After The Fall: Awakening

Hermes and Rhea stepped onto the school grounds, but the moment they walked in, whispers spread like wildfire.

"Hey, isn't that the Pioneer?"

"Seriously? How did he become a

Pioneer? The guy's a total klutz!"

"He probably got beaten up again-that's why his face is bleeding."

"And look, his bodyguard's back! Hahaha!"

Rhea's patience snapped. She turned to glare at the gossiping students.

"Can you all lower your voices? We can hear everything you're saying."

Silence followed-brief, but thick with tension. Some students looked away, while others kept smirking, clearly enjoying themselves.

Hermes sighed, shaking his head.

"Rhea, just ignore them."

She shot him a sharp look.

"This is why they keep picking on you. You let them."

Hermes averted his gaze. Deep down, he knew she was right. But what was he supposed to do? Fighting back wasn't exactly his thing.

They continued walking until they reached the school clinic. Inside, the school doctor, a middle-aged man with round glasses, took one look at Hermes and sighed.

"What happened this time, Hermes? Did those guys beat you up again?"

"Ah... no, sir! Hahaha!" Hermes scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

Rhea smirked. "Sir, he tripped while running to school."

The doctor chuckled. "Hahaha! You're already grown, Hermes, and you're still tripping over yourself?"

Hermes could only give a small, embarrassed smile as he sat down.

The doctor carefully cleaned and bandaged his wounds while Rhea waited outside. After a few minutes, Hermes stepped out of the clinic and spotted Rhea sitting on a nearby bench.

She looked up. "Oh, you're done. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, haha. It still hurts, but I can manage."

Rhea shifted uncomfortably. "Sorry about earlier... for laughing at you."

Hermes laughed. "Ah, don't worry about it! Seriously, it's fine."

Rhea rolled her eyes. "Next time, be more careful."

Hermes grinned. "Yes, Boss Madam! Noted!"

They both burst into laughter, but their lighthearted moment was cut short when three familiar figures passed by.

Oliver-the leader of the bullies-stopped in his tracks, a smirk playing on his lips. His two friends flanked him, wearing matching sneers.

"Hermes, we're not done. I won't forget what you did to us, and you're gonna pay for it. You're just lucky your bodyguard is here right now."

His two friends laughed, amused by their leader's taunt.

Hermes stiffened. He knew exactly what Oliver meant. His mind flashed back to a memory-one he tried not to think about too often.

The day he finally snapped.

Oliver and his gang had pushed him too far, humiliating him in front of everyone. And somehow, just for a brief moment, something inside him had taken over. His body had moved on its own. He had fought back. And to everyone's shock, he had won.

But he didn't know how.

And now, Oliver wanted revenge.

Rhea's expression darkened. "Try laying a hand on Hermes, and you'll regret it."

Oliver clicked his tongue. "Tsk... hahaha."

The bullies walked away, but Rhea was still fuming, her fists clenched.

Hermes, on the other hand, was overwhelmed with anxiety. His heart pounded in his chest. He had avoided them for a while, but now it was clear-they were waiting for the right moment.

But as he looked at Rhea's furious expression, something about it made him laugh.

"Hahahahahaha!"

Rhea snapped her head toward him, still angry. "Why are you laughing??"

Hermes wiped a tear from his eye. "It's just... when you're mad, your face kinda looks like a monkey's."

Rhea's eyebrow twitched. "Oh, really?"

Before Hermes could react, she punched him in the stomach.

"ACK-!" He doubled over, collapsing onto the ground.

"Serves you right," Rhea huffed before turning on her heel and walking off to class, leaving Hermes groaning on the floor outside the clinic.

He groaned, staring up at the sky. "This is my life now, huh?"

Eventually, he forced himself to stand and head to his own class. The moment he walked in, every pair of eyes landed on him.

The whispers started again.

"The Pioneer is here."

"How did someone like him even get that title?"

"He's gonna get himself killed in the real battles."

Hermes tried to ignore them, heading straight to his seat at the back. He kept his head down, gripping the edges of his desk.

I didn't ask for this title.

I didn't want it.

But now, there was no escaping it.

As the teacher began the lesson, Hermes glanced out the window, his mind wandering.

The Abyssals were out there. And one day, I would have to fight them.

Was I really ready for that?

Or would I just end up proving everyone right?