Kalm gasped, his breath caught for a moment, and his eyes widened in surprise. As he stepped past the massive iron gate—
*"This is… unexpected. No… this is something else entirely…"*
The thought echoed in his heart as his gaze roamed over the architectural marvel before him, awe and wonder filling his eyes.
Ahead of him, the paved road led toward a large number of buildings divided into three main clusters, almost like massive residential districts.
The first was smaller than the other two, yet contained everything—something Kalm had never imagined he would see in his life.
Because he had lived in the outskirts under such harsh, unforgiving conditions, he had never thought his eyes would witness such a beautiful sight, one that made his heart pound hard in his chest. His body trembled slightly.
Before him, small shops lined the street, and two-wheeled carts sat outside them, each owned by cooks who displayed their products—some selling vegetables, others fruits. They looked so real, so appetizing, almost like something out of a dream. Kalm nearly felt his mouth water, but he remembered the blind girl beside him and restrained himself, keeping a polite appearance.
His gaze drifted again.
Some owned small eateries, but Kalm couldn't catch a whiff of what they were cooking from this distance. His senses hadn't been enhanced like those of the other Awakened. Still, his eyes stayed fixed on them, his mind already conjuring flavors and scents of its own.
*They'd taste delicious… no, they'd taste incredible.*
*I wonder what I'd need to do to earn money inside the Academy… enough to buy that food…*
His eyes then lifted toward the second cluster, which was strange and complex—its architecture baffling to his mind. Arches curved and swayed here and there, and countless small domes stood side by side, like coliseums, holding within them fierce challenges.
Between them were scattered sections of smaller structures. Kalm felt he'd need a closer look to fully understand their design.
After a moment, his gaze moved to the third cluster. It was simple—a set of student dormitories, apartments stacked one atop another in neat buildings.
*Truly amazing… a roof over my head, food in my stomach… I think things might actually turn out well.*
With a faint glimmer of hope in his heart, Kalm wished that the winds would blow in his favor.
While he was still deep in thought, Shuchan's smiling voice broke in.
"Is something wrong, Kalm…?"
He shook his head, realizing he had been standing still for a while, staring in astonishment. Looking at her with a hint of embarrassment, he replied,
"No, no… it's just that the Academy is so big, and its design is a little complicated…"
With those words, Kalm started walking forward. He needed to figure out what to do next—otherwise, where would they even go? There was no one to guide them, and the chance of wandering aimlessly was high.
Then, as if in response to his thoughts, a deep, raspy voice came from the side.
"You should head to the main hall. The Headmaster will give his address in an hour."
From the shadows near a wall emerged a man like a phantom. He had short black hair, narrow brown eyes, wore official attire, and bore a shoulder insignia marked with three stars.
*An Awakened under government service…*
The man approached, the dark circles under his eyes heavy with fatigue, exhaustion etched clearly across his face. Calmly, he pointed toward the cluster of training halls and arenas.
"Just go straight ahead, and you'll find the hall right in front of you—it's the largest. Oh… and I suggest you stay alert along the way."
Kalm gave the weary Awakened a respectful bow.
"Thank you, sir."
With a yawn, the man gave him a lazy wave and disappeared down the path.
*Strange people… a community full of strange people…*
Ten minutes later, Kalm wore an awkward expression, his eyes darting about in search of the right path.
Glancing with half-lidded eyes at Shuchan, who was holding onto his shoulder, he muttered,
"Shuchan…"
The blind girl turned toward him, her blue eyes reflecting the ambient light.
"Kalm… from your tone, I'm guessing we might have gotten lost?"
He nodded, his eyes scanning the long, winding corridors.
"Hmm… ah… yeah. Looks like it."
Shu let out a soft laugh, seemingly amused by the mishap. She seemed to notice the brighter side of things more than the darker.
Lifting her cane gently, she pointed toward one of the hallways.
"The hall's at the end of that path."
Kalm exhaled in relief and began walking. Though he found it strange, he said nothing, simply following her directions quietly. He had no desire to meddle in other people's affairs—especially strangers.
As they walked, his eyes caught on a small sign mounted on the wall. It was modest in size, but its words were clear and powerful:
**No one survives alone in this world.**
Kalm stopped, contemplating the phrase. It brought him back to the words of the Great Shadow Queen—he remembered she had told him that exact same line.
Of course no one could survive alone… Only two beings could remain in solitude:
The beast—because it needed no one.
And the god—because it lacked the need for anyone.
But for small humans, survival alone was impossible. The battle Kalm had witnessed through the eyes of a warrior during the test had been proof enough. Humans needed unity and cooperation—or death would be their fate.
Within ten minutes, Kalm and Shu finally found themselves before the hall they were looking for.
Its doors were made of fine wood, unadorned by any intricate carvings.
Kalm grasped the handle, turned it, and with a faint creak, the door swung open to reveal a vast hall that sloped downward. Rows of seats were connected to tables, and the space was wide enough to accommodate several hundred people—humans included.
Kalm's heart gave a faint thump when the gazes of the teenagers inside shifted toward him. There were around fifty of them, sitting quietly…
Some clearly knew each other, murmuring in hushed voices about this and that.
But the moment he stepped inside, everyone stopped to look—at him, and at the blind girl holding onto his shoulder.
He took a moment to sweep his eyes over them before heading down the steps toward the rows of seats.
He and the blind girl sat together at the same table, side by side. He wasn't even sure why he'd done it, but he felt he should help her until this was over.
It wasn't so bad… if he looked at it from a different angle.
*What am I even thinking…?*
Kalm's eyes roamed the room. He saw a white-haired boy sitting alone, his expression warm, his gaze seemingly uninterested in anything happening around him.
Toward the front sat three others dressed in fine, expensive clothing. They looked like the heirs of wealthy families—their eyes steady and composed, focused only on the stage ahead.
Kalm's attention was drawn next to a boy and a girl, both radiating an intense energy. The boy's simple, practical clothes couldn't hide the strong muscles beneath. The girl, with her perfectly athletic figure, wore tight clothes that hugged her form.
They were locked in an arm-wrestling match, their eyes blazing with challenge as the table beneath them groaned loudly from the explosive force they exerted.
And there were many others—strange in their own ways. Some chatted, some seemed intent on concealing their very presence, caring nothing for what was happening around them.
Kalm cast a brief glance at his shadow—it was as normal as ever. His shadow's embodiment was quiet and separate.
*I suppose I'll end up becoming one of these strange ones…*
Even if he thought it would be his calm self who did so, they were still the same person in the end. And sooner or later, he'd be just another one of the strange ones.
In that moment, he overheard an intriguing exchange between two teenagers nearby.
"Did you hear? The Headmaster is coming in person to give us his address…"
The second voice sounded stunned, almost disbelieving.
"Wait—you're joking, right? You mean an Awakened of the Fifth Stage…?"
The first voice came again.
"Yeah. That great man—the King's left hand."
Another voice chimed in, heavy with respect.
"The left hand… You mean the *Moving Calamity*? He's one of the strongest humans alive. I heard a single swing of his strange sword can shatter mountains…"
A fourth voice joined in.
"That's right. His title alone says it all. Meeting such a figure in person… it's an incredible honor."
Kalm's eyes lit up. He turned toward the blind girl beside him.
"Sorry to ask, Shuchan… but do you know anything about this person they call the *Moving Calamity*?"
The girl smiled gently.
"Yes, a little. He's considered very strong… and very kind as well. His Majesty King Adam deemed his intellect perfect for leading the younger generation, guiding them to focus solely on the art of battle. You'll see for yourself when you meet him—he's the kind of person who leaves a truly deep impression."