"What?! You're saying this child hasn't Awakened any Talent?!" Mayor's voice echoed with disbelief as he stared at the male teacher responsible for conducting the Awakening test, demanding confirmation.
"Y-yes," the teacher stammered, flustered under the Mayor's gaze. "The detector showed absolutely zero energy fluctuations. It indicates... this child possesses no detectable Talent."
"Wow! He has no Talent? Does that mean he can't even attend Cocoon City Academy? He'll be useless!"
"Mom said everyone Awakens at eight! How come he's so weird?"
"Because he's a freak!"
........
The chatter erupted from the line of children waiting for their own tests. As for children at eight years old, they just spoke without filter, each word like a sharp barb piercing Lucien's heart.
Eight-year-old Lucien stood frozen before the glowing orb, fingers twisting nervously in the hem of his worn shirt. Tears welled in his eyes. He didn't understand what he'd done wrong. He'd simply touched the orb, like the others. Then the teacher had rushed over to the kindly old man, declaring him "Talentless," transforming him instantly into a "freak" in the eyes of his peers.
Deep down, Lucien had sensed something was off. Even at eight, he knew Awakening was a pivotal moment that shaped your entire life. It determined your parents' jobs, which decided whether you barely filling your stomach or could afford the rare taste of sugar after a full meal.
But no one had taught Lucien this. Elinora was Unawakened. His fragmented knowledge came from snippets overheard from Baron and Viola. He remembered the stir a year ago when Baron tested as a 'Light Swordsman' – the sudden interest from neighbors , even urging their kids to befriend him. Viola, though only six and untested, wouldn't be far behind, Lucien was sure.
"Children, silence!" Mayor Lysander's voice boomed, cutting through the rising clamor. "The detector has something wrong! Testing is stopped for today. Everyone, line up for a soda! And go home tell your parents we'll resume tomorrow!"
Soda! The magic word instantly diverted the children's attention. Cheers covered the eagerness to know the test results.
Only Lucien remained rooted to the spot. Seeing him alone, the Mayor knelt, his face creasing into a benevolent smile.
"Lucien, right? A brave little man, holding those tears back." He patted Lucien's shoulder. "Hey boy, Cocoon City Academy turns no child away, just know that you are welcomed at any time."
"But... am I really... Talentless?" Lucien lifted his small face, his gaze stubbornly seeking the truth.
"Ah..." The Mayor hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Lucien, listen. Talent is a tool. It helps us climb higher, yes. But I've known many men who carved their own path without it. The road might be steeper, harder... but perhaps it brings you closer to the world's true essence than others."
Lucien only half-understood, but he was sure he got the core: the machine wasn't broken. He was indeed Talentless. This kind old man was just shielding a child's dignity.
"Thank you," Lucien murmured, offering a small, standard bow before turning and running away, leaving the Mayor amidst the clamor of children excitedly claiming their sodas.
---
Lucien blinked, surfacing from the depths of sleep. He hadn't dreamed of that day in years. Even during restless nights plagued by worry, the memory of the Awakening test rarely resurfaced.
He checked the time and hurried through his morning routine. He planned to head for the Academy directly, for Sanny's class, "Monster Habits & Key Material Acquisition," was today. He never missed it. Before his Awakening, this class had been his lifeline, teaching him which discarded monster parts salvaged from careless Awakened could fetch a few Krom.
Practical combat classes, however, he always avoided. The teachers understood, tacitly accepting his "special situation" – forcing him to attend would inevitably turn the session into an anti-bullying lecture.
He gently knocked on Elinora's door. She was still deeply asleep, the dinner he'd left untouched on her nightstand. Lucien sighed. He has used to adapting The medication's deep -sedation routine, and doctor gave orders early: never wake a sleeping patient abruptly when they are fragile. At least she only slept long into the mornings. He placed the fresh breakfast beside the untouched dinner and quietly left.
The moment he stepped outside, the familiar Ding-Dong chimed in his skull. He summoned his panel.
Daily Quest:
-Eliminate 30 Timberwolves-
-Progress: 00/30-
-Quest Reward: 2 Bron-
Another monster-slaying quest, as expected.
Timberwolves, usually roamed the northern edge of the Verdantis Plains, bordering the Altumara Highlands, which clearly sent a screamed danger signal– stepping beyond the familiar plains meant facing monsters far more numerous and powerful than anything in the Verdantis lowlands.
Cocoon City, earned its name exactly because its unique geography. As Verdantis Plains located at its west, centered around it was embraced on three sides: the Altumara Highlands to the north, the Lorathorn Forest to the west, and the Sabulon Wastes to the south. Each region spawned distinct, increasingly formidable monsters. Lucien even heard about the rumors' spoke of monsters deep in the Wastes could even be capable of human speech.
But the nightly curfew acted like chains. Only official Subjugation Corps are allowed to venture deep. Detailed maps of those perilous frontiers were state secrets, locked away by Cocoon City's authorities. To the common folk, those unmapped edges were simply "Death Zones."
For Lucien – barely grasping his new power, with near-zero combat experience – skirting the edge of such territory wasn't exploration; it was suicide. Was the system guiding him into the monster world to explore, or simply offering him up as a sacrifice? Lucien couldn't help thinking.
Calculating the distance from the West Gate to the Timberwolf territory, then factoring in class time, Lucien knew completing the quest today would be a monumental challenge, bordering on impossible. He still had enough coin for one potion, given the quests renewed daily. He finally made his decision: Academy first. He'd head to the city's northern district for Sanny's class.
He arrived at the cavernous lecture hall just in time. Sanny's class was sparsely attended, only twenty-three students. Most Awakened preferred learning monster habits through visceral experience – a method undeniably effective, but useless for the Unawakened like Lucien used to be, or those with weak physical Aptitudes. Hence, the theory class persisted.
As Lucien entered, his classmates recoiled as if he carried plague. In the tiered seating, wherever Lucien sat, the three rows ahead and behind remained conspicuously empty. Usually, he claimed a front seat early, letting the others cluster at the back-of course they'd be willing too. But today, it was a little bit late, he was forced to sit further back, driving his classmates to cram themselves into the front rows.
"Well, look at this newfound enthusiasm for the front row!" Sanny announced dryly as she entered, adjusting her spectacles. Her expression was impassive. "Consider these your permanent seats. Anyone caught switching loses exam privileges."
Her silver-streaked hair and lined face spoke of age, but her posture was ramrod straight, her gaze sharp as flint – testament to the powerful core within this S-ranked Intelligence Awakened. Her sharp tongue and solitary nature were legendary, and how dare if someone defy her.
A collective groan went up. Students shot venomous glares back at Lucien. See? The jinx! Getting near him brings nothing but trouble!
"What are you gawking at?" Sanny snapped, unfazed. "Call yourselves geniuses, yet you get outscored on exams by *him*? Changing seats is too much hardship?"
She ignored their protests and launched into the lecture. "Today we are concluding our study of the Verdantis Plains: Elemental monsters. As the name suggests, these are fusions of elemental forces with common animal forms. The core elements are Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth. Combined with creatures like rabbits, rats, pigeons, wolves... you get distinct species. Element plus animal name equals the species."
"Examples: Fire Rats, Razorwing Pigeons... and Timberwolves. The Timberwolves are among the most cunning and dangerous." Lucien's breath hitched. The lecture content mirrored his system quest with uncanny precision! A sense of being watched, manipulated, washed over him.
Despite her years, Sanny's voice remained strong and clear. "Timberwolves. Levels range from 12 to 20. They are group hunters, rarely acting alone. Their claws and fangs are hard as steel, sharp as blades. Standing height rivals two grown men. Their preferred tactic? Ensnaring prey with vines erupting from the ground, then toying with it until death before feeding. If your Quality is C or below and you encounter them..." Her tone was matter-of-fact, yet each word carried deadly weight. "...just meeting with your death."
"But!" Her voice suddenly sharpened, answering her own implied question. "Are they invincible? Of course not! Metal and Fire are Wood's natural counters. Possessing either element grants would become significant advantage. However—" she paused for emphasis, "—never underestimate pack coordination! Should you miraculously slay one, congratulations! Their claws and pelts are highly sought materials. Pelts make cold-resistant, defensive gear; claws forge deadly Wolf Fang Daggers."
"Let's move on to the next section..."
The lesson solidified Lucien's understanding of the Verdantis ecosystem. When the bell rang, he approached Sanny's desk – a familiar sight, as he was her most frequent questioner after class.
"What now, Lucien?" Sanny asked without looking up, organizing her heavy textbooks. "Inquiring about the most valuable monster part this week?"
Lucien waited patiently until the last student had filed out. "Professor," he began, his voice low, "I've been researching a new topic recently. I don't know if you can tell me about monsters or phenomena related to... Psyche?"
"Psyche?" Sanny's head snapped up, her eyes instantly guarded, an almost palpable pressure filling the space between them. "Why would you ask about that?"
"If you know anything?" Lucien met her gaze directly, no explanation, refusing to back down.
Sanny studied his resolute expression, then sighed, the sound heavy with unspoken warnings. "Records concerning Psyche... are exceedingly scarce. But I can tell you this: the very edges encircling Cocoon City are shrouded in dense, unnatural mist. Early on, some awakened tried to penetrate it..." Her voice dropped to a near-whisper, "...None returned alive."
She leaned closer, her voice dropping further, "Scattered fragments of data, however, mention entities dwelling within that mist- Formless, floating....like ghost. Even S-ranked Awakened encountering them, reportedly lose all combat ability instantly. The rare souls who staggered back..." She paused, her gaze chilling. "...were driven utterly mad, babbling incoherently about being 'trapped' or screaming 'Let me out!' They were husks. Broken."
Lucien felt a cold dread seep into his bones, his throat tightening. He swallowed hard.
"One more thing I can offer to you extra," Sanny continued, her eyes boring into his. "To my knowledge, Mayor Lysander is the only Awakened in Cocoon City possessing a confirmed S-ranked Talent related to Psyche. As for the nature of his ability..." She held his gaze, her voice laced with steel. "...You should not ask, and not to know."
Lucien absorbed this, his mind racing. But Sanny's expression hardened further, her gaze sharpening like a honed blade. "Let me hazard a guess about why you ask things like this, Lucien..." Her voice became dangerously quiet, charged with the weight of her S-ranked perception. "...Have you... Awakened a Talent related to Psyche?"
The direct accusation struck Lucien like a physical blow, leaving him momentarily speechless.
"Even the faintest ripple of power cannot escape an S-ranked sensor," Sanny stated, her tone brooking no argument. The subtle, crushing weight of her focused presence pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe. "Tell me. How did it happen?" It was phrased as a question, but Lucien knew it was an order. Her face remained composed, but the sheer psychic pressure was overwhelming.
Lucien, trapped and gasping under the weight, saw no alternative. He began recounting the story of his father's key, the wooden box... But he barely got started—
"What are you saying? I can't hear you." Sanny's face was like a mask of genuine confusion.
Thinking she hadn't heard, Lucien started to repeat himself, but she cut him off with a sharp gesture. "Stop. The words you just spoke... dissolved into static before they reached me. For an S-ranked Awakened... that is... virtually impossible." She processed this bizarre phenomenon swiftly, offering no further explanation, accepting the inexplicable barrier quickly.
Lucien's mouth opened in stunned silence.
"Lucien," Sanny's voice became grave, the pressure easing slightly," Listen closely. Remember this: if you want to survive, if you want answers, you must grow stronger. Harness this Talent. Push its limits. And," she leaned in, her whisper carrying immense gravity, "tell no one. The fewer who know, the safer you are. Do you understand?" It was the last warning she could offer, laced with a private willing of protective concern.
"I'd treat today's conversation never happened... and I hope," she added, a flicker of something akin to maternal pride briefly softening her sharp eyes, "the next time we meet, we can stand on the same step."
"Thank you, Professor." Lucien's gratitude was profound. Her cryptic warning solidified his resolve. He knew his next destination immediately: Altumara Highlands. He turned and strode from the classroom, purpose burning in his green eyes.