I paused in the middle of the hallway, my dull eyes fixated on the scene outside the window. The sun was shining brightly now, the rain a distant memory. Birds chirped in the trees, and their branches swayed gently in the breeze. A pang of determination stirred within me. I couldn’t give up—not yet. Not until I had exhausted every possibility. I just refused to accept that I was stuck here. I refused to live in a world where monsters lurked around every corner. I couldn’t give up.

The book’s mention of the Lost 100 lingered in my mind. If I could uncover more about them, maybe, just maybe, I’d find a way out of this nightmare. After all, ancient sorcerers had once opened portals to the Void. And fate—or something sinister—had gifted me with a skill called Void Portal.

But I wasn’t ready to use it. Not yet. The risk was too great. Opening a portal could unleash the Void’s monstrous god, Val’kaar, into this world and bring destruction. That skill was a last resort—a gamble I wasn’t willing to take until I knew more.

“Hmm…”

To my right, I noticed Liam reaching the top of the stairs, heading toward another window. He leaned against the sill, his gaze lost in thought as he surveyed the outside world. Adjusting my cravat, I walked toward him.

“Hey,” I called out. “Liam.”

He glanced over his shoulder, his expression calm but curious. “Axel. Still hanging around?”

“Was reading a book,” I replied casually, stopping a few steps away. “Mind if I ask a couple of questions?”

“Go ahead,” he said, resting an elbow on the windowsill and turning to face me fully.

“The Lost 100,” I began. “What do you know about them?”

“Not much, honestly,” Liam said with a shrug. “They showed up here a century ago. The thing is, there weren’t exactly 100 of them. That’s just what people started calling them.”

“Why the name?” I asked, leaning against the wall.

“It’s catchy, I guess. Easier than calling them ‘the mysterious group who saved the world.’” He replied with a serious face, then folded his arms. “They were teleported here when Val’kaar’s power became unstable. You know who that is, right?”

“Yeah,” I replied, nodding. “God of the Void.”

“Or goddess,” Liam corrected, raising an eyebrow. “There’s evidence to suggest Val’kaar was human—a woman—before being consumed by the Void.”

“Huh…”

Liam straightened, his tone turning somber. “She was a mother. To maintain peace in her country, her son was demanded as a sacrifice by Rowe, the Goddess of Death. She refused. Fought back against an entire kingdom, killed countless innocents, and even assassinated the king. But they caught her in the end. Her and her son were both thrown into the Void as punishment.”

I crossed my arms, frowning. “That’s… harsh.”

“Yeah,” he said, his voice tinged with bitterness. “When she was trapped in the Void, her body decayed, her memories faded, and her rage grew. That’s how she transformed—pure hatred turned her into a monster.”

I glanced at the floor, processing his words. “So, when she became the God of the Void, she attacked again?”

“Right,” Liam confirmed. “She tore through dimensions to invade our world a second time. But her power was unstable, and that’s when the portals opened.” His gaze darkened as he added, “It wasn’t just portals, though. Monsters flooded through. The sun vanished. Ash fell instead of rain. It was chaos. That’s all in Void 101 if you haven’t gotten to it yet.”

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

“I’m reading it now,” I muttered. “The Lost 100 stopped her, right?”

“Well, ‘stopped’ is a stretch,” Liam replied, “They forced her back into the Void and sealed it. You can’t really kill a god.”

I hesitated before asking, “I heard their mana pools were massive. That true?”

“Depends on who you ask,” Liam said, scratching the back of his neck. “People like to say their mana was so immense it dwarfed everyone else’s. But there’s no actual record of it. Just speculation.”

“Figures,” I murmured, glancing back toward the window.

Liam pushed himself upright, brushing off his sleeves. “Anything else? I’ve got things to do.”

“Actually, yeah,” I said, pulling out a small pouch of coins. “I’m ready to pay for the dorm room.”

His brows rose in mild surprise. “Two gold and five silver, right? Follow me—I’ll get you sorted.”

With a nod, I followed him, my mind still turning over everything he’d said.

══════✦══════

The boys’ dormitory stood like a fortress, a towering four-story structure. Its barred windows gave off an austere vibe, and a long rectangular flag fluttered down from the roof to the ground. The bold white fabric bore the words REDWOOD BOYS’ DORMITORY in sharp black lettering, edged with golden corners. The triangular tip near the ground was black, as if it had been dipped in ink. Across the street, the girls’ dormitory mirrored the design perfectly—an identical building with its own matching flag.

The dormitories weren’t far from the school, only a short walk of four or five blocks. Very different compared to my world, where I had to wake up at the crack of dawn to catch the bus. It was a small silver lining in a situation that otherwise filled me with dread. I clenched my fists briefly. This didn’t change anything—I was still determined to escape this place.

“Here it is,” Liam said, stopping beside me. He gestured toward the entrance. “The boys’ dormitory. Let’s head in.”

“Right,” I muttered, stepping forward.

Liam opened the heavy door, and we walked inside. The interior was unexpectedly cozy for a student dorm. The wooden floor creaked faintly underfoot, and the air carried the warm aroma of roasted chicken and spices wafting from the kitchen. The main room was a mix of functionality and comfort. Wooden tables and chairs were scattered around, their design simple yet sturdy, with cushions that looked slightly worn but inviting. Along the walls, bookshelves stood neatly stocked, offering a mix of novels and textbooks.

A long counter stretched across one side, clearly the hub of activity. Behind it, a short man with a magnificent mustache polished a glass with a towel. Above the counter, a chalkboard menu listed various meals and drinks, though none of them were alcoholic. The warm lighting from brass fixtures overhead gave the space a welcoming glow.

“This is… not bad.”

Liam nodded, leaning against the counter. “Better than expected?”

I shrugged, my face neutral. “It’s something.”

He waved me over as he reached into his pocket. “Let’s get you settled. I think there’s a single room on the first floor. Follow me.”

The man behind the counter noticed us and straightened up. His face lit up at the sight of Liam, though his brow furrowed slightly when his gaze shifted to me.

“Liam!” he called out warmly, setting the glass aside. “Good to see you, my boy.”

Liam didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “This is Axel. New student of F. He needs a room. Got anything available?”

The man scratched his chin, his mustache twitching. “We do, but… well, there’s that one. You know, the old storage room we cleared out.”

Liam nodded thoughtfully. “There’s also the option of a shared room.”

“I’ll take the storage room,” I said without hesitation.

Both men blinked at me, surprised by the quick decision.

“Suit yourself,” the mustached man said, reaching under the counter to pull out a thick ledger. “Name?”

“Axel Millo,” I replied, watching as he flipped through the pages.

“M-I-L-L-O?” he confirmed, glancing up briefly.

“Yep.”

He scribbled my name down. “F-class. Next payment’s due this day next month. Welcome to the Boys’ Dormitory, Axel.”

Liam placed the coins I’d given him on the counter, then gestured for me to follow. “Come on, let’s check the room out.”