"Master, are you sure about this?" Yerin asked, curled up in her cat form on Yato's lap.
"Everything you've done for them so far… isn't it too much? Even if you like them, teaching them to manipulate Eternium so quickly…"
"Don't worry," Yato replied, stroking her fur gently. "Eternium is pure potential, but its strength still depends on the user. Besides... they deserve it. They're special."
To Yato, genius was trivial. Sakura and Rael weren't prodigies of the highest caliber. They had talent—but so did millions of others, some far greater.
What made them special in his eyes wasn't their strength, but their will. Their desire to keep rising, to break through every "wall" that stood in their way. That was what fascinated him.
"Heh… Beings like you are really something else," Yato murmured, glancing down at Yerin and gently petting her.
"If that's what you believe, Master." Yerin closed her eyes, settling deeper into his arms.
Yato smiled faintly and turned his gaze skyward. Among the infinite stars, something shimmered.
-
-
Rael's answer confused Erasmus, but then he understood.
'Personal grudge.'
"You said earlier you were an awakened human. What exactly does that mean? How does one become awakened?" Rael pressed.
"What are you talking about? Aren't you awakened too? Why the hell are you asking basic crap like that?" Eramus narrowed his eyes. 'No way this kid doesn't know...'
"Just answer." Rael's tone dropped low, cold.
"…Fine," Eramus muttered. "Awakened humans are those who've undergone the Selection and come into contact with the Relic of Awakening. After that, their bodies begin to change… and evolve. Abilities awaken shortly after."
'Selection...'
"How does this selection work?" Rael continued his questions with a thoughtful expression.
'This kid... he's not awakened, is he?'
'No... that's impossible. No unawakened human could move like that. But something's off…'
"The Sects do the selections. Outside of them, only powerful families get access."
"..."
"And this relic—what do you know about it?"
"The truth? Not much. Even among awakened ones, secrecy shrouds the relic. We see it, we touch it... but we don't understand it." Eramus replied.
As Rael absorbed the information, Eramus subtly reached into his pocket and activated a hidden device.
"I need you to take care of this." Rael took the voice transmitter and threw it toward Eramus.
"I need to find out the location of this island."
Eramus seemed reluctant to listen to Rael, but after he heard the voice transmitter...
-
'That's… perfect. A faint, unreadable smile spread across his face. His worry vanished, replaced by something like amusement—or perhaps anticipation.'
'If this brat makes it to Varhel Island… that might be even better. He'll tear everything apart. Ha... the chaos would be beautiful.'
"I can't repair this in time," Eramus said, almost gleefully, "but I do know where the island is."
"Then talk."
"There's a pickup point in the eastern zone, two days from now—6 p.m. sharp. That's when the next group of awakened is being transported to the island. It's isolated—military-level access only. No civilians."
"Good." Rael nodded once. But before he could ask more, a distant crunch of footsteps drew his attention.
"You..." Rael turned—then realized what had happened.
Backup.
Eramus had called for help.
Rael grabbed Eramus by the throat, squeezing. The man kicked and struggled—but it was futile.
"Damn it, hurry up, you bastards!" He gasped.
Rael held tight—but his hands began to tremble.
Not from pain. Not from rage.
But from fear—fear of killing someone.
His breath quickened. His eyes locked onto Eramus's pale, terrified face.
'Why… why can't I do it? He tried to kill me. He tried to kill Obachan… So why?'
He repeated the words in his mind like a mantra, but the truth sliced through his resolve like a blade of ice: He couldn't do it.
'I'm weak… or I'm just human?'
Rael's fingers slowly unclenched, and Eramus collapsed to the ground, coughing violently.
Two Awakened burst onto the scene just moments later.
"Help me, you bastards!" Eramus shouted.
The two Awakened immediately moved to attack Rael, but he disappeared in the next moment with a sonic boom.
*BOOM!*
"What?!" They couldn't even react to his speed.
...
...
Eramus stood up slowly, catching his breath. He turned to the two men, both of whom were from the same underground organization he served.
"Who was that boy? Enemy sect?"
"No…" Eramus said, brushing dust from his clothes. "He's unaffiliated. No background. No connections. But…"
He grinned.
"He might just be our key to everything."
"Huh?"
"Contact the leader. I need a direct link."
He glanced at the place Rael had disappeared.
"You should've killed me, boy. That hesitation will cost you."
-
-
*BOOM!*
The sonic boom echoed again as Rael landed near his home.
"Damn it!" he shouted, punching the wall. The stone cracked beneath his fist.
He had trained for so long. Fought to grow stronger.
But when it mattered most—he hesitated.
'Why couldn't I do it?'
Jailing someone like Eramus wasn't an option. No ordinary prison could hold an Awakened. But still… he couldn't cross that line.
"Forget it. He's weak. He's not a threat anymore."
He took a deep breath, regaining his composure.
"I've got what I need. It's time to move forward."
He looked down at his hands, then glanced toward the city.
"But first... I need to do something."