Saber ran out of the gate. "Heading out!"
"Be safe, Saber," Tina called after him.
What happened that suddenly motivated Saber so much these past few days? Tina thought.
Flashback
"Give me the academic form!" Saber demanded.
"WAH! Saber, you're bleeding! What's wrong?" Tina exclaimed.
Present
He was full of energy, Tina recalled.
Orion entered the guild in a helmet, and everyone was quietly suspicious.
Who's this dude? Tina wondered.
Orion walked toward Tina.
Wait! Why is he walking towards me? Tina thought.
Orion stood in front of Tina.
"H-Hello sir… H-How may I he-help you?" Tina stammered, forcing a smile.
"I'm looking for someone, and I believe he's here," Orion said in a deep voice.
"C-Can I know his name?" Tina asked.
I'll make this quick so he can leave faster. Everyone's scared too just by his presence. I can feel it too… he emits a monstrous aura, Tina thought, scared.
"Well, I don't know his name," Orion replied.
Shit! Just when I thought I could get rid of him faster, Tina thought.
"In that case, let me see a photo," Tina suggested.
Orion showed Saber's beaten photo. "Here."
That's!... That's Saber's photo! Why is he after Saber? Should I tell him? Tina thought, eyes widening.
Flashback
"Heading out!" Saber had smiled.
Just when he started to smile… maybe I should do it. After all, all I care about is MY surroundings, not his, Tina thought, smirking.
"Amm… Hello?" Orion prompted.
"No sir, we haven't seen him here," Tina lied, smiling.
"Alright, thanks for your time," Orion replied.
This is for the best for everyone, Tina thought.
"Yo! That's Saber, right?" a guy called out.
You IDIOT!!! Tina thought, shocked.
"You know him?" Orion asked.
"You kidding me? Everybody knows him," the guy replied.
"Where can I find him?" Orion inquired.
"I saw him running out about 10 minutes ago," the guy said.
Orion dashed off.
Near a tree, Saber muttered, "This should be safe."
"Found you," Orion said in his normal voice.
"KYAAA!!! What-What are you doing here?" Saber startled.
"You sure scream like a girl. Are you sure you have it?" Orion taunted.
"I definitely have IT and answer my damn question," Saber retorted.
"You didn't come out to train at all today, so I came to check in," Orion explained.
"You're spying on me?" Saber accused.
"I'm keeping you in check and acting only as a guide. I simply can't lose a valuable talent like you," Orion clarified.
"You keep saying this 'Talent,' but what are you exactly searching for?" Saber questioned.
"The answers you're searching for are in the academy itself. Have you packed everything?" Orion asked.
"Yes," Saber confirmed.
"Then I'll meet you in the evening today. By the way, how did you find out that I'll arrive today?" Orion asked.
"I simply got the tingling sensation that I'm in danger," Saber replied.
"Is that how you see me?" Orion wondered.
Orion dashed off.
A paper was thrown on the table.
"Hey hey hey! You think this is some kind of clown show?" Higher 1 exclaimed.
"Oh really! I'd love to see a tiger. If you guys can actually manage to tame one," Glenn retorted.
"What's wrong, Glenn? Calling us early in the morning?" Higher 3 inquired.
"I have a formal letter," Glenn announced.
Higher 2 opened the envelope. "And what's this, Glenn? What's the letter about anyways?"
"A letter of recommendation," Glenn replied.
Everybody froze.
"Are you serious right now?" Higher 1 asked.
"'Am I serious?' More than you were when you ran out of stamina before the good part starts. You know what I mean, right?" Glenn said, pulling his sunglasses down.
Higher 1 gritted his teeth in anger.
"That's enough, you two! Always at each other's throats," Higher 3 scolded.
"I'm able to block this geezer's throat, but fortunately, I don't swing that way, my honor," Glenn remarked.
"By the way, what's in this child that YOU, of all people, are putting him into supervision?" Higher 2 questioned.
"You even wrote here that you'll be the primary contact of this kid," Higher 3 noted.
"Tell us, Glenn, what's the big idea?" Higher 4 demanded.
"I'll tell this only on one condition," Glenn said.
"Approved," Higher 5 declared.
Glenn smirked.
"But-" Higher 1 began.
"I decide the dealing parts, and that's final," Higher 5 interrupted.
After the discussion
"You have to be kidding me! A kid with possible 'Spirit Energy'? That's Absurd!!!" Higher 1 exclaimed.
"Let him explain," Higher 2 suggested.
"Thanks, gramps! So Orion and I went to the Resupp Ridge for a possible energy spike activity due to their abnormal incident. There we found this kid, totally depressed and maybe awakened," Glenn explained.
"Are you certain he's not possessed?" Higher 4 asked.
"The kid has the active gear," Glenn replied.
All five were shocked.
"No way?" Higher 2 said.
"Yes way, sir! And that's what this letter is all about," Glenn confirmed.
"Why don't we eliminate him?" Higher 1 suggested.
"That's the thinking of an imbecile individual," Higher 4 retorted.
"HAH! Fool," Glenn scoffed.
"But Glenn, you also need to understand the risks you're taking upon yourself and others around you," Higher 3 cautioned.
"Tension not! I'll deal with any possible threat this kid causes," Glenn assured.
"But-" Higher 4 began.
"Listen, if we waste any more time, then there's a fine possibility that they might come looking for him as well. If we don't want to lose another potential sorcerer, then we must act now. That's all, I'm leaving. Tell me what you've decided by tomorrow," Glenn said, walking out.
"I can't believe that brat! I want to chew him and spit him out of society," Higher 1 fumed.
"Can you? You know right? About whom you're talking to?" Higher 5 reminded.
"If it wasn't that title of 'The Strongest,'" Higher 1 muttered.
"But there might be a thin possibility about the prophecy Glenn shared. The year is 4000 already, mates, and it's still 15 years late for it to start. After this arrival, I think from now on we shall carefully think about our next steps," Higher 4 said.
Saber stood in front of Chloe's grave in the graveyard.
"I'll come by and meet you only in a while now. That night after that bastard challenged, I somehow got the urge to join this… This academy they're talking about, and I don't know why but I somehow keep feeling that I SHOULD check this place. On top of that, the system's also forcing me to go there too. I'm just listening to my urges, Chloe, and I'm sure you would've listened too. I wish I could've told you that… I'm a Player," Saber said, touching the stone. "I swear… Gale will fear to ever wish to be born again… And that fear will be me," he vowed, his eyes burning with purple flames.
"Who's that? Your friend?" Orion asked.
"Yes. Her name was Chloe. Didn't know her full name, but sure was close and a cheerful one, always smiling and making others smile too. Her body was never found due to destruction in the dungeon. That curse is sure going to regret messing with me," Saber said.
"What curse?" Orion inquired.
"His name was Gale, and the captain said he's a third disaster," Saber replied.
Gale? How is this kid still alive if he encountered Gale? Orion thought, shocked.
"Th-Then how did you manage to survive him?" Orion asked.
Saber turned his head back; Orion's eyes widened in shock.
"Because I fought him," Saber said, his body and eyes in purple flames.
The bus arrived.
"Your bus has come. You'll reach the city by tonight," Orion said, giving Saber a card. "Reach this lodge, that's where you'll stay."
"And you?" Saber asked.
"I'll stay here till my work finishes," Orion replied.
"Then could you do me a favor?" Saber requested.
"Go on," Orion said.
The bus started to move.
"There's a kid my age named Carlos! Can you say goodbye to him?" Saber asked.
Orion was shocked.
"His hair is blue and very girly looking. You'll find him at the field at night," Saber added.
"Hey, wait! Wait! Does he have a scar on his forehead? Under the hairline?" Orion inquired.
"Exactly!" Saber confirmed.
What's happening here? The Carlos he described is MY friend, but… How in the world does he know the name of the dead? Orion wondered, shocked.
NEXT DAY MORNING
Saber got off the bus.
The bus was 8 hours late because of the driver having motion sickness. How can a driver have 'Motion Sickness' when that's his job? It's like a chef who can't handle a knife. Who selects these guys? Now, where am I supposed to go? Saber thought.
"System? You alive?" Saber asked.
"Alive? I'm as alive as your probability of being a virgin," the system replied.
"THIS THING IS UNHINGED! Well, I have an address, so navigate me," Saber said.
"Sure, I do have to navigate you, otherwise you might end up on a one-way trip to nowhere," the system responded.
"Did you just mention the possibility of kidnapping?" Saber asked.
"Yes," the system confirmed.
"What?" Saber exclaimed.
"Sorry, I have a habit of accidentally being honest," the system apologized.
That's my behavior with my friends, Saber thought.
As Saber walked, he marveled at the city. This city is way more advanced than the cities I've ever seen on Earth; no way this is a modern city. This is a futuristic city! The people must've really put their asses on the stake to pull this off. It's great I sold some items before coming; I have some money left. It would've been better if I had stopped whining and earned something in those weeks. By the way, where is this building anyway? And system, you're completely useless, you know that?
"Just like you at a mixer?" the system retorted.
DAMN! It knows I'm an introvert? Saber thought.
As Saber passed by a sweet shop, his stomach growled. Sweets? Damn! I didn't eat anything last night, he realized.
Saber stood near the sweet shop glass. "Sweets won't hurt, right?"
A sweet scent passed him. Saber looked to his right.