After the Chaos
In a room, a student opened his eyes.
Looking around, he saw himself back in the infirmary.
Sighing, he said, "Looks like I collapsed after the attack."
But deep down, he was relieved.
At least I didn't die.
Cael slowly tried to sit up.
The moment he moved, pain shot through his entire body.
"Ahh—fuck…"
His arm was bandaged.
His shoulder wrapped tightly.
Even his ribs felt like they were taped together.
He fell back onto the bed again.
Memories from yesterday flooded his mind.
Explosions.
Screams.
Smoke.
Blood.
His first real fight.
His first real kill.
Cael stared at the ceiling.
"…So this is what it feels like."
Killing someone in the game felt normal.
Just numbers.
Enemies.
But in real life…
He could still remember the attacker's expression.
Shock.
Fear.
Pain.
Before dying.
Cael clenched his teeth.
"…No point thinking about it."
They came to kill.
If he didn't fight, he would be dead.
That was reality.
A curtain nearby moved.
Another injured student groaned.
Only then Cael realized the infirmary was full.
Beds lined everywhere.
Some students were unconscious.
Some crying quietly.
Some covered in blood-stained bandages.
Silence filled the room.
Not peaceful silence.
Heavy silence.
The kind after disaster.
Footsteps approached.
A nurse noticed Cael awake.
"Oh, you're finally up."
Cael looked at her.
"How long was I out?"
"Half a day."
He blinked.
"Half… a day?"
"You collapsed from exhaustion and blood loss," she replied.
"Honestly, you're lucky."
Lucky.
Cael almost laughed.
He survived a battlefield and got called lucky.
The nurse checked his bandages.
"You academy candidates are crazy," she muttered. "Running into danger instead of escaping."
Cael shrugged slightly.
"If guards fall, students die anyway."
She stared at him for a second.
Then sighed.
"Rest. Don't try to move too much."
She walked away.
Cael leaned back again.
Half a day gone.
Meaning…
Results announcement.
Attack.
Aftermath.
Everything already happened.
His chest tightened.
"How many… died?"
He muttered quietly.
A voice answered from nearby.
"Not a single student."
Cael turned his head.
A boy on the next bed spoke.
"Over forty injured."
"And guards too."
Cael went silent.
No one.
In the game, no one had died either.
Meaning timeline hadn't broken yet.
Or maybe…
It almost did.
Because of his interference?
Or something bigger moving?
His thoughts got interrupted.
The infirmary door opened.
Heavy footsteps entered.
Cael turned his head.
Instructor Crispin stood there.
Arms crossed.
Expression serious as always.
Their eyes met.
"So you woke up," Crispin said.
Cael forced a weak smile.
"Looks like it."
Crispin walked closer.
"You fought."
Not a question.
A statement.
Cael scratched his cheek slightly.
"…Yeah."
"You killed attackers."
Again, not a question.
Cael hesitated.
"…Yeah."
Crispin looked at him for a few seconds.
Then said,
"Good."
Cael blinked.
"…Good?"
"You saved students."
"If you ran, some of them would be dead."
Crispin turned slightly.
"But next time, don't be reckless."
Cael frowned.
"Next time?"
Crispin looked back at him.
"You think this was the last attack? Whoever attacked definitely has more plans."
Cael fell silent.
Of course not.
This world was heading toward war.
And this was just the beginning.
Crispin continued,
"Academy is under lockdown."
"Investigation ongoing."
"Classes delayed."
He paused.
"Entrance results still stand."
Cael blinked.
"…So I'm in?"
Crispin nodded.
"Congratulations."
Then turned to leave.
But stopped at the door.
Without looking back, he added,
"…Rest while you can."
"Things will get worse, looks like."
Then he left.
The room became quiet again.
Cael stared at the ceiling.
He survived.
Entered academy.
And timeline had already started shifting.
His chest felt heavy.
But also—
A strange excitement.
This world.
This chaos.
This chance.
He whispered quietly,
"…I won't die again."
At that moment—
A faint blue light flickered in front of his eyes.
Cael's breath stopped.
System window.
Finally.
He whispered,
"Status."
And the screen slowly appeared.