[Do You Wish To End First Training?]
[Yes] [No]
Killian tapped the [No] button and it faded. He exhaled, the coldness in his chest settling slightly.
The worm had been a training quest after all. In training, every kill was a point. It was worth 30 kills.
It didn't feel incredibly strong, so the rabbits must be ridiculously weak.
Could the worm have been extra training meant for the best students? Well, he met it first.
"I also got to feed that hungry thing." It wasn't enough to fill the void but it was a start.
He shuddered slightly, remembering the chilling sensation of using Shadow Writhe.
It was a dangerous skill, and being only a D-Rank Mage using an S-Rank Element, he was at odds.
His head suddenly ached, and it felt like his head would split in two.
Behave.
"I am at my best behaviour for one who hasn't eaten enough for many years."
Killian looked at the skies, squinting because it hurt to see. Many years could be centuries.
For all he knew, this sentient element could have existed long before the others.
Light and Darkness were said to be the first element. Void could've been there somewhere.
Just behave. I can feel you want to eat more. But I'm still learning how to feed you without backlash. I can't use up all my mana."
He wasn't lucky like those protagonists in fantasy novels he read who could see their 'mana points'.
His reality had no game-like interfaces, only the WLog.
The more powerful your parents were, and the more refined mana your ancestry came from, the more mana one could wield.
Stamina. Intelligence. Endurance. They were honed through resolve and hard work.
No points could be exchanged for that. A will had to find a way.
As he stared at the skies, his eyes began to burn and he lowered his head. The headaches receded.
"You fight pain with pain?"
He rubbed his teary eyes. "Works every time."
A quiet exhale left him as he strolled towards the cliff. "Since I have the required points, maybe I can add more and help Evelyn get—"
He met Evelyn's gaze. She glared at him, though worry etched on her brows.
"..."
He looked away, scratching the back of his neck. She still waited? "Sorry."
"You are impossible. It was already dead." She left the wall she leaned on. "So did you send it to the Grim Reaper?"
Even better. "To hell itself."
She clicked her tongue. "Let me see what you did."
As she spoke, she sprinted to a rock.
Step! Step!
Jump!
She leapt from the rock into the air, looking above the cliff. Her eyes scanned the topside. There was nothing.
She landed with a grunt. "You didn't even try to catch me?"
"Should I have?" What was the point of bringing her up the cliff again?
Evelyn shook her head, as if removing the thought. "If you burned it to nothing, why didn't I feel the heat? You said it was weird but I only felt a chill."
"I told you. It is a black fire that is chilly, but burns everything in its way. It is a lesser form of the Fire Element and that's why a Null like me awakened it."
Killian made up that tentative lecture on the spot. He fell down the cliff, landing with a soft thud.
"Shall we?"
The soft hum and whirr of Evelyn's mechanical arms stopped.
She sighed. "You should've told me you were trying to flex your Fire Element. I would've left you to it."
"Did you keep your arm active to support me?" He smirked. "That's so sweet."
She rolled her eyes so hard that it nearly stuck at the back. "Let's run. And this time, we won't stop even if the Goddess comes down herself."
"Sure, sure."
.
.
.
Sure enough, the hill was the meeting point for the trainees but contrary to what Killian believed, they were earlier than expected.
Some trainees sat at different spots inside the wide cave, with already formed teammates. Most trainees sat around a bonfire, and some were even asleep.
"I see. Time zones." Evelyn said, nodding.
All the trainees had to start at the same time.
However even if it was 6pm for his region, the other regions would be a few hours ahead or behind.
The event would last exactly 24 hours after that.
Some trainees looked like they'd been there for too long. "We should get comfortable too. I think we have an hour left, give or take."
Evelyn stretched her arms, and moved her right shoulder reflexively. "I hope the rabbits will be as easy to take down as the worm. I'm tired already."
Killian said nothing. In a way, he could tell Evelyn asked a question that she doubted the answer to. She must already suspect him.
As expected of Evelyn Constantine.
They sat in silence, watching the others. At some point, Evelyn brought out soft pillows from her spatial storage and pushed one in his arms.
Killian stared at the pillow shaped like a drunk dog with its tongue out.
It reminded him of when he was younger, and snuck into his older sister's room to read her manuals.
Only to meet a huge dog doll stationed at her bed, which protected her room from 'intruders'.
"It doesn't bite." Evelyn said, since he stared at it. "Or you are the type that doesn't use 'cute' things?"
Was this even cute? "I don't mind. Thanks."
He placed it at his back, between himself and the wall. He could finally rest after everything.
The day had started with a knot tied on his stomach. Dread eating him away as he wondered if he'd awaken a HEART for any element.
But he only had a cold hunger in his chest, and a hungry sentient in his head at the moment. He could finally breathe.
He closed his eyes, the sounds around him died to background noise. His head was lighter. He might take a nap before the training was ready.
"Hey!"
He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping whoever it was would keep their voice down.
"Hey, Kill!"
His eyes snapped open.
Apart from Sis, who the heck would call me 'Kill'?
Even his twin brother lost the privilege since they hadn't spoken normally in years.
A boy his age stood over him, crossed arms, eyes narrowed, and dressed in a uniform different from his.
He looked familiar but Killian couldn't place where he knew him.
"Yes?" He glanced at Evelyn. She had backed against the walls as if scared. So she knew this person?
He sat upright, adjusting the pillow behind him. "Do you need something from me?"
"Huh?" The boy stooped down to his eye level and Killian was grateful he didn't have to strain his neck anymore. "How did you of all people awaken?"
The boy looked like trouble.
Killian knew anyone who thought they could call him 'Kill' would surely know he was the infamous Null.
"Fire Element." He had no obligation to answer but he also wanted to clear Evelyn's doubt.
He unbuttoned his jacket and raised the torn shirt. "The sigil. It's a rare black fire, but it's still a Fire Element."
Evelyn studied the sigil for a while, before collapsing onto her pillow wall as if disappointed.
Killian covered his chest. "So, does that answer—
"I can't believe Keith isn't here, but you are." The boy spat, interrupting him.
Killian blinked once. Keith isn't here?
"Wasn't he the last to get his HEART before us?" Evelyn directed at Killian. "All students from a region would show up in the same training realm, so how wasn't he here?"
The relief on Killian's face faded slightly. His silent wish was granted. If all students were mandated to be in the same realm, then… he shrugged.
That was still good news.
"I don't know."
Maybe Keith is still having a party at the hotel.
The boy suddenly gripped Killian's shirt, pulling him forward.
"What the fuck is 'I don't know' supposed to mean? What is a Null like you doing here while my cousin is not here yet?"