Sero woke up in a comfortable bed, temporarily disoriented by the bright lights and chatter of the arena infirmary. He glanced around, taking in his surroundings.
He was in a clean, white room with large windows that let in warm, natural light. A soft, fluffy pillow cradled his head, and a cozy blanket was tucked around his body. The air smelled faintly of disinfectant and flowers. Sero took a deep breath, feeling the warmth flow back into his limbs. As he shifted his weight, he winced slightly at the pain in his left arm, which, while not broken anymore, still hadn't healed completely from the match against Sal.
Towards his right, the door was slightly ajar, letting in the ambient chatter from other patients and staff. Although Sero was thankful for the privacy of the room, he couldn’t help but feel a little lonesome.
"Hi."
Sero agonizingly turned his head to see Kit sitting next to his bed, her mismatched eyes sparkling with excitement and pride.
"Hi," he croaked, his voice hoarse from the battle. His body was in excruciating pain from tanking the entirety of Sal's Starfall, but it seemed like the medics had placed some sort of timed recovery spell on him, giving him some mobility.
Kit beamed at him. "How do you feel?"
"Like shit. How long have I been out?" Sero averted his eyes from her gaze.
"Hmm, just an hour or two. I'm surprised you're awake this quickly though." The Paradox tilted her head curiously. "You took quite a beating."
Sero grimaced, wincing as he tried to move his left arm. "Yeah, I know." He sighed, then looked up at Kit. "Thanks for coming to see me."
"Of course," She purred. "I knew you'd want to see a pretty woman when you first wake up."
"I- Yeah, I guess so." Sero glanced around the room. "So, uh, where's everyone else?"
Kit hummed to herself as she tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well, your teacher is still with Gregor, doing patrols around the city while people leave the stadium. Amaya went to deal with something urgent, and Nala went to help with the C-rank monster outbreak; I'm not sure where. Other than that, I'm not sure who else you're friends with."
"No, that's... that's all." Sero felt his face heat up in embarrassment. The lack of friends coupled with how Kit was the only to visit him was mortifying.
Kit giggled softly. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'm sure they're all just busy. They'll come by eventually." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, and gave him a sly smile. "Besides, I'm sure you'd want to hear about what happened after you... you know."
"Wait, what happened?" Sero's interest was piqued.
The Paradox's smile grew wider. "After you passed out, the crowd went absolutely nuts. It was the first time anyone's ever seen a Scholar before, and the way you fought out there using skills exclusive to other classes sparked several discussions over what your abilities truly are." Kit leaned forward with an excited gleam in her mismatched eyes. "You're quickly becoming one of the most talked about Ascendant in the world, overshadowing even Liam and Elena."
Sero couldn't help but feel a small surge of pride at her words. He looked away, trying to appear nonchalant, but his heart was racing. "That's... interesting."
Kit leaned over, looking into Sero's eyes. "You don't look happy about that. Or, could it be that you're trying to hide it?" She teased.
Sero coughed, clearing his throat. "I'm just... surprised, I guess." He dropped his gaze, feeling a blush creeping up on his cheeks. "It's not like I did it for attention or anything."
"True." Kit sat back and folded her arms, much to Sero’s relief. "You were supposed to enter undercover to see if there was anything fishy. Was there?"
Sero shook his head. "Not that I could tell. Everyone was genuinely in a tournament mindset and I didn't sense anything out of the ordinary. Even the four suspects seemed normal."
"Interesting," Kit seemed lost in thought. She then stood up, stretching widely. "You should discuss it more when the others get here."
"Yeah… will do. Are you heading out now?"
"Aww, don’t worry," Kit stuck her tongue out playfully. "I’ll be back soon after I do my rounds of the stadium."
Sero waited for her to distract him, but she simply waved goodbye and walked towards the door.
"Aphiel?" He thought after a moment.
"Yes?"
"How did I do?"
"During your match? I was very impressed, though I did feel a tad concerned towards the end."
Sero chuckled and immediately winced in regret. "Yeah, that’s fair. I had to do something crazy though, since I couldn’t outright blitz him." He glanced at his left hand, gingerly wiggling his fingers. "Enzo’s training really helped me out. I don’t think I would’ve been able to win."
"I suppose. But still, that was incredibly reckless of you."
"I guess, but you know I’ve always been reckless."
Their conversation was interrupted when Sero’s doctor came in to check up on him. After a few minutes, he determined that Sero would be fine, but recommended that he remain in the infirmary until the recovery spell restored his body.
Sero pulled out his phone as the doctor left, scanning through the news. Kit’s words rang true as he read some of the headlines highlighting his match.
"This is… more than what I was expecting." He hadn’t expected to be trending on all of the news sites as well as social media. In fact, Sero had several missed calls and texts from unknown numbers, most likely from guilds or agencies trying to recruit him. It felt both exhilarating and intimidating, knowing that he was now in the eyes of the public.
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"You ok?"
Sero glanced up from his phone, finding Amaya standing next to his bed. She had switched out her usual liaison attire for something more comfortable, opting for a long-sleeved white top and black leggings. Though he was glad to see her, she had a slightly downtrodden look on her face.
"Yeah… I am, but are you?" He put his phone away, giving her his full attention.
"Well, yes and no," she took a seat near his bed. "There’s something I have to tell you. Technically, it’s something I have to show you, but we’ll get to that when you’re fully healed. Did you notice anything out of the ordinary with the participants?"
"No," Sero shook his head. "I talked to Kit earlier before you came, and I didn’t sense anything weird with them. Even the four suspects that you showed me seemed normal."
"Really?" Amaya frowned. "That's weird. Our sources thought that at least one of the participants would be involved. There was really no one suspicious?"
Sero shook his head again. "I’m not sure who your source was, but there wasn’t a single thing out of the ordinary. Maybe they were wrong?"
"They’re usually never wrong…" Amaya chewed the nail of her thumb. "We’ll look into it. Anyways, I have some good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"
Sero gave a wry smile. "Oh boy, I can’t wait to hear the good news first."
The liaison brightened and straightened up. "Trust me, it is good this time. I was able to secure your new penthouse suite. You can move in immediately."
"Oh shit?" Sero’s eyes gleamed wickedly. "That more than makes up for the beating I got earlier."
"Yeah…" Amaya suddenly seemed uncomfortable. "The other good news is that… I found your dad."
"Oh." Sero didn’t know what to say. On one hand, he was relieved that his father was alive, but on the other, he wasn’t sure if he should contact him after so many years of no communication. Perhaps he should, since the apocalypse really changed everything. Maybe Sero would get the chance to mend things with him.
"So, there’s a local hospital a few minutes from the stadium," Amaya continued, carefully watching Sero’s expressions. "They treat Ascendants and normal civilians alike."
"Ok…" Sero nodded slowly, not knowing where she was getting at.
"Your new place is a further drive away from the hospital, but it’s still within walking distance."
"Are you letting me know this because I always seem to end up in the hospital?" Sero joked, glancing down at his state.
"No," Amaya chewed on her thumb again. "It’s because… that’s where I found your dad. He’s been in there ever since the apocalypse."
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After being discharged from the arena infirmary, Amaya had driven him over to check out his new living space.
Sero glanced around his new penthouse suite, taking in the luxurious scene. The furniture was modern and elegant, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city. A fully-equipped kitchen was tucked away in the corner, while a spacious living room with a large flat-screen television and comfortable sofas invited him to relax. The bedroom was just as opulent, with a king-sized bed and a stylish bathroom complete with a Jacuzzi tub and walk-in shower.
Even though this was something he had been looking forward to, Sero couldn't help but think back to his father, and how he was literally a few minutes' drive away from here. He idly fiddled with his room card, a silver and sleek metallic rectangle that seemed a lot heavier than it should.
Sero sighed, shaking himself out of his thoughts and headed back down to where Amaya was waiting. Nala had joined them after dealing with the C-rank monster outbreak, dressed up in ripped black jeans and a simple dark purple crop-top.
"You like it?" Nala asked as he stepped out of the elevators and into the apartment lobby.
"Yeah, I guess." Sero mumbled distractedly. The apartment lobby was just as lavish, with a water fountain and a concierge desk manned by two immaculately dressed attendants. He followed Amaya and Nala to the exit, his mind still on his father. He felt apprehensive about seeing his father again, with good reason. They hadn't spoken in so long, and their last interaction hadn't exactly been the most pleasant.
His mind whirled with things he could say as Amaya drove them to the hospital. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the city. Sero tried to recall the last time he'd seen his father, feeling a mix of anger, resentment, and sadness well up inside him. He hadn't been a kid anymore, and his father hadn't been around to help him through the tough times. Maybe it was his fault, too, for not trying to reach out or make amends. But it was too late now, wasn't it? They were both different people, living in a different world.
The trio pulled up to the institution, parking in the visitors' lot. Sero took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts, forcing himself to be composed as he followed the women through the automatic doors. The smell of disinfectant and illness hung heavy in the air, making his stomach turn. They made their way to the reception desk, where a harried-looking nurse greeted them.
"We're here to see a Tiero Kassel," Amaya informed the nurse. Sero didn't know how she knew his father's name, but decided he'd ask about that later.
The nurse checked her computer, then nodded. "He's in room 403. Visiting hours end at 9. You have 2 hours." She handed them visitor passes, and they made their way to the elevators, going up to the fifth floor. Sero's heart raced as they approached his father's room. Amaya knocked on the door, and a weak voice called for them to enter.
Sero didn't know what to expect when he walked into his father's room.
It was small and dimly lit, with a single window covered by a thin sheet of metal. The bed was a metal frame with a thin mattress, and his father was propped up against the headboard, his once-strong frame now frail and wasted. His dark hair had grayed and thinned out, and his red eyes seemed sunken into their sockets. He was wearing a thin hospital gown, revealing his emaciated body and the numerous tubes and wires that snaked in and out of him. On the opposite end of the room high above was a small flat-screen tv, quietly playing a random show.
Sero stepped forward, locking eyes with the man he hadn't seen for nearly 4 years. There was a vortex of things he wanted to say, stemming from anger, to regret, to happiness.
"I'm sorry."
Sero froze in place, not registering his father's words at first.
"What...?"
"I said," Tiero coughed harshly before he gasped for breath. "I'm sorry, Sero. I should have never let you go."
Sero stared at his father, feeling a lump forming in his throat. He wanted to believe him, wanted to accept his apology. But how could he, when all these years he'd thought his father didn't care? He took a step back, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Yeah, well, you did. And I've been doing fine without you." Sero bit his tongue, realizing that that probably wasn't the best thing to say, considering his father's state. "Er, sorry, that just slipped out. But, my point still stands. I've been doing fine without college."
Tiero coughed again, his arms shaking as he reached for the water next to him. Sero quickly responded, grabbing the water and pressing it up to his father's lips.
"Thank you," Tiero wheezed after he drank. "It's been getting harder to move nowadays."
Sero set the bottle down and pulled up a chair, sitting next to his father. He was dimly aware of Nala and Amaya standing behind him.
"Listen," his father began after clearing his throat. "You're right. I was pushing you to do better because I didn't want you to have to live like that forever. I didn't care about the cost, I just wanted you to have a better life. But, I should've understood your feelings too."
Sero shook his head. "We were poor, Dad. I didn't want you to overwork yourself to the point where you would end up like this. College was getting lonely and tedious. At that point in my life, I just needed my dad."
"Lonely?" Tiero gave a weak smile as he clasped his son's hand. "You're telling me you didn't meet any cuties there?"
"N-no, Dad. I was grieving and burying myself in my studies."
"Ah, right. Sorry." Tiero squeezed Sero's hand and then noticed Amaya and Nala behind him. "Hey, but they're pretty cute. Is one of them your girlfriend?"
Sero smiled. "No, they're just friends. They've been helping me out since... well, since I left, died, and came back."
His father stared at him with a blank expression. Sero took a deep breath and explained everything that had happened to him, from the day of the apocalypse, to meeting Aphiel and the others, learning about his class, and finally up to the tournament.