The nurses' room walls were lined with cabinets filled with medical supplies, and the only sound was the occasional beep of a heart monitor from the next room. Nurse Lila guided him to a bed, her movements swift and efficient as she began to examine his injuries. The world outside the room faded away, replaced by the soft white light and the gentle but firm touch of her hands.

NURSE LILA

(softly)

Why do you think we have a nurses' office in the academy, Si-Woo?

Si-Woo's eyes met hers, but he remained silent, his gaze dropping to the floor. The bruises on his face and the tremble in his hands spoke volumes.

Nurse Lila sighed, her eyes filled with a gentle understanding. "Although we all have hard times in life, you know what makes it bearable?" she asked, her voice soothing as a lullaby.

Si-Woo remained silent, his eyes unfocused, lost in the turmoil of his thoughts. The pain in his body was a mere echo of the agony in his soul. He felt the weight of his mother's loss pressing down on him, the memory of her smile and her gentle touch a distant beacon in the dark.

Nurse Lila paused in her examination, her gaze softening as she looked at him. "You know, Si-Woo," she said gently, "the greatest comfort in the face of hardship is knowing you're not alone." She paused, allowing her words to sink in before continuing, "When we stand together, we're stronger. When we support each other, we can endure even the most unbearable of pains."

With a gentle touch, she finished tending to his wounds and pulled back the curtain next to them, revealing Ha-Yoon lying on a nurse's bed. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, her face serene in sleep. The sight of her brought a pang of relief to Si-Woo's heart, a reminder that amidst the chaos, there was still something good, something pure.

Nurse Lila offered him a warm smile before speaking the words that would resonate through his soul, "There's an old saying I remember, Si-Woo. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." With that, she left the room, her footsteps receding into the hallway, leaving Si-Woo with nothing but his thoughts and the quiet beep of a heart monitor.

The sterile room stood in sharp contrast to the chaotic world beyond its walls, offering Si-Woo a fleeting sense of tranquility. He glanced at Ha-Yoon, her diminutive figure swallowed by the vast hospital bed. The bruises marring her cheek were a grim constellation against her pallid complexion, a vivid testament to the ordeal they had endured.

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"I have to get stronger," he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible over the persistent beep of the heart monitor. "For both of us." The words echoed in his mind, a solemn vow he had made countless times before. He remembered his mother's gentle voice, whispering her own aspirations for him, "Be more godlike, Si-Woo. Show the world what you're truly capable of." Her eyes had shone with a mix of hope and fear, a silent plea for him to transcend the cruelty that often accompanied humanity.

The last class of the day, the one that had once been a source of pride and excitement, now brought him nothing but dread. Beast training was the most anticipated class at the academy, but for Si-Woo, it was a reminder of his lack of a bond. The other kids, their laughter and shouts of triumph as they played with their beasts, stung like salt on an open wound. Each pair was so perfectly matched, a mirror of the unity he so desperately sought.

Si-Woo perched on the chilly stone bench, his gaze sweeping across the grassland horizon to the southeast of the academy, where other students honed their combat skills and maneuvers. Each student was accompanied by a beast, a lifelong ally destined to gain strength with them. The array of creatures mirrored the diversity of the students, ranging from sleek, shadowy panthers to regal, radiant griffins. "Another day spent observing everyone with their companions, but it's pleasant... pleasant to see everyone has a friend," he remarked, his smile sincere.

In the distance, the teacher's voice pierced the air like a bell, echoing through the open-air training ground. "Today is the last day to choose your bond and perform the ritual," she announced, her tone firm but laced with a hint of kindness. "Remember, you're not just picking a beast, but a soulmate. A companion that will help shape your destiny."

The words hit Si-Woo like a wave, crashing against the shores of his solitude. He watched as his classmates scurried around, their eyes shining with excitement and anticipation. Each of them had spent weeks preparing for this moment, forming connections with the creatures that resonated with them the most. And yet here he was, sitting alone on a bench, his eyes cast down to the cold stone beneath him.

The teacher's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than the others, a look of pity that seemed to burn into his soul. It was a look he had grown all too familiar with, a silent reminder of his otherness, his lack of a beast. He felt his cheeks heat up, and he averted his eyes, focusing instead on the distant horizon where the sky met the earth in a blur of blues and purples.

And then it happened. Out of nowhere, he felt a weight on top of his head. Startled, he jolted a little, his hand flying up to brush it away. But instead of the expected bird or leaf, his hand encountered something warm, something alive. He brought it down to find himself staring into the eyes of a creature he had only read about in the dusty books of the academy's library—a pure white, four-eyed, winged beast. A wyvern.

His heart raced in his chest as he took in the majesty of the creature. It was a baby wyvern, but no less terrifying. The wyvern looked at him with curiosity, its pupils dilating in the warm sunlight. "A wyvern," he murmured, his voice trembling slightly. "They say if a wyvern picks you, you're destined to be a great long-lasting warrior."