Yves and Yun discussed logistics before leaving the watchtower. They agreed to take a transit line to the Stone District before heading to the Sparks Academy, where Yun would spend the rest of his remaining days in the real world.
In the end, it took them two hours to walk from the outer ring into town. The reason they couldn't just drive back to the city was a mystery — well, not really, but the truth didn't make sense either.
Some smart-ass would point out that, at sixteen and thirteen years of age, both Yun and Yves were too young to operate a bulky Outland Cruiser, and that would sound reasonable… until you thought about it.
If a Plague outbreak were to occur right here and now, the same people who are too young to drive were the ones expected to deal with an army of ancient monstrosities.
Utter nonsense.
Despite his gripes, walking such a distance wasn't a tough task for Yun, who had a fully awakened vital core.
But something still felt off, like something was missing. While he felt stronger, much stronger than before he entered the Vision, Yun didn't feel quite… superhuman.
Deep inside his soul, there was a gate, multiple gates of boundless breadth and height locking away his limitless potential.
Marching by Yves in silence, Yun clicked his tongue. If only I had learnt the Vital Arts somehow. Dammit.
He'd have to make sure that at least one of those gates was open by the time he had to cross the Great Break. He had the capability; all that was missing was the knowledge.
As they approached the end of the road, heavily armed human soldiers stood guard at the city gates. When they reached, Yves showed them a badge depicting a two-winged deity, similar to the statue of Severin in the Curse Valley.
If Yun received his own badge, it would be a single wing; two for Herald, three for Power, and so on.
The lead soldier, covered head to toe in protective gear, dressed Yun down with his gaze. By reflex, Yun curled back.
The soldier's next words, however, were an utter surprise to him.
"An honour," he lowered his head. "Mercy be to humanity's servants."
Yun, too stunned to respond, just frowned. Yves let out an awkward cough and stepped forward, offering a response in his place.
"Uh… yes… Hallowed be Severin."
Yves snatched Yun by the wrist and pulled him through the gate. He hissed, "Hey, Yun. What's wrong with you? Wake up!"
Meanwhile, Yun found himself absorbed in his musings.
He couldn't bring himself to believe the reverence in the soldier's tone. It didn't make sense. To him, of all people?
Well… after taking a shower and changing into his armour, he must have looked somewhat respectable.
Tsk! Who needs respect? I've never had it, but I'm alive and thriving, aren't I?
But then again, didn't Yun deserve at least that much? Not to be held in high esteem, but basic respect. Years spent in the Hollows and countless reminders that he was only valuable when he satisfied the greed and selfishness of others — wasn't that enough?
Not to mention the ruthlessness of the Forsaken Realm he experienced through the Vision.
Basic respect wasn't too much to ask for, and even though that soldier called him a servant, Yun didn't mind it that time.
Ugh, I don't like that. What am I even thinking? Wake up, Yun!
The internal struggle went on for almost an hour until Yun could finally snap himself out of it.
When he came to, Yves had just scanned his flash-pad through the entrance of a nearby Transit Station. The doors slid open, revealing a crowded terminal built across multiple floors.
"Alright, try not to embarrass me," Yves said, his brows puckered into a frown. "Or all of Descendant Society, for that matter."
Yun held Yves's stare for a second, testing if the kid's eyes would retreat or not. When they didn't, Yun shrugged and entered the terminal first. "Well, that depends…"
Yves caught up and paced beside him. "On what exactly?"
"That also depends…"
"Ugh, just get on with it!"
Yun took in the view with one deep breath, relishing his time inside of a Transit Station for the first time. He'd read many rom-comics where the male lead would chase down the female lead through a gate, minutes before a dramatic departure to a different District. Being in love apparently made humans late all the time.
The sterile air buzzed with chatter and the chimes of holo-monitors plastered on almost every inch of wall space. Yun even glimpsed an ad starring none other than his own prepubescent guide.
The variety offered by the innumerable stores and services on the ground floor alone was almost nauseating.
A collection of aromas wafted down from the higher floors, pulling Yun in ten different directions. Was this heaven? Did he die in the First Vision and wake up in Severin's backyard?
He turned to Yves, hoping he wasn't grinning like a madman. "We're going to eat first, right? Find us a place to sit first."
"... Fine," huffed Yves.
The two ascended the escalator to the third floor, where the food court was located. Adoring whispers trailed behind them on the way to their seats, heralding the crowd that stirred around them a couple of seconds later.
Yun grew uneasy — he didn't do well in crowds. An outsider hearing that might have been confused, given that Yun grew up in the Hollows, and the Hollows were a slum, which is crowded by nature.
That was actually a misconception about the place, among many others.
The Hollows lay inside an extensive depression, which was mostly empty, save for the abandoned waste management facilities and plant overgrowth. A few shanties and communal areas cropped up here and there, but the population was never big enough to make a difference.
Yves stopped by a seating area facing a cafe, pulling back two chairs. He appeared unperturbed by all the attention. Yun sat opposite him at the table, eyes fixed on the onlookers.
"I've always had this question," he said. "Descendants are known as humanity's servants, right?"
Yves waved down a server. "Under the Law of Divine, yes. What of it?"
Yun caressed the Clan crest in his hand, tracing the thorny pattern engraved on it. "Then… why do the Clans, especially the High Clans, hold so much power?"
"I don't see how such a question is relevant."
"You don't?" Yun gestured at the crowd. "Look at them. Even that's not normal. At least to me, it isn't."
A server arrived at the table. He produced a code for Yun to scan, since he appeared to be the older one. Who could blame him? Besides Yun, of course.
Feeling a tinge of embarrassment, he shook his head and pointed at Yves, who had his flash-pad ready.
"Apologies, Divine," said the server as he shuffled away, sweat dripping down the side of his face.
When Yves scanned, the table vibrated slightly, then its surface turned into a touch-display menu.
"Save your dumb questions for later. For now, pick whatever you want."
The luminous screen projected succulence, making Yun's stomach growl with anticipation. Four long days in the Forsaken Realm with nothing to eat — hell, sixteen whole years gone without a proper meal were finally coming to an end.
Dumb questions saved. No need to ask me twice.