Jin Woo didn't sleep that night. The encounter with the shadowy creature replayed in his mind, every word it spoke digging deeper into his already fragile sense of self.
The Gatekeeper.
The King of Beasts.
Arkanis.
What did it all mean?
The book lay on his desk, closed but still emanating a faint hum. He had tried to put it away, to ignore it, but something about it kept drawing him back.
By morning, Jin Woo decided he needed answers. And there was only one person who might know where to start.
---
The Oracle wasn't a teacher, but she was a permanent fixture at the Academy. A relic of the old world, some said. Others claimed she wasn't even human. All Jin Woo knew was that she was a seer, and if anyone could make sense of his situation, it was her.
Her chambers were tucked away in the farthest wing of the Academy, past hallways that felt older than the rest of the building. The air grew colder as he approached, the walls lined with tapestries depicting ancient battles and monstrous figures.
When he finally reached the door, it opened before he could knock.
"Come in, Jin Woo," the Oracle's voice called, soft but resonant.
He stepped inside, the air thick with the scent of incense. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a crystal orb on the table where the Oracle sat. She was an older woman, her face lined with age but her eyes sharp and clear.
"You've been expecting me?" Jin Woo asked, his voice more hesitant than he intended.
She smiled faintly. "I've been expecting this moment. Sit."
Jin Woo sat across from her, the orb's light casting strange shadows on his face.
"You've seen the book," she said, her tone matter-of-fact.
"Yes," Jin Woo replied. "And… something came out of it. A shadow. It called me Arkanis. Said I was the Gatekeeper."
The Oracle's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of recognition in her eyes.
"Do you know what it means?" Jin Woo pressed.
She leaned back, her fingers steepled. "The Gatekeeper is not just a title. It is a mantle, a role that binds the balance between worlds. Arkanis was the last to hold that mantle."
"And… I'm him?"
The Oracle studied him for a moment. "You are and you are not. Arkanis was a being of immense power, a ruler of the beasts beyond the gates. But something happened. His memories, his power—they were stripped from him and scattered. You are what remains."
Jin Woo's hands clenched into fists. "Why me? I didn't ask for this."
"Destiny rarely asks," she said softly. "But the gates are weakening, and the monsters are stirring. Whether you like it or not, the mantle is returning to you."
Jin Woo shook his head, his voice rising. "I'm not some king. I'm barely an F-class! How am I supposed to handle this?"
The Oracle leaned forward, her gaze piercing. "Power does not come from titles or ranks, Jin Woo. It comes from within. And when the time comes, you will have to choose—between the human you've become and the king you once were."
---
Later that day, Jin Woo found himself in the Academy's training arena. He needed to clear his head, and fighting was the only thing that helped.
Unfortunately, the arena wasn't empty.
"Look who decided to show up," sneered Kang Minho, a cocky D-class student with a penchant for picking on weaker opponents.
Jin Woo sighed. "I'm not in the mood, Minho."
Minho laughed, his group of lackeys joining in. "Not in the mood? That's rich, coming from someone who barely qualifies as an awakener."
Jin Woo ignored him and stepped onto one of the sparring platforms.
Minho followed, activating his weapon—a pair of glowing daggers. "Come on, Jin Woo. Let's see if you've learned anything."
The match began, and Jin Woo was immediately on the defensive. Minho was faster and stronger, his daggers flashing in a blur of light.
But something was different.
As Jin Woo dodged and parried, he felt a strange sensation building inside him. His movements grew sharper, his reflexes quicker. It was as if his body was responding to Minho's attacks instinctively, without hesitation.
Minho lunged, and Jin Woo sidestepped effortlessly, countering with a strike that sent the daggers flying from Minho's hands.
The crowd that had gathered around the platform fell silent.
Minho stared at him, wide-eyed. "What… what was that?"
Jin Woo didn't answer. He didn't know.
All he knew was that for the first time in his life, he felt like he was more than an F-class.
---
End of Chapter 9