The First Step

Chapter Eight: The First Step

The morning sun peeked through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow over the small apartment. The quiet hum of the city outside was distant, muffled by the walls. The scent of toast and eggs filled the air.

Quinn sat at the kitchen table, casually eating his breakfast while Emily sat across from him, sipping on a cup of tea.

"So," Emily began, tapping her fingers against the side of her mug, "you're really doing this, huh?"

Quinn glanced up from his plate and smirked. "Yeah. Gotta start somewhere."

Emily exhaled through her nose, shaking her head with a small smile. "You're insane, you know that?"

"Maybe." Quinn took another bite of his food before continuing. "I'll head to the Awakened Guild Commission first. Sell these cores, get my license, and see what comes next."

Emily arched an eyebrow. "You make it sound so simple."

"Because it is."

Emily rolled her eyes, but the warmth in them didn't fade. "I don't know how you can be so relaxed about this. This is huge, Quinn. You're registering as an Awakened. That's… not normal."

Quinn chuckled. "Well, I'm not normal."

Emily scoffed. "No argument there." She leaned back in her chair, tilting her head slightly as she studied her brother. "You sure you're ready for this?"

"I have to be," Quinn replied simply. "The world isn't gonna wait for me to catch up."

Emily sighed, then gave him a small nod. "Alright then." She reached out, gently flicking his forehead.

Quinn blinked. "Ow?"

"That's for not telling me you awakened earlier," she said playfully.

Quinn smirked, rubbing his forehead. "I deserved that."

Emily let out a soft laugh before her expression turned serious. "Be careful, okay?"

"I will."

She smiled. "Good luck, Quinn."

Quinn gave her a nod, finishing the last of his breakfast.

After cleaning up, he headed to his room and changed into a black, fitted shirt and a dark gray jacket. Simple, comfortable, and easy to move in. He grabbed a small black bag from under his bed, opening it to inspect the Possessed cores inside.

The faint, eerie glow from the crystals pulsed in the dim light.

These should sell for a decent amount.

Satisfied, he slung the bag over his shoulder and stepped out of his room.

"I'm heading out," he called.

Emily, still at the table, gave him a small wave. "Don't do anything stupid."

"No promises."

With that, he stepped out the door.

It was already noon and the city was already alive with movement. Cars rumbled down the streets, people hurried to work, and the morning air was crisp and cool.

Quinn walked a few steps before pulling out his phone. With a few taps, he ordered a cab to take him to the Awakened Guild Commission.

Sliding his phone back into his pocket, he stood at the edge of the sidewalk, waiting.

As he watched the cars pass by, he exhaled slowly.

This is it, his new path was officially beginning.

****

The Awakened Guild Commission (AGC) building stood tall, its sleek glass exterior reflecting the morning sunlight. As Quinn's cab pulled up to the entrance, he reached into his pocket, pulled out some cash, and handed it to the driver. 

"Keep the change," he said casually before stepping out. 

The moment his feet touched the pavement, he glanced up at the towering building and let out a small chuckle. 

"Last time I came here, I trekked all the way," he thought, shaking his head with a smirk. Back then, he didn't have much of a choice. Now, he was standing here again—but this time, with cores to sell and a plan in mind. 

Taking a breath, he adjusted the strap of the small bag on his shoulder and walked through the automatic sliding doors. 

Inside, the place was just as busy as before. Awakened hunters moved about, some in full gear, others in casual wear. Holographic screens floated in the air, displaying news about recent Possessed attacks and guild rankings. The atmosphere was professional but had an undercurrent of tension—like a place constantly preparing for battle. 

Quinn ignored the noise and walked toward a large glowing sign that read: 

CORE EXCHANGE

The counter had a few people ahead of him, but the line moved fast. When it was his turn, he stepped forward and placed the five E-rank-possessed cores onto the counter. 

The woman behind the counter, wearing a dark blue AGC uniform, glanced at them before looking at him with a raised eyebrow. 

"This time you brought E-rank cores?" she asked, slightly surprised. 

Quinn smirked. "Yup." 

She eyed him for a moment before leaning forward slightly. "Are you even officially an Awakened Hunter?" 

"Nope," Quinn admitted, shaking his head. "But I will be today." 

She let out a small chuckle and nodded. "Figured as much. If you're registering, just take the elevator and go to the floor above. You'll see where to register." 

"Got it. Thanks." 

As he turned to leave, she glanced back at the cores and added, "Your money will be sent to you in a minute." 

Quinn gave her a small wave and started walking toward the elevators. 

Just as he reached the elevator, his phone buzzed. 

[Transaction Received: $25,000] 

Quinn glanced at the screen and let out a low whistle. 

"So, 5k for each core, huh?" he muttered. That was a lot of money for just five E-rank cores. 

As he stepped into the elevator, he leaned against the back wall, arms crossed, deep in thought. 

I wonder why cores are so expensive...

It was something worth looking into later. But for now, he had more important things to focus on. 

The elevator doors slid shut, and the ascent to his official registration began. As the elevator doors slid open, Quinn stepped out into a moderately crowded waiting area. Five other people stood ahead of him, all looking eager yet slightly tense. 

"Looks like I'm not the only one registering today," he mused, his gaze sweeping over them. 

Without hesitation, he walked up to a registration desk where a woman in an official AGC uniform sat, busy with paperwork. She glanced up as he approached. 

"Here to register?" she asked, her tone professional but neutral. 

"Yeah," Quinn replied with a nod. 

She handed him a form and a pen. "Fill this out." 

Quinn took the paper and quickly scanned the details: Name, Age, Previous Combat Experience, and Known Abilities (if any). 

Keeping it simple, he jotted down his information and left the "Known Abilities" section blank—no need to reveal everything upfront. 

After finishing, he handed the form back and moved to the waiting area. Sitting down, he tapped his fingers against his knee, watching as one by one, the others ahead of him were called in. 

Minutes passed. 

Then— 

"Quinn," a voice called. 

He stood up, adjusting the strap of his bag before stepping toward the door that had just opened. Inside, the room was spacious and dimly lit, with two men standing near a large, metallic machine cube. Their uniforms had AGC insignias on them, indicating higher-ranking officials. 

One of them, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes, motioned him forward. "Step inside the measurement cube. This will analyze your strength, mana levels, and overall combat potential." 

Quinn nodded and entered the machine. The walls hummed faintly as a blue glow surrounded him. For a moment, he felt nothing—but then, a strange pressure built around his body, as if invisible forces were trying to read every fiber of his being. 

After about a minute, the machine beeped, and the glowing light dimmed. 

The two men checked the holographic screen in front of them. 

Silence. 

Then— 

"...What?" one of them muttered, eyes widening. 

The other man's brows furrowed as he reread the results. He turned to look at Quinn with an expression that was equal parts shock and disbelief. 

"You-you're an S-Rank?" he stammered. 

Quinn raised an eyebrow. That explains their reaction. He smirked slightly. "That bad, huh?" 

The first official quickly regained his composure, but there was no hiding the lingering surprise in his eyes. "Stay here," he instructed before stepping out of the room. 

Quinn exhaled, crossing his arms. Since I'm the first S-Rank in this small city, no wonder they're acting like this.

A few minutes later, the official returned, accompanied by two uniformed guards. Without a word, they gestured for him to follow. 

Quinn complied, walking between them as they led him back to the elevator. This time, instead of heading down, they ascended to the top floor. 

When the doors opened, he was led down a long, pristine hallway before stopping in front of an office with double doors. One of the guards knocked twice. 

"Come in," a deep voice called from inside. 

The doors opened, and Quinn stepped in. 

The office was spacious, lined with bookshelves, and a sleek desk at the center. Behind it sat a man who appeared to be in his forties, his neatly combed hair showing the first hints of gray. His sharp eyes studied Quinn carefully, and from his presence alone, Quinn could tell—this was someone important. 

"If I had to guess," Quinn thought, "this guy must be the head of the AGC in this city."

The man leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk. 

"So," he said, his voice calm but firm. "You're the new S-Rank hunter." 

Quinn smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Guess so." 

The man's eyes narrowed slightly. "Interesting." 

Silence filled the room for a few seconds before the man spoke again. 

"Tell me, Quinn… what exactly are you planning to do with this power of yours?"