— "Hhhha!"
Raleigh jolted upright, gasping, drenched in cold sweat.
His sleep-blurred eyes darted around, wild and unfocused.
A faint light filtered through the blinds, and the sharp, sterile smell of the infirmary hit his nose.
He tried to sit up, but a sudden stab of pain wrung a groan from his lips.
His foot—suspended in a metallic brace, wrapped and immobilized.
— "What... what happened?"
Flickers of memory rushed through his mind — a battle cry, a fist crackling with energy, a crash, a cloud of dust… then nothing.
— "Finally awake." came a smooth voice from his left.
A young man approached, dressed in the crimson uniform of House Dravon.
He looked calm, almost serene, holding a smartphone in one hand.
Raleigh narrowed his eyes, suspicious.
— "No need for suspicion. I'm a friend."
— "Who... who are you?" Raleigh rasped.
— "Reis. First-year, House Dravon. I was there during your... duel."
He paused, then stepped closer to the bed, unbothered, holding out his phone.
