15 Central City.

Morning in the outskirts is a bit different from what happened at night. The pedestrians were filled with kids playing around, a buzz of a talking group of housewives and a group of youngsters gathering and discussing random things.

However, despite the lively mood, the situation was still bleak and a low sign of fulfilment. Only the laughter of innocent children could alleviate a bit about the surrounding atmosphere that was already stuck to the place.

Cain, who practically walked with a black dog beside him, attracted many onlookers; many of them were wary and also shocked to see someone in the outskirts could be awakened as a Resonator.

This phenomenon was quite rare, and it reminded him that most of the Resonators were usually hiding their Guardian and sneakily going toward the central city to register and get a better livelihood, which was better than here.

Like he thought, even though many eyes were on him, no one dared to approach Cain, who was casually walking with Noir, marching toward the patrol guard to report about his situation.

The people on the outskirts were rather cautious if they saw a resonator because they knew that the people who awakened as a Resonator were usually people from the city center, where the prominent family lived.

They didn't want to take a sudden approach, which prompted more risk if, for example, the Resonator would get insulted or just dislike being approached by a person from the outskirts who is notably in a lower caste. They were afraid of what would come.

However, all of those perceptions broke off when a young man the same age as Cain looked toward them with a stiffened face. The boy wearing a uniform from some school halted his mouth agape, struggling to let out the words that stuck in his throat.

Cain noticed the boy's appearance. He squinted his eyes before his expression brightened at seeing his friend in this place.

"Morning Deri".

"Cain? You? You are a Resonator?".

The boy called Deri approached them with an astonished face. His body went rigid when he saw the black dog up close. He alternated his gaze between Cain and the dog, his lips spreading in tremendous joy.

"Man, good for you, my friend. At least now you are one step away from achieving your dream."

"Well, thanks for that!".

Deri knows Cain's dream well, as someone who has known Cain since he was little and used to play pretend, becoming a Resonator and Hero. Knowing Cain's parents' story, who were also Resonators and the Idol Cain always looked up to, the Great Hero.

From the bottom of his heart, Deri felt a wondrous joy that couldn't be explained, and his body unconsciously hugged Cain.

Cain stood in silence, and his hand reached out. He hugged Deri back. The boy before him was a bit emotional and always the person who acted first before thinking. Slowly, as the two separated, Deri looked toward Noir and nodded with a smile.

"Are you going toward the Patrol headquarters?".

"Yeah!".

"You don't mind if I come with you along the way?".

"No problem! Also, this might be our last conversation we could have before I would be transferred".

"Ahaha, you are right. By the way, who is this?".

"Ah, he is called Noir, My Guardian Beast!".

Deri crouched down, meeting eyes with Noir, who sat still, watching the two reunion with glee. His lips parted, and he spoke.

"Nice to meet you, Noir".

*Woof!

Noir barked vigorously while wagging its tail behind, pleased that its master had someone he could rely on.

The two began to walk away from the place, followed by Noir beside them. Noir, whose mind is filled with curiosity about the surrounding area, tirelessly looked around, capturing as much information as it could while maintaining its vigilance.

Meanwhile, beside Noir, Cain and Deri talked harmoniously, filled with laughter, which enlivened the atmosphere around them.

A happy occasion would take most of the time faster, and true to its claim, the three finally arrived at the patrol headquarters, which stood in the middle of the city outskirts.

"Well I think this is it, for me. Work hard, Cain, I pray for your success!".

"Thanks, Deri. I really appreciated it!".

Cain could respond like that because, even after he told Deri about his situation regarding his partner, who was born as a Domestic Beast, instead of mocking Cain, Deri was angry on Cain's behalf.

All of those trivial reasons said about Cain's partner who can't stand in the front line infuriate him; he lives up to his nature as one other person Cain could relax to, besides his Grandpa.

The two didn't utter any unnecessary words; they smiled before turning their bodies and walking in two separate ways while internally wishing each other success.

Cain approached the Patrol place. It was a massive white building that stood out from the other buildings around it. Its stark colour gave a bit of life to the bleak atmosphere in the place.

The place was heavily guarded by tall steel fences, and in the front gate, there were two guard stands still wearing military uniforms. Once Cain entered the guard's sight, their expressions tensed, seeing the black dog roaming freely. One of them opened his mouth.

"Kid, what is your purpose for coming here?". The guard flashed his stern gaze and looked toward the dog, who seemed relaxed, but deep inside, it was ready to rip apart the guard's throat.

"Ah, good morning, sir. I happened to be awakened last night and want to register my license as a Resonator in the Guild".

Hearing a polite explanation from Cain, the man slowly lowered his guard and when he looked once again toward Noir, his expression flashed an understanding. 'So, we will be having another new recruit this time in the Patrol'.

Without knowing what the boy's dream was, the guard already deduced that the boy would definitely enter the Patrol squad, which was inside filled with a Resonator who had a Guardian Beast, which was born as a Domestic Breed.

"Follow me, kid!".

The guard prompted Cain to follow. On the other hand, Cain pondered what he should do about Noir, but after a few moments of hesitation, he asked.

"Is it okay to bring my partner inside?".

"No problem, for as long as it behaved well".

"Thank you, sir! let's go, Noir".

*Woof!

Cain was guided toward a room where he was asked questions about his background and family situation. The guard who guided him began to scratch a sheet of paper, filling out the boy's resume.

Time passed, and then the guard invited Cain toward a massive steel car, called a humvee, made from reinforced steel. One of the doors opened, and another person inside began to urge Cain to climb up.

"Let's go, Kid! We will depart to a central city!".

"Okay!".

Feeling excited, Cain climbs up the car, followed by Noir, who curls on his lap before the guard who holds some documents in his hands.

With a 'thud', the door closed, and the car smoothly drove toward the road, lifting Cain's mood; for the first time, they experienced the ride. His eyes sparkled with a youthful expression that rarely appeared.

The two adults who saw him chuckled and began a conversation. At first, it was a fresh opening, asking about how Cain's life had been doing these days, but the longer they talked, the heavier Cain felt inside.

Gradually, Cain realized that the two men beside him had already decided which path he would take, which greatly stirred his heart. They never asked about his dream and what sort of motivation pulled him there.

Eventually, Cain's excited face eventually faded, changing into a bitter smile that stiffened his facial muscles.

After passing some procedure in the steel gate that stood more than a dozen meters, on each gate, a wall made from reinforced steel stretches far away, creating a massive fortress. Once the gate shook, howling rumbles began to echo within the surrounding area, witnessing the opening of the gate that separated.

A silver lining of light began to permeate from it, and a vast futuristic land stood behind where the world was dyed with multiple colours. The car passed the gate, and he gasped once the place entered Cain's sight.

Tall story buildings, lining up glittering brilliantly because of the reflection of the light through glass, pierced his retina. The never-seen crowds who busily walked around minding their own business.

'This is truly something else!'. Cain watched the surrounding scene with a dumbfounded expression.

It is a bright, cheerful, and vibrant world, different from where he used to live, where it was bleak and he struggled every day for a scrape of money to buy daily necessities.

The car drove quietly toward another massive building that stood out from the others. It was buzzing with people, and Cain could see a large open door welcoming everyone inside out. Not long before that, the car stopped in front of the massive white building.

"Okay, here is our stop. Good luck, Kid!".

"Yes, thank you!".

As the door opened, the guard holding the document instructed Cain to follow him. Cain halted for a moment, then turned toward Noir, who happily watched the scene.

"Noir, could you return toward the shadow for a moment, please?".

Noir ears perked up before replying in cheerful bark, "*Woff!" its body faded, turning into black smoke before it submerged into Cain's own Shadow, startling the two Guards who witnessed it. Never in their lives had they seen a Guardian Beast vanish in that way, submerging into its master shadow. This is a First.

Cain, who was oblivious to what the two men had in thought, stepped out of the car and took his first step to achieve his dream.