Panic was a powerful engine.Samael found a narrow alley between two essence disposal containers, far from the Academy guards' eyes. His lungs burned, begging for air.
The moment the last ray of sunlight vanished beyond the horizon of NQSC, the sense of "release" he feared so deeply erupted.
It wasn't sharp pain, but a profound restructuring.
His bones seemed to flow like mercury, muscles stretching and softening, and the structure of his face shifted, refining itself against his will. His once long, unkempt hair gained a silky sheen, cascading over shoulders that were now narrower.
He collapsed to his knees, gasping.
The world felt slightly different… from a lower perspective.
Samael lifted his gaze toward the moon, melancholy, and muttered in bitter self-mockery:
— Perfect day to die.
A few minutes later, in front of the gates of the Awakened Academy…
— My shift's almost over… finally.
The guard stretched, feeling the weight of long hours settle into his shoulders. He was an Awakened, and despite being reasonably satisfied with the job, he still preferred his home. Nothing beat the comfort of one's own place.
As he relaxed for a moment, he noticed someone approaching.
It was a young woman.
Beautiful—even by the Awakened's high standards. She looked seventeen or eighteen and wore clearly masculine clothes, far too loose for her slender frame. As she walked toward him, her posture betrayed restrained anxiety.
Her hair immediately drew attention: golden at the roots, gradually fading to white at the tips. Her golden eyes—intense and shimmering—contrasted with her serious expression, forming an almost perfect combination… the kind that could make someone fall in love without realizing it.
She stopped a few meters from the gate.
It looked like she was gathering the courage to speak.
Her face revealed nothing, but the guard clearly sensed her nervousness. His Aspect made him sensitive to others' emotions—and this young woman was a tangled mess of tension, shame, and fear.
— Hey, miss! — the guard called out.
The majestic moon spread its silvery glow across the sky, accompanied by the cold night breeze.
The young woman startled, as if she hadn't expected to be addressed first. After a brief hesitation, she stepped closer.
— What business do you have with the Awakened Academy? — the guard asked, doing his duty.
His tone came out harsher than intended.
— I… — the young woman hesitated. — I want to enroll in the Academy…
Her voice was so soft that the night breeze seemed louder.
Such a shy kid… the guard thought.
— I didn't catch that. Speak up.
She took a deep breath, still staring at the ground, avoiding his gaze.
— I want to join the Awakened Academy, — she repeated, louder this time. Still quiet, but understandable.
The guard sighed inwardly. Of all times—right when his shift was about to end…
— What's your name?
— U-um… Samael? — the young woman replied, her tone tinged with uncertainty.
The guard frowned.That didn't sound like a girl's name.
— Are you sure that's your name? — he asked, now serious. — Be aware that lying about your identity to the Awakened Academy is a serious crime.
The severity in his voice made the young woman's heart race.
— It's… complicated to explain the disconnect between my name and my gender… — she answered.
Samael took a deep breath, his face burning with shame.
— I… I'm not a girl, — he said, almost pleading.
The guard looked Samael up and down.
No matter how much he examined her—She was, undeniably, a girl.
— Where are your documents, girl? — he said. — We'll have to contact your parents. Lying to the Academy is a crime.
— I don't have parents, — Samael replied softly.
Then, he handed over his identification.
The guard took it—and as he examined it, he felt a headache forming.
The name was the same.The gender, too.
But the photo…
The image showed a boy.
The resemblance to the young woman standing before him was undeniable—almost disturbing.
The guard took a deep breath, trying to suppress the exhaustion of the long day.
— If you don't explain your situation properly, — he said firmly — I'm afraid we'll have to call the police.
Samael's expression shattered.
Desperation overtook his face, and he resigned himself to fate.
— It's… my flaw… — he murmured, barely audible.
The guard froze for a moment.
Then, his expression changed.
Understanding.
In that world, a person's Flaw was an absolute taboo. No one spoke of it aloud. No one spread it.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
I want to disappear, Samael thought.Bury my head underground and suffocate to death.
The shame was crushing.
— Follow me, — the guard finally said.
He turned and began walking into the Academy.
Samael followed in silence, swearing to himself that he would never look that guard in the eyes again for the rest of his life.