Soldier
After successfully clearing the screening, Eylan headed toward the train station.
The station was enormous. Thousands of people—mostly soldiers and government agents—moved about constantly.
Walls that seemed to touch the sky loomed in the distance. Their massive forms enclosed and protected the entire station and the coastal rear lines.
Checking his ticket, Eylan noticed that there were still a few hours left before the train arrived… if it arrived at all.
He stopped and watched the crowd flow like a stream, each person a single drop of water.
All the while, his inner silence remained.
Suddenly, a lively voice broke the atmosphere.
"First time here, kid?"
Eylan turned, slightly tense.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"Me? Well, I'm…" The man frowned as if searching through an old memory.
"Just a soldier scarred by pain…" he muttered in an introspective tone.
Then, as if someone had flipped a switch, his serious expression broke into a mocking smile.
"Just kidding! I'm a government agent, only passing through. And you, youngster?"
He laughed as he said it, but there was truth hidden in his eyes—a quiet depth, as if he had seen far more than he ever should have.
Around them, some people walking by unconsciously slowed their steps. Others relaxed their shoulders for no clear reason. An officer rushing past softened his expression, as though the mere sound of the soldier's voice lifted an invisible burden.
Even the air itself seemed lighter. The atmosphere shifted naturally around him, as if the world responded to his presence.
"I'm heading to the Awakened Academy. I finished my first Nightmare a while ago… huh?"
Mid-sentence, Eylan realized he had said more than he intended.
The soldier had a way of making people lower their guard—him included.
"Hm… I see. By any chance, are you taking the 6:30 a.m. train tomorrow? If so, we might run into each other," he said casually, almost as if he were certain.
Eylan's expression froze for a split second.
How did he know the time?
But he quickly recovered, pretending he hadn't noticed anything strange.
When he opened his mouth to ask, the soldier cut him off with his boisterous voice.
"Anyway, I've got something to take care of. Maybe we'll meet again. Farewell!"
He waved as he walked away, as if the entire exchange had been nothing more than a way to pass the time.
As the man left, some people glanced after him with faint smiles. Others visibly relaxed. A small child who had been crying suddenly stopped, for no apparent reason. The moment the man disappeared from sight, the station's natural rhythm returned—almost abruptly.
Exasperated, Eylan raised an eyebrow, rubbed his head, and muttered to himself,
"What was that? Why did that weirdo stop to talk to me out of nowhere?"
It had been so sudden that he hadn't even had time to react properly.
"What a strange guy…" he grumbled, turning away to look for somewhere to eat and rest.
As he walked through the station, he noticed a few young men bothering a girl.
Their behavior was odd—they acted like they were about to make a move, then hesitated.
Seeing the scene, Eylan simply called a guard and gave his testimony.
Once the minor incident was resolved, he went on his way.
By then, Eylan was already some distance away. From the shadows, a few youths emerged—they had been watching in silence.
One of them spoke softly, his voice dripping with malice.
"What a fool… so he's a good man…"
A whisper sounded faintly, almost imperceptible, from within Eylan's Soul.
Eylan ignored it. A whisper meant the danger wasn't serious.
Instead, his attention shifted to a place filled with a delicious smell.
After stuffing himself with cheap food and finding a place to spend the night, he decided to head up to the top of the walls for a while.
Climbing the stairs swiftly, he soon reached the top, gazing out over the vast stretch of land beyond the defenses.
What he saw was, at the very least… depressing.
The entire region was a vast gray wasteland, as if life itself had been completely extinguished.
Only the stars kept him company in that bleak scenery. Their lights danced across the sky like thousands of lanterns—white, blue, and violet—marking the heavens and guiding those lost in the immensity.
Leaning his arms against the wall, Eylan watched in silence. The constellations above reflected in his eyes.
He felt that if he followed the stars, he could reach anywhere he wished—never losing his way.
No.
There was one place he could never reach, no matter how faithfully he followed the stars.
The sight comforted him, but there was something more… something etched deep into his soul.
"It must be related to my Aspect."
"The descendants of the Black Heavens never lose their way… guiding the lost through darkness and disaster, untouched by them…"
After some time, he returned to his room and went to sleep.
It had been a long day.