The Path to Change

Haru, flustered from falling onto Riven, quickly scrambled to get off him. His face burned red with embarrassment as he waved his hands frantically, trying to distance himself. Riven winced in pain, his expression twisted in discomfort.

“I’m sorry! I really didn’t mean to!” Haru stammered.

Riven let out a deep sigh and tilted his head back, staring at the sky. “Honestly… ever since you arrived, Haru, my dignity has been completely ruined.”

The scene momentarily dispelled the tense atmosphere within Solace. As soft chuckles spread through the crowd, Arbis casually sipped her drink and shrugged. “Well, at least things have livened up a little.”

However, not everyone found the situation amusing. Azael narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable as he observed Haru. He was analyzing the chaotic energy that had briefly surged around him, studying the anomaly that surrounded his body. His gaze, sharp and calculated, assessed Haru with the intensity of a predator sizing up its prey.

Turning to Luna, he spoke in a cold, measured tone. “Who is this fool?”

Luna exhaled lightly and crossed her arms. “A ticking time bomb. Let’s just hope it doesn’t explode while it’s in our hands.”

Azael’s lips curled slightly, his eyes remaining locked onto Haru. There was a calculating glint in them, as though he were trying to solve an unknown equation. “I want you to keep a close watch on him, Luna. Track his every move. We need time to determine whether he’s a threat… or an opportunity.”

Luna tilted her head slightly, studying Azael’s expression. “What exactly aren’t you sure about?” she asked, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and subtle defiance.

Azael’s face remained cold and expressionless. “I don’t know yet,” he murmured. “But one thing is certain… If Orbis cannot accept someone, they are either a grave mistake… or the harbinger of a massive change.”

Luna nodded slightly, though a trace of doubt flickered in her eyes. “And which one are you hoping for?”

Azael paused briefly before looking at her, his lips curling into a faint, icy smile. “Both.”

Luna inclined her head slightly. “Understood.”

Throughout the exchange, Nihilos appeared uninterested. Hands shoved into his pockets, his usual indifferent expression remained fixed in place. Yet, his eyes flicked toward Haru at irregular intervals. Outwardly, he seemed detached, but internally, he was aware of something. He had seen the energy fluctuations that Haru had created—something that had no place within Orbis’ natural order.

Tilting his head slightly, Nihilos turned to Azael with a faint smirk. “So, it seems we’ve invited chaos right to our doorstep. How amusing. Let’s see what kind of surprises this boy has in store for us.”

                                                                                   ***

As the tension in Solace gradually faded, Arbis rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she let out a sigh. “Alright, you’ve had your fun. Now take care of that wall you destroyed. Start fixing it before you turn this place into complete ruins.”

Riven groaned at her words, stuffing his hands into his pockets and scowling. “Oh, come on! A kid just fell on me. Can’t I get a little sympathy?” he complained, but no one paid him any attention.

Resigning himself to his fate, he shrugged. “Fine, fine. But at least Haru has to help. This was half his fault.”

Haru lowered his head in embarrassment. “You’re right… I’ll help.”

A few minutes later, Riven returned with repair materials and wooden supports, reluctantly getting to work. Haru sat beside him, picking up a brick awkwardly and staring at it, completely unsure of what to do. They worked in silence for a while until Riven finally paused, glancing at Haru from head to toe before frowning.

“You’re seriously scrawny, you know that?” he said, eyeing Haru’s thin arms. “Look at the way you’re holding that brick. You’re so weak a strong breeze could knock you over.”

Haru let out an awkward laugh. “Well, I never really thought about working out… But isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration? I look pretty normal, don’t I?”

Riven raised an eyebrow as he pressed a stone piece into place. “Take a good look at the people around you. Do you still think you look normal? It’s about time you did something about it. I’m going to train you.”

Back in his own world, Haru’s physique was average. But here, compared to the muscular, battle-hardened people around him, he felt noticeably weak. He had to admit, standing beside them made him feel even smaller. Yet, he was also beginning to understand Riven’s tendency to exaggerate everything.

Haru’s eyes widened. “What?! Me? Train me in what?”

Riven grinned and stretched his arms lazily. “I’m going to train you to be stronger—to defend yourself. If you’re going to live here, you need to at least learn how to fight back. Everyone here trains. I’m the best combat instructor in Solace. People line up to learn from me, and yet, look at that expression on your face.”

Haru swallowed nervously. “Wait… so there are other people training in combat here?”

Riven nodded and gestured toward a door leading to the back courtyard. “It’s not just us. Anyone in Solace who wants to train fights there. If a war is coming, we all need to be ready. And we don’t just train in combat techniques—we also learn how to use the weapons developed by Professor Gilbert, the so-called ‘charlatan scientist’ Nihilos keeps mocking. If you want to become a proper fighter fast, this is the best place to do it.”

As they talked, Seraphis approached them. While Haru and Riven continued trying to repair the wall, Seraphis placed his hands on his hips and tilted his head slightly, amusement in his eyes.

“What’s this? Have you two decided to become builders now? If you keep this up, you’ll end up expanding Solace with new structures,” he chuckled.

Then, turning serious, he added, “We’re taking Haru to meet Professor Gilbert.”

Riven, placing another stone into position, pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows. “Wait, am I going too? I just finished working, can’t I get a break? Let me at least give this wall the respect it deserves.”

Haru wiped his hands on his pants and straightened up, his eyebrows raised in surprise. “Professor Gilbert?”

Seraphis narrowed his eyes slightly and motioned forward. “He’s not just a scientist. He holds one of Solace’s greatest secrets. If you really want to understand your place here, you need to talk to him.”

Without asking further questions, Haru decided to follow Seraphis. The curiosity growing inside him had already outweighed his fear.