Max sat quietly at the table, his hands wrapped around a warm cup of tea as he mechanically spooned soup into his mouth. The dining hall buzzed with chatter, students exchanging stories about their awakenings, their voices a mix of excitement, disappointment, and nervous energy.
But Max barely registered the noise. His mind was elsewhere, lost in the echoes of his fragment's name.
'Traveler's Burden…'
The words reverberated in his thoughts, heavy and unyielding. He stared into his soup, the steam rising in faint wisps, as if it might carry away the weight pressing on his chest.
'I'm a traveler, huh… with a burden…'
He didn't understand it.
The name, the feeling it evoked—it was like a shadow he couldn't shake, a constant ache deep in his chest. He didn't know what it meant, but it felt… significant. Like it was tied to something he'd forgotten, something important.
'Why does it, my chest, feels so heavy?'
Max's fingers tightened around the spoon, his frustration bubbling just beneath the surface.
He hated this—the not knowing, the massive gaps in his memory. Every time he tried to grasp at something, it slipped away, leaving him with nothing but questions. He didn't even know who he was, let alone what this fragment was supposed to mean.
'I need to learn more…'
But how?
He glanced at Harry and Tim, who were seated beside and across from him, engrossed in their usual banter. Harry was grinning, his arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying himself. Tim, on the other hand, looked exasperated, his face buried in his hands as Harry teased him mercilessly.
"Huh? You won't protect your friends but your crush? I see how it is."
"N-No-! You got it wrong!"
"Haha, tell me her name, I will ask her to join us myself."
"R-Really? Ah, wait, what are you talking about!"
"..."
'These guys...'
Max watched them, his expression dull.
They were so… lively. So sure of themselves. Even Tim, who'd been given a fragment that seemed more like a responsibility than a power, didn't seem as lost as Max felt. He envied that, just a little.
'Or maybe they're just better at hiding it.' He stared at Harry, recalling how many others were mocking and laughing at him a while ago.
His gaze shifted to the empty seat beside him, and for a moment, he considered joining the conversation. But before he could say anything, a movement caught his eye.
He turned slightly, his eyes widening slightly as a woman slid into the seat opposite him. It was the same woman from the morning—Tess, he remembered. Her short and slightly spiky hair stood out, and her eyes scanned the table with quiet intensity.
Strangely, neither Harry nor Tim seemed to notice her. They were too absorbed in their bickering, their voices rising and falling like waves in a storm. Max glanced at them, his expression flattening.
'…Or they're simply immersed in their own world.'
He turned back to Tess, who was now calmly sipping from a cup of tea, her gaze fixed on him. There was something unsettling about the way she looked at him—like she could see right through him.
Max shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to say.
Before he could muster a greeting, Tess spoke, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "So, you're the one with Fool's logic?"
Harry and Tim froze mid-argument, their heads snapping toward her. Tim nearly knocked over his cup in his surprise, while Harry's grin faded into a look of mild curiosity.
"Bis Sis Tess?" Harry said, raising an eyebrow. "When did you get here?"
Tess chuckled. "A while ago. You two were too busy arguing to notice."
Tim blinked, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Oh. Uh… sorry about t-that."
"Oh..." Harry's gaze flickered to Tim, and his lips curled upward ever so slightly. He had caught the way Tim had looked up at Tess, then down, fidgeting slightly. The corner of his mouth twitched with amusement before he turned his attention to Tess.
"So," Harry drawled, leaning forward with an easy grin. "Were you bored without me?"
Tess chuckled, tilting her cup slightly before taking a sip. "Maybe. Maybe not. But I do have something to ask."
Harry's grin widened. "Ah, so you came for that, huh? Well, since you're our friend, feel free to ask."
Tess placed her cup down, her expression turning a shade more serious. "What happened with you all? And what are your 'friends' talking about each other?"
Harry's smile deepened, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Oh my, I would love to tell you, but it's a secret matter. I'd be punished if I told—"
"I'll give you info too," Tess cut in smoothly.
Harry's grin stretched. "Alright, now you're talking my language. You came to the right person."
With that, Harry launched into an explanation, detailing everything he had learned—awakenings, status, fragments, and the overall knowledge he had gathered. However, he carefully glossed over certain details—particularly his 'little act' earlier. His words flowed smoothly, and Tess nodded along, absorbing the information with a thoughtful expression.
After a moment, she exhaled and leaned back slightly. "Alright, now it's my turn to complete the deal."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
Tess folded her arms. "Just say, 'Open Endlog.'"
Harry blinked, the intrigue clear on his face. Still, his curiosity got the better of him. "Open Endlog."
The moment he spoke, a translucent screen appeared before him, similar to the status display. His eyes widened slightly as he took in the words at the top.
[ End Log ]
[ Stage 0 -> ]
A branch extended below it.
[Objective 1 - Complete(!)]
Harry's brows furrowed as he stared at the screen. Without looking away, he gestured toward Max and Tim. "Try it."
Max hesitated but relented. "Open Endlog."
Tim echoed the phrase soon after.
In an instant, two more screens materialized in their vision, each displaying the same structure—End Log, Stage 0, and an objective marked as complete.
Max felt his confusion deepen. He looked at Harry, who was staring at his screen, his usual lighthearted demeanor replaced with silent contemplation.
Then, as if drawn by an unspoken agreement, all three of them turned toward Tess.
Harry was the first to speak. "What is this?"
"This is..." Tess met his gaze evenly. "This is what I learned after the mission given by that voice ended."
"Wait, you mean..."