“Although Mana has granted us the strength of Gods, we should never forget that our strength must be used for good, for the Will of Mana will let us do as we please in this life, but it will punish us for our sins in the next. So be faithful, and kind, and righteous, and just. Strength is meaningless if all you use it for is evil.” - The First Preacher, teaching his disciples, in the year 02 A.C.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Reina asked worriedly. “Yes, Reina, I’m fine.” I said. “Lord Vitar said that I’ve been healed enough and am ready to leave

the clinic.” “You know that’s not what I mean.” She said. “It's fine. I’m used to it.” I replied. And indeed I was. Throughout my year here at the Sacred

Academy of Mana, I had fought many battles, and lost every single one. The only reason why I was ranked 1997 and not 2000 was because three

students couldn’t fight due to health reasons. “I’m just sad I didn’t get a chance to bite him.” Makus laughed at that. The three of us were walking

through the halls back to the dorms from the clinic, where the two of them had come to visit me. The tournament had finished by the time I woke up.

Reina was rather concerned, as I had been unconscious for almost the entire day, but I didn’t think it was worth worrying about. After all, the clinic was

run by Vitar Lusem, the God of Healing. “Anyway, congratulations on winning first place Makus.” I said. Makus smiled. “Yeah, I’m pretty impressive,

aren’t I.” He bragged. And indeed he was. With his God ranked mana core granting him ridiculous amounts of mana and his water affinity allowing him

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to wash away opponents with ease, it wasn’t surprising that Makus won first place. I squashed the rising feelings of envy brewing within me. ‘Getting

jealous of him won’t do you any good. Besides, he’s your friend.’ “Stop bragging so much.” Reina said. “Especially when you almost lost to me.” “But I

won.” “Barely.” “A win is a win.” “Shut up.” I smiled at the familiar sound of their bickering. Reina had almost beaten Makus, placing her at rank 2.

Although her mana core was only at the Pope rank, she had already undergone the Second Baptism, granting her a second mana core. That, along

with her rare light affinity, allowed her to fight on par with Makus.

Soon, we reached the dorms, and said our goodbyes. “Sorry for not being able to see your fights.” I apologized to the two of them. “Don’t worry about

it.” Makus said. “Yeah, so long as you’re feeling better, that's all that matters.” Reina replied. I smiled and thanked them, before turning around and

walking off to my dorm on the first floor. Makus climbed the stairs to his dorm on the third floor, and Reina left to head to the women's dorms. As soon

as I entered my room, the smile I had kept on my face vanished. ‘Damnit.’ Walking into the private bathroom that every dorm room provided, I lit a

match in the dark with practiced movements and lighted the candle placed in a candlestick attached to the wall, providing flickering light to the dark

bathroom. Staring at my dark reflection in the small mirror, I struggled to hold back tears as I clenched my fists in anger and frustration. As much as I

had pretended to be fine in front of Reina and Makus, it was all a lie. “Why?” I asked myself. “Why do I always lose? Why can’t I win no matter how hard

I try?” I looked down through blurry eyes. My fathers parting words echoed in my head. ‘It should have been you.’ This whole time I had been

desperately fighting, to prove to him and to myself that he was wrong. But with every loss, it became harder and harder to hold back the truth that I had

buried deep inside. ‘It should have been me.’ I thought to myself. ‘I should have been the one to die.’