I have been thinking for some time now—now that I have become an Awakened, a Rank 2. What should I do? I have no clue or clear goal, no direction in which to move forward. It’s pathetic, in a way, that I know so little—not just about myself, but about the culprit behind the tragedy that struck Enor Village.


    And then, there’s that woman in the white world. I can barely even remember her now. The most concerning part is that I never questioned who she was or why she helped me.


    I let out a sigh.


    "No answer after all," I muttered under my breath as I walked beside Liber.


    We were making our way through the streets, heading toward the guild leader’s office. For what reason? Several, actually. One was to provide a detailed report about the incident. The other—well, the guild leader specifically requested to see me.


    "Have you told him about me?" I asked Liber, raising a brow.


    He shook his head. "None of us did. We had a tacit understanding that you didn’t want to share that information. And that’s actually good."


    "Really? I thought hiding it might be meaningless."


    "It would be—if too many people knew about your actual appearance. But most won’t notice it at a glance."


    That was true. I didn’t have many connections here, nor was I particularly famous. The only real issue would be my changed appearance.


    I ran a hand through my hair. It had darkened, nearly obsidian black. My face had matured as well, making me look a year or two older. Thankfully, my eyes had only gained a deeper shade of silver. These changes weren’t obvious to a stranger, but anyone who had known me before would notice at a glance.


    But that raised a question—what did the guild leader want from me?


    "Hey, what do you think the guild leader wants?" I asked Liber as we weaved through the bustling town.


    "No idea," he replied, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "But he’s not the type to make a fuss over trivial matters. Besides, we’re not exactly the most powerful party in the guild, are we?"


    I chuckled. Coming from someone who had conjured a towering serpent and a whirlpool of fire, that was an amusing thing to say. "Yeah, you’re right."


    We arrived at the guild and climbed the stairs to the guild leader’s chamber. My heart pounded, unsure of what to expect.


    Guild leaders were usually older, their faces etched with the lines of battle and experience. But when the door swung open, the man sitting behind the desk was nothing like my expectations. He was young—perhaps in his late twenties—with piercing blue eyes and jet-black hair. His sharp jawline and the way he carried himself exuded an undeniable authority.


    "Ah, Liber. Long time no see. Is this the man beside you Asher?" the guild leader asked the moment we entered.


    "Yes, that''s him," Liber confirmed as he led me forward.


    "It’s nice to finally meet you, Asher. I am Selby, the guild leader of Sefron City."


    He extended his hand, and as I shook it, I noted the firm grip and the keen intelligence in his gaze.


    "I’ve heard quite a lot about your recent exploits."


    I wasn’t sure if he was impressed or just being polite. His grip was tight, and his stare was unwavering.


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    "Thank you. I just fought for our survival—nothing more," I replied, downplaying my actions.


    "That’s good to hear. I’m glad all of you made it out safely."


    Then, his expression sharpened. The cheerfulness from before vanished.


    "Tell me—what truly happened in the ruins?"


    His words hung in the air. I tapped my fingers on the desk, thinking. After a brief pause, I spoke without hesitation.


    "The raid was successful at first. No real issues. Until we encountered it."


    "A high-rank beast," I said, recalling the monstrous creature we had fought.


    Selby leaned in slightly, interest flickering in his eyes.


    "The battle was dire, but winnable. Then Kena took that potion, and he... transformed."


    I sighed as Liber took over.


    "As I mentioned in my earlier report, things became chaotic. Seth and I fought the serpent while the others dealt with Kena’s rampage. Asher was the one who landed the final blow."


    Selby rolled the pen in his hand, contemplating our words.


    "Alright. That’s what we’ll put in the official report. We can’t let it be known that an Awakened can turn into... something beyond human. We’ll spread a different story instead—Kena from the House of Orgus sacrificed himself, just like his brother. That should satisfy his family, for now."


    He paused before continuing. "We will investigate the Orgus family head, but it won’t stop him from targeting you, Asher."


    I expected that much. "I killed his son. It’s only natural he’d want revenge."


    Liber shot me a worried glance but remained silent.


    "The upper ranks of the guild have been monitoring the situation," Selby added. "That potion—it’s being distributed by some organization."


    His smile turned almost... teasing, as if tempting me.


    "The Orgus family head is currently in the capital. He won’t return for at least a week. You should leave before then."


    I narrowed my eyes. "And why tell me this? Wouldn’t it be easier to hand me over? Others are at risk because of me, aren’t they?"


    Selby chuckled. "Perhaps. But isn’t your true goal to find the cause of your village’s destruction? Or would you rather waste your life hiding here?"


    His words struck a nerve.


    "Besides, if you stay, this city could become a battlefield. Liber and the others will be safer here while things settle down. But you? If you vanish... who will really care? Maybe your small group, but that’s about it."


    The room fell into silence. I hated to admit it, but he wasn’t wrong.


    "I understand. What do you suggest?" I asked, exhaling sharply.


    "Go to Altas, the Free State."


    I frowned. "Altas?"


    "The potion originated from there. My source is reliable, though I won’t reveal who. If you want answers, that’s where you’ll find them."


    I considered his words carefully before nodding. "Fine. I’ll take your advice. Anything else?"


    Selby hesitated for a moment before pulling out a short sword from beneath his desk.


    "I want to thank you. Not as the guild leader—but as a friend of those you saved."


    He gave me a slight bow. Liber’s eyes widened in shock.


    "This is a small gift from me and the guild," Selby continued. "It’s made from the Origin shards of the serpent you all slew."


    The sword shimmered with a familiar purple hue, reflecting the beast’s scales. It felt light in my hand, yet brimming with power.


    "A shard sometimes retains part of its original nature," Selby explained. "Or it can be forged into an artifact. This one was crafted from the serpent’s scales and shards—for you."


    I glanced at Liber, silently asking if I should accept. He nodded.


    "Take it, Asher. It’s the least they can do."


    I sheathed the sword at my side. "Thank you, Selby. I won’t let it go to waste."


    Selby smiled. "Good. Now go get some rest. Liber and I still have things to discuss."


    With a final nod, I left.


    Seeing Asher''s figure leave the room, Liber glanced back at Selby and gave him a strong glare.


    "What are you planning? You are the type to go out of your way to help someone."


    Like an old friend, Liber did not maintain his previous respective look.


    "You really went casual now! But can''t you just think of me as a nice person wanting to help someone?


    Selby said with a laugh, his eyes not meeting Liber''s glare.


    "No, I don''t; if not for Asher here, I would have punched you for giving me such creeps."


    Liber retorted with a smirk, though his eyes were still filled with suspicion.


    "The guild is independent in name only; it is made by the Temple of Stars and Nobility, you know that, right?"


    Selby spoke after a brief pause, his voice now carrying a hint of seriousness.


    "The information you provided to Asher was also quite high level for our rank as well. How did you get to know about it?"


    Liber''s question was sharp and to the point, cutting through the air like a knife.


    "I... got an order from above. To tell Asher about it."


    With a brief hold of breath, Selby spoke.


    "By whom?."


    Joining his hands together in a rather holy manner. Selby looked at Liber.


    "..By the  Temple of Stars...They gave an order to tell Asher about it."


    —Volume 1: Hope is Despair — Finished.


    Upcoming Volume 2: The Hunter and the Prey.