The enormous door became smaller and smaller from the reflection in the side mirror. The farther I got from that door, the clearer the sky and the more tranquil the fields were. There aren't any stray monsters, which greatly surprised me.
It was as if they only caused pandemonium with a given time limit, and then went back to their hives.
Not long after, I could already see the gateway of the City of Osca. Even before the disaster happened, I never visited the city. I had no time for vacation and was holed up in my studio or my unit.
The slums in Alpas are where I was born, and it's the only place I've been as well. When I grew up, I moved to the business district, only to work hard and earn enough for a frugal living.
I stopped the bike before I reached the sentry. Once I enter, there's a chance that I won't be able to leave that place for the time being. Until the situation isn't under control, the people will be locked up.
I wonder if this disaster happens in other countries as well. A novel's focus is usually the main protagonist. So, this means that this world revolves around me.
"Do you know who I am?!"
I turned my head to the person holding the line by the entrance. His glasses and neatly combed shiny hair were eye-catching. A few soldiers were blocking his way, which probably made him raise his voice.
"I'm the son of the Vice Mayor of Bradis!"
Ah. Another privileged kid who defies logic and authority. I shrugged my shoulders and put the bike on a stand, then I sat leisurely waiting for the unfolding drama. While the others waited in line with scour in and impatience in their face, I sauntered through the vicinity with my eyes.
Cities in Roan aren't isolated. The boundaries were only seen in maps and there were no physical barriers built aside from the arched gateway that signifies the entrance. Yet, looking around, I saw barbed wires connected to the gate, spanning beyond my sight.
There were also backhoes working and mountains of gravel and sand. Five stacks of concrete blocks are already up from the ground. The construction speed is too fast considering that they probably started it yesterday.
"They're building walls so quickly. I bet in a week the city will be closed already. Man, getting stuck inside is making me rethink entering."
"We have no choice."
I looked beside me when someone responded to my monologue. A tall girl, almost as tall as me, watched the construction from the distance. Her hands were in her pockets, looking bored and uninterested.
She wore a pair of glasses and her hair was tied in a single braid resting on her right shoulder. She was wearing a pajama, and on her arm clung a neck pillow and a sleep mask.
She looks like the kind of person who finds everything troublesome and would rather stay in bed than engage with people and situations. In other words, an introvert.
But would an introvert initiate a conversation with a stranger?
"Monsters are rampant in other cities, although it's a wonder why they haven't attacked the other ones, staying in the closest safe zone to you is the best," she glanced at me, "Unless, you're one those people who, after gaining some unknown powers, believes they can save the world and went on an adventure."
She was talking about the Awakeners. Judging from her looks, she seemed aware of the awakening phenomenon.
"Are you an awakener as well?"
She looked at me but didn't get to answer as the squabble at the front lines was beginning to get louder and louder.
"I already told you, sir! We can let you enter the city but you have to obey the rules! Awakeners are the only ones allowed in the hostel provided by the administration. Otherwise, we provide housing for the refugees who aren't awakeners. Please, get on the bus and wait until it's fully loaded."
"You want me to wait in that cramped vehicle? I'm the son of the Vice Mayor of Bradis! I—
"You've been telling us that line so many times now, but do you think we care?! Even if you are the vice mayor or the mayor's son, if you aren't awakened, then you're just another mouth to feed!"
"How dare you! Are you discriminating against ordinary people now?! Look, everyone! They said they won't accommodate us if we're not awakened! Isn't this discrimination?! What is good about being an awakener, anyway? They're just a bunch of people trying to trick us that they have powers! They aren't real!"
I scrunched my face from his words. If I didn't experience the so-called awakening thing, I also wouldn't believe that people suddenly got powers – unless I witnessed it with my own eyes.
"They providing separate lodging for the awakeners, huh."
If I tell them I'm an awakener too, then I wouldn't have to think of how to survive inside. Surely the government will only provide housing, but food will be limited as resources will soon run out from the growing population and lack of food suppliers.
"But how do they know who's awakener to who's not?"
I asked the woman beside me. She glanced at me for a moment with those dull eyes before she turned to the front again, pointing to the kid beside the guard.
The kid was probably in elementary. His hair is white…?
"That kid's ability has something to do with appraisal. He can assess an individual if they possess powers or not."
"How?"
"Beats me."
"Why is his hair white then?"
The woman just shrugged her shoulders and stepped away from me. Her social battery might have run out. I shouldn't pester her more.
"Wait!"
"…what?"
I grinned at her, "What's your name?"
"Why does it matter?"
She frowned. I get it. In this time and age, people just talk with each other without the need to introduce their selves unless it's about work or something beneficial to them.
"I mean, we'll be living in the same city. I should at least know your name…?"
Who knows? This might be beneficial to me. If it turns out that she's an awakener, then she'll be the first member of my team.
"As if we're going to meet after this anyway."
I'll pretend I didn't hear that. I maintained my nice and friendly smile. I also exuded my charming aura so she'll be more comfortable.
"Serin."
Oh, wow. The name suits her so well. I should go and touch the green arrow above her. I have a feeling she's not an NPC. I was about to follow her when another angry voice resonated again.
"Let go, you good-for-nothing peasants! I will make sure that all of you will be punished! I may be non-awakened right now because it hasn't just occurred to me yet! Let's see if I'll save you when I've become powerful!"
It hasn't ended yet? How amazing his throat could be to not break after all that shouting? His rambles are getting out of his head. He didn't believe in awakeners earlier, but now he wants to become one?
He's funnier than me, I guess.
The enraged man was still spouting complaints about discrimination and status when the kid who stood behind the guard stepped forward and raised his small hands.
At the same time, the son of the vice mayor of Bradis floated in the air. Everyone stopped murmuring and looked at the floating jerk with shock and fear.
The man screamed and struggled as if it would make him go down, yet the more he did, the higher he flew. If the guard hadn't patted the kid's shoulder, I bet the man would be swaying with the clouds by now.
Meanwhile, my sight was focused on the kid who looked as though he was just holding the thread of his flying kite. When he opened his closed fist, the vice mayor's son fell straight to the ground.
"Argh!"
A scream echoed. Guards quickly attended to the poor civilian and took him by a stretcher. His complaints vanished in thin air, replaced with curses and murderous glares at the kid who calmly nodded his head to the guard who began to sweat.
The guard scurried and continued inspecting the next person in line.