The warm sunlight was shining through the hospital room's east window, dancing across the white sheets and Daniel's pale face.
The smell of alcohol and disinfectants still lingered in the air. Liana, with a worried expression and eyes that had barely slept last night, pulled the chair closer and held her son's hands.
Just a few minutes ago, agents from the Awakened Organization had left, and after that, the doctors came in to examine Daniel again.
"Daniel! You nearly killed us, kid!" Her voice was shaky, but she tried to stay calm. "Do you even know what happened last night? I thought I'd have to reserve a grave!"
Daniel gave a half-smile. The wound on his side throbbed, and he frowned in pain.
"Mom… I just came back from the dead. Could you please start a little softer?"
From the corner of the room, Alice was sprawled on a couch, looking annoyed and tired.
"If Mom doesn't kill you, the Awakened Organization definitely will! A normal person doesn't do that kind of thing to monsters!"
"I mean seriously, the way you were talking—like a zombie priest or something. I thought I was gonna have a heart attack!" She sat up halfway and added with a teasing tone,
"Where'd you even learn to talk like that?"
Liana's eyes widened, full of fear and concern as she looked at Daniel.
"What? Zombie priest? God have mercy… Why couldn't you just take a normal class like a mage or a swordsman?!" she said with worry.
She didn't want her son's fate to end up like her husband's.
"I am a priest! You know, the type that heals and brings people back to life! Kind of like a spiritual guy!" Daniel cleared his throat, trying to sound steady but casual.
"Mom, seriously, there's nothing to worry about."
"You're more like a priest who does his own funerals," Alice raised an eyebrow and let out a small laugh.
"That wasn't even funny," Daniel gave her a look.
"Hmph, yes it was," Alice puffed up her cheeks.
Liana crossed her arms and started ranting, but Alice suddenly jumped up.
"Wait! I have something to say that'll make Mom stop nagging!"
Daniel looked at her suspiciously.
"If it's more nonsense, I'd rather not hear it."
"No, idiot!" Alice frowned, but her tone turned serious. "The Fallen Sun Guild messaged me. They told me when to come in for the test. They said if your brother has awakened too, bring him along."
Liana let out a loud sigh.
"Guild what? No, no! It's too soon! We should wait until he's fully recovered… he's still just a kid!" she said suddenly with fear and seriousness.
Bad memories she didn't want to recall echoed in her mind.
Wasn't this the exact same pattern that had happened to her husband?
"Mom, I'm 18…" Daniel took a deep breath and spoke calmly.
"You're still my little crybaby who used to be scared of the dark!" Liana said dramatically, putting a hand on her heart.
Daniel smirked, but Alice's expression had changed. It was like something was weighing on her mind.
"Daniel… that moment on the street… when you looked at those monsters… your eyes… it didn't feel like you." She lowered her head and said quietly, no longer joking.
Daniel held his breath. Something deep in his mind ached.
"How could you talk like that? Priests aren't supposed to act like that! It was scary. I mean… are you really a priest?" Alice continued.
She still remembered that day. She thought nothing could be scarier than a dimensional collapse… but her brother's behavior was.
Even thinking about it still scared her.
"Trust me, Alice… I am a priest. Just like I said." Daniel's eyes paused on her face for a moment. Then he gave her a calm but cold look.
He sighed. Honestly, he could understand how his sister felt.
But it wasn't his fault. At that moment, he had no control over his body.
Still, Alice didn't back down. Her voice got quieter.
"Those skills, that behavior… all that rage and fear… I don't think a normal priest can do that."
"Like I said, there's nothing to be scared of. It was just adrenaline, I got a little carried away…" Daniel laughed a bit.
A silence settled between them. Their mother didn't say anything. She never liked things related to Awakened people, but it seemed like God had chosen her family.
What could she do except support her kids?
A few minutes later, the two left the room. Silence hung in the air like a heavy blanket.
Daniel was alone.
The sunlight was slowly giving way to the shadows of sunset. The sound of nurses' footsteps faded in the hallway. He sat up halfway and looked out the window.
Everything looked normal. But inside him… it wasn't.
Just yesterday, he was talentless. But now, suddenly, he had a Transcendent Class, and he might be the only one in history with such a thing.
"Open my panel," he whispered, raising a finger and lightly pointing into the air.