The silence was heavy. The steady sound of footsteps echoed against the floor as Kenzo obediently followed the two men Sir Benson had summoned. His heart pounded violently, beating like a drum inside his chest. Where were they taking him? Why? What crime had he committed? And most importantly, what did Sir Benson suspect him of?
The walk ended in front of a massive structure: a large metal container, carefully modified. One of the soldiers turned toward him and pointed to the entrance.– « Go inside and wait. »
Without arguing, Kenzo stepped in. To his surprise, the interior bore no resemblance to the austere exterior. It was a real room , blindingly white, almost sterile , lit by a fluorescent light suspended from the ceiling. The place radiated an impersonal, clinical coldness. At the center stood a brushed metal desk, with two chairs facing each other. On the desk rested an ultra-modern computer and a sleek tablet, the kind he had only ever seen in the hands of those who lived within the inner walls.
For the residents of the outer walls, such tools were impossible to obtain. Fortunately, if one needed to contact family in another country, there was still the postal service. As long as the destination was not across an ocean, the prices could remain reasonable.
Kenzo observed the room with a mixture of wonder and bitterness. If only the people of the outer walls could live somewhere this clean and well-equipped… even a container like this would feel like luxury.
Lost in thought, he jolted when the door opened again. A man entered, and an overwhelming pressure filled the room instantly. He wore partial black armor, leaving his abdomen, thighs, and arms uncovered, revealing a tight dark violet suit beneath. His face was entirely hidden behind a steel mask, not a single patch of skin visible. Only two glowing red eyes, burning like barely awakened embers, pierced through the impenetrable façade. A heavy black cape trailed silently behind him.
Two symbols on his chestplate immediately caught Kenzo's attention. The first was a "III," similar to Sir Benson's, but clearly of higher rank. The second was an eclipse , an emblem he recognized instantly: the archipelagos of Shadowmoon, the Kingdom of Shadows. What was an Awakened from that realm doing here in the Kingdom of Air?
The man finally spoke, his voice low and mechanical, amplified by the mask.– « Please take a seat, young Awakened. »
Without hesitation, Kenzo obeyed. He sat on the cold chair across from the mysterious man. One thing was certain: he did not want to anger him.
The man in black sat as well, taking the tablet in his gloved hands. An oppressive silence settled between them. For Kenzo, each second felt endless. At last, the man spoke.
– « Awakened Kenzo, I am from the Inquisition. I am called Saint 13. Do you know what that means? »
The word was unfamiliar. Kenzo frowned slightly.– « No, sir… »
– « I expected as much. It is quite simple. In this world, there are three major powers that fight against the Void Creatures: the Government, the Clans, and the Eight Royal Families. These entities are the swords and shields of humanity. Every Awakened eventually serves one of them. »
He paused, allowing the words to sink in.
– « But there exists another faction. The Inquisition. We are the equivalent of law enforcement—specifically for the Awakened. Our role is clear: to hunt, judge, or eliminate any Awakened who breaks the law. »
Kenzo's blood ran cold.
– « If you are here today, it is because I must ensure you have committed no crime. Now that you are an Awakened, you fall under my jurisdiction. I will ask you a series of questions. And I warn you: I will know if you lie. »
A freezing shiver climbed his spine. He felt that one wrong move could end his life.
– « First of all, is your name Kenzo? »– « Yes. »– « No surname? »– « No. My mother never gave me one. »– « And your father? »– « I have never met him. »
Saint 13 remained silent for a moment behind the impassive mask.
– « Awakened Kenzo, I can confirm that you are telling the truth. But a carefully controlled truth. I will not hold that against you , for now. Be careful. One mistake, and I will not miss. »
– « Yes, sir. »– « How old are you? »– « Sixteen. »– « Where were you born? »– « In the outer walls of the capital of Seika no Kuni. »
A nod. The conversation shifted toward what Kenzo feared most: his status as an Awakened.
– « Before we address the reasons for your departure from the Empire of Death, let us discuss your Awakened status. »
Kenzo's throat tightened. He dreaded being asked about his Gift, about his abilities. If he had to reveal his nature… what would happen? What he carried inside him was not… normal.
– « For your information, if you do not remember your status, you may summon your Orb of Revelation. You simply need to focus, and it will appear like this. »
Before his eyes, Saint 13 summoned a floating sphere of deep violet, its colors swirling like clouds of shadow. It radiated a frightening yet restrained power.
– « Then touch the orb, and your status will appear before your eyes. »
– « That won't be necessary. I remember it. »
He was lying. He absolutely did not want Saint 13 to see his orb. Before becoming Awakened, it had been completely transparent , something that did not seem normal. And now? He preferred not to find out.
– « As you wish. Let us begin. What is the level of your Heart? »– « Awakened. »– « How many fragments of Corrupted Prana have you gathered so far? »– « Six. »– « Out of how many? »– « Uh… one thousand? »
Saint 13 tilted his head slightly, then continued.
– « In accordance with the law, you are not a criminal—merely a suspect. Therefore, I will not require you to reveal your Power. I have one final question. »
A pause.
– « From which God, mythical creature, or spiritual entity did you receive your Gift? »
Kenzo's heart nearly stopped.
This was it. The question he had feared.
But then a realization struck him. He remembered clearly: in his status, no entity had been mentioned. There was nothing. Just the Gift , without divine or mystical origin. An anomaly. An exception.
So he answered.
– « Myself. »
A long silence followed. Saint 13 did not move. Then, slowly, his voice echoed once more.
– « Yourself? »
The tone was neither mocking nor disdainful.
It was simply… serious.