Caren kept walking.
He passed the other Upside Downers who were moving in the opposite direction.
He reached a red door made of expensive wood.
It was simple, though.
Caren pushed the door open and walked in.
There was a man inside.
His brown hair, his black eyes.
It was Kindest Murder.
“May I come in?”
Kindest Murder glanced at Caren.
Then a smile appeared on his face.
“Oh, young man, how are you?
Did you learn to use your abilities?”
Caren paused.
How was he supposed to answer?
After a second, he just nodded.
Kindest Murder put his hand in his pocket and took out a red button.
Caren raised an eyebrow.
“What’s that?”
Kindest Murder’s smile faded.
He was really serious this time.
“It can help me control Upside Downers’ abilities so they don’t hurt anyone.”
Caren smirked.
“You don’t need that.
My ability can’t hurt anyone.”
Kindest Murder answered, still serious.
“Is that so?
Let’s start the test.”
His eyes were empty.
Not from sadness or pain.
They were simply serious.
“Tell me, how many powers do you have?
And tell me, do your abilities focus on offense, defense, or both?”
Caren took a deep breath and answered.
He had to make it believable.
“One.
I have one ability, and it’s defensive.”
Kindest Murder wrote something on his phone.
It looked like a smartphone.
Caren didn’t know how rich that man was.
Smartphones must have been expensive in 2001.
The man continued.
“And what is that exactly?”
“Ground Slicking.”
The man wrote something else on his phone.
“What is your Grade?”
Caren’s face became serious.
He had to be careful about what information he shared and what he kept to himself.
Besides, his Grade was unusual, and he didn’t want too much attention.
“I prefer not to say.”
Kindest Murder frowned but didn’t argue.
“What is your Chosen Name, then?”
Caren didn’t panic, or at least he didn’t let it show.
He simply answered.
“I prefer not to say.”
Kindest Murder let out a sigh.
“You’re in Team Six.
We’ll let you know when you can meet your teammates.
Until then, you’ll have to wait.”
Caren turned to leave, but Kindest Murder added,
“Hiding things from us?
Why?
Are you too afraid to trust us?
Well, that’s not a good way to start your journey.
Wish we never meet again, or else you’ll be unlucky.”
His voice was cold as ice.
Caren shivered slightly but didn’t answer.
He could kill Caren easily.
Even though Caren had a hidden ability, it wouldn’t help much.
Caren walked toward the door, opened it, and left without looking back.
He passed other Upside Downers and kept walking until he reached the door to his room.
But then he stopped and stared at someone.
That girl with red eyes was also staring at Caren.
Caren noticed that today she hadn’t tied her hair, and it reached down to her waist.
She was…
pretty?
Especially her eyes.
She must be so popular among boys, or even girls.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
The girl spoke.
Her voice was soft and beautiful, but Caren could feel a hint of sadness in it.
Why was that?
“Hi.”
Caren answered, then added,
“Sorry for staring at you.
I just didn’t expect your room to be next to mine.”
The girl smiled.
Her smile was hard to notice, but it was there.
“I’m Atrin.”
Caren paused.
Why did she tell him her name?
Was talking to girls always that easy?
Was his biggest problem never actually a problem?
“I’m Caren.”
Atrin nodded.
“Well, see you later.”
She opened the door to her room and left Caren alone.
He closed the door and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Uh, such a hard day.
What Kindest Murder said were definitely threats, and well…
I talked to a girl, and she told me her name.
It took quite a bit of energy.
But does that mean…
she likes me?”
Caren shook his head.
“OF COURSE NOT.
She just told me her name, nothing special.
Maybe it was because I helped her.
Yeah, that must be the reason.”
Caren carefully touched one corner of his bed.
“It’s still sharp!”
Caren thought it would have a time limit, but it was still as sharp as when he had first touched it.
He closed his eyes and made his aura appear.
Was his aura dark because of the Darkness?
Did that make his soul black?
Caren sensed the atoms in the sharp corner of his bed.
It was strange.
The atoms were struggling to return to their true place and shape, but they couldn’t.
Caren moved them, unsure what to do with them.
He pulled them apart and trusted what his subconscious knew.
He opened his eyes and let out a breath.
Suddenly, he felt exhausted.
Caren ignored the feeling and touched the corner of his bed.
It was hard and cold, but no longer sharp.
He wanted to jump with happiness, but his body wouldn’t let him.
He lay on the bed and smiled.
He had to learn how to use Air Compression.
It was the only thing remaining.
But maybe he should rest for today?
He deserved it.
Caren stared at the ceiling.
His life wasn’t bad in this new world.
He was so busy that he didn’t even have time to feel tired of life.
Was it a good solution, or was he just running away from his problems?
For now, he didn’t care.
As long as that feeling didn’t come back, he could be okay.
There was no need to worry.
He had started a new life, and he was doing fine for now.
He was in a team.
A new team meant new opportunities.
And that was exactly what Caren wanted.
He wanted a home.
But could he find a home where he didn’t belong?
This world wasn’t his.
He was a stranger, and only that.
Nothing more, nothing less.