The room buzzed with the quiet hum of holographic displays. At her desk in the far corner of the registration center, Officer Eleanor Vargas, head of the facility, adjusted her glasses and scanned the incoming reports. The holograms glowed around her in neat grids, displaying the names, ranks, and classes of the newly awakened. Most of them fell into familiar patterns—Rank C, Rank B, and the occasional Rank A.
She sipped her coffee, its warmth a rare comfort in the cold efficiency of her office. Until a single name caught her attention.
Ji Zeus – Rank S.
The coffee cup froze halfway to her lips. She blinked once, twice, then leaned closer, as if proximity might change the data. Rank S. Her hands moved instinctively, pulling up additional information.
Eleanor quickly scanned his profile, her mood tinged with awe and trepidation. The system blocked the finer details of Ji Zeus' results—standard security protocol for all awakened—but the Rank S designation alone spoke volumes. Rare, almost mythical in the awakening world, Rank S awakeners were humanity's ultimate hope—and its greatest risk.
Her fingers tapped against the desk. If word of his evaluation got out, it could cause chaos—political, personal, and otherwise. Saints, factions, and rival organizations would be drawn like vultures.
"I need to ensure this is contained," she muttered. A few commands later, she sent a secure request for Ji Zeus' contact details. When the comms operator returned with an apologetic shrug, she sighed. He was unreachable.
Eleanor straightened in her chair, her gaze lingering on Ji Zeus' name. A soft but firm whisper escaped her lips: "Rank S… Please, let him be ready for this."
---
The streets were quiet as I made my way back to our apartment. Antipolo City at night had its own rhythm—streetlights humming faintly, the occasional bark of a dog in the distance, and the glow of the cityscape below. From the hill, you could see the rebuilt skyline, steel and glass rising defiantly against the darkness.
Our apartment wasn't much—a one-bedroom unit tucked into the corner of a small building—but it was home. I fished for my keys as I approached the door, already hearing the faint sound of music from inside. Gale always liked to keep the radio on while cooking.
The door opened before I could unlock it. Gale stood there, her hair tied back and a kitchen towel slung over her shoulder. She smiled, that familiar warmth in her eyes.
"You're finally back!" she said, pulling me into a hug. "I miss you so muchii!!"
"Hey," I replied, letting her hold me as I hold her back for a moment longer than usual.
She stepped back, studying me with mock seriousness. "You look terrible."
"Thanks," I said, smirking faintly. "It's good to see you too."
She laughed, swatting my arm before pulling me inside. "Come on. Dinner's ready."
---
The dining table was small, but Gale had gone all out. The smell of steak with adobo sauce and wine wafted through the room, and she'd even bought a small cake—my favourite flavor and baker, Contis.
As I sat down, Gale hovered like a mother hen, piling food onto my plate. "Eat. You look like you haven't seen real food in days."
"You don't say?" I smirked at her as I took a bite and let out a content sigh. "This is amazing. I missed this, I really missed you."
"Of course you did," she teased, settling across from me.
We ate in comfortable silence for a while before she broke it. "So… what was it like? The dungeon?"
I hesitated, my fork hovering over my plate. "Tough. Lonely. But worth it."
Her eyes softened. "Tell me about it."
I pushed my plate aside and leaned back. "Well, it is the metallic gate that opened, they're the rarest and the hardest. You really need your heart and mind to be set in one place.."
"..and I've set that one place as you!" I winked at her, trying to subtly flirt, and I let out a sigh as to make my pick up line seemed natural. " That's why fewer people try them."
"And you made it, you smooth talker," giggling as she said, a small smile tugging at her lips.
I nodded. "Yeah. I made it."
I realized that it is something of a big deal, indeed.
---
As we cleared the table, Gale started talking about what had happened while I was gone. "Oh, did you hear? The new Saint of Duality was appointed while you were in the gate."
I glanced at her. "There's such a thing?"
"Yeah, it happened pretty suddenly. Apparently, the last Saint of Duality passed the mantle just a couple of weeks ago. The new Saint—her name's Lu Nox, by the way—was officially crowned while you were in the gate."
"Lu Nox," I repeated, the name sounds familiar and is already carrying a strange weight in my mind. "How old is she?"
"She just turned 23," Gale said, shaking her head in amazement. "She's younger than me by a few months, and she's already a Saint. Can you imagine?"
"Must be nice," Gale continued, oblivious to my growing unease. "To have that much power, that much influence. I wonder what it's like, being a Saint."
I forced a smile. "Probably overrated."
She laughed, shaking her head. "You'd say that."
---
Later that night, while Gale slept soundly beside me, I found myself staring at the ceiling. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't quiet my mind. The trials of the gate, the pressure of Rank S that I've forgotten, and now the shadow of the Saints—it all weighed on me.
I slipped out of bed and into the living room, turning on the television. The faint glow of the screen bathed the room as I flipped through channels. I paused when her name appeared on the screen: Lu Nox – Saint of Duality.
She was the guest on a "late-night" talk show in the Philippines since this is happening in America, her presence calm and commanding. The host leaned forward, his voice taking on a serious tone.
---
Host: "Saint Lu Nox, the emergence of Malice Zones has changed everything about how humanity survives. Let me ask you this: What do you think is the purpose of the Malice?"
Lu Nox: (Her voice was calm, measured.) "Purpose is a human word. The Malice doesn't act with purpose—it simply exists. But through their existence, we are forced to adapt, to fight, to grow or even evolve. Perhaps their 'purpose,' if you will, is to test us."
I frowned, my fingers drumming on the couch. A test? That's a convenient answer. But who's testing us, and why?
Host: "Do you have any idea why they suddenly exist?"
Lu Nox: (A faint smile crossed her lips.) "No. Like everyone, I have theories, but nothing concrete. What we do know is that their arrival coincided with the gates. Beyond that, it's a question we may never fully answer."
I tilted my head. She's playing it safe. Sticking to what everyone already knows. But if she's the Saint of Duality, shouldn't she know more? Or is she hiding something?
Host: "And what will your actions be toward the Malice?"
Lu Nox: (Her voice grew firmer, exuding quiet confidence.) "We will prepare. Strengthen our defenses. Empower awakeners to reach their full potential. Humanity has faced extinction before, and we've survived. Together, we will overcome this as well."
---
I leaned back, studying her face. She spoke with confidence and poise, the perfect image of a leader. But there was something about her—a carefulness, a precision in her words that felt too deliberate.
"She's hiding something," I thought. "She's too polished. Too perfect. What's her real goal?"
I turned off the television, the screen going black. My reflection stared back at me, shadowed by the faint glow of the city outside.
"Whatever her game is, I'll figure it out," I whispered to myself.
---