The walls of the room were a blinding white, almost clinical. The neon light above cast a sharp, aggressive glow, yet the very moment Saint 13 became serious, Kenzo felt something shift. The brightness seemed to dim. There had been no visible change, no perceptible variation in the lighting… but the atmosphere had thickened, as if the air itself had darkened.
Kenzo blinked. Is it him? Is this because of Saint 13?
He had no time to think further. Saint 13's voice rose, heavy and sharp like a blade falling on a neck.
– « Yourself? Are you telling me that your Gift was given to you… by yourself? »
A chill ran up Kenzo's spine. He swallowed, forcing himself to remain calm. He had not lied—but he knew his answer had not been well received.
– « I'm sorry if my answer displeases you… but that is the truth. »
It was risky. He knew that. He also knew he could not tell the whole truth. To say he was a Chimera would be to condemn himself. So he had chosen ambiguity. Too much ambiguity.
A heavy silence followed. Then, without warning, Saint 13 left the container. Instantly, the pressure vanished. The air grew lighter, the light seemed to regain its normal intensity. Kenzo breathed more freely.
But his mind kept racing. He was an Awakened, yes—but Saint 13… That symbol engraved on his armor, that "III"… Was it a rank? If Sir Benson was a Transfigured, then what was Saint 13? What kind of power did a man possess if he could bend light and air around him without any visible movement?
When he returned, Saint 13 carried a silver tray. Two lids of different shapes rested upon it. He placed it before Kenzo without a word, then clasped his hands behind his back.
– « Well, kid. Since your answer was extremely vague, I am forced to conduct a test. A test that, unfortunately, will determine your life… right now. »
Kenzo's heart skipped a beat. He forced himself not to blink.
– « When I asked about the origin of your Gift, I specified three possibilities: Divine, Mythical, or Spiritual. And you, clever little thing… gave me an answer that fits none of them. »
Kenzo understood his mistake. Too focused on hiding the truth about his Gift, he had not listened carefully to Saint 13's words. A grave error.
– « Awakened Kenzo, first understand this: I myself come from the outer walls. I grew up there, like you. I survived. I became Awakened… then Manifested. I am always pleased to see someone from there rise. But… »
He paused. The tension rose again.
– « They are also the most dangerous. And that is one of the reasons the Inquisition was created. »
Kenzo's eyes widened. He comes from the outer walls? With that bearing? That power? He was stunned. But also… relieved. He had learned something crucial , the stage after Transfigured was Manifested.
Saint 13 continued.
– « On this tray is a fragment of Prana. It is what resides within Void Creatures, what allows us to increase our personal fragment count. If you concentrate, you should be able to feel it. I want you to tell me which lid contains it. Understand that it is normally impossible to be wrong. Trust your instinct. »
Kenzo frowned. He did not understand everything, but he complied. He closed his eyes and focused. A sensation , dark and heavy , immediately surfaced. It was the same feeling he had experienced during his first test, standing before the corpses of Void Creatures.
He felt it.
In the left lid… there was a heart. A Void Creature's heart. And suddenly, everything made sense. This was not a test of affinity. It was a test of truth.
Kenzo realized he was not alone. There had been other Awakened like him. Beings who, to grow stronger, had to consume these monsters. But him… it was worse. He had to eat human hearts as well.
He could take no risk. His survival depended on it.
– « The right lid. »
A frozen silence.
– « The right lid, then… » Saint 13 said, slowly lifting it. Empty. Nothing inside. Then, with a smooth motion, he produced a tiny luminous pearl from his pocket.
– « If you were truly capable of sensing a fragment of Prana, you would have immediately understood that there was nothing on this tray, but rather… on me. Yet you chose the empty container. Which means you knew what was inside the left one. »
Kenzo felt his heartbeat quicken. Outwardly, he remained neutral. Inwardly… he was petrified.
– « You are a Deviant, Awakened Kenzo. You do not assimilate Prana fragments. You consume the flesh of Void Creatures. Do you confirm this? »
Strangely, Kenzo felt reassured. He was not alone. Saint 13 had mentioned only Void Creatures. He did not know that Kenzo consumed human hearts as well. He did not know about the awakened Prana flowing within him. That ignorance had to remain.
– « I can sense you did not expect this. You are panicking… just like earlier, when I questioned you about your Gift. I told you the Inquisition exists to eliminate criminal Awakened from the outer walls. That is not the primary reason. No. The primary reason… is you. The Deviants. »
He stepped closer.
– « The more Void Creatures you consume, the more insane you become. The only way to escape that fate… is to join a clan that possesses a method to restrain your urges. »
Kenzo's body began to tremble. Subtly. Slightly. But enough for Saint 13 to notice.
– « You are merely a resident of the outer walls, Kenzo. No one will want you. So… tell me. Should I end your future madness now, and kill you? »
The silence that followed was endless. Kenzo took a moment. He inhaled, looked at his trembling legs.
Then—
– « And if… I decide not to grow stronger? If I remain as I am? No need to kill me, right? »
A sigh. Deep. Disappointed.
– « Awakened Kenzo… I know your knowledge of the Awakened and Void Creatures is nonexistent because of where you were born. So let me explain: if you do not participate in the second test within the next four years… you will die. »
He paused.
– « How do you intend to face the second test? Find a team willing to help you, when you are weak due to your abstinence? »
I'll die in four years? Kenzo thought. After everything I endured… I'll die now, or later… because I can't eat…
His mind searched desperately for a solution. An opening. A chance.
And he found one.
He had to speak. Now. Saint 13 had said he came from the outer walls—that he listened to those born there. This was his only opportunity.
– « As I told Sir Benson, I was kidnapped at the Empire of Florenthel. But… I wasn't alone. There were other youths. And during our transport, while we were chained… another boy joined us. Normally, I am the only one who knows his name. »
He inhaled.
– « Prince Yareth Solenyra, fourth heir of the Kingdom of Golden Dunes… He… can help me. »