Rays of sunlight become a flash bang while all I see is a ceiling. This place looked familiar as I lay in a bed. It was the Triune High infirmary.

  The area was as typical as any school infirmary in a cartoon or anime. A room with a single bed all to myself. Typical as it gets. There would be a vase of flowers on my left. Though the scent of this place gives it a strong sense of being in the dentist, the flowers didn’t make any smell at all.

  This room seemed enough to hold another patient, I would assume that this place would also have rooms with multiple beds that are divided in green curtains for massive emergencies.

  These kinds of facilities would be big and functional for such a reputable academy as Triune High. Well, sophisticated and well-funded academies would obviously have it.

  If I was the main character, I would wake up in bed covered in bandages and scars to show their recent battle. But when I gaze at myself there was nothing. I was still wearing my school uniform, but I noticed my blazer was riddled with holes, most definitely evidence of what had happened was real, which I wasn’t really amused by.

  I sustained no damage even after getting knives thrown, tackled, stabbed, and almost getting burned by both friends and foes. I was fine.

  Now that I think about it, what happened to Seraphina? The last moment I was with her was during that alleyway skirmish. And that was not a great place to be in while injured and possibly in the presence of that thing…

  Maybe she is in the infirmary in another room. Maybe I should-

  “Hey’a Bud.”

  “Ah!” startled by a voice next to me!

  “How ya doing?” the ever-friendly Ludio jumpscares me onto the cold floor of this room.

  “Oh, it's you… Ludio, what are you doing here?”

  “Hmm,” Ludio looks at me with his brow, describing in his own words, “What you mean why I’m here? I was the one that found you and that Feuer chick unconscious on a sketchy ass alleyway down by the plaza.”

  So he’s the one that found us… is what I thought and at which point I come to a conclusion, …then he’s the one who…

  “So you are the one that I saw before I fainted…”

  “The hell are you talking about?”

  He looked at me with one brow raised and looked at me perplexed.

  What do you mean by what I’m talking about? It has to be you that I saw…

  “I saw you right there in front of me,” I looked at him with assurance that he was there.

  But his eyes showed me that he thinks I’m crazy.

  “Uh, I don’t know what you mean by that.”

  “You were there with me, Seraphina, the spy, and the pile of that substanc-”

  “Whoa whoa whoa,” Ludio waves both his hands in denial. “Hang on, what do you mean spy?”

  I look at him very intently. Maybe he was not the one that I saw before… But…

  “Are you okay, man?”

  I sighed and gave him a nod. “...Yeah I’m fine, but you didn’t see a spy?”

  “No, when I got there it was only you and Seraphina.”

  If he was not the person, then who was it? Did that person just see us and run away to call the authorities? That seems to be the most logical thing I assumed. But when I saw him, he was pointing while holding an object. The more I think about it, the fuzzier it becomes. I could also possibly see a hallucination since I had that huge headache…

  Ludio looks at me with a concerned expression. But I want to make sure I was not insane.

  “Well, I definitely saw a spy and a monster.”

  “Monster?”

  “Yeah, there was a glitched-up humanoid that literally tried to absorb or devour the life force or something within us.”

  “...Uh huh.” Ludio most likely thinks I’m crazy.

  When looking back at all of the things that have happened in the past hours of this day, the whole monster thing is quite the most abnormal compared to other events.

  But still, he probably doesn’t believe me by the stare he continues to make.

  “That is strange, but could also be true...”

  “What do you mean?”

  With a remote controller, he presses the power button and turns on the flatscreen tv, and appears a news report of a recent social media recording.

  The recording in detail was showing the moments before the Glitched-fiend had used that streak of fire in the sky and then all was destroyed in a flash of lighting. The explosion it gave off was like a fireworks show, except it was exploding contraptions but sparks and bursts of flames ignited from the spark. Those that were around during the record were either scared or going all bonkers at how crazy the explosion was. I could even see some people are also recording to display their short time of clout.

  Male and female anchors discussing the strange phenomenon I created, under the guise of them not knowing what truly happened. For the most part, they just discuss whether it was a random occurrence or some new natural phenomenon that appeared out of some circumstances.

  A bunch of others came by but they aren’t as important or relevant to the truth:

  “Down by the plaza, there has been a strange and potentially dangerous event occurring around those parts.”

  “Apparently people have been hearing screaming and explosions, the authorities have yet to comment on what has happened in the vicinity. Well so what do you think was happening around those parts, a party went wrong?”

  “Well, it would be one hell of a party, or maybe perhaps something else happened, we’ll bring it to our reporter with the following conversation”

  They switch to a reporter interviewing people around the incident. Some of them have their own theories:

  “In these places, near the school, there is always some crazy stuff going, I expect it is probably some power terrorists at it again”

  “Man it was like, WHOA!!! Whatever fireworks they’re using, I hope I could have some for my parties.”

  “Could be a factor of climate change or something, I mean our world is slowly getting more messed up.”

  “I saw some strange alien thing up in the sky! The end has come!”

  But still, the strangest thing is that nobody except for one crazy guy ever referred to the Glitched-fiend humanoid.

  “Seems like you had a bad time” Ludio remarks with his usual smirk.

  A bad time you say? This whole day… It was bad in general… I didn’t look at him and not at the tv even though I am staring in that direction.

  From the first thing in the morning to right now it was entirely a terrible time. From being late and getting insulted by a daughter of one of the most prominent noble families. To somehow ignore most of the school day and be forced to fulfill compensation for serving the same person. Then the tip of the iceberg, the attack from the power terrorists, the spy, and quite horribly; that monster…

  Of all of the things that I had to experience, from my normal life. Him looking at me with a smile that shows no knowledge of what it’s like to be me right now…

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Maybe there is some anger, a bit of animosity, and something that makes my hands clench tightly to the bedsheets. Even a bit of jealousy towards people like Ludio has taken my heart. He will never experience the way I have.

  Hell, even that voice when I was unconscious told me of my destiny. That I am fated to deal with these events for the rest of my life from this point on.

  The life that is given to me. That voice who told me I have to experience more of this shit… Why me?

  I want to scream, I want to thrash stuff, I want to punch Ludio, leave this place, anything that would force me to face any other dangers.

  I’m not strong. I don’t know what I want to do with my life, but I know in my heart that this is not what I want.

  Who is this life for?

  Why was I chosen?

  Why can’t I have a normal life?

  And still Ludio kept that same expression, as if he hasn’t notice-

  “Even so, you dealt with it like a pro.”

  “...What?”

  Should I be shocked by his response or should I be angry?

  “Well that is to say, you’re lucky. You get to experience wonderful things without proactively trying to do things.”

  “I don’t get what you mean?” I said while thinking he might just be jealous of me, I think? “What the hell do you mean by that!”

  “I mean from what you’re saying, fighting bad guys, monsters, and even protecting people, although that she-devil may not be considered as a damsel. But, you get the idea, you’re like a hero.”

  He smiles. Not a fake one or the kind that comes with malice, I think. But when he said hero, he said it in a tone that sounded too glad. Ludio genuinely said it with heart. But…

  “...I surely don’t feel like a hero at all.”

  “You’re pretty much a hero. I guess in terms of what kind of hero, you can be the type of hero that wants to fight strong opponents. Or are you like the type of hero that is experiencing the dark side of society and the question is, will stay purely good or turn to the darker side… Either that, you might just go with the harem route-”

  “Can you just stop!” I shut my ears as he keeps blabbering about the various options of what kind of hero I would be. I can’t stand the way he talks right now.

  The way he says “hero” just feels strange, not a suspicious kind but kind of… honest. And I don’t mean that he is just honest, but the kind of honesty that tells me something he knows better than me. I thought of it as his opinion but the way he conveys it becomes a fact.

  I should be embarrassed when he says it, but instead, I get annoyed by it.

  Shouldn’t he try to be a jerk and make a joke or say it in a way that makes it sarcastic, but it feels like he’s not tricking me?

  I can’t come up with my own mind, but this version of Ludio makes me feel… uncomfortable.

  “Maybe you're just the hero in a satire-like setting where the idea of heroism is all but a joke and-”

  “No!”

  Surprised by my guttural yell, he stops abruptly while wondering what I am about to say.

  Maybe I do want to believe that I was heroic but, “I-I’m sorry, but I don’t know, I think it’s just a fight or flight situation that always forces me to fight.”

  “No, I think you’re meant for this.”

  “I… No…”

  Is he saying what I think he is saying? He, of all people, really is the one…

  “I can’t be! There is no way that I am like a hero, that is not how I want to live.”

  “You have what it takes to be a hero, Alder. Look at what just happened, this is like straight from a hero fantasy. You being late for school, bumping or tripping on a girl that would call you some insult, meeting her in the same class and finally saving her… That is clearly a step-by-step process of who you are.”

  No, I don’t want to hear this…

  “You keep saying it like it is a natural response. What you’re saying is utterly insane. I never want to experience such things like that, ever. You don’t get it, I never experienced any of this until today, and… the thing is that was just today, and there is no way that'll be the way that it did.”

  “Look dude, I have a feeling that even if you say that, the way it’ll go, doesn’t seem like you’ll never escape it. Accept the fact that what you did was awesome. At least enjoy the current moment.”

  That is a similar response the voice in my dream told me back then. I don’t know what to say…

  “...Why did you tell me all this bullshit? Do you actually think I would be moved by your words? This path I'm on, with no control of?”

  “Well, whether you like it or not, it happened, ridiculous for you, but it happened.”

  As if I dreamed of becoming a hero or some main character. From playing video games and watching shows, the main characters would have to endure so much pain and overcome many obstacles that no normal person can do except for the main character itself. And they would get a happy ending. But that is only if they can deal with the hardest things in the beginning and middle parts of their journey, and that is what makes it terrible.

  “You’re joking right? You're just being an asshole right now!”

  I want to believe he was just pulling a fast one on me.

  “I mean, I can make fun of you about anything, but why would I be a jerk about this? It seemed like a serious situation.”

  “No you’re lying, I think you're just messing with me!”

  “Right now at this moment, trying to trick you in an infirmary? Nah, even I am not that petty.”

  I sigh, giving up on trying to justify anything. He’s not budging and his smirk disappears. Instead, he stares with such seriousness that makes me want to avoid eye contact.

  Maybe this is fate and I shouldn’t even try to fight back, even if I do want to… I just want to live a normal life, a normal friendship, a normal progression of finding someone important.

  I want to live.

  “How about you just stop whining…” that response made me turn toward Ludio, “...How about you should stop trying to give up and not do anything about it!”

  His eyes are not filled with jealousy nor anger, but there is a sense of something that feels reliable.

  “You expect your life to be as normal as any other person. I know that you know of any person who experiences life differently than you. Take, for example, Seraphina, she is always fighting and trying to show superiority towards those that would try to harm her, even though she is of noble birth. You assume that because she is born with her gifts, her life would be easier. But you’re wrong, any life will have obstacles that make it difficult to get what anyone desires. ”

  Why is he talking about Seraphina? I assumed that he hates her because of her noble status, but here he is, explaining to me what she metaphorically feels. And how would he know the hardships Seraphina had experienced.

  He continues…

  “For you, life has taken you into a shitty route that tries to ‘make’ you into something. Though that is your perspective. Albeit, any random person would either be happy or scared being bestowed of what life has given to you. But in the end, they wouldn’t understand you and you will never understand them because both sides see the desires spoken to them. Some want what you got and you want what they have. Nobody gets to choose what they desire. We’re given nothing, but what life just throws at us.”

  Ludio is not making any sense, at least that is what I think. Perspectives? Desires? I don’t understand what is the correlation and why he’s even trying to say it. This feels too esoteric for someone like him to even explain. Hell, for someone that is supposed to try to make jokes, he’s going way deep into some weird tangent.

  But… I’m curious…

  “Then what do you think? What is your perspective of the situation? What do you desire, Ludio?”

  His smirk returns, but not the expression that leaves an idea of “being-a-know-it-all”. I don’t know what he is smiling about.

  “...I think that life doesn’t give you anything, but you yourself have yet to realize what you can do. I could be like any loser that wants to have the opportunities you got, believing they are special. But at the same time, deep down… we’re just lying to ourselves to escape the absurdity that life has given us. And that is a fact of safety over realization. You want to be safe but I also feel that you want to be something, to be able to protect others and yourself. But the life that gives you safety, it will never help you truly. I’m not jealous of what you have going on. But I know that even if I wanted it, it would be selfish to try to be what I am not.”

  “Ludio…”

  Now he looks down at his hands as it lays open flat. The tone he makes at the end leaves a bit of sadness. Is this what he truly feels?

  But he chuckles.

  “Heh, no matter If you are smart, brave, strong, cunning, wise, good-hearted, hardened, or any other trait you make; you will always lack in something.”

  “...Then what is that you lack?”

  That is what I want to know too. He is a non-adept, a person with no absolute power. There are people like him who can do crazier things because they lack a certain power discipline. But as far as I know Ludio, he is just as average as any person would be. Sure he may be smart, but I wouldn’t say he is the smartest in the school. He is brave, but at most, he acts out of stupidity. Anything else is just average. Like any other non-adept, weak, powerless, treated unfairly.

  “Eh, heck if i know,” His sorrowful expression changed with a smirk. “But my point is, don’t think of it as an only choice, and instead an opportunity, albeit a hard one, and no one can help you. But, an opportunity that should not be limited to what you expect it to be.”

  That doesn’t make me feel better, but as a joke: “Thanks for the supportive talk.”

  “Let me finish, dude. The only thing I want to say is…” a short pause that gave me concern on what he is about to say. “It’s your life, no matter what happens, just live it, you’ll find something good within it. And maybe, you won't regret it. Or, maybe there is no meaning and you're just pushed to do something that is dangerous and painful. But at least it is an experience, a sort of action that gives purpose to no one but yourself.”

  That is the end of his talk and what I feel is not frustration or confusion, just utter… surprise. It isn’t some life-coaching advice or an inspiring speech. But essentially a weird experience of weird advice from a weirdo with a weird attempt of being supportive, I think?

  But through all of that, I do get one thing. It is my life and whatever happens, I’ll just have to deal with it and hopefully, in believing in Ludio’s words, I will get an enlightening experience out of this. Hell, maybe trying to be heroic is not a bad thing…

  The only door in this room flies open violently and comes in a girl with fiery red long hair. Still retaining her school uniform, albeit it has seen better days is being stood with a sense of composure and pride.

  “Alder! I found you and… Ludio?”

  “U-Uh miss, you should stay in bed for a little while you're still injured-” A nurse barges at her.

  “I’m fine!” Seraphina tries to get in while being stopped by the nurses.

  Quite strange for her to meet me, but maybe she has something important to tell me or is just concerned for me…

  “Welp looks like that’s my cue,” Ludio stands up and smooths out his blazer.

  “Are you going home?” I asked to see what his motives were after we’d just seen Seraphina.

  “Probably that would be best,” He pats my back and gets close to my ear, and says these words: “Good luck with it. You’ll need it…”

  “Wait what?”

  What do you mean by “Good luck”? He starts to move towards the door and waves a two-finger hand pistol as a farewell.

  He walks past Seraphina and starts to push away the nurses.

  “What are you-” the nurse confused by Ludio's action.

  “If the lady says she’s fine, then just focus on someone else. Or are these the only two in this place… Ah, screw it.” Ludio left with the dismayed nurses, there was only a line of silence once they were gone.

  “Wait, Ludio, where are you going-” But I couldn’t ask as he went out.

  The door is slammed and no sound between the two of us left in the room.

  I looked at her and she looked at me…

  All alone, in a room as the sun sets down in perfect reflection of light.

  The only thing I am now thinking was:

  Oh god is that why he left?!