Eclipse of Eternity: Awakening of the Forsaken

Chapter 12

Time passed, and our new roommates trickled in one by one. Each of them looked as pitiful as us—scrawny, weak, and malnourished. Some were younger, some older. A few seemed to have been here longer than others, their hollow eyes carrying a weight of familiarity as they glanced around the room. Occasionally, I noticed their gazes linger on certain empty beds with a strange melancholic expression.

It didn't take a genius to figure out why. Those beds didn't belong to anyone anymore—not because their owners left for a better life, but because they didn't make it.

A chill ran down my spine. But I forced myself to think positively. They probably turned sixteen and became workers, right? I tried to console myself with that thought. Being from Earth—a modern world where death was more of a news headline than a daily reality—made it harder to swallow the grimness of this place.

I chose a bed near the window, where the light was good, and it was conveniently close to the bookshelf. The upper bunk felt more spacious and free, so I claimed it. Organizing the toiletries left on the bed, I noticed Blondie still pacing around, trying to decide which bed to pick.

"Just pick one," I sighed, exasperated.

But he only scratched his head, muttering something about "finding the right vibe."

I ignored him and carried my toiletries over to the lockers, noticing a small square cupboard beneath the bunk beds. The locker number matched the one on my bed, and tucked inside the toiletries was a key engraved with the same number. Opening the locker, I found two clean sets of the same dull uniform I was wearing.

Laundry? I wondered to myself. Should I wash my dirty clothes by hand, or was there some system in place? I decided to put off the thought for later, arranging my toiletries neatly inside the locker before locking it again.

The room wasn't as lively as it should've been. A handful of new arrivals lingered, gawking at the space like it was some luxury hotel. Some left as quickly as they came, escorted away by staff. A few of the older ones barely acknowledged us, lost in their own heads.

It also became clear that this was a boys-only dorm. Like a boarding school, minus the fun.

The sight brought back memories of my own high school days—being forced to wake up at ungodly hours for chores: cutting vegetables, cleaning, serving food, scrubbing toilets. It wasn't a fond memory, but it was tolerable when friends were there to share in the misery.

I facepalmed. "Why am I even reminiscing about that?"

Shaking off the nostalgia, I wandered over to the door I presumed led to the bathroom. As soon as I stepped inside, I was taken aback.

The bathroom was surprisingly well-kept. Shiny basins lined one wall, complete with large mirrors that reflected my bedraggled state. Toilets were on one side, and showers occupied the other. As I ventured further, I stumbled upon something that truly amazed me—washing machines.

Not just any washing machines. These were powered by runes, their glowing inscriptions humming faintly with mana.

"A mana-powered washing machine," I muttered to myself. "Didn't see that coming."

If this place wasn't a lab of horrors, I might've been impressed enough to enjoy it here. The facilities were better than I had expected—shame the food couldn't live up to the same standard.

"Who's cooking in this place? Satan?" I muttered under my breath as I stepped into a shower.

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After a quick rinse, I slipped back into the same uniform from earlier. It was still clean, so there was no point in wasting the fresh set just yet.

As I exited the bathroom, towel-drying my hair, I spotted Blondie chatting animatedly with a small group of newbies. He waved me over, grinning ear to ear.

"Hey, this is my friend A—" Blondie abruptly stopped mid-sentence, realizing his mistake. Names weren't allowed here.

"No. 4271," I interjected smoothly, saving him from fumbling further. "Nice to meet you."

I tried to smile, but I must've forgotten my face didn't work like that. The result was more of a grimace than anything warm or inviting.

Their reactions weren't what I expected. A few of them flinched, and others shifted uncomfortably, their expressions ranging from nervous to downright scared.

I tilted my head in confusion. "What?"

Blondie scratched the back of his head nervously. "Uh… Maybe it's your face?"

I blinked. "What's wrong with my face?"

One of the braver ones muttered, "You don't… look very friendly."

"That's just his face!" Blondie said cheerfully, as if that would help. "He's nice, I swear!"

"Thank you for that glowing endorsement," I deadpanned.

The group chuckled nervously, still keeping their distance. I sighed internally. Well, this is off to a great start.