The night began with the three of them, drinking and eating a variety of snacks. As they chatted and laughed, Sero couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. Kit was in her usual flirty mood, teasing Luna and Sero in equal measure, while the succubus seemed to enjoy the attention, playfully swatting at the Paradox's hands. There was an easy camaraderie between them, a comfort in each other's company that made Sero wonder if he'd ever find that with anyone else.
Nala arrived after dropping Casey off, letting herself be dragged around by the drunken Kit and Luna. Sero found it amusing to see the normally quiet and reserved Shadereaper so tipsy. She giggled and stumbled along with the others, laughing at inside jokes and even joining in on a few rounds of singing.
"Hey, Sero, how many days left of Nala following your every command?" Luna slurred to Sero as she plopped onto the couch next to him.
"Four, I think," Sero answered, taking a sip of his drink. "It started as soon as I gave her Elena's autograph after my match."
"She'd really do anything you ask?"
"Well, maybe not anything," Sero smiled to himself. "But yeah, there's really no conditions besides that."
"Hmm," Luna seemed deep in thought, though Sero could tell the alcohol was making it difficult for the succubus to concentrate. "Well, you've got me curious. Maybe you should ask her to do something...interesting." She winked at him.
"Uh... pardon?"
"Oh, nothing!" Luna giggled, then leaned closer to Sero, lowering her voice. "You know... just a little challenge. Something naughty." She batted her eyelashes at him, her voice taking on a suggestive tone. "Maybe if she does it, I'll reward her with a special favor... or two."
It seemed like alcohol was the trigger for Luna to show her succubus tendencies, which Sero found weird.
"What are you thinking about?" Sero asked, genuinely curious. He wasn't sure if he should be amused or worried about where Luna's mind was going.
A knock at the door interrupted whatever Luna was going to say next. Kit got up and opened it, letting in Gregor, who was carrying more cases of alcohol, followed by Enzo and Amaya, each carrying a platter of food.
For a brief moment, Amaya's gaze met Sero's. There was an awkward silence as she took in his expression, and he hers. They were both still trying to process what had happened the night before, and the strange shift in their relationship. Amaya forced a smile and turned away, moving deeper into the penthouse to join the others. Sero couldn't help but feel a sense of loss, as if something important had just slipped through his fingers.
He forced the feeling down, putting on a false smile as he joined the group. Gregor nodded to him, as if acknowledging that they were still on for the meeting to discuss what Sero had texted him tomorrow.
As they continued to enjoy themselves, Sero couldn't help but feel like something was off. Amaya seemed distant, her gaze avoiding his whenever possible. Gregor was his usual self as opposed to Enzo, who quickly became intoxicated. Nala and Luna kept up their drunken antics, leaning on each other for support. Kit, on the other hand, was in her element, her flirtatious nature making her the life of the party.
Slowly, the group began to wind down, too intoxicated to continue celebrating. Kit dragged Luna and Nala to Sero's bedroom, forgetting about her previous complaints about not spending more time with him. The Shadereaper gave Sero a desperate look for help, but he merely shrugged, unable to assist her. Enzo excused himself to the spare room, Amaya following him soon after. Gregor, feeling more sober than the others, offered to clean up while Sero put the last of the food away.
"How are you managing?" the Conqueror quietly rumbled.
Sero turned to look at the massive man, who was now leaning against the kitchen counter. "I'm fine," he answered, forcing a smile. "Just... thinking about some things."
Gregor nodded understandingly and gave him a soft clap on the shoulder. "Well, you should enjoy the moment while you can. It's not often we all get together like this." He paused, his expression becoming more serious. "And about what you said... We'll discuss more tomorrow after your ceremony, but just be on guard. My Janitors have been encountering more Culling members out and about both within and beyond the 25th Zone."
Sero nodded, feeling a weight in his stomach at the mention of the Culling. "Thanks for the warning. I'll be careful." He and Gregor finished cleaning up, with the Conqueror saying farewell as he left the penthouse. Sero sighed, retreating to his couch in the living room. Despite the others taking rest in the other two rooms, the darkness made his area feel a lot more lonely than it should.
He glanced at the time on his phone and decided it was best if he got some sleep. His ceremony would begin early, and he needed to be sharp for it.
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"Fucking hell..." Sero muttered as he found himself patrolling the streets near his penthouse. Given all his best efforts to sleep, Sero gave up, deciding to go outside and walk off his intoxication instead. Of course, he could always force his Rationality to sober himself up, but there was something about staying drunk that felt right.
For some reason, Sero didn't know why he had expected Amaya to come out and join him on the couch again. He knew she felt an attraction to Enzo, but he had thought there was something more between them. Maybe he had just imagined it. With a sigh, he leaned against the side of a building, his gaze drifting around the area.
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A burning desire for something to happen welled up within him. Of all the times, he wished a monster outbreak would occur, or even encounter members of Culling. It would give him something to focus on other than his own thoughts and feelings. But tonight, the city was quiet, and there was no sign of any activity. He cursed under his breath.
"Aphiel?"
The goddess didn't answer. Sero decided not to look for her, figuring he had dumped a lot on the goddess already. He snapped his fingers, conjuring Moss and Lime to walk by his side as he continued to roam the city streets.
As they walked, Sero lost himself in his thoughts, not realizing that he had ended up at the hospital entrance. He paused for a moment, taking in the familiar sights and sounds as he felt himself completely sober.
"Oh, Sero. What are you doing here?"
Dr. Malek smiled kindly as he approached Sero, looking a bit haggard. Moss and Lime growled at the man, causing Sero to quickly recall them.
"Oh, you know. Just taking a walk. Can't sleep, I guess." Sero replied, returning the smile. "How about you?"
Dr. Malek shrugged. "Can't say I sleep very well either these days. There's been a surge in mortality ever since the start of the Ascendants Tournament. Your dragons could probably smell death on me again."
Sero chuckled. "I remember you said they were sensitive to those sorts of things." He glanced around the area, noticing that the hospital entrance seemed busier than usual for this time of night. "Is it always this busy around here?"
"Not really, no. But tonight, there's a few people from the 24th Zone who were injured during an A-rank outbreak. We have some of the best doctors in the world, but even they're having trouble." Dr. Malek leaned against the wall, looking tired. "I wish... I wish we could do more."
Sero glanced back at the doctor, noticing the weariness in his eyes. "You do great work, Doctor. You should know that." For some reason, he was able to sense traces of innate mana from Dr. Malek. "Wait, are you... an Ascendant?"
"Yes," Dr. Malek blinked in Sero's direction. "Were you not aware? That's one of the main reasons why I'm able to work in a hospital filled with mana after all."
"No, yeah, I just thought..." Sero berated himself for not putting the pieces together. Of course Dr. Malek had to be an Ascendant, or else he wouldn't have been able to get near patients afflicted with the Outbreak Plague. "What class are you?"
The doctor simply smiled at Sero kindly. "What do you think?"
A wave of embarrassment washed over him. "Oh... probably something within the Healer class, right?" Sero replied sheepishly.
Dr. Malek chuckled. "Right on the mark. I'm a pure-line Healer." He glanced back at the hospital entrance, frowning. "But I can't stay out here for long. I have patients who need my attention."
Sero nodded understandingly. "Of course. You should get back to them." He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Do you ever feel... I don't know, alone in all this? I mean, with how the world is and everything?"
Dr. Malek considered the question before answering. "Yes, I do. There are days when I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders. But then I remember that there are people like you who care and make a difference. You and your friends, for example, are proof that there is still good left in this world." The doctor straightened up, seeming to gather his resolve. "So yes, I may be alone at times, but I'm not alone in the sense that I have people who believe in me and who are working towards a better future."
Sero nodded, feeling a bit heartened by the doctor's words. "I'm glad you have that perspective, Dr. Malek. You're right. There is still good left in the world, and we have to hold on to that." He glanced back at the hospital entrance, then looked at the doctor again. "If there's ever anything I can do to help, you just have to ask."
It was just for a second, but Sero could've sworn he saw something flash in the doctor's eyes. However, it was gone quickly, replaced by that familiar twinkle of kindness.
"Actually, I've been meaning to ask you, Sero," Dr. Malek began carefully. "Your class is the Scholar, correct?"
"Yes, that's right," Sero replied, feeling a bit surprised by the question. "Why do you ask?"
The doctor studied him for a moment. "I've met many Ascendants, some with extremely unique classes, but never a Scholar before. It's been said that you are able to copy any skills that you see."
Sero nodded. "That's true, I can copy skills from any class, but there are some limitations. The biggest obstacle is that some require certain passives in order to use them, but my Influence passive helps me emulate them for a brief moment."
Dr. Malek's eyes widened in shock. "You mean... you can also copy the passives of others?"
"Er, yeah," Sero replied, realizing that it was something new even to him. "I figured out how to use my Influence passive during my match with Liam."
The doctor's eyes lit up with curiosity. "I see. This is truly remarkable. Do you mind if I ask what exactly the Influence passive does?"
Sero scratched the back of his head, giving a wry smile. "At the moment, I'm not really sure what it does, so I can't explain it that well to you. All I know is, I'm able to briefly emulate passives from Ascendants that I've copied skills from."
Dr. Malek's face lit up with interest. "That's incredible! This means that you could potentially use every skill and passive in the world. It's like having a library of knowledge at your fingertips."
He paused for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "I wonder if there's a way to refine this skill further. If we could somehow find a way to permanently unlock and use the passives of others, it would revolutionize the world. Imagine being able to share knowledge and skills with anyone, without the need for classes or limitations. It would be a truly utopian society."
Sero chuckled awkwardly. "I never really thought about it that way, Dr. Malek. It's just something that's been a part of me. I mean, I don't even know how it works, really. I just... copy skills and passives from other people."
Dr. Malek smiled understandingly. "I can see that. It's a lot to process, I imagine. But it's important that you understand the impact your abilities have on the world. You have the power to change lives, Sero. Not just through healing, but also through sharing knowledge."
He paused, his eyes distant for a moment. "I've often wondered what it would be like to have such a gift. To be able to learn anything and everything, and to share that knowledge with those who are willing to listen. It's a responsibility, but it's also an opportunity. An opportunity to make the world a better place."
The two fell silent until a tiny beeping emitted from Dr. Malek's pockets. He glanced down and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, I should go. I'm on call. But please, don't hesitate to reach out if you ever need anything, Sero."
"Yeah... will do," Sero said, his mind still reeling from the conversation. He watched Dr. Malek walk away, feeling a strange mix of awe and confusion. As he turned to head back to his penthouse, he couldn't help but wonder about the weight of his own abilities.