Little Vacation

A Room Filled with Thoughts

Fenix lay on the bed of his assigned room, staring at the ceiling.

Everything around him was clean, modern, and minimalistic—a stark contrast to the chaotic world he had just survived.

A small desk and chair sat in the corner. A closet with a few changes of clothes had been provided. A digital panel near the door controlled the lighting and temperature.

It felt like a hotel room.

But instead of relaxing…

His mind was filled with one thing.

His power.

His Awakening.

His Soul Trial.

He was a Mythical-ranked Awakened.

That fact alone made him one of the rarest individuals in existence.

Fenix sat up, gripping the edge of his bed, his crimson eyes glinting with anticipation.

"The Flame of Chaos."

That was the name of his ability.

It wasn't just fire.

It wasn't just destruction.

It was chaos itself.

And now… it was his.

Fenix took a deep breath and extended his right hand.

'Alright… let's see what I can do.'

At first, nothing happened.

He focused, trying to channel something—anything.

His breathing slowed. His mind calmed.

And then—

A spark.

A flicker of black and crimson fire ignited in his palm.

The flames twisted and flickered unnaturally, constantly shifting as if they had a will of their own.

They were different from normal fire.

More fluid. More alive.

For a moment, Fenix just stared in awe.

Then, he tried to expand it.

The fire grew larger, swirling around his hand, leaving behind a faint distortion in the air.

It didn't burn his skin.

It felt warm, but not painful.

His lips curled into a grin.

"This… this is incredible."

Excitement surged through him.

If this was just the beginning, then what would it be like once he fully mastered it?

Hours later, as the sun set, Fenix's stomach reminded him of something important.

Food.

He had been so caught up in his powers that he had completely ignored his hunger.

A soft beep from the digital panel near his bed caught his attention.

A message had arrived.

[Guide Message: Your personal map has been uploaded. The cafeteria is on Floor B2.]

It was from the woman who had guided him before.

Fenix sighed, shaking his head.

'At least she's efficient.'

He pulled up the digital map and quickly memorized the route.

Then, he left his room.

The cafeteria was larger than he expected.

It was designed like a high-end restaurant, with sleek metallic tables, large windows, and soft, ambient lighting.

Several people sat scattered around the area, eating and chatting in small groups.

Fenix ignored them.

He grabbed a simple meal—grilled chicken, vegetables, and a small side of rice.

Just as he was about to sit down—

A presence.

Someone passed by him.

A girl.

Tall, with silver hair that cascaded down her back, shimmering under the lights.

Her eyes—deep, dark blue, like an endless ocean.

Her features were sharp yet delicate.

She was beautiful.

But what truly stood out—

Was the way she moved.

Graceful. Effortless. Like a predator walking among sheep.

Their eyes met for the briefest moment.

Fenix had seen many people in his life.

But something about her presence felt different.

She glanced at him, then offered a slight smirk.

"You're new."

It wasn't a question.

Fenix raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Just arrived."

The girl nodded, grabbing a drink from the counter.

"You'll get used to it."

She turned, as if about to leave.

Fenix, acting on impulse, spoke up.

"What's your name?"

She glanced over her shoulder.

"Sylis."

And then, with a casual wave—

She was gone.

Fenix watched her disappear through the cafeteria doors.

For a brief second, he considered following her.

But something told him he would be seeing her again soon.

With a small smirk of his own, he finally sat down and began to eat.

His new life had begun.

And things were already getting interesting.

Fenix leaned back in his chair, staring at the cafeteria doors where Sylis had just disappeared.

A short meeting.

Brief. Mysterious. Intriguing.

And yet—

"Tch."

He let out a small scoff, shaking his head.

"I didn't even tell her my name… and she's already gone."

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

She had left as quickly as she arrived.

Would they cross paths again?

Something told him they would.

But for now…

He simply finished his meal, lost in thought.

The rest of Fenix's so-called vacation passed by quietly.

For the most part, he rested, allowing his body to fully recover from the torment of his Awakening.

His newfound powers still lingered in his mind, but he decided not to push himself too hard just yet.

Instead, he followed Marcus's recommendation.

He attended mandatory therapy sessions designed to help newly Awakened individuals process their experiences inside the Soul Trial.

The first session?

A joke.

The therapist had asked if he felt guilt over what happened inside.

Fenix had simply shrugged.

"Why would I?"

The woman had stared at him for a moment, scribbled something down, and moved on.

Each session after that was similar.

He answered their questions with calm detachment, unwilling to dive too deep into emotions he wasn't sure he even had.

Still—

It wasn't completely useless.

While he might not have been emotionally affected the way they expected, it did help him think.

Think about his past.

Think about his future.

And most importantly—

Think about what came next.

Because in just a few more days…

His quiet vacation would be over.

And the real challenge would begin.