In this world, the expense associated with increasing your chances to awaken and awaken a powerful ability was astronomical even for the wealthy.

Ordinary awakeners with stable income would struggle to get just a Heroic Brass curse material much less those above it. Black Iron materials cost dozens of silver coins. Brass materials were even more expensive and were sold in the thousands of silvers.

For low-income or zero-income households such as the two poor youths Freed and Jellal this was far away from them.

Even borrowing a loan was out of the question as who would risk their money on children of the poor already in debt to begin with and fatherless children.

“You’re better off as an orphan you don’t know your family. Maybe you have grandparents, hell maybe even your parents were awakeners so you’ll have a higher chance with some degree of extraordinary blood.”

Jellal grew quiet hearing this, his happy-go-lucky buddy had gone pessimistic lately but who could blame him? That was the hand they were dealt in this fucking world.

Even so, he wanted to change it. If he awakened even without extraordinary blood he could borrow a superior-quality gene testing machine and find his parents! This was his lifelong wish.

“Even more so you’re from Happy Heart Orphanage, the same as the Legendary up and comer, Yuhan Provost. I’m sure you’ll be able to get a loan even if he doesn’t sponsor it for you. I hear he’s quite generous to his fellow orphans so you should be able to borrow his name.”

Freed chuckled although they had practically the same upbringing and financial backgrounds this cheap friend of his had shit luck and happened to benefit from the light of a rising star who shot up past the clouds in these past four years.

“Ha.” Jellal let out a wry smile unable to deny it. He had hidden it from his best friend out of guilt and not wanting to show off but he didn’t have to worry about a loan for his curse material.

His eldest brother was indeed amazing and several orphans from their home in the last two years were sponsored by him to awaken, many were successful.

Although their set of ‘siblings’ was plentiful from the harsh environment and high death rate of the current human race. Their orphanage still only had about a thousand children and only about a dozen currently of age to awaken.

Now with grants flowing everywhere due to Yuhan’s influence and his own direct help, many orphans at Happy Heart were now on cloud nine and smoke rose from their ancestral graves for being lucky enough to be in the same orphanage as him.

Something particularly amusing was that several parents who abandoned their children came to collect them and rub shoulders with Yuhan when he rose to fame.

Freed was there for part of this when a parent came and inwardly laughed until his belly ached.

Was this the equivalent of someone’s child joining the NBA?

Fathers miraculously returning with the milk?

“Welp, it is what it is. I don’t blame you, your luck just turned out better than mine. It's a happy event.”

While Yuhan was rising no one expected he could go so far, even that he was willing to give back to his orphanage when he had grown tall was something many didn’t foresee.

Freed patted his friend's back seeing the guilt appear on his face. His predecessor didn’t hold it against him and neither did he. He was happy his friend was not subject to the same fate as he was.

“Freed, I-” Jellal wanted to say something but was kept silent by Freed’s peaceful gaze.

“Ah another thing, if anything by tomorrow you’ll have to call me by a different name. Well, later I gotta go.” Freed gave another smile and departed leaving the confused Jellal who was about to try to commit and sponsor this childhood playmate of his somehow.

“?”

What did he mean call him by a different name? Did he want a new nickname or something?

Jellal stopped himself from pondering and gazed at his friend’s lonely departing back, he clenched his fists and slowly opened them coming to a decision within his heart.

Yes even if his eldest brother wasn’t sponsoring him he could borrow a loan with his name, no, he didn’t even need to use his name and their orphanage’s name was enough, Happy Heart was already famous because of Brother Yuhan.

Since his eldest brother already promised him a surprise for his curse material tonight then he would borrow a loan and give another surprise to his best pal!

Jellal changed directions and no longer went straight home rushing to another location.

*****

Freed navigated through the streets past the three to six story buildings and headed to the shanty town area. The buildings decreased in quality and size the further he trod. From tall beautiful buildings made of high-quality wood and stone to unrefined blocks and thin straw huts.

Jellal was the same as him in the past but even so their orphanage was still a state-backed entity formed with the help of the Church of Life and Nature along with the Church of Light and Purity.

Even if the support was not strong, basic appearances must still be upheld. Therefore the orphanage was not located in the dirty shanty town slum area but instead was in the outer district.

The White Star District where they lived was located on the bottom-most sixth leaf of the Great Herillep Sapling. The district took up the majority of the leaf and was practically a large city. The city was split into the core district, inner district, middle district, and outer district.

‘Still it's hard to believe we live on a giant underground plant’

Freed was still baffled even after 3 weeks at the magic of it all. The Great Herillep also known as the White Guardian Sapling was a Mystic Plant given divinity by the Goddess of Life, Nature, and Spirits.

Not only did it keep the Black Fog and powerful Aberrations away, but inside it flowed a ‘Nutrient Solution’ an improved version of its nectar flowing throughout its body created by the plant from the blessing of divinity.

Even when the divinity weakened the nutrient solution would not suffer or degrade in quality as the plant already acquired this ability to create this ‘Nutrient Solution’.

This nutrient solution could strengthen the human body to a degree, increase longevity, and replace daily food consumption among other noteworthy effects. In the dark ages when food was scarce, this was a heaven-sent elixir and even now the benefits remained without being degraded or affected by the passage of time.

Of course, it didn’t need to be degraded as the upper class did that for them by diluting it thousands of times before making it accessible to the lower classes on account of ‘conserving and concentrating’ resources.

Even then it was expensive to acquire.

The leaves of the giant sapling were thick and humongous enough to build underground cities on. The White Guardian Sapling had six leaves and six districts with the upper class and nobility mainly living on the higher leaves farther up the stem.

The lowest stem they inhabited only held the bottom class, the majority were Class F and E citizens and the leaders of the district were the Class C and B citizens.

It took quite a while for Freed to make it into the shanty town. Although this was underground the White Guardian Sapling was huge and each leaf could hold about 2 million people. Just the White Star District Freed lived in held 3.5 million individuals as the most populous leaf.

The shanty town was not originally built along with the city but only later came to be hundreds of years ago from the poor within the bottom class being pushed out, unable to afford homes. Most families were generations without awakeners unable to escape the quagmire of class.

It was said they were unfavoured by the Gods and the shanty town was better known as the ‘Sinful Territory’ by the upper classes.

Being discriminated against as a ‘sinner’ was a common occurrence within Freed’s predecessor's memory as early as he could walk he remembered the jeers and self-deprecating laughs and smiles from his family and neighbors.

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Of course, as the awakening period grew near these jeers and insults all but disappeared, history had taught these people to pick their battles.

A Class C citizen with awakener status could easily kill Class F, E, and D citizens without repercussions and maybe only a small amount of jail time.

They could even kill nonawakeners at the Class C citizen level, although the punishment would be heavier it wasn’t particularly harsh either.

It had happened before that several gangs, unruly classmates and neighbors bullied unfortunate slum children who later leapt over the dragon’s gate awakening as Mystics and later came for revenge. In severe cases the entire family was killed, it was not uncommon.

Therefore the mocking jeers, random physical bullying, and so on were reduced to glares of distaste and silence the closer it was to awakening, no one was stupid enough to court death when they could avoid it.

Even the rampant gangs left the homes of families with children of age alone starting 3 weeks prior to the Awakening Ceremony.

Freed stopped in front of the dilapidated wooden door battered by the years. The blue paint faded and stripped off.

This was his home, no his predecessor’s home ever since he was born. He took a deep breath and was hesitant to enter.

After a while, he opened his eyes filled with determination.

What must come will come!

Creak.

The door made a rickety noise as it moved on its rusty hinges.

A head peeked out from the corner ahead. It was his sister Harper, a year his junior. She tucked away and shouted, ‘Mom it’s my idiot brother!’.

“Ah, Freed you’re home. I was late coming home to begin cooking your Jubu but I’m just about finished, your father should make it home soon as well.” A soothing voice echoed from the kitchen in their living room after lightly scolding the parroty bell-like voice.

Freed froze in his steps.

It was a warm scene, of a good home. Poverty did not dampen their spirits and they were still full of life, yet… yet…

Why did his heart feel so cold?

“Freed? Freed?” His mother came forward not hearing a reply seeing the conflicted Freed still at the door, his eyes filled with turbulent waves.

Her blue eyes had crow's feet but she had a slightly plump figure seemingly unaffected by insufficient meals and light makeup from taking care of her appearance which all made her seem younger than her years.

“What’s wrong did something happen?” She asked in concern, seeing his dark face. She sighed seeing the bruises he had but they were already used to it. Thankfully after tomorrow one way or the other he wouldn’t be bullied as much and would rub shoulders with those the same as him.

“Sarah, how’s the Jubu going is it ready?” A strong voice called from behind Freed, it was his father, Thomas. He was a strong man hardened by labor and harsh times. He was taller than Freed by a shoulder and had dark hair and eyes similar to Freed.

He was covered in black soot just home from work, both his skin and overalls were stained heavily, some stains new and many old unable to be removed.

This didn’t hide his handsome appearance though as old Williams would say himself he was the most handsome in six blocks north and south.

This was true as even in his old age his looks remained. In the marriage, their mother was the lucky one possessing just average looks.

“Ah dear, it’s just about finished. You made it just in time.” Mother Williams quickly replied, seeing her husband’s signature bright smile.

“Then I’ll just go take a shower and get ready.”

“Ah-” Mother Williams was about to say something to her husband when Freed walked away without saying anything.

“What’s the matter?” Father Williams nudged her and asked as she looked worriedly at her son’s departing back.

“It’s Freed. He’s quiet today. He’s acting weird.” She answered.

“The boy’s been acting weird since 3 weeks ago, it's nothing more than the jitters from the awakening ceremony. It can be a lot of pressure. Leave him be, I'm sure he’ll feel better after his Jubu. I still remember mine-” Father Williams was a talkative man and not quite the stern father figure but he transformed into one whenever he needed to be.

The man Freed Williams and Harper Williams grew up with was a playmate and friend who only wore the clothes of a stern figure when they were very bad.

The Jubu was a lucky meal that has become a tradition in the Shantytown. Although they were supposedly sinners as others would call them, every year a few of those sinners would be washed of their sins and become upright citizens doing a leap over the dragon’s gate after the awakening ceremony.

Although few in number relative to the shanty town numbering in the hundreds of thousands, it was not uncommon for one child to bring his family with him to a better home after awakening. A person’s lifespan in these dark times at the bottom was about 50 years.

In that time, of course they would see many children from other families leaping over the gate and have hope kindled in their hearts like a flame.

Unable to afford extraordinary curse materials to increase the chances of awakening, poor families instead saved up for a lavish meal on the eve of awakening and prayed to the Goddess Tycelle, the Goddess of Fate, Fortune, and Luck.

Although the goddess had embraced the dusk and perished, her sister the Goddess of Dreams was one of the Seven and acquiesced to her sister still being worshipped.

While the income of the shanty town dwellers was unable to buy even the lowest quality Black Iron Curse Material after decades of saving up, it was more than enough to provide a good meal before the day.

Thus, it became somewhat of a ritual for every family who had a child awakening to prepare such a meal and pray on the eve of awakening hoping their child would awaken and shed their dirty clothes of class.

Freed listened to the hustle and bustle outside as he came into his tidied room, he had left it unkempt but it was no surprise to whom tidied up.

His mother was quite stern at times but loving nonetheless.

Today she was a lot more calm and easy-going for his sake.

His sister was still suffering from her strong nature though.

“Ah, Mom! Don’t pull my ear so hard, you’ll tug it right off!”

“Harper Lee Williams, your brother has a big day tomorrow and we won’t be having any of your childish jeers and misbehaviors. I hope I don't have to speak to you again!”

“Alright, already I was just kidding I wasn’t going to eat his jelly donut honest!”

“Jeez.”

It was a warm family. Had he been an orphan in his previous life he would be glad to have them.

This was a new world and he was gifted a wonderful new family yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling in his heart especially when he looked at his mother.

His body felt warm and cared for, yet his heart felt different.

He had pondered over it these past few days pretending to be their son. Was it his predecessor’s remnant spirit or memories from the brain? He didn’t know.

What was clear was that he inherited all his memories otherwise pretending to be him would have been even harder.

It was strange that something like a warm family would make him feel uncomfortable but it did.

His body was at home but his soul wasn’t.

He recognized that he was in a new world right now and had to adapt as such but certain things he would never compromise on!

“Freed it's time for your Jubu!”

His mother called him from outside. The thin walls hardly hampered her voice at all.

Freed stood up in his school uniform and headed out with just his student ID, leaving his bag on his tattered mattress.

“Huh? Why haven’t you changed? Hurry up and– huh?” Mother Williams lightly scolded her son but seeing the look on his face her heart stopped.

“Hah. I knew a leopard couldn’t change its spots. You’re still up to no good even now!” His sister crossed her arms and chided. Her blue eyes were inherited from their mother but she inherited the good genes of her father and was quite beautiful.

In such a world beauty was a sin and even their old father only escaped because rich women only had secret male wives and not open ones, furthermore he had a hideous skin infection on his back from a work accident and he had a ‘weak waist’ so he wasn’t forced to be some rich or strong woman’s male pet.

Women were different however, as long as they were attractive or beautiful in any way they would be desired, the old couple was worried so they painted their daughter's face with dirt each time she went out.

Even while inside they did the same, as she was young and they didn’t want her to have a habit of showing her face without worry.

Stories of children being trafficked by gangs never ended and rich folk were known to seize women as concubines and children as servants and personal soldiers.

Unfortunately, as she matured her body wasn’t average and although she was flat-chested for now she was still curvy and even baggy clothes couldn’t fully hide it unless she was dressed in large robes which would gather even more suspicious eyes.

This caused the old couple to worry for her secretly, the rich wouldn’t want her based on just this but the local ruffians were a different story so they kept her on a tight schedule and ensured she was always supervised, this responsibility mainly fell to Freed since they were always busy at work and couldn’t trust outsiders hence the regular sibling squabbles.

Today was a special occasion and she was allowed to clean her face and bathe properly so she was quite chipper, as a lady she hated being smelly and ugly but she knew it was necessary, chances like these she could be her normal self were rare so she quite enjoyed it.

Harper was about to continue when she felt the mood in the room was off. Her father was oddly stern unlike his usual joker persona and her mother looked shocked and unsettled like she had swallowed something ghastly.

She looked over to her brother and saw the reason.

His eyes.

They were cold.

Almost chilling.

They had no emotion aside from distaste within them.

Who looked at their parents like that? Now on a day they specially set aside time from work just for him!

As she was about to give him a piece of her mind.

“I’m leaving. And I won’t be coming back. Ever.”

The silent room grew quieter as if even the wind had stopped.