Chapter 30: Visiting Aunt Layla

Chapter 30: Visiting Aunt Layla

Kan sat in the bus, lost in thought as he admired the futuristic surroundings. When it was his turn to get down, he stood up, only to realize he hadn't paid for the bus fare. The driver, who wasn't really controlling the bus, directed Kan to place his hand on a fingerprint panel on the door to check if his monthly bus fare subscription was still active.

*Ping!!* A green check mark appeared on the bus door, allowing Kan to step outside. He was astonished by the magical payment system but tried not to draw attention to himself.

"Ehhh? Is there an issue?" the bus driver asked Kan, sensing his confusion.

"No...no..not at all?" Kan replied, feeling a bit embarrassed by the whole situation.

"Then get off my bus, there are people in here that have other places to go!!" The bus driver, an Elf with palpable anger issues, shouted at Kan.

"Eh...my bad, sorry... sorry," Kan stammered as he quickly exited the bus. He watched in awe as the beautiful bus floated back up and continued its journey.

Kan found himself at the same bus stop where he had encountered Aunt Layla some days ago when he left her in a hurry.

"I wonder why the bus let me out. I don't remember paying for any subscription!" Kan thought, but he couldn't find an answer. Shaking off the puzzlement, he decided to head home.

As he walked, he noticed that Hela wasn't making its usual sarcastic comments in his head. The silence felt strange, but Kan welcomed the break from the banter.

Arriving home, Kan realized his parents weren't there, which wasn't surprising. He changed into comfortable sweatpants and a sweatshirt, seeking something to keep him occupied. Suddenly, a thought struck him.

"Aunt Layla," Kan recalled his mother's old friend, realizing he hadn't seen her in quite some time after their disagreement.

He spotted a small circular device that his father and mother sometimes used in the living room. It was black and shaped like a small box. Curious, Kan picked it up, and to his surprise, a light emanated from the device, revealing a screen displaying familiar information.

The small circular device Kan picked up was a marvel of futuristic technology. Its sleek, black exterior was made of a lightweight, yet incredibly durable, material that seemed to resist scratches and smudges effortlessly. The surface had a subtle, swirling pattern that gave it an elegant and sophisticated look.

The device's main feature was a large, seamless display that covered the entire front surface. The display was a high-resolution holographic screen that could project vibrant, three-dimensional images and videos. It responded to Kan's touch with incredible sensitivity, allowing him to interact with the virtual interface seamlessly.

Embedded within the device was a sophisticated artificial intelligence system that understood voice commands, making communication effortless. Kan simply had to speak, and the AI would respond with clarity and precision, even recognizing his voice patterns to provide a personalized user experience.

"Hmmm...so this is their version of a phone. Not everything is ridiculously different around here!" Kan thought, amused by the similarity.

He navigated through the device and found Aunt Layla's contact information. With a mix of anticipation and nervousness, he placed a call to her. When she answered with concern in her voice, Kan requested to meet her at her house.

"Kan, dear, of course! I've been worried about you. Come over right away, if that's fine with your mother," Aunt Layla said, sounding relieved to hear from him.

"Yeah, I really miss you and wanted to talk to you about something," Kan said to aunt layla over the communication device.

"That's fine, I'll send you my address immediately. It's not too far from here, I pinned my location so you should be able to find it," Aunt Layla said.

After Aunt Layla provided her address, Kan held the futuristic device in his hand, eager to use its capabilities to navigate his way to her house.

[You don't need that piece of crap, I'll take you there!!"] Hela protested.

"Okay fine, just don't take me to anywhere they'll have my head this night, okay?" Kan joked.

The system, Hela, detected the address input and immediately activated the city's advanced mapping system.

A holographic map appeared before Kan's eyes, displaying a three-dimensional representation of Veridale. The map highlighted the route to Aunt Layla's house with a series of illuminated pathways and landmarks.

"Alright, Hela, let's get going," Kan said with determination, ready to make the journey to Aunt Layla's place.

[Of course, Baby! Follow the illuminated path, and I'll provide you with turn-by-turn directions along the way,] Hela replied cheerfully.

Kan began walking, and as he did, the holographic map adjusted in real-time, showing his current location and the direction he needed to head in. The device also displayed helpful information about nearby points of interest, such as parks, restaurants, and shops, adding an element of excitement to the journey.

Kan navigated through the bustling streets of Veridale with ease, following the glowing pathway that guided him to Aunt Layla's neighborhood. Along the way, Hela occasionally chimed in with witty comments or interesting facts about the places they passed.

[Did you know that the park to your right is home to magical creatures that only come out at night? It's quite the spectacle, but I wouldn't recommend going there alone,] Hela remarked playfully.

Kan chuckled at Hela's comment, appreciating the system's efforts to keep him entertained and informed during the journey.

As he approached Aunt Layla's neighborhood, the holographic map zoomed in, providing a detailed view of the streets and houses. The device highlighted Aunt Layla's house with a soft glow, indicating that they had arrived at their destination.

"Looks like we're here," Kan said, a mix of excitement and nervousness evident in his voice.

[Indeed, Baby! Aunt Layla's house is just ahead. She should be delighted to see you, make the best of it... hehehehe] Hela informed him.

"You read my mind, didn't you?" Kan replied with a smile on his face.

[I'm in your mind, I know everything you are thinking. I can't wait!!] Hela replied.

"Let's hope it works!!" Kan said.

Taking a deep breath, Kan walked up to the door of Aunt Layla's house. He hesitated for a moment before pressing the doorbell, his heart pounding with anticipation.

The door opened, and there stood Aunt Layla with a warm smile on her face. "Kan, dear, I'm so glad you made it!" she said, pulling him into a warm embrace.

Kan felt a sense of comfort and familiarity wash over him as he hugged Aunt Layla back. But just then, a strange thing occurred as he saw a new notification pop up right in his view.

======

{Run your hand down her back (+1 skill point)}

{Grab her ass (+5 charm points)}

{Do none (-1 charm point)}

.....

"Hmmm, interesting" Kan thought.