The soft sunlight passed through the tall hospital windows, casting patches of light on the stone floor of the lobby. At the building's exit, Liana stood still.
Her gaze was fixed on her son's face—a look full of worry, yet without any unnecessary words.
Though this wasn't what she wanted, she knew she couldn't say anything. Supporting her children's decisions was the best way.
"Are you sure you should be discharged today?" Her voice was calm, but a hidden tremble could be felt.
"We could still stay another day." The doctor had told them that Daniel's body had fully recovered and there was no issue—he could be discharged today if they wanted.
Daniel, wearing a plain shirt with his hair still slightly messy, shrugged and smiled—a smile that hid exhaustion more than it showed confidence.
"I'm a priest, Mom… I can heal myself. Did you forget?"
Well, in reality, as a priest, he had no healing skills at all. He only had two abilities, and both were somewhat deadly.
Even he couldn't understand—what kind of priest class was this?
Liana ran her fingers through his hair, her eyes shifting between Daniel's face and the faint scar on his neck. Gently, she smoothed his hair.
"Priest or not… you're still a kid." Her words made a smile appear on Daniel's face.
No words came to mind to reply to his mother—her words had completely left him speechless.
"Mom, if you don't let it go now, he'll fly away on his own. Come on, let's go." Alice's voice came from behind them. She was standing by the taxi, holding the rear door open.
Daniel glanced at his sister and winked. How could he not notice she was helping him out?
Alice just flashed a mischievous smile.
The goodbye was brief—warm but wordless. Liana and Alice got in, and the taxi slowly drove away down the quiet street.
Daniel stood silently, watching them leave. He didn't move until the taxi was out of sight. Then, he sighed and a smile appeared on his face.
At the same time, he got into the taxi he had called for himself.
The taxi seat was soft, but he barely leaned back.
"Awakened Association Center, District Three, Saint Elias Boulevard." The driver nodded, and the taxi started moving.
Daniel didn't want to drag this out. He planned to go to the city's Awakened Association as soon as possible and officially register as an Awakened.
For someone like him, who was already eighteen, this was already way too late.
It's true that people say Awakening happens between ages sixteen and eighteen, but in reality, it only happens at sixteen.
Awakening at seventeen or eighteen is extremely rare, so it's considered late.
A moment later, the driver glanced at Daniel through the mirror. "The Awakened Association?… So you're one of them?"
"Just awakened. Going to register." Daniel didn't take his eyes off the window. His voice was dry but calm.
"Lucky you. These days, Awakening is like winning the golden ticket. The rest of us are still stuck in traffic, waking up and sleeping." The driver smirked—a mix of admiration and envy.
"Golden ticket? More like a landmine in a warzone. You just don't know when it'll blow up." Daniel raised an eyebrow.
Still, the driver's words weren't that strange. Even Daniel himself had dreamed of becoming an Awakened ever since he reincarnated into this world.
Even if they have the lowest-tier class, they still receive a monthly salary from the Awakened Association—enough to live comfortably above average.
He could understand the driver's envy.
"Well, some people wake up with back pain, and no one cares." The driver laughed, his voice fading into the sound of the engine.
"That's still a kind of awakening. Just a system update that's running late." Daniel laughed too.
"Hope you reach the higher ranks soon. Heard some can clear a dungeon with just a gesture." The driver seemed happy chatting with Daniel.
"Right now, I'm practicing how to climb stairs without falling." Daniel said sarcastically.
Both laughed after that.
The taxi continued on its way, and Daniel watched the city through the window.
He was recalling all the information he had about the Awakened Association.
The Awakened Association was a semi-governmental organization under the National Federation.
A formal, complex structure that claimed neutrality but, in practice, mostly followed the orders of the Guardian Council—a global institution that controlled the power of the Awakened.
He knew that without an official badge, he couldn't do anything—no entering dungeons, no using skills, not even basic treatment from the Mother System, let alone entering the Tower.
On top of that, there was the monthly salary for regular Awakened. Equipment, training, treatment… everything for Awakened was ten times more expensive than normal life.
Daniel didn't want his mother and sister to pay the price for a power that had barely just awakened.
That's why the salaries of Awakened were high—because their expenses were even higher than that income.
"We're here, sir."
Suddenly, the taxi stopped, and Daniel looked up.
In front of him stood a building that looked more like the command center of an ancient civilization with futuristic technology than a government office.
The Sanctis Awakened Association building.
A glass-and-stone tower with curved, modern facades, golden lines running through it like veins of magical energy. The blue reflection of the glass under the sunlight gave off a sense of life.
Black stone stairs, lined with white lights along the edges, led up to automatic doors.
Above the entrance, the Association's emblem was intricately engraved—a raised hand, a flame between its fingers, and a silver ring rotating around it.
Guards in black uniforms with golden trim stood at the entrance. The Association's emblem glowed on each of their arms. Official Awakened, staff with transparent tablets, and newcomers like Daniel moved in and out.
Daniel paid the fare and stepped out of the taxi. For a moment, he just stared at the building.
"How much money was spent to build this place?" That was the first thought that came to mind when he saw it.