Chapter 214
MEET UP
Reuel looked at IAM, his face tight with something between frustration and fear. When he spoke, his voice sounded almost pained.
"Facing those fake Deadline creatures from the trial is one thing," he said quietly. "But facing real ones... those things could kill us."
The words lingered.
IAM said calmly,
"If we cannot even face Deadline creatures, then what is the point of being an Ascender?"
That silenced the room.
No one had a response.
IAM wasn't trying to be righteous. It was just the truth as he saw it.
They could only find quiet refuge in their minds, each of them drifting off into their own thoughts as they considered what kind of future really waited for them.
...
IAM and Henry eventually left for the combat grounds, their footsteps echoing faintly in the hallway before the dorm went quiet again. Yohan had mumbled something about needing rest and climbed straight into bed, leaving Reuel alone at the kitchen counter.
He stood at the sink, hunched slightly, washing the plate he'd used for the sandwich. The dim light above flickered once, and the only sound was the slow rush of water and the soft clink of ceramic under his fingers. His expression was unreadable—blank, as if he wasn't really there.
The soap slid over the surface of the plate, mixing with the warm water, slipping between his fingers. Then, without warning, he squeezed.
There was a quiet crack. Then a crunch.
The plate fractured in his grip, shards plunging into the flesh of his palm with a dull sting. Blood welled up between his fingers—dark, sluggish drops trailing down his wrist.
Tiny fragments clung to his skin. One edge was buried deep in the meat of his thumb. He hissed quietly through his teeth—but still didn't let go.
His voice came out low, almost a growl under his breath.
"No... no... I… can't die now... not yet."
There was no humor in it. Like he was trying to remind himself of something no one else could understand.
...
IAM woke in his bed just before the alarm went off. He blinked up at the ceiling, still caught in that fuzzy space between sleep and waking, until Yohan's voice cut through the quiet.
"Bathroom's free."
IAM groaned lightly and rolled out of bed. The floor bit at his bare feet as he moved toward the bathroom.
By the time he stepped out, the alarm had already started screeching.
Reuel was still curled up on his bed, an arm slung over his face like the noise had physically wounded him. He looked like hell—dark circles under his eyes, like he hadn't gotten a second of real sleep.
"You good?" IAM asked, narrowing his eyes.
Reuel shifted, groaning softly. "Uhhh… uhhh… uhhhh…"
Just tired noises. That was his only reply.
IAM was about to brush it off until something caught his eye. As Reuel sat up, stretching lazily, the sleeve of his top slipped just enough for IAM to see it—faint reddish marks scattered across his palms.
With mana, the body's recovery was on a completely different level. Cuts, bruises—even minor fractures—could vanish in hours, sometimes minutes. As long as it wasn't something serious, an ascender didn't need a healer or a doctor. You just waited, and your body fixed itself.
The higher your level, the faster that process became. Some higher level ascenders could heal mid-fight without even slowing down. Masters could recover from deep gashes, shattered bones, maybe even punctured lungs—within seconds.
IAM's brow furrowed.
"What happened to your hands?"
Reuel looked down like he hadn't even noticed. Then let out a short, awkward laugh.
"Oh, that? I dropped a plate," he said, scratching the back of his head. "It broke and when I tried to pick it up, I cut my fingers. That… was really stupid."
He didn't wait for a follow-up. He just stood up and shuffled into the bathroom, closing the door behind him with a dull click.
IAM stood there for a second, still watching the door.
He knew Reuel was lying.
But he also knew better than to push him this early in the morning.
So instead, he grabbed his uniform and started getting dressed, the image of those half-healed scars still lingering in his mind.
...
Throughout the entire day, IAM noticed something off.
It wasn't just him being overly observant or sensitive—everyone was visibly affected.
Reuel sat slouched in his seat, barely engaging with anyone, his gaze fixed somewhere beyond the classroom.
Henry tapped his fingers impatiently on the table, frowning at the words in front of him but saying nothing, and Yohan leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable. Conversation between them was minimal, broken only by the occasional muttered remark or sigh.
No one said it out loud, but yesterday's conversation had clearly hit harder than he expected. He hadn't thought they'd dwell on it so deeply, not like this. But the truth was what it was, and no one could look away from it now. This was the future they'd signed up for. And eventually, each of them would have to decide what to do with that knowledge.
IAM went through the motions—absorbing the material and answering when called on. But his mind, like everyone else's, wasn't fully present. When the final class ended, he stood up slowly and stretched. Then he made his way back to the dorm.
Inside, he peeled off his uniform and tossed it aside, swapping it for something more relaxed—a grey hoodie with the word MINE printed in large, uneven letters across the back. Baggy trousers and a clean pair of sneakers completed the look.
He had already booked his appointment with Thomas—it was today. And afterward, he'd be meeting up with Thor.
That part was already arranged. He'd texted Thor earlier, and the man had replied with a time and place. All IAM had to do was show up. That was the easy part.
He grabbed his phone, then turned to the others as he slung on his hoodie.
"Alright, see you guys later. Don't follow me this time," IAM said, smirking as he stepped toward the door. "And I'll make sure I'm back in time for our training, Henry."
Reuel, sitting on the edge of his bed, muttered under his breath without even looking up, "I can't promise that…"
Yohan gave a tired wave, his expression still unreadable. Henry simply nodded once.
IAM didn't wait around. He stepped out, the door closing shut behind him.
The hall was quiet as he made his way toward the next thing on his list—his appointment.