Nobody cried. Why would they, it was just a beggar. Nobody even knew what his name was.

It was a cheap price to pay, to see the true intentions, of the soldiers passing by. It was probably worth it for them. Making their life easier. No longer needing to wonder, if they were on their side, neutral or looking to kill them.

Killing a beggar for attempting to steal? It was nothing new on the grand scale of things. It changed nothing for them. Except for the need for, well more like the obligation of keeping beggars in check. Making sure they didn't attempt to steal. Because, well now their life was on the line! If the soldier's words held through.

And nobody wanted to try and see if they were true. It made them more ruthless, occasional donation. Well, they became extinct. Even violence towards us became more frequent. While their relationships kept the same.

Well as they had no need to steal. Why would they, change the way that they treated each other? They were, treated and well, lived like nobles. Well compared to us.

And you know, if you don't experience something, or see it? Never had it? It is as if it never existed! They felt like people on top of the world, and who else, except the people outside our little village? Could break their fantasy! They looked at them, like looking at the harbingers of change!

Was it because their predecessors, were the reason for their position? Of their fortune, and not their own hard work, their luck upon the Awakening?

I didn't know, but the change was good. Whatever it was.

Why?

Well living in this hellhole with zero opportunities, no way of learning.

Improving. Why would I protest? The older I grew, the more starved I felt. I had no idea why, but I needed to learn more!

It was a few days, after the execution.

The dirt brothers returned, they wore sour faces. Even before learning of the happenings in our village.

I guessed they failed. They probably tried, well to escape. To find a better village, even a city. To live in. But as I noticed, life is never easy.

For whatever you hope to happen, or even expect it with some kind of certainty. Well, it didn't happen. Was it life screwing with you? Absolutely.

How could a life, one and only, be entertaining? If there weren't twists and turns to it?

I have noticed that stability. Certainty. Well, it brought upon stagnation.

If a baker knew his job. And he owned the most popular business, based around our village.

Why would he strive to improve? He was the best, everyone bought from him. It was foolproof. He was set for life. He would, and will, always be the best. If it works? And you have no need to change the way you do it? Why try? Why bother, to waste your energy on something that may, or may not work?

That is where they were wrong, I thought to myself.

If you don't improve, if you stagnate. Your life becomes boring. I didn't see the point there. Why would you be satisfied? When you knew, that the world was so vast? That, you knew nothing!

If you didn't manage to improve, to rise. Even from the lowest step, being our village. That I bet, most of its residents didn't even know its name. How could you live with yourself? I could see some reasons, but as soon as that thought crossed my mind, I lost all respect for them.

As the dirt brothers returned, I guess only I called them that? With their sour faces, lowered shoulders. And well dirty faces, and clothes. They failed, at whatever they tried to achieve.

______

As they neared their home, could they call it that? Dirtyhair mused. Even though they resented it? It was a place, well a safe place. But even though it was safe, it was nothing more!

As a beggar, you had no opportunities. Expect maybe the Awakening? But even it wasn't foolproof.

Imagine being Awakened as something even worse than a beggar? It would crush all your hopes and dreams. Drive you to a point, where you would just simply quit!

If I looked at it that way, well I was happy that we were a year away from it.

It gave us a little bit more time, to strife, the struggle for a better tomorrow. And not lose hope.

We did not know the reasons or ways to affect the Awakening. So we tried everything.

A few days ago, with the income of soldiers. Me and my brother Bronzedirt, We decided to venture out! Explore available paths, roads. That lead from our village. In hope of, well finding hope. A sign that told us, we were close? To something that would provide us options, options to change our current conditions.

I can't complain, with soldiers walking by. It was safe, it felt like a walk in our village. Safe, with people walking by, but almost always in the opposite direction. We tried to talk to them, me and my brother.

The only reaction we ever received, was contempt. If they even bothered to look at us, we felt like dirt. Even worse than our status as beggars.

It was a chilling experience. Knowing that people Same species as us, paid more attention to the bugs than us.

As hours passed, we reached the outskirts of our village. It looked small but somehow safer than the roads with soldiers passing by. I couldn't say why.

"Brother, we are near our home village, stop looking so down. At least we tried!" Looking at my brother. Well, not blood-related, not like I had anybody that was blood-related to me. I couldn't help but chuckle. It was nice having someone by your side, through failure, or success.

"Brother, you don't need to smile, if you don't mean it." Bronzedirt couldn't help but say.

"We failed, there is no shame in failure. Except trying to act, like there was none."

"Why do you call it a failure? We survived! And we are even back at our village where we will be safe. And it isn't like we haven't learned anything. This is progress!"

"Yes brother, I do understand your point of view, but somehow it just doesn't feel right to me."

"It doesn't need to feel right, to be right. Next time for sure we will make it. Now we know the direction, that the soldiers are coming from. We can just follow them. If we had more food, and water we could have done it this time."

"I understand that, but even if you're right, will it change anything? We're yet to Awaken. We'll end up as beggars there as well. Only the territory will be unknown."

"Who cares, as long as we have more opportunities, it'll be fine."

It was a sour spot, to end the conversation. But it was the truth. If we stayed here, we could do nothing, change nothing. And just follow. Dirtyhair couldn't help but sigh. His brother was afraid of changes, of uncertainty. What could go wrong for them? They were already at the bottom, maybe a little above, the casual beggar of their street. But what was that? That was nothing.

As they entered the village, he could feel something. Something wrong?

Everything was the same, Nothing was ruined, houses looked the same.

But somehow, the people that walked. Weren't as casual as they used to be. Why? What has changed? How could anything bad happen with soldiers going through our village?

When they arrived back to their street, they couldn't help but ask around the other kids. If anyone knew, it was beggars. They always paid attention to happenings in town. To changes that could better their life, bring them more food.

Nobody was talkative for a change, they averted their eyes. Awkwardly tried to change the topic.

Nobody wanted to break the ice and say what happened.

The atmosphere was awkward, even I could tell. I was usually happy to just follow Dirtyhairs lead, but now.

It felt wrong. People looked hurt, I knew it was my weakness. Being soft. Wanting to help people, even though I couldn't help myself. I couldn't control that instinct. Even if I tried.

Something inside me wanted to know, to try and help. But even I knew, it was impossible.

As he asked around, and I silently followed. Even though I expected it, I still couldn't believe it. Killed like a rat? For attempting to steal an item? An item being worth a life of a human, that was close to being Awakened? He could have been a Healer or somebody that could assist, even them.

Why would they kill somebody that had potential? Even if it was a small chance?

My morale couldn't help but drop, even with Dirtyhair trying to assure me. I needed time, to think, to try and understand, or rather comprehend their actions.

Sighing, I had to give up. Even with my best efforts to cheer my brother Bronzedirt, up. I failed. He looked as if, he was inside his own world. After I failed to catch his attention the first few times. I couldn't do anything but give up. And from what I could see, it would be better if he thought through the events. Maybe it would make him just a bit stronger, a bit less sympathetic towards others. I didn't think that it was wrong, but there was a time and place for it. And now, it wasn't it.

Rubbing his dirty hair, Dirtyhair chuckled.

Even after we finished asking questions, I couldn't help but glance at the anomaly. The skinniest person in our little community has changed a lot. A few years ago, I could feel him, even if I didn't pay attention. He was always watching, observing. Trying to copy, to learn. To survive. I couldn't blame him, being the smallest, the youngest, weakest among us. It must have been scary. Knowing that at any time, someone could just walk over steal your food and abuse you.

Such things didn't happen here, often. So he managed to survive.

I couldn't help but remember when he came. Or rather was thrown out, to our village.

As he had nothing, knew nothing. He always watched us, well everyone. Trying to improve, gather food. But in the last year or two. The change was drastic.

Even if I tried to spot him looking at people. I just couldn't. It seemed as if he was in thought, or doing something, important enough for him to ignore everyone else. But somehow, I still felt like he watched everyone, trying to learn, improve?

It was strange, why didn't he just come to us, or well anybody and ask. That is what we did, and that is how I and Bronzedirt met. And now we are, brothers. Not blood related but still, you could argue that our bond, well it was stronger than blood.

It was strange, but something easily overlooked. With so much stuff happening around us. It looked as if it wasn't even worth a thought.

______

As they came back, I could feel, his eyes on me. Inquiring. Trying to figure me out. The more outgoing one of the dirt brothers, Dirtyhair. I got used to it, after the experience with that soldier, he was much more terrifying. Then this guy looking at me, even though that soldier didn't even bother to look at me. Well, I was at the safe distance. And I doubted that he would bother to beat me up, for information. So I just ignored him, didn't react to his gaze.

And just listened. Trying to figure out, our position, or well status between our village and others. Was there a way out? And if there was, was it worth it?

Would anything change, with the change of our environment? Was it close to my own conclusion?

Well, I was disappointed. As far as they walked, they haven't noticed a single village. The only thing that brought them hope was the directions of the soldiers. The way that they were coming from.

And from what I understood their attitude towards beggars didn't change.

Questions were ignored. Disruptions of their missions, or well path that they marched on, were met with physical force. Being kicked away, by a person that was Awakened, and a soldier? Well, I never experienced it, but it was probably like a hammer hitting you, full swing.

Things looked uncertain. Even well-dressed people, or so-called nobles of our village. Were antsy. They too felt the need to move, no longer did they feel safe.

It was easy to tell.

The change was upon us.