"I apologize for being late. Let's go."
Yuder spoke to Sunz, who had been waiting outside the lodging. Sunz nodded and began walking ahead with a relaxed stride.
"By the way, what should I call you?"
"Just call me Yuder."
"Alright, Yuder. You can simply call me Sunz."
Sunz chuckled, mentioning that he disliked being addressed by his rank, finding it too formal.
"I've been stuck here for two years. It feels good to have a new friend after so long."
"Have you been here since the Red Stone fell?"
Yuder asked the question that had been on his mind, and Sunz responded candidly.
"That's right. I was originally stationed in the Southern Army in the Gulcan region, under Airic. But after that incident, all nearby troops were summoned here. Since then, our numbers have steadily grown, especially after General Gino arrived a few months ago."
"It must have been boring."
"Yes and no. These days, whenever things start to feel dull, someone awakens. Watching each new Awakener's abilities and fulfilling our duties, time seems to pass surprisingly quickly."
Sunz smiled, adding that he preferred this routine over the constant threat of death on the front lines. But Yuder sensed something odd in his words.
"Are you saying Awakeners have been continuously emerging among the soldiers?"
"Yes. Isn't it the same in other regions?"
Technically, that was true if viewed on a broader scale. But the frequency Sunz described wasn't typical.
'…Could it be because we're closer to where the Red Stone fell?'
Yuder considered this hypothesis seriously. After the Red Stone fell, Awakeners had started appearing across the continent, but the largest number came from the Orr Empire. And even within the Empire, the central region had the highest ratio. Given that the Airic Mountains, where the Red Stone fell, lay in this region, the numbers seemed significant.
If one assumed some kind of power was radiating from the stone, the soldiers stationed here for the past two years would have had more exposure to it than anyone else.
The fact that a new Awakener appeared just when they began to forget about it might be evidence of the stone's lingering influence.
'Did the previous Kishiar not know this?'
Yuder silently organized his thoughts as he followed Sunz toward the village center, where off-duty soldiers had gathered.
Despite being a small village, it had a well-established tavern, restaurant, and market. At first glance, Yuder noticed several soldiers mingling among the villagers, their presence standing out.
"Hey, Sunz! Are you done?"
"Yeah. But where's Emon? He was here earlier."
The soldiers playing cards at an outdoor table waved at Sunz. After scanning their faces and not spotting Emon, Sunz asked. One of the soldiers pointed toward a nearby building, answering loudly.
"He said card games were boring and headed to the tavern over there."
"Got it. Let's go check it out."
Yuder followed Sunz toward the tavern. Despite the early hour, the place was lively. Sunz explained that the soldiers often gathered there regardless of the time, enjoying the break from their routine.
"It's called a tavern, but during the day, they serve regular food and drinks too."
"Understood."
As Sunz had said, most of the patrons seated in the sunlit room were sipping mundane beverages, looking somewhat bored. Several individuals inside greeted Sunz, who responded with brief nods and introductions.
"That guy awakened his powers a year ago. He's got the strength of a bear. And over there, that one can jump as high as a city wall, if I remember right..."
Most of the Awakeners Sunz introduced had physical enhancements. Yuder scanned their faces, trying to recall if any of them had been involved in detaining him in the past, but none seemed familiar.
"Ah, and there's Emon. He's the one I've worked with the most. Rough around the edges, but reliable. Emon!"
"Sunz! Took you long enough."
A man playing a dice game with a few others at a nearby table looked up. Yuder recognized him as one of the soldiers they'd passed earlier on their way to the quarters.
"Who's the guy behind you?... A new recruit?"
"No, he's the one I was showing around earlier."
Emon, not recognizing Yuder due to his change in attire, raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Ah, I see. Sorry for not recognizing you. What brings you here?"
"I wanted to look around, so I asked for permission. I'll be leaving soon."
Yuder's reply was polite but made it clear he didn't want to cause any trouble. Emon gave him a curious glance before nodding and returning to his dice game.
"Emon's ability is—"
Just as Sunz was about to explain Emon's power, a commotion erupted behind them. The tavern owner appeared, carrying a large tray piled high with grilled sausages. He set it down at the dice game table, flashing a broad smile at the soldiers.
"Here are the snacks you ordered. Enjoy them while you play. I've also thrown in some dried jerky on the house."
"Awesome!", "I love the sausages here!"
The dice players cheered in unison, eagerly reaching for the tray. As the pile of sausages quickly diminished, the dice game paused for a brief moment.
Yuder noticed that Emon, who had stepped back, took out a small cloth pouch from his pocket and filled an old portable pipe with dried herb leaves. He didn't seem particularly interested in the sausages.
A moment later, a tiny flame, like a spark from flint, ignited inside the pipe. A sharp yet fragrant smell spread as smoke gently wafted out.
"That's Emon's power. He can create fire. It's quite unique among the Awakeners here."
"I see."
As Yuder nodded, Emon, overhearing the conversation, turned his head toward them.
"What? You're not just here to look around, but to scrutinize the Awakeners?"
"He's just like us. He was curious, so I was explaining things to him," Sunz quickly responded, cutting off Yuder's chance to answer. Fortunately, Emon didn't pry further into Yuder's identity.
"Ah, I see. Well, then you must've noticed we don't have any particularly powerful people here. The best I can do is light my pipe with a tiny flame."
With a chuckle, Emon raised his index finger, and a small flame flickered and popped at the tip. Yuder observed it carefully before asking,
"That flame, can you not sustain it longer?"
"I can't. If I could, it might be more useful, but I'm content. I never needed a flame to light my pipe before, so this is a bonus."
"Still, it's a handy ability. When we're paired up for mountain patrol, at least we won't be shivering all night from the cold because we can't light a fire," Sunz said with a grin.
"Yeah, thanks to him, I can avoid places where there might be monsters or wild beasts at night. Simple, but helpful," Emon added, shrugging casually at Sunz's praise. Sunz laughed in response.
Meanwhile, Yuder's expression cooled as he watched them.
'They don't realize the true potential of their abilities.'
The world was still entirely ignorant of the possibilities and growth that Awakeners' abilities held, and even the Awakeners themselves didn't seem to fully grasp their own power.
Once an ability was awakened, it didn't stop there. It had endless potential for development, and even the most minor-seeming ability could grow into something formidable with enough effort.
'Most of them have abilities that are quite useful, even without further development.'
The soldiers introduced by Sunz all had physical enhancement abilities. While they might not need those powers often here, where they mainly faced wild beasts or the occasional monster, such abilities would be invaluable on a battlefield. The potential for explosive growth was undeniable.
'The same goes for Sunz's vision ability. Right now, it only allows him to see through obstacles and perceive things in the dark, but even that is a massive advantage in combat. If honed, it could become far more powerful.'
Emon's flame, though small and short-lived, was also useful. The ability to conjure fire instantly, wherever and whenever needed, held immense potential.
Even among the Cavalry, where members could manipulate fire, most required time to summon it or couldn't maintain it for long. Emon's ability to create fire immediately made it perfect for close-quarters combat or launching surprise attacks—potential that neither Sunz nor Emon seemed to recognize.