As Vermas called him over, Fremileo felt the shift in the air immediately. The faint noise of the cave dulled, the whispers of the other children fading into nothing as a gentle barrier of wind surrounded him. His father's eyes, calm yet edged with tension, fixed on him.
Vermas leaned down, his voice low and steady but carrying a weight Fremileo had never heard before. He explained what awaited inside the Mirror Lake, what visions might come, and how one might survive its trial.
Listening quietly, Fremileo's chest tightened. As he got to know of this entirely unknown knowledge.
He closed his eyes, taking a long breath, and pressed his palms together. In silence, he pretended to pray to [Light], as he organized his thoughts. When he opened his eyes, the fear had dulled. A calmness settled over him.
Turning to his father, Fremileo looked him squarely in the eyes. His voice was quiet but carried the resolve of someone who had already made his choice.
"Do you wish to say something else, Father?"
"Ah, it's nothing."
Although he said that, his tone and gaze were not reassuring at all.
Fremileo gave him a long look, his gaze reflecting an untold story.
"You don't need to hide it, Father. I am your son."
Vermas froze for a moment. His gaze softened, but behind it was the storm of a father's fear.
"Fremileo… do you truly want to awaken? If this is pressure, if you feel forced, then don't be. I…"
"Father…" Fremileo interrupted gently.
"If you think you'll be bullied by others, then don't worry. I will…"
"Father." His voice was firmer now.
"…I'll make sure that you will…"
"FATHER!!"
The shout cracked through the heavy air. Vermas blinked, his composure slipping for a rare instant as he met his son's gaze head-on. What he saw startled him: the weight in those young eyes.
"I wish to achieve something," Fremileo said, his voice steady, almost too steady for his age.
"Something no one else can, but me. You ask if I want this?"
His lips curved into a thin, determined line. "Yes, Father. I do."
And then, without hesitation, Fremileo jumped into the Mirror Lake.
The instant he touched the surface, the water didn't ripple; it swallowed him whole. His consciousness tore apart like threads pulled from a tapestry, scattering into the void.
When he opened his eyes again, he stood in the middle of… nothing. An endless white gallery with trillions of empty frames, stretching forever.
'Well… logic can't really be applied in a world such as this.'
He looked towards a frame that reflected 'himself.'
The emptiness broke apart. Shapes began to bleed into existence from the frames, dripping like ink from unseen hands. One by one, trillions of faceless beings emerged, their featureless heads twitching slightly as though trying to remember what they were.
Some walked stiffly, adjusting their invisible ties as if preparing for an important day.
Some leaned over patients, hands holding needles moving in phantom motions by doctors and healers.
Some swayed, their blank faces tilting back in laughter, bodies pressed against one another, prostitutes savoring hollow pleasure.
Some sat on thrones of bone and shadow, faceless kings ruling over writhing hordes of monsters.
Some screamed war cries without mouths, faceless generals commanding rivers of troops that bled into the horizon.
And there were countless more, an unending sea of faceless humanity, performing acts both mundane and monstrous, a parody of all existence.
The canvas vibrated with their presence.
Fremileo's breath hitched, a flicker of recognition striking him.
"Father said I'd most likely see millions of these faceless humans. But…" His voice trembled, not from fear, but from sheer disbelief. "Although I can't say for sure… I think the numbers are at least ten thousand times bigger than that."
The faceless beings twitched, as though responding to his words, their heads slowly turning in unison toward him.
A wry smile appeared on his face.
"…Is it because of my [Innate Curse]? Just how much more will it torment me?"
***
Unlike the agonizing delay with Draco and the others, where every passing second gnawed at the hearts of the children and elders alike, the Mirror Lake rippled within only five minutes.
The surface parted with unnatural grace, and Fremileo slowly emerged, droplets clinging to his form like threads of silver.
At once, a barrier of wind surged outward, wrapping the other children in its soft embrace. Their eyes glazed over, their fear dissolved into calm forgetfulness, as though their anxiety had never existed.
Fremileo blinked at the sight, faint astonishment flickering in his eyes. Then, with the composure of someone who had expected such strangeness, he gave a small nod, as if something had just clicked into place.
Vermas, however, felt no comfort. A chill crawled down his spine as he studied his youngest. There was something off, something that both stirred fear and forced helplessness into his chest. His voice wavered as he spoke:
"How… was your Awakening, child?"
Fremileo turned his gaze toward Vermas, then the Clan Head, his expression unreadable. Slowly, he lowered his head, as if weighing thoughts too heavy for words.
The pause lasted too long. The silence pressed like a stone against their hearts. Both Vermas and the Clan Head stiffened, dread slithering through their veins.
"I ask you again, Fremileo," Vermas's voice cracked, then boomed with panic, "how was your Awakening!?"
Fremileo raised his eyes at last. "You don't have to shout like this, Father. I heard you loud and clear the first time."
His voice was calm, almost gentle, although a little confused.
"As for your question… it was nice. Smooth, even. I seem to have received an ability that allows me to stun a target." His lips curved faintly, though it never reached his eyes. "But I suppose I'll need to research it more thoroughly."
A wave of relief washed over Vermas. While Clan Head smiled meaningfully at the word 'stun the target.' The crushing tension in their chests loosened, if only for a moment. Vermas, heart pounding, activated his ability and flashed forward, closing the distance in an instant.
The Clan Head's lips parted as warmth filled his chest. He watched, almost tenderly, as Fremileo's arms spread open in expectation of an embrace, his eyes shining faintly with the innocence of a child who believed he was about to be held.
Instead,
CRACK!
Vermas's fist rocketed upward, connecting with Fremileo's chin. The boy's body lifted clean off the ground and slammed back down three feet away.
"YOU RASCAL!!!" Vermas roared, his voice raw with fury and fear. "Are you trying to prank your own father!? Pretending to be a [Lost] just to toy with my heart!?"
Fremileo lay there, dazed, staring blankly, truly confused.
The Clan Head coughed into his hand, eyes narrowing with a trace of exasperation.
'If Vermas had been in his right mind,' the Clan Head mused with faint amusement, 'he would have realized that Fremileo didn't even know what a [Lost] was in the first place.'
He watched the pair with a small, knowing smile, father and son, bound by blood and bickering in equal measure.
THWAK! THWAK! THWAK!
The smile faltered. 'Ah… must be… bonding?'
THWAK! THWAK!
'…nice?'
THWAK! THWAK!
"Second Elder!!" the Clan Head finally barked, his voice echoing across the chamber. "He'll actually die if you keep this up! I cannot allow you to commit the heinous act of killing your own family."
Vermas's reply was disturbingly casual, fists still raised.
"Don't worry, Clan Head. I'll just blame it on the Mirror Lake."
Five more minutes of relentless thuds and a great deal of persuasion later, the brutal "bonding session" finally came to an end. Fremileo lay sprawled, bruised but breathing, while Vermas, face flushed, muttered darkly under his breath about "rascals who scare their fathers."
Seeing that Vermas and Fremileo's… intense bonding session had finally ended, the Clan Head stepped forward. With a sweep of his hand, he healed the bruises on Fremileo's body, then dissolved the barrier around the other children.
Turning back to the group, his expression softened into a gentle smile.
"Now that Fremileo's Awakening has concluded, it is time to move on to the remaining two, Lunaris and Caelrisu. Now then, first will be Lunaris."
"WAIT!"
The clear cry rang out, cutting across his words. A girl in the crowd had raised her hand.
The Clan Head's eyes flicked toward her, calm as ever, but Vermas's gaze snapped to the child like a blade unsheathed. His glare carried silent fury, as if demanding, What right do you have to interrupt the Clan Head?
"It's alright, Vermas," the Clan Head said gently, cutting off his Second Elder before his killing intent could sharpen.
"But Clan Head," Vermas pressed, his tone edged with steel, "such interruptions will disrupt the chain. Protocol…"
"I said it's alright, Vermas." The Clan Head's voice, though soft, carried the weight of finality. "She is just a child."
With measured steps, he approached the girl and crouched down to her level. His eyes, warm and patient, met hers.
"Tell me, child. What troubles you?"
Behind him, Vermas's expression was one of clear dissatisfaction, jaw tight as he fought the urge to argue further.
The girl swallowed hard. Her voice trembled with nerves, yet beneath it was a stubborn thread of resolve.
"I… I think we should let both of them, Caelrisu and Lunaris, enter the Mirror Lake together. It is the custom between successors."
Caelrisu's head snapped toward her, raven hair whipping over her shoulder.
"Eh? What the hell are you talking about? I have zero interest in becoming Clan Head. Just shut up, Vipera."
Vipera maintained calm. Her posture remained composed, her head bowed just enough to show respect, though her voice carried an unbending firmness.
"I apologize if I have offended you, young lady… but you cannot deny the customs."
Clan Head looked at Vipera with his forever gentle smile.
"Well, if they wish to do this, I won't stop them. What do you two want?"
The Clan Head turned toward Lunaris and Caelrisu. They looked towards each other, and both siblings seemed ready to shake their heads in unison—then a voice echoed in their minds.
[Accept it.]
It was the Clan Head's voice, calm and gentle.
[You don't need to worry about consequence. I will personally reward you for your troubles.]
Both Lunaris and Caelrisu stiffened faintly, confusion appearing in their eyes. They glanced at each other again, a silent understanding passing between them.
And then, in unison, they turned toward the Clan Head and bowed their heads.
"We accept it, Clan Head."