April 10th, Thursday.
Eric woke up early, feeling some soreness in his muscles. However, the discomfort was far lighter than he had expected. Having not exercised for a long time, suddenly increasing his physical activity was bound to cause muscle pain, but due to his strong vitality, the reaction had been greatly reduced.
Now he finally understood why high vitality was a requirement for becoming a knight. A strong vitality not only warded off illness but also allowed for quick recovery from fatigue. Only those with such resilience were fit to become knights. Otherwise, yesterday's training would have left him bedridden for days.
After getting out of bed, he saw that his parents had already left for work. His sister, Amy, was still groggily brushing her teeth, clearly more prone to sleeping in than Eric, typical for a teenager.
Amy had seen Eric training the night before and now, seeing him full of energy, she couldn't help but ask enviously, "Eric, aren't you tired at all?"
"Not tired at all, I feel great and everything tastes delicious!" Eric replied with a grin.
Amy rolled her eyes, obviously irritated by her brother's energy. After quickly finishing the breakfast their mother had prepared, the siblings grabbed their schoolbags and headed out the door.
The moment they stepped outside, Amy tossed her bag to Eric. "You said you're not tired, right? Help me carry this for a bit."
Amy's middle school was close to Eric's, and part of their walk overlapped. Eric smiled helplessly but took her bag, carrying it in one hand.
As they exited their building, a middle-aged man carrying a bag of breakfast food walked past them. Eric glanced at him and noticed he was heading toward their apartment building. A thought flashed through his mind: *That must be the new tenant upstairs.*
In this old complex, tenants rarely changed, and everyone knew each other. Seeing a stranger was unusual. Although he was curious, Eric didn't think much of it and continued walking, brushing past the man without a word.
...
As Jackson brushed past Eric, he felt a strange sensation. As a knight, he instinctively sensed the vitality of those around him. The moment he neared Eric, he could tell that the boy's vitality was unusually high, far above that of an average person.
*How can this kid have such strong vitality?* Jackson thought, a surge of jealousy and resentment bubbling up inside him.
Last night, he had consoled himself by thinking that the boy downstairs was like him in his youth, someone whose future would be limited by his circumstances. But now, Jackson realized that this seemingly ordinary boy had an incredibly high vitality, which meant he was highly talented. If nothing unexpected happened, Eric would likely get into a knight academy and had a good chance of becoming a knight.
*Why?* Jackson's heart filled with bitterness.
Once, he had been a young man full of dreams, hoping to become a knight, only to be held back by his family's lack of resources. Compared to his wealthy and gifted peers, he had struggled for years, not breaking into the first tier of knighthood until he was 30. Meanwhile, this boy in front of him could very well surpass him before even turning 20.
Jackson's face darkened. Everyone felt jealousy at times, but some could suppress it, while others were consumed by it. Now that Jackson was on the run, having lost his moral compass, he felt his desire to tear down this young man growing stronger.
For a moment, the thought of crippling the boy flashed through his mind.
But in the end, Jackson resisted the impulse. Now was not the time to stir up trouble—laying low was his priority. When the time came for him to leave, if the opportunity arose, he could deal with the boy then.
*Why do some people get to live such easy lives?* Jackson cursed inwardly as he walked away.
...
After Jackson left, Eric felt a sudden chill. His mental strength was slightly higher than the average person's, and just now, he had distinctly sensed a wave of danger from behind him, as though an invisible hand was watching him.
He turned around to see Jackson disappearing into the building.
*That feeling just now… something's off,* Eric thought, growing cautious, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly what was wrong.
Noticing that Eric had slowed down, Amy asked curiously, "What are you looking at, Eric?"
"Nothing, just the new tenant upstairs," Eric replied.
"Oh, the tenant," Amy said absentmindedly, "I was hoping someone my age would move in so I'd have a friend around."
Eric shook his head. "Looks like he's living alone."
"Alone? But I saw him buy a dozen buns! I thought it was for a whole family!" Amy's casual remark sent a chill down Eric's spine.
*One person eating that much?* Eric's instincts kicked in. Knights were known for their large appetites, especially those with strong vitality who needed to consume huge amounts of food to sustain their bodies. If they didn't eat special supplements, they'd rely on regular food to meet their energy needs.
*Could the tenant upstairs be a knight?* Eric's heart raced.
The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed. The quietness of the apartment, the eerie sense of danger that morning, and the man carrying so much food—it all felt off.
*Why is he living here? Why rent the apartment right above mine? Is he here for me?* Eric's mind raced with anxiety, growing more uneasy by the second.
*Has he discovered my system? Does he want to steal my secret?* Eric's breathing became rapid.
He was a reborn individual with a system that no one knew about, something he had never told anyone. Now, a knight had suddenly moved in upstairs—it seemed too coincidental.
*Could someone have found out about my special ability and sent a knight to kill me?* The thought sent a shiver down Eric's spine, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
*What should I do? Call the police? But what would I tell them? I can't reveal that I have a system, and who would believe that a regular high schooler is being targeted by a knight?*
*Maybe I should wait and see? But if he really is here for me, by the time he makes a move, it'll be too late!* Eric's anxiety grew as he considered his options.
Carrying this heavy unease, Eric arrived at school, completely distracted throughout the morning.
His deskmate, Charlie, noticed how out of it Eric was and asked, "Hey, what's up? You don't look so good."
Eric frowned, deep in thought, and replied, "Nothing, I was just wondering… If a knight wanted to kill you, what would you do?"
Charlie paused, then burst out laughing, "Are you planning on becoming a knight just so you can hunt me down later?"
Eric shook his head, speaking seriously, "I'm talking hypothetically. If a knight wanted to kill you, what would you do?"
Charlie scratched his head, thinking it over. "Well, what can you do in that situation? Obviously, call the police."
"But what if he hasn't made a move yet? Would the police even help?" Eric felt that this suggestion was too simplistic.
"Then run," Charlie shrugged, adding, "But you're right, even running wouldn't help. If a knight's after you, nowhere's really safe."
"So… what do you do?" Eric asked, growing more anxious.
Charlie sighed and joked, "I guess you just wait to get killed. After you're dead, the police will step in and arrest him."
"And besides waiting to die?" Eric pressed.
Charlie grinned, half-jokingly, "Well, unless some powerful warrior just happens to pass by, takes out the knight with one punch, and decides to take you on as their disciple. Then, you'll be on the road to invincibility."
*A powerful warrior?* Eric suddenly thought of William King.
*Maybe I could ask him for help?* The idea flashed through his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.
In the end, Eric tried to calm himself, telling himself that maybe he was just overthinking things.
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