Notice (1)
I heard Lize's explanation about controlling Berserk and the nature of Chaos around Saturday. That left Sunday free, but instead of helping me, she assisted Luna. She said it was just a taste to let Luna feel what her stamina training would be like going forward. Luna took it in stride, thrilled at the chance to train under someone as formidable as Kwonseong herself. She wanted to get stronger, after all.
"Ughhh..."
The next day, as class began, she shambled back in like a zombie. Lize was a saint, yet here she was, having turned one into a zombie. Luna usually never showed fatigue, no matter how rough things got. But now she was face-planted on her desk, on the verge of death. She couldn't even lift her head. She'd staggered all the way here somehow.
"You look wrecked. What the hell did you do yesterday?"
Kara eyed Luna's dire state with concern laced into her puzzled tone.
Luna shuddered at the question, barely managing to raise her head. At least her expression wasn't twisted in exhaustion—her mind was sharp, but her body was utterly spent, leaving her wheezing.
"Just... actual exercise... but it was brutal..."
"What kind?"
"One hundred push-ups, one hundred sit-ups, one hundred squats—all bodyweight. Then a 10km run to finish."
It sounded like something a bald caped guy from some comic might prescribe. Easy enough to dismiss at first glance, but in reality, it was grueling. Still, this was a place teeming with superhumans who could pull that off as a baseline. Kara could manage it no problem.
"Piece of cake. You secretly out of shape or something?"
"No... you can't rest at all. Gotta do it all in one go. Stop midway? Back to one. Mana's fine to use, but no breaks till a hundred."
"Yeah, that'd suck."
"Yeah... I even puked mid-set... but the saint force-fed me a potion, so no rest... haa..."
I'd mentioned it once before. Training that made you puke was straight out of Lize's playbook. She pushed you to your absolute limit and left you there until you showed signs of breaking through. If you risked real injury, she'd stop you cold. That's how you built strength without wrecking your body.
"She says she'll test me like this every Sunday. Fail, and repeat till you pass."
"Gotta grind that stamina then. Basics too. Looks like you've got your work cut out."
"Yeah... so sis, can you watch Sivar for a bit?"
"Got it. Let's swap seats first. Corner's better—less eyes on you."
Luna had a solid rep with the professors. They didn't care if you slept in class. Your loss if you skipped the lesson. Plus, they figured everyone had their reasons and left it be.
After swapping with Kara, Luna slumped over and passed out. She went quiet fast—dead to the world.
"Feels like the first time sitting next to you in class, huh?"
"Yeah."
We'd sat together alone during survival training, but never in actual class. Kara grinned wide, clearly pleased. Always that refreshing smile. I considered mimicking it, but her advice echoed: Don't. I let my lips drop back.
Was my smile that weird?
I kept a straight face anyway, so no big deal. But it nagged a little. Figured my looks were decent enough. Maybe ask around later—not just Kara.
Focus on today.
"Hello, Sivar. Good weekend?"
Time passed, and Grace arrived, taking the seat beside me. Now basically a package deal, Lee Yeonju tagged along. Whether Grace dragged her or she came willingly, they seemed close.
"Yeah. Grace. You?"
"Whoa, you can say my name now?"
"Yeah."
Four syllables, and her eyes went wide in surprise. Faith had climbed, letting me handle up to three before, but now even more. It sat at 7 now—up a whopping 4 over the weekend. No clue what Chaos saw in me to boost it, but my speech was flowing better. Fluent by my standards, anyway. Still toddler-level at best. Hell, I couldn't even read properly yet.
"Great. I was wondering when you'd manage it. Yeonju should be easy now too, right?"
"Uh, m-me?"
"Lee Yeonju."
While she flustered, I said her name. She blinked in faint shock, then looked intrigued.
"Wow. Your pronunciation and accent are straight out of the Hwan Empire."
"Really? I don't hear much difference..."
"Even Grace calls me 'Yeonju' weird—like 'Yuh-yeon-joo' or something. Consonants trip her up."
This world had a babel of languages, each with unique pronunciations and accents. The academy mandated Common Tongue, which helped, but accents slipped through. Even fluent foreigners in Korean carried their quirks—this world was no different.
"Speaking of, isn't Tatar speech supposed to be tough?"
Grace turned to Kara, a hint of caution since they weren't fully tight yet.
Kara just nodded casually.
"Heard that too. Try 'Einherjar'."
"Einhe... what?"
"Ein... Ein..."
Ragnarok for a weapon. Hector's-dotir for her surname. Tatar drew from Norse roots. Ancient Egypt motif with Norse? Weird mashup, but it clicked—fierce warriors fit the savage myth vibe. Tatar was all about brutal fighters from the jump.
"Tough, right? In Common, it means 'those who die not'—not undead, but warriors who fight even in death. Tatar's elite."
"Got it. So you're an Einhe... one, Kara?"
"I'm a princess."
"Oh."
One word, and Grace blanked out. She'd forgotten her status for a sec. Fair enough—Kara acted the opposite of royal, and that's her vibe.
She saw princess as just a title anyway. Total joke fodder.
"Was one during the tribal unification. Now it's all 'dignity' crap—too annoying."
"Hm..."
Grace scanned her up and down, analytical gaze.
Irked her? Or Grace's sharp eyes?
"...Why look at me like that? Weird I'm a princess?"
Kara's brow furrowed, tone edgy. Grace had to feel wronged—her stare screamed suspicion on the regular.
"No, just curious suddenly. What would Kara look like in Tatar traditional garb? And as princess, isn't it flashy?"
Grace cleared the air smoothly. Used to misunderstandings by now. Kara blinked, scratched her cheek, embarrassed.
"Flashy... yeah, it is. But by your standards? Embarrassing. Big time."
"Embarrassing? What do you mean?"
Kara never trashed Tatar. But clothes? Yeah.
Quick fact: Tatar language was Norse-ish, motif pure ancient Egypt. Egyptian life had wild fantasy flair, especially outfits.
"Yeah. Most folks wear super revealing stuff. Guys go shirtless baseline. Girls? Bra and skirt, basically. Sometimes less than nothing."
"Eek..."
Lee Yeonju squeaked, blushing. Hwan Empire was conservative—strict on skin. Just hearing it flustered her cute.
Grace flushed too, then coughed lightly, glancing sideways.
"...Do you wear it too, Kara?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Not embarrassed?"
"Nope. Weather's brutal—gotta. I tone it down here 'cause eyes."
Her "toned down" was still bold. Wednesday afternoons? Taut abs out, sometimes short shorts—awkward. Weekends too: tank top and shorts, drawing every stare. That bronzed, toned skin? Impossible to ignore.
"Wanted to tie my uniform at the waist. Dress code's strict though."
"Yeah. Wrong wear? Demerits."
"Sucks. No code, I'd rock my Tatar gear."
"...You brought some?"
Sounded like she had. Grace caught on, voice uneasy.
Kara looked at her like duh.
"Obviously. Heard about festivals and balls? Dad mentioned."
"True, but... gotta stick to tradition?"
"Dresses suck."
"..."
Oh yeah. Kara's unique skin—solo dancer outfit amid dresses and Eastern robes. Fanbase exploded post-reveal. Others grew too, but hers dominated.
Ellie had something similar, right?
Couldn't recall hers. With that figure? Whatever it was, it'd pop.
"Everyone's here. As I said last week, priests from the faiths will handle classes starting today. They'll arrive soon—follow by group."
Malboro arrived soon after, laying out the schedule. Demon mark hunt incoming. Team comp was solid: me, Luna, Kara, Elvin, Grace, Lee Yeonju.
Elvin, Luna, Kara as my guards. Rest from survival team.
Worried I'll cause trouble, huh.
I would. Tragic, really.
Before priests showed, time to rouse sleeping Luna. Kara poked her oblivious form.
"Hey. Luna."
"..."
No response. Corpse vibes. Shoulder shake? Nada.
How wiped was she?
"Luna. Up. Time to go."
"..."
"Hmph."
Kara went nuclear: smack! Crisp backhand to the spine.
"Hot?!"
Even exhaustion couldn't beat that sting. Luna jolted upright, drool trailing. Deep sleep.
"Gotta go. Snap out of it."
"...Huh?"
"Priests starting today, remember?"
Luna blinked twice, then murmured.
"...Yes?"
She seemed half-gone. Drool and all—total airhead.