his bag over his shoulder and stepped forward into the crowd.

The streets outside the station were even more amazing.

Tall buildings stood on both sides of the road, their glass windows reflecting the fading sun. Huge screens showed colorful ads that flashed and moved like giant, living pictures.

Expensive cars drove smoothly through the traffic with quiet power.

Dave walked slowly on the sidewalk, turning his head all the time as he tried to see everything.

The people here dressed differently too.

Many wore nice suits or stylish coats that looked costly, even to someone who had never owned anything fancy. They moved with confidence, with purpose, as if they all knew exactly where they were going.

Dave tried his best not to look out of place.

Still, he couldn't stop staring.

Finally, he reached the first open area with shops on the short list he had written before leaving home.

He took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The building was cool and bright, filled with rows of shops and places to eat. Music played softly from speakers hidden somewhere.

Dave walked up to the first store he saw—a small coffee shop with a sign in the window that said "Help Wanted."

Hope rose inside him as he stepped forward.

"Excuse me," he said politely to the woman behind the counter. "Are you hiring?"

She looked up for a second.

"How old are you?" she asked.

"Eighteen."

"Experience?"

Dave paused.

"No, but I learn fast."

The woman gave him a quick, sorry smile.

"Sorry. We need someone with experience."

The hope dropped a little.

But Dave thanked her politely and moved on.

The second store gave the same answer.

The third didn't even let him finish talking before shaking her head.

"No jobs available."

By noon, Dave had visited almost every shop in the area.

Each time he was told "no," it felt harder than the last.

Still, he wouldn't give up.

He walked to another area several streets away and started the process again.

And again.

And again.

By late afternoon, his feet hurt very badly.

He finally sat down on a bench near a busy street crossing, pulling a small, folded piece of paper from his pocket.

It had a list of places he had planned to visit.

Most of them now had small marks next to them.

Rejected.

Dave leaned back on the bench and sighed softly.

Cars rushed past on the road next to him. People walked by without noticing him at all.

For a moment, being tired almost made him want to give up.

But he shook his head and stood up again.

"No," he whispered quietly to himself.

He wasn't going to give up on his first day.

By evening, however, the truth started to sink in.

The sun went down behind the buildings, and the sky slowly turned dark blue.

One by one, lights turned on all over the city.

The change was amazing.

The glass towers reflected thousands of golden lights. Bright colored signs glowed above restaurants and clubs. The streets shone under rows of bright lamps.

Kings City looked even more beautiful at night.

Yet Dave felt strangely cold watching it.

His stomach made a soft rumbling sound.

He realized he hadn't eaten anything since the morning.

Checking his pocket, he counted the little money he had left.

It wasn't much.

Still, he bought a simple meal from a stall by the road—a small bowl of noodles and a drink.

The person selling the food gave it to him with a friendly nod.

Dave sat on the edge of a quiet open area nearby and ate slowly, enjoying every bite.

Around him, people laughed and talked as they walked past. Some held bags from shops. Others walked holding hands with friends.

Dave watched them quietly.

The city that had seemed so welcoming earlier now felt far away somehow.

Like a beautiful picture he wasn't allowed to touch.

When he finished eating, he sat there for a long time, looking at the bright buildings.

A small thought came into his mind.

What if coming here was a mistake?

He quickly pushed the thought away.

It was only his first day. Things would get better. ‘They had to.’ He hoped.