Farnes's shock was palpable, his usually calm composure broken as he processed Alex's revelation.
He glanced down at his hand, noticing the crumbling wood, and let out a slow breath to steady himself.
"You two…"
He shook his head, a glimmer of bewilderment in his eyes.
"Most people reach that threshold decades, sometimes centuries, into their lives. You've barely started, and already you're on the edge of becoming a Higher lifeform."
He gave a half-smile, though his eyes were still clouded with a mixture of surprise and caution.
"So, tell me, what exactly led you here so quickly?"
"Honestly, that's what I was hoping you could help with…"
Alex replied, holding his gaze steady.
"When Mira and I looked at our requirements, the System said we'd already 'broken free of mortal bindings,' but I can't shake the feeling that most C+ ranks don't have that marked as complete so soon."
Thud!
Another piece of the wooden table crumbled in Farnes' hands…
"..."
