Killian watched the trees and buildings as they drove to the organization for his badge.
He had needed a full day to recover from the toll on his body after the training. WLog sent a notification for the thirteenth time since he woke up.
"Status." He zoomed in so all the information could fit in one screen.
[WLog Updated!]
[Name: Grim Warden] [Rank: C Lower]
[Un-Registered.]
[Element: Void] [Affinity: 45%]
[Capacity: 5%]
[Diagnosis: Anomaly] [Verdict: Pending]
[Objective: Survive the Sun.]
[Register to Get Extra Benefits!]
[96 Surplus Points To Be Exchanged!]
[96 Surplus Points To Be Donated!]
[Donate? OR Exchange?]
Donate? Tch.
He tapped the 'Exchange' button.
He would need the extra items for his first mission.
Especially the popular Stealth Seals that hide a person's presence for as long as the user powers it with mana. With his element, he had to hide his usage.
He turned to Quara. "Are we there—"
They drove into a gate so tall that Killian worried it might fall over and crush them.
He turned to the gate as they passed, narrowing his eyes at the symbol at its center.
The Light sigil, a shimmering golden mark. The exact opposite of what the Void looked like.
His shoulder tensed as the car stopped.
The whole organisation belonged to the Rulers, and he, an anomaly with the Void element, was right in it.
"Let's go." Quara opened the cover and raised a cloak over him.
His Objective was active once again, and the sun drew black smoke out of his skin.
"The Void thingy hasn't told you how to handle it?"
"It is the sunlight. He's naturally averse to it. I will just have to deal with it." Killian stared at the black smoke rising from his exposed wrist.
"He said he's better suited to it because I awakened a fire element, but I think it still affects him."
This makes me feel sad for him somehow.
Quara paused on hearing he awakened a fire element, then sighed softly.
"Not many people know what that reaction means. It will be better if they don't see it though."
She adjusted the black sleeves over his arms, hiding every inch of skin.
Apart from his neck, which was covered at the back with a hoodie, no part of his body was exposed.
Quara draped the coat over him as he stepped down from the vehicle. He pulled the hood lower over his head to hide part of his face, till he entered the building.
The place was bigger up close.
Clean gardens, smaller tall buildings around it, people moving with purpose.
It was very top organization-coded. Many people moved in casual clothes. Wardens. Their outfits never introduced them. Their presence did.
His eyes followed a young man that walked with his head held very high. He was still grounded enough to hold a door for a colleague walking out.
They hold the lives of other creatures in their palm. Of course, they would be confident.
He adjusted the cloak to look less than an oversized jacket. Quara returned from signing in.
They walked towards the registration hub building.
There were trainees moving around with their school uniforms. Some were laughing and some were injured.
Some had expressions like they had seen too much for their age.
He noticed Quara's gaze followed a particular trainee limping. She had recently had a broken bone injury too, and it wasn't easy.
He smiled. "Good thing there was a Healing Mage around that day. Or it could've been worse."
Quara nodded seriously. "Really good thing."
Killian smiled and continued moving.
They reached a split path.
"This way led to registration," Quara said, then glanced at him. "Let me take you."
Killian looked ahead. "I'll go alone."
She raised a brow.
"I'm not a kid," he added. "Thank you, though."
For a second, she said nothing.
Then she smiled. "Alright," she stepped aside. "Don't get lost. Come back to show me your badge."
"Sure thing." He walked past her without looking back.
Eyes followed him almost immediately. Killian kept his face blank as he walked straight.
He couldn't tell if the other trainees were curious about a new person, or cautious because he looked suspicious wearing a hooded black outfit with an oversized cloak.
Or both.
He sighed. An oversized cloak would be his cross till he overcame the sun. The cloak brushed his legs as he moved deeper into the building.
An old man stood near one of the pillars.
He looked out of place within the bustling area. He stood too still, and dressed in formal wear. His eyes followed Killian before he even got close.
"Name?" the man asked as Killian passed.
Killian didn't slow down. "Killian Dominic. Trainee. Here for registration."
The man hummed and left the pillar he leaned on. "Another Dominic. Your sister is Quara?"
Killian's eyes narrowed slightly. Was he going to be a trainee that was just Quara's younger brother?
This is why I didn't want her to follow me earlier.
He stopped moving and turned his head back slowly. "That's not the name you're looking for."
The old man's gaze sharpened just a little.
Killian held his gaze. "I am the Grim Warden."
Silence.
Then the old man covered the distance. The corners of his lips widened to a wide genuine smile.
"Now that is a name people are looking for. You have been trending since the results came out."
The atmosphere suddenly became friendlier.
"Come," the old man said, turning.
"You're here for your gear, aren't you? Your exchange and extra benefits too, right? You stacked a lot of benefits, young man. How were you not a student talked about before your training?"
Because I was a Null, good sir.
Killian followed silently. He was led to a smaller building with a handful of students inside.
The place was filled with items, weapons, small tools, shelves lined with things that looked simple but had mana-infused in them.
A woman, with rimmed-glasses, sat behind the counter.
She barely looked up. "Name."
"The Grim Warden." the man said for him.
The lady paused, and glanced at her laptop. Her eyes widened slightly as her hand moved across the screen.
"You are the Grim Warden… with ninety-six surplus points?" the woman asked. "Not bad. Actually, that's more than not bad. I haven't ever seen it before."
Killian said nothing again.
The old man chuckled softly behind him.
A few trainees were already tuning in to what was happening. Whispers started. Killian's shoulders lowered gently.
"That's the top scorer?"
"No way… I have never seen him before."
"What school is he from?"
"Ah, he's not wearing a school uniform."
Killian tried to ignore the voices but some of them stood around him, to catch a glimpse of his face hidden under the hoodie.
Two girls stood near one of the shelves, their voices low but not low enough for Killian to ignore.
"That's the Grim Warden?" one said. "He looks the part, right?" She chuckled, referring to his black and 'mysterious' look.
"He doesn't look like it," the other replied, then leaned closer. "Still… that score isn't normal."
A group of boys nearby exchanged looks.
"I heard he cleared most of it alone."
"Huh? No one saw him fight? He was without his teammate?"
"It seems he's really good."
"Or he cheated," another muttered.
Killian's breathing hitched.
Cheated?
Did he think it was that easy?
"Yes, he must have cheated. He might be one of those rich children that their parents buy points for." Another added, with a dismissive sigh.
Killian's grip tightened inside his pockets.