Volume 03, Chapter 39

  Tension

  As I stroll down the sidewalk, a gentle breeze carries the sweet scent of lavender, its calming aroma offering a fleeting moment of tranquility. The chaotic whirlwind of my thoughts slows for a brief instant, granting me a reprieve from the constant storm of plans, worries, and memories.

  But the calm doesn’t last long. My mind drifts to the 100 Stat Points I earned from surviving the brutal duel against Mason. The fight flashes vividly in my memory—the adrenaline coursing through my veins, the sheer willpower it took to emerge victorious. It reminded me how far I had come—and how far I still had to go.

  Curiosity tugs at me, a question bubbling to the surface. How can these points push me even further?

  “System, show me my status,” I say aloud.

  The familiar translucent screen materializes before me:

  A slight smile tugs at the corners of my lips. My progress is undeniable. The steady growth in my stats and the near completion of Basic Gun Arts at 97% feels like a tangible victory. When it hits 100%, will there be a noticeable leap in my abilities? The thought sparks a flicker of anticipation.

  I shift my focus to the task at hand. The 100 Stat Points I earned seem to buzz in the back of my mind, a resource waiting to be used. It’s time to put them to work.

  “System, distribute 25 points each to Strength, Endurance, Agility, and Speed,” I command.

  As the points are assigned, a wave of change sweeps through me. My body feels lighter, faster, and stronger like I’ve shed invisible restraints holding me back. Breaking into the [D] rank feels like crossing a threshold—a tangible milestone in my journey to becoming stronger.

  One more push and I’ll reach [D+] to unlock a new system update. The prospect sends a spark of determination through me.

  The lavender-scented breeze brushes against my face again, but I welcome it with renewed confidence this time. Each step I take feels more purposeful, and each movement is more fluid.

  I’m getting closer. One step at a time.

  Encouraged by the progress and the possibilities ahead, I continue my walk with heightened anticipation, ready for whatever comes next.

  ════ ?★? ════

  Dominic’s feet carry him through the familiar gates of his middle school, his mind preoccupied with the routine that has become second nature in the past week. Despite his focused stride, his thoughts drift to Arthur.

  ‘Arthur’s probably behind me… now!’

  On instinct, he turns quickly, expecting to find Arthur ready to drape an arm around his shoulders with his usual burst of enthusiasm. But today, there’s only space.

  A strange hollowness settles in his chest. Over the past week, Arthur’s spontaneous appearances have become a comforting constant in Dominic’s unpredictable life. His friend’s boisterous greetings had an uncanny knack for arriving precisely when Dominic needed them the most—on days when he least expected warmth.

  And yet, on days like today, when he anticipates Arthur’s company, the absence is almost jarring.

  “Haa…” Dominic sighs, the sound heavy with unspoken frustration and a flicker of disappointment. He resumes his path, weaving through the schoolyard.

  The familiar weight of stares and the murmur of hushed whispers follow him. He’s no stranger to the attention; being “Manaless” in a school full of Magicians has made him a frequent subject of scrutiny.

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  But today, it feels different—more isolating, more cutting.

  A sudden pang of loneliness strikes him, sharp and unexpected. His hand instinctively presses against his chest as if trying to make sense of the foreign ache.

  Dominic’s life before Sylvestria flashes in his mind—a life marked by solitude, judgment, and marginalization. He had been used to it and had learned to survive within the confines of loneliness. But here, in this new world, Arthur’s absence feels heavier than anything he had experienced in his past life.

  Why do I feel this way?

  Logically, it doesn’t make sense. He’s only known Arthur for a week—a mere fraction of his new life. And yet, his emotions betray him, pulling him into a tangle of inexplicable sadness.

  It’s not just the mind. His very body seems to react, as though it remembers something deeper, something Dominic himself cannot access.

  Dominic knows the connection between body and memory and how emotions and habits can linger even when the conscious mind cannot recall their origins. Could this body hold a bond with Arthur that transcends his memories? Could there be echoes of a friendship woven into the fabric of his being, waiting to be rediscovered?

  The thought sends a ripple of unease through him.

  As he walks through the corridors, his thoughts churn in an endless loop. Arthur's absence feels like more than just the lack of a friend—it feels like the loss of an anchor, a thread of stability in a world that still feels foreign.

  The tension grows with every step, the isolation creeping further into his mind.

  Dominic feels truly alone for the first time since his arrival in Sylvestria. And it’s a feeling he realizes he’s no longer prepared to endure.

  ════ ?★? ════

  Dominic slowly opens the classroom door, eyes scanning the room until they land on Arthur. There he is, seated at his desk, one hand propping up his face, intently focused on whatever is displayed on his Commlink. The furrow in his brow and the tight line of his mouth make it clear that he is deep in thought.

  ‘There he is!’ Dominic thinks.

  Dominic's face lights up with a smile at the sight of his friend. He steps into the classroom and makes his way over to Arthur's desk.

  "Hey, Arthur," Dominic greets him, his voice full of warmth.

  Arthur jolts at the sound of his name, his eyes snapping up to meet Dominic's. The sudden interruption pulls him out of his thoughts, and he looks momentarily taken aback. As Dominic's face comes into focus, a flash of his father's words from the previous night surges through his mind: "At this point, that Manaless boy, Dominic, will surpass you again."

  Arthur's fists tighten under the desk, and a surge of emotions—jealousy, frustration, and rivalry—rise within him, fueled by his father's harsh words. But as he looks into Dominic's friendly, unsuspecting face, he forces himself to push those feelings aside.

  Taking a slow, deliberate breath, Arthur relaxes his fists, trying to smooth the creases of his expression into something more neutral. He musters a smile, though it feels strained, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly as he struggles to keep it in place. It is a mask, poorly fitted, barely hiding the storm underneath.

  "Hey... Doms," Arthur finally replies, his voice steady but lacking its usual enthusiasm.

  Unaware of his friend's inner conflict, Dominic nods and pulls up a chair beside Arthur.

  "What were you reading?" he asks, settling in with casual curiosity.

  Arthur hesitates, his mind scrambling for a plausible excuse. He has not been reading anything; the Commlink has merely been a prop, a barrier to keep others at bay while he wrestles with his thoughts.

  "Oh... I was just..." Arthur falters, searching for anything to say to steer the conversation away from his turmoil.

  "Just?" Dominic prompts, leaning in slightly, an encouraging smile on his face.

  "I was just reading some web novels," Arthur finally settles on a harmless lie.

  It is easier than admitting that he has been consumed by doubts and fears stemming from his father's relentless expectations.

  "Web novels? What's the title?"

  Dominic's tone is light and friendly, and his interest is genuine. The mention of web novels piques his curiosity, especially since he had read many of them in his previous life. Finding good ones in this new world intrigues him.

  Arthur feels a pang of guilt at Dominic's effortless camaraderie. Here is his friend, genuinely interested in ordinary things, unaware of the internal battle raging within Arthur. It makes him feel both grateful and guilty—grateful for Dominic's friendship and guilty for the envy and bitterness he harbors.

  "Yeah, I'll send you the names later," Arthur replies, trying to stabilize his voice. "They're quite engaging."

  Dominic smiles, clearly pleased. "Cool, I look forward to it."

  Before the conversation can continue, a new voice cuts through the air. "Greetings, Dominic and… Arthur."

  Both boys turn to see Lumi standing there, her expression as impassive as ever, betraying none of the complexities underneath.

  Dominic offers a nod and a polite smile in return. "Hello, Lumi."

  Arthur's reaction is less welcoming. A soft grumble escapes him as he mutters, "Looks like someone finally noticed me."

  His words are laced with a mixture of sarcasm and genuine annoyance.

  Lumi, seemingly unfazed by Arthur's tone, shrugs and sits beside Dominic. Her calm and detached presence adds another layer of complexity to the already tense atmosphere.

  Arthur's struggle intensifies. Not only are his feelings toward Dominic tangled in a web of jealousy and rivalry, stoked by his father's harsh words, but now Lumi—a direct rival and someone he dislikes—has joined them. The situation quickly becomes a test of his ability to maintain composure.

  Under the weight of these emotions, Arthur takes a deep, silent breath and exhales slowly, focusing on regaining his calm. He knows he needs to control his emotions, especially in front of Lumi. His pride will not allow him to show weakness or emotional turmoil in her presence.

  As Lumi settles in, the dynamic at the table shifts subtly but noticeably. Arthur's jaw tightens at her proximity.

  Arthur feels the urge to react, to put up walls, or to lash out. Still, he knows that would solve nothing. He would only shatter the fragile composure he is barely holding together.

  He takes another deep, almost invisible breath, letting it out slowly, silently coaching himself to remain calm. He adjusts his posture slightly, straightening up as if aligning his spine could help fortify his resolve. With a glance at Dominic, then at Lumi, he prepares himself to engage in the conversation, no matter how much he wishes he were elsewhere.

  -Poof!

  A cloud of white smoke suddenly fills the front of the classroom, and as it clears, Maurice appears. His usual dramatic entrance elicits little more than a raised eyebrow from the students who have become accustomed to his antics.

  "Okay, class! Let's start Homeroom!" Maurice announces with his usual flair.

  The tension in the room eases slightly as the attention shifts away from the trio, giving Arthur a brief reprieve from the emotional tightrope he has been walking. But even as the lesson begins, the undercurrents of rivalry, jealousy, and unspoken feelings swirl beneath the surface, waiting for the next moment to rise again.