Moon stepped inside the private office. The office was modest but well-organised; it had a desk with a computer terminal, filing cabinets along one wall, a small sitting area with two chairs, and a window overlooking the city.

The moment the door closed behind them, Isabelle sighed deeply, running a hand over her face. "You... What are you? How can I meet you twice in a row in such unexpected circumstances?"

Moon shrugged, genuinely not knowing the answer either. "Well, it's fate, I guess? Look, before you get any ideas, I'm just trying to get my awakener badge."

Isabelle nodded, her demeanour reasserting itself despite the awkwardness hanging between them. "Yes, I know."

She moved to one of the filing cabinets and retrieved a device similar to the awakening orb from school, but smaller. "Here, put your hand on this crystal. It will identify your class."

Moon approached the crystal but didn't activate his Classless nature or attempt to copy anything. Instead, he channelled his Epic-rank skill <Five Element Affinity>, the evolved version of what he'd gained from Selene's class, <Four Element Affinity>.

The crystal lit up immediately in an array of bright colours—blue, brown, white, red, and crackling yellow dancing across its surface.

Isabelle's eyebrows rose as a phantom image materialised above Moon—the visual representation of an Elemental Mage class, swirling with elemental energy.

"You're a variation of an Elemental Mage..." she muttered, her tone carrying genuine surprise.

Isabelle moved to sit behind her desk, her fingers already moving to her keyboard. "Your name?"

"Moon Outlaw."

She typed it in, her eyes scanning the screen as information populated. Her expression shifted several times, changing from surprise to understanding.

"Hm... You apparently failed to awaken during your class awakening ceremony. Then you disappeared for several months. Your landlord filed an abandonment notice after sixty days of non-payment."

She looked up at him. "You were right. You did live in that apartment."

"I told you," Moon said simply.

Isabelle had the grace to look slightly embarrassed. "Yes, well... given the circumstances of our first meeting, you can understand my scepticism. Besides, I started to believe you after a few attacks," She cleared her throat, her face colouring slightly at the memory.

"So what happened? You failed to awaken at the ceremony, but somehow awakened later?"

Moon had prepared this story. "I awakened during my first sanctuary summoning. The environment there must've triggered something the awakening orb missed, or maybe the orb had a malfunction…I don't know."

It was close enough to the truth to be believable.

Isabelle made notes in the system. "And you've been in the First Sanctuary for three months straight? That's... extremely unusual for a new awakener. You would usually want to get back after the 'waiting period' of one week is finished."

Moon had prepared for this question. "I lost track of time. The First Sanctuary is... disorienting. Days blend together when you're constantly moving and fighting to survive. Honestly, I didn't have much reason to rush back to Earth."

It was true enough. He had lost track of time, just more dramatically than anyone would guess. And returning to homelessness wasn't exactly appealing.

"I see," Isabelle said, making another note. "And did you team up with anyone during your time there? Form any parties or join any groups?"

Moon shook his head. "I stayed solo. Figured it was safer to rely on myself, I heard alot of rumours about people luring new awakeners then robbing, killing or doing all kinds of weird things to them."

Isabelle nodded once again. "That's true, these things are more frequent than people think."

Moon deliberately omitted any mention of Selene, Derek's team, Gareth, the hidden realm—all of it. If Isabelle tried to verify his story by cross-referencing with other awakeners, she'd find nothing. Solo awakeners were common enough, especially among new arrivals who were still figuring things out.

Isabelle's fingers paused over the keyboard, her eyes studying him with professional assessment. "Three months alone in the First Sanctuary. That's... remarkably survivalist of you."

"I'm good at surviving," Moon replied neutrally.

She seemed to accept that, continuing with her questions. "What level are you currently?"

"Thirteen."

Her eyebrows rose again. "Thirteen. In three months. That's kind of slow…" She typed it in.

"Any deaths during your time there?"

"Yes, a few times. I don't know how many exactly, though," Moon lied smoothly. These questions were not incrimination; it was virtually impossible for Isabelle to know how many times Moon had died.

Usually, these questions were only for data collection, but outliers were definitely looked at and focused on more than others that are merely treated as data.

Isabelle made more notes, asked a few more standard questions, his intentions for continued sanctuary exploration, and whether he planned to join a guild.

Finally, she leaned back in her chair. "Alright, it's done. You can head to the reception to receive your badge. It'll be processed within the hour. Also, as you know, whenever you reach the next sanctuary, you must inform the Awakeners Association. It's mandatory registration for all second sanctuary entrants."

Moon couldn't help the slight smirk that crossed his face. "Why do you think I'm going to reach that? Most awakeners die before they ever make it to the second sanctuary."

Isabelle's expression was unreadable.

"Just a hunch," she said, her tone suggesting she saw something in him that warranted the assumption. Then she gestured toward the door. "Now get out. I have work to do."

Moon stood, giving her a slight nod. "Thank you for processing this quickly."

"Just don't make me regret it," Isabelle replied, already turning her attention back to her computer.

Moon left the office, closing the door quietly behind him.

After Moon's footsteps faded down the corridor, Isabelle sighed deeply and rubbed her temples.

Something about his story doesn't add up, she thought, staring at the information on her screen. Three months alone in the First Sanctuary, only at level thirteen. He is hiding something.

As much as she wanted to ask, she couldn't question him further without concrete evidence. His awakening was legitimate; the crystal had confirmed it. His level and class were verified. Everything else was circumstantial suspicion at best.

Why is somebody like him registered under my jurisdiction? Isabelle thought with growing frustration. I moved to this district specifically to avoid all the chaos my family wanted to place on me. A quiet administrative position where I could just live my life without politics or drama.

And now she had a mysterious new awakener who'd literally spawned in her apartment and accidentally seen her naked. An awakener with a story that felt incomplete, with slow progression.

"Hopefully, he doesn't cause me trouble," she muttered, turning her chair to stare out the window at the city beyond.

♢♢♢♢

At the reception, Moon received his badge from the woman at the desk.

"Your first monthly payment will be made within the next few hours. Make sure you keep an eye on that. If you have any issues regarding that, come back here, and we will sort it out."

Moon nodded his head gratefully, storing his badge in his pockets. With the bureaucratic issues done, Moon made his way out of the awakener's association.

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