Altidor

"In the apocalypse, it's natural for people to bond together and team up to survive. And that's our goal, to survive."

Javion stepped down the concrete staircase, and a pack of people rushed to the staircase to greet and thank him.

"Seems like you're a popular one." Jason retorted, accepting a side-eye in response.

"Being the only medic in Altidor, mostly everyone knows me. I deal with every single injury besides the minor ones."

Crowds of men and women stood along the sides of the walkways, some flocking over to the expanding group close to Javion.

Children reached for hugs, parents presented their gratitude for the prestigious medic, and others showed off their injuries tended to by the gentleman.

After a few minutes, the group dispersed, leaving the two men unattended. "See? It's hard being popular." Jovian stated with a smirk, continuing his walk.

"Thank you for killing those shrimp and not leading them to the hospital. It would've been a hassle."

"You're welcome."

"However, that doesn't make up for the countless amount of resources I had to use on you during that entire month. You were near death when I brought you in.

"Luckily, with whatever happened to the world, I was also blessed with the light affinity. I've been able to save your life and many others shortly after the apocalypse."

'Light magic...'

Generally, the natural elements had the highest chance of getting picked, while light and dark were more irregular.

Dark is usually the most destruction-based element. One could apply curses, wreak more havoc than fire, and summon monsters. There are sub-elements to each affinity. Necromancy is only one of them for dark.

But what about light?

Frankly, there are no sub-elements. All of its powers are squeezed into one affinity, giving them the widest scope of powers.

'System, what are the odds of getting each affinity?'

[15% Fire. 15% Water. 20% Wind. 25% Earth. 15% Sub elements. 8% Inability to use magic. 1% Dark. 1% Light."]

'I see...'

"Of course, I can do more than heal, but it's the branch I'm most skilled in."

Jason asked the system a string of questions before asking Javion himself one.

"Were you a doctor before the apocalypse?"

Javion smiled and shook his head, "I wasn't. I don't know why I was chosen to be a healer, but I was. I have no real training, but my magic does it for me. I'd want to learn one day."

They walked together in stillness until they came before a 10x10 shack neighboring many others just like it.

"This will be your team while you're here. I know it won't be long, but in the meantime, you're here."

Javion tapped the door twice gently, waiting patiently for the doors to swing open like usual.

"Ah... They're on a mission. It slipped my mind."

Jason's ears perked as he snapped his eyes toward Javion, "A mission?"

Javion began trotting off to another building before answering his question.

He opened the glass double doors of a large building twice the height of Jason, revealing a plethora of geared men and women.

The majority of these people were in parties, such as the one Javion tried to introduce him to, while some were alone accepting less challenging missions but demanding enough to give them what they required.

"A lot has transpired while you were slumbering, so teams have been formed,"

The parties usually used swords, shields, hammers, variety of weapons. Some Jason couldn't even name.

And almost every party had a magician placed in it, it being one of the three requirements to form a party.

A minimum of 4 members must register.

Each member must pass a test mandated by the Altidor Council.

A magician will be issued unless the group already has one.

"They do missions from killing monsters, hunting criminals with bounties, resource hunting, and whatever the poster would want. Each mission has a set difficulty that boosts the rewards given. So far, the most rigorous mission was issued by myself,

To kill a Suljar."

"I assume that's possible now. I was able to escape from the Suljars. I don't think it'd be that hard."

Javion shook his head again and sighed at Jason's naivety.

"Did you think they were using their full power against humans who are weak and food to them? The first Suljar we willingly fought killed 9 of our men in a single swipe, or so we think. It attacked so fast that we assumed it was a single sweep or it did kill them in a single attack. None are good.

We tried to flee, but it only killed more of us. That day we lost 49 residents and 92 warriors before even injuring it through a sliver of luck. I was able to save some, but this was not long before you woke up. I've grown by leaps and bounds since."

Jason could hear the dread and guilt blanketing his voice. He could feel the hurt and blame he underwent after that. Lives reaped because of his stupid ambitions, and now it's his goal to repay that debt.

Every day he walked past the building which he despises the most for his actions. Each day he has borne the sickened stares of a family of which a relative he got killed. Each day the guilt only planted its roots deeper into his soul.

"Well, there's nothing else to show you. You know where you'll be staying and where you can find missions. And clearly, there's no free way to stay here. Everyone does something to benefit Altidor. And I know with those shrimp. You gained a few levels. I'm sure you're near level... 16? Although it's average, it shouldn't take long to progress."

Jason nodded and began to walk to the building labeled "Food." After a month of rest, his stomach was constantly aching, but he had to ignore it for the time being.

"Oh, and the system you and Hugo have. Not everyone has it. Don't go speaking nonsense to others about your system."

Jason snapped his head back to lock eyes with Javion, awestruck. "Not everyone has one...?"

Javion confirmed only a select few had the system. "The group I set you in all also have systems. You few are the strongest people here. If not, you have the potential to. You guys are split doing missions with groups that are paying for you to act as guardians, although it'd be dangerous for you too. You guys will also get your missions to do as a party but not any right now."

Paying for a 'guardian' was a clever tactic to employ. Not only would you get the rewards from the mission in full, but you'll also have protection and a powerful individual to assist you.

Of course, you'll have to pay but other than that there's nothing else that'll cost the party.

"Well, that's all this time. If you have any questions ask them now."

Javion locked eyes with Jason, an unexplainable look in his eyes digging through Jason's very being.

"None."

Javion began walking, silence being Jason's answer.

"Oh yeah, go register." Jason could barely hear his words, but either way, he was going to register.

He stepped into the massive lobby, and many curious glances swept over him, but it was short-lived as their curiosity subsided afterward.

Jason strode over to the reception desk with a blatant spray-painted sign named "Register" nailed just above it.

A woman in business attire sat carelessly behind the counter, filing her nails as she waited for the next person.

Before Jason could even greet her, she placed cardboard with a dozen papers clipped to it with a standard ebony pen.

"Fill it out. Once you're finished, come back." The woman didn't even offer him a look or anything, aren't these people made to be charismatic and not this bland?

Jason filled out the form, which asked for the usual things. Then he reached the page titled 'Powers.'

It asked for things like affinity, skills, and other things.

It even asked if he had a system, which was maintained as 'top secret.'

"Here." Jason threw the clipboard on the desk, equal to the attendant's lousy effort and attitude towards him.

She gave him a sneer, but there wasn't anything she could do. She read through the information until it came to the powers page, which she disregarded. She tapped the silver table bell, signaling for a council attendee to take Jason's form.

Jason could faintly see an elderly lady walk out the door behind the tinted window, although only her outline.

"I'll take that." The woman spoke softly, reaching out her elegant hand. The board flew into her hand, raising her eyes to Jason's.

"Come with me." She pointed to Jason's left where another door stood. Jason walked to the door, confused about the brief interaction with the woman.

'Did she use telekinesis? Or did she use the wind to move it, but I felt nothing?'

A series of questions rushed through his mind, none of which he could answer without further showings of her power.

Opening the door, he was presented with an entire area making him feel like he entered an entirely separate building.

The air was fresh, multiple dummies evenly spaced out, and an obstacle course was set up which ranged about 80 meters.

The ceiling was at least 50 meters tall, with large lamp lights dangling from it.

"Firstly, you'll be put through a test to determine your strength and agility. Then a test to determine your magic. They'll be pretty simple, nothing too complex. A simple attack with different body parts, avoiding objects and casting a spell."

"Obviously, it won't be so simple," Jason stated, eyeing the lady down.

She returned a charming look, smiling as a grandma would to her grandchildren.

"Of course not."