The hallway was quiet… for awhile, the only sound was the creaking of old floorboards beneath their feet as they walked to the exit.
Vira walked a few steps behind the old woman, his mind still trying to process everything she had told him.
Awakenings… Hollows, Aether.
The more he thought about it, the more questions appeared.
Eventually one slipped out.
"Um…"
The old woman glanced over her shoulder.
"What now?"
Vira immediately regretted speaking.
"N-nevermind."
The old woman rolled her eyes and smacked her teeth.
"Tsk, you already started talking boy."
Vira rubbed his shoulder out of guilt.
"Sorry…"
"Stop apologizing and spit it out!"
Vira looked at the floor, there wasn't really… an appropriate way to ask.
"I was just wondering…"
His voice growing quieter as he tried to find the confidence to ask.
"What should I call you?"
Slowing slightly, she turned around towards him.
"…What?"
Vira gulped and continued:
"I know Nora's name… I don't know yours."
For a second she simply stared at him.
Then she barked out a loud laugh, echoing through the hallway.
"We've been talking all damn night and that's what you're worried about?"
Vira immediately felt embarrassed.
"Sorry!"
"There you go apologizing again."
Palming her face, she sighed and shook her head.
"That's my mistake, I figured Nora would say something… but due to you absorbing people and shit I never got the chance."
She scratched the side of her head and placed her hand in front of Vira.
"You can call me Sherane."
Vira looked at her hand and then her.
"Sherane?"
For some reason, finally having a name made her feel a little less intimidating… a little more real.
Sherane noticed the look on his face and snorted.
"Don't look at me like that."
Vira stammered out of embarrassment.
"L-like what?!"
Sherane took her hand back, and folded her arms.
"Like finding out my name was some grand revelation."
Vira collected himself and responded:
"It i-isn't!"
"Mhmmm"
Sherane laughed again and turned around to the door leading outside.
The door swung open.
The moment Nora saw them, she pushed herself away from the wall.
"Finally…"
Relief flashed across her face so quickly Vira almost missed it.
"I thought you two were gonna be in there all night!"
Sherane snorted and smacked her teeth.
"Tsk, trust me I wanted to leave hours ago."
Nora's eyes widened in anger as she raised her arms.
"YOU were the one talking!"
Sherane pointed her finger at Vira in a sharp motion as she exclaimed:
"HE was the one asking questions!"
Nora's attention instantly shifted towards Vira, who was standing idly while the two of them bickered with each other.
"Are you okay Vira…?"
The question caught him off guard, but the same warmth from earlier flushed through his chest.
He nodded slowly in response.
"I-I think so… there was a lot of-"
"I know."
For a second Nora looked like she wanted to say something else, but instead she stepped forward.
Vira felt that same warmth in his chest spread throughout his entire body.
Then her hand stopped, moments away from his shoulder.
The movement lasted less than a second, a tiny hesitation… a twitch in hand.
Nora's fingers curled slightly before she lowered her hand.
"…Good, I'm glad you're okay."
The words felt strange, not because of what she said but because of what she didn't do.
Vira forced himself to look away, maybe she hadn't meant to… maybe she was just tired.
'Maybe—'
"Ow!"
His thoughts stopped when Sherane smacked the back of his head.
"Quit overthinking jackass."
Vira rubbed the back of his head and sighed.
"I wasn't…"
Sherane raised her hand again in anticipation.
"Lie again and see what happens boy."
Nora smiled, while sherane folded her arms.
"Anyways enough of that."
Nora and Vira looked at her.
"The boy is joining the scavengers."
Nora's eyes fluttered as her mind whirled.
"You… can't be serious."
Sherane raised an eyebrow.
"And why can't I?"
Nora stammered, trying to find the right words.
"The scavengers? I brought him here to make sure he was safe! Not to send him back out there in that… that DEATH zone!"
Sherane pointed at Vira once again, while raising her voice.
"He needs experience! I can't let him go around town absorbing any and everyone into that weird 'singularity' of his!"
At this point in time, Nora's eyes were red in anger and fear, anger for her journey bringing Vira back feeling like it was for nothing.
Fear for his future back out there.
"So we send him back out? Is there no other way?!"
Sherane simply stared at her.
"I'm all ears for an idea Nora."
After a couple moments in silence, eventually Nora groaned.
"I hate that you're right."
****
Three days later.
The settlement gates towered over Vira like giants.
The metal walls stretched upward until they vanished into the smokey sky above.
The gates represented safety, and crossing them felt inherently wrong.
A booming voice interrupted Vira's thoughts.
"WHY DOES EVERYONE LOOK LIKE THEY'RE ATTENDING A FUNERAL?!"
Vira nearly jumped.
A tall man marched toward the group of people standing beside Vira.
He radiated confidence that made it seem like the wasteland belonged to him.
A large metal spear rested on his shoulder.
His grin was impossible to miss.
"Outstanding! I love silent confidence!"
One of the people besides Vira sighed.
"Ugh… morning Commander."
The man laughed loudly, holding his core as he did so.
"Now that's more like it!"
The man pointed dramatically at himself.
"Commander Bram. Arcane awakening. Handsome, charismatic, humble."
'ironic…'
Vira whispered to himself as he watched Commander Bram's focus shift on the woman next to him.
She rolled her eyes and sighed.
"You forgot annoying."
Bram gasped.
"Lyra?! You wound me…"
Despite himself feeling uncomfortable, Vira found the exchange oddly comforting.
The few people around him seemed calm.
Bram clasped his hands together, grinning ear to ear.
"Before we venture off, introductions are essential… best way for teamwork to take place is to truly know your allies!"
No one looked excited, but that didn't deter his energetic mood.
He pointed toward a broad-shouldered man.
"You first."
The intimidating man took a step forward and cleared his throat.
"Darius, I'm an Arcane awakened."
A woman with sharp eyes, and short dark hair spoke next.
"Lyra… I'm also an Arcane awakened."
Another man, this time with gray almost silver hair waved his hand lazily.
"Finn, I'm an Echo awakened."
Finally, all eyes landed on Vira.
Bram's smile remained.
"You must be the new one!"
Vira froze… what was he supposed to say now?
****
Sherane's voice echoed through his memory.
"Never tell anyone, not Bram, or any new people you meet… no one."
"The second people hear 'Void Awakened,' you're as good as dead."
"They'll want to kill you before you're supposed to become a Nullborn, so keep your damn mouth shut. We'll figure out what to do about that weird sphere of yours."
****
Vira swallowed hard, the dark sphere in his abdomen was hidden underneath a cloak Sherane gave him. It was black and a little torn at the bottom but it did its job.
His hands tightened as everyone stared at him waiting for him to speak up.
"…Vira"
The word came out quieter than intended, Bram leaned forward- voice easily drowning out Vira's.
"And?!"
Vira hesitated.
"I'm… an unawakened."
Silence surrounded the five of them.
Lyra raised an eyebrow, Finn looked mildly surprised, and Darius frowned.
Bram simply stared, and then bellowed out a laugh that echoed across the walls.
"Well THAT'S new!"
Vira's stomach dropped. Before Bram slapped his shoulder hard enough to nearly knock him over on his side.
"Perfect!"
Confusion and pain flooded Vira's face as he looked up at Bram.
"W-what?"
The commander turned toward the massive gates.
"We'll make a scavenger out of you yet!"
His grin never faded, as he lead everyone toward the gates.
"Alright everyone! The world isn't going to search itself!"
The spear hanging from his shoulder dropped to his hand, his excitement was infectious…
The gates opened and light spilled through the widening gap, beyond it waited endless ruins, and unknown answers.
The expedition had begun.