A man stood with a gun in his hands.
His face was covered, his clothes stained with small patches of blood. He pointed the weapon at a baby lying on the floor, wrapped in cloth. His eyes were empty. There was no anger. No hesitation.
Behind him, a woman screamed.
Her voice cracked as she shouted something Ezra couldn't understand. It sounded like begging. Or pleading.
The man didn't react.
Bang.
The trigger was pulled.
Everything went dark.
Then a deep voice crept through the darkness, slow and heavy.
"When will you stop fooling yourself?"
Ezra's eyes snapped open.
Bright light flooded his vision, forcing him to squint. The familiar white ceiling came into focus, followed by the steady smell of medicine and clean cloth.
It was another dream.
He let out a long sigh, his chest rising and falling.
"You're awake."
Ezra turned his head.
The caretaker stood beside his bed, holding a small note board. She was the same woman who had looked after him the first time he was brought to the infirmary. But this time, her gaze was different. There was worry in her eyes, like someone looking at her own child.
"You were out again," she said, pulling a chair closer and sitting down. Her pen scratched softly against the paper. "But only for a week this time."
"A week…" Ezra muttered.
She paused her writing. "Your friend. I think her name was Gena, right?" She tapped the pen against her lips as she thought. "Yes. She was brought here too, but she left after three days. She was worried about you."
Ezra clicked his tongue and turned his head to the side, frustration tightening his jaw.
Out again for a long time…
But then he noticed it.
The energy in his body felt different.
It was stronger than when he first awakened his Cognis, but more balanced than before he fainted. It didn't feel like it was tearing him apart.
"Zara, right?"
Ezra flinched.
"That's the name on your file," the caretaker said, looking at him. "But your friend keeps calling you Ezra."
Ezra didn't reply.
Sweat slid down his temple, ran along his cheek, and dripped onto the blanket covering him.
The caretaker chuckled softly when she noticed. "Don't worry. I won't pry into your matters," she said, then leaned forward slightly. "But you need to listen to me."
Ezra slowly looked back at her.
"You're not fine," she said calmly. "After running several checkups, I noticed your body shuts down quickly under stress or strain. From what I can tell, you've been pushing yourself hard to improve your physical condition. That has helped, but this process will take a long time."
She turned the note board toward him.
"The main issue is your Cognis awakening. Your body couldn't handle the force and nearly collapsed. When you were brought here, some of your bones were cracked. Just a little more strain and you could have been crippled." Her voice lowered. "Or worse."
Ezra's fingers tightened, gripping the blanket.
"Ranking up further could become life-threatening for you," she concluded. "My advice is to stop trying to grow stronger. Rely on others. Focus on surviving."
Ezra stayed silent.
I could die just trying to rank up?
The thought felt unreal.
Is it even necessary for me to get stronger?
His gaze dropped.
I could join Veda's group. That alone increases my survival chances. Felix and Pamela might still target me, but as the trials get harder, they'll focus on surviving instead.
So… I don't need to push myself anymore, right?
The deep voice echoed again in his mind.
Stop fooling yourself.
"No."
The caretaker stiffened at the sudden sound.
Ezra lifted his head. His eyes were steady.
"I didn't face Felix, his group, Vera's ambush, awaken Cognis, and fight Silverback Dire Wolves just to give up now," he said. "I don't even know if hiding behind someone will keep me alive. But I know one thing."
He clenched his fist.
"I'd rather die fighting."
The caretaker studied him for a long moment.
Then she smiled.
"Okay," she said, standing up. "I wish you luck on your journey. You'll be discharged tomorrow."
She turned and walked off to attend to the other patients.
Ezra fell back onto the bed and let out a long breath.
"That was scary," he muttered, staring at the ceiling. "I hate the pain though."
His body shivered.
"But why would I give up when I have something that can help me grow stronger… and maybe even succeed in this country?"
He laughed quietly.
Then his expression fell.
"But I have no idea what happened while I was out."
He turned his head.
"I'm bored," he muttered. "Should I sleep again?"
"Oh, Zara."
The caretaker returned.
"Yes?" Ezra turned.
She placed a badge and a card on the bed. "This is your ranking badge and the key to your new room. Congratulations. You ranked among the best Alchemists."
She smiled and left.
Ezra stared.
"Huh?"
Didn't she just say I was about to die?
He picked up the badge.
Rank Seventeen.
"…Not bad."
"So much for hiding my ability," he muttered. "But it's not like they know what I can really do."
He shivered.
"I've never had this much attention before."
He stared at the ceiling.
What did that voice mean…?
"So many questions."
He closed his eyes.
***
The next day, Ezra put on his usual clothes and pulled a coat over them as the cold grew sharper than before. The chill seeped through the fabric and settled into his bones. Before leaving, he stopped and bowed to the caretaker. She looked up from her desk, paused, then waved back with a small smile.
Ezra turned and left.
Instead of going to look for his new room, he headed straight for the cafeteria.
As he walked through the halls, he noticed how few people passed by him. Footsteps echoed too clearly. When he reached the dining hall, the space was almost empty, rows of tables untouched and silent.
He frowned but didn't think too much of it.
Walking up to the serving area, he took out his badge and showed it with a faint, smug tilt of his chin. The cook glanced at it, her expression flat, then pointed him toward a different path lined with polished tiles.
Silver Tier Foods.
The moment Ezra stepped closer; the smell reached him. It wasn't heavy or greasy, but warm and clean. The food there didn't just look good—it looked like something meant to build the body. Proper meals. Balanced portions. Nothing like what he had eaten at the start of the trials.
"Damn," he muttered under his breath. "Thank God I actually did well."
His stomach growled in response.
He swallowed and picked out bread, fried eggs mixed with vegetables, slices of meat, and a cup of warm water. Carrying the tray to a table, he set everything down, clapped his hands together—a habit from home—and started eating.
The first bite made his shoulders loosen.
A drop of tears slid from the corner of his eye as the flavor spread across his tongue. He didn't bother wiping it away.
"Gena?"
Ezra turned at once.
"Huh?"
She stood right behind him. When their eyes met, she flinched and took a few quick steps back.
"How did you know it was me?" she pouted. "I was trying to be stealthy while watching you enjoy your fancy food."
Her eyes locked onto his tray. A thin line of drool formed at the corner of her mouth.
Ezra stared at her in silence.
"Come and join me," he said at last, a strained smile pulling at his lips.
"Really?" She jumped into the chair opposite him. "It's not like I'm begging or anything. A noble like me doesn't beg for food. I'm just helping you finish it. And who knows?" She leaned closer. "It might be poisonous."
She took a bite.
Then slammed her hand on the table.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
Finally… food that tastes good.
Ezra watched her quietly.
What is she even rambling about?
She swallowed and looked up. "So?" she asked. "How did you know it was me?"
"My senses are sharper now," Ezra replied, wiping his hands and mouth with a napkin. "And if anyone were to sneak up behind me, it'd be you."
She nodded as if that made perfect sense.
"Alright," he said, leaning back slightly. "What's the update?"
Gena pointed at him with her fork. "First of all, your habit of fainting for weeks is terrible for my health. Even Lady Vera was annoyed."
Ezra folded his hands. "I'm sorry… I guess."
"You don't sound like it." Her eyes scanned the table. "You didn't pick milk?" She frowned.
"Hot milk makes me sleepy," he replied. "And I can't drink anything cold right now."
"Tsk, tsk." She clicked her tongue, grabbed his cup, and took a sip of the warm water. "Anyway, we've got one month to prepare for the fourth trial. After the rankings came out, a lot of neutrals started making moves. Some joined Felix's group since he ranked first."
"Wait," Ezra said, his expression stiffening. "He ranked number one?"
"Even I can't believe it," she said while chewing. "Even though Lady Vera and Sir Veda are both Two-star Alchemists, Sir Felix still ranked above them."
Ezra leaned back, thinking.
Veda second. Vera third.
He remembered their talk in the library and let out a dry laugh.
"I wonder how she's handling the fact that the two people she dislikes most are above her."
"There's more chaos now," Gena continued. "A no-name commoner ranked higher than both you and Lady Pamela."
"A commoner?" Ezra said, his face calm.
"Yeah. He's in Lady Priscila's group. People won't stop talking about him."
She leaned back and exhaled. "But what matters is what we got access to. Personal training vaults. One-on-one combat stands. There's even a shop for Alchemist materials, and we use points as currency now."
Ezra nodded slowly. "That's… a lot."
"And Lady Pamela has been training harder than usual ever since she saw your rank," Gena added. "It's worrying."
"That's troublesome," Ezra said. "But where is everyone?"
"You just got discharged," she replied, reaching for the last piece of bread. "Today's the day Lady Vera and Lady Priscila fight. Lady Priscila challenged her yesterday."
Ezra froze.
"Vera is fighting? Now?"
"Yeah. They're about to start. I wanted to watch, but I had to check on you first."
She lifted the bread…
Ezra grabbed her hand.
The bread falling back on the plate.
"Let's go."
"Wait…at least let me finish the last…"
He lifted her up without warning and ran.
"Nooooo!" Gena screamed, reaching back for the bread as it slipped from her fingers.