After walking along a hallway and passing a few open rooms and courtyard, we were brought to our temporary stay. Looking a lot like a boarding school with private rooms, and generally more fancy.

The handmaid's start to call out names and then gesturing to a room, walking for a few more minutes I hear my name called out, and enter the room pointed out to me.

Walking into it and closing the door, i'm surprised to hear… Nothing! They somehow made it so that once the door was closed, no outside noises made it’s way into the room. Looking around and seeing a bed close to a twin size, a standing dresser, a bookshelf, and a desk with two chairs, I realise how quaint and well maintained the room is.

Going to the window, wondering what my view was, I open it. Greeted by a light breeze and a view of the arena our physical abilities were tested in, looking beyond it I see a small portion of a town, and just past that a sprawling woods only stopped by the mountains and horizon in the distance.

Feeling a sense of peace, I close the window and draw the curtains. Lighting the torch by the bedside, I look around to see if there is a bathroom or if I had to go to one outside of my room.

To my relief, there is one connected to my room. Stepping into it, I realise that there is what looked like a modern day ceiling lamp covering, made of a half dome and translucent.

Having an idea as to what it is, I look around the walls and as I thought, I find a small circular button. Pressing it, the lamp ignites and bathes a warm light across the room.

Realising that there must be one in the main room that I missed, I go back to it and find the same small button, clicking it, it does the same and ignites the half dome on the ceiling casting the same light.

I go to the torch by my bedside and blow it out, just as I hear a knock on my door. I go to it, thinking back to what Priest Arwin said to try and remember if she mentioned that there would be someone who came to our door before we went to bed, thinking it was most likely the meal she had mentioned.

Opening it only to find the pink haired girl who had argued with the guy who tried to take charge back at the stamina and agility, I inwardly sigh in disappointment and disgust.

“Can I help you?” Keeping my feelings hidden and asking in a monotone voice.

“Yes you can. I want to talk to you.” the girl says in response. Feeling like it would be a bad idea to let her in, I stay standing at the door.

“I’m listening.” I say.

“Are you not gonna let me in? How rude!” She harrumphs. I yet again can’t help but feel like she was trying to pull something, still standing at the door staring at her and unmoving, I wait for her to ask what it is she wanted.

“Are you really not going to let me in?” she presses, this time sulking slightly and looking at me with sad eyes. I get a similar feeling to when the appraiser used that crystal to see my stats and skills, but this time starting from my head and spreading throughout my body.

Not bothering to hide my discomfort, I redirect it at her. Thinking that it was most likely something that she tried to do. Placing my hand on her shoulder and stooping down due to the height difference, I stare directly into her eyes without any of my masks. Simply gazing into her eyes with my indifferent, uncaring and annoyed emotions being proudly displayed in my gaze.

She shudders and tries to speak a few times. I increase my grip on her shoulder and ask again with a plain voice, “is there something I can help you with?” lulling her into a sense of urgency.

She continues to stare at me, opening and closing her mouth like a fish. After a moment of distress, she snaps out of her fear and backs away, saying “I’m sorry, it's nothing. I’ll leave you be.” before running off in the direction of her room.

I watch her go for a moment longer, before turning back into my room and forgetting the interaction ever happened.

Stepping into the bathroom, I give myself a once over, again surprised by their technology by having running water and functioning toilets.

After cleaning up and quickly preening myself, I stop to look at my reflection.

My face, still unmoving even after all this time. My hair, which I grew to a practical yet good looking length after years of trial and error. My chin, which I keep meticulously trimmed. And the rest of my body, strained after years of physical work, and toned to an envious degree. Yet littered in random little scars and damage.

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My biggest scar from my torso to shoulder, a taut cord on a trawling run that snapped and carved my chest. Easily the one I would want to experience again the least. Not to say I would want to go through any of it again.

The rip on my right arm, after a tree fell on it and gouged a hole in it. And numerous small yet random cuts and damage from all manner of things.

I take a moment to drive down memory lane, and feel proud. Proud that I survived all of that, and that I had a way to show for my efforts. Yet the anger that the god I met mentioned bubbles up, anger that I could have prevented the injuries, that I could have been better and not suffered them.

Pulling my gaze away, I step back into the main room and walk over to the bed. Noticing that I had no way to tell the time and not feeling very hungry, I decide to go to bed to wake up early so I could wait to be called, instead of sleeping in and being late.

Slipping under the covers, I realise that the bed was actually slightly too small. Barebly, but really annoying.

Letting thoughts of what happened today run amok, I drift to sleep after lying in silence for what I assumed to be an hour or so, looking forward to what might happen tomorrow.

I awake in a void, bereft of any.

I've been here before… when?

Why was I here? Did I arrive in this place of my own volition?

Why does it feel wrong to think of leaving?

Why would I think to leave in the first place? I’ve never known anything else.

Right…?

All I know is this void, the comfort of nothing soothing my soul.

I sleep in this place, waiting. But for what? Even I don’t know.

I jolt up, a cold sweat running down my back. I see the wall of the room I’m staying in, I look around and see the axe that Sir Roland gave me yesterday.

I look down at my hand to make sure that I was still there, and I swear I could see a incorporeal mist seeping from my skin for a moment.

Blinking a few times, I get up and hurry over to the bathroom to splash cold water over my face. Letting the water drip down my skin, I stand there leaning over the sink. Panting from a fear and pain that I shouldn’t have.

I look up to the mirror and gaze at my reflection. Staring, I scour every millimetre of my reflection. Something feels amiss, but I look the same…

‘Why did I wake up in a cold sweat? Did I dream of something?’ I wonder. Standing there for a few minutes, I snap out of my trance and decide to have a shower, trying to distract myself from whatever that was.

Leisurely going through my morning routine, I find myself staring into the mirror again. Brushing off whatever it may have been, I move over to the desk in the corner where I set the axe down.

Still trying to distract myself, I settle down in the simple wooden chair nearby, picking up the axe from Sir Roland to give it a proper look. Unknowingly wishing to at least know what I dreamt of.

A knock at the door calls for my attention, I stand up to answer it. Hoping that it wasn’t the pink haired girl again, I’m pleasantly surprised to find that it was a maid holding a serving platter with a letter on it.

“Sir Hero, I was requested to deliver this to you.” She says.

Picking up the letter, I flip it over in my hand a few times trying to think of who might have sent it. “Do you happen to know who wrote the letter?” I ask, not seeing a signature or anything that would betray who wanted to give it to me.

“I do not.” The maid responds. Looking at it a moment longer, I politely dismiss the maid and walk back into my room.

Sitting back down at the desk, I open the letter and begin to read the note that was inside,

‘Hero Erja,

I was pleasantly surprised to see you do well in the physical appraisal. But that is not the reason for this letter, I send this to you in regards to the schedule and teachings that will be taking place over the next few days.

In regards to your age and experience, we have decided to stray slightly from the typical studies that you will be taking part in. While you will be following the same main curriculum as the rest of the rest of the heroes, I would like to suggest slightly different specialisation learning paths that better suit you.

While these paths will be offered to those who excel in their training after a period of time, after discussing with his Majesty, Faroohk Aray Develiuse, and his advisors. We have come to an agreement and understanding to allow you to take these courses as your main specialisation lessons immediately.

I would be happy to answer any questions you may have, with more being revealed in the lessons that will be taking place this morning.

-Arwin Ar Develiuse’

Reading over the letter, I’m surprised about its contents. Finally coming to realise that priestess Arwin had the same name and was most likely the daughter of the king.

‘I noticed it during the lecture yesterday, but I wasn’t sure if I was correct. It also explains Sir Rolands reaction when that kid at the start was impolite to her. At least by royalty standards.’

Wondering what kind of specialisation that Lady Arwin wrote about, I hear a knock at the door again. Getting up to answer, I'm greeted by another maid who briefly says that it was time to partake in lessons, and where to go.

Grabbing my axe, I follow the rest of the summoned who were already moving along the hallways following the instructions of the maids.