He pushed through the doors of a derelict subway station. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of "Purple Rain," a vintage synthetic incense. A crowd was gathered, but they weren't glowing. They were gray. They were matte.
In Oakhaven, status wasn't measured by money, but by your . Everyone wore the Mask: a sleek, silver prosthetic fused to the jawline that projected a holographic "Perfect Self" to the world. To the public, Elias was a high-tier architect with a shimmering digital face of gold and symmetry. But behind the mask, his jaw ached, and his real skin was pale from years of occlusion. The Hive’s motto was everywhere: Perception is Reality. Future - Mask Off (Clean Version)
"Represents the struggle," Lyric said, her eyes locking onto his glowing gold visor. "You’re tired of the persona, aren't you, Architect?" He pushed through the doors of a derelict subway station