When consciousness finally dragged me back up from the darkness, the first thing I felt was pain—sharp, dull, throbbing, everywhere. My vision was blurry, and the smell of incense drifted faintly in the air. I blinked a few times, forcing my eyes to focus.
White ceilings. Curtains. The soft chanting of ether-infused prayers.
…The infirmary.
Priests and nuns were moving around me, hands glowing faintly as ether stitched torn flesh back together. My head pounded as I slowly sat up, every muscle protesting.
"…What… happened…?" My voice cracked. My ribs felt like they were on fire.
When my vision finally cleared, I saw three figures seated at the far end of the room, watching me like I had risen from the dead. Sir Dragoneth, Sir Zenite, and Director Raymond Luneran.
The air went still.
I grunted, clutching my side, and Sir Zenite broke the silence first.
"Good morning, kid."
I stared at him—then huffed, glaring.
"What was that for?!"
Sir Zenite shrugged like he hadn't nearly killed me a few hours ago.
"I needed to see if you were slacking. But"—he gave a faint nod—"you endured and made it here in one piece. Good job."
My cheeks immediately warmed.
Praise.
Even if it was simple, blunt, barely a sentence… someone acknowledged the work I'd put in. That meant something.
Sir Dragoneth cleared his throat. "Hello, boy. I'm an acquaintance of your… master." He hesitated on that word. "I am one of the knight captains—Sir Dragoneth."
Despite the pain stabbing through me, I bowed automatically.
He clicked his tongue. "Don't push yourself. Your body is still bruised."
Then Director Raymond cut in, voice serious.
"Rain. Are you in any condition to participate in tomorrow's exam?"
My eyes widened.
"THE EXAM IS TOMORROW?!"
He nodded calmly.
My stomach dropped.
How long was I out?!
Sir Zenite answered that one for me:
"A while."
Then, right in front of everyone, he asked bluntly:
"Have you unlocked aura yet?"
I froze.
The director and Sir Dragoneth whipped their heads toward me so fast I thought their necks would snap. I clenched the bedsheets.
"…No."
The word tasted bitter.
I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood.
Sir Zenite sighed and reached over, patting my head like I was some stubborn stray dog he'd taken in.
"That's fine. Sure, it's abnormal not to have unlocked mana, aura, life force, or anything"—he said that last part almost too casually—"but it's fine. Focus on your basics."
I nodded, though disappointment clawed at my chest.
Director Raymond and Sir Dragoneth exchanged baffled looks.
"He hasn't unlocked aura? Or mana? No life force awakening? Anything?"
I shook my head.
They both slumped slightly, muttering,
"That's… strange."
Sir Zenite folded his arms.
"We assumed he would've awakened something since he's my student." The director and Sir Dragoneth said.
I blinked.
"Student?"
Both of them turned to him in shock.
Sir Zenite just stared forward.
"I trained him. I never declared him a student."
Their jaws practically hit the floor.
I simply nodded, confirming it.
Sir Zenite finally stood.
"You need more training. Lesson Two. Tomorrow morning—hours before the exam."
"Yes, Sir."
He walked out, the others trailing behind him, still muttering in disbelief.
And then the whispers began.
By noon, rumors had spread through the academy like wildfire—
that I was Sir Zenite's hidden disciple, a monster-in-training, a commoner who somehow attracted the attention of one of the strongest Knight Captains.
People stared.
Some with jealousy.
Some with malice.
Some with awe.
And the Five Prodigies?
They looked at me like I had just stepped onto their battlefield—
a rival,
an obstacle,
a threat.
Without meaning to, I had painted a massive target on my back.
Rain.
Nobody.
The stray.
The kid no one noticed—
until now.