Larry was taken aback by the sudden announcement. His mouth hung open, and his fingers trembled. Why had they chosen him, of all the students present in the hall?
His thoughts mirrored those of everyone else. There were many capable students who could replace Peter—so why the Blind Loser?
Brandon, however, couldn't help but grin. He seemed to have orchestrated this from the start. 'This is what you get for messing with the Cruz family,' he thought.
Larry opened his mouth to protest, but another student beat him to it.
"Why him? What does the Blind Loser have to offer?" one of the students shouted. It was the question everyone wanted to ask, though none dared confront a sergeant directly. Even Brandon's true identity remained hidden to most.
As much as Larry hated being called a Blind Loser, he also wanted to know why he'd been chosen for such a dangerous mission.
The tension in the room dissipated as General Eldric stepped forward.
"A team needs a supporter," General Eldric began, his voice calm but commanding, "and I see no reason why Larry doesn't fit that role. His record in Combat Class exceeds expectations. In my view, this mission could even help him awaken his core."
The General's words seemed to echo in Larry's mind. There was a chance—however slim—that he could awaken his core, but the mission was incredibly risky. Something about Peter's predicament didn't sit right with him either.
After the General's speech, the students began clearing a path for Larry, most of them jealous. They believed he didn't deserve this opportunity, while a few, noticing Brandon's grin, sensed something more sinister was at play. Among them was Eric, who was mentally piecing things together. The danger of the mission hardly crossed their minds; their frustration was focused on the fact that a blind student was getting the chance to explore the outside world.
Larry hadn't moved yet, still weighing his options. He was ready to decline—until he heard a familiar voice.
"I'm coming too."
Larry froze, recognizing the voice instantly. He decided to stay silent, curious to see what Eric was up to.
General Eldric turned toward the source of the voice, spotting a tall, muscular teen making his way through the crowd. Eric's jet-black hair was tied in a ponytail, and both hands were tucked casually in his pockets.
'What's her brother up to now?' Brandon thought, watching Eric approach.
"If Larry's coming, then I'm coming too," Eric declared. "You wanted a supporter? Well, now you've got two."
Before the General could respond, Brandon stepped forward, smiling. "Well, that settles it then. The ten of you should get ready. We leave tonight."
****
It was the first time anyone had openly supported Larry, and a quiet joy stirred within him. A lot had been happening lately—he'd been praised by Teacher Alex, saved by a senior, and now his roommate had publicly stood up for him. But why had Eric done it? Curiosity gnawed at him.
"Larry."
He heard Eric call out from behind, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps. Larry was standing in the hallway, noticing how other students now avoided him, no longer bothering him as they once did.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this mess," Eric said, catching up to Larry as they started walking together.
"I feel like I should be thanking you. You stood up for me back there, and I'm still trying to figure out why," Larry replied.
"You were going to decline the offer," Eric explained, "but that's because you don't know who Brandon is. He's not just a second-year student—he's from the Cruz family. I have a feeling this is a setup. If you had declined, it would've made things worse. The other students would see you as a fool, and the Cruz family would take it as an insult. That would give them a reason to punish you."
Larry hadn't considered this. He was grateful to have someone like Eric by his side. It bolstered his confidence, and a small smile crept onto his face, visible to Eric, who had been worried by Larry's earlier silence.
"I'm glad you understand," Eric said.
"I do. There's no turning back now, but what's our next move?"
"Let's spar together," Eric suggested, and Larry agreed. They headed toward the Combat Class arena.
Unbeknownst to them, someone was watching. A face filled with jealousy glared after them as the two figures disappeared into the distance.
'Damn that Eric... He's stealing my only friend.'
****
In the training room, Larry had chosen to use his stick as a weapon, while Eric decided to fight unarmed. The room was empty, save for the two of them, poised to spar.
Larry's senses were heightened as he waited for Eric to make the first move. But Eric didn't charge in.
"I've been watching you, Larry. You're good on defense, but let's see how you handle offense. Try to catch me."
Larry, trusting that Eric wouldn't hurt him, charged forward. Holding the stick in his left hand, he swung it toward Eric's head. Eric dodged effortlessly, pulling his head back just in time. He countered with a punch aimed at Larry's face, but to his surprise, Larry managed to block it with his right hand. The impact sent a sharp pain through Larry's fist.
Eric's body was strong—his punch rendered Larry's right hand nearly useless. Larry spun his stick and attacked again, but Eric dodged each blow with ease, waiting for the right moment.
Larry, using all his strength, swung the stick with full force, striking the ground. The impact caused the stick to bounce back, throwing Larry off balance. Eric seized the opportunity, landing a punch on Larry's thigh, sending him crashing to the floor.
"I can't believe I didn't land a single hit," Larry panted, out of breath.
"You'll need more than that to hit me," Eric replied, grinning.
Larry rose to his feet, determination shining in his eyes. "Then I'll keep trying."
The two continued sparring, with Larry on the offensive, while Eric dodged and waited for openings. They practiced until it was time to meet the others for the retrieval mission—a mission that would change Larry's life forever.