Eugene… Eugene…
Eugene slowly opened his eyes, lying on the green grassy ground. The sky was clear, and the chirping of birds mingled with the soft rustle of the wind through the grass.
"Huh?... Wait, where am I?"
He froze, confusion and disbelief written all over his face.
"This… this place…" he muttered in astonishment. He sat up, moving his head from side to side.
"It can't be… I'm in my village… How?"
Eugene couldn't believe what he was seeing.
But soon, shock and disbelief melted into overwhelming joy. His face lit up with a bright smile, like a child who had just received candy.
"Hey, Eugene… why didn't you answer me?"
It was Ryn's voice, coming from behind him.
Eugene quickly turned his head toward Ryn.
"I thought something bad had happened to you!"
Ryn's voice trembled with a mix of worry and irritation.
Eugene leapt forward and hugged him tightly, tears welling in his eyes.
"All of that… it was just a dream," he whispered.
As he pulled back, Eugene straightened his posture, looking at Ryn again. His eyes widened in shock—not happiness, but pure terror, as if someone had poured boiling water over him.
"Ry… Ryn…"
A wave of horror crept into his chest. Ryn's eyes were empty, black as a starless night.
BOOOOM!!
A deafening explosion echoed around them.
"No… no… this is impossible! What's happening?!"
Eugene's voice shook with fear. Flames spread, screams filled the air—images trapped in his mind.
"What is going on here?"
His hands trembled, his heart racing.
Suddenly, corpses rose from the ground, grabbing at his clothes.
"Nooo! Stay away!!"
He screamed, overwhelmed by fear. The once-beautiful scene had transformed into a tableau of blood, pain, and horror.
"Eugene… why didn't you save me?"
A familiar voice called out. Eugene turned to see his mother…
Her once-beautiful eyes were now hollow, empty like Ryn's. Her soft clothes were torn, and her long black hair had been burned away completely.
The ground beneath him shattered, and Eugene fell into darkness and rivers of blood. Time seemed to slow as he descended.
He opened his eyes in shock, sweat dripping from his forehead. His heart pounded wildly. He quickly raised his head.
He spent ten minutes trying to process what had just happened.
"Ah… it was just a nightmare."
His breaths came in ragged gasps as he realized he was back in the academy dorm. Ryn stood beside him, wearing the academy uniform—long black robes cinched with a brown belt.
"Come on, get up, you lazy one. Orientation is about to start."
Eugene tried to shake off the remnants of the nightmare. Just a dream… but the screams, and the image of his mother's empty eyes, still haunted him.
He got up and went to the bathroom. As the steam rose around him, flashes of burning buildings, hands dragging him underground, and his mother's voice echoed relentlessly in his mind.
When he stepped out, water dripping from his hair, he quickly dressed and stood in front of the mirror. Two golden eyes, shiny black hair, flawless skin, and sharp fangs stared back at him.
He and Ryn walked toward the student gathering area. Eugene remained silent, while Ryn chatted excitedly about cherry blossoms, the waterfall, and the warm sunlight.
Upon arrival, all eyes turned toward them. Some students stared with envy—jealous of the attention Moses had shown them. Others stared in curiosity, still shocked that they were the only survivors of the attack. Some whispered mockingly that they were homeless, penniless, and without family.
Eugene ignored them, but Ryn felt each gaze like a knife. Eugene's mind raced: Are my clothes messy? Is my hair strange? Do I look different?
As Ryn tried to calm himself, a tall, slender man with blonde hair and tired half-closed eyes appeared before the crowd. He clapped his hands, and everyone immediately turned to him.
"I will be your teacher and guide this year. My name is Professor Alex," he announced.
A student whispered to a friend, but Alex's sharp gaze silenced him instantly.
Alex led them on a tour, explaining the academy's sections:
The main hall, towering above the clouds
The ancient library, filled with centuries-old manuscripts
Training grounds, where beginners learn the basics
As they walked, Eugene noticed strange carvings on the walls—symbols very similar to those from his nightmare. He tried to ignore them, but his heart pounded in his chest.
Finally, they reached the inner garden. Alex stopped before a massive tree with shimmering silver leaves.
"This… is the Tree of Knowledge. It has grown here since the academy's founding. Remember—farming isn't just about power. It's about understanding the world and its nature."
Eugene turned to Ryn, mesmerized by the garden. Near them, Rym, the girl they had met before, studied the tree with bright eyes and took notes in a small notebook. Her gaze met Eugene's, and she smiled shyly.
Eugene felt something—this academy was different. Not just a place for learning… a place for discovery. Not just strength, but self.
They walked to the classroom—a circular room built around a massive tree, its branches forming passages to the seats.
Eugene and Ryn sat in the front row; Rym sat beside them.
Alex began with a simple question:
"Why do you want to become farmers?"
Hands went up:
"For power."
"For money."
"To protect people."
When it was Eugene's turn, he said quietly but firmly:
"I seek the truth."
Silence fell. Even the white crow above stopped flapping its wings.
Alex gazed meaningfully at Eugene and smiled faintly before speaking:
"Listen carefully. The title of Farmer is given because farming is a long, complex path requiring patience, wisdom, and understanding. But who are the farmers, truly?"
"Each of you carries a seed called the Skill Tree Seed—a transparent, intangible essence that stores Feathers. And what are Feathers? Simply put, Feathers are the energy of life—the fuel for thoughts, senses, skills, and instincts. All are considered Feathers."
A student raised his hand.
"What do Feathers have to do with farmers?"
Alex sighed and gestured for him to sit.
"Didn't I say farming requires patience? If you can't wait for me to finish, how will you endure the patience farming itself demands?"
The student's face turned red. Alex continued:
"Everything in this world has Feathers, but each person's Feathers are different. We call these differences fingerprints. I won't go into that now. You need to understand that farming starts with understanding Feathers and adapting your body to them by absorbing Primitive Resources. Through training, you extract the pure essence from these resources, which integrates into your blood, organs, cells, and veins."
"And now? You will go to the academy library. Each student must take a copy of the Primitive Resources Guide. Everyone needs different types and amounts of resources. Study the guide carefully—learn the composition of each resource and how it corresponds with your blood type."
A student asked:
"Do… we go now?"
Alex gave him an empty look.
"What do you think?"
He took his notebook and left the room.
As soon as he left, students began talking excitedly as they exited. Ryn walked beside Rym, chatting, while Eugene stood near the window, exhaustion and sadness shadowing his eyes.