After everyone finished eating lunch, they went outside to play. William came to me and talked to me about the work.
"William, do we have tools so we can fix the place?"
"Well, we do have tools, but what's the point if we don't have materials to fix things?"
William sighed in disappointment. They couldn't do anything with a hammer without wood.
"Why are we waiting to get supplies from others? We can get them ourselves."
"What do you mean?"
William was confused by my words. I smiled as I looked at his puzzled face.
"Let me ask you— is there a forest nearby?"
"There's one an hour away from here, but what are you planning?"
"It's simple. I'll go and get wood from there."
William was shocked by my intention and shouted in disbelief.
"Are you serious?! How do you plan to do that? You'll need to cut down trees and then transport them. And even if you manage that, do you even have the experience to turn them into planks?"
"I can do all of that, so there's no need to worry. Also, there's no need for anyone to accompany me. I'll do it alone. Just give me a map of the forest."
"Umm… Fine, even though I doubt you'll success, I have nothing to lose. Just wait a moment while I get the map."
William left the room quickly and left me alone.
'It's easy to build an entire house from wood. We were taught carpentry and blacksmithing at the academy. Actually, they taught us so many things, some of them look useless, but everything has its purpose.'
William returned after a few minutes and brought the map. As soon as I took it, I decided to move immediately, so I left the orphanage heading toward the forest.
"Brother, where are you going?"
The children saw me trying to leave and approached me curiously.
"I'm going to get some wood so I can repair the place."
"Wood? But, brother, do you have money?"
'It seems these children understand that not everything is free.'
"No, but who said you need money for everything? I can go get the wood myself."
"Brother, are you going to cut the trees?"
Helen asked this time.
"That's right. William told me there's a forest nearby."
The children got excited when they heard where I was going. They crowded around me, begging.
"Brother, can you take us with you? We really want to go too."
I shook my head firmly and spoke seriously.
"No. The forest is not a place to play. There are wild animals there, and what would I do if one of you got lost? So be good kids and stay here. I'll be back quickly."
The children felt disappointed and left. I exited quickly before a second wave of begging began.
'Alright, according to the map, the forest is in this direction. William said it takes an hour, but I'll get there faster if I run.'
I enhanced my body and sprinted toward the forest at full speed. After fifteen minutes, I finally arrived.
It was a normal forest. Nothing special. I headed toward the trees and began examining which ones were best for building.
Then I commanded the darkness to manifest around me into tendrils with sharp blades at their ends. As soon as I commanded, the tendrils moved like whips and cut the trees left and right. I cut more than ten trees at once and stored them all in my darkness.
"I think that's enough!!"
Just when I decided to return, my double appeared in front of me again.
[Looks like someone's working hard.]
"What do you want, bastard."
[Nothing. I just want to mock you. Are you really going to help people you don't even know? Are you becoming soft again?]
"Shut up. I'm supposed to pass this test. Since I'm in a worn-down orphanage, then I'm supposed to help."
[Is that so? But I never told you the requirement to pass. Maybe your assumption is wrong and everything you're doing is pointless.]
"If you're my copy, then why do you talk so much? I'm the quiet type. So either tell me the purpose of this test, or leave."
My copy laughed mockingly, then slowly vanished.
'That bastard ruined my mood.'
I kicked the ground in annoyance, but quickly calmed down. I focused and returned to the orphanage.
Everyone was shocked at my quick return— I came back in an hour, which was impossible.
"Did he really go to the forest?"
William stared, looking around for the wood.
I raised my hand silently and pointed to an empty area. Then a surge of darkness shot out, bringing out the trees.
"What is this??"
Everyone was stunned. The children hid behind the adults, staring in fear. Mariana looked at me nervously, clutching her chest.
"Nox, can you tell me what you just did?"
"It's my ability. Don't worry about it. I'll use it to repair the orphanage faster."
The darkness changed shape into tendrils that lifted the trees high. Then I formed blades from the darkness and cut the trees quickly into wooden planks.
Everyone froze in place, trying to comprehend what they were witnessing. They had seen something beyond logic.
"Nox… Are you a mage?"
Mariana asked nervously. It seemed she feared mages for some reason.
"A mage? No, I'm not something like that."
'Is magic something evil here? I thought using my power was normal since this is a test.'
"But if you aren't a mage… then what are you?"
This time it was Marcus who spoke. He stepped forward weakly, as if trying to protect others.
'This is annoying. What am I supposed to say? They don't know what Shards are. Fine, I'll bet on something.'
"Sorry for not introducing myself properly. I am actually blessed by the gods."
Everyone's mouths dropped open in shock. Mariana immediately stepped forward— and knelt before me. Her action stunned me.
"Oh great one, please forgive me for not recognizing your high position. My gods Please forgive my rudeness before your Blessed one!"
Everyone hurried and knelt with her. The children looked confused, but they also knelt.
In a wide courtyard, a group of people knelt before one person. He stared at them in disbelief.
"Please, stop. Why are you kneeling to me?"
'Damn. I overdid the lie.'
Mariana raised her head and looked at Nox. Her gaze held many emotions— reverence, fear, respect, awe.
"Lord Nox, you are a Blessed one. A person of high status to us. To us nuns, you are like an angel sent from the gods."
"Please stop that. I'm not an angel or anything. Stand up and act normally instead of behaving like this. How about helping me repair the place?"
They hesitated, but after my insistence, they finally stood, and the repairs began.
For the next three days, the orphanage underwent major restoration. All damaged wood was replaced. I also brought stone, melted old iron, and reforged it. Everyone's treatment of me changed. They treated me like a lord, never stopping with honorifics no matter how I tried to make them stop.
Nox felt uncomfortable. He felt like a noble— something he hated. The children now saw him as a hero and kept begging him to show his power again.
Nox used his darkness to lift them and swing them like swings. He made toys out of darkness. Laughter filled the orphanage. The atmosphere became warm and bright. Nox had a great influence on this.
'Alright. I think this is good now.'
I was sitting under the big tree in the garden. The orphanage looked new. I felt a sense of accomplishment, and happiness.
'Doing good things… really does feel nice.'
I smiled gently as the wind played with my hair, which had grown again.
'When we leave the Abyss, I'll ask Elena to cut it again.'
The atmosphere shifted. My copy manifested once more, with a vile smirk.
[You look happy.]
"Stop the nonsense and speak."
[You're always impatient. That's why people hate you. But as you wish. It's time to learn how to finish the test.]
"Finally. I thought I was stuck here forever. Hurry and tell me."
[It's simple. See the orphanage?]
He pointed at it, staring with a cruel expression.
[You must kill everyone in it. Easy, right?]
"What? What are you talking about?"
I was shocked.
[Did you go deaf? Kill them. That's the condition.]
"You bastard, don't joke. Why would I kill children?"
He shook his head in disappointment.
[This is a test of your mind. We want to know your mental capability. Will you collapse just because they are 'innocent'? Are you that weak?]
"Does everyone have to do this? What about Elena? Will she kill children too?"
[No. Each test differs. The test does not go against one's nature. You, Nox, always say you are willing to do anything to succeed. So now the maze is testing whether you were telling the truth or just lying.]
[You lived with the children for days. You bonded with them. So now what if your survival depends on betraying them? Can you do it? Tell me, Nox— if your life or someone precious to you in danger, and the only way to avoid tragedy is to kill your friends or slaughter innocents… Would you? Do you believe the end justifies the means?]
I stared at the copy quietly. There was emptiness in its eyes, but I could feel my nerves boiling.
"What should I do?"
"That is something you must discover yourself."
Saying that, the copy vanished.
The world was silent. Only the sound of rustling leaves.
A leaf fell on my nose. I brushed it off and walked back to the orphanage, steps heavy.
'Life is unbelievably cruel. Will I really kill children and innocent people for my goals? Will I kill just because they are not "real"? Me? The one who hates nobles for valuing goals over lives? Would I become them?'
'It's funny. I try to avoid something and end up sinking deeper into it. Like quicksand, the more you struggle, the faster it swallows you.'
I approached the orphanage. And opened the door.
"Surprise!!!"
Everyone yelled joyfully. The place was decorated. and Yasmine stood holding a cake. I was stunned .
"What's this?"
I looked to Mariana for an explanation.
"We felt we should celebrate you. The orphanage changed because of you. I never imagined it could become like this in a few days. You truly are blessed by the gods."
Helen and Karl grabbed my hands and pulled me.
"Come on, big brother! Let's eat cake!"
The children laughed. Yasmine gave me a knife to cut the cake.
It was square and large, covered in white cream with simple flower drawings. On top, written in shaky handwriting:
[Thank you, Nox]
The handwriting was bad. The children must have written it. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know the right answer. But my thoughts were shattered by the feeling around me.
I lifted my head. Everyone smiled warmly at me. Their eyes were gentle. I felt something strange inside. Happiness. Safety. Like I was with family.
'Yes… even if they aren't "real"… the memories are. No one has the right to deny another's existence. To me, these children are real.'
I smiled and cut the cake carefully so everyone could have a piece.
"Bring your plates and take one."
The children rushed happily. The adults laughed softly.
I smirked a little and watched them eat. I sat at the head of the table— something that started after I said I was blessed.
Mariana smiled and bowed her head.
"Lord Nox, thank you for everything. Though my thanks cannot repay you, it is the least I can offer."
"Lift your head, Sister Mari. There's no need to thank me. I didn't do anything special."
She smiled.
"It may seem simple to you, but to these children, this is heaven. Isn't it sad for a child to live orphaned and miserable? I dedicated my life to giving them something better. And now, I see my dream coming true because of you."
I remained silent. What would she say if she knew I must kill them to survive?
I glanced at the far end of the table. My double sat there. He took out a pocket watch. Its ticking echoed.
Time was running out.
'If I fail, Elena will have to get the key alone. Others may try to take it. We may fight. Some of us might die. She may fail entirely. There is only one solution: kill everyone and pass.'
I closed my eyes and connected with my shard. It sent sadness and comfort.
I opened my eyes and looked at Mariana.
"Sister Mari, tell me. If you were faced with two choices: commit a terrible act for a greater goal, or avoid it and pay a heavy price— what would you do?"
Her eyes widened. She stayed silent for moments, then spoke gently.
"I would be lying if I said I knew. Most decisions are made in the moment. I don't know if I could or couldn't. But… if I will feel regret either way, I would rather save the people I love."
I smiled weakly.
"Sister, how about we pray to the gods?"
"That is a wonderful idea."
Everyone prepared for prayer. They closed their eyes.
I closed my eyes too— but I did not pray.
On a long table, twenty children and eight adults sat, hands clasped in prayer. A dead-eyed phantom watched them in silent.
Black darkness rose behind Nox as he was prayed silently, sealing himself off from feeling.
The tendrils crept forward.
Nox opened his eyes and looked at the phantom. It looked at Nox with silent pity.
Then at a single command, the tendrils struck, severing their heads instantly.
Their heads fell onto the table like served food. Blood burst like fountains. Their eyes remained closed— as if sleeping.
The room filled with crimson. The smell of blood thickened the air. Nox remained untouched— clean, out of place among death body and blood.
Nox refused to look at their bodies. He ordered the darkness to devour everything. It consumed the bodies and the blood. It didn't stop— it swallowed the entire orphanage.
Nox now sat alone in a void. He stared at his phantom silently. The silence said more than words could.
The world around cracked, shattering like glass. Vision changed. Nox was in a new empty room— back in the maze.
He walked to a corner and sat quietly, waiting for the others. And stared at nothing.
A single tear slipped down his cheek and faded, leaving only hollow expression behind.
---