<Verin>

 

 

 

“Dude… As your friend, I need to say this.”

A hand waved in front of Verin.

“Stop. Staring.”

The redhead boy, Fletcher, reached out a hand to shake Verin.

Verin smacked his hand away.

Sitting at the centermost table in the lunch hall, Verin studied Bright closer as she queued on the line. As usual, she was attracting attention by merely standing in the queue. Many eyes were fixed upon every movement she made. Be it a subtle shift in her posture or a turn of her head. It was funny, really. Despite all this attention, no one made a move to talk to her. Gazes turned down the second she looked anywhere.

The lunch hall was full of cowards.

“Something is off….” (V)

Fletcher let out a tired sigh.

Turning his head back, he too studied Bright briefly.

“Don’t see it, bro.” (F)

“Look carefully.” (V)

Fletcher groaned at the response.

“Come on, Fletch. Maybe there is something… Verin, what exactly is off?”

“Ugh, man, not you too?” (F)

A kind voice cut Fletcher’s complaints midway through.

Allie locked eyes with Verin.

“I… I don’t know.” (V)

There were no words to describe the feeling. Something just felt off. She walked different today, her steps hurried yet unhurried. Her eyes focused yet unfocused. Verin couldn’t point to anything substantial, but he was confident in his assessment.

She was off today.

“Man, I don’t think it’s possible for someone like her to be, you know, off?” (F)

Fletcher’s voice was tinted with a hint of bitterness.

A thing not too uncommon when the topic of discussion revolved around Bright. Among the community of new-gen heroes, an ever-widening split was growing regarding opinions on Bright. On one side, you have her adoring fans. New-gen heroes who loved everything she was and looked up to her. On the other side, you have her disapprovers. New-gen heroes from legacy hero families who viewed her as an outsider.

The Caelalux name, Bright’s claimed family, was still fresh in most legacy families’ eyes. Hero Sun was a stranger who came out of nowhere and completely eclipsed the existing legacy families. In a mere two decades, through sheer power alone, he overtook legacy families that had been building power for centuries. A feat so impressive none thought possible to replicate… until Hero Yuki did the same thing.

The bitterness among the legacy new-gen heroes was palpable.

Those monsters sired a child together.

It was no wonder why she was so powerful.

She hit the genetic jackpot.

An abrupt hand grab pulled Verin’s attention.

“Verin, listen. It’s okay. If it’s something important, we’ll figure it out soon enough.” (A)

Absentmindedly nodding along, Verin watched as Bright made a purchase. A small thing costing 10 credits. A grand difference from the thousands she spent yesterday. Finished with her purchase, Bright started walking to the exit. Her eyes scanned the lunch hall once more as she did. Unexpectedly, they landed on Verin; he didn’t shrink from her gaze.

She lightly waved before leaving.

Verin turned his attention back to his food.

Everyone on his table was a legacy new-gen: Fletcher of the house of Juangoren, Allie of the house of Vumarell, and lastly, Verin of the house of Baridreth. They all had reasons to dislike Bright. But, Verin, unlike most legacy new-gens, didn’t dislike Bright because of her name. No, he hated her for something far deeper than that. He hated her how little she tried. He hated her for how easy things came to her. Never once had she struggled for something, and yet, she was always number one. Above him.

It was entirely unacceptable.

The thought alone was irritating.

“Verin, bro?!” (F)

“…What?” (V)

Verin felt his sour mood rapidly worsen.

Why did this fool have to shout in his ear?

Looking up from the meal, Verin was quick to realise…

All attention had turned onto him.

“What are you looking at?” (V)

He returned the stares, and interest in him disappeared almost immediately.

Looking at his friends, a silent question still hung around them.

“We trained at basic.” (V)

After awakening, a person was required to attend two years of basic training. A training course to master their abilities. Legacy families were generally exempt from this under the assumption someone else would train them. Verin himself was personally trained by his father. He hadn’t a need to attend the government program.

But.

On a whim, he attended one of the training sessions offered by the government. Driven by boredom of his own prowess, he desired to see how far others had come by comparison. The sight at the training was pitiful by all marks. Most couldn’t manifest their ability properly or had close to no control over it. At the time, Verin sneered at their pathetic selves. Already a master of his ability in a month. Watching them, he first thought their pathetic state was caused by not being born in a Legacy family, but communications with his friends reveal something.

He was gifted.

A true prodigy.

They too were struggling.

It was with this knowledge that he again went back to the training session. Intent on finding someone like him. Someone capable of challenging him. Spurring him out of the boredom that festered in his heart. Searching around the legacy families proved hopeless. Most were too secretive to the touch. The only reasonable option he had was the government sessions.

It was there that he met her.

Bright.

Done with his meal, Verin stood up.

Lunch was over.

“Let’s go.” (V)

It was time for the real classes to begin.

 

 

The training room was a work of art.

A modern marvel.

This high-tech training room was not merely a chamber, but a shifting arena. Its walls were not made of simple concrete and stone but plates of magically reinforced steel, inscribed with shifting runes of warding and summoning.

The accumulation of advanced technology was a symbol of humanity's perseverance.

Yet.

Nobody stopped to admire. All dulled from displays outside. Verin, having studied history in depth, knew the leaps made in technology. Such works did not exist a short two hundred years ago. He seemed like one of two people capable of recognising this greatness.

Verin refrained from clicking his tongue.

It appeared Bright was as well read.

“You are free to select any weapons on display.”

At the instructor’s word, multiple panels emerged from the ground, each laden with countless standard-issue weapons. The array was comprehensive, offering everything from instruments designed for slashing, hacking, and stabbing to a full complement of short- and long-range armaments.

Verin reached out and grabbed the long sword in front of him.

“You are also free to switch at any given time.”

A classic in the family.

The signature crowning jewel of their weapon arts.

“But! Remember. Mastery of your weapon is one of your greatest advantages in battle. Don’t switch on a whim!”

The instructor kept rumbling on as people chose their weapons. A stark contrast to yesterday’s muted attitude after Bright’s display.

“Keeping with the classics?” (F)

“You heard what the instructor said. It’s best not to wander from our competencies.” (A)

Verin was joined by Fletcher and Allie. Both sporting their usual equipment. The former of the two, a longbow accompanied by a dagger, while the latter, a sturdy glaive nestled in a tight embrace. Weapons, just like Verin's own, that complement their abilities whilst simultaneously making up for their weaknesses.

“Excellent! Now that you all have chosen, we’ll conduct practice duels. If I call your name, step forward.”

A few murmurs of discontent rang instantly.

Not everyone here was experienced with a weapon. A fact caused by the hero course requirements for enrolment. Besides needing to be sponsored by an agency, the other requirements were as follows: a person must demonstrate proficiency in their ability and good academic standing. A lack of decent academic standing would find one relegated to lesser schools, but nowhere did it state weapon mastery as an enrolment requirement.

“Relax, class. These are simple skill-based practice duels. A chance for you to get a taste of your weapon. We are all here to learn. It’s okay if you’re not perfect.”

The tension in the room gradually started to fade away and then completely disappeared after the first duel.

It was a joke.

Without permission to use their abilities, the first fighters in the class clumsily swung their weapons at each other. The fight was brief and swiftly concluded when the larger girl practically knocked out the small boy carrying the broadsword.

“Young man. Do you believe that sword is appropriate for you?”

The boy shook before being sent to find another weapon.

“An important note to remember when picking a weapon is to pick one that makes up for your ability’s shortcomings.”

Verin nodded at the instructor’s words.

At the end of the day, a weapon was primarily what will be used to slay the Depraved. Horrid monsters that roam and stalk the lands. These foul beasts were tough to the bone. More often than not, abilities alone were not enough to take them down. Hallowed armaments, enchanted soul-bound weaponry, were required to put them down. Abilities supporting the task.

Such was the work of heroes.

“Alright. Hullford, Benbery, next!”

 

 

“It’s going to be me and you next, bro.” (F)

“…Sure.” (V)

Watching the match end with one final heated exchange, Verin took note of a pattern that had been forming.

The intensity of the matches had been increasing with every new pair. It appeared the skill-based matching was doing its work.

“I’m absolutely going to crush you this time!” (F)

Verin nodded.

Given the pattern, there was no way they were facing each other.

“Juangoren, Vumarell, next!”

“Wait, what in—?” (F)

Fletcher’s hand was unceremoniously grabbed by Allie as she went forward.

It would be ridiculous for Fletcher to face Verin when he couldn’t yet contend with Allie.

A person weaker than Verin.

Their fight was short-lived.

Fletcher simply had a bad matchupagainst Allie. Not only was she more than able to dodge his arrows, but the reach of her glaive triumphed over his measly dagger. The fight was over before it began.

“Baridreth, Caelalux, next!”

And now it was his turn.