3. Inner lights

The next morning, before dawn had even touched the sky, Seiito and his classmates gathered at the training grounds under Reivain's watchful eye. The air was crisp, their breaths forming faint clouds in the cold. Seiito could barely keep his eyes open, still stumbling from the early hour.

As he stepped out of his room, he found Saka waiting, leaning against the wall with a calm expression.

"Good morning, Seiito-kun," Saka greeted him with a radiant smile that seemed to dissolve the last remnants of his sleepiness.

"Is it really morning already?" He yawned, blinking at her in surprise. Just seeing her there, serene and alert, sharpened his senses.

"It took you a while, so I decided to wait." She glanced away, her cheeks barely tinged with pink.

"I-I see...Thanks." Seiito's face warmed as he silently scolded himself. You big oaf! Making her wait? Idiot.

They walked together through the knights' quarters, their footsteps muffled by the quiet of dawn. Finally, Saka broke the silence by asking, "Say, Seiito-kun... what do you think about all this?"

Seiito paused, unsure of her meaning at first, but then he nodded, looking ahead. "I think... that if people need help, or if this world is in danger, I'll protect it. Wherever I am, I'll do what I can."

A memory of his father smiling at him surfaced in his mind, making him smile unconsciously.

Saka's lips curved gently. "I'm glad. You never change, Seiito-kun. Don't ever... for everyone's sake...and mine."

Seiito's heart skipped a beat at her words. Have we met before? The question lingered in his mind, but before he could dwell on it, they arrived at the training grounds.

All around them, the air hummed with clashing steel and sparking mana, an undercurrent of energy surging through the space.

"Too weak! Your mana is too weak!" Reivain's voice boomed across the grounds, making Seiito jump. The knights sparred furiously, arcs of mana illuminating their fierce battles. Seiito's classmates watched, awe-struck, as bursts of energy filled the air.

"Took you long enough." Takemi's voice cut through the noise, arms crossed as he eyed Seiito with a slight scowl.

Ah... he's already annoyed, Seiito thought, sighing inwardly. But he could tell Takemi was just as pumped as everyone else, itching for a challenge.

Meanwhile, Kōji shot Seiito a murderous glare, his jaw clenched as he noticed Seiito's proximity to Saka. Why him?! Kōji's face twisted with jealousy.

Suddenly, Reivain clapped his hands, halting the clamor of practice. "Alright, everyone, gather around."

At his signal, a knight approached, carrying a small wooden box that he placed on the ground. Reivain lifted the lid with a knowing smile, revealing a stack of sleek iron plates.

"These are 'status plates,'" he began, his tone shifting to one of gravitas. "They're essential for any adventurer or warrior—a window into one's true potential. Each plate reveals your strengths, your magic, your endurance...even your path forward. This is no mere trinket; it's a declaration of who you are on the battlefield and beyond. Use it wisely."

The students exchanged uncertain glances, but Reivain's serious demeanor left them little room for doubt. After a pause, he chuckled, "Don't worry, I'm only being dramatic because it's my duty now." His smirk lightened the tension.

Some students looked away, disdainful and cringing.

"Just... take them," he finally barked, his commanding tone breaking into a grin.

Seiito took a plate and placed his hand on its cool surface as instructed.

Immediately, it began to glow with a gentle golden light, a warm radiance pulsing from within. Words and symbols etched themselves onto the plate's surface as if summoned by his own energy. Seiito watched, spellbound, as his abilities were transcribed before him.

Oh? A Healer? They are rare nowadays, what a nice surprise. Reivain smiled, then his expression darkened, recalling something grim revolving around the King.

I will not let it happen...not again.

But it was Takemi's plate that stole everyone's attention. The moment he touched it, his plate erupted into a brilliant golden hue, so intense it cast shadows across the training ground. Reivain's eyes widened as he took in the spectacle, his face pale with shock.

"You...you are the one," Reivain whispered, his voice barely audible as he knelt before Takemi. "The Hero of Humanity... the golden light in the darkness...the one destined to defeat the Demons."

Takemi smiled wryly and awkwardly, lowering his gaze to his plate, the words now set in iron, marking his fate:

Name: Watanabe Takemi
Class: Hero
Level: 1
Title: The Hero of Humanity (S++)
Vitality: 200 (+100)
Strength: 100 (+100)
Endurance: 100 (+100)
Magic: 80 (+100)
Agility: 50 (+100)
Status Rank: C+
Skills: Light Blade (C), Indomitable Will (C), Shield of Light (C), Appraisal (D), Great Sword Proficiency (F)

Silence engulfed the group as they took in the sight of Takemi's transformation. His power was palpable, wrapping around him like a mantle of light, his aura radiant and fierce.

Seiito's heart twisted with a strange mix of pride and envy. So cool... But he couldn't deny the gnawing ache within. Takemi was everything he wasn't—powerful, fearless, the true hero. Meanwhile, Seiito felt like a spectator, watching his own dream from a distance.

As Reivain dismissed the group, their awe lingering in the air, Seiito couldn't help but glance down at his own plate again. The warm glow paled in comparison to Takemi's brilliance. But he swallowed back his doubts. I may not be the hero, but I'll still fight.

Seiito's gaze fell to his own status plate:

Name: Igarashi Seiito
Class: Healer
Level: 1
Title: None
Vitality: 15
Strength: 10
Endurance: 10
Magic: 100
Agility: 5
Status Rank: E
Skills: Heal (F), Heal Touch (F)

Seiito's shoulders slumped. Each stat seemed to mock him—low strength, poor agility, his vitality hardly enough to withstand a light breeze. His heart sank. He'd known he wasn't physically strong, but to see it quantified felt like a final blow.

So...I'm the weakest, most likely. He sighed, glancing toward his classmates.

A sudden exclamation snapped him from his thoughts.

"Whoooa?! Look at Saka-san!"

Seiito turned sharply, his eyes widening at the sight before him. Saka was engulfed in a blazing red aura, its brilliance rivaling even Takemi's golden glow. The sheer intensity of it filled the training grounds with a sweltering heat.

"W-What… is that?" Takemi shielded his eyes, momentarily overwhelmed by the radiance.

Reivain, usually composed, stood frozen. His voice trembled as he whispered, "A…Battle Maiden? No way..."

Battle Maidens—the final line of defense for humanity. Extinct. Lost to history. They had long since vanished, their legends reduced to mere stories.

Yet now, before his very eyes, not only had The Hero of Humanity reappeared…but a Battle Maiden as well.

Reivain's hands clenched at his sides. He had read countless tales of their heroism as a kid, their unwavering resolve. And now, witnessing it firsthand—

"A-Are you crying?" one of the students asked, frowning comically at Reivain's misty eyes.

"No!!" Reivain turned away and wiped his tears swiftly.

Saka's eyes widened as a cold sensation ran down her spine. Her pupils gazed down at the stats:

Name: Uchino Saka
Class: Battle Maiden
Level: 1
Title: Spiritus Ignus (S+)
Vitality: 150 (+50)
Strength: 150 (+50)
Endurance: 100 (+50)
Magic: 100 (+50)
Agility: 50 (+50)
Status Rank: C+
Skills: Spiritus Ignus (?), Flame Tamer (C), Ignite Lotus (C), Weapon Mastery (F)

A pang struck Seiito as he watched her, admiration and unease twisting together inside him. This power… Does this mean she'll be on the front lines? That she'll face danger head-on?

His fingers tightened around his status plate. A healer like him wasn't meant for combat, yet something stirred deep within—a quiet, unshakable resolve. If he couldn't stand as a hero, then he would be her shield.

A sudden weight landed on his shoulder, yanking him from his thoughts.

"Those are your stats?" sneered Kōji, slinging an arm around Seiito's neck. "Yikes."

Seiito held his tongue, offering a small nod.

Kōji chuckled, thrusting his own status plate under Seiito's nose, a smug grin playing on his lips:

Name: Yoshioka Kōji
Class: Rogue
Level: 1
Title: Chosen Ones (A++)
Vitality: 30 (+25)
Strength: 10 (+25)
Endurance: 30 (+25)
Magic: 10 (+25)
Agility: 50 (+25)
Status Rank: D
Skills: Sneak (D), Sneak Attack(F), Lightless Dash (C), Dagger Proficiency

"See?" Kōji smirked. "Not all of us are born to be baggage."

Seiito merely smiled, undeterred. "Glad to see we're well-equipped." He gave a genuine nod, catching Kōji off guard.

"Hmph." Kōji clicked his tongue, slinking off to rejoin his friends, their hushed laughter filling the space between them.

But Seiito's heart remained steady. They didn't understand, nor did they need to. I may not be powerful, he thought, but I have a purpose.

Reivain's voice cut through the murmurs like a blade. "Everyone! Use your abilities, and practice until they're second nature. Later, we'll have sparring matches. Those with combat skills will test them—but the rest of you…"

His gaze settled on Seiito's dim aura with a flicker of pity. "...the rest will train for endurance, for survival."

Kōji scoffed, loud enough for Seiito to hear. "More like training to run away…"

Laughter rippled through the students, but Seiito paid them no mind, standing his ground.

Reivain's eyes narrowed. "Smartass over there. One hundred push-ups. Now."

The command struck like thunder, instantly silencing the mockery. Even Takemi flinched, unprepared for the weight behind Reivain's voice.

Kōji paled, but without a word, he dropped to the ground and began, his face betraying his disbelief.

Note to self: don't cross Reivain, Seiito mused, hiding a small smile.

Moments later, each student stepped forward to receive their weapons. When Seiito approached, a knight handed him a plain wooden staff, a dull, colorless gem embedded at the top. No grand sword, no gleaming metal—just this, worn and unremarkable.

He lifted it cautiously, the rough wood unfamiliar in his grip. Could he even use it for defense? He swung it experimentally, imagining what it might feel like in battle.

Could he cast [Heal] with it?

A faint, muddy glow flickered around the staff, struggling to sustain itself. But as Seiito focused, a gentle warmth radiated from the gem, a soft golden light filling the air. A strange curiosity stirred in him, and he reached out, brushing his fingers through the aura.

A sudden wave of warmth washed over him, his fatigue dissolving like mist in the morning sun. He exhaled in relief—until a dull ache throbbed in his temples.

What was that…? Am I just not used to casting magic?

He recalled his skill, [Heal Touch]. Willing his hand to glow, he pressed it to his forehead. The headache eased, replaced by a soothing calm, like a protective embrace wrapped around him.

Seiito closed his eyes, sinking into the sensation. Healing, despite its reputation as a "weak" skill, felt right—like a purpose he was meant to fulfill.

When he opened his eyes, his resolve had solidified. His path would be different from the others, but that didn't matter. If only he were stronger… if only his body could keep up…

Perhaps one day, he could stand beside them—not as a hero, but as a true protector.