"What about those that aren't commoners? Can they leave the barrier?"
Haron's face darkened, and he nodded.
"Yes. The king and the noble families have the power to leave whenever they wish. They go beyond the barrier, gather resources, and return stronger. They bring back food, weapons, even magical knowledge. But none of it is shared with us."
"Oh? They're hoarding everything?" Kyle asked with disbelief.
"That's not all. The nobles are the only ones allowed to awaken magic. They claim it's for control, that allowing commoners to awaken would destabilize the kingdom. So we remain weak, while they grow stronger with every passing year."
The bitterness in Haron's voice was unmistakable. Kyle could feel the resentment in his words, and from the expressions of those gathered there, it was clear that this wasn't just his opinion, it was the sentiment of everyone in the village.