Kaiden couldn't believe her eyes the moment she recognized the person causing the illumination in the grass field.
It was Chuck. The same person that she almost killed during her "warm up." Kaiden didn't affiliate herself with weak people because she didn't have the time for them. She never bullied anyone, but she also never got involved when she saw someone getting beaten up.
All Kaiden ever wanted to do was get strong enough, and explore the world and build something for herself. But even if she never got involved with anyone weaker than her, it didn't stop her from stumbling into conversations that were somehow connected to weaklings.
And one of those weaklings that she heard of was Chuck. He built up a little reputation, as a result of how arrogant he was.
Chuck was weak, but the same couldn't be said for his mouth. Even after getting severely beaten up, he would still find ways to roast and insult whomever he could.
So it came as a surprise when Kaiden saw Chuck emitting an enormous amount of energy. It felt unreal.
"Holy shit! I thought he was supposed to be weak or something! How the hell does he have that kind of power? Is that even a normal flame?" Kaiden said with a hint of fright and curiosity in her voice.
At this point, the tears that were streaming down her eyes for unknown reasons were all gone. Her disturbance had been replaced with something else.
Kaiden raised her hands forward, ending the obstruction from the tree. She felt the warmth of the golden flames hit her hands. The distance between her and Chuck was considerable, but she still felt the energy. It was surreal.
"Should I maybe approach him? Ask him why he didn't use this strange power at the grand dogo? Ohh shit, he's probably hiding his powers. But why? It doesn't make sense," Kaiden thought as she saw Chuck.
He was inspecting his body with extreme focus, occasionally staring out into empty space while talking to himself, and Kaiden also noticed that the glow on his hand intensified periodically. None of it made any sense to her.
After a while, she could see the intense glowing fire around Chuck die down, until it was eventually gone. She watched him as he headed in the direction of the male dorm building, till he was swallowed by the darkness of the night sky.
—
Chuck's puffed up eyes slowly opened up again, and unlike the last time, he could see the crimson shimmers of the sun reflecting against his floorboards.
He slowly raised his body up, as loud grunting sounds reverberated across the room.
"How the hell did I manage to fall back asleep? Did the system alter my body in any way?" Loud yawns escaped his mouth.
"Open system interface"
"Name>> Chuck Nectar /
/Race>> human /
/Class>> mage /
/Stage>> neophyte /
/HP>>10/10 /
/level>> error. User is too weak to be given a required level /
/Exp>> 80/100 /
/Skill>>
Infernal shroud: LV 1 /
/Harelm energy pool>>> 100/100 /
/Mana pool>>100/100 /
"I guess the Harelm energy got filled up during my little sleep."
"But I still need to max out my exp. If I'm correct, I should upgrade to level one afterwards," Chuck said as he proceeded to check his quest tab.
/Daily quest updated>> reduce your HP by 50 percent
Reward: 30 exp /
"Come the fuck on! I thought the quest was going to change! I can't subject myself to torture because of this system," Chuck was fed up at this point. The last time that he attempted to complete his quest, his life almost ended.
But he didn't have any choice. Either he stayed weak with no risk, or he grew stronger with extreme measures.
"No risk no rewards huh? He sighed.
"Well I better go look for someone to do the job"
Chuck readied himself and headed out. It was Saturday, so he had all the time in the world.
Going past a few buildings, he headed into a particular building that only a few students were traversing through.
It was a library.
Chuck entered the grandiose library, as his gaze was met with hundreds, if not thousands of book shelves sitting in accordance.
He headed to the "E" section of the library, hoping to find any clues relating to he foreign energy that resided inside him.
Reaching his destination, he was about to take a book when he felt something on his back. Chuck thought that he was about to get an early beating from some douchebag.
But all those thoughts were quickly disregarded the moment he turned around. He saw a familiar face — someone that once saved him from a bully. It was Erik.
"Hey man. I didn't know you're a book lover. You look good, considering…" Erik said in an enthusiastic voice, as a fierce smile formed on his lips.
Chuck was relieved to see that it was someone that he could be around without any problem.
"Yeah Kaiden really did a number on me, but I'm fine now," Chuck said as he subconsciously scratched the back of his head.
"I wonder why he is always finding me. Why the hell will a strong mage want to be seen around someone as weak as me? Is this a trap? Is he trying to lure me into some fucked up shit of his?"
"If you don't mind me asking, Erik, what stage are you at?"
"Nothing special," Erik tried to dismiss it," I'm only at the High magus stage."
"Nothing special? Did he just call the High magus stage nothing special? He's fucking insane." Chuck thought.
"And in case you're wondering why I'm talking to you," Erik continued, "all you need to know is that I was once like you. Weak, seen as a waste of space and time, and hated. But I got stronger. And if I can do it, I don't see any reason why you can't."
Erik's reason was simple, yet deep. He saw his old self inside Chuck, and felt sorry for him. It almost made Chuck feel even more pathetic.
The suspicion that Chuck held against Erik died down.
"Yeah. Thanks man. Hey, do you happen to know anything about a particular type of energy? It's called "Harelm energy"."
Erik's expression changed into that of a curious mind, "I don't think I have. Where did you hear of it?"
This was the kind of question that Chuck didn't want to hear. He didn't want to explain to anyone how he had knowledge about the energy.
"Uhm.. I…" before Chuck could compose a proper sentence, a particular presence interrupted him.
A silver colored hair was seen swaying back and forth, as footstep sounds got closer and closer.
Stopping right between Chuck and Erik, Kaiden glanced at Chuck with an intimidating look.
"We need to talk."