Chapter 15: Awakeners?
Nolan stared at the boy.
The system screen still hung in his vision, the words glowing bright.
[ANOMALY DETECTED!]
[Quest: Make him your ally.]
[Reward: ?????]
'Anomaly. This homeless kid is an anomaly.'
He frowned.
'…What the hell does 'anomaly' even mean?'
As if waiting for the question, the system responded immediately.
[Anomaly: A being that exists outside normal system parameters. Cannot be classified by standard measurements. Possesses abilities or traits not found in ordinary humans. Potential unknown. Risk level: Unstable.]
Nolan read the words twice.
'Outside normal system parameters. Possesses abilities. Risk level unstable.'
He looked at Kai again. The boy was still squirming under his grip, thin arms trembling, dirty face streaked with tears.
'This kid? Abilities?'
He focused his Appraiser skill on the boy.
[Name: Kai Miller]
[Favorability: -35]
Nolan almost laughed.
'Minus thirty-five. He's terrified of me. And I still don't see anything special about him.'
Kai's voice cracked again. "Please, mister. I'll do anything. Just let me go. I won't steal again. I promise."
Nolan looked at the boy's thin frame. His hollow cheeks. His dirty clothes that hung loose like they belonged to someone twice his size.
"When did you last eat?" Nolan asked.
Kai froze. His stomach growled loudly.
"…Two days," he whispered.
Nolan looked around the mall. His eyes landed on a small burger joint at the end of the corridor. Cheap. Simple. Good enough.
He grabbed Kai's arm and pulled him toward it.
Kai stumbled, trying to keep up. "Where are we going? What are you doing? Please—"
"Sit," Nolan said, pushing him into a chair.
Kai's eyes darted around, looking for an escape. Nolan placed an order. Two burgers. Fries. A large Coke.
The food came. Nolan placed the tray in front of Kai.
Kai stared at it. His hands trembled. He looked at Nolan, then at the food, then back at Nolan.
"Why?" he whispered.
"Eat first. Talk later."
Kai grabbed the burger. He tore into it like a wild animal. Crumbs fell everywhere. His hands shook. His eyes never left the food, like someone might snatch it away.
Nolan watched him in silence.
The boy finished everything in under three minutes. Fries. Burger. Coke. All of it. He sat back, breathing hard, staring at the empty wrappers like he couldn't believe they were real.
Then he stood up quickly. He bowed so fast his head almost hit the table.
"Thank you for the food, mister! Thank you! I'm really sorry about the bag. I'll never do it again. I promise. I'll leave right now. You'll never see me again."
He turned and tried to walk away.
Fast. Confident. Like he had done this a hundred times before.
Nolan's hand shot out and grabbed his arm.
Kai froze.
"I said eat first. Talk later," Nolan said. "We're not done."
Kai's face went pale. He pulled against Nolan's grip. "I said thank you! What else do you want? I don't have money! I can't pay you! You're the one who took me here! I didn't ask for food! You just—"
His voice rose. People started turning. A woman with shopping bags frowned. A security guard glanced their way.
Nolan felt his face warm.
Now everyone was staring. The woman whispered to her friend. The security guard took a step closer.
Kai kept shouting. "I don't have to pay! You can't make me! I didn't ask for anything! Let me go!"
Nolan pulled him closer. His voice was low. "Kai."
The boy stopped mid-sentence.
His eyes went wide.
"How… how do you know my name?"
Nolan sighed. 'Tsk. This kid.'
"I know a lot of things," Nolan said. "Now stop shouting before they call the cops."
Kai's mouth snapped shut. His eyes were still wide, but he stopped pulling.
"Okay," Nolan said, releasing his arm. "First, we're going shopping."
Kai's face transformed. "Shopping? Really?"
Nolan blinked at the sudden change. One second the boy was terrified, the next his eyes were sparkling.
'What. Why is he suddenly like this? Does this kid like shopping?'
Kai was already looking at the stores around them, his head swiveling like a lost puppy who had just spotted a treat.
Nolan ignored it and started walking.
Kai followed. Fast. Eager.
They walked into a store on the second floor. Casual wear. Nothing too fancy.
Kai stood in the middle of the store, spinning slowly, his mouth open.
Nolan pointed at a rack. "Pick some clothes. Shoes. Everything you need."
Kai looked at him. "Anything?"
"Within reason."
Kai moved like lightning.
He grabbed jeans. Shirts. Hoodies. Jackets. Sneakers. Socks. Underwear. He piled everything on a table. The salesman's eyes went wide.
Nolan watched the pile grow.
'How much is this kid taking?'
Kai grabbed a leather jacket. Nolan opened his mouth to say something. Kai grabbed two more.
Then he went for the accessories. A cap. A beanie. Sunglasses.
Nolan stood there, watching, as the pile grew to a mountain.
The salesman rang it up, his fingers flying across the register. "Total comes to $15,250, sir."
Nolan blinked.
'Fifteen thousand dollars. I spent four thousand on myself. This kid spent fifteen.'
He pulled out the black card. Swiped it.
Beep. Approved.
[Current Balance: $80,500]
He looked at the system screen. The quest reward still showed question marks.
'????? What kind of reward is this kid worth?'
He muttered under his breath, "I hope this is worth the reward."
Kai was already at the door, seven bags hanging from his thin arms, a grin on his face.
"Can we go now? Where are we going? Is there more shopping?"
Nolan grabbed the remaining bags and walked out.
They reached the parking lot. Nolan unlocked his bike and swung his leg over.
He looked at Kai. "Get on."
Kai stood there, bags dangling from his hands, his face suddenly uncertain.
His voice cracked. "Where… where are we going?"
Nolan looked at him. The boy's eyes were wide again. Not with excitement this time. Fear.
'He's scared. He still doesn't trust me.'
Nolan's voice softened. "Home."
Kai stared at him. Then slowly, he nodded.
He climbed onto the back of the bike, his thin arms wrapping around Nolan's waist. The bags hung awkwardly, but he held on.
Nolan started the engine. They rode into the evening.
The bike pulled up to Vellmar Tower.
The building loomed above them, glass and steel gleaming in the fading light. Two towers. Thirty floors. The kind of building that made people stop and stare.
Kai's mouth fell open.
Nolan parked the bike. A security guard hurried over.
"Good evening, Mr. Drake!"
Two more staff appeared. They looked at the bags.
"Sir, let us take those for you."
Nolan nodded. The staff grabbed the bags quickly, efficiently, like they had done this a hundred times.
Kai stood frozen, watching as his bags were carried inside.
"Come on," Nolan said, walking toward the entrance.
Kai followed. His steps were slow. Uncertain.
They walked through the glass doors. The lobby opened up—marble floors, crystal chandeliers, fresh flowers on polished tables. People in suits moved through the space. A woman at the reception desk smiled at Nolan.
"Good evening, Mr. Drake."
Kai's eyes darted everywhere. He walked closer to Nolan, his shoulder almost touching Nolan's arm.
They stepped into the elevator. Nolan pressed the button for the thirty-first floor.
Kai watched the numbers climb. 10. 15. 20. 25. His hands were shaking.
"Mister," Kai whispered. "Where are we going?"
Nolan looked at him. "You'll see. And my name is Nolan. Call me brother Nolan."
Kai nodded slowly. "Brother Nolan."
The elevator doors opened.
The penthouse stretched out before them. Floor-to-ceiling windows. White marble floors. Modern furniture. A fireplace. Abstract art on the walls.
The staff had already placed the bags near the entrance. They bowed and left.
Kai stood in the doorway, frozen.
His eyes moved across the room. The massive windows. The view of the city. The chandelier hanging above. The kitchen in the back that looked like something from a movie.
He stepped forward slowly. His shoes—the new ones Nolan had bought—squeaked against the marble.
Then he saw the pool. Through the glass doors at the far end. The infinity edge, water blending into the skyline.
Kai turned to Nolan. His voice was small.
"Is this… the home you said?"
Nolan nodded. "Yeah."
Kai walked to the window. He pressed his hands against the glass. The city sprawled below him. Lights flickering. Cars moving like tiny toys.
He stood there for a long moment.
Then he turned. His face was different now. The fear was still there, but something else was underneath.
"Um… brother Nolan."
Nolan looked at him.
Kai's voice was hesitant. "You… you won't do anything to me, right?"
Nolan frowned. "What do you mean anything? Why would I do anything?"
Kai shifted his weight. His eyes dropped to the floor. "I heard… that rich guys… do stuff to other guys."
Nolan's brain stopped.
Kai continued, his voice getting smaller. "And I'm only thirteen. I'm still a kid. And you bought me clothes and food and brought me here and—"
Nolan's face went red. "No. No, no, no. I am not a pervert."
Kai looked up.
"I am straight," Nolan said firmly. "Very straight. Completely normal. Don't ever think that again."
Kai stared at him for a second. Then his face broke into a grin. "Okay!"
All the tension drained from his small body. He bounced on his heels, looking around the penthouse with new eyes.
'This kid,' Nolan thought, shaking his head.
Curious, he used his Appraiser skill again.
[Name: Kai Miller]
[Favorability: 62]
'Minus thirty-five to plus sixty-two. Just like that.'
He stared at the number. Then at Kai, who was now examining the fireplace like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.
'He trusts me now. That was fast.'
He dismissed the screen.
Then—
[DING!]
[Suggestion: Appraiser Skill Upgrade Available.]
[Appraiser Lv.2]
[Cost: $60,000]
[Appraiser Lv.2 Effect: Allows host to differentiate between Humans and Awakeners.]
Nolan froze.
'What? Differentiate between humans and what?'
He read the words again.
'Awakeners'
His heart started pounding.
'What the hell is an awakener? Is that what Kai is? Is that what the system meant by anomaly?'
He thought back. The system's words echoed in his mind.
*The world is not as peaceful as you believe.*
*Danger Sense unlocked.*
*Anomaly detected.*
*Awakeners.*
His hands clenched at his sides.
He stared at the city lights through the window.
The world suddenly felt much bigger. Much darker. Much more dangerous.
'What the hell is going on in this world?'