After a while, I traced my way to the bathroom that was spoken of — of course, the condition of the place nearly made me puke. I'd never seen restrooms in such a vile state.
'And I thought gas station bathrooms were bad.'
Eventually, I made it out and just wore the same uniform and white undershirt, leaving the jacket in my prison cell. Or should I say, my room. 'Same difference, really.'
I walked through the dark hallway of the prison, passing other thick metal doors, probably holding other prisoners — maybe some unjustly arrested like me.
'Or maybe actual criminals.'
I came out to a wide-open yard where soldiers were sparring and dueling. The moment I stepped out of the hallways, light poured into my face, threatening to blind me. I turned away, squinting.
'Note to self: bring sunglasses if this world has them.'
Different soldiers stood around sparring at various angles, striking at each other with astonishing speed. Metals rang as they met, boots scraped against white sand, chatters and murmurs rose from others engaged at different angles. Some sat on wooden platforms and other structures I couldn't even recognize. The air smelled of sweat and steel.
And then it finally, truly, dawned on me in a different way.
I really am in another world.
'Not Earth. Not home. Somewhere completely different.' The thought should've terrified me. Instead, I just felt... tired.
Towards the corner, where some soldiers were sitting, one of them tapped another and gestured at me with his gaze. They stood up — all three of them — and began walking towards me.
I turned my head away, pretending not to notice, and headed in the opposite direction.
'Maybe if I ignore them, they'll go away.'
Then it hit me that I actually didn't know where I was going. It was also going to be difficult for anyone to show me because by now, they knew I was F rank. And of course, social hierarchy — they'd want to prey on me naturally.
Left to me, I wanted to avoid this nonsense. But sometimes, some things are unavoidable and you just have to do what you have to do.
I slowed my step and let them catch on.
'Better to deal with it now than have them chase me down later.'
"Hey! Kid!"
I turned swiftly, pointing curiously to myself.
"Who else would we be talking to? The famous F rank." The tallest one among them spoke, his voice a threatening gruff. He grinned maliciously as he stared down at me, eyes predatory. "Come over."
I let out a sigh and walked towards him.
'Here we go.'
Getting to his front, I explained.
"I'm kind of late for the academy, and I'm also wondering if you could help me navigate my way there."
The soldier sneered and laughed.
"Well, sure! I'll consider it if you kneel and beg."
I gave him a doubtful look.
'That's all?'
"Really?"
Quickly, my knees touched the ground. Pride belongs to the rich and privileged. In this world, I don't have a politician father, or the privileges that would make me automatically earn anyone's favor.
"What?"
All of them looked shocked. And I couldn't help but wonder aloud.
"What? Why are you all shocked? Didn't you ask me to kneel?"
I plugged my pinky finger into my ear, cleaned off the dirt, and blew it away.
"So, can anyone please show me to the academy?"
All of them stared in shock, blinking. Then the tall soldier in the middle frowned at me.
"How can you kneel so easily?!"
Now, it was my turn to be shocked.
'Why does he sound angry?'
"Because you asked me to? Didn't he just ask me to kneel?" I looked at the lithe soldier standing to his left to confirm.
He nodded hesitantly, also confused.
I turned back to him.
"So will you help me figure out the way to the academy?"
The tall soldier gritted his teeth. His face reddened, and suddenly he was looking so angry — and honestly, I couldn't understand why.
'What did I do wrong this time?'
He lunged and grabbed my collar, yelling, spitting in my face in the process.
"Do you think this is a joke! You're supposed to be the heroes! Otherworlders summoned to save us! And you just — you just kneel like it's nothing?! Where is your pride?!"
Now, he was lecturing me on pride after abandoning his to bully me.
'The irony is thick enough to cut with a knife.'
"Oh! Is that what you thought? That I'd be prideful and refuse to kneel?"
I let loose a short laugh.
"I'm a very shameless person. Pride is for people who are rich. Can you see that I'm living in a prison cell? The Kingdom doesn't even want to help me with money. What will pride help me do in this situation?" I paused, then grinned. "By the way, brother, can you lend me a few bucks? I don't know how money works here. I'll be needing your help greatly. You look older — I'll call you senior brother. Senior brother! I'm in your care!"
He froze, staring at me with disbelief in his eyes.
'Did I break him?'
"Don't worry, I'll help you instead."
The voice came from behind me. He looked up, frowning at the person who just came.
"Let him go, Jerry."
The tall soldier — Jerry — hesitantly released his grip on my clothes and pushed me back as he did. I staggered back, but the guy behind stopped me with his hand.
"Tch! You're lucky! We'll see each other again!"
He and his two goons walked away in anger. And I was left disappointed and worried about what exactly I'd done wrong.
'Seriously, what's with these people?'
I shifted slightly and turned to the man who had helped me.
Well, he wasn't exactly a man — he was a boy who looked to be my age, maybe twenty. His face was a map of scars — one across his jaw, another bisecting his left eyebrow. And where his right eye should have been was a puckered scar, the socket empty.
He actually looked slightly scary despite being so young.
'Actually, scratch that, he's a man.'
"Uhm… eh, thank you?"
My gratitude couldn't be convincing because even I wasn't sure if he'd helped me. I think I pretty much had it all under control.
But that wasn't what mattered right now. He'd said something earlier!
"Will you really help me?" I eyed him suspiciously, gauging from his appearance how rich he possibly could be.
'Doesn't look like he has money either, but you never know.'
"Yes, I'll help you. You need to go to the academy, and you need to understand this world, right? Your mates were briefed last night but you're pretty much clueless about everything. I can help you with all of that — we can even discuss it as we walk to the academy."
My look of doubt increased yet again.
"Why? I'm F rank. You want to help an F rank?"
He laughed wildly, then looked at me with a smile.
"I'm F rank too. The difference is that you're a Spirit Summoner, and I'm just a Beast Summoner."
I immediately understood as I saw him. Then I grinned with a corner of my mouth.
"Empathy, huh? Okay, then that works. Which way?"