Kalm offered a polite smile, letting the man's words linger in his mind for a moment...
Then, after a brief pause, he spoke:
**"Yes, sir, my name is Kalm. But... if I may ask, why did you say 'too' in your sentence?"**
The Woken scratched the back of his head, then smiled widely.
**"That's a good question, Kalm... and the answer is—I'm from the outskirts too."**
Kalm's mouth parted in pure astonishment—
As if lightning had struck.
His eyes remained locked on the man, unblinking.
The Woken chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with amusement at Kalm's stunned expression.
**"You, sir... from the outskirts?"**
Kalm asked, incredulous.
He nodded with calm certainty.
**"That's right. And the reason I came in person is because I was told a child from the outskirts entered the Awakening Trial.
That kind of news doesn't come every day—so I dropped everything and came as fast as I could."**
Kalm took a moment to steady himself, drawing in a short breath.
And in that pause, the Woken continued:
**"Now, let's discuss the important matters in a proper office. Let's leave this room first.
Ah—and by the way, my name is Don.
Remember it—because you and I, we're going to be friends."**
At that moment, Don extended his hand.
Without hesitation, Kalm raised his right hand and shook it—
Though he couldn't explain why, Don's smile held a certain warmth.
A strange light flickered in his eyes, as if he'd seen something rare—
He didn't let go of Kalm's hand for nearly twenty seconds.
Only then did he release it, and motioned toward the metal door.
He lifted his gaze to a glass pane near the ceiling—one Kalm hadn't even noticed until he followed Don's line of sight.
**"Open the gate.
He passed.
The boy—Kalm—has awakened."**
Something stirred in Kalm's chest at Don's words.
Confusion... maybe even disbelief.
**'My title is just "Normal," and even my curse is silly…
How could they see me as a Woken...?
I'm just an ordinary kid.'**
**'Do I really look like a Woken… in the eyes of others?'**
A faint glow flickered in Kalm's eyes as his thoughts raced.
But the sound of the gate unlocking snapped him back to the present.
He tucked the thoughts away—
To be unraveled another time.
First—he had to leave this place.
Don moved ahead, and Kalm followed in steady steps.
They passed through the metal gate, down a corridor of steel, and reached a set of stairs leading upward.
Kalm could hear his own footsteps clearly...
But not Don's.
His steps made **no sound.**
So light—so silent—like a ghost.
That presence reminded Kalm of Queen Kalystra.
Her steps were silent too...
But hers had been **elegant. Graceful.**
---
A minute passed in silence as they ascended the stairwell.
At the ground floor, they crossed past a few scattered offices, stopping in front of a small isolated room.
There were no markings on the door.
With a soft *creak,* Don opened it—
Revealing a modest space.
A medium-sized rectangular green table sat in the center.
One chair on each side.
On the table sat only a plain white plastic bag.
Nothing else—except specks of dust drifting lazily in sunbeams from two small windows.
Don smiled, eyes scanning the little room with nostalgic fondness.
**"Man... this brings back some old memories."**
He stepped in, settled comfortably into one chair, and gestured for Kalm to take the other.
Kalm followed quietly.
He entered, sat down, and rested his hands atop the table in a respectful posture.
Don inhaled briefly, and a subtle seriousness returned to his face.
**"Kalm,
In accordance with Royal Protocol,
I need to ask you a few questions.
You must answer truthfully—for your own safety…
And for the safety of others."**
Kalm swallowed, the weight of Don's words darkening the atmosphere.
**"Of course, Sir Don…
But what do you mean by 'for my safety and the safety of others'?"**
Don locked eyes with him—
A calm, steady gaze, shaped by years of experience and pain.
Then he spoke in a quiet, composed voice:
**"The Awakening Trial is designed to push teenagers—
Ages fifteen to nineteen—
Violently. Brutally.
To force them onto a path of ascent.
To either gain something... or lose something."**
Don exhaled.
**"But not everyone has the willpower to handle it without consequences.
Even when a teen *passes* the trial,
the forceful push toward awakening leaves marks on the heart...
It affects their emotions. Their thinking.
Some lose control.
Their essence becomes... corrupted.
Some fall into madness.
Others develop strange fixations or dangerous behavior.
Some even kill—
Driven by psychological fractures no one can see coming."**
He raised a hand, scratching his head thoughtfully.
**"So... that's the short version.
Do you now understand why honesty is important?"**
Kalm swallowed hard again, his vision narrowing as reality hit him—
He hadn't even considered the dangers that came **from within.**
**'I've been so shortsighted...
So focused on *my* struggle…
I didn't even see the bigger picture.'**
Kalm drew in a quick breath, then gave Don a subtle nod.
**"Yes, Sir Don. I understand. I'll answer truthfully."**
Don's gaze drifted toward the plastic bag—
As if remembering something—
Then back to Kalm.
**"Tell me, Kalm.
Do you still remember who you were before the trial?"**
Kalm lowered his gaze to his hands on the table.
**"Yes.
I remember everything clearly.
What I lived through… what I felt.
Every pain.
Every brief moment of comfort.
Honestly, I don't feel any different at all."**
Don remained still for a long moment.
Expression unreadable.
His brown eyes scanned Kalm with silent precision.
Then, slowly, he smiled.
Leaned back in his chair.
**"You're honest, Kalm.
In normal situations, I'm required to ask a full set of twenty questions.
But I think I'll skip that."**
He paused—
Then continued with a sharper tone:
**"Now you stand above ordinary humans, Kalm.
A step beyond them.
And you can grow even further.
So—will you go back to take revenge on those who hurt you in the outskirts?"**
Kalm closed his eyes for a moment, letting the silence clear his mind.
Discarding every unnecessary thought.
When he opened them again, they were half-lidded—calm and focused.
He spoke in a soft but resolute tone:
**"Sir Don,
I don't carry hatred for anyone.
Hate is a poison that slowly kills the one who holds it—
Blinds them from ever seeing the light,
if there is any left.
So believe me when I say…
No.
I have no intention of wasting my life on revenge."**
Don smiled.
He lifted his gaze to the old ceiling—
Where faded spiderwebs hung.
A dusty, flickering bulb swayed ever so slightly in the center.
His eyes seemed to peer beyond it,
Lost in something unseen.
And finally, with a deep, contented sigh—
He looked back at Kalm.
**"You're wise, Kalm—
Wiser than your age would suggest.
Maybe...
Maybe we all have something to learn from you, my friend "