The next morning, Charles stepped onto campus with heavy eyelids, two familiars hidden inside his jacket—Midnight asleep, Rift humming softly like a warm stone.
Maybe I can get through one normal school day…
Wrong.
The moment he entered the courtyard—
Everyone stared.
Then the whispers hit him like arrows.
"That's him! He was at the rift again!"
"He showed up BEFORE the Bureau?!"
"I swear I saw him glowing last night—"
"No, idiot, the Shard attacked him!"
"Maybe he's cursed…"
Charles froze.
"…Oh no."
Lance sprinted toward him from across the courtyard, waving both arms dramatically.
"BRO! BRO! YOU'RE FAMOUS!"
Charles grabbed his collar.
"THAT'S NOT GOOD, LANCE!"
Arianna arrived next, folding her arms.
"You missed classes yesterday. Everyone is talking about you."
Charles blinked nervously.
"Y-Yeah, I… overslept?"
Arianna squinted.
"You overslept through a Shard incident, a Bureau lockdown, and thirty rumors?"
"Uh… yes?"
Midnight slapped his chest inside the jacket.
Rift echoed with a faint "kyuu" of judgment.
Arianna sighed deeply.
"Charles… something is happening to you, right?"
His smile twitched.
"N-No?"
Lance whispered, "You're a terrible liar."
---
The Bullies Strike Again
Of course, Damian Crowe chose that exact moment to appear.
He strutted up with Tomas and Reed behind him, expression smug.
"Well, well. If it isn't the rift magnet."
Charles groaned internally.
"Damian… not today."
"Oh, absolutely today," Damian smirked.
"Word is you were the first person at TWO rift sites this week."
Charles raised his hands.
"I was just passing by—"
"Twice?" Damian laughed.
"Right. And next you'll say the Shard bowed to you."
Charles choked.
Midnight froze.
Rift stiffened.
Arianna stepped forward, aura flaring.
"Damian. Leave him alone."
Damian paled slightly—Arianna's presence was overwhelming—but he forced a smirk.
"Tch… Whatever. Stay out of trouble, food-stall boy."
He left.
Charles deflated.
Rift peeked out of his jacket with glowing purple eyes.
Midnight smacked Rift back inside.
Charles whispered, "You two behave! Not here!"
---
Homeroom Panic
The moment Charles stepped into the classroom—
Every student turned.
Every. Single. One.
A girl leaned across her desk.
"Charles! Is it true you fought a demon!?"
"No."
A boy asked, "Did your crystal explode because you're a chosen one?"
"No!"
Another whispered, "I heard the Bureau wants to dissect you—"
"WHAT?! Absolutely not!!"
A hand shot up.
"Is it true a glowing creature followed you home?"
Charles froze.
Midnight inside his jacket glared, tail flicking.
Rift hummed proudly.
Charles forced a smile.
"Didn't see anything like that."
(He absolutely saw exactly that.)
---
Teacher Arrival
Their homeroom door slid open.
A new teacher stepped in—someone Charles had never seen before.
Tall.
Serious.
Carrying a spear on his back.
"Good morning, class," he said calmly.
"I'm Instructor Ronan Vale, your Awakening Bureau combat liaison."
Charles nearly choked.
Vale?
As in… Seraphine Vale?
Arianna whispered, "She must be his older sister."
Ronan scanned the class.
"As you all know, two rift disturbances occurred near campus this week."
Murmurs filled the room.
"To ensure your safety, the Bureau—together with local guilds—has authorized a controlled dungeon training program for all awakened students."
The classroom exploded into chaos.
"A dungeon?!"
"Are we ready?"
"Will we fight monsters?"
"Do F-ranks have to go?!"
Ronan raised his hand.
"Quiet."
Silence instantly returned.
"The dungeon field exam begins next week. You will form teams, train basic combat, and learn emergency procedures."
Charles stiffened.
A dungeon.
With other students.
With teachers.
With sensors.
With Rift and Midnight.
His nightmare.
Ronan continued:
"This training is mandatory for all awakened students."
Charles's soul left his body.
Lance fist-pumped.
"YES! Time to burn things!"
Arianna nodded, expression calm.
"This will be useful."
Damian smirked.
"Perfect. Let's see who's actually strong."
Charles sank into his seat.
Midnight tightened his claws on Charles's shirt.
Rift hummed excitedly.
Charles whispered:
"This is awful."
The system chimed:
[New Quest Available]
"Survive the Beginner Dungeon Exam"
Rewards:
• Experience
• 20 System Points
• Skill Upgrade: Light Burst (Enhanced)
• Rift Evolution Progress
Charles groaned.
"I HATE THIS ALREADY."
Ronan Vale looked directly at him.
"Charles Reyes."
Charles froze.
"You especially," Ronan said quietly,
"must not fall behind."
---