The morning sunlight filtered through Ryan’s curtains, casting long streaks of gold across his room. He groaned, rubbing his eyes as he slowly woke up. His gaze landed on the watch strapped to his wrist, its sleek surface gleaming faintly. For a moment, he thought last night’s events had been a dream—the voice of Kaia, the strange connection he felt—but then he heard it again.

  “Good morning, Ryan,” Kaia’s calm, melodic voice echoed softly in his mind.

  Ryan froze, the words pulling him fully awake. “You’re still here,” he muttered, sitting up.

  “Of course. I am bound to this device, and by extension, to you,” Kaia replied, almost sounding amused. “Did you sleep well?”

  Ryan frowned. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to sleep well after finding out my watch talks.”

  Kaia chuckled lightly. “You’ll adjust. I suggest you focus on your day ahead. School awaits.”

  Ryan sighed. “Right, school.” He dragged himself out of bed, pulling on his clothes for the day. As he brushed his teeth, Kaia’s voice broke the silence again.

  “I’ve been analyzing your recent activities. Your projects are... fascinating. You’re quite resourceful for someone with limited tools.”

  “Thanks, I guess,” Ryan mumbled through a mouthful of toothpaste. “But don’t think I’m just going to trust you because you’re complimenting me. I still don’t know what you are.”

  “All in good time, Ryan,” Kaia said cryptically. “For now, I’m here to assist.”

  Ryan muttered under his breath and grabbed his school bag. As he walked downstairs, the smell of freshly made parathas filled the air. His mother was in the kitchen, humming a tune as she flipped one on the stove.

  “Morning, Ryan,” she said without turning around. “Hurry up, or you’ll be late for school.”

  Ryan grabbed a plate, stuffing a paratha with butter and folding it into a makeshift wrap. “I’m going, I’m going,” he said, his voice muffled as he took a bite.

  His little sister, Mia, was sitting at the dining table, swinging her legs back and forth. “You seem extra weird today, Ryan,” she teased. “Did you finally lose it?”

  Ryan rolled his eyes. “Funny, Mia. You should be a comedian.”

  As he stepped out of the house, the usual noise of the neighborhood greeted him—bicycles rattling down the street, kids shouting, and shopkeepers opening their stores. But his mind was elsewhere, replaying his conversation with Kaia.

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  At school, Ryan tried to focus on his classes, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the watch. During lunch, his friends were chattering about a new game release, but Ryan barely contributed.

  “Hey, Earth to Ryan!” said Sam, his closest friend, waving a hand in front of his face.

  “What? Sorry, I was thinking about something,” Ryan said.

  “Yeah, no kidding,” Sam replied. “You’ve been spacing out all day. What’s going on?”

  “Nothing, just working on a new project,” Ryan lied.

  Sam raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further.

  As the school day dragged on, Ryan overheard a few students talking about a warehouse on the outskirts of town. Apparently, it had been making the rounds on social media because of some strange activity—lights flashing in the middle of the night, odd noises, and even rumors of flying objects. Ryan’s ears perked up at the mention of it. He made a mental note to look into it later.

  When he finally got home, Ryan dropped his school bag and headed straight to his room. He closed the door and sat at his desk, staring at the watch. “Kaia,” he said hesitantly.

  “Yes, Ryan?”

  “Can you tell me what you are now? Or at least why you’re in this watch?”

  Kaia paused for a moment before answering. “I am what you might call an artificial intelligence. My origins are... complicated. For now, all you need to know is that I exist to help you, to guide you.”

  Ryan frowned. “Guide me? Guide me to what?”

  “To unlock your potential,” Kaia said simply.

  Ryan didn’t know what to make of that, so he decided to change the subject. “Can you help me with my projects?”

  “Of course. Show me what you’re working on.”

  Ryan pulled out one of his small surveillance drones, a compact device he had built from salvaged parts. “This is a drone I use for monitoring. It’s decent, but the battery life is terrible, and the range isn’t great.”

  “Let me see,” Kaia said.

  Ryan connected the drone to his computer, and within moments, the watch emitted a faint hum. “I’ve optimized the power consumption and enhanced the signal range,” Kaia said. “You’ll find it much more effective now.”

  Ryan tested the drone, and sure enough, it was faster, more responsive, and had a significantly longer range. “That’s... incredible,” he said, amazed.

  “It’s only the beginning,” Kaia replied.

  Later that evening, Ryan decided to investigate the warehouse he had overheard his classmates talking about. He packed his upgraded drone and a small stun gun he had modified for self-defense.

  The warehouse was located in an industrial area on the outskirts of town. Ryan found a secluded spot and launched his drone, piloting it towards the building. Through the live feed, he saw the warehouse was surrounded by tall fences and security cameras. But what caught his attention were the strange flying objects inside.

  They weren’t drones—at least not any kind Ryan had ever seen. They moved fluidly, almost like living creatures, and emitted a faint, eerie glow.

  “Kaia, are you seeing this?” Ryan whispered.

  “Yes. These devices are not of human origin,” Kaia said. “You should be careful.”

  As Ryan guided the drone closer, it suddenly lost connection. “What the—” he muttered, frantically trying to regain control.

  “Your signal has been jammed,” Kaia informed him.

  Before Ryan could react, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see a group of men in dark clothing, their faces partially obscured by masks.

  “Hey! What are you doing here?” one of them shouted.

  Ryan’s heart raced as he grabbed his equipment and ran. The men gave chase, their voices echoing through the night. Ryan darted through alleys and side streets, his breath coming in short gasps.

  “Kaia, any ideas?” he panted.

  “Keep running. I’ll guide you to safety,” Kaia said calmly.

  Ryan followed her directions, weaving through the labyrinth of streets until he finally lost his pursuers. He leaned against a wall, trying to catch his breath.

  “What the hell was that?” he muttered.

  “Those men are involved in something far bigger than you realize,” Kaia said. “But you’re not ready to face them yet. For now, focus on improving your skills and tools.”

  Ryan nodded, his mind racing. He had stumbled into something far beyond his usual investigations. And for the first time, he felt both excitement and fear.

  As he walked home, the weight of the watch on his wrist felt heavier than ever. When he finally reached his room, he sat down at his desk and stared at it.

  “What is this watch really?” he asked aloud.

  For a moment, there was silence. Then, Kaia’s voice came softly but firmly. “I am Kaia.”

  Ryan froze, the words sinking in. He didn’t know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: his life would never be the same.