Darkness… That was all Liam could perceive around him. It was like being trapped in an infinite void, where time and space seemed to lose all meaning. There was no ground beneath his feet nor sky above his head, only a feeling of being suspended in nothingness. However, there was something that broke through that overwhelming sensation a faint light shining in the distance, calling him without words.

Liam felt a mix of fear and anxiety growing in his chest. The feeling of loneliness reminded him of his worst nightmares, but this time, he knew it wasn't just a dream.

“What is this?... I see a light...” he murmured, his voice echoing in the dark vastness.

Driven by a strange need, he began to walk toward the light. His steps were awkward and hesitant, as if his feet were not used to supporting his weight. The void around him remained unchanging, cold and desolate. But that light… that light gave him a sense of hope, a promise of something beyond the darkness.

Suddenly, voices began to whisper around him, first softly, then with greater intensity.

“Liam... Liam...”

“Who’s calling me?” His voice cracked, mixing confusion with growing fear.

The voices didn’t answer. They only grew louder, more insistent.

“Liaaaam!”

The boy with disheveled brown hair and dark blue eyes without pupils jolted awake. Liam opened his eyes, and the cold darkness was replaced by the warm sunlight filtering through the classroom windows. His heart raced in his chest as his eyes focused on the faces of three classmates surrounding him, one of them laughing softly and being the first to speak.

“You slept through the entire class, and we couldn’t wake you!” said a boy with curly white hair and yellow eyes. His name was Haru, and his laughter carried a tone of amusement.

“You were sound asleep,” added a girl with glasses and gray eyes, her brown hair cut short, barely reaching her neck. She looked at Liam with a mix of concern and exasperation. “You fell asleep again, didn’t you?”

Liam scratched the back of his neck, trying to hide his discomfort.

“Sorry, guys... I was really exhausted,” he admitted, still a bit dazed from the strange dream.

The other friend, with a knowing smile, crossed his arms and said, “You’re lucky the teacher didn’t shake your desk to wake you. If it were me, I would have given you a good scare.”

That boy had spiky red hair and blue eyes.

The girl raised an eyebrow and looked at him with irony. “Isn’t that exactly what you just did, Leandric?” she replied, maintaining her seriousness.

“Indeed, Hana,” said Leandric with a laugh. “And you still didn’t wake up! Seriously, did you get any sleep last night?”

Liam stood up, stretching as he responded with a sigh. “You just asked the most obvious question in the world. With my sleep schedule, what do you think?”

The students left the classroom in groups, chatting among themselves as they headed for the school exit. When they reached the school gates, the group dispersed, leaving Liam walking alone with his friend Hana, both heading toward their homes.

“What are you going to do when you get home?” she asked, breaking the silence.

“Probably crash into bed and take the nap of my life,” Liam replied without a second thought.

Hana looked at him, surprised. “Really? You’re going to keep sleeping? Isn’t all the sleep you got in the last class enough? How is it possible that you’re still tired?”

Liam shrugged as he let out a long yawn. “I don’t know... Maybe not sleeping much at night is catching up with me. Although,” he yawned again, “this tiredness feels so intense it seems supernatural.”

She sighed, worried. “You’re hopeless. You should think more about your future, Liam. Sleeping through classes every day is going to affect your academic performance. What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Liam frowned, thoughtful.

—Good question, Hana... I hadn’t really thought about it. Maybe...— he said with a mischievous smile, —I could become a teacher. I'd be the kind of teacher who lets students do whatever they want and would be very flexible with assignments. I’d be Teacher of the Year!—

His friend looked at him seriously.

—You’re really strange, Liam. You should aim for something higher.—

Liam shrugged, keeping his playful tone.

—What’s wrong with wanting to be a cool teacher? So, what about you? What do you want to be? I bet it’s nothing better than my idea.—

She smiled with pride.

—I want to be a veterinarian. I’d love to help animals. Although...— her tone softened, and her eyes sparkled with a distant dream, —my real dream is to become a famous actress, like Airy.—

Liam blinked, confused.

—And who is that?—

Hana looked at him, wide-eyed.

—How can you not know her?— she exclaimed, surprised. —She’s become a celebrity in no time! She’s even close to our age.— She sighed, with a mix of admiration and longing. —I wish I could be like her... I really admire her.—

Liam —Well, I guess that’s surprising... But there’s nothing wrong with trying to be an actress. You should go for it. Although, personally, I lean more towards the veterinarian thing, but I support whatever you decide.—

Hana —Wow, I didn’t expect you to support me, considering how insensitive you can be— she laughed.

Liam —I think you have a rather distorted view of me...—

They continued chatting animatedly until they reached the point where their paths diverged. Liam said goodbye with a smile before heading home alone. Upon entering, he noticed his older brother, Rizz, engrossed in a video game. Rizz paused the game and turned to look at him.

—You’re a bit late. Did you fall asleep in class again?— he said, checking the time on his phone.

—I was only a few minutes late. How did you figure that out so quickly?— Liam asked, surprised by his brother’s deduction.

—Anyway, I won’t say anything. Want to play? I’ve been waiting for you to get to the next level of Castlegod.—

—Nah, I’ll pass. I want to sleep for a while. You’ll have to get through that level on your own today.—

—Are you really going to keep sleeping?— Rizz asked, raising an eyebrow.

—I’m tired. Let me— Liam replied, heading upstairs to his room. Once inside, he collapsed onto his bed, feeling an instant relief at the contact with the sheets.

—Finally, some peace— he murmured, closing his eyes which felt incredibly heavy.

He soon fell into a deep sleep.

Once again, darkness enveloped him. The same grim and desolate landscape he had experienced before. But this time, Liam was aware of the terror that was engulfing him.

Liam felt a mix of fear and anxiety growing in his chest. The sense of loneliness reminded him of his worst nightmares, but this time, he knew it wasn’t just a dream.

—Again with the same dream?... What the heck is this place? That light in the distance... It obviously wants me to go toward it, but... what if it’s not the only option?—

Determined to explore, he began walking in the opposite direction from the light. But the further he went, the more evident it became that he was trapped in an endless corridor. There was no escape.

—I really don’t want to go over there, but it seems like... Wait, am I too aware to be dreaming?... This is really terrifying.—

Before Liam could finish his thought, a figure appeared out of nowhere. A woman floating in the gloom. With very pale skin and long golden hair that shone like silk, she had... quite peculiar eyes, with irises a bright, almost metallic gold, contrasting sharply with the dark gray of her sclera. In the center of the iris, instead of a common pupil, was a luminous cross glowing with an intense light, as if embedded with liquid golden light. This cross was not just a reflection, but a fixed and perfect mark.

The sudden appearance of the woman made Liam’s heart stop for a moment.

—Greetings, Liam Grace— The woman’s voice was soft but echoed in the void, filling it with a strange sensation, as if his entire life had flashed before his eyes in a millisecond the first moment he heard it.

With all these mixed sensations, Liam began to feel a growing fear and anxiety in his chest, adding a strong chill. That sensation reminded him of his worst nightmares, making him consider that this was not just a simple dream.

Then the chill that ran through his body became stronger as he realized that this woman, whom he had never seen before, had called him by his name.

Liam, silent for a moment, gathered his courage to speak and replied—W-who are you?—

Ananke smiled sweetly yet mysteriously. —Oh, I’m sorry for being so inattentive. I frightened you, didn’t I? How rude of me. Let me introduce myself. Some know me as the one who weaves the threads of life of every living being that exists and holds authority over them... and among you, the intelligent mortal beings, would recognize me as a Goddess. I go by many names, but I would like you to see me as Ananke. But you can call me whatever you wish.—

—A Goddess?— Liam took a step back, his voice trembling with disbelief.

Ananke smiled almost laughing, as if she had known Liam would react that way. —Don’t be afraid. I don’t intend to harm you. I just want to guide you to a place more interesting... I’ll send you to another world, one where magic and mythical beings exist.—

—What?!— Liam responded, bewildered by what he had just heard. —No, no, this must be a dream. Yes… none of this is real. How is it possible that a goddess just appears out of nowhere to speak to me and says she’s going to send me to another world?— Liam smiled nervously, trying to convince himself and deny the situation.

—Don’t deceive yourself. Aren’t you quite aware of your actions and movements? That’s not typical of a dream, at least not in yours; you’re not the kind of person who usually has lucid dreams... all of this is very real. Liam, as someone who can see the fate of all living beings, I can tell you that the sooner you accept your “reality,” the sooner you’ll be able to face the challenges that await you in your present and future. Try to see the bright side; I’m sure you’ll do well. You could become the greatest hero in the history of that place if you put in the effort— said the goddess sweetly and relaxed, trying to encourage Liam.

Liam, stunned and trying to process the situation, began to doubt if he was really dreaming.

—Reality, you say?!— Liam’s voice wavered slightly. —What about my friends, or my family... my future? I’m fine with my life. I don’t need to be a hero in another world. I just want to live my normal life, as it is. Are you the Goddess of Fate? Why do you suddenly intervene in people’s lives? I’m not going! Find someone else.—

When he finished saying that, Liam turned on his heels, ready to run away from the Goddess, but as he turned, he found Ananke right in front of him, as if she had teleported, taking Liam by surprise. He stopped abruptly and took a step back, instinctively turning his head to the place where the Goddess had been before.

—You can’t escape your rewritten fate, Liam. It’s better if we try to get along— said the goddess, smiling sweetly while trying to hide her slight annoyance at Liam’s stubbornness. —You’re really an interesting person, but you have no escape. I wanted to be kind and take you in a comforting way, but you leave me no choice...— she said with a tone of pity.

—I-I’m not going— Liam said, trembling as he began to walk backward, trying to stay calm, searching for a way to escape and thinking. —There has to be a way; if I’m dreaming right now... it means I can wake up, and the way to do it is to try to feel a strong shock or pain within the dream!—

Without thinking, Liam raised his right hand and tried to slap his face with all his strength to try to wake up, but before he could even touch his face, he was completely paralyzed.

—Trying to wake up?— Ananke laughed softly at Liam’s attempt. —You won’t succeed, but if it’s any consolation, if I had let you do it and you could wake up, you would simply return here when you fell asleep again. As I told you before, escaping your fate is “inevitable”.—

Shocked, Liam tried to speak, but the paralysis he was suffering prevented him from even talking. Before giving in to despair, he noticed he was on the edge between light and darkness. He didn’t know when Ananke had brought him there, but he understood that escaping was impossible. The light enveloped him, and before he was completely absorbed, he heard Ananke’s voice.

Liam felt a mix of fear and anxiety growing in his chest again. That sensation reminded him of his worst nightmares.

—Anyway, everything that happens, will happen. But it depends on each person how they face adversities. I’m truly sorry to say goodbye this way, but relax. I know you’ll do well— she said, waving goodbye with a hand gesture and smiling, saying to herself. —We’ll meet again,... Liam.—

The light blinded Liam, forcing him to squint and turn his head instinctively, realizing he was no longer paralyzed. When he regained some vision, he noticed he was suddenly in a field of flowers under a tree, the place surrounded by trees giving a peaceful air.

Liam stood still, processing the situation he found himself in, debating with himself whether all this was truly a strange dream or if what he was experiencing was real.

This can’t be real... can it?— he thought, panic starting to rise. —I mean, if I really was transported to another world... What will happen to me?... From my loved ones' perspective, I vanished out of nowhere, didn’t I?... How will they take it?

Liam felt a knot in his stomach at the thought. Before he could regain his composure, he was suddenly bound by vines. He barely managed to turn his head before hearing the roars of a great beast emerging from the ground. What he saw froze his blood a creature with the most horrific form, its back covered with flowers and grass blending with the terrain while the rest was the same color as the earth. It had no eyes, but its large mouth and very sharp teeth were enough to induce panic. Liam tried to move, but for some reason, he felt weakened. Despite the adrenaline coursing through his body, fear paralyzed him, unable to formulate a plan. All he could do was scream for help.

—Help!— he shouted, but apparently, no one was coming to his aid.

It can’t be, did I just get transported and now I’m going to die? What the hell is going on with this world, where did that damn goddess send me?! —he thought in desperation.

The plant drew Liam closer to its mouth, about to devour him. Liam tried to escape, but his body was growing weaker, his vision blurry. He was almost out of strength and started to accept his cruel fate. But just before being devoured, a spear of fire pierced the beast, incinerating it from the inside and killing it instantly. The vines holding him gradually released him, letting him fall to the ground. But for some reason, he couldn’t get up, and his vision grew even more blurred.

Then, three humanoid figures appeared out of nowhere, approaching Liam.

Liam tried to utter some words, but he could barely speak.

—Who... are... you...? —he murmured with difficulty.

One of the figures seemed concerned while the other two looked at him, debating what to do with the boy.

Liam’s vision reached a point where he could no longer distinguish the ground near him, and he couldn’t even hear the conversation they were having in front of him. Finally, he lost consciousness.

…

Liam woke up. He spent a few seconds recalling what had happened and then quickly raised his torso, seeing that he was in a somewhat rustic, old-fashioned room under Liam’s eyes, but not run-down. He felt somewhat disappointed, as for a moment he thought he was in his home...

He touched his head, sighed, and then covered his forehead with his hand.

—Damn, I feel like I’ve been sleeping a lot lately...— he thought.

—Maybe, if I had stayed at home, Rizz would have come into my room, tackled me and said “Wake up, little piece of trash, you’ve slept enough, it’s time for us to play CastleGod”— he smiled, somewhat worried.

Then he remembered how he ended up there and why he was in that bed. He got angry and muttered to himself, grumbling.

—Ugh, and that damned goddess, she stole my weekend, gave me a stupid sermon about fate and who knows what else, and then transported me to an unknown world, in a location right above a damn monster that almost devoured me. At least, if she’s going to send me to another world, it would be normal if she gave me a powerful ability or skill to start my adventure... but my welcome gift is almost becoming the fertilizer for a horrible plant.—

Liam remained silent for a while until he noticed he was still wearing his school clothes, but without his jacket.

—And I’m still wearing my school clothes! Won’t I stand out wearing this? At the very least, she could have given me a starter kit or something similar, right?— he said, referring to Ananke. —Now it’s just that the people in this place might speak a language I don’t know; that would be the last straw.—

He lay down abruptly, out of frustration, and then sighed.

—With how good my favorite anime was getting... Well, at least I could be in a worse situation...— he recalled the three silhouettes he saw before he fainted. —I was lucky there were some people to save me. Now that I think about it, someone threw something made of fire that killed that thing, right?—

Liam reflected on that moment and thought.

—Could it be some kind of magic? Maybe I can do something similar... I mean, I’m in another world...—

He lifted his lower body off the bed again, raised his hand towards the open window in the room, and began to concentrate.

—Fireball...—

Nothing happened.

—I figured as much,— he lay back down, somewhat disappointed— it was embarrassing to try that... I guess it was worth a shot...

Liam finished his internal monologue and remained lying down, trying to clear his mind of the situation. After a while, the door to the room opened. Liam raised his torso again to see who it was; a priestess accompanied by a blond boy entered. Both noticed that the protagonist had finally woken up. The girl broke the silence.

—I’m glad you’ve woken up— she gave a friendly smile.

The girl had blonde hair with reddish wavy tips, red eyes, and bangs covering her forehead, wearing typical priestess attire.

—At least we speak the same language...— Liam thought.

—Thank you for helping me... How long have I been asleep?—

—A whole day.— answered the priestess.

—A whole day?!— Liam exclaimed.

The boy with dark black eyes and messy blond hair with reddish tips, similar to the priestess’s, intervened.

—The poison that floral beasts inject with their vines...— he said with such seriousness that for a moment it made Liam nervous. —It’s fascinating! It’s a very potent sedative! Just a slight touch of their vines, and you can be completely knocked out if you don’t have good training.— His eyes sparkled with excitement as he spoke, as if he were sharing a great scientific discovery rather than describing a deadly threat. —They do this to weaken their prey before devouring them because they tend to be quite vulnerable inside, and a normal person at their full capacity could easily destroy that beast from the inside. Not to mention they camouflage themselves among the flowers in the area!... And!...—

Liam began to notice how the boy’s tone grew more excited as he continued speaking. He saw his hands gesticulating with enthusiasm, almost losing track of what he was saying. But before he could keep talking, the priestess approached Liam and whispered in his ear.

—Don’t pay too much attention to my brother; he tends to go off on tangents when it comes to magical beasts...— she said, with a knowing smile as the boy continued to ramble on, praising the abilities of the floral beast.

Liam leaned toward the priestess, whispering.

—Is he really calling the thing that almost killed me fascinating?

The girl let out a small laugh before answering.

—Anyway, I should introduce myself. I’m Elina Reasin. I specialize in light magic, so I try to practice control over each of the main elements.— She glanced uncomfortably at her brother, who was still excitedly sharing more details about the floral beast. —He’s my older brother, Rainer Reasin. Although his appearance might make him seem serious, as you can see, he has a rather... eccentric and obsessive interest in magical beasts.— She sighed.—Despite being a bit of a blockhead, he’s very intelligent in battle. His vast knowledge about those disgusting creatures makes him quite useful.

—Is there really magic in this world? —Liam thought to himself, surprised.

Rainer stopped talking as soon as he heard how his sister referred to magical beasts.

—Sister—he said in a restrained tone—, should I explain to you again why magical beasts are fascinating?

—For now, I don’t want to argue with you about those things in front of our guest. You haven’t even let him introduce himself—Elina replied, crossing her arms with an irritated expression.

Rainer clenched his lips, his irritation clearly visible, but he restrained himself.

—Those things, huh?— he thought, trying to suppress his anger—. Fine. I’ll let it slide for now.— He turned his attention to Liam.—Strange-clothed kid, give me your name—he said with an intimidating seriousness—. And tell me, what were you doing stepping like an idiot into such an obvious hiding place of a floral beast?

Elina rolled her eyes, putting her hand on her face. She exhaled forcefully, placing her hand on her forehead while closing her eyes, as if trying to contain an impulsive response.

—Rainer is terrible at talking to people—she thought.

Liam, shocked by Rainer’s bluntness, looked at him for a moment before attempting to respond.

—Uh… Well… My name is Liam, Liam Grace, and as for the situation I was in…— He paused, weighing whether or not to tell them the truth—. Well, I guess I don’t lose anything by telling them; they don’t seem like bad people. I mean, they just saved me, so they might understand my situation, even if it sounds crazy—he thought, before making a decision.

—Would you believe me if I said I’m from another world with no superpowers or magic? A goddess forced me to come here, telling me I was going to be a hero or something like that. She gave me boring lectures about fate and then literally transported me right above that monstrous plant that almost devoured me, without any knowledge or power to defend myself.

The two siblings stared at him, their expressions frozen in disbelief.

Liam swallowed nervously, unsure if he had just condemned himself. Did I just seal my fate? —he thought.

—That’s impossible...— Rainer murmured, looking at his sister—. You agree, don’t you?

Elina looked at him with a mix of surprise and curiosity.

—I mean... it sounds pretty far-fetched, but...— There could be some truth to it—she said, trying to maintain her composure—. His clothes are very strange, though that’s not enough proof. When I examined his wounds, his spiritual energy flow surprised me. It was tiny, much lower than an average person who doesn’t train. But if he’s really from another world, shouldn’t his energy flow be null?—she thought.

Finally, she turned to Liam.

—Do you have any proof that you’re from another world?

—Uh... Right!— Liam said.

Liam got up from the bed somewhat excitedly, patting his pocket.

—Please, tell me I didn’t lose it—he thought frantically as he searched.

He finally pulled out an object from his pocket a cell phone.

The siblings looked at it in disbelief.

—This is a cell phone. Most people in my world have one—he said, showing them the device—. I have photos I could show you... but...— He laughed awkwardly—. It has no battery.

Rainer looked at his sister, skepticism marked on his face.

—He’s a liar. Let’s throw him out of the house—he whispered.

—Don’t be cruel—Elina replied softly—. Still, it sounds quite convincing, doesn’t it? He uses very strange terms like “cell phone” and “photos.”

—That thing is weird—Rainer said, keeping his voice low—. It might be dangerous. Why are you so calm?

—I don’t think he’ll harm us—Elina responded—. He was almost killed by a floral beast...

Rainer sighed.

—I suppose you have a point...

Both siblings were still considering what to do with Liam, who was getting nervous seeing them whisper.

—I’ve got an idea!—Liam suddenly said, trying to change the subject—. If you can control fire, maybe someone could also control electricity or something like that?

Rainer looked at him distrustfully.

—You mean the lightning element? It’s created by mixing fire and wind energy.— He lifted a finger, producing a small spark of electricity at its tip, surprising Liam—. I have control over fire, but wind doesn’t come easily to me. Still, I can use lightning on a small scale.

Liam watched, amazed.

—Wow!

He quickly regained his composure and pointed to the phone’s charging port.

—My plan is for you to touch this—he said, pointing to the charging port—. But it has to be a very small charge so you don’t burn it out.

Rainer raised an eyebrow, unsure.

—Do I really have to do that?—he asked, looking at the phone with distrust and then at his sister, awaiting her opinion.

—Mr. “I want to be the strongest explorer”—Elina mocked—, are you really afraid of a small rectangle?

Rainer sighed, irritated.

—Shut up. Hand me that thing, and let’s see what I can do.

Liam handed over the phone, and Rainer, with visible effort, controlled the electric charge.

—How long do I have to do this?—he asked, frowning.

—Long enough to turn it on... How about five minutes?

Rainer looked at him with exasperation.

—Do I really have to be like this for five minutes?

Seeing the concern on Rainer’s face, Liam tried to reassure him.

—Well, maybe less time. Actually, I think it might turn on already.

Liam explained to Rainer how to power the phone while Elina watched with growing anticipation.

—Alright, turn it on, but don’t stop charging it by touching the charging port.

Rainer held the phone in a peculiar way, charging it with his right index finger while holding the device with his left hand and turning it on with his thumb. The phone powered up, and the screen suddenly lit up.

—Whoa!—Rainer exclaimed in surprise, letting out a startled shout when he saw the phone’s light and instinctively dropping it.

—What are you doing?!—Liam shouted, quickly crouching to retrieve his phone.

Rainer, trying to hide his surprise, responded with a nervous grimace.

—Be grateful that I only dropped it and didn’t instinctively increase the power of my lightning technique. —He thought to himself— I hope I didn’t...

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Elina couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst into laughter, enjoying her brother’s reaction.

—Hahaha!—she laughed, excited—. You should have seen your face! What was that weird noise you just made?! Hahaha!

Rainer tried to look away to hide his embarrassment while Elina kept laughing. Liam, concerned about his phone, checked the device. Fortunately, it seemed to be unharmed and had a surprising 7% battery.

Liam quickly opened the photo gallery and caught the attention of both siblings. Elina, still laughing, stopped when she saw the images and was fascinated.

—These are some photos of my friends and places we’ve been—Liam explained.

Elina, her eyes filled with awe, said

—Are you really from another world?! Those places look amazing! The structures of those giant towers—she pointed to the buildings in the photos—are so different from anything I’ve seen here. I’ve never seen anything like it!

Rayner, though still doubtful, gave Liam the benefit of the doubt as he looked at the photos with interest.

—I’m not sure if that proves you’re from another world, but those structures are really impressive.—He thought— I wish there was a picture of a mythical beast on this device...

Elina, growing more curious, insisted

—Show me more! I want to know everything about your world!

Rainer, unable to contain his excitement, asked

—Do you have any photos of a mythical beast or something like that?—His eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Liam, with a smile, replied

—Well… I think the closest thing I have to a mythical beast is a photo of my cat. We treat it like a deity, so I’ll show you.

But before he could show more, the phone suddenly turned off.

—Damn it!—Liam thought, frustrated—. These things don’t last at all when they’re below 10%! What a stupid thing.

The two siblings looked at the turned-off phone, disappointed and eager to see more.

Elina, driven by curiosity, turned to Liam

—Alright. It’s decided, let’s organize ourselves. Liam, come with me. I’ll give you a tour of the house, tell you who we are and what we do, introduce you to Alaric, and teach you how to handle spiritual energy.

—On my way!—Liam responded, excited—. Wow, what a quick change of attitude! She said she was going to teach me magic! —He thought.—

—You, Rayner, go and use your lightning technique on that thing so we can see more about this peculiar world—Elina said, containing her excitement.

—At your service, sis—Rayner replied with a smile.—She already activated boss mode.— Rayner thought.

As Elina guided Liam through the house, she explained that they were explorers and how they made a living dealing with troublesome monsters. She told Liam more about herself, Rayner, and Alaric, who formed a team living a stable life but aspired to achieve greater recognition. After the explanation, Elina and Liam went to find Alaric.

—He must be training outside—Elina said.

They went out to the patio and found Alaric preparing for his training session. Elina greeted him with a smile

—Good morning. Just starting your training?

Liam also gave a greeting.

Alaric, timidly, responded

—Well… um… I went to buy ingredients for today’s meal… that’s why I’m training late…

Alaric was a blue-haired boy with the same color eyes, with a bowl-cut hairstyle, dark circles under his eyes, and clothing that hid his physique. He wore a long-sleeved shirt in muted tones, a blue cloak with black edges, and loose pants.

—The… the guy we saved is awake… I’m very glad—he said nervously.

Liam, whispering to Elina, commented

—He’s a bit shy, isn’t he?

Elina, whispering back, explained

—He is quite shy, but don’t let his attitude and appearance fool you. Alaric is actually very strong.

Alaric, blushing, said

—If it’s not too much trouble, I’ll go train now… I hope it doesn’t bother you.

Alaric removed the top part of his suit, revealing a muscular body. Liam, surprised, thought

—Wow, the introverted guy is ripped!

Elina, with a serious tone, reprimanded him

—Ahem, Alaric, instead of undressing in front of us, wouldn’t it be better to introduce yourself to our guest?

Alaric, blushing, stammered

—S-Sorry… I-I’m… gathering courage and speaking quickly, I’m Alaric Rainform. I specialize in enhancing my body with spiritual energy, since I’m not good with elemental magic, so I focus on my strength.

Alaric gasped a bit from the lack of air. Liam, smiling kindly, responded

—Nice to meet you, Alaric. —Liam whispered to Elina—. I barely understood anything he said.

Elina, smiling, explained

—He’s quite a peculiar person, but his attitude makes him adorable. His physical appearance doesn’t clash at all with his demeanor. To summarize Alaric doesn’t have a great capacity for storing spiritual energy, no matter how hard he tries, so he focuses on enhancing his physical body, which makes a good combination with his physical state.

—Changing the subject... —Elina looked at Alaric, who had already started training by doing one-handed push-ups—. Alaric, I introduced Liam because I’m considering him as the fourth member of our group.

Alaric, without stopping his push-ups, raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

—Have you already decided on the new member? —he continued while still training—. But he almost got killed by a floral beast... He might be too weak for this group. N-No offense, Liam.—He said nervously.

Liam smiled resignedly and said. —I can’t argue with that, because it’s true...

Elina, ignoring the comment, responded with determination

—That’s exactly why we’re going to train him. I’ll start by teaching him how to use his spiritual energy properly. Once he manages that, you’ll take care of training his body, and Rayner will teach him about magical beasts and our culture. I’m telling you this now, so prepare yourself mentally, and try not to let your shyness interfere too much.

—U-Understood... —Alaric replied, switching arms to continue his push-ups—. B-But why him?

—We’ll save that story for lunch. —Elina smiled—. I want to teach Liam the basics right away, so let’s head to the other side of the garden. Liam, come with me.

—Got it! —Liam responded excitedly, saying goodbye to Alaric, thinking, I can’t wait, I’m so excited to start using magic!

They headed to the far end of the expansive garden, where the surroundings of the house became more visible.

The group’s home was situated just outside a large town, surrounded by a vast stretch of green land. It was a large house, spacious enough to comfortably accommodate several people. Around it, the landscape was filled with gentle hills and small groups of trees, giving it an air of tranquility and freshness.

—Wow, this place is huge... —Liam commented, impressed.

—It was a joint effort. —Elina smiled proudly—. Although a big part is thanks to Rayner, who is the strongest in the group and can handle more dangerous and exhausting missions.

—It’s impressive... —Liam continued admiring the scenery, when Elina’s tone changed, becoming serious.

Elina paused, organizing her thoughts before speaking.

—Liam, first I need to confess my intentions. —Her tone grew more serious—. I don’t want to alarm you, but it’s important for you to know this.

Liam was taken aback by the sudden seriousness but remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

—A year ago, traces of a rather sinister residual energy were discovered. At first, no one paid much attention, but they decided to send a group of explorers to investigate. The traces led them to the depths of a dungeon... and what they found there was... disturbing.

Elina paused, her gaze seemed lost in the memories of what she was about to recount.

—At the very bottom of the dungeon, there was an altar... and the drawing of a man with a ram’s head, standing on a pile of skulls. And all of this on the ground, with an inverted pentagram drawn... and in its center, there was a pile of stacked skulls... —Liam could hear the discomfort in her voice—. The explorers spent a lot of time investigating, but one of them... went mad. They say it was due to the constant exposure to the energy emanating from the altar.

Liam looked at her in surprise but didn’t interrupt.

—He killed one of his teammates... out of nowhere. —Elina clenched her fists, remembering the reports—. He gained enormous strength, almost as if he had been possessed. The others tried to stop him, but it was a massacre. Only one of the group survived.

There was a brief silence, filled with tension.

—And what happened after that? —Liam asked, his face serious.

—The survivor gave his report, quite horrified, but... that’s not all. —Elina exhaled slowly—. More places like that have been found, scattered across the country. Some even say they’re distributed all over the world. The government has decreed that any incursion into those sites without authorization from the explorers' guild will be punishable by death.

Elina took a longer pause, and when she spoke again, her tone became graver.

—A month ago, the existence of another site was confirmed... but this time, the residual energy is much more intense. Some believe these places might be where demons reside. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but... something big is happening, and we can’t ignore it.

Liam absorbed all the information, the gravity of the situation starting to settle in.

—Do you think what they found... is related to some kind of demon? —he asked, his voice lower, almost as if fearing the answer.

Elina looked him straight in the eyes, serious.

—I don’t know... but I want to find out. And you, Liam... I need you to be prepared for whatever we might encounter. Liam absorbed what Elina was saying and responded.

Liam exhaled deeply, as if releasing a weight from his shoulders.

—I understand where you’re coming from... —he said finally, with a serious expression—. To be honest, at first, I didn’t want to come to this world. I’d prefer to continue with my normal life, doing what I used to do.

Elina looked at him with curiosity, although her tone remained serious.

—So... —she asked, leaning slightly towards him—. What is your goal? Are you aware of the responsibility you might have? Or of the people you could save?

Liam sighed, looking away for a moment.

—My goal... is to return to my world. I want to go back as soon as possible. —He paused, his voice now softer—. I have people there who care about me, people who are surely worried about my sudden disappearance. I feel that my duty is with them, I can’t ignore them.

Elina lowered her gaze, a small shadow of disappointment crossing her face. She wanted to understand his stance but couldn’t help feeling a slight frustration. “Doesn’t he want to help us?” she thought. However, before she could respond, Liam continued.

—But... —Liam looked her straight in the eyes, with determination—. You saved me. You have treated me with hospitality, and you’re helping me become stronger. I can’t just leave without doing something. If there’s a demon king or any other threat that could destroy this world... —Liam clenched his fists—. The least I can do is face it. It’s my way of thanking you, of returning the favor.

Elina stared at him for a moment, her cheeks slightly flushing at Liam’s sincere words. Unintentionally, a soft smile formed on her lips. She was surprised, but above all, grateful.

After a few seconds, she cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure.

—Well... —Elina smiled, crossing her arms as she tilted her head—. You’ve impressed me with that answer. —Her tone was warmer now—. So, there’s no time to lose. Let’s start your real training.

Liam smiled to himself, feeling a new motivation inside.

Elina pointed to the open space in front of them.

—First things first I want you to focus on sensing your spiritual energy. That will be the key to everything that comes next.

Liam frowned, clearly confused.

—Sensing my spiritual energy? —he asked, tilting his head—. How am I supposed to do that? If I even have that energy?

—When I checked your wounds that time, I noticed a small flow of spiritual energy in you —Elina explained—. That means you can access that energy. Your initial flow depends on the residual energy around you, generated either by flora or fauna. Your body absorbs that residual energy, which affects you. I have the theory that this energy also exists in your world, but in a lesser degree. That’s why, even though it’s low, you have a flow.

Liam nodded, though still not very convinced.

—Okay, so what do I do? Do I roll on the ground and touch the grass to absorb that energy?

Elina laughed at Liam’s comment, responding cheerfully

—If you did that, you’d just end up looking ridiculous. Relax and pay attention to what I’m going to do.

Without warning, Elina grabbed Liam’s wrist, making him nervous, and positioned his left arm in front of him, with his palm open and fingers pointing upwards. Then she repeated the same process with Liam’s right hand.

—Spiritual energy flows through your body like a river —she said softly while bringing her palms together with his, causing Liam to blush at the closeness—. The energy points are like lakes, where energy is stored before transferring to the next point. With my control of energy, I’m going to connect the points located in our palms and force the acceleration of your flow using mine.

Liam, uncomfortable with the closeness and contact, looked away, his nervousness increasing.

—You mean in this situation you’re Rayner and I’m my cellphone? —he asked, as he started to feel a tingling sensation spreading through his body. He wasn’t sure if it was his nervousness from being so close to Elina or if what she was doing was actually working.

Elina laughed lightly at the comment.

—No, it’s not exactly the same —she replied—. I suspect that device stores the charge Rayner gives it and that’s why it glows, right? Here, what we’re doing is that I’m pushing your spiritual energy with my left hand, and with the right, I’ll receive your flow, creating a cycle.

—I think I’m getting it... —Liam said, feeling the tingling in his body becoming more intense.

Elina, noticing his reaction, smiled and said

—You feel a tingling, right?

Liam nodded, his face lit up with excitement.

—Yes, I feel it stronger and stronger.

Elina nodded with satisfaction and commented

—Perfect. Now I’m going to cut off the connection between our energy points.

Gently, Elina separated her palms from Liam’s. She watched as he moved a bit, adjusting to the new sensation.

—Okay, how do you feel? —Elina asked, curious.

Liam frowned, trying to describe the sensation.

—I feel like my whole body is tingling.

Elina smiled widely, pleased with Liam’s progress.

—That’s a good sign. We’ll take advantage of the sudden acceleration of your flow before the effect fades. Now, we’re going to take it a step further. I’ll teach you to create an element.

Liam, clearly excited, exclaimed

—Now?

Elina nodded and indicated

—Yes, now. Look, extend your arm forward and open your hand.

Liam did as instructed, extending his arm and opening his hand with determination. Elina approached and, with a playful touch, joked

—Don’t get nervous again.

Liam, blushing, tried to maintain his composure.

—I’m not nervous, just excited to see what you’ll teach me.

Elina laughed softly and, to guide him better, took Liam’s hand from behind. Her fingers intertwined with his, and their palms met in close contact.

—Alright, let’s do this. I’m going to supply you with neutral spiritual energy to the energy point in your palm. Together, we’ll create a combined technique so you understand how it’s done.

Liam, feeling the closeness, asked with a slightly nervous tone

—O-Okay, what do I do?

Elina, still holding his hand, offered a clear explanation

—Focus your concentration on the energy you’re feeling. Imagine that energy concentrating in the center of your palm. I’ll guide you as we transform it into an element.

Elina began transferring a stream of neutral spiritual energy through their intertwined hands, and Liam felt a slight warmth and vibration in his palm. The energy moved smoothly, allowing him to experience how it could be molded.

—Now, focus your mind on the shape you want the energy to take. Don’t think about the technique itself, just visualize the result. We’re going to create a small sphere of energy and then assign it an element. —Elina explained while guiding Liam.

Liam closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating on the sensation of the energy in his hand. Elina watched him closely, ready to intervene if necessary.

—You’re doing well, you’ve got the shape —Elina said in an encouraging voice—. Now give it a defined shape. Think of one of the following elements Air, Water, Fire, or Earth.

Liam, with his eyes still closed, immersed himself in concentration. Among the elements presented to him, fire was the first that came to his mind. He imagined the warmth and intensity of the flames, and how that sensation could manifest in the energy he was creating.

Liam focused on the idea of fire, trying to shape the energy sphere in his hand. He felt a growing warmth in his palm, and the energy began to transform. In his hand appeared a sphere of fire.

Elina, excited, said softly

—Good job, look at your result.

Liam felt something warm in his palm, and when he opened his eyes, he saw the fire sphere glowing before him. His surprise and fright were immediate.

—Ah! —exclaimed Liam, suddenly shaking his hand, thinking he was burning himself. He released Elina’s hand and stepped back. As they separated, the flame disappeared.

Elina, with a serious expression, observed Liam’s reaction.

—I’m sorry... —Liam said, smiling awkwardly—. I thought I was burning myself...

Before he could say more, Elina burst into laughter.

—HAHAHA! That reaction is priceless. Normally, little kids are happy when they execute their first technique, but you got scared like a coward. —She calmed down a bit and added—. But I must admit, you have some talent for this. You managed to create a technique super quickly. Even with the help I gave you, it usually takes beginners several days to achieve it. But, well, I don’t think comparing you to little kids is the best compliment. HAHA.

Liam, still somewhat blushing and embarrassed by Elina’s comments, simply made a face.

Elina, noticing Liam’s discomfort, said with a reassuring smile

—Hehe, I’m just kidding. For someone from a world where magic isn’t used, it’s understandable that you were surprised.

She gave him a pat on the shoulder, with a warm smile.

—Don’t worry, you’ve managed to create your first spell. That’s a great achievement. Now we can start working on how to control and use it effectively. If you keep this up, you might even awaken your special ability soon.

Liam sighed, a smile of excitement on his face.

—Well, at least I know I can use this energy.

Elina nodded seriously but with a touch of encouragement.

—That’s true, but don’t get too confident. You still have a lot to learn and improve. This is just the beginning.

Liam, with renewed determination, puffed out his chest and put his hand on his forehead as if saluting like a military soldier.

—I’ll do my best, Master. This time, I won’t be scared like a kitten when generating fire with my hands.

Elina, laughing softly, responded

—Well, I hope so. But for now, it’s best to keep preparing. You have a lot to learn, and I’ll be here to guide you.

With a conspiratorial smile, Elina and Liam continued their training for a good while, positive and expectant about the possible challenges that lay ahead.

…

Years passed like a whisper in the wind, leaving their mark on the world and those who had fought to save it, all the decisions and efforts leading to this point after 23 years.

On a battlefield scattered with the bodies of explorers who had fallen during a fateful war, blood spread throughout a vast kingdom now destroyed, with a large crater at the entrance of the place, illuminated only by the crimson light of the moon.

Liam, severely wounded and gasping, gazed at his final nemesis, the one who called himself the leader of all demons, who appeared imposing even as he was dying, and could only curse Liam while waiting for his end.

The demon no longer had the strength to stand. His left arm had vanished, turned to dust carried away by the wind. The flesh on his grayish torso was crumbling, while the black fur on his lower body was soaked with his own blood. Only one horn remained intact, and the two dark eyes with red pupils glared at his executioner with hatred.

Liam could barely stay upright. Blood dripped down his face, and his legs trembled. He had managed to defeat the demon leader, but at what cost? The weight of the horn slowly growing on his own head reminded him that he too was becoming a beast. His vision blurred for a moment, but he forced himself to stay standing.

—Liam Grace... —the demon’s voice was barely a broken whisper—. You’ve become a monster... just to end me.

Liam did not respond. His hands still trembled from the amount of demonic energy he had absorbed. He felt it consuming him from within, burning his insides. There was no sense in explaining anything to that thing. The battle was won, but the horn sprouting from his own forehead reminded him that it was not all over.

—I did what I had to do —Liam murmured, gritting his teeth—. For Rayner... and for all the people and explorers you killed.

The demon, weakened and dying, let out a harsh, dry laugh as his body slowly disintegrated.

—It doesn’t matter if I’ve lost... —his words faded along with him—. There will always be another... and you won’t be there to stop it...

The demon’s body vanished, leaving only an echo of his laughter in the air.

Liam collapsed to his knees, feeling the emptiness where his enemy had been. The adrenaline began to wear off, and the pain hit him like a wave. His gaze fell on a gauntlet covered in a strange steel, attached to his hand, which he had somehow transformed and molded into a kind of dagger.

The horn on his head throbbed with excruciating pain, as if it wanted to take control of his mind. He could feel it, the demonic energy trying to corrupt him completely, as if something were feeding on his fears and memories.

He took a deep breath and stood up again, gripping the dagger tightly. His hand trembled as he held it in front of his chest. A fleeting thought crossed his mind Rayner, who had died at the hands of that demon months before the final battle. Elina and Alaric... who were still alive.

He closed his eyes, feeling the cold metal of the dagger against his skin. Just one swift movement, and it would all be over. But his body resisted, as if the demonic energy had already begun to take possession of him at a very slow pace.

And just as he was about to stab himself, a familiar silhouette stopped him, holding his hand with the dagger and forcefully pulling it away, causing Liam to let go.

—Stop! —Elina shouted, her voice breaking and her eyes filled with tears.

Liam looked at her, surprised. —Elina...

—You idiot, you idiot! —she sobbed, gently hitting Liam’s chest, her crying growing louder—. Why did you do this? Why did it have to come to this?

—I did all this to keep you safe, my dear Elina. —Liam hugged her, holding her with his right arm while resting his head against her chest—. Even if they remember me with disdain... I don’t regret anything. —He smiled with melancholy.

Elina, unable to contain herself, hugged him tighter. —No... no... we can find a solution, I don’t want to lose you too... I’ve already lost my brother, I can’t lose you! I’ll do whatever it takes to save you, don’t give up... I beg you.

Elina’s tears soaked Liam’s chest. He closed his eyes in pain, feeling his own control slipping away. —If it were a low-rank demonization, maybe, but this pact... —Liam swallowed, trembling—. My soul is already possessed. I don’t have much time. Please, Elina, let me go before it’s too late. I don’t want to do something terrible... I don’t want to hurt you.

At that moment, a group of explorers, led by Alaric, burst onto the scene. Elina released Liam, but the air became tense as everyone saw his condition. Those who didn’t know him looked at him in horror, while those who had accompanied him before watched with sadness and concern.

Alaric, with a mix of anger and desperation, shouted —Liam! Wasn’t your goal to return to your world!? —His voice cracked as tears rolled down his cheeks.

Liam, barely conscious, looked up. —Alaric... —He sighed, giving a weak smile—. I spent so much time in this world... that the desire to return disappeared over the years.

—Why? —Alaric asked, his voice filled with pain—. Why did it have to end like this?

—I did what I had to. Even with all the training in the world, I couldn’t have defeated that demon without the pact. —Liam closed his eyes, feeling the demon’s whispers in his mind. His demonic energy was intensifying, becoming more dangerous.

Elina and Alaric watched as Liam fell to his knees, struggling to maintain control. The explorers surrounding him began to murmur about what to do. Some, without waiting, charged their elemental techniques, preparing to end him.

—If you’re going to kill him, you’ll have to go through me! —Elina shouted, creating a barrier of light to protect Liam. Her face was filled with determination.

Alaric, although understanding the necessity of what needed to be done, stepped forward and shouted at Liam —Liam, tell me... what should we do now?

With difficulty, Liam looked him in the eyes. —I’m sorry... but I’ve lost control. Alaric, I need someone to kill me... before it’s too late.

Alaric closed his eyes, tears falling to the ground. He walked toward Liam determinedly, feigning calmness, though his steps were hesitant. Elina, seeing what he intended to do, stepped in front of Liam, blocking his path.

—What do you think you’re doing?! —Elina shouted desperately.

—Please... don’t make it harder. —Alaric’s voice trembled as he tried to stay calm—. Elina, he... he can’t continue like this.

—I won’t let you! —Elina screamed, her tears uncontrollable—. He’s our comrade! As the leader of this group! I can’t let you kill him!

Alaric gritted his teeth, finally losing his patience. —As the leader of the group, you should take responsibility for your team’s actions! —His voice broke as he tried to maintain composure—. A member of your team is turning into a demon... and he’s asking us to kill him before he becomes a threat! —He took a deep breath, trying to calm down—. You’re the smartest person I know, Elina... don’t let your feelings blind you.

Elina, understanding the harsh truth in Alaric’s words, fell to her knees, her crying uncontrollable. Meanwhile, Alaric approached Liam, picking up the dagger he had dropped and pointing it at his comrade’s chest.

—Forgive me... —Alaric whispered, as tears streamed down his face.

Liam looked at him with a serenity that contradicted the pain he felt. —Forgive me for forcing you to do this...

The dull sound of the dagger piercing the flesh was the only thing that broke the silence as Alaric, trembling, stabbed Liam’s chest. Blood began to flow from Liam’s mouth, but with the strength he had left, he managed to murmur

—Th... thank you...

Liam’s body slowly collapsed, his eyes losing their shine as the world around him faded away. Alaric, now out of control, broke down in tears. Elina ran to her dying comrade, embracing the moribund body of the person she had lived with for years, her tears falling onto Liam’s face.

With one last effort, Liam, with his eyes dimmed, lifted his hand and gently stroked Elina’s cheek. He noticed how his vision was slowly fading until darkness consumed it, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

Everything turned black. Liam felt the weight of the world leaving him, and there was no more pain. He floated in the void, the same abyss where he had been before leaving his everyday life.

In front of him, Ananke, the Goddess who had sent him to that world, watched him in silence.

Trying to hide his sadness, Liam forced a smile. —We meet again, Miss Destiny.

Ananke kept her gaze fixed. —Liam…

—So, how did I do? —Liam asked with a voice laden with fatigue—. Did I manage to save that world?

Ananke sighed deeply. —Not only did you defeat the most dangerous demon, Abaddon, the ruler of the void. You also took with you Zariel, the bringer of ruin... In theory, you did wonderfully. Although... if you had trusted your companions more during the battle, you might have survived.

Liam nodded weakly, his gaze lost in the void. —But if I had, many others would have died, wouldn’t they?

—Indeed —Ananke replied gravely—. Including Elina.

Tears rolled silently down Liam’s cheeks, but a serene smile appeared on his face. —Then I don’t regret anything.

Ananke smiled slightly, appreciating his determination. —You’re the only one who could have come so far and made such difficult decisions. That’s why I chose you.

A long silence fell between them. Ananke allowed Liam to regain his composure before continuing.

—Well, Hero, it’s time to say goodbye.

Liam, with a hint of sadness and acceptance, asked playfully —So, will you take me to the afterlife or reuse my soul for another mission?

Ananke, amused, replied —Would you like to find out for yourself?

She gestured toward a bright light glowing in the distance. Liam looked at it in silence, and although the light called to him, a deep sadness filled his being. He knew his mission was over, but he couldn’t help but lament everything he had left behind and the decisions he had made to get there.

He sighed and, speaking more to himself than to Ananke, said —I suppose it’s time to rest... The truth is, I could use an eternal rest. I’ve been stressed these last few years.

With each step Liam took toward the light, his mind wandered among the memories of those he had known and loved in that world. When he reached the edge of the portal, he turned to Ananke one last time.

—Miss Destiny, despite sending me there against my will... I really appreciate the help you gave me. The divine grace you bestowed upon me ten years ago was... invaluable.

Ananke smiled with a touch of tenderness. —It’s time for you to go, Liam.

Liam nodded and took a few steps toward the light, remembering Elina, Alaric, Rayner... and his heart ached thinking of those he had lost. He regretted not being able to say goodbye to them, and also to his own family, whom he had not seen in so many years.

—Perhaps I’ll see them again in the next life —he thought, finally accepting his fate.

The light enveloped him.

Someone whispers.

—Liam... Liam!

The distant sound of shouts and cheers reached him like an echo. Where was he? Amidst the confusion and commotion, Liam blinked and opened his eyes. He found himself in a gymnasium, surrounded by students. In front of him, two young people were fighting in a match, while the rest watched from the stands. To one side, a teacher monitored the fight attentively.

Liam recognized the place immediately. It was his school gym… his school from the modern world. He was back. Bewildered, he blinked a few more times as his thoughts intertwined.

—Liam? Wake up already, man! —Hana shook him with a mix of impatience and concern, and when she finally caught his attention, she looked at him with an exasperated expression.

Liam looked at her, unable to hide his surprise. He couldn’t believe he had her in front of him again after everything that had happened. His heart raced with the excitement of seeing a close friend, but at the same time, he didn’t know how to process it all.

Hana, interpreting his look as a sign that he was still half-asleep, wasted no time in giving him a lecture.

—Liam! I can somewhat accept that you fall asleep in math or history, but not in this class... The Spiritual Arts teacher is terrifying!

Liam, still half-lost, could only murmur in response.

—What... what’s happening?

Hana looked at him with a furrowed brow, puzzled.

—Huh? Did you sleep so much that you don’t even know where you are? Leander is facing Haruta, remember? And in case you forgot, Haruta is the strongest in the class while you were sleeping like a baby.

The noise of the fight finally captured Liam’s attention. He looked up at the makeshift arena in the gym and saw two students facing each other. His mind was still trying to piece everything together.

—That’s Leander —he thought—, I recognize him well. The other... Haruta? His face looks familiar...

As Liam tried to focus, the duel between the two continued. Leander struggled to block an attack from Haruta and retreated with a jump. He charged his hand with a water technique, but before he could execute it, a sweeping wind surprised him, sweeping his legs and knocking him down hard.

—Wind Art Descending Compressed Air —Haruta murmured before firing a concentrated blast that hit Leander in the kidney, making him fall forcefully to the ground.

Leander gasped in pain before finally raising a hand in surrender.

—I give up... —he managed to say between breaths.

Haruta approached, extending a hand to help him up, his face friendly and full of respect for his opponent.

—You did well, Leander. —he smiled.

—You’re a genius, Haruta —Leander responded with a weak smile as he stood up with difficulty.

The teacher applauded, clearly satisfied with the demonstration from both students. Haruta walked over to his group of friends, who greeted him with applause and congratulations. Meanwhile, Leander limped back to Hana and Liam, still complaining about the pain.

—Ugh... I’m beat —he said, leaning on his knees and letting out a long sigh.

—I expected no less —Hana replied, arms crossed—. You faced the strongest in the class. You should have surrendered after the first hit.

Leander shook his head, a mix of pride and stubbornness on his face.

—A real man never gives up at the start. That’s my philosophy.

—That philosophy will get you killed someday —Hana responded, rolling her eyes.

—Liam understands me, right? You agree with me, don’t you, sleeping beauty?

But Liam didn’t respond. He was lost in his own thoughts. Something wasn’t adding up. While watching the previous fight, he had felt something... a familiar sensation. Spiritual energy.

—This is... spiritual energy. They’re using it. —his thoughts raced—. Elina mentioned it could exist in my world too. Does this mean people here now have access to it? But... how did it become so common? Where did Miss Destiny send me this time?

His musings were interrupted when he noticed Hana and Leander were looking at him, whispering among themselves.

—Is something wrong, guys? —Liam asked, finally coming back to the present.

—Looks like you finally woke up. Are you feeling okay? —Hana asked, noticing his absent expression.

Before he could answer, the teacher raised his voice.

—Good demonstration of skills! But... —he paused dramatically, and his eyes fixed on Liam— there’s something I can’t ignore. A student has been sleeping through the entire class.

Immediately, all the students turned their heads toward him. Some looked at him seriously, while others stifled giggles.

Liam felt all eyes on him, but remained unfazed, even though Hana and Leander looked like they wanted to sink into the floor.

—Mr. Liam, would you be so kind as to stand up? —the teacher ordered in a firm voice.

Liam sighed, remembering the old times when he always seemed to get into trouble, and stood up slowly.

—Because every time I reappear somewhere, it’s in a tense situation... —he thought, with a hint of irritation—. First a floral beast, and now this...

The teacher smiled, noting Liam’s calm demeanor.

—Well. Nerves of steel. I like that. —The man, with a robust appearance and dark skin, crossed his arms—. You’ve been sleeping in my classes, and as such, I should punish you. But I’ll give you a chance. You’ll fight... against me.

The murmur in the room increased instantly, some students laughed nervously, while others looked at him with pity.

—The rules are simple —the teacher continued—. There are twelve minutes left until the end of class. If you manage to endure that time without surrendering or being knocked out, I’ll let you pass. If not... you’ll be suspended.

—What? That’s not fair! —Hana shouted, standing up—. That’s going too far!

—Defending him, Miss Hana? —The teacher looked at her with an raised eyebrow—. If you prefer, you can take his place.

Hana hesitated, clearly nervous about the offer. Seeing her internal struggle, Liam placed a hand on her shoulder.

—Don’t worry, Hana. This is something I can handle. —he smiled at her, reassuringly—. Just sit down and enjoy the show.

She looked at him in surprise, noticing something different about him, as if he was no longer the same boy she had known.

Liam walked to the center of the gym with the calm of a veteran warrior. The murmurs around him grew louder, but he ignored them.

—I don’t know what situation I’ve gotten into, but one thing is clear... I need a break. —he thought as he stopped in front of Professor Gideon—. Once this is over, I’ll have all the time I need to process what’s happening.

The teacher smiled, clearly excited by the challenge.

—Alright. Let’s begin, Liam.

End of Chapter 1