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The three of them stayed there, exchanging silly comments, watching the movement as time dragged on.
The ambient sound was a mix of conversations, the incessant clicking of cameras, the voices of reporters preparing their microphones, and even the distant hum of filming drones flying over the area.
Half an hour later...
Theo was about to bring up another topic when, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a familiar figure approaching from the side entrance of the garden.
"Look who decided to show up..."
Theo commented to Nayun and Suho, nodding his chin in the direction.
Kim Hajin had finally arrived.
And, unlike Suho, who was almost eaten alive, Hajin's entrance was surprisingly quiet. In fact, almost no one seemed to notice his presence. No reporter turned, no flash went off. Not even a security guard seemed to care much.
He simply walked in, hands in his pockets, with a somewhat bored look, the typical expression of someone who would rather be anywhere else but there.
Hajin stopped in front of them, gave the surroundings a quick glance, then at the three of them, and finally, let out a low yawn.
"Morning. From the looks on your faces, there's no start time yet, huh?"
Hajin sat down in the chair next to Suho, noticing the bored expression on the faces of the three.
"Hey! I see your day is off to a great start."
Theo greeted him in a sarcastic and humorous tone.
Suho answered his question.
"It's more likely for this tower to collapse on its own than for this event to start on time."
Nayun grumbled, visibly in a bad mood. The conversation about the mid-term exams was still on her mind.
Hajin yawned once more, stretching his legs out in front of him before crossing his arms again.
"And to think I got out of bed for this..."
He muttered, narrowing his eyes toward the stage.
"Seriously. They could have just sent it by express mail... or made a wire transfer."
"I agree. They could just post an article with our pictures and be done with it..."
Sitting there for almost an hour, even he was starting to feel the annoyance of the wait.
"That's because you guys are lazy."
Suho retorted, half-laughing, half-scolding, although it was hard not to agree, at least a little, with what the two were saying.
"Some people really value this kind of recognition, you know?"
Nayun let out a long sigh after hearing Suho.
"Sigh... Fine. I might even value it, if I hadn't been here since six in the morning, in the middle of a garden, sleepy and with no sign of it starting."
After that, Suho fell silent. It was clear that not even he could find a good defense for the Association's disorganization.
It was then that a polite, yet firm, voice addressed them:
"Hello! Good morning, cadets. Could you please accompany me?"
A beautiful woman, appearing to be in her twenties and dressed in black business attire, approached them with a small tablet in her hands. Her rigid posture and attentive eyes revealed someone accustomed to dealing with pressure and responsibility.
Nayun raised a curious eyebrow.
The woman coughed discreetly before explaining:
"Ahem... I need you to accompany me for a brief rehearsal of the ceremony."
Posture and protocol training, basically.
Hajin asked, frowning. Why do we need training just to receive an award? he wondered.
"Yes. We had a small setback, and we were only able to come speak with you now. It would be great if we could be brief. I swear, it will be very quick."
Despite her gentle tone, there was a certain hidden rigidity in her voice and expression, as if the situation was more complicated than she wanted to let on.
Theo said, standing up. Seeing this, the green-eyed woman let out a small sigh of relief.
"Right. Better than just sitting here anyway."
Nayun also stood up, stretching briefly before straightening her body, still showing traces of sleepiness.
Hajin and Suho did the same, albeit with less enthusiasm.
The agent turned immediately and led them inside the Tower, crossing the main hall, and heading towards a discreet room slightly to the right.
Almost an hour late, the Ceremony finally began.
[And now, the conferment of the awards.]
The host announced the start of the ceremony.
[The honor will be bestowed by the level 37 Master Hero, Sir Yoo Sihyuk.]
Standing side by side, Kim Suho, Chae Nayun, Theo Sagan, and Kim Hajin watched the man who began to walk toward them.
A man with an imposing presence. His hair fell to his shoulders, slightly curved at the tips, as if molded by his aura. He wore a well-trimmed beard, uncommon among Eastern men, which gave an even more distinct air to his figure.
But it wasn't his appearance that captured everyone's gaze, but rather the invisible sensation he emanated.
With every step he took, it was as if a wind blown by hidden forces swept through the garden. Almost imperceptible ripples of magical power undulated around him, distorting the air like heat on asphalt.
His raw power had reached such a high level that not even he seemed able to control it completely.
And this allowed anyone, even the most inexperienced, to see, with the naked eye, the dense and unstable flow of magic that escaped from him at every moment.
He didn't wear shining armor, nor did he carry any grand symbol. He didn't need to.
His mere presence was more intimidating than any adornment or title he could bear.
"Hm... you're Theo Sagan."
He said, stopping in front of Theo, his eyes half-closed, sizing him up from head to toe.
"The one who managed to tame that bratty girl."
The comment fell like a stone in the ceremonial silence.
Nayun turned her face to her former master, incredulous, her eyes widening slightly as her cheeks turned red.
Nayun repeated in a low voice, through gritted teeth.
But Yoo Sihyuk didn't even look at her. Not caring about his former apprentice's reaction, he placed his hand on Theo's shoulder naturally, as if they were old acquaintances.
"I thank you for making this airhead see things more clearly..."
He said, with a slight smile, referring to her returning to using a sword.
"As well as for protecting her from that snooty rich kid."
Theo blinked, slightly surprised by the honesty; he really didn't expect this guy to say something like that to him.
"I didn't do any of it for thanks. I just did what I had to do for my girlfriend, Sir Sihyuk."
He gave Theo's shoulder a light squeeze, as if approving of his words.
He approached Nayun, who quickly swallowed the bubbling complaints in her heart and faced her former master with embarrassment.
"...It's been a while, brat."
"O-oh! Yes, master. It's been a long time."
"Huh! I don't know what he did to make you wield a sword again, and I don't want to know. But still, make sure to thank him properly, understood?"
"O-of course, master, I thank him all the time. Many times in the... Cough! Cough!"
Realizing what she was about to say, Nayun quickly fell silent, and an unparalleled blush started to creep up her neck and face.
"Fine. If you want to train again, just let me know."
Sihyuk said, tossing the comment out casually, having not noticed anything unusual in her words. Without paying any more attention to Nayun's expression, he turned and moved on to the next cadet.
Suho replied, with a firm posture and eyes.
"Hm. I see why those guys want you."
Yoo Sihyuk's gaze reflected intense interest. With another unusual kindness for the day, Yoo Sihyuk advised Kim Suho.
"Don't join the Association. It might be better to join Vast Expanse and become a hunter. Being a Hero is nothing but a baggage of responsibilities, and it's no fun."
"...Even so, being a Hero fits my personality better."
Kim Suho showed a clear refusal with a smile. In response, the corner of Yoo Sihyuk's mouth twisted.
"You're a boring guy. Fine... And you are..."
"I am Cadet Kim Hajin."
"Ah! Yes... Good work."
With that, he began to walk back to his starting point.
~Tomorrow, maybe two more chapters...~