Leo didn't remember how he got back to his seat.
The classroom felt distant.
Voices blurred together.
Laughter. Excitement. Relief.
All of it… felt far away.
Everyone had awakened.
Everyone.
Except him.
His fingers tightened slightly.
No response.
Those words echoed again and again in his mind.
It wasn't just failure.
It was… exclusion.
Like the world itself had rejected him.
"…Leo."
Kael's voice came from beside him.
But Leo didn't respond.
He just stared at his hands.
What am I supposed to do now…?
For a moment—
Everything felt empty.
Then—
Something shifted.
Faint.
Subtle.
But unmistakable.
Leo's breath hitched.
That feeling again.
It wasn't mana.
He had seen mana all day.
Felt it from others.
Sharp.
Active.
Violent.
But this—
This was different.
Quiet.
Deep.
Like a current flowing beneath everything.
Leo slowly closed his eyes.
Focused.
Not forcing it this time.
Just… listening.
There.
A presence.
Faint—
But real.
His fingers trembled slightly.
And for a brief moment—
It responded.
Not like mana.
Not something he could control.
But something that… acknowledged him.
Leo's eyes snapped open.
"…I'm not… powerless?"
A small breath escaped him.
Then—
A laugh.
Soft.
Almost disbelieving.
Relief spread through his chest.
Not full.
Not certain.
But enough.
"…It's different," he whispered.
Maybe—
Just maybe—
He hadn't been left behind.
"Oi."
Kael nudged him again.
"You finally back to life?"
Leo blinked.
Then looked at him.
"…Yeah."
Kael studied his face for a second.
Then smirked.
"Good. Thought you were gonna stay like a statue forever."
Leo huffed quietly.
"…Shut up."
Before Kael could reply—
The bell rang.
This time, the class exploded with energy.
"I got Fire affinity!"
"Mine was Wind!"
"I can reinforce my arms—look!"
Students gathered in groups, showing off their abilities.
Excitement filled the room.
Leo stayed seated for a moment.
Watching.
Not with envy.
Not anymore.
Just… quietly.
Kael stood up and stretched.
"Man, today was insane," he said. "Everyone's talking about training already."
Then he glanced at Leo.
Just for a second.
His usual grin softened slightly.
"…Hey."
Leo looked up.
"Come over to my place," Kael said casually. "We'll chill."
Leo blinked.
"…Your place?"
"Yeah."
Kael scratched the back of his head.
"We've got this old console from before the Monster Era. Still works somehow."
He grinned.
"Let's play."
For a moment—
Leo didn't answer.
Then he stood.
"…Alright."
Kael's grin widened.
"That's what I'm talking about."
Later — Kael's House
The city outside was different now.
Reinforced walls.
Watchtowers.
Hunters moving in groups.
A world shaped by survival.
But inside Kael's house—
It felt… normal.
Messy.
Lived-in.
Comfortable.
"Welcome to my humble base," Kael said proudly.
Leo looked around.
"…It's noisy."
"Hey, that's personality."
Kael walked over to a corner—
And pulled out something ancient.
A dusty console.
Wires taped together.
Controller slightly cracked.
"This," Kael said dramatically, "is a relic of the Old Era."
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"…That thing still works?"
"Of course it does."
Kael smacked the top of it.
"Don't underestimate Old Era technology."
He plugged it in.
The screen flickered.
Glitched—
Then turned on.
"…No way," Leo muttered.
Kael tossed him a controller.
"Let's go."
A Few Minutes Later
"OI—YOU'RE SPAMMING!"
"I'm not spamming, you just suck."
"THAT MOVE IS BROKEN!"
"Then stop getting hit!"
The room filled with noise.
Shouting.
Laughter.
Energy.
Even Leo—
Was smiling.
It had been a while.
Since he felt like this.
For a moment—
He forgot everything.
The Awakening.
The failure.
The whispers.
He was just… playing.
"YES! I WON!"
Kael jumped up.
Leo leaned back.
"…Rematch."
"Oh, you're confident now?"
Leo smirked slightly.
"…Shut up and play."
Kael laughed.
"Alright, alright!"
Outside—
The world was dangerous.
Unforgiving.
Changing.
But inside that small room—
For a little while—
Things felt simple again.
And deep within Leo—
That quiet presence…
Stirred once more.
Not loud.
Not powerful.
But waiting.