The Unadorned Sovereign

Chapter 2. Installing 100%

The next day dawned with a cruel reminder of the events from the previous night. Liam awoke to aches and pains that radiated throughout his body, each twinge a testament to the rough encounter he had faced. Bleary-eyed, he reached out for his phone, only to find it in a state of disrepair. The screen was cracked, and as he rubbed his swollen eyes, a loading screen appeared at the edge of his vision. The words "installing 85%" blinked insistently, like a persistent whisper in his mind.

Liam's brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of the situation. His throbbing head and the remnants of his blurry vision caused him to attribute the odd display to his physical state. With a sigh, he pushed aside the enigmatic loading screen, thinking it an odd side effect of his exhaustion.

As he struggled to sit up, his thoughts raced. He pondered whether the loading screen was a consequence of his encounter with the rough group the previous night, or perhaps a sign that his body was worse off than he'd thought. He decided that after a good meal and some rest, he would address the issue more thoroughly.

Dragging himself out, Liam winced with every movement. Turning on the faucet, he splashed cold water on his face, the shock momentarily clearing his mind. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, the tired eyes staring back at him a stark reminder of the challenges he faced. He had to keep pushing forward, no matter the odds.

He managed to get dressed, the clothes feeling heavier than usual against his battered body. He considered the possibility of visiting a doctor, but the mounting hospital bills only added to his stress.

His progress was slow, and he let out a sigh of relief as he finally managed to reach the kitchen. With the aroma of a simple breakfast wafting through the air, he attempted to focus on something other than the strange loading screen. But it remained there, like an uninvited guest in his mind.

As he sipped his coffee and nibbled on a piece of toast, his gaze kept flickering toward the loading screen's progress. The numbers had barely changed since he first woke up. Liam's frustration grew, and he considered the possibility that his phone had been irreparably damaged in the altercation.

After breakfast, he set about his usual routine, getting ready to head to his next job as a construction worker. Despite his physical discomfort, he knew he couldn't afford to miss a day's pay.

With a determined grimace, Liam dragged himself to his next job at a construction site. Hope for a fresh start and some respite from his ongoing struggles pushed him forward, despite his battered condition. However, the day's misfortunes seemed unrelenting. As he arrived late, his manager's stern gaze and reprimand met him like a blow.

"Late again, Liam," the manager's voice was laced with irritation. "We can't have you slowing down the team. Do you have any idea how vital punctuality is in a workplace like this?"

His shoulders sagged under the weight of his manager's disappointment. "I'm sorry, sir. There was an incident on my way here. Please, just give me a chance to make up for lost time," Liam replied, his voice a blend of exhaustion and determination.

But his manager's patience was thin. "You're not in any condition to work today. Look at you – you're a mess. Just go home."

Desperation tinged Liam's voice as he pleaded with his manager to allow him to work. He knew that every dollar counted; his family back home depended on his meager earnings to survive. A sick mother, young siblings – their well-being rested heavily on his shoulders.

"Please, sir," he implored, his eyes pleading. "I really need this job. I promise I'll give it my all. I need this job to support my family. My mother is ill, and my siblings..."

The manager's expression twisted, his lip curling with a mixture of disgust and impatience. "You're not fit for this job today. Your personal troubles are not my concern. You're a liability."

With a finality that cut through the air, the manager delivered the verdict: "You're fired."

The words landed like a blow, a cruel twist of fate that pushed Liam further into despair. His manager's indifference felt like a betrayal. A lump formed in his throat as he swallowed back the frustration and tears. He nodded, defeated, and turned to leave.

But as he did, his manager's voice cut through the air once more, this time with a cruel edge. "You know, Liam, you're lucky to have even gotten this job with your lack of education. It's no surprise you're always in trouble."

The words stung like a thousand bee stings, each one a reminder of his perceived inadequacy. Liam's back stiffened, his fists clenched at his sides, but he said nothing. He couldn't give his manager the satisfaction of seeing his emotions crumble.

Kicked to the curb both literally and metaphorically, Liam found himself adrift, the weight of hopelessness bearing down on him. He wandered aimlessly through the city streets, caught in the vortex of his own uncertainty. The future felt bleak and the path forward seemed obscured by the shadows of his failures.

Eventually, Liam found himself at a park, beneath the shade of a sprawling tree. He sank to the ground, his back resting against the gnarled trunk. As he closed his eyes, he surrendered to the cool breeze that rustled the leaves above, offering a momentary reprieve from the storm of his emotions.

"In a world that seemed to spin beyond his control," Liam mused, "at least nature remains a constant sanctuary."

In the midst of this calm, a jarring sound pierced the stillness. Liam's eyes snapped open, his gaze darting around, searching for the source of the disturbance. But what he saw was even more bewildering. Before him materialized a translucent window, its ethereal presence contrasting with the very real turmoil he felt.

The words "Installing 100%" glowed on the window, capturing his attention and unsettling his thoughts. He rubbed his eyes, as if hoping that this bizarre image would vanish with the sweep of his hand. The surreal nature of this new development left him questioning his senses and the fabric of reality itself.

"What the...?"