We trudged back to the castle, the heavy silence of the forest hanging around us like a fog. The weight of everything we had encountered was pressing down on us, especially the strange creatures and the overwhelming barrier blocking our way. Emily stayed close, her eyes constantly scanning the shadows for any signs of movement, while Ken walked ahead, his broad shoulders tense but steady. Every now and then, he'd glance back to check on us, his concern written clearly across his face.
When we reached the gates, Alex and Lena were waiting, their eyes locked on us, clearly waiting for an update. Alex's usual warm smile faded slightly when he saw the exhaustion on our faces. His tone was urgent but kind as he spoke.
"Well?" Alex asked, his voice soft but laced with concern. "What did you find?"
I took a deep breath, trying to push through the headache still gnawing at the edges of my mind. "The northern part of the school... it's changed. The gate isn't what it was before. It's... massive now, covered in runes, almost like a portal. We couldn't get through. There's a barrier of some kind blocking the way."
Emily stepped forward, her voice tense. "We didn't just find the gate. We encountered a spirit wolf on the way there. It was level 2, but we managed to defeat it pretty easily. It wasn't like any wolf we've seen back on Earth. This thing was fast, its eyes glowing with some kind of eerie light, also having three tails. greatly differentiating it to earth's wolves"
I nodded, adding to her report. "The animals here—everything is different. The wolf alone was unlike anything I've ever saw. The creatures here are stronger, more aggressive. If we're going to survive, we need to expect more of this kind of thing."
Ken spoke up next, his voice low and serious. "After the wolf, we pushed on to the gate. But when we got close, that's when the headache hit Avi. We knew we couldn't keep going so we decided to head back. That's when the guardian bear showed up."
Alex's brow furrowed at that. "A bear?"
"Yeah," I said, rubbing my temple, the ache still there, though it had dulled. "It was massive—bigger than anything we've ever seen. Dark fur, earthen spikes on its back, glowing core at its chest, and it didn't hesitate when it saw us. We tried to move past it, but it was too strong. I... I couldn't even help. I just couldn't focus with the headache."
Ken's voice dropped as he described the fight. "We had to fight it off. I tried to keep it back with my shield, but the bear was relentless. Emily and I... we couldn't get a solid hit on it. Then Emily, she—" Ken paused, looking at Emily, a mix of gratitude and awe in his eyes. "She cast a fireball spell. It wasn't much, but it caught the bear off guard. The blast wasn't enough to hurt it, but it stunned the bear just long enough for us to escape."
Emily nodded, her expression firm despite the exhaustion in her eyes. "It wasn't a full-on fight. The bear wasn't intimidated by us, but when the fireball hit, it hesitated. That hesitation was all we needed to pull back."
I glanced at Alex, seeing the frustration building in his eyes. He exhaled sharply, his hand running through his hair in agitation. "Damn it...he almost died again." he muttered under his breath.
Ken placed a hand on Alex's shoulder, trying to ease the tension, but Alex's frustration only seemed to grow. "I shouldn't have sent you out there," Alex said, his voice tight with self-blame. "You're our strongest, Avi. I'm relying on you too much. I shouldn't have put you in a position where you couldn't fight."
I opened my mouth to protest, but Alex raised a hand, cutting me off. "No, let me finish. I've been relying too heavily on you. I can't keep doing that. The whole school alliance's safety can't fall to just one person."
Ken stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "Alex, you're right. He's been through a lot already. We all have. You're right, we need to step up. But right now, we need Avi to rest. We can't keep pushing him when he's not at his best."
Alex looked at me, his gaze softer but still filled with that underlying concern. "You need rest, Avi. You can't keep going like this. You're no good to us if you're falling apart."
I sighed, the weight of the day's events pressing down on me. My headache was still there, the ache making it hard to think straight. "I'll rest," I muttered, already knowing that I wouldn't be able to focus on anything else until I did.
Alex gave me a sharp nod, though there was a softness in his eyes. "Good. We'll have a meeting tomorrow. You need to be at your best for it. We'll figure this out, but we need you to take care of yourself."
The others began to disperse, and I felt the weight of their gazes on me as I turned to head inside. I hated feeling like a liability, but I knew Alex was right. I needed to rest.
As I walked away, I could hear the low murmur of conversation behind me. I couldn't shake the feeling that things were changing—that the path ahead was only going to get harder. And the more I thought about it, the more I feared that it wasn't just about the creatures we were facing. There was something bigger at play here, and I wasn't sure I was ready for it.
The next morning, I woke up expecting the meeting we had discussed. I was still feeling the remnants of my headache, though it had dulled enough to be manageable. But as I made my way down to the main hall, I was immediately confused by the sight that greeted me at the castle entrance. Everyone was already gathered outside, fully equipped in their armor and weapons. Even Emily and Ken.
I froze, a sense of dread creeping up my spine as I took in the scene. Was I missing something?
Ken noticed me first, his face softening, but only for a brief moment. "Avi..." he started, his voice quieter than usual. There was a forced smile on his face, but I could see the strain behind it. "We've been assigned to scout different directions—East, West, South. The usual stuff. You're staying behind to rest."
I blinked, stunned, as my gaze shifted to the others, all gearing up and getting ready to leave. My mouth went dry.
"What the hell?" I muttered, almost to myself. "Is this a joke?"
I could feel the tension in the air. Even Alex, standing in front of the group, didn't meet my eyes. His usual warmth was gone, replaced by something heavier—guilt, maybe, or maybe just a sense of responsibility weighing down on him.
I didn't wait for him to speak. I stepped forward, cutting off whatever he was about to say. "Alex," I said, my voice tight with frustration. "You're telling me I can't go?"
Alex finally met my gaze, and I saw it in his eyes. There was something I hadn't seen before: doubt. He looked at me like he wasn't sure whether I'd fully healed yet. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized… he probably didn't trust me to go back into battle, not after yesterday. After the headache, after the bear fight, after everything that happened.
"I... I don't think you're fully healed yet, Avi." Alex's voice was softer than usual. "I can't afford to put you out there again. Not like this."
I felt my stomach tighten. So this was it, then? I wasn't the guy anymore. I wasn't the guy who fought. The thought stung harder than I wanted to admit.
"You're just going to leave me out, aren't you?" I said, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them. I hated how bitter they sounded, but I couldn't help it.
Tyler, ever eager to make a comment, threw in his two cents. "What happened, Avi? The so-called hero's finally showing his true colors—more of a burden than a savior now, huh?"
His lackeys snickered behind him, and I clenched my fists, but I didn't say anything. I didn't need to respond to him. He was just looking for a reaction.
Ken's glare was enough. He shot Tyler a look that could've killed, his jaw tight, but before anything more could happen, Emily stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "You know, Tyler, Avi did save your sorry ass back in the last wave. Maybe show some gratitude for once instead of running your mouth."
Tyler hesitated, the words catching in his throat. He scowled but didn't reply, clearly put off by Emily's calm but pointed words.
Ryan, Mia, and Sophia quickly moved to my side, their voices gentle but firm. "You're not going into this one," Mia said, her expression soft but resolute. "We've got this. Just take it easy. We're only scouting, remember? There's no combat. We'll be fine."
Ryan nodded. "We've got a full team this time. Fighters and support combined. we are better prepared than the three of you guys yesterday. You need to rest, Avi. You've already done more than enough. We're not going into battle; it's just a scouting mission."
I could feel the weight of their words, but it didn't stop the frustration from bubbling inside me. I hated feeling useless, like I was just a spectator instead of a participant. But before I could argue, Alex spoke again, his tone steady but urgent.
"Listen to me," Alex said, his gaze sweeping over the group. "Yesterday, you all heard the report. There are dangers out there. The creatures are different from what we've seen before. We need to be prepared for anything. Avi, Ken, and Emily gave us a warning; they have encountered a guardian in the forest, there might be more. Stay sharp, stay focused, and come back in one piece. We can't afford to lose anyone."
Tyler, ever the enthusiast, suddenly shouted, his face lit with competitive fire. "Whatever's out there, I'll crush it! Bring it on!"
The others gave him a mixed look, but it was clear they knew he was just playing up his bravado. It was almost comical, the way he was trying to puff himself up. But then I realized something—it wasn't about the show he was putting on. He was just trying to keep up appearances.
Ken shot him a hard look, but Ryan spoke up before things could escalate.
"Don't worry, Avi. We'll come back safe," Ken said, giving me a reassuring smile. "We've got a solid team. You've got nothing to worry about. Just rest, and we'll handle this."
Emily smiled too, her words soft but genuine. "We've got this covered, Avi. We won't let anything happen."
I glanced at all of them and then back at Alex, who gave me a brief but reassuring nod. "I'll be here, overseeing everything," he said, his voice steady but lacking the usual leader's bravado. He wasn't a combatant. His strength lay in his leadership, in making sure everything ran smoothly, not in fighting on the frontlines.
"Just rest, Avi. We'll be fine out there." another player promised.
I didn't want to admit it, but their words hit harder than I expected. Maybe they were right. Maybe I needed to stop pushing myself and take a step back. I was no good to them in the condition I was in.
With a deep breath, I nodded. "Alright. You guys go ahead. Stay safe. And try not to get yourselves killed out there—I'll need someone to carry me to victory when I'm back on my feet."
The crowd laugh as they gathered their things and prepared to leave. Alex gave me one last look, as if to make sure I was okay. Then he turned and began issuing orders to the others. Tyler, his usual brashness returned, was already shouting about how he'd take down whatever came their way.
The group headed out, and I stayed behind, watching them disappear into the distance. For the first time in a while, I was on the sidelines—and it didn't feel good. But as I made my way back toward the training area, the weight of the previous days' events caught up with me. Maybe this was what I needed. Time to heal. Time to rest. But I couldn't help but wonder how much longer I could keep watching from the sidelines before I was needed again.
After watching everyone leave, I made my way to the training area. The emptiness of the space was comforting in a way, the silence pressing down like a weighted blanket. The practice dummies stood like silent sentinels, as if waiting for me to vent my frustration. My daggers, Shadowfangs, gleamed in the soft light as I summoned them from the dimensional inventory. Their dark, sleek blades felt foreign in my hands—they feel so wrong in my hands, yet so right that it unsettles me.
I made a few experimental slashes, working through the form the young knight in my dream had shown me. My body felt sluggish, my movements uncoordinated. Each swing of the daggers felt heavier than the last. It wasn't just my body; my thoughts were all over the place, pulling me into the spiral I'd been trying to avoid.
The fight with Ethan. The blackout surge that turned me into someone else—something else. The battle instincts that kicked in as though they didn't belong to me but to another Avi entirely. And then there was the demonoid boss. Exhausted, underleveled, outclassed—I shouldn't have won. I couldn't have won. But I did. Why? How? It felt like someone else was pulling the strings, lending me strength I didn't earn.
A sharp, stabbing pain flared in my head, as if something was trying to claw its way out of my skull. I ignored it, channeling the frustration into my training. Each slash of the blade against the dummy was an outlet for the questions gnawing at me. But the more I struck, the louder those questions became. I lost focus and stumbled over my own feet, crashing face-first into the ground.
I slammed my fist against the floor. "Like this! I'm just a normal kid a few weeks ago!" I yelled, the words echoing off the empty walls. "I wasn't some battlefield hero! I wasn't this!"
Pushing myself upright, I felt the anger boil over into something raw. "Normally, I wouldn't even be able to hold a damn dagger!" The daggers fell from my hands, clattering onto the stone floor as if to emphasize my point.
My chest heaved as I stared at them. Weak. That was supposed to be me, wasn't it? A scared, clueless kid trying to keep up with a world that had flipped upside down. Not this… thing I'd become. The power surges, the inexplicable victories—none of it felt like me.
I picked the daggers back up and forced myself to keep slashing at the dummy. The sound of steel striking against its surface echoed in the empty hall. Every strike felt heavier, as if the weight of my own thoughts was pressing down on me.
The others had adjusted so quickly. They accepted this new reality, embraced their roles, their powers, their changes. They moved forward without a second thought. But me? I couldn't stop thinking about the life I'd left behind—a normal life.
I missed it. I missed the simplicity. Having 2 real friends. My family. My dad's kind but worn-out face, always working himself to the bone to keep us afloat. And her—my little sister.
"Avisya…" The name slipped out before I realized it, her face flashing in my mind. She was so small, always pale, but her smile was so bright it could light up the darkest room. She used to look at me like I was a hero, even when I was just her dumb big brother who couldn't even help with her illness.
"Wait for me, okay?" I whispered, my voice cracking. My grip on the daggers tightened. "I don't know what's happening back on Earth, but I'll get out of this place. I'll come back to you and Dad. I promise."
I slashed harder, faster, pouring every ounce of frustration and guilt into the strikes. The dummy began to break apart, pieces flying off with each hit. My vision blurred, but I didn't stop.
"So much for being a hero." The words tumbled out in a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. "Now I'm nothing more than a damsel that's depressed."
The joke hung in the air, as hollow and pathetic as I felt. I sank to my knees, letting the daggers drop beside me. The weight of everything pressed down harder than ever, but I refused to let the tears come. Not here. Not now.
Tomorrow, I'd figure this out. I had to. For Dad. For Avisya. For everyone.