Leon: It had been a month since I emerged from the depths of my seven-year slumber, and during that time, I'd begun to grasp the profound changes that had taken place during my extended absence.
Firstly, I wasn't the sole sleeper. People from all corners of the world had shared my fate, with some still trapped in the embrace of their dreams. It seemed that our awakening had gifted us with extraordinary abilities, a consequence of the cataclysm that had rocked the world.
Secondly, a new government had risen to power, its dominion extending over everything connected to the cataclysm and the unique powers that had arisen from it. They had established specialized schools for the awakened, institutions where we were taught to harness our newfound abilities. However, these schools held secrets beyond the realms of ordinary education—secrets that lay cloaked in shadows, waiting to be uncovered.
Dan: "Hey, brooo!"
Leon: That was Dan, my ever-enthusiastic friend. He'd been my guide in this bewildering new world, a world where my past held the key to unraveling its mysteries. And for some reason he was interested in it. Understandable, really, since I was quite awesome, to say the least.
Dan: "I heard you're going to register your name in the ApexMatrix system today. Mind if I tag along?"
Leon: "Sure, do what you want."
Dan: "Great."
Leon: With Dan by my side, I ventured into the government facility, where I was met by a woman named Katherine, in charge of registering the awakened citizens.
Leon: "Hello, I'm Leon, and I'm here to register my name in the ApexMatrix system. I woke up a month ago."
Katherine: "Welcome, Leon. I'm Katherine, and I handle the registration process to determine if citizens are awakened or not."
Leon: "So, what do I need to do?"
Katherine: "You just need to step into that room over there for about five minutes."
Leon: "Oh, okay."
Leon: I proceeded toward the designated room, my curiosity mingling with a hint of trepidation. Inside, time seemed to blur, as if the walls held secrets beyond my comprehension.
Leon: After what felt like an eternity, I emerged from the room, my pulse quickening with anticipation.
Leon: "So, what were the results?"
Katherine: Umm, sorry to say, but you are ordinary."
Leon: My world froze, my mind unable to process the words.
Dan: "Yeah, he's right, there's no way Leon would be ordinary."
Katherine: "The ApexMatrix system does not make errors. I would advise you to leave, as there are others waiting to be registered."
Leon: I stood there, frozen in disbelief. How could I, the genius of the Gilbert household, be labeled "ordinary"? The thought gnawed at my very core.
Dan: "Hey, Leon, we need to go."
Leon: I heard Dan calling my name, but my feet remained anchored to the ground. In the end, he had to carry me out of the building.
Leon: After much contemplation, I reached a resolute decision—I had to enroll at Echelon Enigma, no matter the odds. Perhaps within those enigmatic walls, I'd discover the key to unlocking my latent abilities.
Leon: "Dan, how long have you been awakened?"
Dan: "Well, it's been about a year now."
Leon: "And you already attend Echelon Enigma, right?"
Dan: "Yes, I do."
Leon: "Do you think it's possible for me to enroll without being discovered?"
Dan: "What?"
Leon: "It's nothing, never mind. I need to go home now; it's getting late. See you around."
Dan: "I'll escort you home, then."
Leon: "Whatever."
Leon: I arrived home and bade Dan farewell. My father returned later, his new job focused on searching for missing persons—a role he had taken up in light of my mother's disappearance, I presumed.
Leon: "Welcome home, Father."
Vincent Gilbert: "How was the test? Did you awaken?"
Leon: Silence gripped the room, my inability to answer spoke volumes.
Vincent Gilbert: "It's alright, son. There's no need to be disheartened. There are many other opportunities in the new world.
Leon: "You're right, I'm sure there are. Goodnight, Father."
Leon: I retreated to my room, lost in thought. None of it mattered. I had to find a way into Echelon Enigma; it was my only path to searching for my mother and Eien.