SYSTEM ASCENSION

Elias and Mona exit the lab-like jail room, where they found Quil standing, leaning against the door.

”When did you return?” Elias walked past him.

”Last...night?” He glanced at Mona. ”Hey, weren’t you carrying that one on your head the other day? As a baby?”

”Maybe?”

He ran after Elias, and Mona followed behind, not caring a single bit about his naked self.

”Did he confess?”

”Mona killed him.”

”Huh? What?!”

”But we got a lead.”

”Ha, I see...”

”Were you the one he attacked?” Elias casted him a side glance.

”Not really. I was the one who attacked him rather.” He laughed. ”Destroyed the building though. I don’t have to pay for that right? I didn’t make a lot of money as a traveller.”

”Lies.”

Quil laughed. ”You got me.”

”Why didn’t you return home? Your mother waited.”

He went silent for a moment, thinking back on his journey. ”When I woke up, I had no memory of who I was.”

Elias stopped.

”It was like being reborn.” Quil shrugged. ”I didn’t recall anything. I lived like that. Became a travelling raider. Cleared some low ranking portals with some rogue raiders, until I randomly strolled into the Salvador empire. I am a bit familiar with it, so I began to recall. My life, visits, the trials, betrayals, Yvonne, Elias, Roche, Lisa, Laura... everything.”

He laughed again. ”I also went home too. Well... not my actual home, but Torzi empire. I felt like duty would tie me down if I returned to my actual home, so I...”

He chuckled softly.

”I ran away. Stayed away from the life I grew up to know. It just didn’t feel like me any longer.”

The jovial mood died down slowly.

”I...was there... in Salvador empire a year ago. The attack...I didn’t make it. I thought you died.”

Elias turned his gaze to the window, watching the moon. ”I died.”

”Sorry?”

”I said I died. The experience of the void is enough to make a soul go insane. I only made it back because I left Mona behind.”

Quil glanced back at Mona who was staring at the monitoring orb that was installed in the hallway.

Elias continued to walk. ”Let’s go!”

”...oh...right.” he ran after, while Mona followed behind.

The student council along with helping hands like Tyler and Quil threw themselves into work, checking the names of all the foreign students.

Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes into hours. The sun rose the next day and set. They all missed class and sleeping time. A few ones dozed off mid day, only to be slapped awake to continue searching.

As for the disposal corpse. It was confiscated and burnt by the school. A message concerning his death was sent to the orphanage, but no response ever came.

By the third day,

The academy courtyard was unusually crowded.

Elias had barely stepped out of the main building when Bora appeared in front of him, wearing the most innocent smile she could possibly manage.

He stopped and she stopped too.

While the controversy about the child had died down, she was still adding fire to his raider rank.

For a few seconds, they simply stared at each other. Then Bora leaned slightly closer.

”I hope you enjoyed how I ruined your name in public.”

Elias blinked.

”...”

She smiled brightly. ”If you agree to become my follower, I’ll fix it.”

Silence.

A few students nearby slowly turned their heads.

Elias stared at Bora as though he was waiting for someone to explain the joke. She waited patiently, but he said nothing. Then he simply walked past her.

Her smile twitched.

”Hey.”

Elias kept walking.

”Hey!”

She hurried after him and grabbed his arm.

”Wait! How dare you—”

Elias stopped and looked down at her hand, before looking at her.

”Let go.”

”No.”

He frowned.

”Let. Go.”

”I said I’ll fix your reputation. Don’t you want to live a good life?! I’ll shoulder your problems.”

”You’re my problem.”

Several students nearby immediately covered their mouths.

”The audacity to talk to the princess like that!”

”How dare he!”

Bora’s eyes widened.

”You—!”

Before she could finish, Elias pulled his arm free and shoved her away. It wasn’t hard enough to hurt her, but it was enough to make her stumble backward.

The entire courtyard froze.

Bora caught herself by the wall, staring at him as he walked away, not even looking back.

For three seconds, nobody moved.

Then—

”HE SHOVED THE PRINCESS?!”

”Did everyone see that?!”

”Didn’t she literally admit she ruined his name?!”

”He’s still a C ranker so she didn’t do anything!”

Bora stood in the middle of the courtyard, staring at Elias’s retreating back.

Her face slowly turned red. She clenched her fists.

”Elias!”

He didn’t turn around.

”YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO SAY YES! SAY YES TO ME!”

”Elias!” Another voice called from behind her.

He glanced back.

When Bora heard the voice, her face fell immediately. Tiana ran past her, and stopped beside him.

”I’ll collapse if I take another step. Carry me.”

He didn’t even change expression. He just reached down and picked her up.

The whole students in the hallway gasped.

”He picked one over one.”

Tiana threw her hand around his neck and raised her chin on his shoulder.

As he continued to walk away, she smirked at Bora and mouthed.

”He’s my god-brother, not yours.”

Bora didn’t realise when tears slipped down her face.

”I’ll show you...”

___

The next day came faster than expected, and it came with a surprise. After finishing the morning exercise, they attended class for the first period. Skill advancement.

They all sat down when the professor came in.

”Good morning future raiders,” the professor dropped her book. ”First of all, we have a new student joining us today.”

Whispers instantly sparked.

”New student?”

Even the council was confused. The school no longer accepts students two weeks after resumption.

Claude glanced at Fayera.

”No file.” She shook her head.

”Even Elias had a confidential file.” He muttered.

”Come on in,” the professor nudged her hand towards the door and all eyes turned.

It opened, and someone stepped in.

Smoothly ironed uniform wear. A relic like earring on his ears. Dark skinned. 6’5”. Silver hair touching the sole of his feet. Silver eyes. A charming smile.

”Woooooooowwwww....”

They didn’t know when they exclaimed in fascination.

The professor nodded in approval.

”He’ll be joining us from today,” she tapped his shoulder. ”Go on. Introduce yourself.”

He clasped a hand on his chest, then glanced around till he locked eyes with Elias.

”My name is Haliad. Take care of me.”