The soft blues and pale orange painted the sky above Boulder Town, a quiet morning hue that made the streets feel more peaceful than they were.
Birds chirped from rusted rooftops. A couple of food stalls were already unpacking steamers and crates. It was just another morning.
Boulder Town was surrounded by two massive walls. The outer wall had been built for one purpose: to defend the town from monsters and wild beasts. The inner wall served a very different purpose. It divided the wealthy from the poor, keeping the rich safe and separated from the rest of the town.
Near the outer wall stood rows of worn-down houses and small shops. Their cracked walls, broken windows, and sagging roofs showed years of neglect. Among them was a modest two-story house.
Inside, a young boy slept peacefully.
In his dream, he soared through the sky on the back of a mighty dragon. With powerful magic at his command, he battled monsters across the land, defeating them one after another like the hero of a legend.
Then everything changed.
His peaceful expression twisted into one of terror. Sweat poured down his face as the glorious dream became a nightmare.
A massive beast-like shadow appeared behind him.
It chased him relentlessly through endless darkness. No matter how fast he ran, the creature drew closer. Just as it reached him, an overwhelming wave of fear consumed his mind, and everything went black.
The boy jolted awake, gasping for air. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and took a few deep breaths.
"That dream... again," he muttered under his breath.
The nightmares started after his grandfather passed away last month.
The boy's name was Rowen, and he was sixteen years old. His grandfather was the only family he had.
When his grandfather was still alive, Rowen often asked about his parents. However, his grandfather never answered those questions. After receiving no answer time and time again, Rowen eventually stopped asking.
He simply lived with his grandfather until the old man passed away last month.
Now Rowen had inherited more than just the house. He also had to take care of the small shop on the ground floor, which his grandfather had run for years. The house itself was simple a small shop on the first floor with a single room above it where Rowen lived.
After steadying his breathing, Rowen got out of bed. He washed up, changed into his school uniform, and headed downstairs.
The ground floor of the house was a small shop that had belonged to his grandfather. Since his grandfather's passing, the shop had remained closed. Rowen still hadn't decided what to do with it.
Rowen ran a hand through his messy black hair before leaving the house.
Locking the front door behind him, he walked next door to a small food stall.
"Morning, Uncle Ben," Rowen greeted.
The stall owner smiled warmly. He had been a close friend of Rowen's grandfather and had looked after the boy ever since the old man's death.
"Morning, Rowen. You don't look too well today. Did something happen?" the old man asked kindly.
Rowen forced a small smile. "Just two meat buns, please."
As Uncle Ben packed the buns, he looked at Rowen with concern.
"So? What's on your mind?"
Rowen accepted the paper bag and let out a quiet sigh.
"Nothing serious. I'm just worried about tomorrow."
"Awakening Day?"
Rowen nodded.
"I just hope I awaken with a good class."
Uncle Ben chuckled. "Don't think too much about it. Eat well, do your best, and leave the rest to fate."
"I'll try," Rowen replied with a faint smile before taking a bite of the warm bun.
As he handed Uncle Ben the coins, he couldn't help but think,
I can't keep eating here forever. Grandpa's savings won't last much longer.
He thanked Uncle Ben and started walking toward Boulder Lower School.
Boulder Lower School stood just outside the inner wall. It was the only school for children from the outer district. Although Boulder Lower School had produced only one genius, that alone was enough to inspire its students. If one person could change their fate, maybe they could too.
Halfway there, someone shouted from behind him.
"Wait up, bro!"
Rowen smiled faintly. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"Morning, Finn."
Finn finally caught up, slightly out of breath.
Finn's short blond hair was a mess from running to catch up.
"You couldn't slow down a little?" He complained with a grin.
Finn was Rowen's childhood friend and was about the same age as him. After Rowen's grandfather passed away, Finn spent as much time with him as he could so he wouldn't feel lonely. He had even invited Rowen to his house for dinner many times, though Rowen rarely accepted.
Finn looked at Rowen for a moment before asking, "You had that nightmare again, didn't you?"
Rowen let out a tired sigh and nodded.
"Yeah. I don't know why it started happening last month. Even the school doctor couldn't figure out what's wrong with me."
Finn scratched the back of his head. "Maybe it'll stop after Awakening Day."
"I hope so," Rowen replied quietly.
The two of them continued talking about random things as they entered their classroom.
As Rowen entered the classroom, he noticed the usual looks directed his way. Some students looked at him with pity, while others couldn't hide their jealousy or dislike.
Rowen had long since grown used to it and ignored them.
The reason was simple. He had ranked first in academic theory every year since enrolling at Boulder Lower School.