CHAPTER 3

Dr. Beka's jaw dropped. "You don't know what a doctor is?"

"I don't," Hirayon answered honestly.

The delighted expressions on the two oddities' faces shifted into shock.

"But you know how to identify the level of a monster?" Dr. Beka asked, recalling what he had read on Hirayon's file.

"Yes."

Dr. Beka looked at Hirayon in disbelief. The child's lack of knowledge about doctors contrasted sharply with his ability to discern a monster's level. Now intrigued, Dr. Beka found himself curious about Hirayon's upbringing and the kind of education he had received.

"Child, do you know where you are?" Dr. Beka asked.

Hirayon shook his head. "No, I don't."

"You are in a Health Facility. This is where doctors and other medical staff heal oddities when they have an illness or injury."

Hirayon's eyes widened at the revelation. He recalled his mother's condition, an illness deemed incurable. A flicker of hope sparked within him—perhaps they could heal her.

"Can you really heal people even when there's no cure?" he asked, a trace of hope evident in his voice.

Dr. Beka raised an eyebrow. "That depends on the patient's condition and the disease. Why? Do you know someone who is ill?"

Instead of answering, Hirayon posed another question. "Can you heal a dead person?"

Dr. Beka and Elira froze at his question. The quiet room became unbearably muted. The adult oddities exchanged worried glances before turning their attention back to Hirayon.

"Child, the only oddities we can heal are those who are still alive. We can't heal dead people."

"Why? You said you can heal those who are ill," Hirayon asked with a shaky voice. Desperation and pleading were visible in his eyes, emotions rarely seen from Hirayon besides curiosity and confusion.

Dr. Beka took a deep breath before answering. "Yes, but death isn't an illness. It is the end of life. Even I am curious to know how we can bring back a person to life. But no one can do it. That's why we heal people so that they can prevent death. Because if they do, we can't do anything anymore."

Hirayon looked at his doctor with blurry eyes. He had been hopeful that they could help, but now, he was left disappointed.

"Uhm, Hirayon?" Dr. Beka nervously called, glancing at Elira for assistance. Comforting children wasn't his forte, and he struggled to find the right words.

Elira walked to the other side of the bed and sat beside Hirayon. When she placed her hand on his back, she couldn't help but bite her lips to suppress her emotions.

The child's small, bony back trembled. He tried to hold back his emotions, an act that gripped Elira's heart. She couldn't fathom the life the child had led, but she sensed it must have been arduous. Hirayon's demeanor set him apart from other children as if a mentally ignorant adult oddity inhabited that tiny body.

As warm hands touched his back, Hirayon could no longer contain his tears. He let them flow, his quiet sobs echoing in the room. For the first time, he allowed himself to act like a child. Yet, he wasn't crying over a toy or a childish matter; he was releasing pent-up emotions, expressing the sorrow of being left alone.

They attempted to comfort Hirayon, but his tears refused to cease. Unlike other children who might wail in distress, Hirayon wept silently, clutching the bed sheets. His mother's words echoed in his ears. He knew her words held truth—there was no cure for her illness. Nevertheless, he clung to a glimmer of hope, a wish that someone out there could aid him and his mother. Alas, disappointment settled in.

***

Days unfolded, and Hirayon spent them within the Health Facility, striving to acquaint himself with his surroundings. He devoured every book the nurse gave and relished each meal, gradually shedding his scrawniness and resembling more of his actual age. When he inquired with Elira about leaving, he was informed that he needed to stay in the hospital until he fully recovered.

Although he felt neither ill nor discomfort, he didn't protest the notion of remaining in the facility. Uncertain about where to turn next, he recalled his mother mentioning an orphanage. However, when he questioned Elira, she informed him that there was no longer an orphanage in the city.

According to her, it had been four years since the only orphanage in the city had closed, leaving Hirayon with nowhere to go.

Engrossed in a new book about oddities, Hirayon heard the door slide open, revealing a man of imposing stature and a stoic face. The middle-aged figure, adorned in a mud-brown three-piece suit that clung to his large muscled frame, sported a slightly long beard.

As the man's gaze fell upon Hirayon's thin face, his eyes became complex, and his lips curved into a somber smile. With heavy steps, he entered the room and took a seat beside the child's bed.

Once settled, he fixed his gaze on Hirayon, who returned the stare in silence.

"My name is Daram. I am the chief of the Earth Clan. Are you familiar with clans?" he asked, his deep voice carrying an authoritative tone that exerted some pressure on Hirayon.

The child gazed at Daram with slightly widened eyes. His mother had educated him about clans, mentioning that they resided in the forest within the lands of the Earth Clan. Additionally, Elira had provided him with numerous books about clans and oddities, granting him enough knowledge to recognize the man standing before him.

Hirayon nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on Daram. He understood that the person before him held significance, prompting a wariness in the child.

"You don't have to be on edge. I mean no harm. I'm here only to ask you some questions," he reassured.

When Daram sensed Hirayon easing a little, he snapped his fingers, and a transparent dome with a tinge of brown quickly expanded from the man, covering half of the room.

Hirayon glanced at it briefly, redirecting his full attention to Daram. Recognizing it as a barrier, he recalled his mother creating similar ones in the forest. The only distinction was his mother's domes lacked any touch of color.

Observing Hirayon's disinterest, Daram inquired, "Have you seen a barrier before?"

Hirayon nodded, prompting a similar understanding nod from Daram. "This is to ensure that nobody will hear us from the outside. And I did this because I wanted you to answer me honestly so I could help you. Could you promise me that you'll answer my questions?" Daram explained, adopting a gentler but still authoritative tone.

Hirayon felt conflicted. The Health Facility never pressured him to answer questions, making him hesitant to respond to Daram. Yet, Daram was the chief, the leader of the clan. If anyone could help him find an orphanage or a place to stay, it would be this man.

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Hirayon was about to nod again when Daram projected a picture, causing Hirayon's eyes to widen. His usual expressionless face vanished, replaced by shock and unexplainable fear.

When Daram saw his reaction, his jaw clenched.

"Is this your mother?" he asked to confirm.

The person in the picture was a stunning woman with bright bluish-violet eyes. Her hair was wavy and black, and she wore a warm expression and smile. It was a younger version of Hirayon's mother.

Hirayon stared at the picture with lonely eyes. He had thought he would never see her again. Although the hologram depicted a younger version of her, it was enough for him to have something that could remind him of her aside from memories and the dirty spatial sack on the bedside table.

Daram didn't need confirmation after witnessing the child's expression. The yearning and longing in his eyes spoke unuttered evidence of their connection.

"Do you know about oddities, Hirayon?" Daram asked.

Hirayon nodded at Daram before returning his gaze to the hologram. His mother had been his teacher about oddities, and despite the system's complexity, his intelligence for his age allowed him to grasp her teachings quickly.

All residents of Diwana from the past millennium were referred to as Oddities. They possessed elemental abilities, setting them apart from their ancestors and earning them the label of "odd." The origin of this phenomenon remained unknown, but the residents of Diwana began developing abilities aligned with a specific element. Speculations suggested this transformation might be linked to the increasing number of monsters, though it remained a theory lacking conclusive evidence.

Initially, only a small number of people gained abilities, rendering them the odd minority and leading to the term 'Oddities.' This classification persisted until the current generation, where everyone had the potential to wield abilities.

As the years passed, new systems were established to manage the changes in their world. One such system was the formation of clans, where oddities of the same element congregated to create their communities. With the increasing oddity population, having territories became necessary, resulting in clans' expansion.

Everything was peaceful at first, but as monsters began to overrun most territories, battles quickly erupted within the clans to secure more land for the growing number of oddities. Initially, it seemed like their only recourse. Wars unfolded across Diwana for years, and oddities started to grasp the extent of their capabilities.

As oddities honed their skills with their abilities, clan leaders realized they could combat monsters and reclaim their territories. This led to the unity and coordination of the clans, eventually culminating in the selection of an impartial supreme ruler with the prestigious title of 'Supremo.'

Thus began the era of the Oddity World Leaders, with the Supremo as the highest authority and the clan leaders forming the council. From there, the world continued to evolve, eventually establishing the Oddity Ability System, a ranking system based on the number of an oddity's abilities.

Every oddity starts with two basic and two innate abilities, determined by their affinity, making them Normal Oddities. Subsequently, oddities could be classified as Skilled, Veteran, Gifted, Stellar, Elite, Noble, Regal, and Prime. Each title had three phases, with phase one adding one basic ability, phase two introducing one innate ability, and phase three providing an additional innate ability along with a substantial boost in aura capacity.

Although it only took three phases to reach another rank, progressing through all those phases was no easy feat. An oddity had to dedicate years to training all their acquired abilities to be considered worthy of another, eventually ascending to a new title. To unlock the next phase in every rank, an oddity had to expertly utilize the previously unsealed basic or innate ability and train it until the Aura Ring within Core Space expanded, and their status window detected a new ability.

Daram nodded in understanding. "It's good that you know. It'll be easier to explain. Your mother, Marin, was an official from the Barrier Clans' council. She is one of the Elite Oddities who exhibited strong potential to become a Noble and wield three elements. People were expecting great things from her when she suddenly disappeared." Daram observed Hirayon's expression before continuing.

"The last place she was seen was on the Mist Clans' territory. There, she stayed for a few days and went missing again without any trace for the last five years. Several years later, you suddenly appeared, bearing deep black hair and bluish-violet eyes. You are clearly her son. Now, child, where is your mother?" Daram asked with a calm but authoritative voice.

Hirayon felt his back stiffen and shudder under the sudden pressure emanating from the man. His mind raced, considering what answer to provide.

"Why?" Hirayon asked.

"Hmm?"

"Why do you want to know where Mama is?" Hirayon inquired bravely, even as the mounting pressure made breathing difficult for him.

"That's not for you to know, child," Daram answered grimly, disliking that he was being questioned.

Hirayon clenched his jaw, contemplating what to say. His mother had instructed him not to reveal anything about her, but if he shared her whereabouts, they could check her condition. However, that also meant they might exploit whatever they needed from her. After all, there must be a reason why they were searching for her.

After much deliberation, Hirayon chose to let his mother rest in peace, undisturbed.

"I don't know," Hirayon answered.

Daram frowned at the kid, surprised that the child would lie to him under so much pressure.

"Don't lie," the chief demanded, finding the answer obviously false.

"I'm not lying. I really don't know where Mama is," Hirayon honestly replied.

Daram's frown deepened, and his patience wore thin. Though typically calm, Marin's case was an old, unsolved world problem. When the search was issued, he had thoroughly combed his territory, finding nothing. Now, this child appeared, closely resembling Marin.

"Kid, I know you were found in the forest. I only need you to tell me which direction from the falls," Daram said, attempting to contain his emotions.

"What falls?" Hirayon asked cluelessly, causing the chief's suspicion to waver. The child seemed genuinely unaware.

Daram deliberated for a moment before clicking his tongue. The child's stubbornness reminded him of someone annoying. He then telepathically called one of his men who remained outside. After a second, the automatic door of the room opened, revealing a man wearing what seemed like a uniform. It was a plain soil-colored long-sleeved polo shirt and slacks in the same color, decorated on the hem with small white phrases describing the Earth clan. Due to Diwana's writing system, the words looked like a pattern instead.

The young man who had just entered respectfully bowed to his chief before focusing his attention on Hirayon. Amusement sparkled in his eyes, finding it incredulous that Hirayon would lie in front of Daram.

Earlier, he had been briefed on why an intern like him was suddenly invited to accompany the chief. He assumed he wouldn't be needed, given that the mere presence of the chief could make a typical oddity's knees buckle—let alone a child. However, his assumption was proved wrong when he heard the chief call him in his mind.

"Do it," Daram ordered, and the man stared directly into Hirayon's eyes. The man's brown eyes subtly glowed, while Hirayon's lost its light as if hypnotized.

Daram didn't want to resort to this, knowing it had painful side effects on the mind, but he felt compelled. The news had yet to reach the Oddity World Leaders, but it would soon. He needed to act swiftly before they took the child into their custody. If that happened, he wouldn't be able to help anymore.

"Where is your mother?" Daram asked the dazed child.

"I don't know," Hirayon answered monotonously.

Daram's eyes twitched before he exhaled a sigh. It seemed the child wasn't lying to him.

"What were you doing before you lost consciousness?"

"I was running," Hirayon answered.

"Running from what?"

"Monsters."

Daram nodded. The information reported to him and the child's answers aligned so far. "Why are you in the forest?"

"I live there," Hirayon replied again without a second thought.

"Where, in particular?"

"Inside the cave."

Hirayon's response made Daram scowl. They had inspected the entire territory, including the caves, but never found a trace. He didn't know how Marin managed to achieve that, but it was confirmed that her abilities were strong enough to elude several Elite and Noble oddities.

"What was she doing the last time you saw her?"

"Sleeping," Hirayon answered once again.

"Why was she sleeping?" Daram asked.

"She's sick."

Daram's frown deepened. Did the child want to escape the forest because his mother was sick? But that wouldn't make sense. Hirayon would ask for help if that were the case.

"For how long was she sleeping?" he asked.

"...Three days."

Daram's jaw clenched. He had a feeling about it, but he needed to confirm.

"Chief, I can't hold on for long," the man said as his glowing eyes and lids started to tremble. Hirayon's last answer also took a while, indicating that the control was weakening.

Daram glanced at the intern and asked one last question to Hirayon. "Is she alive?"

"...No."

Daram closed his eyes and held his aching temple. "It's done now. I've heard what I need to know," he said, standing up.

When the man closed his eyes, Hirayon immediately clutched his head and screamed in pain. His mouth hung open wide as he screamed, abruptly stopping before falling back onto the bed. The pain was so intense that he lost consciousness and might not wake up for days.

Daram watched the child in bed for a while. He didn't know what to feel. He did learn that Marin was in one of the caves in his territory, but her death rendered the information useless. After all, they couldn't let the dead speak.

Moreover, how should he convey this information to his friend? That annoying guy always acted like things were nothing to him, but Daram knew how much he cared for that woman. After all, she wasn't just a passing lover or infatuation. Marin was his unconditional love.

R E H I L I Y A