Kalm opened the car door, and as he reached out, he noticed his fingers were trembling slightly.
The earlier conversation between the two lunatics had left him a bit shaken.
Crashing into a gate… one of them destroying an entire house…
For Awakened beings—those beyond human—such incidents were trivial. They wouldn't leave even a scratch on their hardened, powerful bodies.
But Kalm was just a regular human.
An accident like that, and his life would be over in a blink.
**"W… Will I even make it out alive…?"**
He swallowed hard, memories of the Trial flashing back—his body broken, crawling, the terror pressing in from all sides.
At that moment, Don's voice reached his ears:
**"Let's go. We'll be there in the blink of an eye…"**
Kalm half-closed his eyes, his expression blank.
*Yeah… that's right. I'm doomed.*
The three of them got in. With a wild roar, the engine fired up.
The tires spun in place for a second before the car surged forward with violent acceleration, as if trying to pierce the air itself.
Kalm was thrown back into his seat.
His hand shot up to grab the handle near his head, gripping it tightly—
As if his life depended on it.
Because, from the looks of things, it probably did.
**"He's insane. This man is absolutely insane…"**
Kalm screamed silently in his heart.
After seeing stars in broad daylight—possibly even glimpses of another life—Don finally brought the car to a sudden stop, wearing a smile on his face.
Kalm flung the door open and dropped to his knees on the hard ground.
He never imagined the earth could feel so beautiful.
He ran his hand over it, gasping for breath, his chest rising and falling.
Commander Don and Lady Clara stepped out of the car, both smiling wistfully.
Kalm raised his eyes—and there it was, the dome of the Academy.
Still about ten minutes away, yet already looming in the distance.
Massive, towering over the surrounding buildings—
Perhaps the size of an entire district… maybe even two.
Don leaned back against the car and pulled a blue cigarette box from his jacket.
In a swift motion, he lit one and placed it between his lips.
Taking a long drag, he exhaled a thick, expressive cloud of smoke. Then he spoke:
**"Well, my friend Kalm, this is where we part ways—for now, at least."**
He paused, then looked at him.
**"Want a bit of advice? Or maybe a few pieces?"**
Kalm straightened his back and nodded.
**"I'd appreciate it, Commander Don."**
Don took another drag.
**"Kalm, first of all—don't put all your energy into fighting, developing, and rising through the ranks of power.
There's a division called 'Survival Tactics.'
They'll teach you everything else that's essential—what others call logistics."**
Those words pulled Kalm back to the Trial.
It seemed both Don and Kalystra shared the same outlook—
Even she had advised him the same.
*Damn… she was amazing… still is.*
Don tapped his cigarette, some burnt tobacco falling to the ground.
He returned his gaze to Kalm.
**"The Academy is made for battle.
There are tons of tournaments, loads of rewards, and even a set of combat laws and regulations.
Try not to get swept up in it too much.
It's great for teenagers to test and adjust to their powers… but some lose themselves along the way.
Don't be one of them.
Stay sharp—about yourself and your surroundings."**
Kalm didn't fully grasp every part of Don's message, but he understood the bigger picture.
So he nodded with a smile. But before he could thank him, Don continued.
**"Kalm… do you want to become a legendary hero?
A mighty warrior in humanity's history?"**
The question caught Kalm off guard, but something about it struck a chord.
Power came with ambition—with desire and hope.
The childhood dreams of pure-hearted kids:
Hero. Great warrior. Noble soldier. Warlord. A fearless general.
Dreams most children bury as they grow older—
Yet ones that could bloom again, like spring buds under warm sunlight,
And with the guidance of the voice of the world … they could chase them.
But Kalm… lacked ambition.
He shook his head.
**"No, Commander Don.
I have no ambition to be a hero,
Nor hatred to become a villain.
I'll just try to live a quiet life—modest, and without trouble."**
Don and Clara both froze momentarily—then laughed together, in a strange harmony.
Their laughter wasn't mocking or sarcastic, but something else entirely.
After a few seconds, Lady Clara looked at Kalm, her ruby-red eyes shimmering.
There was a soft glow in them.
**"You really are something else, Kalm.
Good luck in your journey.
I hope we meet again—
As friends."**
Her words lifted a bright smile on his face.
*Friends*—such a simple word, yet it truly made him happy.
Don took another drag, then spoke in a heavy tone:
**"Alright, Kalm. Here's my last piece of advice—
Stay away from the heirs of the Four Great Houses.
Don't get involved with them.
Since you're not a fan of trouble,
I suggest you find a sweet girlfriend, live quietly with her.
And after you graduate from Academy—
Just say my name.
I'll handle the rest."**
The meaning was clear:
*When you graduate, I'll take care of you.
I'll find you a job that suits you.*
It was thoughtful—like a big brother looking out for a younger one.
Perhaps it was because both Don and Kalm came from the outskirts—
Both had lived hard, painful lives.
Kalm bowed slightly.
**"Thank you both—Commander Don, Lady Clara."**
They waved at him, and Clara climbed back into the car.
Don approached Kalm and placed a hand on his shoulder.
His eyes were sharp and serious.
**"Kalm… I'm a hard man.
I don't give anything for free.
But let me tell you, as someone who lived a life like yours—
You'll need to let go of your neutrality."**
Don's shoulder trembled slightly, and his grip tightened on Kalm's shoulder, sending a chill down his spine.
**"Kalm, you don't know anything yet about our world—how brutal it is, how merciless toward fools and the naïve. Now that you're awakened… trust me, even if you walk without purpose, you will stumble into dangerous troubles. In your years here, shed your naïveté. Set a goal or dream—something that drives you to grow stronger."**
Don's eyes glowed red, and a heavy shadow settled over him.
**"Think about it carefully, Kalm. Life demands strength. If you insist on remaining neutral, you must either become the strongest person in the world or vanish from it entirely."**
Those words carved themselves into Kalm's bones. Don loosened his grip and stepped back.
Don drew another drag from his cigarette.
**"To grow stronger, you must understand the essence of combat. For me, it's about never hesitating—no hesitation in enduring pain, no hesitation in harming an enemy, and no hesitation in killing. Hesitation is a poison that can cost you your life. Never hesitate."**
Don turned and waved at Kalm with a flick of his wrist.
**"I don't say this to just anyone—but please, take my words to heart. Your life will depend on your mentality and your effort. No one is exceptional by default."**
He moved back toward the car. Just before getting in, he added, pointing toward the sky:
**"Oh—I almost forgot. Now that you're awakened, by royal decree, do not look at the moon—neither when it's the crescent nor when it's full. And try not to direct strong emotions toward it. Please remember that—and follow it to avoid problems."**
With that, Don opened his car door, got in, and in the same manner as before, he started the engine and shot away at insane speed to complete his duties.
Kalm hadn't even had a chance to process all that had been said. He felt his shoulder shaking from the earlier grip, and his mind swirled with a storm of questions—hardly enough to focus.
**Never look at the moon… get a girlfriend… abandon naïve thoughts… find a goal or dream… grow stronger… avoid trouble…** That was Don's advice in a nutshell. The world is cruel to fools and the naïve. True—of course it is.
Kalm exhaled and glanced upward. The clouds were many and gray, drifting slowly with the wind. Thin golden rays of sunlight filtered through cracks, embracing the graceful buildings of the third district of the city.
With the sound of steady footsteps on the pavement, Kalm placed his hand in his pocket and walked toward the Academy. His thoughts raced: What would he find there? Whom would he meet? What would he learn? What would he lose? What would he gain?
Would he come one step closer to his warm, buried dream—or would reality trample him again beneath its merciless weight? He inhaled sharply as his mind churned.
If he had to describe his situation now, it would be this:
Life had taken everything from him.
Everything he had was never enough—and had left him suffering, exploited, and tortured.
After all of that, it had sent him into the Trial of Awakening to die.
But now… here he stood, one step ahead of what he was before.
He had endured much—but life had given him a chance to rise… and he seized it successfully.
Would life crush him again to force him to grow once more?
**"Who knows what might happen…"**
Kalm sighed and, without realizing it, he had reached the vast gate of the Academy.
Opening his eyes in surprise, he saw someone waiting there—standing before the giant entrance.
As he came closer, he could discern her gender. She was a girl his age—or perhaps a year older—with beautiful silver hair braided behind her back. Her skin was pale and smooth, without scars or imperfections. She was a few centimeters taller than Kalm. Her outfit was a stylish white jacket embroidered subtly, paired with a long skirt matching its color and elegance.
She was strikingly beautiful—but what stood out most were the walking cane in her hand and her blue eyes—clear as a still lake reflecting moonlight at dawn. Except that she could not see.
*She was blind…*
Kalm approached and stopped a short distance away from the girl.
As soon as he stood, he felt something strange surge through his chest—some emotion he didn't understand, rising like waves and crashing over him.
His heart raced, its beat audible like bells in his ears. His dark eyes trembled, and a strange glow passed through them, as if his soul leapt from its place—it was a meeting…
Something felt like the world itself shifted.
**"What's happening to me…?"**
Clutching his head, he tried to calm himself and understand what was happening.
Amid the trembling, the blind girl turned toward him with a gentle glow and spoke with a smile. Her voice was soft and delicate.
**"Sorry to bother you, but could you help me, please?"**