Chapter 10: Sparks Of Conflict.

'This is rather good,' Dawn pondered, tasting the chicken soup from his wooden bowl. It didn't seem poisoned or tampered with in any way and was safe to consume.

In fact, it was quite the opposite. His health gradually improved as he ate.

[HP: 19% -> 24%] 

[HP: 24% -> 29%]

Glancing around, he noticed that some of the forced awakened were shedding tears of joy as they also ate.

"This is the best meal I've ever had…"

"Who knew soup could taste this good…"

"It's so sweet…"

"Even the water... it's amazing…"

Ayleth smiled, pleased with the compliments.

"Now, now~ there's plenty for everyone," she assured as she chewed her food. "Feel free to refill if you want more."

Ayleth's kindness and maturity clearly resonated with the forced awakened, it was clear why the naturally awakened listened to her. 

Speaking of which, those who were naturally awakened had formed little clusters, engaging in lively chatter as they ate, the same could be said for the forced awakened.

Everyone seemed to have found a place within these clusters, while Dawn sat alone, observing from a corner. A sense of loneliness washed over him, but he had chosen this, so he couldn't really complain.

However, he was not the only solitary figure. Many tables had occupants dining alone.

'My people…!' Dawn thought to himself with a sense of companionship.

"So, what exactly did they do to you guys if you're this ecstatic over basic food? Weren't there more of you?"

The question came from another member of the naturally awakened. He was lounging at a table, chewing his food with a nonchalant expression.

His unruly, honey-tinted hair and deep-set brown eyes gave him a rebellious air, and his lean yet sturdy physique was visible through his tattered rags. The scar number [305] adorned his shoulder. According to [Inspect], his name was Mason.

"That's a bit insensitive to ask, Mason…" Ayleth remarked.

"But you're curious, too, aren't you? Besides, we might learn something useful," Mason countered.

"Well, that's…"

Ayleth was at a loss for words. Mason had a point, but his question had cast a dark atmosphere over the forced awakened. Some started to cry, while others trembled, reliving painful memories.

"It's fine, I don't mind talking about it…" Karol muttered, beginning to provide a rundown of their ordeal. He detailed everything from the moment their group was separated, their starvation, the harsh conditions of solitary confinement, and the tragic fate of those who didn't survive the experience.

His account filled the room with a sorrowful, tense atmosphere.

"Those damn monsters…" Blaise muttered, his neck veins bulging as he gritted his teeth.

"I'm truly sorry you had to go through that…" Ayleth offered sympathetically.

"Don't be, it's not your fault…"

"Yeah… we were just unlucky…"

"We're still alive… that's what matters…"

Too drained to sustain their anger, most of the forced awakened were happy enough for simply being alive. However there were few who remained silent, quietly listening as they ate.

"And what about your group?" Karol asked, shifting his gaze to Ayleth.

"Nothing so far. After demonstrating our abilities to the man, he left us here. He told us to wait and prepare ourselves for spy training. A guard brings us ingredients to cook from time to time, but other than that, the only significant thing that's happened has been you guys joining us."

"He just left you here? Wasn't he worried you'd all try to escape?"

"Escape? There's a parasite living inside all of us, there's nowhere to escape to," Mason interjected, getting up and dropping his wooden bowl by the sink. "We should be more concerned about the kind of training we're going to receive."

Having finished his meal, Mason headed down the corridor with his friends, waving at the others. "We're going to get some practice in. Thank you for the meal."

"Tsk, I thought I warned him to clean up after eating." Freya clicked her tongue as she watched Mason walk away. "I'll go get him—"

Just as she rose up to go after him, she was stopped by Ayleth who gently grabbed her arm.

"You know how he is… Besides, once they've all finished eating, I'll need help showing everyone their rooms. Do you mind helping me?" Ayleth asked, smiling at her.

"Fine…" Freya relented, adjusting her tattered rags.

Ayleth responded to her agreement with a cheerful smile.

-

-

-

"So this is my room, huh…" Dawn mused aloud as he assessed his surroundings. 

The compact, cube-like room had a single window, a straw bed, and half of a broken down crate for personal belongings. Cobwebs adorned the corners, adding a touch of eeriness.

It wasn't the best accommodation, but it was definitely an upgrade from the solitary confinement cell.

Ayleth and Freya had guided the others to similar rooms. Many of the forced awakened seemed to have taken a liking to Ayleth and followed her instructions earnestly.

"She's won them over… impressive. She definitely has leadership qualities," Dawn noted approvingly, a smile tugging at his lips.

However, his confident smile waned when he spotted a small spider skittering across a corner of the room.

'So there are spiders in this world as well… Let's just hope they aren't poisonous.' he thought to himself, feeling a slight shiver run through him.

His gaze then drifted to the straw bed, and he exhaled a weary sigh.

"Sigh… I'm exhausted. I could really use some sleep right now, but… library is really tempting..." he decided. 

He slowly pushed open his room's creaking wooden door and stepped out into the corridor. The corridor lined with rooms was quiet, most the forced awakened presumably resting in their respective rooms. 

Dawn quietly navigated the corridor, taking a turn and exiting the building. As he headed to the next building, he noticed a pair of naturally awakened huddled together, chatting and nursing their bruises.

"Man, couldn't they hold back a bit?"

"Just because their abilities are stronger doesn't mean they should walk all over us..." they complained.

The pair didn't seem to pay him any attention as he walked by, but their conversation piqued his interest.

"Hey, you're one of the new guys, right? Word of advice—avoid the second building if your ability is weak." one of them suddenly called out to Dawn.

The second building was the one intended for physical training. Visiting it wasn't a priority for Dawn. His interest was piqued by the third building - the library - so even if they hadn't said anything, he wouldn't have gone there.

However, now he had become a little curious.

"What's going on in the second building?" Dawn asked, pausing and turning back to face them.

"Just some jerks trying to show off their strength, asserting their dominance," The boy answered with a frown.

"Hmm… alright, thanks for the warning," Dawn responded, giving a quick nod before moving on.

Despite the cautionary advice, curiosity took hold of him. The building was right there, how could he not see what all the fuss was about?

Ascending a small stone staircase, he cautiously peeked inside. His eyes widened as a gust of wind swept past him. 

Just as before, the interior revealed countless weapons hung on walls and numerous training dummies scattered around, all under the dim glow of torchlight.

However, it was not the familiar sight that captured his attention, but rather the intense standoff between two naturally awakened individuals.

It was Freya and Mason, they were encapsulated within a spherical barrier—undoubtedly a manifestation of someone's abilities. A crowd of the naturally awakened had gathered outside the barrier, their eyes locked on the pair as they prepared to face off. 

Mason, naturally taller, loomed over Freya, but there wasn't a trace of fear in her eyes as she defiantly glared back at him.

"You sure you wanna go?" Mason taunted, a grin spreading across his face as sparks of electricity danced in his hair.

"You need to be put in your place," Freya retorted, the air around her chilling noticeably.

Dawn, who was on his way to the library, decided it could wait a bit longer. He had a feeling he was about to witness an event he wouldn't want to miss.