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║ HERO SYSTEM ║
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[ Player: DRAEKON ARDENT ] ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
HMMM... This is quite disappointing, isn't it? The start of your journey, legendarygamer.
C'mon now... Don't fail me. You're the best guy I could bring into the world...
So find it for me, Draekon...
Or should I say S___Kun?
The words echoed in his head like they were being whispered directly into his brain—cold, mechanical, yet amused. Draekon's eyes snapped open, his chest heaving as he sucked in a sharp breath.
"What the hell was that?" he muttered, pushing himself up on the medical bed. His arms felt like they were made of lead, and there was this weird buzzing sensation running through his whole body, like static electricity under his skin.
"Whoa there, big guy." Nurse Riye's voice cut through his confusion, light and teasing. She blinked at him, her expression between amused and concerned. "Quite the reaction to just a syringe. You'd think I stabbed you with a sword or something."
Draekon touched his arm where she'd drawn blood, still trying to shake off that weird voice. It felt so real—like someone had actually been standing right behind him, whispering in his ear.
"Did you say something just now?" he asked, his blue eyes scanning the room like he'd find answers written on the pristine white walls.
Nurse Riye raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on her lips. "Me? No. Did you see a ghost or something?"
Draekon shook his head quickly, maybe a bit too quickly. His blue eyes were still wide, pupils dilated. "No, I just... nothing. Never mind."
Before he could think about it further, the sharp chime of the door's notification bell echoed through the medical bay. Nurse Riye set down her equipment and headed to answer it, her white coat swishing behind her.
"So you guys are, like... friends? Or close?" Serina asked, glancing between Raul and Ashen.
The question came out more uncertain than she'd intended. She was still trying to figure out the dynamic here—why Senior Raul, who'd just brutally beaten them both during the exam, was now casually walking with them through the medical bay corridors like nothing had happened.
"It seems like you guys know each other," she muttered, studying their body language for clues.
Ashen kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, his white hair slightly disheveled from the ice bag he'd been holding earlier. His expression was carefully neutral—not friendly, not hostile, just... blank.
"We're people who know each other," he stated flatly, his golden-slit eyes never leaving the door marked Room 100 at the end of the hallway.
That was it. No elaboration. No warmth in his voice whatsoever.
Raul's hand came down on Ashen's shoulder with a heavy thump that was probably meant to be friendly but looked slightly aggressive. He grinned widely. "Yeah! Guys who know each other!"
He chuckled, the sound carrying that same infectious enthusiasm he'd had during their fight. Like beating people half to death was just a fun bonding activity.
Serina nodded slowly, still not entirely convinced but willing to accept the non-answer. "Right. So... where are we going, exactly?"
Her eyes followed their trajectory toward Room 100. The door looked identical to all the other medical bay rooms they'd passed, but something about the way both Raul and Ashen were focused on it suggested it was important.
Ashen remained silent as they approached.
The door opened automatically, sensing their presence.
Nurse Riye looked up from the medical chart she'd been reviewing, her kind brown eyes taking in the unexpected group. She smiled warmly, though there was a hint of professional concern in her expression.
"He's all well," she said, her voice carrying that reassuring tone that all good nurses have naturally. "Seems like it was just severe mana depletion. His injuries have been taken care of completely. No permanent damage, thankfully."
Raul and Serina relaxed slightly—shoulders dropping, tension easing from their postures.
Ashen simply walked past her without comment, heading straight into the room.
Raul, lit up.
"That's good to know, Nurse Riye!" Raul's voice brightened as he flashed his most charming smile. "I knew I could count on you."
His enthusiasm was so genuine that Riye couldn't help but chuckle, shaking her head. "Just stop beating juniors half to death in Selection Exams.
Serina's face flushed slightly. She bowed, quick and polite. "Thank you very much."
Nurse Riye waved her off with an amused chuckle, already turning back to her station. "Go on, then. He needs rest, but a few visitors won't kill him."
Inside Room 100
The medical room was smaller than expected but well-equipped. Afternoon sunlight filtered through the half-drawn blinds, casting long shadows across white walls decorated with diagrams of mana channels and healing spells. The air was cooler here—temperature-regulated by runic circles embedded in the corners.
Draekon lied down on bed..He looked tired but alert. His golden hair was slightly mussed, and he wore the standard medical gown, but his bright smile was firmly in place.
Beside him, Aurora sat on a wooden stool, methodically cutting an apple into eight precise pieces with a small knife. Each slice was perfect, uniform. She didn't look up as they entered.
Ashen's eyes found Draekon immediately. His frown deepened.
Draekon, catching the look, smiled back. It was that same easy smile he always wore.
Raul broke the silence with his usual lack of tact. "Well, well! What happened to you, hero?" He stepped into the room, hands in his pockets, that playful smirk dancing on his lips. "What about hitting over ten thousand points in the exam?"
Draekon let out a soft chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "Seems I might have overestimated my abilities a bit." He shrugged, trying for nonchalant and almost pulling it off.
Raul blinked, leaning in slightly. "Woah, dude... did Aurora crush you too hard during your exam?"
His voice dropped to a stage whisper, though everyone could still hear. "You look like a withered leaf, seriously."
It was true. Draekon's skin had a grayish tinge to it, and his blue eyes—normally so bright and alert—were dull, almost glassy. Dark circles shadowed his face.
Aurora finally spoke, not looking up from her apple-cutting. "Yeah. That's why I'm here." Her voice was calm, matter-of-fact. "His energy dropped dangerously low when he got transported out of Verdant Meadows."
"Just too tired, I guess. Haha..." Draekon laughed weakly, but inside his thoughts were darker. The Heart Duel drawback is killing me... feels like someone's pinching every nerve in my body with red-hot needles. He sighed, the sound rattling in his chest.
Then Ashen spoke.
"Over ten thousand points?" His voice was ice. "You're in C-Class. After being eliminated."
The room temperature seemed to drop.
"And people call you the hero of our generation?" Ashen continued, each word sharp and deliberate. "Do people even realize how pathetic you are?"
Silence crashed down like a physical weight.
Serina felt her stomach twist. The outburst came out of nowhere—or had it been building this whole time? She stepped back slightly, suddenly feeling like she'd walked into a family argument she had no business witnessing. What... what's going on?
She looked at Raul hoping for a clue..
Raul's black eyes rolled skyward. He leaned back against the wall, one hand coming up to fix his blue hair with an air of practiced boredom. His expression said clearly. He'd seen this scene play out too many times to count.
Draekon held back a chuckle—NPC behavior,
he thought, that familiar frustration bubbling up. So predictable. He smiled, opening his mouth to respond..--
Then Ashen looked directly at Aurora, his voice louder now: "And you. You promised me you were gonna face me off during my Class Selection Exam! You said you'd test me properly!"
Ashen's attention snapped to his sister, his jaw tightening. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.
Aurora took a deliberate bite of one of the apple pieces she'd cut. She chewed slowly, not looking up, taking her time. Then her golden-slit eyes—identical to Ashen's.
"I didn't want to." Her voice was flat, emotionless. "I see no change in you worth showing up for. Why would I waste my time beating your ass?"
"No change in me?" Ashen's voice cracked. A vein bulged at his temple, pulse visible. His whole body tensed like a coiled spring about to snap. "NO CHANGE?"
"Why don't you come find out?!"
Aurora finished the last piece of apple, her expression never changing. Then, without warning,
THUMP.
She punched him in the chest.
"Gah—!" Draekon doubled over, coughing, eyes watering.
"Why?!" Draekon wheezed, rolling to his side. His blue eyes went wide with betrayal. "What did I—?"
He didn't get to finish.
Aurora stood smoothly, her white dress flowing around her as she turned to face Ashen properly. Her voice dropped several degrees, becoming sharp enough to cut.
"First: mind your tone. I'm your elder sister."
An invisible force slammed Ashen backward. His back hit the wall—or should have. Instead, he hung there, suspended, feeling pressure from both sides. Like being crushed between two massive hands made of pure mana. He tried to break free, muscles straining, his own power flaring—
But it was useless.
"Second," Aurora continued, walking toward him with measured steps. "Are you happy now? Getting the reaction you wanted?"
She was tall—just inches shorter than Ashen—and when she moved into his space, it felt like standing in front of a mountain. Her presence was overwhelming, suffocating.
"Now get lost before you take a bed beside this moron."
Her hand came up fast.
SLAP.
The sound echoed through the room like a gunshot.
Serina Eyes widened as she covered her mouth with her both hands..
As Raul clicked his tongue in his mouth..
Ashen's head snapped to the side. His cheek burned red instantly, the outline of her palm clear against his skin.
"Good job ruining my mood." Aurora turned on her heel and walked out, brushing past Serina without a glance. The door clicked shut behind her.
Ashen dropped to his feet, gasping. His hand went to his burning cheek, fingers trembling. He was panting, breathing deep and ragged like he'd just run a marathon. His teeth ground together so hard he could hear them creak.
Serina stood frozen, hands over her mouth
Raul pushed off the wall with a sigh. "See? This is why you have no friends, man. You gotta think before you speak."
But then his expression softened, just a fraction. A small, knowing smile crossed his face.
He paused, then added more softly: "I do see change in you, though. You're not completely mature yet—not even close, honestly—but someday you'll get there."
He chuckled, the sound genuinely warm this time. "Just maybe work on your people skills first, yeah?"
Raul turned to Draekon, who'd finally stopped coughing and was rubbing his chest with a pained expression. "Rest well, hero. And enjoy your first year. You've earned it after that performance."
Draekon coughed, sitting up straighter despite the pain lancing through his ribs. "Yeah..." He winced. "Last time, you immediately fainted when you both faced off…This time you stayed conscious. That's progress, at least."
She couldn't wait to get out the room ..
Serina gulped. Her voice came out small. "Um... we still have the written exam pending..."
Every eye in the room turned to her.
She flinched but pushed through. "I mean—we still have to, you know, properly get graded to officially start the year? And there's still the freshers' party too!"
Draekon's face lit up "Oh yeah! I completely forgot about that!" He laughed, wincing immediately after. "Ow. Okay. Laughing hurts."
Serina managed a weak smile. "Right? So we should probably... get going?"
Raul groaned, tilting his head back. "Ugh, the written exams. I hated those when I was a freshman."
Ashen said nothing. He stood there, one hand still pressed to his burning cheek, staring at the spot where Aurora had been standing.
He didn't feel different. He just felt angry.