"Did you take a good rest?"
I was surprised by the sudden welcome. At the side of the mattress, he turned his head towards me.
"Ah, Did I startle you? I apologize."
The man looked to be young, kitted with a white robe like a doctor's uniform. I titled my head and asked him.
"Who… are you?"
I never met this person ever in my life, nor did I recognize him.
He smiles gently.
"Ryan Blakes, an acquaintance to meet you Alan." He walks towards me and takes a close look at my body. "Looks like you've recovered well. I'm glad, you'll be able to walk normally from here on out."
This was weird. From the looks of it, he doesn't seem to act like a doctor. But now that I take a better look at the room, it doesn't seem that I'm in a hospital. But, I'm more concerned about how I appear here in this room. Wait, that's right!
"Ava! Is Ava here?"
"Ava? To be honest, she only dropped you off here and well, I'm basically going to take care of you until you are all healed up." He says. "Though the wounds on your body have already been taken care of. So, I guess I won't be taking care of you anymore." Was he disappointed? I feel like he gave up on that last part.
"Wait, do you mean I'm all healed up?" I asked.
He makes a muddled face.
"From Ava's description." He sighs scratching his head. "You were completely covered in bruises. That's not all, your body was at least 89% broken by an incredible amount of force which disrupted your organs inside." He gives me a smirk, "Wait till you hear this. Your body was in a complete wreck that probably even the best hospital in the world wouldn't even get you all healed. You would be dead before Ava came to save you."
…I was in complete shock hearing this. I couldn't even blurb out a word from my month.
"I know right, shocking isn't it?" He says. " You should give your gratitude to Ava. She was the one who came at the right time to save your ass."
My eyes widened. Of course it was shocking. I almost got myself killed there! Thankful Ava came to my rescue, or else I actually would've died back there. I should repay her back when I get the chance.
"How did she help me exactly?" I ask. I was very curious how she saved me though, since he said no hospital could have actually helped me recover even before death, then how could Ava have done it?
He doesn't reply. He slips into his pocket and takes out a remote and turns the television on in front of me.
"We're here now at the national news reporting. Today we're here accompanied by one of the members of the Hero Association, Amelia Ava. On this beautiful evening, we would like to show you all that a new ability has now been discovered which Ms. Ava here will now be showing you."
My eyes were locked at the screen. Why are they reporting about Ava? Shouldn't she be at the Hero Association? Though she wasn't the only one on television, there seemed to be a deer lying on the ground with a long cut. The camera zoomed in. The deer was injured while breathing heavily. What's going on there?
"You may now start the treatment Ms. Ava."
She replies with a nod and lifts her arms. She gently placed her hands on the deer. Then, a soft green light came out from her hands. As Ava touched the deer's long cut on its body, the wound disappeared like it was never there. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
"Ladies and Gentleman, can you see what I'm seeing or what! Ms. Ava just healed the wounds of a deer who was on the verge of death! That's right ladies and gentlemen, this is the new ability Amelia Ava has acquired, a healing power! Now we would like to ask some—"
Ryan turns off the television.
"Well? Extraordinary am I right?"
He looked at me, wanting a response. But how should I react to this? Happy? Surprise perhaps? I don't know. I opened my mouth.
"Yes… it is very extraordinary."
I don't have much else to say. If I have to say though, she really is a very kind person. I actually want to shred some tears. However, it seems that I didn't have any left to spare.
Ryan takes a deep breath. "Anyways. You can go home now, I've got nothing else for you. Well, I'll give you some time to think about the situation. Excuse me."
He walks out to the door and closes it gently, as a stayed in my white mattress. Everything that happened recently was unusual. I couldn't wrap my head around all this. Too many weird things were happening all at once.
"..."
Well, besides the bizarre current events, there doesn't seem to be any change in me at all. Besides being healed up, everything about me looks perfectly fine.
'I guess… since everything has calmed down, maybe I could go to my usual schedule at work.'
Outside was shining bright. The sky is bluer than usual. It felt as if that day never happened.
I inadvertently raised my head, and that's when I saw 'it'.
"What the?"
As I looked up without thinking, there were 'words' written on a blue hologram, floating in the air.
[You have several unread messages.]
***
Amelia Ava POV:
This world is cruel. From my perspective, everything about it would be negative. Though I can't say from other's perspective, I'd say their view of this planet could change depending on one's point of view. I'm not sure about today's current year.
Ever since superpowers were discovered, the world has become much more savage and heartless than ever before. Everytime I walk through the streets, I only see so many inhuman actions behind the Earth's surface. Some torment others either have futile powers, some bully to entertain, some would even bully them to point of suicidal. But, that goes the same with much older people that could be related like me as well.
I always wonder. Could there be a true hero? Ever since the war against heroes and villains, we've lost so many inspiring heroes. Many of them lost their lives in battle. Now, we have fewer heroes than before. Especially her, The Bright Hero "Aurora". She was the only hero who was the closest to humanity's best and most adored hero ever. After her disappearance, the world started to fall, villains start to terrorize cities, curroption occur on the streets, and even kill without mercy. Without her, we as civilizations are destined to fall to the corrupted villains.
The villain may have outnumbered us, but thankfully, the world's second hero, "NAME" and other heroes were able to stop the crisis before war broke out again. Yes, all this happened 4 years ago. This destruction had caused many deaths and took an enormous amount of money for the government to rebuild cities and property again.
Things really had changed after her death…
But that wasn't the only thing that changed, humans changed as well. They are truly vicious creatures. It hasn't been fully ten years since the awakening day, yet I'm here discovering their true nature beneath their faces. It's truly unpleasant. Very unpleasant creatures they are.
Even so, I'm not one to talk, it's not much of a difference for me as well. Would I have become one of them, if I wasn't lectured about the goodness in human nature? Perhaps. It all depends on how someone behaves on something we like or dislike. Well, ever since joining the beginning of the day working at the Hero Association. The first day was awful.
I don't care how much they pay, or how they'll treat me getting into luxurious things. I expected a much more professional job, but this was just awful. A few days after the death of Aurora, the government and higher ups gather all together and make a discussion that they'll have an academy built to train future superheroes.
I'm thankful that I got a job really, but to send children at the age of sixteen… Do they expect citizens to hand out their children into an academy just like that? Whether that's a good thing or not, it really doesn't even matter. After all, my theory is that the academy wasn't built to nurture young teenagers into future superheroes. But either to build a surveillance system, or worse, an armed force of young teenagers…
That was two weeks ago, now, I'm assigned to work at the Hero Association as my 'official' job. At first, it was annoying that only male workers were looking in my direction all the time. Well, that all changed until I was introduced by a certain worker. Alan Walker.
He was different compared to the other workers, and did have some common sense no doubt about that. Furthermore, he was quite—a loner.
His dull eyes were dry as fish, and his physical body was very skinny, making his appearance look very young resembling a young teenager with a child's face. Nobody in the Hero Association would talk to him, ever. Not even a single word. It's as if he were invisible to everyone's presence.
I pitied him. The situation felt very similar to me. I once experienced the same case as him.
I got to know him by introducing myself to him. He was a bit, how should I put this? Soft character I'd described. Usually when I tried to start a conversation, he'd start to mumble and shake a bit. I know how he feels. Getting to talk with an exceptional is something people usually don't do. But it doesn't bother me one bit.
He may not be the smartest or the bravest, but he certainly is one of the people I met who are the brightest.
Haaa, those times we hung out. It was an amazing time we spent together each day.
One time, I was assigned to proctor a basic hero examination, where people with abilities simply had to demonstrate basic and to competence hero work. I needed a partner to record the records of their performance. I told Alan about it, since he was the only one I get along with and his dull black eyes immediately turned into puppy eyes sparkling with excitement.
How adorable, he was very excited, after all he loves superheroes. I swear, sometimes I can't forget how ambitious he became when we talked about a certain topic about heroes or related things. Of course, his dream was to become a hero, even though he doesn't have an ability like everyone else, he still wishes to become one. He's just like everyone. I'm not annoyed, not at all, he does share the same dream like every other person wishes. Even now I can't help but smile.
When I first awakened my ability at the early age of sixteen, telepath was my power. I don't quite remember the exact details of how I awakened, but I know it didn't involve any sort of pain. I thought that was the end of the awakening but it seemed I was wrong.It isn't the strongest or the greatest. Well, that wasn't the end of my awakening, for some reason, I also gained the power of healing. I wasn't sure if it was pure convenience or not, but I knew this power was something else than any other power. Either way, I'll use it only for those I want to save and help.
Anyways, I'm planning on helping with Alan's work schedule. But I hope the button I gave him before works. I'm worried about him.I just hope this year isn't going to be as bad as…
Beep, Beep!
Just what I wasn't hoping for. The black button currently I was holding on, was beeping and vibrating. My face turned pale. There wasn't time, I needed to go save him! I'm just hoping he hasn't gone far…
***
I failed… I failed to save my friend from danger. Not only did I fail to protect him, but also failed to protect him. I'm so useless…
Maybe I should've walked with him. If I had, would things have gone out differently? Would he forgive me if I hadn't walked with him? I'm so stupid…
If anything, it's my fault for not looking into things more properly. Ex-Hero AmoneStar is dead, while One-Eyed is capacitive currently. Forgive me Alan, but it looks like I won't be hanging out with you much like back then.
So I'll help him to the best of my capabilities, for now, I'll let Ryan take care of you. I hope you two can get along well. Let's see how things will turn out after I present to the world one of my second abilities…
Alan Walker POV:
"....."
I blinked a couple of times. Even closing them hard enough.
[You have several unread messages.]
The words were still floating without a single change. I rubbed my eyes, but they were still there.
Is this a hallucination? No, that can't be. I certainly don't drink that's for a fact.
I shook my head. I don't think my body is injured, after all, Ryan said there wasn't anything wrong with my body, thanks to Ava.
I scratched the back of my head. This 'thing' in front of me was still floating above with its text still written on it.
[You have several unread messages.]
"…"
If those words I saw back then… could this be linked to the events I've seen back there? Then perhaps I could…
"Haa..."
I raised my head slowly and observed the blue screen. The confusion in my heart died down, as the calmness returned to my body. These contents of the so-called unread messages made me more curious.
I lifted my hand and slowly reached towards the screen. My hand simply passed through.
'So it wasn't a touch screen…' Then how was I supposed to figure out these unread messages? If it isn't a touch then, could it be I need to talk to 'open' it?
Tti-ring!
[There are three unread messages.]
– Congratulation on becoming a [Player] (unread)
– [Daily Quest: Daily Routine Exercise] is now available. (unread)
– [You have received a gift.] is now available. (unread)
T-this is unexpected… it seems that 'open' is the command to look at the message, now all I need is how to read these messages. I looked at the first message.
– Congratulations on becoming a [Player] (unread)
'...Confirm…'
Tti-ring!
[You have met all the requirements on becoming a 'Player' congratulations.]
[The System will support the 'Player' growth.]
[From now on if the 'Player' fails to comply with the System's instructions a potential dangerous penalty will result.]
[Your rewards have been delivered.]
"Ahh…."
Now I remember it clearly. After I was conscious, these messages appeared before I woke up here. 'A potential penalty will be resulted', well that's… unpleasant to see.
But these 'Quests', 'rewards', 'penalties', 'growth' including 'System' and finally 'Player', it's almost like a video game where you play your character.
My heart was racing fast, my hands were shaking while my saliva was getting dry. This situation still felt so unreal to me.
'Confirm.'
Tti-ring!
[Daily Quest: Daily Routine Exercise.]
Push-ups, 100 times: Incomplete (0/100)
Sit-Ups, 100 times: Incomplete (0/100)
Squats: 100 times: Incomplete (0/100)
10km Run: Incomplete (0/100)
*Warning: Levels of Punishments will be held if Daily Quest is incomplete.*
…Is this perhaps a joke? If the Daily Quest isn't completed by the end of the day, a punishment will be held? I'm already feeling disappointed on the Dail Quest, but now a punishment would be held if I don't complete it?
I message my head. This thing expects me to do some exercise? I'm built like a twig, I can't even do one push-up, yet it wants me to do a hundred?!
But, wouldn't it still also be a chance for me to get stronger? It wouldn't be strong like superheroes, but at least I could try it for a change.
I signed. Maybe I'm overthinking this. There isn't a reason to try, I'll treat it for light exercise then.
"Fuuuu… alright."
I climbed out from the mattress and warmed up my arms a bit, before positioning myself to perform a push-up.
"One… two, oh god…"
This is tougher that I thought it would be. This might take me a while for me to complete a hundred push-ups.