Faction

I was still somewhat satisfied, despite being stopped. If she had to intervene, it probably meant he would've died. That outcome was acceptable.

Now what should I do… meditation? Physical training? Real combat training?

Now that I can cast spells, I really want to keep doing it nonstop—but is that the right thing to do?

I sighed.

This instructor really doesn't teach anything useful.

I'll try asking her Monday. In the meantime, I should go meditate.

I could feel I was still weak. That little scuffle earlier had drained a lot of energy, even if I hated to admit it. I pushed myself too hard holding up that shield—just to test my limits.

I thought I had a huge advantage with this unknown-grade glyph, but it seems that it's not the case. Or maybe the advantage lies elsewhere.

Maybe the others would have some idea? It had been a while since I last spoke to them.

Without even noticing, we'd grown closer little by little, slowly integrating them into this strange new life. Even if I didn't see them often because of my... absences, I could feel we were getting closer. Is this what it means to make friends?

It wasn't unpleasant.

But that brought me back to what that woman said a few minutes ago—

'Life has value.'

Did their lives have value to me?

Would I be sad if they got hurt?

Would I be angry if they were sad?

Would I want to destroy the world if it took them from me?

What I felt when I saw Julia sad the other day… maybe that was the sign I was waiting for.

The sign that I might finally find the happiness I'd been chasing for so long.

*

I sighed for what felt like the hundredth time, wandering the massive hallways aimlessly.

There wasn't even a library in this place—how was I supposed to survive without books?

It had always been my only passion. When I read, I felt like I was living the story myself—like I became the main character. Like we were one and the same.

It was the only moment I felt safe in this place filled with death and despair.

I guess it was my way of escaping.

Then again, it was the only passion they allowed us. They weren't going to give us anything more dangerous than paper. And honestly? They were right not to.

I proved their fears were justified.

I was about to sigh again when I saw a familiar figure at the end of the corridor—with his typically serious face and wardrobe-like build, I couldn't miss him.

I raised my left hand and gave him a little wave.

His face didn't change at all, but I knew he saw me.

He was seriously good at hiding all his reactions. They say the army changes a man…

I wonder what he was like before.

Did he smile often? Crack jokes with his many friends? Was he popular?

Damn, since when do I care about such stupid things? It's like someone's been sneaking stray thoughts into my brain—it's annoying.

"Hey, Klaus."

"Hey, Cain."

"..."

"..."

We stared at each other in silence, eye to eye. A weird tension started building.

It was the most awkward moment of my life.

I had to say something. Anything.

"So… what are you gonna do?"

He replied instantly,

"Train."

Man of few words.

"I'll join you."

He nodded and kept walking in silence. I walked beside him.

I wasn't gonna get any laughs out of this guy, that was clear.

Still, he gave off a kind of quiet warmth I couldn't explain. Like just being near him made me feel safe. It was comforting—and kind of strange, coming from someone so serious and seemingly indifferent.

We reached a room I hadn't seen before—an enormous gym. Unlike the basic one I was in an hour ago, this one was far more advanced. And packed. Some people were training with specialized equipment, others were lifting impossible weights, and others still were running so fast they left afterimages.

If I had to sum this place up in a few words, "A gathering of titans."

Everyone here was incredibly strong.

Klaus went around shaking hands with every single person—men and women alike. Should I do the same? Probably.

So I walked over to the nearest person—a brunette with mid-length hair and an athletic build—and held out my hand.

She raised an eyebrow.

"You shake hands with your left?"

I gave a small laugh.

"Don't really have a choice."

I was literally one-armed now. My right arm didn't even had blood flowing throught it anymore.

Now that I think about it, should I just cut it off? Maybe they could regrow it like a starfish limb?

She looked at my right arm through the fabric, as if she could see through it.

"It's totally busted."

Was she suggesting I chop it off right now?

"Yeah, I noticed."

"You're surprisingly chill for someone who just lost an arm."

"How do you know it was recent?"

Did she stalked me ?

She shrugged.

"You think they let disabled people in here? If someone's messed up like that, it happened here. And classes started about a month ago."

Well, damn. Sherlock Holmes over here.

"You gonna shake my hand or what?"

She smiled a little, clearly amused by me, and held out her right hand.

"..."

She pissed me off.

I twisted my arm 180 degrees and walked away without a word. Was it really that hard to use her left hand for a poor cripple like me?

The next few minutes were hell.

Everyone offered their right hand.

My urge to gut them all skyrocketed.

I went back to Klaus, who had moved off to the side, already doing exercises with a pair of dumbbells. He wasted no time.

"So what's your training routine?"

He handed me a ten-kilo dumbbell. I grabbed it without much trouble. I really had gotten stronger!

Then suddenly the weight seemed to multiply several times over, and I dropped to the floor.

"Why—"

I stopped mid-sentence. Something was off in my field of vision—like an anomaly that didn't belong.

Klaus had a faint, mocking smile.

Was I hallucinating?

I blinked, and the smile vanished, replaced by his usual stoic face.

Then I felt the faint ripples of mana around me, and it hit me—

That bastard.

He was using gravity.

"What happened to your arm?"

Was he trying to distract me?

"Little accident. Doesn't work anymore."

Klaus frowned.

"You were gone for over two weeks. Selections are starting soon. If I were you, I'd learn to be left-handed—fast."

"Selections?"

"Yeah."

He didn't seem keen on elaborating. Maybe he didn't know either.

In that case…

"You were in the army, right? Train me."

He gave a grimace of disgust before replying,

"Figure it out yourself. I'm busy."

Maybe I shouldn't have brought up the army. If he didn't want to help, fine. I had no reason to stick around.

I turned to leave, but a figure stepped in front of me—blocking the exit.

The annoying brunette.

"What?"

"You want to train, right? I can help."

I couldn't help but smirk. She wanted to help? There had to be a catch.

"And what do you want in exchange?"

Her lips curled.

"You're not as dumb as you look."

I rolled my eyes. Who did she think I was? The sorcerer Cain is not an idiot.

"It's simple. I want you to join my… faction."

"Your faction? Like a gang or something?"

Her eyes narrowed—she looked like a predator spotting prey.

"Let's just say we help each other out. We can handle certain... problems you might run into."

Hmm… too good to be true.

"For free?"

"Let's just say I'll need a favor at the end of the year."

"What kind of favor?"

She hesitated, then finally gave in.

"There'll be a major battle between the factions in the Tower. All members are required to participate."

Why didn't she lead with that?!

I held out my hand.

"I'm in!"

This was going to be fun.

But then..

She offered her right hand.

Bitch.