Alex landed back inside his darkroom. The tension he felt inside the fourth floor vanished. The sight of his room was relieving. Seconds later his exhaustion and lack of sleep caught up with him.

He immediately went to bed and fell asleep with his dirty clothes. When he woke up he felt reborn but it was still dark outside. Dreams of endless struggles and bloody battle woke him up.

Some of the vision belonged to him while others were about total strangers. He scanned the room nervously but soon realized that he was home in safety. Then he took a deep breath. Everything was safe. He repeated that in his mind.

He rolled over in bed but failed to fall. Then the alarm clock rang. It was 7:30 a.m. in the week. He hurled the alarm clock against the wall. The alarm clock instantly cracked into a thousand pieces. Now the wall had a hole inside.

Shortly after the noise, his mother came into the room. She had a knife with Nutella in her hand. As she saw Alex, she dropped the knife and started crying. Her eyes were red in seconds. She fell sobbingly around his neck.

She used all her strength to talk. "I'm so happy." Warms emitted from her words with an underlying sadness. While Alex struggled to understand her word under all her crying. He felt bad and guilty like never before in his life. She cried because of him. “I'm sorry mom. “

“I love you so much, Alex. You're my everything. Never go away again. Please.” said his mother. She kissed his forehead several times. “I'll call Norbert right away. He is going to be happy."

"How is he?" asked Alex.

“He's just working. It was hard for him without you. He's taken your advice to heart and is now training people for the tutorial. He's in the studio working.” said his mother.

Alex was now even meeker. “He´s working right now? I'll stop with the tutorial for now.” It wasn´t even 8 o´clock. His mother nodded. “That’s good. Be good and help around here.” “Absolutely,” said Alex. Then his stomach growled with the strength of an ancient beast. His mother gave him a slight smile before she ran into the kitchen without asking anymore.

Alex gave Malle a call in the meantime.

„No shit, is that you Alex?” Malle yelled into his phone.

“Sure and I'm sorry dude,” said Alex.

Malle didn´t answer.

“Do you have anything to say or ask?” asked Alex.

“Are you kidding? I thought you were dead! You asshole. That´s the shit you do. Have you told your mom that you are back?” asked Malle.

“She already knows and I still feel bad,” said Alex.

“That’s the very least you can do. Now to get you up to date. We have emergency classes,” said Malle.

“That sounds relaxing,” said Alex.

"Today, 8 o'clock till 12," said Malle. Then he hung up.

The sudden end came as a bit of a surprise. Yet Alex did not have time to wonder. Time was running out if he didn´t want to be late. He gathered everything and got on his bike after a short breakfast.

His mother silently looked at him. She never let him out of sight. It was kinda creepy but he had no right to care. She must have felt unthinkable grief during his absence. Alex kissed his mother goodbye. Something he hadn´t done since he was like five.

Then he raced off. His speed was neck-breaking but he got to their usual meeting point on time. Malle was only waiting for a short while. Alex didn't even stop as he drove towards Malle.

On their way, Malle looked at him. “It really is you.”

Alex had never seen him so happy.

“I'm relieved,” said Malle, “What have you been doing for so long?”

“I was being stuck on the fourth floor,” said Alex.

“That’s so crazy of you to go there. Just live here and be safe. Are you stupid or something? You always said that studying is important but now you enjoy risking your life?” said Malle.

Alex was caught off guard by his harsh words. “No adventures for now. I swear.”

Their conversation soon drying down. In the end, they arrived at school. The Lessons passed slowly. Alex instantly remembered why he didn´t miss this place. Experiencing blood-boiling danger for once changed his entire life and perception.

During class, Malle turned to him and whispered. “Do you know? Five people in the class survived the tutorial, but none of them have a ring.” Alex turned to him. “That´s new to me.” Then he looked around the classroom. They sat together with the parallel class and had still empty seats. A little later the bell rang for the break.

Vincent came to Alex. “Alex my old friend. You sure have gotten far in the tutorial, right? I know a few people with whom you would get along well.”

Alex frowned. “Who are you talking about?” Why would he need friends, when the tutorial was a battle taken alone and existed to sharpen one's senses and give strength?

"You should know, Ascenders working together. You would certainly get a good position. ", Vincent said and stared at his two bronze rings with admiration and some kind of hidden motive. Alex didn´t like it but he should get some more knowledge. “What are Ascenders?”

Vincent stared at him in disbelieve. “Well, people who fight in the tutorial.” He said with the least amount of ridicule he could muster.

“Anyway, not interested Vinc,” said Alex. Then he gave Vinc an annoyed gaze. Vincent winced and left in a panic. His reaction was a bit much but who Alex to care.

Alex adrenaline didn't start running during algebra or literature. Finally, the school day ended. Alex packed his things and walked out of the classroom. In front of the room he waited for Malle but Lotte was first to leave the room.

So far they've been avoiding each other but now they stood right in front of each other. When they looked at each other, there was tension in the air. Lotte looked at Alex with her deer eyes. “How are you?”

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“Good. Have you prepared for the tutorial now?” asked Alex.

“Yes. I always go to training after school. Is it really that bad, like in there?” asked Lotte. Alex could only shrug his shoulders. “There are merits in surviving.” That was a bad answer, to be honest.

Then Malle came out of the door. He winked at Lotte and patted Alex on the shoulder. “Let’s go.”

They went down the stairs and into the schoolyard. Alex noticed three strange men standing in front of the school gate. They reminded him of gangsters, or rather bullies. They wore suits and looked stylish, but every student avoided eye contact.

Alex and Malle passed them but the men blocked their path. The man in the middle put on a big smile. “It's such a welcome fortune to find a man with two rings.” Alex looked at the man's fingers and saw a ring of healing. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Malle getting restless. Then the unfamiliar man laughed. “How about we talk while eating a good meal?”

“I have the suspicion that we skipped a few steps and I'm not interested in men,” said Alex.

“We want to talk about business. Your mouth is cheeky,” said the man.

“You are a suspicious stranger. What do you expect?” asked Alex.

“Of course, where are my manners? I'm Joshuar, nice to meet you.“ said the man.

“I'm going ahead,” whispered Malle. Then Alex said goodbye with a handshake. When Malles head was next to Alex's, he whispered. "Be careful." Then Malle drove off.

A little later Alex was sitting together with them at a corner table in a fine French restaurant.

“So what do you want?” asked Alex.

“Don't you want to order some food first? I'm quite hungry,” said Joshuar. He soon realized that Alex didn´t mean to say anything in response. “Good. I will explain a little to you. You seem to have isolated yourself for a while. Probably challenged the third floor. It is pretty hard. I am part of the silver moon and would like to recruit you.” He then leaned back.

“And what is the silver moon?” asked Alex.

Joshuar gave him a crooked look. ”We act as a kind of helpful organization, healing and restraining rampaging Ascenders.”

“Are you sure?” asked Alex. Up until now, people reacted like they saw some kind of gangster.

“Listen. I am a captain. But you could play right at the top. When you enter you would at least be a captain as well.” said Joshuar.

“Not interest,” said Alex. His voice was dismissive. Joshuar looked puzzled. “Wait a minute. You don't have to decide right away. How about working in the healing department. That’s safe and easy. Treating cancer patients a few times and making big money. Very easy.”

“Sounds good, but I still appreciate my independence for now,” said Alex. Those were not people he wanted to join right away.

Joshuar fell silent and shook his head. Then he waved the menu card. A waiter came right away. “The usual.” Then Joshuar looked at Alex. He had no clue. “The house recommendation, please,”

The previous tension seemed to have gone away. Joshuar had officially given up. They waited and ate their food in silence. Alex got frog legs and he had never tasted such tender meat.

When Joshuar finished eating, he put his knife and fork on the plate. “Thank you very much for finding time to dine with us despite everything. I will pay for the food.”

At the very least Joshaur had a backbone. Alex said goodbye and left.

He went straight for the hospital but not before writing his mother a short text.

At the hospital's reception, Alex waited until it was his turn. When he stood in front of the nurse, he showed his ring. “Can I help?”

“The chief doctor has to decide that,” said the nurse with an insincere smile. In her tone of voice, Alex could tell that this was neither her problem nor that she cared. A little later a man in his fifties greeted him. He had short gray hair with some white. “Please. I can't pay you guys. The fees are too high. There are only people here who have hardly any money.”

Alex was caught off guard. “I haven't even mentioned my price.”

The chief doctor was taken aback. “Aren't you from the silver moon?”

“No freelancer. I want to supplement my pocket money,” said Alex.

The chief doctor was taken aback. “You can talk to the patient, but if you cause problems, you will have to leave immediately.” said the chief doctor.

Alex nodded with a smile on his face. “All right.” He then followed the chief doctor into a room. An old man was sitting upright in his bed. His eyes were cloudy and he had no hair. Alex went to the man without saying a word. The patient seemed confused. “Who is that visitor?”

“A new helper,” said the chief doctor.

A fine, green haze fell from Alex Ring and onto the patient. After a while, the patient seemed energized. He kept blinking. “Everything becomes so clear. My cataract? Am I being healed? ”He didn´t seem to believe it.

Alex continued to use the ring until the effects wore off. Now the old man looked at him. A small tear ran down his face. “Thank you.” His cloudy eyes were clear again.

Alex smiled at him. “My pleasure.” Then he looked at the chief doctor. “How much money is that worth?”

“Quite a bit. We can make form a contract and you can help us regularly.” said the chief doctor.

“Sure,” said Alex. He smiled “Then take me to the next patient.” That evening he treated seven other patients. But he stopped because the chief doctor was slowly wondering how much mana Alex had. In the end, Alex lied and said that he was now exhausted. The chief doctor promised to take care of the paperwork. Some of the patients gave Alex a little money, but the chief doctor promised him a fixed payment. That was a pretty simple job.