Chapter 2: Flames of Confusion

The academy courtyard buzzed with activity as students milled around, celebrating or commiserating over their newly awakened Talents. Some were already planning their futures, while others lamented their misfortune. Elric, however, sat alone beneath a towering oak tree at the edge of the grounds, staring blankly at the system screen floating before him.

[Creator System Menu]

Soul Points: 0 Available Creation Options: Items Skills Talents

The options were there, taunting him with limitless potential, but without soul points, they were useless. And the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became. Soul points are gained by killing other awakened beings. That phrase kept echoing in his mind.

How was he supposed to get soul points? The system didn't give any specifics—just that vague requirement. Did it mean he had to kill his fellow students? Or was it referring to the demons and beasts that plagued the land beyond the city walls? He hoped it was the latter, but there was no way to know for sure.

Elric rubbed his temples, frustration bubbling up. Just a few hours ago, he had been ready to accept his fate as another weak F-rank, doomed to a life of mediocrity. Now, everything had changed, but the path forward was no clearer.

"Hey, F-rank!"

Elric snapped out of his thoughts as a familiar voice called out. He looked up to see Aaron standing with a group of his friends, all of them smirking as they approached.

Aaron was a C-rank, and unlike Elric, he had awakened a decent Talent: Earth Wall. Not particularly powerful, but useful for defense and, more importantly, enough to make him feel superior to those lower-ranked than him.

Elric clenched his jaw but said nothing. He had dealt with Aaron's taunts for years, ever since they'd both been placed in the same orphanage. Aaron had always enjoyed bullying the weaker kids, and Elric—being quiet and introverted—had made an easy target.

"Still sulking over that pathetic Flame Spark, huh?" Aaron sneered, crossing his arms. "Man, I almost feel sorry for you. Almost."

The group behind Aaron chuckled, clearly enjoying the show. Elric felt his frustration turn to anger, but he forced himself to remain calm. He didn't have time for this. Not anymore.

"Just ignore them," Elric muttered under his breath, trying to push past Aaron.

But Aaron wasn't about to let him go that easily. He stepped in front of Elric, blocking his path. "What's the rush? Come on, show us your Talent. Light a fire or something. It'll be fun!"

Elric narrowed his eyes. His Talent, Flame Spark, was weak—barely enough to create a flicker of flame, let alone something impressive. The last thing he wanted to do was embarrass himself further in front of Aaron and his friends.

Aaron grinned, sensing Elric's reluctance. "Oh, come on. What's wrong? Scared we'll laugh? Too late for that, buddy. We're already laughing."

Elric's fists tightened at his sides. Part of him wanted to lash out, to wipe that smug look off Aaron's face. But what could he do? Even if he used his Flame Spark, it wouldn't be enough to make a difference. And using the Creator System—even if he had the soul points—was out of the question. He couldn't let anyone know about it.

Aaron's smirk deepened as he leaned in closer. "You know, guys like you should just accept your place. Stick to lighting candles and leave the real fighting to us."

Something in Elric snapped. He didn't know if it was Aaron's taunting or the frustration of his situation, but he couldn't hold back anymore. A tiny flicker of flame ignited in the palm of his hand, fueled by his anger.

"There," Elric growled, holding the flame up for Aaron to see. "Happy now?"

Aaron's eyes widened for a split second, but then he burst out laughing. "That's it? That's your big Talent? Oh man, that's pathetic."

The group behind Aaron joined in the laughter, their mocking voices ringing in Elric's ears. He extinguished the flame, his face burning with shame. There was no point in arguing. They were right. His Flame Spark was pathetic.

Aaron stepped back, shaking his head. "Good luck surviving out there with that, Drayven. You're gonna need it."

With that, he turned and walked away, his friends following close behind, still laughing. Elric stood there for a moment, staring at the ground, the humiliation settling in like a heavy weight on his shoulders.

They're right, he thought bitterly. How am I supposed to survive with something as weak as this?

He didn't know. All he knew was that the world outside the city walls was merciless. Demons, beasts, and other horrors roamed the lands, hunting for any human foolish enough to venture beyond the safety of the fortified cities. And those with weak Talents—those like him—were the most vulnerable.

Without a strong Talent, without power, there was no place for him in this world. Even with the Creator System, he had no way of using it. The system might have given him potential, but it was locked behind an insurmountable wall.

And the only way to climb that wall was with soul points.

Elric turned and walked away from the courtyard, heading toward the edge of the academy grounds. He needed time to think, to figure out what to do next. As he walked, he couldn't shake the gnawing thought that had plagued him since the ceremony.

Killing awakened beings for soul points... What does that even mean?

Did it mean killing demons and beasts? Or did it mean something more sinister? The system hadn't been specific, and the ambiguity only added to his growing sense of unease.

As he wandered further from the academy, Elric found himself at the city's outer wall, staring up at the towering stone structure that separated them from the dangerous world beyond. The walls had been built centuries ago to keep the demons and beasts at bay, and so far, they had done their job well. But the monsters were growing stronger, more numerous, and there were whispers that even the walls wouldn't hold them back forever.

"Hey, kid. You look lost."

Elric turned, startled, and found himself face-to-face with a man leaning against the wall. He was older, with a rough, weathered appearance, his clothes marked with dust and grime. There was something about the way he carried himself—calm, confident—that made it clear he wasn't just an ordinary citizen.

"I... I'm just thinking," Elric mumbled, unsure of what to say.

The man raised an eyebrow. "Thinking about what? The demons? The beasts? Or the fact that you're stuck with a weak Talent?"

Elric flinched, surprised by how direct the man was. "How did you—?"

The man chuckled. "Kid, it's written all over your face. I've seen that look more times than I can count." He stepped closer, his voice lowering. "You think you're doomed, right? That without a strong Talent, you're just waiting to be someone's lunch out there."

Elric hesitated but nodded. It was exactly what he was thinking.

The man smirked. "Let me tell you something. It's not about the Talent you're born with. It's about how you use it."

Elric frowned. "How am I supposed to use a Flame Spark? It's barely strong enough to light a campfire."

The man's eyes gleamed with something that Elric couldn't quite place—was it curiosity? Or perhaps recognition? "Every Talent starts small. Even the strongest warriors in the world had to start somewhere. What matters is what you do with it."

For a moment, Elric felt a flicker of hope. But it quickly faded as reality set in. "But I don't have anything. No power. No—"

The man cut him off. "Maybe not now. But that doesn't mean you never will. You just need the right opportunity."

Elric stared at him, unsure of what to make of this conversation. Who was this man? And why did he seem so confident in Elric's potential when even Elric didn't believe in it himself?

Before he could ask, the man straightened up and gave a casual salute. "Name's Garrett. If you're ever interested in learning more about how to survive out there, come find me. I've been around long enough to know a thing or two."

With that, Garrett turned and walked away, leaving Elric standing alone by the wall, his mind racing with questions. Who was Garrett? And why did he seem so sure that Elric had potential?

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the city, Elric made a decision. He couldn't afford to stay weak. He couldn't afford to be just another F-rank failure.

If the system wanted him to collect soul points, then he would figure out how to get them. Whether that meant fighting demons or something else, he would do whatever it took to survive—and to grow stronger.

He had no choice.

End of Chapter 2.