Proofreader: Future Me

“Before we all participate in this challenge, we’d like to provide everyone the opportunity to view their status boards!”

…

I felt the world dawning on me once again.

They presented various crystal balls, very cliche of course, while organising everyone into groups. These were high ranked appraisal stones, able to view stats of someone to everyone around them which also can be used multiple times.

Time ticked as I slowly made my way up the line. Everyone was around the 50% average, with only big stars like Fen hitting Tier 1 in strength, and the like.

“Put your hand here please.”

There was a small panel underneath the ball, which I begrudgingly placed mine.

“”...””

A universal silence made itself apparent.

“Ahem, since you were admitted, there must be a… a special reason!” They tried to cheer me up, as the stares of others tore into me.

‘Whatever.’

This was the only part which I could perform decently in. Thus, I had to make sure to do well. Your grade decides the extra benefits of being higher in the rankings. In which the slightest bit of efficiency would mean I could get stronger quicker.

Shortly after, we were once again lined up.

“Students on your marks!”

3!

2!

1!

“Go!”

The stampede of students had begun.

All I had to do was maintain my pace, while those who went full power were nothing but idiots.

Breathe in, breathe out. I focused solely on those two actions while running.

The male protagonists, Fen, Ash and Rodney had easily kept up with no sweat, and still massively outsped me. Serina and Uriel similarly kept a simple pace.

It was fascinating being able to see all the protagonists in one place when they originally existed separately. I wanted to find Julia but I needed a decent score on this. At least in the top hundred for a two-man dorm room.

This was my only chance, and I had to move forward. Towards a future where I live, and a future I was satisfied with.

So I could only do one thing. Just run; it became the thought that would encompass my being.

Within half an hour I had begun sweating a large amount, while my breath became rugged.

Within an hour pain sprouted from my legs.

Within two hours my body became numb.

Within three hours I couldn’t form proper thoughts.

And within my mind, I replayed the words of my past mentor.

Even if I couldn’t feel my own body, I had to accomplish my goals. What my master had told me, and what I needed to do would propel me forwards. Just like the determination that saved my parents.

For now...

It was just me and the ground, and I would not fall.

-x-

Runalia The Dragon POV

This generation was the so-called Platinum Generation after the Golden Generation. I could see why, there were princes and princesses along with children of clear ability. They would be in high positions after they graduate just like their predecessors.

The stats of every child here was truly a step above the rest. Except of course, that one average looking child.

The first section of the physical exams was the most simple, to test stamina. But it was just in name. There was no given time, nor any other instruction.

The smarter students preserved their stamina while the thoughtless ones ran out of it quickly. Pacing was important, but it was not our true goal.

I wanted to see the face of immense will, one unwilling to give in to despair. Abel can no longer be a hero so the new generations must step up. People with an indomitable resilience would never fall to temptation.

So for now, I waited. Waited to see who would show me that.

Unfortunately, many of these students had higher stats than what is expected of the first years. They deserved to be known as the Golden Ones. And immediately I could see many who were destined for greatness. Thirteen of them, regardless of their abilities. Those who had great destinies emitted an aura which greater beings could sense.

I watched from above, seeing the students from a bird's eye view.

After an hour more than half fell out of it, which was less than expected.

After two hours the amount had gone down exponentially, with less than twenty students on the track.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

After three hours there were only six remaining.

I believe they were known as Fen, Rodney, Charles, Vyke, Erin, Mark… and who? The first five had a massive presence, but who is this boy?

"Peculiar," Such were the words that could only describe him. His stats earlier described a truly useless child, however he completely proved that notion wrong.

I predicted five to remain yet for some reason, this child was here. There was nothing to suggest greatness, his stats were obviously not high, and neither was his attachment to fate.

I watched on intrigued. It was as if he was in a trance, pain was written all over his body when I analysed it, but his face…

It was the expression we had been looking for.

Sheer will.

Immediately I felt ecstatic, regardless of talent, status or position. This ordinary-looking student was fighting toward something greater than he is now. That was what he displayed.

Unable to ignore my curiosity, I enabled my sight disruption magic and approached him.

His figure was crumbling, but determination was etched on his face.

His eyes, however, it was as if- it was looking at!?

Me!

“Huh- a go-goddess?” Words fumbled out of his mouth with an exasperated expression.

Without thinking, my hand already acted.

Boom!

His body tumbled and turned as he rolled across the grass.

I’ll have to give him compensatory marks regardless of the other two sections for that…

-x-

Luke POV

A slap with the force of a supernova had met my feeble self.

My body was giving up on me, regardless of my will it would crumble anyway. I grit my teeth and embrace the exhaustion.

And it was then, that a figure I saw in the game and from the entrance speech descended before me. However my brain couldn’t process such information properly and as such, the dry words “Goddess,” had escaped my throat.

Within an instant everything in sight, mind, and body vanished.

-x-

“Where am I!” I shouted first thing after gaining consciousness.

“Luke! You’re awake!”

Seeing her face I calmed down, Julia had been sitting in a chair next to my bed. But she began to start needlessly touching my body as if to check if I was real, she switched up real quick.

“Hey stop touching my face!” I shrugged off her hands and was met with a disappointed expression.

“This girl came running for you when you flew about as a child, be thankful.”

In an instant, the dragon in human form materialised in front of us.

“Runalia! Why is the vice-“

“I apologise.”

Memories flooded back to me, and I felt a burning sensation across my cheek.

“Why is the Vice-Head Master apologising?” Julia seemed to still be confused, after all she appeared out of nowhere.

I concurred, an event in which she lowered her head was nigh impossible.

“In the exam, student Luke had been unfairly disqualified due to a misfire from a spell among the staff. I as the Vice-HeadMaster stand to apologise on their behalf.”

It was a definite lie, but Julia’s presence had to be accounted for.

“Ehhh? Then- Luke deserves compensation for this!” Julia erupted in irritation toward her.

It left me wide-eyed, she’s dissing an ancient dragon who worked directly under Abel…

“That of course, is being organised right now. For one we promise that you pass the entire physical exam with a close to perfect score.”

“That should be the bare minimum for having flown across the field! Leave us be now! Hmph,” She scoffed at the dragon’s face.

The shock on my face should’ve been apparent. This dragon grandma had been a foe for the main cast as a professor of strictness, yet here Julia was blatantly spitting on her face.

“I’m sorry student Julia de Gracia, but I need to have a conversation with Luke as he is now awake.”

AND SHE LET IT BE?!

If I said those lines in the game, I’d be met with a game over quicker than I can alt f4.

“Fine. If it must be so, then I shall take my leave.”

Before she fully left the small resting room, Julia cast a concerned glance toward me. I think I could understand the obsession around her in the community slightly better after seeing that performance.

With the absence of Julia, the dragon immediately dropped to all fours.

“I sincerely apologise! It was me who knocked you out!” Her tone and presence shifted with no pause.

“I- uh what?” I was left speechless.

“Like I said, student, it was me who caused your disqualification, I will take full accountability for this incident! Tell me any request and I will do my best to grant it!” She was practically jumping in a child-like excitement.

The image of a strict, composed and mature woman dissipated. The hundreds of hours spent dealing with her seemed... like a lie.

The tension I once had was released in the form of a sigh.

“Is there a problem?” Her face scrunched up as if she made a mistake.

“No, it’s fine, professor. If anything I’d rather ask why this happened in the first place! Although If I get a good dorm room, maybe!” I snuck in my request at the last moment.

“As for your request, it is possible but," She pouted, "Do I have to disclose the details of your injury?"

I put on a business-like smile, “Of course you have to.”

Her motives were unclear and I was seeing a side of her that I never witnessed in the game. The feeling of being the first to discover such a detail left me feeling curious.

“Student, you- caught my eye. I wished to come closer for observation, but… you- you- saw me!” Her eyes teared up in embarrassment.

I didn’t know how to feel about making a millennium-old dragon cry.

“I know you are in distress vice headmaster, but I think you might be imagining things.”

Her eyes sharpened at my words and the sobbing stopped, “Don’t lie to me! I know you’re hiding something!”

It was as if she had become drunk with her attitude.

“Hah… the truth is I do have an ability- to well… see things others can’t.”

“Oh- Interesting! You are different from the others!” Her mood took another 180 as she smiled almost childishly.

“I think I’ll take you as my-“

“Hey, Runa, I think it's time you stop messing with the child, okay?” Another figure emerged from the air and smacked her head.

“Ow!” She held her head in visible pain.

“Huh?" My voice leaked out of pure shock. "Great Hero!?”

One after another strange things had been going on.

“Yup, that’s me! Anyways, sorry for the disruption, we’ll make it up to you later okay? Also, your score on the written exam was quite spectacular! See ya!” He winked and disappeared along with Runalia.

“Wai- Abeeellllll!” The dissipating scream of Runalia echoed in the room.

The Hero had vanished as abruptly as he got here.

At the least, I was guaranteed a free favour, that would allow for a range of options to expand my strength. This was a helpful event regardless of the pain I experienced.

Finally, I could recover in peace.

Eeeng!

The door creaked and revealed another person-

“Serina?” The girl’s name unintentionally leaked from my mouth.

What’s with all the surprises today?! Dying for my family, Reincarnation, THEN MEETING A GREAT HERO!

What’s next, becoming friends with god?

“You know me?” Her questioning tone with an expressionless face was a strong intimidation tactic.

As a result, I felt my nonsensical thoughts immediately shut down.