The minds of people contain the darkest parts of themselves. Even the kindest person harbors something unsettling deep within—ugliness, hatred, bitterness, or things they would never speak aloud. That's why Dante doesn't use his mind-reading ability casually. He only does so when absolutely necessary.
He's seen too much. Heard too much.
Over the years, trying to understand others brought him nothing but trauma. He had to face countless ugly truths, unwillingly absorbing secrets no one should ever know. The truth is, people are flawed in ways that can't always be fixed. Some traits—jealousy, pettiness, cruelty—are simply part of human nature.
Eventually, Dante learned to accept people as they were. He stopped hoping to find anyone truly pure. Instead, he began filtering out the noise—the hatred, the lies, the things that made him sick inside. But the only way to truly silence it all… was to isolate himself.
Over time, solitude became his peace.
Thankfully, he had one trick: a way to suppress his ability. By pointing a finger at his neck—like miming a knife at his throat—he could jam the signal. It made him uncomfortable, sure, but it brought him relief. Silence. A moment of quiet in a world screaming with thoughts.
But everything changed when Dante met someone he couldn't read. For the first time in what felt like forever, someone's mind was completely closed off to him.
That moment changed his life.
For the first time in years, he felt a flicker of something he thought he'd lost—a desire to connect, to belong. And when he learned that there was an entire world of people like that—people whose thoughts he couldn't hear—it awakened something else.
Hope.
Maybe, just maybe… he could live among others again. Maybe his life wouldn't have to return to that cold, silent isolation. Maybe something new, something thrilling, awaited him.
Dante woke up in a white room, just like before.
He was lying on a wheeled bed used for transportation. The light overhead buzzed softly. It felt like ages had passed since he last remembered anything, though he had no memory of what had happened during that time.
'Is this it? Am I… in the place they call the New World?'
He sat up slowly, his muscles stiff. He stood, stretched, and did a few light exercises to shake off the fog in his body. As he moved around the room, he noticed a flat TV screen mounted on the wall. Spotting the remote on a side table, he picked it up and turned the TV on.
A small, holographic pixie-like figure appeared on the screen, speaking in a cheerful, informative voice.
"Welcome to the New World! This is the land of the Awakened—also known as Artificers!"
The pixie twirled in the air as diagrams and maps appeared beside her.
"The New World is a continent located in the vast world of Velgrath. Velgrath consists of multiple distinct regions: the Old World, the Wild Frontier, the Ocean Planet, and of course, the New World itself."
"You are currently located in the land of the Union of Astral Dominion—U.A.D.—the most powerful human empire in the New World. It is a democratic empire, though it still maintains a traditional hierarchy and noble class."
"Within the U.A.D.'s borders are many colonies and sub-kingdoms, all working together under one banner."
'Oh wow. So I just got born into New Rome, huh?'
The pixie continued, "As a newly transported individual, you are now officially a citizen of the U.A.D. Congratulations! All new citizens receive a full scholarship to study at an Artificers Academy, where you'll learn the skills necessary to thrive in this world."
'Artificers Academy, huh? Sounds like that's where everything important starts. Somehow, I can't wait.'
"And finnally, welcome to Tessarune. The Two faces city."
Dante's heart pounded in his chest with excitement. For the first time in a long time, he felt it—not anxiety, not dread, but anticipation. He changed into a set of provided clothes, then stepped outside the room. A sleek black band had been placed on his wrist while he slept. As he moved, the band played a soft voice in his ear, guiding him to his next destination.
He walked into a large, chrome elevator, empty-handed. 'Yeah, that checks out. I came here with nothing.'
As the elevator began to rise, he felt an odd unease creep in.
'Why does it feel so empty? Where is everyone?'
The elevator reached its destination and opened. Beyond the door was a wide granite path flanked by multiple elevator doors. He followed the path upward. After a short walk, he saw sunlight pouring through an archway.
He stepped into a stunning town of white brick houses—each structure gleaming, elegant, and almost competing in beauty with its neighbors. The smooth white bricks stacked perfectly, as though sculpted by master artisans. The sight was breathtaking.
But not a single soul was in sight.
'Am I… in a ghost town? Did I just walk into a dead zone?'
Fortunately, he spotted a bus stop nearby and approached it. After a short wait, an automated bus arrived and opened its doors. Dante boarded, noting the complete lack of a driver.
'Alright, now this is creepy. Why is it so desolate here?'
The bus drove him across the town and eventually dropped him off at a student dormitory made entirely from brick—no concrete, no steel, just old-world charm. It was like stepping from cyberpunk into medieval fantasy.
'If not for the elevator and bus, I'd swear I time-traveled.'
At last, he saw people. Students walked around the dormitory grounds, chatting, laughing, carrying books and suitcases. He finally wasn't alone.
These were his peers—the students of the Artificers Academy.
He overheard someone mention that a new semester would start tomorrow, just one day after his arrival.
'Seriously? That's insane timing. Guess I got lucky… or fate has plans.'
Tomorrow would be his first real step into this new life.
A new beginning.
A world of Artificers awaited—people capable of reshaping reality, building megastructures, mastering elements, and forming the very order of New World.
'What kind of people are they? What will they teach me? What can I become?'
For the first time in years, Dante wasn't dreading the future.
He was excited.