Alena arrived at the college gate and saw her brother waiting for her.
"Jule, you always come first. And why do you have scratches on your head?" Alena asked, worry clear in her voice as she noticed his injuries and the poor condition of his body. She reached out her hand and gently touched his forehead to check the wound.
Jule, as always, didn't give a direct answer.
"Alena, I just slipped and fell to the ground. Don't worry, this is a minor injury. It will heal in a few days," Jule said with a gentle smile, placing his hand softly on her head.
"Mn… you always say that," she replied with embarrassment, her face turning red.
Jule saw her reaction and smiled warmly.
They left the college and headed home together.
Alena had pink hair, a graceful figure like an angel, and stood at 5 feet 6 inches tall. Compared to Stella, Alena was far more beautiful, though Stella was also considered attractive.
---
They soon arrived at their home, located in a small village named Nima, where only commoners and poor people lived.
In this village, many people survived by stealing food from others' houses because of poverty.
Alena walked to the door and placed her hand on it.
"Mom, open the door!" Alena called out.
A moment later, the door opened, revealing a mature woman with pink hair similar to Alena's. She was beautiful, but her face carried a tired gentleness. She smiled warmly and said,
"Children, go to the washroom and clean up. I'll make food for you."
This woman was their mother, Elena. She rarely left the house because her health had been affected by awakened energy when Jule was 14 years old.
Because of her condition, Jule had taken on the responsibility of working part-time jobs, never allowing his mother to go out to work. He had been working hard ever since, determined to earn enough money for a better life for his family.
---
"Come, Jule and Alena. The food is ready! Hurry, or it will get cold!" Elena called from the kitchen.
Their home was small, consisting of three rooms:
One room served as the kitchen and dining area,
Another was the living room, which contained a big bed,
And the last was a bathroom and washroom combined.
Jule and Alena came out after washing and sat down with their mother to eat lunch together.
"Jule, how are your studies going? And why are you hurt? Are you okay? Is there anything you want to tell me?" Elena asked with a sad expression, clearly worried about her son's injury.
"Mom, I'm okay," Jule said with a smile while eating.
"Tomorrow is the awakening process, so today I don't want to go to work. I'll stay home and prepare for tomorrow."
"Brother, I also want to help you prepare," Alena said in a shy tone. "And don't forget what you promised me."
"Don't worry, sister, I won't forget. But I don't need your help — go and rest.
Mom, I'll go prepare now," Jule said, standing up and heading to his bedroom.
"Don't push yourself too hard, Jule. Keep yourself healthy," Elena said with deep concern.
She knew that her son had been pushing his limits ever since he was 14. He barely slept properly, always overworking himself. She didn't want to see him suffer like this.
"Okay, Mom, don't worry. I'm fine," Jule reassured her calmly before going to his room.
He spent the rest of the day reading books and meditating, trying to increase the quality and rank of his awakening class.
That night, all three of them slept together on the double bed, with Jule in the middle, Alena on his right, and Elena on his left.
---
The next morning, Jule awoke to sunlight streaming through the window, warming his face. As he opened his eyes, he saw Alena staring at him, her cheeks slightly red.
"Good morning, Brother," she said shyly with a soft smile.
"Good morning, Alena," Jule replied with a smile of his own.
"Mother made breakfast. Come out after your bath," Alena said quickly, then ran out of the room, her face downturned in embarrassment.
After bathing, Jule had breakfast with his family, then he and Alena left together for the college.
"Brother, see you after college!" Alena said brightly before running off to her building with a smile.
"Goodbye," Jule replied, then headed toward the college field, where the awakening process would soon begin.
---
When Jule arrived, he saw many students excitedly discussing among themselves while teachers stood to the side, maintaining order.
Up above, on a high platform, the principal sat with several noble-looking individuals whose faces Jule didn't recognize.
"JULE!"
A cheerful voice called out to him. Jule turned to see a beautiful young woman with brown hair, a perfect hunter's physique, and a noble aura. She walked toward him with a bright smile.
This was Stella, Jule's girlfriend and the daughter of a powerful guild leader. She was famous throughout the college.
Stella only attended the first period, which focused on knowledge — such as world history, information about beasts, and hunter training. After lunch, she left for practical training with her guild.
The college schedule was simple:
First Period: Teaching about the world, monsters, hunters, and theory.
Second Period: Practical combat training for hunters.
Stella came mainly for knowledge and certification after graduation, but she was also the top student in practical exams.
When Stella walked up to Jule, the surrounding students — especially Tony and his group — were boiling with jealousy and anger.
However, none of them dared to act. Stella's status was far higher than Tony's, and her father was an S-Rank Hunter, a level of power that even nobles feared.
Tony could only bully Jule after lunch, when Stella had left for guild training.
If Jule were to tell Stella about Tony's bullying, Stella would likely beat Tony to death without hesitation.
But there was a serious problem:
If Tony or his father decided to retaliate, they could kill Jule and his entire family, and no one would care — because commoners like them had no value.
Stella's anger wouldn't stop Tony's family. At most, it would cause them losses or delay them, but eventually, Jule and his family would vanish from the earth, forgotten by everyone.
Because of this, Jule had always reminded himself:
Never let enemies, no matter their background, know you are the one taking revenge.
Kings were powerful, but even kings could be destroyed by their own subordinates and hidden enemies.
---
"Jule, where is your mind wandering? Are you daydreaming?" Stella asked with a sweet smile.
The nearby students were seething with anger, their attention locked on the couple's interaction.
"Ah… Nothing. I was just thinking about when the awakening will start," Jule said with a wry smile, trying to calm his racing thoughts.