7:21 AM
The room was steeped in silence, interrupted only by the soft sound of wind slipping through the half-open window and the distant chirping of birds.
Everything seemed calm until a voice cut through the tranquility.
"Evan?"
…
"Evan!"
The gentle yet insistent voice pierced the darkness I found myself in, like a beacon calling me back.
At first, I resisted, clinging to the void that enveloped me.
'Please, leave me here… I really don't want to wake up.'
"Evan! Please wake up!"
But the persistence of the voice became impossible to ignore.
A light touch on my shoulder brought me closer to the surface.
My breathing quickened, short and uneven, as my consciousness slowly returned.
"Huff, huff…"
I opened my eyes slowly, blinking against the pale light beginning to seep into the room.
Each blink felt like a dagger stabbing my eyelids, and the pain radiated to the depths of my skull.
'My eyes… why do they hurt so much?'
"Evan, are you okay?"
The worried voice hit my ears like an alarm, pulling me firmly back to reality.
My blurry vision managed to make out Leah's silhouette beside me.
She was kneeling on the floor, her hands resting on my shoulders, her eyes fixed on me.
What caught my attention was something I couldn't ignore.
Her eyes were filled with tears. They didn't fall, but the unmistakable shimmer was there.
"Author's Note: Image"
"Leah…?" I murmured, my voice hoarse and weak.
I sat up with difficulty, every muscle protesting the movement.
My head throbbed, and a wave of dizziness forced me to close my eyes for a moment.
"Thank God…" Leah sighed, the relief in her voice barely masking her concern.
"What happened to you? I found you collapsed on the floor. Do you know how much that scared me?"
As my senses returned, fragments of the previous night flooded my mind.
'So I passed out after acquiring the Eyes of the Abyss ability?'
The weight of guilt grew heavier, but I forced a weak smile, trying to reassure her.
"I'm fine, Leah. It was just… something from yesterday's training. I think I overdid it a little."
"Overdid it???"
Leah shook her head, crossing her arms firmly.
"Evan, you already fainted yesterday! I brought you home myself so you could rest, and now you're pushing yourself like nothing happened?"
I couldn't hold her gaze.
The lies were necessary, but that didn't make it easier to face her genuine concern.
"Sorry. I just… pushed past my limit."
"That's obvious! Look at you! You can barely get up without looking like you'll collapse again."
Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke.
I had no answers.
I couldn't tell her the truth, and I couldn't ease the weight of guilt. She was here, clearly worried, and all I could offer were empty apologies.
Leah let out a deep sigh, the shimmer in her eyes now more apparent.
"Evan, please listen. You need to rest. I know you always try to carry everything alone, but… you're not alone. You don't have to be."
Her voice softened at the end, and for a moment, her words touched something deep within me.
But I knew I couldn't let her get closer than this.
"I'm fine, I just need a moment to recover."
Leah narrowed her eyes, clearly dissatisfied with my response.
"Fine. But only if you promise to rest. No training, no unnecessary exertion."
I raised my hands in surrender, letting out a small sigh.
"I promise."
She remained silent for a few seconds, as if studying me. Then, with a shake of her head, she stood up.
"I'll make breakfast for you guys. And don't you dare try going to that hero academy for now."
===
As soon as Leah left the room, I sighed and stood up slowly, every movement requiring more effort than usual.
My legs felt heavy, and the world around me seemed slightly out of focus.
Instead of feeling better after a night's sleep, I felt completely drained.
I walked to the bathroom, leaning against the wall for a moment before finally reaching the sink.
Turning on the faucet, I let the cold water flow over my hands before splashing it on my face.
Sigh
The icy shock helped bring me back to the present.
I looked up and stared at my reflection in the mirror.
My face was haggard, with dark circles under my eyes contrasting against my pale skin.
But what caught my attention the most were my eyes. The sclera still had traces of redness, as if the ability had left visible marks from the strain it put on me.
'This was more intense than I imagined…'
I ran my fingers over my eyes, recalling the overwhelming sensation that hit me as I acquired the Eyes of the Abyss.
Even in that moment of extreme pain, there was something… different.
It was as if the ability wasn't just being acquired but literally fusing with my body, becoming a physical part of me, something I couldn't simply turn off or ignore.
I remembered the vision before I fainted.
Even with my eyes closed, I could sense everything around me.
It wasn't just sight; it was something deeper, more instinctive.
Noah and Emma were in their rooms, the contours of their beds glowing as if drawn with threads of ethereal light. I could hear their soft breathing, feel the calm emanating from them, even from a distance.
"Was that… real?" I murmured, running my hand over my face again.
With a simple gesture, I opened the system interface.
✧ [Name: Evan]
✧ [Age: 17 years]
✧ [Vitality: 7.2]
✧ [Stamina: 3.4]
✧ [Magical Power: 6.7]
✧ [Physical Strength: 3.1]
[Acquired Abilities]
◇ Shadow Manipulation
◇ Eyes of the Abyss
[Available Points: 60]
My eyes locked onto the new entry glowing on the screen.
My hand hovered over the interface for a moment, hesitating before clicking on the ability.
But curiosity—or perhaps the need to understand—won.
As I touched the ability, a detailed panel appeared before my eyes.
Ability: Eyes of the Abyss
Description: Allows the creation of illusions to deceive targets, reveal hidden presences, and manipulate time perception, slowing the world around the user.
◆ Recommended Usage Time: 10 seconds ◆
➤ Even within this limit, it can cause exhaustion and headaches.
➤ Exceeding the time drastically increases risks, such as disorientation and temporary vision damage.
[Level 1 Benefits:]
✦ Powerful illusions that affect opponents' minds.
✦ Enhanced perception to detect presences and react quickly in combat.
✦ Improved strategies and reactions through temporal manipulation.
[Risks:]
✦ High magical energy cost and mental strain.
✦ Accelerates the effects of Evan's curse.
✦ Prolonged use can lead to disorientation and distorted visions.
I read each line carefully, and my mind immediately returned to the events of the previous night.
The 10-second limit initially seemed restrictive, but I knew that if used wisely, the ability could be devastating.
"This is… much more than I expected."
My eyes drifted to the warning: Prolonged use can result in severe side effects.
Even on the first day with the ability, I had already felt the cost.
I ran a hand over my face, trying to organize my thoughts.
'In my novel, I envisioned this more as a tool, something I could use whenever I wanted. But it seems like it's fused with me.'
"If 10 seconds are all I can use for now, I need to make sure those 10 seconds count."
The system screen disappeared, but the sense of weight remained.
I turned on the shower and let the cold water cascade over me.
Running my fingers through my wet hair, I took a deep breath.
'Leah is right… for once, I'll rest.'
"I guess I won't be going to Spectra for now."
3:53 PM – Sunday
The training field buzzed with energy under a sunny Sunday sky.
Even without the pressure of classes after the practical trial, many students used the time to hone their skills.
In the center of the field, Arthur and Kai were locked in a fierce sparring match, their weapons colliding in a rhythm that drew admiring gazes.
"Clang!"
Arthur's sword deflected another blow from Kai's gauntlets, sending sparks dancing through the air.
On the bleachers, Luna sat cross-legged, lazily spinning a water bottle in her hands as she watched the two fight.
"Ahhhhh…" She sighed loudly, visibly bored.
"Who do you think will win this one?" she asked Derek, who leaned against a nearby wall, watching the fight with disinterest.
Derek gave her a skeptical glance, immediately catching her intent.
"Don't try to drag me into your boredom, Luna," he grumbled, crossing his arms.
Luna gave him a sly smile.
"I'm just asking. Is it so hard to give me an answer? Aren't you an expert?"
Derek sighed but eventually answered.
"Arthur, obviously. Kai is strong, but strength without strategy doesn't mean much against someone like him."
Luna raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"You can't underestimate Kai. He's persistent."
"Persistence won't help if you can't land a hit," Derek shot back, nodding toward the field where Arthur deftly dodged another powerful attack from Kai.
"Thwack!"
Kai's gauntlet struck empty air as Arthur spun gracefully out of range, keeping his opponent at bay.
Luna chuckled softly, noticing that despite his reluctance to join the conversation, Derek was entirely focused on the fight.
On the other side, Seraphina sat quietly, arms crossed, seemingly indifferent to the noise around her.
Luna noticed her distant posture and leaned forward, curious.
"What about you, Sera? Any bets?"
Seraphina blinked, as if snapping out of a trance.
"Hm? I'm not paying attention."
"...~What? …Seriously?"
"What's the problem?"
"Nothing… It's just that you usually pay attention to these things."
Derek, sitting closer, noticed an opportunity and immediately chimed in.
"Maybe it's because there's no one interesting fighting, right, Seraphina?"
He shot her a confident glance, clearly trying to shift the focus toward himself.
"Haha."
Luna rolled her eyes, letting out a short, humorless laugh.
"Of course, Derek, because you'd be so much more exciting to watch, right?"
Derek ignored the jab, adjusting his posture and feigning indifference, though his eyes sought any sign of approval from Seraphina.
"Ugh. You two never change, do you?" Seraphina said with a sigh of boredom.
"..."
Seraphina shook her head, about to say something when a familiar voice cut through the conversation.
"Hey, everyone!"
Jenna's sudden arrival broke the routine. She approached with a radiant smile, clearly excited.
"Seraphina, did you see? Our team came in 4th place in the practical trial!"
Luna offered a warm smile.
"That's amazing, Jenna! It was a tough competition."
"Thanks! We scored 454 points. It was close, but we managed to stay among the best!"
"That's impressive. This trial really wasn't easy."
Arthur chimed in as he approached the group, panting after his sparring match.
"Your team's strategy must've been solid to get so many points without going for the main artifact. I didn't think that was possible."
Jenna nodded enthusiastically.
"And I have to admit, part of it was thanks to Evan. He really helped our team score more than we expected."
At the mention of Evan's name, Derek let out a theatrical sigh, crossing his arms with an air of impatience.
"Oh yes, the 'unlikely leader.'"
Jenna raised an eyebrow, clearly annoyed.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
He shrugged, but his crooked smile betrayed his teasing tone.
"I'm just saying it's funny how someone who doesn't even seem to care much about Spectra ended up leading your team."
Jenna narrowed her eyes, her frustration evident in her posture.
"Maybe because he had a solid strategy? And it worked?"
"Or maybe you guys just got lucky. If we hadn't shown up at that moment…"
Derek, realizing where his words were headed, cut himself off. He didn't want to say anything that would make Seraphina feel like she had completely relied on him, knowing she hated that.
He narrowed his eyes but didn't immediately continue.
The silence that followed seemed to hang heavily in the air until he muttered, barely audible,
"I don't see why everyone's so impressed with him."
Seraphina sighed but didn't bother responding.
Kai approached the group, still panting from his sparring session with Arthur. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his forearm and gave Jenna a curious look.
"You guys were talking about Evan, right?" he asked with a smile forming as he leaned on his knees.
Jenna confirmed with a nod.
"Yeah. He led our team during the practical trial."
Kai raised an eyebrow, visibly intrigued.
"Hmm, interesting. Did he spar against you?"
Seraphina looked up, only to shrug, as if she didn't want to give the topic too much importance.
"He was… decent. He's not bad."
Kai laughed lightly, his tone casual, but his eyes sparkled with interest.
"Decent? That means he was good, huh? I'd love to fight him. Bet it'd be interesting to see what he can do."
Arthur, who had been silent until now, took a long drink from his water bottle before lowering it and wiping the corner of his mouth with his hand.
"Now that you mention it… where is he? I haven't seen him around Spectra since the trial."
Silence hung for a moment as the group exchanged glances.
Derek, increasingly irritated by the conversation, let out an audible sigh as he stood up.
"Don't bother looking for him. That guy doesn't live on campus like most of us."
His voice carried a tone of disdain, but he avoided elaborating further.
Luna blinked, surprised by the revelation.
"He doesn't stay here?"
The group watched as Derek walked away, while Kai turned to Arthur, raising his eyebrows with a questioning expression.
"So, he doesn't even live on campus? Weird."
Arthur lowered his water bottle and glanced at Seraphina with a slight smile, trying to clarify his doubts.
"Well, it makes sense then that he's resting at home, right? I mean, you and he both fainted, didn't you?"
Seraphina averted her gaze, hesitating for a moment. The question was simple, but it carried implications she wasn't ready to reveal.
"Yeah… he was unconscious when I got there."
"Hmm… The monster you faced must've been pretty strong for both of you to end up like that."
Arthur commented, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
Before Seraphina could respond, Jenna, clearly more interested in the details, leaned forward, her eyes shining with curiosity.
"Wait, Seraphina. How did he end up passing out? What happened before that?"
Seraphina's expression hardened as she pondered for a moment. She couldn't reveal the truth about the entity or what had really happened. Taking a deep breath, she opted for a safe version.
"When I arrived, he was already on the ground. I'm not sure what happened before that. Maybe he overexerted himself trying to face the monster alone."
The explanation seemed sufficient for Jenna, but Arthur frowned, intrigued.
"Alone? Well, he must've pushed himself pretty hard. Evan doesn't seem like someone weak. A monster capable of putting you both in that state must've been tough."
"Yeah. But we were already exhausted when we encountered the monster."
Arthur crossed his arms, mulling over her words, while Jenna seemed to want to ask more but hesitated, perhaps sensing that the topic bothered Seraphina.
"Makes sense." Arthur concluded, dropping the subject, though his eyes still showed a hint of concern.
Seraphina averted her gaze, appearing relaxed, but internally, her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.
The truth about that encounter, about the entity and its unsettling words, loomed over her like a constant shadow.
—————————————————————————————————
Four days later
The morning light streamed softly through the kitchen window, warming the space with golden hues as I focused on preparing breakfast.
The gentle sound of the frying pan sizzling blended with the comforting aroma of pancakes and fresh coffee, filling the kitchen with a sense of calm and routine.
It was Wednesday, four days since I had first used Eyes of the Abyss.
I hadn't returned to Spectra on Monday or Tuesday, taking advantage of the last day of medical leave to recover fully.
Despite still feeling a slight fatigue, being home with Noah and Emma was a welcome relief.
"Almost ready!" I called out, focused on making the perfect pancakes.
Noah sat at the table, caught between the book he was reading and the tempting aroma wafting from the frying pan.
He pretended to be completely absorbed in his reading, an attempt to appear more mature, which brought a smile to my face.
It was a typical trait of his: wanting to be seen as the "responsible" older one, even though his childlike curiosity was clearly evident beneath the surface.
Emma, on the other hand, was pure energy.
She moved around the kitchen like a little tornado, sometimes helping to set the table, other times dancing to music only she seemed to hear.
Her laughter filled the space, and as always, she was trying to provoke Noah to get a reaction—something she did with almost magical skill.
I stacked the pancakes on a plate while glancing at them.
"Who's ready?"
Emma's eyes lit up with anticipation.
"I want lots of chocolate!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing in her seat.
Noah, for his part, tried to maintain his "grown-up" composure.
"Just coffee for me, please."
His voice carried a deliberately serious tone, but his attempt to seem older only made him more endearing.
"Of course, your special coffee is on its way."
I poured a glass of milk, placing it in front of him with a wink.
He frowned for a brief moment, as if wanting to scold me for ruining his attempt at maturity, but soon smiled, accepting the morning playfulness with his usual lightheartedness.
Meanwhile, Emma was already spreading chocolate on her pancake, chattering about some school project, while Noah alternated between his book and making subtle faces at his sister.
Watching this dynamic—their personalities so different yet so complementary—felt like a balm after the past few days.
No matter the weight of recent events or what was to come, these simple moments were enough to remind me that there was something good and genuine in all of this.