Chapter 2: Unwanted Spotlight

The morning sun cast a golden glow over the sprawling grounds of the Eldoria Academy, its towering spires and ancient stone walls standing as a testament to centuries of tradition and excellence.

But for Cain Ashford, the grandeur of the academy felt more like a prison than a place of learning. The whispers had started the moment he stepped out of the examination hall, and they hadn't stopped since.

Cain kept his head down, his shoulders hunched as he navigated the crowded courtyard. The air was thick with the buzz of conversation, and every word seemed to be about him.

"That's him! The guy who took down Instructor Garron!"

"I heard he didn't even break a sweat."

"Do you think he's hiding his true power? Maybe he's from one of the hidden clans…"

Cain's stomach churned. He had never been good with attention, and now he was the center of it all. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms as he tried to steady his breathing.

"This is bad. This is so bad. I was supposed to fail and go back to my quiet life. Now everyone's staring at me like I'm some kind of hero… or worse, a freak."

He quickened his pace, weaving through the throngs of students, but the whispers followed him like a shadow. He could feel their eyes on him, their gazes burning into his back.

Desperate for a moment of peace, he ducked into a secluded alley, leaning against the cool stone wall as he tried to catch his breath.

"Okay, Cain. Just stay calm. This is just a misunderstanding. If you keep your head down, they'll forget about you eventually… right?"

But deep down, he knew it wasn't that simple. Something had changed during that duel, something he couldn't explain. His body had moved on its own, as if guided by an unseen force. And now, he was paying the price for it.

As Cain tried to calm himself, the cold, mechanical voice echoed in his head again, sending a shiver down his spine.

[System Notice: Overlord Awakening Process – 2%]

[Host's combat instincts are adapting to the environment. Passive skill "Instinctive Combat" has been activated.]

[Warning: Host's memories remain suppressed. Proceed with caution.]

Cain gritted his teeth, his frustration boiling over.

"What do you mean, proceed with caution? I didn't ask for any of this! I just want to be normal!"

The system didn't respond. Instead, a new notification popped up, glowing faintly in his mind's eye.

[Quest Unlocked: "The Gathering Storm"]

[Objective: Survive the academy's attention for one week.]

[Reward: Memory Fragment – "The Abyssal Tyrant's First Battle."]

Cain groaned, running a hand through his disheveled hair.

"A quest? Seriously? What is this, some kind of game? And what's this about an Abyssal Tyrant? That sounds like the name of a villain!"

The system remained silent, leaving Cain to stew in his confusion. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves.

"Alright, fine. If I have to survive this week, I'll do it. But after that, I'm done with all this nonsense."

Unbeknownst to Cain, he was being watched. From the rooftop above, Selene Nightshade observed him with a mix of hope and trepidation.

Her violet eyes narrowed as she studied his every move, her sharp gaze missing nothing.

"His posture, his mannerisms… it's uncanny. But if he truly is my Lord, why doesn't he recognize me? And why does he seem so… ordinary?"

She recalled the moment Cain had defeated Instructor Garron. The way his body had moved with such precision and grace, as if guided by an unseen force.

It was a technique she had seen only once before, in the hands of the Abyssal Tyrant himself.

Selene's fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as she made a decision.

"I need to get closer. If he truly is my Lord, I won't let him face this world alone. And if he's not… well, I'll deal with that when the time comes."

With a flick of her wrist, she vanished into the shadows, her presence disappearing as if she had never been there.

Cain finally reached his dorm room, relieved to be away from prying eyes. He opened the door, only to find someone already inside.

A tall, muscular boy with fiery red hair was unpacking his belongings, his back turned to the door. He looked up as Cain entered, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Ah, you must be my new roommate! Name's Ragnar Bloodfang. Heard you made quite the impression during the entrance exam."

Cain froze, his mind racing.

"Great. Just what I needed, a fan."

Ragnar strode over, clapping Cain on the shoulder with enough force to make him stumble.

"Don't be so modest! Taking down Instructor Garron in one hit? That's legendary! I can't wait to spar with you."

Cain forced a weak smile, his mind scrambling for a way out of this conversation.

"Uh, yeah… about that. I'm not really much of a fighter. It was just luck, really."

Ragnar laughed, clearly not buying it.

"Luck, huh? Well, I guess we'll see about that. Anyway, make yourself at home. We're gonna be seeing a lot of each other."

Cain sighed, realizing that his hopes of staying under the radar were slipping further away.

As night fell, Cain lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Ragnar's snores filled the room, but sleep eluded Cain. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and questions, each one more troubling than the last.

"Why is this happening to me? I didn't ask for any of this. I just wanted to live a normal life…"

The system's voice interrupted his thoughts, its cold tone sending a shiver down his spine.

[System Notice: Overlord Awakening Process – 5%]

[Host's emotional state is unstable. Initiating calming protocols.]

Cain felt a strange warmth spread through his body, calming his nerves. He closed his eyes, finally feeling the weight of exhaustion.

"Fine. I'll play along for now. But if this Overlord thing is real… I'm not sure I want to remember."

As he drifted off to sleep, a faint memory flickered in his mind, a battlefield shrouded in darkness, a throne of bones, and a voice whispering his name.