Turning Chapter 3

Chapter 3

"Airic? Are you talking about that area near the Rik Mountains?"

Gakane, completely unaware of Yuder's internal monologue, was simply astonished to hear the name of his own birthplace mentioned.

"You've heard of it?"

"Of course! The Rik Mountains are famous as the site where the Red Stone descended!"

‘That is correct,’ Yuder thought with a quiet chuckle. He hadn't personally witnessed the Red Stone’s fall, as his home was quite distant, but the stories were unforgettable: the sky turning a brilliant crimson and a roar so powerful it felt as though the world itself was being torn asunder.

In those days, he was terrified by the event, truly believing the apocalypse had arrived. The small village where Yuder worked selling timber had been hit hard by the shockwaves of the stone's impact.

"Did you... by any chance, actually see the Red Stone?"

Having only ever known the rumors, Gakane leaned in, his curiosity impossible to mask. Lost in his memories, Yuder gave a subconscious nod.

"Seriously? You really saw it?"

Gakane practically leaped with excitement, his breathing becoming ragged and his face flushing. Yuder realized too late that it would have been wiser to claim he hadn't seen it eleven years ago, but the nod had already been given.

"I heard the Emperor’s knights established a perimeter to keep everyone away. How did you manage to see it? Was it near your home? What did it look like? How large was the stone?"

"Hold on a moment. I..."

Yuder paused, struggling to find the right words. Had he seen the Red Stone? Yes, he had. But that encounter happened after he joined the Cavalry—an event that, in this timeline, had not yet occurred.

That specific stone had been retrieved by the first Cavalry leader once the organization was formed. Afterward, it spent a year being purified by the archmages of the Pearl Tower to strip away its impurities.

From that point on, it was rechristened the "World Sphere," a name reflecting its alleged power to sustain the very foundations of existence.

His mood soured at the thought of that object, as it was the primary catalyst for his eventual execution.

"I didn't get a clear look. Like you mentioned... the knights were guarding the perimeter."

"But you must have caught a glimpse, otherwise you wouldn't have said you saw it, right?"

Gakane was relentless; his hunger for the story was written all over his face.

"If it’s a secret, I swear I won't breathe a word to anyone. I'll swear on my sword, the Holy War, my mother's honor—whatever you require."

Was Gakane Bolunwald always this type of person? Yuder felt his vague, dignified memory of the man begin to crumble.

No matter how noble he appeared, he was still just a young man gripped by curiosity. Yuder let out a soft sigh and spoke calmly.

“It isn't a story worth such a solemn oath.”

“If it’s not that big of a deal, then you can definitely tell me.”

‘You are incredibly persistent. You would have found out after the Cavalry trials anyway.’

As that thought crossed his mind, Yuder remembered that Gakane was already dead by the time the Red Stone was retrieved and transformed into the World Sphere.

A sudden wave of pity washed over him. Looking at the young man, he felt a flicker of sympathy. After a moment's hesitation, Yuder spoke again.

“It looks like a common stone. From the outside, its color and texture are unremarkable, and it’s only about the size of a fist.”

Revealing this much wouldn't hurt anything. Gakane’s eyes stretched wide at the description.

“That small? Then how do people identify it as the Red Stone? I assumed the name came from its color.”

Yuder hid a small smile. It was a common misconception. Eleven years ago, he had assumed the same thing.

The name "Red Stone" came from the way the entire sky burned red during its descent. Furthermore, anyone who stood before it could immediately sense a bizarre, overwhelming energy that revealed its true nature.

The energy was so intense that ordinary humans found it impossible to even get close to it.

“I wouldn't know about that.”

“Well, fair enough. I’m just so curious. I suppose we’ll see for ourselves once we join the Cavalry, right?”

“...”

Yuder remained silent, focusing on his stew. Luckily, Gakane didn't seem to expect a response and lapsed into silence.

“Oh, I almost forgot. Have you signed up for the trial yet? You have to register to take the Cavalry entrance exam. Do you know the procedure?”

As they finished their meal, Gakane looked up as if the thought had just struck him. Yuder nodded.

“I’m aware.”

In his past life, he hadn't known. Back then, no one bothered to explain the details to a sullen-looking peasant from the countryside.

Consequently, he hadn't realized registration was required until the day before it closed. The memory of wandering lost through the massive capital, desperate to find the office, was still sharp in his mind.

“You have to head to the Blue Crown. It was quite a trek when I went. It’ll be much easier if I show you the way so you don't get turned around. What do you say?”

Gakane’s face beamed with genuine kindness, perhaps a reward for Yuder's information about the stone. Yuder couldn't remember the last time someone had offered him such pure, selfless goodwill. It felt deeply uncomfortable, but he tried to hide his reaction as he looked at Gakane.

“…Fine.”

“Good choice!”

Gakane gave a wide, brilliant grin. The man was so handsome he seemed to radiate light when he smiled. For the first time in a long while, Yuder felt that the world was fundamentally unfair.

------

The Blue Crown was situated near the Imperial Palace. It served primarily as a hub for bureaucrats handling civil affairs.

The structure's formal name was Parklamannuteia Hall, though several legends existed regarding its odd "Blue Crown" moniker.

Some claimed it was due to the blue tiles on the roof, while others pointed to the blue rose mosaics embedded in the path to the entrance.

The most common theory, however, was that it referred to the unique blue ink used by the officials for their formal seals.

Standing before the imposing, ancient-style building, Yuder felt a rush of complicated emotions. It was behind those very doors that his life had been irrevocably altered the first time.

“The queue isn't too bad today. We should get through quickly.”

Gakane observed the crowd and took the lead, nodding confidently.

Applicants for the Cavalry were required to wait in line for processing. Despite the massive influx of people, there were very few officials assigned to handle the registrations.

In his previous life, Yuder had barely made it before the deadline, but things were different now. As they moved toward the back of the line, the woman directly ahead of them turned around.

"Hello. Are you here to apply as well?"

She had a round, somewhat irritable face, and her tone was just as sharp as her expression. Yuder didn't recognize her. She was likely one of the many who possessed a negligible ability or had mistakenly believed they were awakened.

Because this was the inaugural recruitment for the Cavalry, the crowd was filled with such people. Yuder would have ignored her, but Gakane replied politely.

"Yes. Though I have already finished my own registration."

"Oh? So you're just here to help your friend?"

"Something like that."

The woman glanced at Yuder briefly before her eyes darted back to Gakane.

"Do you know what kind of questions they ask during registration? I'm so anxious I haven't been able to eat all day."

Gakane’s expression softened as he realized her hostility was merely a mask for her nerves.

"It’s quite simple. They just need your name, age, hometown, and your secondary gender if you have one. Most importantly, you have to describe your ability. That’s all there is to it."

The term "secondary gender" described a biological trait separate from being male or female.

This phenomenon began appearing after the Red Stone fell. Because it manifested randomly regardless of one's primary sex, people initially viewed it as a curse from the heavens.

However, once it was discovered that this trait only appeared in awakened individuals, the public's view shifted.

The Emperor of the Orr Empire and the Pope eventually declared it the "second gender bestowed by the gods." This news brought massive relief to the common folk who had lived in fear that their bodies might change without warning.

Those with the Alpha secondary gender could impregnate those with the Omega secondary gender, regardless of their primary sex. While they could still reproduce with ordinary humans, those with secondary genders generally felt a biological pull toward one another.

At first, it seemed like a simple biological quirk. But as the years passed, these distinctions became the foundation for a new form of systemic discrimination.

Alphas were admired; they usually possessed superior physical builds and awakened with formidable powers. Omegas, on the other hand, typically had weaker abilities—often even weaker than awakened individuals who lacked a secondary gender entirely.

Both Alphas and Omegas dealt with periodic heat cycles, but the Alpha cycles were manageable. In contrast, Omegas released a potent scent during their cycles that even non-awakened people could perceive. They were often looked down upon as being no better than animals who couldn't control their impulses.

Due to this scent, many Omegas found it impossible to work as professional ability users. Some were even abducted, treated as exotic toys by aristocrats who collected rare things.

By the time of Yuder's death, Omegas were effectively barred from the Cavalry. The prevailing prejudice was that even if they were recruited, they would eventually become nothing more than a liability to the unit.