Chapter 14: Moving Forward

Zoey studied Christine's expression for a bit, already knowing that this would be something important. She stepped aside, allowing her to enter. "Come in." Zoey said, her voice taking a slight serious tone,

Christine nodded, walking into the room. She walked towards Zoey's bed, before gently sitting down on it, patting the spot next to her for Zoey to come sit down next to her.

Zoey walked up to her and sat beside her, she turned to face Christine, her crimson eyes boring into Christine's brown ones. Christine took a deep breath as she calmed herself down, before speaking.

"I apologize for what happened back there, the agent had no right to yell at you like that." She started, her voice spiked slightly as a bit of frustration was left on her words.

"You don't have to apologise, I've grown accustomed to it now." Zoey replied calmly, "So, what did you want to talk about?" Zoey asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.

Christine stayed silent for a moment, "It concerns your Awakening," she started, "Although the media doesn't know about it now, they're going to find out soon enough."

"A newly awakened Hunter clearing a dungeon by themselves is unheard of, especially coming from you, the media will go nuts over this."

Zoey listened to her words carefully, she had already expected this outcome. The world will know that the "Mana-less" girl has awakened and joined the society of Hunters.

Whether this would bring more hate towards her, or respect and acknowledgement from others, she couldn't care less.

Now that she has awakened, she would never let the world take her for granted, and she would show her family, the ones who discarded her as garbage, the treasure that they have lost.

"Zoey," Christine started, "It's common knowledge that an newly awakened Hunter can never clear a dungeon by themselves. Unless..." Christine's word's trailed off, but Zoey already catching on to what Christine was going to say, finished her sentence.

"Unless they have a Talent, right?" Zoey asked.

Christine nodded, "Precisely, and a powerful one at that." Christine said, before asking the question that Zoey was expecting.

"Zoey, do you have a Talent?" Christine asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"....." Zoey fell silent, nervously fidgeting with the hem of her hoodie. She was torn between revealing her Talents to Christine, or lying to her best friend. After a few minutes of silence, and coming to a decision, Zoey finally replied.

"I do," She said simply, her voice slightly cracked with guilt.

Christine's eyes widened at her words, a shocked expression forming on her face, "Wait, seriously? You really have one?" Christine asked, her voice a bit shaken up by this new information.

'Two in fact...But I can't tell you that, I'm sorry.' Zoey apologized inwardly, nodding her head, "Yes, I do have a Talent. A very powerful one at that, without it, I probably would've died." She said, smiling softly.

"What rank is it? If it's that powerful, it must be atleast C-Rank, or C+?" Christine asked, a bit of excitement laced in her words.

"A+," Zoey replied with a small smirk, "An A+Ranked Talent."

Christine remained silent, her eyes still wide and her jaw hanging, "WHAA-" Christine's scream was interrupted as Zoey quickly moved and covered her mouth, faster than her eyes could follow.

"Shhh!" Zoey shushed her, "Don't shout, otherwise we'd get into trouble." Zoey whispered, looking over her shoulder at the front door of her room, before returning her gaze back to Christine.

Christine nodded slowly, which then allowed Zoey to gently remove her hand from her mouth. She stared at Zoey for a moment, her voice dropping to a low whisper.

"A+Rank!? Seriously? Do you know how valuable that is? Once the media finds out about this, it would be an outrage! Guilds would kill to have you in their guild, you're basically a genius now!" She whispered, her voice excited and full of awe.

"Guilds, huh?" Zoey muttered, before chuckling under her breath, "Even if they were to fight over me, they'd be doing it in vain as I wouldn't join their cause." Zoey said, a small laugh escaping her lips.

"Wait seriously? Why?" Christine asked, suprised by Zoey's declaration.

'Well, first, guilds in Zolorius are very powerful and have advanced technologies, with some of these technologies allowing you to see the Status Windows of Hunters. If they were to see my status window, it would undeniably cause a problem because of my giant stats, especially since I'm only level 2, it wouldn't make any sense to them.

Second, there's what the guild could offer me. Most guilds tent to offer prodigies an abundant amount of money and other benefits, but money isn't my goal here, getting stronger is.

Third, if a guild does manage to catch my eye, they'd have to obey 3 of my conditions if they want me to be one with their guild. Which is mostly demanding for privacy and the option to do tasks for the guild, whenever I feel like it.

And lastly, fourth. There's no way a guild in this prominent city would agree to my conditions, afterall, I'm just an F-Rank, I have little to no power or influence anywhere.' Zoey thought.

"A multitude of reasons, but I can't disclose them to you yet, and for that I apologize." Zoey said with apologetic eyes, smiling lightly.

Christine studied Zoey's expression for a moment, her mind filled with questions on why Zoey would want to proceed with that reasoning.

A sigh escaped her lips as she accepted defeat, she didn't want to press Zoey to give her an answer as she probably figured it's something personal.

"Alright, I understand." Christine said, rising up from her bed, "But you might want to reconsider your decision, having the support of a whole guild is only a pleasure many could dream of having, and that can be you." She said.

Zoey shook her head lightly, determined to stand with her original choice "No need, this is the path I wish to walk on." Zoey replied.

Christine smiled, before walking toward the front door "Alright then, I'll see you tommorow I suppose." She said, grabbing the door handle, but stopping to glance back at Zoey with a cheeky grin.

"Oh! And tommorow, I'm taking you out to one of my favourite restaurants. Your awakening calls for a celebration!" Christine said, opening the door before stepping outside.

"But Christine-" Zoey tried to protest, but Christine interrupted her.

"No Buts! Afterall, I'm doing this out of my free will. And, you can pay me back later, hehe~" With that, she closed the door behind her, leaving Zoey alone in her room and her thoughts.

'Sigh, she really like paying for everything.' Zoey thought, she walked to the corner of the room and switched off the lights, walking back to her bed and climbing into the covers.

'I'll make sure I pay her back generously!' Zoey declared inwardly, closing her eyes as she let out a sleepy yawn, exhaustion finally catching up to her.

Her thoughts drifted back to inside the dungeon, recalling the Tower Of Hera and remembering the condition she had to fulfil to be able to level up again.

'To the Tower, I suppose.' Zoey thought, her eyelids feeling heavy as she finally fell asleep.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

The clock on Zoey's wall ticked slowly with every second that passed, as the hands of the clock reached 12:00 midnight, the world around Zoey slowed down.

[Initializing Transport To The Tower Of Hera.]

Zoey's body began to glow in a bright blue, mesmerizing light. Her body's glow illuminated the room, her body disintegrating into small particles, before vanishing into itself, dissapearing from her apartment room.

[You Have Arrived At The 1st Trial!]