Day eventually became night as the sun set on the horizon. That night, as darkness creeped to the sky, the sacred ordinance devolved into a grand festival filled with drunken revelry.
It was the segment of the Awakening Rite that Kaden usually looked forward to the most.
After all, during these festivals, food was abundant and free of charge. For those who lived in the slums and hardly had anything to eat, it was the most joyous moment of the year.
That joy is distinct from those of an ordinary commoner. To some, the festival was simply a fun event. To others, it was an omen of change. But for poor wretches like him, it was a precious moment of respite — a night without the need to scavenge for scrap.
Kaden sighed and glanced at the brightly lit stalls in the distance with regret.
He had truly wanted to join the buffet.
Sadly, he cannot.
The Awakening Rite is generally divided into three segments.
First is the Sanctum's Call, where the actual Awakening transpires. Next is the Blessing of Swords, where an Awakened receives a weapon of their choice — a symbolic gesture to welcome the new members into the military aristocracy of the Elites.
Lastly, there is the grand festival meant to appease the people and celebrate the success of the ritual.
Sometimes, just like now, a funeral rite also takes place. But casualties are uncommon; therefore, they are not considered an integral part of the ceremony.
In any case, the start of the festival marks the end of the Awakening Rite. What follows evoked a familiar name — a name he had just recently learned about.
'The Awakened Institute.'
Kaden cursed them in his mind.
They were the reason he cannot attend the festival this time.
Except for today, Kaden had never failed to participate in the festivals. In the past, although he was usually busy stuffing his mouth during those events, he wasn't blind as to not notice the glaring absence of the celebrated newly Awakened, who should've logically been the center of attention in those gatherings.
Now, he knew why.
'They were called over.'
The organization Vincent had mentioned previously possessed authority over all Awakened, Nobles included, and is the heart of the Elite society.
An organization that overshadows even the nobility cannot be simple, and their summons isn't something a new Awakened like him could deny. Even someone as ignorant as him understood that much.
Kaden stepped forward as he thought to himself.
The evening was cold and dark, with the moon obscured by clouds. The streets were desolate, with the vast majority of people, even those from the slums, gathered in the grand and boisterous festival raging around the Sanctum.
On the sidewalks, the warm light of glowing street lamps lit the stone pavement from above, their numbers sparse and their light dim.
Kaden walked at the tail end of the group, following after the others closely, careful not to get lost.
As they walked along the silent streets, Kaden glanced at the aged man clad in plate armor at the forefront silently leading their group. It was the same elderly knight who had brought them to the barracks.
This time, the old Knight was tasked with escorting them to their destination.
The walk stretched for a while. Feeling bored, Kaden spun his new spear a few times, getting himself accustomed to its weight and balance as he held it in his hands.
In the end, however, he still found his attention being drawn back to the front.
Kaden stared at the old Knight's armored back.
Then, he stared some more.
A faint urge to stab it with his new spear suddenly rose.
But at that moment, the group's march finally came to a halt. Kaden and the others paused as they looked up, tracing the surface of the towering edifice.
"We're here." The old Knight said.
The Awakened Institute's building was a tall, magnificent, twisting spire at the edge of the city, its open lantern linked to the gargantuan walls surrounding the entire settlement through a narrow arch bridge.
The imposing structure had no guards and most likely didn't need one.
On one hand, most, if not all, the people inside the establishment are Awakened and thus need no protection.
On the other hand, ordinary guards will be of no use in issues involving Awakened. It would take another Awakened to make it count, yet it would also be too humiliating for a literal Elite to stand guard outside the building.
There was also the towering spire's entrance, a locked door made of solid steel. Additional security seemed pointless in front of such a formidable barrier. Nothing can go past it without permission. In fact, Kaden had no idea how they were supposed to open it.
The others seemed just as clueless too.
While they stood still and stared blankly at the metal gate, a sabaton struck the paved stone below as an armored figure neared the entrance.
The old Knight took out a bronze token and stepped forward, inserting the item into the small hollow area in the middle of the door.
A moment later, a clicking sound hummed from within the imposing gate, causing the thick barrier of steel to vibrate faintly.
Kaden's eyes shone in realization.
The bronze token he had received in the Sanctum had one oddly shaped side, and now it seems that it was not just a simple cosmetic design. Other than being a proof of his status as an Awakened, it also served as a key to certain facilities.
The door was pushed open.
The old Knight then glanced at the still motionless youths behind him and gestured at them as he spoke.
"Follow closely."
Shortly after that, the old Knight and the eight new Awakened entered the giant spire and immediately found themselves facing a layer of thick white curtain.
The old Knight promptly slapped it aside.
The next moment, light flooded their vision. The space beyond was bright, a stark contrast to the barely lit streets outside.
Kaden squinted his eyes as he studied his surroundings.
Beyond the curtain was a circular hall with an iron pole in the middle, akin to a thick pillar. The ceiling above it had a perfectly round-shaped hole, where the pole passed through to the floor above them. Pole steps can be seen throughout its metal surface, likely used in ascending its lengthy frame.
Kaden blinked a couple of times.
'Don't tell me we have to climb through that?'
That is absurd.
They were probably in the tallest building in the entire city. How many floors would that make?
'...That can't be right. There has to be a normal ladder somewhere.'
Kaden suddenly felt like praying to the gods.
Meanwhile, the old Knight turned towards the front desk beside the curtains and slammed his token onto its wooden surface.
BANG!
The snoring receptionist jolted out of his dreams only to wake up to a nightmare.
Aged face, blurry blue eyes.
What a nightmare.
The receptionist recognized that face.
"Ah… Sir Rem. I will pay you back shortly, I swear!"
"Shh." The old Knight hushed the man in annoyance and asked: "Where is Cynthia?"
"Uhh… Fifth floor, room E3." The receptionist hastily replied as he scanned a small codex.
The old Knight did not linger and immediately headed to the metal pole in the center of the hall.
Kaden's face paled slightly.
'Oh no.'
The terrible foreboding was now becoming a reality.
Once again, the old Knight gestured for them to follow.
The eight young Awakened looked far more reluctant than ever before.
Yet, they still followed.
By the time they reached the second floor, the sound of loud curses had drowned the hall below.
"Why does no one ever bother to close this damn door?"
The receptionist complained.
Then, he pushed.
The metal door creaked slightly, moving at a snail's pace.
The receptionist let out an exasperated sigh.