"Well…" Logan turned to Lisa, who had her full attention fixed on him. He measured each word carefully, knowing that if he phrased things poorly, she might misunderstand.
"As you know, I have the power to tame. To use that ability, I need to offer my blood. Yesterday, it seems we accidentally formed a connection when some of my blood spilled from a previous cut…" He spoke with deliberate care, weighing each word.
"Oh, accidentally?" Lisa's eyes widened. She couldn't stop the quiet tremble in her chest. That word hurt more than she expected.
Accidentally. Like she hadn't meant anything. Like it was just another moment for him, a forgettable one.
She remembered that instant so clearly. Logan's blood had slipped down from his arm and onto her hand. It hadn't just vanished; it had been absorbed. Then, the message appeared:
[Are you willing to create a bond with hero Logan?]
She hadn't hesitated.
Lisa didn't know why her powers were so different. Her best friend, Alma, had explained how her own powers worked, yet none of the others had visible game-like stats the way Lisa did.
Their skills and traits weren't revealed to them, but Lisa's were.
The morning after the parade, everything began to shift.
She had touched her aching forehead, and a gentle warmth had flowed from her hand, easing the pain and clearing her mind.
After that, strange letters began appearing before her eyes as if guiding her, like those games where you must choose an option to advance. At first, they were simple suggestions, small, helpful nudges of where to go or what to do. Then came that question with Logan, written in bold as if telling her it was something important she must decide.
She had chosen "yes" almost instantly.
Not just because of the magic, but because of who he was to her.
The boy who always let her take the first turn, even when it meant he'd lose the match. The one who spent rainy afternoons with her building forts out of blankets and chairs, declaring them their secret base. The times he traded her his rarest in-game items without hesitation, saying she'd make better use of them.
He had sworn he'd never forget her when his family had to move away...
She thought that bond would bring back that version of him.
The Logan who once reached for her hand during thunderstorms. The one who always smiled first and pulled her along even if it was a game meant for boys.
Now, he spoke of it like it had been a mistake.
She blinked quickly, forcing those memories back into her heart.
Logan was watching her closely. Her silence unnerved him.
He took a breath and wanted to reach his hand out closer.
"Lisa, I know this bond might feel confusing… and unexpected. It was never my intention to force anything on you. But now that it's happened, we need to understand it. And I also have to tell you… something's wrong with it."
Lisa's sadness slowly gave way to resolve.
Her heart still ached, but she could see the concern in his eyes. He hadn't meant to hurt her that much, she was certain of. And if something was wrong, then maybe they could fix it together.
"I want to understand, Logan," she said softly. Her voice didn't waver this time. "Tell me more about this bond."
Logan relaxed slightly, relieved she was willing to listen.
"This bond connects us in ways that go beyond being classmates or even friends. It lets us share strength, battle experience, and sometimes even thoughts. But there's something wrong with it, an error of sorts. Your bond isn't displaying properly, like something is interfering. It might actually be a good thing… at least for your privacy…"
"Maybe it's because of my class," Lisa suggested. "Or maybe because we're close in power or level… or something else entirely?"
She glanced down, thinking of the glowing words that had guided her earlier. Maybe they were responsible for the strange link.
"Listen, Logan, I also…"
"Lisa, where are you?"
Her best friend's voice rang out from nearby, cutting her off. She turned toward the sound, but her eyes flicked back to Logan.
His expression had shifted again, cold, distant.
The same look he'd worn for most of the past year.
Lisa hesitated. Her heart urged her to stay, but the moment was already slipping away.\
"We'll talk more later," she whispered, before moving toward the voice.
As she walked away, she risked one more glance over her shoulder. Logan stood motionless, seemingly ignoring everyone around him. That distant look hadn't changed, and it saddened her as someone who knew the real him.
What happened to you? she wondered.
The boy who used to play the healer just to keep her character alive.
Well… now it was her turn to do that for him, to help him back up.
Maybe, just maybe, this strange bond would help her find that version of him again.
As Lisa disappeared with her friends, Logan exhaled a long breath. He had half-expected everything to blow up in his face, especially when she'd looked hurt earlier.
With nothing left to keep him outside, Logan returned to his room.
Everything was spotless. Even the book he'd left on his desk that morning had vanished.
Before he could question it, a soft voice greeted him from within.
"Good evening, Master Logan. I hope your trip went well," Ruri said with a gentle smile as she stepped out of the inner chamber, calm and composed.
In that moment, Logan was reminded, clear as day, why things had changed.
He nodded, though his mind was still tangled with the day's events.
"It was… nice," he replied, matching her calm as best he could. "How have things been here?"
Ruri's smile widened slightly as the hero she was tasked with finally showed signs of wanting to speak to her a little more.
"All is well. I've taken care of everything as you instructed."
She paused, her gaze lingering on his face. "You seem troubled. Is something on your mind?"
Logan hesitated. "It's just… a lot happened today."
Her eyes softened with understanding. "Then I hope you'll be able to rest easy tonight. Also, I wanted to go over tomorrow's plans. The castle has issued instructions through Sir Alric… any willing hero is expected to attend training. The instructors will be assigned to help the new heroes understand their skills more clearly. Will you be joining them, sir?"
Logan frowned slightly at the thought.
He wasn't sure if the instructors could offer him anything of value, after all, even the kingdom's top breeder hadn't fully understood the nature of his abilities.
Still, attending might provide some useful insight, and at the very least, it would let him see how the others were progressing.
After a moment of contemplation, he replied,
"Yes. Let Sir Alric know I'll attend."
Ruri bowed her head gently. "Of course, sir."
Yawning, Logan decided it was time to call it a night.
Ruri, seeing how tired he was, chose to leave him be; even if she had wanted to talk more, she wasn't going to rush it.
Before going, she made sure he didn't need anything, then quietly retreated to her own room.
Logan lay back in bed.
He still felt a little uneasy sleeping in a room where someone could enter freely, even if it was just his maid… but that was a concern for another time.
Several hours later, he was stirred from sleep by the soft creak of the door.
Ruri had returned, this time carrying a tray of food.
Blinking in confusion, Logan sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"Good morning, sir. You didn't eat much yesterday, so I prepared something light," Ruri said with a polite smile.
Dumbfounded, Logan nodded in thanks, hurriedly smoothing the wrinkles from his clothes, only now realizing he hadn't even changed before falling asleep.
"Master Logan, I thought it would be best for you to be well-fed today. The class will be leaving in an hour, so I hope you can be ready by then." Her voice remained gentle, but there was a firmness beneath it, but with a tinge of care.
"Right… thanks," he murmured, sitting down to eat. He rarely showed much outward emotion, but the way she always anticipated his needs wasn't lost on him.
Ruri lingered by the doorway, hesitant for a moment.
"Sir… may I ask something?" she said at last, her voice softer than usual.
Logan paused, setting down his spoon. He looked up, clearly reluctant but willing to listen.
"I know you don't like being fussed over. And I know you prefer your distance. But if there's anything… anything I can do beyond preparing your meals or laying out your clothes, please tell me. Even if you don't say it, I'll try to understand."
She clasped her hands in front of her, her expression trying to remain calm but earnest.
"You were alone yesterday when you came back. You looked… tired. Not just your body, but… like your heart."
Logan stared at her in silence.
He didn't speak right away. In truth, he didn't know what to say. He wasn't used to people wanting to help without demanding something in return.
"Being tired is normal," he said finally, his voice low. He shrugged, half-expecting she might want payment or something more. "You don't have to worry about me. I'm used to it."
"I know," Ruri replied with a faint smile. "But even if you are… I'm still here. And I won't just make this my job. I'd like there to be trust between us, if that's possible, hero… Logan."
There was no expectation or pressure in her tone. If anything, it felt genuine, and that unsettled him more than it should have.
Logan looked away.
"...Thanks," he said at last, trying not to meet her eyes. It came out quieter than he intended, but he meant it.
Ruri stepped forward just enough to place a folded cloth on the table, an embroidered handkerchief with a small sun stitched into the corner.
"For good luck," she said, before turning to leave.
Logan watched her go, his fingers brushing over the stitching. He didn't know why, but the warmth of it lingered.
He finished eating in silence, then headed to the bathroom downstairs for a quick shower.
As always, clean clothes awaited him, laid out with precise care on his return.
He dressed swiftly, still not used to the comfort of being so thoroughly… looked after.
He had never felt this pampered in his life.
And perhaps not this clean, in every sense, for a very long time.
Sometime later, the class was escorted to the castle's training grounds, a new and unfamiliar area for Logan and many of the others.
Soldiers moved about in organized routines: some running drills, others practicing formations. A few stood at attention as the group passed, offering salutes, while others simply paused to watch the procession of young heroes with curious glances.
A mix of excitement and unease settled in Logan's chest as they reached the designated area. The training field was expansive, the stone paths bordered by wooden dummies, magical glyph markers, and sparring circles. Instructors were already waiting stern-faced, disciplined, and clearly experienced.
One of them stepped forward, a tall, broad-shouldered man who carried himself with the authority of someone long accustomed to being the one in command.
"Welcome, young heroes. I am Commander Theron of the Kingdom of Elris," he announced, his steady voice carrying across the training grounds without effort. "I will be overseeing your development and ensuring each of you becomes the best you can be."
He let the silence hang just long enough to sharpen his next words.
"Today marks the beginning of your formal training. Our objective is simple: to help you harness and strengthen your unique abilities. Each of you will be paired with an instructor who will guide you through exercises tailored to your class and affinity."
Logan scanned the area, catching a few familiar faces among the assembled students.
Some stood straight, eyes bright with anticipation. Others shifted nervously, shoulders tight, glancing around as if unsure they belonged here at all.
And somewhere between those extremes stood Logan, calm, quiet, and waiting.
He didn't know exactly what the day would bring. His power remained a mystery to most, and even to himself. But perhaps today, he would begin to understand just how different his path truly was.
Each student was then instructed to hold a special crystal, different from the one the Oracle had used and far less impressive than the one Logan carried in his pocket. When touched, it displayed numbers for all to see, though it revealed no information about class or skills as if it were a lesser version of his Chronicle Crystal.
The first student stepped forward. He was a mage, so it was no surprise that his magic-related stat was the highest.
[Lv 1 – Strength: 4 | Agility: 4 | Dexterity: 5 | Constitution: 7 | Intelligence: 12 | Charisma: 4]
Logan studied the display, instantly noticing the gap between these numbers and his own. He tried to recall his level-one stats and realized the total had been barely half of that.
The next boy approached a builder-type class that Logan assumed might be closer to his own spread.
[Lv 1 – Strength: 7 | Agility: 2 | Dexterity: 9 | Constitution: 6 | Intelligence: 6 | Charisma: 5]
While none of his stats reached double digits, every one was still higher than half of Logan's. The more students tested, the more it gnawed at him. Almost every display showed numbers greater than his.
It was finally the turn of the most well-known students, starting with the so-called "idiot trio."
One by one, they stepped up, their stats flashing for the crowd, each one boasting impressive totals that widened the gap between Logan and the rest.
When Brian's turn came, he strode forward radiating confidence, every step as if he already knew the crystal would only confirm his superiority. Logan's fists tightened, frustration simmering just beneath the surface.
Brian's stats appeared on the crystal:
[Lv 3 – Strength: 15 | Agility: 11 | Dexterity: 12 | Constitution: 14 | Intelligence: 7 | Charisma: 8]
Seeing those numbers made Logan's frustration spike. He had always felt overshadowed by students like Brian, those who seemed to excel without even trying. Now, the gap was glaring. Brian had somehow gained an extra level and outclassed him by nearly five times in total stats.
What made it worse was how different Brian looked compared to the day before, more muscular, sharper in appearance, as if the stats were shaping his very presence.
The girls who excelled were next, each revealing balanced, high numbers of their own. Lisa was among the few who had also gained a level:
[Lv 2 – Strength: 6 | Agility: 5 | Dexterity: 9 | Constitution: 12 | Intelligence: 15 | Charisma: 9]
Logan's turn was drawing closer. Nearly everyone in class had already stepped forward, leaving him with little time to think. A part of him wanted to turn and walk away, to skip the test entirely. He knew the results would only damage his already fragile standing. The pressure tightened in his chest, every impressive stat before him only adding to the weight.
Logan took a deep breath, willing his pulse to calm down. His worth wasn't defined by numbers alone; he reminded himself of that. His abilities were different, unique, even if they didn't shine here the way others' did.
Finally, his turn came. The weight of dozens of eyes pressed down on him, making retreat impossible. He stepped forward, placing his hand on the crystal, its surface cool beneath his palm.
[Lv 2 – Strength: 4 | Agility: 3 | Dexterity: 3 | Constitution: 6 | Intelligence: 4 | Charisma: 2]
The numbers glowed for all to see. Logan's shoulders sagged. A ripple of laughter passed through the crowd, sharp enough to sting, and somewhere in the back, a voice called out, "Weakling!"
Heat flooded his face. He clenched his fists, holding himself in check, resisting the sharp urge to fire back.
The chatter cut off as the instructor's voice rang out, firm and unyielding.
"Enough! These numbers are just the beginning. True strength lies in how you use your abilities and grow over time." His eyes swept across the group before he continued, "Now, form a line. We'll place you with a proper trainer depending on your class."