Leaving the city

After the awakening process was complete, Rami felt an overwhelming exhaustion take over his body, as if all his energy had been drained in a single moment. Still, his heart was filled with gratitude—he had succeeded in the first step toward becoming stronger. He needed to refresh himself, so he decided to head to the bathroom to wash his face, hoping to regain some vitality after the long ordeal.

But as he made his way there, a sudden darkness consumed his vision. He felt his consciousness fade quickly before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

When he regained consciousness, his head throbbed with a dull ache, and his body felt heavy, as if gravity itself had intensified. Slowly, he opened his eyes, finding himself in a dimly lit room, barely able to make out its features in the faint light of a nearby candle. Beside him sat his sister, Layla, her eyes filled with worry.

"Rami! You're finally awake!" Layla cried out eagerly, tears glistening in her eyes.

Rami slowly raised his hand, feeling its weight as he tried to brush away some of his fatigue. In a weak voice, he asked, "What happened?"

Layla, her voice still full of concern, answered, "I found you unconscious in your room when I came to bring you food. I called your name, but you didn't respond. I thought something terrible had happened!"

Rami, thinking deeply about what might have caused him to faint, concluded that it must have been exhaustion. "Maybe the adrenaline was what kept me awake throughout the awakening process."

Then, trying to remember the details, he asked, "How long was I unconscious?"

"About half a day, give or take," Layla said thoughtfully as if calculating the time in her head.

Rami sighed in relief. Thankfully, it had only been half a day; otherwise, he would have been in a much worse situation. He knew well that time was not on his side. He didn't know when the authorities would come to arrest everyone involved with the now-defunct security center. He had stayed away from work since the incident to avoid suspicion, but it wouldn't hold off for long.

Regardless of the situation, he knew he couldn't stay here any longer. "We need to leave the city before things get any worse."

---

The idea of fleeing started to take root in Rami's mind. He asked Layla to prepare some necessary things. "We'll leave at first light."

Layla agreed without hesitation, assuring him she'd take care of everything. After she left the room, Rami remained seated on the bed, his mind wandering. Slowly, he began to examine his body, hoping to notice any sign of his newfound strength. But his disappointment was palpable. He only felt a slight increase in energy coursing through his veins and a little more vitality. There was nothing striking, nothing that stood out enough to confirm the success of the process.

However, when he placed his hand over his heart, he could feel it—faint but present. The mana core, small but tangible, pulsed inside him. "I'm a mage now; this can't be an illusion. Maybe this is normal. Mages don't experience major physical changes, at least not in the beginning."

---

Hours later, the early morning sun cast its golden rays over the city as Rami and his sister, Layla, left their home. He carried a simple bag over his shoulder, filled with the essentials for the journey ahead. He also took the two remaining vials of the serum he had used. They headed to the market to buy some last-minute supplies. Though most of the shops were still closed, a few had opened early.

After finishing the preparations, they headed directly to the train station.

The station was old and simple, rarely used. Despite the city's location between the southern kingdom of 'Elandor' and the northern kingdom of 'Norvell,' the major trade routes passed through larger, more vibrant cities. As a result, the station had become neglected, serving mainly for goods transport and the occasional traveler.

Upon arriving at the station, Rami wasted no time. He spent two gold coins to buy tickets for both himself and Layla. While there were cheaper options, they would take much longer, and time was something he couldn't afford to waste. He had the uneasy feeling that any delay could cost him dearly.

With the tickets in hand, they made their way to the train, which was scheduled to leave in half an hour, heading toward the capital.

---

As the train began to move, its speed gradually increasing, Rami finally felt a sense of relief wash over him for the first time in a long while. "At last, I can shake off this persistent fear of being caught. Once I leave the city, it'll be nearly impossible for them to catch me."

His thinking was pragmatic; the authorities wouldn't pursue him unless they were absolutely certain he was the thief. And even if they were, the noble whose goods were stolen might not care enough to track down someone as insignificant as him, despite his anger. "The noble may feel insulted, but he's wealthy enough to replace what was stolen. The security forces will have to bear the responsibility. I doubt they'll be that motivated to follow up."

Despite this, Rami felt no remorse for what he had done. "That's how the world works—either you devour or get devoured. I wouldn't have done it if I wasn't forced to become stronger. And as for Drek? He's far from innocent. He turned a blind eye to the gangs that extorted people and drowned them in debt, all for a little bribe. Those same gangs were responsible for my father's death."

A burning sense of vengeance flared up in his chest. "I'll grow stronger and avenge my family. That's a promise I've made to myself."

---

As Rami was lost in thought, his sister Layla interrupted his train of thought: "Brother, what's that bottle I found near you when I saw you unconscious?"

Rami looked at her, seeing the curiosity shining in her eyes. He instantly recalled the remaining serum vial and thought about avoiding the topic, but he decided it was better to be honest with her.

In a low whisper, so no one else could hear, he said, "Layla, that serum contains a liquid that can make you stronger. I'll give you some later, but you need to be careful. It's dangerous to use, so I need to make sure you'll be safe before I give it to you."

He saw the excitement in her eyes, as if she was about to shout, but he quickly calmed her with his quiet tone: "Don't worry, we'll talk about it later."

---

And so, Rami remained lost in his thoughts. He knew his journey in this world had only just begun, and he was only at the first level. His destination was the Academy of Superhumans in the capital, where he could grow and become more powerful.