And with that, I was officially broke—just one gold to my name. Leaving the vailhouse, I noticed Aiden and the others waiting under a tree nearby. Their wounds were fully healed, just like mine, though I still felt a faint ache here and there. The rain continued to fall, pattering softly against the thick branches above them, offering some shelter from the downpour.

I glanced at my stats.

Level 4: Axel

HP: [███████████] 140/140

Mana: [░░░░░░░░░░░] -1/100

Stamina: [██████████░░] 95/120

Options: [Inv | Skills | Quests]

“You good?” Aiden asked, stepping forward.

“Yeah,” I replied, stretching slightly. “Just bummed about the two gold they took from me.”

“Daylight robbery, huh?” Leo crossed his arms with a scoff. “But what choice do we have? Anyway, should we head back to the dorms?”

I shook my head. “You guys go ahead. I need to figure some things out first.”

“Alright,” Seker said with a small wave. “Goodnight, Axel.”

“Take care,” I murmured.

We parted ways, the others disappearing down the street while I wandered in the opposite direction. My hood was pulled low against the rain, my hands shoved into my pockets. The streets were nearly deserted, save for a few market stalls clinging to the last moments before curfew. Stray dogs nosed through puddles, and homeless folk huddled under awnings for warmth. The night felt calm but heavy.

I needed to earn some gold. With only one piece left, I wouldn’t make next month’s payment at the dorms. The Guild was my next step—but that was a problem for tomorrow. For now, I just wanted to sleep and end this miserable day.

At the end of the street, I noticed a tailor’s shop still open. The owner was tidying up, preparing to close for the night. The small shop looked more like a house, with an open door revealing an “L”-shaped counter and, further in, a modest bedroom with a wardrobe crammed beside the bed. My tattered clothes desperately needed attention.

Stepping inside, I cleared my throat. “Excuse me. Could you—”

“We’re closing,” the man interrupted without looking up. But when his eyes landed on me, he froze. “By the gods, what happened to you?”

“Long story,” I replied tersely. “Can you fix my clothes?”

“Sure. That’ll be a gold.”

“Can we do five silver?” I countered, wincing. “I’m kind of broke right now.”

“Eight.”

“Seven?”

“Eight,” he repeated firmly. “I don’t usually give discounts, kid.”

I sighed. “Fine. Eight.”

“Leave your clothes here,” he instructed, jotting something down in a notebook. “Pick them up in the morning. Name?”

“Axel Millo.”

He repeated it under his breath as he wrote. “Got it.”

I hesitated, glancing at my ruined outfit. “Uh… I don’t have any backup clothes right now.”

The man raised an eyebrow. "Wear those. My boy found them in the dirt outside the city walls."

I glanced at where he was pointing, my eyes widening slightly. It was my original school uniform, the one I lost while picking that strange flower. I had completely forgotten I dropped it there. It looked worse than the clothes I was wearing, but it was better than going into the boys' dormitory naked.

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I changed into my original uniform at the corner and placed my clothes and armor on the counter along with the one gold. The man took them and handed me two silver as change.

"Like I said," the man added, "come back in the morning."

"Right," I replied. "Goodnight."

"You too, kid."

With that settled, I stepped back out into the rain and made my way toward the boys’ dormitory. Even though insomnia usually had me tossing and turning, I could feel exhaustion sinking in, weighing my eyelids down. By the time my head hit the pillow, I knew I’d be out cold.

══════✦══════

I woke up drenched in cold sweat, my breath shallow as my eyes locked onto the ceiling of the small, dim room. A nightmare—I knew I’d had one—but the details were already gone, leaving only a sinking feeling in my chest. Exhaling deeply, I rubbed the sweat from my face and swung my legs over the side of the stiff, uncomfortable bed. Rising, I shuffled to the window, pushing back the stray strands of hair obscuring my view. The rising sun painted the street below in soft, muted colors as the townsfolk began their day.

Sitting back on the edge of the bed, my eyes unfocused on the wall, a single thought bounced relentlessly in my head: escape this world and go home. I have to.

“Ugh…”

I slipped into my school uniform, the fabric rough against my skin, and stepped out of the room. A few early risers lounged in the common area, mugs of steaming coffee in their hands as they chatted quietly and gazed at the rain outside. The warmth of the hall was the opposite to the dreary weather.

Descending the stairs, I exited the dormitory into the crisp, rainy morning, the chill waking me further. The sound of the door opening behind me caught my attention. Turning slightly, I saw Seker stepping out, looking half-awake. The dark circles under his eyes made it clear he hadn’t slept much.

“Oh, you’re up early,” he muttered, suppressing a yawn as he ran a hand through his hair.

“Yeah,” I replied, adjusting my collar. “Heading to the tailor shop to pick up my clothes.”

“Right, from yesterday.” He rubbed his neck awkwardly. “That whole mess… I need to get my armor fixed too. Mind if I tag along? My mom’s house is on the way.”

I shrugged. “Sure. But if you’ve got a house, why stay at the dorm?”

His expression tightened as he began walking. “It’s... complicated. And a long story.”

“You don’t have to explain if it’s personal.”

Seker hesitated, then sighed. “Her, uh, well---you know, boyfriend. We… don’t get along. At all.”

“Got it.” I nodded, following his lead.

He glanced over, clearly eager to shift the topic. “Did you sleep alright? Because I couldn’t. Neither could Aiden.”

“I did, surprisingly.” My thoughts flickered to Aiden. “How’s he holding up? He was pretty shaken after what happened.”

Seker frowned, his gaze lowering to the wet cobblestones. “Not great. Taking a life… that’s not something you just get over.”

“No, it’s not,” I agreed softly. “But he saved me. That’s something.”

“He did.” Seker nodded firmly.

We walked in silence for a moment before I asked, “How long have you known each other?”

“Sixteen years.” A hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “Aiden, Leo, and I grew up together. We were neighbors.”

“Hmm,” I acknowledged, the rain filling the quiet space between us.

“What about you?” he asked cautiously. “Did you have any friends back in… your village?”

“A few,” I lied, my voice steady. “They didn’t make it. I was the only survivor.”

His face fell. “Damn… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“It’s fine. I’ve moved past it,” I assured him, brushing it off.

He nodded slowly, though the guilt lingered in his eyes. “I still can’t believe goblins were that close. I’m sorry for what you went through.”

“Hmm,” I muttered, not wanting to linger on the subject.

The rain continued its steady rhythm as we walked, our boots splashing through shallow puddles. The cold air bit at my skin, but I barely noticed; this kind of weather was nothing new to me.

After a stretch of quiet, Seker broke the silence. “So… can you maybe reconsider joining the tournament with us?”

I arched an eyebrow. “You know I’m in F-class, right? You’d want someone better than me.”

“I saw what you did to that forest.” He shot me a knowing look. “There’s something… different about you. I don’t know what it is, and you don’t have to tell me. But everyone has their secrets, which is totally okay.”

“You want to win the tournament for your mom, right?” I asked, steering the conversation.

His jaw tightened, and he nodded. “Yeah. If I win, I can cure her for good.”

“What’s she sick with?”

“We don’t know,” he admitted, his steps slowing. “But one of Haru’s followers—a priestess, maybe—can bless her. That blessing can heal anyone, even someone on death’s doorstep.”

“Haru… Goddess of Beauty.” I muttered. “And I take it that’s expensive.”

“Ridiculously.” He gestured ahead. “That’s the tailor shop. I’ll wait out here for you.”

I glanced at him briefly and nodded. “Alright. Be back in a minute.”

Seker leaned against a nearby post, the rain dripping from the edge of his hood as I pushed open the shop door.