The cafeteria was almost empty when I entered. Only a few people around my age were there. Was no one eating or what?
My stomach growled, and I quickly grabbed a tray and sat down.
I took the steak in my hands and took a big bite.
It was divine.
I had never eaten anything like it.
Compared to the food in prison or that place, it was absolutely delicious. I devoured it like an animal tearing into a carcass.
The others had just entered the building and were now heading toward the large table where I was sitting.
"Hey guys."
Amelia had a slightly smug smile.
"Rough wake-up?"
"Yeah, luckily my dear Klaus came to wake me up."
He looked at me with his usual serious expression.
"Be more careful next time."
"Try waking me up more gently next time."
He frowned.
"There won't be a next time. Deal with it."
Ethan interrupted us.
"Whatever, I think we have more serious things to discuss, right?"
Amelia continued, now with a serious tone.
"Yeah, like—Cain, why the hell are you eating with your hands?"
Ethan sighed. "That's not exactly what I was—"
"What, got a problem with the way I eat?"
Damn witch.
"We're not in the forest anymore, damn it. Use your utensils. You do know what they are, don't you?"
I frowned. Who did she think I was? Of course I knew. I just had never used them before. And I wasn't planning to start today.
"I don't want to."
I thought I saw a vein pop on her forehead before I turned my attention back to my now nearly empty plate.
"Like I was saying, we should talk about the important stuff. Like, I don't know, the war we just got drafted into without even knowing?"
Everyone gave him an indifferent look, except Klaus, who looked a bit annoyed.
"When you're in the army, you don't think. You act."
I continued, my usual unshakable smile still on my face.
"Anyway, with those bombs around our necks, we're chained up, Ethan. Don't overthink it. Actually, now that I think about it, I didn't see anyone else wearing these collars this morning."
Ethan ran a hand through his blond hair.
"I think we're the only ones who got enlisted straight from prison. The others might've even volunteered."
Amelia put a hand to her chin, probably the only way to get that brain of hers to work.
"Still, back on Earth, I never heard anything about this place..."
Ethan went on.
"If even you didn't know, then either it's only known to a very select few, or maybe they were born on this planet. There could be cities, new technology, amazing science labs and even—"
"We get it, Einstein. But that doesn't get us any closer to figuring out how to get this crap off our necks."
Klaus stood up, taking his tray with him.
"This is the army. Don't try to escape or plot anything clever. It'll always backfire."
Well, he sure doesn't seem to love the army.
It's strange, since yesterday, I've felt like something's missing. Like an annoying buzz in my ears had suddenly gone quiet…
Oh, I know!
"Julia, what do you think?"
She looked up, frowning at me.
"About what?"
She looked completely lost. Far from her usual childish behavior. Had she matured already?
"About all this. The collar, this place..."
She waved her small hand in the air and answered a bit harshly.
"I don't know."
She was clearly in a bad mood. Maybe I should teach her the art of staying positive.
"Damn Julia, you're even colder than Mr. Macho over there. Are you having a teen meltdown?"
She didn't answer and just walked away from the table.
It was a bit… awkward. Being around that witch and my "servant" was getting on my nerves for some reason. I decided to leave them alone.
*
When I pressed the collar yesterday, I noticed it also displayed the time and date. What a wonderful piece of magic!
I had about an hour left before I had to go to the meditation room—just enough time to take a well-deserved shower.
I entered my room and opened the wardrobe I hadn't bothered to check since claiming the space. Inside were several black outfits like the ones most people outside wore—except these lacked the recognizable red crest.
I grabbed a set and a towel from the bottom of the wardrobe before heading to the bathroom. Several individual stalls were lined up, each already stocked with soap and shampoo.
"Haa…"
It's amazing how taking a shower can wash away all your worries. For a brief moment, as the warm water flowed over my body, my mind went blank, banishing every dark thought and doubt.
I could stay here for hours...
BAM
The door slammed open, nearly hitting me due to the stall's tight space.
I turned around—and found myself face to face with those usual dazzling blue eyes.
"You into watching people naked or something?"
I thought people got embarrassed in situations like this. Wasn't that the case for her? In hindsight, maybe I should've screamed ?
She said nothing, just stared at my chest, reaching her hand toward one of my scars.
I pushed her arm away.
My smile almost faded.
"Don't touch that."
She frowned.
"I have the same ones."
"What?"
She lifted her shirt just enough for me to see the familiar line running between her hips.
I froze at the sight. How was that possible? Had she gone through the same thing as me?
"For as long as I can remember, I've had these scars. I always thought they were weird birthmarks. But when I saw you the other day..."
Should I tell her? Speak of one of the worst things I've ever experienced, to someone I barely know? No. Definitely not.
"I'll just tell you one thing. They're artificial."
Now she froze for a few seconds, processing what I had just said. But I didn't have all day.
"I'd invite you to stay, but it's a little cramped in here."
She left without a word. She really had changed... or maybe this was her true self?
*
I stood before the meditation room, which wasn't as empty as the day before. There was a large wooden table with two kinds of objects: some small vials filled with liquid, some books, and a small statue of a hooded woman with her hands in a prayer position, four pairs of wings on her back.
Was this the representation of an angel? Did angels exist ?
I felt a strange sensation as I looked at the figure. Had I seen her before?
The teacher—whose name I still didn't know—arrived shortly after, stopping beside the table.
"Take a vial and drink it."
She really didn't waste time. I just hoped it wasn't poison.
I stepped forward and grabbed a vial at random, drinking it almost immediately.
At first, I felt nothing—just the liquid sliding down my throat.
Then came hell.
I had endured all kinds of pain as a child—those bastards had creative minds, after all.
But I had never felt anything like this.
It was like my body was being reshaped—broken and rebuilt over and over until a certain result was reached.
I didn't know how much time had passed.
All I could hear were the screams of pain from every former inmate in the room.
Even my own cries echoed with theirs.
Then the pain vanished, replaced by a strange warmth flowing through every part of my body. I was drenched in sweat, regretting the shower I'd taken minutes earlier.
I stood up slowly, every muscle in my body numb like never before—every movement painful.
Minutes later, the screaming had stopped. The woman in front of us looked each of us over, as if checking something.
"What you just went through is called 'Harmonization.' Earlier, I told you it was biologically impossible for our bodies to contain Ith. But after centuries, we found a way. This liquid contains humanity's most precious resource, which alters your genes to allow the assimilation of Ith into your weak bodies."
So I'll be able to use magic now?!
"You probably think you have magical powers now, but it's not that simple."
Oh.
"You'll need a glyph. But that's not today's topic. First, we'll test your affinity. Come, each of you, and place your hand on the statue."
Our affinity?
"Before you ask, affinity is the element you'll find easiest to use and control. You can still use others, but it will be far more difficult."
The first boy stepped up hesitantly, placing his hand on the statue's head.
Instantly, the stone robes burst into flames, drawing gasps from the group.
"Fire affinity. Next."
He removed his hand, and the statue instantly returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
One by one, people approached the statue. It liquefied for water, levitated for wind, cracked for earth.
Then a tall woman with gray eyes and an expressionless face touched it—and the statue reacted in a way we hadn't seen yet.
Frost appeared, making it glow with a pale blue light. Then, it lit up the entire room with a blinding radiance.
For the first time, our teacher nodded with a hint of emotion.
"Ice and Light affinity."
Two affinities? Incredible!
Next was a slender young man with long blond hair. Leaves sprouted all over the statue, turning it into a small tree. Moments later, the leaves burned to ash.
"Nature and Fire. Good."
The boy looked pleased—almost arrogant at the teacher's praise.
Whatever. I'll have three... no, four affinities. These mortals are nothing to a being like me!
Then came Ethan. The statue was struck by violet lightning.
"Lightning. Next."
The teacher's voice still carried a hint of satisfaction—expected of my servant.
Amelia went next. The moment she touched the statue, silence filled the room.
A melody echoed in the air.
A song of inexplicable magnificence.
It made you want to kneel.
To worship.
For the first time, the woman next to the statue smiled.
"Holy affinity. Excellent!"
She actually looked impressed—more than she did even for the two-affinity users. I guess quality matters more than quantity?
Amelia returned to our side, frowning.
Ethan noticed.
"Something wrong?"
She didn't answer, pretending to focus on the next person, but her expression said it all.
Klaus went next. Suddenly, my body felt twice as heavy. My knees, still weak from the liquid, almost gave in.
"Gravity. Very good."
Then Julia stepped forward, the gold-skinned girl with jet-black hair moved slowly, contrasting her usual energetic self.
She placed her hand on the statue, and it immediately disintegrated.
Literally.
Nothing was left.
Disintegration? That was her element?
The teacher spoke, with a hint of pity in her voice.
"Affinity with Death... But you already knew that."
It wasn't a question. But how could she have known?
The statue reformed itself, though nothing had remained. What a strange and fascinating magical item.
Then it was my turn.
I stepped forward—oddly nervous. Strange. I've killed dozens without flinching, but this makes me anxious?
I gently placed my hand on the stone. I could feel it—hard but warm to the touch.
At first, nothing happened.
Then it began.
Two thin trails ran down the hooded face.
The angel seemed to cry.
But soon, the trails thickened, and their color was what struck me the most.
Red.
A deep red I knew far too well, had seen far too often.
The color of blood.