11:32 AM.
Ronan's footsteps echoed with purpose as he emerged from the underground station. The sunlight greeted him with a warmth that felt different from his hometown. He dressed more sharply this time—dark fitted pants, a clean-cut gray t-shirt, and a white shirt worn open as an outer layer. A simple metal necklace hung around his neck, catching the light with a soft glint.
Redburn City.
Not as grand as the capital, nor as crowded as an industrial city, Redburn gave off a quiet impression—one that felt slightly deceptive. It sat on the western edge of the region, bordering a vast expanse of dense forest that stretched out like a dark green curtain as far as the eye could see.
As Ronan climbed up to the sidewalk and stepped toward the street, the air felt different. There was no thick stench of pollution like in the city center—the air here was cleaner, lighter, and somehow... raw. Asphalt roads sprawled wide with loose traffic. A few shops lined the streets, not packed together, mostly boxy buildings with simple industrial designs: iron, glass, and concrete.
A few vehicles cruised by calmly, and between the sounds of engines, birdsong could be heard in the distance. There were no pedestrians rushing, no blaring horns or overwhelming noise.
Ronan took a deep breath.
He flagged down a passing taxi and got inside.
"Where to?" asked the driver.
"Redburn Base," Ronan replied.
The driver gave a nod and changed direction immediately.
The car moved on, leaving the city lanes and heading toward the outskirts. The scenery gradually shifted. Buildings became sparse, replaced by empty fields, a few abandoned factory complexes, and finally... trees.
"So, you're one of them," the driver said at last, his voice soft but heavy with meaning. "One of the chosen."
Ronan didn't answer, simply turned his gaze toward the window. But that didn't stop the man.
"Lots of folks heading to Redburn these days," the driver continued, his tone layered with implication. "Not just for training, if you want to know. There are... rumors."
Ronan glanced at him slightly, not fully showing interest, but just enough to let the driver continue.
"Some veteran Awakeners talk about a hidden dimensional rift, not far from Redburn's forest edge. They say it only appears at certain times, and inside... lies something no one can really explain. Treasure? Relics? Or maybe something older than the system itself."
He gave a short laugh, though it didn't sound entirely amused.
"Some who enter never come back. But strangely, some do—and they return... changed. Stronger, yeah... but quieter too. Like they left something inside. Or brought something out."
Now Ronan was truly listening. He straightened up slightly, eyes narrowing.
"If such a rift exists, why not seal it off?" he asked finally, voice low but firm.
The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "And you think Redburn Base was built here just to train Awakeners?" He shook his head slowly. "That place is more like a steel fence standing at the edge of an abyss. A containment. Surveillance, if you prefer."
He sighed, then continued in a lower tone, as if speaking to himself, "Because not all doors can be closed. And not everything that comes from the other side wants to stay there."
Ronan said nothing. He just stared out the window, letting the words settle in his mind—like cold ash drifting down after a fire that had burned unseen.
The outskirts of Redburn looked like the border between the human world and something wilder. The forest was now visible in the distance, leaves rustling in the wind, forming a moving canopy that almost swallowed the sky.
And amid that shifting transition, something else emerged.
Redburn Base.
As the car rounded a long bend and descended a short sloping road, Ronan saw it—a towering structure rising like a monolith among the hills and trees.
It was no ordinary building. The outer walls were layers of steel and concrete, designed with sharp angles and a distinctly militaristic structure. No excess ornamentation—only functionality spoke here. It stood dozens of stories high, and the size of the complex clearly covered several hectares—far too massive to be called just a "base."
But what stood in front of it was even more striking.
A wide open field stretched out at the foot of the structure. The ground was compacted like a military training ground, with several areas clearly designated for drills. There were tracks, obstacle courses, and even raised platforms fitted with unfamiliar equipment.
Dozens of people could be seen in the distance—training, standing, or walking in small groups. There was no noise or chaos, only discipline, precision, and an atmosphere that made it clear: this was no playground.
The car slowed as it entered a broad paved road that sliced through the open grounds like a straight incision across the earth. At the end stood a tall metal gate, looming like both a physical and symbolic boundary to something else—Redburn Base.
The vehicle rolled to a gentle stop at the roadside. When Ronan opened the door and stepped onto the ground, the air around him felt different—heavier, as if filled with an unspoken tension.
That main road wasn't empty. Upon the black asphalt stretching toward the facility, the world was in motion.
Cars came and went, most of them sleek with high-end designs and special plates—personal vehicles belonging to those who were not ordinary people, yet not quite human either. These luxurious machines weren't just tools; they were statements: whoever came here was not average.
Ronan watched them one by one.
Some wore light combat gear—leather armor, special gloves, or heavy boots that struck the ground with rhythmic precision. Others dressed more casually but were still combat-ready, with weapons strapped to their backs or waists—swords, short spears, even composite bows.
Their eyes were different from ordinary people's.
Laser focus. Controlled breathing. The way they moved, their bodies seemed programmed for efficiency and alertness.
Ronan could tell easily.
They were all Awakeners.
Just like him.
People who had been "chosen" and granted privileges beyond what ordinary men could hope for.
Even though the path hadn't yet taken him into the main building, the atmosphere was already thick with pressure and expectation. Every step felt like it was being judged by something unseen.
And Ronan, walking slowly with the flow of people toward Redburn Base, allowed himself a faint smile.
Just a few months ago, his life had been nothing but a string of steps with no direction—like wandering through fog without knowing where he was going. But now, everything was different. A grand purpose had unfolded before him, complete with branching paths that dared him to choose.
And this time, he wouldn't waste the blessing he had received.
Not again.