A few hours later, they reached the main entrance of the city. The towering iron walls loomed over them, with large iron gates guarded by heavily armored soldiers. The city beyond was bustling with life, the sounds of cars and people chatting.
Nitish glanced at Karl and Marco before sighing. "So… what exactly are we supposed to do next?" he asked, crossing his arms.
Karl didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stepped forward toward one of the gate guards, who stood with a spear in hand, eyeing them with mild curiosity.
Clearing his throat, Karl spoke confidently. "Hello, gentleman. Would you kindly help us out a bit?"
The guard's eyes narrowed as he looked Karl up and down, scrutinizing him. At first glance, Karl appeared to be just another slum rat, given his worn-out clothes and rugged appearance. However, his imposing 6'3" height, muscular build, and the faint aura of intimidation from his awakened class made the guard second-guess his initial assumption.
The guard's whole demeanor shifted as he straightened up and spoke in a more respectful tone. "H-How can I help you, sir?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of nervousness.
Karl kept his tone calm and authoritative. "My friends and I are newly awakened. We need to register. Can you let us in or contact the Awakened Union on our behalf?"
The guard hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Understood. Wait here for a moment." He turned and gestured to another guard, whispering something before the second guard ran off towards the city.
Karl stepped back to join Nitish and Marco. "Looks like we'll have to wait a bit."
Marco sighed, leaning against the iron wall. "I hope this doesn't take too long."
30 Minutes Later
A well-dressed official arrived, escorted by two guards. "You must be the newly awakened ones," he said, adjusting his glasses. "Come with me. The Awakened Union has been notified, and they are expecting you."
As they walked through the gates, Nitish took in the cityscape. "Oh… so this is the branch office of the Awakened Union," he mused, taking in the towering structure ahead.
The building was an impressive mix of modern and medieval architecture, its tall spires reaching towards the sky. The exterior was made of smooth stone and reinforced steel, glowing inscriptions lining its walls. The entrance was a grand archway, and numerous people—mostly teenagers—were walking in and out of the building, some engaged in heated conversations, while others carried weapons or magical tomes.
"Mr. William, this way please," said one of the executives who had arrived with them.
Another official, a stern-looking woman in a navy-blue coat, stepped forward. "Awakened Karl, Awakened Nitish, Awakened Marco—you three, please follow me."
They followed her into the building, taking a large staircase that led to the third floor. The air inside smelled of parchment and polished wood, the atmosphere strangely formal.
Once they reached a hallway lined with doors, the woman turned to them. "Each of you will undergo a brief questioning session. Please cooperate."
Nitish was led into a small room with no windows. Inside, there was only a simple wooden table, two chairs, and a strange white square object resting in the center of the table. A man was already seated on one of the chairs, waiting for him. He had sharp eyes, neatly combed hair, and an air of authority about him.
The man gestured toward the empty chair. "Please, take a seat."
Nitish hesitated before sitting down. "So, what's this about?" he asked.
The man folded his hands on the table. "My name is Edric Holloway. You can call me Adept Edric."
"Nice to meet you, Adept Edric. I'm Nitish," he responded, keeping his tone neutral.
Edric briefly glanced at the white object on the table. "Let's begin. How old are you?"
"Sixteen," Nitish replied with a stiff face.
Immediately, the white square glowed red.
Both Nitish and Edric stared at the glowing object. It was obvious now—this thing was a lie detector.
Edric smirked. "Your real age?"
Nitish sighed. "Twenty-one."
The box's glow faded.
Edric made a note on a parchment. "How did you awaken?" he asked.
"I used a mana core," Nitish replied.
Edric arched an eyebrow. "And how exactly did you get your hands on a mana core?" His tone suggested he doubted Nitish's ability to acquire one through legal means.
Nitish hesitated for a split second but kept his face blank. "An unknown man gave it to us. Probably a noble clan member, but I don't know any details."
Edric studied him for a moment before continuing. "Before all of this, what did you do to earn a living?"
Nitish cursed internally. "Damn, this dumbass is asking too many questions. If I'm not careful, I might end up revealing that I'm from another world," he thought.
He forced a grin and shrugged. "I was a freeloader. Did absolutely nothing. I just ate, drank, and slept.
Edric glanced at the white box, which remained unlit. He nodded slightly and continued asking more questions. However, Nitish skillfully avoided giving away any vital information. He managed to hide the fact that he was from another world and also kept his true class and rank a secret.
Luckily for him, Edric wasn't particularly interested in dormant ranks or classes. He clearly believed that someone from the slums had no chance of awakening a unique class or a high rank. As for bloodline abilities, Edric dismissed the possibility outright—something Nitish agreed with since he had no special bloodline traits.
After the Questioning
When Nitish finally exited the room, he walked down the hallway and spotted two familiar faces. Karl and Marco stood by the entrance, waiting for him.
"Hey there," Nitish greeted, stretching his arms.
Marco smirked. "How did it go?"
Nitish shrugged. "Well enough, I guess."
Karl, however, looked irritated. "They're sending us to the Awakened Academy."
Nitish raised an eyebrow. "Awakened Academy?"
Marco nodded. "Yeah. It's a place where young awakeneds are trained."
Nitish frowned. "Don't you think we're a bit too old for the academy? I mean, if it's for young awakeneds, then the majority of students are probably between sixteen and eighteen."
Karl crossed his arms. "That's exactly why I'm annoyed. We're not kids, and yet they're throwing us in with a bunch of teenagers."
Marco chuckled. "Well, look at the bright side. Free training, free resources, and we get to learn more about the awakened world."
Nitish sighed. "Still, it's going to be awkward."
Karl smirked. "We'll just have to make sure we don't get outclassed by some brat, then."
Marco grinned. "Exactly. Let's see what this academy has in store for us."
With that, the three of them left the hallway,