Meeting with the Agent (2)

The first question was not what Fenix expected.

He had assumed Marcus would immediately ask about the Trial itself—about what happened inside, about the battles, about his Awakening.

But instead, the first question was personal.

Marcus leaned forward slightly, his sharp brown eyes watching Fenix carefully.

"Fenix, how do you feel after facing your first Soul Trial?"

His tone was calm but analytical.

Not just a casual inquiry—he was studying him.

Fenix held his gaze for a moment, then answered simply.

"I'm fine."

A short response. Neutral. Controlled.

But the moment the words left his lips, Marcus let out a small sigh.

"You're lying."

Fenix's eyes widened slightly.

Before he could react, Marcus continued.

"You see, my unique aspect isn't useful in battle."

His expression remained unreadable, his voice smooth.

"That's why they assigned me here instead of the front lines, even though I'm strong."

A short pause.

Then, a quiet revelation.

"I can detect lies."

Fenix's entire body tensed.

'Shit.'

That meant there was no point in bluffing.

No way to twist his words.

If he tried to manipulate the truth, Marcus would know.

For the first time since waking up, he felt a real disadvantage.

After a few seconds of silence, he exhaled slowly.

"There's something that's been bothering me, you know?"

His voice came out quieter than he expected.

"I met people inside the Trial. They were friendly, probably some of the best people I've ever met."

He hesitated for a moment.

His hands tightened into fists under the table.

"And yet, they died because of me."

Fenix took a breath and continued.

"Thanks to them, I'm here. I survived."

His fingers drummed lightly against the table.

"At first, I didn't even think of them as real people. Just tools. Stepping stones to my survival."

His jaw tightened.

"But… after the Trial, I started feeling something. Something strange.

Like a wound that wouldn't close.

"I tried convincing myself they were just tools, that it was necessary."

But that's a lie too, isn't it?"

He scoffed at his own words.

Marcus listened carefully.

Not interrupting.

Not reacting.

Simply studying him.

After a moment, he leaned back slightly in his chair.

"I see."

His fingers tapped against the table once before he spoke again.

"I can tell you one thing, Fenix."

His voice was steady, certain.

"You asked whether they were real people or not, right?"

He let the words hang in the air for a moment before continuing.

"As I said before, the Trials are either past encounters in history… or illusions created specifically for the challenger."

Fenix's eyes narrowed.

"And?"

Marcus exhaled.

"We believe they're just illusions."

The words hit harder than Fenix expected.

"No matter how real they seemed, they weren't actually living beings. They weren't people."

His tone was matter-of-fact.

"So yes, it may be difficult to digest at first. But that's the reality of it."

"You can't change the past."

Fenix was quiet.

Fenix gripped the glass, feeling the cold surface press against his fingertips.

He let out a slow breath, his expression unreadable.

"I see."

His voice was calm, almost indifferent.

"I guess there's nothing I can do about it, then."

With that, he lifted the glass to his lips and took a slow sip of water.

The liquid was refreshing, but it did nothing to quench the dryness in his throat.

His mind was still lingering on Marcus's words.

"Just illusions."

Was that really all they were?

Ron. Rhen. Vanya.

They had laughed. Fought. Bled.

And yet, according to Marcus, they never truly existed.

The thought didn't sit right with him.

Something inside him stirred—an instinct, a gut feeling.

But for now…

He chose not to challenge it.

At least, not yet.

He set the glass down softly on the table, waiting for the next question.

Marcus leaned back slightly in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on Fenix.

"Look, before we continue, I can give you a few minutes to catch your breath, Fenix."

Fenix didn't hesitate.

"I'm fine. Go ahead."

His voice was steady, unwavering.

Marcus studied him for a moment before nodding.

"Alright then, let's continue. Everything you disclose here will remain strictly confidential. Nothing will be leaked, so you can speak freely."

He paused briefly before moving forward with the real topic.

"Now, let's get into the details of your Trial. What kind of Soul Trial were you subjected to? What did you have to do? What monsters did you encounter? Where did you end up?"

Fenix answered honestly, recounting everything he remembered.

How he had appeared in the middle of a massive 20-meter tree, completely alone.

How the DuskTusk had hunted him down, nearly killing him in the first few moments.

How he barely survived and was rescued by three adventurers.

And finally, the journey through Dark Mountain—the trials, the battles, and the ultimate destruction of the ruins.

As Fenix spoke, Marcus's calm demeanor slowly shifted.

His eyes widened slightly, his brows furrowing.

By the time Fenix finished, Marcus let out a slow breath.

His voice was lower, more serious.

"Fenix… it's a miracle that you're still alive."

Fenix said nothing, merely watching Marcus's expression.

"Soul Trials aren't supposed to be this brutal."

Marcus tapped a finger against the table, his thoughts running at full speed.

"Normally, the difficulty is adjusted slightly beyond a person's capabilities—but in your case, it was almost three, maybe even four times harder than it should have been."

Fenix leaned forward slightly.

"And?"

Marcus exhaled.

"And the area you're describing—"

He gestured toward the window, where city loomed in the distance.

"—It sounds like an unexplored region of the SoulRealm."

Fenix's eyes narrowed.

Marcus continued.

"We know the SoulRealm is vast, almost limitless, but we don't know the full extent of it. And it seems like the information you've provided is… extremely valuable."

That piqued Fenix's interest.

So even they didn't fully understand the SoulRealm?

'Then why the hell did my Trial send me there?'

Fenix nodded once.

"Anything else you need to know?"

Marcus flipped through some documents, shaking his head slightly.

"Just one last thing. We need to issue you a new identification."

He placed a small electronic device on the table.

"We'll need your age, where you're from, and a few other details. We respect the privacy of every Awakener, so we won't ask about your Unique Aspect unless you choose to disclose it."

Fenix responded without hesitation.

"I'd rather keep that information to myself."

Marcus nodded in understanding.

"Fair enough. And your background?"

Fenix sighed.

"I'm from the slums outside a European capital. I turned sixteen three months ago, in March."

Marcus tapped a few buttons on the device, finalizing the details.

"Understood. You'll be provided with a new identification and a phone. Through it, you'll receive all the necessary information about what comes next."

Fenix's gaze sharpened.

"Next?"

Marcus motioned toward the massive structure visible through the window.

"That will be your next destination—Lux Aeterna Academy."

Fenix's eyes flickered toward the city in the distance.

Marcus continued.

"You'll depart in one week. This institution is a controlled environment for newly awakened individuals, designed to help them adjust to their new powers and train efficiently."

"A week, huh?"

Marcus nodded.

"Yes. Use this time to prepare, make a list of what you need, and—if possible—say your goodbyes to anyone important to you."

Fenix let out a short, dry laugh.

His tone was completely emotionless.

"There's no need for that."

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

Fenix leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.

"I don't have any belongings. And I don't have anyone to say goodbye to."

A brief silence filled the room.

Marcus sighed, shaking his head.

"I see… I'm sorry to hear that."

Fenix shrugged.

Marcus offered a small, half-hearted smile.

"Look at it this way, kid. Maybe in the Academy, you'll meet people who'll matter to you."

Fenix said nothing.

But deep down…

He doubted it.