As I followed the stream of students, I ended up near the hall’s familiar central tree. The space was packed, students clustering around every table and bench. The mandatory confinement had made the area feel more stifling than usual. At one of the tables, I spotted Jane with her friend group, chatting animatedly and laughing. Her voice carried over the hum of conversation, but I couldn’t make out what she was saying, nor did I care. My focus was elsewhere—heading to the library to dig deeper into the mysteries of the Void.
I adjusted my pace, taking the stairs slowly, hoping Jane wouldn’t notice me as I slipped past her group.
Halfway up, I saw Aiden and Leo standing by a window, engaged in what seemed like an intense conversation. Not in the mood for idle chatter, I turned my face slightly away, pretending not to notice them.
“Hey, Axel!” Leo’s voice rang out, breaking through the crowd noise. He waved enthusiastically as if I hadn’t just ignored him. “Morning!”
“Morning,” I replied curtly, keeping my pace steady.
Aiden turned toward me, his expression neutral. “Seen Seker anywhere?”
“Sorry, no,” I said in a flat tone. “In a bit of a hurry.”
“Right, no problem,” Aiden said with a casual shrug. “Take care.”
I gave a slight nod and moved on, relieved the exchange hadn’t dragged on.
When I reached the library, I realized that its calmness was the opposite of the chaos outside. Finally… I could relax a bit, be alone with my thoughts. I needed this.
I stepped through the doors and made my way to the familiar shelf where I’d left Void 101. The book was right where I’d placed it yesterday. Grabbing it, I sank into one of the worn couches in the corner, a small coffee table separating me from the shelves ahead.
Opening the book, I let my eyes scan the pages, but before I could immerse myself in the text, a translucent screen materialized in my vision—a pop-up I’d become begrudgingly accustomed to.
================
NEW QUEST
================
Quest Title: Grind
--------------------------
Deadline: Today
Objective:
* Kill five goblins.
--------------------------
Rewards:
- Silver: 4
- Experience: 25 XP
- 1x Uncommon item material
==========================
[Accept] [Decline] [Enhance]
The word “kill” lingered like a sour note. Without hesitation, I tapped Decline, and the quest faded into nothingness. Another pair of quests hovered beneath it. One involved hunting a bear. I didn’t even bother reading further and declined that too… as I had a bad experience with a bear before.
The last quest caught my eye.
================
NEW QUEST
================
Quest Title: Bow & arrow
--------------------------
Deadline: Today
Objective:
* Hunt a rabbit.
--------------------------
Rewards:
- Experience: 25 XP
- 2x Common item material
==========================
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
[Accept] [Decline] [Enhance]
Curious, I tapped Enhance, only to see the requirements balloon to hunting four rabbits. That was far beyond my skill set, so I returned it to its original state and accepted.
Hunting a rabbit wouldn’t be easy either, though. I lacked the tools, and my fireball spell wasn’t exactly suited for precision. The thought of acquiring a bow gnawed at me; with my limited funds, it wouldn’t be a simple task.
Shoving the quest to the back of my mind for now, I returned to the book, focusing on the weird descriptions of the Void. The room around me buzzed with murmurs, but I managed to tune them out for a while, turning page after page.
“…called in sick for one day, and elves attacked the Queen?” a girl’s voice drifted from a table behind me, breaking my concentration.
“Oh, yes,” her friend replied, her tone dripping with intrigue. “It was planned, obviously. They were everywhere—rooftops, alleys, you name it.”
“And you said someone from F class saved her, right?”
“Yeah, apparently. Though all he used was a fireball. Makes me think that’s the only spell he can cast. His name was Axen or something.”
“Forget spells! What happened next?”
“The Queen’s general showed up. Took the elves down like it was nothing.” Her voice carried a mix of awe and disbelief. “Honestly, he made it look easy.”
The first girl gasped. “Isn’t he her right-hand man or something?”
“General, right hand, who cares? Point is, he saved the day.”
“Ugh, I can’t believe I missed it,” the girl lamented. “Of all days to call in sick…”
Their conversation faded into the background as I closed the book for a moment, rubbing my temple. I didn’t like hearing my name ring out like that. This was my worst nightmare coming to life. Attention was the last thing I wanted. If people started focusing on me, they’d start asking questions. And if one of them happened to be from Kora—the village I claimed I was from—they might expose me as a liar.
My dull eyes locked on the ground, unmoving, unblinking. I needed to take control of my life. Right now, I was like a leaf caught in a storm, tossed whichever way the wind blew. But where was I supposed to start? I didn’t have a clue. I was lost, plain and simple.
“Did you see those tits?” a boy two seats away blurted, grinning like an idiot. His voice carried louder than it should’ve.
“Yeah, I did,” his friend replied, snickering. “They’re unreal.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose and let out a quiet sigh. Grabbing my book, I stood up and walked toward the windows. I found an empty chair, sat down, and leaned against it. This side of the library was quieter, free from the pointless chatter. Only the steady patter of rain hitting the glass accompanied me. It was oddly calming.
Beyond the window, students scurried into the building, their cloaks and uniforms drenched as they ran from the downpour. Guards patrolled outside, eyes sharp, scanning the area with the vigilance of people expecting something worse than rain to fall from the sky.
I turned back to my book, scanning the pages for any mention of escape—any sliver of hope. But all it had to offer were descriptions of the creatures within the Void. I kept reading, holding out for something useful.
Ten minutes later, I closed the book with a soft thud, letting my shoulders slump. No answers. Just names of monsters I’d never want to meet.
“Damn it…” I muttered under my breath, pressing my hands to my face. My fingers dragged down slowly as I stared at the ceiling. “Am I stuck here? No… no, there’s gotta be a way.”
I glanced toward the entrance just in time to spot Mr. Poley walking past the hall. My body moved before I thought, rising from my seat and following him. My footsteps echoed softly in the corridor as I picked up my pace, catching up to him.
Mr. Poley glanced back, slowing his steps. His brow raised as he noticed me, offering a small nod of acknowledgment.
“Morning, sir,” I said, walking beside him.
“Morning, Mr. Millo.” He glanced at me with mild curiosity. “Need something?”
“I had some questions about the Void,” I asked, keeping my gaze steady.
His eyes narrowed, but he nodded. “Curiosity is good. Ask away.”
I hesitated for a moment, collecting my thoughts. “The Lost 100,” I began, “they came from another universe, right? They pushed back Val’kaar, the God of the Void?”
“Yes,” he confirmed, his tone shifting to something more serious. “Defeating her would’ve been impossible, so they sealed her away. The gods assisted them, and it’s thanks to their intervention that the seal still holds.”
“But the Lost 100 got stuck here,” I continued. “Do you really think there was no way for them to return to their original world?”
He glanced at me with a hint of something I couldn’t quite place—pity, maybe. Then his gaze hardened. “There was a way, Mr. Millo,” he said slowly, his voice lowering.
That caught me off guard. “There was?”
He stopped walking and turned to face me fully, folding his hands behind his back. “They could’ve worked with Val’kaar,” he said, his eyes sharp. “Help her get her revenge on this world. In exchange, she could’ve sent them back home, probably.”
My heart skipped a beat. “They’d work with the God of the Void?”
“That’s the idea,” he replied with a grim smile. “But it’s all in the past now. Fortunately, none of them took that path. If it was even possible, that is.”
I stood there, the weight of his words sinking in. “Right…”
“Anyway, back to class with you, Mr. Millo,” he said, his tone lighter now, more like a teacher ushering a student along. “Lesson’s about to start.”
“Y-yes sir,” I replied, still rooted in place as he walked off. My eyes followed him, even after he turned the corner and disappeared.
Work with Val’kaar, huh? Help the God of the Void… just to go home.
I grit my teeth. My fists clenched at my sides.
“No,” I muttered, shaking my head slowly. “There has to be another way. There has to be.”
But doubt dug its claws into my mind. What if there wasn’t?
I stared down at my hands, my fingers twitching like they didn’t belong to me. What if that was my only option?
“Crap…” I breathed, my eyes unfocused. The world around me seemed too loud, too close. My thoughts swirled like a storm. “What am I going to do now?” I muttered, but no one was there to answer.