Dav: (Standing up) Well, see you later.
Kael, Eldrin, see you in the arena afterward.
Kael: (Finishing his meal) Yeah, see you later, Dav.
Eldrin: (Drinking) Alright.
Narrator: Walking down the hallway, he noticed the calluses on his hands were cracking, causing a few drops of blood to seep out.
He decided to head to the infirmary.
He knocked and entered.
Inside, he found a woman sitting, eating a takeout salad with a plastic fork.
She looked up at him.
Dr. Sofia Manfredi: (Observing him) Can I help you with something, professor?
Dav: (Lowering his gaze) I apologize for disturbing you during lunch.
I’ll come back later.
Dr. Sofia Manfredi: (Waving a hand) Don’t worry about it, come in.
How can I help—
(Surprised) Your hands are destroyed, professor…
I think you overdid it with the sword.
Dav: (Looking away) I’m aware…
Dr. Sofia Manfredi: (Carefully examining his hands) When you use your sword, you infuse it with aura to prevent it from breaking or getting damaged, correct?
Dav: (Surprised) That’s right.
Dr. Sofia Manfredi: (Standing up) I’ll give you a cream to apply after training and a bottle with a sanitizing liquid to prevent infections.
You need to use it twenty minutes after applying the cream.
Dav: (Thinking) Huh, that was fast.
(Out loud) Thank you.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Dr. Sofia Manfredi: (Handing him the cream and the bottle) When you run out, come directly to me for more.
Dav: (Slight smile) Thanks.
Dr. Sofia Manfredi: (Stepping closer) Now, give me your hands so I can treat them before you apply the cream.
Narrator: Dav opened his hands: rough, hardened, marked by deep cuts.
Dr. Sofia Manfredi: (Thinking) His hands… They’re so tough, so full of scars.
What has he been through to end up like this?
(Looking up at him) Not just his hands… Even his face.
If I didn’t know his story, his presence would make me uneasy… but I know what he’s capable of.
Dav: (Making a funny, confused face) Uh?
Dr. Sofia Manfredi: (Continuing to treat him) Lord Alistair Valenhart…
That stupid man tried to go against him, knowing he was the hero?
From what I’ve heard, Dav is a good man.
He doesn’t discriminate or harm without reason.
(Applying the cream) He helps his students, trains them every day without making distinctions based on rank or background.
I’ve heard more words of admiration for him than criticism.
(Gently closing his hands) We’re done, professor.
Dav: (Slight bow) Thank you, doctor.
Now I must go, I have things to do in the arena with the other professors.
Dr. Sofia Manfredi: (Smiling) If you have any other issues, don’t hesitate to come to me.
Dav: (Small smile) Thanks.
[Arriving at the Arena]
Dav: (Observing) You’re already here, Kael, Eldrin!
Kael: (Leaning against the wall) You took a while to get here.
Eldrin: (Determined) Alright, let’s begin.
[Entering the Arena]
Kael: (Adjusting his glasses) Today, I brought something in case you lose control again.
Dav: (Eyes widening) What is that thing?!
Kael: (Serious) We’ll make sure that this time, Eldrin and I aren’t the only ones suffering.
This, my dear Dav, is a taser.
Dav: (Shouting, funny face) I KNOW what it is! But why is it so huge?!
Kael: (Smirking) It’s meant to stop you in case you lose control and try to kill us all.
It’s the same model used to capture A-rank and higher monsters… and elephants.
Dav: (Shouting, funny face) I’m pretty sure that thing will kill me for sure!
Eldrin: (Laughing) At least this time, we won’t be the only ones suffering! Ahaha!
Kael: Like last time, focus: use only your aura, don’t let mana mix in.
Lower your aura to the minimum and direct it to the point you want.
Dav: (Closing his eyes) Right!
Narrator: Dav closed his eyes and focused.
Once again, he saw that strange labyrinth, full of paths that seemed to lead nowhere.
"Which is the right way?" he wondered, uncertain.
Suddenly, an electric shock made him jolt.
Dav: (Confused) What the hell—? Was I forced awake?
Kael: (Chuckling) I just wanted to make sure it works.
Go on.
Narrator: Dav closed his eyes again, trying to concentrate.
Minutes passed.
The labyrinth continued expanding before him, becoming more intricate.
It didn’t seem like just a simple maze…
They were memories.
They were pains.
As he walked through those memories, he stopped.
He reached out and touched one.
A wave of suffering crashed over him.
The pain of the past ten years, the battle against the Divine Calamity.
His body began to tremble. And with him, his aura slipped out of control.
Kael and Eldrin, sitting and chatting, suddenly felt the atmosphere shift.
Eldrin: (Shouting) Oh, shit!
Narrator: Kael grabbed the taser, Eldrin threw a book at him.
A powerful electric shock brought him back to reality.
Dav: (Looking at them) Did it happen again?
[Kael and Eldrin exchanged a glance.]
Kael: (Serious) Not like last time… but if we hadn’t intervened immediately, the result would’ve been the same.
Dav: (Nods, looking at the floor) Got it…
