A young man came to see me.
He looked refined, polite—almost too calm.
"Hello. Are you… Mr. Lumos?"
I paused, slightly puzzled. After all, my self-portrait was hanging right outside the door.
"Yes. Please, have a seat. And you are?"
He sat down, his posture composed.
"My name is Adam Donald. I'm 23 years old, a first-year graduate student at XXX University.
I'm here because… I'm hoping you can help me with a problem related to my Aves."
As he spoke, his eyes drifted behind me—toward an empty space on the wall. They darted left, then right, as if watching something I couldn't see.
"I see. I'll do my best. Can you tell me more about your problem?"
Without a word, Adam bent down and pulled out a sketchbook and pencil from his bag.
"I'd like to show you my problem. It's easier that way."
I tilted my head, intrigued.
"Are you drawing me?"
"Yes."
Less than five minutes passed before he handed me the sketch.
On the paper was a massive lion—upright, humanoid—sitting in the same posture I had been moments earlier.
"I see," I murmured.
"This… is your problem, isn't it?
You see others not as people, but as animals. No… as these hybrid forms. Half-human, half-beast."
Adam's eyes widened with surprise—and a hint of relief.
"You—how did you know? That's exactly right! Incredible!"
I smiled.
"So tell me: what do you want me to help you with?"
"Well… I didn't think much of it at first.
Except for my parents and a childhood friend, everyone else looked like that—animal-people.
It was strange, yes, but also kind of fun. It never really interfered with my life… until I got a girlfriend."
He hesitated, eyes lowered.
"We're fine during video calls, but in person…"
"I see. Let me ask you a few questions.
First: exactly how many people appear human to you?
Second: over video calls, photos, or drawings—do they also look human?
Third: how about touch?"
Adam nodded thoughtfully.
"My parents and one male childhood friend—they appear fully human.
Everything else, unless it's in person, looks normal: videos, photos, movies… all human.
But when I kiss my girlfriend in real life, I can feel her fur tickle my nose. She's a cat."
"I see. So… your request is to remove this 'animal filter' from your perception?"
"Yes. I want to see people the way they actually are—as humans."
I pulled a heavy folder from the drawer.
"Adam… this isn't your first time here. The last time, you were five."
His face froze.
"What? I've been here before?"
"Yes. Your parents brought you in. For your own well-being, we applied a cognitive filter to your perception."
"A… filter?"
"Yes. It was administered by Ye Yi, who's now the director of the largest Aves hospital in the U.S.
Back then, he was my deputy. His ability, known as Dreamfeather, alters human cognition—
but normally, it puts patients into a dreamlike unconscious state.
Your brain was… unique.
You stayed awake. Your filter held."
Adam blinked, trying to process everything.
"And now… how do I remove it?"
"I can do it here. But once removed, if you feel unwell, it'll take Ye Yi about a week to restore it.
Can you handle that?"
Without hesitation, Adam nodded.
"Yes. Please."
"Then come with me."
In the treatment room, as the smell of roasted vanilla drifted into the air, Adam slowly fell asleep.
——
He awoke alone. The room was quiet.
Calling out softly, he made his way back to my office—
only to stop cold.
A dark silhouette stood in the room, massive, distorted.
Something about it—wrong. His chest tightened.
As the shadow turned to look at him, Adam bolted.
He ran down the street in panic—only to realize:
Everyone around him was like that.
Shadowy. Mouthless. Demented. As if he'd stepped into Azkaban.
Suddenly, a dark hand yanked him back.
He flinched—
But the figure only handed him his phone, left behind in the lab.
Then vanished.
The phone rang. I was on the other end.
"Hello, Mr. Donald. As expected.
While you were resting, I contacted Ye Yi.
He's nearby and will arrive in two hours.
Until then, I suggest you stay in the guardhouse.
You're not ready to be out in the world like this."
Adam stood there, trembling.
"You mean… I used to see the world like this? Before age five?"
"Yes.
Your childhood drawings looked remarkably like Dementors from Harry Potter.
That's why your parents brought you here."
"Why… why is this happening to me? Isn't Aves supposed to be a superpower? This is more like a curse…"
"Well… 99% of Aves in the world are either undeveloped or functionally useless.
But maybe yours… has potential."
"Potential? How?"
"You told me you can sense traits from people's animal forms, right?"
"Yes. Like you, for example. You're a lion.
That means you're proud. Confident. Passionate."
——
Ye Yi arrived soon after.
The filter was restored. Adam returned home, though he never saw Ye Yi face to face.
As he left, I gave him one final thought:
"Perhaps the key lies in the people who appear human to you.
When you're ready, send me any clues you find.
Let's meet again next week."
——
Back home, his girlfriend Emma confronted him.
She was sure he was cheating—he had grown distant, uninterested, cold.
No matter how she reached for him, he pushed her away.
She couldn't take it anymore. She ended it.
Adam tried to respond—but nothing came out.
Just then, an email arrived.
His international student application had been approved.
Perfect timing.
He left the U.S.
——
In Europe, Adam remained in contact, sending me weekly reports:
1️⃣ Just like in the U.S., everyone still looks like animals.
2️⃣ I met a woman—Bella. She's French. Long, curly black hair. She's… a black cat.
3️⃣ I wonder if it's tied to dependence. I've always relied on my parents and Kimi. Could that change my perception?
4️⃣ But what about my grandparents, or Kimi's siblings? They still look like animals.
5️⃣ I tried what you said—accepting the animal forms. It's better than pretending not to see them.
But… the more I accept it, the more I feel like I'm going crazy.
——
One morning, Adam was jolted awake by smoke.
Without thinking, he scooped up the sleeping Bella and ran from the burning apartment.
A falling light fixture struck him on the way out. He blacked out.
When he came to, Bella was lying beside him—fully human. No cat ears, no fur.
He blinked in disbelief.
A nurse entered the room. She was a gorilla.
And yet—Adam smiled.
Because this time, he didn't care.
Because this time, he understood.
the answer is be loved.
Adam:
Mr. Lumos, I actually realized a long time ago that the world follows the law of the jungle. Those who must not be provoked always resemble carnivores. I'm grateful for this ability—it has helped me avoid unnecessary conflicts. Thank you very much for your help. From here on, I'll be heading to Africa to complete my doctoral thesis in zoology. I probably won't be able to send you my discoveries for a long while.
To the readers:
I regret to inform you of Adam's passing.
He was attacked and eaten by lions on the African savannah.
I'm not sure whether this had anything to do with his ability…