Daniel exhaled deeply and stepped out of the training chamber.
Outside, his friends were already waiting for him, standing in the hallway with a lunch box in hand. One of them smiled and handed it over wordlessly.
Daniel accepted it with a tired nod and sat down on a nearby bench, opening the box and beginning to eat.
As he took the first few bites, Rey stepped forward, holding out a small vial of shimmering liquid.
"Here," he said. "Take this too."
Daniel shook his head. "No. I don't need it right now."
The vial Rey offered was a recovery supplement—something usually taken after intense training sessions. It helped restore energy, speed up body development, and came with no harmful side effects. It was safe, widely used… just expensive.
Even the lower-quality versions weren't cheap, and students were expected to buy them on their own.
But Daniel had a different reason for refusing.
He had consumed the flesh of the Serpent God, Selena.
And ever since then, something inside him had changed.
He could feel it—energy coursing through him, repairing and restoring faster than it should have. In just a few minutes after training, the exhaustion that had weighed down his limbs began to fade. Muscles loosened. Breathing calmed. Strength returned.
He didn't know if it was due to the trait he'd gained… or the title… or something else entirely. But whatever the cause, his recovery was unnatural. Supernatural.
He didn't even know what effect external supplements would have on his body now.
So, he chose to be cautious.
Daniel glanced at Rey with a polite smile. "Thanks, but really—I'm good."
He returned to his food, chewing slowly, silently. His friends talked around him, but his mind wandered—back to the fight, the exhaustion, the way his body had reacted.
There was a lot he didn't understand yet.
But one thing was certain—
He was changing.
And he needed to be ready for whatever that meant.
The next day was a weekend.
Weekends at the academy meant the students were allowed to leave campus grounds. Some chose to explore the capital city, while others remained behind for extra training.
Daniel had already made plans with his friends to roam the markets, so he got dressed and headed toward the main gate, where his group was waiting for him.
But just as he turned a corner, he spotted Justin and Alia walking ahead, deep in conversation, moving toward the same exit.
They didn't notice him—or perhaps they did and chose to ignore him completely.
Daniel, unfazed, also began heading in their direction, a few steps behind them.
"So today's the day of that museum attack, huh?" he thought to himself. "Well, it's none of my business. Besides, Justin will handle it, and he'll end up getting a new skill from it anyway…"
But then, he heard Justin's voice clearly.
"We should just warn the museum officials ahead of time," Justin was saying to Alia. "If we already know an attack is coming, what's the point of waiting around to fight it?"
Daniel stopped in his tracks.
Wait… what? He knows about the attack? Daniel's brows furrowed as his mind raced. That wasn't in the novel…
Something about this wasn't right.
This wasn't how things were supposed to unfold.
"I need to listen to them carefully," Daniel thought, stepping back into the shadow of a wall, slowing his breath, ears focused.
Something had changed.
And he needed to know what.
Just then, Alia turned to Justin and said, "We could do that… but do you really think they'll believe us?"
Justin nodded thoughtfully. "If we warn them anonymously, they might at least take precautions and tighten security."
Alia hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Maybe you're right."
Daniel, still lingering in the background, felt a knot form in his chest.
This… this could ruin the plot, he thought, tension rising in his eyes. And not just this one event—this could alter everything that comes next.
His thoughts spiraled. How the hell do they even know about the attack? That wasn't in the original storyline. And what should I do now? If I let this happen, the plot will start to shift—possibly triggering a chain of events I know nothing about. And if that happens, there's no guarantee the protagonist will be able to save the world. I can't allow that.
He exhaled sharply, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders. "Whatever," he murmured to himself. "When the time comes, I'll deal with it."
With that, Daniel stepped out of the shadow and walked toward the academy gates.
His friends were already waiting, chatting casually beside a parked bus.
It was the Travel Club's vehicle—the same one often used for educational trips to historical and magical sites. Both the male and female protagonists were part of this club, and later in the story, the entire main cast would become members too.
Daniel gave a small wave as he approached, masking his inner turmoil with a casual smile.
The story was starting to drift.
But for now… it was just another weekend.
As Daniel spotted the bus, he walked over to Ren, Rex, and Rey, who were waiting nearby.
"Let's go," he said casually, then glanced around. "By the way, where's our cab? Hasn't it arrived yet?"
Rey gave him a sheepish look. "Bro, cabs cost money. We already blew through most of our pocket money, remember? Whatever little we have left has to last us the whole month."
Daniel's eyes widened. "Wait—then how are we even getting there?"
Rey glanced toward the bus.
Daniel followed his gaze, frowning. "You're not seriously suggesting we hitch a ride with them, are you?"
Ren chuckled softly. "Hitch a ride? Why would we need to do that? We're members, bro. We can just walk in like we belong—because we do. You too."
Daniel stared at them in disbelief. "Wait a minute. You guys signed me up without asking? And seriously—joining a club on a weekend? Who the hell wants to study on their day off?"
Rex clapped a hand on Daniel's shoulder. "Listen, man. Don't think of it as studying. Think of it as traveling—exploring different places, and that too, for free. Come on, it'll be fun!"
Rey added with a grin, "Besides, you do like to study, right? Lately you've even been answering teachers in class."
Daniel waved him off. "That was just a coincidence. I'm not some nerd who buries his nose in books all day."
Rey smirked. "So what now?"
Daniel shrugged. "What choice do I have? I'm already a member. Guess I have to go."
With that, he began walking toward the bus. But inside, he muttered to himself, I was supposed to stay away from the attack… and now my own friends are dragging me straight into it.
As Daniel stepped onto the bus, the first thing he noticed was Justin and Alia sitting together in the front row. They looked at him with surprised expressions, clearly not expecting to see him there. But Daniel's gaze moved past them—and landed on someone who made him freeze for a moment.
Venessa.
She was seated just behind them, by the window. Daniel blinked. As far as he could recall, she wasn't supposed to be part of this tour. She hadn't been mentioned in the original storyline at all.
Still, without acknowledging any of them, Daniel walked straight to the back of the bus. He slipped into the very last row, followed closely by his friends, who dropped into the seats beside him.
Settling into his seat, Daniel stared out the window, his thoughts racing.
Another variable, he mused silently. Venessa wasn't supposed to be in this plot. What if… what if she's the one who told Justin and Alia about the attack? That could explain why she was watching me in class. Maybe… maybe she knows I'm a variable too.
His chest tightened as a strange realization began to form.
Could it be that Venessa has read the novel as well? That she, like me, has somehow ended up inside this world? Maybe… maybe she's from my world too.
The pieces began falling into place in his mind.
It's possible, he thought, with a growing certainty. Very possible.