Chapter 2: Waking Up from the Past, Moving On to the Future
I woke up with a slight feeling of dizziness as my alarm clock blared in my ear. It was the nth time I had that strange dream, and the more I dreamt of it, the more it felt real to me. "Damn, it's getting annoying!" I muttered to myself, my voice sounding weak as my lungs failed to cooperate. I quickly fixed my bed, tossed my pajamas into the vacuum chamber, and made my way to the washing machine.
With a growling stomach, I marched into the kitchen where the fridge stood. I gulped down some cold water and grabbed the bacon pack from the counter. As I reached for the holovision I had recently acquired from the antique shop, I couldn't help but notice that it wasn't as old as I had initially thought. Nevertheless, I turned it on and it hovered above the counter as I grabbed two eggs from the cabinet.
My eyes were immediately drawn to a news thumbnail, and I clicked into it as the intro flashed through. "9th of June 3025, the shamans, or people with the ability to use 'spiritual forces,' and the discovery of its application in technology has been the bridge to our development..." the news anchor's voice crackled through the holovision, and I glared at it as it briefly flickered and the sound acted up. "Work, you damn thing!" I sighed, placing the eggs in a bowl and stirring them with a fork.
"The 'nanomachines' that everyone thought would be the pinnacle of rapid advancement have become only secondary equipment in an ordinary home today," the news anchor continued, and I set up the pan, turning up the heater. "This is a big slap to our ancestors because what they thought was a fake occupation in their time is what accelerated technological advancement in the world,"
I muttered, frustrated with the antique holovision I had bought. "If only I could afford a retinal projector, but I'll also need a new chip to have it installed," I said to myself, placing the eggs in the pan as they sizzled from the heat.
The news anchor went on, reporting about various underground groups that have existed for a long time, making it difficult for the authorities to act according to the law. As a result, the World Shaman Organization (WSO) was formed to eradicate such groups and maintain world peace. "One of the missions of this organization is the gathering of 'blue bloods' who have inherited the genes of the ancient shamans so that they can undergo a type of training and protect their respective territories of residence, in exchange for fame and wealth that is most people's dream," the news anchor explained.
I flipped the bacon strips in the pan, the aroma filling the air and making my mouth water. The news about the shamans and the WSO intrigued me, but I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. I wished I had the resources to pursue such dreams of fame and wealth. But for now, I had to be content with my old holovision and ordinary breakfast.
Regrettably, the holovision malfunctioned, emitting jarring stuttering noises that grated on my ears. Frustration boiled over, and I slammed my hand down on the countertop, abruptly cutting off the news that had been playing on the holovision, as if it had vanished into thin air.
I quickly rushed towards the device and grabbed it, muttering under my breath, "Damn it!" With a sense of defeat, I threw it in the trash can and decided to make fried rice with the leftover rice. Needing a pick-me-up, I brewed a strong cup of coffee without creamer to jolt myself awake, and I found myself staring blankly at nothing, lost in thought.
"If only I possessed the extraordinary abilities from my recent dream, I wouldn't have to endure the rigorous grind of college and study relentlessly." In this era, shamans still existed, but their powers were amplified by advanced technologies surpassing even nanotech. It had been a millennium since the devastating World War 3 that fractured the world into three distinct territories. As a freshman at the prestigious Technological University of the PH-GAA, I embarked on my journey in a self-driving cab, navigating through the bustling streets of what used to be the Philippines, now a constituent of the Great Asian Alliance.
Observing the throng of humans and support-bots on the streets, I couldn't help but envy the shaman police officer who reprimanded a smuggler for illegal robot parts. Memories of my surreal dream resurfaced, and my desire for such extraordinary powers burned within me. "I want those powers too, damn it!" I clenched my fists, lost in contemplation as the cab halted at the entrance of the school.
I used the nano chip embedded in my right wrist to pay for the cab fare. This chip, connected to my wireless bank account, was a testament to the technological marvels of this era.
The guard halted me as I lifted my left foot to cross the threshold of the school gate. "I'll need to see your virtual identification, school registration, and physio-spiritual certification, please," the guard said with a skeptical gaze, as though I were a criminal.
"Here you go." I handed over the documents, using the same method I had used to pay for the cab earlier.
"No need to be so tense, lad. We just need to verify that you're the one who registered. My name is Sheldon, but you can call me Old Shell, like the other students here," the guard said nonchalantly, noticing my nerves.
"Thank you, Old Shell!" I accepted his offer and addressed him by his preferred name, though my stutter caused me to bite my tongue, making him burst into laughter.
"Congratulations, your enrollment in our school has been approved. Now for the final test, we need to verify the validity of your physio-spiritual certificate. Please pass through this door. Don't worry, it won't harm you, but depending on your physique, it might be uncomfortable," Old Shell explained.
"Okay," I replied nervously, knowing all too well what awaited me beyond the door.
The device before me was known as a purgatory net door, or purge door for short. Its purpose was clear from its name - to filter out unwanted spirits that may pass through our bodies. It was said that spirits could enter us without being felt, but their removal could leave us feeling weak and drained.
If a human passed through without a spirit invading them, it would seem as though their own spirit was being extracted. This was precisely why such devices were not commonly used in public places like malls, restaurants, and other establishments.
As I approached the purge door for the first time, I couldn't help but feel skeptical. It was my first encounter with this device, and I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I had no choice but to go through it in order to enter school, so I took a deep breath and stepped forward.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
All_Knowing_Parrot
All_Knowing_Parrot This is the second half of the first chapter I first released. As you all have noticed, I made sure they stand as a single chapter and did not just cut in half.
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