"Wow. Did people really tell you all that? The people we met outside barely said a word. How did you manage it?"
"It's different when a group of men in black uniforms shows up versus when one person approaches in a non-threatening way."
Gakane chuckled as he plopped into a chair by the bed.
"Anyway, you have a sense of what's going on now, right?"
"I think Devran's disappearance might be because of Zakail."
Gakane's eyes softened at Jimmy's deduction.
"That's what I'm thinking too. When Yuder returns, we'll confront Zakail directly."
"Sounds like a plan."
Their gazes met, a shared understanding settling between them. After a moment, Jimmy let out a small sigh, unable to hide his admiration.
"Gakane, you're an Alpha, right?"
"Alpha? Yeah, that's right."
"I'm envious."
Gakane blinked, taken aback by the sudden comment.
"Envious? Of what?"
"I heard from the others in the Cavalry... they said if you manifest a second gender, you suddenly grow a lot taller. Was that true for you?"
"Taller?" Gakane repeated, confused. This was one of the more unusual questions he'd received since revealing his status as an Alpha.
"Not really... I didn't change much in height after my awakening. I don't think so."
"Well, I heard that Ever, who joined the Cavalry recently, is still growing after her awakening. And the Commander is really tall too."
"The Commander… yeah, that's true."
Gakane thought back to Kishiar. While Gakane himself was tall enough to stand out, Kishiar was on another level.
Usually, people that tall seemed awkward or unbalanced, but Kishiar's build was so perfect it was almost as if a god had sculpted him. You can't help but be overwhelmed with awe.
Even though Gakane still occasionally had trouble fully grasping the reality of his own second gender, the Commander had a presence that made everything seem natural—like it was some kind of divine blessing.
Gakane recalled the sheer aura Kishiar exuded when they first met. He'd encountered several comrades who were Alphas, but none of them compared to Kishiar. He was truly exceptional.
"Well, the Commander is from the imperial family, so he probably had that build even before his awakening."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Do you want your second gender to manifest, Jimmy?"
Jimmy hesitated, his expression turning a bit gloomy, before nodding.
"Why? You'll probably grow taller as time goes on."
Jimmy wavered, unsure whether to continue, but after a moment, he finally spoke up.
"I think my parents are overly worried because I'm young. But… I don't want my second gender to manifest just yet. I'm afraid it might interfere with our mission."
"Your parents? Oh, right, you mentioned they live nearby. Didn't you visit them during the recent holiday?"
At Gakane's question, Jimmy shook his head.
"No, I was staying at my father's friend's house in the capital. My parents asked me to."
"Why… Ah."
Gakane, about to ask why, suddenly remembered something the bandit leader, Nahan, had mentioned. He faltered. Noticing this, Jimmy's expression darkened, as if he already knew what Gakane was thinking.
"My parents told me they were busy with the shop, and even if I came home for a sudden vacation, I might not get to see them. I believed them at first, but now… I'm not so sure. When I sent them a letter, my mother said the next time we met would be when they came up to the capital for business. I guess they didn't want me coming back home."
In the South, where Gakane lived, the atmosphere towards Awakeners wasn't hostile. This made it hard for him to find the right words to comfort Jimmy.
After a brief pause, Gakane gently patted Jimmy's head and offered some honest advice.
"Manifesting a second gender doesn't mean you'll automatically grow taller, and getting bigger doesn't mean you become an adult. Your parents are wise, they'll be okay. But if you're really worried, talk to the Commander or Yuder—they'll definitely help you. Ah, and of course, I'll help too. How about we stop by your village on our way back?"
"That's okay."
"Are you sure? Don't you want to see your parents? You said it's only a few hours from here. A slight change in plans shouldn't be too difficult. Just tell me honestly."
"No, really, I'm fine."
Jimmy shook his head quickly, then looked up at Gakane with a shy, awkward smile.
"Thanks for not telling me my worries are childish, Gakane."
"You can act more like a kid if you want. I kind of wish my siblings were half as mature as you."
Gakane sighed dramatically, and Jimmy's eyes widened in surprise.
"You have siblings?"
"Yeah, five of them."
"Five? Wow! I'm an only child, so I've never known what it's like to have siblings."
"It's not as great as you think. It's loud all the time, and they're always fighting. There's never a quiet moment."
Gakane thought of his younger siblings who were probably at home by now. He hadn't visited them during the holiday, but he wasn't too bothered—he knew he'd see them eventually.
"That sounds like the Cavalry," Jimmy said.
Gakane chuckled. "Yeah, it's pretty similar."
"I wonder what Yuder's like? Does Yuder have any siblings?"
"Yuder?"
"You're closest with Yuder, right?"
The conversation had unexpectedly shifted to Yuder. Seeing Jimmy's sparkling eyes, Gakane gave in.
During the mission, Jimmy had been completely taken by Yuder's strong presence. It was no surprise he wanted to know more about him—he acted like a puppy following his master.
'Closest with Yuder… if that's how it seems, I guess I'm grateful.'
Gakane wasn't sure if they were as close as Jimmy thought. To him, Yuder was a mysterious figure, with deep, unreadable eyes that made it hard to tell his age.
Yuder rarely spoke about himself and was extremely reserved, often standing apart from the group. Despite this, he had a magnetic quality that naturally drew people's attention. His overwhelming strength earned both admiration and envy from others.
Of course, things changed once everyone realized Yuder wasn't just a powerhouse—he was a considerate leader who didn't hesitate to risk his life for the Cavalry. But even after that, Yuder remained a mystery.
Despite his humble origins, Yuder led others with an unwavering confidence. His strength was so immense that it was terrifying to even question its limits. Could such incredible power really come from a young man only twenty years old?
If Kishiar La Orr felt like a god-crafted being, born above the rest of humanity, Yuder was different. Yuder Aile was the embodiment of raw 'strength,' the very kind Gakane had always dreamed of possessing.
Because of that, Gakane couldn't help but be fascinated by Yuder.
Though Yuder didn't seem to pay Gakane any more attention than he did others, he also didn't appear to dislike him, and that was enough for Gakane. He considered himself persistent, after all.
"Yuder probably doesn't have any siblings. At least, that's what I've heard," Gakane finally responded.
"I see. So there's something Yuder and I have in common," Jimmy said, smiling brightly. But then, he glanced outside the window, his smile vanishing. He suddenly stood up.
"Huh? Gakane, look… People are gathering and pointing at something."
"What?"
Gakane rose quickly and joined Jimmy by the window. Just as Jimmy had said, the villagers of Hartan were gathering outside, pointing beyond the castle walls.
But their gazes weren't directed at the castle itself. They were focused on something in the distance, and Gakane couldn't shake an ominous feeling.
'Could it be…?'
Before he could finish the thought, there was a loud, urgent pounding on the door.
"Is anyone in there?" came a voice from the other side.
"What's happening?" Gakane asked as he opened the door.
"A fire! A huge fire has broken out in the back mountain! It looks like the one Devran caused!" The young servant's face was pale, his voice trembling with fear.
Without wasting a moment, Gakane rushed out of the room.
From their window, they couldn't see the back mountain, so he ran to the opposite side of the castle. Sure enough, a massive pillar of fire was shooting up from the mountain, visible even from afar.
Servants and maids were gathered in the hall, whispering in panic and trembling. Gakane grabbed one of them, trying to make sense of the situation.
"When did the fire start?" he asked.
"J-just now," the maid stammered.
"Where's Lord Zakail?"
"He left with the guards!"
Zakail's departure with the guards meant he hadn't expected the fire either. Something unexpected was definitely happening.
Gakane nodded and turned to Jimmy, who had followed him closely.
"Jimmy, let's go."
"Do you think that fire is a signal from Yuder?" Jimmy whispered, his voice low so only Gakane could hear.
"I'm not sure yet. But something is definitely going on. Do you have your practice sword with you?"
"Yeah, I brought it," Jimmy replied, showing the small practice sword strapped to his waist, his expression suddenly serious.
"Good. Come here."
Without hesitation, Gakane lifted Jimmy with one arm and summoned his shadow clone. As the dark shadow rose from beneath his feet, the castle's servants screamed and scattered, running in terror.
"It's a monster!"
"A monster, huh? That's a bit harsh,"