《Dragged into Another World's Apocalyse - A LitRPG Story》 Chapter 1: The Necklace of Dreams - Arianna Chapter 1: The Necklace of Dreams ¨C Arianna Arianna¡¯s fingers traced the delicate silver chain of the necklace resting against her collarbone. She had found it by chance in an old antique shop, its deep sapphire gemstone calling out to her in a way she couldn¡¯t explain. That night, when she had worn it to sleep, she had her first dream of him. Cassis. Tall and strong but lithe, with dark hair and golden eyes that burned with determination. His body was scarred from countless battles, each mark a testament to his survival. She had watched him fight from behind a glowing screen in a dark room, her presence unseen but her words, her voice, able to reach him. The system that governed the world of awakeners had deemed her a virtuous deity, granting her VP¡ªVirtuous Points¡ªwhenever she did good deeds in her waking life. With these points, she could buy Cassis weapons, armor, potions¡ªanything to keep him alive. There were other deities as well. Evil deities, who thrived on destruction, earning EP. And the unpredictable chaos deities, who accumulated CP by simply doing whatever they wanted, not caring for the consequences or if it was good or bad. But none of them mattered to her. Only Cassis did. When the system asked her if she wanted to become Cassis'' exclusive patron she jumped at the opportunity, although it took a bit longer to convince Cassis. But the advantages of having an exclusive contract between a patron and an awakener, like cheaper and better items and more power given to Cassis, sealed the deal even for the solitary man. For ten years, she had guided him, spoken to him through the screen, urged him forward, worked hard at being virtuous in her real life and bought him anything that would help him survive. She had seen him rise from F-rank to A-rank, a lone warrior in a world consumed by destruction. She had begged him to trust others, to find teammates, to let someone else bear some of the burden. But he was stubborn. Tonight was no different. ¡°Cassis, you can¡¯t keep fighting alone,¡± she shouted at the blue screen in front of her, her frustration mounting as she watched him engage in yet another reckless battle. ¡°I don¡¯t need anyone else,¡± his response flashed on the screen, curt as always. Arianna clenched her fists. ¡°You¡¯re going to die one day if you don¡¯t get allies. Do you even care about your own life?¡± Silence. Then, his reply: ¡°I¡¯ve survived this long without help. I don¡¯t need to change anything.¡± Her heart ached. Why is he like this? She had spent years worrying about him, watching him come close to death over and over again. She couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Fine,¡± she screamed, her voice trembling. ¡°If you don¡¯t find teammates, I won¡¯t come back.¡± The words sent a wave of coldness through her chest. She could choose not to wear the necklace to sleep. She could sever their connection. If he wouldn¡¯t listen to reason, then maybe he needed to understand what it was like to be truly alone. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡± ¡°I mean it.¡± A long pause. Then his final message: ¡°Do what you want.¡± The dream shattered, and Arianna woke up in her bed, heart pounding. The next morning, the fight still weighed heavily on her mind. Anger and sadness churned inside her, but she had to push them aside. She had to go to work. Being an accountant wasn''t the most exciting job, but she had enough excitement in her dreams, and it paid well enough. Her job felt more like a break than anything. After all, after work she had to try to be a virtuous person to earn VP. Not that she wasn''t a good person, but being virtuous in everyday life was tiring, and it didn''t even make her popular with people because she sometimes had to say uncomfortable truths. Some even derisively called her a "goody-two shoes". But what could she do? She was pretty much an innocent teenager at 17 when she first started these dreams. The system deemed her virtuous because she had done her best to stop her father from worrying about her. Stolen novel; please report. "No use crying over it. Seriously, I wish Cassis would acknowledge the hardships I go through for him." She shook her head. "Don''t wallow in self-pity. Cassis has it a lot worse than me. Just why can''t he take on some teammates to help him?" Throwing on a coat, she looked at herself in the mirror: her brown hair was shoulder length and neatly styled, her blue eyes were the same colour as her mysterious sapphire necklace. She always wore it. And she would wear it again tonight. She already missed Cassis and worried form him. After her short inspection in the mirror, she stepped out of her apartment and into the bustling city streets. On her way to the subway, she barely noticed the people around her. Her thoughts kept circling back to Cassis. Had she been too harsh? Would he finally understand how much she cared? It was still dark outside, as it was winter. She waited at the traffic light until it turned green and stepped onto the crosswalk. A deafening honk. The screech of tires. Her head snapped up. A car was barrelling toward her, too fast, too close. There was no time to move. Her breath hitched. This is it. She closed her eyes. But she could still see the bright lights of the car speeding towards her. And then¡ª Warmth. Strong arms wrapped around her. The scent of fire, and something unmistakably male flooded her senses. Her feet weren¡¯t on solid ground anymore. It felt like she had fallen, yet she wasn¡¯t hit and she wasn¡¯t in pain. Was this what they called shock? Her eyes flew open, and she found herself staring into golden eyes she had only ever seen through a screen. ¡°¡­Cassis?¡± she whispered. But something was wrong. He wasn¡¯t the battle-hardened warrior she had watched last night. He looked younger, unscarred by time and hardship, just like the him from ten years ago when their patron ¨C awakener relationship began. Her mind reeled. Where am I? What¡¯s happening? Then, Cassis¡¯s grip on her tightened, his voice rough and filled with something she couldn¡¯t yet understand. ¡°Who are you?¡± Arianna blinked, stunned. She stared at his face, searching for any hint of familiarity in his golden eyes. But there was only wariness, confusion¡ªand something darker, something almost¡­ haunted. ¡°I''m ¡­ Arianna,¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible. His body tensed. ¡°Arianna?¡± He frowned, his eyes narrowing as he studied her face. ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡± A lump formed in her throat. ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t understand. What¡¯s going on? I was crossing the street and then¡ª¡± Her breath caught. ¡°The car¡ªdid I get hit?¡± Cassis¡¯s expression darkened. His grip on her loosened just slightly. She shook her head, trying to make sense of everything. ¡°Where am I?¡± Cassis hesitated before replying, his voice guarded. ¡°This is Avaria.¡± Her stomach dropped. ¡°Avaria¡­?¡± It couldn¡¯t be. That was the world from her dreams¡ªthe world Cassis lived in, the world of the system apocalypse. But it had always been just that: a dream. A fantasy she had watched from the other side of the screen. She swallowed. ¡°How old are you?¡± Cassis frowned at the strange question but answered, nonetheless. ¡°I¡¯m 28.¡± Her heart pounded. ¡°That means¡­¡± Arianna pressed a hand to her forehead. She was really here. And if Cassis was 28, that meant it was the very beginning of the apocalypse. ¡°I¡¯m 27,¡± she finally said, her voice shaky, just wanting to say anything. She didn''t want to think about the implications of physically being in Cassis¡¯s world at the beginning of the apocalypse. Cassis stared at her. ¡°You¡¯re younger than me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Before either of them could say anything else, a low growl echoed through the air. Arianna¡¯s breath hitched as a group of small, hunched figures with green skin emerged from the trees, their yellow eyes gleaming with malice. ¡°Goblins,¡± Cassis muttered, his jaw tightening. Arianna knew what that meant. Goblins were weak compared to the horrors that would come later, but Cassis had yet to awaken. He was just a regular human right now. The people around them started screaming as one of the goblins killed the first person and started eating him. The other goblins advanced and people ran away in a panic. ¡°We need to run, too,¡± he said, setting her down and grabbing her wrist. Arianna didn¡¯t argue. With her heart hammering, she ran alongside Cassis, plunging into the chaos of a world she had once only watched from afar. Chapter 2: The Cost of Action – Arianna Chapter 2: The Cost of Action ¨C Arianna Arianna¡¯s breath came in short gasps as she ran beside Cassis through the ruined streets. The city was crumbling around them, buildings reduced to rubble, the sky dark with smoke. They had run in a different direction than most people and soon the distant screams of other people faded into eerie silence, leaving only the sound of their hurried footsteps and the occasional snarl of unseen monsters in the distance. They reached a park, its once vibrant greenery now eerie and desolate. A children¡¯s playground stood abandoned, its swings creaking in the wind. A treehouse sat nestled in an old oak at the far end of the park. Cassis grabbed her hand and pulled her toward it. ¡°Up,¡± he whispered, glancing over his shoulder. Arianna scrambled up the wooden ladder, Cassis following close behind. Inside, the treehouse smelled of dust and old wood. There wasn¡¯t much inside, just a few forgotten toys, a child-sized shovel, and¡ªluckily¡ªa wooden baseball bat. Cassis picked it up, weighing it in his hands. ¡°They¡¯re still searching,¡± Arianna whispered, peering through a small window. Three goblins had followed them to the park and then split up, stalking through the greenery with their crude knives. ¡°They haven¡¯t seen us.¡± Cassis nodded. ¡°I need to awaken. The only way to do that is by killing a monster.¡± Arianna swallowed hard. ¡°I know.¡± He turned to her, gripping the bat tightly. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to,¡± he insisted. ¡°I¡¯ll kill one of them and awaken. Then I can protect you.¡± Arianna frowned. ¡°Cassis, I¡ª¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough if I fight?¡± he whispered harshly. ¡°I can do this. You don¡¯t have to dirty your hands.¡± Arianna¡¯s stomach twisted. The idea of killing terrified her, but she wasn¡¯t sure if it was the fear of the act itself, or the fear that Cassis would get himself killed while trying to protect her. Still, he looked so determined. So desperate. ¡°¡­Okay,¡± she murmured. ¡°Be careful.¡± Cassis nodded and crept down the ladder, moving like a shadow toward one of the goblins. Arianna gripped the child-sized shovel, holding her breath as she watched from the treehouse window. Her fingers trembled as she clutched the tiny weapon, her heart hammering against her ribs. Just in case¡­ The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Cassis moved silently, raising the bat high before swinging it down on the goblin¡¯s head. The creature let out a shrill shriek but didn¡¯t die. Instead, it whirled around, slashing its knife wildly. Arianna¡¯s blood turned to ice as Cassis fought. The goblin¡¯s blade cut into his arms, shallow wounds blooming red. He gritted his teeth, pressing forward despite the pain. Then she saw them¡ªthe other two goblins, rushing toward the fight. Arianna cursed under her breath. Damn it, Cassis! Without thinking, she gripped the shovel tightly and launched herself out of the treehouse, sprinting toward the goblins. One of them turned just as she reached it, its beady yellow eyes widening in surprise. Before it could react, she drove the shovel forward, ramming the tip into its eye with all her strength. The goblin screeched, flailing as black blood gushed from its ruined eye socket. Cassis took advantage of the distraction, killing the last goblin with a brutal swing of his bat. Arianna stumbled back, panting. Her hands trembled, the shovel slipping from her grip. Then¡ªa ding sounded in her ears, and a glowing blue screen appeared in front of her.
Congratulations! You have awakened.
Her breath caught, but before she could fully register the message, the screen flickered wildly, the text rewriting itself.
ERROR: Patron system violation detected. Status update: Virtuous Deity ¡ú Fallen Patron Reason: Direct interference in the mortal world. VP (Virtuous Points) removed. Alignment shift: Virtuous ¡ú Chaotic. Goblin (Rank F) slain. Exp gained. ¡ú Creating a pseudo-awakener physique CP (Chaos Points) gained: +10 (for killing a sentient being), +10 (for protecting a mortal). Warning: As a Chaotic Deity, you must balance your actions carefully. Both intent and consequence will affect your CP. Should you become too virtuous or too evil, your CP will be reset.
Arianna¡¯s heart pounded. What¡­ what does this mean? ¡°Arianna!¡± Cassis¡¯s voice yanked her from her daze. He stalked toward her, his golden eyes blazing with fury. ¡°What the hell were you thinking?!¡± She blinked at him. ¡°I was thinking that you needed help!¡± ¡°You were supposed to stay hidden!¡± he whisper-shouted, his anger barely contained. ¡°What if you had gotten hurt? What if you had died?¡± Arianna clenched her fists. ¡°And what if you had died?¡± She glared at him. ¡°You should be thanking me instead of yelling at me.¡± They locked eyes, tension crackling between them. Then she took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. ¡°Whatever. That¡¯s not important. What matters is¡ªdid you awaken?¡± Cassis stiffened, looking away. ¡°Yeah¡­ I did.¡± Arianna exhaled in relief. ¡°Good. That means¡ª¡± ¡°But it¡¯s the same,¡± he muttered, cutting her off. Her brows furrowed. ¡°Same?¡± Cassis immediately shut his mouth; his expression guarded. It was a small slip, but it sent alarm bells ringing in her mind. He shouldn¡¯t know how the system works already¡­ Today is the first day of the apocalypse. Her stomach twisted. Did Cassis¡­ remember, too? Before she could ask, Cassis¡¯s eyes widened in sudden realization. He turned toward the direction they had come from. ¡°I have to go home.¡± Arianna hesitated. ¡°Your family?¡± He nodded. ¡°I need to make sure they¡¯re safe. Come on.¡± Arianna stared at him, then at the ruined city around them. Everything had changed in an instant. The apocalypse had begun, and there was no turning back. ¡°¡­Yeah,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Without another word, she picked up her small shovel and they started toward Cassis¡¯s home, the weight of their new reality pressing down on them both. Chapter 3: The Weight of the Past – Cassis Chapter 3: The Weight of the Past ¨C Cassis Cassis ran. The cold evening air burned his lungs, but he didn''t stop. His boots pounded against the cracked pavement as he led Arianna through the streets full of monsters and bloody corpses. Buildings loomed around them, their windows shattered, their structures trembling with the aftershocks of the apocalypse. The people who had survived the first wave had found some kind of shelter, a house, a shed, ¡­ Anyone left in the streets was being eaten by monsters. This worked to their advantage as the monsters were busy with the corpses and didn¡¯t get up to chase them. In the distance, he could hear the monstrous wails of creatures still spilling through the gates that had torn open the sky. His childhood home wasn¡¯t far now. Just a few more streets. Just a little farther. He was lucky that his past self had been on his way to visit his parents for his mother¡¯s birthday. But his mind was elsewhere.
I¡¯ve already lived through this nightmare. Fourteen years of carnage. The first day had been the worst of them all. He still remembered it vividly¡ªthe helplessness, the despair. He had lost his family before he had even grasped what was happening. Before he had even been strong enough to fight back. On this day he had only been able to hide in the garden shed of one of their neighbours and didn¡¯t come out until the monsters had left. He hadn¡¯t known it at the time, but after the monsters had sated their hunger, most went back to their homes: the newly formed dungeons. They would come out of the dungeons again if they weren¡¯t cleared before a certain deadline. And in some regular intervals there would be monster waves independent from the dungeons and quickly scaling in difficulty. Humanity would learn of that soon. But in two days only some monsters would be found outside of the dungeons: stragglers, left behind by the dungeon monsters and newly mutated animals and plants due to the increase of mana particles in the atmosphere. They just had to hunker down hat his parents¡¯ house for that time frame and then he could plan how to protect everyone. In the past, however, he had been alone after that day. Everyone he knew was gone. He had run to his parent¡¯s home and found blood stains and bits and pieces of his parents and younger brother. The monsters had eaten them. He screamed and screamed until he thought he had gone mad. But reality came back soon. He became hungry, had to look for something to eat. And some time later the monsters came back. He took his father¡¯s hunting knife and killed all who came to his family¡¯s home. That was when he awakened. System Message: Awakening Detected! Cassis has successfully awakened as an F-rank awakener. The awakening process is complete, and new abilities have manifested. As an F-rank, the following features have been unlocked: This is just the beginning. Your journey to greater strength begins now. F-Rank Ability Acquired: Stay vigilant and train wisely, for your true potential has only begun to surface. Afterwards he became a solitary soldier in a war against the end of the world. For months, he had survived on sheer instinct, clawing his way through the ranks of the awakened, never expecting help. And then, one day, the voice came. Through a blue screen he saw her words as text and then he heard her in his head. He hadn¡¯t known Patrons could do that. And in the following years he hadn¡¯t heard of any other Patron with the ability to project their voice directly into an awakener¡¯s head. At first, he had ignored it. Patrons didn¡¯t care about F-rank awakeners. If they did, it was only to toy with them for entertainment, to watch them suffer. So, when he first heard her voice¡ªsoft, uncertain, pleading¡ªhe had thought it was some cruel joke. Then, came the battle against the two-headed serpent. A five-meter-long nightmare of fangs and venom. He had fought with everything he had, but in the end, even though he had slain it, he was dying. His body had been torn apart, his vision dimming, and the voice¡ªher voice¡ªhad been crying. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Then, warmth. A sudden weight in his hand. A potion. No patron would waste precious resources on an uncontracted F-rank. But she had. And when he hesitated¡ªwhen he had been ready to let go¡ªshe had begged him to live. Please, Cassis. Please drink it. Please¡­ Her voice had been like an angel¡¯s. And so, he had drunk the potion and survived. That was how it all began. Arianna. A virtuous deity who had chosen him, a nobody. She had offered him a contract, something he hadn¡¯t thought himself worthy of. He had tried to refuse, told her to find someone stronger, someone deserving. But she had been stubborn, even crying again, telling him she couldn''t bear to watch him suffer without helping. She had told him of the contract benefits¡ªhow he would become stronger, how she could send him better items, how his rank progression would be accelerated. But none of that mattered as much as the way she sounded. Earnest. Genuine. So, he had accepted. And for ten years, she had been his only companion in a world of endless bloodshed. She had always been the same. Always bright. Always kind. She had begged him to find allies, to trust others. But he had refused. He only needed her. And then, one day, she had threatened to leave if he didn¡¯t find companions. He had called her bluff. And she had disappeared. At first, he thought she was simply giving taking some time to cool off. But days turned into weeks. Weeks into months. And then years. She never returned. He had burned with fury. He had let her in. Trusted her. And she had abandoned him like everyone else. He had vowed revenge, trained harder than ever, fought recklessly to the brink of death. If she wouldn¡¯t return to him, then he would force her back. And so, four years after she had vanished, he had reached S-rank. And in an S-rank dungeon, after slaying a dragon, he had found it. A wishing lamp. A single wish. He had wished for revenge. For her to suffer as he had suffered. The lamp had activated. And then¡ª Error. System needs to recalibrate due to impossible wish. Computing... Computing... Solution found. Wish fulfilment is starting. And when he had opened his eyes again, he had been here. Disoriented and aching, he had found himself standing in the middle of a familiar street. He had recognized the cracked pavement, the layout of the buildings¡ªbut something felt off. There were no signs of battle, no corpses, no stench of blood and death that had long since become familiar to him. There were quite a few people in the streets. They looked ... normal, pre-apocalypse normal. The air was still, yet there was an eerie tension in the atmosphere, as if something terrible was about to begin. The people around him were silent, looking upwards. So, he looked up, too and saw the sky of his nightmares. Dark red, swirling with ominous energy. The sky of the first day. The day everything began. His breath caught. His mind reeled. He looked down at his hands¡ªsmooth, unscarred. The countless wounds and callouses from fourteen years of war were gone. No¡­ He staggered, his chest tightening. It can¡¯t be. That was when the first gate tore open. A massive rift in reality, swirling with darkness. He had seen this scene before¡ªhad lived through it. He could never forget the sight of those gates birthing the creatures that would bring ruin to humanity. But before the first monsters could emerge, something unexpected happened. Something fell from one of the gates. Not a monster. A person. His body moved before he could think. He ran toward the falling figure, confusion warring with instinct. The descent was unnaturally slow, as if unseen hands were guiding them down. As they neared the ground, the floating figure drifted toward him, settling gently into his arms. A woman. His breath hitched. She looked young, around his age, with soft brown hair and delicate features. She was¡­ cute. She stirred, her brows furrowing slightly, and then her eyes fluttered open¡ªvivid blue, bright with confusion. ¡°¡­Cassis?¡± she whispered. His heart stopped.
The past. The first day of the apocalypse. And then, she had fallen from the sky. Arianna. In the flesh. And she had recognized him immediately. She had been confused at first, but then she had spoken of a car. A car accident. The wishing lamp had called his wish of having her in this world impossible. She had died in that car accident. That was why she had disappeared. Not abandoned him. Not betrayed him. She had been dead. A sick feeling curled in his stomach. He had hated her for years, burned for revenge against a woman who had never once meant him harm. And now, she was here. Alive. And he had dragged her into this world. A world that was being destroyed. A hellish world. She must never know. She must never realize what he had done. She was confused, scrunching up her eyebrows and asked for his age. Deliberately he said 28 instead of his real age of 42 years. That was his age when the apocalypse began. He had to convince her that he had no knowledge of the future. It was the only way to keep her in the dark, to not lose her again. She told him that she was 27. He was surprised and asked, ¡°You¡¯re younger than me?¡±. She had been so mature in their interactions in the past but if she was now 27 that meant she was only 17 when they first met. Even more guilt burned in his stomach. He had shown a teenager this dying world, had expected her to support him through terrible battles. And now he had ruined her life by bringing her here. Cassis, he told himself, you will protect her. And one day, you will find a way to send her back. The S-rank dungeon with the wishing lamp will appear again. You must become stronger. The sound of growls brought him back to the present. Some of the hyena like monsters were finishing their ¡°meals¡± and taking notice of him and Arianna. Quickly they turned a corner, his childhood home finally in sight. ¡°Arianna,¡± he said, glancing at her. ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± She nodded, gripping the small shovel she had found in the treehouse. The shovel she had used to kill a goblin to protect him. This wasn''t right. He was too weak. He needed to do better, to protect her better. He was the same F-rank as last time. He clenched his fists. He would not fail her, not this time. Chapter 4: A Desperate Gamble – Arianna Chapter 4: A Desperate Gamble ¨C Arianna Arianna ran, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her lungs burned, her legs ached, but she forced herself to keep moving. She wasn¡¯t used to this kind of exertion. In her old life, she had been active but not athletic¡ªcertainly not someone who ran for their life. But now wasn¡¯t the time to think about that. She focused on Cassis¡¯s back, on the rhythmic pounding of her feet against the pavement, trying to block out everything else. The grotesque sights of corpses lining the streets, the horrifying creatures feasting on them¡ªit was too much. She felt sick, but she swallowed the bile in her throat and pushed forward. ¡°Here it is,¡± Cassis said, his voice sharp and urgent. They stopped in front of a moderate-looking two-story house with a small driveway. The front door was demolished, splinters of wood scattered across the entrance. Then¡ª A scream. Cassis didn¡¯t hesitate. He gripped his baseball bat and rushed inside. Arianna followed, her heartbeat hammering in her ears. She barely registered the entryway as she burst into the house, sprinting past the ruined furniture and broken frames. Then, in the living room, she saw it. A two-meter-tall orc, its bipedal form grotesquely pig-like, its massive tusked mouth chewing something red. A middle-aged man knelt on the floor, his face twisted in agony as he clutched the bleeding stump where his arm had been. The woman beside him¡ªhis wife, no doubt¡ªtried to drag him away, tears streaming down her face. A younger man, armed only with a chair, swung it desperately at the monster, shielding a trembling little girl behind him. The orc had Cassis¡¯s father¡¯s arm in its mouth. Before Arianna could even process the horror, Cassis was already mid-swing. His bat connected with the back of the orc¡¯s skull. The creature grunted, stumbling forward before turning with an enraged snarl. It swiped at Cassis, who barely ducked in time, the air whistling as the massive hand passed over him. Seizing the opportunity, Cassis¡¯s brother swung the chair with all his strength. The wooden legs splintered upon impact, breaking apart uselessly. The orc turned its wrathful gaze toward him, preparing to strike. Cassis didn¡¯t let it. He lunged, leaping onto the orc¡¯s back, wrapping his legs around its thick neck. With both hands, he gripped the bat and rained blow after blow onto its head. The orc shrieked, clawing at him with long, jagged nails. Blood trickled from Cassis¡¯s arms as the nails raked his skin, but he didn¡¯t stop. The orc, growing desperate, charged backward, slamming itself against the wall in an attempt to dislodge him. Cassis groaned in pain as the impact knocked the air from his lungs. He held on¡ªuntil the second slam. This time, he lost his grip and fell heavily to the floor, momentarily dazed. Arianna gripped her shovel tighter. Now was her chance. The orc clutched its head, still reeling from the relentless attack. She ran forward and jumped, aiming for its eye just as she had done with the goblin before. The shovel struck true. The blade of the tool drove deep into the orc¡¯s left eye socket, but she lost her grip on the handle. The orc howled in agony, thrashing wildly. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. One of its flailing arms struck her with incredible force. Pain exploded through her body as she was sent flying into a wall. Her vision swam, and she struggled to stay upright, pressing a trembling hand against the cold surface for stability. Cassis¡¯s brother grabbed another chair, using it as a shield to keep the orc at bay. Their mother, her face streaked with tears, had disappeared¡ªbut then she returned, a kitchen knife clutched in her shaking hands. Cassis staggered back to his feet, blood streaming down a fresh wound on his forehead. With a guttural yell, he swung his bat again, the force of his strike fueled by desperation. The orc wailed as it staggered back, barely standing. Taking the cue, Cassis¡¯s brother and mother attacked as well. The kitchen knife dug into flesh, the chair battered against its side. The orc crumbled under the onslaught. Arianna¡¯s gaze darted around the room. She had been knocked near the fireplace. Her hands found the iron poker resting in its bucket. Gritting her teeth, she seized it and rushed forward. With the last of her strength, she drove the poker straight into the orc¡¯s heart. The creature convulsed before finally slumping forward, lifeless. [System Message: Orc (Rank E) slain. Exp gained. Pseudo-awakener physique level up.] [Patron Bonus: +30 CP (for saving mortals) | +40 CP (for killing a sentient being beyond your level)] Everyone stood there, panting heavily. Then¡ª ¡°Marcus!¡± Cassis¡¯s mother screamed, dropping the knife and bolting toward the kitchen. Arianna¡¯s stomach twisted. The father¡ª They all followed her into the kitchen. Cassis¡¯s father was on the floor, his severed arm still bleeding. The flow had slowed, but it was still steady, dangerously so. His face was pale, his breathing shallow. He was slipping away. Cassis froze for only a second before he tore off part of his shirt and wrapped it tightly around his father¡¯s upper arm. A tourniquet. It wasn¡¯t much, but it might buy them time. Then he turned to Arianna, his voice sharp with desperation. ¡°A potion! Do you have one?!¡± Arianna¡¯s mind blanked for a second before realization struck. The Patron Shop! She could buy one! ¡°System!¡± she screamed in her mind. ¡°Open the Patron Shop!¡± A translucent blue screen appeared before her, displaying the shop¡¯s interface. She hurriedly typed small healing potion into the search bar. Relief flooded her when the item appeared. She had 90 CP¡ªshe could afford it, it was only 50 VP! But when she hit the buy button, it was greyed out. Her heart sank. She looked at the price. 100 CP. ¡°No,¡± she whispered. This couldn¡¯t be happening. Cassis¡¯s expression crumpled as she met his gaze. His legs gave out and he fell to the ground. He looked utterly broken. Arianna¡¯s hands clenched into fists. No. She refused to let this happen. Not when they had come this far. Then she heard it¡ªthe distant howls outside. Her resolve hardened. She had one way to earn more points. Without another word, she grabbed the iron poker and ran out of the house. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as she spotted two hyena-like creatures prowling the street. Keeping low, she crept behind a parked car. When they passed by¡ªshe struck. Her poker slammed into the first one¡¯s head. It collapsed, dazed. The second one lunged at her, its teeth sinking into her empty left arm that she had brought up just in time to shield her face. White-hot pain surged through her, but she didn¡¯t stop. She raised the poker and stabbed. Again. And again. The first hyena recovered and still crawling on the ground, latched onto her leg. She screamed but forced herself to keep stabbing. Finally, the first creature went still. Giving herself one last push she stabbed the poker into the head of the monster mauling her leg. [System Message: Hyena (Rank F) slain. Exp gained. Hyena (Rank F) slain. Exp gained.] [Patron Bonus: +20 CP (for killing two sentient beings)] Enough. Arianna, bleeding and gasping, bought the potion and staggered back into the house. ¡°Cassis!¡± she croaked, tossing the vial to him. His hands closed around it instantly. Without hesitation, he poured it into his father¡¯s mouth. A golden light enveloped the wound. The bleeding stopped. His father¡¯s expression relaxed, his breathing steadied, the colour returned to his face. Arianna exhaled in relief. She had done it. A smile appeared on her face, but the ground suddenly came closer. Then everything went black. Chapter 5: The Weight of a Resolution – Cassis Chapter 5: The Weight of a Resolution ¨C Cassis Cassis¡¯ legs gave out. The moment Arianna whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t have enough points,¡± his body felt like it had turned to stone. His knees hit the cold floor of the kitchen; his breath ragged. The world blurred, everything around him fading into the background. Too weak. I¡¯m too weak. Again. His father lay before him, bleeding out. Just like before. No matter how much he tried, no matter how much he fought against fate, things were repeating. He had been given a second chance, a miraculous opportunity to fix everything¡ªand yet, here he was, kneeling in failure. You thought you could change the past? A cruel voice in his head sneered. How pathetic. You¡¯re just a fool grasping at dreams. Everyone you love will die. Just like before. Arianna would die, too. Because of him. Because he had brought her here. His breath came in short gasps. He felt like he was drowning, dragged deeper into a sea of despair. Even as his mother sobbed over his father, even as his brother knelt frozen in shock, he could only hear his own self-loathing whispering to him. In the distance he could hear a woman faintly screaming. Arianna? Yes, she too would die screaming. It was all his fault. Then, through the fog of his mind¡ª ¡°Cassis!¡± His head snapped up. ¡°The potion!¡± Arianna shouted, throwing a small vial towards him. Time seemed to slow. His instincts kicked in, and he caught it just before it could hit the ground. His fingers tightened around the smooth glass. A healing potion. Without wasting another second, he yanked the cork off with his teeth and tilted the vial against his father¡¯s lips. The glowing liquid poured into his mouth, and a golden light enveloped his father¡¯s severed arm. The bleeding stopped, the wound sealed over, and his face eased into unconscious, painless sleep. Relief slammed into Cassis like a tidal wave, his body trembling. His father was alive. Then, his mind snapped back to the present. How had Arianna bought the potion? She had just said she didn¡¯t have enough points. He turned to her¡ªand his heart stopped. She was covered in blood. Bite wounds marred her left arm and right leg, and long, shallow scratches stretched across her stomach. But she was smiling, standing there as if everything was fine, watching him with exhaustion and satisfaction. Her screams. Had they been real? She had left to fight. She had thrown herself into danger alone, just to save his father. The realization sent a painful twist through his chest. He wanted to say something, wanted to ask what the hell she had been thinking¡ª But then her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed. ¡°Arianna!¡± He was just fast enough to catch her before she hit the ground. His arms wrapped around her limp body, her weight unfamiliar but not unwelcome. He pressed his ear to her chest¡ªher heartbeat was still there. Her breaths were shallow, but steady. She would live. She was an awakener, and she would recover. Cassis clenched his jaw, looking down at her bloodied, unconscious face. He had almost lost her. Because he had hesitated. Because he had given up. And she had stepped up in his moment of weakness. She had born the harshness of a fight instead of him. Never again. His grip on her tightened as he made his resolution. He had been weak, lost in his despair, but no more. He would protect her. He would change the past. He would fight, no matter how impossible it seemed. Lifting her carefully, he carried her to the couch in the living room, ignoring the lifeless corpse of the orc and the quiet sobs of the young girl in the corner. His mind was clear now, sharp with purpose. First, they needed to secure the house. ¡°Barricade the door,¡± he ordered his mother and brother. They were still dazed, frozen in shock, but his voice jolted them into action. They rushed to lift the broken door, then dragged a table and some heavy plastic storage boxes in front of it. They fixed most of the door with some duct tape. It wouldn¡¯t hold against stronger monsters, but for now, it was the best they could do. Cassis focused on the next immediate problem¡ªtreating Arianna¡¯s wounds. He ran to the kitchen, grabbed the first aid kit, and found a pair of scissors. When he returned, his mother and brother were watching him, but he ignored their questioning gazes. Methodically, he cut away Arianna¡¯s torn clothes, leaving her in her underwear. Her skin was smeared with blood and dirt, but it was the wounds that made his stomach clench. The bite marks on her limbs were deep, the scratches across her stomach still sluggishly bleeding. This is my fault. He shoved the thought away and focused on cleaning her wounds. He poured alcohol over them, watching as her face twisted in unconscious pain. His heart ached, but he kept working, disinfecting and bandaging her injuries one by one. When he was finished, he covered her with a blanket. She would survive. Only then did he turn his attention to his mother and brother, who were still watching him. They had questions¡ªhe could see it in their eyes¡ªbut he wasn¡¯t ready to answer them yet. Instead, his gaze landed on the unknown girl still huddled in the corner, hugging her knees. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Who is she?¡± he asked. His brother, Liam, hesitated before answering. ¡°We don¡¯t know. When the monsters first came, we hid in the house, but then we saw her and her mother being chased by that monster.¡± He gestured toward the dead orc. ¡°We couldn¡¯t just let them die. Dad opened the door and shouted for them to come inside. The woman pushed her daughter toward us, but she didn¡¯t make it.¡± Liam swallowed hard, his face pale. ¡°She¡­ she jumped at the monster to buy her daughter time. Dad tried to save her, but¡­ it swatted her body away like a fly. I think she landed somewhere in the Miller''s garden. Dad barely managed to grab the girl and get back inside before the monster came after us.¡± So that was why the orc had entered the house. The first-wave monsters were usually stupid, only breaking into homes if they saw movement or heard loud noises. Cassis had survived in the past because of that fact. His mother slowly approached the girl, her voice soft. ¡°Hi there, sweetheart. I¡¯m Danielle. What¡¯s your name?¡± The girl didn¡¯t respond. She just sat there, unseeing, lost in shock. Cassis sighed and grabbed another blanket, handing it to his mother. ¡°Keep her warm, but don¡¯t touch her. If she screams, it¡¯ll draw more monsters.¡± His mother looked heartbroken, but nodded, gently draping the blanket over the child¡¯s small shoulders. Then, suddenly the young girl said:¡± My mommy¡¯s not dead!¡± The girl''s small frame trembled as she clung to his mother, her tiny fingers digging into the fabric of her shirt. "She¡¯s not dead," the girl whispered. "She¡¯s not dead!" Her voice grew in volume, rising into a wail, repeating the words over and over again. She sobbed uncontrollably, her body wracked with shudders as she buried her face inhis mother¡¯s arms. She cradled her, whispering soothing words, but the girl was inconsolable. Her pain was raw, unfiltered, and it echoed within Cassis. He watched her, his jaw tightening. He had seen loss before. He had lived through the horrors of the apocalypse once already. And if there was one thing he knew, it was that letting emotions consume you would lead to death. Yet, looking at her, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to dismiss her grief. He understood it. And maybe¡­ just maybe¡­ her mother wasn¡¯t gone yet. The old Cassis wouldn¡¯t have tried. He wouldn¡¯t have risked himself for a stranger. But he had already decided¡ªthis time, things would be different. If he wanted to change the past, he had to start here. He took a breath and made his decision. ¡°We¡¯re going to look for her,¡± he said, his voice firm. Liam snapped his head toward him. "What? That¡¯s insane! She was thrown across the street¡ª" His mother looked between them. "Cassis¡ª" ¡°I know.¡± He cut her off. ¡°But I can¡¯t ignore the possibility that she¡¯s alive. And if she isn¡¯t¡­ then at least the girl will know for sure.¡± She hesitated, glancing at the crying child in her arms. Finally, she sighed. "Seriously, you¡¯re just like your father. Always being a hero. If you go, be careful. Please." Liam scowled but relented. "Fine. But if we do this, we do it fast. No unnecessary risks." Cassis nodded. "Agreed." The girl sniffled, lifting her tear-streaked face. "You¡¯ll really find my mom?" ¡°I can¡¯t promise,¡± Cassis admitted, ¡°but I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Her lips trembled, and for a moment, she looked unsure. Then she whispered, "My name is Violet. Thank you." Cassis turned to gather supplies. He grabbed the poker Arianna had used, while Liam picked up his baseball bat and their mother¡¯s knife. They didn¡¯t dare use the front door¡ªit was too exposed. Instead, they climbed out through the kitchen window. The sun had started to set, draping the world in deep shadows. The less light, the better. It made it easier to move unseen. They crouched low in their backyard, inching toward the street. Every sound felt deafening in the eerie silence. Liam pointed toward the Millers¡¯ garden. Cassis nodded, and they moved, darting across the street and into the cover of the bushes. That was when they saw her. A blonde woman lay among the shrubs, her body still, face pale in the dim light. Cassis felt his stomach tighten. Was she already gone? He knelt beside her, pressing two fingers to her neck. A faint pulse. ¡°She¡¯s alive,¡± he whispered, barely believing it himself. Liam let out a breath of relief. "Now what? She¡¯s in bad shape. Broken bones for sure. Probably a concussion. We can¡¯t move her like this." She needs a potion Cassis thought, grimacing. But surely Arianna¡¯s out of points. Liam swore. "What do we do? We can¡¯t just leave her here." Cassis clenched his jaw. He wasn¡¯t going to let her die. Not when she still had a chance. And then, an idea formed in his mind. It was risky, but it could work. ¡°Normal people won¡¯t survive these injuries,¡± he admitted. ¡°But an awakener¡­ even at F-rank, they heal faster. If we awaken her, she might survive." Liam looked at him sceptically and frowned. "What''s an awakener?" Cassis told him: "After you killed that orc with us you saw a blue box congratulating you for awakening. It told you that you were an F-rank awakener and that you had some abilities, didn''t it? And now you feel stronger than ever and even your shallow wounds from the fight just half an hour ago have already scabbed over." Liam thought it over and it made sense, but he asked: "Then how do we awaken her? She¡¯s unconscious. She can¡¯t fight." Cassis explained quickly. "The system recognizes kills and who landed hits - though you have to be in a party for that - on the monster before it died. The exp depends on how much you contributed to the fight, but just a little bit is enough to awaken an F-rank. If we make sure she lands the final blow, she¡¯ll get some experience and awaken." Liam hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. What do we do?" ¡°You stay here with her. Put the knife in her hand. I¡¯ll find a monster, weaken it, and bring it back.¡± Liam looked uncomfortable but agreed. ¡°Hurry.¡± Cassis left without another word. He had done this before. He knew how to hunt. And now he wasn''t confused anymore. There was no reason the hesitate. Sure, he was weaker than before but his experience and his knowledge were still with him. Just around the corner, he found them¡ªtwo kobolds, small, bipedal dog-like creatures. He struck first, ramming the poker straight through the nearest kobold¡¯s heart. It collapsed instantly. The second let out a yelp of panic, but he was faster. He swung hard, beating it into submission until it lay twitching but alive. System message: [Kobold (Rank F) slain. Exp gained] Wasting no time, he grabbed the barely-conscious kobold and dragged it back to Liam. His brother was already holding the woman¡¯s hand, pressing the knife into her fingers. ¡°Put the knife here.¡± Cassis guided him, placing the blade over the kobold¡¯s chest. ¡°Its heart is lower, near the stomach.¡± Liam swallowed, then forced the knife downward. The kobold let out a weak cry before going still. Nothing happened. No system message. No immediate change. Then¡ª Color returned to the woman¡¯s face. Her shallow breathing grew steadier. They had done it. Carefully, they lifted her, struggling to move quickly without making noise. They retraced their path back to the kitchen window, heaving her inside. Once safe, Cassis turned just in time to see Violet¡¯s eyes widen. ¡°Mommy!¡± she cried, rushing forward. His mother caught her before she could shake the woman. "Shh, sweetheart, she¡¯s still hurt. She needs rest." Violet¡¯s joy wavered into uncertainty. "Why won¡¯t she wake up?" Cassis knelt beside her, his voice gentle. "Your mom was hurt badly. She¡¯s sleeping now because she needs to heal. It will take time. But she¡¯ll be okay soon." Violet looked at him, searching his face for reassurance. Then, slowly, she nodded. His mother wiped away tears. "You did good, Cassis." He didn¡¯t respond. He only looked at the unconscious woman and exhaled. They had saved her. For now. But she still needed a potion, otherwise she wouldn''t wake up again. That was the problem with a head injury, even awakeners couldn''t survive everything. Still, they had bought time. Once Arianna woke up, she would want to go out and get enough points to buy another potion for this woman. That''s just the kind of person she was. His eyes found her, still sleeping on the couch. He didn''t like that she was going to fight. After all, she had no actual experience. From what he knew of her world it had been peaceful, according to what she had told him over the years it was almost the same as his world before the apocalypse. She wouldn''t have had a reason to fight or kill. But even though he didn''t like it, he was also proud of her. She had watched him fight for ten years but there was an immense difference to fighting herself. And still she had done it without hesitation. She had rushed the first goblin to protect him, had thrown herself into the fight against the orc to help him and his family and had fought alone against some monsters to save his father. That was just the kind of person she was, and he would not disappoint her again like he had done in the past. That was why he went out to find Violet''s mother. Chapter 6: Nightfall and new discoveries – Cassis Chapter 6: Nightfall and new discoveries ¨C Cassis After they had rescued Violet¡¯s mother, Cassis decided that they should all go to sleep¡ªto escape the burning questions in his family¡¯s eyes. They agreed, exhaustion settling deep into their bones. The second floor had three bedrooms and one bathroom. They could barricade the stairs leading upwards and take refuge in the separate rooms: his parents in their master bedroom, Liam with Violet and her mother in his room, and Cassis with Arianna in his childhood room. Liam and their mother protested against Cassis keeping watch alone, but he didn¡¯t trust them yet to notice any approaching monsters in time. After some back and forth, he relented, allowing them to take the last third of the night shift together. That seemed to satisfy them, and soon they all went about settling in. Together, Cassis and his mother carried his father to bed. Liam picked up Violet¡¯s mother and placed her in his own bed, while he opted to sleep on his bean bag chair. Violet curled up beside her mother on the queen-sized mattress. Cassis only had a single bed, having moved out at eighteen, while Liam still lived at home despite being twenty-three. Once everyone was situated, Cassis lifted Arianna into his arms, carrying her to his bed. He kept the blanket wrapped around her carefully. She remained asleep, her breathing soft and steady. He placed her down before getting up and barricading the upper part of the stairs with his and Liam''s desks. Tired he came back to his childhood room and settled into his old desk chair, ready to stand guard. His mother and brother came by to say goodnight. Before they retreated to their rooms, Cassis cautioned them against turning on the lights or making any loud noises. Even a small mistake could attract unwanted attention. Cassis wasn¡¯t sure how well they¡¯d sleep, but at least in each room, there was someone capable of fighting. That was the best they could do for now. As the house grew quiet, he took the opportunity to clean the poker, wiping off the dried blood as old habits resurfaced. Then, curiosity overtook him, and he pulled up his status page.
Status
Unlike in many games, there were no hp and mp, no stats or points to upgrade himself. Mana Saturation could be raised by building a mana circuit within the body, which would make him stronger even at his current rank. He mused over this¡ªhe would have to form a mana circuit soon, but it was too dangerous to attempt during the first wave of monsters. He already knew his elemental affinity from his last life: Fire. The system wouldn¡¯t acknowledge it until he ¡°discovered¡± it again. To do so, he needed to become aware of fire mana in his surroundings. He had to table this, too, as he didn''t have the time and security to work on sensing mana. Before reaching E-rank, he wouldn¡¯t be able to actively manipulate it anyway. After all, mana had always been his weak point. He hadn¡¯t been a Warrior class in the future for nothing. He knew that others would be able to manipulate it even at F-rank. But those were rare geniuses. As for him, he could start sensing it now through meditation. That would help him later. The title [The One Who Returned] was new. He could guess what it was, but he selected it and read: Given to an awakener who did the impossible and returned to the past. Bonus: Faster skill and spell acquisition and growth due to past life experiences and knowledge That was pretty much what he thought. The bonus was nice, as grinding skills and spells was difficult, to say the least. However, his next goal was reaching Level 5 and obtaining a basic class. He already knew which one he would pick¡ªWarrior. That was his fighting style. If he had a sword, he¡¯d fight even better, but beggars couldn¡¯t be choosers. For now, the poker would have to do. Cassis sat in silence, turning plans over in his mind for hours. His thoughts only ceased when he noticed Arianna stirring, her breathing shifting as her body slowly awoke from deep sleep. Cassis immediately pushed himself up from the chair and moved to her side, kneeling on the floor. As soon as her eyes fluttered open, he leaned over her, his expression shadowed with concern. "What were you thinking?" he whispered, his voice low but firm. "Running headfirst into danger like that? What if something had gone wrong? What if you''d gotten yourself killed?" Arianna blinked at him, still groggy, but as she processed his words, a small smirk tugged at her lips. "Nice to see you too, Cassis." He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "I''m serious, Ari. You took a huge risk. That potion¡ªwhat if it hadn¡¯t worked? What if something had gone wrong? You could have died, or worse." Her smirk faded slightly, but the teasing light in her eyes remained. "Worse than dying? Do tell." He scowled at her. "You know what I mean. You don¡¯t know what kind of consequences your actions might have in this world. You shouldn¡¯t have¡ª" "¡ªSaved your father¡¯s life?" she interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "Because I¡¯d do it again in a heartbeat, Cassis. And you know it." His jaw tightened. He wanted to argue, to tell her that she should have let him handle it, that she didn¡¯t need to throw herself into danger like that¡ªbut he couldn¡¯t. Because she was right. He had been incapacitated at that moment. He needed to do better. Instead, he let out a long breath and finally muttered, "Thank you... for saving him." Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Arianna smiled, a warm, almost smug expression. "See? Was that so hard?" Cassis rolled his eyes, choosing not to dignify that with a response. Instead, he filled her in on everything that had happened while she had been unconscious¡ªViolet¡¯s situation, how it came to be that the orc attacked his house, how they had saved Violet¡¯s mother by making her an awakener, but her still needing a potion to heal all the way. Arianna¡¯s eyes brightened at that. "This is great!" she said, sitting up a little more. "You¡¯re finally overcoming your loner status. Helping other people is the first step." She grinned at him like a proud parent, and Cassis felt something in his chest tighten¡ªdiscomfort, embarrassment... something else he didn¡¯t want to examine too closely. And a vaguely insulted feeling was there, too. He was 42 years old, at least mentally, and she only 27. She must have noticed, because her grin turned mischievous. "Aw, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re getting all sentimental on me. Cassis, are you blushing?" He scowled. "Shut up." She chuckled, clearly enjoying herself before her expression turned more serious. "Cassis... do you remember the future?" His body tensed. "What?" "You¡¯ve had some slip-ups," she pointed out. "You knew how to fight too well for someone from a peaceful world, you knew about my potions, you didn¡¯t deny your whole ¡®lone wolf¡¯ thing. And when you awakened, you said you were ¡®the same again.¡¯ So, tell me the truth. Do you remember?" His thoughts raced, but outwardly, his expression remained blank. Poker face on. He considered his options, then finally settled on a mix of truth and deception. "Yes," he admitted. "I remember the future. After our fight, you disappeared. The world almost fell apart four years later. By then, the seventh wave was about to hit, and only a few A-rank and S-rank warriors were left. Avaria was doomed. So, I went into an S-rank dungeon, thinking I¡¯d go out in a blaze. I fought a dragon and then found the strangest artifact: a wishing lamp. Seeing hope, I wished to save my world. Next thing I knew, I was back at the start of the apocalypse, fourteen years in the past. Everything happened as I remembered¡ªuntil you appeared. The rest, you know." Arianna frowned, clearly mulling over his words. Something about his story felt off, but she couldn¡¯t quite place it. Then she focused on one particular detail. "So, I really died in that car accident, huh? Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have disappeared on you." Cassis¡¯s face darkened. He said nothing. In hindsight he should have know something bad had happened to her. She was his patron and only companion, after all. Arianna studied him for a moment, but let it go. Instead, she asked, "But why am I here?" He shamelessly shrugged. "No idea. But now we need to plan for the future. Last time, the first wave lasted for forty-eight hours. Around seven hours should have passed by now. I need to get stronger and reach level five. So tomorrow, I¡¯ll go out and hunt some monsters. You guys will be safe as long as you don¡¯t move around too much or make noise." Arianna narrowed her eyes at him. "You dimwit! You¡¯re trying to do everything alone again! I¡¯m coming with you, obviously. I want to get stronger too." Cassis opened his mouth to protest but stopped himself when he saw her determined expression. Why was she so damn cute when she was angry? He shook his head, startled by his own thoughts. Where had that come from? Still, he had to admit¡ªshe was right. He was trying to do things differently this time. Having a competent companion wouldn¡¯t be a bad thing. "Are you still a patron?" Cassis asked. Arianna nodded. "Yeah, I think I can even do the exclusive contract with you again. That would be best, because the patron shop has become quite expensive for some reason. The potion for your father cost double the amount of points. If we enter a contract, I get a fifty percent discount on certain items. Potions are included in that. Want to enter into the contract now?" Before he could say anything, a system message appeared. [Chaotic Deity and Fallen Patron Arianna wishes to enter into an exclusive contract with you. Do you want to become her avatar?] Cassis frowned. "Weren¡¯t you a virtuous deity?" And what was up with ¡®fallen patron¡¯? Was that his fault too? He clenched his fists while guilt burned inside him. What did that mean for her? She answered, "Well, according to the system message, I became a fallen patron when I killed the goblin because I directly interfered with the mortal world. And it seems killing a sentient being¡ªsince every F- and E-rank monster seems to be classified as one¡ªdidn¡¯t go well with being virtuous. The system took away all my VP and made me into a chaotic deity. Can you believe that? Now I get points for all sorts of weird things, like killing sentient beings, but also for saving mortals. And it said something about keeping balance on my alignment. I need to read through my status sometime soon." She shrugged her shoulders, not too concerned about her new status. Cassis, on the other hand, felt worse and worse listening to her. This was definitely his fault. But he couldn¡¯t change it now. It seemed she now got points for both virtuous and evil deeds. The balance thing concerned him, but they didn¡¯t know enough about it yet. Ignoring yet another issue¡ªhe was really getting good at that¡ªhe had another thought. "Are you only a deity? Or are you also an awakener? Your strength definitely increased after you killed the goblin." Arianna got that faraway look people had when checking their status. "I¡¯m also an awakener, or more precisely, I have a pseudo-awakener physique. I have no idea what that means, but my status screen looks the same as yours except for the ¡®?¡¯ behind the race: human. Oh, nice! I¡¯m already level two, and from how it feels, I should be level three soon. My mana saturation is at three percent already. Nice!" Now Cassis was somewhat jealous. His MS was only at two percent. He definitely wasn¡¯t telling her that. "Great. After the wave ends, we can work on our mana circuits. But wouldn¡¯t it be strange if I had a patron called Arianna and a companion called Arianna? That could make people suspicious. Can we give your patron persona a different name? A nickname maybe?" Cassis crossed his arms, his gaze flickering between Arianna¡¯s bright blue eyes and the matching gemstone resting against her collarbone. The sapphire pendant seemed to catch the dim light, sparkling in a way that felt almost¡­ alive. "What about Sapphire?" he suggested. Arianna stilled, her fingers instinctively reaching up to touch the necklace. "How did you come up with that name?" Her voice was quieter than before, almost wary. Cassis shrugged, trying to ignore the strange shift in the air between them. "Your eyes and your necklace. That¡¯s a sapphire, isn¡¯t it?" She nodded slowly, her grip tightening around the pendant. "Yeah¡­ It is." She hesitated, then sighed. "This necklace is special. I picked it up at an antique store when I was seventeen. It just¡­ I don¡¯t know, called to me." A small, self-deprecating chuckle escaped her lips. "I blew my whole allowance for the month on it. But I had this feeling¡ªI had to get it, no matter what." She glanced up at him, expression unreadable. "That night, I went to bed wearing it, and that was the first time I dreamt of you." Cassis stiffened. "Me?" She nodded again, rubbing her thumb over the smooth gemstone. "At first, it was just glimpses through a blue screen in a black room. You were always there, but you never noticed me, even when I talked to you. You totally ignored all the text messages the system sent you.¡± She glared at him. ¡°Then, one night, I got so frustrated that I¡ª" She let out a breathy laugh. "I yelled at you. But of course, you ignored me again. It was just me screaming into the void." Something about that image unsettled him. He could almost see it¡ªa girl trapped in a dream, screaming for someone who never turned around. Arianna swallowed. "Then, the next night, the necklace glowed. And suddenly¡­ you could hear me, not just the text messages, but my voice." She shook her head, expression distant. "It must be some kind of magical artifact. But I have no idea how it ended up in my world. My world doesn¡¯t have mana. No magic, no monsters, no special abilities." Her lips quirked up slightly. "Just boring normality." Cassis exhaled, processing everything she had just told him. Their connection had started because of a pretty piece of jewelry. That necklace¡­ it had bridged the gap between their worlds ¨C Avaria and Earth. Arianna looked down at the sapphire in her hand. "But I like the name," she admitted. "Let''s go with that. My patron persona will be Sapphire." Cassis gave her a small nod, but inside, something gnawed at him. That necklace. That connection. Just what kind of fate had tied them together? Chapter 7: Being a Chaotic deity / human? – Arianna Chapter 7: Being a Chaotic deity / human? ¨C Arianna Arianna blinked as a system message popped up in front of her, the glowing text slightly blurred from her grogginess. Before she could focus on reading it, her body acted on instinct, pushing herself upright. The sudden movement sent sharp twinges through her entire body, and she winced, feeling every bruise and cut that had been numbed by unconsciousness. "Ow," she muttered, pressing a hand to her aching stomach. As the blanket pooled around her waist, cool air brushed against her skin. It was only then that she realized she was sitting there in nothing but her bra. Cassis, who had been hovering beside her, first looked alarmed at her pained expression, his concern evident. Then, as his gaze flickered downward, his entire demeanour changed. His face snapped up as if burned. "Uh¡ª" He cleared his throat and clenched his jaw, eyes fixed stubbornly on the ceiling. Arianna rolled her eyes. "Seriously? It¡¯s just a bra, Cassis. You¡¯re acting like a teenager." His posture stiffened slightly, and she could see the tips of his ears turning red. Suppressing an amused smirk, she glanced down at herself. Well, at least she wasn¡¯t completely naked, but that still didn¡¯t explain¡ª "Why am I undressed?" she asked, lifting an eyebrow at him. "I had to treat your wounds," he answered, voice tense, still avoiding looking in her direction. Then, as if suddenly struck by an idea, he straightened and practically jumped up, moving toward his wardrobe with a swiftness that made her grin. It was like he was trying to escape her proximity entirely. She watched as he rummaged through the wooden cabinet, eventually pulling out a worn black shirt and a pair of old grey jogging pants. He turned back toward her but kept his gaze strictly averted, holding the clothes out to her without looking. She noticed how rigidly he stood, his entire posture screaming discomfort. Oh, this was fun. A quiet chuckle slipped past her lips before she could stop it. Unfortunately, the action sent another sharp pain through her stomach, and she grimaced and winced, pressing a hand against the bandages wrapped around her midsection. Cassis heard her and immediately looked concerned again, though he still stubbornly avoided directly looking at her. "Here," he muttered, extending the clothes toward her, turning around completely. Arianna reached for them, but her movements felt sluggish, her limbs protesting the strain. She tried to swing her legs over the edge of the bed, but the moment she put weight on her injured arm and leg, pain shot through them. Gritting her teeth, she exhaled in frustration. "Cassis, help me get up." He hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether to turn back around. Then, taking a deep breath, he slowly faced her again¡ªwith his eyes firmly shut. Arianna bit her lip to keep from laughing outright. Blindly, he reached out and found her uninjured arm, grasping her elbow carefully. With surprising gentleness, he helped pull her upright, guiding her legs out of the blanket so that her feet could touch the wooden floor. His focus was entirely on the task, his movements methodical as if distracting himself from the fact that she was still sitting there in nothing but underwear. He looked so adorably determined not to even glance at her that it took everything in Arianna not to burst out laughing. Really, it wasn¡¯t like she was wearing something scandalous. Her black bra and matching panties were plain, practical. They covered more than some of the bikinis she used to wear back in her world. And yet, here he was, acting as though one wrong glance might kill him. Once she was stable, he let go quickly and spun back around, his ears now fully red. Arianna smirked as she carefully pulled on the oversized shirt, maneuvering through the stiffness in her arms. The fabric was soft, slightly worn, and it smelled faintly of Cassis¡ªsomething woodsy and clean and fire. The jogging pants were trickier with her injuries, but she managed, albeit slower than usual. She had to roll them up quite a bit, as Cassis was around 1,90m and she only 1,67m. Luckily the jogging pants had a cord incorporated that she could use as a belt. But the shirt was really oversized, the collar dragged over one of her shoulders constantly while she put on the pants. Still, thinking of how she could actually move ¨C albeit slowly and painfully ¨C she had to admit, becoming an awakener had some perks. Her wounds weren¡¯t nearly as debilitating as they should have been. The healing factor was already working, dulling the pain and accelerating the recovery process. She finished dressing and let out a breath. "Alright, you can open your eyes now." Cassis hesitated before cautiously turning back toward her. His expression was carefully neutral, though the slight tension in his jaw remained. "Better?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest, amused. "Much," he said flatly. Then, after a pause, he exhaled and shook his head. "Next time, don¡¯t get yourself injured in the first place." Arianna grinned. "I¡¯ll try to keep that in mind." "I''ll look at my status for a bit. I just got a message," she said. Cassis nodded, seeming relieved, and busied himself with cleaning the poker, though it did already look clean. But what did she know? Arianna brought up her messages. The system message from just now appeared: [Do you wish to change your patron name to Sapphire?] She mentally clicked ''Yes,'' then pulled up her full status screen. First, her patron status:
Patron Status: Warning: As a Chaotic Deity, you must balance your actions carefully. Both intent and consequence will affect your CP. Should you become too virtuous or too evil, your CP will be reset.
She was curious about this screen. In her old world she could only see her VP, the Patron shop and the Patron¡¯s Avatar points in another screen than the one she was watching Cassis through. And how was she a deity? She was just a normal person; she didn¡¯t have any special abilities. Dreaming of Cassis was her necklace¡¯s ability. She opened the title [Fallen Patron]: Given to a deity who interfered with the mortal world directly Bonus: achieving pseudo-awakener status Alright, so that didn¡¯t actually tell her much. She continued on and navigated to her pseudo-awakener status page:
Pseudo-Awakener Status:
Arianna frowned as she read over her stats. First, she would have a look at the easiest part. Her title [One From Another World]. That one should be self-explanatory. Given to an awakener who came from another world. Bonus: Can understand, speak and write/read this world¡¯s languages automatically. Oh, that was very useful. And it said languages. So she should be able to speak all of them. Were there as many languages here as on Earth? If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Second, What did ''Human?'' mean? Why was there a question mark? The system wasn¡¯t sure if she was human? She knew that in the future people could change their race through their specialized classes, evolutions and items. But that had always felt a little scary. And last, that ''inner scale of virtuous and evil deeds'' thing¡­ That sounded ominous. She tried feeling for it and suddenly before her inner eye she saw an old-fashioned scale. One side was white and the other black. Well, that was quite the clear and easy division. She noticed that the black scale was a bit heavier than the white one. She thought back to how she had gotten her points. Killing a sentient being was clearly an evil action, saving a mortal a virtuous one. But she had more messages about killing than saving, so it made sense that the black scale was heavier. She mumbled: ¡°I only killed the hyenas to save Cassis¡¯s father. This is so unfair.¡± A system message sprang up. [+20 CP (for saving a dying mortal)] Arianna blinked. "What the¡ª?" The realization hit her so suddenly that she blurted out, "Fuck!" [+1 CP (for swearing with profanity)] Cassis was alarmed: ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± she shushed him. ¡°Just a little surprised. I¡¯ll tell you in a second. Just let me try something first.¡± She stared at the messages, completely dumbfounded. Then, an idea struck her¡ªone that sent a mix of embarrassment and amusement through her. Could she... farm CP just by swearing? Determined to test the theory, she let loose every profanity she knew. Twelve more, to be exact. Her cheeks burned slightly at the realization that she could only think of thirteen curse words. How embarrassing! But not actually surprising considering she had been a virtuous deity before and had consciously tried not to come in contact with that. [+9 CP (for swearing with profanity)] [Warning: Profanity will have no further effect on CP. Your scale will still be influenced by it.] During her cursing spree, Cassis¡¯s concern had steadily grown. His brows furrowed deeper with every word she spat out. Eventually, he couldn¡¯t contain himself. "Arianna... what are you doing?" She made eye contact and quickly told him. "In a sec." She felt for her inner scale again. The white part had tipped down when she acknowledged her intention for killing the hyenas was saving Cassis¡¯s father but with her use of profanity the evil side was again heavier. She didn¡¯t want to know what would happen if one scale became a lot heavier than the other. Balance was key here. Next, she checked her CP. She had now 40 CP. Just 60 to go and she could give Violet¡¯s mother the potion. No wait, first she had to enter into an exclusive contract with Cassis, then the price should go down. Another thought struck her. She should have entered into a contract with Cassis when she wanted to buy the potion for his father. She slapped her forehead. That had been stupid, her only defence that she wasn¡¯t used to the system in her everyday life and that it had been a highly stressful situation. She looked up to find Cassis watching her, holding his silence but becoming increasingly worried. Maybe he thought her crazy. She certainly would think herself crazy. But she needed to continue her thoughts before talking to him. Musing about the prices in the Patron Shop for a bit she could understand why everything was more expensive with CP. After all, she got CP for virtuous and evil deeds. With VP she only got points for being virtuous and acting that way. She assumed it was the same for EP. So now she could collect points way easier than before. She smiled. Sure, the scale thing was scary. Still, she only needed to keep track of it. This was freeing. She wasn¡¯t stuck being a ¡°goody-two shoes¡± anymore. She could now be a little bad. Her smile got wider. Cassis narrowed his eyes. She could see he was at the end of his patience and quickly sent him a message asking for an exclusive contract. He accepted just as quickly. [Awakener Cassis Walker has agreed to become your avatar. New discounts at the shop available. Spread your name throughout the world and become the most powerful deity!] Ok, the last line was knew. She had no idea what that meant. Choosing to ignore it she looked at the shop again, then spoke her thoughts aloud. "Alright, the potion now costs only 50 CP. I¡¯m 10 CP short, though. As I though the price of potions ¨C and other items concerning the basic survival of my avatar ¨C has been cut in half. Next, it seems the system automatically rewards me with CP for direct actions. Like when I killed the goblin and helped kill the orc¡ªI got CP for killing a sentient creature and then CP for saving a ¡°mortal¡± as a direct result. But with the hyenas, I killed them to save your dad, but since they weren¡¯t actively attacking him, I didn¡¯t get any points for saving him. And I also didn¡¯t give him the potion myself, so I didn¡¯t get any points for that either. But just now, when I acknowledged that I did it to save him, I got CP." She tilted her head, fascinated. "This system is really interesting... it even gave me CP for swearing, though only 10 total. The system already warned me I can¡¯t use that trick again. But... there is one more way to get CP. If it works the same as when I was a virtuous deity, it¡¯ll be awkward, but it¡¯s easy. And it should give me exactly 10 CP." She looked at Cassis, hesitating for just a moment. Arianna took a deep breath, her expression serious. "Please, don¡¯t take the next few sentences the wrong way," she said, forcing an awkward smile. Cassis stared a her, clearly unsure of what she was about to say. "Alright...?" She pressed on. "One. You always take responsibility for the people around you. Even when you act all grumpy, you care more than anyone else I know." A system message popped up in the corner of her vision: [+1 CP for giving a sincere compliment with genuine feelings.] "Two. I admire your determination. No matter what happens, you never back down. That¡¯s the kind of strength I can rely on." Another message confirmed the CP gain. Arianna felt her stomach twist. This was so embarrassing. But she had to keep going. "Three. I trust you, completely. Even when I¡¯m in danger, I know you¡¯ll be there. That¡¯s... rare." Her cheeks burned. This was a lot harder than she had expected. Keeping eye contact was nearly impossible, but she forced herself to do it. "Four. You have a strong sense of honour and unwavering integrity. Even when given an opportunity to do otherwise, you always choose to do what¡¯s right." "Five. You¡¯re my best friend; you have been my rock when things in my world didn¡¯t go well for me. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d have done back then or what I¡¯d do now without you." Cassis¡¯s expression was unreadable. The next few would be the worst. Hopefully, he wouldn¡¯t take it the wrong way, but she just couldn¡¯t think up more compliments about his character, so his body it was¡­ "Six. Your golden eyes are mesmerizing. Every time you look at me, I feel like I¡¯m the only person in the world." Another ping. [+1 CP.] "Seven. You¡¯re ridiculously good-looking, you know that?" Now she was definitely beet-red in the face. She wanted to dig a hole and disappear. Cassis stiffened, looking at her like she had grown another head. "Eight. The way you fight¡ªit¡¯s not just impressive, it¡¯s... captivating. There¡¯s something so strong and graceful about it, I can¡¯t look away." "Nine. I don¡¯t know if you realize this, but you have a really nice voice. It¡¯s deep, calm... kind of soothing, actually." That one made Cassis choke, and she swore his ears turned even redder than when she was in her underwear. "Ten. When I woke up in your arms at the start of everything all I could think was how broad your shoulders are and how nice it was to be in your arm. You make me feel small and safe in a way I kind of... like." Finally. The tenth one. She had done it. A final message appeared before her eyes: [+1 CP for giving a sincere compliment with genuine feelings.] And then another: [Warning: Complimenting will have no further effect on CP. Your scale will still be influenced by it.] Arianna exhaled sharply, feeling like she had just survived an ordeal. She could barely bring herself to look at Cassis, who was staring at her like he didn¡¯t know whether to be flattered, horrified, or deeply confused. But at least she had her CP now. Cassis finally managed to ask with a strangled voice, "What?" Arianna quickly explained, still avoiding eye contact. She even ducked her head so that her hair provided a bit of a barrier. "I got CP for giving a compliment, just like I got CP for swearing. I also did this when I was a virtuous deity in my world. From experience, I know that I need to maintain eye contact with the person I¡¯m complimenting, and it has to be a sincere statement with genuine feelings behind it. So, again, please don¡¯t take this the wrong way." It definitely was easier giving such compliments to women. She had never said something like that to a man and so didn¡¯t know how he would react. She peeked at him from below her hair but accidentally met his gaze. Embarrassed, she ducked her head further, still feeling her cheeks burning. "You did that in your world, too?" His tone was strange¡ªalmost angry. She hesitated. Well, she¡¯d be weirded out too if someone unloaded all that on her. She hadn¡¯t given all ten compliments to the same woman in her world and had also stretched out those compliments over several days, so it wasn¡¯t as difficult back then. Instead of dwelling on it, she distracted herself by going to the Patron Shop and buying a small healing potion. "Here it is," she said and jumped up, forgetting her injuries. Her left leg buckled, and she started to fall, but Cassis was there in an instant. He caught her before she hit the ground and steadied her. His hands remained on her shoulders to make sure she kept her balance. Arianna shifted her weight onto her good foot and became embarrassed all over again. She had just told him she liked being in his arms, and now she was in them again. If she were a cartoon character, she would be red all over with steam pouring out of her head. "Are you alright?" Cassis asked. "Yeah, just forgot my injuries for a moment." She mumbled. She needed to take action now. This situation was not good. Ari, you can¡¯t have a moment with him now. Sure, you find him attractive, but you¡¯ve known each other for ten years, and you''re in an apocalypse now. This really isn¡¯t the time to revisit that crush you had on him when you were younger. "Can you help me go to Violet¡¯s mother? I think it¡¯s best if she doesn¡¯t stay injured any longer." Silence, then.. "Okay, hold on to my arm and let me carry your weight." With her uninjured right arm, she held onto his right, trying not to put weight on her injured right leg. Cassis pretty much held her up with his left hand on her waist, pressing her side into his, practically hugging her from the side. Being so close to him after saying all those compliments¡ªwhile meaning them¡ªwas messing with her head. Just concentrate on the mission, Ari. She took a deep breath. They slowly made their way to Liam¡¯s room. After explaining that Arianna had just woken up and still miraculously had one more potion left, they stated that she wanted to give it to Violet¡¯s mom. Violet woke up during their conversation, becoming very excited. "She¡¯ll be okay now, won¡¯t she?" Arianna handed the vial to Liam¡ªshe and Cassis couldn¡¯t move freely with him still holding her up¡ªand instructed him to pour it into the mother¡¯s mouth. He did as told and a golden glow enveloped her body. Seconds later, her eyes fluttered open. She looked confused at first, but when Violet threw herself at her and cried, she instinctively comforted her. The others simply watched in silence. After Violet had cried herself to sleep, the mother finally looked up and asked, "Who are you? What happened? What¡¯s that blue box?" Cassis took charge. "We found you outside and brought you in with Violet. Do you remember the monster? We killed it, but you were injured. You¡¯re alright now. All other explanations will come tomorrow morning." He ended his speech abruptly and turned her to go back to his room. Arianna had the feeling that he didn¡¯t actually know how to explain everything, so he kept it short. Liam looked a bit rebellious at first - he had already been waiting for quite some time and Cassis was telling him to wait again - but Cassis¡¯ stern expression kept him quiet. After saying goodnight to the others, Cassis and Arianna shuffled back to his room. He helped her sit down on his bed before returning to his chair. "What are we going to tell them tomorrow morning?" she asked. Chapter 8: Making some plans – Cassis Chapter 8: Making some plans ¨C Cassis "What are we going to tell them tomorrow morning?" Arianna asked. Cassis had thought of this and again found it would be best to mix truth and lies. "How about we tell them that you are a friend of mine? We met coincidentally on the street near my parents'' home because you were in the area for work. What is your job?" "I''m an accountant." That was surprising and very... normal. He continued, "When the monsters appeared, we worked together to kill some and awakened. Then we decided to hide in my parents'' house." "Alright, that seems plausible," she nodded. "Next, we tell them our plan to level up, as it''s clear this is like a video game." She agreed again, then said, "Maybe your brother will want to come with us. And your mom. And we should really help your dad and..." she hesitated, "and Violet awaken. Her mom will want to come, too." He was quiet. They both knew that Violet would have a better chance of survival if she awakened. After all, most children had died by the third wave. The adults had thought to protect them but hadn¡¯t given them any tools to do so themselves. The adults weren¡¯t strong enough or couldn¡¯t be everywhere, and so the children suffered. But would they just be putting her through a different sort of suffering? Arianna said, "Well, it''s just an idea, but it''s her mother¡¯s decision." He agreed. Then he brought up the most concerning point for him. "But how will you fight? Your injuries¡ªeven though they will have healed quite a bit by tomorrow morning¡ªwill still hobble your ability to fight." He thought back to when she had gotten enough points to buy the potion. The things she had said, the "compliments." They stoked a new fire inside his heart. As his patron, she had kept some embers of his heart alive in that future, but never had he felt like this. Part embarrassment, part pleasure. He knew he was attractive¡ªhis ex-girlfriends had told him quite often¡ªbut hearing it from her was different. Then she had mentioned having done that before in her world, and he saw red. Just the thought of her telling another man these things made him furious. But he had no right. She was just his patron. It was no use getting angry about it. Then she had bought the potion and immediately wanted to give it to Violet¡¯s mother. The thought of using it on herself hadn¡¯t crossed her mind. So, he hadn¡¯t said anything, though he was worried. He smiled and shook his head. She was still his virtuous Arianna. But this brought them in front of another problem. "You really should have used the potion for yourself. Then you could easily gain the points to get another one for Violet¡¯s mother." Arianna became angry. "No way I could do that. Awakening was keeping her alive, but we don¡¯t know if staying unconscious with a head injury would have long-lasting effects on her. Her case was more time-sensitive than mine. Ah." She sounded surprised. He looked at her, confused. She grinned. "The system just told me I earned 20 CP for sacrificing my own comfort to save a mortal. Only 30 CP to go." He did not like the part about her sacrificing herself, but he was relieved that they only needed to get 30 CP more. That was around three F-rank monsters she would have to kill. He could manage to fight some by himself and then give her the kill, like he had done for Violet¡¯s mother. Nodding, he told her of his plan. He saw that she didn¡¯t like it but had to accept that her injuries would make it difficult for her to fight competently, and he knew she didn¡¯t want to hold him back. Having finished that discussion Cassis crossed his arms and gave her a pointed look. ¡°You should get some rest.¡± Arianna frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not tired.¡± ¡°You will be once you lie down.¡± She scoffed. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous logic.¡± He sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Ari, you¡¯re injured. Even with your pseudo-awakener physique at F-rank, your body still needs time to heal. Just rest.¡± She narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°And what about you? You haven¡¯t slept either.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on watch right now. I¡¯ll sleep the last third of the night when my mother and brother will be on watch,¡± he said simply. ¡°That¡¯s not fair, I want to help out, too.¡± He smirked. ¡°Life isn¡¯t fair.¡± She huffed, crossing her arms. ¡°Fine. But only to prove you wrong.¡± Cassis held back a chuckle and helped her maneuver into a comfortable position on the bed. She was still grumbling as she settled in, but as expected, within minutes, her breathing evened out, and she was fast asleep. Cassis leaned back in his chair, watching her for a moment before sighing. ¡°Told you,¡± he murmured to himself with a small smile. Cassis woke up early, his body protesting against the awkward position he had slept in. He had taken a short nap in his desk chair, after waking his mother and Liam to take their turn on watch. The sleep had done little to ease his exhaustion. His dreams had been plagued by images of the ruined future¡ªendless battles, empty streets, and the crushing weight of solitude. He rubbed his face, trying to push the thoughts away. Shaking off the lingering fatigue, he turned his attention to Arianna. She was still asleep, curled slightly on his bed. He reached out and gently shook her shoulder. ¡°Ari, wake up.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. She groaned, scrunching her nose in protest before her eyes fluttered open. Cassis found himself pausing for a second¡ªsomething about the way she did that was strangely... cute. She stretched with a wince but managed to sit up on her own. ¡°Wow, it still hurts, but I can already move by myself.¡± He nodded, relieved. ¡°That¡¯s good. Come on, let¡¯s head downstairs.¡± Together, they made their way out of the room. Cassis had to stop to disassemble the makeshift barricade of two desks they had placed in front of the stairs. As they descended, they immediately noticed the orc¡¯s body was gone. Arianna frowned. ¡°Guess the usual corpse cleanup happened.¡± Cassis nodded. It was the same everywhere. Scientists had theorized that the mana particles in the air consumed dead bodies, breaking them down and dispersing them into more ambient mana. But mana wasn¡¯t just created from the dead¡ªliving sentient and sapient beings who actively used it also produced and emitted mana, slowly saturating the environment. Once the mana in the atmosphere reached a certain threshold¡ªthough no one knew exactly when that was¡ªthe next monster wave would be triggered. Stronger, more dangerous creatures would appear, drawn to the richer mana environment. But the real problem was the cycle. To fight stronger monsters, humans had to grow stronger themselves. But as they did, they emitted even more mana into the air, accelerating the saturation process and hastening the next wave. A devil¡¯s spiral. If they didn¡¯t pace themselves, the waves would come too fast, leaving people no time to recover, especially crafters who needed downtime to create weapons, armour, and supplies. Pushing the thoughts aside for now, Cassis closed the curtains of the living room, then he headed into the kitchen and brought down the blinds that were thankfully inside the house and so didn¡¯t make any noise. He turned on the light ¨C electricity would mostly work up until the 4th wave when the ambient mana was too strong and interfered with the natural laws of this world ¨C and began rummaging through the cupboards. To his relief, he found enough food to make a decent breakfast¡ªmilk and cereal, bread, jams, cheese, sliced meats, apples, and bananas. It was more than he had expected, and it would be enough to give everyone a solid meal before they planned their next steps. Arianna joined him in preparing the food, and soon the dining table in the living room was set with everything they had found. One of the six table chairs had been destroyed in their fight against the orc and another one didn¡¯t look like it would hold a person. They needed three more chairs. The desk chairs in their bedrooms would do. Sure, some of them could sit on the couch but it was full of Arianna¡¯s blood. He wouldn¡¯t want to eat there. Cassis wiped his hands on a towel and nodded toward the stairs. ¡°I¡¯ll go wake the others and bring down some chairs.¡± She hummed in acknowledgment as she finished setting out the last of the plates. Cassis climbed back upstairs, stopping by each room to wake his family and their guests. ¡°Breakfast is ready. Come down and eat. And bring the desk chair with you.¡± One by one, they stirred awake or in Liam¡¯s and his mother¡¯s case stretched some, the scent of food drawing them downstairs. Today, they would have to make their plans. The world outside was changing fast, and they had no choice but to change with it. Everyone sat around the breakfast table, eating in a comfortable silence. Introductions were exchanged, and they learned that Violet''s mother''s name was Nadine Bristol. As the conversation flowed, Arianna also discovered that yesterday had been his mother¡¯s birthday. Arianna¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Oh, Danielle, I¡¯m so sorry! With everything that happened, how terrible¡­ Happy belated birthday.¡± His mother gave a small, tired smile. ¡°Thank you. Not exactly the celebration I had in mind.¡± Arianna reached out and squeezed her hand. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine how tough yesterday was for you, but I promise, when things settle down, we¡¯ll find a way to make it up to you.¡± His mother looked at Arianna, something shifting in her expression. ¡°You know, Cassis, Arianna seems like a really reliable person,¡± she said with a teasing lilt, clearly hinting at something. Arianna, oblivious, simply smiled back, but Cassis tensed slightly, focusing instead on his food. Meanwhile, his father remained quiet, still visibly shaken by the loss of his arm. He barely touched his food, his gaze distant. Cassis decided it was time to address their plans. He explained how he and Arianna were both F-rank Awakeners now, just like his mother, Liam and Nadine and that the two of them planned to level up to five, hoping that, like in video games, they would receive a class or something similar. He then turned to his mother and Nadine. ¡°We also need to think about Awakening Dad and Violet. Violet is, of course, Nadine¡¯s decision, but Dad¡­¡± Cassis hesitated for a moment before continuing, ¡°Dad needs to awaken if he wants to survive with just one arm.¡± His father¡¯s head shot up, anger flashing in his eyes as he glared at Cassis. The tension between them was palpable, but Cassis held his ground, meeting his father¡¯s gaze head-on. After a moment, his father¡¯s expression changed. The anger melted into something else¡ªdetermination. He gave a firm nod, understanding the necessity of Cassis¡¯s words. Cassis continued, ¡°We¡¯ll head out soon, and when we get back, hopefully, we¡¯ll have more answers. Until then, stay here, stay safe.¡± His mother and Liam still looked worried, so Arianna chimed in, hoping to reassure them. ¡°We¡¯ll be fine. We made it here yesterday, even with monsters roaming the streets. We fought and killed some already¡ªwe make a good team.¡± His mother still seemed unconvinced, so Arianna added, ¡°We also have a Patron, called Sapphire, who¡¯s been helping us. She can give us healing potions and even makes Cassis stronger.¡± At this, his mother turned to Cassis for confirmation. He lied with ease. ¡°Sapphire found us after our first fight and offered us a contract through the system. She¡¯s helped us since then.¡± His mother hesitated but then surprised Cassis by saying, ¡°Then thank you, Sapphire. Because of you, my family is still alive, and your healing potion saved my husband.¡± Arianna made a strange noise, her expression suddenly distant, but only Cassis seemed to notice. Before he could ask, Violet chimed in excitedly, ¡°Thank you, Sapphire! You made my mommy better!¡± After breakfast, everyone searched for weapons around the house. Danielle found another kitchen knife, leaving her old one with Nadine. Liam retrieved a hockey stick. Arianna reclaimed the bloody baseball bat from the playground, along with her toy shovel, still lying where the orc¡¯s body had vanished. Cassis tried to hand her the fire poker he had been using, but she shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re better with it than I am,¡± she said firmly. He couldn¡¯t argue with that¡ªthe poker was at least somewhat similar to a sword, while the baseball bat was something else entirely. They then headed upstairs to change into more protective clothing. His mother took Arianna into her room mumbling about some leather pants that would surely fit her while Cassis went to his childhood room. Cassis donned a grey long-sleeve shirt, a denim jacket, and dark blue jeans. As he dressed, he tried not to think about why his mother even owned leather pants. He decided he really didn¡¯t want to know. When he went out of his room, he saw Arianna and was momentarily taken aback. She looked¡­ fierce. The leather jacket gave her an air of confidence, and the way she held herself, even with her injuries, made her seem strong and unyielding. For a brief moment, he forgot about their grim circumstances. Then Liam arrived, carrying an old set of ice hockey gear¡ªprotective pads and a helmet. ¡°You should take this,¡± Arianna said to Cassis. ¡°You¡¯ll be fighting more than me until I can buy a healing potion.¡± He hesitated, but she was right. Without another word, he took the gear and began putting it on. They needed every advantage they could get. Chapter 9: Road to Fame – Arianna Chapter 9: Road to Fame ¨C Arianna Arianna followed Danielle up the stairs, grateful for being able to borrow clothes but also feeling a bit awkward about needing it in the first place. Her body still ached, though the pain had lessened considerably. As they entered Danielle¡¯s room, the older woman immediately began rummaging through her closet, muttering to herself about what would fit. ¡°You know,¡± Danielle said conversationally as she pulled out a few options, ¡°I¡¯m really glad Cassis has a friend like you.¡± Arianna, sitting carefully on the bed, gave her a surprised look. ¡°Oh? Well, we¡¯ve known each other for a long time. Same circle of friends, you know.¡± She was just as bad as Cassis, casually lying to his mother. Danielle turned back to her with a knowing smile. ¡°Yes, I gathered that much. He¡¯s never mentioned a close female friend before, though. And you¡¯re single?¡± Arianna blinked. ¡°I¡ªyes?¡± Danielle¡¯s smile widened, looking strangely pleased. ¡°That¡¯s good to know.¡± Arianna was confused. ¡°Why does that matter?¡± ¡°Oh, no reason,¡± Danielle said airily, handing over a pile of clothing. ¡°Just making conversation.¡± Arianna glanced down at the clothes in her hands: a fitted blue long-sleeved shirt, a black leather jacket, and black leather pants. Practical, warm, and durable. At least she wouldn¡¯t be fighting in her work attire - a green blouse and black pants - anymore. Danielle even fished out a pair of grey sneakers that looked to be in good condition. ¡°These should fit. We¡¯re about the same size.¡± Arianna nodded gratefully. ¡°Thank you. This is perfect.¡± Danielle waved her off. ¡°Take your time. I¡¯ll give you some privacy.¡± With that, she stepped out and closed the door behind her. Arianna quickly changed, testing her range of motion in the snug but flexible clothes. The sneakers were a lucky fit, and the jacket and pants felt sturdy enough to provide at least a little protection. Once dressed, she sat on the edge of the bed and finally allowed herself to check her system messages from breakfast. The first one still made her head spin: [Warning! A mortal called Arianna Sloane just claimed to be your avatar. You have two choices: Smite her or take her on as a second avatar.] Arianna¡¯s heart pounded. She had never seen a message about having more than one avatar before. Could she really have multiple? Why now? She needed to discuss this with Cassis. In the last ten years she had never got the opportunity to take on another avatar. Did other patrons have more than one avatar? She didn''t remember. She had just been so focused on Cassis''s survival. The next message was even more unbelievable: [+ 10 FP (Gratitude received from Danielle Walker)] [Congratulations! You have unlocked FP (= Fame Points) by spreading your name through your avatar.] Arianna¡¯s eyes widened. She remembered Danielle¡¯s words at breakfast, thanking Sapphire for saving Marcus. Then Violet had done the same. Was the system rewarding her for gratitude directed at Sapphire? That was¡­ interesting. But what was this new point system and what was it good for? She read on. [New patron page functions: FP, Fame and Followers unlocked] Her breath caught. Fame? Followers? None of this had existed in the system she knew. Had something changed when she crossed worlds? And what did ¡°Followers¡± mean exactly? [You may now appoint a Chaotic Priest or Priestess from among your avatars who have reached Level 5 or higher. This individual will further spread your name and power.] Arianna was speechless. The system was practically telling her to start a religion around herself. She read the last message: [+ 10 FP (Gratitude received from Violet Bristol)] So, it seemed that both Danielle and Violet¡¯s gratitude had counted separately? That meant she had earned an additional 10 FP just from being acknowledged by a different person. This system really was something else. She wondered briefly if there was a limit to how many FP she could earn from gratitude. Would it work if Cassis thanked Sapphire? Or Liam? Or Nadine? She shook her head. No time to experiment right now. Especially, as she didn''t even know what the new points did. She had too many questions and no answers. How could she, a patron for over ten years, have never heard of any of this? Feeling more confused than ever, Arianna closed the messages and took a deep breath. She needed to talk to Cassis. Maybe he knew something. Taking a deep breath, Arianna left Danielle¡¯s room and stepped into the hallway. Cassis was just coming out of his own room, dressed in a grey shirt, a denim jacket, and dark blue jeans with black sneakers. ¡°Thanks again, Danielle,¡± Arianna said as she moved toward him. Before she could say more, Liam appeared, carrying old ice hockey pads and a helmet. He offered them to her first, but Arianna shook her head and reasoned, ¡°You should wear them, Cassis. You¡¯ll be fighting more until I get another potion.¡± Cassis hesitated but eventually nodded, starting to put the gear on. Before he could fully suit up, Arianna grabbed his arm and pulled him back into his room. ¡°We need to talk,¡± she said firmly. Danielle and Liam were still in the hallway. This conversation wasn¡¯t meant for their ears. Cassis frowned as Arianna pulled him into his room, concern clear in his golden eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Arianna took a deep breath. ¡°I got a system message about another avatar¡ªme. It asked me whether to smite or accept another avatar, and the name listed was Arianna Sloane.¡± Cassis blinked in surprise before his expression cleared. ¡°Oh, that makes sense. Some patrons had multiple avatars. It wasn¡¯t common, but it happened. You should accept yourself as an avatar. That¡¯ll strengthen you.¡± Arianna hesitated, but he made a valid point. If the system was offering her this choice, she might as well take advantage of it. ¡°As Sapphire, I accept Arianna Sloane as my avatar.¡± The moment she spoke the words, a rush of energy coursed through her body. It was overwhelming yet familiar, like a wave of strength reinforcing her very being. She exhaled sharply and clenched her fists, testing the feeling. Cassis watched her closely. ¡°That¡¯s the sensation a new avatar gets.¡± He gave a small smile. ¡°Congratulations. You just got a power-up.¡± Arianna nodded, still adjusting to the sudden change. Then she shifted topics. ¡°That¡¯s not all. I also unlocked something called Fame Points.¡± Cassis¡¯ face went still. She thought back to the system messages and pieced it together. ¡°It happened after you told Danielle about Sapphire and she thanked her. The message said my avatar was spreading my name. That must be why I got the points.¡± She narrowed her eyes. ¡°Wait a second¡­ Cassis.¡± His shoulders tensed. She leaned closer. ¡°Could it be¡­ you never talked about me with anyone? In ten years?¡± Cassis rubbed the back of his neck, eyes darting away. ¡°¡­I mean, what am I supposed to say to that?¡± Arianna groaned. ¡°What am I asking? Of course you didn¡¯t. You were basically the lonest loner ever.¡± He stiffened at that but still looked embarrassed. ¡°Some patrons were famous,¡± he muttered. ¡°They practically founded a religion around themselves, had priests and the strongest avatars. But those were powerful patrons. I didn¡¯t want to say anything back then, but¡­¡± He hesitated before finishing, ¡°You were kinda weak. Or rather, poor.¡± Arianna felt her eye twitch. ¡°I was not poor!¡± she protested immediately¡ªthen caught herself. Okay, fine, maybe she was. Getting VP had been seriously difficult. But still! ¡°You just threw yourself into so much danger that I had to burn everything I had on recovery and protection items!¡± Cassis still looked uncomfortable but managed to mumble, ¡°But you were really stingy with potions. You always told me to heal up by myself unless it was life-threatening or debilitating¡­¡± Arianna inhaled sharply. A dangerous, saccharine-sweet smile spread across her face. ¡°Oh? You poor thing.¡± Cassis took half a step back, sensing danger. Her voice turned sharp. ¡°I was always worrying about you! But did you stop? Did you take a break? No!¡± Her voice rose into a shout. ¡°You just threw yourself into more danger! I had to slow you down somehow, and the only way I could do that was by withholding healing for a while!¡± Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Her vision blurred slightly, and she realized with shock that she had tears in her eyes. Cassis¡¯ expression shifted first to guilt and then to something softer. Regret flickered across his face, and he stepped closer, taking her hand. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± His voice was quiet, sincere. Arianna exhaled shakily. ¡°Thanks¡­ No use crying over spilled milk,¡± she muttered. Then she met his eyes and squeezed his hand back. ¡°Let¡¯s try to do better this time, okay?¡± He held her gaze for a moment before nodding. ¡°Okay.¡± Arianna and Cassis stepped out of his room quietly, the weight of their conversation still heavy in the air. Liam and Danielle were standing outside, their eyes following them as they emerged. Danielle¡¯s smile was unsettling for some reason, her gaze lingering on her hands. Arianna noticed that they were holding hands. Cassis quickly pulled his hand away. Arianna didn¡¯t comment on it, though her eyes lingered on her hand for a moment before she focused on Cassis. Without a word, he finished putting on Liam¡¯s hockey gear, the sound of straps being tightened echoing in the quiet corridor. Then, they moved to the living room, grabbed their weapons, and climbed out of the kitchen window, taking care not to make too much noise. Cassis helped Arianna out of the window, his hands firm as he guided her through. She winced, her leg still aching and her injuries far from healed. Every movement felt like a fresh wave of pain, but she gritted her teeth. She had to push through it. They both dropped down into the backyard, crouching low, listening carefully for any sounds of the creatures that might be lurking nearby. The moment they hit the ground, they froze, the distant shuffling of something approaching. It wasn¡¯t long before two goblins appeared right in front of the house, their hunched bodies moving quickly as they sniffed the air. Arianna felt her heartbeat quicken, and though her body protested, she couldn¡¯t help but tense, preparing for the fight ahead. Cassis, as always, was calm. He glanced at her, giving her a small nod. "Stay low. Let me go first." She nodded, her grip tightened on the baseball bat. She checked if the shovel she had grabbed earlier, was still secure in her waistband. Cassis reached down and grabbed a small stone, tossing it behind the goblins. They turned in response, their beady eyes scanning the dark yard. Arianna¡¯s heart thudded in her chest as Cassis moved in first. He rushed at the goblins, stabbing the first one in the arm with a swift motion. The creature shrieked, stumbling backward, and Cassis kicked it hard in the stomach, sending it crashing to the ground. Without missing a beat, Arianna was right behind him. She swung her bat with all the strength she had, bringing it down onto the goblin¡¯s head until it collapsed in a heap. [+10 CP for killing a sentient being. Exp gained.] Before she could even register the notification, she turned to face the second goblin. It had already been pinned by Cassis, who had shoved a poker into its stomach, and was screeching in terror. Arianna didn¡¯t hesitate. She rushed forward and swung her bat at the goblin¡¯s head, finishing it off quickly. [+10 CP for killing a sentient being. Exp gained. Pseudo-Awakener Physique level up.] Her heart was still racing when she turned to Cassis, who was already scanning the surroundings. The calmness in his eyes belied the situation, but Arianna could feel the pressure building. "Nice work," he said, offering her a quick smile. She raised her hand and flashed the universal gesture for a level-up: two fingers, a V sign. ¡°Only ten CP more,¡± she said, trying to hide the pain that still lingered from her injuries. But before he could respond, the air was filled with the sound of footsteps. More creatures were closing in. Arianna¡¯s stomach churned. ¡°Five,¡± Cassis muttered, glancing toward the street. "Three goblins and two pigs." Arianna¡¯s blood ran cold. The goblins¡¯ shrieks had attracted more attention. Her hands tightened around her bat. She wasn¡¯t sure they could handle this. Cassis, however, stayed calm. "Stay focused. We can do this." With that, he charged toward the creatures, his poker held high. Arianna gritted her teeth and followed him, despite the pain in her leg. There was no choice. They couldn¡¯t back down. The first pig came at them with a terrifying charge. Its tusks were gleaming in the moonlight. Cassis ducked to the side, narrowly avoiding the beast¡¯s deadly horn, and stabbed at it with his poker. Arianna was already on the move, throwing her shovel at the second pig charging toward Cassis. Luckily, the goblins were farther behind, as they were slower than the pigs. The pig let out a grunt, turning to face her. It was fast, but Arianna was faster. She dodged its charge and felt a flash of pain in her leg as she moved, but she couldn¡¯t stop. The pig turned again, roaring in fury as it lunged at her. Arianna¡¯s heart pounded in her chest, but then she had an idea. A wall. She raced toward it, luring the pig behind her. At the last second, she spun to the side, letting the pig crash into the solid stone. The beast staggered back, dazed. With a swift motion, Arianna swung her bat, cracking it across the pig¡¯s skull. [+10 CP for killing a sentient being. Exp gained.] But she didn¡¯t have time to celebrate. She heard Cassis¡¯s shout from behind her. ¡°Damn!¡± Her heart stopped. She turned around to see him struggling, bleeding heavily from several cuts. The last of the goblins ¨C the other two lay already dead on the ground ¨C had managed to stab its knife into his arm after he had somehow lost his protection, and the other pig was biting down on his leg. Thankfully, the leg still had its protection on. ¡°No!¡± Arianna cried out, charging toward him without thinking. The goblin had its back turned, and she swung her bat hard, smashing it over its head. [+10 CP for killing a sentient being. Exp gained.] [+10 CP for saving a mortal.] Arianna reached Cassis¡¯s side just as he pulled the pig off his leg, still standing, though clearly weakened by the blood loss. He finished off the pig with a powerful swing of the poker. They both stood, panting heavily, but before they could exchange words, more sounds echoed in the distance. More creatures were coming. Cassis cursed under his breath, quickly scanning the area. He grabbed Arianna¡¯s uninjured arm and yanked her toward a nearby garden. Without a word, he dragged her into a small shed, the door closing behind them with a soft creak. Both of them were covered in blood, and Arianna¡¯s leg was bleeding again. Cassis, though clearly exhausted, was still moving with precision, his expression focused. He barricaded the door with a wooden box from the shed and brought them both low to sit down. ¡°1st wave monsters are stupid. They won¡¯t come into the shed, if they don¡¯t see movement or hear noise. Let¡¯s take a short break here.¡± He began fumbling with his hockey gear. Arianna nodded. She went to the Patron Shop and purchased the small healing potion for 50 CP. Now she had only 20 CP left. Money comes, money goes she sang in her head. Then she held out the vial to Cassis. He looked at her for a moment, disbelief flickering in his eyes. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked, seeing the potion in her hand. ¡°You¡¯re injured,¡± Arianna said, her voice low, but firm. ¡°Take it.¡± Cassis glanced at her. "It¡¯s yours." She shook her head. "You¡¯re the main damage dealer. You should take it." Cassis sighed, clearly frustrated, but he took the vial, uncorked it and then pushed it against her mouth. ¡°Drink,¡± he commanded. And without hesitation, she did. Arianna sat beside Cassis in the dim light of the shed, her body still humming with the golden warmth from the healing potion she¡¯d consumed. The injuries that had plagued her were completely gone now, the pain and weakness replaced with a sense of energy that made her feel almost... invincible. The throbbing in her leg and the aches in her arm and stomach vanished like they had never been there. But Cassis¡ªher gaze flickered over to him¡ªwas a different story. His arm was still bleeding, and the gashes along his side and legs were soaked in blood, evidence of the brutal fight they¡¯d just survived. Arianna¡¯s heart clenched, and she couldn¡¯t stop herself. Without waiting for him to protest, she moved toward him, pulling the bandages from her already healed wounds. Cassis glanced at her, brow furrowing as she began wrapping the cloth tightly around his arm. ¡°You don¡¯t need to baby me, Arianna,¡± he grumbled, clearly uncomfortable with her care. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll be okay. I¡¯m used to this.¡± Arianna didn¡¯t say anything, focusing on making the bandages tight but not too tight. He was used to this. The words stung, even though she knew he wasn¡¯t trying to make her feel bad. Still, he didn¡¯t deserve this constant cycle of injury and bloodshed. He shouldn¡¯t have to be so used to it. That should stay in the future, past, the other timeline. She didn¡¯t know what to call it anymore. She ignored his protests, checking his body for any more serious injuries. There were the shallow cuts along his other arm and his legs, each of them bleeding more than they should have, but none of them were life-threatening. Still, they were a constant reminder of how dangerous their lives had become. "See? Told you I¡¯m okay," Cassis said with a faint, tired smile as she finished wrapping his arm. "I¡¯m used to this." He¡¯d said it again. Her heart tightened in her chest. She knew what he meant. She could see how easy it was for him to dismiss the damage¡ªhe had been through worse, and yet, here he was, still standing. But to her, the idea that he was "used to this" only hurt more. She didn¡¯t want him to get so accustomed to pain, to fighting for survival, to everything they were up against. But she couldn¡¯t say that. Not now. Not when he was so determined to carry this weight on his own. Instead, she sighed and let the silence stretch between them, trying to push the heavy thoughts aside. After a moment, she finally spoke, her voice softer now, more curious than anything. ¡°Did you level?¡± Cassis looked at her, and despite the bloodstains, his expression softened. "Yeah. Level 4. One more level, and I¡¯ll be a better fighter. I''ll be able to keep up a lot better and finally unlock some skills." He paused, his voice growing more serious. "I¡¯m too slow right now. I need to level up." Arianna nodded. She understood. She herself was at level 3 now, which meant she was just a couple of kills away from reaching the next level, but her mind kept drifting toward what came after that. She needed to make a decision¡ªher class, the direction she would go with her abilities. And unlike Cassis, who had a clear idea, she was stuck. ¡°So... what class will you choose?¡± she asked, eyeing him carefully. ¡°Warrior, of course,¡± Cassis answered without hesitation, though his gaze was distant, lost in thought. ¡°It¡¯s what I know best, and it fits my fighting style. I won¡¯t be able to protect you if I¡¯m too slow, so I need the extra strength and the tanking skills. It¡¯s just the right fit.¡± Arianna nodded. She understood perfectly. He wasn¡¯t looking for some flashy power; he just wanted to make sure he could protect them both. And she appreciated that, even if it made her heart ache. Her mind, however, was preoccupied with her own choice. At level 5, she would have to pick from the basic classes: Warrior, Ranger, Mage, or Cleric. None of them felt completely right. Warrior was out of the question. Having two warriors on a team wouldn¡¯t be ideal, and with Cassis already heading in that direction, she needed something that balanced him out. Ranger was an option, but... was she ready for that kind of class? Rangers were good for long-range physical damage, and their self-defence skills were solid, but their ability to fight solo was more efficient than their teamwork potential. Could she really be the one to support Cassis when things got tough if she wasn¡¯t more focused on healing or protection? Mage was another potential choice, but she could barely keep herself from being injured as it was. If she became too squishy, Cassis would be exhausted from protecting her. The mage class was powerful, but it required excellent positioning and strategy, which would be hard to pull off with the chaotic nature of their world right now and only the two of them on the team. Then there was Cleric. Arianna knew how important healing could be, and the idea of supporting Cassis and the team with healing spells and buffs made sense. But there was a catch. At the end of the apocalypse, no healers had been around in the other timeline. They hadn¡¯t made it. And how could she survive in a world where she was weak without her allies? She also knew the cleric class wasn¡¯t built for solo fighting, only getting some basic blunt weapon skills and a few defensive spells and that made her hesitate. She ran through the possibilities in her mind again, the weight of the decision pressing heavily on her chest. The Ranger class was tempting, offering physical damage and self-defense skills, plus the ability to fight on her own. But it didn¡¯t offer the same support for Cassis that the Cleric class would. And if they were going to survive, support was crucial. Yet, if she became a Ranger, she could stand on her own two feet more effectively. Could she really leave Cassis to fight their battles while she focused on only healing? Her thoughts tangled, her hands fidgeting with the bandages, until she finally spoke, more to herself than to Cassis. ¡°What do you think? Do you think Ranger or Cleric would be better for me?¡± Cassis turned toward her, his expression thoughtful. ¡°I think... if you can¡¯t fight solo, you¡¯ll need to be able to rely on someone else. If you want to keep me from getting ragged from protecting you, Cleric is the way to go. But if you want more independence, Ranger¡¯s the better bet.¡± Arianna sighed, leaning back against the wall of the shed. She was torn. The decision was critical. Her class could change everything about how they fought, how they survived. What would it be? The supportive healer with defensive magic, or the self-sufficient fighter who could stand on her own? She just wasn¡¯t sure yet. Chapter 10: Old acquaintances – Cassis Chapter 10: Old acquaintances ¨C Cassis Cassis leaned back against the rough wooden walls of the shed, catching his breath. The scent of dust and old wood filled the cramped space, mixing with the coppery tang of blood from their recent battle. He flexed his injured arm¡ªit wasn¡¯t as bad as before, but it still ached. Across from him, Arianna frowned at nothing. ¡°This is annoying,¡± she muttered, swiping at the air. ¡°These messages keep popping up in the middle of a fight. It¡¯s distracting.¡± Cassis smirked despite himself. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a pain at first. You can change it so they only show up after combat.¡± She gave him a sharp look. ¡°And you¡¯re only telling me this now?¡± He shrugged. ¡°Didn¡¯t think about it. You never complained before.¡± Arianna huffed but quickly focused on her interface¡ªwhatever she was seeing, he couldn¡¯t see it. Only the person connected to the system could view their own messages. He watched as she swiped at the air, her fingers moving deliberately. After a moment, her shoulders relaxed, and she let out a satisfied breath. ¡°There. That should stop them from interrupting me in a fight,¡± she said. Cassis smirked. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± She rolled her eyes but didn¡¯t argue. ¡°Good,¡± Cassis agreed, stretching his legs. His body was still sore, but they didn¡¯t have the luxury of resting too long. ¡°Ready?¡± Arianna nodded, determination in her eyes. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s go.¡± Carefully, they crept to the shed¡¯s door. Cassis peered through the small gap, scanning the yard outside. The street was eerily quiet now, but he knew better than to trust the silence. He tightened his grip on the poker and glanced at Arianna. ¡°Stay close.¡± She nodded, gripping her bat. With one last deep breath, Cassis pushed the door open, and they slipped back into the dangerous world outside. They moved as one, creeping low to the ground, their ears straining for danger. But it found them first. The unmistakable sounds of battle¡ªclashing metal, snarling beasts, desperate grunts of effort¡ªechoed from around the corner. Cassis¡¯ first instinct was to stop, to analyze the situation before acting. Then he saw it. Three people ¨C a man of around 30 years, a woman at a similar age and an old man ¨C, back-to-back in a small, fenced garden, fending off a pack of monstrous hyenas with makeshift weapons. A boy, no older than five, was crouched in the centre, shielding a bundle wrapped in blankets. The bundle let out a shrill wail. A baby! Cassis¡¯ mind screamed at him¡ªIt¡¯s a death trap. Even if they jumped in, what could they do against so many? They¡¯d get torn apart like the rest. This fight is already lost. But before he could say anything¡ªbefore he could stop her¡ªArianna ran forward. "Wait¡ª!" he barely got out before she was swinging her bat. Damn it! He couldn¡¯t leave her. Even if it was a suicide mission. Cursing under his breath, he surged forward, driving his poker into the closest hyena. The beast let out a choked whimper, thrashing as it collapsed. The others turned, yellow eyes locking onto him. Cassis ignored them, eyes darting to Arianna. She was already in the thick of it, new scrapes on her body. His stomach twisted, but there was no time to worry¡ªonly to fight. Arianna barely dodged a lunging hyena, grimacing in pain as she swung her bat again. The woman she had saved nodded in thanks before turning back to the fight. Cassis clenched his jaw and pressed on. He used his injured arm, stabbing with the poker, feeling every nerve scream in protest. The pain burned through him, but he refused to let it slow him down. If I stop, she dies. The battle blurred into chaos¡ªblood, snarls, screams. The old man suddenly went down, a hyena dragging him by the leg. Arianna rushed to his side, reckless as always. Cassis'' heart pounded. Too reckless. Too vulnerable. Then¡ª A sharp, piercing wail. The baby cried louder. The street answered. Distant roars. Howls. The sound of more monsters rushing toward them. Cassis¡¯ blood ran ice cold. We¡¯re going to die here. The fight slowed for just a second as everyone heard it¡ªthe approach of death. Panic tightened in his chest. We have to run. We have to get out. His eyes darted, searching for Arianna. Where is she? A gut-wrenching moment passed before he found her, barely standing, blood running down her leg again. A fresh wound. She was swaying slightly, exhaustion catching up to her. ¡°No,¡± he breathed. He pushed forward, reckless now, shoving a hyena away, stabbing another with every ounce of strength he had left. He had to reach her. Had to get her out of this. The monsters were closing in. Think! There has to be a way out! But there wasn¡¯t. Not unless something changed¡ªnow. Cassis felt time grind to a halt, the chaos of battle freezing around him. The familiar blue glow of a system screen appeared in his vision.
Congratulations! You have reached Level 5. You may now choose from the following basic classes:
Cassis didn¡¯t hesitate. Warrior. The moment he made his choice, power flooded his body. His ragged breath steadied, the pain dulled, his exhausted muscles filled with newfound strength. Another message followed.
You have chosen: Warrior. New Skills and Spells available: Stamina upgraded to Basic.
It worked. Relief crashed over him. He had worried, deep down, that something might be different this time, that his regression had changed things too much. But no¡ªhe could still do this. His body remembered these abilities, this strength. The world snapped back into motion. The hyenas lunged. Cassis moved like he had a hundred times before. He stabbed¡ªhis poker pierced clean through the hyena¡¯s skull, killing it instantly. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Another lunged. A quick step to the side, a precise thrust¡ªdead. No wasted movement. No hesitation. His body acted on pure instinct, muscle memory from a life already lived. This was familiar. This was his. His eyes flickered to Arianna¡ªstill bleeding, still struggling. His grip tightened. He wouldn''t let her die. He wouldn''t let anyone precious to him die. Not this time. Cassis stabbed, turned, killed, stabbed again. The world blurred into blood and motion. His body ached, but he ignored it. He had no time for pain, no time for hesitation. Each thrust of his poker was clean and deadly, enhanced by his class. He moved like a machine, cutting through the swarm of hyenas. Around him, the others fought with everything they had, feeding off his momentum. They pushed forward. For the first time, it felt like they might win. But the baby kept crying. And the sound summoned more. Out of the street came goblins. Smiling cruelly with jagged knives in their hands and hungry eyes they found their new prey. They chittered and shrieked, bounding toward them with terrible speed. It wouldn¡¯t end. Cassis felt exhaustion creeping in. His body wasn¡¯t infinite. His movements slowed. The others were making more mistakes. The younger man barely dodged a goblin''s dagger¡ªCassis yanked him back at the last second, gutting the creature before it could finish its strike. But despair set in again. After level 5 the experience needed to advance increased dramatically. He wouldn¡¯t level up for quite a while. But maybe Arianna ¡­ If they could hold out long enough for her to reach level 5 ¡­ But what would it really change? Still, it was their only hope. He watched her. Arianna fought on, her breathing ragged, her body bleeding from new wounds. She wasn''t going to last. Damn it, none of them were. If only the baby would stop crying. Then, suddenly, it did. And warmth flooded his body. Cassis gasped. His wounds closed. His fatigue disappeared. A soft golden glow washed over the battlefield. The others gasped in shock as their injuries healed before their eyes. He turned toward Arianna. She was glowing. Her bat trembled in her hands, her breath came in harsh pants, but her eyes shone with new power. She had finally hit Level 5. And she had chosen Cleric. A wild grin broke over Cassis¡¯s face. "Good choice," he muttered. With a group this big, a cleric could turn the tide. The others felt the renewal too. With their strength restored, their movements sharpened. They cut down the remaining hyenas and goblins, no longer held back by pain and exhaustion. Then came the next problem. Their fight had been too loud. Distant shrieks and roars echoed through the streets. More monsters. More death. Cassis didn¡¯t hesitate. "Inside! NOW!" He grabbed the boy, scooped up the baby, and ran. The others followed, stumbling into the house. The woman pointed toward the stairs, toward the master bedroom. They rushed up, slammed the door shut behind them. Cassis deposited the children on the bed. Then he and the younger man shoved a heavy wardrobe in front of it, blocking the entrance. They stood there, panting, bleeding, shaking. But they were alive. For now. He wanted to just breath for a while but then Arianna collapsed to her knees. Her body lurched forward, her shoulders heaving violently. She was puking. "Arianna!" Cassis rushed to her side, dropping into a crouch. He placed a hand on her back, rubbing slow circles, whispering soft encouragements. "It''s okay, just breathe." She coughed and gagged, her entire body shaking. After she was finally finished, her fingers dug into his arm, her other hand clutching her head. Cassis narrowed his eyes. Headache. Nausea. Weakness. He knew exactly what this was. Mana depletion. She must have burned through every last drop of her mana to heal them. "Arianna, you¡¯re out of mana," he said softly. "You pushed yourself too far." She groaned weakly, her grip tightening on his sleeve. Her face was deathly pale, sweat clinging to her brow. Cassis didn''t hesitate. He slipped an arm around her waist and gently pulled her up. "Come on," he murmured. "You need to lie down." He didn¡¯t care about the others watching. Right now, they didn¡¯t matter. With slow, careful movements, he helped her onto the bed. She was barely conscious, eyes fluttering, her breathing shallow. The woman sat down on the opposite side, taking the baby into her arms. The younger man knelt beside the quietly sobbing boy, murmuring reassurances. The older man simply sank to the floor, staring at his hands. Cassis stayed by Arianna''s side, adjusting her so she could rest more comfortably. She stirred, blinking at him, her voice hoarse when she spoke. "¡­What¡¯s wrong with me?" "Mana depletion," he answered. "You used up all your mana healing us. Your body can¡¯t handle it." A flicker of realization crossed her tired face. Then her eyes shifted toward the baby. Cassis followed her gaze. The infant was completely silent now, but still looked like it was wailing, there just wasn¡¯t any sound coming out of it. "Why is the baby so quiet now?" he asked. Arianna hesitated. "¡­I¡¯ll explain later," she whispered. "Just¡­ talk to them. We need to keep everyone calm." Cassis sighed but nodded. He listened carefully¡ªthere were monsters outside the house, but none near their room. For now, they were safe. So, he turned back to the others. "Alright," he said, voice low but firm. "Let¡¯s do this properly. I¡¯m Cassis Walker, from the Walker¡¯s down the street, and this is Arianna Sloane. I think I know you, Benny, and you, Mr Morrison. Mom said that you had gotten married." So, Benny¡ªBenjamin¡ªMorrison. He hadn¡¯t thought of that name in years. Benny had been about six years older than him, already in high school when Cassis was still a kid. They¡¯d never really been friends¡ªjust two boys from the same neighbourhood who had occasionally crossed paths. And Mr. Morrison¡­ he remembered him too. A strict but fair man, he had become even quieter when his wife died 15 years ago. He used to tend his garden religiously, always scolding kids for kicking their balls into his garden accidentally and then walking over his precious lawn to get it back. Cassis had never interacted much with him, but he remembered his presence. The woman relaxed a little, realizing that they weren¡¯t stranger, but still looked at her baby worriedly. Benjamin gave a tired nod, his face drawn with exhaustion and lingering shock. "My wife¡¯s name is Elena. She¡¯s holding our little Jessica." Then he looked down at the little boy still sniffling against him. "This is our son, Noah." ¡°You know my dad, Joseph.¡± Next, Cassis asked why they were outside. They must have known it was dangerous. This time Elena explained: ¡°Yeah, we were sitting in the living room, the curtains drawn. Yesterday we tried to call the police or the firefighters, but it didn¡¯t get through. Guess it¡¯s like this everywhere. We got a few weapons together ¨C my hammer, Benny¡¯s hunting knife, and Noah¡¯s baseball bat that Joseph took. We were just sitting there because we had no idea what to do and hoped the military would somehow come soon. But then Jessica started crying. She had been uncomfortable since yesterday but just a few sobs here and there, nothing too loud. This time, however, I couldn¡¯t calm her down. And her cries were so loud.¡± Cassis thought back to the other future. After the first wave many parents reported that their babies under two years had been uncomfortable since the appearance of the gates. On the second day most of them had cried too loudly. Which is why they had died. Either the monsters were too fast and got to them quicker than the parents could or in some heartbreaking cases parents had to choose leaving behind their babies in order to save themselves and their other children. As one would guess most families with babies didn¡¯t survive. Only some lucky few got away ¨C they either had great soundproofing at home or there were enough adults around to fight off the monsters, though that caused heavy casualties among the adults. Back then it was theorized that babies and infants under two were sensitive to the pressure of the ambient mana. They bodies were too small and fragile to withstand the mana so they felt a little bit of pain constantly. After 24 hours of the first wave the mana concentration rose again and so they would just cry out of pain. After the end of the first wave the pressure eased up again, making the surviving babies only uncomfortable. By the time of the next wave they would be older and better equipped to handle mana. New babies born into this world would be sturdier anyway, having been surrounded by mana while in their mothers¡¯ wombs. He shifted his focus back to Elena, who continued explaining. ¡°Benny and Joseph grabbed our weapons and not too soon. Suddenly hyenas crashed through the living room windows. Luckily the got tangled in the curtains and then blocked the other hyenas from coming in. I grabbed the children and we started turning towards the stairs but one of the hyenas was faster. It got free of the curtain and cut off our way to the stairs. We didn¡¯t have another choice and ran outside. But the hyenas heard us and soon surrounded us in the garden. I put down the children and we stood around them in a circle to fend off the attack.¡± Elena was solemn but worried for Jessica who looked to still be in pain, even though she was quiet. Elena stroked the baby¡¯s tiny head as if trying to soothe away the pain and the memory of what had happened. ¡°¡­We would have died if you hadn¡¯t come,¡± she said softly. Her voice was thick with emotion, but she met Cassis'' eyes. "Thank you. Truly." Arianna, who had been listening quietly from the bed, spoke. "You''re welcome." Her voice was calm, but exhaustion was clear in her expression. Cassis glanced at her, noting the paleness of her face, the way her shoulders sagged slightly. She was still feeling the effects of mana depletion. At least she wasn¡¯t fighting against unconsciousness anymore. But despite that, she had saved them all. He let out a quiet breath, turning back to the others. Cassis then told the others that he and Arianna had come from his house, where his family was still safe. Benny, frowning, asked why they had left a secure shelter. Cassis met his gaze, his expression unreadable, and answered smoothly, lying through his teeth. "Maybe you noticed that Arianna and I are pretty strong¡ªstronger than you guys, who should have just awakened during that fight." Benny nodded hesitantly, prompting Cassis to continue. "We have a patron who granted us strength. Her name is Sapphire, a deity who took interest in us after witnessing our first battle and subsequent awakening. She offered to become our patron, which meant we would gain more power and grow stronger at a faster rate." At the mention of a deity, the others exchanged uncertain glances, but no one interrupted. "Sapphire also shared glimpses of the future with us," Cassis went on, his voice steady. "She has restrictions¡ªshe couldn¡¯t tell us everything¡ªbut she gave us some critical warnings. Yesterday, we fought our way to my parents¡¯ house. There, we had one last battle in which my dad was gravely injured. He lost an arm." Gasps rippled through the group. Benny paled. Mr. Morrison bowed his head, looking shaken. Everyone in the neighborhood knew Cassis¡¯ father¡ªhe was a respected man. "He would have died from blood loss if Sapphire hadn¡¯t intervened. She gifted Arianna a healing potion, and she used it to save my dad¡¯s life. But that was when we learned the truth." Cassis¡¯ tone turned grim. "The apocalypse has begun. The first monster wave will end after forty-eight hours, but mana has already saturated this world. It will mutate plants and animals. We will never be truly safe again. And then there will be dungeons¡ªlike something straight out of a video game. They will appear, and we will have to clear them if we want to survive." Silence settled over the room, the weight of his words pressing down on everyone. Elena clutched baby Jessica a little tighter. Benny clenched his fists. "Sapphire told us to get strong," Cassis finished. "That this was only the first of many waves. And she said that once we reached level five, we could choose a class¡ªcleric, mage, ranger, or warrior. That was why we left the house. To get stronger for what was coming." Arianna, still pale from mana depletion, nodded slightly in agreement. Benny exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "So, you¡¯re saying we need to level up too." Cassis met his eyes. "If you want to survive, then yes." Chapter 11: Choices and survival – Arianna Chapter 11: Choices and survival ¨C Arianna Arianna lay in the bed, still dizzy and nauseous from mana depletion. Despite the exhaustion weighing her down, her mind couldn¡¯t help but wander. Cassis was a born liar. Why hadn¡¯t he used that skill in the other future? Things could have gone so much better if he had. Before she could dwell on it further, a system message appeared before her eyes: [Congratulations! You are now known to ten mortals as a benevolent deity. + 50 FP] The notification made her think back to another system message she had received during the battle:
Congratulations! You have reached Level 5. You may now choose from the following basic classes: A new message had followed immediately:
You have chosen: Cleric. New Skills and Spells available: Stamina upgraded to Basic.
She had expected that to be the end of it, but another message had appeared: [Two of your avatars have reached Level 5. Do you wish to appoint one of them as Chaotic Priest or Priestess?] Arianna had hesitated. She had no idea what the title entailed, but she picked herself anyway. With no way to communicate with Cassis during the battle and telling him, maybe her becoming a Chaotic Priestess could help them. After all, she was the reason they were in that mess to begin with. Cassis, having seen too much and knowing just how hopeless the situation was, would never have rushed in to help the family. But she hadn¡¯t been able to ignore them. She had acted before he could stop her. If they survived, she¡¯d have to apologize. She had confirmed the selection, appointing herself as the Chaotic Priestess. A new system window had appeared: [Your patron has designated you as their Chaotic Priestess.] Quickly, she had skimmed through the title description: [Given to the most faithful avatars of a chaotic deity. Bonus: Once a day, you may grant one blessing and one curse in the name of your deity that will be active for 4 hours.] Her breath had caught. There was a list of possible blessings and curses in her head. And then it hit her. Silence! She could use it on the baby to keep it quiet. That would give them a chance. As soon as she had closed the system windows, time had resumed. Immediately, she had cast Silence on the baby, then Courage on Cassis, and finally, Heal on everyone. But with every heal she had cast, her body had weakened further. Her wounds had vanished, but the sickness inside her had grown worse. Fighting had become nearly impossible, but thanks to Cassis and the others¡ªwho had found their courage because of him¡ªshe hadn¡¯t needed to fight as much. When the last monster had fallen, relief had flooded her. But then she had heard the distant cries of more approaching. Cassis had shouted for them to get inside the house, scooping up the children before leading them all to the master bedroom upstairs. Once they were safe, she had lost control, violently throwing up. She hadn¡¯t been able to tell which way was up or down anymore. It had been unbearable. Then the headache had set in. But warm hands had steadied her, rubbing slow, soothing circles on her back. A soft, masculine voice had murmured encouragements, grounding her through the worst of it. After a while, Cassis had helped her onto the bed, explaining that she was suffering from mana depletion. He had spoken with the others while she rested, allowing her a moment to recover. Bit by bit, she had started to feel better. Not good, but better. Her mana must have been regenerating slowly. She would need more time to fully recover, but for now, she was getting better. At least they had accomplished their goal. They had reached Level 5 during the first wave. That was something. Despite the tense atmosphere, Arianna felt annoyed that she received system messages in the same way as both an Awakener and a deity. It made things confusing. She fiddled with her settings again and changed the colour of the system window for her patron self to green. This way, she could easily differentiate whether the message was meant for her as an Awakener or as a deity. While she had been resting, Cassis had told the Morrisons everything. Now, they sat together on the other side of the bed, looking utterly shocked as they whispered among themselves, trying to process his words. Arianna knew she needed to talk to Cassis immediately. Raising a shaky hand, she caught his arm. He hadn¡¯t moved far from her during his explanation. ¡°We need to discuss our next move,¡± she told him, her voice still hoarse. Cassis turned to her immediately, his sharp gaze scanning her face for any signs of lingering pain. Seeing that she was at least stable, he gave her a short nod. Arianna took a deep breath and explained everything¡ªhow she had chosen the cleric class because it would benefit the group the most and how she had received a system message offering to appoint a Chaotic Priest or Priestess. She told him that she had chosen herself, hoping it would help them survive. When she mentioned her ability to curse and bless others, Cassis looked surprised and immediately checked his status. His eyes flickered in recognition as he found the blessing listed under his status window: [Blessing: Courage] (Raises morale and damage of the blessed one. Special: As a blessed avatar, your blessing spills over in a reduced state to those around you. Time left: 03:37:19) Cassis looked back at her with something close to admiration. ¡°That was a smart move. And using silence on baby Jessica¡­ that saved us.¡± Arianna exhaled in relief, but the moment of peace didn¡¯t last long. Cassis¡¯ brows furrowed. ¡°But what happens when the curse wears off?¡± he asked, his voice low. His gaze flickered toward Elena, who was still clutching her baby. Jessica¡¯s tiny face was scrunched up, her mouth open in an endless silent cry. Cassis¡¯ jaw tightened. ¡°The monsters will come flocking back the moment the silence lifts.¡± Arianna followed his gaze and felt a sinking dread settle in her stomach. She wasn¡¯t in any shape to fight more monsters¡ªnot even in four hours when the curse would wear off. Regret twisted in her chest. She looked back at Cassis, guilt flashing across her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said earnestly. ¡°For putting you in danger. I know you wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this if not for me.¡± Cassis met her eyes for a long moment before sighing. ¡°We¡¯ll deal with it,¡± he said, his voice quieter than before. But he sounded resigned. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Arianna was sure she had made the right decision to jump into that fight¡ªbut a right decision didn¡¯t equal a smart decision, or even a decision that would keep them alive. It was too late now. They needed a plan. Arianna forced herself to focus, pushing aside her exhaustion. She glanced at her accumulated CP. Before today, she had 20 CP. Now, the number had surged to 290 CP¡ª120 CP for killing sentient beings, 50 CP for saving mortals 100 CP for healing injured mortals. Just as she took that in, her CP suddenly jumped by 30 more. [+30 CP (for saving a group of mortals using a blessing)] Then, another surge. [+30 CP (for saving a group of mortals using a curse)] Arianna stiffened. Her inner scale¡ªher alignment¡ªwavered violently, tipping back and forth between good and evil. The shifting force made her stomach churn. She clenched her fists as a wave of nausea hit her again, but after a moment, the scale finally settled¡ªleaning slightly toward the evil side. She exhaled shakily, taking stock of her situation. She now had 350 CP in total. Without wasting any time, she opened the Patron Shop and searched for something¡ªanything¡ªthat could help them. She needed an item that could silence, dampen sound, or at least create a sound barrier. She tried every search combination she could think of. A list of options appeared:
  1. [Veil of the Silent Phantom] ¨C A cape that completely erases presence and sound. 1,200 CP.
  2. [Cursed Bracelet: Silence] ¨C A bracelet imbued with a silence curse. 540 CP.
  3. [Sound Barrier Rune] ¨C Creates a temporary soundproof barrier. 470 CP.
Arianna¡¯s heart sank. Everything was too expensive. Next, she looked at her Fame Points. She now had 70 FP. But she couldn¡¯t find any use for them. There was no extra shop for them and in the Patron Shop she couldn¡¯t change the currency to FP. Just what were they good for? She bit her lip and turned to Cassis. ¡°I found some options, but I don¡¯t have enough CP for any of them.¡± She explained the items and their prices, frustration seeping into her voice. Cassis furrowed his brows, deep in thought. After a long pause, he finally looked at her and spoke. ¡°I have an idea,¡± he said. Arianna blinked, waiting for him to continue. His expression was unreadable, but there was something different in his demeanour. Cassis laid out his plan with a calm, steady voice. First, they would escort the Morrisons back to his family¡¯s house. Once there, they would awaken his father¡ªincreasing their fighting strength, and also awaken Violet and Noah¡ªincreasing their survivability. If it had been possible, he would have wanted to awaken Jessica. As an F-rank awakener the mana wouldn¡¯t bother her much which meant she would stop crying. But others had tried that in the other future and failed. No child younger than two had ever been awakened. After the first part of the plan was finished, they would barricade themselves inside his mother¡¯s office. Cassis described the room. It was once part of the living room before being converted into a windowless office for Cassis¡¯ mother, who had worked from home. The walls were sturdy, and there was only one entrance¡ªa perfect defensive position. ¡°When the monsters come¡ªand they will, the moment Jessica starts crying again¡ªwe¡¯ll be ready,¡± Cassis continued. ¡°With more awakened fighters, we can take turns defending the doorway while keeping the children safe inside. You can take breaks, meditate on your mana and heal when necessary. Maybe some of the others will also get to level five increasing our fighting strength more.¡± Arianna stared at him in disbelief. ¡°Are you suggesting...?¡± Cassis stared back; his gaze unwavering but questioning. Arianna couldn¡¯t believe it. Was this really her Cassis¡ªthe man who always tried to handle everything alone? The Cassis who never relied on others? For the first time, he was suggesting a plan that involved working together. Before Cassis and Arianna shared their plan with the Morrisons, Cassis turned to her and said, "We should party up, now that we both have basic classes." Arianna blinked, caught off guard. In the past, when she had been his patron, he hadn¡¯t liked being in a party. Solitary, self-reliant Cassis had always preferred to carry the weight of survival alone. He must have noticed her surprise because he quickly added, "The party system splits experience evenly. Since you''re a support class and probably won¡¯t damage most monsters, this is especially important for you." His voice held the faintest hint of awkwardness, and despite the tension thick in the air, Arianna found herself smiling. A notification appeared before her. [Cassis invites you to join a party. Accept?] She accepted without hesitation. "Can you hear me?" Cassis¡¯ voice resonated directly in her mind, clear yet strangely intimate. "Yes, party chat works." She responded without speaking, testing the link between them. Arianna slowly pushed herself upright, relieved to find that the dizziness had finally begun to fade. She still wouldn¡¯t be able to cast a heal but at least she could move. Across from her, Cassis glanced at his timer¡ª3 hours, 14 minutes, and 49 seconds remaining before Jessica¡¯s silencing curse lifted. They were running out of time. When they finally explained the plan to the Morrisons, the reaction was immediate. Benny and Elena recoiled, shaking their heads. "It¡¯s too dangerous!" Benny argued, his voice tight with anxiety. "You¡¯re asking us to go outside with a baby and a child, with monsters still lurking? There has to be another way!" "We can¡¯t risk it," Elena agreed, clutching Jessica protectively against her chest. "We barely survived out there the first time!" Cassis and Arianna remained silent as the couple vented their fear and frustration. Arianna understood their desperation¡ªshe felt it, too. But there was no alternative. It was Joseph who spoke next, his voice quiet yet resolute. "We don¡¯t have a choice," he murmured, his gaze lingering on Noah and the now-silent baby. His hands, wrinkled with age but still steady, curled into fists. "If we want to save them, we have to move. The monsters will come when Jess starts crying loudly again. We can¡¯t stay trapped here, waiting for the next attack." His words settled heavily over the room. For a long moment, the only sound was the faint, distant cries of monsters prowling the streets. Benny exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face, while Elena bit her lip, her expression torn. Then, at last, they relented. Their survival depended on it. The group moved with quiet urgency, preparing for the treacherous journey ahead. Benny and Elena slipped on denim jackets, their makeshift armour against the dangers outside. Joseph layered another thick sweater over his clothes, his movements steady despite the tension in the air. With careful effort, they pushed aside the heavy closet blocking the door, revealing the path to the rest of the house. They moved in silence, first sneaking into Noah¡¯s room to dress him in thicker clothes, hoping they would protect him from the monsters. Then, they crept into Jessica¡¯s nursery, grabbing a bag filled with diapers and wipes¡ªbecause, as dire as their situation was, no one wanted to deal with a crying, uncomfortable and smelly baby on top of everything else. When it was time to go, they fell into formation. Benny carried Noah, his arms tense but secure. Elena cradled Jessica; her grip protective. Cassis swung the bag over his shoulders, wearing it like a makeshift backpack. Arianna clenched her baseball bat, her knuckles white as she mentally prepared herself. She could only hope that her bludgeoning skill would prove useful in a real fight. Cassis moved first. He slipped down the stairs like a shadow, his steps silent. The rest of them waited in tense anticipation, barely daring to breathe. Then¡ªtwo muffled thuds. Arianna¡¯s pulse spiked, but before panic could set in, she heard his voice in her head through party chat: "All clear. Come down." They descended quickly; their feet light but their nerves frayed. At the bottom, two lifeless kobolds lay sprawled across the floor, their bodies still. Cassis had already wiped the blood from his weapon, his expression unreadable. He makes it look easy, Arianna thought grimly. Cassis turned to Joseph. "We can¡¯t leave through the front. Do you have a backdoor? A window we can use?" Joseph nodded and gestured for them to follow. He led them through the dim house, past overturned furniture and signs of a hurried escape, until they reached the winter garden. He pointed to a door leading to the backyard. "This opens to the back of the garden," Joseph whispered. Cassis didn¡¯t hesitate. He slipped out first, his movements silent and precise. Joseph followed close behind, his posture tense but determined. Elena cradled Jessica tightly against her chest, shielding the baby as best she could, while Benny carried Noah, his grip firm despite the slight tremor in his hands. Arianna was the last to exit, gripping her bat with white-knuckled fingers. She and Cassis, the group''s strongest fighters, naturally took the front and rear positions, watching for any threats that might emerge from the darkened streets. The world outside was eerily quiet¡ªtoo quiet. A cold breeze rippled through the bloody neighbourhood, rustling broken glass and discarded debris. Growls and guttural snarls echoed between the houses, a grim reminder that the monsters still lurked nearby. Moving cautiously, they crept down the street, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. Every step felt like an eternity, each rustling leaf and snapping twig sending jolts of anxiety through them. Twice, they were forced to take cover¡ªonce behind a rickety old garden shed, its wooden walls barely enough to shield them from the monstrous forms stalking down the road. Another time, they dove into the overgrown bushes of a neighbour¡¯s garden, hearts pounding as a group of kobolds passed within feet of their hiding place, sniffing the air for prey. By the time they reached their destination¡ªwhich was only two streets away¡ªArianna¡¯s muscles were taut with tension. What had felt like hours had only been thirty minutes, but the weight of every second had been suffocating. They reached the kitchen window, their breaths shallow. Inside, Liam spotted them immediately, his eyes widening in relief and surprise. He scrambled to unlock the window, pushing it open as they rushed forward. One by one, they climbed inside, slipping into the relative safety of the house. For now, at least, they had made it. Chapter 12: Even the smallest advantage – Cassis Chapter 12: Even the smallest advantage ¨C Cassis They slipped inside Cassis¡¯ parents'' house, shutting the window behind them with practiced efficiency. The moment the latch clicked into place, Cassis released a breath he hadn¡¯t realized he was holding. They had made it. The tense silence of the house broke as footsteps approached. The rest of his family and their guests¡ªNadine and Violet¡ªentered the kitchen, their faces a mix of relief and concern. The greetings were brief but heartfelt. His father, Marcus, stepped forward as Joseph Morrison approached, and the two men exchanged a firm, almost wordless hug¡ªthe kind shared between men who had seen too much, fought too hard, and lost more than they cared to admit. When they pulled away, Joseph¡¯s gaze fell to Marcus¡¯ missing arm, his expression darkening. ¡°Damn, Marcus,¡± Joseph muttered, shaking his head. ¡°Glad you¡¯re still with us.¡± His father merely shrugged, but Cassis didn¡¯t miss the shadow lurking behind his eyes. He had seen it before¡ªa quiet, creeping despair in those who had lost a part of themselves, both literally and figuratively. He knew what came next if his father remained in that mindset. Marcus had always been a protector, shouldering the responsibility for those weaker than himself. If Cassis didn¡¯t get him back on his feet, back into the fight, he would lose him in a different way¡ªone even harder to recover from. Turning to his family, Cassis wasted no time. They needed to move quickly. ¡°Listen,¡± he began, his voice steady despite the weight of the situation. ¡°Baby Jessica is under a silencing spell.¡± He carefully avoided the word ¡®curse,¡¯ knowing how negatively people reacted to it. ¡°It will break in about two hours and forty-eight minutes.¡± He tapped his timer, making sure they all understood the urgency. ¡°Before that happens, we need to awaken my father, Violet, and Noah. We need every fighter we can get, dad, and awakening will make the children harder to kill. They¡¯ll need less food, less sleep, and they¡¯ll have a better chance of surviving.¡± His mother¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. Benny, Joseph, and Elena shared uncertain glances but didn¡¯t argue. There wasn¡¯t time for hesitation. ¡°Mom,¡± he continued, looking directly at her, ¡°you, Liam, Joseph, and Elena should start stocking your office. Grab as much food and water as possible. Move the desk and shelves out¡ªwe¡¯ll need the space. If you can, bring down a couple of mattresses so the kids and we can rest in between fighting. The room is small, but it¡¯s the safest place for us when the monsters come.¡± Arianna, standing beside him, remained quiet but alert, nodding along as he laid out their plan. Then, Nadine stepped forward, locking eyes with Cassis in a way that made it clear she wasn¡¯t backing down. ¡°If my daughter awakens, I will be with her.¡± Her voice was calm but firm, a mother¡¯s unwavering resolve. Cassis held her gaze for a moment before nodding. He understood that kind of determination. She would protect Violet no matter what. ¡°Benny,¡± Cassis continued, turning toward him, ¡°you¡¯ll come with Arianna and me. We¡¯ll awaken Noah first.¡± Benny stiffened slightly, but he nodded. He understood the importance of what they were about to do. His father had remained silent throughout the discussion, standing with quiet authority. Now, he reached to his side, gripping the handle of his hammer with his remaining hand. He didn¡¯t speak, but he didn¡¯t need to. He was ready. Cassis took one last look at everyone in the room. They were exhausted, frightened, and worn thin by the last twenty-four hours. But they were still here. They still had a chance. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± They went back out through the kitchen window, barely having had a moment to rest. Cassis was tired, but his concern lay more with Arianna. She wasn¡¯t used to this kind of strain¡ªnot physically, not mentally. "Are you okay?" he asked her through the party chat. Arianna¡¯s response was immediate, her inner voice steady despite her exhaustion. "Yeah, I¡¯m tired, but we can do this. It¡¯s safer with me here. I can¡¯t use heal yet, but soon. Still, in case something goes terribly wrong, I can buy a small healing potion." Cassis met her eyes, searching for any sign that she was just putting up a front. But there was only determination there. He nodded. They had no choice but to push forward. They crept outside again, sticking to the shadows. "Be careful out there," he warned her. "I don¡¯t know if I can protect you with a group this vulnerable." Arianna rolled her eyes and shot back, "I¡¯m the second strongest fighter in this group. I think I can protect myself quite well." He knew that, of course, but it didn¡¯t make it any easier. Every time she got hurt, something twisted inside him¡ªbecause she shouldn¡¯t be in this world. And that was his fault. Out loud, he addressed the group. "Arianna and I will take Dad first. We¡¯ll look for a group of monsters, and if we manage to awaken him and beat up two more, we¡¯ll come back with them. If you hear anything other than us coming towards you, run back into the house. It¡¯s not far, and the window is open." The two children, Violet and Noah, were eerily quiet. Violet, only eight years old, clutched her mother¡¯s kitchen knife in both hands, her small fingers white-knuckled around the handle. She was old enough to understand¡ªunderstand that she would have to kill something, because the monsters out there wanted to kill her first. Noah, just five, looked confused but didn¡¯t make a sound. He was too scared to cry, still traumatized by the monster attack just an hour ago. He hadn¡¯t made a sound on the way to his parents¡¯ house either. But they couldn¡¯t worry about that now, first he had to survive physically before they could take care of his poor soul. Cassis, Arianna, and his father moved around the house, keeping low and using the parked cars as cover. They crouched behind his parents¡¯ car, scanning the street for movement. Cassis listened intently. The growls and shuffling movements of monsters echoed in the silence of the apocalypse. He gestured for them to wait and crept forward, his body low and movements precise. His heightened senses from awakening made it easier to pick up on their surroundings. There¡ªjust around the corner. Three goblins. They were hunched over something, their sharp claws digging into flesh. It wasn¡¯t a human, thankfully¡ªjust a dead dog. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Disgust curled in his stomach, but he pushed it aside. This was the opportunity they needed. Three monsters, just enough for his father¡¯s and the children¡¯s awakenings. He turned back, motioning for Arianna and Marcus to follow. When they were in position, he told them. "We go on my mark. Dad, you take the one in the middle. Take it out fast. Arianna you take the left one. Don¡¯t kill it but beat is within an inch of its life. Can you do it?" Instead of answering Arianna readied her bat. His father shifted his grip on his hammer. The goblins had their backs turned to them and were still eating the dog. Together the three of them lunged. Cassis used the poker to stab through the right goblin¡¯s arm in a single, fluid motion. The creature let go of its knife but started shrieking. He punched it in the face and followed up with a kick to its head. It crumbled unconscious but alive. Arianna bludgeoned the left one first in the throat to keep it from screaming and then all over its body, staying away from its head in order to avoid killing it. It still managed to scream a bit, but it was muffled. His father had rushed together with them. He had a lot more problems with his goblin as he wasn¡¯t awakened yet and only had one arm. The gobbling swung its knife at him and caught him shallowly in the stomach. But his father didn¡¯t even flinch. He surges closer to the goblin and hit it in the head with his hammer again and again. Cassis caught the goblin¡¯s knife before it could plunge it into his father¡¯s side. Then the goblin¡¯s skull caved in with a sickening crunch, its body hitting the ground in a heap. His father inhaled sharply, his body stiffening as a faint glow surrounded him. He had awakened. He was shortly disoriented by the status window but Cassis couldn¡¯t give him much time. ¡°Arianna, Dad take that goblin and carry it back to the children.¡± He took his own goblin and did the same. They hurried back toward the house, moving swiftly and carefully with the goblins unconscious. The moment they came around the corner of the house into the backyard the small group they had left behind tensed with quiet, heavy anticipation. The two goblins didn¡¯t even twitch, they were out cold. They put the goblins down in front of the two children. Cassis turned to Nadine, who was kneeling beside her daughter. "Violet, are you ready?" Violet was trembling, her knuckles white around the kitchen knife she had been gripping for dear life. She bit her lip, eyes darting between the goblin and her mother. Nadine didn¡¯t hesitate. She took Violet¡¯s small hands in her own and wrapped them around the knife¡¯s hilt, her voice steady but soft. "I¡¯m here, sweetheart. Just push down." A sob escaped from Violet¡¯s lips, but she obeyed. With her mother guiding her, she plunged the blade into the goblin¡¯s chest. The creature spasmed once, then went still. A brilliant glow enveloped Violet¡¯s small frame. She gasped, her breath hitching. The glow faded, and Violet stared down at herself, tears streaking her cheeks. But she wasn¡¯t the only one stunned. "What...?" Nadine murmured, eyes unfocused as she stared at something only she could see. Cassis furrowed his brow. "What¡¯s wrong?" Nadine shook her head, then looked at him. "I got a system message. It says my dependent awakened to Rank F, but because she¡¯s under the age of 14, I have the authority to see and manage her status, skills, and even class." Cassis barely had time to process that before his attention shifted to Noah. The boy hadn¡¯t moved, hadn¡¯t reacted at all. He still stared blankly, unblinking, as if his mind were elsewhere. Benny¡¯s hands curled into fists. His worry for his son was palpable. "Noah," Benny called gently, kneeling in front of him. But there was no response. Cassis saw the moment Benny made his decision. With a deep, shuddering breath, he took the knife Cassis¡¯ mother had given him and carefully placed it in Noah¡¯s tiny hand. The child didn¡¯t grip it. His fingers remained limp. Tears welled in Benny¡¯s eyes as he wrapped Noah¡¯s hand around the handle himself. "I¡¯m so sorry, son," he whispered. Then, with his own hand guiding Noah¡¯s, he plunged the blade into the second goblin¡¯s heart. The same glow enveloped Noah, and Benny also got a message "Same here," Benny said, his voice oddly strained. Cassis glanced at him. "You got the same message?" Benny, still holding onto Noah, nodded slowly. "Yeah. I have full access to his status, skills, and class management." Cassis opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, a deep, guttural roar echoed from somewhere nearby. The air shifted instantly; tension thick enough to choke on. Cassis snapped to attention. "We better get inside the house before continuing this discussion." No one argued. Without wasting another second, Nadine and Benny grabbed their respective child and moved swiftly towards the kitchen window. The group climbed inside one after the other, closing the window and then pushing down the blinders on the inside. The house was quiet¡ªat least for now. The other group had done well preparing the office. The small space was now lined with two mattresses on the floor, all non-essential furniture cleared out and repurposed as barricades. The living room was now an obstacle course, its layout designed to slow any invading monsters. Cassis nodded approvingly. "Good work." His mother wasted no time. The moment she laid eyes on his father, she crossed the room and wrapped her arms around him, murmuring something only the two of them could hear. Cassis didn''t pry, but he kept a careful eye on his father. Marcus Walker had always been a strong man, a protector. Losing his arm had been a devastating blow, not just physically but mentally. Yet here he was, standing tall again, hammer in hand. He has to keep fighting. And tonight, they all would. From now until tomorrow afternoon, when the monsters would finally be drawn back into their home dungeons, when the mana concentration in the air would decrease and, finally, Jessica¡¯s crying would stop because she wouldn¡¯t be in pain anymore. Elena and Benny were locked in a silent embrace, clutching Noah between them, their tears dampening his hair. Joseph held Jessica in his arms, rocking her gently. She still wasn¡¯t making a sound under the lingering silence curse. Liam approached Cassis and Arianna. "We did everything we could," he said quietly, gesturing toward the office. Inside, bottles of water, packets of jerky, and other easy-to-eat provisions had been neatly arranged. Cassis checked the timer. [02:03:58] They had a little over two hours before the silence spell on Jessica lifted. Two hours before every monster in the area would hear her cries again. Not enough time to rest. But enough time to prepare. He turned to the group. "Everyone, gather around. We don¡¯t have much time, but I¡¯ll explain how to meditate to find your elemental affinity." There was a ripple of confusion and curiosity, but no one argued somehow already used to Cassis taking charge. They all settled onto the mattresses or leaned against the office walls, giving him their full attention. "If we¡¯re lucky," Cassis continued, "some of you might unlock your affinity before the timer runs out. If not, at least you¡¯ll know how to do it whenever you take a break between fights since we will take turns fighting at the door. Sleep probably won¡¯t be an option, but meditating will help restore your energy." It was a half-truth. Meditation could help with exhaustion, but more importantly, awakening an elemental affinity would make them a little stronger. They wouldn¡¯t get a skill with ther element yet ¨C that would only happen at level 5 and depend on their basic class ¨C but they would also raise their mana saturation percentage which would strengthen their bodies and minds. And they needed every advantage they could get. Violet and Noah, still reeling from their awakenings, sat close to their respective guardians. Violet was gripping her mother¡¯s sleeve tightly, while Noah remained quiet, his wide eyes darting between the adults as if he didn¡¯t fully understand what was happening. At least he wasn¡¯t catatonic anymore. Awakening had helped with that, too. Elena frowned. "Cassis, how do you know about this?" Cassis barely hesitated. He had prepared for this question. "Sapphire told me." It was his go-to answer now, whenever he needed to explain knowledge that should have been beyond him. Sapphire¡ªhis and Arianna¡¯s divine patron, their guiding beneficent deity. It was vague enough that people wouldn¡¯t question too deeply. Elena exhaled and nodded, accepting the explanation. Arianna shot him a look but didn¡¯t say anything. Through the party chat, she simply said: "It feels weird to be the answer for everything. And just why do people believe it? You¡¯re a very convincing liar." He smirked slightly before refocusing on the task at hand. "Alright. Close your eyes. Breathe. I¡¯ll guide you through the process." With time running out, they needed to get stronger. Because soon, the real battle would begin. Chapter 13: A long fight – Arianna Chapter 13: A long fight ¨C Arianna Arianna settled onto the mattress in Danielle¡¯s office, her fingers absently tightening around the fabric of her pants as she tried to calm her nerves. Around her, the others shifted into position¡ªJoseph cradling Jessica in his arms, Violet curled up against Nadine, and Noah nestled between his parents. The room was quiet except for their soft, steady breathing and the occasional rustling of fabric as someone adjusted their position. Liam, Danielle, and Marcus leaned against the wall, meditating there as they didn¡¯t have enough space. Cassis¡¯s voice was calm and steady as he guided them through the meditation process. "It¡¯s actually quite simple, though the experience differs slightly for everyone. But for most, this method works." Arianna let out a slow breath, closing her eyes. "First, close your eyes. Concentrate on your heartbeat. Listen to it¡ªfeel the rhythm of life within you. Breathe slowly, in and out, and let your breathing synchronize with your pulse." Arianna followed his instructions, inhaling deeply and exhaling just as slowly. The sounds of the room faded into the background as she homed in on the steady thump-thump of her heart. "Second," Cassis continued, "turn your awareness inward. Feel the changes in your body from your awakening. There is strength coursing through your blood, through your very being. It may feel subtle now but follow it. Trace its path. See where it leads you." The words washed over her, guiding her deeper into herself. She could feel something¡ªan unfamiliar warmth humming beneath her skin, an energy flowing through her veins like a quiet current. It wasn¡¯t just her pulse anymore. It was more than that. It was¡­ power. Arianna¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as she followed the sensation, tracing its flow. It wasn¡¯t erratic or chaotic; it had a steady rhythm, pulsing in time with her heartbeat. "Now," Cassis instructed, "try to see it. Not with your physical eyes, but with your inner eye. Focus. What colour is it?" Arianna focused harder, willing her mind to grasp onto something¡ªonto anything. A flicker. A faint shimmer in the darkness. Her heart leapt. There it is¡ª Then it was gone. She frowned, frustration creeping in. She tried again. For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw it¡ªa glimmer, a thread of something just beyond her reach. But every time she tried to hold onto it, it slipped away like water between her fingers. Across the room, the others sat in silence, immersed in their own struggles. Minutes passed. Finally, Cassis called an end to the exercise. Arianna opened her eyes, blinking against the dim light. Judging by the shifting movements and quiet sighs around her, no one else had succeeded either. Cassis, however, looked completely at ease. "Don¡¯t feel discouraged," he said, glancing around the room. "The first time is always difficult. When Sapphire told me about meditation, I had serious trouble too. It took a lot of practice before I got it right and found my elemental ability: fire." Arianna studied his face. She knew the truth. He had learned to meditate in the other future¡ªthe one that no longer existed. When she¡¯d first met him, months from now he hadn¡¯t discovered his elemental affinity yet. But he had worked so hard, she had seen it through her screen. That¡¯s why he had already mastered it. She wasn¡¯t jealous, but she was disappointed in herself. I need to do better. I will do better. He doesn¡¯t have to do this all alone again. Cassis stood, rolling his shoulders. "We only have ten minutes left on the timer," he announced. "It¡¯s time to get into position." The room shifted into motion. The fighters stepped forward while the others prepared to hunker down in the small office. Cassis took his place directly in front of the door, his stance strong and unshaken. He gestured for the others to fall in beside him. "Mom, Liam, Benny¡ªyou¡¯re with me. We¡¯ll take the first shift. The rest of you, stay back, rest up. When we start getting tired, we¡¯ll swap out." Arianna nodded, knowing her role. She wouldn¡¯t be on the front line¡ªnot yet. She had to stay alert, ready to heal the fighters if they got injured. Thanks to the meditation, she felt her reserves replenished. She could cast two, maybe three more heals before exhaustion set in again. It wasn¡¯t much, but it could make the difference between life and death. Arianna exhaled and opened her Patron Shop. Time around her stopped. The dimly lit office, the tense figures preparing for battle¡ªall of it froze as if the world itself had been put on pause. She glanced around the interface, scrolling past countless items¡ªsome too expensive, some useless, others tempting but impractical. Her eyes locked onto the Basic Swords first. Sturdy, reliable, and affordable at 50 CP each. She bought four. Next, she found Defensive Rune Rings¡ªsimple silver bands inscribed with faint, glowing sigils. They weren¡¯t strong, but they offered an extra layer of protection¡ªit would make them a little sturdier. That could mean everything in a fight like this. 30 CP per ring. She bought five. Her CP balance dropped down to 0 CP again, but she didn¡¯t hesitate. As soon as she exited the shop, time resumed. She took a deep breath, then spoke loudly, making sure everyone could hear: "Gifts from Sapphire." This really was the best way to explain some things. The room went silent for a moment. Then, Cassis turned toward her as she held up the weapons and rings. She stepped forward and handed out the swords and rings¡ªone of each to Cassis, Liam, Benny, and Danielle. They could swap the equipment when someone else took their place fighting. The remaining ring she gave to Joseph¡ªso that Jessica could wear it. ¡°The monsters will be after her. And she is by far the most vulnerable person in this room. So, it makes the most sense.¡± Joseph, Elena and Benny had tears in their eyes and accepted. The room filled with murmurs of thanks to Sapphire, some quiet, some fervent. [+100 FP (for receiving sincere prayers of gratefulness from a group of mortals)] [+100 CP (for helping mortals escape from certain death)] Arianna read the green message and felt some hope come back to her. Even the system acknowledged that they now had a chance to survive. ¡°The system just told me we could survive this.¡± Sure, that was maybe more optimistic than the system had said but she was an optimistic person. Cassis looked back at her and gave a small smile. Then the timer reached zero and a piercing wail echoed through the house. Jessica was crying again. The sound was just as loud, just as relentless. Elena¡¯s face twisted with worry. "She hasn¡¯t stopped since this started¡­ What if¡ªwhat if this damages her voice?" Arianna answerd: ¡°First we have to survive this. After that I will ask Sapphire how to heal it if she really damaged it.¡± Elena looked gratefully at her. Then¡ª CRASH. The house shuddered. A deep, resonating bang followed. Cassis¡¯s eyes narrowed. "That was the front door." A pause. Then¡ªmore noises. Screeching. Snarling. The pounding of heavy bodies slamming into walls. The foundation seemed to groan under the assault. Fists, claws, weapons¡ªeverything was being thrown at the house from outside and inside. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. But the walls held. Then¡ªmovement at the only door into this room. A shadow. Then another. Then a flood. Monsters. Cassis moved first, his new sword cutting cleanly through the first creature that entered. The monster fell, blood spraying across the floor¡ª But another took its place. The others at the door braced themselves. Liam swung wide, knocking back a goblin. Benny barely dodged a clawed strike before plunging his blade into the attacking beast¡¯s throat. Danielle parried, blocking a jagged spear before countering with a quick stab. Arianna stood back, clutching her baseball bat, ready to move if someone fell. The monsters kept coming. Jessica¡¯s cries never stopped. Arianna took a shaky breath, gripping her bat tighter. It was going to be a long night. The fight went on. A relentless, brutal onslaught of monsters, their bodies piling up at the entrance, their blood staining the floor. Benny, panting, tapped out first. Elena took his place. Danielle held on for a little longer, but exhaustion caught up to her, and Marcus stepped in. Liam was still going strong, each strike steady, each move calculated. And Cassis¡ªCassis was like a stone in a raging stream. Unmovable. Determined. The cuts and bruises accumulated on all of them, but nothing serious. Not yet. Then¡ª A minotaur appeared at the door. A hulking beast, twice the size of any goblin, a head taller than a human, with thick muscles and a log-sized spear clutched in its hands. E-Rank. She could feel his power. A heartbeat later, the minotaur struck. Liam barely had time to react before the spear plunged into his stomach. His breath left him in a strangled gasp, and he staggered backward, eyes wide in shock. Cassis moved instantly. He lunged in front of the minotaur, forcing it back with a brutal counterstrike. Joseph rushed forward, yanking Liam away, the spear still lodged in his body. "I¡¯ll take his place!" Joseph shouted as he shoved Liam toward the back, taking his spot at the door. Danielle and Arianna were at Liam¡¯s side in an instant. Danielle¡¯s hands trembled, tears brimming in her eyes. Arianna swallowed the panic rising in her throat. " Help me get the spear out! I can¡¯t heal him with that still inside him." Danielle didn¡¯t hesitate. With a deep breath, she gripped the spear and pulled. Liam screamed. Arianna immediately pressed her hands against the wound, focusing all her mana into a Heal. The wound began to close, but too slowly. Liam¡¯s breathing was ragged, and his skin turned dangerously pale. He had lost too much blood. He would survive¡ªbut he wouldn''t be fighting again tonight. His body went limp, unconscious from the pain. Danielle and Arianna dragged him to the mattress. Danielle clutched him in a desperate hug, silent tears falling onto his face. Arianna barely had time to process before she turned back to the fight. Cassis was still fighting the minotaur. It was strong. Too strong. Arianna¡¯s mind flashed back to the orc from before¡ªalso E-Rank¡ªand how it had taken all of them together to take it down. But Cassis was stronger now. He summoned fire to his blade. His Elemental Blade skill. The minotaur bellowed in pain¡ªthe flames searing its thick hide far worse than steel alone ever could. But there were still other monsters. Marcus, still fighting, was struggling with only one arm. A kobold nearly got past his defences. He barely managed to kill it, but he was breathing hard, his body swaying. "Dad, tap out!" Cassis ordered. Marcus hesitated, but Nadine had already stepped forward to take his place. Still, the minotaur remained. It was weakened but still dangerous. Then¡ª It roared and charged straight for Cassis. He didn¡¯t move. Instead, he braced himself, shifting his weight¡ªhis sword held steady. The minotaur impaled itself on his blade. The steel sank deep, piercing through the monster¡¯s chest. But it was too close. Its jaws snapped shut¡ªCassis managed to turn aside so it didn¡¯t bite his head off, only into his shoulder. Arianna¡¯s breath caught in her throat. Cassis¡¯s body jerked as teeth tore into him, but he didn''t let go of his sword. With his free hand, he gripped the minotaur¡¯s head, keeping it trapped against him. His voice was steady, but strained. "Kill it now. I can¡¯t hold on for long." Before anyone else could react Arianna moved. She swung her bat over Cassis¡¯s shoulder, her Bludgeoning Skill activating. Once. Twice. Again. Again. The sound of cracking bone. The minotaur went limp. Cassis shoved it off, its corpse collapsing at his feet. Arianna felt her stomach turn. His shoulder was ravaged. Blood poured from the jagged wounds, torn muscle exposed. And yet¡ª He didn¡¯t even flinch. "Switch!" he called. Marcus immediately turned back and stepped into his place. Then, Cassis grabbed Arianna¡¯s wrist and pulled her further back into the room. His grip was strong¡ªtoo strong for someone so injured. His voice was calm. "Do you have another heal in you?" Arianna didn''t answer. She just healed him. The gaping wounds knit together, the bleeding slowed¡ªbut her hands were shaking. "Great work," Cassis said. That was it. No pain. No weakness. Just those two words. Arianna¡¯s chest tightened. Her fingers curled into fists. She didn¡¯t know if she was angry or sad, but it hurt to see him like this. Shrugging off injuries like they meant nothing. Like he meant nothing. She had seen worse injuries on him before in the future and she had cried and worried for him. But it had still been seen through a screen. It wasn¡¯t the same. It hadn¡¯t been so real before. But for Cassis it had always been real. Arianna acted before she could think. She stepped forward and hugged him. Tightly. "Don¡¯t get hurt, idiot." Cassis froze. For a moment, his whole body went stiff¡ªlike he didn¡¯t know what to do. Then, slowly, he relaxed and awkwardly put his hands around her, just lightly, like he was afraid of holding on too tight to her. His voice was quiet, softer than she¡¯d ever heard it. "I can¡¯t promise that." Arianna squeezed him tighter. For just a second, it felt like the battle wasn¡¯t happening. Just a second. Then, behind them¡ª A new shriek. Another wave of monsters. The fight wasn¡¯t over yet. Not even close. Arianna let go of Cassis, heat rushing to her face as embarrassment crept in. She quickly avoided his gaze, pretending to be more focused on the others. Cassis, for his part, acted as if nothing had happened. He turned back to the group of resting fighters. "Are you close to reaching level five?" They nodded, their expressions determined despite exhaustion weighing them down. Cassis let out a small breath of relief. More people with classes would make this fight easier. They could handle F-rank monsters fine, but E-ranks were a different story. "The minotaur and the orc were on the weaker side of rank E," Cassis told her quietly. Arianna shuddered. The thought of even stronger monsters made her stomach churn. She pushed it aside. No use thinking about that now. Cassis rested for only a short moment before swapping back in. Elena was exhausted. Her swings had slowed, and her stance was sloppy. She needed to step back. She didn''t argue when Cassis took his place at the door. Elena staggered back toward Benny and the children, who were huddled in the furthest corner from the fight. Violet hugged Noah tightly with one arm, while Noah cradled baby Jessica in his small arms. Arianna¡¯s gaze caught on Violet¡¯s hand. She was still gripping the kitchen knife she had used to kill the goblin for her awakening. Her tiny fingers clutched the blade desperately, white-knuckled. Her eyes¡ªwide and unblinking¡ªwere glued to her mother, Nadine, fighting at the door. Arianna swallowed, a pang of sorrow hitting her. Such a strong little girl. Violet who was just eight years old herself had automatically taken on the role of the younger children''s protector. She shouldn¡¯t have to be. None of them should have to be. Anger boiled in her chest. Why did the children have to go through this? Why did they have to be strong just to survive? Their lives before¡ªthey weren¡¯t perfect, but they were peaceful. She forced the thoughts away. Now wasn¡¯t the time. Turning back to the fight, she did a quick assessment. She had one more Heal left. That was it. She also looked at her CP. Some more should have come in. She acknowledged inside her head that she had killed the minotaur to save the whole group. [+ 20 CP (for healing an injured mortal)] [+ 20 CP (for healing an injured mortal)] [+ 40 CP (for killing a sentient being)] [+ 100 CP (for saving a group of mortals)] Her inner scale shook and came to rest with the virtuous side beeing heavier. Now she had 180 CP. She could buy three small healing potions with that. Relieve flooded her. But she didn¡¯t want to only use healing potions, she needed to be able to heal better. Liam was still out because her healing couldn¡¯t replenish his blood and it almost hadn¡¯t been strong enough to heal his injury fully. But she knew that if she upgraded her heal spell, she would one day be able to give Marcus his arm back. If she wanted to achieve that and keep going, she needed to become stronger. The only way to do that now was to meditate. She moved toward Danielle, who was clutching Liam¡¯s limp hand. "I need to meditate," Arianna murmured. "Otherwise, I won¡¯t be able to heal anymore. Can you watch the fight and shake me if I¡¯m needed?" Danielle hesitated¡ªbut for the first time since Liam¡¯s injury, she looked away from her son. She nodded. "I¡¯ll watch." Arianna let out a slow breath. Good. Danielle hadn''t seen Cassis''s wound. If she had, she''d probably be just as shaken as Arianna. Settling herself, Arianna closed her eyes. She shut out the world. The crashes. The roars. The shrieks. The sound of steel cutting flesh. The endless, agonizing cries of baby Jessica. It was so hard to ignore it all. But she had to. She had to find her mana. She had to be able to heal. Arianna sat cross-legged again, her eyes closed, struggling to steady her breath. Frustration gnawed at her as she failed, once again, to glimpse the colour of her elemental affinity. She could feel the energy coursing through her, pulsing in time with her heartbeat, yet the moment she tried to focus, it slipped away like water through her fingers. Her hand clenched around the sapphire pendant at her neck, seeking comfort in its cool, familiar weight. But as her fingers tightened around the gemstone, it grew warm against her palm, pulsing with an energy that was not her own. A gentle current of power flowed into her, weaving seamlessly with the strength already within her. The pressure built, growing heavier, until she felt as though she might be crushed beneath it. Sweat beaded at her brow, but she refused to let go. Then, suddenly, clarity. For the first time, she saw them¡ªtiny, glistening motes of mana swirling within her, crystalline and unmistakably blue. [You have discovered your elemental affinity: Water.] [Spell "Elemental Barrier" has evolved into "Water Barrier."] Arianna''s eyes snapped open as she gasped for air. Heart still pounding, she hastily pulled up her status page, scanning the new description of her spell: Water Barrier (Creates a protective barrier of water with a five-meter radius around a designated point) There were no further details, no explanation of how to use it beyond the bare minimum. Just like with Heal, she would have to figure it out through trial and error. As her breathing slowed, she took a moment to glance at her level¡ª7. Her brow furrowed. If she was already this high, that meant Cassis must have reached level 8 or was very close. Just how many monsters had they slain while she meditated? Arianna lifted her gaze to the battle. Cassis still stood at the forefront, blade flashing as he cut down yet another beast. Danielle had taken her place beside him at some point, swapping in for her husband. To Arianna¡¯s left, Marcus now sat, ready to shake her awake if needed. Nadine rested near Violet, the little girl curled up beside her mother. Benny had rejoined the fight in her place, swinging his weapon with weary determination. Scrapes and bruises marred nearly everyone¡¯s skin¡ªeveryone except her. It was her role to heal, to stand ready, but simply watching as they endured injury after injury was growing unbearable. At least her meditation had yielded results. She could let out five or six more heals. But only because of her necklace. Her fingers still curled around the pendant. What exactly are you? she wondered. Why do you hold this kind of power? Where did you come from? Why did you come to me? Before she could chase those thoughts further, a sound cut through her swirling questions. A wet, guttural crunch. A gulp. A tearing noise. Arianna¡¯s breath hitched. It wasn¡¯t until she saw it with her own eyes¡ªthe limp corpse of a hyena-like monster being dragged backward by a clawed hand¡ªthat the realization slammed into her. The monsters were eating their dead. She had wondered how the monster corpses hadn¡¯t already formed a barrier in front of their fighters. This explained it. Then she saw it. Cassis was also watching the corpse being dragged away and for a split second there was fear on his face. He immediately schooled his expression into grim determination. But Arianna had seen it and dread settled inside her. What would an experienced warrior like Cassis be afraid of? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked him through the party chat. It took a while for him to answer. Chapter 14: Choices – Cassis Chapter 14: Choices ¨C Cassis Cassis moved like a machine, his sword rising and falling with practiced ease. Each strike cut through flesh, each step was precise, each motion honed by experience¡ªexperience he shouldn¡¯t have. His body was here in the present, but his mind fought battles he had already lived through. His past-future self had repeated these movements too many times to count, and now, they guided him like muscle memory. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw it. A clawed hand shot out from the darkness beyond the door, latching onto the limp body of a fallen monster. The corpse was dragged swiftly out of sight. His heart stuttered. No. He kept fighting, but his grip tightened around his sword. He focused, scanning the dimly lit battlefield beyond the threshold of the house. A few moments later, it happened again. The same clawed hand, another body vanishing into the shadows. A cold dread curled in his stomach. It couldn¡¯t be¡ª Could it? His mind raced through possibilities, searching for another explanation. But deep down, he already knew. It was exactly what he feared. A Glutton. His breath came faster despite his training. He had never fought one personally, but their reputation was burned into his mind. Not just his¡ªanyone who had lived long enough in his past life had heard the horror stories. Monsters with only one skill: Gluttony. The concept was simple. The more they ate, the stronger they became. It didn¡¯t matter what they consumed¡ªflesh, bones, magic, even inanimate objects¡ªas long as there was any mana remaining in their food they would absorb it. Their growth rate was terrifying. The first confirmed case had been discovered by a squad much like his own¡ªa team defending a temporary safe zone against an overwhelming flood of monsters. At first, the Glutton had been insignificant, too weak to be a threat. It stayed on the edges, ignored in the chaos. But it ate. And ate. And kept eating. Hours passed, and then, suddenly, it evolved. The defenders barely noticed it at first, too busy holding the line. But the monster didn¡¯t stop. It kept consuming, growing stronger with every bite. By the time the squad realized what was happening, it had already reached a higher rank. They tried to stop it, but the monsters attacking them wouldn¡¯t let up. The Glutton continued to feed. By the time the night was over, it had reached a level that should have been impossible. The only reason they managed to kill it was because the ambient mana concentration hadn¡¯t been high enough to allow further evolution. Out of fifty people, only three survived. Since then, any sign of a Glutton was met with immediate, merciless extermination. Cassis'' hands were slick with sweat despite the cool night air. He couldn''t let this happen. Not here. Not now. But what could he do? More monsters were still trying to get into their small room. He couldn¡¯t leave the front line, the others would be overwhelmed. And even if he left, how would he get through the monster horde? They were blocking the only exit. And yet¡ªif he didn¡¯t do anything ¡­ The thought made his stomach turn. A voice cut into his spiraling thoughts. "What''s wrong?" Arianna¡¯s voice rang through the party chat, laced with concern. Cassis hesitated for a fraction of a second. Then, jaw tightening, he responded. "We have a problem." Arianna¡¯s response was immediate. "What kind of problem?" Cassis slashed through a goblin, its body crumpling before being yanked back into the darkness. He clenched his jaw. "I think there''s a Glutton here." He briefly explained what a Glutton was. He hadn¡¯t fought one before so she wouldn¡¯t know. She was mostly with him during his fights, not during the downtime. There was a pause. Then, Arianna¡¯s voice sharpened. "You''re sure?" "Not completely," he admitted, "but I¡¯ve seen bodies disappearing. Something is taking them, and I can hear¡­ chewing. It fits. If I¡¯m right, we have a limited window before it becomes a real threat." She cursed under her breath. "We need time to think in peace." That was easier said than done. The fight had been relentless, with no real chance to regroup. But before he could voice that thought, Arianna continued, her tone shifting. "I figured out my elemental affinity." That caught his attention. "Already?" "Water," she confirmed. "And I got a new skill¡ªWater Barrier." Cassis blinked, momentarily distracted from the looming threat of the Glutton. "That''s fast. Even with an explanation, most people take weeks, if not longer, to figure it out. You must be some kind of a genius." Arianna made a strangled sound, clearly flustered. "No! I¡ªIt wasn¡¯t me. It was the necklace." Cassis frowned. "The necklace?" "Yeah. When I was meditating, I got frustrated, so I grabbed it. Then it got warm¡ªlike, really warm¡ªand suddenly, I could feel something¡­ entering me. A power, similar to my own, but stronger. It helped me see the colour because there was just so much of it." As Cassis listened to Arianna explain how she had already awakened her elemental affinity, a strange feeling settled in his chest. Water. She had figured it out so quickly. Even with the help of that strange necklace, it was still impressive. He thought back to his own struggle. In his past life, it had taken him so much longer to find his affinity. Days of trial and error. He had meditated for hours at a time, forcing himself to focus, to reach for something that had always seemed just out of his grasp. There had been no one to guide him, no explanations, no shortcuts. Just sheer determination and frustration, battling against his own limits. But this time¡­ this time, it had been effortless. He had felt it the moment he explained meditation to the others. Fire had surged within him as if it had never left, as if it had been waiting for him to call upon it. When he had reached out, it had responded instantly, as natural as breathing. And then he had cursed himself for not ¡°discovering¡± it earlier. He had been afraid that he would fail again like in the past and so hadn¡¯t done it the night before thinking it a waste of time. It would have made the fight in the Morrisons¡¯ garden a lot easier. And now, as he stood here, blade still warm from the fire he had summoned against the minotaur and other strong monsters, he could feel it again¡ªthe power coursing through his veins. Strong. Fierce. Alive. A faint smirk tugged at his lips. He had missed this for the last day. He had felt weak. Even though this was technically the first time his body got to know it, it felt like reuniting with an old friend. The heat, the energy¡ªit was his once more. Cassis shook his head slightly, refocusing on the present. He wasn¡¯t jealous of Arianna¡¯s quick awakening. No, if anything, it reassured him. She had proven herself sharp and adaptable during the past day. The necklace was a mystery, but they could work on that later. For now all that mattered was, that it was helping them. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. And in the end, it didn¡¯t matter how fast or slow they had found their affinities. What mattered was how they used them now. "We¡¯ll need to take a look at that later," he said, filing it away in his mind. "But right now, we have more pressing matters." There was a beat of silence. Then, Arianna spoke hesitantly. "So¡­ what do we do about the Glutton?" Cassis exhaled slowly, considering their options. The others were exhausted. No one was in any condition to go chasing after a potentially evolving monster, especially while they were still being swarmed. But there was a silver lining. "The ambient mana level outside of dungeons is low right now," he explained. "That means F- and E-rank monsters are the strongest we¡¯ll see for now. The Glutton might evolve, but it won¡¯t get past E-rank. We still have time before it becomes unstoppable." "So we focus on recovering first?" "Exactly. If we keep fighting like this, we¡¯ll break before the Glutton even becomes a problem. We need a short break¡ªa moment to think." "Then let me try my Water Barrier," Arianna said. "If it works, we can stop fighting for a little while." Relief coursed through Cassis. "Do it." Arianna stepped forward, lifting a hand. He saw a ripple in the air around her, the familiar pull of mana gathering. Then, a shimmering blue dome expanded outward, covering the doorway and a small portion of the space beyond it. The next wave of monsters crashed into the barrier¡ªand stopped. The barrier held. For the first time in hours, the relentless assault came to a pause. Cassis let out a slow breath. "Good job, Arianna." Now, they had time to plan. The sudden appearance of the shimmering blue dome caught everyone off guard. The fighters tensed, gripping their weapons, but Arianna quickly spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s my new spell¡ªWater Barrier,¡± she explained, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. ¡°I found my elemental affinity and can now cast this protective barrier with the water element. I don¡¯t know exactly how long it will hold, but I can feel its strength. I¡¯ll know when it weakens or if it¡¯s about to break.¡± A collective wave of relief passed through the group. With the barrier in place, they finally had a moment to breathe. Everyone sank to the floor, stretching sore muscles and letting the tension in their shoulders ease. Cassis scanned the group, noting the small injuries they had sustained. None were serious, and thanks to their awakened bodies, they were already beginning to heal. His mother and Benny had seemed different during the fight¡ªmore sure of themselves, faster, stronger. They must have awakened. Still, he chose to ask. Danielle¡¯s tired face brightened with pride. ¡°I chose Warrior,¡± she said, her voice carrying the confidence of someone who had long been a fighter in spirit. Benny nodded beside her. ¡°Same. It felt¡­ right.¡± Cassis acknowledged their choices with a small nod. That meant they now had three Warriors in the group, himself included. A solid foundation. Everyone else, aside from the unconscious Liam and the children, was close to reaching level 5. Cassis himself had already reached level 8, which meant Arianna had to be at least level 7. She was earning half of his experience through the party system. He briefly wondered if she had noticed yet. Deciding to address the next step, he explained, ¡°Once you reach level 5, you¡¯ll be able to party up with other Awakeners. A party shares experience, making it easier to grow stronger together. We can also communicate telepathically by thinking at each other. The party system only works for a group close together and if you are more than 500 meters away from the group you will get kicked out.¡± With that, he sent party invitations to his mother and Benny. They accepted immediately, their names appearing alongside his and Arianna¡¯s in the status screen. Now came the harder part. Cassis took a slow breath before continuing. ¡°There¡¯s something Sapphire just revealed to me. Something we need to discuss.¡± The others straightened at his tone, exhaustion momentarily forgotten. ¡°There¡¯s a monster out there¡ªone that hasn¡¯t joined the fight but is growing stronger with every corpse it devours. It has a skill called Gluttony.¡± His voice was grim as he met their gazes. ¡°And if we don¡¯t deal with it soon, it could become the biggest threat we¡¯ve faced yet.¡± Cassis¡¯s father rubbed his arm stump absently, his expression unreadable. ¡°Stronger than the orc? Stronger than that minotaur?¡± Cassis met his gaze without hesitation. ¡°Yes. The orc and minotaur were only at the beginning of E-rank. If the Glutton keeps feeding, it¡¯ll push itself as far as possible¡ªup to E-rank level 20.¡± A heavy silence settled over the group. Even exhausted, they understood the danger. Arianna broke the silence. ¡°We need more fighting power.¡± Her voice was steady, firm. ¡°Everyone here has to reach level 5. We already have three Warriors, and I¡¯m a Cleric. But that¡¯s not enough. We need mages and rangers, too.¡± Marcus spoke up next. ¡°When I reach level 5, I¡¯m going to choose Mage.¡± Cassis turned to his father, surprised. He had always been a physical man, strong and dependable. But one look at him told Cassis everything¡ªMarcus knew his limitations. With only one arm, he wasn¡¯t going to be the best warrior. Some warriors in the future had learned to fight despite missing limbs, but they had years of experience. His father had no such luxury. He had thought carefully and chosen a path that would benefit not only himself but the entire group. Cassis felt a quiet relief settle in his chest. His father wasn¡¯t going to sink into despair like so many others had. He was going to keep fighting, just in a different way. ¡°I¡¯ll be a Mage as well,¡± Elena added, nodding toward Marcus. Joseph shifted, adjusting his grip on his sword. ¡°Ranger suits me best. Went hunting the old way in my younger days.¡± Nadine smiled faintly. ¡°Me too. I already do archery in a club, so I should be able to pick it up quickly.¡± Cassis considered their group¡¯s balance. Three warriors, two mages, two rangers, and one cleric. A well-rounded team. But they were still short one fighter. His eyes landed on Liam. He needed to wake him up. He sent a private message through the party chat to Arianna. How much CP do you have? Can we afford to give Liam a healing potion so he can fight and get to level 5? A moment later, Arianna responded. I have 180 CP. My mana feels almost full again, and I have around four or five heals left, even after casting the Water Barrier spell. Cassis nodded. It made more sense to have one more fighter than one extra healing potion. Arianna pulled a healing potion from her inventory. No one looked surprised anymore, though she still spoke to explain. ¡°Sapphire sent this for Liam.¡± Danielle¡¯s eyes welled with tears. ¡°Thank you, Sapphire,¡± she whispered. Arianna carefully tilted the potion to Liam¡¯s lips. As the golden glow of healing magic surrounded him, he stirred awake, eyes blinking open in confusion. Cassis wasted no time bringing him up to speed. As soon as Liam understood, Arianna suddenly reached into her inventory again and pulled out two bows and two staffs. ¡°From Sapphire,¡± she said simply. ¡°For our future mages and rangers.¡± Cassis shot her a glance and opened the private chat again. How much did that cost? 50 CP for each basic bow and staff. So, 200 CP total. Cassis frowned slightly. And your CP now? I got 20 CP back for using a potion on Liam, Arianna replied. Then I got another 100 CP when I acknowledged that I cast the Water Barrier to give everyone a break. The system rewarded me for granting an exhausted group of mortals a respite. She paused. After buying the weapons, I have 100 CP left. Cassis exhaled, impressed. That system of hers was strange, but it was undeniably powerful. And right now, it was working in their favor. Cassis asked Liam what level he was. Liam explained he was level 4 already and that he had gotten experience for helping to kill the minotaur. Liam shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the spot where the minotaur¡¯s spear had impaled him. ¡°So¡­ getting skewered counts as helping, huh?¡± he muttered, clearly embarrassed. Cassis caught the words and clapped a reassuring hand on his shoulder. ¡°It did help. It gave me time to react and trap the minotaur so Arianna could finish it off.¡± His tone was firm¡ªno mockery, just truth. ¡°You made a difference.¡± Liam looked up at him, searching for any hint of insincerity, but found none. With a small exhale, he nodded. With that settled, they turned to planning. ¡°The first priority is getting everyone to level 5,¡± Cassis said. ¡°Joseph, Nadine, Elena, Marcus, and Liam¡ªyou all need to fight at the door. The faster you level, the stronger we¡¯ll be.¡± The five of them exchanged glances, then nodded. Determination flickered in their eyes. Nadine, Elena, Joseph and Marcus would start, and they took the basic swords.It was difficult for a normal person to aim well enough with a bow to hit monsters in a doorway that was also blocked by a line of fighter. And a staff was not as good at wounding and killing monsters as a sword, at least for the untrained. Cassis knew that once the Rangers had their class, a skill called Precision Hit would help them aim. They would also get the Critical Hit skill, helping them identify weak spot and the Elemental Arrow spell, that would still be locked for them. And the Mages would get the Bludgeon skill, like Arianna, and two spells called Magic Missile which would fire non-elemental magic at their target and Elemental Missile which would also be locked. Cassis glanced at Arianna. ¡°How long do you think your barrier will hold?¡± Arianna hesitated, then answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly, but I can feel its strength and it hasn¡¯t lost any for the last few minutes. I¡¯ll know when it weakens. Whether it breaks on its own or I dispel it, we¡¯ll have some warning.¡± He nodded. ¡°Alright. Thirty minutes. Everyone rests for thirty minutes. If the barrier breaks earlier, Arianna will warn us. After that, the fight continues.¡± A collective sigh of relief swept through the group. They had time¡ªhowever brief¡ªto breathe. Cassis watched as everyone settled in. His parents sat together on the floor, wrapped in each other¡¯s embrace. Benny and Elena sat on one of the mattresses with Noah and baby Jessica, Joseph cradling the infant gently. Nadine held Violet close on the other mattress, the girl clutching her kitchen knife protectively even in rest. Liam sat nearby, eyes distant¡ªprobably focused on his status screen, processing everything that had happened. Outside, night had fallen. The room was dimly dark only lit by a faint glow, the ambient mana around them. It would never be truly dark again now. Cassis leaned against the wall, careful not to take up any space someone else might need. He was tired¡ªexhausted, really¡ªbut exhaustion was something he had long since learned to live with. A quiet presence settled beside him. He glanced over. Arianna had taken up a spot against the wall as well, standing close but not quite touching. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The sounds of soft breathing, the occasional rustle of clothing, the faint conversations of the other people in the room filled the silence between them. Then, finally, Cassis let out a slow breath and closed his eyes for just a moment. The battle wasn¡¯t over. Not even close. But for now, they had thirty minutes. Chapter 15: Seeing hope – Arianna Chapter 15: Seeing hope ¨C Arianna Arianna leaned against the wall beside Cassis, allowing herself a rare moment of stillness. The hum of the water barrier in the background reassured her that, for now, they were safe. She exhaled slowly and turned her attention inward, pulling up her status screen for the first time in what felt like forever. Patron Status Screen Warning: As a Chaotic Deity, you must balance your actions carefully. Both intent and consequence will affect your CP. Should you become too virtuous or too evil, your CP will be reset. Her gaze lingered on the follower count, curiosity stirring within her. Had it really grown? She selected the explanation. Followers Explanation: Mortals who believe in you and acknowledge you as a being of great power. They will follow your commands if they are not counter to their morals or survival. Arianna silently counted in her head. Danielle, Marcus, Liam, Joseph, Benny, Elena¡­ and Violet? That made seven. A strange feeling settled in her chest¡ªwarm, unfamiliar. These people believed in her. Even though she was lying to them about so many things. Even though she was fumbling through this just like they were. She received CP not just for handing out weapons but for what the system had phrased as saving a group of mortals from certain death. The wording sent a shiver down her spine. It was strange to think about¡ªhow something as simple as a transaction in the patron shop had become a lifeline for those around her. Her gaze drifted to the FP stat, but no matter what she tried, she couldn¡¯t expand it for more details. Another mystery for later. Sighing, she moved on to her personal status. Pseudo-Awakener Status Screen Arianna blinked at the changes. She really had gotten stronger. Her Mana Saturation had more than doubled since she last checked, likely due to her necklace. As she closed the screen, she couldn''t help but muse over how strange the system was. When she was in the shop or choosing a class, time seemed to freeze entirely, yet now, as she simply reviewed her stats, life continued around her uninterrupted. Her fingers absentmindedly played with her sapphire necklace. Just then, a sudden image flickered through her mind¡ªa pattern, intricate and unfamiliar. Her brows furrowed. What was that? Was it important? She had no idea. But now wasn¡¯t the time to figure it out. Not when exhaustion weighed her down like lead. With a quiet sigh, she let it go for now. If they survived this, she¡¯d have plenty of time to unravel the mystery. For now, she just needed to rest. When Cassis called them back to battle, Arianna felt as if only five minutes had passed. The rest had been too brief, too fleeting. Nadine, Elena, Marcus, and Joseph took their positions before the door, weapons gripped tightly. Liam stood just behind them, ready to switch in at a moment¡¯s notice. Once everyone was prepared, Arianna took a steadying breath and reached out with her will. Dissolving the Water Barrier was easier than she expected¡ªlike pulling a thread loose from fabric. As she drew the remaining mana back into herself, a strange sensation washed over her, as if reclaiming a piece of her own essence. The moment the shimmering dome vanished, chaos erupted. The fighters surged forward, weapons meeting flesh with brutal efficiency. Cassis stood beside her, watching intently, his hands gripping the poker he had taken up again in place of the sword. The fighters at the door needed proper weapons more than he did. Arianna stole a glance at him. She knew this was difficult for him. In the past future, he hadn¡¯t been strong. He hadn¡¯t been in any position to protect others. He had struggled just to survive. But now, here he was¡ªthe strongest fighter among them. And yet, despite his strength, all he could do in this moment was watch as his family and friends risked their lives. The battle dragged on. Small injuries accumulated, fatigue setting in. Then, at last, Elena¡¯s voice rang out: ¡°Switch!¡± She handed her sword to Liam and stumbled back into the room, panting. ¡°Level five,¡± she announced before grabbing one of the staffs Arianna had provided. One after another, the others followed. Joseph called for a switch next, retreating to seize a bow. Nadine soon followed, taking up her own bow. Danielle stepped forward to replace her in the melee. Marcus was next, choosing a staff, and finally, Benny took his place in the front lines. The last to reach level five was Liam. He hesitated for only a moment before selecting Warrior. With that, their group was complete: four warriors, two mages, two rangers, and one cleric. Cassis wasted no time in inviting the newly classed fighters into the party. Now, they could share experience, their progress accelerating. The warriors¡ªCassis, Danielle, Liam, and Benny¡ªformed a solid wall at the front, holding the line against the relentless onslaught. Behind them, Joseph and Nadine let arrows fly, their skills Precision Hit and Critical Hit felling monsters with ruthless efficiency. The quivers, thankfully, replenished themselves through mana, ensuring they never truly ran out of ammunition. The mages, Marcus and Elena, unleashed volleys of Magic Missile against their foes, further thinning the enemy ranks. For the first time, they weren¡¯t just surviving. They were winning. Arianna watched as the monsters fell one after another, their numbers dwindling. She should have felt relieved. Instead, frustration clawed at her. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. She couldn¡¯t attack. She couldn¡¯t stand on the front lines. All she could do was wait for someone to get injured. It made her feel useless. Still, the tide of battle was shifting in their favour. They pushed the monsters back, regaining ground. But just as their momentum built, the mages¡¯ spells sputtered out. Their mana was depleted. One by one, they fell back into meditation. Then, the rangers ran out of arrows. Though their quivers refilled, the process took time¡ªtime they didn¡¯t have. They, too, knelt in meditation to speed the process. Without their support, the warriors bore the full brunt of the battle. The monsters, sensing the shift, surged forward, pressing them back step by step. Arianna clenched her fists, helpless to do anything but watch. Yet, through the dim light, she caught a glimpse beyond the threshold. The shadows shifted, thinning. The endless tide of creatures was no longer endless. The flood was slowing. It would soon come to an end. The battle wore on, fatigue creeping into every movement. The fighters were slowing, their reactions dulled by exhaustion. Then it happened. Danielle miscalculated a step. A monster''s claws raked across her upper leg, leaving a deep, jagged wound. She cried out, her leg giving way beneath her as she collapsed onto the blood-soaked floor. Cassis reacted instantly, stepping in front of her and driving his weapon into the attacking creature before it could strike again. Arianna was already moving. She dropped to her knees beside Danielle, pressing a glowing hand against the wound. Divine warmth flooded the injury, sealing the torn flesh in seconds. Danielle stared at her leg, shock still evident in her wide eyes. Arianna knew she needed a moment to recover. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and took Danielle¡¯s place in the front line. Gripping her baseball bat tightly, she swung at the nearest monster, activating Bludgeon. The impact sent the creature staggering back, and she fought side by side with Cassis, her heart pounding with adrenaline. Then, at last, relief came. From behind them, arrows whistled through the air. The rangers had regained their ammunition, and one by one, their shots found their marks. Moments later, the mages rejoined the fray, unleashing waves of Magic Missile. The monsters'' numbers had dwindled, and now, with renewed strength, they fought with everything they had. Hope surged through them. Arianna could see it now¡ªthere weren¡¯t many left. The end was near. And then, with one final strike, Liam drove his sword through the last monster at the door. The group stood there, breathless, their bodies trembling from exertion. It didn¡¯t feel real. They had survived. They had endured the monster flood. Then a new sound reached them. Jessica¡¯s wails filled the air, but beneath her cries, there was something else. A sickening, wet tearing sound. The sound of something feeding. Cassis turned his head sharply, listening. ¡°It¡¯s outside,¡± he murmured. Their eyes met. No one spoke, but they all understood. This wasn¡¯t over. They left the room, leaving behind the children. Arianna cast a quick glance at them. Without hesitation, she raised her hand, summoning another Water Barrier around the room where they were hidden. Just in case. A small notification flickered in her vision¡ª [+20 CP (for healing a mortal)] [+30 CP (for killing three sentient beings)] [+50 CP (for protecting dependents)] But there was no time to dwell on it. Steeling themselves, they stepped forward, pushing past the wreckage of what had once been their home. The living room was unrecognizable. Blood coated the floor and walls, pooling around the broken remains of monster corpses. The front door was gone, reduced to splinters. And beyond it¡ª A massive figure loomed in the moonlight. It stood easily two meters tall, hunched over a pile of corpses, feasting. Its thick green skin gleamed with sweat and fresh blood. It was bipedal, vaguely goblin-like, yet far more human in proportion. Dark, twisted horns jutted from its skull, curving upward like a crown of bone. Cassis exhaled, his voice grim. ¡°A hobgoblin.¡± He didn¡¯t look afraid. Not exactly. But there was a new tension in his stance, a wariness in his gaze. Arianna swallowed hard. Privately, she sent him a message through the private party chat. ¡°What is it?¡± His response came almost immediately. ¡°A hobgoblin. E-rank. It must have evolved from a goblin.¡± She could feel his hesitation before he continued. ¡°Goblins and their evolutions aren¡¯t the strongest monsters, but they¡¯re smart. They¡¯re one of the few creatures that use weapons and tools, even at F-rank. This will be tricky.¡± A pause. Then¡ª ¡°They¡¯re known for targeting the weakest team members first.¡± His eyes flicked to her, filled with quiet warning. ¡°They go after the healers.¡± Arianna¡¯s breath caught in her throat. Cassis tightened his grip on his weapon. His voice, though calm, was edged with something fierce. ¡°Don¡¯t heal unless absolutely necessary.¡± Arianna swallowed hard, fear coiling in her chest like a tightening vice. She knew Cassis was right¡ªhealing would make her a target. But she also knew she would have no choice. They could all feel it. The hobgoblin¡¯s presence loomed over them like a gathering storm, its sheer strength suffocating. This was nothing like the mindless creatures they had fought before. And they? They were exhausted, their bodies bruised and aching from the relentless battles of the night. Cassis, ever the leader, took command. His voice was steady, but even he couldn¡¯t mask the tension in it. "We go for a surprise attack. It hasn¡¯t noticed us yet." The group listened intently, their breaths uneven but determined. "Dad, Elena¡ªon my signal, hit it with Magic Missile. Joseph, Nadine¡ªCritical Hit and Precision Hit. Mom, Liam, Benny, and I will take over once it locks onto us. We hold the frontline and try to surround it. You all stay in the doorway for cover. Arianna, stand by for healing.¡± No one hesitated. Arianna glanced around. Fear flickered in their eyes, but no one spoke of it. They knew¡ªif this monster leveled up further, they wouldn¡¯t survive. Jessica¡¯s cries still echoed from inside, a beacon in the darkness. The night was far from over. It would come for them, once it had finished eating. They had to end this now. Cassis didn¡¯t allow them time to dwell on their fear. ¡°Go!¡± The first volley struck. Elena and Marcus¡¯s Magic Missiles shot through the night, followed by Joseph and Nadine¡¯s arrows. The projectiles struck true, but at first, the hobgoblin merely twitched in irritation, as though shooing away insects. Then, it growled. More attacks rained down, and its irritation twisted into fury. With a guttural snarl, it abandoned its meal and turned toward them, its crimson gaze locking onto its assailants. That was their cue. Cassis, Liam, Benny, and Danielle surged forward, weapons gleaming in the dim light. Their blades cut and pierced, muscles straining with every swing. Stab. Slash. The results were meager¡ªshallow cuts, scratches barely worth notice. Cassis¡¯s blade ignited. Fire Blade. The strike landed, searing through flesh. The hobgoblin roared, its first true injury tearing an enraged snarl from its lips. It retaliated with terrifying speed. Cassis barely evaded the claws that sliced through the air, but Benny wasn¡¯t as lucky. The monster¡¯s talons tore across his shoulder, ripping through muscle with merciless ease. Blood poured freely. He staggered, pain clouding his expression, and in that moment of weakness the hobgoblin struck. Its arm swung with bone-shattering force, hitting Benny like a wrecking ball. He flew backward. Arianna barely had time to react before he slammed into a tree with a sickening crack. His body crumpled, motionless. She didn¡¯t think¡ªshe ran. Dropping to her knees beside him, she scanned his wounds with frantic eyes. Blood streaked his face, a gash on his forehead leaking into his hair. Worse¡ªblood from his mouth. Internal injuries. He wouldn¡¯t last. Arianna hesitated for only a second before pressing her hands against him. Warm, golden light flared to life beneath her fingertips. And then¡ªShe felt it. A weight. A shift in the air. Something watching her. Dread crawled down her spine, cold and unforgiving. Slowly, she lifted her head. The hobgoblin was staring directly at her. Cassis saw it too. His voice cracked through the chaos. ¡°Run!¡± Panic shot through her veins. She turned, willing her body to move¡ªToo slow. The monster was faster. A blur of motion¡ªCassis was on the ground, fresh claw marks dripping crimson down his arm. And then¡ª Pain. Agonizing, suffocating pain. Arianna gasped as a massive hand clamped around her throat, yanking her from the ground as though she weighed nothing. Her feet dangled. The hobgoblin¡¯s grip tightened. She struggled letting go of her baseball bat, her fingers clawing at its massive hand, desperate for air. She tried to pry its fingers apart. For a moment, she managed to loosen its hold¡ª Then it squeezed again. Harder. Her vision blurred. She looked at its face. It was smiling. It enjoyed this. Arrows and spells kept striking its body, but they barely fazed it. It wasn¡¯t done playing with her yet. It would squeeze until she was on the brink of unconsciousness, then let go¡ªjust enough for a few breaths. Darkness crept at the edges of her vision. Danielle and Liam rushed forward, stabbing and slashing at it. Their strikes landed, but the hobgoblin barely noticed. With a single swipe, it knocked them away like insects. They landed hard. Groaned. Forced themselves up. They charged again. The monster kicked them aside without effort. Arianna¡¯s vision swam. Then¡ªpain unlike anything she had ever known. A sharp, burning agony that ripped through her stomach. The hobgoblin¡¯s free hand had punched through her. Arianna choked. Her body convulsed as fresh waves of pain radiated from the wound. Blood soaked her clothes, dripping down her legs. She tried to scream. No sound came out. The monster tilted its head, intrigued. Fascinated. It shifted its weight, readying for another strike¡ªthis time, to finish her. Then¡ªFlames. A torrent of fire engulfed its head. The hobgoblin shrieked, its grip loosening. Arianna fell. She hit the ground in a broken heap, pain consuming every inch of her being. The world blurred, her vision fading in and out. Pain. So much pain. Chapter 16: The first trial – Cassis Chapter 16: The first trial ¨C Cassis Benny flew through the air like a ragdoll, his body colliding with a tree before crumpling to the ground in a lifeless heap. Cassis barely had time to register it¡ªhe couldn¡¯t afford to. Every ounce of his focus had to remain on the fight. The only reason he could keep up with the hobgoblin at all was the decade of battle experience burned into his mind from the past/future. Even so, its strength far outstripped his own. A single mistake would mean death. He slashed forward with Fire Blade, his attack carving into the monster¡¯s flesh. It roared in pain, but before he could press his advantage, its attention shifted. Cassis hesitated just a fraction of a second, then risked glancing away. Ice shot through his veins. Arianna was kneeling beside Benny, golden light pooling around her hands as she healed him. His stomach dropped. ¡°Run!¡± he shouted, voice raw with desperation. But the warning came too late. Blinding pain erupted across his torso as the hobgoblin¡¯s claws tore into him. He barely had time to register the strike before a massive kick sent his head snapping back. Darkness swallowed him whole.
A strangled breath ripped through his throat as consciousness slammed back into him. The world was spinning, his body aching from the brutal blow. He forced himself up, swaying as his vision blurred. A few meters away, Arianna dangled in the air, her legs kicking weakly as the hobgoblin¡¯s massive hand squeezed around her throat. No. His body screamed in protest, but he pushed himself forward. He tried to run, but his legs refused to cooperate. His head was still spinning. If he didn¡¯t act fast, she would die. Fire. He had to use his fire. But not on his blade¡ªno, he needed raw, burning flames. He forced his will into the mana, shaping it with frantic desperation. He had learned this ability in the past, but his current body was unfamiliar with the strain, his mana saturation pitifully low at only 5%. Then the hobgoblin reared its free hand back¡ªand drove it straight through Arianna¡¯s stomach. She didn¡¯t even scream. She couldn¡¯t scream. Blood poured down her body in thick rivulets, staining her clothes, pooling onto the broken ground below. The monster grinned, cruel and satisfied. It raised its hand again. Rage ignited in Cassis¡¯ chest. Not her. Not her. With every ounce of strength he had left, he pushed his fire forward, unleashing it directly onto the hobgoblin¡¯s head. Flames roared to life, engulfing the creature¡¯s face. It shrieked, its grip loosening as Arianna slipped from its grasp, falling limply to the ground. The moment she hit the earth, his mother, Liam, and Benny surged forward, weapons flashing as they struck at the now-blinded monster. Magic missiles and arrows rained down from the mages and rangers, forcing the beast back. They were buying him time. He stumbled to Arianna¡¯s side and dropped to his knees. She was still alive, but barely. Her throat was mangled, crushed under the hobgoblin¡¯s strength, and her stomach wound gushed crimson. Blood bubbled at her lips as she struggled to breathe, her body trembling. She wouldn¡¯t survive much longer. Panic clawed at his chest. She couldn¡¯t heal herself in this state. There was only one chance. He grabbed her hand, squeezing gently. ¡°Arianna?¡± His voice was shaking. ¡°Arianna, look at me.¡± She didn¡¯t react. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me. Stay with me. Come on, Arianna.¡± At last, her lashes fluttered weakly, her unfocused eyes barely managing to find him. Tears streaked down her pale face. She was in agony. ¡°Cassis¡­ it hurts¡­¡± Her voice came through their private party chat, faint and trembling. ¡°I¡¯m cold¡­ it hurts so much.¡± His heart twisted violently. ¡°I know,¡± he whispered, voice raw. ¡°But listen to me, you need to open the Patron Shop. Buy a healing potion and give it to me. Can you do that?¡± She didn¡¯t respond. Her body was growing colder. ¡°Arianna, please,¡± he pleaded, voice breaking. ¡°A potion. Just a potion.¡± Her eyelids drooped. No. No, no, no. Then, suddenly, something small and cool pressed into his palm. A vial. She had done it. Even in this state, she had managed to buy the potion. He tore the cork off and pressed the glass to her lips. ¡°Drink. Come on, please, drink, Arianna!¡± A weak gulp. ¡°That¡¯s right, drink.¡± A few more swallows. Then, at last, a golden glow enveloped her. Relief crashed over him so hard he almost collapsed beside her. She was going to be okay. She had to be. Arianna¡¯s eyes flutter open, hazy with the lingering echoes of pain and shock. Her breath comes in shallow, uneven gasps, and for a moment, she seems lost¡ªdisoriented. But there¡¯s no time for recovery. The shrieks of the hobgoblin still tear through the night, mingling now with the cries of their team. Even blinded, even wounded, the creature remains terrifyingly strong. Cassis forces himself to his feet, though his body protests with every movement. His limbs feel heavy, sluggish from exhaustion and injury, but he grits his teeth and pushes forward. There is no other choice. Across the battlefield, Benny was struggling to stay upright, fresh blood streaming out of new wounds. Nadine and Joseph loosed arrows with precision, but the hobgoblin shrugged them off as if they were nothing more than pinpricks. Marcus and Elena were casting spells with frantic determination, but their magic was running dry, their hands already trembling from overuse. They were well on their way to mana depletion. His mother lunges forward, her blade flashing under the moonlight as she aims for the monster¡¯s exposed side. It barely reacts. With a feral snarl, the hobgoblin lashes out, sending her flying backward with a brutal swipe of its arm. She crashes into the ground, her sword slipping from her grasp. "Mom!" Liam shouts, his voice raw with panic. He surges forward to cover her, swinging his weapon in a desperate bid to drive the beast back. But it barely slows. Cassis doesn¡¯t hesitate. He summons fire to his blade once more, the flames flickering wildly as his own energy dwindles. He rushes into the fray, weaving past the creature¡¯s lumbering strikes, searching for an opening. Every movement is a calculated risk, every step carrying the weight of life or death. The hobgoblin roars, its fury undiminished, and Cassis knows they are running out of time. Cassis pressed forward, engaging the hobgoblin with renewed focus. The fire on its head had burned out, but the damage was done¡ªit was blinded. Even so, it moved with eerie precision, avoiding most of his strikes as if sensing them rather than seeing them. Frustration built in his chest. He was tiring. Every second that passed chipped away at his strength, while the hobgoblin, despite its wounds, remained terrifyingly strong. Time was not on their side. Then he saw it¡ªits focus posture shifting. Its attention was no longer on him. It was looking toward his mother. A sharp pang of dread coursed through him. No. Arianna couldn¡¯t have¡ªshe wouldn''t have gotten up and healed her. Not after what had happened. Not after she had nearly died. But before he could fully process it, the hobgoblin moved. It lunged toward his mother, faster than he could react. Cursing, he sprinted after it, and his worst fears solidified into reality¡ªArianna had healed her. And now, she was in danger. Again. The hobgoblin¡¯s massive hand reached for her, ready to crush the life out of her once more, but this time, she was prepared. She barely managed to swing up her baseball bat, knocking its arm just enough to deflect the blow. Then, using the force of the impact, she twisted away, throwing herself backward to gain distance. That was all the opening Cassis needed. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. He reached them in an instant, fire blade flaring to life as he drove it into the hobgoblin¡¯s side. The creature snarled in pain, but when he pulled back, his heart sank. The wound was shallow¡ªbarely more than a scratch. Its skin was too thick. Liam and Benny rushed in, reengaging, while the mages and rangers continued their sporadic attacks whenever their mana or arrows allowed. Cassis turned sharply to Arianna, fury burning in his chest. His voice came out in a furious whisper, sharp and cutting, his mother looking at him in shock¡ªshe had never seen him like this before. ¡°What were you thinking?! That thing nearly killed you, and you¡¯re healing again? Stop making yourself a target!¡± Arianna¡¯s eyes flashed with defiance, her voice firm, unwavering. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± He stared at her, incredulous. ¡°Are you crazy?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Before he could argue further, she pressed on, her voice urgent. ¡°I have a plan. Listen.¡± He nearly interrupted her. He wanted to. But then he saw it¡ªher hands, trembling. She was still afraid. And yet, she was going to fight anyway. His anger wavered. He exhaled sharply. ¡°Fine. I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°The hobgoblin targets me every time I heal. We can use that.¡± She swallowed. ¡°If I heal again, it will rush at me. If you wait near me, you can get it from behind¡ªlike just now.¡± Cassis clenched his jaw. It was a solid strategy. It was also reckless. He wanted to tell her no. He wanted to tell her they weren¡¯t using her as bait. But he knew, deep down, that she wouldn¡¯t listen. Instead, he focused on the real issue. ¡°Even if that works, my sword barely cuts through it.¡± Arianna pulled out a new weapon. She held it out to him and spoke over their private party chat. ¡°It¡¯s the best one I could find. It cost 200 CP, so it should be sharp enough.¡± Out loud, for his mother¡¯s benefit, she added, ¡°From Sapphire.¡± Cassis hesitated only for a moment before taking the weapon. Now wasn¡¯t the time to argue. He switched swords, immediately feeling the difference. This one was sharper, better balanced. If he couldn¡¯t deal real damage with this, they had no chance. He summoned his fire blade once more. And just in time. A scream tore through the battlefield¡ªLiam collapsed, clutching his leg in agony. Without hesitation, Arianna rushed to him. Cassis¡¯s mother grabbed his arm, eyes hard with determination. ¡°I¡¯ll step between her and the hobgoblin when she heals. I have a better chance of blocking it.¡± Cassis gave a single nod, then hung back, biding his time. Benny engaged the monster alone, but he was faltering, taking heavier and heavier hits. Then, the moment came¡ªArianna knelt beside Liam and pressed her hands to his wound. The hobgoblin roared and charged at her. This time, it didn¡¯t reach her. Cassis¡¯s mother intercepted the attack, meeting the monster head-on, blocking it just long enough. That was all the time he needed. Cassis sprinted forward, leaping onto the hobgoblin¡¯s back. He brought his new blade down, aiming for its chest. The sharpened edge sank deep. The hobgoblin roared in agony, trying to twist around, but newly healed Benny and Arianna threw their weight against it, holding it in place. Cassis gritted his teeth, forcing the sword in deeper, aiming for the heart. He felt resistance¡ªthen, finally, a breaking point. With the last of his mana, he flared the fire around his blade, sending a burst of flames through the creature¡¯s chest. The hobgoblin let out a terrible, ear-piercing screech. Then, at last, it crumbled. Cassis stumbled back from the hobgoblin¡¯s crumbling corpse, his chest rising and falling in ragged breaths. His body ached with exhaustion, the last strike having drained him completely. A wave of nausea rolled through him, and a sharp pain throbbed behind his eyes¡ªmana depletion. He had nothing left. Then, a system message flashed before him. [Congratulations. You have slain Hobgoblin (Rank-E). Experience gained. Level up.] He barely had time to process it before another message followed. [Congratulations. You have survived the first monster wave by eliminating all hostile creatures within a 1 km radius. Level gained. Title: Monster Bane I gained. Title: Superior Survivor gained. Title Giant Slayer gained.] Before he could react, another notification appeared¡ªthis one more shocking than anything before. [World Announcement: Cassis Walker, Arianna Sloane, Danielle Walker, Liam Walker, Marcus Walker, Benjamin Morrison, Elena Morrison, Joseph Morrison, and Nadine Bristol have overcome the first trial.] The words sent a ripple of disbelief through him, but what came next was even more staggering. [World Reward: The sapient species human have demonstrated their dedication to their dependents by protecting them through the first monster wave. As a result, all dependents worldwide under the age of 14 will now be protected from monster attacks by the System.] Cassis¡¯s breath caught. His exhaustion momentarily forgotten, his mind reeled. Children¡­ protected? His thoughts raced back to the other future¡ªthe one he had lived through, the one that had led to humanity¡¯s near-extinction. By the third wave, there had been almost no children left. None, to his knowledge, had survived it. The world had grown cold and empty, devoid of laughter, devoid of innocence. And no one had dared to bring new life into such a cruel existence. Even without the waves humanity had been doomed¡ªthere simply weren¡¯t enough of them left to rebuild. But now¡­ now the System said the children had never needed to die. That there had always been a way to protect them. Rage flickered beneath his skin at the sheer cruelty of it. The System had let them perish. It had allowed an entire generation to be wiped out. But now¡­ Now, things were different. They had changed something. For the first time since returning to the past, true optimism bloomed within him. The future could be different. No¡ªit would be different. More system messages pulled him back to the present. [Personal reward calculation based on contribution¡­] [Level gained. Level gained. Level gained. Advanced Warrior Fire Mana Circuit Pattern gained. Skills: Parry, Deflect, Counter and Spell: Flame Burst gained. Title: Warrior of Flames gained. Title: Protector of the Weak gained. Item: Experience Sharing Bracelet gained. Item: Flaming Sword gained.] [Recorded in Avaria¡¯s Hall of Fame.] Cassis exhaled sharply. The rewards were incredible. He had gained four levels, bringing him to Level 10 (+2). That meant he was at the threshold¡ªthe system would not grant him further levels unless he evolved his class. That would depend on how much his skills had developed or how much he wanted to develop them further. But that could wait. Right now, he was exhausted. He looked around at the others. They stood in stunned silence, wide-eyed, some sitting, some barely holding themselves upright. The weight of what had just happened pressed down on all of them. But the System had confirmed it¡ªevery monster in the area was dead. And the System never lied. It didn¡¯t tell you everything, but when it spoke, it spoke the truth. For the first time since the apocalypse began, they could breathe. For a long moment, they all just stood there, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on them. The battlefield was quiet now¡ªno more monstrous screeches, no more desperate clashes of steel and claw. Only the sound of ragged breathing, of exhaustion settling into their bones. Cassis blinked, finally noticing just how filthy they all were. Blood streaked every inch of them, their clothes hanging in tattered rags. The scent of sweat, dirt, and iron filled the air. They looked as though they had crawled out of hell itself. Before he could say anything, a choked sob broke the silence. Elena. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her hands to her chest, her entire body shaking. ¡°My babies¡­ my babies will be safe now.¡± Her voice wavered, breaking with emotion. ¡°Thank you. Thank you, everyone.¡± She dissolved into full-blown sobs, and Benny was there in an instant, wrapping his arms around her, both of them crashing to the ground on their knees never letting go of each other. Tears glistened in his own eyes, running down his battle-worn face. Joseph sank to the ground beside them, shoulders shaking as he let out quiet, unrestrained cries of relief. Nearby, Nadine swayed where she stood, looking as if the weight of her own exhaustion might finally drag her under. But it wasn¡¯t her own survival she was processing¡ªit was Violet¡¯s. The little girl was safe. His mother stepped forward without hesitation, pulling Nadine into a tight embrace. The two women, bound by the same fierce love for their children, clung to each other in shared relief. Nadine now had the security that her daughter would be protected for years to come and his mother must have been feeling relieved that her family was still alive. Through it all, Arianna moved without a word. She walked straight to Benny and knelt beside him, pressing her hands over his wounds. A faint glow of healing light shimmered around her fingertips, sealing the worst of his injuries. Before she could step away, Elena and Benny turned to her, their gratitude overflowing. They pulled her into their arms, holding her tightly between them. "Thank you," Elena whispered. "Thank you, Arianna. Thank you, Sapphire." Benny¡¯s voice was thick with emotion. ¡°You saved our son. You saved all of them.¡± Arianna stiffened at first, clearly unused to the affection, but after a moment, she relaxed, allowing them to hold her. Meanwhile, Cassis made his way toward his father and Liam, scanning them for injuries. They were both battered but still standing, still alive. He exhaled, a deep, unsteady breath of relief before wrapping them both in a tight embrace. He couldn''t believe it¡ªthey had survived, all of them. Cassis let them go when a gentle hand pressed against his shoulder. A familiar warmth spread through him as healing energy seeped into his wounds. He turned his head and found Arianna standing beside him, her expression focused. As soon as the magic settled, her body swayed slightly. Cassis narrowed his eyes. ¡°Did you just deplete your mana again?¡± She glared up at him. ¡°Of course. It will recover, and I¡¯ll only feel sick with a headache for a bit. When I meditate, it¡¯ll be over soon. That injury would have taken you a lot longer to heal.¡± Cassis didn¡¯t like it, he remembered how the mana depletion had weakened her only hours ago but he now knew better than to argue with her when she had determined that something needed to be done. ¡°And when I get a little mana back from dissolving the water barrier around the office, the nausea will vanish anyway,¡± she added, though her attempt at reassurance was undermined by the way she gripped his shoulder to keep herself upright. Cassis sighed. She¡¯s going to collapse at this rate. Before she could protest, he bent down and scooped her into his arms. Arianna let out a startled squeak, her wide eyes snapping up to his. ¡°Then let¡¯s go get your mana back,¡± he said matter-of-factly. ¡°I¡¯m carrying you because you¡¯d take forever to get there by yourself.¡± She opened her mouth¡ªlikely to argue¡ªbut he had already started walking. A moment later, he caught sight of the massive grins spreading across his father¡¯s and Liam¡¯s faces. He ignored them. Arianna muttered something too quiet for him to hear, but he wasn¡¯t going to give her the satisfaction of stopping to ask. He simply carried her through the ruined living room, stepping over broken furniture and scattered debris. The others followed, silent but weary, their steps slow with exhaustion. Once they reached the water barrier, Arianna lifted a trembling hand and dissolved it. Instantly, some colour returned to her cheeks, and she straightened, her strength returning as some of her mana replenished. Cassis hesitated but eventually set her down, watching to make sure she could stand on her own. She did. Barely. Meanwhile, Violet launched herself into Nadine¡¯s arms, clinging to her mother as Nadine sobbed in relief, pressing kisses to the top of her daughter¡¯s head. Benny, Elena, and Joseph rushed toward Noah, who still cradled baby Jessica in his arms. Cassis watched as the three of them hovered anxiously over the infant¡ªJessica, who was no longer crying, no longer in pain. Instead, she lay peacefully in Noah¡¯s grasp, her tiny chest rising and falling in soft, even breaths. The System¡¯s protection. She was safe. For the first time since his return, Cassis let his shoulders relax. They had made it. Chapter 17: Many gains – Arianna Chapter 17: Many gains ¨C Arianna Arianna sat cross-legged on Cassis¡¯ bed, freshly showered and wrapped in the same sweatshirt and jogging pants he had given her the night before. The scent of clean linen and a faint trace of his warmth clung to the fabric, grounding her in the present even as her thoughts drifted. The night had settled into an exhausted calm after they had checked on the children. With the immediate danger gone, they had finally split up. The Morrisons had returned to their house, needing the comfort of their own space. Nadine and Violet had done the same, though Nadine had been visibly anxious about her husband, who had been at work in the city when the apocalypse began. It was only natural for her to be afraid¡ªwho knew what had become of him? Liam, ever the steady presence, had volunteered to stay with them for the night. She had been beyond grateful, and together they had disappeared into the darkness of the neighbourhood. After that, it had been just Cassis, his parents, and her. She hadn¡¯t had a home to return to¡ªnot in this world. But no one had asked her to leave, and she hadn¡¯t wanted to. Cassis had told her to shower, handed her the clothes she now wore, and told her to wait in his room afterward. There had been no hesitation in his voice, just quiet certainty, as if it were the most natural thing in the world for her to stay. Now, alone in his childhood, she glanced around, taking in the simple, orderly room. It was strange imagining a younger version of him living in this room as a child and teenager. She had known him for over ten years, and for all of them he had been an adult. A desk against the wall, shelves filled with books, a few scattered belongings that told of a normal childhood, like a deck of cards in one of the shelves, a ¨C was that a Lego robot? - some schoolbooks and posters of football players. He had left his phone on his desk, letting it charge. It was strange¡ªelectricity and running water still worked, at least for now. But communications ¨C the phones and the internet ¨C had been severed. As if the system wanted to isolate them. Once the first wave ended for everyone tomorrow afternoon, the networks would return. She didn¡¯t know why. Was it a test? A way to break them? Or was the system merely indifferent? Her mind shifted to the messages she had received after the battle. The rewards had been substantial. [System Notification: You have slain a Hobgoblin (Rank-E). Contribution calculated. 100 CP gained.] [You have successfully defended dependents during the First Trial. 100 CP gained.] [You have completed the First Trial. 1000 CP gained.] That was a lot. Additionally, she had gotten 40 CP for healing Cassis and Benny. And after acknowledging that she had played the bait to give Cassis a chance to kill the hobgoblin the system rewarded her 30 CP. This brought her up to a staggering 1290 CP total. She had no idea what to do with this wealth. Her FP had also jumped up by 10. This made her think of the last announcement all of them had received. [Recorded in Avaria¡¯s Hall of Fame.] She had never heard of Avaria¡¯s Hall of Fame. Neither had Cassis. And that unsettled her. How was it that in all their knowledge of the future, this had never come up? Then there were her levels¡ªfour in total, bringing her to 10 (+1). She was at the threshold of class evolution, but she knew better than to rush it. Cassis would have advice. He wasn¡¯t a cleric, but his experience would be invaluable. Her other gains were just as intriguing: [Advanced Cleric Mana Circuit Pattern gained.] [Skill: Bludgeon upgraded to Basic.] [Skills: Baiting and Willpower gained.] [Title: Chaotic Healer gained.] [Title: Protector of the Weak gained.] [Title: Giant Slayer gained.] [Item: Experience Sharing Bracelet gained.] [Titles: Monster Bane I, Superior Survivor gained.] She had expected some rewards, but this... this was more than she had dared hope for. Curious, she focused on her five new titles. [Monster Bane I] Given to an awakener who has slain 100 F-rank monsters. Bonus: Your attacks against F-rank monsters are more effective, and some F-rank monsters may choose to flee instead of fight. She arched a brow. A hundred? She hadn''t been keeping count, but between the goblins, the stray beasts, and the hobgoblin, it must have added up especially if the system counted the party kills as hers, too. The bonus was useful¡ªhaving some monsters run instead of fight could save her trouble. [Protector of the Weak] Given to an awakener who has successfully completed the First Trial. Bonus: When fighting in defense of dependents or someone at least 10 levels weaker than you, your attack, defense, and mana and health regeneration rise by 10%. Now this was a title she was proud of. It aligned perfectly with what she wanted¡ªto protect those who couldn¡¯t fight for themselves. The bonus wasn¡¯t massive, but in a battle, even a small boost could mean the difference between life and death. [Superior Survivor] Given to an awakener who has finished the First Trial early. Bonus: Increased health and mana regeneration. A simple but effective bonus. Faster recovery meant she could heal or fight for longer. Then came a title that made her pause. [Giant Slayer] Given to an awakener who has killed a monster more than 20 levels higher than them. Bonus: When fighting a monster more than 20 levels higher, your attack, defense, and mana and health regeneration rise by 20%. Arianna blinked. ¡°Wait¡­ what?¡± she muttered. Twenty levels higher? That hobgoblin had really been that much stronger? She had known it was a tough opponent, but this confirmed just how close to death they had been. And then, there was the last one. [Healer of Chaos] Given to a cleric who fights as much as they heal, sending their enemies and allies into chaos. Bonus: Physical skills start from level Basic instead of level Low. Arianna stared at the description. Then she groaned. ¡°The line about sending my allies into chaos is unnecessary,¡± she mumbled sulkily. It felt like the system was reprimanding her, but the effect of the title was actually great. Mages and healers were magic types, so their spells always started at the Basic level, but their physical skills were weaker, beginning at the lowest rank¡ªaptly named Low. Meanwhile, warriors and rangers had the opposite problem, with magic starting at Low and physical abilities starting at Basic. This title¡­ changed that for her. It made her more effective in a fight. She thought back to the battle in Danielle¡¯s home office, where she had spent most of the time feeling useless, sitting back and waiting for someone to get hurt instead of fighting by Cassis¡¯ side. With this, she wouldn¡¯t be quite so helpless next time. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Even if the system was mocking her for fighting instead of playing the role of a pure healer, she was still grateful for the boost. The other titles were great too, and they would make a real difference in future battles. She stretched her legs out on Cassis¡¯ bed, her mind still buzzing with everything that had happened. But she wasn¡¯t finished yet. Next Arianna scrolled down to her newly acquired skills, her brows furrowing as she read them. [Baiting] A monster will focus solely on you. Her eye twitched. "Really?" she muttered. She knew that her actions during battle or training influenced what skills she received, but this felt like the system was outright mocking her. This was essentially a weaker version of a warrior¡¯s taunt skill¡ªbut warriors were built to take hits. She wasn¡¯t. She could already picture Cassis¡¯ face when she told him about this. That smug, knowing look, followed by some dry remark about her reckless actions during the fight. Damn it, she thought. She had drawn attention to herself by healing¡ªthe first time it was an accident. She really hadn¡¯t thought the hobgoblin would be so fast. And she had almost died for that mistake. The second time had been an experiment to see if it would still run straight for her. And it did. The third and last time had been to give Cassis a chance to kill it and she had succeeded. Maybe if she learned more defensive spells, she could actually use this skill instead of just viewing it as a death sentence. Pushing that aside, she moved on to the next skill. [Willpower] Even if injured heavily, you will not lose focus and can cast spells. Now this was a good skill. Normally, when someone was seriously wounded, they couldn¡¯t concentrate enough to cast a spell, even if it was premade by the system. A certain level of focus was always required. With this, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about that anymore. It would have made a huge difference during the last battle. She flexed her fingers and thought back to the fights that she had been in since choosing her class. She had been too reckless with her healing at first¡ªjust flooding everyone with her mana instead of controlling it. That was what had led to her mana depletion at the Morrisons¡¯ house so quickly. But as the battles went on, she had learned. Her biggest realization came right after her first mana depletion¡ªher heal spell had a range of five metres and she had at first used it from that distance during the fight in the Morrisons¡¯ garden. That had tapped her out very quickly. The next time she healed she touched the person, and the mana cost had been a lot less. So, she had discovered the first problem: the farther the distance, the more mana the heal spell consumed. Then since she had discovered her mana affinity, she had been getting better at directing her mana more efficiently. Now, she could control the amount of healing she gave. Instead of wasting energy on full-body restoration like in the beginning, she could target only the injuries that needed to be healed. That was the second problem: if she didn¡¯t actively direct her mana the system would just send so much mana into the other person to heal every last scrape leaving her with a big chunk of wasted mana. This new method of healing alone had saved her a lot of mana and kept her going. She exhaled slowly, gripping the fabric of Cassis¡¯ sweatshirt. If she hadn¡¯t been a Patron with access to the shop, she would have died in the fight against the hobgoblin. A normal cleric wouldn¡¯t have been able to heal herself in that situation ¨C with a hole through her stomach and a crushed throat. She had already given up, not able to concentrate on anything other than coldness and pain, slipping further away. But suddenly her sapphire necklace had warmed and then she had heard Cassis¡¯ voice. When Cassis¡¯ voice had broken through it reminded her that she could buy a healing potion. That single moment had saved her life. But now¡­ now things were different. She wasn¡¯t just an ordinary cleric anymore. She wouldn¡¯t be so helpless next time. But all this made her curious about something. She turned her attention inward, focusing on the ebb and flow of mana within her body and instinctively checked her mana saturation. She was startled to find it had risen to 11%. That explained a lot¡ªthe growing endurance she had shown during the battles, the ease with which she had directed her healing magic in the end. Her gaze flickered to another gain she had received: the Advanced Cleric Water Mana Circuit Pattern. It was a very long name. The moment she concentrated on it, a vision unfolded in her mind. She saw an ocean¡ªvast, endless, shimmering with energy. From above, the surface rippled with countless waves, rolling and receding in a rhythmic dance. But then, the pattern pulled her deeper, beneath the surface, where the true complexity lay. Beneath the waves, streams of mana flowed in intricate formations. Some spiraled gracefully, others wove through invisible pathways, converging and diverging in an elegant, ever-moving system. Currents merged seamlessly, redistributing energy with purpose, ensuring balance across the vast expanse. There was structure in the chaos, an underlying harmony that dictated the movement of each thread of mana. It was mesmerizing¡ªand overwhelming. The depth of it, the sheer intricacy, made her head spin. How was she supposed to replicate something so immense within herself? Arianna barely had time to process before the soft creak of a door snapped her back to reality. The vision of the ocean shattered, and she blinked rapidly, disoriented. Cassis stood in the doorway, his sharp gaze immediately locking onto her. "You okay?" he asked, stepping inside. Arianna exhaled, rubbing her temples. "Yeah¡­ Just got lost in something." His brows furrowed slightly, but he didn¡¯t press. Still, the weight of his curiosity lingered in the air. Shrugging Arianna filled Cassis in on the Advanced Cleric Mana Circuit Pattern, explaining the vision she had seen¡ªthe vast ocean of mana, the intricate streams flowing in perfect harmony beneath the surface. Cassis listened intently, nodding as he processed the information. He admitted he hadn¡¯t taken a look at his own gains yet, having spent the time helping his parents clear out the ruined furniture from the living room before finally grabbing a quick shower himself. Now, standing in front of her in a simple sweatshirt and jogging pants, with damp hair he hadn¡¯t bothered to dry, he looked almost boyish¡ªfar younger than his true age. Physically, his body was 28, but his soul carried 42 years of experience. And yet, even ten years in the future, he had looked the same except for some more scarring. The system ensured that awakeners above F-rank level 10 remained at their peak fighting condition, freezing them in time at the prime age of around 30. Older awakeners had even begun to grow younger as they leveled up¡ªshe had already noticed subtle changes in Danielle, Marcus, and Joseph. Fewer wrinkles, less gray hair, increased mobility. Right now, though, Cassis didn¡¯t look like a hardened warrior or a man who had once lived through the apocalypse. He simply looked like¡­ an ordinary young man. Oh. Arianna realized, a bit belatedly, that she had been staring at him in silence. Cassis raised an eyebrow, waiting. She quickly cleared her throat, masking her embarrassment. ¡°So¡­ what do you think about the mana circuit?¡± she asked. ¡°It¡¯s a great gain,¡± he said immediately. ¡°Building a mana circuit yourself is incredibly difficult. Having a structured pattern to follow will save you a lot of time and effort.¡± He then revealed that he had also received a pattern¡ªone tailored for warriors. Encouraged, Arianna moved on to tell him about her new titles and skills. As expected, his lips twitched in amusement when she mentioned Chaotic Healer, and he didn¡¯t even try to hide his smirk. ¡°I knew the system would call you out on your reckless fighting style,¡± he teased. Arianna huffed but let it slide. She had been expecting that reaction. However, when she mentioned her Baiting skill, his expression changed entirely. The humour drained from his face, his posture stiffening. When he spoke, his voice was quiet but firm. ¡°Don¡¯t use that skill.¡± His gaze locked onto hers, intense and unwavering. ¡°I won¡¯t allow it.¡± Arianna bristled at that. Won¡¯t allow it? He should know better than to think he could control what she did in a fight. She opened her mouth, ready to argue, but exhaustion dragged at her limbs, dulling the sharp edge of her temper. She let out a slow breath instead. ¡°I¡¯ll use it if it¡¯s necessary,¡± she said simply. Cassis exhaled, clearly displeased, but he didn¡¯t push further. They moved on. He was impressed by her other titles and skills, especially her refined control over her Heal spell. Though he had never been a magical class in the past future, he had picked up some spells from mages¡ªlike the fire spell Flame Burst he had used to blind the hobgoblin and save her. ¡°Tomorrow,¡± he said, after a moment of silence. ¡°We¡¯ll go over everything else tomorrow. You need to rest. I need to rest.¡± Arianna wanted to protest, but she was exhausted. The only problem was¡­ she had no idea where she was supposed to sleep. ¡°¡­Where should I¡ª?¡± ¡°In my bed,¡± Cassis answered before she could finish the question. ¡°I¡¯ll take Liam¡¯s.¡± Arianna blinked. ¡°Then where did the two mattresses we used in Danielle¡¯s home office come from?¡± Cassis sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°My mother hoards everything in the attic. Old furniture, appliances, you name it. Apparently, even mattresses. This time, I have to admit, it came in handy.¡± Arianna chuckled softly. Danielle Walker, apocalypse prepper by accident. With the sleeping arrangements settled, they exchanged quiet goodnights. Cassis switched off the lights, shutting the door behind him as he left. Arianna lay down in the unfamiliar bed, staring at the ceiling. The house was silent. Then, sometime later, she heard Danielle and Marcus coming up the stairs, murmuring their own goodnights to Cassis before retreating to their room. Then¡ªnothing. She turned onto her side, closing her eyes, but sleep didn¡¯t come easily. Her mind kept drifting, replaying the battles, the system notifications, the lingering warmth of mana beneath her skin. So, she focused on the ebb and flow of her own power instead, tracing the currents of water mana within her body, feeling its subtle movements¡­ Slowly, finally, she drifted off to sleep. Chapter 18: A never ending nightmare – Arianna Chapter 18: A never ending nightmare ¨C Arianna Arianna woke up in her own bed, the familiar softness of her pillow cradling her head. Blinking against the morning light streaming through her window, she felt a wave of confusion settle over her. She sat up slowly, scanning the room. Her bedroom. Her mirror reflected her disheveled form, her pajamas wrinkled from sleep. Her heart pounded as an unsettling thought took root in her mind. Was it all just a dream? Cassis, the system, the battles¡ªall of it? A sharp pang of loss struck her chest. She reached for her necklace, gripping it tightly as she tried to connect back to Cassis'' world. Please, she begged silently. But nothing happened. No warmth, no flicker of power, no shift in reality. Then, a sound¡ªsoft and distant¡ªcame from the kitchen. Arianna¡¯s breath hitched. She slipped out of bed, pushing the door open quietly as she tiptoed down the hallway. Her father stood by the coffee maker, the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. He turned at the sound of her footsteps, offering her a warm smile. ¡°Dad?¡± The word left her lips in a breathless whisper. He chuckled. ¡°Good morning, sweetheart.¡± Before she could stop herself, she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around him in a fierce hug. His warmth, his solidity¡ªit was real. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked gently, rubbing circles on her back. ¡°Did you have a nightmare?¡± A nightmare. Was it? She wasn¡¯t sure. The fighting, the injuries, the fear¡ªit had all been horrible. But she had also felt needed, had found a purpose beyond mere survival. She hadn¡¯t been alone. ¡°Get ready for school,¡± her father said, releasing her. Arianna stiffened. School? She hadn¡¯t stepped inside a classroom in almost ten years. Something felt off. Her thoughts tangled as she tried to grasp what exactly was wrong. But then her father smiled at her, and for a moment, the uncertainty faded. Then, a voice. ¡°Good morning, my loves.¡± A woman entered the kitchen, moving toward them with a soft smile. She kissed her father¡¯s cheek and then pressed a kiss to Arianna¡¯s forehead. Arianna¡¯s breath caught in her throat. Who is she? Her father hadn¡¯t been dating anyone. He never moved on after her mother¡¯s death. But the woman standing before her had warm brown hair and familiar blue eyes. ¡°Mom?¡± Arianna whispered, her voice barely audible. The woman smiled. ¡°Yes, sweetheart?¡± Her mother. The mother she had never known. The mother who had died the day she was born. Her mind reeled. She clutched her necklace, squeezing her eyes shut. Did I dream more than just Cassis¡¯ world? Did I dream an entire life? Then, warmth. A familiar heat spread from the pendant into her palm. Her eyes snapped open. The comforting image shattered. The woman standing before her was no longer soft and warm, but a shadowy figure with hollowed-out eyes. She turned to her father¡ªhis golden hair was gone, his skin ashen, his cheeks sunken. He looked just as he had when he lost his fight against cancer six years ago. Arianna¡¯s stomach twisted violently. The world around her warped, twisting into something cruel. Tears welled up in her eyes. Such a cruel dream. The shadow that was her mother stepped forward. ¡°Ari? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Arianna choked on a sob and let go of her necklace. The illusion snapped back into place. Her mother smiled warmly, her father looked healthy once more. She wanted to stay in this dream just a little longer. She stepped forward and hugged them both, clinging to the warmth that wasn¡¯t real. But then¡ªa groan of pain. She pulled back sharply. Her father clutched his stomach, blood trickling from his mouth. Arianna¡¯s breath caught in her throat as she saw what loomed behind him. A massive, green-skinned creature with curved horns. A hobgoblin. It withdrew its fist from her father¡¯s chest, slick with crimson. Just like it had done to her before. Her father crumpled, dead before he even hit the ground. ¡°No!¡± Arianna¡¯s scream tore through the air. ¡°Dad!¡± Her mother lunged at the creature with a kitchen knife. The hobgoblin swatted her away like an insect. She hit the wall with a sickening crack, blood smearing the white paint as she slid to the floor. Motionless. Arianna trembled, her entire body frozen in terror. She had defeated this monster before. But she had Cassis then. She had help. Now, she was alone. The hobgoblin''s monstrous fingers wrapped around her throat. She gasped, clawing at its grip, but it was too strong. Pain flared through her body as it drove its fist into her stomach, once, twice, three times. The world blurred. She gasped for breath, choking on the agony. Tears streamed down her face. Then¡ªdarkness. Arianna woke up with a sharp gasp, her heart hammering in her chest. Her breath came in ragged pants as she stared at the ceiling, disoriented. She didn¡¯t know where she was¡ªuntil she saw the mirror across from her bed. Her reflection showed tangled hair, wide, frantic eyes, and the familiar sight of her old pajamas. Her bedroom. She swallowed hard, trying to calm herself. It had just been a nightmare. A terrible, cruel nightmare. She exhaled shakily and pushed herself upright. The warmth against her chest caught her attention¡ªthe necklace. It was heating up again. Then she heard it. The sound of coffee being poured, the faint clinking of a spoon against ceramic. The low murmur of movement from the kitchen. No. Her stomach twisted as she slid off the bed, her feet making no sound against the floor. Slowly, she walked to the kitchen, dread creeping up her spine with every step. And there he was. Her father stood by the counter, his back turned to her as he made coffee, just like before. The scent of roasted beans filled the air. Then came another voice¡ªsoft, warm. ¡°Good morning, my loves.¡± A woman entered the kitchen, brown hair cascading over her shoulders, her blue eyes filled with warmth. She leaned in to press a kiss to her father¡¯s cheek, then turned to Arianna with the same tenderness, brushing a kiss to her forehead. Her mother. Arianna¡¯s breath hitched in her throat. She knew what was coming. Knew what this was. But for just a moment, she wanted to pretend. Pretend that it was real. The heat from her necklace pulsed insistently, demanding her attention, but she ignored it, clinging to the illusion. They spoke¡ªlight, meaningless words. A morning routine that had never existed. But the warmth against her chest became unbearable. Her fingers curled around the pendant, gripping it tightly as if she could force it to stop burning. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. And then, it all came rushing back. The system. The apocalypse. Cassis. The battle. The hobgoblin. ¡°No!¡± The word tore from her throat as she turned, eyes wide with horror, but it was too late. Her father gasped, choking on his own breath, a dark stain spreading across his shirt. Behind him, towering and monstrous, stood the hobgoblin. Its sickly green skin glistened in the kitchen light, its cruel, jagged smile stretching wide. ¡°No, no, no!¡± Arianna screamed, reaching for her father, but his body was already crumbling. ¡°Ari! Run!¡± Her mother¡¯s voice rang out as she grabbed the nearest knife and rushed the monster. It swatted her aside like an insect. Her body hit the wall with a sickening crack, leaving a bloody smear as she collapsed to the floor, lifeless. Arianna stood frozen, shaking, unable to breathe. This isn¡¯t real. This isn¡¯t real. The hobgoblin turned toward her, its grin widening. She stumbled backward, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Please¡­ this isn¡¯t real. Please¡­¡± But the creature just laughed, its massive hand closing around her throat. Her vision blurred as it lifted her off the ground, its grip tightening, crushing. Pain erupted in her stomach as it slammed its fist into her once. Twice. Three times. Darkness swallowed her whole. Arianna woke with a start, her breath shaky, her body tense. She didn¡¯t know why, but tears were already running down her cheeks. She glanced at the mirror across from her bed, her reflection trembling in the dim morning light. Her hair was messy, her face pale, her eyes rimmed red. The sight made something deep inside her ache. A lingering sorrow, heavy and suffocating. She had a nightmare. But¡­ she couldn¡¯t remember it. Wiping her face with the back of her hand, she slowly pushed herself out of bed. The floor was cool beneath her bare feet as she made her way toward the kitchen, drawn by the comforting sounds of morning. Her father stood at the counter, pouring himself a cup of coffee. He glanced up with a warm smile. ¡°Morning, sweetheart. You¡¯re up early.¡± Arianna opened her mouth to respond, but suddenly, a sharp, searing pain shot through her collarbone. She gasped, staggering, her hand instinctively flying to her necklace. It was burning hot against her skin. And then¡ª The memories hit her like a tidal wave. The hobgoblin. The blood. Her father, dying. Her mother, broken. The suffocating grip around her throat. The agony of fists slamming into her stomach. Her breath came in panicked gasps as reality snapped into place. This wasn¡¯t real. This was a dream. A nightmare meant to torment her. Not again. Determined, she whirled toward the kitchen counter and grabbed the largest knife she could find. The cold steel felt reassuring in her grip. Her father frowned. ¡°Arianna? What are you doing?¡± Before she could answer, her mother entered the kitchen, her expression shifting into concern the moment she saw Arianna¡¯s wide, frantic eyes. ¡°Ari, honey, what¡¯s wrong?¡± But there was no time. The moment stretched, unbearably silent. And then¡ª Arianna lunged. She tackled her father, shoving him out of the way just as space behind him warped, shifting, twisting. The air grew heavy. Then the hobgoblin appeared. A monstrous, grinning figure with green skin and cruel, sunken eyes. Arianna didn¡¯t hesitate. She drove the knife forward with everything she had, aiming for its chest. The blade struck flesh¡ª But barely. A shallow wound. A scratch. The hobgoblin barely flinched. No. It moved too fast. Before she could react, it struck. Her father gasped as its clawed hand tore through him, blood spilling onto the kitchen floor. He crumpled before Arianna¡¯s eyes, dead before he even hit the ground. ¡°No!¡± she screamed. Her mother rushed at the monster, but it was hopeless. The hobgoblin swatted her aside like nothing, sending her body crashing against the wall. She never moved again. Arianna froze, her breath shallow, her body trembling violently. The knife slipped from her fingers, clattering uselessly to the floor. She had failed. Again. Tears blurred her vision as she backed away, shaking her head in denial. The hobgoblin¡¯s grin widened as it reached for her, its massive hand wrapping around her throat. She couldn¡¯t even scream. The pressure was unbearable. Her windpipe crushed beneath its strength, her lungs screaming for air. Pain exploded in her stomach as the monster¡¯s fist slammed into her, once, twice, three times¡ª Darkness swallowed her whole. Arianna woke up with a gasp. Her body trembled, drenched in sweat. Her breath came in short, panicked bursts as she clutched the blanket over her chest. The mirror across from her bed reflected her pale face, wide eyes filled with an emotion she couldn¡¯t quite name¡ªfear? Grief? Hopelessness? She didn¡¯t know. She only knew that something was wrong. The morning light filtering through the window felt too bright, too artificial. The air in her room was still, suffocatingly so. Her mind screamed at her. Something terrible was about to happen. But then¡ª She heard the soft clink of a coffee mug being set down in the kitchen. Her heart lurched. Slowly, as if moving through water, she pushed herself out of bed, feet hitting the floor with a dull thud. She walked forward. Through the door. Down the hallway. Into the kitchen. Her father stood by the counter, pouring himself a cup of coffee. Her mother entered seconds later, smiling warmly. ¡°Good morning, sweetheart.¡± The pain hit her collarbone, sharp and burning.Her necklace heated up, warning her¡ª But it was too late. The air shifted. A terrible presence filled the room.Arianna barely had time to turn before the hobgoblin appeared behind her father. Its massive fist tore through his chest. Blood splattered onto the kitchen floor. Her mother screamed, rushing forward with a knife that she had no hope of using properly. The hobgoblin swatted her aside like a rag doll. She hit the wall, slid down, and never moved again. Arianna couldn¡¯t breathe. She was frozen in place, shaking violently as tears streamed down her face. ¡°No,¡± she whispered. ¡°No, no, no.¡± The hobgoblin grinned. It grabbed her by the throat. Squeezed. Pain flared as her windpipe crushed beneath its grip. She couldn¡¯t beg. Couldn¡¯t scream. The first punch to her stomach made her vision blur. The second made her body go limp. The third¡ª Darkness. Arianna woke up with a gasp. Her body trembled, drenched in sweat. The mirror reflected her pale face, wide eyes filled with¡ª Fear. Grief. Hopelessness. She didn¡¯t know how, but she had lived this before. She had lived this before. She heard the clink of a coffee mug. The quiet murmur of her father¡¯s voice. Her mother¡¯s soft footsteps entering the kitchen. The pain in her collarbone, the burning heat of her necklace¡ª And then the blood. The monster. Their deaths. Her own suffocating end. Arianna woke up. Again. And again. And again. Each time, she tried something new. She ran. She screamed. She fought. She begged. None of it mattered. The loop swallowed her whole, trapping her in an endless nightmare of grief and pain. She lost count of how many times she watched her father die. How many times she saw her mother crumple to the ground. How many times she felt her own throat crushed, her stomach broken, her body shattered. And always, as she lay there dying, she cried. Begging. Pleading. ¡°No,¡± she sobbed. ¡°Please, no.¡± But the loop never listened. Not to her screams. Not to her tears. Not to her pleas. Not until something changed. She stood frozen in the kitchen, watching in horror as the hobgoblin drove its fist through her father¡¯s chest. Blood sprayed across the counter, staining the morning light with death. She waited for the next part, for her mother¡¯s scream. But instead¡ª A voice. A man¡¯s voice. Calling her name. "Arianna!" It wasn¡¯t her father. It wasn¡¯t the monster. It was someone else. Her heart clenched, but she couldn¡¯t think, couldn¡¯t focus, because the scene continued as it always did. The hobgoblin turned. Her mother rushed forward with her useless knife. "Arianna!" The voice called again. Urgent. Desperate. But the loop didn¡¯t care. The hobgoblin swiped her mother aside, slamming her into the wall. She crumpled to the floor, unmoving. Arianna sobbed. ¡°No, no, no.¡± Her whole body trembled. She wanted to run, to fight, to do something¡ªanything!¡ªbut this time¡­ She couldn¡¯t move. Her feet wouldn¡¯t respond. Her arms wouldn¡¯t lift. It was as if invisible hands were holding her in place, restraining her. The voice kept calling her name. She gasped, eyes darting around the kitchen. Who was it? Where was it coming from? The hobgoblin was in front of her now, its sickening grin stretching wider. She struggled against the unseen force, desperate to move, but she was trapped. The monster grabbed her by the throat. Crushed. Pain. Agony. The first punch to her stomach stole her breath. The second made the world spin. The third shattered her entirely. Darkness rushed in, but the voice¡ª The voice didn¡¯t stop. It grew louder. More frantic. "Arianna, wake up! Wake up!" The loop shattered. She gasped as reality snapped back into place. But it wasn¡¯t her room she woke up to. It wasn¡¯t the kitchen. It wasn¡¯t the nightmare. It was warmth. Strong arms held her tightly, shaking her. Someone was speaking¡ªno, pleading. She opened her eyes and found herself staring into Cassis¡¯s face. His expression was raw, filled with a panic she had never seen before. His arms were around her, gripping her tightly, like he was terrified she would disappear. "Arianna," he breathed, voice thick with desperation, his forehead pressing against hers. "You''re awake." Arianna had no idea what had just happened. The nightmare¡ªif that¡¯s what it was¡ªhad felt too real, too suffocating. No matter what she had done, she couldn¡¯t escape it, couldn¡¯t stop it. The loop had held her in its cruel grip, forcing her to watch the same horror unfold again and again. Her body trembled violently as she clung to Cassis¡¯s shirt, sobs wracking her frame. She buried her face against his chest, the fabric quickly dampening with her tears. She couldn¡¯t stop. She cried until her throat was raw, until no sound came out except for broken hiccups and ragged breaths. Through it all, Cassis held her. One arm wrapped securely around her back, keeping her close, while the other ran soothingly over her hair, her shoulders, her spine¡ªgentle, steady, grounding. He didn¡¯t speak, only made soft, shushing sounds, his warmth a stark contrast to the icy terror still clawing at her insides. Eventually, the tears ran dry, leaving only exhaustion in their wake. She felt hollow, wrung out, like she had been shattered and barely pieced back together. All she wanted now was sleep¡ªdeep, dreamless sleep. But the moment Cassis shifted, trying to ease her back onto the bed, panic struck. Her breath hitched. No. What if it happened again? What if she woke up to that nightmare once more, trapped in the loop, powerless to stop it? Her fingers curled desperately into his shirt, her entire body tensing. She couldn¡¯t go back. She couldn¡¯t. "Don''t leave," she rasped, her voice barely more than a whisper, hoarse and fragile. Cassis stilled. Then, without hesitation, he relented. Wordlessly, he slipped under the covers beside her, his presence solid and unwavering. Arianna didn¡¯t hesitate either. She pressed against him, her forehead resting against his chest, breathing him in as if he were the only thing tethering her to reality. His arms wrapped around her again, strong and steady, a silent promise that he wasn¡¯t going anywhere. With his warmth surrounding her, the panic began to ebb, the last remnants of fear loosening their hold. Her grip on his shirt remained firm, but slowly, finally, exhaustion took over. And this time, when she drifted into sleep, the darkness was peaceful. Chapter 19 The system – Cassis Chapter 19 The system ¨C Cassis Cassis lay in Liam¡¯s bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. The evening had been exhausting in more ways than one. After the battle, he had helped his parents clear out the ruined furniture, the scent of blood and destruction lingering in the air. The monster corpses had remained untouched¡ªthere was no need to move them. By morning, the mana particles would dissolve their remains, leaving behind nothing but dust and the faint memory of battle. Arianna had taken the first shower while he worked. Then, once she was done, his parents had insisted he go next. He hadn¡¯t missed the way they had exchanged glances, clearly needing some time to themselves. He hadn¡¯t questioned it, just nodded and done as he was told. Afterward, he had said goodnight to Arianna, then later to his parents, before settling into Liam¡¯s bed. He had to wait for the others to fall asleep. Even now, he could hear his parents murmuring softly behind their bedroom door. He couldn¡¯t make out the words, but their quiet conversation was a comforting background noise. The house, despite the chaos of the past day, felt safe again. Still, his mind was restless. His system stats had skyrocketed after the fight, not because he had suddenly grown stronger, but because the system had recognized just how much stronger he already was. It had underestimated him before, failing to account for his experience and mastery. Now, it was trying to catch up. That¡¯s how the system worked. It didn¡¯t give power¡ªit only categorized it. Abilities, skills, and spells didn¡¯t inherently become stronger just because their rating increased. The ranking system was nothing more than a reflection of the awakener¡¯s own aptitude. Every new skill always started at low or basic, no matter the person¡¯s real proficiency. Only through demonstration¡ªtraining, battle, application¡ªwould the system acknowledge their true level. The skill rankings followed a clear hierarchy: Low ¡ú Basic ¡ú Beginner ¡ú Intermediate ¡ú Advanced ¡ú Expert ¡ú Master ¡ú Legendary ¡ú Myth The system didn¡¯t grant strength. It simply judged how well an awakener wielded their abilities. The real importance of these rankings only became evident when it came to class evolutions. At Level 10, an awakener had to choose an advanced class. The number of available evolutions depended on various factors¡ªbattle experience, titles, elemental affinity, mana saturation, and, most crucially, skill, spell and ability rankings. The higher the system deemed an awakener¡¯s competence, the broader their potential evolutions. Most people received one to five choices. Geniuses were rumoured to have ten or more, but in his past, no one had ever confirmed such a feat. His eyes flickered shut for a moment before he sighed and opened his status page, scanning the system¡¯s current evaluation of him:
Status Page:
His gaze lingered on his spells. That had always been a weak point for him. Warriors, like Rangers, started with their physical skills at Basic but their magical ones at Low. It was the opposite for Mages and Clerics. In the future, he had trained relentlessly in swordsmanship, honing his physical abilities to near perfection. But his spells had always lagged behind. He hadn¡¯t focused on them enough, and it had cost him dearly. That couldn¡¯t happen again. The system would eventually recognize his true skill and restore his old rankings¡ªhis sword techniques would reach Master in time. But magic? That required deliberate effort. His newest spell, Flame Burst, had already proven useful. He had used it first to blind the hobgoblin, then again to cook its heart from the inside. It was powerful. But inefficient. The second time, when he used it through his sword, it had cost significantly less mana than when he had cast it directly on the hobgoblin from a distance. Arianna had been right. Her explanation about mana control¡ªhow directing mana properly reduced waste and allowed for longer fights¡ªhad been spot on. His Mana Saturation had also increased, and he could feel the difference. More importantly, he now had an Advanced Warrior Fire Mana Circuit Pattern. He almost scoffed at the name. The system really sucks at naming things. But at least he knew exactly what it was. He wasn¡¯t going to try it out yet, though. He didn¡¯t have time for it yet. He pushed that thought aside and turned his attention to his titles. Five titles. That was a lot to gain in such a short time. Yes, the battles had been intense¡ªthey had fought for their lives¡ªbut in his past, he had fought just as hard, harder, and had never been rewarded like this. Why? The answer was simple. Because he had been weak. Or rather, because humanity had been weak. In the past, two-thirds of the world¡¯s population had survived the first wave¡ªjust barely. The system had called it ¡°completing the first trial¡± and had given everyone the [Survivor] title, which slightly increased health regeneration. There had been no world announcement. No protection for children as a reward. No sign that anyone had actually overcome the first trial the way the system had intended. Which meant¡­ There must have been achievements they had missed. Technically, the first wave wasn¡¯t even over yet. The apocalypse had started at 4 PM two days ago. The first wave lasted exactly 48 hours. Which meant it would officially end tomorrow afternoon. But there were no more monsters left in a 1-kilometer radius around them. He frowned. That meant the system had forced them into combat. Jessica¡¯s cries had reached too far. Monsters one kilometre away had reacted to her screams? That wasn¡¯t normal. It was impossible. The system must have amplified her voice to make sure they fought. He exhaled sharply. No point thinking about it now. He couldn¡¯t change what had happened. All he could do was make sure they got the best possible outcome. Should he start meditating tomorrow, building his mana circuit properly? Or should he teach Arianna and his family some self-defense skills? Arianna definitely needed training with her proclivity to run off into battle as a healer. He had to smirk again when he thought of her new title [Chaotic Healer]. She had almost given him a heart attack in the last battle by baiting the hobgoblin gaining the skill Baiting as a result. He didn¡¯t want her to use it. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Maybe she should have chosen Ranger. She clearly wasn¡¯t the type to stay out of fights. That thought made him scowl. She shouldn¡¯t have had to fight at all. But they wouldn¡¯t have survived without her. She had healed them. She had played bait. She had saved all of them. It made him furious. But there was nothing he could do about it. He was the one who brought her to this world. He was the reason she was in danger. And that was a guilt he would carry forever. He pushed those thoughts away and refocused on his titles:
Titles
Cassis let out a slow breath. These were good titles. Far better than anything he had gotten in his past future. Titles were the only instance where the system actually enhanced an awakener¡¯s abilities. No matter how much someone trained or levelled up, they would never see a direct numerical increase in their attack, defense, mana, or health regeneration¡ªexcept through titles. Titles were important. They stacked. They could even combine under the right circumstances. But no one really understood how they worked. Scientists had once called them "invisible stats." Everyone knew they existed. They had to. Strength, agility, intelligence, and other physical and mental attributes¡ªjust like in games¡ªhad to be there. But the system never displayed them. Still, the effects were obvious. An awakener who earned a title granting increased defense could feel the difference when they took a hit. Someone with a mana regeneration boost could fight longer without running dry. Cassis had never fully understood the mechanics of it all. But he didn''t need to. Smarter people than him had spent years theorizing about it before the world ended. He only needed to use the system efficiently. Pushing the thought aside, Cassis turned to something more immediate. His new items. Reaching level 10 had given him access to an inventory¡ªa basic 10m3 storage space. Arianna should have gotten the same upgrade, but with her exhaustion, she had probably missed it. Accessing the inventory was simple. All he had to do was think about it. Inventory. In an instant, he felt the system respond. He stretched out his hand, and the first item materialized into his palm¡ª A sword. Flaming Sword. Arianna had given him this weapon during their last battle. It had once been an ordinary blade, but by channeling massive amounts of fire mana through it¡ªfirst with Fire Blade, then with Flame Burst¡ªhe had fundamentally changed it. The system had recognized the transformation. And, as a result, it had been strengthened. [Flaming Sword] It was far from legendary, but for an F or E-rank awakener, it was a solid weapon. Satisfied, he returned it to his inventory and pulled out the second item. Experience Sharing Bracelet (Unbound) A thick, silver bracelet appeared in his hand. It looked simple¡ªnothing ornate, no markings, no gemstones. But when he checked its description, his breath caught. [Experience Sharing Bracelet (Unbound)] It was another reward to protect children. Cassis¡¯s grip on the bracelet tightened. Had everyone in their group gotten one? Because if they had, then¡­ the possibilities were endless. The system had already said that only children under 14 were protected. Teenagers weren¡¯t¡ªthey had to fight for themselves. But with this bracelet¡­ They could level up the older children before they turned 14. They could train them, strengthen them, give them a fighting chance before the system¡¯s protection was gone. That was huge. But¡ª There was a catch. The bracelet had to be bound to one awakener. And that meant whoever wore it would be giving up their own experience while wearing it. Cassis exhaled sharply. It was a huge sacrifice. Levels weren¡¯t just numbers. More levels meant more power. Every level-up infused an awakener¡¯s body with more mana, strengthening their invisible stats. Because experience¡ªat its core¡ªwas nothing more than mana absorbed from a defeated foe. A properly built mana circuit meant an awakener could absorb more mana¡ªmore experience¡ªwhen they killed an enemy. Once enough external mana or experience was accumulated, the system would level them up, and itwould be distributed to their invisible stats. At least, that was the leading theory. One that had been formed at the end of the world. Back when it was already too late. Cassis stared down at the bracelet in his hand. Was he the right person for this job? Because if he bound the bracelet to himself¡­ He would be slowing down his own progress. And right now, every level mattered. Having finished his review of his gains in the last battles Cassis listened carefully, waiting for any signs of movement. The house had finally fallen silent. No voices, no footsteps, not even any screeches of monsters ¨C they had kill all monsters in their vicinity. Satisfied that everyone was asleep, he slipped out of bed and made his way downstairs, moving with the quiet precision of someone long accustomed to the dark. The living room and yard were littered with monster corpses, grotesque forms bathed in the pale light of the moon. Cassis wasted no time. Drawing his sword, he set to work, carefully cutting away valuable materials. He hadn¡¯t mentioned it to his parents, but some of these creatures held resources that could be of immense value¡ªparticularly to alchemists. Upon reaching level 10, awakeners gained access not only to class advancements but also to professions. Unlike combat classes, which determined a fighter¡¯s strength, professions were centred around crafting, production, or service. There was no awakening level for these professions, just the system telling someone doing a particular action that it considered as part of a profession asking the awakener if they wanted to choose this profession. Professions also weren¡¯t static, they could evolve, change or even be exchanged for another profession at any time if the requirement was reached. Alchemist was one of the most valuable, in his opinion. An alchemist could, given time and materials, create healing potions, poisons, and other potent elixirs. If he could find one early and sponsor them, he would secure exclusive access to their creations. That way, Arianna wouldn¡¯t have to waste CP on healing and could concentrate on other things. And alchemists weren¡¯t the only profession worth seeking out. Blacksmiths could forge weapons and armour, leatherworkers could craft durable gear, and fletchers could produce high-quality arrows. There were even professions like tacticians, scholars, and strategists, whose knowledge could be just as vital as any blade. Unlike combat classes¡ªtypically falling into the four main categories of Warrior, Ranger, Mage, and Cleric, although there were exceptions like hybrid classes that combined the skills of two or more classes¡ªprofessions were limitless. They were shaped by an awakener¡¯s life experiences, skills, and even their actions since the apocalypse began. An awakener also didn¡¯t have to choose between levelling their combat class or their profession as professions strictly levelled by doing related tasks. Cassis worked efficiently, gathering as much as his inventory space would allow. By the time he was finished, his storage was nearly full. Satisfied, he sheathed his sword and made his way back inside. Upstairs, he entered the bathroom, washing the blood from his hands and blade. He had been doing this kind of work for so long that he had instinctively avoided staining anything else¡ªjust his hands and his weapon. As he stepped into the hallway, passing his own room, a sound stopped him in his tracks. A muffled sob. Then¡ª "No¡­ no¡­ please don¡¯t¡­ stop¡­" The hair on the back of his neck rose. Arianna. Something was wrong. He knocked lightly on her door. No response. The quiet, broken whispers continued, interspersed with ragged, tearful breaths. His chest tightened. Without hesitation, he stepped inside. Arianna lay curled in his bed, her face twisted in anguish, tears slipping down her cheeks as she pleaded in her sleep. A nightmare. But not just any nightmare. Cassis moved to her side and shook her gently by the shoulder. She didn¡¯t react. His frown deepened. "Arianna," he called softly. Nothing. A sinking unease settled in his gut. This wasn¡¯t normal. He shook her harder, his voice growing more insistent. "Arianna, wake up!" Still, she remained trapped in whatever horror held her mind captive. Panic edged into his movements as he grasped her shoulders, his voice firmer now. "Arianna!" At last, she gasped awake. But when her eyes met his, there was no recognition. Her breath came in short, uneven bursts, her pupils dilated with fear. Cassis reacted instinctively. He gripped her shoulders tighter, leaning in until their foreheads touched. "Arianna," he murmured. "You¡¯re awake." For a moment, she just stared. Then something clicked. Recognition flickered in her eyes, and the next instant, she broke down completely. She clung to him, sobbing into his shirt with an intensity that made his heart ache. Cassis said nothing, only wrapped his arms around her, holding her as if he could shield her from whatever ghosts haunted her mind. He ran his fingers through her hair, rubbed slow, reassuring circles on her back and shoulders, whispering soothing sounds in an effort to calm her. She cried until her voice failed her, until the sobs were nothing more than shaken breaths against his chest. And still, he held her. She was utterly exhausted, her body drained from both the nightmare and the flood of emotion that followed. Cassis moved slightly, intending to lay her back down so she could rest. The moment he shifted, she panicked. Her body tensed, her grip on his shirt tightening in desperation. Her wide, fearful eyes locked onto his. "Don¡¯t leave." The words were barely above a whisper, but they stopped him cold. He hadn¡¯t planned to leave. He had only meant to help her settle. But she wouldn¡¯t understand that right now. So instead, he simply climbed under the covers, pulling her closer without a word. Arianna immediately pressed herself against him, as if needing to confirm he was real. Cassis rested his chin atop her head, wrapping his arms around her securely. Her breathing evened out, her body finally relaxing as sleep reclaimed her. And though exhaustion tugged at him as well, Cassis remained awake for a while longer, staring at the ceiling, his mind filled with unspoken thoughts. But even as he lay there, one thing was certain. He wasn¡¯t going to let go. Chapter 20 An old complication – Arianna Chapter 20 An old complication ¨C Arianna Arianna woke slowly, her body heavy with exhaustion. For a moment, she didn¡¯t know where she was. The warmth surrounding her, the steady rise and fall of a chest beneath her cheek, the scent of firewood and steel¡ªit was familiar yet disorienting. Then it all came rushing back. The nightmare. The loop. Her parents¡¯ deaths, again and again. The suffocating terror of the hobgoblin¡¯s hands crushing her throat. And then¡ªCassis. His voice calling her name, breaking through the darkness. She stirred slightly, shifting against him. His arms tightened around her instinctively, as if reassuring her that he was still there. She exhaled slowly, focusing on the rhythm of his breathing, the quiet of the early morning. Her mind still felt fragile, the edges of the nightmare clinging to her like cobwebs. But she was here. She was safe. And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she wasn¡¯t alone. She blinked at the faint morning light filtering through the curtains. It was still early, the house quiet in the lingering hush before dawn. At some point in the night, she must have turned in her sleep, because now Cassis was behind her, his chest solid and warm against her back, his arm heavy around her waist. She needed to move¡ªto shake off the last remnants of the nightmare, to ground herself in the waking world. Carefully, she tried to slip out of his hold, but the moment she wiggled even slightly, Cassis responded instinctively, tightening his grip around her waist. Her breath hitched as she stilled. That wasn¡¯t the only thing she noticed. The press of his body against hers, the unmistakable hardness against her lower back¡ªheat flooded her face. She swallowed, her entire body stiffening. Of course, she knew about this. They were both adults, and she was well aware that men woke up like this naturally. It wasn¡¯t personal, and it certainly wasn¡¯t intentional. But knowing that didn¡¯t make it any less awkward. Just as she was debating whether to hold completely still or try once more to slip away, Cassis let out a low, grumbling sound. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he mumbled, voice rough with sleep. Arianna froze. She could pretend to be asleep. She could lie and say she wasn¡¯t trying to leave. Or¡ªshe could just be honest. Taking a slow breath, she whispered, ¡°I was trying to get up.¡± He didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, his arm around her flexed slightly, and then, as if he finally became aware of how tightly he was holding her, he hesitated. The space between them was nearly non-existent, his warmth seeping into her back, his breath ghosting over the nape of her neck. For a moment, neither of them moved. Then, abruptly, Cassis exhaled and loosened his grip, rolling onto his back. ¡°...You could have just said something,¡± he muttered, rubbing his face. Arianna turned her head slightly, peeking at him over her shoulder. His hair was a mess, his eyes still heavy with sleep, and there was a slight flush on his ears. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to wake you,¡± she said simply, pushing herself up into a sitting position. Cassis groaned and ran a hand through his hair. ¡°Too late for that.¡± Arianna let out a breath, some of the earlier tension leaving her. The nightmare still lingered at the edges of her mind, but the moment felt¡­ normal. Awkward, yes. But normal. And for now, that was enough. Cassis sat up, leaning back against the wall at the head of the bed, the blanket strategically draped over his lap. His expression was unreadable, but Arianna noticed the subtle tension in his posture¡ªlike he was trying very hard to act normal. She really tried not to notice. She really tried not to think about it. But now that she was aware of it, she couldn¡¯t stop being aware of it. Still, she forced herself to focus on something else. Like how much she had liked waking up pressed against him. How warm and solid he had felt. How safe. Alright, that didn¡¯t actually help with her attraction to him. But it had been a long time since she had been that close to someone. Five years, to be exact. Her father¡¯s death had shattered her, leaving her hollow and adrift. Her boyfriend at the time had tried to be supportive at first, but when her grief refused to fade, when the depression settled deep into her bones, he had left. She didn¡¯t blame him¡ªhe had been young, and she had been¡­ too much. Too sad. Too tired. Even after the worst of it passed, she never really recovered. She went through the motions of life¡ªworking, earning VP, taking care of herself¡ªbut she never truly lived. The only real human connection she had maintained was Cassis, watching his fights, following his journey. And now, here they were. She didn¡¯t want him to know how pathetic her life had been. So, she straightened her shoulders and decided to act like the adult she was. ¡°Thanks again,¡± she said, her voice steady. ¡°For last night. For everything.¡± Cassis glanced at her, then gave a small nod. ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep thanking me.¡± She hesitated, then added, ¡°I mean it.¡± A beat of silence stretched between them before he shifted, studying her. ¡°Do you want to talk about it?¡± She knew what he meant. Arianna opened her mouth to answer, but the words caught in her throat. The memory of the nightmare was still fresh¡ªthe endless loop of watching her parents die, of dying herself over and over, the helplessness, the horror. Her vision blurred as tears welled in her eyes. She clenched her jaw, trying to swallow them back, but Cassis noticed. His gaze softened, and without a word, he opened his arms. Arianna didn¡¯t hesitate. She scooted onto her knees and leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his waist. The moment he held her, she let go of the last bit of restraint she had been clinging to. Sobs wracked her body as she buried her face against his chest. ¡°It was a loop,¡± she choked out between breaths. ¡°I kept seeing them¡ªmy parents. They were already dead before I came here, but in the dream, they were alive. At first, it was¡­ it was nice. I thought¡ª¡± She squeezed her eyes shut, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. ¡°But then the hobgoblin¡ª¡± Her voice broke. ¡°It kept killing them, then me. Again and again. And I couldn¡¯t stop it.¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Cassis¡¯ arms tightened around her. He didn¡¯t say anything, just held her as she cried, as she let out all the pain she had kept locked away for years. And for the first time in a long time, she didn¡¯t feel alone. When Arianna finally emerged from her crying fit, she felt¡­ lighter. As if some of the weight she had been carrying for years had finally eased, if only a little. Then she noticed something else. She was straddling Cassis¡¯ lap. Her body stiffened as realization dawned. How had that happened? She had no idea, but now she was completely at a loss about what to do. Moving away seemed like the logical choice, but somehow, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it. Instead, she sat frozen, painfully aware of the warmth of his body beneath her, of his hands resting lightly on her back, of the slow, steady rise and fall of his chest. And just like that, an old memory surfaced¡ªone she hadn¡¯t thought about in years. She had first seen Cassis when she was seventeen, watching him fight in Avaria through the blue screen in her dream. He had been twenty-eight back then, tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair, golden eyes, and a taciturn nature that only made him more alluring. What girl wouldn¡¯t have had a crush on him? He had been like something out of a fantasy novel, a warrior carved from myth. She had been attracted to him especially because her life hadn¡¯t been a fairytale. Her mother had died giving birth to her, and it had always been just her and her father. They had been happy¡ªuntil everything changed. A few months before she had bought the sapphire necklace, her father had been diagnosed with cancer. He had started treatment immediately, but it weakened him, and for the first time in her life, Arianna had been truly afraid. She hadn¡¯t told her friends about her fears¡ªhadn¡¯t had the heart to. So, she had felt alone. For four years, she had watched him struggle. At first, they had thought he had beaten it, but then it came back, more aggressive than before, and there was nothing the doctors could do. During that time, she had lost touch with most of her friends. She hadn¡¯t wanted to go out and have fun when her father was dying. A few close friends had stayed, the kind who didn¡¯t push but were always there to listen. One of them had become her boyfriend¡ªnot because she had particularly liked him that way, but because it felt nice to snuggle up to someone who cared and it had seemed to ease her father¡¯s worries. He hadn¡¯t wanted her to be alone when he was gone. And then, when her father had finally passed, her boyfriend had left too. He had stayed with her for over a year after but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to even care about him anymore. Not when she had lost her last family. But even then, she hadn¡¯t been completely alone. She had always had Cassis. Sure, he hadn¡¯t known about her. He had his own battles to fight, his own struggles to survive. They hadn¡¯t talked about their personal lives, hadn¡¯t shared secrets or dreams. Their conversations had always been focused on one thing: keeping him alive. But now, here she was¡ªcloser to him than she had ever imagined. It was strange, telling him about her past, about her father, about the life she had lived before coming to Avaria. In some ways, she knew Cassis better than anyone. And in others, he was a complete stranger. Like now. She hadn¡¯t known he would hold her so patiently, so quietly, while she cried. She hadn¡¯t known he would feel so awkward and flustered when she had noticed his morning wood. She hadn¡¯t known he would turn red when she had been lying in her underwear in this bed just a little over a day ago. And the memory of that¡ªthe way his ears had burned with embarrassment and how he couldn¡¯t even look at her¡ªsuddenly made her laugh. She tried to stop, but the more she thought about it, the harder it was to hold it in. She was shaking with laughter now, her body trembling as uncontrollable giggles spilled from her lips. Cassis groaned, his hands tightening on her hips. ¡°Arianna,¡± he said, his voice strained, rough with frustration. ¡°Please. Stop.¡± But that only made her laugh harder. Until she realized why he sounded so strangled. Because in her laughter, she had accidentally started grinding against his lap. And the moment she understood that, her laughter died in her throat. Her breath caught. Heat surged up her neck. And Cassis¡ªwhose hands were still on her hips¡ªwas completely, utterly still. Arianna froze at first, her breath uneven, her heart hammering in her chest. But then a thought crept in. Why not? She had spent so many years alone, wrapped in her grief, keeping herself at arm¡¯s length from the world. She hadn¡¯t realized just how starved she was for human contact, for warmth, for closeness. It didn¡¯t have to mean anything. It could just be a moment¡ªsomething small, something just for herself, to remind her that she was alive. And if Cassis didn¡¯t like her at least a little, he would have pushed her away already. So, she made a decision. Slowly, deliberately, she lifted her gaze to meet his golden eyes and started to move her hips again. A sharp breath hissed through Cassis¡¯ teeth. His hands tightened on her waist, his fingers digging in just slightly, not to stop her¡ªbut as if bracing himself. His eyes widened, startled, but he didn¡¯t pull away. He didn¡¯t stop her. Arianna¡¯s pulse thrummed in her ears as she moved, slow and careful, rolling her hips just enough to feel him beneath her. Even though their pants and the blanket still separated them, the friction sent a pleasant heat curling through her body. She kept her eyes on his, searching for any sign of hesitation, any indication that he wanted her to stop. But all she saw was the way his jaw tensed, the way his throat bobbed as he swallowed, the way his grip on her hips tightened every time she shifted against him. He was letting her do this. And more than that¡ªhe wanted it. The realization sent a fresh wave of warmth through her, pooling low in her belly. This felt good. For the first time in years, she felt wanted. Desired. Alive. And she wasn¡¯t ready to stop just yet. The pleasure built between them, slow and electric, each movement sending sparks through her body. She clutched his shoulders harder as a soft moan escaped her lips before she could stop it. That was all it took for Cassis to take action. His grip on her hips tightened, fingers pressing firmly into her skin as he started moving against her, meeting her rhythm with slow, deliberate thrusts. It was effortless, instinctual¡ªlike they had done this countless times before. They moved together, perfectly in sync, their bodies responding to each other in a way that felt both natural and intoxicating. Their breath came rough and uneven, small moans and quiet groans slipping between them, filling the charged space between their bodies. They hadn¡¯t even kissed yet. They just looked at each other, locked in the moment, golden eyes burning into hers. Arianna had never felt anything like this before¡ªthis kind of closeness, this kind of intimacy, and they were still fully clothed. It was overwhelming, consuming, yet somehow impossibly tender. Their faces drew closer, inch by inch, their breaths mingling, lips just barely apart. Neither of them closed the distance, caught in the unbearable tension of the moment. And then¡ª A door slammed shut, Cassis¡¯ parents probably getting up. The sharp sound shattered the fragile spell between them. Arianna jolted, startled, and suddenly, the weight of the moment crashed down on her. Heat flooded her face, and an embarrassed, almost panicked thought flickered through her mind¡ª Oh God, this feels like being a teenager again, about to get caught making out with her boyfriend in his parents'' house. She quickly pulled back a bit, her breath still heavy, her pulse still thrumming wildly in her veins. Cassis looked just as caught off guard, his hands lingering on her hips, his golden eyes still dark with something unreadable. Neither of them spoke. But the air between them was charged, and there was no mistaking what had just happened. Or what had almost happened. They were both breathing heavily, reeling from the intensity of what had just happened¡ªand the abrupt interruption that had yanked them back to reality. Cassis let out a quiet curse under his breath, then rested his forehead against her shoulder. His voice was low, rough with emotion when he finally spoke. ¡°Sorry, Ari. But¡­ I think it¡¯s good we were interrupted.¡± Arianna froze. A sharp pang struck her chest before he even finished speaking. ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot in the past thirty, forty hours,¡± he continued. ¡°Coming to a new world, the apocalypse starting, fighting for your life, getting injured, fighting for your life again, almost dying, and then that nightmare¡­ I think you¡¯re overstimulated from everything that¡¯s happened, and we shouldn¡¯t make any decisions we might regret.¡± Arianna stiffened. Regret? That single word cut deeper than she wanted to admit. So that was it. He thought this was a mistake. He would have regretted it. Then why hadn¡¯t he stopped her earlier? Why had he held her, touched her, moved with her like that if he hadn¡¯t wanted it too? She tried to pull away, to scoot back and slip out of the bed before her hurt turned into something even more painful. But Cassis didn¡¯t let her go. His hands remained firm on her hips, keeping her in place. As if he knew exactly what she was thinking, he lifted his head, meeting her eyes again. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said, his voice softer now. ¡°That didn¡¯t come out right.¡± His gaze searched hers, willing her to understand. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­ this has been a turbulent time, and I would regret it if something happened that you didn¡¯t truly want¡ªif it was just because you needed to feel alive after everything.¡± His golden eyes darkened, and she knew¡ªknew¡ªhe was speaking from experience. He had almost died more times than he could count in the other timeline. He had probably felt that same desperate urge before, the need to grasp onto something, someone, to remind himself that he was still breathing. Arianna swallowed past the lump in her throat. Her voice trembled slightly, but she still managed to smile at him. ¡°Alright,¡± she murmured. ¡°I understand. It¡¯s okay. Let¡¯s talk about it when we¡¯re both¡­ not so shaky anymore. After some time has passed.¡± A flicker of relief passed through his expression. Slowly, he loosened his grip, letting her go. Arianna slipped off the bed, her legs unsteady beneath her, and took a steadying breath. The air between them was different now¡ªstill charged, still full of unspoken things¡ªbut no longer overwhelming. It wasn¡¯t a rejection. But it was a pause. And for now, she could live with that. Chapter 21 A new adventure – Cassis Chapter 21 A new adventure ¨C Cassis Cassis watched as Arianna slid off the bed, the warmth of her presence slipping away like sand through his fingers. Every instinct in him wanted to reach out, to hold onto her, to pull her back into his arms. It took every ounce of willpower he had to resist. He had never wanted someone this much before¡ªat least, not in a way that went beyond fleeting desire. He forced himself to look away, tilting his head back against the wall and closing his eyes. It was easier to speak that way, without watching her walk away. "I think I''ll go downstairs," Arianna said, stretching slightly. "One or both of your parents should be awake, judging by that door slamming. I''ve always found it strange that older people seem to lose the ability to close doors quietly." Her voice had lightened, already laced with humour. It amazed him how quickly she could recover¡ªhow she could smile and tease, as if she hadn''t just broken down in his arms, as if they hadn''t just shared something so raw and intimate. His lips twitched at her observation, but he kept his expression neutral. "Yeah, you should eat something," he said. "But maybe stop by the bathroom first. Your eyes are still red." Arianna paused, then let out a soft laugh. "Oh, right. Almost forgot. Thanks." She hesitated for a moment, and he thought¡ªhoped¡ªshe might say something more. But then she simply added, "I''ll see you in a bit," and left the room. As soon as the door clicked shut, Cassis let out a long breath he hadn''t realized he was holding. He kept his eyes closed, but in the darkness behind his lids, all he could see was her¡ªher flushed cheeks, the way her red-rimmed eyes had locked onto his, the heat in her gaze as she moved against him. He had been so close to kissing her. So close to giving in. He exhaled sharply. It was for the best. And if he kept repeating that to himself, maybe he¡¯d believe it. Cassis had known the pull of near-death before. The need to feel something¡ªanything¡ªto prove he was still alive. He had given in to that urge in the past, seeking fleeting connections in the apocalypse. Sometimes, it had been a brief comfort, a way to forget the loneliness for a night. He had been with women, men, non-binary people¡ªit hadn''t mattered who, as long as they were human and willing to share a moment of warmth in an otherwise cold world. But it had always been shallow. The next morning, they went their separate ways, nothing but strangers again. He hadn¡¯t wanted that with Arianna. Yet, as always, his words had failed him. He had hurt her first before managing to explain himself properly. She had accepted it, but he knew the sting had been there. He didn¡¯t know how to fix it. How could he? He was the reason she was here in the first place. Arianna didn¡¯t belong in this hell. She should have been safe in her own world, living her life. But she was here, and selfishly, a part of him was relieved. She had no family left behind to mourn her, no loved ones she was desperate to return to. That thought had briefly comforted him¡ªuntil the guilt set in like a weight on his chest. Her parents were dead. Her father had died while they were still connected as patron and awakener, and she had never once told him. She had kept her grief to herself, while all the while, he had leaned on her support during his own struggles. Had he really been that selfish? She had always been there for him, but he had never truly been there for her. She had been his patron¡ªnothing more. He had never thought of her as a person with her own pain, her own burdens. He had believed patrons were untouchable, distant figures who simply watched from another world, unaffected by the horrors he faced. He had been wrong. And still, she had forgiven him. Just like she always did. Cassis ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly. He couldn''t keep being like this. He needed to do better. With those unsettling thoughts swirling in his mind, his earlier arousal had faded completely. He stood, stretched, and forced himself to get dressed in some shirt and jeans combo. When he stepped out of his room, the sound of quiet conversation drifted up from downstairs¡ªArianna and his father, already talking. As he turned toward the bathroom, his mother appeared at the top of the stairs. She took one look at him, raised an eyebrow, and then smirked. "Just a friend, is she?" Cassis scowled, refusing to dignify that with a response. He brushed past her, stepping into the bathroom and shutting the door behind him. From the other side, he heard her soft, knowing laughter as she walked away. Breakfast was a welcome reprieve from the chaos of the past day. The conversation remained lighthearted¡ªsmall jokes, quiet laughter, and mundane talk about food and daily routines. Even if the world outside was falling apart, they all clung to this fragile normalcy. Liam arrived midway through, returning from Nadine and Violet¡¯s home. His expression was troubled but steady. ¡°No sign of him?¡± Cassis¡¯ mother asked gently. Liam shook his head. ¡°Not yet. Nadine and Violet are holding up as best as they can, but they¡¯re scared.¡± He exhaled. ¡°Her husband still hasn¡¯t come back. We don¡¯t know if he¡¯s still fighting out there¡­ or if he¡¯s already gone.¡± A heavy silence settled over them. Hope was a dangerous thing in the apocalypse¡ªit could keep people going, or it could break them completely. Liam clearly felt for them, but there was nothing any of them could do. Or so he thought. Arianna set her spoon down and turned to Liam. ¡°Where was he last?¡± Liam glanced at her, not expecting the question. ¡°City hall. He works as a clerk there.¡± ¡°How far is that from here?¡± ¡°By car? About 15 minutes.¡± Cassis didn¡¯t need to look at her to know what she was thinking. He knew that gleam in her eyes, the way her mind worked. He tried to resist, but in the end, he glanced up¡ªand there it was. That stubborn determination. ¡°Arianna,¡± he warned. She met his gaze with certainty. ¡°Cassis, we need to find him. The apocalypse will last until this afternoon. He could still be alive.¡± He clenched his jaw. There it was again¡ªthat relentless optimism, that instinct to throw herself into danger. Why did she insist on this? They were safe here. Why seek out another fight? Before he could argue, his father spoke up. ¡°It could be dangerous, but we¡¯re rested. Most F-rank monsters aren¡¯t much of a threat to us anymore.¡± He rubbed his chin, already considering the logistics. ¡°We¡¯d have to be careful of E-ranks, but if we go together as a team, it could work.¡± Cassis turned to his father, baffled. His father¡ªthe man who had lost an arm because he had tried to protect someone else¡ªwas suggesting they leave safety to rescue someone they barely knew, again? Hadn¡¯t he learned anything from his ordeal? But then, understanding dawned. It wasn¡¯t just about Nadine¡¯s husband. Nadine had been their companion through life and death since the apocalypse started, a trusted friend in this new hellscape. This wasn¡¯t just about a clerk trapped in city hall¡ªit was about looking out for a close companion, a bond forged in hardship. Cassis remained silent, grappling with the realization. He had never truly felt that kind of companionship in the other future. He had been too detached, too scared to lose someone important again. He had allies, sure, but most of them had been temporary¡ªpeople who had come and gone, people he couldn¡¯t afford to grow attached to. He had never been in a position to save anyone in the other timeline. He had only been able to watch as people died. So maybe¡­ maybe this was an opportunity to do something different. His father was right¡ªF-rank monsters weren¡¯t much of a challenge anymore, not unless they encountered overwhelming numbers. And E-ranks¡­ well, if they were careful, they could avoid them. His grip on his spoon tightened. Changing himself wasn¡¯t easy. The instincts he had honed in the other timeline told him to stay put, to protect what he had and not take unnecessary risks. But maybe it was time to do something his past self never would have. He tried to remember if he knew anyone he would want to save in that direction. Because if they were going there, they should do as much as they could, shouldn¡¯t they? Who did he know back then? Any friends? No. Any colleagues? Maybe. Then the thought hit him. His workplace ¨C his high school ¨C was near city hall. As it had been late afternoon on a Friday when the apocalypse began his colleagues or students shouldn¡¯t have been there anymore. But most lived close by. He had been a high school teacher in his life before. The loss of his family had destroyed him and when he saw just how little of his students remained, he just closed off. He couldn¡¯t deal with it and banished all the thought and feelings associated with them in the deepest part of his mind. But now he could maybe help them. He might be strong enough to make a difference this time, especially with Arianna and his family by his side. Cassis leaned back in his chair, staring at his half-empty plate. He had never been one for reflection¡ªself-pity and regret had no place in the apocalypse. But now, with the chance to do things differently, he found himself questioning everything he had once accepted as unchangeable. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. In the last timeline, survival had been his only priority. He had hardened himself against hope, against attachments, against the foolishness of trying to save people. It had been the only way to stay alive. But what if that had been a mistake? He had failed. The world had pretty much been at the end when he had made his wish that brought him back. He had fought and fought, only to watch everything be consumed by darkness. What if saving people¡ªchanging his choices¡ªwas the key to preventing that future? The old Cassis would have told Arianna no. He would have refused to risk anything for a stranger, for someone who was probably already dead. But he wasn¡¯t that man anymore. He opened their private party chat¡ªa remnant from the large one he had dissolved. He had kept only the two of them in it, a link between them that was now more personal than ever. ¡°Can you buy any more gear? You need a proper weapon. Maybe a mace or a staff? And we need more protective equipment.¡± Arianna¡¯s response came almost instantly. ¡°I have over 1200 CP. I''ll look. Just a sec.¡± He exhaled, waiting. He didn¡¯t know how she navigated the system so fast, but before he could even take another bite of his food, she was back. Maybe the patron shop worked with the same time stop as the class selection? ¡°I found a great mace for 200 CP and a basic protective set¡ªpants and a long-sleeve shirt¡ªfor 200 CP total. So, I can buy the mace and five sets.¡± Cassis stilled. Five sets. Enough for both of them¡­ and his parents and Liam. Fate, he thought bitterly. He didn¡¯t believe in destiny, but sometimes it was hard to ignore the eerie coincidences. It was as if the universe was pushing them toward this path, telling them that this was what they were supposed to do. He sighed. This time he spoke out loudly: ¡°Alright. Before we go, Sapphire has some presents for us. After that, we should get Nadine and Violet to the Morrisons. We don¡¯t know if the monsters will keep staying away.¡± Right now, they were in the suburbs of Hallowford¡ªa relatively quiet town on the outskirts of Vallendale City. The nearest city hall branch was just under ten kilometers away. A reasonable distance, but with the apocalypse raging, distance wasn¡¯t measured in kilometers¡ªit was measured in survival odds. If they traveled on foot, it would take them at least two hours, assuming no interruptions. But that was a bad assumption. The closer they got to the city, the worse it would get. They might be able to take the car at least part of the way. Their town was mostly suburban, with small streets and fewer abandoned vehicles clogging the roads. Most people here walked or biked. The monsters they encountered would be manageable. But the city¡­ The city was a different beast entirely. The number of monsters correlated with human presence. More humans had lived there. More powerful fighters had tried to resist the apocalypse. And, as they had theorized, the stronger the fighting force in an area, the more powerful the monsters that spawned there. Additionally, their guns, explosives and heavy artillery didn¡¯t work anymore. That was why the military had suffered such devastating losses. The apocalypse had targeted the strongest first. Having to fight stronger and more numerous monsters in addition to their weapons not working saw the military at a serious disadvantage. For their trip it meant going towards danger and by the time they reached the outskirts of Vallendale, the streets would be littered with wrecked vehicles and overrun with creatures. The car wouldn¡¯t be an option once they got too close. Cassis rubbed his forehead. They needed to be smart about this. Get as close as possible with the car, then switch to moving on foot. That way, they¡¯d minimize their time in the danger zone. It wasn¡¯t a perfect plan, but it was their best shot. And for the first time in a long while, Cassis was willing to take that shot. Cassis spoke to everyone gathered at the breakfast table. ¡°We¡¯ll take the car,¡± he said. ¡°It seats five, so we can all fit. We¡¯ll drive as far as we can toward city hall before the roads become too blocked. From there, we¡¯ll continue on foot.¡± His parents exchanged a look and nodded in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s a solid plan,¡± his father said. ¡°Using the car will save time and energy. We¡¯ll need both when we get closer to Vallendale.¡± ¡°But while we¡¯re there,¡± Cassis continued, glancing between them, ¡°I want to check on my school and its surrounding area.¡± His mother straightened. ¡°You think anyone survived?¡± ¡°There might be students or teachers near city hall,¡± Cassis said. ¡°If they¡¯re still alive, I want to help.¡± His parents didn¡¯t hesitate. His father gave him a firm nod, and his mother¡¯s eyes softened with something like pride. ¡°That¡¯s the right thing to do,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ll be careful, but if we can save people, we should.¡± Arianna, however, was staring at him like he¡¯d just grown another head. She didn¡¯t say anything at first, then asked him privately. ¡°You¡¯re a teacher?¡± He blinked at her reaction. ¡°Yeah. High school. A history teacher.¡± She kept looking at him, something unreadable in her expression. He had no idea what was going through her mind. Then, just as suddenly, she shrugged and smiled at him. He wasn¡¯t sure if that was a good or bad thing. ¡°Arianna, what about your family? Do they also live in that direction? Maybe we can check on them, too.¡± His mother asked. Arianna was silent for a second, then gave his mother a small smile. ¡°Thanks for asking Danielle. But that¡¯s impossible. Both my parents died before this happened. I don¡¯t have any siblings, and my parents were orphans themselves. So, there¡¯s nobody left to check up on.¡± The mood on the table took a sombre turn. ¡°Oh, no. That¡¯s terrible. I¡¯m so sorry, my dear.¡± His mother had tears in her eyes, probably because she had also lost her parents a few years ago. Cassis could still remember warm Grandma Annabelle and funny Grandpa William. Grandpa William had died due to a heart attack. Then Granma Annabelle had wasted away, not wanting to live without the man she had shared her whole life with. She had died within a year of Grandpa¡¯s passing. His aunts and uncles from his mother¡¯s side were living in different cities so they had no way to know anything about them. But he knew they died in the first wave. Then he looked to his father who was probably thinking of his own parents judging by the shadows on his face. He was an only child, but his parents lived in a different country. There was no way to get to them. And they were already over 80 years old. In the other timeline they hadn¡¯t survived. Arianna acknowledged Danielle¡¯s condolences but soon changed the topic back to how they could help other people. It seemed she didn¡¯t like being in the spotlight, or maybe the topic was too difficult for her. He wanted to hug her to give her comfort. Arianna then pulled out the protective sets from her inventory¡ªdark gray pants and long-sleeved shirts, simple but sturdy. She handed them out with a small grin. ¡°From Sapphire,¡± she said. Cassis took his set, examining the material. It wasn¡¯t heavy, but when he ran his fingers over it, he could feel the slight resistance of protective enchantments woven into the fabric. It wasn¡¯t full armor, but it would give them some defense. Then his gaze landed on Arianna¡¯s new mace. It was a brutal-looking weapon¡ªlong and thick with a reinforced metal shaft wrapped in black leather for grip. The head was spiked on one side, with a flanged, almost axe-like curve on the other, allowing for both bludgeoning and slicing damage. A good weapon. A deadly one. Everyone dispersed to change, disappearing into rooms and the bathroom. The clothes moulded to their bodies upon wearing them, eliminating the need for different sizes. His mother and Liam left to inform Nadine and Violet of their plan and escort them to the Morrisons for safety. Cassis, in the meantime, turned to his father. ¡°Dad, can you get the car ready?¡± he asked. ¡°We need as much space as possible, so please throw out anything that isn¡¯t necessary for this trip.¡± His father nodded and left. That just left him and Arianna. ¡°Now,¡± he said, turning to her, ¡°let me show you how to use your inventory to store some food and water.¡± Arianna perked up at that, eyes bright with curiosity. ¡°Oh, right! I completely forgot I unlocked that at level 10.¡± He walked her through the basics¡ªhow to store and retrieve items with a thought, how to organize them, how much weight it could hold. She caught on quickly, nodding along as she tested it for herself. Then, after a moment, she hesitated. ¡°Should we pick our advanced classes?¡± she asked. ¡°I haven¡¯t even looked at mine yet. Too much has happened.¡± Silence stretched between them as they looked at each other. Cassis knew exactly what she was referring to. The nightmare. Holding her while she cried. Waking up with her. The heat between them, the almost-kiss, the way she had moved against him before they were interrupted. His mind flashed through it all in an instant. He shoved the thoughts away. ¡°Not yet,¡± he said. ¡°Our skill levels aren¡¯t high enough to unlock the best advanced classes. If we pick too early, we could end up with something subpar and regret it later.¡± Arianna seemed to consider that. ¡°We should use the fights ahead to hone our skills,¡± he continued. ¡°Maybe think up new spells, get more titles. Our basic classes will be enough to handle the outskirts of Vallendale for a few hours.¡± She exhaled, then nodded. ¡°Makes sense. Alright. No advanced classes yet.¡± It was a small relief. They had enough to worry about already. He glanced toward the window, toward the distant cityscape on the horizon. Soon, they would be heading straight into danger. And this time, he would make sure it wasn¡¯t all for nothing. Cassis and Arianna stepped outside, finding his father near the car, doing a last check. The older man glanced up as they approached. ¡°We¡¯ve got a way to carry more supplies,¡± Cassis said. ¡°Arianna and I unlocked an inventory when we hit level 10. You¡¯ll get one too once you level up.¡± His father looked genuinely surprised. ¡°A personal inventory? That¡¯s incredible.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Arianna said. ¡°It¡¯s super useful. We can store food, water, extra weapons¡ªanything that fits, really.¡± His father let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. ¡°I¡¯m only level seven, and your mother¡¯s level eight. It won¡¯t be long before we get that feature too.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Cassis said. ¡°And when you do, I¡¯d recommend waiting before picking an advanced class. Skill levels, spell mastery, and even titles can affect class choices. The stronger your foundation, the better your options.¡± His father absorbed the information with a thoughtful nod. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind. I¡¯ll tell your mother and Liam, too. The knowledge Sapphire gives you is really useful.¡± Cassis and Arianna smiled at not even having to tell anyone how they knew stuff. They had a little time before Liam and Cassis¡¯ mother returned, so they settled into easy conversation. Or rather, Arianna and his father did. As it turned out, they were both accountants. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it,¡± Arianna said, grinning. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d meet someone else who actually enjoys accounting.¡± His father chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s a good profession. Logical, stable. Though it has its fair share of headaches.¡± ¡°Oh, absolutely,¡± Arianna agreed. ¡°I once had a client who tried to claim his dog as a dependent.¡± His father laughed. ¡°I had one who insisted his ¡®business expenses¡¯ included a new gaming console. He got real mad when I told him no.¡± They traded stories about difficult clients and bizarre financial situations, their conversation flowing easily. Cassis, on the other hand, remained mostly silent. He hadn''t seen his father in fourteen years. Fourteen years of memories, of growing into a hardened survivor, of losing everything over and over again. And now, here they were, making small talk like none of that had happened. What was he supposed to say? He felt like a stranger. Arianna must have noticed his discomfort because, without missing a beat, she turned to him with a teasing glint in her eyes. ¡°So, Cassis,¡± she said, dragging out his name playfully. ¡°You¡¯ve been awfully quiet. What¡¯s the matter? Are we boring you? Or are you just lost because accounting is obviously a more sophisticated profession than teaching?¡± He blinked at her, then scoffed. ¡°Oh, please,¡± he shot back. ¡°Teaching is just as demanding. Probably more.¡± Arianna raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh? Enlighten me, professor.¡± He crossed his arms. ¡°For one, teachers have to manage a room full of hormonal teenagers while actually getting them to learn something. It¡¯s not just numbers and spreadsheets¡ªit¡¯s dealing with people, emotions, their home lives, their struggles. And don¡¯t even get me started on grading.¡± Arianna gasped dramatically. ¡°Oh no! Not grading!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a nightmare,¡± he deadpanned. ¡°You try reading thirty essays on the same historical event and not losing your mind. Especially the handwritten ones, those are not letters their hieroglyphs!¡± She snickered. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll give you that one. But at least teachers don¡¯t have to deal with the government breathing down their necks every tax season.¡± ¡°You¡¯d be surprised,¡± Cassis said. ¡°School boards, curriculum regulations, budget cuts¡ªplenty of bureaucratic nightmares to go around.¡± They fell into a playful back-and-forth, mock-arguing with exaggerated expressions and exaggerated grievances. Cassis found himself smiling more than he had in a long time. His father, watching them, chuckled. That was the moment Liam and Cassis¡¯ mother finally returned. His mother raised an eyebrow at the three of them. ¡°You all look far too amused for people about to walk into danger.¡± Arianna shot her a wink. ¡°Gotta keep morale up somehow.¡± His mother shook her head with a small smile, then turned to Cassis¡¯ father. ¡°Nadine and Violet are at the Morrisons. They¡¯ll be safe there. She wanted us to know just how much this means to her and Violet. But she also said not to get into too much danger just for them¡± His father nodded. ¡°She¡¯s good people. We need to help each other in these times.¡± Cassis exhaled, letting himself focus on the task ahead. They had a plan. They had supplies. And they were as ready as they were going to be. It was time to go. Chapter 22 Just a short trip – Arianna Chapter 22 Just a short trip ¨C Arianna Arianna adjusted the grip on her mace as she stepped out of the car, her boots crunching against the cracked pavement. The air smelled like blood, smoke, and something acrid she couldn¡¯t quite place. Around them, the city lay in eerie silence, interrupted only by the occasional distant screech of a monster or the sound of something scuttling just out of sight. Their car trip had been surprisingly easy¡ªalmost peaceful. The roads out of Hallowford had been mostly clear, and the few monsters they¡¯d seen had fled at the sight of them. Cassis had explained it was because of his and Arianna¡¯s Monsterbane I titles, which made weaker monsters instinctively avoid them. His family had been a little jealous when they heard about it, but they¡¯d accepted it with good humor. ¡°Well, you two did kill the most monsters,¡± Danielle had said, giving Arianna¡¯s hand a quick squeeze. ¡°Especially with that hobgoblin. You deserve all the experience you got.¡± Arianna had smiled at that. Danielle had a certain warmth to her, like someone who looked out for everyone but had a sharp edge when needed. Now, though, standing on the outskirts of Vallendale, warmth was the furthest thing from her mind. They weren¡¯t in Hallowford anymore. The moment they entered the city, the atmosphere changed. Blood splattered the streets, smeared in handprints on car doors and streaked across cracked asphalt. Some abandoned cars had shattered windows, doors left wide open as if people had fled in a hurry. Others had no visible damage¡ªjust empty, silent reminders that the people who had been inside were simply gone. Arianna swallowed hard and looked down the street. City Hall was just a few blocks away, Cassis¡¯ school not much farther. She still couldn¡¯t quite wrap her head around the fact that he was a teacher. It just didn¡¯t fit, not with the hardened, battle-ready man she¡¯d come to know. But the more she saw of him here¡ªleading them, making plans, teaching her how to use her inventory¡ªthe more she realized that this part of him had never disappeared. He had always been someone who guided others, even in the apocalypse. In the other timeline he just hadn¡¯t had anyone to guide anymore. And now, unlike in his past life, he was choosing to help a stranger. He was choosing to save his students and colleagues. That change meant something. It sent a strange warmth through her chest. But they weren¡¯t safe yet. It was late morning now, around 10 a.m. Six more hours. Six more hours of monsters until they retreated into their newly established dungeons. After that, they¡¯d only have to worry about stragglers, mutated animals and plants, and the inevitable dungeon breaks. Arianna exhaled slowly and tightened her grip on her mace. They moved into formation. Cassis and Danielle took the front, scanning ahead for movement. Marcus and Arianna followed behind, while Liam covered their backs. Silence stretched between them as they walked, boots crunching over broken glass and debris. Then, up ahead, something shifted. A dark shape, low to the ground. Movement in the shadows. Arianna¡¯s heart pounded as Cassis lifted a hand, signalling them to stop. The fight was coming. And they were ready. The streets of Vallendale were nothing like the ones in Hallowford. Here, the monsters weren¡¯t just roaming¡ªthey were hunting. Some still ran at the sight of Arianna and Cassis, but more and more of them stood their ground. Worse, they were forming packs. Groups of seven to ten creatures lurked in alleyways, prowled through the streets, and lunged at them in coordinated attacks. Arianna and Marcus held back on their magic, opting to fight with their weapons to conserve mana. Arianna¡¯s new mace proved its worth, smashing through monster skulls and sending them sprawling. Marcus fought beside her with his staff, his movements precise but clearly less practiced than the warriors¡¯. Cassis, Danielle, and Liam led the charge, cutting through monsters with brutal efficiency. Cassis¡¯ blade gleamed with fresh blood, while Danielle and Liam moved with sharp, controlled strikes. They worked together, covering each other¡¯s backs as they cleared their path toward City Hall. By the time they reached the last corner before their destination, Arianna¡¯s breathing was heavy, and her muscles ached. They had fought several groups already, and the monsters were getting stronger. Then they saw it. City Hall loomed ahead, its modern and simplistic structure ¨C a rectangular three story building with glass doors ¨C now marred by battle. The front doors were barricaded, furniture stacked high against the glass entrance. The monsters weren¡¯t just wandering here¡ªthey were gathering. A horde, at least a hundred strong with some E-ranks in there, clawed at the barricades, growling and slamming their bodies against the doors. Some of the creatures had blood dripping from their fangs, others bore deep gashes, likely from survivors still fighting inside. People were alive in there. Fighting. Holding on. Cassis muttered a curse under his breath. "That¡¯s a lot of monsters." "Going through the front is suicide," Liam added grimly. Danielle wiped sweat from her brow. "There¡¯s another way in," she said. "A back door. One of my friends, Helen, works here. She takes her smoke breaks out back, and I¡¯ve met her there a few times." Arianna raised an eyebrow. "You¡¯re saying we¡¯re sneaking in through the designated smoker''s entrance?" Danielle smirked. "If it works, it works." They circled the building, cutting through side streets and dispatching more monsters along the way. The back of City Hall was quieter, but not empty. Twenty to thirty F-rank monsters prowled the alleyway, blocking their way to the entrance. They could take them. Arianna and Cassis quickly formulated a plan. "I¡¯ll use Water Barrier to hold half of them back. That¡¯ll buy us time to take down the rest before they overwhelm us. Once the barrier breaks, I¡¯ll call it out, and we finish the fight together. Sound good?" This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Everyone nodded. Marcus finally prepared his Magic Missile, while Cassis, Danielle, and Liam readied their weapons. "Alright," Arianna said, raising her hands. "Let¡¯s do this." She channelled her mana, and a shimmering wall of water surged up between them and half the monsters, cutting them off. The creatures screeched and clawed at the watery surface, unable to break through. The rest charged. Cassis and the others met them head-on, blades flashing. Marcus unleashed his Magic Missile, striking a snarling beast in the chest. Arianna joined the fray, swinging her mace and feeling the satisfying crunch of impact. For a moment, it seemed almost easy. Then her barrier wavered. "Barrier¡¯s breaking!" she shouted. The water wall collapsed, and the remaining monsters surged forward. But they were ready. The fight dragged on for a few more tense minutes, but eventually, the last monster fell. Arianna took a deep breath, scanning their group. A few scrapes, a couple of bruises¡ªbut nothing serious. No one needed healing. "Nice work," Cassis said, rolling his shoulders. "Let¡¯s get inside before more show up." They hurried to the back door, where Danielle immediately started rummaging through a nearby box. A moment later, she pulled out a small key. Arianna blinked. "You have a key to the back entrance?" Danielle smirked. "Technically, no. But Helen is good at¡­ bending the rules." Marcus snickered. "Right. A model administrative clerk." Danielle grinned at him, a shared history flashing between them. Arianna had a feeling there were some interesting stories there. But now wasn¡¯t the time for stories. They slipped inside, closing the door behind them as quietly as possible. Their fight had been fast. Not too loud. But in a city overrun with monsters, you never knew who¡ªor what¡ªwas listening. The corridors of City Hall were eerily silent. Dust motes floated in the dim light filtering through the windows, and Arianna¡¯s boots barely made a sound on the scuffed tile floor. Their group moved cautiously, following the faint sound of voices echoing from deeper inside the building. The tension was palpable as they neared a corner. The voices became clearer¡ªheated, desperate. "Going out is suicide. We¡¯re staying here until the police or military come!" "We need to go to the hospital. They aren¡¯t going to make it if we don¡¯t treat their wounds!" "And how are we supposed to do that? It¡¯s full of monsters out there!" "But we can¡¯t just do nothing!" The last voice cracked with emotion, raw with frustration. Arianna exchanged a glance with Cassis. He took a deep breath, then stepped forward, calling out, ¡°Hi there, we¡¯re here to help. Don¡¯t attack.¡± The arguing stopped instantly. Silence filled the air, thick with apprehension. Arianna kept close behind Cassis as they rounded the corner, stepping into a large room near the front of the building. Seven people were gathered there, their expressions wary and exhausted. Makeshift barricades of overturned desks and chairs blocked the entrance, though they wouldn¡¯t last long if the horde outside descended on them. And from the looks of outside it was only a matter of time. The man who had been arguing, a stocky guy with a buzz cut and a bloodstained shirt, stepped forward, eyes narrowed. ¡°Who are you people?¡± Cassis kept his tone even. ¡°I¡¯m Cassis Walker. This is my family¡ªmy mother Danielle, my father Marcus, my brother Liam¡ªand this is Arianna Sloane.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°We¡¯re looking for Luke Bristol.¡± The man remained stiff with suspicion, but before he could respond, one of the women gasped. ¡°Wait¡ªWalker? Cassis, Danielle, Marcus and Liam? Arianna Sloane?¡± She stared at them, eyes widening in shock. ¡°Are you those people? The ones from the world announcement?¡± Arianna stiffened slightly. She hadn¡¯t expected them to be recognized so quickly. ¡°Yes,¡± Cassis answered simply. The atmosphere shifted. The suspicion in their eyes gave way to something else¡ªrelief, curiosity, maybe even hope. The man exhaled, his posture relaxing, though his sharp gaze remained. ¡°Alright¡­ that explains a lot. But how did you get in here? The front¡¯s been overrun all morning.¡± Danielle smirked. ¡°We used the special entrance.¡± At his blank look, she added, ¡°Helen¡¯s way in.¡± The man blinked¡ªthen burst out laughing. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s Helen.¡± The tension in the room eased instantly. Arianna couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow. Just who is this Helen? First, she had an illegal spare key left outside in a box. Now, people just accepted of course Helen like some kind of universal truth. Curiosity sparked in her mind, but for now, they had more pressing matters to deal with. Arianna frowned, remembering the heated argument they had overheard. ¡°You mentioned people were injured,¡± she said, stepping forward. ¡°How bad is it?¡± Terrence, the man with the buzz cut, let out a tired breath and rubbed his forehead. ¡°Bad,¡± he admitted. ¡°When the monsters first attacked, we fought them off. There were around sixty of us here¡ªemployees, visitors, just people trying to get paperwork done.¡± His jaw tightened. ¡°Seventeen died.¡± A heavy silence fell over the room. Arianna swallowed, her grip tightening around her mace. It was one thing to know how bad the apocalypse was, another to hear the numbers. ¡°The rest of us managed to barricade the front doors,¡± Terrence continued. ¡°We thought we¡¯d be safe, but for some reason, the monsters just keep gathering out there.¡± He gestured vaguely toward the entrance. ¡°We blocked off the corridors leading here, too, just in case, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll hold much longer.¡± ¡°And the wounded?¡± Cassis asked. Terrence sighed. ¡°Most of us are injured in some way, but five of them¡ª¡± His voice faltered, and he looked at the man beside him. Max, the man he had argued with earlier, stepped forward, his expression bleak. ¡°Five of them won¡¯t make it without real treatment. My wife is one of them.¡± His voice wavered, and he quickly clenched his jaw. ¡°We moved them upstairs, third floor, behind the ¡®Employees Only¡¯ door. It¡¯s the sturdiest one in the building.¡± Cassis nodded. ¡°We can help,¡± he said simply. Terrence¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise, but Arianna caught the quick flash of hope behind them. ¡°You have medical supplies?¡± Max asked, barely containing his urgency. ¡°Better,¡± Cassis said. ¡°We have healing magic.¡± Max inhaled sharply. A few of the clerks exchanged glances, some skeptical, others daring to believe. The woman who had recognized them didn¡¯t waste time questioning it. ¡°Max, take them upstairs.¡± Terrence nodded. Max didn¡¯t need to be told twice. He was already moving toward the stairwell, gesturing for them to follow. Arianna exchanged a glance with Cassis before gripping her mace tighter and stepping forward. If they could save lives, they would. The second they entered the archive room and break area, Arianna¡¯s chest tightened. The space was packed with injured people¡ªsome lying on the floor, others propped against shelves or makeshift bedding, with the less injured tending to the worst off. The heavy scent of blood, sweat, and desperation clung to the air. Most of these people would survive without her help, but then Max hurriedly led them deeper into the room, where the most critical patients lay. The first man she saw was missing a leg. A hastily tied tourniquet kept him from bleeding out, but his skin was pallid, and his breathing shallow. Arianna saw Marcus flinch at the sight, his hand unconsciously clenching over his own stump. Another man had a head wound, his face too still, his chest barely rising. A woman was curled up in pain, deep slashes across her torso still seeping blood. Another woman¡ªArianna swallowed hard¡ªhad chunks of flesh missing, like something had taken a bite out of her. The sight made her stomach churn. The last man was lying on his front, his back shredded beyond recognition, wounds still open and raw. Arianna didn¡¯t waste a second. She rushed to the closest person, placed her hands over their wounds, and let her healing magic flow. A soft, golden light spread from her palms, sealing flesh, knitting skin back together. She moved quickly, going from one person to the next. Each spell drained her, but she didn¡¯t stop¡ªnot when she could still move, still help. Gasps of astonishment filled the room as wounds disappeared before their eyes. Max let out a choked sob as his wife¡¯s breathing evened out, her slashes fading as if they had never existed. He dropped to his knees, hugging her, whispering thanks through his tears. By the time Arianna finished, she felt lightheaded. Her mana had grown with her level-ups, but the injuries had been severe. She sat down heavily, her vision momentarily swimming. Liam was beside her in an instant, his face creased with worry. ¡°Are you okay?¡± She forced a tired smile. ¡°Just exhausted. Used a lot of mana.¡± Liam nodded, his expression softening. ¡°You did great.¡± Arianna exhaled and looked around, searching for Danielle and Marcus. They were across the room, talking animatedly with a small, round woman who had short red hair, oversized glasses, and a warm but mischievous smile. Danielle and the woman embraced tightly, laughing and whispering hurried words to each other. Is that Helen? Arianna wondered. Meanwhile, Cassis was speaking to a slightly injured man, his arm held awkwardly at his side. After a moment, Cassis turned, meeting Arianna¡¯s gaze before walking over with the man. ¡°This is Luke Bristol,¡± Cassis said. Arianna blinked and sat up straighter. ¡°So, you¡¯re Nadine¡¯s husband.¡± Luke¡¯s face was tight with emotion. ¡°My wife is really okay? What about our daughter? The announcement didn¡¯t say her name, but I thought¡ª¡± ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± Cassis reassured him. ¡°And from now until she turns fourteen, she¡¯ll be protected from monsters.¡± Luke¡¯s shoulders sagged in relief, his breath escaping in a shaky exhale. Arianna reached for his injured arm and pressed her hands against it, sending another pulse of healing magic through him. The bone mended beneath her fingers, and Luke¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°It would have healed on its own,¡± she told him, ¡°but you wouldn¡¯t be able to fight like that.¡± Luke flexed his fingers and let out a breath. ¡°Thank you.¡± Arianna just nodded. Because even though he was safe now, they all knew the fighting wasn¡¯t over. Chapter 23 The Second Stand – Cassis Chapter 23 The Second Stand ¨C Cassis Cassis barely had time to process everything before a loud shout echoed through the room. ¡°Mr. Walker!¡± He turned just in time to see a boy¡ªaround fifteen¡ªrunning straight at him. Before he could react, the kid barrelled into him, wrapping him in a brief but tight hug before suddenly pulling back, looking embarrassed. ¡°Mr. Walker, it¡¯s really you! The announcement was really about you.¡± Cassis blinked. It took him a second to place the face, but then recognition hit. ¡°Ben?¡± Ben Jacobs. A student from his sophomore history class. A decent kid¡ªnever caused trouble, got average grades, and mostly kept to himself. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Cassis asked, frowning. It was Friday afternoon¡ªwhy would he be at City Hall instead of home or out with friends? ¡°My mom needed to take care of some paperwork,¡± Ben explained quickly. ¡°She wanted to take advantage of the extended hours today. I had to come along to look after my little sister, and then we were gonna go to the arcade.¡± As if on cue, a woman and a young girl¡ªprobably around twelve¡ªapproached. Cassis had never met Ben¡¯s mother before. Ben had always been one of those students who never needed calls home, never got into trouble. ¡°Mr. Walker, nice to meet you,¡± the woman said, offering a small but relieved smile. Cassis nodded back. ¡°I¡¯m glad you and the kids are alright.¡± Ben grinned, looking comforted by his teacher¡¯s presence, and his sister peered up at Cassis with wide, curious eyes. Arianna suddenly appeared at his side, giving him an amused glance. ¡°So you really are a teacher.¡± Her voice came through their party chat. ¡°This is kinda weird, but also kinda heartwarming.¡± She smiled, but Cassis didn¡¯t reply. He didn¡¯t know what to say. Before the conversation could continue, the door to the room was thrown open with a bang. Terrence stood in the doorway, panting. ¡°The barricade won¡¯t hold much longer!¡± Then he paused, eyes widening as he took in the healed people around the room. Cassis stepped forward, taking control. ¡°Terrence, get the rest of your people up. Who here has already awakened?¡± More than half the room raised their hands¡ªincluding Ben. Cassis clenched his jaw, his heart twisting at the sight. Ben was only fifteen. Just a little too old to be considered a child by the system. He had been thrown into this just like the rest of them. The numbers were about what Cassis had expected, but still¡­ ¡°Has anyone reached level five yet?¡± he asked. Silence. No hands went up. No classes yet. That was bad. They were about to face a wave of monsters, and half their group didn¡¯t even have an awakener body yet. This was going to be rough. Cassis didn¡¯t let his expression falter. ¡°Alright. Everyone has to fight, except for the children. Grab some kind of weapon¡ªanything you can use. We¡¯re going to hold the monsters at the staircase on the second floor. That¡¯ll give us space to fall back if we need to.¡± He made eye contact with each of the new awakeners. ¡°Those of you who haven¡¯t awakened yet¡ªtry to land a finishing blow on a monster yourself. Awakeners, try to reach level five. Once you do, you can pick from the four basic classes: Warrior, Ranger, Mage, or Cleric. They¡¯re pretty much like the ones in video games. Ben can explain it later.¡± Stolen story; please report. He shot Ben a quick wink, he remembered that Ben had been into video games big time. The boy had been looking nervous, but now, with a task to focus on, his back straightened with determination. Cassis turned back to the group. ¡°My team will take the front line. The rest of you stand behind us and attack when you can. Dad, Arianna¡ªyou¡¯re support. Do what you can.¡± Everyone scrambled to obey. Some older people grouped around Ben, bombarding him with quiet, hurried questions about classes. Others took deep breaths, gripping their makeshift weapons. They stepped down the staircase towards the second floor. Coming up, heavy footsteps echoed as Terrence¡¯s group arrived, taking position. Luke Bristol stepped up beside Cassis, rolling his shoulders, his expression grim but determined. He intended to fight. He intended to survive, to see his wife and daughter again. And then¡ª A guttural roar tore through the building. The barricades had failed. The monsters were inside. Cassis fought on pure instinct. Attack. Defend. Dodge. Move. It had been fourteen years in the other timeline. Fourteen years of this. His body moved on its own, his sword finding weak points, his footwork sharp, his reactions honed. His mind barely had time to process each enemy as he cut them down. It was the second time in less than twenty-four hours that he had to take a stand like this. But this time, the staircase was wider. The monsters had more space to attack. They surged forward like a tide, their roars and growls filling the air, their claws and weapons flashing in the dim light. But they weren¡¯t overwhelmed¡ªnot yet. His mother and brother were stronger now. They held their ground better. His father was still launching Magic Missiles at the horde, but now he also used his staff to trip the monsters, helping others land the final blows they needed to awaken. Luke Bristol was doing his best, switching in and out of the front line with Terrence, their movements rough but determined. Arianna hadn¡¯t used Heal yet¡ªshe was saving her mana¡ªbut she fought the way his father did, using her mace to crush skulls and shatter limbs. The monsters kept coming. Then a scream. Someone had been injured. Arianna pushed through the line, pressing her hands against the wound, light flaring under her palms. The man gasped in relief, and then she was back in position, her expression tight. The fight continued. Then the orc appeared. It was E-rank. Too strong for the unclassed fighters. It stormed up the stairs, pushing aside the smaller monsters like they were nothing. Cassis cursed under his breath. ¡°That¡¯s going to be a problem.¡± His father fired Magic Missiles at it in quick succession, slowing it down. Cassis used the opportunity to go for the kill, slashing deep into its chest with his flaming sword. It howled, staggering back, and then collapsed. No time to rest. The battle pressed on. They had to retreat a few stairs to keep their advantage. Then another E-rank. A panther this time. It moved too fast for Cassis to track, weaving between the fighters. His father was out of mana. The beast lunged for his mother. She barely blocked its claws with her sword, but it was fast. Too fast. Then it went for Liam. The panther¡¯s fangs sank into his side. Liam shouted in pain as the creature tried to drag him away. Luke Bristol lunged forward, grabbing onto Liam and pulling back with all his strength. Cassis was there in an instant. He slashed his Fire Blade across the panther¡¯s back, stabbed into vulnerable flesh and then activated Flame Burst on his sword. Fire roared through the wound, cooking the beast from the inside. It let out a strangled screech and collapsed. Luke hauled Liam back behind the fighters. Arianna was already kneeling beside him, hands glowing as she healed his wounds. Liam gritted his teeth. ¡°I was too slow again.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get better,¡± Cassis promised, gripping his shoulder. He met his brother¡¯s eyes, holding his gaze for a long moment. Then¡ª A scream from the front line. A massive figure stepped onto the stairs. A Minotaur. Another E-rank. The fighters panicked, falling back. The line broke. ¡°Everyone, retreat to the second line!¡± Cassis ordered. The fighers and new awakeners ran for the higher ground where a second group waited in front of the Employees Only door. Cassis didn¡¯t retreat. He sprinted toward the minotaur. Thanks to his Monsterbane I title, most of the F-rank monsters ignored him in favour of easier prey. He reached the minotaur unchallenged, just as it swung its massive scimitar. He blocked. The force of the impact rattled his arms. The minotaur was strong. They traded blows. His sword against its scimitar. Then¡ªan opening. Arianna struck it from behind. The minotaur roared, kicking out with one massive hoof. But Arianna had already danced back out of range. Cassis lunged in to take advantage of the distraction, driving his sword toward its chest¡ª Too shallow. It wasn¡¯t enough. Their fight continued. Then he heard more screams and roars from above. The monsters had reached the second line. They would have to hold out without him. He had to finish the minotaur. Arianna attacked the minotaur again, but this time¡ªit was ready. Its blade cut across her leg. She fell. The minotaur turned, raising its weapon for the killing blow. Its back was to Cassis. A fatal mistake. He drove his flaming sword straight through its spine. The minotaur let out a strangled roar and collapsed. Cassis turned¡ªjust in time to see Arianna smash a kobold in the skull with her mace. She was injured now. The weaker monsters saw her as prey again. More of them rushed toward her. Cassis didn¡¯t hesitate. He moved to her side, sword raised. They fought back to back. The battle raged on around them. Above them¡ªout of sight¡ªthe screams and roars continued. Chapter 24: Aftermath – Arianna Chapter 24: Aftermath ¨C Arianna Cassis killed the last monster, and Arianna let the Water Barrier dissolve, breathing hard. The barrier had bought them precious moments during the fight¡ªprotecting both herself and Cassis, as well as those upstairs. She could only hope it had been enough. As the water dissipated, a trickle of mana returned to her, but it was so little compared to what she had spent. Her limbs felt heavy. Exhaustion pressed down on her like a weight, but the familiar chime of a system message rang in her ears. [Congratulations. You have survived the first monster wave by eliminating all hostile creatures within a 1 km radius. Level gained. Title: Monster Bane I gained. Title: Superior Survivor gained.] [Error] [Already overcame the first monster wave] [Recalculating Rewards...] [Congratulations. You have survived another monster wave by eliminating all hostile creatures within a 1 km radius. Level gained. Title: Helping Hand gained.] [Recorded in Avaria¡¯s Hall of Fame] Arianna frowned. The error message was strange, but she was too drained to think about it now. Later. Right now, she needed to get upstairs. There would be injuries. She turned to climb the stairs, but her legs refused to obey. The moment she shifted her weight, her knees buckled. She stumbled against Cassis. His arms wrapped around her, steady and warm. He was tired, too¡ªshe could see it in the way his shoulders slumped, in the exhaustion lining his face¡ªbut he stayed upright, holding her up with ease. "Upstairs," she managed to say. "Healing." Cassis didn¡¯t argue. He simply nodded. He understood. Before they could move, footsteps pounded against the stairs. ¡°Cassis! Arianna!¡± Danielle came rushing down, her face streaked with dirt and tears. Behind her, Marcus and Liam followed, both looking exhausted but unharmed. Danielle threw her arms around them, squeezing them tight. ¡°You¡¯re alright!¡± Cassis rolled his eyes. ¡°Mom, you knew we were alright. We¡¯re in a party. You can see our status.¡± Danielle sniffed, tightening her grip. ¡°It¡¯s not the same as seeing you be alright.¡± Danielle finally let them go, stepping back to wipe at her eyes. Arianna turned to her, trying to focus. ¡°Danielle¡­ does anyone need healing upstairs?¡± Danielle¡¯s expression darkened, and Marcus was the one who answered, his voice quiet. ¡°Five died during the attack. The rest are just injured.¡± Arianna swallowed hard. Five. She was so tired. She barely had any mana left. But she could still save some people. So, she forced herself to move. One step at a time, she dragged herself upstairs. When she reached the top, the sight of the dead met her. Five bodies, laid out carefully. For two bodies not much was left, they had been torn to shreds. Three looked still normal like they were sleeping but with wounds all over them, but Arianna could feel the weight of their loss pressing against her chest. Could I have saved them? The thought clawed at her, sharp and painful. If I had been stronger¡­ faster¡­ could I have¡ª A warm hand settled on her back. Cassis. He didn¡¯t say much. He didn¡¯t have to. ¡°Not your fault,¡± he murmured. Arianna turned to look at him, their eyes meeting. She knew he was right. She couldn¡¯t save everyone. But it felt like she should be able to. In the other timeline had he felt like this, too? She took a shaky breath, then turned away from the dead. There were still people she could save. Seven were in critical condition. Terrence and Helen had already sorted through the injured, prioritizing those who needed immediate care. It was a kindness¡ªone she didn¡¯t have the strength to thank them for. Arianna rolled up her sleeves, ignoring the exhaustion clawing at her bones. One by one, she began to heal. Arianna healed the last patient, watching as the worst of their wounds sealed shut. Then, the familiar wave of nausea hit her. Her head pounded. Her stomach twisted uncomfortably. It was the same as before¡ªmana depletion. She pressed her hands against her stomach, trying to steady herself, but the room felt like it was tilting. "Here." A bottle of water appeared in front of her. Cassis knelt beside her, his expression unreadable but firm. "Drink and meditate. Get your mana back. I''ll take care of everything here." Arianna was too drained to argue. Her voice barely above a whisper, she managed, "Alright. Thanks." She unscrewed the cap with shaky fingers and took slow sips, the cool water soothing her throat. Then, she shifted into a meditative position, legs crossed, hands resting on her lap. With a deep breath, she reached inward, focusing on the flow of mana in her body. She had done this before¡ªfollowing the cool, blue veins of water mana running beneath her skin, feeling the gentle pulse of power moving with her blood, seeing the individual water mana crystals inside the stream of power. But this time, she tried something new. Instead of just following the mana inside her, she stretched her senses outward. And she saw it. Tiny crystals of blue mana surrounded her, scattered like mist in the air. She reached for them, trying to pull them toward her. The mana responded¡ªbut sluggishly. It barely trickled into her. Her frustration was just beginning to build when she felt it¡ª A warm pulse against her chest. Her fingers had unconsciously curled around her necklace, the sapphire pendant resting against her skin. And suddenly, it moved. The sapphire pulled at the outside mana, absorbing the water element from the air and feeding it directly into her. Arianna gasped at the sensation. It felt like she was a glass being filled¡ªthe mana flowing into her in a steady stream, refreshing her from the inside out. She adjusted, guiding the new energy to swirl alongside her blood, allowing it to settle naturally into her body. Already, she felt so much better. Her headache dulled. Her stomach unknotted. She wasn¡¯t fully recovered, but she could function again. For a while longer, she continued to meditate, still clutching the necklace. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Then, when she was sure she had regained enough mana, she exhaled slowly and opened her eyes. She got up. Arianna still felt a little off-balance from her meditation, but the moment she stepped toward the group that was still centred around Cassis, Helen intercepted her. With a warm smile and casual small talk, Helen gently guided her away from the others, leading her into one of the archive rooms. The room was dim, lit only by the glow of a single computer screen, and cluttered with stacks of paper files. Arianna was about to ask what this was about when Helen turned to her, expression unreadable. ¡°Who are you, really?¡± Arianna blinked. ¡°What?¡± Helen¡¯s lips curled into an amused but knowing smile. ¡°I looked you up in the citizen registry. There¡¯s no record of an Arianna Sloane anywhere.¡± Arianna¡¯s heart lurched. The world government of Avaria kept a meticulous database of its citizens? Of course, they did. How had she not considered that before? In her own world there was no world government only different countries and alliances. If it had been her world, at least she could have said she was from a different country. There were tons of problems verifying people without passports. She must have gone pale because Helen chuckled lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t look so panicked, dear. I was just curious after that world announcement.¡± She gestured toward the computer. ¡°This branch is responsible for maintaining the registry for our country. I thought I¡¯d check up on our new ¡®heroes.¡¯¡± Arianna felt like her throat had closed up. What could she even say to that? ¡°I¡ª¡± She swallowed. ¡°I didn¡¯t know the database still worked.¡± Helen nodded. ¡°It barely does. I can¡¯t reach any external networks, but our internal system is still functioning.¡± She tapped the side of the monitor. ¡°And according to this, you don¡¯t exist.¡± Arianna clenched her hands. Shit. She had no idea how to explain this. Helen, however, just smiled knowingly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t ask questions. You and the Walkers saved my life. That¡¯s good enough for me.¡± Arianna exhaled a little. ¡°But,¡± Helen continued, ¡°you do need to be registered. Once the government gets their systems back online, they¡¯ll check the database. If they see you¡¯re missing, they¡¯ll start asking questions.¡± Arianna shivered at the idea. Helen powered up the computer, fingers flying across the keyboard. ¡°Let¡¯s fix that, shall we?¡± Arianna barely had time to process before Helen began inputting her details. Name: Arianna Sloane Age: 27 Birthdate: August 27, 1997 Birthplace: [Mercy Hospital Vallendale] Occupation: Accountant Education: [Reed Elementary School], [Reed Middle and High school], [University of Vallendale ¨C Accounting Masters] Parents: No other relatives. Helen paused and glanced at her. ¡°Current address?¡± Arianna hesitated. ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°237 West Elm Street, Apartment 4B, Vallendale, VA 02917.¡± Cassis¡¯ voice came from behind her. She turned, surprised to see him standing in the doorway. ¡°Where is that?¡± she asked. ¡°My place,¡± he said simply. That¡­ made sense. His home was real, already in the system. If anyone asked, they could just say she was staying with him. ¡°Alright,¡± she agreed. Helen nodded in approval and continued filling out the form. She asked a few more questions¡ªdetails about Arianna¡¯s supposed life, her job, her history. Cassis helped answer some, making sure they were consistent with her new identity. Finally, Helen leaned back in her chair, satisfied. ¡°That should do it.¡± She typed a few more lines. ¡°I¡¯ll make it look like your record was created at birth and updated later with your adult information.¡± Arianna exhaled. ¡°Thank you.¡± Helen just waved her off, smiling. ¡°Thanks, Aunt Helen,¡± Cassis added, his voice filled with real gratitude. Arianna blinked. Aunt? Over the party chat, she sent Cassis a quick message. You¡¯re related? No, he replied. But she¡¯s one of my mom¡¯s best friends. She¡¯s always been around. She was the ¡®fun, adventure aunt.¡¯ That explained a lot. Still, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, Then, why didn¡¯t you mention coming to save her before? We thought she was on vacation. We had no idea where she was. It was just luck that she was here. Arianna turned back to Helen, who was watching them both with a mischievous smile. ¡°So,¡± Helen said, tilting her head playfully. ¡°The two of you are living together?¡± Arianna frowned, confused by her tone. Cassis groaned. ¡°Helen¡ª¡± Helen ignored him and smirked at Arianna. ¡°Cassis, why didn¡¯t you tell me you had a girlfriend?¡± Arianna choked on air. Helen was clearly teasing them, but the implication still caught her off guard. ¡°We¡¯re not¡ª¡± Arianna started, but Helen just laughed. Cassis sighed heavily. ¡°Ignore her.¡± Helen gave them both a wink before turning serious again. ¡°I won¡¯t ask questions,¡± she said, folding her arms. ¡°I¡¯ve seen my fair share of the government¡¯s darker side. I know they have people raised in the shadows¡ªpeople that don¡¯t officially exist.¡± Arianna stiffened. Helen continued, ¡°When the government gets back on its feet, they will try to use you. It¡¯s better if you move independently.¡± Arianna stared at her. That was¡­ a surprisingly sensible theory. If Helen thought Arianna was some kind of secret government operative, or a victim of a cover-up, or even a criminal erased from the system¡ªit all made a hell of a lot more sense than the real reason she didn¡¯t exist. Arianna let out a slow breath and nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± Helen smiled. ¡°Good girl.¡± Helen finished typing on her computer and leaned back with a satisfied smirk. ¡°You two better get your story straight,¡± she said, closing out of the screen. ¡°Cassis, your mother is definitely going to have questions about you living together.¡± Before either of them could protest, she¡¯d already gone halfway out the door. ¡°I¡¯ll go fill her in,¡± she added cheerfully, and then she was gone¡ªvanishing in a whirlwind of mischief, the door clicking shut behind her before Arianna could stop her. Arianna turned to Cassis, wide-eyed. He groaned, running a hand through his hair. ¡°What do we do now?¡± she asked. With a long sigh, he shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s going to tell my mom and dad she looked you up and found out we¡¯re living together. Aunt Helen loves stirring up trouble.¡± He exhaled. ¡°The easiest way out of this is to come up with a solid reason why we¡¯re living together.¡± Arianna thought for a moment. ¡°What if I lost my apartment and you took me in?¡± Cassis shook his head. ¡°Doesn¡¯t work. I live in a one-bedroom apartment. Kind of hard to explain two people sharing a space like that if we¡¯re just friends.¡± Realization dawned on her. ¡°So you mean¡­?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, resigned. ¡°Let¡¯s just pretend we¡¯re in a relationship. It¡¯s the simplest explanation.¡± He started listing on his fingers. ¡°It explains why we live together¡ªbecause we were dating and then you lost your place, so you moved in. It explains why you were with me when I was on my way to my mom¡¯s birthday¡ªI was going to introduce you as my girlfriend. And it explains why we¡¯ll basically be together all the time from now on.¡± Arianna blinked. ¡°We will?¡± Cassis gave her a dry look. ¡°Oh, absolutely. I have this feeling that if I let you out of my sight, you¡¯ll immediately get into trouble.¡± Arianna couldn¡¯t even argue with that. She sighed. ¡°Well¡­ I guess that¡¯s settled then.¡± Then Cassis looked at her with a wide grin. As he stepped closer, Arianna instinctively backed up until she hit the computer desk. He leaned down slightly, placing his hands on either side of her hips, trapping her in place. ¡°Um, what...?¡± she asked, confused. Cassis grinned down at her. ¡°The last point is that if we end up in situations like this, no one will blink an eye.¡± Arianna was suddenly very aware of how close he was. His body heat, the light scent of him¡ªhe smelled nice, she realized. How did that work with all the monster blood both of them had on them? His tone was casual, teasing even. Was he playing with her? Cassis? How was he in the mood to joke right now? But it worked. Her own mood became lighter. She inhaled sharply and met his gaze. Two could play this game. Smirking, she lifted her hands and placed them on his chest, slowly sliding them up to his shoulders. His eyebrow arched slightly, but he didn¡¯t move away. Instead, she hooked her arms behind his neck, pulling him lower. What had started as playful banter suddenly shifted into something else. The air between them grew thick with tension. Her eyes flicked from his to his lips¡ªhe licked them. She wasn¡¯t sure if she pulled him closer or if he leaned in on his own, but their lips were about to meet when¡ª The door slammed open. Danielle strode in. Arianna and Cassis sprang apart, but it was too late¡ªDanielle had already seen them. Arianna liked Danielle, she really did, but thinking back to that morning, she was almost certain Danielle had been the one to slam the door so loudly and interrupt them then, too. And now again. That woman had the worst timing. Danielle folded her arms and gave them both a knowing look, her lips curving into a smirk. ¡°So¡­ are either of you going to explain what I just walked in on, or do I have to start making my own wildly entertaining assumptions?¡± Arianna felt her face heat up. ¡°It¡¯s not¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s exactly what it looked like,¡± Cassis cut in smoothly, shooting Arianna a glance before turning back to his mother. ¡°Arianna and I are together.¡± Danielle¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Together, huh?¡± She narrowed her eyes at them, but there was more amusement than suspicion in her gaze. ¡°Funny how you forgot to mention that earlier.¡± ¡°We weren¡¯t really planning on making a big deal out of it yet,¡± Cassis said with an easy shrug. ¡°Given the whole, you know, apocalypse situation.¡± Danielle hummed, unconvinced. ¡°Uh-huh. Helen has just discovered that you two live together, and now I walk in on you looking very cozy? But it¡¯s not a big deal to know my son is living with his girlfriend?¡± Arianna cleared her throat, trying to steer the conversation before Danielle pushed further. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ a recent thing. We were going to tell you about it on Friday.¡± Danielle tapped a finger against her chin, considering. ¡°Well, I suppose it does make sense. You¡¯ve always been the overprotective type, Cassis. And Arianna, you are nice enough but you seem to jump into danger quite often.¡± Arianna groaned. ¡°I do not¡ª¡± ¡°She absolutely does,¡± Cassis said at the same time. Danielle laughed, shaking her head. She noticed Marcus and Liam who had also come in and fills them in. Marcus warmly smiled at her and Liam happily waved at her. ¡°Well, welcome to the family, Arianna.¡± Danielle pulled her into a quick hug before stepping back with a wink. ¡°This is a great birthday present. My forever single son finally brought home a serious girlfriend. And he¡¯s even living with her.¡± Some tears came to Arianna¡¯s eyes. She hadn¡¯t been called family for years now and it hit differently hearing Danielle say it. Cassis noticed. Without a word, he pulled her into a tight embrace, shielding her face from the others so they wouldn¡¯t see the tears welling in her eyes. Guilt twisted in her stomach. Deceiving them felt wrong¡ªthese were good people. And then, as if the universe itself had heard her thoughts, a system message appeared. [+50 CP (for deceiving mortals)] Arianna stared at it, momentarily speechless. Her inner scale shifted slightly. It still leaned toward the virtuous side¡ªshe had saved mortals again, after all¡ªbut not as much as before. And if the system considered this deception, then what about everything else? The entire Sapphire persona was a lie. She was deceiving all these kind people. [+50 CP (for deceiving mortals)] And the false identity Helen had created for her? That had to be worse. She had deceived not just individuals, but an entire government. [+100 CP (for deceiving a mortal government)] Arianna sighed internally. Sometimes, she really didn¡¯t understand the system. Chapter 25 One more trip – Cassis Chapter 25 One more trip ¨C Cassis As soon as Cassis, Arianna, and the others stepped out of the archive room, they were met by Terrence, who stood in their path with his arms crossed. His expression was serious but not unfriendly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be an asshole,¡± Terrence began, his gaze flickering between Cassis and Arianna, ¡°but I think we all deserve to know¡ªhow the hell are you two so strong?¡± Cassis smiled, sensing an opportunity. Not just to satisfy the survivors¡¯ curiosity, but to spread her name. He had no idea what would happen if Arianna¡ªno, Sapphire¡ªbecame more famous, but he was certain there had to be a reason why, in the other timeline, some Awakeners practically shouted their patrons¡¯ names from the rooftops. And, if he was being honest, the thought of Arianna¡¯s reaction made it all the more tempting. She would get flustered. Her cheeks would turn pink, her eyes would widen slightly, and she might even¡ªyes, there it was. She was already looking wary, sensing something was up. He fought back a smirk and turned to address the group. ¡°Actually, we had some help,¡± he said, his tone carefully casual. ¡°When Arianna and I killed our first monsters, a deity called Sapphire took an interest in us and offered to be our patron. Accepting her offer gave us certain advantages¡ªfaster level progression, more strength, access to knowledge about the apocalypse that others don¡¯t have.¡± A murmur rippled through the group. Cassis continued smoothly, ¡°For example, you all saw the system message after the battle, right? It called this attack the first wave. What you don¡¯t know is that the wave has a time limit¡ªforty-eight hours. That means it¡¯ll be over soon. After that, most of the monsters will disappear, most heading to newly formed dungeons. Only the mutated animals and plants from our world will remain, except for a few stragglers.¡± Terrence frowned, considering this. ¡°How do you know all that?¡± ¡°Sapphire told us.¡± Cassis gestured vaguely upward, as if referencing some higher power. ¡°She sometimes gives us items, like our weapons and defensive gear. She can¡¯t do everything, but without her, we wouldn¡¯t be as strong as we are now.¡± Now, he did smirk¡ªbecause he was watching her. Arianna¡¯s face was burning red. She shot him a sharp look that very clearly said, What the hell are you doing? Then, as if realizing she was being too obvious, she stuck out her tongue at him. His smirk widened. Adorable. Terrence, however, wasn¡¯t done. ¡°This patron of yours¡ªdoes she have a mission? A goal?¡± Cassis shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± That much was true in the sense that he didn¡¯t think Arianna had any kind of goal right now, and it was also the safest answer to give. The less people knew, the better. A few more questions followed, most of which Cassis dodged with variations of I don¡¯t know or She hasn¡¯t told us. But the important thing? People were listening. And the name Sapphire was spreading. And if Cassis had learned anything from his last life, it was that power wasn¡¯t just about strength. It was also about influence. He hadn¡¯t been like this in his last life. Maybe he had been too angry, too depressed, too much in his despair to care about influencing others. For some reason he had had this drive to survive but beyond that he often had felt empty. As the conversation continued, Cassis took note of the changes happening among the survivors. Some of the stronger fighters in the larger groups had reached Level 5, either from their kills during the battle or simply from surviving the first wave. From what he could gather, their rewards weren¡¯t as generous as what his own group had received. Was it because they had helped? Did that factor into the system¡¯s calculations? The survivors had all gained a level, the title Superior Survivor, and another title that seemed tailored to their individual contributions. It wasn¡¯t too different from what Cassis and his group had received after this second large battle¡ªone level up, and a personalized title. Arianna¡¯s new title was very useful. [Helping Hand] Given to an awakener who turns around in extreme situations and offers those slower than themselves a helping hand. Bonus: Support and healing spells cost 10% less mana. It suited her. It wasn¡¯t a combat-related title, but it reflected the way she kept putting herself at risk to help others. Whether it was dragging injured survivors to safety or healing those in need, she never hesitated. The mana reduction bonus was small, but in the long run, it would add up. Then, he checked his own title. [Steadfast Leader] Given to an awakener who leads a group of 20 people or more and keeps their cool even in dire circumstances. Bonus: People will be more inclined to listen to your opinions and orders. Cassis frowned slightly. He wasn¡¯t quite sure how to feel about it. He had never received a title focused on people before. His previous life had been all about strength, fighting, surviving on his own terms. But now? Now he had a title centred around leadership. Sure, he had been leading, but only because there was no one else who knew what to do. He had the knowledge, the experience¡ªif he didn¡¯t take charge, people would die. That didn¡¯t mean he had ever wanted to be a leader. And yet, here he was. The system itself seemed to recognize it. His fingers twitched slightly at his side. Was this a sign that he was heading down a different path this time? One where survival wasn¡¯t just about himself but about the people around him? His gaze flickered toward Arianna. She had changed things. Maybe, in this life, he wasn¡¯t meant to walk alone. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. After checking in on his own group, Cassis turned back to the gathered survivors. ¡°We¡¯re heading out,¡± he announced, his voice carrying through the hall. ¡°We¡¯re going to check the school and the surrounding neighborhoods. There might still be survivors who need help.¡± At that, Ben immediately perked up. ¡°I¡¯ll come with you.¡± He straightened, determination clear in his eyes. ¡°I haven¡¯t picked a class yet, but I¡¯ve hit Level 5. My friends live near the school¡ªI need to see if they¡¯re okay.¡± His mother started to protest but then looked at the blood still sticking to her son then at her own hands stained red. She bit her lips and remained silent. Cassis nodded to her in understanding. Ben wasn¡¯t a fighter, but he had a good head on his shoulders. With the right class, he could be more likely to survive. Cassis would take care of him. ¡°Fine, but you should pick a class before we head out,¡± Cassis advised. ¡°Maybe a mage.¡± Ben hesitated, but before he could respond, others began stepping forward. Luke Bristol volunteered next. ¡°Count me in. Can¡¯t sit around while people out there are still in danger. You saved my Nadine and Violet, now I¡¯ll pay it forward and save other people.¡± Max and his wife, Susan, exchanged a glance before Max nodded. ¡°We¡¯re coming too.¡± Helen stretched with a lazy grin. ¡°I could use some fresh air. Let¡¯s go.¡± Most of the volunteers were already experienced fighters¡ªthose who had managed to hold their own against the first wave and consequently reached level 5. The rest of the survivors, however, looked exhausted or unwilling to set foot outside again. Cassis didn¡¯t blame them. The first time he had lived through this, he had felt the same way. ¡°I¡¯ll stay behind,¡± Terrence spoke up. ¡°Someone needs to make sure the rest of the group stays safe.¡± Cassis inclined his head in approval. Terrence had chosen the Warrior class upon hitting Level 5 and had the makings of a solid frontline fighter. Having him stay behind would keep the others safer. Just because there weren¡¯t any monsters in the area now didn¡¯t mean some wouldn¡¯t wander in in the next few hours. Helen, on the other hand, was already a Level 5 Ranger. Cassis was willing to bet she¡¯d take the Thief¡¯s route when she advanced her class¡ªexactly the kind of thing she would do. He smirked at the thought. In the end, the group was set. Two rangers: Helen and Susan, one mage: Ben, and five warriors: Max, Fiona, Boris, Juliano and Tim, joined them. Before they left, Cassis made sure everyone was properly armed. He handed Max his old basic sword, watching as the man tested its weight with an approving nod. Arianna followed suit, giving Ben her old baseball bat. Then, she turned to the rangers. With a flick of her hand, she pulled out a set of bows and quivers from her inventory¡ªbasic weapons, but more than enough to get the job done. ¡°From Sapphire. It¡¯s to make you more effective in a fight. The arrows will refill automatically by using your mana,¡± she informed them, handing them over. Susan turned the bow over in her hands, looking both awed and slightly overwhelmed. Helen, of course, took hers with an easy grin, already testing the drawstring. The other warriors would have to use what they had as Arianna¡¯s CP wasn¡¯t endless. With everyone armed and ready, Cassis turned toward the doors. ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± And with that, they stepped out into the ruined streets, heading toward the school. The streets were eerily empty at first, the only sounds their careful footsteps echoing against the abandoned buildings. The absence of monsters was good¡ªCassis knew that would only hold for about a kilometre, just like the system had said. After walking over a kilometer from City Hall, the first groups of creatures started appearing. It began with small clusters of two or three, easily dispatched, but as they pressed forward, the numbers increased. Soon, they were facing groups of up to fifteen monsters at a time. This time, however, the fights weren¡¯t nearly as desperate. Cassis had instructed the new fighters to form their own party since each group was limited to ten members. He brought Ben and Helen into his own party, while the rest formed another with Susan as their leader. It was a good setup¡ªboth parties worked together smoothly, covering each other¡¯s backs as they pushed through the streets. The more they fought, the better the newcomers became. Their strikes were more confident, their teamwork improving with every encounter. Arianna, still low on mana, had taken to fighting purely with her mace, bashing in skulls with surprising efficiency. Cassis smirked to himself¡ªher [Chaotic Healer] title was proving to be quite fitting. Ben seemed to be following her and his father¡¯s example. Rather than relying on magic, he mostly used his baseball bat, swinging with all the force he could muster. Smart choice¡ªsaving mana now meant he¡¯d have it when they truly needed it. The fights continued as they carved their way toward the school, and soon the exhaustion began to set in. Cassis could see it in their movements¡ªthe slight hesitation in their attacks, the heavier breaths between swings. Even his own group, experienced as they were, wasn¡¯t immune to the toll of continuous battle. By the time they reached the school, Cassis made the call to stop. ¡°This way,¡± he said, leading them into a narrow alley they had just cleared. It was a defensible position, with a single entrance and enough space for them to sit and catch their breath. As they slumped against the walls or sat on the ground, the only sound for a moment was their collective panting. Cassis took stock of their condition noting exhaustion but the will to continue. He exhaled, glancing toward the school. Cassis checked the time. It was a little past noon. The monster wave would only last a few more hours, but there was something he hadn¡¯t told the others yet¡ªsomething critical. For the last hour of any monster wave, the creatures would enter a frenzy. It was as if they instinctively knew this was their last chance to kill and feed before they were forced back into their dungeons. During that final hour, monsters would become more aggressive, more unpredictable. They would roam further and attack at the slightest sound or smell, even going so far as to enter houses on their own. That meant they didn¡¯t have much time left to find the survivors and get them to a defensible location before the chaos erupted. Cassis knew that the school¡¯s janitor, Sinu, lived in the house right next to the school with his family. In the previous timeline, most people in this area had managed to survive¡ªuntil the frenzy. Then, one by one, they had fallen. Sinu and his family had been among the victims. Many of Cassis¡¯s former students and colleagues had died as well. He clenched his jaw. He wasn¡¯t going to let that happen again. But they didn¡¯t have time to go from house to house convincing every survivor to band together. They needed a plan. Switching to their private party chat, he reminded Arianna of the frenzy. She cursed over their chat. She had forgotten about it. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time before the frenzy starts. We need to warn our group, clear out as many monsters as possible, and find a stronghold.¡± Arianna was quiet for a moment before responding. ¡°The school would be ideal, but we don¡¯t know what¡¯s inside. Sinu¡¯s house might be easier to defend.¡± Cassis nodded to himself. ¡°Agreed. We should check his house first. If it¡¯s secure, we can use it. If not, we push for the school.¡± ¡°Alright. What about the other survivors? We can¡¯t just leave them scattered in their homes when the frenzy starts.¡± ¡°I know. That¡¯s the problem.¡± Cassis hesitated before adding, ¡°I have an idea. But I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s possible.¡± Arianna perked up. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Can you buy some kind of megaphone from the patron shop?¡± ¡°Wait a sec. Yeah, they¡¯re called amplifiers and cost only 20 CP. Are you thinking of¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, once we¡¯ve cleared most of the monsters in this area, I¡¯ll use it to broadcast a message. We¡¯ll say it¡¯s a revelation from a deity¡ªSapphire¡ªwarning about the monster frenzy and calling survivors to the school.¡± Arianna was silent for a moment. Then, she snorted. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ actually kind of brilliant. Play up the divine knowledge angle, get them to listen.¡± Cassis smirked. ¡°Exactly. If people think a deity is giving them a direct warning, they¡¯ll be more likely to believe us and move quickly. Plus, we can spread your name even further. Maybe you can then finally use the FP for something.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll buy the amplifier now. Let¡¯s warn the others and get moving.¡± Cassis ended the chat and looked at the group. He had no idea how many people they would be able to save, but one thing was certain¡ªthis time, he wasn¡¯t going to let history repeat itself. Chapter 26 Gathering survivors – Arianna Chapter 26 Gathering survivors ¨C Arianna Arianna watched as Cassis filled in the rest of the group about the monster frenzy, calling it a revelation from Sapphire. It was still strange to hear that name spoken as if it belonged to someone else¡ªlike some mysterious, all-knowing entity rather than herself. Shrugging off the thought, she grasped the blue gem hanging from her necklace and resumed meditating, pulling in the lingering mana from the air. She would need every bit of strength she could muster for their plan to work. The others listened with tense expressions. Fear flickered in their eyes, but it didn¡¯t paralyze them. If anything, it only hardened their resolve. Ben, in particular, gripped his baseball bat tightly, his knuckles white. ¡°I should talk to them too,¡± he said. ¡°The people in this neighborhood know me. If they hear my voice, they¡¯ll trust the warning.¡± Cassis nodded. ¡°Good idea. The more familiar voices, the better.¡± With the plan agreed upon, they pressed forward toward the wide avenue in front of the school. Even from a distance, Arianna could see the shadowy figures of monsters moving among the abandoned cars and debris. Growls and hissing noises filled the air as the creatures noticed them. Then, the first groups charged. The fight was relentless. Even though they were stronger than before, the sheer number of monsters made it difficult to avoid injuries. Arianna stayed close to the group while fighting herself, watching as cuts, bruises, and deeper wounds formed on her allies. The mages, relying heavily on Magic Missile in the middle of their group, were starting to wear down. Arianna rushed to a warrior whose arm was bleeding heavily from a gnash in his bicep. She pressed her palm against the wound, sending a burst of warm light into the skin. It wasn¡¯t a full heal, but enough to keep him moving. That was all she could afford right now. Little by little, they pushed forward, fighting through the monstrous horde until, finally, the avenue was clear. Breathing heavily, they turned toward the small house beside the high school. Cassis stepped up to the door and knocked firmly. ¡°Sinu! It¡¯s Cassis.¡± For a moment, there was silence. Then, the door cracked open just enough for a pair of cautious eyes to peek through. When Sinu saw Cassis standing there, his expression shifted from suspicion to relief. The door swung wide open, and the large man pulled Cassis into a firm hug, clapping him on the back. ¡°Cassis, my man! So that announcement really was about you. Didn¡¯t take you for a fighter, but damn, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re here. Come in.¡± They stepped inside, where the warmth of a lived-in home stood in contrast to the chaos outside. Sinu¡¯s wife, Kate, stood with their three children¡ªtwo of whom were teenagers. The teens hesitated before greeting Cassis with a polite, ¡°Hello, Mr. Walker.¡± Cassis gave them a small smile before addressing the family. He explained everything¡ªthe approaching frenzy, the danger of staying here, and their plan to gather survivors in a defensible location. Sinu rubbed his chin. ¡°I don¡¯t know about some deity, but I believe you. You¡¯re the reason our youngest is going to survive, after all. He¡¯s only 10.¡± He exhaled heavily before shaking his head. ¡°But this house won¡¯t hold. The walls are thin, and there¡¯s not enough space. If we¡¯re bringing more people together, the gymnasium is a better bet. The walls are thick, and while there are three entrances, the windows are high enough that monsters shouldn¡¯t get in from there.¡± Arianna exchanged a glance with Cassis. He seemed to agree. ¡°We¡¯ll need to clear it and the school first,¡± Cassis said. ¡°And we need to move fast. There isn¡¯t much time left¡± They quickly formed a new plan: Cassis¡¯s party would escort Sinu and his family while securing the gymnasium and school. The second group, led by Susan, would sweep the surrounding streets, eliminating as many monsters as possible while looking for survivors. ¡°When you hear my announcement,¡± Cassis told them, ¡°that¡¯s your cue to start bringing people in. But don¡¯t wait too long. When the mana in the air shifts, you need to be back here immediately.¡± ¡°How will we know when it shifts?¡± one of the warriors asked. Cassis¡¯s expression darkened. His voice was steady, but Arianna could see the weight of his memories pressing down on him. ¡°You¡¯ll know,¡± he said simply. Then, after a beat, he added, ¡°At least, according to Sapphire.¡± Arianna squeezed his hand gently, grounding him. He glanced at her and gave a small squeeze in return¡ªsilent thanks. The plan was set. Now, they just had to survive long enough to see it through. Arianna stood in the gymnasium with Cassis and Sinu¡¯s family, exhaling in relief. Clearing the school had been easier than expected¡ªonly a few weak F-rank monsters had been lurking inside. Now, with Sinu, Kate, and their three children safe, they had to focus on securing the space. Cassis directed the group as they dragged thick sports mats and heavy gym equipment to barricade two of the three entrances to the gymnasium. It wouldn¡¯t hold forever, but it would at least slow the monsters down if they tried to break in. Once everything was secured, Cassis took the amplifier from her¡ªa small, round piece of metal inscribed with delicate runes. It barely weighed anything, yet its function was undeniable. ¡°We should make the announcement from outside,¡± Cassis said. ¡°If monsters hear it, they¡¯ll come for us instead of the gym.¡± Arianna nodded. Together, they left the gymnasium, leaving Helen, Marcus, and Danielle behind to guard the people inside in case something slipped past them. They made their way through the school grounds and onto the main avenue. The streets were eerily empty¡ªtoo empty. The silence was unnerving, but Arianna knew it wouldn¡¯t last. Cassis took a deep breath, then activated the amplifier. His voice rang out, amplified across multiple streets. **¡°Everybody in this neighborhood, please listen carefully. My name is Cassis Walker. I¡¯m here with Arianna Sloane and Ben Ranislav. We were warned about a coming monster rampage by our patron deity, Sapphire, who has already helped us survive and achieve the world announcement. We have secured the high school gymnasium and ask you to come here to seek shelter. I know the streets are still full of monsters, but we will be out there shortly to escort you back. Another party with our friends is already doing that. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. If you cannot make it to us, secure your home and hide. I hope you survive.¡±** He handed the amplifier to Ben. Ben hesitated for a second, then lifted it to his lips. ** ¡°I¡¯m Ben Ranislav, and I live in this neighbourhood. Some of you might know me. Please, come to the high school. It¡¯s safer here than at home. Mr. Walker and his group will protect us.¡± ** When he finished, he handed the amplifier back to Arianna with a slight shudder. ¡°I¡¯ve never liked talking in front of people.¡± Arianna smiled. ¡°You did great.¡± She wanted to say more, but a chorus of guttural roars interrupted her. The sound of their broadcast had drawn attention. The streets, once still, now buzzed with movement. Dozens of monsters had begun converging toward them, attracted by the noise. Cassis and Arianna exchanged a look. No words were needed. ¡°Ben get back to the gymnasium and tell the others to stand by,¡± Cassis ordered. Ben looked ready to argue, but Cassis fixed him with a firm stare¡ªthe kind that brooked no room for debate. Ben swallowed, nodded, and ran back toward the gym. That left just the three of them. Arianna tightened her grip on her mace. Cassis and Liam unsheathed their swords. Then, they ran into the streets. They moved fast, clearing a path as they went. The monsters came in waves¡ªmutated dogs, bloated rat-like creatures, and shambling humanoid abominations like kobolds and goblins. Cassis¡¯s sword flashed as he cut through them, Liam was less practiced but had become quite proficient with cutting down the monsters. Meanwhile Arianna crushed skulls with her mace, raw power flowing through her limbs. They had become a well-oiled machine. When Cassis struck, Liam and Arianna covered his back. When Arianna pushed forward, the other two kept pace. Between fights, they knocked on doors and shouted for survivors. Some people peeked out cautiously, afraid to trust them. Others hesitated, unwilling to leave their homes. But many more ran toward them, gripping makeshift weapons, carrying children, desperate for safety. Whenever they gathered a small group, they escorted them toward the school entrance before plunging back into the fray. They saw flashes of movement down side streets¡ªSusan¡¯s party doing the same thing. The plan was working. Then, they came across a house that made Arianna¡¯s heart clench. It was a two-story home with a shattered window on the first floor. Blood stained the doorstep. The door creaked open, revealing a teenage girl with wide, tear-streaked eyes. She gasped at the sight of them. ¡°Mr. Walker!¡± she cried, desperation thick in her voice. Cassis stepped forward immediately, placing his hands on her shoulders. ¡°Janice. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re safe. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Her breath hitched. ¡°Mr. Walker¡­ please help. My parents¡­ my parents are dead, but I need to get my siblings to the school.¡± She was shaking, but she stood tall, holding herself together for the sake of those behind her. Four children peeked out from behind her. Two teenage boys ¨C twins ¨C nodded at Cassis, murmuring, ¡°Mr. Walker.¡± The other two were much younger¡ªone looked around ten, the other a toddler no older than three. Arianna felt a lump in her throat. ¡°We¡¯re getting them out of here,¡± Cassis said, his voice steady. Janice scooped up the ten-year-old boy, and one of her brothers carefully picked up the toddler. Then, together, they ran. The second they hit the streets, Arianna felt the mana shift. The air grew thick, pressing down on her like an invisible weight. Her breath hitched, and she turned to Cassis. He met her gaze and gave a small nod. He felt it too. The frenzy was about to start. They needed to run faster. But the teenagers struggled to keep pace with them, burdened by the younger children. The monsters noticed. Before, their Monster Bane I titles had kept them from drawing too much attention. But now, carrying defenseless survivors, they stood out like a beacon. The monsters rushed them. Cassis, Liam and Arianna fought as they ran, slashing and smashing anything that got too close. Janice and her brothers pushed forward, their breathing ragged as they clutched the little ones. It felt endless. Every street they turned onto held more creatures. The school felt so far away. But they kept going. Finally, the gymnasium came into view. Fighters stood at the entrance, waving at them. They ran full-speed through the open entrance. The other group of unknown fighter engaged with the monsters still chasing them. Arianna skidded to a stop, panting. She looked up¡ªand her breath caught in her throat. The gymnasium was packed. Hundreds of people were crammed inside. Survivors huddled in tight clusters; eyes wide with fear. Fighters stood at the barricaded entrances, weapons drawn, ready to defend their fragile sanctuary. She counted quickly. At least 300 people. They had saved more than she had expected. But the second party still wasn¡¯t back. Cassis stood beside her, tense, scanning the gymnasium. He looked toward the gym doors, his expression unreadable. They didn¡¯t have much time left. The mana in the air thickened further. Arianna tightened her grip on her mace. The frenzy was about to begin. And the others were still out there. The tension inside the gymnasium was thick, pressing down on everyone like an invisible weight. The air buzzed with anxious murmurs as the survivors huddled together, their gazes flicking toward the barricaded entrances. Arianna, Cassis and Liam barely had time to catch their breath before Helen and Ben approached, taking charge of Janice and her siblings. Ben gave the teenage boys a nod, familiarity in his expression. ¡°I know them from school,¡± he told Arianna quietly. ¡°I¡¯ll help them settle in.¡± Helen smiled reassuringly at Janice, leading her and the younger children toward a quieter corner of the gym. ¡°We¡¯ll take care of them.¡± Liam went to find his parents to update them. With that settled, Arianna and Cassis finally sat down against the cool floor of the gymnasium, exhaling deeply. Arianna clutched her necklace and closed her eyes, slipping into meditation. She let the residual mana in the air flow into her body, refilling the reserves she had drained throughout the recent fights. Across from her, Cassis did the same, gripping the hilt of his sword as he steadied his breathing. They had gathered so many people. But they weren¡¯t safe yet. Arianna wasn¡¯t sure how long they had been resting when the first monstrous roar shattered the fragile silence. A tremor of fear rippled through the gathered survivors. Children whimpered. Some adults clutched weapons tighter. Then, more roars echoed through the streets, overlapping into a deafening chorus. Arianna¡¯s eyes snapped open. The frenzy had begun. She and Cassis pushed to their feet at the same time, exchanging a knowing look before striding toward the gymnasium¡¯s entrance. Several fighters were already standing guard, their knuckles white around their weapons. They stepped outside, the cool air carrying the thick, metallic scent of blood. That¡¯s when they saw them. The second party was running toward them, a cluster of survivors in their middle. And behind them¡ª Monsters. Dozens of them, eyes burning red, their bodies quivering with uncontrollable hunger. They had fully succumbed to the frenzy. It was a desperate escape. The second party fought as they ran, hacking down monsters that got too close, but more kept coming. Arianna and Cassis didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Move!¡± Cassis ordered, sprinting forward. Arianna followed at his heels, some of the stationed fighters running with them. They had to reach them before the monsters did. Halfway down the street, they finally met the fleeing group. ¡°Keep running!¡± Arianna shouted at them. Susan, at the front of the group, gave a curt nod, leading the survivors toward the school. Arianna and Cassis turned to meet the monsters head-on. The impact was immediate. The frenzied creatures threw themselves at them with reckless abandon, clawing and snapping, with no sense of self-preservation. A mutated hyena lunged at a fighter, its teeth clamping down on his arm. The man screamed. Cassis cut the beast down in a single, fluid motion, freeing the fighter before it could tear his limb off completely. Arianna rushed to him, pouring healing energy into the wound. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it reattached his almost severed arm stopped the bleeding enough for him to keep fighting. Another wave of monsters charged. They barely had time to catch their breath before being forced into another brutal clash. Frenzied monsters were stronger¡ªfaster, more vicious, unrelenting. They didn¡¯t hesitate. They didn¡¯t retreat. They only attacked, mindlessly driven by hunger and the need to kill. Arianna ducked as a clawed beast swiped at her head, retaliating with a crushing swing of her mace. The impact sent the monster sprawling, but another immediately leaped into its place. Every time they cut one down, two more appeared. Slowly, they began falling back toward the school. They had to make it back before they were overwhelmed. Arianna kept her magic focused on healing the worst injuries, her movements precise, efficient. She couldn¡¯t afford to waste mana. Another fighter stumbled. A monster lunged¡ª Cassis intercepted it, slicing through its throat before it could finish its attack. Another roar¡ªmore creatures pouring from the side streets, sensing the chaos. Arianna¡¯s breath was ragged. They were almost there. One last push¡ª They broke through. Stumbling back through the school gates, they slammed the doors shut behind them. The stationed fighters immediately took over, weapons raised as they formed a defensive line. Arianna staggered into the gymnasium, her heart hammering in her chest. They had made it. Now they just needed to last an hour. Chapter 27 The frenzy – Cassis Chapter 27 The frenzy ¨C Cassis The door they had just come through shuddered violently under the weight of monsters, their frenzied screeches echoing through the gymnasium. The battered frame cracked, but before the creatures could force their way inside, the defensive line surged forward, weapons raised. Cassis stepped back, watching as his mother, father, and Helen joined the line, pushing against the tide of monsters. The other two entrances were under siege as well, but the makeshift barricades of sports equipment held surprisingly well. For now. He exhaled, shoulders tense. They had to hold out. Behind him, Arianna was already seated on the floor, eyes closed, meditating to replenish her mana. She had adapted to this brutal cycle of fighting, healing, resting¡ªonly to do it all over again with a terrifying speed. Too fast. Even for someone gifted, she shouldn¡¯t be able to meditate so efficiently yet. His gaze flicked to her. Even as she absorbed mana, people kept coming¡ªnon-fighters shaking her shoulder, begging her to heal another grievous wound. And she did. Again and again, she pushed herself to the limit. Cassis clenched his fists. This wasn¡¯t sustainable. Yet he didn¡¯t stop her. Because they needed her. Arianna¡¯s breathing evened out, and Cassis turned his attention back to the fight. They were still rotating fighters, swapping out the exhausted ones with those who had rested enough to take another round. The injured who could still fight were holding on, their wounds hastily patched up. Then, a voice cut through the chaos. ¡°Mrs Sloane?¡± Cassis glanced to the side and saw a young man, barely older than Ben, sitting next to Arianna. His brown hair was damp with sweat, his hands clutching the fabric of his sleeves as he hesitated. Arianna cracked open one eye, exhaustion flickering across her face. ¡°Yes?¡± The young man swallowed. ¡°I¡ª I¡¯ve been watching you fight. And heal. I¡­ I think I want to become a cleric too.¡± Arianna¡¯s expression softened. Cassis watched as she guided him, explaining the basics between ragged breaths. The young man listened intently, nodding along. Then, after a moment of hesitation¡ª He chose his class. A faint glow surrounded him for a split second, and when it faded, the young man stood, gripping his newfound resolve. He moved closer to the defensive line. Cassis exhaled, letting his body relax for a brief moment. At last, one more cleric. He wouldn¡¯t be as effective as Arianna but this would give her a bit of breathing room. He didn¡¯t want to push people into the direction of cleric. It was a dangerous class that couldn¡¯t fight well on its own. Arianna was ¨C as so often ¨C the exception rather than the rule. There was a reason no clerics had survived as long as he had. As a warrior he could take more grievous injuries, survive a lot more damage and heal up slowly by himself to fight another day. He was also better at running away ¨C something often overlooked. The magic classes just weren¡¯t as fast as him. And most people who had the proclivity to become a cleric were the ones not fighting on the front lines. They kept back and took care of the wounded when possible or provided support from the back. So, most of them would only become awakeners or reach level 5 when the first wave ended and awarded everyone a level and the Survivor title. Cassis gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay focused. Just a few more minutes. That was all they needed. If they could just hold out, the monster flood would end. The creatures would be called back to their dungeons, retreating like a receding tide. But those last few minutes? They would be the worst. He knew this. He had lived through it before. And this place was nothing like his parents'' suburban neighbourhood¡ªwhere the houses were spaced apart, and there had been fewer people, fewer monsters. Nor was it like City Hall, where most of the surrounding area had been offices, not homes. The number of monsters there had been manageable, giving them a chance to kill them all. But here? This was a densely packed city neighbourhood. Sure, there were a few small houses spread out here and there, but most buildings were bigger. Apartment complexes loomed overhead, each one a four-story tomb for the people who had lived there. The sheer number of survivors had meant a higher concentration of monsters, all drawn by the scent of blood, fear, and desperation. And now, with the frenzy in full force, the monsters didn¡¯t hesitate. They threw themselves at the fighters with no regard for their own safety, only the primal need to kill and feed before they were forced back. This wasn¡¯t about winning anymore. There was no way to clear all of the monsters. There were just too many. The only thing they could do was endure. Cassis exhaled, his grip tightening around his sword. They just had to survive. Just for a few more minutes. They were so close. Then¡ª BANG. A deafening crash tore through the gymnasium. One of the barricaded entrances had given in. A surge of monsters poured inside. Screams erupted as the fighters stationed there engaged immediately, clashing with the frenzied creatures in a desperate struggle. Cassis bolted toward the breach. Arianna snapped to her feet, already moving despite the exhaustion pulling at her limbs. This side seemed under control¡ªfor now. But over there? If they didn¡¯t stop the flood, they were all dead. Cassis and Arianna rushed to the breached entrance, only to be met with a monstrous sight¡ªa towering orc, its hulking frame filling the space where the barricade had once stood. That had to be the one that shattered the defences, an E-rank brute too powerful for the others to hold back. The fighters near the entrance were struggling, some barely managing to fend off the smaller monsters pouring in alongside the orc. Bodies lay scattered ¨C dead or alive he didn¡¯t know ¨C, the wounded groaning, their blood slicking the floor. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. "Move!" Cassis barked. "I''ll take it!" The fighters scrambled away, some dragging their injured comrades to safety. From the corner of his eye, Cassis saw Arianna break off, hurrying toward the fallen, her hands already glowing with faint healing light. He forced himself to focus. The orc wielded a massive club, its grotesque muscles flexing as it lifted the weapon high. One swing could end him, but Cassis was faster. He dodged, his sword whipping out, but the orc¡¯s thick hide absorbed most of the damage. Then he made a mistake. There was no room to move, and behind him, dozens of survivors huddled together. He had no choice but to block the next attack. The impact nearly crushed him. Bracing with both hands, he angled his sword to deflect the blow, diverting just enough force to avoid being flattened. Pain exploded through his arms. His breath came in ragged gasps. He was exhausted¡ªthis had been fight after fight, with no time to recover. The orc roared and raised its club again¡ªonly to be bombarded by magic missiles. Cassis glanced back. More survivors had reached level 5 and chosen Mage, their spells now lighting up the battlefield. Then Arianna joined the fight, her mace a blur as she used Bludgeon, the weapon leaving dents and slashes along the orc¡¯s torso. The monster let out a furious roar and swung in a wide arc, its club carving through the air like a battering ram. Cassis barely managed to block, but the force hurled him backward, sending him skidding several meters across the gym floor. Arianna wasn¡¯t as lucky. The orc¡¯s attack caught her full force, and she crashed into the wall with a sickening thud. Cassis¡¯ heart stopped. No. Something in him snapped. He charged, fire igniting along his blade, slashing, striking, hacking, uncaring of his own injuries¡ªthe likely broken ribs, the useless left arm, the deep cuts burning with pain. Then¡ªa surge of warmth. Healing magic flooded through him. His gaze flickered toward Arianna. She was still alive, still conscious, but as he watched, she shuddered and suddenly vomited¡ªmana depletion. The other survivors moved to protect her, forming a defensive ring around her weakened form. But Cassis wasn¡¯t done. With a final burst of burning fury, he lunged at the orc, driving his flaming sword deep into its thick hide. The creature howled, but it refused to fall. It swung again, desperate, wild. This time, Cassis was ready. He dodged, then struck again, and again, pouring every last ounce of his rage and fire into his sword activating Flame Burst. Finally¡ªthe orc collapsed, its charred corpse crashing to the ground. Cassis stood over it, his chest heaving. The acrid stench of scorched flesh filled the gymnasium, mixing with the thick, metallic scent of blood. His arms shook, his breathing came in ragged gasps, but he didn¡¯t care. Because Arianna was alive. He turned, eyes searching for her. She was slumped against the wall, a small crowd of survivors still hovering around her, their faces filled with concern. Someone had placed a blanket around her shoulders, but her skin was pale, and she trembled from mana depletion. Still, she was alive. Cassis let out a shaky breath and forced himself to move. The fight wasn¡¯t over yet. Even as the orc''s corpse smoldered on the gym floor, more monsters poured in through the broken entrance. The fighters near the doorway rushed forward, engaging them with renewed desperation. The survivors had stepped up. Even the newer mages¡ªstill clumsy with their magic¡ªhurled magic missiles, their hands glowing with unstable energy. The warriors, bloody and battered, stood their ground, swinging their weapons despite obvious injuries. They knew. They all knew. Time was almost over. They just had to last a little longer. Cassis tightened his grip on his sword, ignoring the pain radiating through his body. Just a little longer. The battle dragged on, but Cassis knew¡ªit had to be soon. His muscles burned, his breaths came shallow and ragged, and yet he forced himself to keep fighting. Each second felt stretched thin, like the fraying edge of a rope about to snap. They just had to hold on. And then¡ªit happened. Without warning, the monsters froze. The eerie red glow vanished from their eyes, their frenzied snarls fading into silence. As one, they turned¡ªthen bolted toward the gymnasium doors, shoving past each other in a mad dash to flee. Cassis barely kept himself from collapsing as he watched them disappear into the streets. He didn¡¯t know where each dungeon lay, but there had to be some nearby. That¡¯s where they were going¡ªback to the abyss that had spawned them. For a few stunned seconds, no one moved. Then¡ªa collective exhale. Some fighters sank to their knees, their weapons slipping from shaking hands. Others simply stood still, their bodies trembling, as if waiting for the world to prove this was real. They had survived. They had won. Cassis didn¡¯t waste another moment. His body protested every step, but he dragged himself toward Arianna, where she sat, meditating again, trying to recover. He sank down beside her and reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against her shoulder. She opened her eyes. For a moment, she just looked at him, as if waiting for him to say it, to confirm what she already knew but didn¡¯t quite believe. He gave a tired, crooked smile. "It¡¯s over," he murmured. "We won." And as if to confirm his words, the System chimed. [Congratulations. You have survived the first monster wave by holding out until the time limit. Level gained. Title: Survivor gained.] [Error.] [Already overcame the first monster wave.] [Recalculating rewards¡­] [Congratulations. You have survived another monster wave by holding out until the time limit. Level gained. Title: Daredevil gained.] [Recorded in Avaria¡¯s Hall of Fame] [World Announcement: Access granted to Avaria¡¯s Hall of Fame] The Hall of Fame again? Cassis had never heard of it before in the other timeline and now this was the third time he had been recorded in it. And it seemed now everybody could watch it. But in his current state, exploring it would have to wait. He lowered himself beside Arianna, their shoulders brushing. A small, grounding touch¡ªone he took comfort in. He closed his eyes, exhausted beyond words, as she returned to her meditation. He looked at his new title: [Daredevil] Given to an awakener who jumps into danger disregarding their own safety. Bonus: When using an offensive stance attack will be boosted. That was also new. He had never gotten a title like that as he had always fought safely. He hadn¡¯t wanted to die and there was no one left to die for, so he fought defensively, prepared to run away any moment. This would be a big change for him and his fighting style. He knew that he got the title because of his fight with the Orc, but he thought it had already started during the fight with the Hobgoblin. In both fights Arianna had almost died. That was what it took for him to disregard his safety and attack. He sighed. Around them, the survivors stirred. For a long moment, there was only stunned silence. Then, the tension snapped. Shouts. Sobs. Laughter. People hugged, collapsed to their knees, clung to each other as if afraid they would vanish. But amidst the relief, there was grief¡ªa deep, raw pain that filled the air with wailing and broken cries. There were still wounded. Arianna rose immediately, moving toward the worst off. Cassis followed, unwilling to let her push herself past her limit again. A golden glow flickered in the distance. Another healer. A middle-aged woman, her face drawn but determined, hands glowing as she pressed them to an injured man¡¯s chest. Nearby, the young man who had spoken to Arianna earlier was also channelling healing magic, tending to the gravely injured. Then¡ªSinu and Helen appeared beside him. He turned, questioning. Helen gave him a tired, but fierce smile. ¡°We survived. No one died here.¡± Cassis froze. No casualties? The orc¡¯s rampage, the relentless onslaught¡ªhe had seen bodies fall. He had seen blood. Arianna. That was all Helen said. His gaze snapped to Arianna, who was still moving between the wounded, her hands glowing faintly even as she swayed with exhaustion. She had saved them all with her ability to heal so much more than a regular cleric. Cassis swallowed hard, awe settling deep in his chest. How? Even with her talent, even with her monstrous skill progression¡ªthis shouldn¡¯t have been possible. Is it because she¡¯s a deity? There were too many questions, too many unknowns about her and the power she wielded so effortlessly. And yet¡ªbefore he could dwell on it, more people gathered around him. They weren¡¯t injured. They weren¡¯t seeking healing. They were seeking answers. Sapphire. They asked about her, who she was, about why she had chosen to help them. Why a deity had granted them a warning, guidance, a chance to survive. Cassis took a steadying breath and spoke. He painted Sapphire as Arianna had presented herself in the other timeline¡ªa benevolent and compassionate deity, not all-powerful, but one who fought with everything she had to save as many mortals as possible. He wasn¡¯t prepared for what happened next. Some of them¡ªdropped to their knees. Heads bowed, hands clasped, prayers spilled from their lips¡ªgratitude, devotion, promises to follow her from now on. Cassis could only stare. Arianna ¡­ was gaining followers. Chapter 28 Finally – Arianna Chapter 28 Finally ¨C Arianna Arianna placed her hands on the last injured survivor, letting healing light seep into their wounds. With a shuddering breath, she released the spell, her body swaying slightly as the golden glow faded. It was over. She had healed everyone she could. If it weren¡¯t for the new clerics, she never would have lasted this long. The battle had ended, but the healing continued long after, and she had been running on fumes. But there were two reasons she had been able to push through at all. Her skill Willpower let her push through terrible pain, and consequently through her limits and exhaustion. It¡¯s rank had already risen to Beginner. And then there was her new title. [Untiring] Given to an awakener who has successfully finished at least three cycles of fighting, meditating, fighting¡­ lasting for several hours. Bonus: Health and mana regeneration rise by 30% Arianna exhaled sharply. It was a great title, but just thinking about all the fighting and meditating that had earned it gave her a headache. She was proud¡ªso damn proud¡ªof what she and Cassis had done. They had saved so many people. But it had been too much. Right now, all she wanted was to collapse and sleep for a week. And then¡ªmore system messages appeared. This time, they weren¡¯t in the usual blue. They were green. Her Patron messages. [Your fame level has risen. You are now Recognized ¨C A small group of people know about you, usually within a specific circle or community.] [Unlocked Fame Shop.] [Unlocked Patron Chat.] Arianna blinked. What? Why had her Fame suddenly risen? She looked up, scanning the gymnasium¡ªand froze. People were kneeling. Praying. She heard her name. Her Patron name. Her stomach dropped. Why were they praying to her?! Her eyes snapped to Cassis, who stood in the middle of the group, looking just as startled as she felt. ¡­Just what had he told them? Her thoughts swirled, but she couldn¡¯t deal with this right now. Not yet. At least the healing was done. No one would blame her if she took a break. Moving on instinct, she slid down against the gymnasium wall, shutting out the noise. She needed answers. She opened her Patron Status screen.
Patron Status Screen
51 followers. Arianna stared at the number. ¡­What the hell just happened? She stared at the number of followers again, still unable to believe what she was seeing. Fifty-one people were following her. She had no idea why. Or how. She¡¯d have to ask Cassis later¡ªhe was definitely involved. For now, she focused on something far more interesting. Her CP total. She flipped through her system messages again, checking and double-checking the numbers. 3,760 CP. Over three thousand CP. Arianna exhaled sharply. That was¡ªa lot. After regaining some focus, she decided to open the Fame Shop, curious about what exactly she had unlocked. And what she found was unbelievable.
Fame Shop
Arianna froze, eyes scanning the list again and again. Spells. Skills. Features. Titles. Special Perks? She could buy them? For herself? For Cassis? It was expensive¡ªridiculously expensive¡ªbut the fact that it was even possible made her breath catch. If gaining followers meant access to this, then maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªshe could get used to the idea of people praying to her. Even if the very thought made her want to run away and hide. One step at a time. For now, she closed the Fame Shop and turned her attention to something else that had caught her eye. [Unlocked Patron Chat] She had no idea what that meant. There were no known Patrons yet¡ªat least, not publicly¡ªso maybe that was why it said there weren¡¯t enough members yet. She wondered when it would open. And who she¡¯d be able to talk to. Would it be other Patrons? Or would it somehow let her communicate with her followers? She didn¡¯t know. But she¡¯d find out¡ªeventually. For now, while she was already checking things, she opened her Pseudo-Awakener status. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
Pseudo Status Page
Arianna¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. Her level had increased. That wasn¡¯t surprising¡ªfighting and healing through a monster wave should have done that. Her mana saturation had also risen. But what really caught her attention was her Titles. She hadn¡¯t even realized she had so many. Was this normal? But Cassis should have around the same amount as her. Time passed while Arianna remained focused on her status page, processing everything she had just learned. When she finally exited the menu, she noticed something different. The gymnasium was emptier than before. People were leaving¡ªheading back to their homes. Many were on their phones, talking in hushed but urgent voices. The devices worked again¡ªa temporary relief before the chaos of the third wave would eventually hit. For now, humanity was reconnecting. Arianna exhaled softly. She pushed herself to her feet, stretching stiff muscles, then scanned the room for Cassis. She found him easily. He was surrounded by his family and students. Most of them gathered around him, eyes wide with awe, calling him Mr. Walker and marvelling at their history teacher¡ªwho turned out to be a total badass. Arianna couldn¡¯t help but smile. Cassis. A history teacher in highschool. She was still struggling to match that image of him with the warrior she had watched on her screen before being dragged into this world. But now that she was actually getting to know him, beyond the skilled fighter, it made a strange kind of sense. He had a natural leadership to him¡ªpeople looked to him in a crisis, followed his orders without hesitation. And, despite his tired and battle-worn appearance, he still had a caring side. Maybe teaching really did suit him. Her gaze shifted, landing on Janice. The girl was on the phone, crying again. She had been through so much. One of her younger brothers had his arm wrapped around her, while the other was tending to the even younger siblings. Arianna decided to make a detour towards them. The brother with Janice noticed her first. "What¡¯s going on?" she asked gently. "We managed to call our uncle," he said, voice thick with relief. "He''s still alive. He''s coming here to get us." Arianna felt some of the tension in her chest ease. A family member¡ªa responsible adult¡ªwas coming to take care of them. That was good. She smiled at them, squeezing Janice¡¯s shoulder lightly before turning back towards Cassis. By now, the gymnasium had nearly emptied. Only a few stragglers remained, hesitant to step outside after everything that had happened. Cassis was cautioning the last few people. "Please be careful," he warned, voice steady but firm. "There might be some new mutated monsters roaming around. Nothing like what we¡¯ve faced the last two days, but don¡¯t let your guard down." Arianna watched as the final group nodded, thanked him, and left. Then, finally, he turned to her. "Time to go home," he said. Arianna let out a breath she hadn¡¯t realized she was holding. "Yeah," she agreed. Cassis¡¯s family was also preparing to leave, wanting to return to their house. They had been on their phones earlier, trying to reach loved ones. But nobody picked up. Originally, Cassis and Arianna had planned to escort them¡ªbut the family refused. Their car was parked on the outskirts of the city, in the opposite direction of Cassis¡¯s apartment. And instead of Arianna and Cassis they would take Luke Bristol and Helen with them. So they had enough fighters. "You two should go home and rest," his mother insisted. ¡°We¡¯re going to be alright,¡± his father said. And Liam promised: ¡°I¡¯ll call when we¡¯re home safe.¡± For a moment, Cassis hesitated¡ªbut eventually, he agreed. One by one, they said their goodbyes. And, finally, Arianna and Cassis stepped out of the gymnasium¡ªleaving behind the battlefield that had almost become their grave. Arianna sat on Cassis¡¯s couch, freshly showered ¨C dressed in another pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt from Cassis, her hair wrapped in one of his towels ¨C as she waited for him to finish his turn. The apartment was quiet, no sound coming from beyond the closed windows. She exhaled softly, sinking into the cushions. Her body still ached from the endless battles, but the hot shower had helped ease some of the tension. For now, she could simply sit and let her mind drift. And, of course, it drifted back to the long walk they had taken to get here. The apartment complex was located near the high school¡ªat least, it was close when traveling by car or public transport. But without either? They had walked for over an hour to reach it. And by the time they arrived, Arianna had been so exhausted she had just put one foot in front of the other. The journey had taken them through streets marked by destruction. Blood painted the asphalt, smeared across walls and sidewalks, stark reminders of the horrors that had unfolded over the past two days. Some buildings had collapsed, windows shattered, vehicles left abandoned in the middle of the road. But despite the devastation, people had begun to emerge. Not many, but enough to remind her that the world hadn¡¯t ended just yet. Some were cleaning up debris. Others were helping the wounded, setting up makeshift stations for those who had been left behind. And, most notably¡ªthere was hope in their eyes. Now that the monsters had disappeared, people were starting to believe they had a chance. That maybe, just maybe, they could survive this. In the middle of their journey, Liam called to tell them they had arrived at home and that Luke had gone straight to the Morrisons¡¯ to get to Nadine and Violet. At least one happy end to this crazy weekend. Arianna had walked into Cassis¡¯s apartment right behind him, her steps slow and heavy with exhaustion. It was a simple one-bedroom space¡ªnothing extravagant, but comfortable. The living room doubled as a dining area, with a small kitchen tucked into the corner. A short hallway led to the bathroom and bedroom, where a king-sized bed took up most of the space. There was also a wardrobe and a desk, likely used more for grading papers than anything else. The decor was exactly what she expected from him¡ªfunctional, with no unnecessary embellishments. White walls. Grey couch. A black-and-white coffee table that matched the overall monochrome aesthetic. It wasn¡¯t cold, though. Just¡­ practical. Much like Cassis himself. Arianna let out a tired chuckle, shaking her head as she pulled the towel off her hair and began drying them off. She just wanted to close her eyes and breathe. The bathroom door opened, and Cassis stepped out, dressed in sweatpants and a simple t-shirt, mirroring Arianna¡¯s post-shower outfit. His damp hair was slightly dishevelled, and there was something softer about him in this moment¡ªwithout his sword, without the weight of battle on his shoulders. He looked at her, sitting on his couch, her exhaustion written in every line of her body. ¡°You should get some sleep,¡± he said, voice low but firm. ¡°My bed¡¯s yours tonight. We¡¯ll talk about everything tomorrow.¡± Arianna let out a long sigh, too tired to argue, and forced herself to stand. Her muscles protested the movement, and she let out an involuntary groan as she stretched. Cassis smirked but didn¡¯t comment. First, she stopped by the bathroom, depositing the wet towel form her hair onto its hanger. Then she washed her underwear and hung it into the shower. It was uncomfortable without underwear, but she had been wearing it for days now and it just felt gross. Then she shuffled towards the bedroom, but as she reached the doorway, she hesitated. Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her borrowed clothes. She turned back to him. ¡°¡­Where will you sleep?¡± ¡°The couch.¡± Arianna nodded, but her stomach twisted. Last night¡ªwas it really only yesterday?¡ªshe had had a terrible nightmare. She had felt so helpless during it. He had woken her, letting her sob into him and then held her for the rest of the night. She didn¡¯t want to be alone again. What if she had a nightmare again? She couldn¡¯t go through that again. She didn¡¯t want to be alone. She swallowed, embarrassed by the thought. More embarrassed by what she was about to ask. Because despite the exhaustion, despite the unspoken trust between them, there was still that undercurrent of tension. She thought back to this morning and then to the archive in City Hall. It would be dangerous in another sense to have him with her. And yet¡­ ¡°¡­Won¡¯t you come to bed with me?¡± She couldn¡¯t meet his gaze, her hands wringing together as she spoke. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be alone,¡± she admitted, voice barely above a whisper. ¡°What if I dream again?¡± Silence. Then, a soft exhale. ¡°¡­Alright,¡± Cassis said. It was just one word, but it lifted the weight pressing down on her chest. They slipped into the bed, keeping a respectable distance between them. The mattress dipped slightly under their weight, but neither of them moved closer. It was enough just to know the other was there. To hear the quiet, steady sound of breathing in the dark. Arianna felt her body relax, her mind drifting despite itself. They were safe. They had survived. And for tonight, that was enough. Sleep came easily. Chapter 29 A new day – Cassis Chapter 29 A new day ¨C Cassis Cassis woke before dawn. The room was dim, the only light coming from the soft glow of the clock on his nightstand. 5:30 AM. For a moment, he simply breathed, trying to gather his thoughts. And then he became acutely aware of the warmth pressed against him. Arianna was curled into him again, her back to his front, the same way they had woken up yesterday. And just like yesterday, he had a problem. He exhaled slowly, forcing his body to relax. He couldn¡¯t exactly control the way his body reacted, but he could at least get out of bed before she woke up and noticed. Carefully, he extricated himself, moving with measured precision to avoid waking her. Arianna stirred slightly but didn¡¯t wake, letting out a quiet breath as she burrowed deeper into the pillow. Good. Cassis grabbed his notebook from the desk and retreated to the living room, settling onto the couch. He flipped the notebook open, but before anything else, he checked his status screen:
Status Page:
His mana saturation was coming along nicely since the last time he checked. Not surprising, given how much he¡¯d used his magic in the past two days. Energy Perception was still beginner level, which frustrated him. It was supposed to help him sense mana fluctuations more clearly, but right now, it was still weak. He rolled his shoulders, stretching out the stiffness from yesterday¡¯s battles. They had won, but this was just the beginning. Arianna¡¯s status was probably as insane as his at this point, considering the sheer amount of healing and fighting she had done. And then there was the matter of her patron status. He still didn¡¯t fully understand what it meant for her to be a deity. But one thing was clear¡ªshe was great at mana control, and she was getting stronger fast. And she was going to keep fighting, so he needed to make sure he became much stronger. He had to fight by her side, protecting her. For that he needed a good advanced class. The system still wasn¡¯t registering his skills at their true levels. If he wanted to get a good class for this advancement, he needed to force the system to recognize his real combat ability. That meant training. Arianna needed it too. She had raw talent, no question about it. But even with her strength and abilities, she had gaps in her technique. If they wanted to survive the dungeon breaks, she needed a class that suited her, and for that, she had to train efficiently. The nearby park should be good enough for that, at least for now. But before training, they had to talk about what they were going to do moving forward. The world would need time to recover as well, and it would never go back to what it was before. This weekend would go down in history as the Bloody Weekend¡ªthe two days where over one-third of the world¡¯s population was wiped out. The streets would be quiet for now, with only a few mutated animals and plants appearing. F-rank threats, nothing they couldn¡¯t handle. But the real problem wasn¡¯t the mutated wildlife, at least not where humans lived. The forests, mountains and seas were a different thing. For them the danger lay with the dungeons. Dungeon breaks would start happening in about a month. The world government would take control of the dungeons, trying to study them, but they wouldn¡¯t have the manpower to clear them in time. And why? Because the system had targeted the military during the Bloody Weekend. Most of the world''s trained soldiers had been either killed or severely weakened in the first wave, throwing everything into chaos. Now the government would start recruiting Awakeners, but that was going to be a hard sell. Most survivors wouldn¡¯t trust the military anymore. They¡¯d seen how disposable soldiers had become in the eyes of the system. No one wanted to be thrown away like a used tissue. That¡¯s when people would start realizing something: They could form guilds. The system didn¡¯t show a guild or party menu by default¡ªpeople had to think of it on their own. But the moment someone figured it out, guilds would spread like wildfire. And once guilds formed, they would become a counterbalance to government control. At least at first, before the government had crumbled and then become a criminal organization. Cassis rubbed his chin, thinking it through. For now, they had a few days of relative peace. The military and police would eventually start doing a census, looking for survivors, trying to reestablish order. But until then? They could train without interference. He glanced toward his closed bedroom door. Arianna was still asleep. When she woke up, they would have a lot to discuss. Not just training, but the internet was back now, and it would be exploding with people looking for answers. Answers that no one had. Maybe they could use that. Maybe they should make a webpage or a forum, spreading controlled information about him, Arianna, and Sapphire. Before he did that, though, there was one more thing he needed to check. The Hall of Fame. If their names and action were recorded there, he needed to see what it was. And more importantly¡­ He needed to see if he could use their growing fame to their advantage. Cassis clicked on the Hall of Fame menu, and a list of ten entries appeared before him. At the top, the title read: "Trending Now." Above the list, he noticed several other menu tabs: Every single spot in the top ten list was filled¡ªeach with a blinking "New" tag at the end of the title. His eyes scanned the list. The entries had names like:
  1. Protectors of the Weak
  2. The Second Stand
  3. Until the End
  4. A Desperate Struggle
  5. A Lucky Shot ¡­ and more.
Cassis frowned. He knew that he and Arianna had been recorded three times. But what about the others? In his last life, there had never been a Hall of Fame. Why? Was it because no one had unlocked it? Like the protection for children, maybe it had a hidden condition that simply hadn¡¯t been met. But it seemed like being recorded in it and unlocking it were two different things. He shook his head. He needed to see for himself. With a mental command, he selected the top entry¡ªProtectors of the Weak. A video began playing. Cassis felt his stomach tighten. The footage showed him, Arianna, his family, Nadine, and the Morrisons¡ªall of them struggling to protect baby Jessica. The playback was fast-paced, cutting out unimportant moments and highlighting key scenes of their desperate defence. And then¡ª Cassis¡¯s breath hitched. The footage slowed down during the hobgoblin fight. He saw it again. Arianna on the ground, barely moving, her throat crushed and bleeding out from the hole in her stomach. The exact moment he had almost lost her. His fists clenched. He could feel his jaw tighten as a sharp anger burned in his chest. So, this was out there for everyone to see? It felt like a violation. He didn¡¯t want to see it. But he forced himself to keep watching. The video ended, revealing a set of tags underneath. #CassisWalker #AriannaSloane #ProtectorOfTheWeak #Awakeners #BloodyWeekend Below that, there were two simple buttons: ?? Like ?? Dislike Cassis exhaled slowly. This was just like social media. He closed the video and moved on to the next one. The second video¡ª"The Second Stand"¡ªwas about their battle at City Hall. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The third¡ª"Until the End"¡ªcovered their fight at the gymnasium. Three separate battles. And all three were in the top three trending spots. The other videos were about different people. The fourth one showed a family with a baby desperately struggling against monster. Their baby was screaming and luring monsters just like Jessica. The were outside with a river at their back, fending off monsters again and again. That¡¯s when the baby suddenly stopped crying. The system protection must have kicked it. The family were quick and used a temporary lull to jump into the water and let the river current get them away from the monsters. The fifth video was about a young mage who was surrounded by bodies facing off against a lizard man ¨C E-rank. The lizardman was injured but still standing. The young mage put as much mana as he could into his last Magic Missile and shot it at the monster¡¯s head. He actually managed to kill it like that. Another genius mage. Cassis didn¡¯t watch more videos. He felt terrible watching other people¡¯s tragedies. He went to the "Most Popular" menu. The same three videos about him and Arianna were still in the top spots. People had already started liking them. Cassis didn¡¯t like this. He hated that their struggles¡ªtheir pain¡ªwere being put on display for strangers to watch, judge, and comment on. But¡­ He took a deep breath. Popularity meant power. If they had influence, they could use it. He didn¡¯t know exactly how yet, but one thing was clear¡ª This Hall of Fame could be a tool. And Cassis wasn''t going to waste it. Next Cassis opened his notebook and connected to the internet. The moment the page loaded, he was met with a storm of activity. Social media feeds were flooded with desperate posts. Everywhere, people were searching for answers. But they weren¡¯t just looking for explanations. They also wanted to know more about the new "heroes." Cassis grimaced. Heroes. What a terrible nickname. He clicked through multiple trending threads. There were already clips and screenshots from the Hall of Fame circulating. Some people were praising their fights, calling them protectors, warriors, or even saviours. Others were skeptical. Cassis sighed. It was only a matter of time before theories and conspiracies ran wild. Before he could dive deeper, the sound of a door opening caught his attention. He looked up. Arianna stepped out of the bedroom, still looking half-asleep, her hair messy and her eyes squinting against the light. "Good morning," he greeted with a small smile. She yawned, rubbing her eyes. "Morning." Cassis closed his notebook and stood up. "Let¡¯s eat first," he suggested. Arianna nodded sleepily, following him into the kitchen. Cassis¡¯s kitchen was small but functional. He had some food left, enough for about two or three days. That was about the same time most people would start running out of supplies. By then, supermarkets would reopen, with enterprising owners raising prices, knowing people would be desperate to restock. That was all possible because by then the military would start clearing areas, sending alerts to people¡¯s phones and give security to them that way. They would also station themselves near supermarkets, ensuring that no looting was taking place and using the opportunity to conduct a census. Afterwards they would search the addresses no one had claimed, finding mostly blood splatters and remnants of lives lived but no corpses. The mana particles would have absorbed all dead matter by then ¡­ For now, simple breakfast. Arianna sat at the small dining table, munching on a piece of toast, while Cassis prepared coffee. As she ate, Cassis decided to bring up the Hall of Fame. "So, there¡¯s something I need to tell you." She hummed, still chewing. "Mhm?" "We¡¯re famous." Arianna froze mid-bite. She stared at him, eyes wide. "What?" "The system recorded our fights. People can watch them now. We¡¯re in the Hall of Fame." Arianna¡¯s eyes went even wider. Then¡ª Cough. She started choking on her toast. Cassis quickly grabbed a glass of water, handing it to her. She gulped it down, coughing hard. "We¡¯re WHAT?!" Cassis sighed. "Yeah. That was my reaction too." Cassis filled Arianna in on his plans as they ate. She listened carefully, nodding along. They both agreed¡ª By the time they finished breakfast, the plan was set. They had finalized their plan for the day, but Cassis wanted to wait until 9 AM before leaving. He remembered something important. At exactly 9 AM, there would be an emergency alert on his phone¡ªfrom the World Government¡ªinstructing survivors to tune into the nearest TV or radio for an official announcement. The message would then repeat every hour. Sure enough, when the time came, his phone beeped. Arianna looked at him, curious. "What is it?" "The government broadcast. Let''s watch it." They both moved to the living room, where Cassis turned on the TV. The screen flickered to life. There, standing behind a podium draped with the World Government¡¯s emblem, was the President of the World Council, Shakir Zenet. His expression was solemn, his voice carrying the calm authority of a seasoned politician. "To the brave survivors of this terrible disaster¡­ my deepest condolences for your losses. You have endured something truly catastrophic, and yet you remain standing. For that, I commend you." "At this moment, the military is finally finished with its active engagement in battle. While we have suffered heavy losses, we are committed to regaining control. We ask for your patience as we assess the situation." Of course, he phrased it in a way that softened the truth¡ªthat the government had no information, no real control, and no clear solution. "For your safety, we urge all citizens to remain in secure locations and avoid unnecessary risks. The military and law enforcement will reach your area as soon as possible. When this happens, a new alert will be sent directly to your devices." "Above all, please remain vigilant, stay strong, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªstay kind." Cassis snorted at that last part. "What?" Arianna turned to him. "Nothing. Just¡­ the government." He shook his head, crossing his arms. "At first, they actually cared about helping people. But in the other timeline¡­ that didn¡¯t last." Arianna¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°I know but before the second wave they were great.¡± Cassis sighed. "Yes, you¡¯re right. At first, the government really did everything they could¡ªsecuring the dungeon gates, often even clearing them, relief efforts, even a census and early training for awakeners." Arianna nodded and continued his thought. "But after the second wave, they started changing. The military couldn¡¯t keep up with the monster attacks. Too many politicians and high-ranking officials died, Zenet included¡ªso the ones who took over were more desperate. More ruthless." Cassis chimed in. "That¡¯s when they started forcing awakeners into the military. First, they asked for volunteers. Then they ¡®strongly encouraged¡¯ people to enlist. After that?" They looked at each other grimly and said at the same time. "Conscription. Kidnapping. Slavery." It had only been possible due to an item they had discovered and successfully replicated with a whole department of enchanters, a profession, helping them: The slave collar. Once put on the slave couldn¡¯t refuse the master¡¯s orders or harm the master. Arianna¡¯s stomach turned at the memory. "That was a horrible time. Thankfully they never caught you." Cassis nodded grimly. "It only stopped when the awakeners became too strong to be held captive by the collar and started banding together in guilds. Eventually, the government tried to make a deal with the guilds, but they had already lost their power. By the fifth wave, the government completely collapsed. After that, only the big guilds remained." "But they weren¡¯t any better" Arianna bitterly interjected, most likely remembering some of his run-ins with the big guilds. Cassis laughed, but there was no humour in it. "No. Some were, sure. But most were just as bad, if not worse. They controlled resources, territories, and even people with their overwhelming strength. And they didn¡¯t have to pretend to be fair like a government does." Arianna frowned, thinking. "So what do we do?" "For now? We play along." Cassis leaned back. "For the first few months¡ªmaybe even the first few years¡ªthe government will be our ally. But we have to be careful. Our faces and names are known now. That means we can¡¯t slip past the government¡¯s radar." Arianna nodded, still deep in thought. Hesitantly she voiced an idea: ¡°Maybe we could stop the government from becoming corrupt and evil. Maybe even stop the collapse. After all, a stabile government is needed when a population wants to survive the apocalypse.¡± Cassis nodded thoughtfully. They would have to explore that idea more later on. For now, they needed to become stronger. Because if they ever negotiated with the government it had to be from a place of power. After the broadcast ended, they both stood. "Come on," Cassis said. "Let¡¯s get moving." And with that, they left the house and headed to the park just down the street. It was still early. The city was eerily silent. Even though some people were awake, they most probably had seen the broadcast and weren¡¯t brave enough to step outside just yet. Only the dwindling food supply at home would eventually force them out. That and the message that would come in two days that the military had come and secured one of the bigger shopping malls. For now, the streets remained empty. Which suited them just fine. Cassis and Arianna stood at the entrance of the park. First order of business¡ªStamina training. Arianna groaned when he explained the plan. She looked like she wanted to argue. But to her credit, she didn¡¯t complain. Instead, she silently started running with him. For the first two laps, Cassis kept her pace. He needed to see if she¡¯d give up the moment he pulled ahead. But when he gradually increased his speed, Arianna chased after him. Cassis smirked. She was competitive. That was good. If she didn¡¯t push herself, the training would be pointless. So, he sped up again. Faster. And faster. Until his own breath came in short bursts. But he kept going. They ran for an hour. By the time Cassis called a halt, Arianna collapsed onto the ground. She sat on her knees, heaving breaths. "That was terrible," she gasped. Cassis was breathing hard himself, hands on his knees to keep himself upright. "Small break," he said between breaths. "Then strength training." Arianna let out a whimper. Cassis frowned. Was he really that bad? The morning was devoted to training, a relentless pursuit of endurance and skill. They had already begun with physical conditioning (an hour of running)¡ªan essential foundation before wielding weapons in earnest. The running was then followed by a gruelling cycle of push-ups and sit-ups on the ground, and then pull-ups, chin-ups and balance drills using the park¡¯s equipment. The push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups and chin-ups would strengthen their muscles while the balance drills would hone their stability¡ªan often-overlooked aspect of combat. When Cassis finally called for a short reprieve, Arianna slumped onto a bench, breathing hard. She groaned aloud when he referred to it as merely a warm-up. Cassis, unbothered by the thought of more training, handed her a water bottle and let her recover. There was more to do. After the short break they went on with weapons training. "Draw your weapon," he instructed. With a weary sigh, Arianna reached into her inventory, producing the mace. Cassis took it from her hands, turning it over in his grip, feeling its weight. A mace was not as precise as a sword, nor as swift. But in the right hands, it was a weapon of devastating force. He had been a sword master in the other timeline, still was, but he knew his way around other weapons, too. "Watch carefully," he said. He demonstrated the fundamentals¡ªeach movement deliberate, efficient. Arianna watched with quiet focus, absorbing each technique. But watching and executing were two very different things. When he handed the mace back to her, she took it hesitantly. "Assume your stance," he instructed. She obeyed, gripping the handle tightly and planting her feet. It was¡­ wrong. Cassis sighed and stepped forward, adjusting her posture with precise touches¡ªa hand on her shoulder, a slight nudge to her elbow, a shift in the angle of her grip. She frowned. "This feels unnatural." Cassis chuckled softly. "That¡¯s because your body isn¡¯t used to it yet. You¡¯ve never had to fight before, have you?" Arianna shook her head, then squared her shoulders, determination tightening her expression. She was ready. He had her execute the bludgeon strike several times, each movement was analysed and corrected¡ª A fraction more power. A tighter grip. A sharper angle. When her form was finally acceptable, he took a step back. "Now keep going. Don¡¯t stop until I tell you to." Arianna¡¯s eyes widened slightly. "No set number?" "No set number." Real battles had no predetermined limits. There was no one to say, just ten more strikes and you''re done. And this way she could train her Willpower skill, too. She stared at him for a moment, then let out a small, resigned sigh. But she didn¡¯t complain. Instead, she gritted her teeth and swung. Cassis watched with quiet approval. She didn¡¯t give up easily. The system ¨C and him ¨C had thrown her into the depths of chaos, and she had risen to meet it at every turn. This would be no different. With her occupied, Cassis drew his sword, exhaled slowly¡ª And began his own drills. Chapter 30 The training from hell – Arianna Chapter 30 The training from hell ¨C Arianna Arianna swung her mace down¡ªBludgeon. Again. Her arms felt heavy. Again. Her breath came in ragged gasps. Again. A deep, relentless burn spread from her shoulders down to her fingertips. Her world shrunk¡ªthere was no park, no sky, no morning air cooling the sweat on her skin. Just her. Just the mace. Just the endless cycle of motion and pain. She had long stopped wondering when Cassis would let her rest. There was no point in hoping. There was only enduring. So, she swung. She had stopped using just her arms. That would have been impossible. Instead, she let the force flow from her hips, her stance, her core¡ªjust as Cassis had shown her. The sweat stung her eyes, thankfully, her hair was tied back. She felt like she was drowning in exhaustion. This was worse than fighting monsters. At least then, she had adrenaline, fear, the sharp edge of survival pushing her forward. Here? Here, there was only the merciless weight of the mace and the silent demand to keep going. One more swing. One more. One more. It felt endless. Then finally¡ª "Stop." The word barely registered. Arianna''s fingers loosened involuntarily, and the mace slipped from her grasp, clattering onto the ground. She sank down, gasping for breath. Her health regeneration would heal her faster. She would recover quicker than before. But that didn¡¯t mean it felt good. Whoever said pushing past your limits felt amazing was a damn liar. Cassis let them rest for a bit. Arianna looked at him and saw that he also had sweat running down his face and body. He had pushed himself probably even harder than her. When he called out the end of their rest, Arianna¡¯s arms still trembled as she pushed herself upright, but Cassis gave her no time to linger in exhaustion. "Defensive stance," he instructed. She bit back a groan. She had barely caught her breath, and already, they were moving on. This time, she was to focus on blocking, parrying, deflecting¡ªand, if possible, countering. Cassis demonstrated each movement, his hands guiding her into the correct form, adjusting the angle of her mace, the placement of her feet. It still felt unnatural, but she had learned something from their earlier drills¡ªif she kept at it, the motions would eventually settle into her body. And, just like before, she was to continue until he told her to stop. This was going to be a long day. They finally stopped for food around noon. Arianna could barely hold her sandwich, her arms aching like they had been wrung out and left to dry. Conversation was beyond her, so she ate in silence, chewing mechanically. Cassis looked just as exhausted¡ªsweat dripped from his jawline, dampening the collar of his shirt. But the moment his sandwich was gone, he was back on his feet. ¡°Alright,¡± he announced. ¡°Time to spar.¡± Arianna stared at him in horror. It wasn¡¯t over yet? He must have noticed the panic on her face because he offered a small, amused smile. ¡°We¡¯ll start slow,¡± he reassured her. ¡°You need to get the timing of offense and defence right. And you need to practice dodging.¡± Her stomach sank further. ¡°Will we be fighting with our weapons?¡± she asked warily. ¡°Yes,¡± Cassis said without hesitation. ¡°You need to practice for serious fights, and even if some blows land, you can heal them. Maybe we¡¯ll even get the Pain Resistance skill.¡± Arianna didn¡¯t know where she found the strength, but somehow, she forced herself to stand and reached for her mace. Cassis nodded approvingly. She didn¡¯t want to admit it, but his recognition meant more to her than anything. They took their stances, facing each other. Cassis stepped forward, his blade cutting through the air in a slow, deliberate arc. Arianna brought up her mace to deflect. He followed with a stab¡ªshe parried. She retaliated with Bludgeon¡ªhe countered. At first, their movements were measured, controlled, but after every few successful exchanges, Cassis picked up speed. Faster. Faster. Before long, they were fighting at full intensity. She couldn¡¯t block everything. Small, shallow cuts bloomed on her arms and legs where his sword slipped past her defences. They stung. But she had managed to land a solid hit on his arm. That counted for something. Still, he didn¡¯t slow down. They continued until¡ª Cassis¡¯ blade halted sharply in front of her face. Arianna stood frozen, chest heaving, sweat dripping from her brow. Her exhaustion was overwhelming, but a part of her felt satisfied¡ªCassis was breathing hard too. He studied her for a moment, then gave a curt nod. "Again." And so they started over. Slow at first, then faster, their weapons clashing in the air. Each time, he won. Each time, she got better. By the time they finally stopped, shallow wounds covered both of them. Cassis, of course, was barely fazed. ¡°Time for some healing,¡± he instructed with a smile. Arianna didn¡¯t even argue¡ªshe just raised her hands to touch him, let the mana flow, and watched as their injuries faded. It was already afternoon. They had been at it all day. ¡°Next,¡± Cassis continued, as if their bodies weren¡¯t already screaming, ¡°we¡¯ll practice with our mana. You also have been awarded an advanced mana circuit pattern, don¡¯t you?¡± Arianna barely managed a nod. ¡°It would be a good idea to start integrating it into your mana stream. For that, let¡¯s change locations.¡± Too tired to question him, she returned her mace to her inventory and followed. They stopped at a small stream, where a fire pit sat nestled in a grassy clearing. A picnic spot, peaceful and quiet. Cassis gestured toward the water. ¡°Sensing elemental mana is easier when the element is already present in your surroundings,¡± he explained. ¡°All mana contains elemental aspects, but having a real source nearby¡ªwater, fire, air/lighning, earth¡ªmeans a higher concentration of that element''s mana crystals.¡± Arianna nodded. That made sense. ¡°For healing,¡± Cassis continued, ¡°and for a mage¡¯s Magic Missile, you use non-elemental mana. That means your body filters the mana, stripping away its elemental nature before channeling it.¡± He crouched beside the water, dipping his fingers in. ¡°That can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. The four basic elements¡ªfire, earth, air/lightning, and water¡ªhave a hierarchy. Fire trumps earth, earth trumps wind, wind trumps water, water trumps fire.¡± Arianna frowned. ¡°A cycle.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± He nodded. ¡°But supportive relationships work differently. Wind and fire enhance each other. Water and earth do the same. If you mix elements in different ways, you get secondary effects¡ªice, steam, plants¡­¡± He glanced at her. ¡°That comes later, if you ever unlock a second affinity.¡± Arianna absorbed the information silently. ¡°But for now,¡± Cassis continued, ¡°let¡¯s go back to healing. You have a water affinity, and I have fire. Technically, our elements oppose each other, but you can still heal me. Why?¡± She thought for a moment. ¡°Because the system removes the elemental aspects?¡± He smiled. ¡°Exactly. When using Heal the system forces your body to convert all mana into non-elemental energy, which I can then absorb and use to supplement my fire mana and as a consequence my injuries heal." Arianna slowly nodded. That explained why healing worked on everyone, regardless of their affinity. ¡°For Magic Missile, it¡¯s the same,¡± Cassis added. ¡°If your element is at a disadvantage in battle, using a non-elemental attack is the best choice. But if you have the advantage, you should always use your element.¡± Arianna exhaled slowly. This was a lot to take in. And judging by the determined glint in Cassis'' eyes, they were only getting started. Cassis sat down on a flat stone near the stream, gesturing for Arianna to do the same. ¡°Now,¡± he began, his voice steady and instructive, ¡°let¡¯s talk about meditation and mana circuits.¡± Arianna straightened, trying to focus despite the exhaustion pulling at her limbs. ¡°For every spell you cast, you consume a certain amount of mana,¡± Cassis explained. ¡°You¡¯ve already started learning to control how much mana you use, which affects a spell¡¯s efficiency. In the other timeline only very talented people could do this at F-rank. Once people reach E-rank they natural get better at controlling and manipulating their mana. Then they can even make new spells. I wonder if you can create on already.¡± Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. He continued his explanation without waiting for her answer: ¡°To a lesser extent, skills use mana too, but because they¡¯re more physical, it¡¯s harder to notice. That¡¯s why warriors and rangers don¡¯t typically run out of mana¡ªunless they rely heavily on imbuing their spells into themselves or their weapons.¡± Arianna nodded, absorbing his words. ¡°To replenish mana, we meditate,¡± he continued. ¡°We draw ambient mana from our surroundings, filtering it into our bodies to merge with our own mana stream.¡± He studied her carefully. ¡°You can already do that, from what I¡¯ve seen. Which means your mana saturation must be quite high.¡± It wasn¡¯t exactly a question, but Arianna answered anyway. ¡°Yeah,¡± she admitted. ¡°It jumped up to 33% after the fights yesterday.¡± Cassis¡¯ eyebrows shot up. ¡°Thirty-three percent?¡± he repeated, surprise clear on his face. ¡°That high? Wow. You must be some kind of rare genius. Or¡­ maybe it¡¯s because you¡¯re a deity.¡± He looked deep in thought, but Arianna hesitated before shaking her head. She didn¡¯t think of herself as a genius¡ªafter all, she had help. ¡°It¡¯s because of my necklace,¡± she explained. ¡°I told you when I touched it while meditating for the first time, it helped me see my element. And ever since, whenever I meditate, it grows warm, absorbs ambient mana, and feeds it to me.¡± Cassis¡¯ gaze flickered down to the sapphire pendant resting against her collarbone. She had told him about it before and he had seemed curious but they hadn¡¯t had time to discuss it. Now he studied it thoughtfully again before hesitating. Then, with a careful tone, he asked, ¡°Can I try meditating while touching it?¡± Arianna nodded and reached up to remove it, but Cassis stopped her. His hand gently caught hers before she could unclasp the chain. His golden eyes were uncharacteristically serious. ¡°Never take it off,¡± he said firmly. ¡°Not for anyone. Not even me. This¡­ is a precious artifact.¡± Arianna swallowed, a little taken aback by his intensity. But she nodded. Instead, Cassis stepped closer¡ªway too close¡ªand reached out, wrapping his fingers around the pendant. His hand brushed against her collarbone. Arianna felt her breath hitch, her body suddenly too aware of the heat radiating from him. When their eyes met, she saw it. That same flicker of tension reflected in his gaze. Then, Cassis closed his eyes to meditate. They stood like that for a moment, so close she could feel the faint warmth of his skin, the quiet steadiness of his breathing. Then, suddenly, he let go and stepped back. ¡°¡­It doesn¡¯t work for me,¡± he murmured. ¡°It¡¯s probably bound to you. That¡¯s good.¡± He exhaled and then met her gaze, his expression turning dead serious. ¡°Arianna,¡± he said quietly. ¡°We can share our status with each other anytime, but you must never tell anyone else about your necklace or your mana saturation.¡± She understood keeping the necklace secret¡ªbut why her mana saturation? She asked, and to her surprise, Cassis chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m probably the strongest human right now,¡± he said, crossing his arms. ¡°And my mana saturation is at¡­ 14%. Now granted I¡¯m a Warrior, so my class doesn¡¯t help me in terms of mana as much as yours, but it¡¯s still far too high.¡± Arianna froze. She had almost double his mana saturation? Cassis watched her reaction carefully before continuing. ¡°From the Hall of Fame videos, we know something important¡ªwe¡¯re the only two people who have unlocked their elemental affinity. And everyone knows that.¡± Arianna swallowed hard. ¡°They saw us¡ªespecially you¡ªfighting and meditating. Any cleric or mage who understands mana will realize just how insane your growth is.¡± Cassis¡¯ voice lowered slightly. ¡°Arianna, even late into the apocalypse, experienced clerics would struggle to do what you¡¯ve done. If they knew how high your mana saturation is¡­¡± He trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air. Arianna shuddered. She hadn¡¯t considered what she had done as special or even dangerous. Others could try to kidnap her, the government could try to take her, she could be used as a lab rat to be studied... Many scenarios came to mind. To have it put into perspective like this¡­ it was unsettling. Suddenly she was again glad for Helen¡¯s meddling. At least now she existed in the data base and had some protection as a legitimate citizen. Cassis waited until he saw that she truly understood. Then, and only then, did he continue. ¡°Mana saturation represents the percentage of mana our bodies can hold,¡± he explained. ¡°At 100%, your body reaches its absolute limit. Any more, and it harms you.¡± Arianna nodded slowly. ¡°But every time you rank up, your body expands its mana capacity. The percentage drops again¡ªusually divided by ten. So, imagine what happens when you evolve into a higher rank.¡± Arianna¡¯s mind flashed to the E-rank monsters they had fought. They had been so much stronger than F-ranks which she and Cassis could now cut down easily. A new rank was a massive power-up. ¡°Once your rank has gone up it gets more difficult to fill your mana saturation again. You need more mana and more mana. That¡¯s why it¡¯s recommended to have at least 50% mana saturation before evolving,¡± Cassis said. ¡°Because you need mana to gather more mana. In F-rank MS can jump rapidly by having a breakthrough. Later on because the mana density is different for each rank even a few percentage points make a huge difference.¡± Arianna absorbed this carefully. It made sense. If mana saturation determined how much base power a person had, then maximizing it before ranking up would ensure the biggest boost. ¡°Now,¡± Cassis continued, ¡°to gather and use mana more efficiently, we build mana circuits. Instead of just relying on the basic mana stream inside us from awakening.¡± His tone turned a little grim. ¡°In the other timeline, it took a long time before anyone figured this out. We only started using mana circuits after someone was awarded one as a system reward after the second wave. Until then, no one knew they were possible.¡± He let that sink in for a moment. ¡°So, the fact that we already have advanced patterns is a huge advantage,¡± he said seriously. ¡°Building a mana circuit from scratch is dangerous. If it¡¯s faulty, it can be life-threatening.¡± Arianna¡¯s stomach tightened at the thought. Cassis exhaled. ¡°Which brings us to now. We¡¯re going to build our respective mana circuits.¡± His eyes flickered with something unreadable. ¡°And honestly¡­ even if your necklace helped, you¡¯re clearly better at this than me. So¡­¡± He gave her a small, self-deprecating smile. ¡°¡­If you finish first, maybe you can help me. I¡¯ve never been too good at mana related stuff. As you may remember it took me forever to unlock my affinity the first time. You saw how frustrating it was.¡± Arianna blinked. Then, slowly, she grinned. She liked that about him. That he acknowledged her abilities without pride or insecurity. That even though he was more experienced, he had no problem asking for help when he needed it. She smiled broadly at him. ¡°Deal.¡± Arianna settled onto the grass near the stream, the cool earth beneath her grounding her as she adjusted her posture. She took a slow breath, closed her eyes, and grasped her necklace, allowing its familiar warmth to spread through her fingertips. As she sank into meditation, her vision shifted. The world faded, and once again, she found herself inside the blue stream alongside her blood stream that represented her mana. Inside the stream blue mana crystals shimmered like sunlight dappling the seabed. Around her, the ambient mana carried even more concentrated blue crystals, drawn in by the real-life stream nearby. She could see how the water element in nature affected the flow of mana, making the process of drawing it in easier. Then, she turned her full focus inward. The advanced cleric mana circuit pattern flashed in her mind¡ªthe one the system had awarded her. Once again, she saw the calm, endless ocean, stretching in all directions. Next, she looked beneath the surface. The sight was again dizzying. Currents, swirls, spirals¡ªall shifting in a delicate, intricate dance. She could barely make sense of them, but she knew they had purpose. Determined, Arianna attempted to replicate that flow within herself. She envisioned her torso as the vast ocean, her arms, legs, and throat as streams, and her hands, feet, and head as lakes where mana collected. From her ocean, mana flowed¡ªjust like blood, spreading through her body in a natural, rhythmic cycle. But now, she needed to shape it. Focusing on her right arm, she manipulated the flow, introducing spirals and swirls like the ones she had seen in the pattern. It was difficult. Each swirl needed to be deliberate, each spiral needed to be maintained. The mana resisted at first, the unnatural shapes causing friction against the natural current. But then¡ªsomething changed. The spirals began drawing in ambient mana on their own. Arianna¡¯s eyes widened in her mind¡¯s eye. They were acting like little vortexes, pulling in water mana from the surroundings, requiring no extra effort from her. The swirls, which had seemed purely decorative at first, actually had a purpose too¡ªthey stabilized the new mana, keeping it from disrupting the natural flow. And just like that, mana pooled into her right hand, before flowing back in a parallel stream to her heart¡ªthe centre of her ocean. It was beautiful. Arianna simply watched in fascination for a while, mesmerized by the sheer elegance of it. Then, emboldened by her success, she turned her attention to her left arm, attempting to create the same pattern. The moment she shifted her focus, her right arm¡¯s spirals collapsed. She frowned as her carefully built structure unravelled, the ambient mana dispersing without direction. Gritting her teeth, she went back to fix it. Once her right arm¡¯s circuit was stable again, she carefully split her concentration, trying to maintain the right while constructing the left. It felt like trying to split her mind in two. The sensation reminded her of learning to play the piano as a child¡ªhow her right hand had to play one melody while her left played the accompaniment or an entirely different tune. It had felt unnatural at first, and even after years of practice, it had still required focus. This was even more difficult. After several failed attempts, she finally managed to hold the pattern in both arms at the same time. But only for a few seconds. Then everything collapsed again. She tried again. And again. Each time, she could hold it a little longer. Each time, her control improved. But now, even her mind felt exhausted. She let out a breath and allowed the patterns to fade, choosing instead to simply watch the mana flow naturally. Arianna sat there in silence, gazing into the intricate dance of her own power, marvelling at how alive it seemed. And as she rested, she couldn''t help but muse over the endless possibilities mana control could bring. Arianna¡¯s curiosity stirred. Could she see other types of mana as well? Her affinity was water, making it natural for her to perceive blue mana crystals in the air and within herself. But was it merely more difficult to see other elements, or was it impossible altogether? She glanced at Cassis, who was still deep in meditation, his expression calm and focused. She wanted to ask him¡ªbut she didn¡¯t want to interrupt. As his patron in the other timeline she hadn¡¯t asked about the detailed mechanics of the system, just what items and other help he needed. And he hadn¡¯t volunteered any information. He had been a lot more taciturn than now. Instead, she recalled what he had said: Water and earth had a supportive relationship. If she could see any other mana, then earth should be the easiest to start with. The thought sent a spark of excitement through her, chasing away her exhaustion. The mana circuit pattern could wait¡ªfor now, she wanted to explore. Arianna focused on the ground beneath her. She sat cross-legged, pressing her palms firmly against the dirt and grass, trying to sense something¡ªanything. Nothing. Frowning, she leaned forward and flattened her hands against the soil. Still nothing. Maybe¡­ she needed more contact? Driven by determination, she lay completely flat against the earth, fingers digging into the cool soil. She breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of grass and damp earth, willing herself to see. At first, there was nothing. It was like staring at a wall in her mind¡ªsomething blocking her vision, something she couldn''t push past. But she refused to give up. Again and again, she pressed against that wall, pushing, reaching¡ªuntil something inside her shifted. Her vision reeled. For a brief, dizzying moment, everything spun¡ªand then, all at once, the world exploded into colour. Brown mana crystals. They were everywhere, woven into the earth beneath her, mingling with blue and yellow fragments. Red appeared only sporadically¡ªbut when she looked further, she saw that the red mana clustered near Cassis. Of course. Fire. Then the longer she looked she could see variations in the colour saturation of the crystals and then even some other colours. Were these more advanced elements? Arianna¡¯s breath caught in her throat. The mana around her sparkled, shifting and moving with an energy that was both delicate and powerful. It danced, swirling in an intricate, endless rhythm, existing in a balance so perfect she couldn''t fully grasp it. It was breathtaking. She became entranced by the movement of the mana, mesmerized by the way it played together, drifting in unseen currents. Her fingers twitched against the dirt. Without thinking, she moved her own mana, drawing in a small amount of water energy. The dance changed. The delicate balance shifted, becoming more complex, the crystals adjusting in response to the new flow. Then, something even stranger happened. New water mana joined the dance. Arianna¡¯s eyes widened. It came not from the air¡ªnot from the stream¡ªbut from her own body. Her heart pounded as she quickly turned her focus inward. Her mana reserves were unchanged. She hadn''t lost any mana¡ªbut somehow, she had created more. Arianna froze, realization creeping over her like a chill down her spine. Was she¡­ producing mana herself? Was this normal? Or something else that was different about her? Chapter 31 More training – Cassis Chapter 31 More training ¨C Cassis Cassis sat near the fire pit, the flickering flames casting shifting shadows over the clearing. His body was still, but his mind was anything but. In his meditation, he focused on his advanced warrior fire mana pattern, struggling to integrate it into his body. His mana stream had always been straightforward¡ªa fire spreading along a fuel line, following a single set path. But the new pattern showed him something completely different. It was a vast, roaring fire, but at its heart, there were embers¡ªsteadily pulsing, emitting waves of flame in a measured rhythm. That rhythm shaped the fire¡¯s ebb and flow. The flames flared up, consuming their fuel¡ªonly to die down before igniting again in a heartbeat-like pulse. It was an intricate dance of consumption and renewal, of power and restraint, but it was fast. A lot faster than his way natural way of contributing his fire mana. No wonder they say something spreads like fire. Cassis inhaled deeply, steadying his focus. He needed to replicate that dance within his own body. He reached out, drawing in the red fire mana lingering in the air, attracted by the small campfire. It was slow work¡ªhad had never been good at it. But eventually, he had enough. He directed it to his arm, trying to create the flickering pulse he had seen in the pattern. The mana responded¡ªsort of. It flickered, licked further up his arm like a flame, but then sputtered out before it could fully take hold. Not enough. Gritting his teeth, Cassis started over. Again. And again. And again. Each time, the fire faltered, refusing to ignite properly. His hands clenched into fists. He remembered now why he hadn¡¯t bothered with this in his first life. This was frustrating as hell. Physical combat had always come easily to him¡ªthe rhythm of battle, the instinctive flow of movement. He had relied on his body, not on something as intangible as mana circuits. Still, he kept at it. Failure or not, he refused to stop. He was just about to give up and open his eyes for a break when Arianna¡¯s face flashed in his mind. She hadn¡¯t enjoyed physical training. It hadn¡¯t come easily to her. Yet, she had pushed through. With enough training, she¡¯d become a decent fighter with her mace¡ªbut she would never be a true master. And yet, she had never given up. Now, it was his turn to push. But damn, he wished someone could at least guide him through it. Someone who could tell him what he was doing wrong¡ªwhat he needed to do right. That¡¯s when he felt it. A light touch on his shoulder. Then, a whisper. "Don¡¯t open your eyes. Sorry for interrupting, but I can¡¯t watch it any longer. Let me help you." Arianna. He let out a slow breath, relaxing just a bit. She guided him through the first step again¡ªgathering mana. With her instructions, it became easier. He hadn¡¯t been doing anything wrong, per se. But he hadn¡¯t thought to manipulate his existing mana stream to help assimilate ambient mana faster. It took time, but he got it. When exhaustion finally weighed on his body, he decided to stop¡ªhe¡¯d had a small success, and that was enough for now. Cassis opened his eyes. Arianna was sitting beside him on the ground, the firelight flickering over her face, making her look almost ethereal in the dim glow. He blinked. It was already dark? He hadn¡¯t meant to spend so long on this¡ªbut he had gotten lost in the feeling of finally, finally being able to control his mana properly. Arianna smiled at him. "Hey. Welcome back." He smiled back without thinking. "Thanks," he said immediately, grateful for her help. Then, curiosity got the better of him. "How did you know I was struggling? What did you mean by ¡®not being able to watch anymore¡¯?" Arianna hesitated, looking a little embarrassed. Then, after a moment, she admitted: "I can see all kinds of mana now." Cassis stared. What? She explained that she had gotten frustrated with her own training, unable to maintain her mana circuit pattern in both arms at the same time. So, in her frustration, she had experimented¡ªand somehow, unlocked the ability to perceive all elemental mana. Cassis burst into laughter. Arianna blinked, startled. He laughed harder. He could barely breathe, his shoulders shaking as he wiped actual tears from his eyes. She really was a genius. Here he was, struggling to even form the pattern¡ªand she had already moved past that struggle, jumping straight to the advanced applications. Not only that, but she could now see other elements and she had even helped him control his own mana better. And yet¡ªshe didn¡¯t even think she had done anything noteworthy. Arianna was now looking at him like he had gone insane. He finally managed to calm himself down, letting out a sigh. "Sorry," he said, still grinning. Then, he told her what he had been thinking. As he expected, she turned bright red. She was clearly not used to compliments. And that just made him laugh again. Back in Cassis¡¯s flat, he first checked in with his parents. His father told him that he had been able to get in contact with one of his parents¡¯ ¨C Cassis grandparents¡¯ ¨C neighbours. The neighbour was a young woman who had gone out to see if the nice older couple next door was alright. She had found them both dead and taken their phone, in case someone called. It seems they both had had a heart attack when they first saw the monsters. Cassis thought it was probably because the ambient mana proved too much for their bodies to handle. It was almost always young children and the elderly who suffered the most from diseases. He had already known that his grandparents would be dead, but it still felt like a kick to his guts. ¡°Sorry dad. That¡¯s terrible. Should I come to the house?¡± ¡°No, son. Don¡¯t worry about me and Liam. Your mother is taking care of us. I¡¯m glad that you have Arianna to be with you now. Also, we still cannot reach your mother¡¯s sisters or your cousins.¡± After a few more words and shared worries they said their goodbyes. He told Arianna about his grandparents. She hugged him tightly. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m so sad. I knew they had died during the first wave. There was nothing I could do.¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s terrible to lose someone you love, even if you know that it is going to happen.¡± She was clearly remembering her father who had been fighting cancer for four years before he succumbed to it. He hugged her back. They stayed like that for a bit. Then they let go, sat on the couch and started talking about better things, like their gains for the day. Cassis went first. Some of his existing skills had upgraded: He had also gained new skills: And the biggest surprise¡ªhis Energy Perception had levelled up, going from Beginner to Intermediate. And he had gained a new Feature: Mana Control (Basic). That had to be thanks to Arianna¡¯s help. His Mana Saturation had also increased, now at 19%. Not bad. Not bad at all. Then it was Arianna¡¯s turn. Her Mana Saturation had skyrocketed to 40%, which wasn¡¯t unexpected given how much she had pushed herself today. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Her Features had also improved and somehow her mana related abilities a had jumped more than one rank: Some of her existing skills had ranked up: And she had even picked up new skills: Cassis let out a low whistle. Those were good gains for just a single day. Still, he knew why this was happening. For him, most of these improvements weren¡¯t about learning something new¡ªhe already knew these techniques from his past life. The system simply required him to demonstrate his understanding to grant him the appropriate skill levels. And in a training session like todays, where he been able to actually use nearly all of his combat knowledge, his progression had been rapid. Arianna, on the other hand, was starting from a weaker baseline. Her physical stats and skills were still low, so her growth was faster for now, especially with him teaching her. But from the Advanced level onward, improvements would be much slower¡ªit would take time and relentless effort to refine each skill further. He glanced at her. She looked pleased with her progress¡ªbut also exhausted. He sighed. This was just the beginning. "We¡¯re going to continue this tomorrow, too," he said. Arianna groaned, flopping back against the couch dramatically. Cassis smirked. He knew she probably saw the physical training as pure torture. The fact that her Willpower skill had jumped two entire levels in just one day told him just how much she had been pushing herself past her limits. Still, it was necessary. He couldn¡¯t protect her. Not in this world. And he couldn¡¯t stop her from fighting either¡ªnot when she had so much talent, not when she had that burning need to save people. If she was going to throw herself into danger no matter what, then he needed to make her strong enough to survive it. He exhaled heavily. He was tired, too. But resting was a luxury¡ªone they couldn¡¯t afford. There was still one last thing they needed to discuss. "We also need to think about how to use our newfound fame to our advantage," he said. "And we need more information. I remember a lot¡ªmostly the big events¡ªbut it¡¯s been fourteen years. And this time, the apocalypse is different. We¡¯ve already changed a lot." Arianna nodded, brow furrowed in thought. But she was also half-asleep while doing it¡ªher head kept drooping forward, only for her to jolt herself awake again. Cassis grinned. "Maybe we should think about this tomorrow." Arianna barely managed to open her eyes to look at him, then gave him a grateful smile. That smile. For some reason, it made something tighten in his chest. She didn¡¯t complain. She never admitted when she had reached her limit. Cassis had started to notice the pattern¡ªArianna would push herself until she physically couldn¡¯t go on, all because she didn¡¯t want to disappoint anyone. Even him. Maybe especially him. He sighed. That could become a serious problem. But that was a conversation for another time. Right now, he was too tired to find the right words¡ªand she was too exhausted to listen properly. "Come on," he said, standing up. "Let¡¯s go to bed." She didn¡¯t argue. And as if it was the most natural thing in the world, they both walked into his bedroom¡ªand slipped into the same bed. The next day was much the same as the day before. They trained. They pushed past their limits. And in return, they gained. Cassis¡¯s improvements were the following: And finally, after hours of effort, he managed to form the circuit pattern in his arm and hold it for a time. His Mana Control finally reached Beginner. His pattern felt different from Arianna¡¯s. Her cleric type pattern naturally drew in ambient mana, feeding her a constant supply. His warrior type pattern, however, didn¡¯t do that. Instead, it optimized his mana flow, ensuring that he could release controlled, powerful bursts whenever needed. It made perfect sense for a warrior. And with this breakthrough, his Mana Saturation jumped to 25%. Arianna¡¯s improvements concerning her mana were even more impressive. She had experimented with her circuit pattern all afternoon and could now hold it in both arms for extended periods before she had to stop. She said it felt like splitting her mind in two. Right now, she was maintaining the pattern across only her torso, using it as extra practice. Cassis honestly thought she was insane. But she didn¡¯t seem bothered by the strain. She also expanded her mana perception, playing around with different types. So far, she had identified Plant, Mist, Sun, and Shadow Mana. She still wasn¡¯t sure how they originated from the four basic elements, but she was determined to figure it out. Then, she decided to experiment further. She attempted to imbue her healing spell with water mana. The result? A small puddle of water formed on the ground in front of her. And it had healing properties. It wasn¡¯t as effective as a potion, only able to heal minor scrapes, and it cost a lot of mana¡ªbut still, it was an entirely new spell. They had scooped some of the water into an empty bottle to see how long the healing effect would last. The System named the spell Holy Water (Basic). He could only shake his head in astonishment. Only the most talented mages and clerics had managed to create their own spells at only F-rank in the other timeline. And she just got one by experimenting¡­ But after all that experimenting, Arianna got bored and simply observed the mana around her. That was when she made another discovery. She saw how mana crystals interacted¡ªwith each other, with the environment, and with people. A few passersby had come out of their houses, watching the two of them train throughout the day. And Arianna had noticed how the ambient mana reacted to every person. Even though they hadn¡¯t unlocked their elemental affinity Arianna could tell at a glance what it was. She had also noticed that even for people she couldn¡¯t see with her eyes, she could ¨C for a lack of a better word ¨C feel where they were and how strong they were, as each of them had different amounts of elemental mana inside them and was producing tiny amounts of their elemental mana. She had seemed relieved by that fact, though he didn¡¯t know why. This ability was still limited to a certain area but would certainly grow over time. That was how her awareness grew even further. Everything mana-related came so naturally to her. Her MS was now at 56%, and it was still rising fast. Her physical combat skills, however, remained stagnant. That would have to change. They needed to train more. Throughout the day, people had stared at them. Mostly, they stared at him¡ªlike he was insane. Arianna, though? They looked at her differently. Softer. Kinder. And he could understand why. She looked adorable in his too-big T-shirt and loose shorts that went past her knees. She really needed her own clothes. Tomorrow, when they bought food, they would also buy her clothes. And underwear. ... And just like that, his mind went there again. Last night, he had gone to the bathroom before bed and had seen her panties and bra drying in his shower. That meant she had been sleeping without them. Beside him. And tonight, she had done the same thing. It shouldn¡¯t matter. It really shouldn¡¯t. After all, she was wearing one of his sweatshirts and sweatpants¡ªno skin was showing. But just knowing that there was nothing underneath made him feel... Nervous. Excited. He groaned, running a hand through his hair. He shouldn¡¯t be thinking this way. He had stopped further advances into romantic territory for good reasons¡ªhe needed to remember those reasons. As they sat on the couch in silence, both lost in thought, Arianna suddenly turned to look at him. He groaned again, covering his face with one hand. She raised an eyebrow. He forced a grin and shook his head. "Nothing." Distraction. He needed a distraction. "Tomorrow, let¡¯s think a bit more about the fame and information issues and then buy some supplies. And clothes for you." Arianna nodded sleepily. "My food is almost gone, and some shops will be open again." She hummed in agreement. And just like that, the conversation moved on¡ªand he could breathe again. Like every evening, Cassis was on the phone with his mother, making sure his family and their friends were safe. Arianna went to the bathroom first, giving him some privacy. His mother¡¯s warm voice came through the speaker, filling him in on the latest news. ¡°There is still no news about my sisters or their families. Cassis, do you think¡­?¡± His heart sank. He knew they were dead, but he couldn¡¯t tell her. He tried to give her some encouragement. ¡°Mum, we don¡¯t know anything yet. They could just have lost their phones. And I don¡¯t know if my cousins and their children would think of calling you as one of their first priorities. We haven¡¯t seen or talked to them in years. Not since there was all the trouble with your parents¡¯ inheritance.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. Maybe there is still hope.¡± Cassis didn¡¯t want her to be sad, but he felt bad giving her hope when there was none. "The military came by today," she said shocking him with the sudden change of topics. "They did a census, checking how many people were in the neighbourhood." Cassis frowned. "Did they ask you anything suspicious?" "Not really. But when they recognized us from the world announcement and the Hall of Fame, they got¡­ curious. A little nervous. But nothing happened." That was to be expected. The government had no control over awakeners yet, wouldn¡¯t for years, and right now, they still relied on public goodwill. Still, it was only a matter of time before they tried something. Even though it wouldn¡¯t be as heavy-handed as after the second wave, they needed to be careful not to become too entangled with them just yet. "Just be careful, Mom," Cassis warned. "And whatever you do¡ªdon¡¯t promise them anything. Don¡¯t sign anything." His mother sighed, exasperated. "Helen told me the same thing." That caught his attention. "Helen¡¯s still with you?" "Yes. You know she never married and doesn¡¯t have any other family. Then she quit her government job today. She¡¯ll stay with us for a while." Cassis felt a wave of relief. His parents were good people¡ªsometimes even too good for their own survival. In the other timeline, they had also tried to save Nadine and Violet, but at the cost of their own lives. As far as he knew Nadine and Violet had also died. And even in this timeline, his father had lost an arm. If Cassis and Arianna hadn¡¯t arrived in time, all of them would be dead. But Aunt Helen was not naive. Cassis had always suspected she had been a government operative or serious criminal when she was younger. During his childhood she was always gone on long ¡°vacations¡±, always had convenient emergencies, and¡ªmost telling of all¡ªshe had handled herself surprisingly well in a fight. And of course, she had eagerly broken the rules to forge Arianna¡¯s registry entry. With her around, his parents wouldn¡¯t agree to anything restrictive. "That¡¯s good," Cassis said, reassured. "Helen will make sure you don¡¯t get tricked into anything." His mother huffed. "You and Helen both act like I¡¯d sign my soul away for a free meal." "Not a free meal," Cassis teased. "Maybe a family discount at the bookstore, though." His mother laughed, and he smiled despite himself. They said their goodbyes, and Cassis promised to call again tomorrow. "Tell Arianna I said hi!" his mother added before hanging up. After the call, when they were both in bed Cassis turned to Arianna and relayed what his mother had said. Arianna¡¯s eyes lit up with an idea. "Wait¡ªwhat if we asked Helen for advice?" Cassis raised an eyebrow. "For what?" "For our influence problem," Arianna explained. "Neither of us knows how to navigate all this attention. But Helen? She worked in the government, she¡¯s smart, and she doesn¡¯t hesitate to bend the rules when necessary. She might have some insight on how to use our fame to our advantage. Or how to effectively use our future knowledge and how to gather current news.¡± Cassis considered it. It was a little embarrassing that neither of them had figured out a good approach yet. They knew they had to start a guild but they could only do that once one of them was E-rank. Only the founder had to be E-rank, the other two necessary founding members could be F-Rank, as could be further members. Who other than them and Cassis¡¯ family should be in the Guild was also not clear. They had thought about the Bristols¡¯ and the Morrisons¡¯, maybe some fighters from City Hall or the gymnasium. But it was all still unclear. After all, he was a private person¡ªhe had never wanted to be famous. Actually, his survival in the other timeline had been because he was more of a loner. And it seemed Arianna was the same. "Yeah," Cassis finally said. "That¡¯s actually a good idea. We¡¯ll ask her tomorrow." But for tonight, that was enough thinking. "Let¡¯s sleep." Arianna nodded sleepily. And just like the last two nights, they both slipped into dreamless sleep, exhausted from another long day of training. Chapter 32 The Fire Within – Arianna Chapter 32 The Fire Within ¨C Arianna Arianna woke up alone again. Just like yesterday. And the day before that. She frowned. Why was Cassis getting up so early? She stretched, feeling light and pain-free, and couldn¡¯t help but marvel at her body¡¯s adaptability. Two days of gruelling training, and yet¡ªno soreness. That was the power of Enhanced Regeneration. She smiled, grateful for the small blessing. After stopping by the bathroom, she made her way to the living room, where Cassis was already eating breakfast. "This is the last of our food," he said. "But today, we should get the message that the shopping mall nearby is open again." Arianna nodded. That meant they could relax a bit. Which, for her, meant meditation and experimenting with her mana pattern again. She glanced at Cassis, wondering if he would do the same. Probably. But for him, it was harder. She would, of course, teach him, just like he taught her to fight. She grinned to herself. She had helped him before, but she had been kind about it. This time, she wouldn¡¯t be. It would be payback¡ªmental training as brutal as the physical torture he put her through the last two mornings. After all, he wanted her to grow stronger. She wanted him to do the same. But before her little revenge could begin, Cassis¡¯ phone rang. He answered abruptly. "Yes?" Rude, as always. Then his expression stiffened. "What?" Arianna caught his eye and gestured for him to put it on speaker. He did. "Helen, you¡¯re on speaker. Arianna is with me." "Hi there," Helen said, her voice brisk. "Sorry, I don¡¯t have a lot of time. Here¡¯s the situation¡ªan officer, a high-ranking one judging by his stripes, just came to your parents¡¯ house. He wants to speak with them and Liam. Probably because of that world announcement. I¡¯ll join them in a bit. I just thought you should know. Chances are, your area will be cleared today too. You¡¯ll be in the same situation soon. Don¡¯t worry¡ªI won¡¯t let anything happen to them." And just like that, she hung up. Arianna barely had time to react before Cassis turned to her, frowning. "What do you think the government wants?" she asked. "Maybe they just want to reward us for our role in the first trial?" Cassis let out a dry, humourless laugh. "That¡¯s sweet. But you¡¯re too naive. Even if they reward us, it¡¯ll come with strings attached. The government doesn¡¯t just give¡ªthey take." Arianna frowned. That was patronizing. She wasn¡¯t naive¡ªjust optimistic. She levelled a long stare at him until he sighed and rubbed his face. "Alright, sorry. I didn¡¯t mean it like that. Well¡­ I did, kind of. But it came out worse than I intended." He reached for her hand. "I¡¯m just¡­ too jaded for this. Too much has happened in the other timeline. And you¡¯re too¡­ optimistic, even after all you¡¯ve seen them do." Arianna squeezed his hand in return. "Then maybe together we make one rational human being." That finally made him laugh. But the shadows in his expression didn¡¯t fade. "Helen is with them," she reminded him. He nodded, but she could tell¡ªhe was still worried. She knew why. The years of slavery the government had forced upon weak awakeners ¨C F- to D-ranks ¨C in the other timeline. The strong ones never really had to worry about anything as the collars couldn¡¯t hold them anymore. Freedom through Strength, that slogan was still haunting her sometimes. It was eerily similar to what famous dictator from her own world had told his prisoners: Work sets you free. Of course, he had lied and most had died. Only some survived due to being freed by the dictator¡¯s enemies. As with her own history, most awakeners who had worn the slave collar, had never been able to take it off. Back then, Cassis had been weak, only E-rank. He had kept his head low, hiding in lawless zones, places where the government had no power anymore¡ªonly criminal guilds and warlords. She had been so afraid for him. He had lost the few friends he had left to the slave collars. He had seen things. Horrible things. She had seen them too. But he had lived them. And yet¡ªthis time was different. This time, he was strong. Probably the strongest awakener right now. They couldn¡¯t push him around. He could make a difference. This time, she was here and could do more than just watch. And if she had any say in it, that future would never happen. Cassis exhaled sharply, as if willing himself to focus on something¡ªanything¡ªother than his worries. They still had time before the announcement of a safe shopping place. It wouldn¡¯t do to arrive too early and risk drawing unnecessary attention. "Alright," he muttered. "There¡¯s nothing I can do about it right now. I just have to trust Helen¡­ Let¡¯s work on our mana circuits until the alert." Arianna¡¯s lips curled into a slow smile. A perfect opportunity. Cassis needed a distraction¡ªand she would provide one. One so consuming, so relentless, that he wouldn¡¯t have a moment to dwell on anything else. Finally, her turn for payback. Perhaps her thoughts were a little too obvious, because Cassis shot her a suspicious look. She only grinned and nudged him toward the couch before settling beside him. "I¡¯ll help you with your pattern," she announced. "I managed to keep mine running through my chest and stomach all of last night and this morning. I¡¯ll help you stabilize yours first¡ªthen I¡¯ll work on expanding mine." Cassis nodded, closing his eyes. She watched him slip into concentration, his awareness shifting as he attuned himself to his mana. She had learned to sense it¡ªthe difference between passive energy and the moment a person became aware of their mana. It was subtle, yet unmistakable. His mana became¡­ alive. "Alright," she instructed. "Draw in ambient mana. Use your own to assimilate it into your stream. Once you have enough, start at your core. Feel your centre ignite with fire." He had described his pattern to her before so she could visualize it. She observed carefully as he followed her guidance. As expected, he still struggled. His mana control was rough¡ªtoo volatile, too unrefined. He had trouble pulling the ambient energy into himself, unable to fully integrate it. If only she could show him. The thought struck her like a spark to dry tinder. She could, maybe. Her ability to strip mana of its element ¨C like when she used Heal ¨C left it in a neutral state. If she infused some into his stream, he would be able to see and feel the process directly. The theory felt right, so she decided to try it out. "Okay, don¡¯t panic, but I want to try something new. If it works, it¡¯ll help you a lot." Cassis cracked one eye open, studying her. Then he simply nodded. He trusted her. The quiet certainty of it sent a peculiar tightness through her chest. Swallowing, she lifted her hand and focused. When she healed, her mana became something different¡ªpure, elemental-less. She concentrated on that sensation, drawing a thread of her own energy into her palm, then carefully peeling away its water affinity. It worked. A pale, neutral glow flickered between her fingers. This should be safe, she hoped. She hesitated for only a moment. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "I need to make physical contact," she explained. "I¡¯m going to place my hand on your chest and guide my mana into you." A pause. Then another nod. Arianna took a steadying breath before pressing her palm lightly against his heart. Slowly¡ªso, so carefully¡ªshe eased a single tendril of mana into him. And in an instant¡ª ¡ªshe was inside. For a fleeting second, panic threatened to claw its way to the surface. But she forced it down. Because this¡ªthis wasn¡¯t just mana. This was Cassis. His warmth. His quiet ruthlessness. His unspoken fears and carefully guarded thoughts. His dry humor, his sharp mind, his relentless will, his hidden kindness. Everything that made him him. But there was no time to lose herself in it. He could see what she was doing now. So, she showed him. Her mana flowed like water¡ªfluid, adaptable. His, however, burned. It crackled, flickering like embers catching in the wind. It took a few tries to adjust, but she found the rhythm. Every time his flames leapt, she used their momentum to catch the ambient mana, guiding it downward, feeding it into the fire until it was fully assimilated. Cassis caught on quickly, much quicker than with just an explanation with words, beginning to replicate the process himself. She remained with him just long enough to reinforce his movements¡ª Until, without warning, she was thrust out. The abrupt separation sent a dizzying jolt through her, leaving her momentarily unmoored. It had been like an out-of-body experience. Blinking, she stared down at her hand that had just been at Cassis¡¯ chest. The neutral mana was gone¡ªonly faint traces lingered within Cassis, rapidly dissolving into his own energy. "Alright¡­ that was different," Arianna muttered to herself, still shaken by the experience. Then she had a look at her Features and couldn¡¯t believe it: Next a system message came up: [Three skills concerning mana have reached Master level. Fusion possible. Proceed with Fusion?] Arianna had no idea what was happening and but she mentally clicked yes. Then next message said: [Congratulations! The Features Energy Perception, Mana Sight and Mana Control has fused into the higher Tier Feature Mana Manipulation (Basic)] ¡°Ok¡­?¡± Arianna wondered what she could do now, but first she had to help out Cassis. After that she would try her own pattern again. Cassis, however, didn¡¯t seem to notice what had happened to her. His entire focus was on his mana, utterly absorbed in the newfound ability to control it¡ªproperly, efficiently, finally. Now that he had a firm grasp on assimilation, replicating the pattern should be easier. "Good," she said, slipping seamlessly back into instruction. "Now, shape the pattern." He obeyed without hesitation. Under her careful guidance, his mana flickered and surged, struggling at first to take form. It took multiple attempts¡ªhesitant starts, collapsing structures¡ªbut then, slowly, the pattern began to emerge. A sea of flames. It swelled and burned¡ªbeautiful, alive¡ª Then it collapsed. "Again." Her voice left no room for argument. Cassis clenched his jaw and restarted. And when it fell apart once more¡ª "Again." Every failure was met with relentless command. She didn¡¯t let him rest. Didn¡¯t let him pause. He had to get it right. His brows drew together, frustration evident, muscles in his jaw tightening as though warding off an impending headache. But he followed her orders without protest. Again. And again. And again. Until¡ªfinally¡ªhe held the pattern steady. She counted down the seconds. One full minute and it hadn¡¯t wavered yet. Arianna let out a slow breath, satisfaction curling in her chest. "Alright, that¡¯s enough," she said, her voice far gentler now. "Good job." He groaned, letting the pattern fall away. Then he tilted his head back against the couch before cracking his eyes open. He winced slightly, blinking against the light. Then, with a pained scowl, he pressed his hands against his temples. "You¡¯re a demon," he accused, voice heavy with exhaustion. "How the hell could you make me do this for over two hours?" Arianna blinked. Two hours? She glanced at the clock and¡ªah. So, it had been. She¡¯d completely lost track of time. Better not tell him that. Instead, she simply grinned. "I need a break," Cassis groaned, stretching his neck with a wince. "Maybe another shower. I feel terrible." Arianna hadn''t realized he could be so fussy. It was kind of cute. He looked at his status. ¡°Although it was worth it. My Mana Control went up to Intermediate and Energy Perception reached Advanced. And, wow, my MS is at 31%.¡± "Take your time," she told him, amused. "And later, try meditating comfortably. It''ll help. Oh, and before I forget: My Energy Perception, Mana Sight and Mana Control reached Master, then the system asked me if I wanted to fuse them. Of course, I did and now I have the ¡®higher Tier Feature¡¯ Mana Manipulation instead." Cassis looked at her in shock: ¡°What¡­? How is that possible?¡± Then he stopped himself: ¡°Why am I even asking? It¡¯s you. Of course, it¡¯s possible.¡± Then he stood up and turned around while shaking his head. He muttered something unintelligible as he walked away, rubbing his temples, and disappeared toward the bathroom. Arianna shrugged her shoulders, exhaled and refocused. Now, it was her turn. Watching Cassis had given her new insight, but in the process, her own pattern had collapsed. No matter¡ªshe would rebuild it. This time, she discarded the idea of forcing the flow into separate channels. She had been thinking too rigidly. I need to be like the ocean, she realized. Not separate, not structured. Just endless, flowing. With that in mind, she started from her chest, weaving spirals, swirls, and currents into her mana stream. The spirals pulled in ambient water mana, the swirls mixed it with her own, and the currents carried it outward¡ªspreading, expanding. First, she let the currents reach a little further¡ªtesting one direction, then another, feeling the ebb and flood within her. The pattern held strong in her torso. Over her shoulders. Then¡ªher arms. That was where it failed. Again. But she didn¡¯t stop. Slowly, steadily, she pushed the pattern outward, beyond her previous limits. Minutes blurred into an hour of relentless focus. And at last, she felt it¡ª The flow surging through her, sweeping into her arms, her hands, down her legs and feet, even threading through her throat and head. The strain was immense, her mind stretched taut trying to hold it together. She gritted her teeth. Then, carefully, she let go. The pattern unravelled gradually, but she didn¡¯t allow it to collapse entirely. Instead, she settled it at a manageable level, holding it steady around her heart. Finally, she opened her eyes. Cassis was watching her, eyes filled with fascination. "Did you just spread the pattern through your entire body?" he asked. She nodded, catching her breath. "Yeah. But it was ridiculously hard. I''ll have to practice a lot more. Oh, and Mana Manipulation reached Beginner." His expression was somehow funny. He wasn¡¯t surprised but didn¡¯t seem to know what to make of her abilities with mana. "I could feel the mana surge from you. Even I picked up on it. But then it just¡ªvanished." Then, with a groan, he rubbed his face. "If it¡¯s that hard for you, will I ever be able to do it? There¡¯s a reason it''s considered an advanced pattern. In the other timeline, I struggled just to get the basic one working. The only reason I made it work was that it was similar to my natural mana flow. But my flow is more like a burning fuel line not the sea of flames the pattern wants me to do." Arianna smiled, undeterred. "I¡¯ll help you again, once I get mine to work properly." Cassis let out another groan¡ªmore dramatic this time¡ªbefore shooting her a teasing smirk. "Great. More ¡®help¡¯ from you." Then he geot more serious. "I was waiting for you to finish," he said, gesturing to his phone. "Didn¡¯t want to interrupt. But the alert¡¯s come in twenty minutes ago." She blinked at him, still coming down from her intense focus. How long had she been at it? "The small shopping mall two streets over has been cleared by the military," he explained. "People can resupply now. They¡¯re also asking everyone to come in for a census¡ªsee who survived." Arianna nodded, stretching out her stiff limbs. "Well, just like we thought. Let¡¯s go." They stepped outside and immediately noticed the steady stream of people moving in the same direction. It seemed most of the neighbourhood had received the alert and wasted no time heading to the mall. When they arrived, several military vehicles were parked in front of the entrance, and makeshift registration stalls had been set up to process citizens. Arianna frowned with a sudden thought. "Why not just do this online?" Cassis didn¡¯t hesitate. "Some of their systems probably got fried¡ªat least, that happened last time. It¡¯s like the system doesn¡¯t want society to recover too fast." That was a troubling thought. He continued, "Besides, a lot of people don¡¯t trust online processes, especially after how useless the military and government were during the monster wave. Doing this in person lets them offer safety and supplies at the same time, which makes people more willing to cooperate." Arianna nodded, understanding the logic. Most survivors likely resented the government for their inaction, unaware that the system had deliberately crippled military and law enforcement forces by having stronger monsters spawn around them. Then their firearms and other advanced weaponry didn¡¯t work anymore, leaving them with massive losses. They approached one of the registration stalls. A soldier took their personal information, then paused, eyes flicking between them. "Cassis Walker and Arianna Sloane," he confirmed, his tone shifting. "From the world announcement?" "Yes," Cassis said evenly. The soldier studied them for a moment but ultimately just nodded. "Thank you for your service and for registering. You¡¯re free to enter and buy whatever you need. Payments with credit cards are back online." They exchanged polite thanks and walked past the checkpoint into the mall. "Well, that was anticlimactic," Arianna muttered. Cassis wasn¡¯t as convinced. His gaze was sharp, thoughtful. "No, he was clearly scoping us out. We¡¯ll probably get a visit from the officer who went to my parents'' house tomorrow." Arianna sighed. "You¡¯re so cynical." "I¡¯m realistic," he corrected. Unfortunately, he was probably right. She was curious about what the government wanted from them, but there was no use worrying until they got a call or visit. For now, they focused on their original goal¡ªgroceries. They quickly gathered the essentials from the supermarket. Then Cassis suddenly led her toward a clothing store. "Get enough to last one or two weeks. We can do laundry in the laundromat across the street," he told her. "Buy some sportswear, casual loungewear, whatever you need." Then he handed her his credit card. Arianna raised a brow. "And what will you be doing?" He shrugged. "Browsing the other stores, getting you a new phone, and people-watching." "So¡­ you don¡¯t want to shop with me for clothes?" "Not particularly, no." His tone was almost too nonchalant, as if he were trying to downplay something. Arianna narrowed her eyes slightly. What was so bad about shopping for clothes? Was it just a typical guy thing? Not wanting to stand around while she picked out what to wear? It wasn¡¯t like she¡¯d be shopping for cute or fancy outfits. She just needed practical, well-fitting clothes. She wouldn¡¯t even try on most of the clothes. She shrugged. "Alright. Let¡¯s meet at the entrance when we¡¯re done." Cassis looked strangely relieved. Without another word, he turned and left. Arianna watched him go, shaking her head. "Sometimes he¡¯s really weird," she muttered before heading inside to shop. Chapter 33 New developments – Cassis Chapter 33 New developments ¨C Cassis Back at home, Cassis stored the groceries in the kitchen, working in practiced silence. Meanwhile, Arianna busied herself putting away the clothes she¡¯d just bought, and he found himself clearing out space in his closet for her to hang them. It felt¡­ strange. Too natural. Too intimate. He had lived with past girlfriends before, but this was different. Domestic in a way that unsettled him. He had already felt it when they were shopping for groceries together. The thought of buying clothes with her, spending more mundane time with her had been very alluring. And at the same time deeply uncomfortable. For a fleeting moment, the thought crossed his mind¡ªif things had been different, would this be what it was like to truly live with her? But he shut it down before it could take root. He had no right to think that way. Sure she didn¡¯t have any parents left alive in her world, but what about grandparents, friends, ¡­ lovers? She had had her own life and then was taken here. Sure, she may have died in that car accident she had told him about. But he could have just wished for her safety, and she would still be with him as his patron. Safe in her world. But now Arianna was here because of him, because of his reckless, misguided wish for revenge. He had plenty of time to reflect on it by now, and he knew one thing for certain¡ªno matter what, they could never be together. Not with this secret between them. One day, he would have to tell her the truth. She deserved that much. And when she found out, she would hate him for it. That was inevitable. But what haunted him more than her hatred was the possibility that she might be disgusted by him. What if she despised him not just for his deception, but because he had started a relationship with her knowing what he had done? Could he really bear to see that look on her face? And yet, no matter how much she might hate him, he had to make sure she could survive without him. That was the only way to make things right. If she rejected him, if she never wanted to see him again¡ªhow could he protect her then? The only solution was to make her strong enough to live, to thrive, even if he wasn¡¯t there. If he could atone for his mistake in any way, it was this. If necessary, he would die for her. But he would protect her at all costs. And if¡ªif¡ªhe could find that wishing lamp again, maybe he could take her back. If not¡­ she would have to keep living in his world. And for that to happen, he had to save it. An impossible task¡­ He suddenly realized that he loved her, had always loved her even in the other timeline when he¡¯d known her as only a mysterious being called a patron, a disembodied voice sharing his hardships. He realized that she wasn¡¯t merely important but that she was the most important person in his life. He didn¡¯t know yet if he was in love with her, but the attraction was there. If only ¡­ Cassis exhaled slowly, dragging his gaze back to her as she put away the last of her clothes. Arianna turned to him, studying his face. "Something wrong?" "No. Nothing." The lie was easy, practiced. He shifted, pushing past the thoughts weighing him down. "It¡¯s still early. I thought we could do our basic training now. Even if we skip sparring today, we should still work on endurance, strength, and weapon drills." Arianna groaned. "No break today?" "No." She sighed, rubbing her temples. "I hate this." But she understood. He could see it in her eyes. Without another word, they left for the park. They started with a run¡ªlong, steady strides to build stamina¡ªbefore moving on to strength and balance exercises. Then, they worked on weapons training, each movement sharpening muscle memory, refining technique. Cassis was in the middle of guiding Arianna through a set when his phone buzzed. On the display Helen¡¯s name appeared. He let Arianna continue with her training and went away to answer the phone. Cassis pressed the phone tighter against his ear, forcing himself to focus as Helen spoke. "Sorry for only calling now, but there have been quite a few developments. Let me start with why it took so long." Her voice was brisk, efficient, but there was an undercurrent of tension beneath it. "The military found your cousin Selena¡¯s two children while clearing their neighbourhood. They¡¯re both under fourteen, so they were protected by the system. And now, we finally understand how the system actually protects them." Cassis¡¯ breath hitched. He hadn''t expected this. "Selena and her husband, Antonio, were home when everything started. They were lucky at first¡ªsafe. But then, in the last hour, during the frenzy, monsters found their way inside. They fought¡­ but they didn¡¯t last long." His stomach clenched. "The monsters ignored the children." Helen took a sharp breath before continuing. "Matteo¡ªtheir oldest¡ªtried to protect his mother. He stepped in front of her, thinking that his protection would extend to her." A cold weight settled in Cassis'' chest. "It didn¡¯t. The monster attacked right through him, as if he weren¡¯t even there. He wasn¡¯t hurt at all¡ªhe couldn¡¯t even feel it. But his mother behind him? She took the full force of the attack." Cassis closed his eyes briefly. "Matteo then attacked the monster but he also just passed through. Selena managed to kill the monster, so at least¡­ at least their parents weren¡¯t eaten in front of them. But she died soon after from her injuries. Before she did, she told Matteo to find the Walkers. She probably was reminded of you because of the world announcement." Cassis swallowed hard. "But Matteo¡­ he broke down. He had enough sense to get his sister Felicia away from the bodies, and they must have stayed in the neighbouring room for the next two days before the soldiers found them." Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. The image of two terrified children huddled together in a ruined home burned into his mind. "When they were found, Matteo told the soldiers he had family¡ªthe Walkers from the world announcement. So, the officer had them brought to your parents'' house today." Helen¡¯s voice turned grim. "He first introduced himself as Officer Dan Brice." Cassis¡¯ grip on the phone tightened so hard his knuckles turned white. "That bastard." His mind raced, memories flashing through his head. How could Brice show up now? It was too soon. He needed to bury that vile man before it was too late. But Helen wasn¡¯t finished. "Matteo and Felicia are safe. Your parents are taking care of them, and they¡¯ll stay there for the foreseeable future since no other relatives have been found." Cassis barely heard her. His thoughts were still tangled around Brice. But then her words started registering again. Selena¡¯s children had survived. His mother had been the youngest of three sisters¡ªCeleste, Marianne, then her. Selena was Celeste¡¯s daughter. He remembered her vaguely, ten years older than him, always with a kind but teasing smile. He hadn¡¯t seen her in years after his mother had inherited her parent¡¯s house in the countryside and her sister had only gotten some money. It was a terrible fight. But his mother had hoped to reconcile one day. And now Selena was gone, the others probably, too. He had expected that. It had been the same in the other timeline. But her children had survived. The system kept its promise. The children were being protected. But as a price it unleashed a new horror on them: They had watched their parents die without being able to do anything. He exhaled slowly. He needed to think more logically about it. All these emotions wouldn¡¯t help him right now. He had wondered how the system would protect the children. It sounded like it puts them on another plane of existence, completely phased away from the monsters. A famous awakener in the other timeline had mastered the space element and could phase for a few seconds to avoid attacks. It sounded eerily similar, just more permanent in the system¡¯s case. "I¡¯m glad they¡¯re safe," he said finally. Then, quieter, "No word on my other two cousins?" Helen hesitated. "Nothing. If they haven¡¯t been found by now, they¡¯re most likely¡ª" "I know." A silence stretched between them for a moment. He had known but they had changed so many things. So there had been a chance ¡­ Helen gave him a bit of time before she continued. "Now, about Brice. He made your parents an offer." Cassis frowned. "He wants them to work for the government. The Awakener Bureau, specifically. They¡¯d get access to gates, military resources, and opportunities to grow stronger. All for the good of the world, of course. Blah blah blah." Cassis scoffed. "Your parents didn¡¯t bite. He also dangled a reward in front of them, wanting to honour their achievements publicly, but it was clear he was just scoping them out." "Of course he was." "I¡¯m sure he knows as well as I do that you and Arianna were the real reason they survived. He¡¯ll definitely come for you next¡ªwith his real offer." Helen¡¯s tone sharpened, edged with concern. "And one more thing, Cassis. I watched the video of the fight." His muscles tensed. "Since when have you been able to fight like that?" His pulse spiked. "What do you mean?" "I mean," she said carefully, "you shouldn¡¯t be able to move like that. It¡¯s not the kind of skill you get from sparring in a gym. The way you fight¡­ it¡¯s like you¡¯ve been doing it for years. Like you¡¯ve fought for your life before. Is there something you want to tell me?" Cassis¡¯ throat went dry. How the hell could she tell from that fight? His level had been too low to move at his best. How much did she know about combat? The suspicion crept back in. "How do you¡­?" His voice came out hoarse. "It¡¯s best not to talk about this on the phone." Helen¡¯s voice was firm. "I¡¯ll visit you tomorrow morning. And I want answers, young man." The call ended with a soft click. Cassis lowered the phone slowly. Great. What the hell was he going to do now? Cassis walked back toward Arianna, who was still swinging her mace in steady arcs. Her movements had gotten smoother, more controlled. He almost hesitated to interrupt¡ªtraining kept them grounded, kept them ready¡ªbut this was more important. ¡°Arianna,¡± he called. She halted mid-swing, lowering the mace as she turned to him. Sweat dampened her hairline, but her eyes were sharp as they met his. ¡°Any news?¡± He took a breath and nodded. ¡°I just got off the phone with Helen. There¡¯s a lot we need to talk about.¡± She wiped her brow and gave him her full attention. He started with the children. How the military had found them. How the system¡¯s protection had worked¡ªkeeping them untouchable by the monsters but doing nothing for their parents. As he spoke, Arianna grew pale. Her grip on the mace tightened. ¡°That means¡­ there must be thousands of children like them,¡± she said, her voice quiet but edged with horror. ¡°Kids who survived while their parents were slaughtered in front of them. How many are orphans now?¡± Cassis hadn¡¯t even considered that. But now that she said it, the thought sent a chill down his spine. The system hadn¡¯t saved these children. It had only ensured their survival. Arianna shook her head, her jaw clenching. ¡°What happens to them now? Who takes care of them?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Cassis admitted. ¡°The government will probably try to set something up, but that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯ll be good for them.¡± Arianna exhaled slowly, as if trying to push away the overwhelming weight of it all. But she nodded, accepting that there was nothing they could do at this moment. ¡°There''s more,¡± he said. ¡°Dan Brice was the one who brought them to my parents¡¯ house.¡± Arianna¡¯s head snapped up. Her expression shifted instantly¡ªalert, calculating. ¡°What?¡± He could tell she recognized the name immediately. ¡°How is that possible?¡± she asked. ¡°In the other timeline, you never even met him in person.¡± Cassis nodded grimly. ¡°Yeah. I just knew of him. Everyone did. He was the driving force behind the whole Freedom Through Strength initiative.¡± Arianna¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°That ¡®initiative¡¯ was just a nice way of saying awakener slavery.¡± Cassis gritted his teeth. ¡°Yeah.¡± Freedom Through Strength. That was what Brice had called it, dressing up forced servitude as necessary for survival. Awakening was a gift, he had said, but awakeners needed to become more powerful to survive. And so, the government had placed slave collars on anyone under C-rank, forcing them into its military ranks. They had no choice but to fight. Only those who reached C-rank could break free, the collars unable to hold them anymore. For years, awakeners had clawed their way through dungeons and battlefields, desperate to reach that rank¡ªnot just for strength, but for freedom. That had been his system. Brice¡¯s. And now he was here. Already. Cassis¡¯ mind spiralled with the implications. What if he started the same initiative even earlier this time? When and where had he found the prototype of the slave collar in the other timeline. He clenched his fists. Maybe it was a good thing that they were meeting him now. Maybe he could kill him before any of that could happen. Was there a way? Could he make it look like an accident? Arianna shifted slightly, as if sensing the direction of his thoughts. She spoke calmly, but her words were firm. ¡°He hasn¡¯t done anything yet,¡± she reminded him. ¡°We can¡¯t punish him for something that hasn¡¯t happened.¡± Cassis exhaled sharply through his nose. ¡°Alright,¡± he muttered, though the agreement tasted bitter in his mouth. Arianna studied him, then continued, ¡°Besides, we can¡¯t do anything. Not now. It would be too suspicious if he just disappeared after visiting us.¡± That was a reason Cassis had to acknowledge. But that didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t kill the bastard. One way or another, he would. Definitely. Cassis exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing,¡± he said, his voice heavier now. ¡°Helen. She wants answers.¡± Arianna¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°What kind of answers?¡± ¡°She watched the fight.¡± His fingers curled into a fist. ¡°She noticed something was off¡ªhow I moved, how I fought. She said I moved like someone who¡¯s been fighting for their life for years, not just training for sport.¡± Arianna¡¯s lips parted slightly in surprise, but she didn¡¯t interrupt. ¡°She wants to talk,¡± Cassis continued, voice growing tense. ¡°Face to face. Tomorrow morning.¡± Arianna hesitated, then asked, ¡°What if¡­ you just tell her the truth?¡± Cassis stilled. He had expected her to suggest ways to deflect, to lie, to mislead Helen. But this? He met Arianna¡¯s gaze, searching for any hint of doubt. But she wasn¡¯t joking. She was serious. ¡°Do you think she¡¯d believe you?¡± Arianna asked softly. Cassis opened his mouth, then closed it again. Would she? He had thought he knew Helen well. She had been like an aunt to him, always watching out for him, pushing him to be better, taking him on adventures. But now he wasn¡¯t sure. Not just about whether she would believe him¡ªbut whether he could even trust her. The way she had seen through his movements so easily after just one fight¡­ It wasn¡¯t normal. Most people wouldn¡¯t notice. Hell, most trained fighters wouldn¡¯t notice. And what if she really was a spy? He had imagined it as a child, but what if that was the truth? What if she still had ties to the government? What if she wasn¡¯t just his mother¡¯s best friend, but something more? Could he risk it? His jaw tightened, uncertainty churning in his chest. Arianna must have seen the turmoil in his eyes, because she reached out, placing a gentle hand on his wrist. Her voice softened. ¡°Let¡¯s go home first,¡± she said, her words a quiet anchor in the storm of his thoughts. ¡°Take a break. Shower, eat something. We¡¯ll figure this out.¡± Cassis exhaled, letting some of the tension drain from his shoulders. She was right. He needed to clear his mind before making any decisions. Without another word, he let her take his hand, their fingers lacing together as they walked back toward his apartment. Together. Chapter 34 Secrets revealed part 1 – Arianna Chapter 34 Secrets revealed part 1 ¨C Arianna Arianna sat on the couch, tapping her fingers against her knee. The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom as Cassis showered. She had tried to focus on formulating a plan for their meeting with Helen, but no clear answer had come to her. How could they ensure Helen was trustworthy? How could they protect their secrets while still trying to gain her help¡ªif she was someone they could trust? She exhaled in frustration. They were walking a razor¡¯s edge. After a moment, she decided to check the Patron Shop. Maybe there was an item that could help. She pulled up the familiar interface in her mind and typed into the search bar: Trust. Nothing useful. Secret. Mostly irrelevant junk. Truth. A few failed results, and then¡ª Two items caught her eye: ? Mana Contract (1000 CP) A customizable contract that binds all parties who sign it using their mana and spirit signature. Breaking the contract results in death. All parties must willingly agree to enter it. ? Ring of Veritas (1500 CP) A ring that forces the wearer to speak only the truth. Can only be worn voluntarily and can be easily removed. Arianna¡¯s pulse quickened. This could work. The Mana Contract would ensure that Helen couldn¡¯t betray them if she agreed to it. And the Ring of Veritas¡ªif she wore it¡ªwould confirm whether she was hiding anything. She bit her lip, considering. It was a steep price¡ª2500 CP in total¡ªbut it was worth it if it meant securing an ally or weeding out an enemy. She was still deep in thought when the bathroom door suddenly opened. Steam drifted into the room as Cassis stepped out¡ªwearing nothing but a towel loosely wrapped around his hips. Arianna froze. Cassis froze. For a second, neither of them moved. His damp hair clung to his forehead, water droplets trailing down his bare chest and arms. She had known he was in shape, but actually seeing it was another matter entirely. His toned muscles weren¡¯t bulky, but lean and defined. Cassis cleared his throat. ¡°I¡­ uh. Forgot to grab clothes.¡± His voice snapped her out of whatever stunned trance she had been in. ¡°Oh. Right.¡± She quickly averted her eyes, gesturing for him to pass. The moment stretched into something awkward. Neither of them acknowledged it. Cassis mumbled something and disappeared into his bedroom. Arianna let out a breath and hurried into the bathroom, shutting the door a little too quickly behind her. Inside, she pressed her hands against the cool sink and took a deep breath. Her heart was still pounding, but she wasn¡¯t sure if it was from embarrassment or something else entirely. Get it together, she scolded herself, shaking her head. She forced herself to focus on her real concerns¡ªthe contract, the ring, Helen. By the time she finished showering and stepped out in fresh clothes, she had mostly shoved the earlier incident to the back of her mind. Mostly. Cassis was already waiting for her at the small kitchen table. He didn¡¯t bring up what had happened outside the bathroom, and neither did she. But there was a certain tension in the air, something unspoken that made it hard for them to meet each other¡¯s eyes for too long. Instead, she focused on explaining what she had found in the Patron Shop. Cassis listened intently, nodding along. ¡°These are perfect,¡± he said, looking almost relieved. ¡°If Helen agrees to the contract, we won¡¯t have to worry about her betraying us. And the ring¡ªif she¡¯s willing to wear it, we¡¯ll know if she¡¯s lying.¡± ¡°So you think I should buy them?¡± Arianna asked. ¡°Yes.¡± His response was immediate. ¡°Please.¡± She nodded, already pulling up the Patron Shop in her mind. As she confirmed the purchase, she felt some of the weight on her shoulders lift. No matter how the conversation with Helen went tomorrow, at least now they had a way to control the outcome. And right now, that was the best they could hope for. Cassis and Arianna continued their conversation, the tension from earlier slowly fading as they talked about their abilities. Arianna sighed as she mentally reviewed her skills, frustrated that her physical abilities had stagnated. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m hitting a wall,¡± she admitted. ¡°I train really hard and exactly like you showed me but for the past two days, none of my skills have gone up.¡± Cassis considered her words, then suddenly asked, ¡°What about your blessings and curses?¡± Arianna blinked, momentarily confused. Blessings and curses? Then it hit her. Her title as Chaotic Priestess came with the ability to bestow blessings and curses, yet she had completely forgotten about it. ¡°I forgot?¡± she said, incredulous. Cassis nodded, looking equally embarrassed. ¡°I actually forgot too. But thinking about it now, it would have been really useful during the fight in the gymnasium.¡± He tapped his fingers against the table. ¡°But we can start using them now. Do you have a blessing that increases growth? And maybe a gravity-based curse?¡± Arianna groaned, burying her face in her hands. How could I forget one of my core abilities? This wasn¡¯t even the first time. At the beginning of the apocalypse, she had nearly died trying to get enough CP to buy a healing potion for Marcus¡ªwhen she could have just formed an exclusive contract with Cassis and earned discounts in the Patron Shop. And now this. Her Silence Curse had kept baby Jessica quiet long enough for them to prepare, and her Courage Blessing had boosted Cassis and the others¡¯ strength during the monster flood and their fight against the hobgoblin. These were crucial abilities, and she had neglected them. Cassis must have sensed her frustration because he leaned forward, his voice calm and reassuring. ¡°We¡¯ll work on it tomorrow during training. Don¡¯t beat yourself up. This kind of thing happens early on. Once you start using your abilities every day, it¡¯ll become second nature.¡± Arianna nodded, though the frustration still simmered inside her. But he was right. She couldn¡¯t change the past, but she could do better in the future. They talked a little more, discussing ways to integrate her blessings and curses into their combat strategy. The easy conversation helped ease the lingering awkwardness between them, but as the night wore on, exhaustion finally caught up with them. They went to bed. Lying side by side, close but not touching, the earlier tension resurfaced. Arianna tried to ignore it, but her thoughts betrayed her. She remembered the sight of Cassis fresh out of the shower¡ªhow the droplets of water had clung to his skin, the toned muscles beneath. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Her fingers twitched with the sudden urge to reach out, to trace the lines of his arms, his chest. What would it feel like to touch him without clothes in the way? She swallowed hard. This wasn¡¯t the time for such thoughts. She had never desired someone like this before. The realization was both thrilling and terrifying. She turned onto her side, squeezing her eyes shut, forcing her breathing to slow. Not now. Focus on what¡¯s important. With that, she drifted into a peaceful sleep, unaware of the way Cassis lay beside her, staring at the ceiling, fighting his own thoughts. The next morning, Arianna woke up alone again. This was getting old. With a sigh, she changed into her clothes and stepped into the living room, where Cassis was already waiting. They quickly got to work, refining the terms of their contract with Helen. Their primary condition was simple but absolute¡ªshe would be forbidden from sharing anything discussed in this meeting, as well as any future knowledge they deemed classified. In return, they would extend her the same protection. To ensure honesty, they would ask her to wear the Ring of Veritas, and if she insisted, they would do the same. Just as they finalized the details, the doorbell rang. Cassis opened it to reveal Helen, standing with her usual jovial expression. He stepped aside to let her in while Arianna retrieved a fresh mug of coffee. "Here you go," she said, handing it to Helen, who took a seat in Cassis'' armchair. Helen accepted the drink with a nod, then immediately fixed them both with a piercing gaze. "Alright, you two. It''s time for some answers. Cassis, your combat skills are far too refined to be normal, and Arianna¡ªyou don¡¯t exist in any government registry. Well, you didn¡¯t exist before I intervened. Care to explain?" Without a word, Cassis reached into his inventory, retrieving the mana contract ¨C which looked like an old school scroll ¨C and the Ring of Veritas. Helen arched an eyebrow. He placed the items on the table. "Before we say anything, I want a binding agreement," he stated firmly. "What we share today¡ªand any knowledge you gain from us in the future¡ªcannot be spoken of in any way, shape, or form. In return, we won¡¯t reveal any of your secrets either. This is a mana contract from the System. Once signed, it enforces its terms¡ªwhoever breaks it dies." Helen stared at him as if seeing him for the first time. Her posture tensed, wariness creeping into her expression. "Just what kind of secrets do you have?" she murmured. Then, after a pause, she added, "And how does the System distinguish between intentional betrayal and a simple mistake? After all, someone could eavesdrop without you knowing about it." Arianna answered before Cassis could. She had received an explanation upon purchasing the contract. "The contract evaluates intent. If the information slips accidentally, it won¡¯t activate. But if you deliberately reveal something, it will." Helen considered this for a moment, then frowned. "There need to be exceptions. For instance, if someone threatens my life¡ªor the life of someone I love¡ªto force the truth out of me, I should be allowed to speak." Cassis folded his arms. "That¡¯s reasonable, but it¡¯s too broad. The contract should only allow an exception if the threat is serious. Better yet, the contract should delay any judgment until the other two parties determine whether the threat was legitimate." Helen tapped her fingers against the mug, thinking. Then, slowly, she nodded. "Alright. That¡¯s fair." Her eyes flicked toward the contract. "Of course, I expect the full truth, not just selective parts of it. And can we ensure that you two aren¡¯t able to lie either?" Cassis inclined his head. "For truthfulness, we have a different item." He gestured to the ring. "Once worn, it forces the wearer to speak only the truth. But it must be put on voluntarily, and it can be removed at any time." Helen studied him, then nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s sign.¡± ¡°Not so fast.¡± A subtle but unmistakable menace laced Cassis'' words as he demanded. "And what about you? I want to know the full truth about you as well. Normal people wouldn¡¯t be able to tell the difference between a trained fighter and a real fighter. You¡¯re not military¡ªnot as far as I know. So, I need to understand who you are. Otherwise, I can¡¯t trust you." For a moment, silence stretched between them, thick with tension. Then Helen smirked, but there was nothing friendly about it. "Oh? Would you see me as an enemy?" Neither of them looked away. The challenge hung in the air between them, unspoken but undeniable. Arianna, watching from the sidelines, felt a sinking sensation in her stomach. The atmosphere had grown razor-sharp, filled with the kind of quiet hostility she had never been good at handling. She preferred action to mind games, but she knew she couldn¡¯t remain silent. Clearing her throat, she interjected, "Then we need an exception for something different as well. If any of us wants to share information with someone outside this contract, it should be allowed with the consent of all three parties." Cassis and Helen broke their stare to glance at her, then exchanged a look. After a beat, they both nodded. "Very well," Cassis said, his voice once again calm and measured. "The terms of the contract are as follows:
  1. Helen will share her story in full with us. In return, Arianna and I will share our stories in full with Helen.
  2. None of us may disclose the secrets shared between us, in any form, unless an exception applies.
  3. There are two exceptions:
Helen ran a finger along the rim of her cup, considering the terms one last time. Then, she gave a slow, deliberate nod. "Alright," she said. "Let¡¯s sign." Arianna cleared her throat, steadying herself before explaining the next step. "We each need to press our thumbs against the contract and will a small amount of mana into it. The contract will detect the intent and activate¡ªit doesn¡¯t require precise mana control." Helen nodded in understanding, and without further hesitation, the three of them placed their thumbs on the parchment. A faint pulse of energy rippled through the air as the contract absorbed their mana, sealing their agreement. Cassis then retrieved the Ring of Veritas and handed it to Helen. She examined it briefly before slipping it onto her finger. He wasted no time. "Before we begin, I need you to confirm something. Is anyone listening to this conversation?" A slow, almost pleased smile spread across Helen''s lips. "I was wondering if you''d think of that," she admitted. "Alright. As far as I¡¯m aware, no one is listening to or watching us. No one should even know we¡¯re having this conversation. But if you want to be absolutely certain, you should put your phones and any other electronics capable of eavesdropping as far away as possible." Arianna stiffened. She hadn''t thought of that at all. A wave of frustration hit her¡ªshe really wasn¡¯t cut out for this level of paranoia. Then a thought struck her. Maybe the Patron Shop has something for this. She quickly accessed it, searching for anything related to privacy. It didn¡¯t take long to find what she was looking for: Privacy Sphere ¨C Creates a protective bubble around the conversation¡¯s participants, preventing unwanted listeners. (1,200 CP) Arianna groaned internally. That was nearly all the CP she had left. But considering it was a permanent item, she figured it was worth the investment. She made the purchase and looked up at Cassis and Helen. ¡°I just got something that can help,¡± she said, pulling the item from her inventory. Both of them raised an eyebrow in eerily similar fashion. That was new. Cassis and Helen exchanged glances, then nodded. "That¡¯s a good idea," Cassis admitted. He stood, grabbed both his and Arianna¡¯s phones, and placed them in the bedroom. Once he returned, Arianna activated the Privacy Sphere. It was the form of an octagonal disc, roughly the size of her hand, with intricate runes carved into its center. As soon as she activated it, a subtle shift in the air signaled the formation of an invisible barrier. She couldn''t see it, but she could feel its presence. "Alright," Cassis said, exhaling as the final preparations fell into place. He turned to Helen, his gaze sharp. "Now, Helen ¨C if Helen is even your real name ¨C please tell us your story and how you know so much about fighting." Cassis leaned back into the couch, but despite his casual posture, tension still coiled within him. Arianna was excited but also worried for him. She had noticed that he admired his Aunt Helen a lot and now his trust in her had been shaken. She hoped they were about to get answers and that these answers would help him get along with Helen again. She didn¡¯t want them to become enemies. Helen took a slow breath before beginning. "To understand me, you first need to understand the truth about this world¡ªand its government. I know you think you understand it, but believe me, there¡¯s far more beneath the surface than you realize." Arianna and Cassis exchanged glances but remained silent, letting her continue. "Our World Council was established, and Avaria was unified only seventy years ago, shortly after the Third World War. The founders are well-known, their names taught in every history class. But one of them, Kevin Morgan, feared that peace wouldn''t last. He knew that, given enough time, the world¡¯s factions would fall into conflict again. After all, less than a hundred years had passed between the Second and Third World Wars. What was stopping a fourth?" Helen leaned forward slightly, her voice steady but weighted with something deeper. "So, Kevin Morgan, along with a few like-minded individuals, created something outside the public eye¡ªThe Shadows of Avaria, a secret organization meant to ensure peace at any cost." Arianna felt a chill creep down her spine. "I won¡¯t bore you with every historical detail, but here¡¯s what you need to know: The Shadows of Avaria have one mission¡ªkeep the civilian world peaceful, content, and above all, ignorant. They work to locate and eliminate potential threats before they can take root¡ªterrorist cells, warlords, those who seek to reignite the flames of war." Helen''s expression darkened. "And this is how they do it: From all over the world, across every nation and ethnicity, newborns are taken from their families and raised by the organization to become members and operatives." Arianna¡¯s breath hitched, horror blooming in her chest, but she forced herself to stay quiet. "The families never know," Helen continued, her voice clinical. "Doctors¡ªsecretly part of the Shadows¡ªfalsify stillbirths or infant deaths. The babies are taken and placed into one of the organization''s sectors, starting with Nursery, where they are raised. Once they are old enough, they are transferred to School, where their real training begins. Upon reaching adulthood, they are assigned to one of five branches:
  1. Nursery¡ªwhere the next generation of operatives is raised.
  2. School¡ªwhere they are trained to become shadows themselves.
  3. Hand¡ªthe combat and field operatives, responsible for missions requiring direct action.
  4. Ear¡ªan intelligence network, specializing in surveillance and information gathering.
  5. Brain¡ªthe research and development division, dedicated to science and technology advancements."
Arianna barely registered how tightly she was gripping the edge of her seat. The entire concept was terrifying¡ªstealing children, raising them in secrecy, molding them into tools of the state. And yet, despite the horror, she couldn¡¯t help but continuing to listen. Then, Helen delivered the final blow. "I was one of those babies." Silence stretched between them like a taut wire. Helen¡¯s gaze was unreadable as she continued, "I found out who my birth family was years ago. And since we''re being honest..." She exhaled, then met Cassis¡¯s eyes directly. "My real name is Helen Alberti. I am the fraternal twin sister of Danielle Walker, who was born as an Alberti. Which means¡ª" she paused for just a beat¡ª "Nice to officially meet you, my dear nephew." Arianna¡¯s stomach dropped. Cassis, usually so composed, went completely still. Helen Alberti. Danielle Walker¡¯s fraternal twin sister. Cassis¡¯s aunt. Chapter 35 Secrets revealed part 2 – Cassis Chapter 35 Secrets revealed part 2 ¨C Cassis Cassis stared at Helen, his mind struggling to process what he had just heard. His aunt. By blood. His eyes flickered to the Ring of Veritas on her finger. It confirmed her words¡ªshe was telling the truth, or at least, what she believed to be the truth. "Are you sure?" His voice came out more strained than he intended. "Did you do a DNA test?" Helen¡¯s expression twisted into something close to offense. "Did I do a test? Of course, I did. Danielle Walker is without a doubt my sister. And according to the records, she¡¯s my twin." She let out a small scoff. "We don¡¯t look identical and have the DNA match of siblings, so we are fraternal twins." Cassis opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words. Helen, however, had more to say. "I was always a bit of a problem child." A smirk played at her lips, like she was reliving something amusing from the past. "I was a great operative with Hand, but I wasn¡¯t exactly obedient. Got plenty of warnings and demerits for my attitude concerning orders." She spat out warnings and demerits like the words were a joke, but when she said orders, there was nothing but cold contempt in her voice. "I never fully bought into their brainwashing. Unlike most of the others, I was always... unhappy with the organization. And when I turned twenty, I got it into my head to find out where I came from. I wanted to know my real family." Helen¡¯s eyes gleamed as she spoke, her voice laced with something between nostalgia and bitterness. "As a Hand operative, I had top-tier infiltration skills. And thanks to a few connections in Ear, I managed to track down my real origins. That¡¯s how I found Danielle. At first, I wasn¡¯t sure if I wanted to actually meet her, but..." Helen¡¯s expression softened. "She was my twin. And the more I watched her, the more I wanted to meet her. We got along so well that I never wanted to leave her side." Cassis listened in stunned silence as Helen continued, her voice dipping into something more personal, more intimate. "I was with her when she met your father, Marcus. I watched them fall in love. I watched them marry. All the while, I was still doing my job as an operative. But for the first time, following orders didn¡¯t feel like a chore. It felt like a means to protect something important." Helen leaned back, a humourless chuckle escaping her lips. "The higher-ups thought I had finally ¡®matured.¡¯ That I had found a purpose¡ªas if I hadn¡¯t always had one. My new dedication got me promoted, and eventually, I earned one of the coveted Numbers." Cassis frowned. "Numbers?" Helen nodded. "The best operatives in the entire organization. Only 500 at any given time. The only way in is if someone dies." She gave him a wry smile. "I was Number 371." Cassis inhaled sharply. That number placed her among the most elite in a secret organization he had never even heard of. "But the higher I climbed, the more I hated what I saw." Helen¡¯s expression darkened, her fingers curling into fists. "They were still stealing babies. Ripping families apart, just like they did to mine." Her eyes flickered to Cassis, and the weight of her words settled heavily on his chest. "Then you were born." Cassis felt his breath hitch. "I was paranoid," Helen admitted. "I told Marcus and Danielle never to let you out of their sight. I even paid nurses to keep an extra eye on you. But I couldn¡¯t be there¡ªnot openly. If anyone found out I had tracked down my birth family, I would have been labelled compromised. They would have taken me, and that would¡¯ve been the end of it." Her voice sharpened. "That¡¯s why they forbid us from finding our families in the first place. It was never about keeping us ¡®impartial.¡¯ It was because people with nothing and nobody to depend on are easier to control." She flexed her hands, clenching and unclenching them as if fighting an old rage. "The same thing happened when Liam was born. I was terrified they¡¯d take him, too. I was relieved when they didn¡¯t¡ªbut the fear never stopped. And that¡¯s when I knew." Her voice turned lethal. "I had to get out." Helen exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "I never liked the organization. But when I realized how they could have taken you or Liam for no reason other than to produce nice little soldiers, I started hating them. Hating them for taking me, for taking others like me, for ruining families all over the world. But I couldn¡¯t fight them. They were too strong. I could only escape." A bitter smile crossed her face. "It took me nearly a decade to fake my death and disappear." Cassis was speechless. A secret government organization. Stolen children. A hidden network that operated from the shadows, ensuring peace at the cost of untold lives. Even in the other timeline, he had never heard of any of this. His mind spun, trying to make sense of it all. Helen had been protecting them all along, working in the shadows to keep him safe. She had been part of something massive, something terrifying. And now... she had finally told him the truth. Arianna interjected with a question, her curiosity piqued. ¡°Then why were you working at City Hall when I met you? Wouldn¡¯t that be incredibly dangerous?¡± Helen chuckled, a hint of mischief in her eyes. ¡°Oh, absolutely. But I took precautions. I underwent plastic surgery to make my face unrecognizable. And beyond that, I chose to keep my hair this vivid shade of red¡ªa colour that demands attention. It might seem counterintuitive, but it¡¯s the perfect disguise. We were always trained to blend in, to disappear into the crowd. But Helen Segredo? She stands out. She¡¯s loud, confident, a social butterfly. No one would ever suspect that a woman like her would be hiding in plain sight, much less within the walls of City Hall.¡± Arianna¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Wow.¡± It¡¯s all she managed to say. Helen smirked, clearly pleased with the reaction, but then her expression shifted, growing serious. ¡°But now, with the apocalypse¡ªthe ¡®first wave,¡¯ as it said¡ªeverything has changed. This system, this awakening¡­ I was so sure that once you and Liam weren¡¯t taken as babies, you would be safe. But now, you¡¯ve shown me my worst nightmare come to life.¡± Her gaze sharpened as she looked at Cassis. ¡°You fight like a man who has spent years¡ªdecades¡ªin life-or-death battles. The way you move, the precision of your strikes, your control under pressure¡­ It¡¯s not normal. Not for someone who grew up safe. Did they get to you later? That would be highly unusual. Or is there someone else? Some hidden faction, a secret military project?¡± Her frown deepened. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But you need to tell me.¡± She crossed her arms. ¡°Arianna wasn¡¯t in the registry. I wasn¡¯t, either. Are you a shadow? There¡¯s something unnatural about all of this. And if you are, you cannot be affiliated with the government right now¡ªnot when you two might be the strongest people in the world. You need to be independent. Otherwise, they¡¯ll just use you up as ¡®heros¡¯.¡± Cassis cut off her spiralling thoughts. ¡°We¡¯ll tell you. Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s not the government.¡± Helen¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°And not criminals, either,¡± he added quickly. Arianna nodded, offering a small smile. ¡°Honestly, our story might be even crazier than yours.¡± Helen raised an eyebrow, intrigued. ¡°Well then¡­ it¡¯s your turn.¡± Cassis was still reeling from everything, his thoughts a storm he couldn¡¯t quite calm. He wasn¡¯t sure he was in any state to continue this conversation. Maybe a break would be good? But Arianna was already reaching for the Ring of Veritas, sliding it off Helen¡¯s finger and onto her own. ¡°Alright,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll start.¡± She took a steadying breath before continuing. ¡°My story and Cassis¡¯s are almost the same. It¡¯s a bit unbelievable, but please¡ªdon¡¯t interrupt me.¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Helen nodded, waiting. ¡°I¡¯m not from this world,¡± Arianna said, her voice even. ¡°I was born on a world almost identical to this one. When I was seventeen, I found this necklace, and from that moment on, I started dreaming of a young man with golden eyes, fighting monsters in an apocalypse ruled by a system. I became a patron in my dreams.¡± She glanced at Cassis before continuing. ¡°At first, it was difficult. But eventually, Cassis accepted me as his patron, and together, we ensured his survival for over ten years in that apocalypse.¡± Helen listened, her expression unreadable. ¡°Then we had a fight,¡± Arianna admitted, voice softer now. ¡°A bad one. It was about his refusal to trust others, to build a real team. After that fight, I got into a car accident. And just before the impact¡ªbefore the car hit me¡ªI suddenly woke up in this world, on the very first day of the apocalypse. And Cassis was there, too.¡± She met Helen¡¯s gaze. ¡°The rest happened as we¡¯ve already told you. We awakened by fighting monsters. We sought out his family¡ªwho had died in the other timeline¡ªand saved them. We rescued the Morrisons and baby Jessica, and that alone changed everything we thought we knew about this apocalypse. We are strong, yes¡ªbut not just because we have future knowledge. Cassis is strong because he fought, every day, for years. I became strong because as a patron I have a few extra abilities like the Patron Shop. This ring, the contract, the privacy sphere, our armour and weapons ¨C they all came from the Patron Shop and gave us an advantage.¡± She hesitated before adding, ¡°The world we knew before this was bleak. Cassis had lost everything¡ªhis family, his friends. It was desolate, no children, no laughter. But starting from the first day again, we changed the course of events.¡± Arianna finished recounting their journey up to this point, leaving Helen in stunned silence. The older woman stared at her as if she¡¯d lost her mind. Then, she glared at the Ring of Veritas on Arianna¡¯s hand. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t felt it myself,¡± Helen finally muttered, ¡°if I hadn¡¯t experienced firsthand that this ring compels absolute truth, I wouldn¡¯t believe you.¡± She exhaled sharply. ¡°Even now, it¡¯s¡­ hard to accept.¡± Cassis spoke up. ¡°I know. That¡¯s why we haven¡¯t told anyone else.¡± He hesitated, then added, ¡°Arianna is still my patron, but something strange happened when she arrived here. She¡¯s both a deity and an awakener at the same time. That¡¯s why we call her deity persona Sapphire.¡± Helen lifted a hand, stopping him mid-sentence. ¡°That¡¯s all well and good,¡± she said coolly. ¡°But before I listen to another word, you will wear that ring.¡± Cassis stiffened. ¡°I trust her,¡± Helen said simply, tilting her head toward Arianna. ¡°She¡¯s just too good a person to deceive me. But you, young man? I don¡¯t quite trust you yet.¡± Cassis bristled at the words. The way she said young man sent him straight back to his childhood, to moments when he was scolded for mischief. But this time, it wasn¡¯t his fault¡ªwell, actually¡­ it was. But Helen couldn¡¯t know that. And now, there was a problem. She expected him to wear the ring. To tell her everything. But he couldn¡¯t. Not with Arianna here. She would hear it, too. And she couldn¡¯t know. Not yet. He needed more time. His pulse quickens as he looks at Helen, but Arianna is already removing the ring, holding it out to him. This terrible little thing¡­ For a brief, absurd moment, he wondered if he could destroy it and claim it was an accident. But before he could act, Helen spoke again. ¡°Arianna, sweetheart,¡± she said, her voice gentle but firm. ¡°I need to speak with Cassis alone for a moment. There are personal matters I must ask him about, and I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re aware of them or not. You said it yourself¡ªthere are things you don¡¯t know about each other. It¡¯s better you learn them over time, not through an interrogation.¡± Cassis saw the protest forming in Arianna¡¯s eyes. But then¡ªreluctantly¡ªshe relented. ¡°Alright,¡± she said, sighing. ¡°I¡¯ll step outside the bubble. I won¡¯t be able to hear you, even if I sit at the kitchen table.¡± She gave Cassis a long, searching look, then nodded before turning and walking away. The moment she crossed the boundary, silence fell. Cassis exhaled, relief flooding through him. But that relief was short-lived. Helen fixed him with a piercing gaze, her expression unreadable but expectant. She was waiting. She wanted answers. He exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his face. ¡°Before I tell you¡­ you have to promise me something.¡± Helen crossed her arms but nodded. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Arianna can¡¯t know.¡± His voice was firm, almost desperate. ¡°No matter what I tell you, you cannot let her find out.¡± Helen studied him for a long moment, then sighed. ¡°Alright. I promise.¡± Only then did Cassis allow himself to put on the ring and speak. ¡°After Arianna¡¯s car accident, time didn¡¯t just reverse by itself.¡± He swallowed hard. ¡°I was still waiting for her. Waiting for her to come back after our fight. But she never did.¡± His fists clenched. ¡°I grew angry. So angry. I felt betrayed. I started to hate her.¡± His voice dropped, hoarse with bitterness. ¡°I wanted revenge.¡± Helen stayed silent, letting him talk. ¡°I survived like that for four more years,¡± he continued. ¡°Four years of fighting, of barely making it, while the world crumbled around me. By then, the apocalypse had nearly reached its final stage. The seventh wave was coming, and we weren¡¯t strong enough to stop it.¡± He exhaled a mirthless laugh. ¡°So, I decided to end it on my terms. I went into an S-rank dungeon. Suicide by dungeon, you know?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Little did I know I¡¯d actually survive. That I¡¯d defeat the dragon inside. And that¡¯s when I found it.¡± Helen¡¯s eyes sharpened. ¡°An artifact?¡± Cassis nodded, his expression twisted with self-loathing. ¡°Yeah. A real wishing lamp. A single wish. I could have wished for salvation, for my loved ones back, for the strength to stop the apocalypse.¡± His jaw tightened. ¡°But what did I do?¡± He let out a bitter chuckle. ¡°I wished for revenge. On the one person who had been by my side the longest.¡± A heavy silence fell between them. Helen didn¡¯t move. Cassis closed his eyes, remembering the moment with painful clarity. ¡°The lamp activated¡ªbut before granting my wish, it gave me an error message.¡± He let out a breath. ¡°Then, it found a way. That way¡­ was to turn back time.¡± He opened his eyes again, staring straight at Helen. ¡°Before I knew it, I was back on the first day of the apocalypse. Everything was exactly as I remembered it. Until¡ª¡± his voice caught, ¡°¡ªa person fell from the sky.¡± His breath hitched. ¡°I caught her.¡± His voice was barely above a whisper. ¡°It was Arianna.¡± He forced himself to hold Helen¡¯s gaze. ¡°She was confused. She asked me about the car accident.¡± He swallowed hard. ¡°Because she died in the other timeline.¡± Helen¡¯s expression shifted¡ªunderstanding dawning, yet tempered by something unreadable. ¡°And what did I do?¡± Cassis let out a hollow laugh. ¡°I cursed her. I hated her.¡± He broke eye contact, shame pressing down on him like a weight he couldn¡¯t shake off. He slumped forward, running his hands over his face. ¡°Just what was I thinking?¡± His voice cracked, raw and filled with regret. ¡°I knew her for ten years. Ten years. And she was just¡­ too good a person to do something like abandon me. I had to have known that. Deep down, I knew it.¡± He let out a shaky breath. ¡°But I let my anger take over. And now¡­¡± He exhaled, defeated. ¡°Now she is here. In the apocalypse. Because of me.¡± Silence. Then¡ª ¡°You think she¡¯d hate you?¡± Helen¡¯s voice was gentle, but there was something firm beneath it. Cassis looked up, his expression pained. ¡°She would leave.¡± His voice was barely above a whisper. ¡°And she doesn¡¯t have anyone else here. She¡¯d be alone. That isn¡¯t safe. She needs to stay¡ªat least until she¡¯s strong enough to take care of herself. Until she has friends to rely on.¡± Helen stared at him for a moment. Then, without a word, she stood up and pulled him into a hug. Cassis stiffened at first, unprepared for the warmth, for the steadying presence of her arms around him. ¡°Shh,¡± she murmured, like she had when he was a child. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± It wasn¡¯t. But the words broke something in him. He realized, distantly, that he was breathing too hard. That something warm and wet was trailing down his face. Was he¡­ crying? Him? He had thought his tears had dried up years ago. He clenched his jaw, trying to get himself under control. But for a few long minutes, he couldn¡¯t. He gripped onto Helen, grounding himself in the quiet strength she offered. And for the first time in years, he let himself feel. Eventually, his breathing steadied. The storm inside quieted¡ªif only slightly. A small, almost self-deprecating chuckle escaped him. ¡°Thanks Aunt Helen,¡± he muttered, letting her step back. He rubbed at his face, forcing a smile. ¡°I¡¯m okay now.¡± Helen gave him a look that said she didn¡¯t quite believe him. But she didn¡¯t press. Instead, she just nodded. ¡°Good.¡± Then she sat down again and sighed, rubbing her temple. "Listen, little pirate." Cassis smiled, that was her nickname for him from his childhood. He had loved playing pirate and Aunt Helen had always indulged him and play-fought with him. "I know what it¡¯s like to carry things alone." Her voice softened even more. "I know what it¡¯s like to keep secrets because you think it¡¯ll protect someone. But let me tell you something, Cassis." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "Secrets like that? They have a way of tearing people apart." He swallowed. "It¡¯s not the right time." "It¡¯s never the right time." Helen¡¯s golden eyes ¨C how had he never noticed that they had the same eye colour? ¨C locked onto his, unyielding. "One day, that girl out there, she¡¯s going to find out. And when she does, if she learns that you hid this from her?" Cassis clenched his fists. "It¡¯ll hurt her more than the truth ever could." The words hit him like a gut punch. For a long moment, the only sound between them was his own breathing. Finally, Helen sat back. "Alright." He blinked. "What?" "I won¡¯t force you to tell her and I won¡¯t say anything." She took the ring from his finger and twirled it. "But I hope you remember this conversation, Cassis." He exhaled, tension slowly bleeding out of his shoulders. "...Thank you." Helen smirked. "Don¡¯t thank me yet. I still plan to get you to tell her eventually. She¡¯s good for you and you two would make a great couple. Most of all, this secret burdens you way too much. From what I can see, she would forgive you." Cassis wasn¡¯t so sure about that. Arianna had a stubborn streak during unexpected times. And now that he knew about her own life back in her world, he thought she wouldn¡¯t forgive him this betrayal. She had been as alone as him, had counted on him and trusted him. In the end he let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. There was no reason to speculate further. He could hope, but he wouldn¡¯t assume. He¡¯d make sure she could leave if she wanted to. That she wasn¡¯t trapped with him for survival¡¯s sake. Helen placed the ring back on the table, then stood up. "Come on. Let¡¯s not keep Arianna waiting too long. She might start thinking we are keeping secrets from her." Cassis let out a breath and rose to his feet. As they stepped out of the privacy sphere, Arianna immediately turned toward them, eyes sharp with curiosity. "Everything alright?" she asked, gaze flicking between them. "Yeah," Helen said smoothly. "Just some family matters." Arianna frowned but didn¡¯t press further. "Alright. But next time, no secret meetings." Cassis forced a smirk. "We¡¯ll see about that." But deep down, Helen¡¯s words echoed in his mind. "It¡¯ll hurt her more than the truth ever could." Chapter 36 Plans and Conversations – Arianna Chapter 36 Plans and Conversations ¨C Arianna Arianna, Cassis, and Helen settled back into the couch and armchair, the tension from their previous conversation gone. She kept the privacy sphere intact¡ªwhat they were about to discuss concerned their future plans, and it was best if no one else could listen in. Her gaze flickered to Cassis. His eyes were still slightly red, as if he had been crying. Whatever he and Helen had talked about must have been deeply personal, but she wouldn¡¯t ask. She respected their privacy and could only hope that one day, Cassis would trust her enough to share it with her. Shaking off the thought, Arianna focused on their next step. ¡°Helen, do you have any ideas on how we can make ourselves and Sapphire more well-known? Fame is influence, and influence is power.¡± Helen nodded approvingly. ¡°I¡¯m proud that you¡¯ve come to that conclusion. But I¡¯m not surprised you couldn¡¯t come up with any ideas. Cassis, you¡¯ve always been the type to step in only when absolutely necessary, preferring to stay under the radar otherwise. And Arianna, you seem quite humble.¡± She sighed. ¡°The easiest way to spread your influence is through social media and a dedicated website. Create pages about yourselves as Avatars of Sapphire and introduce Sapphire as a benevolent deity. You can use those platforms to share information about upcoming events¡ªcall them ¡®Revelations¡¯¡ªwhich will not only make people believe in Sapphire but also help spread your influence and mitigate some disasters.¡± Arianna¡¯s eyes lit up at the suggestion. It was a brilliant idea. But¡­ how exactly did one go about creating social media pages? Avaria likely had different apps than Earth, and even back home, she had never been very active online. One glance at Cassis told her he was just as clueless. Helen noticed their hesitation and sighed. ¡°Do you know anyone who could handle this for you? Someone young enough to understand how it works, but responsible enough to do it properly?¡± Cassis shook his head. ¡°Then we¡¯ll need to find someone later,¡± Helen concluded. Cassis leaned forward. ¡°What about gathering more information? We need a steady stream of current intel.¡± Helen grinned. ¡°That¡¯s the beauty of fame. Once people know you, they¡¯ll come to your website. We¡¯ll create different sections¡ªone for ¡®Revelations¡¯ and another for information. The information section will be divided into three tiers: free access, paid membership, and VIP.¡± She continued, her tone brisk and confident. ¡°Free access will include the basics¡ªclass explanations, system features, skills, spells, elemental affinities, basic training methods. You know that stuff better than I do so feel free to include whatever you think is necessary to help everyone getting started. The paid membership section will contain more advanced knowledge, like which gates are best for training, how to properly utilize elemental affinity, methods for creating new spells, and ways to acquire specific skills.¡± Arianna nodded, impressed. ¡°How will people pay for membership?¡± ¡°There will be two methods,¡± Helen explained. ¡°First, they can pay with real money¡ªweekly, monthly, or through a long-term subscription of at least three months to a year. The second method is through trade. If someone has valuable information, they can offer it in exchange for temporary access to the paid section. The information will only be shared if both parties agree on the value and the terms of the trade.¡± Cassis¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°And the VIP section?¡± ¡°That will be for you, your guild members, and select individuals¡ªperhaps influential or wealthy people. You can offer VIP access as a bonus, a favour, or even as a bargaining chip. But this will only work once the website gains popularity.¡± Arianna was in awe. ¡°How did you come up with all this?¡± Helen smirked. ¡°It¡¯s from one of the playbooks I studied in ¡®School.¡¯ These aren¡¯t my ideas, but they are effective.¡± Arianna nodded, still impressed. Cassis, however, remained practical. ¡°But we¡¯ll need people to manage the website and gather information. We can¡¯t afford to spend too much time on this ourselves¡ªit¡¯ll take away from training.¡± Helen nodded. ¡°That¡¯s why finding these people and forming a guild should be one of your next priorities. From what I understand, a guild functions like a company. You¡¯ll have three founding members, different tiers of members, and specialized divisions to handle various tasks.¡± Arianna exchanged a glance with Cassis. The pieces were coming together. Their next steps were clear. Cassis leaned forward, his voice serious. ¡°Then, Aunt Helen, let¡¯s table that for now and talk about the government and military before we run out of time. It¡¯s still morning, but they¡¯ll be here soon.¡± Helen nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Even though the government we knew isn¡¯t the great entity it presents itself as, it¡¯s still doing a lot of good for a lot of people. Right now, the world needs a strong government. So, they¡¯ll likely want you to work for them.¡± She shook her head. ¡°That cannot happen. But we may be able to work with them. Cooperation is key.¡± Arianna frowned. ¡°How do we do that without telling them too much or losing our independence?¡± Helen¡¯s eyes gleamed with approval. ¡°Good question. It will be difficult. Each new collaboration will have to be negotiated carefully. No long-term contracts.¡± She exhaled and leaned back. ¡°Now, I¡¯ll tell you what they¡¯ll want if they can¡¯t have you directly. Their first demand will be for you to train their forces. Cassis, they¡¯ll want you to teach their warriors and rangers. Arianna, they¡¯ll want you to train the clerics and mages. After all, they¡¯ve seen your talents in the Hall of Fame videos.¡± Cassis scowled. ¡°That sounds like a waste of time.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Helen agreed. ¡°So, here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do instead. They can select a group of talented individuals from each class. You train them, and then they train the rest of the soldiers. That way, you¡¯re not wasting your time on hundreds of recruits. It¡¯s far more efficient.¡± Arianna nodded. That made sense. ¡°And in exchange?¡± Helen smirked. ¡°You insist on payment¡ªnot money, but access to dungeon gates. You both need to get stronger to found a guild, and dungeons are the best way to do that, aren¡¯t they?¡± Cassis nodded, and Arianna agreed. This seemed like the best solution. Helen continued, her tone sharp. ¡°Their next move will be to recruit you into the ¡®Awakener Bureau.¡¯ You will not join.¡± Cassis raised an eyebrow. ¡°They¡¯re really going to push for that?¡± ¡°Oh, absolutely,¡± Helen said. ¡°But we already have the perfect excuse. The Bristols have agreed to join the bureau, and you have connections to them. That¡¯s actually an ideal setup for both you and the government. You¡¯ll have indirect access to the bureau without being controlled by them and the government can have those two deal with you knowing you are friendly with each other.¡± Arianna perked up at the mention of Luke and Nadine Bristol and immediately thought of their daughter Violet. She really wanted to help them some more. They were good people. Helen must have noticed her interest, because she added, ¡°The bureau will also want to open training facilities for civilian awakeners. Later, you can talk to Luke and Nadine about how to help them.¡± Arianna felt a warm rush of gratitude. ¡°Thanks,¡± she murmured. Helen and Cassis both smiled at her. Then Helen smirked. ¡°If you want, you can also give me some training. I¡¯d like to gain more skills and spells. And, of course, I want to go into dungeons with you and reach level ten.¡± Arianna tilted her head. ¡°What direction do you want to take with your class?¡± Helen¡¯s smirk widened into something almost predatory. ¡°I plan to become some kind of Thief.¡± Arianna blinked. ¡°A Thief?¡± Helen nodded. ¡°Cassis¡¯ student¡ªBen, I believe¡ªexplained that in video games, rangers usually branch into two paths: long-range archers or close-combat fighters who eventually become assassins.¡± Her expression turned sharp, almost bloodthirsty. ¡°I have plenty of experience with both. I love unarmed combat and knife play.¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Arianna swallowed. She was suddenly very, very glad that Helen was on their side. Cassis broke the moment. ¡°Ben!¡± Both women turned to him in confusion. ¡°My student Ben,¡± Cassis explained. ¡°He¡¯s great with computers and would probably be interested in social media.¡± Helen raised an eyebrow. ¡°How do you know that?¡± Cassis chuckled. ¡°He got in trouble for hacking the school website and posting jokes and memes with the teachers¡¯ pictures on it.¡± He shook his head, laughing. ¡°He got into so much trouble. But he¡¯d be perfect for us. We already know him, he¡¯s competent, and he¡¯s a good kid.¡± Arianna smiled. ¡°That¡¯s one less person to find.¡± Now that Cassis had mentioned Ben, Arianna¡¯s thoughts drifted to Janice and her younger siblings. Then, inevitably, to Violet and Cassis¡¯s cousin¡¯s¡ªSelena¡¯s¡ª children Matteo and Felicia who were currently at the Walkers¡¯ family home. She couldn¡¯t help but feel bad for them, but also for all the other orphaned children. Her thoughts brushed on the experience-sharing bracelet, the one they had all received after overcoming the first trial and making the world announcement happen. That could be the key to helping the children. But how? She had no idea. So, of course, she asked Helen. ¡°On another note, Helen, you know about the experience-sharing bracelets. How can we use them to help the children? We can¡¯t do it ourselves.¡± Her voice was laced with sadness. Cassis agreed. ¡°We need to focus on ourselves. Our popularity, our position with the government, and our ability to make sure more people survive the dungeons and the next waves all depend on us being the strongest.¡± Helen nodded. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true. For this issue, we could contact a non-profit organization¡ª or even better a non-government organization, an NGO.¡± Arianna tilted her head. ¡°Why not the government? I know they aren¡¯t completely trustworthy, but they can reach the whole world.¡± Helen pursed her lips before giving an unsettling answer. ¡°Because they could start making child soldiers.¡± Arianna felt a chill run down her spine. ¡°They already do that with the Shadows,¡± Helen continued, her voice grim. ¡°So, it isn¡¯t much of a stretch to assume that some politicians would want to level up thirteen-year-old orphans to level 5, brainwash them, and then mold them into their own personal soldiers once they turn fourteen.¡± Arianna shuddered. She hadn¡¯t even considered that. Cassis added, ¡°It¡¯s good that the children can¡¯t interact with monsters at all. I was worried that they would only be shielded from attacks but could still attack themselves. That would have led to children being used as shields and forced to fight.¡± Arianna froze. ¡°You didn¡¯t say anything about that.¡± Cassis gave her a sad smile. ¡°I wanted to confirm how the system protection worked before worrying you.¡± Arianna¡¯s eyes narrowed, anger simmering beneath the surface. ¡°I don¡¯t like being left out of the loop. If we¡¯re going to work together, we need to be equal partners. I demand that you worry me with these things.¡± Cassis shifted, looking slightly nervous. ¡°Alright, sorry. I¡¯ll be better in the future.¡± Arianna folded her arms. Was there more he wasn¡¯t telling her? Suspicion crept in, but before she could press further, Helen interrupted. ¡°Okay, nice communication there, you two.¡± She smirked. ¡°But for now, let¡¯s talk about how you should present yourselves to the government and military.¡± Cassis got back on track immediately. ¡°How?¡± Helen turned to Arianna, looking almost apologetic. ¡°Sorry, Arianna, but it¡¯s best if you don¡¯t say too much. Please be silent for most of the meeting.¡± Arianna blinked. ¡°What¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not because I don¡¯t trust you,¡± Helen said quickly, ¡°but you¡¯re too nice. And I can read your face easily enough. Any skilled negotiator will be able to do the same. They¡¯ll try to use your weakness¡ªyour goodwill toward people¡ªagainst you.¡± Arianna clenched her jaw. ¡°So what? I just sit there like a decoration?¡± Helen smirked. ¡°No. You smile. Don¡¯t react to anything they say¡ªjust smile. It¡¯ll work.¡± Arianna felt offended, confused¡­ but determined not to show it. Instead, she lifted her chin and smiled. Helen¡¯s smirk widened with approval. ¡°Just like that.¡± Cassis added something else. ¡°And can you give yourself a blessing? Do you have something like Intimidation?¡± Arianna was more confused than ever but she was slowly getting pissed off. Still, she looked through her blessings and there was actually one called intimidation. She nodded, now refusing to speak. Cassis smirked as if he knew of her childish protest. But then he told her to put that blessing onto her and to just continue smiling silently. Not about to ask why he wanted her to do that she just silently gave herself the blessing. Cassis¡¯ eyes widened, then he looked at Helen. Together they started smirking, looking just like two villains. Before they could make any more plans, the doorbell rang. Arianna quickly put the privacy sphere, the mana contract, and the Ring of Veritas back into her inventory. She prepared herself to just sit there and smile, still feeling offended by Helen¡¯s instructions. Cassis stood up and answered the door, while Helen made eye contact with Arianna and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t forget. Don¡¯t react, just smile. We¡¯ll do the talking.¡± Now Arianna was really insulted. She could do that. Cassis returned with five military officers, one of whom was Dan Brice. The moment Arianna saw him, a wave of disgust washed over her, but she forced herself to keep her expression neutral, well to keep her smile on her face. Cassis motioned for one of the officers to take the armchair, then quickly fetched the two chairs from his kitchen table, apologizing for the lack of sufficient seating. Brice and two high-ranking officers took their seats, while the other two remained standing. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± one of them assured him. Cassis sat back down on the couch beside Arianna. With all three of them squeezed onto it, the space felt a little cramped, but she remained silent, keeping her polite, unreadable smile. Brice was the first to speak. ¡°Thank you for having us. I¡¯m Dan Brice, commander of the military unit at Fort Vallen, not far from here.¡± He introduced the other officers before continuing, ¡°First of all, the government and the military wish to extend their deepest gratitude for your extraordinary contributions during the recent attack. You have become true heroes.¡± Arianna¡¯s stomach twisted at the word hero, but she maintained her smile. She shuddered internally at Brice¡¯s presence. Knowing what he would do in the future made her skin crawl. She had no idea how Cassis could keep a conversation with him going. Cassis responded, his tone cool and measured. ¡°Thank you, but we only did what was necessary to survive and to protect our friends and family. We never set out to be ¡®heroes.¡¯¡± His voice carried an unmistakable rebuke. Brice smiled, unfazed. ¡°Yes, I imagine no hero ever starts with that mindset. Still, we wish to publicly recognize your bravery by awarding you the Civil Courage Medal¡ªone of the highest honours a civilian can receive.¡± Cassis raised an eyebrow. Brice continued, ¡°This would, of course, be a public affair. Even if you do not seek attention, please understand that the people need heroes right now. And the system has made it clear¡ªyou are those heroes.¡± Cassis nodded but remained cautious. ¡°We have no desire to become soldiers. I¡¯m aware that recipients of this medal can be conscripted in times of emergency. We do not want that.¡± Brice didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°Of course, the government has no intention of doing that. This is purely an honour, meant to inspire hope.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need that in writing,¡± Cassis said smoothly. Brice maintained his pleasant demeanour. ¡°Naturally. We anticipated your concerns.¡± He gestured to one of his subordinates, who promptly handed Cassis a document. Helen chose that moment to speak, her voice carrying an almost admiring lilt. ¡°You¡¯re so prepared.¡± It sounded like a compliment. It wasn¡¯t. Brice smiled, unfazed. ¡°Yes, after speaking with Mr. Walker¡¯s parents and you, it became clear what kind of people you are. Very humble, very private. That¡¯s why we¡¯re taking every precaution to ease your concerns¡ªso you might agree to this.¡± Arianna almost laughed. What a skilled manipulator. If she hadn¡¯t known about his future actions, she might have believed he was a good person. Cassis didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, he smoothly told Brice that they would need time to discuss it and would contact him with their decision. Then, as if following Helen¡¯s predictions to the letter, Brice brought up the topic of military instruction. He acknowledged that Cassis and Arianna likely didn¡¯t want to fight as soldiers but suggested they could serve as instructors instead. Cassis shot the idea down immediately. ¡°We don¡¯t have the time to train an entire army,¡± he said bluntly. ¡°However, we can offer something more effective. We will train a select group¡ªfive warriors, five rangers, five clerics, and five mages. These twenty individuals will be responsible for disseminating our teachings among the rest of the soldiers.¡± Brice almost leaped at the offer but managed to contain his excitement. His gaze flicked toward Arianna, likely hoping for a read on her emotions. She just kept smiling. Brice looked away quickly, seeming¡­ nervous. Why? Helen handled the next part seamlessly. When Brice brought up the Awakener Bureau, she casually informed him that Cassis and Arianna would be coordinating with the Bristols instead. Arianna found herself thinking that this would likely put Nadine and Luke in quite a high position. She smiled a little wider. None of the soldiers looked at her. In fact, they seemed uncomfortable. What is going on? Brice moved on, asking for confirmation on the number of trainees. Cassis reiterated: twenty in total. Brice nodded and reached out his hand. Cassis shook it to confirm the agreement, mentioning that a written contract would follow. Then, Brice extended his hand toward Arianna. A wave of revulsion crashed over her, but she kept her serene smile in place as she shook his hand. The moment their hands touched, Brice¡¯s looked her in the eyes again¡ªjust for a second. Then, he let go seeming unnerved. Arianna tilted her head slightly, still smiling. What was that? Brice quickly wrapped up the conversation, the soldiers saying their goodbyes before Cassis escorted them out. As soon as the door closed, silence hung in the air for a moment. Then Helen burst into laughter. ¡°Good job, Arianna,¡± she gasped, holding her stomach. Cassis didn¡¯t just chuckle¡ªhe let out a deep, belly laugh. Helen was wiping tears from her eyes. Arianna, still standing there with her perfect, unreadable smile, was utterly baffled. ¡°What¡­?¡± Cassis took pity on her, catching his breath enough to explain. ¡°Not saying anything and just smiling like that made you look like the evil mastermind behind everything. And the intimidation blessing gave your smile something terribly sinister. Like you¡¯re the one secretly in charge of our little hero group, letting me do the talking while your plan unfolds perfectly.¡± He grinned. ¡°It completely unnerved them. They had no idea how to handle you.¡± Helen cackled. ¡°Especially because you look so sweet doing it!¡± Arianna blinked. Mastermind? She couldn¡¯t understand these people. Then a system message made even fun of her: [+250 CP (for being chaotic and consequently confusing professional spies)] Chapter 37 Decisions and Determination – Cassis Chapter 37 Decisions and Determination ¨C Cassis It was only noon, and Cassis decided the best course of action was to speak with everyone involved in receiving this medal Brice had mentioned. This wasn¡¯t something they could just accept without consulting the others. Before making any moves, he pulled out his phone and called his mother. ¡°Hi, Mom. Officer Dan Brice just showed up here,¡± he began, keeping the revulsion out of his voice. ¡°He told us about receiving a medal and asked for some other things. I think all of us should talk about it in person. Do you have the Morrisons¡¯ and the Bristols¡¯ phone numbers? Could you ask them if they have time this evening to talk about the situation?¡± His mother didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll call them now. I¡¯ll call back you as soon as I hear from them.¡± A few minutes later, his phone rang. ¡°They¡¯re all home and can meet us in at around 7 o¡¯clock at our house. Can you come here?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s great,¡± he answered. ¡°Good. Then let¡¯s do that,¡± she said, but her voice softened as she added, ¡°When you come, be prepared. Matteo and Felicia¡­ It¡¯s been six years since we last saw them, and they¡¯re so young. They don¡¯t remember us at all. Matteo is distraught, but little Felicia¡ªshe hasn¡¯t spoken a word since her parents¡­¡± She trailed off, not finishing the sentence. Cassis swallowed hard. ¡°Died,¡± he finished for her. His voice was rough, thick with emotion. ¡°Don¡¯t bring it up,¡± his mother warned gently. ¡°Just introduce yourselves, okay?¡± He closed his eyes briefly, forcing himself to stay calm. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll be careful with them.¡± They would need a lot of emotional support. He knew his parents would care for them like their own children so they were in good hands. The call ended, but he stayed still for a moment, gripping the phone tightly. He was so angry that this had happened. That two innocent children had been thrown into a nightmare. But he couldn¡¯t change that. In the other timeline, Matteo and Felicia had died along with their parents. He and Arianna had changed the future. They had done something incredible. So why couldn¡¯t he feel proud of that instead of horrified? He looked to Arianna and Helen, still feeling the intimidation aura coming from Arianna. It would take four hours to disappear. So, they were good to meet in the evening. He couldn¡¯t bring her before the children with that aura. He thought back to their conversation with the soldiers. She had smiled so sweetly but her aura had greatly thrown them off. He had to laugh remembering that. Still, having the meeting at 7 o¡¯clock gave them at least four or five more hours of training. After that they would still have time to shower and drive to his parents¡¯ house. It was good that Helen had driven their car to his apartment. He told the other two about his thoughts and they agreed to train, though Helen did so excitedly and Arianna with a groan. They made their way to the small park nearby and started with a light workout of running, then strength and balance exercises. At least, Cassis considered it so. Arianna, on the other hand, rolled her eyes when he called it a light warmup. He smirked but didn¡¯t comment. Once they finished, they moved on to their drills. Cassis stood back, watching Arianna as she practiced her bludgeon exercises. She was strong, her movements controlled and powerful, but something was¡­ off. He had noticed it before, but until now, he couldn¡¯t quite put it into words. It must have been the reason her skills hadn¡¯t ranked up beyond Intermediate. It was Helen who pinpointed the issue. ¡°Did you learn that movement from Cassis?¡± she asked Arianna. Arianna nodded. Helen crossed her arms. ¡°That explains it.¡± Cassis turned to her, intrigued. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Helen tilted her head, studying Arianna¡¯s stance. ¡°It¡¯s not that the movement is wrong, per se. It just doesn¡¯t fit her body.¡± She turned to Cassis. ¡°You¡¯re a tall man with a lot of muscle mass in your upper body. That makes your centre of gravity higher, so the movement Arianna is using fits you perfectly. But Arianna is smaller, and most of her strength is in her hips and legs. Her centre of gravity is much lower than yours, so she needs to adjust her technique.¡± Cassis thought about it. That explanation summed up perfectly what had been bothering him, though he hadn¡¯t been able to articulate it. Arianna seemed satisfied as well. ¡°Is that always the case?¡± she asked. ¡°Do all men and women have different centres of gravity?¡± Helen shook her head. ¡°Not always. It¡¯s just an average trend¡ªmen are usually taller and have more upper body strength, while women tend to have more lower body strength. But it varies. Take me, for example. I¡¯m almost as tall as Cassis. My build is smaller than his, but my centre of gravity is a lot closer to his than to yours.¡± Arianna nodded again. ¡°Then how should I change my movements? I can¡¯t really feel if something is wrong because all these movements felt unnatural at first.¡± Helen hummed in understanding. ¡°Then let me guide you for a bit. I¡¯ve helped out other women at ¡®School.¡¯¡± She adjusted Arianna¡¯s stance, changing the angles of her grip and swing. Then she had her try again. This time, it looked right. Helen smiled. ¡°Just like that.¡± Arianna continued drilling the movement while Helen turned to Cassis with a smirk. ¡°I don¡¯t think you need my help with training, dear nephew. How about a sparring match?¡± Cassis felt a thrill of excitement. ¡°Unarmed?¡± Helen took her stance in answer. They went at it, neither of them holding back. Cassis had to admit¡ªHelen was good. Great, even. She didn¡¯t have his raw strength or speed, but her technique and ability to anticipate his movements were incredible. They fought several rounds, trading victories. Sometimes he won. Sometimes she did. They were nearly evenly matched. When they finally stopped, Helen looked at him with approval. Cassis was embarrassed to realize how happy that made him¡ªjust like when he was a little boy, beaming whenever Helen praised him. Some things never change, he thought, feeling unexpectedly content. Arianna, however, looked like she wanted to murder both of them. Her dark glare was almost comical. ¡°Let¡¯s practice Parry and Deflect,¡± he said, ignoring her expression. Arianna sighed but went along with it. She knew that she needed to get stronger and that this would help her. Helen helped her adjust some minor details in her posture while Cassis watched. Before Arianna could do too many repetitions, he turned to her. ¡°Can you buy Helen a basic knife?¡± Helen raised an eyebrow. ¡°I have a hunting knife.¡± Cassis smirked. ¡°I¡¯d expect nothing less. But a pre-System knife won¡¯t stand up to my sword, and then we can¡¯t spar with weapons. You said you prefer knives, so let¡¯s do that.¡± Arianna shrugged and a moment later, she handed Helen a simple combat knife. Then she fixed both of them with a strict stare. ¡°If you get hurt, tell me immediately.¡± Helen and Cassis exchanged amused glances before moving to their sparring positions. With weapons in hand, they fought with the same intensity as before. Neither was afraid of getting injured, and soon enough, they had to ask Arianna for healing. Helen gutted Cassis once. He nearly took off her arm in retaliation. She gave him a deep slash across his leg, and he ran his sword through her shoulder. They weren¡¯t fatal wounds, but they hurt. Every time they turned to Arianna for healing, she scolded them. But Cassis didn¡¯t care. Sparring with Helen like this¡ªit felt right. She understood what it meant to fight for survival. For the first time in a long while, he felt closer to his aunt than ever before. When they finally stopped for the last time, Helen looked at him with pride in her eyes. He smiled. Afterward, they headed home, showered, changed, and then drove to his parents¡¯ house. As they got into the car, Cassis explained his thoughts about Matteo and Felicia to Arianna. She listened quietly before nodding. ¡°That makes sense. We should be there for them.¡± Then she made Cassis drive so she could help Helen with her Mana Sight. Other than her soft instructions from the back the drive was quiet, the mood weighed down by everything that had happened. When they arrived at his parents¡¯ house, his mother greeted them at the door. ¡°Oh, my sweet boy,¡± she murmured, pulling him into a warm hug. Then she turned to Arianna and hugged her just as tightly, causing Arianna to stiffen slightly before melting into it. Even his father hugged him, clapping him on the back. Then he turned to Arianna. ¡°Is it alright if I hug you?¡± She smiled and nodded, allowing a brief but warm hug. Liam, standing awkwardly off to the side, simply waved at everyone. Arianna responded by waving and giving him her typical sweet smile. Cassis then turned his attention to Matteo and Felicia. ¡°Hey there,¡± he greeted gently. ¡°I¡¯m Uncle Cassis, and this is Aunt Arianna.¡± The titles weren¡¯t technically correct¡ªhe was their cousin once or twice removed, something he never really understood himself¡ªbut this was probably the easiest way for them to process the connection. He was old enough to be their uncle, so he would be their uncle. Matteo looked up at him, his expression distant. He greeted them, but his voice was hollow, his eyes dull. Felicia remained silent. Cassis nodded, understanding their feelings better than these children could know but probably still not understanding their full grief. He had lost his parents in the other timeline. He hadn¡¯t seen it but came upon the aftermath with half-eaten body parts strewn throughout the living room and blood splatters everywhere. These children had lost their parents in the most brutal way imaginable, watching it happen. It would take time¡ªpossibly years¡ªand a good psychologist to help them heal. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. For now, his mother gently guided them away. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s play something,¡± she encouraged. Distraction was probably the best thing for them at the moment. By 7 p.m., the guests had arrived. The Morrisons¡ªBenny, his wife Elena, his father Joseph, and their children, five-year-old Noah and baby Jessica¡ªcame first. Not long after, the Bristols¡ªLuke, Nadine, and their eight-year-old daughter Violet¡ªjoined them. Cassis¡¯ parents¡¯ house wasn¡¯t big enough to host this many people comfortably, so they made do. The dining table was surrounded by their usual chairs, plus a few desk chairs still there from the first wave to make space for everyone. His mother was still with Matteo and Felicia, keeping them distracted, so she wasn¡¯t present for the discussion. Noah and Violet briefly said hi to everyone and then went to find his mother. They had become very attached to each other. Not surprising considering what they went through. Benny then put Jessica and her stroller in one corner of the room. Once everyone settled, Cassis got straight to the point. He explained what Officer Dan Brice had told them earlier about receiving a medal for their actions during the first wave. The others already knew about the offer as Brice had visited his parents¡¯ neighbourhood before Cassis¡¯. Most of them were fine with the idea of accepting the medal¡ªit was, after all, a recognition of what they had done. But when Cassis mentioned that the government would gain the right to recruit them in emergencies, the room fell silent. He had expected that reaction. Brice wouldn¡¯t have told them that. Before anyone could voice their concerns, he pulled out the contract Brice had shown him. ¡°They included a written promise that they won¡¯t use this as an excuse to draft us into service,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s legally binding.¡± Joseph Morrison, Benny¡¯s father, frowned as he skimmed the document. ¡°I don¡¯t like public affairs like this,¡± he admitted. ¡°But I understand why the government is doing it. They need people like us to keep morale up.¡± That seemed to ease some of the tension in the room. One by one, the others nodded, agreeing to accept the medal. With that settled, Cassis moved on to the next topic. ¡°Arianna and I made another deal with them,¡± he said. ¡°We agreed to train some of their soldiers. In return, we¡¯ll gain access to the government-controlled dungeons.¡± That caught everyone¡¯s interest. ¡°Then you should train us too,¡± Benny said immediately. ¡°I want in,¡± Luke Bristol added. Joseph nodded. ¡°If we¡¯re going to fight more, we need to be prepared. After all, that was only the ¡®first¡¯ wave. That means other will follow.¡± To Cassis¡¯ surprise, Liam spoke up as well. ¡°I want to train too.¡± Cassis turned to his little brother, surprised. Liam had always been the quiet, reserved type. Even now, sitting among people he had fought for survival with, he still seemed slightly uncomfortable. But there was something new in his eyes¡ªdetermination. For a brief moment, Cassis saw the memory of Liam standing beside him during the first wave, fighting with a desperation that had shocked him. He¡¯s changed, Cassis realized. A surge of pride filled his chest. Arianna glanced at him, silently asking if they should agree. He nodded. ¡°Alright,¡± she said. ¡°We can train all of you over the next few days.¡± That led to a brief discussion about logistics. Cassis¡¯ parents¡¯ house was already full¡ªhis parents, Liam, Helen, plus Matteo and Felicia. There wasn¡¯t space for him and Arianna to stay as well. ¡°We have a guest room,¡± Nadine Bristol offered. ¡°You¡¯re welcome to stay with us.¡± Luckily, Cassis and Arianna had anticipated staying for a night or two and had packed overnight bags. It worked out perfectly. With that settled, the conversation shifted to the Awakener Bureau. Luke and Nadine were both going to work there, and Arianna took the opportunity to clarify something. ¡°Cassis and I will be working with the Bureau,¡± she said. ¡°But not for it.¡± Nadine nodded, while Luke chuckled. ¡°I expected as much,¡± he said. ¡°And honestly? It¡¯s a smart move.¡± Luke had already been a government worker for a few years. He had just been transferred to City Hall because he and Nadine had finally managed to buy a house here. He knew how the system worked. ¡°I¡¯ve seen too much corruption in my old position,¡± Luke admitted. ¡°I¡¯m hoping to keep the Bureau as clean as possible, but the reality is¡­ government structures don¡¯t change overnight. It¡¯ll be a fight.¡± Cassis leaned back in his chair, considering Luke¡¯s words. ¡°Then it¡¯s better if we stay independent,¡± he said. ¡°That way, if anything does go wrong, we can put pressure on the government to keep the Bureau running properly.¡± Luke smiled. ¡°Exactly.¡± The conversation shifted again, this time to training other Awakeners. ¡°It would be great if the Bureau could also train new Awakeners,¡± Cassis said. ¡°You and Nadine will have more access than we do. Can you push for that?¡± Nadine exhaled, thinking it over. ¡°I¡¯ll try,¡± she promised. ¡°But first, we need more people actually working at the Bureau.¡± That was a fair point. Then Helen spoke up. ¡°We¡¯ve also been working on a different project,¡± she said, leaning forward. ¡°We¡¯re planning to launch a website with information from Sapphire.¡± That immediately caught Elena¡¯s attention. ¡°You¡¯re making a website?¡± she asked, eyes lighting up. Helen nodded. ¡°It¡¯ll be a place where people can find reliable Awakener-related information. We want it to be a mix of educational content, dungeon reports, and news updates.¡± Elena practically jumped at the idea. It turned out she worked in the Social Media field advertising and posting there for the company she worked at. She thought this was an excellent opportunity¡ªnot just for goodwill, but for building a strong network and even making some money. ¡°Do you have anyone in mind to advertise the site and maintain your Social Media?¡± she asked. Helen glanced at Cassis. He shook his head thinking of Ben. ¡°Not really. We know of someone who can probably create the site and maintain it, but advertising is something different, right?¡± Elena grinned. ¡°Yes, those are different jobs. Mine involves analysing trends and keeping up the online presence. Those pesky algorithms are hard to understand. I also deal with the press. I want the job.¡± She was very direct about it. Cassis liked that. He preferred people who got straight to the point. After a brief discussion, they agreed to work with her. They already knew and trusted her, and having someone they could rely on in this role would be invaluable. Things were moving forward. After they decided to hire Elena, Cassis cleared his throat and glanced at Arianna. It was time to bring up another major topic. ¡°There¡¯s something else we need to discuss,¡± he said, looking around the table. ¡°Arianna and I are planning to form a guild.¡± That got everyone¡¯s attention. Even Helen raised an eyebrow, intrigued. ¡°The guild system was explained to us by Sapphire,¡± he continued smoothly, the lie now easily spilling from his lips. ¡°It¡¯s structured like this¡­¡± He then laid out the system, explaining how it worked like a company with different divisions and sections. He emphasized the hierarchy of guild members, the ways they could be paid¡ªwhether in money, equipment, monster parts, or items¡ªand the quest system that allowed members to earn small amounts of experience. But the most important part, the part that made everyone sit up straighter, was the enforced loyalty clause. ¡°The system itself prevents betrayal,¡± Cassis explained. ¡°Anyone who joins will be bound to the guild and its members. If someone betrays us, they¡¯ll lose everything they gained through the guild.¡± Silence hung in the air for a moment as everyone absorbed the information. Then Luke, ever the pragmatic one, asked, ¡°And what counts as betrayal?¡± ¡°Good question,¡± Arianna answered. ¡°The guild master and vice masters can designate someone as a traitor if they provide sufficient evidence to the system.¡± Liam whistled softly. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a big deal. No backstabbing. No corruption.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Cassis nodded. ¡°This ensures that the guild will stay strong, with people we can trust.¡± Joseph leaned back, rubbing his chin. ¡°And who will be the guild master?¡± Cassis met his gaze. ¡°Me.¡± No one looked surprised. Helen smirked slightly, and Arianna gave him an encouraging look. ¡°And the vice masters?¡± Nadine asked. ¡°Arianna will be one, of course,¡± he replied. ¡°For the other position¡­ we haven¡¯t decided yet.¡± Elena, still processing everything, finally spoke up. ¡°So, this guild¡­ do you want it to be big? Or more of an elite group?¡± ¡°Elite,¡± Arianna answered immediately. ¡°At least at first. We don¡¯t want just anyone joining.¡± Benny nodded thoughtfully. ¡°This could work. But it also means we¡¯ll have to be careful about who we recruit.¡± Cassis smiled. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re bringing it up now. We want people we trust involved from the start.¡± There was a brief pause, then Helen grinned. ¡°Sounds like fun. Count me in.¡± Cassis chuckled. ¡°I figured.¡± The discussion shifted slightly as they began talking about what their guild could look like, who might be good recruits, and how they would balance it with their other responsibilities. But in the back of his mind, Cassis knew¡ªthis guild was going to change everything. But the discussion was far from over. Arianna shifted in her chair, exhaling slowly before bringing up the next topic. ¡°The experience-sharing bracelet,¡± she said. Cassis felt the headache before it even started. The bracelet was an incredible item, capable of sharing experience with others. It was, however, a double-edged sword. They could use it to prepare children approaching their fourteenth birthday, ensuring they had a better chance of survival. But the cost? Their own advancement. Cassis and Arianna couldn¡¯t afford that. He clenched his fists under the table, ashamed of the words forming in his throat. Even feeling this way left a bitter taste in his mouth. But there was no avoiding it. ¡°Arianna and I can¡¯t be the ones to wear them. They''re items that bind to their owners. That means nobody else can use them,¡± he said finally. He forced himself to meet their eyes. ¡°All our plans¡ªworking with the government, the Awakener Bureau, putting pressure on the government, the website, the guild¡ªall of that depends on us being strong. The strongest.¡± Silence. Then Joseph sighed, rubbing his temples. ¡°That¡¯s understandable,¡± he admitted. ¡°We get it,¡± Benny added. ¡°It¡¯s not an easy choice, but¡­ we all feel the same.¡± Everyone who had fought to protect baby Jessica had received a bracelet. And they, too, struggled with giving up their own experience. They needed to become stronger¡ªnot just for themselves, but to protect their children. Then Helen spoke, voicing the concern from their previous conversation. It had been nagging at Cassis since they got the bracelets. ¡°We can¡¯t give them to the government. I don¡¯t want them to get any ideas about child soldiers. Most people in our government are good and work for peace and equality. But in every organization, there are some bad ones mixed in. They would become too powerful to stop them, eventually.¡± A chill settled over the room. Luke was the first to nod. ¡°It¡¯s a possibility,¡± he admitted grimly. Arianna said. ¡°But the bracelets are too valuable to just sit around with us, unused. They could save the lives of countless teenagers. The best thing to do is put them in the hands of an organization¡ªpreferably a nonprofit¡ªthat advocates for children.¡± For a moment, no one spoke. Then Liam hesitated before saying, ¡°I know someone who works at an NGO called Justice for Children. Their main goal is to protect children.¡± Benny perked up. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of them. I actually wrote an article about them for the paper once.¡± That caught Cassis¡¯ attention. ¡°Are they trustworthy?¡± Benny nodded. ¡°They have a low corruption rate, and all their projects are well thought out. They¡¯ve actually done things instead of just talking about it. They maintain orphanages and women¡¯s shelters all over the world. They have also started some initiatives for free school lunches in the countries that haven¡¯t done that yet. They employ social workers who can support struggling parents in raising their children. They also have a helpline for children and teenagers. There they can just talk about their problems or get real advice and sometimes help. They finance themselves through donations.¡± Cassis glanced at Arianna, who raised an eyebrow. They were thinking the same thing. He turned back to Liam. ¡°Is your friend one of the higher-ups?¡± Liam hesitated, probably knowing why Cassis was doubtful. He was just a student, twenty-three years old. His friends would be around his age. But then Liam nodded. ¡°He¡¯s a little older than me. We met while partying, actually. And yeah, he¡¯s one of the administrators there.¡± Cassis nodded slowly. ¡°Then get us in contact with him. If we feel he¡¯s trustworthy, we¡¯ll give him the bracelets.¡± The others agreed, deciding that only Cassis, Arianna, and Liam should go. They trusted their judgment. That trust weighed heavily on Cassis. He wasn¡¯t sure if he deserved it. He wasn¡¯t sure anyone should be trusted with something like this. But he didn¡¯t voice those thoughts. Instead, he changed the topic. ¡°Alright,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about training. We start tomorrow morning. Meet here again, and Arianna and I will do our best to help you.¡± A loud voice suddenly interrupted. ¡°Me too!¡± Cassis turned just in time to see Matteo burst into the room, eyes burning with determination. ¡°I want to train too!¡± he demanded. Cassis blinked in surprise. ¡°Matteo, I don¡¯t think¡ª¡± his father started, but the boy cut him off. ¡°Uncle Cassis,¡± Matteo said, locking eyes with him. ¡°You¡¯re training the others. I saw the video of your fight. I want to fight like you.¡± Cassis hesitated. He knew intellectually that Matteo would have to fight later on, but it felt terrible knowing you had to prepare a child to fight for their life. But looking at him now, he realized he had underestimated Matteo. He wasn¡¯t really a child anymore and he was determined. ¡°Why?¡± Cassis asked, his voice serious. Matteo didn¡¯t shout this time. Now that someone was taking him seriously, his tone was calm. ¡°I will kill all the monsters that killed my parents,¡± he said simply. ¡°I¡¯ll be fourteen in seven months. Then I can fight them. I won¡¯t lose anything again.¡± His eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but he didn¡¯t break eye contact. Cassis understood those eyes. They burned with revenge¡ªbut also with the drive to survive, to fight, to never let anything be taken from him again. He knew those eyes well. He had seen them in the mirror for fourteen years. Cassis exhaled slowly and nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± His mother had come downstairs at the commotion, about to protest. But he stopped her with a simple hand gesture. There was no point in arguing. Matteo had already made his decision. ¡°But there will be rules,¡± Cassis continued. Matteo straightened, listening intently. ¡°First. You follow my orders¡ªduring training and in real fights.¡± ¡°Second. You take training seriously. No slacking off.¡± ¡°Third. When you do fight once you turn 14, at least two adults must be with you. And I have to verify them myself.¡± Matteo nodded without hesitation. ¡°Deal.¡± Then he turned and walked back upstairs. His mother watched him go, sadness in her eyes. Then she looked at Cassis. She didn¡¯t say anything. Cassis hoped¡ªprayed¡ªhe had done the right thing. Arianna rubbed his shoulder soothingly from his side. She hadn¡¯t stopped him. Did she think the same? The parents at the table exchanged glances. One day soon, they would have to have this conversation with their own children too. Chapter 38 The Art of Teasing and Training – Arianna Chapter 38 The Art of Teasing and Training ¨C Arianna Cassis and Arianna lay in bed in the Bristols'' guest room, quietly discussing the whirlwind of revelations and planning that had filled their day. So much had happened that it was almost overwhelming, but they promised each other¡ªagain and again¡ªthat they would see this through together. Their goal remained unchanged: to save this world, no matter how daunting the task ahead. Of course, they also went over their gains from training. Cassis had unlocked the skill Unarmed Combat (Advanced), and several of his other skills¡ªSlash, Parry, Dodge, Deflect, Counter, and Acrobatics¡ªhad risen to Expert. What he was especially happy about, though, was acquiring the unique feature Pain Resistance (Basic). Arianna rolled her eyes when he mentioned it, still annoyed at how recklessly he and Helen had fought. As for herself, her Bludgeon skill had advanced from Intermediate to Advanced, while her Parry and Deflect had finally reached Beginner rank. Her Heal spell had also improved to Advanced, though she suspected it had more to do with her improved mana control than the actual number of times she had used it¡ªafter all, she had been rather stingy with healing Cassis and Helen, making sure to only patch them up enough to keep going as her small form of punishment. She wondered if that had also made a difference. Her deliberate way of healing. Maybe she could study some medicine books about the human body and how to heal. She had a basic understanding of it but the knowledge might help her. The next morning, Arianna woke up alone. Somehow, she felt lonely again, but it was nothing new. She had grown used to this feeling. With a sigh, she got up, dressed quickly, and headed downstairs, where she found Nadine and Cassis already having breakfast. Nadine saw her, smiled warmly, and handed her a steaming mug of coffee before motioning for her to sit down. "We can already start," she said cheerfully. "Luke likes to sleep in when he doesn''t have work. I''ll wake him up before training. He doesn¡¯t usually eat breakfast anyway." She spoke about her husband with a soft smile, as though she found this particular habit of his endearing. Arianna couldn¡¯t help but smile too, charmed by the quiet affection in Nadine¡¯s voice. The two women made small talk about the upcoming training session, while Cassis remained silent, sipping his drink. At one point, Arianna warned Nadine, "Just so you know, it¡¯s going to be hellish." Nadine laughed, brushing off the warning. "I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t be that bad." Cassis smirked but still said nothing. Arianna thought to herself, She¡¯ll find out soon enough. Once they finished breakfast, they walked to Cassis¡¯ parents¡¯ house, where the children¡ªalong with Danielle, Marcus, and Helen¡ªwere already awake and full of energy. Matteo, in particular, was practically bouncing with excitement. He was getting trained today, after all. Arianna felt conflicted about it. On the one hand, she hated that they had to teach him how to wield violence at such a young age. But on the other, she was relieved. At least he wouldn¡¯t be defenseless against the monsters. At least he had found a purpose again. Since they had agreed to start training at ten and it was only nine, Cassis took the opportunity to call Dan Brice. Arianna shuddered inwardly. Every time she thought about that man, she felt a wave of revulsion. Cassis kept the conversation short and to the point, informing Brice that they would accept the medal. When he hung up, he turned to her and relayed the details. "They want to hold the ceremony tomorrow in Vallendale¡¯s parliament. They¡¯ll be streaming it live and making a global announcement afterward. The document confirming that we won¡¯t be forcefully conscripted has already been signed by the President of the World Council¡ªShakir Zenet. He¡¯ll be the one presenting the medals." Arianna swallowed hard, her stomach twisting. "Great," she muttered, with absolutely no enthusiasm. As the clock edged closer to ten, Liam had yet to come downstairs. Arianna, knowing he was sharing Cassis¡¯ old bedroom with Helen, decided to go up and fetch him. She had learned that Liam had willingly given up his own room so that Matteo and Felicia could have a more comfortable space together. Now he was again sleeping by sitting in his bean bag as he had given Helen Cassis¡¯ bed. He was such a nice guy. Reaching the door, she raised a hand to knock but froze when she heard Liam¡¯s voice from inside, raised in frustration. ¡°It¡¯s not like that!¡± Arianna hesitated, unsure whether to interrupt. Instead, she stood still and unintentionally overheard the conversation. ¡°Cam, you don¡¯t understand. It¡¯s hard for me.¡± A pause. ¡°No, they¡¯re not bigoted! I¡¯m just not comfortable yet.¡± Another pause. ¡°No, sorry for shouting. It¡¯s no use. Sorry.¡± Silence. Then, softer, ¡°Yes, in three days at 4 p.m.¡± A longer pause, followed by a quiet, ¡°Bye¡­ miss you.¡± The door suddenly swung open. Arianna and Liam both startled, eyes wide. Arianna recovered first. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to eavesdrop¡­ but I kind of did in the end. I just came to get you¡ªtraining is starting soon.¡± She turned on her heel, ready to escape the awkward situation, but Liam grabbed her arm and pulled her into the room. ¡°How much did you hear?¡± he asked, looking panicked. Arianna, still confused about why his conversation seemed like such a big deal, repeated, ¡°Sorry, I really didn¡¯t mean to. I didn¡¯t hear a lot, and honestly, I don¡¯t understand most of it. Did you have a fight with your girlfriend?¡± Liam¡¯s panic melted into relief, and then he realized he was still gripping her arm. He let go immediately, muttering an apology. Arianna still felt bad for listening in. I shouldn¡¯t have done that. [+20 CP for listening to a secret talk.] The system had to be mocking her again. Liam took a breath, seeming to collect himself, then looked at her thoughtfully. ¡°I¡¯m a bit of a private person. Sorry again.¡± He gestured vaguely at her arm and then between them, as if acknowledging the awkwardness. ¡°But yeah, my boyfriend and I have been having some trouble lately. Cam is mad that I haven¡¯t introduced him to my parents yet.¡± He put slight emphasis on the word boyfriend. Oh. So, she had made assumptions. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you?¡± she asked curiously. ¡°Introduced him, I mean.¡± Liam hesitated, as if expecting a stronger reaction to his sexuality. When Arianna didn¡¯t give him one, he sighed. ¡°I just don¡¯t feel ready yet. Things are so good between us, and I love him, but introducing him to my parents feels like such a big step.¡± Arianna nodded in understanding. ¡°But you know they wouldn¡¯t care that he¡¯s a boy, right?¡± Liam groaned. ¡°I know! It¡¯s just¡­ I don¡¯t know how to explain it. I just don¡¯t feel ready.¡± She actually understood. Liam had seemed more assertive during the first wave, but now that things had calmed down, he was actually a little socially awkward. ¡°How long have you been dating?¡± she asked. ¡°Almost a year.¡± ¡°Well, I get why he wants to meet your family. I¡¯ve only had one serious relationship, and I introduced him to my dad almost immediately.¡± Liam looked up sharply and surprised her with his next words. ¡°Oh? Then what is my brother? Are you not serious?¡± Did he sound a little protective? Arianna realized she had messed up a bit and grinned. ¡°I mean before Cassis. We¡¯re very serious. I mean, we live together.¡± Liam studied her for a moment, then seemed satisfied with her answer. She was glad he accepted the lie. She and Cassis couldn¡¯t wait too long to ¡®break up¡¯. She didn¡¯t like lying to everyone. Or maybe they could turn the lie into reality. But that was a big maybe. There was some tension between them, but he hadn¡¯t even tried to do anything in the past few days. Sure, she hadn¡¯t either, but she had become quite insecure after he had stopped her. Was it just excitement about their survival that had made him make out with her? She just didn¡¯t know and chose other things to worry about. [+20 CP (for successfully deceiving a mortal)] This dammed system. She sighed: ¡°Let¡¯s go to the others. I won¡¯t say anything, of course.¡± He nodded with a smile, and together, they headed downstairs. Once Liam and Arianna came down, they saw the others gathered in the garden along with their children. After exchanging greetings, they placed Violet, Felicia, and Noah in a separate corner of the garden, with baby Jessica resting in her stroller. Violet, ever the social butterfly, had quickly become close friends with Felicia and chattered enough for the both of them. She also took young Noah¡¯s hand and pulled him along, treating him much like a younger brother. The adults, all dressed in sportswear, braced themselves as Cassis began the training session with his usual light warmup¡ªrunning, strength, and balance exercises. Arianna was surprised to realize that the past few days of constant training had actually made her faster than everyone except Cassis and Helen. Helen, unfazed and barely breaking a sweat, gave her a few tips on how to run more efficiently. While Arianna managed to complete all the rounds around the neighborhood, others were not as fortunate. Elena dropped out after a few rounds, followed shortly by Joseph, who clutched his chest as though he was on the verge of a heart attack. Matteo fell down a few times, his short legs not being able to keep up with the adults. But he finished all his rounds. When it was finally over, Cassis granted them a short break in his parents¡¯ garden. Gasping for breath, Arianna turned to Nadine and said, ¡°Told you. It¡¯s hellish.¡± Nadine, too out of breath to answer, remained on her hands and knees, struggling to breathe. Luke, in slightly better shape, rubbed her back soothingly. Matteo lay on his back, not speaking or doing anything. Meanwhile, Joseph marvelled aloud, ¡°Although this system has brought terrible suffering, it has also restored my physical strength. I feel years younger. And my heart¡­ it actually works again.¡± Benjamin looked up at him in surprise. ¡°Now that you mention it, you do look younger, Dad. Like you did five years ago.¡± The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Danielle and Marcus, still catching their breath, chimed in as well. ¡°You know, I¡¯ve noticed that too,¡± Danielle admitted. ¡°My grey hairs are gone. And the other day, I fell off a chair while reaching for something in a high cupboard, but I didn¡¯t get hurt at all. Before the system, I would have at least sprained my wrist, maybe even broken my arm.¡± Marcus nodded in agreement. ¡°And I can actually walk up the stairs without nearly collapsing.¡± Helen added, ¡°My joints don¡¯t ache anymore. It¡¯s like my arthritis has disappeared.¡± Arianna listened with wide eyes. The idea of growing old sounded terrifying. But then, she realized¡ªaging wasn¡¯t really a problem anymore. The system would keep them young, maintaining them at their physical prime until their late thirties. And for those older than that, it would actually reverse their aging. She shared this revelation with the group, and suddenly, a wave of excited voices erupted around her. ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°Wow! I can¡¯t believe it!¡± ¡°So I am getting younger!¡± Cassis confirmed it, and Joseph grinned. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s great news. I¡¯ll have you know, I was quite the looker in my younger days.¡± Benjamin groaned. ¡°Dad¡­¡± Danielle chuckled. ¡°Oh, I noticed. Molly was a very lucky woman to have you.¡± She shot Joseph a playful wink. Joseph¡¯s smile softened, tinged with sadness. ¡°Yeah, my Molly¡­ She was a real bombshell.¡± Benjamin shook his head, but before he could respond, Marcus spoke up. ¡°Danielle, I was also very good-looking when I was younger.¡± Danielle smiled sweetly at her husband. ¡°Of course you were, my dear. But Joseph was a little older and had that rugged working-man charm. You, on the other hand, had this great bookish appeal that I completely fell in love with.¡± Marcus took her hand and kissed it, murmuring, ¡°Then don¡¯t look at other men.¡± Helen snickered beside Arianna and whispered, ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time they¡¯ve had this argument.¡± Joseph winked at them, clearly enjoying the playful flirtation. Meanwhile, Cassis and Liam both averted their gazes, their lack of protest suggesting they were used to such displays of affection. Arianna, watching the easy love between Marcus and Danielle, felt a strange sense of fascination. Her father had never dated after her mother¡¯s death, so she had never witnessed a long-term couple like this before. The way they interacted, the way they still flirted and laughed together after so many years¡ªit was something she wanted for herself one day, too. Cassis rasped loudly and gave out new instructions, leading them through gruelling strength exercises¡ªpush-ups, sit-ups, and more balance drills. Arianna was already sore, but she gritted her teeth and kept going. Once they were thoroughly exhausted, Cassis finally divided them into three groups. The first group consisted of the mages¡ªElena and Marcus¡ªand the lone cleric, Arianna. Their training focused on using staffs and maces for both offense and defence. Helen demonstrated precise staff movements for Elena, showing her how to transition seamlessly between attacks and blocks. Meanwhile, Cassis helped Marcus adjust his grip and stance to make better use of his staff with just one hand. The second group was for the rangers¡ªJoseph, Nadine, and Helen. Joseph and Nadine had already decided they would specialize in long-range combat later, but Helen was adamant that they needed at least basic proficiency in short-range weapons. The other two weren¡¯t thrilled at the idea, but they reluctantly agreed. To make things easier, Arianna quickly purchased two short swords, knowing that Joseph and Nadine felt more comfortable with some extra reach rather than just relying on daggers. As she handed over the weapons, she repeated the lie she had told countless times before. "From Sapphire," she said, the words slipping from her tongue effortlessly now. Helen took her small group to the Morrison''s garden to train. The final group consisted of the warriors¡ªDanielle, Liam, Luke, Benjamin, and young Matteo. Cassis led them to the back of the garden to teach them warrior skills. Arianna stayed with the two mages, focusing on drilling the basics. Again and again, they repeated their movements, switching between offensive strikes with bludgeon and defensive techniques like parrying and deflecting. They took short breaks in between, drinking water and catching their breath before going at it again. By the time noon rolled around, Cassis finally returned with his group, and Helen¡¯s team followed shortly after. They all looked completely drained¡ªespecially Matteo, who was barely able to stand. His small frame swayed, his eyes drooping with exhaustion. Arianna frowned. Just what had Cassis put them through? His entire group grumbled about how terrible their trainers were, Helen¡¯s students included. Arianna could relate¡ªshe had been on the receiving end of Cassis¡¯s so-called ¡®light¡¯ training before and Helen seemed just as crazy as him. Elena and Marcus, still catching their breath, glanced at Arianna with newfound appreciation. ¡°I¡¯m really glad we have you as a teacher,¡± Elena said. Marcus nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re way kinder than they are.¡± Arianna grinned, feeling a little proud of herself. Cassis, however, laughed at their complaints. ¡°Seriously, guys, that was nothing.¡± He clapped his hands together. ¡°Let¡¯s take a break, eat some lunch, and meet here again in two hours. You still need to practice your mana control, and Arianna can handle that better than me.¡± Then, under his breath, he muttered, ¡°Once you go through her training, you¡¯ll know what a real demon is.¡± Arianna¡¯s head snapped toward him. She narrowed her eyes in warning, but he only smirked. Marcus, who had missed the comment, frowned in confusion. ¡°What was that?¡± Cassis¡¯s smirk widened. ¡°You¡¯ll understand later.¡± The group exchanged uncertain glances, but for now, they were all too tired to argue. They headed inside their respective houses with their respective children, eager for food and a moment of rest before the next round of training. Two hours later, everyone gathered once again in the Walkers¡¯ garden. This time, rather than standing or moving around, they all sat down comfortably on the grass. The warm midday sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows over the group. Since none of them had unlocked their Mana Sight yet, Arianna began with a brief explanation about mana¡ªits flow, its purpose, and the different types of basic elemental mana. She went over the basic elements, their antagonistic and supportive relationships, and how understanding them was crucial for harnessing their power. Once that was done, she instructed everyone except for Cassis to begin meditating. The goal was simple: to find their colour¡ªtheir unique elemental affinity. Cassis, meanwhile, was given a separate task. ¡°Practice with your pattern,¡± she told him, knowing that he was already past this stage. He complied without argument, closing his eyes and sinking into focused concentration. As Arianna turned her attention back to the others, she saw that most of them were struggling. Their brows were furrowed, expressions tense with frustration. She remembered her own difficulties in the beginning, how she had tried and tried without success. It was hard to perceive something that was invisible to the normal eye. But then, something clicked in her mind. She focused on Marcus and Elena, who seemed to be the closest to seeing their mana. But how did she know that? Arianna concentrated harder. When she had first started unlocking her mana sight, it had taken forever to perceive anything¡ªuntil she had finally felt the flow of energy within her. And now, when she looked at Marcus and Elena, she noticed a faint shimmer inside them. It wasn¡¯t their mana, but rather something else¡­ A small, non-elemental barrier around their mana stream. It was almost like a thin, half ¨C transparent blood vessel surrounding their energy stream. Was this the reason people couldn¡¯t see their own mana at first? Did they have to feel the energy before the barrier became transparent? Looking at the others confirmed her theory. The rangers and warriors had a grey barrier around their mana stream, some denser than others. Did that signify how far along they were to seeing their mana? Full of determination, she walked toward Elena, intending to try the same technique she had used on Cassis. Before she could reach Elena, however, Cassis suddenly appeared beside her. ¡°Are you going to do that thing with her too?¡± he whispered. Arianna blinked, confused. ¡°Yeah?¡± Why did that come out as a question? Cassis hesitated, looking slightly uncomfortable. Then he leaned in, his voice low and intimate as he murmured directly into her ear: ¡°Maybe you should practice that on me again first.¡± ¡°Why?¡± she asked, her brows furrowing. His next words made her entire body freeze. His breath brushed against her ear with each word. ¡°It feels really intimate having you inside me, feeling all of your essence. When your mana pierced me before, there was a rush of energy and excitement. It hurt a bit at first, but once you were inside, it felt incredibly good. Your movements were so gentle, but you were also relentless¡­¡± Arianna shoved him away so fast that he almost lost his balance. Her face was probably beet red. He had just been talking about her guiding his meditation¡ªabout her pushing her mana inside him to help him feel his energy flow. So why had it sounded so dirty?! Cassis smirked, clearly amused by her reaction. ¡°Yes,¡± he said smoothly. ¡°That¡¯s what I mean.¡± Oh, hell no. No way was she going to do that with other people. It would already be bad enough with Elena, but Cassis¡¯s father or brother? That would be beyond awkward. Before she could process this any further, Cassis took her hand and pulled her toward him. ¡°Practice on me,¡± he said. ¡°Maybe you can make it less¡­ intimate.¡± Less intimate? After what he just said? Yeah, right. But what other choice did she have? If she wanted to help the others, she needed to refine this technique. Still flustered, she turned back to the group and instructed, ¡°Keep trying. I¡¯ll be quiet for a few minutes, so concentrate as much as you can.¡± They went a bit farther away from the group to avoid disturbing them. Then she reluctantly sat down next to Cassis, her heart pounding way too fast.
Arianna¡¯s hands trembled slightly as she separated the water element from the gathered mana in her palm. Next to her, Cassis was already meditating on his pattern, his breathing deep and steady. She was about to push her mana into him again. Push into him again. Damn it, why did it sound even more dirty now after the things he had said? Shaking her head, she forced herself to focus, taking deliberate, calming breaths. It was fine. This was training. She had done this before. But no matter how she tried to rationalize it, she couldn¡¯t ignore the truth¡ªshe was insanely attracted to him. Not just his body, but his entire being. His strength, his loyalty, his quiet protectiveness. And now, she was discovering even more layers to him. A playful, wicked side that liked to tease, to push her buttons just to see her reaction. And he had known exactly what he was doing when he said those things earlier. It made her angry. Not because she disliked it, but because he was clearly playing with her. Well, two could play that game. A slow grin spread across her lips as an idea took shape. She was going to turn the tables. She would make him the one caught off guard. Better yet, she would make it even more intimate and see if he could keep his composure. Would he get a visible reaction? With that thought, she placed her palm over his heart again. But this time, she let her thumb brush in slow, deliberate circles against his chest. His brows furrowed slightly, a faint crease forming between them. Then, ever so slowly, she pushed her prepared mana inside¡ªjust a little. Then she retreated. Then in again, just a bit deeper. And then out again. For the third time she pushed almost half her mana in, then pulled it out. Cassis¡¯s mouth parted slightly, as if about to say something, but before he could, she pushed in more forcefully, sending all of her mana surging into him at once. A quiet, startled moan escaped his lips. Arianna bit back a victorious smile. She could feel him again, the familiar pull of his energy wrapping around hers. But this time, she realized¡ªthis was far more intimate for him than it was for her. She wiggled her mana inside him, stroking along his energy stream. Then she played with it. Merging, separating, teasing his energy to follow her lead. He let her. There was no resistance at all. She pulled back¡ªonly to push in again, immediately. His breath hitched. She did that a few more times. In and out, in and out until she could hear his panting. Then she pulled out again for a bit longer, rubbing circles with her thumb on his chest again. When his breathing was almost normal, she suddenly pushed in again. He stayed silent but gasped for air for a bit. The muscles against her hand were taut. This time, she spread her mana wider, letting it flow through every part of him that she could reach. His entire torso was filled with her presence. She fanned the flames in his stream, drawing in ambient mana. Then she let them die down, withdrawing until only the faintest trace of her mana remained inside him. Then, with a quiet but firm voice, she commanded, ¡°Open your eyes for me.¡± He did. Their gazes locked, and just as he was processing what she had done, she pushed her mana inside him again, deep and strong. Cassis inhaled sharply. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, his lips parting in silent, shuddering moans. Then, without warning, his head dropped to her shoulder. ¡°Mhm¡­ stop, Ari,¡± he murmured, his voice thick. ¡°It¡¯s getting quite dangerous.¡± Immediately, she withdrew her mana, this time carefully, softly. But he didn¡¯t move away. His head remained on her shoulder, and her hand still rested against his chest. For a few moments, they simply stayed like that, his breaths slowly evening out. Finally, he exhaled and muttered, ¡°That wasn¡¯t nice.¡± Arianna smirked. ¡°Nice was the furthest thing from my mind.¡± His head tilted slightly, though he still didn¡¯t lift it from her shoulder. ¡°A little revenge, was it?¡± ¡°Just a bit.¡± She hesitated, then added more seriously, ¡°Sorry if I overstepped.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay,¡± he assured her, lifting his head at last to look at her. His golden eyes held something unreadable. ¡°I¡­ liked it.¡± She swallowed hard. ¡°That definitely has future possibilities,¡± he added, smirking. Arianna¡¯s face went up in flames. Had she really just done that? Had she really been that brazen? But the memory of his reactions¡ªthe way his breath hitched, the way his body had responded to her touch¡ªsent a thrill of satisfaction through her. He had played with her before. This time, she had played with him. And she had liked it, too. ¡°Alright,¡± she said, regaining some control over herself. ¡°Now let me actually try to lessen the intimacy.¡± Cassis groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. Then he looked at her with an amused expression. ¡°Sometimes, you can be quite cruel, you know.¡± Chapter 39 Choices part 1 - Cassis Chapter 39 Choices part 1 - Cassis Cassis was still reeling from Arianna¡¯s actions¡ªhis body having reacted most of all¡ªbut mentally, he prepared himself to become her guinea pig for real. He closed his eyes again, sinking into his meditation. He felt her hand on his chest once more, but this time, it was a clinical touch rather than a caress. She pushed her mana into him again, and he braced himself, expecting to feel her overwhelming presence so soon after¡­ whatever that had been before. But strangely, he didn¡¯t. Well, he felt her¡ªher warmth, her gentleness¡ªbut it was like comparing the light of a lamp to the sun. This was nothing like her previous all-consuming presence, filled with her determination, her stubbornness, and her very essence woven into it. Instead, her mana prodded at his, guiding him gently through his pattern once again. After some time, she pulled back. He opened his eyes to find her watching him expectantly. ¡°So? Was that better?¡± she asked. He nodded. ¡°Yes. This felt just like a friendly touch, nothing too intimate. How did you do that?¡± Arianna beamed, clearly proud of herself. ¡°Well, I noticed that our mana stream actually has a transparent, non-elemental barrier around it. For those who haven¡¯t unlocked their elemental affinity and achieved mana sight yet, it¡¯s a gray barrier that keeps them from seeing their color. The lighter the gray and the closer it is to transparent, the closer people are to seeing their mana¡¯s color. Then, I realized there¡¯s another barrier in place that keeps people from seeing more than their own type of mana. I kinda broke through that one by accident¡ªit¡¯s a barrier on our eyes. And then, I figured out there¡¯s even another mana barrier on the outside of our skin. That¡¯s why it¡¯s sometimes hard to absorb ambient mana. You actually need your own mana to help catch ambient mana and pull it in. So I thought¡ªthese barriers must be there for a reason. I tried to separate the elemental affinity from my mana while keeping the non-elemental barrier intact. It was a bit harder, but I managed it, and I pushed my mana into you while still surrounded by that barrier.¡± She was a little out of breath from her excited explanation, and Cassis¡­ only understood about half of what she had just said. But it was clear she had succeeded. ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± he said simply. She beamed at him even harder. ¡°Then you can go help the others now,¡± he told her with a smile. She nodded and headed back toward the group, her enthusiasm palpable. As soon as she was gone, Cassis groaned and let himself fall back onto the grass, stretching his limbs out. Damn. The memory of her little revenge still lingered in his body. Earlier, he shouldn¡¯t have teased her like that, but he had seen red, white hot jealousy raging through him. Helping another woman like that hadn¡¯t bothered him too much as he was quite sure Arianna wasn¡¯t sexually attracted to women, but the next person after Elena would have been Joseph. Sure, the man was older, but as he himself had said, he was good-looking. And now, with the system reversing aging? He¡¯d only get more attractive with time. Just thinking about Arianna doing that with another man made Cassis furious again. He clenched his fists. When he had first woken up in the past, he had felt different¡ªlighter, as if the rage from the last four years had drained out of him. The memories of that time had felt faint, and he had hoped to leave it all behind, especially after discovering the truth of her disappearance. After all, he had always thought of himself as a good guy. He had been nice and respectful to all women, not just the ones he found attractive. He had called out men who talked shit about women. He had never hurt a woman physically. Sure, he had hurt feelings before¡ªjust because he was respectful didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t call out someone spewing hateful nonsense. And his ex-girlfriends probably had plenty of stories about him. But all in all, he had thought of himself as a decent guy. So why had it hit him so hard? When it had become apparent that Arianna wasn¡¯t coming back, he had gone crazy. The madness, the possessiveness, the rage. And just now, in that short moment when she had walked toward Elena, it had all surged up again. He still felt possessive over her¡ªlike she was his and only his. He knew it wasn¡¯t healthy, but he couldn¡¯t help it. He had never thought he would become such a caveman. But he could control his feelings. Back then, he had turned his anger into playfulness instead, and that had gotten him a reward. He grinned to himself. That was really something they should repeat. Then, his expression sobered. But only after he told her the truth. This incident had shown him just how quickly he could become that version of himself again. And he couldn¡¯t let that happen. He had to protect her. Even from himself. Cassis decided then and there¡ªonce Arianna reached E-rank, he would tell her everything about how she had come to be in this world. Everything. That would give him time to prepare, and it would allow her to grow stronger, to become more familiar with this world. Because after that truth¡­ nothing would be the same. Cassis took a short break, then walked back to the group. Even before he arrived, he could already hear groaning¡ªthough mixed in were a few excited noises as well. When he reached them, most of the group sat with their hands pressed against their temples, trying to massage away what was clearly an oncoming headache. Elena even had tears in her eyes as she lay sprawled out on the ground. Arianna stood in front of his mother, guiding her through the process of absorbing ambient mana. His mother looked beyond frustrated, even with Arianna¡¯s help. After a few moments, Arianna told her to continue practicing on her own, then moved on to Nadine¡ªwho was watching her approach with a wary expression. Arianna placed a hand on Nadine¡¯s shoulder and closed her eyes. She¡¯s probably pushing her mana inside, Cassis thought. Then, a small gasp of excitement escaped Nadine¡¯s lips. She had found her elemental affinity. But Arianna wasn¡¯t done with her yet. Before Nadine could even celebrate, Arianna immediately made her focus on drawing in ambient mana. She drilled the movements into Nadine, over and over again, until she too sat there frowning, massaging her temples. It seemed Arianna had finally gone through everyone, but instead of stopping, she circled back to the beginning, starting another round. Poor Elena actually cried, but Arianna remained relentless, guiding her meditation once again. Cassis chuckled. He had warned them. She was merciless when teaching. And she didn¡¯t even notice. He wondered if it was because she simply didn¡¯t understand how difficult it was for others. For her, all of this probably felt effortless. Maybe that was why geniuses shouldn¡¯t teach. Amused, he watched as she made three more rounds, with more groaning¡ªand even a few more tears¡ªfollowing in her wake. Finally, when she started toward Elena again, Cassis decided to intervene. "Alright, that¡¯s enough," he called out. Arianna looked at him in confusion, as if she didn¡¯t understand why he was stopping her. He pointed to the horizon. The sun had already begun to set. Realization dawned on her face. "Oh, you¡¯re right. We should end this for today." A collective sigh of relief came from the group¡ªbut no one moved. They were all too exhausted, their heads pounding from the strain. Arianna, still looking confused, turned to Cassis. "What¡¯s wrong with everyone?" His father groaned. "You were right, son. She really is a demon when teaching." If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. A bit later, Cassis and Arianna sat together at the kitchen table with Luke, Nadine, and Violet, eating dinner. They had gone home with the Bristols since they would be using their guest room again for the night. During dinner, Arianna endured some light hazing, but she took it with her usual grace¡ªand, of course, gave as good as she got. "After this morning, I really thought there couldn''t be a worse teacher than Cassis," Luke said, shaking his head dramatically. Then Nadine chimed in, grinning. "But then I told him about Helen." Luke nodded seriously. "She convinced me Helen was worse than you." "And did you see the smug smiles Marcus and Elena had when we met up at noon? Arianna was definitely going easy on them," Nadine added. Luke huffed. "When Cassis said Arianna would be teaching us about mana, I was happy. I mean, you¡¯re so sweet and kind. Of course you should be a great teacher." "But then you turned into a merciless demon from hell," Nadine finished dramatically. "Sure, we made great progress thanks to your relentless pursuit of your students¡¯ perfection, but it was hell." Luke nodded in firm agreement. "A demon from hell." At first, Arianna looked proud of herself¡ªbut then she frowned. In the end, she crossed her arms and spoke in an exaggeratedly snotty voice. "Well, I wouldn¡¯t have to be so strict if you¡¯d just do what I asked you to. It¡¯s not even that difficult. Especially since I showed you." Luke and Nadine stared at her with wide eyes, stunned into silence. Then she burst out laughing. "Sorry, but your expressions!" Though still grinning, she softened a little. "And sorry for being so strict today." A hint of embarrassment crept onto her face. "I didn¡¯t actually notice. I just saw your progress and wanted to keep pushing... and then I kinda lost track of time." Nadine shuddered. "So you¡¯re saying... if Cassis hadn¡¯t stopped you, we could still be doing those mental drills?" She sounded incredulous. Arianna thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "There¡¯s a good chance. The first time I helped Cassis, I totally lost track of time. I had him going through that non-stop for over two hours." Luke and Nadine turned to Cassis with horror-stricken faces. "And you let her teach us?" Luke asked, appalled. Cassis shrugged. "I survived and gained a lot. Plus, I was there to keep an eye on the time." Turning toward Arianna, he added triumphantly, "I knew you had lost track of time. Your face said it all back then." She smiled at him apologetically. Violet though tired, followed the conversation. Then she asked Arianna: ¡°Are you a bad teacher.¡± This stunned Arianna and she didn¡¯t know how to answer. Luke put her out of her misery. ¡°No Vi, Arianna is a great teacher but she is very strict. Like Mrs Lumson from your school.¡± ¡°Ah so you¡¯re that kind of teacher. That¡¯s ok. I think Mrs Lumson is great and I learn a lot from her. She just doesn¡¯t like stupid students.¡± Violet said this with all the pureness coming from a child not understanding that she was calling her parents stupid. Arianna couldn¡¯t help but snicker. Cassis turned his laugh into a cough. Children were great for these accidental burns. He thought about his students and wondered what they were doing now. The conversation drifted into small talk after that, and soon enough, everyone finished their meal and headed off to bed. In bed, Cassis and Arianna shared the gains they had made from training. Cassis¡¯s skills and spells hadn¡¯t changed, but his stamina had finally reached Expert rank. It wasn¡¯t that he had significantly more endurance than the others, but he was used to pushing past his limits and continuing no matter what. That was how he had built up his stamina over the last few days. Other than that, his Mana Sight had ranked up to Beginner, and his Mana Control had reached Intermediate. That was probably due to Arianna playing with his mana earlier. He had watched, fascinated, and somehow understood more of what he saw. And then he had marveled at her precise Mana Control. He couldn¡¯t even do half the movements and patterns in his own body that she had been executing inside his and outside hers. That had to be even harder. Then Arianna shared her own gains. Her Mana Manipulation had already jumped to Expert. She suspected the reason was that everyone had different elemental affinities. By helping them, she had to learn more about each element in order to manipulate it efficiently enough to pull in ambient mana. For example, she had the easiest time with Luke, since he also had Water as his elemental affinity. A close second were his mother, Aunt Helen and Elena, because they all had Fire, the same as him, and she already had some experience with that element. The most neutral one for her was Wind, since it swirled in currents in a way similar to Water, just far more freely. That included Matteo, Joseph, Benny, and Nadine. The hardest element for Arianna to work with, surprisingly, was Earth. She had assumed it would be easier since Water and Earth had a supportive relationship, just as Fire and Water had an antagonistic one. But Earth seemed vastly different from Water in its steadiness. From her explanation, Cassis started to understand why. Even still water was never truly still¡ªthere were always unseen currents beneath the surface. But Earth didn¡¯t move. At least, not under normal circumstances. Except for earthquakes, right? That was the key. Arianna had to shift her entire understanding of Earth to grasp how its mana worked. Instead of thinking of it as the steady ground beneath their feet, she had to think about tectonic plates. To put it simply, the world had layers to it. The top layer, our ground, is called Crust. This layer is mostly solid but not whole. It is divided into massive plates called tectonic plates that move incredibly slowly. But when enough pressure builds up between them, they will shift violently, causing earthquakes or volcanic eruptions as the ground cracks open and magma surges to the surface. Now, why do the tectonic plates move? That is because they are actually swimming on top of the second layer in which is called Mantle. The Mantle is made up of semi-solid rock that flows very slowly in a kind of current. Well, at least the upper Mantle is. The lower part is solid again. Next comes the Outer Core which is again liquid composed of iron and nickel and extremely hot. This layer also creates the world¡¯s magnetic field. The last layer is called the Inner Core. This is solid iron and nickel due to the pressure it experiences from the other layers. This is also the hottest layer, almost as hot as the sun. After listening to that scientific explanation which Cassis was sure he had learned in school about he had more questions than answers about the process. But Arianna didn¡¯t keep him waiting. She explained how the mana flow of someone with an Earth elemental affinity was very similar to a mixture of the Crust and the upper Mantle. There was an incredibly slow flow to the mana stream and some kind of dense mana clumps were there, too. Every time the clumps bumped against each other due to different circular flows quakes or eruptions would take place. Through these events mana from the stream would shoot out faster entering other currents and giving more movement to everything. According to Arianna it was fascinating. He shrugged. He would take her word for it. So, to pull in and assimilate ambient mana she had to take control of mana from eruptions, taking in ambient mana and using the new current to assimilate it. Then the more mana one had the faster the stream would move and the faster new eruptions would take place. It was completely different from Cassis¡¯s Fire or Arianna¡¯s Water. From their group the people with Earth elemental affinity were Liam and his father. Arianna also told him that she suspected that elemental affinities were inherited through the parents. After all Cassis, his mother and his aunt all had fire affinity. Meanwhile Liam and his father had earth affinity and Benny and his father Joseph both had wind affinity. Arianna thought it would be interesting to study. She explained all this with enthusiasm, but Cassis couldn¡¯t quite muster the same excitement. Still, he listened to her quietly, taking in her words. Eventually, she noticed his lack of response and grew embarrassed, her voice faltering. Seeing this, he reached out, brushing his fingers against her hand reassuringly. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± he murmured. ¡°I¡¯m happy you¡¯re so passionate about this.¡± That seemed to ease her worry, and she smiled softly before settling down. With that, they both drifted into a peaceful sleep, their dreams undisturbed for once. Cassis and Arianna sat on the bed, both deep in thought. The previous day, they had been too exhausted to make any decisions, but now, with the military set to take them to the parliament for their medals, they needed to choose their new advanced classes. These advanced classes would give them a boost in their invisible stats as well as enhance their health and mana regeneration. More importantly, they hoped they would provide the foundation to support an advanced mana pattern for their mana circuit as even Arianna wasn¡¯t able to keep the pattern going throughout her whole body. They had already pushed their skills and spells as far as possible in the short time they had. Now, the moment had come to decide. Cassis didn¡¯t believe the government would betray them, but experience had taught him to be paranoid. In his previous timeline, things had rarely worked out as expected, and he had learned to prepare for every possibility. No matter how small the chance of betrayal, he wanted to be ready. Cassis stared at the glowing menu in front of him. His Advanced Class Choices. Normally, an Awakener would receive between one and four class options based on their actions, decisions, and the path they had followed since obtaining their Basic Class. The system was not random¡ªit watched every movement, every battle, and every choice. Yet, before him, six options awaited.
  1. Blademaster ¨C A master of swordplay, capable of wielding any blade to its full potential.
  2. Warbringer ¨C A relentless warrior who thrives in battle, turning the tide through sheer force and skill.
  3. Berserker ¨C A raging force of destruction, unleashing overwhelming power at the cost of control.
  4. Spellblade Knight ¨C A warrior who seamlessly blends magic and swordplay, enhancing strikes with arcane energy.
  5. Arcane Duelist ¨C A nimble and tactical fighter, weaving magic into swift and precise attacks.
  6. Flameforged Warlord ¨C A commander of fire, channeling flames into devastating attacks and battlefield control.
Cassis stiffened when his eyes landed on Berserker. His grip on the bedsheets tightened. No. He knew what Berserkers were. He had fought alongside them before. In the other timeline, they were well known¡ªunstoppable forces on the battlefield. Their rage made them powerful, but at a terrible cost. Most survived their battles. Their allies did not. The fact that the system offered him this class¡­ His stomach churned. Had the system seen something in him that he had refused to acknowledge? His anger, his possessiveness, his willingness to fight until his body broke? He immediately rejected the class, shoving the thought away. That was not the path he would walk. He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to move on. As usual the system was stingy with details only offering the bare minimum of information. But he could tell a few things from the names and the short descriptions. Blademaster was the clear and obvious path. It followed his skills and training to their natural peak, making him even stronger with a sword. But was that enough? He had pursued mastery of the blade in the other timeline, but pure technique had not been enough against the later waves. Warbringer, on the other hand, was a broader combat specialization¡ªless refined than Blademaster, but more adaptable. It focused on power and presence on the battlefield. Would that be better for surviving what was to come? The next three options mixed swordplay with mana and magic. They would be something different to the path he¡¯d chosen before but would he just sacrifice his strength to shore up his weakness? Spellblade Knight seemed to focus on incorporating magic into his combat, enhancing his sword strikes and granting more versatility. It could shore up his weakness in mana usage, but how far could that take him? Arcane Duelist leaned more toward speed and precision, using magic tactically in battle. That sounded promising, but it also seemed delicate compared to his usual fighting style. Would it be practical for the chaotic battles ahead? Flameforged Warlord immediately caught his attention. It wasn¡¯t just about wielding fire¡ªit was about commanding battlefield control through flames. He imagined setting entire areas ablaze, forcing enemies into disadvantageous positions while enhancing his own attacks. It was a dangerous path, but fire had already become a part of him. Cassis sighed and closed the menu. No matter how he analysed it, he wasn¡¯t ready to decide yet. He turned to the side¡ªand met Arianna¡¯s gaze. She had also just closed her status window. Her face was unusually tense, her brows drawn together. Whatever options she had received, they had disturbed her as well. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, at the exact same time, they both sighed. ¡°That bad?¡± Arianna asked, her voice flat. ¡°No,¡± Cassis answered, shaking his head. ¡°That difficult to choose.¡± She hummed in agreement. ¡°Same.¡± Whatever choice they made here would define their future. And neither of them had an answer yet. Chapter 40 Choices part 2 - Arianna Chapter 40 Choices part 2 - Arianna Arianna sat on the bed, staring at the glowing screen before her. The system interface displayed six possible advanced class options, each one reflecting different aspects of her abilities and actions up until now. Usually, an Awakener would receive only one to four options, dictated by their training, experiences, and battle tendencies. Yet here she was, given six choices. It was both an honour and a burden. Luremaster ¨C A master of drawing attention, manipulating enemies, and controlling the battlefield through deception and baiting tactics. High Priestess ¨C A revered healer capable of channeling immense healing power, specializing in advanced restoration, including the reconstruction of lost body parts. Battle Chaplain ¨C A warrior of faith, combining clerical magic with martial prowess to stand on the front lines, supporting allies while delivering righteous blows. Arcane Saint ¨C A fusion of healing and arcane power, wielding blessings, healing magic and raw magic to aid allies and smite foes from afar. Warpriest of the Flow ¨C A combat-focused priest who seamlessly integrates healing, buffs, and melee combat, adapting to battle conditions with fluidity. Celestial Battlecaster ¨C A hybrid spellblade wielding healing and arcane magic in perfect harmony, unleashing devastating ranged and melee attacks while maintaining their healing capabilities. Arianna¡¯s eyes lingered on the High Priestess class. She had never considered herself a traditional healer. She preferred to be in the thick of battle, helping her allies not only by healing but also by fighting alongside them. And yet¡­ The description mentioned reconstructing lost body parts. Her mind immediately flashed to Marcus. His missing arm. If she chose this path, could she restore it? The thought made her hesitate, but deep down, she knew this class did not align with how she fought. The question was, did she want to change everything about herself just for a possibility? She exhaled sharply and moved on. Luremaster was an interesting choice. It fascinated her how the system had recognized her natural tendency to draw enemies¡¯ attention. She had developed a knack for baiting enemies ever since she had played decoy for Cassis in the fight against the hobgoblin. It was a skill, one she had honed unconsciously. But could she dedicate herself fully to such a class? The thought of always throwing herself into danger on purpose made her uneasy. No, this wasn¡¯t right either. The Arcane Saint and Celestial Battlecaster called to her. They would allow her to harness her talent for mana manipulation while still retaining her healing abilities. But something nagged at her. These classes sounded¡­ fragile. She had been hurt too often, too easily. She knew what it felt like to be overwhelmed in battle, and these paths might not provide enough resilience to withstand prolonged combat. What good was her talent if she was dead before she could use it? That left Battle Chaplain and Warpriest of the Flow. These would give her the defences she needed while still allowing her to be an effective combatant. But she worried¡ªwould she be sacrificing her strengths by taking a more defensive route? She was undeniably gifted with mana. Would shoring up her weaknesses make her an overall lesser fighter? A frustrated sigh escaped her lips, and just as she dismissed her status screen, she heard a matching sigh from her side. She turned her head, meeting Cassis¡¯ gaze. He looked just as lost as she felt. ¡°That bad?¡± she asked, trying to keep her tone light. ¡°No,¡± he replied with a shake of his head. ¡°That difficult to choose. What about you?¡± ¡°Same.¡± They sat there in silence, each lost in thought, the weight of their choices pressing down on them. Arianna took a deep breath before speaking. ¡°I think I¡¯ve narrowed it down, but I wanted to talk it through with you first.¡± Cassis nodded, his gaze still serious after looking through his own choices. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s hear it.¡± ¡°Well, I already ruled out Arcane Saint or Celestial Battlecaster. They sound too fragile for my taste. But Luremaster is actually a fascinating class¡ªit plays into my strengths and my ability to bait monsters.¡± Cassis stiffened instantly, his expression darkening. ¡°No.¡± Arianna blinked, caught off guard. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°I said no. You¡¯re not taking that class.¡± His voice was firm, unyielding. Heat flared in her chest. ¡°And who exactly do you think you are, forbidding me anything?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t watch you do that again!¡± His voice rose, frustration and fear warring on his face. ¡°You nearly got yourself killed playing bait before! You think I¡¯m just going to stand by while you pick a class that¡¯s entirely about putting yourself in harm¡¯s way? I can¡¯t¡ªI won¡¯t¡ªlose you, Arianna!¡± His words slammed into her like a wave, but instead of melting under them, she inhaled sharply and forced herself to stay calm. ¡°Cassis,¡± she said, quieter now, but firm, ¡°I know that. I know you¡¯re scared of losing me. But you need to understand something: you don¡¯t get to forbid me from doing anything. Ever.¡± His chest rose and fell rapidly, the fight in his posture clashing with the flicker of relief in his eyes. ¡°You weren¡¯t even considering it?¡± he asked, his voice hoarse now. ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t. But that¡¯s not the point.¡± Arianna exhaled, rubbing a hand over her face before looking at him again. ¡°You are not my guardian, Cassis, and I¡¯m not a child. Even if we were actually together, you still wouldn¡¯t have the right to make my choices for me. If something I¡¯m doing or considering bothers you that much, you can ask me to reconsider. Nicely. But never in that tone, and never with those words.¡± Cassis ran a hand through his hair, frustration still evident, but the storm in his eyes was fading. He hesitated before nodding slowly. ¡°I¡­ I get it. I think.¡± Arianna¡¯s shoulders relaxed slightly. ¡°I¡¯m willing to compromise, Cassis. I always am. But if you ever think you can override my decisions, we can end this fake relationship right now.¡± His eyes widened at that, and for a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, he exhaled, his shoulders sagging as the tension drained from his body. ¡°No,¡± he said finally, voice quieter now. ¡°That¡¯s not what I want.¡± Arianna nodded, her throat tightening as her own emotions swirled inside her. She blinked rapidly, unwilling to let the tears at the edges of her vision spill over. She wasn¡¯t even sure if she was crying from frustration or relief. Maybe both. Cassis rubbed his temples, looking away for a moment before meeting her gaze again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he muttered. ¡°I should have trusted you.¡± Arianna let out a shaky laugh, some of the tension easing between them. ¡°Yeah. You should have.¡± She hesitated, her gaze flickering over the glowing screen in front of her. The High Priestess class lingered in her mind, not because it suited her, but because of what it could do¡ªwhat she could do with it. If she chose it, she might be able to restore Marcus¡¯s arm. That thought alone was enough to make her waver. Unsure after their earlier argument, she finally voiced her thoughts to Cassis, expecting him to immediately dismiss them. Instead, he surprised her. "Thank you," he said simply. She blinked, caught off guard. "For what?" His expression softened. "For still being willing to talk to me about this. And for thinking about my father¡ªand the rest of my family¡ªso much." Arianna wasn¡¯t sure how to respond to that, so she said nothing, waiting for the inevitable counterpoint. It came soon enough. "But I don¡¯t think you should take it," Cassis continued. "You must know it¡¯s not the right fit for you. As a High Priestess, you¡¯d be stuck in the back lines, far away from the fight. That¡¯s not who you are." She let out a slow breath, her fingers tightening around the edge of the blanket. "I know," she admitted. "But it¡¯s only five levels until our next evolution. If I take it now, I can heal Marcus, then at level 20, I might be able to switch to something else." Cassis shook his head. "It¡¯s not that simple." She frowned. "What do you mean?" He exhaled, leaning back slightly. "Sure, level 20 is when we can evolve, and we need to do that to reach E-rank otherwise we¡¯ll be stuck at level 20. But it¡¯s not as flexible as you¡¯re thinking. The classes we choose now won¡¯t just disappear. They¡¯ll most likely stay the same¡ªjust stronger versions with a ¡®+1¡¯ next to their name." The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Arianna¡¯s lips parted slightly, processing his words. "I know that happened to you with the Knight class but you memorized a lot of evolution requirements, didn¡¯t you?" "You¡¯re right. In the other timeline, I chose Knight. And when I reached level 20, I only evolved into Knight (+1). It took some time, too. And I only reached that because I got hold of the evolution requirements from another Knight (+1). I had no way of aiming for something different, because the requirements for other evolutions weren¡¯t clear. The system doesn¡¯t exactly give you a roadmap. It only tells you afterwards what the requirements were. But many people especially those with unusual classes were too selfish to share their evolution requirements." He ran a hand through his hair, frustration flickering across his face. "Later on, we finally managed to make a guide¡ªthat¡¯s why I didn¡¯t have a lot of problems with evolutions from then on and knew what to do. I was following a basic path. The Awakener Bureau wrote down the evolution paths for basic classes like Knight, Archer, Thief, Healer, ... We even learned what people needed to do to qualify for better options. But your classes?" He gestured to her. "They¡¯re unique. The system doesn¡¯t rank classes¡ªit just evolves them. The names alone suggest they¡¯re already evolved, maybe even second- or third-tier evolutions. That means the requirements for their next evolution will be a lot more complicated." Arianna swallowed. "So, you think if I take High Priestess, I¡¯ll be stuck with it?" "I think it¡¯s a real possibility, at least until you reach level 40 for your next evolution," Cassis said. "But if you¡¯re stuck and can¡¯t evolve first, you could be trapped at F-rank a lot longer than you think." She looked down at her class options again, her earlier certainty beginning to waver. If she was stuck with High Priestess at level 20 until level 40, that was too long and too dangerous. She had never questioned how Cassis new what to do to get his next evolution in the other timeline and he ¨C his taciturn self back then ¨C hadn¡¯t offered this information. She shot him a dark look. To her surprise he must have realized where her thoughts had gone and apologised, looking a bit embarrassed. Arianna took a deep breath before speaking. "There are two classes that stand out to me the most: Warpriest of the Flow and Battle Chaplain." Cassis nodded, waiting for her to continue. "Battle Chaplain would make me sturdier in a fight," she explained. "I¡¯d still be able to heal well, and I wouldn¡¯t be as easy to knock around as I am now. It¡¯s a safe choice. But Warpriest of the Flow..." She hesitated, searching for the right words. "It feels like it was made for me. It incorporates both healing and mana manipulation, and it even improves my defense. I wouldn¡¯t just be a healer¡ªI¡¯d be able to react to the battlefield as a whole." Cassis considered her words before offering his own thoughts. "There¡¯s one more thing to consider," he said. "You don¡¯t actually have a set fighting style. You don¡¯t just pick a role and stick to it¡ªyou move to where you¡¯re needed. It¡¯s instinctive for you. You sense where your presence can help and how. That¡¯s why Warpriest of the Flow makes sense. The class has flexibility. You might lose a bit of raw power compared to a more specialized class, but adaptability is more valuable in the long run. You¡¯re not the main damage dealer anyway and I¡¯ve done ok without a healer in the past. Now you can heal quite well already, we don¡¯t actually need a more specialized healer. Your ability as a Warpriest to read the battlefield and react would round out our team well." Arianna sat with his words for a moment, letting them settle in her mind. "You¡¯re right," she admitted. "That adaptability is exactly what¡¯s calling to me." She thought for another moment, then glanced up at him. "Do you want to talk about your choices too?" Cassis hesitated, then exhaled, as if bracing himself. "Spellblade Knight, Arcane Duelist, Flameforged Warlord, Berserker, Blademaster, Warbringer." He listed them quickly, but Arianna¡¯s attention snagged on one word. Her eyes widened as she looked at him. "Berserker?" Cassis'' expression turned grim. He realized she had noticed. "Why?" she asked softly. He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "When you disappeared, I had to live four years on my own. I... I became full of rage. I did things I¡¯m not proud of. And that rage is still inside me." "Oh." Arianna¡¯s thoughts flashed back to the gymnasium fight. When she had regained her senses after hitting the wall, she had seen Cassis attacking the orc with terrifying ferocity. It hadn¡¯t been just battle instinct¡ªit had been raw, unrestrained aggression. He had fought like a berserker. Not thinking about himself, not thinking about his allies, only about destroying the enemy in front of him. She had been scared for him. But the moment the orc had died, he had returned to the Cassis she knew, and she had thought it was just a momentary lapse. Now he was telling her it wasn¡¯t. "You¡¯re not considering it, are you?" she asked carefully. "No." He hesitated, then admitted in a quiet voice, "But it scares me that it¡¯s even an option." Arianna reached for his hand, threading her fingers through his. She squeezed gently. "It scares me too." They sat like that for a while, neither speaking, just holding onto each other. Finally, Cassis broke the silence. "The class I¡¯m actually leaning toward is Flameforged Warlord." Arianna pulled back slightly to look at him. "Why?" He exhaled slowly. "It plays to my strengths as a swordsman, but it also acknowledges something I¡¯ve been avoiding for a long time: my mana." His fingers tightened slightly around hers. "I used to think I was bad at magic. But I¡¯ve realized thanks to you that maybe I just never used it the right way. When we fought against the hobgoblin, I instinctively used the spell Flame Burst in my desperation, and it made a difference. You¡¯re alive because of it.¡± Arianna shuddered. ¡°Flameforged Warlord would let me develop that further without abandoning what I already excel at." Arianna nodded, listening intently. "That makes sense. You don¡¯t have to be just a swordsman anymore. Your Mana Control is a lot better than back then." Cassis gave a small, almost self-deprecating chuckle. "Yeah. Maybe it¡¯s time I stop limiting myself." They nodded at each other, a silent understanding passing between them, and at the same time, they made their choice. Arianna selected Warpriest of the Flow. The system responded immediately. [Congratulations! You have chosen Warpriest of the Flow.] [New skills gained:] [New spells gained:] [Level gained. Level gained. Level gained. Level gained. Level gained.] Arianna blinked as the knowledge flooded into her mind. She could already tell how to use these abilities, as if they had always been a part of her. The potential of Force Absorption was staggering¡ªconverting incoming force into mana could be a game-changer in prolonged battles. And Warcry¡­ if she could channel buffs through it, the spell could be invaluable for large-scale fights. She turned to Cassis, only to see him grinning. That was a rare sight. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°That good?¡± ¡°Oh yeah.¡± His grin widened. ¡°I got two new skills and two spells. And well, six levels.¡± He listed them off: [New skills gained:] [New spells gained:] Arianna nodded, impressed. ¡°We both got Body Reinforcement. That makes sense. Most advanced classes need their bodies to be tougher to survive harsher battles.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Cassis agreed. ¡°But I¡¯m curious about this Blazing Body. If I can control it precisely¡­¡± He flexed his fingers, as if already testing the spell in his mind. Arianna couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°Let¡¯s just hope you don¡¯t accidentally set yourself on fire.¡± He scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± She rolled her eyes but laughed. They had made their choices. Now, there was no turning back. Arianna then explained her new skills and spells to Cassis, watching his expression shift from interest to outright fascination when she mentioned Force Absorption. "You can turn force into mana?" he asked, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "We need to test that. Right now." Arianna grinned, just as eager. "Agreed." She raised her hand, palm facing him. "Go ahead. Just don¡¯t break my hand." Cassis smirked but remained careful as he formed a loose fist and pressed it against her palm with a controlled amount of force¡ªenough to be felt, but not enough to hurt. Immediately, Arianna felt it. A faint ripple of energy trickled into her palm, like a tiny stream feeding into a vast ocean. The amount of mana was minuscule, likely because the impact had been too light, but the implications were enormous. Her breath hitched. ¡°I felt it.¡± Cassis¡¯ eyes narrowed in thought. ¡°Not much, huh?¡± ¡°No, but¡­ think about the possibilities,¡± she said, her mind racing. ¡°What if I took a heavier hit? What if I learned to redirect the force somewhere else? Could I convert impact into an actual mana reservoir?¡± They exchanged a look, excitement buzzing between them. They had both gained something new, something that could completely change the way they fought. ¡°We¡¯ll have to train it,¡± Cassis said. ¡°Obviously.¡± Arianna smirked. ¡°All our skills and spells. Maybe even get a few new spells going.¡± Her thoughts, however, drifted toward something else. With this evolution, she had grown stronger, but how much? She hadn¡¯t checked her full status page in a while. Time to fix that. She opened her Pseudo Status Page, letting her gaze drift over the familiar layout:
Patron Status Page Warning: As a Chaotic Deity, you must balance your actions carefully. Both intent and consequence will affect your CP. Should you become too virtuous or too evil, your CP will be reset. Pseudo status page:
Arianna¡¯s lips pressed together. Seeing it all written out, it felt real. She had changed. She wasn¡¯t just some lost girl from another world anymore. She was a fighter, a survivor, and now, a Warpriest of the Flow. She noticed that her inventory space had doubled. Was that because her MS was high? She¡¯d get it even higher. Her goal was at least 80 % until level 20. They had a lot of work ahead of them. Chapter 41 Changes - Cassis Chapter 41 Changes - Cassis Cassis'' gaze flickered over to Arianna, who was staring blankly into the air, her eyes unfocused as she absorbed the details of her status page. He knew the look well. It was the same expression he had seen on countless faces after choosing their advanced class or after evolution, that mix of awe, contemplation, and slight disbelief at seeing their own power quantified. Deciding to take advantage of the moment, Cassis turned his attention inward and pulled up his own status page: Status Page: As Cassis scanned through his full status page, his eyes lingered on his newly acquired class¡ªFlameforged Warlord. A subtle pulse of understanding coursed through him, a system-given knowledge of what had led him to this choice. His breath hitched slightly as he read through the list of requirements. Flameforged Warlord Requirements: Cassis exhaled sharply. Ten requirements. That was... unusual. Most advanced classes had only three or four. He had studied the evolution process thoroughly in the other timeline, and this all but confirmed his suspicion¡ªhis class wasn¡¯t just an advanced one. It was already an evolved version of something else. He looked up at Arianna, who was still lost in thought, staring at her status screen. A thought struck him. If his class had ten requirements... what about hers? ¡°Arianna,¡± he called. She blinked out of her trance and looked at him. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Can you check something for me? Look at your class and see what requirements you had to fulfil to get it.¡± She frowned but nodded, shifting her focus inward. A moment later, her eyebrows shot up. ¡°Ten,¡± she murmured. Cassis felt a chill of certainty. ¡°What are they?¡± Arianna read them aloud: Warpriest of the Flow Requirements: Cassis ran a hand through his hair. ¡°That¡¯s... a lot.¡± Arianna nodded slowly. ¡°So, you¡¯re thinking...?¡± ¡°That our classes are already evolved ones,¡± he confirmed. ¡°The system doesn¡¯t rank classes, just evolves them. And usually, advanced classes only have a few requirements, not ten.¡± He exhaled. ¡°Which means evolving them again at level 20 is going to be even harder.¡± He gulps. ¡°Just like I thought.¡± Arianna bit her lip. ¡°So, if we don¡¯t meet whatever the next set of conditions are by then, we¡¯ll really be stuck?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Cassis confirmed. ¡°The requirements are unknown but knowing the last requirements can help us guess at the next ones.¡± Arianna leaned forward, staring at him. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Cassis smirked humourlessly. ¡°We both had to kill three E-ranks to our class. It would be logical to think that for the evolution at level 20 we need to kill at least one D-rank.¡± She groaned, covering her face with her hands. ¡°That¡¯s terrible. We¡¯re still F-rank. E-rank is bad enough but how can we kill a D-rank? Where can we even find one so early.¡± Cassis chuckled. ¡°There are some. In the E-rank dungeons. The government will have to let us use a few as per our agreement.¡± Before Cassis and Arianna could continue their conversation, Luke¡¯s voice cut through the air. ¡°The car is here!¡± Cassis exchanged a glance with Arianna before heading downstairs, where the sleek black vehicle awaited them. The government had kept its word and sent transportation to take them to the parliament for the medal ceremony. Their group had agreed to dress nicely but casually¡ªCassis had been fortunate enough to have packed a pair of black jeans and a fitted gray shirt, while Arianna had borrowed one of Nadine¡¯s blouses and his mother¡¯s nicer gray pants. As they stepped outside, they greeted the government official who would be escorting them. Another car was designated for his family, while the Bristols had their own. Naturally, their children were coming along as well. But Helen had opted to stay at his parent''s house with Matteo and Felicia. The drive was quiet. No one spoke much, the weight of what was coming pressing down on them. Cassis stared out of the window, watching the city pass by in a blur. The buildings were a mix of old and new, but as they neared their destination, the architecture became sleeker, more modern. An hour later, they arrived at the parliament¡ªa strikingly contemporary building with a flat roof terrace. Inside, a long corridor stretched before them, lined with countless doors leading to unknown offices and rooms. Their group was led forward until they reached a grand hall. The space had been prepared meticulously. A podium stood at the center, draped in banners of military colors. Journalists and cameras were already stationed, waiting. Government officials moved about, coordinating last-minute details. Among them, Cassis spotted Dan Brice, standing with a group of high-ranking military officers. Their uniforms gleamed with medals and insignias, marking them as some of the most influential people in the armed forces. Cassis felt the weight of their gazes as attention shifted to him and Arianna. He stiffened. In the other timeline, he had survived by remaining invisible, by blending into the background and avoiding notice. That instinct still clawed at him now, urging him to step back. But then he turned to glance behind him. The others in their group had insisted that he and Arianna take the lead¡ªthey had led the fight, after all. They stood there now, shoulders tense, eyes uncertain. They were uncomfortable, just like he was. They needed him. He shifted his gaze to Arianna. The same emotions mirrored in her expression. They nodded at each other in silent understanding. Then, together, they stepped forward, crossing the hall towards the podium. Brice intercepted them before they could reach it. He greeted them with a practiced smile, his expression perfectly controlled. Cassis felt a familiar revulsion coil in his gut. One day, I will kill you. For now, though, he played along. Brice led them to the podium, and moments later, the side doors opened. The President of the World Council, Shakir Zenet, entered the hall with a composed stride, exuding the effortless confidence of a seasoned politician. He greeted them each by name, beginning with Cassis and Arianna, fully aware of the hierarchy within their group. Cassis clenched his jaw. He hated this. Hated being recognized as a leader, as if this were a role he had willingly chosen. But he bore it. Because survival wasn¡¯t enough this time. They had to thrive. Zenet thanked them again for their bravery¡ªfor protecting the children, for giving hope to Avaria, and for agreeing to receive the medal as a public spectacle. Cassis seized the moment. ¡°You promised not to conscript us,¡± he reminded him. His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. Zenet¡¯s smile remained, the kind all politicians wore¡ªpolished and unreadable. He gestured, and a government worker stepped forward, handing Cassis a document. Cassis took his time reading it. His fingers tightened on the paper. It¡¯s the same as before. The same written promise Brice had given them, but now with Zenet¡¯s signature and the seal of the World Council. Only then did Cassis allow himself to exhale. He gave Zenet a small nod, and the man responded with a satisfied expression. ¡°Good,¡± Zenet said smoothly. ¡°Now, regarding the soldier training. We¡¯ve already selected the candidates. When will you and Arianna be available to begin?¡± Cassis¡¯s first instinct was to push back, but he caught himself. He couldn¡¯t refuse outright¡ªnot yet. He thought of Liam and the meeting he had arranged with his friend from Justice for Children. That came first. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°In two days,¡± he said. Zenet smiled, seemingly pleased with the answer. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. Brice will be your contact for everything moving forward.¡± Cassis barely resisted the urge to scowl. His teeth clenched. So, Brice was trusted even before everything fell apart. He said nothing. But inside, the fire in him burned just a little hotter. The entire group took their seats in front of the podium. Everything had been carefully orchestrated¡ªZenet would give his speech first, then each of them would be called up individually to receive their medals. One of the government officials had already arranged them in a particular order, with Cassis set to go first. He glanced at Arianna to see if she was offended by this decision, but she didn¡¯t seem to care. If anything, she looked relieved not to have to go first. Then the ceremony began. Zenet launched into his speech, his voice clear and confident, practiced over years of public addresses. He spoke about the hardship Avaria had endured, the resilience of its people, and the hope for a better future. He talked about honoring those who had gone above and beyond¡ªthose who had made survival possible. Cassis barely listened. More politician bullshit. He only started paying attention when he knew his name would be called soon. ¡°Cassis Walker.¡± The moment the words left Zenet¡¯s mouth, Cassis stood, keeping his movements measured and composed¡ªor at least he hoped they appeared that way. He walked up the short flight of stairs to the podium, his face blank but steady. The medal was placed in his hands. There was no kneeling, no elaborate ritual. Just a simple recognition. He had been briefed beforehand¡ªafter receiving the medal, he was expected shake Zenet¡¯s hand and then to turn toward the cameras and bow to the people. That was fine. He had no problem with that. He shook his hand, turned, bowed, then walked back down the stairs without a word. Next was Arianna. She did the same, executing the steps flawlessly. Cassis knew how much she hated attention, yet she moved with effortless composure. He had to admire that. When she sat back down beside him, he smiled at her. She smiled back, a small, knowing look passing between them. Liam was next, then his parents, followed by Nadine and the Bristols. Luke sat further back with the children, who had government aides helping to keep them in line. Once all the medals had been given out, Zenet spoke again, giving another short speech about gratitude, duty, and the bright future ahead. Cassis was already tuning him out again. Finally. It was over. The cameras shut down. The journalists started packing up. They had done what was expected of them. Now, they could leave. But first they had to make their rounds shaking hands and smiling to the politicians and high ranking military officers. Thankfully they had declined having a banquet after the ceremony. Finished with that they moved quickly, eager to get out before anyone could try to pull them into more conversations. But, of course, it wasn¡¯t that easy. A group of journalists approached before they could reach the exit, a flurry of voices calling out questions. It was overwhelming. ¡°How are you so strong?¡± ¡°What are your future plans?¡± ¡°Who is Sapphire?¡± ¡°Are you and Arianna a couple?¡± ¡°Will you join the military?¡± Cassis barely had time to register the words before Elena stepped in front of him, seamlessly intercepting the reporters. Her voice was smooth, firm, and utterly unbothered. ¡°Please understand that we are still making plans regarding any future endeavours,¡± she stated coolly. ¡°We will announce our next steps publicly¡ªbut on our own terms. If you are interested in an interview, please provide your contact information. If we see merit in it, we will reach out in the coming days.¡± She delivered it so cleanly, so efficiently, that the journalists actually calmed down. Some even started explaining why an interview with their publication would be beneficial. They handed over business cards, eager to make an impression. Cassis watched, impressed. ¡°You¡¯re good at this,¡± he told Elena once they had finally broken away from the crowd. She smirked slightly. ¡°It¡¯s my job.¡± There was a touch of arrogance in her tone, but honestly? She had every right to be. She had handled it so casually. Once they finally got out of the parliament building, they were driven back to his parents'' neighborhood. The moment they arrived, they all went their separate ways to get some rest. Cassis and Arianna, however, had a different idea of "rest"¡ªwhich, for them, meant experimenting with their mana and testing their new abilities at the Bristols¡¯ house. They had about an hour before the televised broadcast of the medal ceremony at 3 PM, so they used the time as best they could. Neither of them made any significant breakthroughs, but according to Arianna, it was now much easier for her to spread her mana pattern throughout her body. Cassis wasn¡¯t sure if he could say the same. He was still struggling with it, but maybe it was a little easier. He had to trust the genius mana manipulator on this one. At 3 PM, they all gathered to watch the ceremony on TV. Seeing himself on screen felt surreal. Cassis sat there, watching his own movements from earlier¡ªhis composed walk, the moment he received his medal, the handshake, the bow. It was strange, detached, almost like he was watching someone else. But the ceremony wasn¡¯t the only thing being broadcasted. Afterward, a new announcement from Zenet aired. The president of the World Council appeared on the screen, his expression solemn but determined. "Dear citizens, with this great symbol of hope and courage, I wish to give you a clear direction for the future." "Our census has been completed, and we have secured all civilized areas of our world. The results are tragic¡ªaround a third of our population has perished. This is an unprecedented loss. But we cannot remain frozen in grief. We must move forward." "To that end, we have initiated procedures to ease inheritance claims. Over the next few weeks, inheritance taxes will be waived¡ªour people have lost enough already. Families will receive the full property of their deceased relatives without additional financial burden." "The next of kin will be contacted today or tomorrow with further details." "Next, we must rebuild. To honour both the dead and the survivors, I urge you all to return to work and resume your professions so that we may reconstruct our society and emerge stronger than ever. Full details, including specific guidelines for each country, are now available on our official website¡­" The speech was just like in the other timeline, Cassis thought grimly. But a new shimmer of hope spread through him. More people had survived this time. Had they really made such a significant change possible? His parents had already received news regarding their inheritances. His mother would be inheriting the properties of her deceased sister Marianne, who had been unmarried and childless. She would also act as the guardian for Celeste¡¯s (her other sister) and Selena¡¯s (Celeste¡¯s daughter) estates until their heirs, Matteo and Felicia, came of age. His father had also been notified¡ªhe was set to inherit his parents'' house in the neighbouring country. The Morrisons and the Bristols had received similar messages, though Cassis wasn¡¯t entirely sure about the details. His mind wandered. Tomorrow, he would return to his job. Not to stay, but to say goodbye to his students and to recruit Ben and hopefully his father who Cassis remembered worked in IT for the website they were planning. He hoped that there would be more people than in the other timeline. After all, Zenet had said a third not almost half like back then. Afterwards, he would quit. He had a few savings that he and Arianna could live off for a while. And soon, they would be able to sell monster parts to the government or ingenious companies who would study monsters. He had actually loved being a teacher¡ªdespite the challenges¡ªbut now, he had a different path to follow. After the broadcast, the whole group decided to continue their mana training. Arianna took charge, demonstrating how to meditate and regenerate mana faster. It wasn¡¯t easy and she was relentless. Focusing on their inner flow, feeling the subtle currents of energy within, and consciously guiding them¡ªit all took an exhausting amount of concentration. By the time Cassis called for a break, nearly three hours had passed. Everyone went home with a splitting headache. The next day, he and Arianna went to his parent¡¯s house for a very early breakfast. Liam would drive Cassis and Arianna to Cassis¡¯ high school, as Liam said he would just skip his lectures. When his father heard this, he asked Arianna if she worked at an accounting office near the school. Arianna wasn¡¯t prepared for such a question but soon recovered and told his father that she was between jobs right now. His father nodded, not thinking too much about it. He was already retired so he had nowhere to go. His mother would soon try to have some online meetings with her colleagues and boss. Cassis found Helen after breakfast and asked if she wanted to come with them to the meeting with Justice for Children in the afternoon. Helen shook her head. ¡°I looked them up. They¡¯re real stand-up, do-gooder types. Even if they end up getting more out of you than you want, it won¡¯t be anything bad.¡± Cassis rolled his eyes. ¡°Thanks for the vote of confidence.¡± Helen just grinned. Soon, he, Arianna, and Liam got into the car and drove towards his high school on the outskirts of Vallendale. He would go to do his job and at noon when school finished, he would meet up with Liam and Arianna to recruit Ben and maybe his father. Then afterwards they would go to their meeting with Justic for Children at their Vallendale branch. The car ride was quiet, heavy with unspoken thoughts. When they reached the school, Liam pulled up to the curb. "We¡¯ll be nearby," he said, his voice even, but there was something watchful in his gaze. Cassis nodded, stepped out, and before he even had the chance to brace himself, the chaos began. A wave of students swarmed him, their voices overlapping in a flurry of disbelief and excitement. "Mr. Walker, that was you on TV?!" "No way¡ªour history teacher is a total badass!" "Sir, how the hell did you keep this a secret?!" Their awe was palpable, a stark contrast to the way they had once viewed him. The quiet teacher who lectured about ancient wars and graded essays with clinical precision was now someone entirely different in their eyes. Other teachers rushed in to pull the students back, offering him a much-needed reprieve. One of them, a woman he had worked alongside for years, gave him an amused glance as they ushered him into the teacher¡¯s lounge. "Didn¡¯t expect to be a celebrity today, did you?" The morning briefing was short but sobering. They would not be teaching today as the e-mail yesterday had already informed them. There would be no tests, no lectures¡ªonly space. A space for students to speak, to process, to grieve. A space where, for once, they were not expected to hold themselves together. None of them were trained for this. None of them had the answers. Everyone had lost loved ones, too. But they were the adults, and so they would do what needed to be done. The school assembly was held in the main hall. The principal spoke of resilience, of perseverance, of the importance of education in shaping the future. His words echoed through the large space, measured and formal. But to Cassis, it felt hollow. This was not the world they had lived in a week ago. Every single student, every single teacher in that hall had awakened thanks to the level gained by surviving the first wave. Some would still pursue ordinary careers, clinging to what normalcy remained. They would probably achieve professions that helped them grow stronger, not to fight but to survive. But many¡ªfar too many¡ªwould eventually be drawn to the Awakener Bureau. The reality was undeniable. Young people were the ones most likely to be called to ¡®adventure¡¯. They had all lost loved ones, but youth was resilient and they were going to grow up in this world. It was logical that they would be the one adapting to it best. And most of the younger generation had grown up playing video games. That would help them with the system. Yet, as Cassis scanned the faces around him, he felt something unexpected. Relief. Two-thirds of the students had returned. More of his colleagues had survived than in the last timeline. A different future was already unfolding. Back in the classroom, he faced his students one period at a time. Each new group carried the same haunted expressions, the same unspoken grief. They had lost parents, siblings, friends¡ªsome of the very classmates who should have been sitting beside them. And yet, they did not hold back. They spoke of what they had seen. They asked about the monsters, the fighting, the fear. They asked about him. Cassis listened. Some cried, their grief spilling over in ragged sobs. Others sat in silence, their emotions locked behind carefully constructed walls. A few shouted, their voices thick with frustration, anger, helplessness. And yet, in between the tears, the rage, and the loss, there was laughter. A fragile sense of camaraderie, of understanding. Moments where they clung to the comfort of shared survival, to the knowledge that they were not alone. It was an exhausting, emotionally raw morning, and by the end of it, Cassis felt adrift. But his day was not over yet. The principal was waiting for him in his office. Cassis didn¡¯t bother with small talk. "I need to resign." The older man sighed, not in disappointment, but in understanding. "I won¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised," he admitted. "Others have left as well. Though, truth be told¡ªmost have chosen to stay." Cassis didn¡¯t know what to say to that. But then, the principal leaned forward, eyes sharp with something more than just resignation. "Before you go, I have one more thing to ask of you," he said. "Not as a history teacher¡ªbut as someone who has become competent at fighting monsters. If you¡¯re willing, I¡¯d like you to come back one day¡ªnot to teach the past, but to prepare them for the world they live in now. Monster fighting. Mana knowledge. Survival." Cassis hesitated. The request made sense. These students would need guidance. They would need more than books and theory to survive what was coming. "...I¡¯ll think about it," he said at last, making no promises. Before leaving, he sought out his colleagues, exchanging quiet goodbyes. Then, just as he was about to step outside, he heard a familiar voice. Sinu. He didn¡¯t say anything at first¡ªjust pulled him into a firm, grounding embrace. "Take care of yourself, Cassis," he murmured. He returned the hug, voice quieter than before. "You too." And with that, he stepped outside, the past closing behind him. Arianna and Liam were already waiting. Chapter 42 Whispers of the Divine – Arianna Chapter 42 Whispers of the Divine ¨C Arianna Arianna watched as Cassis stepped out of the car and into chaos. His students descended on him like a tidal wave, their voices a cacophony of disbelief and excitement. She could practically hear the questions through the closed car window. "Sir! That was you on TV?! No way!" "You fought monsters?! You?! Our history teacher?!" "Can you show us some moves?!" She exchanged an amused glance with Liam, and before they could get dragged into the madness, he pulled away from the curb. ¡°Poor Cassis,¡± she said, smirking. Liam snorted. ¡°Yeah, yeah. ¡®Poor Cassis¡¯¡ªthe guy who fought through an apocalypse and became famous as the strongest man in our world. I think he¡¯ll survive a few screaming teenagers.¡± Still, Arianna knew how much Cassis hated attention. The fact that he¡¯d been practically invisible in the other timeline had likely kept him alive. Now? He was a symbol of hope, a leader, whether he liked it or not. Well. He¡¯d handle it. He always did. For now, she had other things to focus on. They drove to Cassis¡¯ apartment, a place that already felt strangely familiar despite how little time she had actually spent there. Arianna let out a long breath as she finally changed into fresh clothes again, relishing the small comfort. Then, without wasting much time, she and Liam left for her usual training spot¡ªthe small park nestled between the quiet streets of the neighbourhood. It was a place that had always felt safe. Isolated. A perfect spot to hone their skills in peace. But today, the park was not empty. Far more people than before wandered through the open space, lingering near the exercise equipment, the small fire pit, the wooden benches. Some were just sitting there, dazeing, other were practicing with weapons and a few ones were ¡ªhesitantly, clumsily¡ªtrying to see their mana. Arianna didn¡¯t miss the way some eyes lingered on them as they entered. She sighed. "Looks like we¡¯re not the only ones who figured out training is a good idea." Liam made a thoughtful sound. "Yeah. And you¡¯re kind of recognizable now. You¡¯re probably the strongest woman in the world." They had just made fun of Cassis for this but the truth was that Cassis and her had become famous due to their actions and the videos in the Hall of Fame. And now after the president¡¯s address people were finally coming out of their homes again. "Ugh." Without another word, she pulled a pair of sunglasses from her bag and shoved a baseball cap at Liam. "Here. We blend in. You¡¯re not quite as bad as me but people will still know you." He laughed. "Right. Because nobody will notice the two people randomly sitting in front of a fire pit meditating." "It¡¯s about the effort, Liam." He just shook his head but put the cap on anyway. They settled near the stream from before. Liam sat down in the grass, pushing his open hands against the earth, trying to feel his element. He crossed his legs and closed his eyes, diving into his meditation. Arianna sat beside him, guiding him with quiet words when necessary¡ªbut for the most part, he wanted to figure it out on his own. He was an earnest student. Stubborn, even. Arianna had to respect that. Once he found his rhythm, she shifted her focus. She moved slightly away from him, settling right next to the small stream in the exact spot where she had once deepened her mana sight. The gentle trickle of water was a grounding presence. But this time, she wasn¡¯t here to meditate. First, she thought back to the medal ceremony. When they were watching it on the TV and her name had been called she had actually gotten a system message: [+ 5000 CP (for deceiving the mortal world)] Then she had felt her inner scare of good and evil shift towards evil. This scale was irritating. She didn¡¯t want to imagine losing balance. It would be terrible. As a chaotic deity she could do good and bad things and earn points from them. If she was limited to only virtuous or evil deeds, she wouldn¡¯t be able to earn many points. She knew this from experience. But then she also though back to her first day in this world, when she became a fallen patron. Her actions of killing monsters had been deemed evil and so her alignment had changed from virtuous to chaotic. What if she leaned too far towards one side? Would her CP be taken again? Would her alignment change again? Would the same happen again if she did something that was counter to her new alignment. If that really happened, she would be caught in a never-ending circle of shifting alignments. Would her points vanish again and again? She didn¡¯t want that to happen. She¡¯d never be able to buy the more expensive stuff then. She¡¯d have to manage the scale carefully. Before she could think and stress more about it she opened her patron status instead. One particular detail had caught her attention yesterday¡ªbut she hadn¡¯t mentioned it to Cassis yet. He had enough on his plate already. Better to test it first. Her eyes landed on the line that had changed since the last time she looked. [ Patron Chat: Open ] Her heart pounded. This¡­ was new. Arianna hesitated for only a moment before tapping the open chat option. Immediately, her screen was flooded with a stream of messages¡ªan endless flurry of discussions, debates, and arguments. The patrons were talking about this new world, some already speculating about who would make good candidates for avatars, others telling them to keep watching as most would die in the second wave. They didn¡¯t want to choose someone weak. It was structured like a chatroom, complete with usernames and profile details she could examine. Curious, she clicked on a few. The names were strange, almost theatrical: Desert Rose. One-Handed Warrior. Allfather. King of Shadows. Beneath each name, there were titles: Well-Known. Famous. Legendary. And most importantly, an alignment label¡ªVirtuous. Chaotic. Evil. Arianna¡¯s gaze swept across the room. Most of them were Chaotic. That¡­ probably made sense. Most people weren¡¯t fully good or evil but something in-between. There were just different shades. That seemed to apply to deities as well. Feeling a slight unease, she turned to her own profile. [ Name: Sapphire ] [ Fame Level: Recognized ] [ Alignment: Chaotic ] Alright, everything was ok. Her patron name was used instead of her real name and recognition and affiliation were the same as in her status. Her arrival in the chat had been marked with a clear notification: [ Sapphire has entered the chat. ] At first, the other deities ignored it. But soon, the conversation shifted, and familiar names began appearing. Cassis. Arianna. She froze. They were being discussed¡ªas potential avatars. At first, it was just a few passing comments. "That Arianna girl is promising. She has sharp instincts and good mana control." "Cassis might have potential. He already has leadership qualities." "Anyone know if they¡¯re still unclaimed?" Then, a new message appeared. [ Trickster (Chaotic): Too late. They already have a patron. ] Silence. And then, chaos. A flood of reactions filled the chat. "What? Already? Who was that bold?" "That¡¯s reckless. The first wave just ended!" "Madness or brilliance?" "Whoever it was, they¡¯ve got guts. Or they¡¯re a fool." Some praised the mystery patron¡¯s audacity, while others outright mocked them. Arianna¡¯s fingers tightened. "They¡¯re talking about me." She had never heard of these deities before, yet they were labelled as famous, legendary, mythical. Who were they? And why did she feel like she had stumbled into a game where she didn¡¯t know the rules? A new message popped up, standing out from the chaotic chatter. [ Timeless Waterfall (Virtuous): Are you new? Just how did you get enough points to claim two avatars so soon? ] [Timeless Waterfall (Virtuous): If you¡¯re new, go read the New Deity Guide in the forum. ] Arianna swallowed. "New Deity Guide." Her fingers hovered over the chat for a second before she switched tabs, entering the forum section. Sure enough, there was a pinned post at the top. [ New Deity Guide ¨C Read First! ] She clicked on it.
New Deity Guide Welcome, new deities. No matter your alignment, these are the basics. This guide was created by several old virtuous deities who have witnessed many system worlds and helped newcomers before you. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
  1. Where do you come from?
There are two types of deities:
  1. Awakeners from another world who have completed their system¡¯s waves and transcended S-Class.
  2. Newly born deities from a world integrated into the system, chosen from its own lore.
Arianna¡¯s breath caught. Neither of these descriptions fit her. "I¡¯m not an S-Class awakener from another world." "And I definitely wasn¡¯t some deity from this world¡¯s ¡®lore¡¯ before the system arrived." Her fingers tightened as she continued reading.
  1. What to do in a new world
If you have just transcended, congratulations. If you were just born, happy birthday. You have already watched the first wave of this world¡¯s system arrival for free. During this time, you were able to freely jump from place to place, observing different streams and mortals. Why? To find an Awakener to your liking. Awakener: That is what the system calls the mortals who can use mana. However, now that the first wave has ended, watching is no longer free. From this point forward, you will need to spend points (VP, CP, EP¡ªdepending on your alignment) to continue observing this world. Older deities, like ourselves, have accumulated enough points to continue watching without issue. We have also paid to open this chatroom. Maybe you have already found someone who caught your eye. If not, you will need to wait until some awakeners enter a dungeon or the next wave comes to observe again.
Arianna¡¯s stomach dropped as she read the next part.
3. Choosing an Avatar If you choose an avatar, you may watch them at any time for free. We do not recommend choosing one immediately after the first wave. Your first avatar does not cost any points. However, your second avatar is extremely expensive. If your avatar dies, you will have to pay an exorbitant price to claim another. Most new deities who make this mistake will be forced to sit out for the rest of this world¡¯s system cycle, waiting for a new world to be integrated before they can act again. If this happens to you, you can try to gather points by completing tasks related to your alignment while waiting.
Arianna¡¯s mind was spinning. She had already taken two avatars. Cassis. Herself. And from the sound of it¡­ that was not normal. No wonder the others were shocked. She exhaled sharply, closing the guide. Her gaze flickered back to the chatroom, where patrons were still discussing who had dared to claim avatars so soon. She had so many questions. And even worse¡ªshe had no idea who to ask. Arianna¡¯s screen flickered as a new message popped up. [ Timeless Waterfall has invited you to a private chat room. Accept invitation? ] She hesitated. After all, she barely understood what was happening, and stepping into a private conversation with a deity she knew nothing about could be dangerous. But Timeless Waterfall had helped her just now, and they were virtuous¡ªthat had to mean something, right? It would feel rude to refuse. And maybe they could answer a few more of her questions. Timeless Waterfall had a popularity that read as legendary. They would have a lot of knowledge if they were old enough to become legendary. Arianna exhaled and tapped Agree. The world around her shifted.
She wasn¡¯t in the chatroom anymore. Instead, she stood in a vast clearing, untouched by human hands. The trees were enormous, their leaves a mix of deep blues, purples, and silvers, rather than green. A lake stretched out before her, its waters impossibly clear, reflecting the sky like polished glass. A waterfall cascaded from a nearby cliff, the rushing current feeding into the lake before flowing out as a winding stream through the forest. It was breathtaking. Otherworldly. Arianna¡¯s gaze snapped to the figure sitting beside the lake. They looked almost human, but not quite. They were not quite a woman but also not a man, something different, in-between. Their skin was translucent blue, and within it, Arianna could see an actual water current, flowing as though they were a living river. Their hair was a shimmering mist, the kind a waterfall sprays into the air when it crashes against stone. They wore a flowing black toga, shifting like liquid silk. Timeless Waterfall. "Come here," the deity called, their voice echoing like thunderous water crashing against rock. Arianna took a step forward¡ª ¡ªexcept she didn¡¯t step. She rolled. Her breath caught. Something was wrong. Looking down, she barely stopped herself from screaming. She wasn¡¯t human. Her body was made of water. A translucent blue current formed her upper torso, head, and arms, but below her waist, she had no legs¡ªjust a rolling wave that surged forward whenever she tried to move. Every time she advanced, the water beneath her shifted, flowing forward only to be replaced by another ripple. Inside her, she could feel the steady pull of a current, similar to the one flowing within Timeless Waterfall. Arianna felt unmoored, her sense of self slipping. Was this¡­ was this what she really was? She finally reached Timeless Waterfall, who might have been laughing at her. It was hard to tell¡ªtheir face was similar to a human but still too alien for Arianna to read. "So, you¡¯re a water elemental." The deity¡¯s voice rumbled like distant rapids. "I suspected as much. And your name suits you well¡ªthose sapphire eyes make it obvious. You must be a newborn deity of this world. I wonder what kind of lore surrounds you." Arianna had no idea what to say. Fortunately, Timeless Waterfall didn¡¯t seem to expect an answer. "I¡¯m sure you¡¯re confused," they continued, watching Arianna with an almost amused air. "And since we are both water elementals, I know exactly how overwhelming it is to be newly born. So, I will help you." Arianna felt a surge of gratitude. That was¡­ surprisingly kind. But then she became suspicious. Who would just give out information for free? Still, being polite was always good, especially in this situation. "Thank you," she said. Her voice startled her¡ªit sounded like raindrops hitting the surface of a lake. Timeless Waterfall hummed in acknowledgment. "I assume you chose that man, Cassis, as your first avatar?" Arianna nodded slowly. "I watched him as well," the deity mused. "He showed promise, but the woman¡ªArianna¡ªwas a close second. You likely didn¡¯t know what you were doing. Perhaps you simply felt, ¡®I want to help him.¡¯ He is quite handsome, after all. That¡¯s fine. You chose a strong one. He will likely survive. If not¡­ well, you still have Arianna and if that also doesn¡¯t work out just wait for the next system world." Arianna stiffened. The casualness of that statement unsettled her. "You¡¯re Chaotic, so you have plenty of ways to earn points," Timeless Waterfall continued. "After all, we are immortal, as long as we maintain at least Recognized status." Immortal? Arianna felt like she¡¯d been punched in the gut. She had just come to terms with being a ¡­ water elemental?, but now she was something immortal? The thought was as fascinating as it was terrifying. Before she could voice any of the dozens of questions burning in her mind, Timeless Waterfall pressed on. "This Arianna is your second avatar. You shouldn¡¯t have enough CP to claim another. But¡­" They tilted her head slightly, her water-like body shifting. "There have been exceptions before. I assume her elemental affinity is water?" Arianna nodded again. "That would lower the cost already. And since she is also a unit with your first avatar, that would lower the cost further." The deity frowned. "But even then¡­ you shouldn¡¯t have had any CP at all. No matter how low the cost, you should have been at zero. Did anything¡­ special happen?" Arianna hesitated. A lot of special things had happened. But she wasn¡¯t na?ve¡ªno matter what Cassis and Helen thought¡ªshe couldn¡¯t just spill her secrets to a deity she had just met. Still¡­ Timeless Waterfall was giving her valuable information. Perhaps offering something in return would earn her more knowledge. So, she carefully chose her next words. "Yes," she admitted. "Arianna is a unit with Cassis. When she spoke to his family, she referred to me as her patron, too. That¡¯s when I got a system message: ¡®A mortal has declared themselves your avatar without being one.¡¯ I was given two choices¡ªsmite her or accept her. I like Arianna, so I accepted her as my second avatar." Timeless Waterfall listened intently, their swirling form oddly still. "Ah," they finally said. "Now that makes sense." Arianna exhaled in relief. "The system sometimes rewards certain behaviours in mortals or awakeners as they are called," Timeless Waterfall explained. "Which means¡­ the system rewarded Arianna, not you, for something. It granted her a patron instead of rewarding you with another avatar." They let out a thoughtful sound, like rushing rapids. "Yes, that fits. The system is biased toward its awakeners, after all." Arianna frowned. Biased? She didn¡¯t feel particularly blessed by the system. If anything, it had been nothing but unfair to them. Timeless Waterfall must have read her expression. "Ah, you don¡¯t know yet, do you?" The deity sounded vaguely amused. "Mortals are granted far more freedom within their world. Deities¡­ are not." Arianna blinked. "The system considers us too powerful to act freely. We are restricted to watching and occasionally offering boons to our avatars. The more followers we have and the higher our fame level the more freedom we are granted in the mortal but also in the divine world. But if we break the rules, we are punished." Her voice darkened like a storm. "Some become fallen patrons, forced to claw their way back to transcendence. Others are enslaved, bound into service as artifacts or spirit companions for awakeners." Arianna felt a chill despite her watery form. "If we serve long enough, we may return as deities," Timeless Waterfall finished bitterly. Then they fixed Arianna with an unreadable gaze. "I will warn you now, Sapphire," they said. "Do not fall in love with a mortal¡ªespecially not your own avatars. Many deities have fallen that way." Arianna didn¡¯t react. Because it was already too late. She had already fallen in love with Cassis. But¡­ she was already a fallen patron. The rules didn¡¯t seem to apply to her, anyway. Timeless Waterfall exhaled, standing up. "It is time for you to leave. My points, though plentiful, should not be wasted. I wish you well, Sapphire." Arianna nodded, smiling¡ªor trying to, at least. "Thank you," she said. "Ever since I woke up, I¡¯ve been confused." They exchanged farewells¡ª ¡ªthen Arianna was thrust back into her own body. "Okay, that was... strange," Arianna mumbled, running her hands over her legs, just to make sure they were there again. Solid. Real. Human. A system message came up. [+ 1000 CP (for successfully deceiving an ancient deity)] Arianna shuddered. Ancient. She had the feeling that the only reason this deception had worked was because what was happening to her was so strange and rare that even an ancient deity didn¡¯t think it possible. Just what did that mean for her? All of a sudden, her necklace burned hot against her skin. She frowned, fingers instinctively wrapping around the familiar sapphire pendant. Just what is going on? The thought struck her like lightning¡ª Was it possible? Her necklace wasn¡¯t just some beautiful trinket. It was powerful, undeniably so. And if what Timeless Waterfall said was true, deities could be punished¡ªforced into servitude as artifacts or spirit companions. Was her necklace... a fallen deity? Her grip tightened. "Are you a deity?" she whispered aloud, holding the pendant between her fingertips. For a moment, nothing happened. Then¡ª The sapphire glowed. A soft, eerie light pulsed from within, warming her fingers¡ª ¡ªthen faded. Then it turned cold. Arianna¡¯s breath hitched. Was that a yes? Or something else entirely? She tried again. "Can you understand me?" No response. "Are you trapped?" Still nothing. Frowning, she asked a few more questions, but no matter what she said, the necklace remained cold and unresponsive. Great. With a sigh, she let go, letting the pendant rest against her collarbone. Maybe it only reacted in specific situations¡ªor maybe she was completely wrong. Either way, she wasn¡¯t getting any more answers right now. She glanced at her watch. ¡­Not much time had passed. Actually, maybe no time at all had passed since she entered the private chat with Timeless Waterfall. Arianna exhaled. That was useful. She could gain valuable information without missing anything in real time. But¡ªwhat were the rules? There hadn¡¯t been a thread about them in the forums. Would the system warn her if she was about to break one? Or would she only find out after she had already been punished? Like what had happened when she first awakened. She had killed the goblin, then awakened. And then the system had informed her that she had become a fallen patron. Could the system even punish her any further? She was already a fallen patron, yet she had never actually been a deity before. Just a normal human. Her head throbbed with unanswered questions. "Hahh¡­" She huffed, rubbing her temples. Thinking in circles won¡¯t help. She needed to focus. Arianna settled into a cross-legged position, straightening her back. If her thoughts were a storm, then meditation was her way to calm the waves. With practiced ease, she willed her mana to flow. The swirls, streams, currents, and waves of her pattern spread through her body. The sensation was almost¡­ harmonious. Balanced. It still took effort to hold it everywhere, but she was improving. One thing was clear¡ªher mana was easier to shape than before she got her advanced class. Cassis might not believe her, but she could feel it. Even if she couldn¡¯t maintain the pattern for long yet, she could hold it for longer than before. And while it was active¡ª Her mana regeneration skyrocketed. Even just maintaining the pattern in her torso drastically boosted her passive mana recovery. With it, she could cast her healing spell almost endlessly. That reminded her¡ª Her Heal spell. Arianna had a nagging feeling. If she understood the human body better¡ªhow it healed naturally, how she could support that process¡ªshe could make the spell even more efficient. Faster. Stronger. Less mana wasted. She grabbed her phone. A quick search later, and she was skimming through medical articles on wound healing, tissue regeneration, and cellular repair. Thankfully, this world¡¯s internet worked the same way as her old one. She kept reading, absorbing as much information as possible, until¡ª Her eyes flicked to the clock. Cassis would finish school soon. She locked her phone, pushing herself to her feet. Across from her, Liam was just opening his eyes, stretching his shoulders. His expression looked... satisfied. Arianna smiled. "How was it?" Liam exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Good. I finally got my Mana Control to Beginner." Arianna grinned. "That¡¯s great! Your ambient mana absorption is improving too, right?" Liam nodded, his dark eyes gleaming with quiet pride. "Yeah. It¡¯s getting easier." "That¡¯s amazing," Arianna said sincerely. "I¡¯m proud of you." Liam looked a little caught off guard, but he nodded in thanks, even blushing a little. They grabbed their things and headed out, slipping into the car. It wasn¡¯t long before Cassis stepped out of the school gates. He spotted them immediately, his golden eyes narrowing slightly as he walked over. With everyone settled, they set off, weaving through the city streets toward Ben Ranislav¡¯s house. Cassis had already talked to Ben at school, giving him a heads-up about the visit. Ben, in turn, had called his parents, making sure they¡¯d be home for the job offer. Arianna leaned back in her seat. Soon, they¡¯d see if Ben¡¯s family would accept their offer. Chapter 43: A deal gone wrong – Cassis Chapter 43: A deal gone wrong ¨C Cassis Cassis and his companions arrived at Ben Ranislav¡¯s house soon enough. Waiting for them at the door were Ben, his mother¡ªwhom they had already met at City Hall¡ªand his father. They greeted the trio warmly and ushered them into the living room, where an inviting spread of drinks had been set out. Arianna and Liam had agreed beforehand that Cassis should lead the discussion. He knew Ben best, after all. Once everyone was settled, Cassis began. ¡°Thank you for taking the time to meet with us,¡± he said, addressing Ben¡¯s parents. ¡°I realize this offer might seem a bit sudden, but I genuinely believe it has merit. A friend of ours, who works in social media, mentioned that we could not only earn money but also provide a great service to people with this project.¡± He took a moment to gauge their reactions before continuing. ¡°We want to create a website that compiles Sapphire¡¯s revelations, offering some basic knowledge for free while reserving more advanced information for paid membership tiers. There would also be an exclusive VIP section with even rarer insights. To make this happen, I need someone I can trust to build and maintain the site. Hiring an outsider isn¡¯t an option¡ªit¡¯s sensitive information and would cost a lot. That¡¯s when I remembered Ben.¡± He glanced at his former student with a small grin. ¡°After all, you did manage to hack the school¡¯s homepage.¡± Ben practically beamed with excitement, while his father looked thoughtful. His mother, however, remained unreadable, her pleasant smile betraying nothing. Mr. Ranislav finally broke the silence. ¡°From what I know of my son¡¯s skills, he can certainly maintain a website. With my assistance, he should also be able to build one and secure it properly. But what about compensation?¡± Cassis relaxed slightly. If Ben¡¯s father was willing to help, then that meant he saw the website¡¯s potential too. ¡°As I mentioned, we don¡¯t have much money right now,¡± Cassis admitted. ¡°We could offer Ben a fixed salary for maintaining the site, plus a one-time bonus for creating and securing it. Alternatively, we could offer him a percentage of the website¡¯s earnings.¡± Mr. Ranislav¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly. ¡°And what percentage would that be?¡± The negotiation began in earnest. Cassis and Mr. Ranislav discussed potential earnings, risks, and responsibilities in detail. Arianna and Liam mostly observed, only chiming in occasionally to support Cassis¡¯s points. Eventually, they reached an agreement: By the end of it, everyone seemed satisfied. With the formalities settled, Mrs. Ranislav posed a question. ¡°What exactly qualifies as basic knowledge?¡± Cassis launched into an explanation, detailing various topics: class choices at level 5, skills and spells, mana theory, awakener and monster rankings, dungeons, wild areas, mutated creatures, professions, and even patrons. The Ranislav family listened with wide eyes. ¡°All of that is just basic knowledge?¡± Mr. Ranislav asked in disbelief. ¡°Then what counts as advanced?¡± Cassis smiled knowingly. ¡°For starters, the guild system. Then we have advanced classes, class evolution requirements, specialized training guides, hidden methods for acquiring skills and spells, in-depth dungeon reports, and hopefully, as our community grows, new discoveries shared by our members.¡± Mr. Ranislav leaned back, clearly impressed. ¡°And you have someone lined up to handle marketing and promotion?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Cassis confirmed. ¡°We have someone who understands social media and outreach.¡± At that moment, Arianna spoke up. ¡°You know,¡± she said thoughtfully, ¡°another piece of basic knowledge should be how awakeners over a certain age will reverse-age once they reach level 5, stopping around their late thirties by level 20. And that sick people will gradually be healed, with full recovery by level 10.¡± Mrs. Ranislav¡¯s expression sharpened. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Arianna nodded firmly. ¡°Yes. I paid special attention to that because¡­ my father died of cancer. If he had been given the chance to awaken, he might have survived.¡± Her fists clenched at the memory. Cassis reached out, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder. She didn¡¯t say anything, but she leaned slightly into the touch. He wondered how she must have felt when through her screen she saw sick people in his world be healed by a miraculous system while her father was slowly dying. They practically got a second lease on life ¨C if they survived the levelling. The room was quiet for a moment. Then, Mrs. Ranislav gave a slow, thoughtful nod. ¡°Then,¡± she said, voice softer than before, ¡°this might be more important than I realized. If I may, I would like to suggest an addition on your website.¡± Cassis gestured for her to continue. Mrs Ranislav smiled: ¡°This basic information may save a lot more lives that you think. Not only the sick people will feel thankful to you but also their loved ones. Many will probably want to repay you as most people don¡¯t like living in debt. Please make a donations section.¡± Cassis thought about that idea. It had merit if such people really existed. He doubted it. But they wouldn¡¯t lose anything by including that section. Arianna also nodded. ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll add that.¡± With the negotiations settled, they proceeded to the bank, where Cassis and Arianna opened a shared account for their website. Arianna also set up her own personal account, a step toward financial independence, though she had no salary to pay into it yet. Once the formalities were completed, they drove to the Vallendale branch of the Justice for Children organization, arriving precisely at 4 PM. Liam appeared unusually nervous, though Cassis¡¯s mind was occupied with other concerns. As they stepped inside, Liam approached the front desk and informed the secretary of their appointment with Camden O¡¯Clery. She greeted him with a warm smile before directing them to the elevators, letting them know that Mr. O¡¯Clery was expecting them on the seventh floor. When the doors slid open, they were met by a man in his early thirties, clad in a well-tailored dark blue suit. Though shorter than Cassis, he was broad-shouldered and solidly built. His expression was open and welcoming as he greeted them. ¡°Good to see you, Liam. And you must be Mr. Walker and Mrs. Sloan¡ªpleasure to meet you. My name is Camden O¡¯Clery.¡± Arianna returned his smile. ¡°Since you¡¯re a friend of Liam¡¯s, please just call me Arianna.¡± Camden¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Then please, call me Camden.¡± Cassis noted the way Camden¡¯s eyes lingered on Arianna and fought the urge to frown. He maintained his composure, offering a polite nod. ¡°Cassis is fine.¡± Camden gestured for them to follow him. Arianna and Liam walked behind Cassis and he heard her whisper to Liam: ¡°Damn Liam, that is one fine man. He¡¯s hot. Just were did you find him?¡± Cassis frowned. Sure, Camden was attractive but he didn¡¯t think Arianna would be into him. Camden led them into his office. Once they were all seated, he leaned forward, eyes glinting with curiosity. ¡°Liam mentioned you had a proposal involving children, but he kept the details vague. He insisted I wait until this meeting to hear it in full. I must admit, I¡¯m intrigued. As you likely know, our organization works tirelessly to ensure children have what they need to grow up safely and well. And in light of recent events, you three are practically heroes to us for making that world announcement happen.¡± His expression turned expectant. ¡°So¡ªwhat else can you help us with?¡± Liam shifted uncomfortably. ¡°Camden, I told you¡ª¡®heroes¡¯ is a bit of a stretch. We just did our best to protect a baby. No one could have predicted how the system would respond.¡± Camden chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what a hero would say.¡± Liam groaned, blushing slightly, while Camden laughed at his reaction. Arianna smiled at their exchange, but a question lingered in Cassis¡¯ mind¡ªhow exactly did Liam know this man? Camden appeared nearly a decade older, and Cassis doubted their connection came from Liam¡¯s usual social circles. Then again, friendships could take unexpected forms, and it was clear from their dynamic that Liam trusted Camden enough to joke with him. Arianna shifted the conversation forward. ¡°We haven¡¯t shared this with anyone yet, but as a reward for saving Baby Jessica, we received more than just the world announcement and the system¡¯s ¡®protection¡¯ of children.¡± She paused, her expression darkening. ¡°Now that we know exactly how that ¡®protection¡¯ works, I¡¯d rather call it ¡®forced survival.¡¯¡± Camden nodded solemnly. He had undoubtedly heard of the system¡¯s unwavering enforcement of children¡¯s safety. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Arianna continued, reaching into her inventory and withdrawing the experience-sharing bracelet. ¡°We also received this.¡± She extended it toward Camden. ¡°Please, read the item description.¡± Camden took the bracelet and did as she asked. As his eyes scanned the details, his fingers tightened around the object, his entire body going rigid. When he looked up again, his gaze was sharp, almost disbelieving. ¡°Yes,¡± Arianna said quietly. ¡°That was our reaction too. This bracelet could give millions¡ªpossibly even billions¡ªof teenagers an advantage when they turn 14 years old. But there¡¯s a problem.¡± She met his eyes. ¡°It binds to its owner.¡± At Camden¡¯s confused frown, Liam clarified, ¡°Only one awakener can use it. Once bound, no one else can benefit from it.¡± Understanding dawned on Camden, his expression shifting from amazement to contemplation. ¡°That means you can¡¯t wear them yourselves.¡± Cassis nodded. ¡°Exactly. We need to continue levelling and preparing for frontline battles. But that leaves us with the question¡ªwho do we entrust with this gift and responsibility?¡± Camden exhaled, considering the weight of their words. ¡°How many do you have?¡± ¡°Nine,¡± Arianna answered. ¡°Everyone who fought in our first battle received one.¡± Camden¡¯s gaze sharpened. He finally understood why they had come to him. ¡°You believe our organization can handle this?¡± Cassis leaned forward. ¡°We did our research. We need people who will do what is best for the children¡ªnot for themselves. People who won¡¯t be bribed into reserving these for the privileged few. People who won¡¯t manipulate the teenagers into fighting for their own interests afterward.¡± Camden¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°You¡¯re right to be cautious. Corruption exists even in organizations built to do good.¡± Liam, who had remained mostly quiet until now, spoke up, his voice firm. ¡°That¡¯s why I thought of you first. You¡¯re the most trustworthy person I know.¡± For a moment, Camden softened, clearly moved by Liam¡¯s words. But he quickly straightened, his expression turning professional. ¡°First of all, thank you for trusting me with this. But I can¡¯t make this decision alone. This would be an enormous responsibility¡ªone that carries both great potential and great risk. I need to consult the board before making any promises.¡± They nodded in understanding. Something of this magnitude required careful consideration. Camden picked up the phone. ¡°Tell the board we have an emergency meeting in thirty minutes¡­ No, it can¡¯t wait.¡± He then looked at Arianna. ¡°Can I take this one with me?¡± Arianna hesitated, clearly reluctant. Cassis was about to decline on her behalf when Liam interjected. ¡°I¡¯ll go with Camden and hold onto the bracelet myself.¡± That compromise satisfied everyone. Camden nodded, leading Liam toward the boardroom while Cassis and Arianna were directed to a waiting area. As they watched them leave, Arianna sighed. ¡°Now all we can do is wait.¡± Cassis leaned back, crossing his arms. ¡°Let¡¯s hope the board has the same sense of integrity Camden does.¡± The next few hours would decide the fate of millions. While they waited, Cassis and Arianna spoke quietly about their upcoming plans. Tomorrow, they would begin training the soldiers¡ªa task that loomed large before them. Brice had informed Cassis that they would be picked up from his flat by car and taken to a training facility at Fort Vale. They needed to pack for a week. The conversation then shifted to their hopes for the website, their uncertainties about how it would be received, and their cautious optimism about working with Camden¡¯s organization. Cassis found himself glancing at Arianna, a flicker of amusement sparking in his mind. He leaned in slightly and asked, ¡°So, do you want to work with this organization because it¡¯s so great, or because Camden is hot?¡± Arianna¡¯s eyes widened in horror. ¡°You heard that?¡± ¡°Of course I heard that.¡± She groaned, burying her face in her hands. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that.¡± He smirked, enjoying the moment, burying his other unpleasant feelings beneath his humour. ¡°Oh? And how did you mean it?¡± Then Arianna turned the conversation around. She looked at him sharply. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Then she sat up straight, a big grin stretching across her face. ¡°You¡¯re jealous.¡± It was a statement. He immediately denied it. ¡°No.¡± Although inside he knew the answer was Yes. Her grin became wider. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s cute. But I wouldn¡¯t date him. After all he¡¯s Liam¡¯s ¡­ friend.¡± Cassis frowned. Just what did that have to do with anything? And why was there a strange pause? Before he could think more on it, Arianna continued, her voice lower and a lot sweeter than he had expected. ¡°And I have you already.¡± How did she do that? She took his insecurity, his jealousy, called him out on it and then soothed the edges. The anger inside him quieted at once and he started smiling. He wanted to tell her how much this meant to him. ¡°I¡ª¡± A sudden, thunderous BAM echoed through the hallway, followed by a furious shout: ¡°What the hell were you thinking?!¡± Cassis and Arianna spun toward the sound. That was Camden¡¯s voice. Without hesitation, they bolted around the corner, arriving just in time to witness Camden gripping Liam¡¯s shoulders, shoving him back against the wall. He leaned in, his expression dark and menacing. Rage exploded in Cassis¡¯s chest. How dare he lay hands on his little brother? Before logic could intervene, Cassis tackled Camden. He held back¡ªhe didn¡¯t want to kill the man or cause serious damage¡ªbut still, the force of impact sent Camden staggering back several meters. The man managed to stay on his feet, though his stance was tense, his expression burning with fury. ¡°What the hell, Cassis?¡± Camden growled. Cassis was ready to fight, ready to break him¡ªuntil Camden spoke his next words. ¡°He put on the bracelet.¡± The world stilled. Cassis turned, his gaze locking onto Liam. He barely noticed Camden anymore, the only thing in his vision now was that cursed bracelet gleaming on his brother¡¯s wrist. ¡°Take it off. Now.¡± His voice was low, lethal. Liam¡¯s expression faltered, but Cassis barely registered it. His mind reeled, the past surging forward like a tidal wave. He saw the other timeline¡ªthe one where he had lost everything. No family. No friends. Eventually, not even Arianna. He saw himself alone. No. He refused to let that happen. A deep, primal panic clawed at his chest as he stepped toward Liam, fully prepared to tear the damn thing off himself. Camden suddenly moved, positioning himself between them. Cassis stopped just short of colliding with him, their eyes locking. A challenge. Camden was bracing himself, clearly aware he had no chance of stopping him. Cassis felt nothing but cold, unwavering determination. If Camden wanted to stand in his way, so be it. He had killed before. He would kill again if he had to. His voice was pure steel. ¡°Step aside. I¡¯m going to break that damn bracelet. If I have to, I¡¯ll go through you.¡± Camden didn¡¯t move. His jaw clenched, but his voice remained calm. ¡°You can¡¯t.¡± Cassis¡¯s fingers curled into fists. ¡°Try me.¡± Camden exhaled sharply. ¡°I also think it¡¯s a stupid decision, but it¡¯s Liam¡¯s decision. You need to respect that.¡± Cassis laughed, but there was no humour in it. ¡°Oh? And who the hell are you to tell me that? I¡¯m his big brother. It¡¯s my job to protect him¡ªeven from himself.¡± There was a long, heavy pause. Liam was staring at him like he didn¡¯t recognize him. Then Camden straightened, looking Cassis dead in the eye, and said something that shattered everything. ¡°I¡¯m his lover. It¡¯s also my job to take care of him.¡± Cassis froze. The words barely registered. They made no sense. Not in this world. Not in any world. ¡°Since when?¡± His voice was flat. ¡°A year now,¡± Camden answered. More rage. Cassis felt it surging, a wildfire threatening to consume him. ¡°And how old are you, exactly?¡± A pause. ¡°Thirty-two.¡± More rage. That bastard. Liam had been twenty-two when they met. Twenty-two to his thirty-one. Liam, his na?ve little brother who had been bullied in middle school and had then developed social anxiety because of that. Liam who had only just become an adult. Cassis saw red again. Camden had taken advantage of him. Manipulated him. Maybe even pushed him into putting on that damn bracelet. And he had just let Liam walk off with that bastard. He stepped forward, ready to rip Camden apart¡ª Suddenly, arms encircled him from behind. A soft voice, gentle and grounding, whispered against his ear. ¡°Don¡¯t, Cassis. Don¡¯t. Wake up. Come on. It¡¯s okay. We¡¯re still here. I¡¯m still here.¡± Arianna. The world didn¡¯t snap back all at once. But slowly¡ªpainfully¡ªthe red haze began to recede. Cassis focused on Arianna, who was plastered against his back, her arms wrapped tightly around his stomach. Her presence was grounding, her hands warm against him as she whispered reassurances. We¡¯re safe. We¡¯re all alive. He exhaled shakily and closed his eyes, pressing his hands gently over hers. He let himself breathe, let the tension bleed from his muscles as her voice steadied him. Slowly, the rage dulled, retreating into the depths of his mind. If not for her¡­ When he finally opened his eyes, Camden and Liam had stepped back. Camden still stood in front of Liam, his stance wary, his body a shield between them. Good, Cassis thought, approving of the caution. Liam, however, looked¡­ shaken. Not just scared of him, but scared for him. The realization sent a wave of shame crashing over Cassis. How could I let the rage take control like that? If not for Arianna¡­ Sensing he had regained control, Arianna released him. The absence of her touch left him feeling bereft, but in the same breath, she moved beside him, slipping her hand into his and threading their fingers together. Cassis held on tightly. Right now, she was his rock. His reminder that they had already changed the future, that he could keep changing it. He forced himself to meet Camden¡¯s gaze, then Liam¡¯s. ¡°Sorry.¡± Then he looked away again, the weight of his own actions pressing down on him. Liam hesitated, then asked softly, ¡°Cas¡­ are you alright?¡± Cassis nodded. ¡°Yeah. Sorry. I¡¯m sorry, Camden. Liam. I know it¡¯s your decision to wear the bracelet, but¡­ Liam, please think it over again. You won¡¯t be able to protect yourself in the future. What if you die?¡± Liam swallowed hard, but then something in his expression changed. A quiet, steady determination flickered in his eyes¡ªone Cassis had rarely seen before. ¡°The board wasn¡¯t convinced about using the bracelet. No one volunteered to wear it, and I know just how much good it will do, so¡­ I volunteered.¡± Cassis clenched his jaw. Liam continued, ¡°We¡¯ll need to show them that it works. I think Matteo would be a good first test, don¡¯t you?¡± Cassis barely processed that before Liam added, a teasing smile playing on his lips, ¡°As for not being able to protect myself¡ªthen my big brother will just have to protect me. Like old times.¡± Something inside Cassis cracked. Like old times. He thought back to Liam¡¯s middle school years¡ªthe years when he had been mercilessly bullied. For his love of art, for not being ¡°tough¡± enough, for simply being himself. Looking back now, Cassis realized the bullies had thrown slurs at him too, ones he hadn¡¯t really cared about at the time. Liam had suffered in silence for months. Cassis, in high school then, hadn¡¯t noticed until the day Liam refused to go to school. That was when everything came to light. They had tried everything¡ªmeetings with teachers, complaints to the administration, even discussions with the bullies¡¯ parents. Nothing changed. So, Cassis had taken matters into his own hands. He had found the ringleaders¡ªolder boys, a year ahead of Liam. He had visited them after school, had made sure they knew his name, his face, his fists. He had been tall for his age, stronger than them, and when he beat them down, he made sure they cried. Then, standing over them, he had given them a warning. If you ever so much as look at Liam again, I will come back. And next time, you won¡¯t be able to walk home. After that, things had been fine. Liam could breathe again. And now somehow Liam knew all of this. He knew. And he was counting on him again. Cassis¡¯s heart twisted. He exhaled. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll protect you, then.¡± Then, after a pause, he sighed. ¡°I know I don¡¯t have a say in who you date, but¡­ he¡¯s kind of old for you, isn¡¯t he? You¡¯re barely an adult.¡± Liam groaned, rolling his eyes. ¡°Bro, I¡¯m twenty-three. I¡¯m a master¡¯s student. I¡¯m not an innocent little virgin.¡± Cassis nearly choked. Well. That was something he really didn¡¯t need to hear. Arianna snickered beside him. He ran a hand over his face. ¡°Alright. Sorry. Again.¡± Then he exhaled, suddenly feeling exhausted. ¡°I think I need some time to process this. Ari, I¡¯ll go wait for you in the car, okay?¡± She studied him for a moment, concern in her eyes. He knew she wanted to say something, to reassure him, but he just¡­ needed time. Finally, she nodded. Cassis turned and walked away, his mind still spinning. Chapter 44 Seeing Clearly – Arianna Chapter 44 Seeing Clearly ¨C Arianna Arianna watched Cassis step into the elevator, not looking back. He looked defeated. Her chest tightened as the doors slid shut. The weight of everything that had just happened still pressed down on her. She thought back to the way the rage had overtaken him, how he had become someone else, just like in the fight with the orc in the gymnasium. He had told her about it before¡ªabout the anger, about why the system had offered him the Berserker class. But knowing about it and seeing it were two very different things. It was still hard to swallow. And it hurt¡ªknowing that she couldn''t truly help him. She had kept her Water Barrier spell at the ready, just in case she couldn''t reach him. Because if he had truly lost control¡ªif he had killed Camden and maybe even Liam¡ªCassis would never have forgiven himself. And he had wanted to. She had seen it in his eyes. And the system had confirmed it in the end: [+ 100 CP (for saving two mortals from your avatar)] Arianna sighed, turning her attention back to Liam and Camden. Camden still looked wary, his body tense, but he had relaxed just slightly now that Cassis was gone. Liam, on the other hand, looked shaken¡ªbut not just from what had almost happened. He seemed troubled in a different way, like he was still thinking about something. Then Camden straightened and stepped toward her. ¡°Are you safe?¡± Arianna blinked, needing a moment to process the question. And then she understood. Oh. Camden had just seen a man¡ªher boyfriend, as far as he knew¡ªcompletely flip out over what seemed like a minor incident. He had seen Cassis ready to murder him. And now, he was asking her if she needed help. He thought Cassis was an abuser. Arianna sighed again, the exhaustion weighing on her. All women understood this question, many men did too. It was sad. She appreciated Camden''s concern, truly. But there was just one thing he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m safe.¡± Camden didn¡¯t look convinced. He opened his mouth to say something else, but Arianna cut him off. ¡°I know about his issues, he told me himself, and he is actively working on them. No, he has never hit me¡ªaside from sparring.¡± She met Camden¡¯s gaze directly. ¡°And please don¡¯t forget¡ªI am just as strong as he is. Stronger than you, by far. If I had needed to stop him, I could have. Easily.¡± Camden''s expression flickered, his scepticism shifting into something more speculative. He had clearly heard this speech before¡ªfrom victims making excuses for their abusers. But the way she spoke about strength seemed to throw him off. ¡°And how exactly would you have stopped him?¡± he asked, narrowing his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re a healer, aren¡¯t you?¡± Arianna exhaled for what felt like the hundredth time. This is not how she had imagined this conversation going. She glanced at Liam, her lips twitching into something that was almost a smile. ¡°Your boyfriend is quite suspicious.¡± Liam, still visibly shaken by the turn this conversation had taken, managed a small, strained smile. ¡°You get used to it.¡± Arianna turned back to Camden. ¡°Alright. Let me show you.¡± She raised a hand and summoned her Water Barrier, the translucent blue shield forming around her in an instant. ¡°Hit it.¡± Camden didn¡¯t hesitate. He struck the barrier with his fist. Nothing. He frowned, adjusted his stance, and hit it again¡ªthis time, harder. Still nothing. Arianna raised an eyebrow. Level 5 already and a warrior? Camden''s frown deepened. ¡°Can I use a weapon?¡± Arianna nodded. ¡°Go ahead.¡± She reached into her inventory and pulled out her mace, offering it to him. This time, his eyebrows shot up. She saw the exact moment his opinion of her started shifting. A small, amused smile curled at the edges of his lips before he took the weapon. And then he swung. Again. And again. And again. Nothing. The barrier held. Finally, Camden stopped, nodding in acknowledgment. He held out the mace. ¡°Alright.¡± Arianna dispelled the barrier and tucked her mace away. She could tell from Camden¡¯s thoughtful expression that he still had a lot of questions. And this conversation was far from over. Without another word, the three of them turned and walked back toward his office. Once they were seated back inside Camden¡¯s office, Arianna immediately cut off any further questions about Cassis. "You just saw him at his worst," she said firmly, levelling Camden with a look. "Yes, he was ready to seriously injure you, but for reasons I can¡¯t discuss without breaking his trust. Please, get to know him better before forming your opinion of him. You can watch the videos of his fights¡ªour fights. That¡¯s who he really is. The rage is just a part of him, one that he is actively fighting against. That¡¯s all I¡¯m going to say on the matter." Camden let her speak, listening intently. He still didn¡¯t look convinced. But before he could press further, Liam chimed in, his voice softer but no less firm. "Cam, my brother is¡ªwell, he¡¯s not the most gentle guy, but he is a good guy. You already know that I was bullied in middle school for being a gay, sensitive boy who liked art too much. It got so bad that I refused to go to school. Cassis was the one who sat with me, just¡­ being there. Letting me draw. Sometimes even holding me when I cried. Nothing my parents or the school did made a difference. The bullying continued. But then, one day, the bullies all got ¡®sick.¡¯ And when they came back, they went out of their way to ignore me. For the first time, I had peace. Years later, in high school, one of the bullies actually apologized to me. He was sincere about it, too. And then, he told me to thank my brother for¡­ beating some sense into him. So, it¡¯s thanks to Cassis that I could finally have my peace." As soon as Liam finished, Arianna sighed. That did not help. She could see it in Camden¡¯s expression even before he spoke. "So, he¡¯s used to solving his problems with violence." Liam bristled, frustration flashing across his face. "No, that was the only time. He was seventeen¡ªnot exactly experienced or wise. He didn¡¯t know any other way to help me because everything else had already failed. Honestly, I think that¡¯s why he became a teacher. To make different decisions than my own teachers back then. To actually help his students." Arianna placed a hand on Liam¡¯s arm, stopping him. "Sorry, Liam, but anything you say is only going to be misunderstood by Camden." Across from them, Camden grinned. "Oh, you¡¯re a smart one." Arianna rolled her eyes. "But you¡¯re right," Camden continued. "You¡ªhe pointed at Arianna¡ªI can believe. You seem to have the resolve not to get victimized that way. And let me tell you, that¡¯s hard and rare. Have you been in an abusive relationship before? Or known someone who was?" Arianna shook her head. "No. But I promised my deceased father that I would only stay with a man who treats me right. That even if it happened just once and in anger, I would walk away as soon as he hit me. That I would never be dependent on a man for a long period of time. And I will honour that promise. My father wanted only the best for me." Camden nodded, seemingly impressed. Liam, however, frowned. "What do you mean? Why did you stress so much that you can believe Arianna. Does that mean you can¡¯t believe me?" Camden sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Well, my love, you¡¯re a bit naive and trusting when it comes to other people." Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Arianna barely resisted the urge to groan. Oh, great. He¡¯s one of those people. She had been called naive before¡ªusually by people far more paranoid than Camden, like Cassis or Helen. Somehow, people like him always managed to make being optimistic sound like being stupid. She was about to snap at him, but Camden surprised her. "Alright. But I can actually understand him a bit." That caught her off guard. "He went far overboard," Camden admitted. "But getting angry about your stunt with the bracelet? That¡¯s normal." Liam straightened, about to protest, but Camden held up a hand. "Oh, yes, we will talk about that stupidity in a moment," he said, shooting Liam a warning look. "Just let me finish my thought." Liam shrugged, unconcerned. "Go ahead." Camden sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "He got even angrier when he found out we were together. At first, I thought he was homophobic, but it seems the real problem is the age gap." His lips quirked into a small smirk as he looked at Liam. "Though, to be fair, it was a problem for me too." Liam turned red. "Cam¡ª" "But you¡¯re relentless when you want something¡­ or someone." Okay. That was way too much flirting for a single woman like Arianna to sit through. "Alright. Let¡¯s get back to the important topic." Camden grinned, clearly enjoying himself, while Liam covered his face, his ears burning red. Not letting him recover Arianna turned to Liam, her gaze settling on the bracelet wrapped around his wrist. "Why did you do that?" she asked, her voice quiet but firm. Liam touched the bracelet absentmindedly before letting out a sigh. "At the board meeting, they were going to turn us down." Camden looked like he wanted to interrupt, but Liam held up a hand to stop him. "You know that as well as I do," Liam continued. "It''s too great a burden, and they''re afraid they won¡¯t get any volunteers or that it won¡¯t work as intended. Most of them are older, not used to games, so they can¡¯t imagine an item doing something like this. So, I thought to myself¡ªthis is the opportunity. As a teen, I always longed for a hero to save me, and my brother became that hero. Then, at the start of the apocalypse, he was our hero again¡ªhe saved us from that orc. And later, you and Cassis led us to save baby Jessica. I tried my best¡­ but the most I managed was getting speared by a minotaur." Liam groaned in embarrassment, rubbing his forehead. "But now, in that board meeting, I suddenly had the chance to become someone else¡¯s hero. Well¡ª" he hesitated, "hero is a big word. But at least someone who isn¡¯t just saved but can also save others." Arianna¡¯s heart ached for him. She understood. And if she were in his place, she wasn¡¯t sure she wouldn¡¯t have made the same decision. But this meant Liam was now limited in which monsters he could fight, stuck at barely above level 5, forever an F-rank. Unless he stopped using the bracelet for a time to level himself. But he probably wouldn¡¯t be that ¡®selfish¡¯. Camden''s voice was rough when he finally spoke. "You¡¯re just such a good person." He shook his head. "But Liam, no one wants you to sacrifice yourself." Liam shook his head right back. "It¡¯s not a sacrifice. I¡¯m not a good fighter. I don¡¯t have that battle instinct that Cassis or Arianna have. Or even Luke, my mom, or Aunt Helen. But I still chose Warrior. It was the only class that would let me grow as a person. No more hiding behind someone else. So let me grow. I need to do this." Arianna felt her eyes burn with tears. His resolve, his reasons¡ªshe understood them completely. "It¡¯s still stupid," she said, swallowing the lump in her throat, "but I understand. Of course, we¡¯ll support you and protect you. But please, Liam¡ªdon¡¯t go anywhere near a dungeon or any wild places without us. Please. Cassis would be heartbroken if you died." Liam nodded. "I think we can level up young Matteo. He¡¯ll be fourteen soon, so it¡¯s actually perfect timing. We can train him safely at home. You two just need to take me to a dungeon so I can get experience through fighting and the party system and he¡¯ll get to level five without being in danger. I know you have a deal with the military. So as soon as you get a dungeon, let¡¯s go." He looked eager now. Determined. Camden raised an eyebrow. "Not so fast. I¡¯m coming along." Arianna opened her mouth to protest¡ªbut then thought better of it. That might actually be the perfect chance to show Camden a different side of Cassis. Liam seemed to think the same. "Alright, that works." Camden grinned. Arianna nodded and told them the plan. "We have to train some soldiers for about a week, but I¡¯ll request a dungeon for right after that. I¡¯ll text you the details. Liam, are you staying here or coming with us?" "I¡¯ll stay for a bit longer," Liam said. "I¡¯ll be by tomorrow morning to get the car from Cassis¡¯ flat." "Be early," Arianna warned. "The military is going to collect us at eight." They said their goodbyes, and Arianna left the building, heading back toward the car¡ªback to Cassis. Arianna stepped out of the building and walked toward their parked car. She spotted Cassis leaning against it, talking on the phone. Who¡¯s he calling? As she got closer, Cassis noticed her, gave a small wave, and continued talking. So, it was alright for her to hear. When she was close enough, she caught his side of the conversation. "Yes, it was stupid." Pause. "I know." Another pause. "I just got so angry¡ªit was like a red haze." A longer pause. "What can I do?" Silence, then¡ª "You know someone?" Pause. "Arianna¡¯s here. Thanks, Aunt Helen. We¡¯ll talk later." Cassis ended the call and met her gaze. "How bad is it?" Arianna smiled. "Not as bad as you think." Which, knowing him, meant it was probably nowhere near as bad as he imagined. Cassis tended to expect the worst. "Camden is willing to give you another chance," she told him. "Liam has some great but at the same time very stupid reasons for wearing the bracelet¡ªbut I think you two should talk about that with each other. He really looks up to you, Cassis. He¡¯s worried about you, but he knows you¡¯re not that kind of person. Oh, and he plans to join us on our first dungeon dive in a week¡ªso we¡¯ll need to request an F-rank dungeon first thing tomorrow. Camden will be coming, too, to help level up Matteo." She figured that was a good summary¡ªenough to inform him without making him feel any worse than he already did. Cassis looked at her for a moment, his sharp eyes searching. He probably knew she was holding back some things¡ªbut he let it go. "Alright. Let¡¯s go home." He moved to open the driver¡¯s door, but Arianna intercepted him, snatching the keys from his hand. "No way. You¡¯re not driving after that outburst. Sit in the passenger seat." For a moment, Cassis just stared at her, speechless. Then, to her surprise, he obeyed without a single argument. That, more than anything, told her how shaken he still was. But¡­ he was already talking to someone¡ªHelen¡ªabout his problem. That was the important thing. He was acknowledging it, facing it, and seeking help. And he knew he could always come to her. At least she hoped, he did. She¡¯d talk to him about it later. She slid into the driver¡¯s seat, started the car, and drove them home. Funny how it already felt like home, after just a few days. Once there, they packed their bags for their week-long stay at Fort Vale. While they worked, Cassis called his parents to update them on everything¡ªthe school, quitting his job, hiring Ben and Mr. Ranislav, meeting Camden. What he didn¡¯t mention, though, was Camden being Liam¡¯s boyfriend. Arianna knew why. Liam wanted to tell them himself. She respected that. So did Cassis. And so, they packed, prepared, and got ready for what came next. Afterwards they got ready for bed, but when Arianna was about to slip under the covers, she realized Cassis hadn¡¯t followed. Instead, he stood in the living room, hesitating. "What¡¯s wrong?" she asked, watching as he avoided her gaze. "I didn¡¯t know if you¡¯d still want me to sleep next to you," he admitted. "So¡­ I can sleep on the couch." Why is he like this? Arianna walked over to him, stopping right in front of him. She softened her voice, making sure he really heard her. "Why wouldn¡¯t I?" Cassis let out a humourless chuckle. "I¡¯m dangerous. You saw it." She nodded. "Yes, you were ready to murder Camden. I know." His head snapped up, eyes wide. "Then why would you want a potential murderer in your bed?" Arianna took his hands in hers, holding them firmly. "Cassis, you often call me naive or overly positive, but I need you to hear me. I know exactly how serious today was. I see you clearly¡ªnot just the good parts, but the bad parts, too." She held his gaze, unflinching. "If I hadn¡¯t stopped you, you would have killed him. Maybe Liam too, because I¡¯m fairly certain he would have tried to protect Camden. And if that had happened, you would have been inconsolable. But it would have happened." Cassis didn¡¯t look away. He seemed mesmerized. "I was with you when you killed your first man," Arianna continued. "I know the hurt, anger, sadness, and despair you went through afterward. I saw you kill more and more because it was the only way to survive. And after I disappeared, you had to do it all alone. I see that side of you, too." He exhaled sharply, as if the weight of her words had struck something deep inside him. "I know you¡¯re afraid you¡¯ll hurt me," she said. "But you need to understand something. I was just as serious today. If I had failed to stop you with words, I would have beaten you into the ground." Cassis blinked in shock, but Arianna didn¡¯t stop. "I had my water barrier at the ready. I had my mace in my inventory. I was prepared to stop you¡ªviolently, if I had to¡ªto protect your heart." His expression wavered, but instead of looking hurt, he looked relieved. He let out a long breath. "Thank you." Then, suddenly, he hugged her. Arianna hugged him back, tightly, and kept going. "I¡¯m glad you¡¯re already talking to Helen about this. You have a problem, Cassis¡ªa terrible problem. And you need to treat that rage inside you. If you want, I¡¯ll be there every step of the way. Or I can just stand by your side, as a companion. Whatever you need, tell me. You can always talk to me." Cassis shuddered in her embrace, his arms tightening around her. He buried his face in her hair, breathed her in, then whispered, "Thank you. I needed to hear that." His voice was raw. "I knew you wouldn¡¯t abandon me, but those fears aren¡¯t easy to silence. But¡­" He swallowed. "I don¡¯t want you to fix me. I don¡¯t want the woman I¡¯m romantically interested in to be the one to repair me." Arianna¡¯s heart stuttered. He just admitted it¡ªhe was romantically interested in her. But now wasn¡¯t the time to focus on that. "Helen said she knows a psychologist," Cassis continued. "He survived the first wave and is working again. She¡¯s trying to get me an appointment. I need to work through this myself¡ªto prove to myself that I deserve you." Arianna bit her lip, fighting the rush of emotions. He was already taking steps. Already trying. "But¡­" Cassis¡¯s grip on her tightened. "Would you please stay by my side like this? And if it ever happens again¡ªyou have my permission to stop me. However, you have to." Arianna nodded. "Always." They stood there, holding each other, for a long while. Then Arianna decided to tease him ¨C to distract him of course. ¡°But why did you have such a huge reaction to their age gap? It¡¯s only 9 years.¡± Cassis looked a bit embarrassed. ¡°Liam has always been the baby of the family ¨C my little brother ¨C and he is so innocent and na?ve in social situations and relationships. So, he¡¯s quite easy to manipulate. I was afraid Camden had somehow tricked him into putting on the bracelet.¡± Ok, that was a whole new level of paranoia. But before she could say anything Cassis conceded. ¡°Alright, maybe it doesn¡¯t make sense, now that I¡¯ve said it out aloud. But in my head, it sounded a lot more logical.¡± Arianna grinned. Now came the fun part. ¡°Seriously, you pretty much call everyone na?ve. You¡¯ve even called me that. Now that I think about it: our age gap is 14 years.¡± She acted outraged. ¡°Are you manipulating me?!¡± Cassis was totally caught off guard with that. She could see it in his face ¨C the realization that despite their physical appearances she was mentally 27 and he was 42 hit him at once. He got a panicked expression and denied it all. ¡°No! Of course not! I¡¯d never¡­¡± Then he got quiet, seriously thinking about it. Soon he sighed in relief. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever been able to even influence much less manipulate you. You¡¯re too stubborn for that.¡± He nodded his head while saying that. It was a bit offensive if Arianna was honest. She wasn¡¯t that stubborn, she just had strong opinions and beliefs. Still, she couldn¡¯t keep the laugh quiet anymore and full-on belly laughed in his face. First, he was confused, then realized she had been messing with him and never been worried he would manipulate her. He looked at her sheepishly but then became serious. ¡°You know that that is a real concern, don¡¯t you? Thankfully you were transported here when you were already an adult. If you were still 17 our relationship would be very different. I wouldn¡¯t be with a child.¡± She nodded, not laughing anymore. ¡°I know. I wouldn¡¯t have understood with 17. After all, I had a massive crush on you, and it would have been hurtful to be rejected just because of my age. But now that I¡¯m older I understand. A 14 year age gap is ok at my age since we¡¯re both adults who have experienced life. At 17 I would have been too young to understand that, believing I was mature enough.¡± She sighs. ¡°But Liam is also an adult. Maybe he is not as paranoid as you might want him to be, but he held his own during the first wave, came to his own decisions and he made a difference. And Camden is the one he wants. From what I heard Liam pursued Camden as he was also hesitant due to their age difference.¡± Cassis looked relieved. She didn¡¯t know if it was because she understood his point of view or because Liam¡¯s relationship happened because he wanted it. Maybe it was both. She didn¡¯t ask. With their discussion finally finished, they headed to bed. That night, they cuddled close¡ªnot out of romance, but for comfort. Chapter 45 Surprising Battle Training – Cassis Chapter 45 Surprising Battle Training ¨C Cassis Cassis woke to the warmth of Arianna curled against him, her back pressed to his front. He tightened his arms around her, drawing comfort from the steady rhythm of her breathing. The events of the previous day still weighed heavily on him, but she had anchored him, her unwavering presence soothing the turmoil within him. He had feared his rage¡ªthat it, that he, had ruined everything¡ªbut then she had looked him in the eyes and told him, without hesitation, that she would beat him until he was sane again. He let out a quiet chuckle. Never in his life had threats of violence sounded so much like an expression of love. And yet, coming from Arianna, they were exactly that. She stirred at the sound, arching into him with a sleepy sigh. "Good morning," he murmured. Rather than replying, she simply burrowed closer for a moment before grumbling her way out of bed. He watched, amused, as she shuffled toward the bathroom, clearly not a morning person. With a smirk, he rose and made his way to the kitchen, brewing coffee and setting out a simple breakfast. As they ate, his phone rang. Liam. ¡°I¡¯ll be at your flat in about fifteen minutes to pick up the car,¡± his brother informed him. He sounded normal, casual even, but Cassis couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ªwas Liam afraid of him now? Time passed quickly, and before long, Liam stood at his front door. "Hey," Cassis greeted. "Hey," Liam echoed. A heavy silence hung between them before Liam broke it. "Bro, are you alright?" Cassis blinked, caught off guard. Liam rarely asked him that first. "Yeah," he answered after a beat. "Sorry again. I lost it." Liam nodded, accepting the apology without hesitation. "Do you... do you want to talk about it?" Cassis shook his head, though the offer meant something. Still, he didn¡¯t want Liam to worry too much, so he added, "Thanks, but I''m already talking to someone. I... I have some small issues with anger." Liam snorted. Cassis narrowed his eyes. "Alright, fine. They''re big issues. But I''m taking steps to deal with them. I talked to Arianna, and I spoke with Aunt Helen. She''s helping me get in touch with a psychologist." He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "I''m working on it. Don¡¯t worry too much, Liam." Liam studied him for a moment, then nodded. "I''m also sorry," he admitted. "Not for wearing the bracelet¡ªbut for not telling you beforehand. I know that hit you hard." Their gazes met, understanding passing between them in the silence. No more words were needed. Cassis pulled Liam into a firm hug, and Liam held on just as tightly. Then, with a final nod, Cassis handed him the car keys. Liam took them and drove home. With their bags packed, Cassis and Arianna made their final preparations before heading to Fort Vale. They placed a call to Elena, putting the phone on speaker. ¡°Elena,¡± Arianna greeted as soon as she picked up. ¡°We¡¯ve got an update on the website.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Elena sounded eager. Cassis took over. ¡°Ben and Mr. Ranislav have started working on it. According to them, a rough version should be up in about a week¡ªjust the free content for now. Sapphires¡¯ revelations and basic knowledge.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be sent the passcodes as soon as they¡¯re ready so we can start uploading information,¡± Arianna added. ¡°Perfect,¡± Elena said, already planning ahead. ¡°I¡¯m going to set up some social media profiles for you guys. We need to capitalize on your fame after the Hall of Fame videos and the medal ceremony.¡± Cassis groaned, already regretting his involvement in anything remotely public-facing. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be famous.¡± ¡°Well, too late,¡± Elena said cheerfully. ¡°Also, I need some selfies from you two. Preferably together.¡± Arianna laughed, but Cassis frowned. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°To humanize you,¡± Elena explained as if it were obvious. ¡°People want to connect with their heroes. Also, I¡¯m annoyed that I can¡¯t take screenshots from the Hall of Fame recordings.¡± Cassis exhaled in relief. ¡°Good.¡± Elena huffed but moved on. ¡°By the way, what are you planning to pay me?¡± Arianna grinned. ¡°A percentage of the website¡¯s earnings.¡± Silence. Then Elena let out a delighted laugh. ¡°You¡¯re actually paying me? I would¡¯ve done it for free, but that sounds lovely.¡± Arianna smirked. ¡°We pay people for their work, Elena.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t argue,¡± Elena said. ¡°Oh, speaking of exposure¡ªyou guys should consider doing an interview. Reporters are already contacting me. They¡¯re fast and know I¡¯m your press agent.¡± Cassis¡¯s first instinct was to refuse, but Arianna hesitated. ¡°We¡¯re training soldiers for the next week,¡± she said, thinking aloud. ¡°And after that, we¡¯re heading to a dungeon.¡± ¡°Could you maybe tweak the schedule a little?¡± Elena suggested. ¡°Like, squeeze in an interview one evening?¡± Cassis exchanged a glance with Arianna. He didn¡¯t like the idea, but he also knew that controlling their narrative was important. ¡°We¡¯ll talk to Brice,¡± he said finally, shuddering when thinking of that vile man. ¡°Great,¡± Elena said, clearly satisfied. ¡°Let me know what he says.¡± In the end she reminded them to take some selfies, alone and as a couple and send them to her. Arianna then proceeded to take selfies of herself and then the two of them. First just sitting next to each other at the breakfast table, then more couple like photos. For that he was instructed to hug her sideways and ¡®at least smile a little¡¯. Next, he had to hold her hand. In another one he got a kiss on his cheek. For the final one she sat on his lap. It seemed like she actually had fun with that. Then she made him take some selfies of himself. He was made to take different poses and stand in different places of his apartment. Finally, Arianna was satisfied with the photos and sent them to Elena. For a moment, silence settled between them. They had done everything they could for now¡ªit was just a matter of waiting for the next steps. Then, without warning, Arianna smacked her forehead with her palm. ¡°I almost forgot!¡± she exclaimed. Cassis raised an eyebrow. ¡°What?¡± She turned to him, eyes wide, and launched into an explanation about something called the Patron Chat¡ªa mysterious forum, a way to communicate with other powerful beings. Then she spoke of becoming a deity, a water elemental, meeting an entity named Timeless Waterfall, and what she had learned about punishments, artifacts, and spirit companions. Cassis stared at her, completely speechless. ¡°You forgot?¡± he finally managed, incredulous. Arianna grinned sheepishly. ¡°There was a lot going on.¡± Cassis ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. ¡°Arianna. You just told me you became a deity for real¡ªand you forgot?¡± She winced. ¡°Well¡­ when you put it like that¡­¡± Cassis dropped onto the couch, shaking his head. He had long since accepted that Arianna was full of surprises¡ªbut this? This was on another level. Before Cassis could press Arianna for more details, the doorbell rang. He checked his phone¡ªexactly 8 o¡¯clock. Right on time. At the door, a young soldier stood at attention, waiting to escort them. Cassis and Arianna exchanged a brief glance before greeting him and heading out. The drive to Fort Vale was smooth, the silence between them comfortable. Upon arrival, Brice was already waiting for them, a woman around their age standing behind him. He greeted them briskly before turning to introduce the woman and the twenty soldiers under their charge. ¡°This is Faith Morgan. She¡¯s my assistant and will take care of you during your stay. And here are your ¡®students¡¯.¡± They were a mix of men and women, already at level five and sorted into the four main classes¡ªWarrior, Ranger, Mage, and Cleric. Their names were rattled off in rapid succession, each accompanied by their rank¡ªCorporal, Lieutenant, Captain, Private. It went straight over Cassis¡¯s head. There was no way he would remember them all at once. Better to learn them gradually, in smaller groups. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Arianna, however, took it all in stride. She greeted the assistant and the soldiers with an easy, genuine smile, and to Cassis¡¯s mild amusement, most of them, probably without even realizing it, smiled back. He could see the tension in their shoulders ease just slightly. He sighed internally. She¡¯s too damn sweet. Then again, he only had to think back to yesterday, to her steady voice as she promised to beat him into the ground if he ever lost control, and he was reminded that her kindness was not weakness. Once introductions were made, Brice excused himself as he would get the trainees ready at the training ground and Faith Morgan led them to their assigned quarters within the fort. They had been given two rooms, side by side, simple but comfortable enough for a week¡¯s stay with their own bathrooms. After setting down their bags, they changed into their training gear, wasting no time in getting started. The training facility consisted of both an indoor gym and an outdoor combat area. Cassis took a moment to scan the space before turning to Brice who had already settled the soldiers at the outdoor training facility the way Cassis had asked him to. ¡°We¡¯re planning a dungeon run right after this week of training,¡± he said. Brice raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised. ¡°So soon? The dungeons won¡¯t break yet. According to the system, we have weeks, sometimes months before they need to be cleared.¡± Cassis nodded, already anticipating the concern. ¡°We need to test something. And, of course, we want to grow stronger.¡± ¡°For that, an F-rank dungeon would be best,¡± Arianna added. Cassis continued, ¡°We also need to prepare for E-rank dungeons¡ªthere will be at least one D-rank monster in there, and we need to be ready for it.¡± Brice studied him carefully. ¡°Did your patron tell you that?¡± Cassis nodded but offered nothing more. Brice didn¡¯t push, though his expression said he wanted to. Instead, he gave a short nod and let it go¡ªfor now. With that settled, Cassis turned toward Arianna and their trainees, ready to begin their training. Cassis took the lead, his tone even but firm. ¡°As most of you probably know, I¡¯m a Warrior, which means I¡¯ll be the one training you in combat skills and system features. To do that effectively, you need to understand how the system works.¡± His sharp gaze moved across the group, ensuring he had their attention. ¡°You¡¯re all soldiers, which means you already have skills that should translate into system skills. The problem is that the system hasn¡¯t recognized them yet. If a skill isn¡¯t listed in your status, it doesn¡¯t mean you don¡¯t have it¡ªit just means you haven¡¯t demonstrated it in a way the system acknowledges.¡± He paused, letting that sink in before continuing. ¡°What we¡¯re going to do is get the system to see what you can already do. Your basic physical training should be enough to increase your stamina capacity over time, so I¡¯ll leave that to you. Instead, I¡¯ll be talking to each of you to determine which skills you¡¯ve already acquired and which ones you should have but haven¡¯t unlocked yet.¡± His expression darkened slightly, a challenging glint in his eye. ¡°Then, we¡¯ll have some mock battles.¡± That got a reaction. The soldiers didn¡¯t say anything, but Cassis could feel their unease. He smirked. ¡°Nothing forces the system to recognize your abilities faster than battle. And yes, we¡¯ll be using real weapons.¡± His tone was unapologetic. ¡°We have healers, after all.¡± He could already tell that most of them weren¡¯t thrilled by the idea, but that would change soon enough. Once they saw how much easier it was to acquire skills in a combat setting, they¡¯d stop complaining¡ªat the end of training they wouldn¡¯t have so much as a bruise thanks to the clerics. Then, Arianna stepped forward, her voice warm and light. ¡°Well, after you¡¯re all beaten up and healed again,¡± she added with a bright smile, as if to soften the blow. A few soldiers chuckled, but most still looked wary. ¡°After that, we¡¯ll start with mana sensing,¡± she continued. ¡°Has anyone here discovered their elemental affinity yet?¡± The reaction was subtle, but Cassis caught it. Some of the soldiers¡ªmostly the Warriors and Rangers¡ªlooked at Arianna with mild scepticism. They weren¡¯t taking her seriously. He understood why. To them, she probably seemed like some cheerful, unremarkable girl who happened to be in the right place at the right time. Even if they¡¯d seen footage of her fighting, it wouldn¡¯t have looked special to the untrained eye. But the Mages and Clerics? They already looked at her in awe. And that awe would only grow. As for the sceptics¡­ well, they would learn. At the latest, during her lesson after skill training. Cassis smirked¡ªmaybe a little evilly. Two of the Mages raised their hands. Arianna beamed at them. ¡°That¡¯s great! Wind and water. Well done.¡± Her tone was casual, as if it were obvious. But Cassis noticed it¡ªthe soldiers hadn¡¯t told her their affinities. A few of them stiffened, realizing the same thing. But no one asked how she knew. ¡°Alright,¡± she continued as if nothing was unusual, ¡°that means I¡¯ll help the rest of you meditate on your affinities, and for the two of you, I¡¯ll teach you how to efficiently draw in ambient mana.¡± One of the Clerics hesitantly raised a hand. ¡°Yes?¡± Arianna encouraged. ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am.¡± His voice was polite but hesitant. ¡°Do you mean¡­ we¡¯ll be able to heal as fast and as often as you do?¡± Arianna nodded. ¡°Not immediately, but if you practice diligently¡ªyes.¡± Cassis barely held back a snort. She actually believes that. He wasn¡¯t so sure. Could anyone reach Arianna¡¯s level just through practice? He doubted it. But why crush their dreams now? They¡¯d figure it out in time. For now, he had other priorities. He turned to Arianna. ¡°You¡¯ll be in charge of the Mages and Clerics, I¡¯ll take the Warriors and Rangers. Let¡¯s go talk to them about their skills.¡± She nodded and walked toward them, already pulling them into conversation. Cassis turned to face the Warriors and Rangers. ¡°Alright,¡± he said, cracking his knuckles. ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡± During his talk with the Warriors, Cassis confirmed what he had expected¡ªthey had no trouble with Slash and Stab. As soldiers, they had been trained in knife combat and, occasionally, in spear techniques, and these were the weapons they had chosen. Among them, three wielded spears, while two preferred long knives. The knife wielders were the first to report additional skills. ¡°We¡¯ve already unlocked Dodge, Deflect, and Parry,¡± one of them admitted. Cassis nodded. Not surprising. Knife fighters had to fight in close quarters, which meant they either learned to defend themselves fast or they didn¡¯t last long. The spear wielders, on the other hand, had more reach and could afford a different approach. The Rangers, however, faced a different challenge. Their primary training had been with firearms, not bows, which made their skill development more complicated. While they all had Slash, Stab, and Dodge from their training with combat knives, they lacked proficiency in ranged combat with bows. Still, one skill had helped them significantly¡ªCritical Hit. Even though Precision Hit was specifically tied to bows and couldn¡¯t activate otherwise, simply holding a bow allowed them to use it to locate a monster¡¯s weak points and report them to their allies or use Critical Hit with a knife themselves. A smart system, Cassis admitted. ¡°Bow training, though¡­ that¡¯s something you¡¯ll have to work on separately,¡± he told them honestly. ¡°I won¡¯t be much help there.¡± The Rangers grimaced but accepted it without argument. With all this in mind, Cassis set their goal: ¡°By the end of this week, I want everyone to have Unarmed Combat, Stab, Slash, Dodge, Parry, and Deflect at least at the Advanced level. Most of you will probably push even higher¡ªjudging by your combat training.¡± Arianna¡¯s group, consisting of Mages and Clerics, would need the same defensive skills, but instead of Slash and Stab, they would focus on Bludgeon. The system only allowed skills to develop according to class-appropriate weapons, meaning a Cleric or Mage wouldn¡¯t be able to learn Slash or Stab, even if they physically knew how to use a blade. But that was precisely why system recognition was so critical. Even if he and Arianna had the same strength, their damage output would differ drastically. If Arianna, for instance, slashed a monster with a sword, she could still deal damage, but if he did the same with the same strength, the impact would be far greater. It wasn¡¯t because he was stronger¡ªit was because the system enhanced his slash, allowing him to instinctively infuse his strikes with mana. That was what made system-recognized skills so powerful. But then a thought struck him. Could Arianna infuse her attacks with mana manually? Normally, he would say no. Nobody had achieved that in the other timeline. But then again¡­ it was Arianna. Now, he wasn¡¯t so sure. Another thing to test. With that thought, he refocused on his trainees. ¡°Alright,¡± he said, cracking his knuckles. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Before Cassis had the soldiers spar, he and Arianna decided to demonstrate how it was done. ¡°No body reinforcement,¡± he murmured to her. They needed to keep some abilities and spells secret¡ªnot everyone needed to know their full capabilities. Arianna nodded, then flashed him a grin, a little too mischievous for his liking. He suddenly had a bad feeling. They started slow. He wielded his sword, she her mace. Their movements were measured¡ªstrike, dodge, parry, deflect. Then, gradually, they increased their pace. Cassis knew he was faster, but he wasn¡¯t here to win¡ªhe wanted to challenge her. And that was when it happened. She wasn¡¯t quite fast enough to dodge one of his slashes. His blade bit into her arm, deep enough to make him flinch. ¡°Ouch,¡± she muttered. He immediately prepared to stop, expecting her to heal herself first, but¡ª Bludgeon! She didn¡¯t even hesitate, swinging her mace at him with both arms like nothing had happened. Cassis barely had time to parry before his gaze flicked back to her arm¡ªonly to find the wound already sealed. He blinked. She could already fight and heal at the same time? That changed things. If she wasn¡¯t stopping, neither was he. He pushed her harder now, driving her back with a flurry of strikes. But she adapted in a way that left him utterly fascinated. Her fighting style was chaotic. Sometimes, she would dodge, parry, or deflect his blows¡ªother times, she would simply take the hit, letting his blade cut into her, only to heal the moment it was withdrawn. It was impossible to predict her movements. Would she defend? Would she absorb the damage and keep attacking? It threw him off balance, keeping him on edge, and for the first time in a long while, Cassis found himself grinning. This was fun. And then¡ª His sword plunged into her stomach. His heart stopped. Horrified, he froze, ready to drop everything and pull back, but Arianna¡­ Arianna didn¡¯t even flinch. Instead, she swung her mace at his head. Cassis barely had time to react. He let go of his sword and dodged, but the strike still clipped his shoulder. The impact sent a numbing shock through his entire arm. He was fairly certain his shoulder was broken. Breathing heavily, he turned to her¡ªonly to see her grimacing. ¡°Well? Take it out. I can¡¯t heal it if it¡¯s still in there,¡± she said impatiently, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. Damn it, Arianna. Cassis swore under his breath and quickly yanked his sword free. The moment he did, golden light engulfed her, knitting the terrible wound back together as if it had never been there. Stepping close, he hissed quietly, ¡°You¡¯re crazy. Who fights like that?¡± Arianna wiped the blood from her lips, grinning. ¡°Yeah, but I almost got you.¡± She put a hand on his shoulder and healed him too. ¡°That style is actually the easiest way to use Force Absorption. I¡¯m not even using my own mana to heal¡ªI just recycle the energy from the attacks. And I¡¯m confusing my opponent at the same time. Win-win.¡± She beamed at him. ¡°Oh! Finally unlocked Pain Resistance.¡± Cassis exhaled, running a hand through his hair. During that fight, she had embodied exactly what her class had promised¡ªa Warpriest, wielding healing magic while fighting. He shuddered. What craziness would she come up with next? Cassis suddenly remembered their trainees and turned to them, pretending this had been a typical sparring session. They were watching them like they had grown a second head. Especially Arianna was regarded carefully. Of course, she was. She had just shown them an impossible battle style. Something, that hadn¡¯t existed before the system came. But now they needed to be careful of that. Some monsters would also fight the same way. Cassis took control and told the trainees to pair up. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about getting injured. As you have seen yourselves Arianna is quite proficient with healing.¡± Arianna commented cheerfully. ¡°Just be sure to not die instantly or lose any body parts. I can¡¯t heal that yet.¡± Why did her ¡®yet¡¯ sound so ominous. It would be good for her to be able to do that, wouldn¡¯t it? Chapter 46 Professions – Arianna Chapter 46 Professions ¨C Arianna Arianna watched as the trainees sparred, their movements careful, hesitant. They were still too cautious with one another¡ªno real injuries, no need for healing. Not like when she had sparred with Cassis. She smirked at the memory of his stunned expression when she had finally revealed her new battle style. She had spent a long time thinking about how to maximize her strength with her new class. Then, it had all clicked into place¡ªevery skill she had gained was designed for her to take blows, to absorb the force of her enemies'' attacks and turn it into her own advantage. Her Body Reinforcement, which she had deliberately held back during their spar, would make it harder to injure her, but the force of the attacks would still be there. Force Absorption allowed her to not only heal instantly but also store the energy for later use¡ªfuelling her Water Shield, powering her Warcry, or keeping her Body Reinforcement going. And if her Water Shield counted as part of her body, then that would make things even better. Force Absorption might work on it, too. Another thing to test. She shuddered slightly, remembering the pain of that stomach wound. Of course she hated pain¡ªshe feared it like anyone else. But last night, after Cassis had fallen asleep, she had forced herself to take a hard look at her own weaknesses. She had spoken with such certainty in front of Camden, Liam, and Cassis, confident she could stop him if he ever lost control again. But the truth was, he was strong. Far stronger than she was now. If she wanted to keep that promise, she had to become stronger, too. And that meant unconventional methods. The answer was her new fighting style. Now, all she had left to do was incorporate her Water Magic into it. If she could do that, she might actually stand a chance at stopping Cassis¡ªif only for a little while. "Ow!" Arianna¡¯s head snapped up, eyes locking onto the injured trainee. Finally. A small grin tugged at her lips. Time to show off a little. Without moving from where she stood, she reached out with her magic ¨C her reach having increased drastically with her Mana Manipulation ¨C, casting a healing spell from across the training ground. The energy cost was quite a bit higher at this distance, but it was negligible compared to the steady influx of mana thanks to running her advanced mana patter throughout her torso and arms. Though the spell took out a chunk of her mana reserves they were soon filled again. The wound vanished in seconds. The trainees noticed immediately. As soon as they realized how effortlessly Arianna had healed their injured comrade, a shift occurred. Their movements became sharper, their strikes more aggressive. They no longer held back, no longer hesitated. Injuries started accumulating¡ªsmall cuts, bruises, the occasional sprain¡ªbut Arianna simply grinned and healed them all with ease. Cassis finally called a halt, instructing everyone to check their skill progression. Arianna took the opportunity to glance at hers as well. She grinned. That was really good progress. If she kept training like this, she would grow stronger at an incredible pace. Excited murmurs spread through the trainees as they examined their own gains. Arianna could see the realization dawning on them¡ªthe reason Cassis had pushed them so hard to spar. They already had the skills; they just needed the system to recognize them. It was different for her. Unlike them, she had no formal combat background¡ªshe wasn¡¯t a soldier. For her, learning these techniques was an entirely new process. But the system assisted her in ways she didn¡¯t fully understand yet. Without it, she doubted she would have been able to adapt so quickly. Cassis clapped his hands once, calling for order. ¡°It¡¯s almost noon,¡± he announced. ¡°We¡¯ll take a break for lunch. After that, we begin mana training.¡± A ripple of relief passed through the trainees. They were more than happy to pause and invited Cassis and Arianna to join them at the cafeteria. Arianna nodded enthusiastically¡ªshe was always happy to make new friends. Cassis hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flickering across his face. Then, with a small sigh, he followed along. Lunch with their trainees and Faith Morgan ¨C Brice had declined coming along ¨C was pleasant, though still somewhat formal. They conversed, asked a few more questions, but there was a clear sense of structure¡ªa lingering stiffness from their military discipline. Only Faith, as she insisted to be called by her first name, brought a bit of life to the conversation with Arianna. While talking with her Arianna found out that Faith wasn¡¯t military. She had been assigned by the government to help Brice with more clerical and organisational duties. At one point, Arianna inquired about the variety of ranks among their trainees as they all also had different ages. It turned out that the soldiers present today had shown exceptional aptitude during the first wave. They were among the highest-levelled soldiers that the military could spare¡ªall nearing Level 10. That bit of information thrilled Arianna. She was genuinely glad they were training these particular soldiers now. It meant they had a solid foundation to work with. Excited, she told them about advanced classes that would become available upon reaching Level 10. That immediately grabbed their attention. But when they pressed for more details, all she could say was that the classes had hidden requirements, and that the system took into account everything they had done since its arrival. One of the soldiers grumbled at the lack of specifics, but most of them seemed grateful for the insight. Then came the next question. "Do you and Mr Walker already have advanced classes?" Arianna exchanged a brief glance with Cassis before nodding. ¡°We do,¡± she admitted, keeping her tone neutral. ¡°I have Warpriest, and Cassis has Warlord.¡± Those were not their whole class names but similar enough not to raise any suspicions. That, of course, led to even more questions. What were the requirements? What did those classes entail? Arianna smiled and lied through her teeth. She listed around four vague and completely made-up prerequisites, carefully choosing things that the soldiers wouldn¡¯t be able to fulfil just yet. She hated lying, but keeping their full capabilities under wraps was necessary. For now, secrecy was strength. As she spoke, she caught Cassis watching her with the faintest hint of amusement. He gave a subtle nod of approva, glad she handled it this way. After lunch, the trainees were given an hour of free time. Most chose to shower and rest¡ªArianna and Cassis included. Faith seemed to want to talk more but Arianna wanted to make the most of their training time. She promised her to hang out in the evening. Once refreshed, they gathered again in the training hall¡ªthis time, for mana training. Cassis wished her luck but told her in no uncertain terms that he was not good enough to teach anyone about mana. According to him he would only be a hindrance to her. With these words he sat down in a corner and started meditating on his mana pattern. Arianna was a bit miffed about it but also felt the truth in his words. He wasn¡¯t great at mana but she was annoyed he put himself down like that. From what she had seen he struggled with the mana exercises the same way she struggled with the physical training. But it was good he wasn¡¯t giving up. She¡¯d also continue training her skills and stamina. Shrugging she began the mana training session by explaining the basics to her trainees¡ªthe nature of mana, elemental affinities, and how different elements interacted. It was the same lesson she had given before to Cassis¡¯ family and their friends. Once the trainees had a general understanding, she instructed them all to sit down, close their eyes, and meditate. "Focus on your energy flow," she told them. "Try to sense it. Try to see the colour of your mana." Meanwhile, the two mages who had already discovered their affinities were given a more advanced exercise. Arianna guided them through the process of meditating to absorb ambient mana, something that would make their future spellcasting more efficient. Then, she made her rounds¡ªhelping each trainee individually. As expected, the mages and clerics had the easiest time. It took only a short while before all of them could see their mana. Sure, she had to encourage them and spend a little time helping them see their mana but they were good students who soon got the hang of it. For some reason though, they all started massaging their temples when she was finished with them. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Compared to the magic classes the warriors and rangers struggled. Arianna frowned slightly. The system really did support different classes in different ways. In the morning, the warriors and rangers had gained the most skill progress during their sparring matches. Now, in the afternoon, it was the mages and clerics who advanced faster. She was curious if her new class now helped her with her skill progression, too. And what about Cassis¡¯ class? Did it support his mana training. So many things to test. But for now, she concentrated on the more physical classes. She sat with each of them, using her mana to guide them. Too often her encouraging words of ¡°Now do it like this¡±, ¡°Hold on for a bit¡±, ¡°Just a few more seconds¡±, and ¡°Good job. Let¡¯s do that again¡± were met with groans. She just didn¡¯t understand why mana training was so hard for some people. Cassis somehow got it into his head that she was a genius but that couldn¡¯t be true. Her necklace had helped her, and she may have a bit of a talent for mana manipulation, but others could achieve the same things. They just had to get a bit more flexible with their thinking. She should try this with Helen again. She seemed like a flexible enough person. Still, by the end of the training session, everyone had managed to perceive their mana¡ªeven if some had only barely caught a glimpse of it. Satisfied, Arianna dismissed them with a promise and a smile. "Tomorrow, we''ll work on drawing in ambient mana. That will help you meditate more efficiently. Of course, I¡¯ll help you just like today." In response, the trainees groaned, some of them holding their heads in exhaustion. Arianna sighed. "Seriously, what''s wrong with people? It''s just meditation." That was when she caught whispers among the soldiers. One word stood out. "Demon." She paused but chose not to ask. She wasn¡¯t sure she wanted to know. When she glanced at Cassis who had come out of his corner at her announcement, he was smirking. "What?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. His smirk widened slightly. "Your training wasn''t that bad, huh?" Arianna huffed. "Yours was worse, and you know it." After all, people actually got hurt during his training. During hers they just had to think hard. Cassis just chuckled. Arianna wanted to say more but was interrupted by a system message. [Congratulations! You have unlocked the profession: Mentor] [Do you wish to accept it?] Arianna was quite surprised. She didn¡¯t know exactly what a Mentor was as a profession but could guess since her actions had unlocked it. From what she remembered professions weren¡¯t as rigid as classes and you could have and level as many as you had unlocked. You would even get one level in your class for every five levels of your profession. So, there was no reason not to accept it. She mentally clicked accept. Before she did anything more, she told Cassis over their private party chat that they hadn¡¯t used for a while now. ¡°I¡¯ve just unlocked the Mentor profession.¡± The answer came fast. ¡°Interesting. Earlier I got a system message about unlocking the Instructor profession.¡± Their actions were different while teaching so it made sense they got different professions out of it. Cassis was doing more physical teaching while Arianna concentrated on the mental aspects and mana. Cassis continued. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it once we¡¯re in my room.¡± Arianna agreed. With that settled, they headed to dinner with the soldiers. Faith, who had been busy all afternoon assisting Brice, finally joined them at the table. To Arianna¡¯s mild surprise, Brice himself was also present, though he, like most of the soldiers, seemed exhausted from the day''s work. Cassis, as usual, remained quiet, eating in his usual efficient manner. Arianna, however, saw an opportunity. If she could get closer to Faith, she might be able to learn whether Brice had found the slave collar yet. With that in mind, she turned to Faith with a bright smile. ¡°How was your day? You looked busy earlier.¡± Faith sighed but smiled. ¡°Exhausting. Commander Brice had me reviewing reports and recalculating supply costs. At least numbers don¡¯t argue back.¡± Arianna tilted her head, intrigued. ¡°Did you study accounting?¡± Faith nodded. ¡°For a few semesters, yeah. Then I switched to economics.¡± ¡°That¡¯s really cool,¡± Arianna said. ¡°I¡¯m actually an accountant. It¡¯s way more interesting than people think, isn¡¯t it?¡± Faith chuckled. ¡°It definitely is. But I don¡¯t want to bore you with the details of my work. Well, I¡¯m actually not allowed to talk about it. Still, no matter how great accounting is, you can do real magic now. That¡¯s even cooler.¡± Arianna smirked. ¡°Well, you¡¯re right. I never thought I¡¯d be able to heal injuries so easily.¡± They continued their conversation, shifting between mana theory, economics, and everyday things. Brice remained quiet, eating with the efficiency of a man too tired for small talk, while the other soldiers occasionally chimed in but mostly focused on their food. After dinner, Faith turned to Arianna with an eager look. ¡°Hey, want to watch something? There¡¯s a series I think you¡¯d really like.¡± ¡°What kind of series?¡± ¡°Romance.¡± Cassis, who had been listening silently, immediately stood. ¡°I¡¯m out.¡± Faith laughed. ¡°Figured. Anyone else?¡± Brice and the other soldiers shook their heads, uninterested, leaving just Arianna and Faith. ¡°Sure,¡± Arianna said. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± They found a comfortable spot in one of the fort¡¯s common areas, Faith setting up the show on a tablet she had brought. As the episodes played, Arianna found herself genuinely enjoying it. The romance wasn¡¯t over-the-top, and the characters were surprisingly well-written. Occasionally, they paused to discuss a scene or make jokes about the leads¡¯ decisions. After watching two episodes, Faith stretched. ¡°Told you it was good.¡± Arianna grinned. ¡°You were right. Thanks for showing me.¡± ¡°Anytime. We should watch more tomorrow.¡± ¡°Definitely.¡± With that, they said their goodnights and parted ways. Arianna made her way to Cassis¡¯ room and knocked before pushing the door open¡ªonly to freeze in place. Cassis was in the middle of changing, his shirt halfway over his head. They both stopped, eyes locking in mutual surprise. Then, with the same calm efficiency as always, Cassis pulled on a sweatshirt and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Did you have fun?¡± he asked, as if nothing had happened. Arianna cleared her throat, stepping fully inside and shutting the door behind her. ¡°Yeah, actually. I like Faith. We get along really well.¡± Cassis nodded. ¡°Good.¡± Then he added, ¡°But we still have work to do.¡± Arianna settled onto Cassis¡¯ bed, crossing her legs as she activated the privacy sphere. A faint hum filled the air as the magic took hold, ensuring their conversation remained unheard by anyone outside the room. Cassis, who had been leaning against his desk, arms crossed, raised an eyebrow at her. ¡°So,¡± she began, twirling the privacy sphere between her fingers. ¡°We¡¯re teachers now.¡± Cassis groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. ¡°Yeah. I just quit my job as a history teacher yesterday and today I get a profession.¡± He exhaled sharply. ¡°Instructor. Great.¡± Arianna smirked. ¡°It¡¯s still funny to me that you were a teacher to begin with, but I think it suits you surprisingly well. And the system agrees with me.¡± He shot her a dry look. ¡°What about you, Miss Mentor? Going to start giving your demonic lectures to even more people?¡± She shrugged her shoulders exasperatedly. ¡°They¡¯re not demonic. I have no idea why people keep saying that. But if it helps them survive, maybe.¡± Sobering slightly, she tilted her head. ¡°But seriously, these professions are actually pretty powerful. I looked over the details again, and the boosts we get? They¡¯re just ¡­ wow. It¡¯s a pity most abilities are locked.¡± Having said that Arianna read her profession details to Cassis. The Mentor profession focuses on guiding others through mental and magical growth. Mentors help students refine mana perception and spellcasting, ensuring they grasp deeper concepts beyond just raw power. Profession Boosts: ¡°So you ¨C and me actually ¨C get a learning speed boost first, which makes perfect sense,¡± he said when she finished. ¡°Our professions gain experience and level up by successfully teaching students, so the system makes sure we can do that efficiently.¡± Arianna sighed, crossing her arms. ¡°I¡¯m kind of disappointed by the second ability, though.¡± Cassis raised an eyebrow. ¡°I can guess, but why exactly?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s something I already figured out on my own,¡± she grumbled. ¡°I know new abilities unlock only every twenty levels¡­¡± Cassis leaned back in his chair, considering. ¡°Maybe that just means it¡¯ll be even easier for you then. Right now, you¡¯re limited in how much non-elemental mana you can use to guide students and how long you can guide them. If the system is reinforcing that ability, you might get better control or efficiency out of it.¡± Arianna tilted her head, thinking it over. ¡°I guess that makes sense. It¡¯s not much of a power-up on its own, but the abilities that come after are worth levelling up for. And the extra class level every five profession levels is a great boost.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Cassis agreed. ¡°Now, my turn.¡± Then he read the description of his new profession to her: The Instructor profession is for those who train others in physical skills and combat techniques. Instructors refine their students¡¯ stamina, reflexes, and martial abilities, ensuring their bodies adapt efficiently to new techniques. Profession Boosts: ¡°Wow, those are some awesome abilities. I¡¯m happy for you.¡± Arianna looked at Cassis and smiled. Cassis nodded: ¡°I¡¯m really looking forward to the next ability. That will be a game changer as some monsters are weaker to blunt force damage than to slashing or stabbing damage. This will round out my fighting abilities a lot and I can finally get system recognized skills for my abilities with other weapons.¡± After a moment, they shifted the discussion to the restrictions of their professions¡ªrules they now instinctively understood. As Arianna listened, she frowned in surprise while Cassis didn¡¯t have much of a reaction. "Wait¡­ these are pretty much identical," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Except yours says ''skills'' and mine says ''spells.''" "Of course they are," Cassis mumbled. "Figures the system would make us follow the same rules." They reviewed the restrictions together: Cassis crossed his arms, leaning back against his chair. "These restrictions are annoying, but at least they make sense. If we could just teach anyone anything, it would be too easy." "Yeah," Arianna agreed. "It¡¯s going to take work, but that¡¯s fine. More interesting for me is that we seem to be able to teach sentients. I know in the other timeline some mutated animals became intelligent and there were even beast tamer like classes. Can we teach those animals, too? Cassis thought about it. ¡°It seems like that. Now that would be interesting.¡± He grinned, possibly thinking about it. Arianna also had a picture in her head: her trying to teach a giant dog or cat how to control their mana. She had to grin, too. That would be an experience. It would be even funnier if the animal was better at it than some humans. Chapter 47 Balance and Suspicion part 1 – Cassis Chapter 47 Balance and Suspicion part 1 ¨C Cassis After discussing their professions, Cassis and Arianna decided to test their effectiveness over the week of training the soldiers. Arianna insisted that Cassis participate in her lessons. He was honestly reluctant to voluntarily get her lessons, but he also saw the benefit of them, so he agreed¡ªbut only on the condition that she joined his training sessions as well. She seemed to force herself to accept, too. With that settled, they agreed to revisit the topic tomorrow to evaluate their progress and how to best level the professions. Then, they moved on to their next task: writing down ¡®revelations¡¯ from Sapphire. They noted down that there would be a total of seven waves: 1st wave: Many F-rank and some E-rank monsters 2nd wave: Adding some D-rank monsters 3rd wave: Adding some C-rank monsters 4th wave: Adding some B-rank monsters 5th wave: Adding some A-rank monsters 6th wave: Adding some S-rank monsters 7th wave: Probably a lot of S-rank monsters (though Cassis could only speculate on this, as he hadn¡¯t lived through the final wave). Arianna then asked Cassis. ¡°Should we include the details of the 7th wave and the fact that the next wave will be triggered by the rising ambient mana concentration. According to the scientists in the other timeline, the 2nd wave happened because the ambient mana hit a threshold.¡± Cassis thought about it and made his points for not sharing it. ¡°We should only write down what we know for sure. So, let¡¯s exclude the details of the 7th wave. The same goes for the requirements for triggering the next wave. We cannot be 100% sure the theory of the other timeline is correct, though it does make sense. You¡¯ve seen yourself that awakeners and according to the popular theory every creature ¨C monster, mutated animal or mutated plant ¨C that uses mana emit mana once it gains sentience. F-ranks only emit a tiny amount of mana, but E-ranks emit a lot more. And don¡¯t get me started on even higher ranks. The amount emitted seems to vary slightly within the ranks due to mana saturation and class, but it was deemed a negligible difference compared to rank.¡± Cassis then continued. ¡°Revealing this information might discourage people from levelling up and evolving, which could be dangerous in the long run. And anyways, the ambient mana concentration will naturally increase over time causing not only the mutation of our animals and plants but also later on the spawning of new monsters. We need to find some kind of balance between becoming stronger, evolving and triggering a wave. In the other timeline it took almost four years to trigger the second wave as many people were too traumatized by the first wave and only wanted to get on with the life they had known. They didn¡¯t level, only some would go into dungeons or fight against dungeon breaks. It¡¯s why we suffered even more during the second wave: half of the remaining population died. After that everyone started levelling and evolving like crazy which triggered the third wave just a year later. We weren¡¯t prepared for it and even more people died. And so, the cycle of levelling, evolving and triggering a wave started.¡± Recounting it Cassis felt it really was a depressing story. Just how could they change anything? If people levelled and evolved too fast a new wave would be triggered before they were sufficiently prepared. But if they levelled to slowly, they wouldn¡¯t be strong enough for the wave that would eventually come naturally. Then, suddenly, Arianna looked at him with widened eyes as if a thought struck her. She even made an ¡°Ah¡± sound and her expression shifted as she said, "What if we encourage more people to train their skills, spells, and features? Just look at us¡ªwe¡¯re far stronger than typical F-ranks, just because we use our abilities well. Of course, our titles help too, but I think my theory still stands. If more people master their abilities early, they¡¯ll have a better chance of surviving when they eventually start levelling up and evolving. This would lead to a more stable overall growth of the population. They would then also get more evolved advanced classes and not be able to evolve too quickly. This would force them to concentrate even more on strengthening their abilities." Cassis thought it through and came to the conclusion the idea had merit. If people could first safely learn about their abilities and grow them, and only after that start to fight for their lives the survival rate and overall strength of awakeners would rise without them emitting too much mana into the atmosphere. He then pointed out that their new professions might be invaluable for such an approach. Arianna agreed, appearing pleased at the prospect of breaking the cycle of levelling, evolving, and triggering waves in rapid succession. Cassis could only hope it would work. Both of them were excited for their new idea but it was also exhausting just thinking of how to do it, how to make everything work out in their favour. People in general weren¡¯t stupid. But a person would almost always choose actions that benefited them and/or their loved ones, sometimes their close communities. That¡¯s why people had made governments. It was almost impossible for an individual to make decisions that benefited a whole nation as way too many aspects needed to be thought of, and information needed to be gathered in a volume that one person couldn¡¯t manage. That¡¯s why they had such a hard time in the other timeline. The government had been great after the first wave, Cassis had to admit it. But they hadn¡¯t had any information about the waves. They had known that the apocalypse had started with the first wave, implying that at least a second would follow. But they hadn¡¯t known when or why. This had led to inaction which cost them dearly. Cassis knew that he was only thinking about how to make others stronger now because he was sure, they wouldn¡¯t be able to survive alone as the monsters would become too strong. He had survived alone only because Arianna had been there as his patron. Without her he wouldn¡¯t even have managed to survive long after the first wave. The double headed snake he had encountered when he had tried to forage food for the first time had almost killed him. Only with Arianna¡¯s help had Cassis survived. This time he didn¡¯t just want to survive; he wanted to thrive together with his loved ones. And so, the only option was to make humanity stronger. Only this way they would be able to withstand the waves, mutated creatures and monsters. And now he and Arianna had the information that was necessary to take actions towards that goal. They couldn¡¯t tell the larger population as this would cause panic and anarchy. Everybody would try to level and evolve as fast as possible to survive. It had happened in the other timeline after the theory of the cause of the waves had come out. Cassis had done so himself, not realizing that they were dooming themselves by not pacing themselves and helping their ¡®weaker¡¯ fellow humans. Cassis snorted. Those people had only been weaker because they were more suited to a crafting profession. Many had later taken on professions like blacksmith, leatherworker, fletcher, enchanter etc. They had given up on levelling in order to support the stronger fighters. The class level awarded to them every five profession levels was not enough for them to compete with the pure fighters just to survive for a bit against monsters until the fighters arrived. But the fighters wouldn¡¯t have been nearly as efficient without the gear they got from the crafters. As in so many things they needed balance for fighters and crafters and other support professions. Another reason against announcing the theory was that they didn¡¯t know any exact formulas of how much mana is emitted by the different ranks. He had only been interested in what these facts meant for him rather than how the mechanics worked. Still, maybe they could get the Bristols to get some regulations for awakeners that would help them keep balance. And they could hopefully use their fame to encourage people to train their abilities first. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Having come this far in their discussion Cassis and Arianna agreed to leave this topic aside for now and continue thinking of other things to include in the ¡®revelations¡¯ and the basic knowledge. So, Cassis sat in quiet contemplation, his thoughts still involuntarily lingering on the possibility of breaking the cycle of levelling, evolving, and triggering the waves. It was an ambitious goal¡ªone that might just save countless lives. Yet, as he mused over the long-term consequences of the increasing ambient mana, his mind drifted to another, far more immediate concern: shortages. It wouldn¡¯t just be food. Every imported good would be affected, and the impact would vary across the seven continents, each nation reliant on different resources. His own country, highly industrialized, had always depended on grain and other essential food supplies from abroad. They were not self-sufficient. Once the animals of the sea mutated enough to pose a threat to ships, and the animals of the sky evolved into dangers to aircrafts, supply lines had collapsed. Food shortages had turned into outright famine, and his homeland suffered greatly. With exports cut off, the economy had spiralled downward, leaving millions in desperation. In the other timeline, Cassis had quickly adapted. He had learned to forage, to track, to hunt¡ªnot just animals, but monsters as well. His skills in these areas became so refined over the 10 years he spent with Arianna as his patron that he had advanced both the Forager and Hunter professions to level 100 ¨C the level cap for professions. When the famine had deepened, when the government had resorted to slave collars and the so-called free cities had devolved into lawless zones of crime, he had left civilization behind. The wild places¡ªthe forests, the mountains¡ªhad become his home. There, he hadlearned to build shelters against the elements and the threats lurking in the shadows. His Builder profession, too, had reached level 100 over the years. And then, when all three of his professions had peaked, the system had given him the option to fuse them. He had taken it. The Survivalist profession had been his salvation, a path that ensured he remained alive when so many others perished. But he did not want that future again. He did not want to see cities fall, people starve, or nations crumble under the weight of their own unpreparedness. This time, they needed to anticipate the shortages before they came. "We need to include something else in Sapphire¡¯s revelations," he said, breaking the silence. He turned to Arianna, his expression grave. "The seas, forests, mountains, and skies will all become dangerous. Supply chains will suffer because of it." Arianna absorbed his words, nodding slowly. "Clerics with elemental barriers, maybe mages who learn similar spells, could provide protection for ships and planes, maybe even trains and trucks," she mused. "But there won¡¯t be many who can rank up their magic fast enough to make a difference. Not in time." Cassis sighed. "Then all we can do is warn them. Let the government handle the logistics. This is something they have experience in and something that people can actively prepare for. Our role is to teach and to prepare as many people as possible. And of course, to become strong enough that our words hold weight. Let¡¯s put the information out there. Maybe some people will start farming. I¡¯ll definitely warn my family and tell them we need to buy crop seeds." Arianna agreed. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was something. And right now, even small steps toward a better future mattered. She then let out a short laugh, shaking her head. ¡°Imagine us becoming farmers to save people during the apocalypse.¡± She looked thoughtful. ¡°I think I actually read a novel about that some time ago.¡± Cassis smirked at the thought, but she continued before he could respond. ¡°I don¡¯t know the first thing about farming. Maybe we should get some books on it while we still can. The internet will stop working after the second wave, and by the third, telephones and most other electrical devices will be useless.¡± She paused, her expression growing more serious. ¡°Actually, we need to include that in the ¡®revelations¡¯ too.¡± Cassis nodded. ¡°Good idea. The less people are caught off guard, the better.¡± They continued throwing around ideas, debating what to include and what to leave out. In the end, they both agreed that the ¡®revelations¡¯ needed to be short and precise. If even a single piece of false information was spread under Sapphire¡¯s name, it could cost them their credibility. And trust, once lost, would be nearly impossible to regain. Next, they shifted their focus to the basic knowledge section. ¡°We need to include the four basic classes people can choose at level five, as well as the party system,¡± Cassis said, tapping his fingers against his knee in thought. ¡°Then there¡¯s the fact that people can get an advanced class at level ten. But we¡¯re not telling them any specifics about the requirements.¡± Arianna nodded in agreement. ¡°That would count as advanced knowledge¡ªsomething for paying members. Besides, we just decided that we don¡¯t want people evolving too quickly. The more high-rank awakeners, the faster the ambient mana will rise.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Cassis leaned back against his chair. ¡°We need people to advance their features, skills, and spells first. One, to ensure they qualify for better advanced classes, and two, to make them stronger without forcing an early evolution.¡± That was the goal now¡ªto guide people toward strength in a way that wouldn¡¯t accelerate the coming disasters. Arianna tapped her pen against her notebook. ¡°Mrs. Ranislav also suggested we include that, from level five onwards, people will reverse age until they reach their early thirties at level twenty. And illnesses should be completely healed by level ten.¡± Cassis nodded. That was an important piece of information. The changes in the body were bound to cause panic otherwise and for some those changes would be life saving. He took a quick glance at Arianna to see if she was ok with the topic. He thought back about her talking to the Ranislavs about her father¡¯s illness. She had gone through her own personal apocalypse back then and she had done so alone. She hadn¡¯t shared her burden with him. But Arianna seemed fine, and he didn¡¯t want to remind her of the topic if she was trying to stay strong. They continued compiling notes, refining what should go into the basic knowledge section. Then, suddenly, Arianna¡¯s eyebrows lifted in surprise. ¡°Oh, I just got a text from Elena.¡± She quickly skimmed the message before looking up at Cassis. ¡°The social media profiles are doing well. And she still wants us to meet with the journalists.¡± Cassis groaned, running a hand through his hair. ¡°We¡¯ll talk to Brice about it tomorrow. I really don¡¯t want to talk with him, but you shouldn¡¯t be alone with him.¡± Arianna glared. ¡°I know that he is dangerous but right now I¡¯m pretty strong and I do know how to handle myself.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Really? Because Miss ¡®I can handle myself¡¯, you totally broke character.¡± Arianna looked at him questioningly, even asking. ¡°Huh?¡± He laughed a little. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember how Helen and I had you use the Intimidation Blessing and then told you to just smile during our first meeting with Brice and his people? We wanted to paint you as the mastermind to see how Brice would react. And it worked beautifully. They were really disturbed by you.¡± Arianna was still looking at him, confused. He explained. ¡°Alright, now think of it from Brice¡¯s perspective: The intimidating smiling but silent woman from his first meeting is suddenly a charming young woman who seems harmless and is very sociable. That would throw anyone into confusion and suspicion.¡± Arianna finally looked like she understood. ¡°Oh.¡± She put her hands over her face. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you remind me how to act?¡± Cassis continued while occasionally laughing. ¡°For exactly that reason. We have to keep him on his toes. It would be normal for me to be the intimidating one. But you? The kind of personality you have shown here suits your image better. But Brice doesn¡¯t know who the real you is, so he will be very careful around you.¡± Then he groaned. ¡°That is probably why a young civilian woman who seems to be a social butterfly was suddenly assigned to Brice.¡± Something in his tone must have caught Arianna¡¯s attention because she gave him a serious but questioning look. Before she could ask, he voiced his thoughts. ¡°Faith could be a spy sent by Brice or the government to infiltrate our circle and gain our trust. You need to be careful when dealing with her. Her interest in you is suspicious.¡± Arianna thought about it before answering. ¡°Ok, I didn¡¯t think of that. I only thought that maybe by getting close to Faith I could keep tabs on Brice. She¡¯s his assistant, after all. It seemed like a permanent position. And they looked close judging by her behaviour around him and the way she talked about him.¡± Cassis was surprised she had come up with something like that on her own. Then he scolded himself. Arianna wasn¡¯t some innocent little girl. Though she was overly optimistic and positive she wasn¡¯t someone who didn¡¯t take reality seriously. ¡°It could work but it might be dangerous. You have to be very careful, and I don¡¯t want you to meet her alone anywhere not public.¡± Arianna looked annoyed and started speaking but he interrupted her. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like it when I tell you to do things. But please Ari, listen to me. I¡¯m not trying to forbid you from doing anything. I just want you to be careful and to talk to me about your plans.¡± Arianna looked at him and smiled so damn sweetly his heart ached. ¡°Alright,¡± she said in a gentle tone. ¡°I¡¯ll be careful. I promise.¡± With that conversation ending they went to sleep. Cassis had a single bed in his room, narrow but manageable. Arianna had her own room, but she made no move to leave. There was no discussion about it¡ªjust quiet acceptance as they adjusted, shifting slightly to make space for each other. It wasn¡¯t exactly comfortable, but neither of them minded.