Dante felt the rough tug of a gloved hand as he was guided down a sterile hallway. His eyes were still blindfolded, but the smell of antiseptic and the hum of fluorescent lights gave him a hint of his surroundings. Eventually, he was stopped and gently pushed down into a chair. The blindfold was removed, and he blinked against the harsh white light.
In front of him stood a man in uniform—an officer, tall, serious-looking, holding a clipboard. The room around them was stark, white, and cold. No windows. Just the two of them.
The officer broke the silence.
"Dante Karling?"
"Yes, that's me," Dante answered, his voice steady despite the odd circumstances.
After being escorted all the way here, not knowing where he was going or why, Dante was surprisingly calm. A bit of fear still lingered, sure—fear of the unknown—but it was dulled by something else. Acceptance. Resignation, perhaps. Or maybe confidence. He straightened his back and looked the officer in the eye.
"How old are you?" the officer asked.
"I'm 17."
"Good. Dante, hear me out. Just relax. We're not going to harm you. In fact, we understand the situation you're in."
'Situation? What situation? Hello? Could someone elaborate?' Dante thought, bewildered.
He coughed a little, dry and awkward. If the officer said to relax, then maybe he should try. No point in panicking. He took a breath and let his body settle into the chair.
The officer opened a file and began to read. "According to the report, you were identified as someone showing signs of possessing a superpower. Is that correct?"
Dante's eyes widened. So it was finally happening. A moment he had imagined many times before, both in dreams and nightmares. His mind raced.
He hesitated for a moment.
'Should I tell him? Should I lie?'
The thought passed quickly. It wasn't in his nature. Dante had always been honest, even when it cost him. Hiding the truth would only delay the inevitable—and besides, what good would it do? They already brought him here. They knew something.
'I've been keeping this secret for so long… and it's exhausting,' he thought. 'Maybe it's time I stop hiding who I am.'
He let out a long sigh and nodded. "Yes. I do have that."
The officer's expression remained calm, composed. "What is your ability?"
"Uhm… it's mind reading. I can read people's thoughts. That's it."
The officer jotted something down in the file, nodding slightly. "I see. Mind reading, huh?"
His calm reaction made Dante even more anxious. He stared at the man's face, searching for signs of hostility—but found none.
'Wait… he doesn't have any ill intent toward me. I can't hear his thoughts, but I can feel his intentions. What does this mean?'
A spark of hope flickered in Dante's chest. 'Maybe this won't be so bad. I still don't know what's happening, but I'll keep listening.'
The officer continued with a few more questions—basic things: name, age again, family, school—but Dante could sense they were just formalities. Something more important was coming.
Eventually, the officer closed the file and looked Dante in the eyes.
"Dante, thank you for cooperating. Now, it's time I tell you the truth. There's an announcement you need to hear."
Dante's heart pounded in his chest. 'Come on, what is it? Just say it already!'
The officer took a breath.
"Your time in this world may be coming to an end."
Dante's heart skipped a beat.
'W-what?! Is this it? Is this when they get rid of me?'The words hit like a hammer. His body tensed. 'Am I not getting a choice after all? Are they going to erase me, make me disappear?'Even though he couldn't hear the officer's thoughts, he instinctively scanned for any trace of hostility—any sign of death looming in his voice.
But… there was nothing.
No hatred. No sadistic delight. Just a strange, quiet sympathy.
'Then why does it sound like a death sentence?'
His lips trembled slightly. "S-sir, what do you m-mean by that?"
"You see," the officer said slowly, choosing his words with care, "people like you… awakened ones… you possess abilities that ordinary humans don't. Abilities that are dangerous. Unfair. Society isn't built to handle that. So we—those in charge—have to take precautions. That's why we've brought you here, like the others before you. To give you a choice."
'Phew… okay. A choice. That's better than execution, I guess.' Dante forced himself to breathe. 'Alright. What kind of choice?'
"Please… tell me," Dante said softly, but with a calm resolve.
The officer nodded. "First, we can perform a procedure on you. A surgery. It will damage the part of your brain responsible for your ability. You'll lose your power permanently. After that, you'll be allowed to live a normal life—free, anonymous, ordinary."
Dante swallowed hard and processed the information. Lose his power? Forget mind reading forever? He stayed silent, waiting to hear the second option.
"The second choice," the officer continued, "is different. As I mentioned, people like you are called the Awakened. Your powers, though varied, all relate to the mind—telepathy, empathy, illusion, and more. But here's the thing… you don't belong in this world."
Dante blinked. "What?"
"I mean that literally," the officer said. "This world—is called Eden. But there is another place. A different realm altogether. We call it the New World. It's where all the Awakened are sent. That's where you belong."
Dante's mind reeled. 'Another world? A whole other place just for people like me?'
"You probably never realized it, but Eden is just a small corner of reality. The New World is vast, untamed, and dangerous—but it's also where people like you can live freely, without fear, without suppression."
Dante was silent, deep in thought.
'The New World… I have no idea what it's like, but suddenly, it sounds better than going back to my boring life pretending I'm normal. Maybe this is what I've been waiting for. A real purpose. A real story.'
The officer stood up and straightened his uniform. "We'll prepare you for transport. With your choice, good luck on your journey, Dante. Farewell."
Those were the last words Dante heard before a sharp sting hit his neck. He barely had time to react before the room spun and everything faded to black.
His consciousness slipped away, but one final thought flickered in his mind:
'So this is how it begins…'